Carson-Newman University Makes History, Wins Largest MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament of All-Time at Lake Chickamauga
| DAYTON, Tenn. (Oct. 24, 2021) – The Carson-Newman University duo of Ben Cully of Rockwall, Texas, and Hayden Gaddis of Seymour, Tennessee, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Friday weighing 18 pounds even to win the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI at Lake Chickamauga. The victory earned the Eagles bass club $2,000 and qualified the duo to compete in the 2022 College Fishing National Championship.
Hosted by Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic & Tourism Council, the field of 278 teams competing broke an MLF record as the largest Collegiate Fishing tournament of all-time. The previous record was set in March of 2018, when 276 teams competed in a Southeastern Conference event at Lake Guntersville. According to post-tournament reports the duo caught their fish on an unnamed frog, targeting weedy areas. TOP 10 RESULTS*
*Top 27 teams advance to the 2022 College Fishing National Championship Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. 2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
The event was the third and final qualifying tournaments for Southeastern Conference anglers. Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI teams compete in regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship. For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. |
Bradley Roy’s 9th Annual High School Open presented by Covercraft
Jamestown, Kentucky
The 2021 Bradley Roy High School Open presented by Covercraft was likely one of the most challenging installments of the tournament’s nine-year history.
139 high school teams and 34 junior teams (6-8th grade) competed October 9th on Lake Cumberland, and the Top Five fished the following day on Cedar Creek Lake in Stanford, Kentucky.
The tournament is an officially sanctioned high school event by the Kentucky Bass Nation. Two spots in the 2022 Bassmaster High School National Championship were awarded to Saturday’s top finishers: Jaydon Coggins and Chloe Hollon of Southwestern High School, and Ridge Rutledge and Ryan Sponcil of East Jessamine High School.
Saturday’s winning team included the first female angler to finish in the top 5 of the Bradley Roy High School Open, Southwestern’s Chloe Hollon.
The winners weighed a bag of five fish totaling 9.45 pounds. The runners-up weighed in a bag of three fish for 9.05, which included the big fish of the event, a 4.16-pound largemouth.
3rd place – Brayson Claunch/Cameron Owens - Boyle Co.: 6.24
4th place – Alex Wells/Braedon Stringer - Lake Cumberland HS Bass Club: 5.40 5th place – Hunter Shelton/Jordan Hampton - Trigg Co.: 5.11
Following the weigh-in, Roy gathered the top five teams and immediately cut off any information gathering from other teams about any surrounding lakes or Lake Cumberland. He then prepared all teams for a fish-off on Sunday at a mystery lake to be disclosed early Sunday morning.
The five remaining teams were housed at the Riverside Inn and geared up for a Major League Fishing Cup-style tournament the next day. The Bass Pro Tour angler convened the group in the parking lot at 4:30 CDT on Sunday morning and informed the group that the final day would again be fished on Cedar Creek Lake in Stanford, Kentucky.
“I picked Cedar Creek again this year as our mystery lake because it’s unexpected that we would return two years in a row,” said Roy. “We had only one top 5 team returning from last year, and I believe they were even surprised.”
The convoy made their way 77 miles up to Cedar Creek and prepared for “lines in” at 8:15 EDT. Each team was assigned boat officials trained by Roy and provided two sets of MLF-supplied scales. Teams were given thirty minutes to ride around on the 950-acre lake.
Roy streamed commentary on his social media pages as he covered the action. The teams fished two 2.5-hour sessions, with a thirty-minute break in between.
The conditions on Cedar Creek were sunny and unseasonably warm, creating an even greater challenge for the young anglers. Roy commented on his live stream that due to the tough conditions and fish seemingly still being in a summertime pattern, one big bass could catapult a new team into the lead in the late going. Despite catches in the final minutes from the Lake Cumberland and Boyle County teams, Trigg County’s lead was insurmountable. Trigg County clinched victory with a final weight of 5 pounds 4 ounces.
After confirming scores from all teams, Roy interviewed winners Jordan Hampton and Hunter Shelton. Roy asked Hampton if he thought they would be able to pull it off; he responded by saying, “Honestly, not with three fish. We didn’t think we would. But when we caught our first ones with a jig and then a Carolina rig, that’s what we’re used to back home, and we were going to fish it.” He went on to say that they planned to fish their strengths win or lose, Shelton agreed.
Following the event, Trigg County’s boat captain, Gary Houha, was very complimentary of the young anglers. Houha said, “I can’t say enough about them; both of these guys work very hard and have excellent support groups. They raised all of the money to allow them to fish various state and national tournaments, including this one.” He added that a big motivation for fishing this event for the third time was the opportunity to earn scholarships and fish at the college level.
Both team members from the top two teams were offered four-year, $10,000 scholarships to attend Campbellsville University by head coach Pete Hedgepath. Kentucky Christian and Drury University also offered four-year scholarships to teams in the Top Five. In all, the potential scholarships were close to $740,000.
Significant general scholarships for all teams were made possible by Covercraft, Farmers National Bank, First Southern National Bank, A Few Good Men Fishing Tournament, LCR Contracting, City of Jamestown, and Angler’s Outpost and Marine.
Additional prizes from sponsors of the event and Bradley Roy included: Ark Fishing, Bass Pro Shops, Railblaza, Solar Bat, Prym1, The Cain Pole, Land Big Fish, Seaguar, D&L Tackle, and Grundens.
“I am very happy we were able to make this event a success again for the ninth year. It is a huge highlight of my year to be able to showcase the talent Kentucky has on the high school level. One of the best things we’re able to do year after year is to reward our top anglers with college scholarships. I am very thankful to have relationships with colleges and sponsors that are invested in these young people as anglers but, more importantly, as students. I hope to see these anglers take advantage of the opportunities that they’ve earned and for this event to be as impactful as it is memorable,” said Roy.
Covercraft contributed to the scholarship fund and provided event decals for all anglers, coaches, volunteers, and family members.
“We are so proud to be the title sponsor for this event again this year. This event gives high school anglers an experience similar to what the pros have on the Bass Pro Tour, as well as earning awesome scholarships for their future. Covercraft not only gave the top finishers products we hope they enjoy but also contributed to the college scholarships that were given out. We proudly support high school fishing and this great event,” said Jeff Jegelewicz, Director of Marketing at Covercraft.
“We were thrilled to be able to host the Bradley Roy High School fishing tournament again and allow our local Bass Fishing team and other students around Kentucky to compete for scholarships,” said Nick Shearer, Russell County Chamber of Commerce, and the Mayor of Jamestown.
For a video of the event, visit -- https://youtu.be/Tor0PrC8BV8
Media contact: J.D. Blackburn | jd@profishingmanagement.com| (615) 479-7991
For full tournament results, visit www.kybassnation.org.
For more information on Bradley Roy, visit www.BradleyRoy.com.
For more information on Covercraft, visit www.Covercraft.com.
LeBrun Surges To Victory In Bassmaster Central Open Finale On Grand Lake
Nick LeBrun, of Bossier City, La., has won the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Grand Lake with a three-day total of 50 pounds, 2 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 23, 2021
GROVE, Okla. — Nick LeBrun’s strategy of “go big or go home” carried him to a dominant victory in the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Grand Lake with a three-day total weight of 50 pounds, 2 ounces.
Hailing from Bossier City, La., LeBrun placed third on Day 1 with 17-12, then improved to second with Friday’s limit of 15-3. Championship Saturday saw him sack up the day’s heaviest catch — 17-3, which helped him edge Day 1 leader Kenta Kimura of Japan by 4-6.
Along with the top prize of $47,833, LeBrun earned a spot in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, which is scheduled for March 4-6 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.
“Money spends, but going to the Classic is a childhood, manhood, everything dream,” Lebrun said. “It’s going to take a while for that to sink in.”
LeBrun, who placed second at the Central Open on Alabama’s Smith Lake two weeks ago, caught all of the fish he weighed this week on a Whopper Plopper and another plopper-style bait. He started throwing the 110 size bait in practice, but windy conditions prompted him to upsize to the hefty 130, which holds its own in blustery conditions.
As it turned out, LeBrun’s big bait was a good match to the giant gizzard shad his fish were targeting. With fall bass intent on filing their bellies, many anglers were keying on the smaller and more common threadfin shad. Locating areas thick with big gizzards proved foundational to LeBrun’s success.
“Anytime you see those big gizzard shad up on the bank in this part of the country, it’s time to pick up that plopper and keep it in your hand all day,” LeBrun said. “You don’t get many bites, but the ones you get are usually big."
All week, LeBrun stayed in the mid-lake region, between Shangri-La and Horse Creek. His ideal scenario comprised short pockets with docks. He named the waypoint for his most memorable spot “Big” because he had a 5-pounder bite his hookless practice bait. This spot would produce the kicker that sealed his win.
After a somewhat slow start, Championship Saturday suddenly took an encouraging turn when LeBrun entered the “Big” pocket and found his biggest fish of the day — a 5 3/4-pounder — around 9 a.m.
“I had one little 2-pounder in the box and was easing up to this dock at the mouth of a little pocket,” LeBrun said. “I heard the fish blow up behind me, so I turned around and cast in that direction. She came up and smoked it.
“When I landed that fish, I felt like I’d won. That doesn’t always hold true, but you have to have that winning moment. It’s not over ’til it’s over, but it certainly was an awesome feeling.”
Considering that inconsistent fall conditions had most competitors junk fishing their way through the days, LeBrun’s single-minded strategy was a legitimate oddity.
“I’m pretty overwhelmed right now,” he said. “Throwing a big bait like that in a field this size with the caliber of anglers competing, it’s very rare that something like that works out for three days.
"Normally, you have to mix it up. But the good Lord blessed me this week because every fish I weighed in was doing what I wanted to do. I felt like I was fishing to win and you can’t ask for anything better.”
Kimura placed second with 45-12. The Bassmaster Elite Series pro set the first-round mark by catching 21-14 — the event’s biggest bag. He added 11 pounds on Friday and finished with 12-14 Saturday.
“I was pretty excited about this morning because of the wind,” Kimura said. “I thought I was going to get 20 pounds, but the 4-pounders never showed up.”
Kimura fished a Deps 1/2-ounce wobble head with a Deps creature bait around rock with brushpiles and a 3/8-ounce Deps flipping jig with a creature bait around docks. He also fished a Japanese finesse rig.
John Pilcher of Kansas, Okla., finished third with 43-13. On Day 1, he tied Matt Pangrac of Bixby, Okla., for 16th place with 14-0. On Friday, he reached the final round in eighth place with a limit of 14-15 and gained five more spots with Saturday’s 14-14 limit.
“It was really junk fishing for me; I was catching fish deep and catching fish shallow,” Pilcher said. “I was buzzbaiting bluffs and gravel flats. I caught some fish on offshore gravel flats with rockpiles and brush and then I caught some fish offshore on ledges. The buzzbait and a BassX jig were my main baits.
“All three days, sticking with it was important because all three days I caught a big fish within the last 30 to 40 minutes. Today, I caught my two biggest fish in the last hour.”
Jacob Walker of Alabaster, Ala., won the $500 Phoenix Boats Big Bass prize with his 6-9.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, LeBrun took home an additional $1,000 while John Soukup of Sapulpa, Okla., claimed an additional $500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
Cody Huff of Ava., Mo., finished first in the Central Opens standings with 565 points. Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., finished second with 558, followed by Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., with 546, Joseph Webster of Winfield, Ala., with 544 and John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., with 543. Huff, Przekurat and Webster earned invitations to fish the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series while Powroznik earned an invitation to fish the Elites by winning the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year title.
2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Grand Lake 10/21-10/23
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, Grand Lake OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Nick LeBrun Bossier City, LA 15 50-02 200 $47,833.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 17-03
2. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 14 45-12 199 $23,733.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 4 11-00 Day 3: 5 12-14
3. John Pilcher Kansas, OK 15 43-13 198 $16,400.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 14-14
4. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 14 42-15 197 $13,667.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 4 08-04
5. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 40-06 196 $11,890.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 10-13
6. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 14 39-09 195 $10,933.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 16-11 Day 3: 4 07-11
7. Sam George Athens, AL 14 38-03 194 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 4 09-05 Day 3: 5 11-06
8. Cody Huff Ava, MO 14 38-00 193 $9,567.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 4 06-06
9. Vance Montgomery Claremore, OK 14 35-13 192 $7,517.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 4 11-03 Day 3: 5 09-06
10. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 12 33-08 191 $6,150.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 2 03-09
Soukup Takes Lead On Day 2 Of Bassmaster Central Open On Grand Lake
John Soukup, of Sapulpa, Okla., is leading after Day 2 of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Grand Lake with a two-day total of 34 pounds, 11 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 22, 2021
GROVE, Okla. — Astute observation and timely adjustments proved essential for Oklahoma pro John Soukup, who leads Day 2 of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Grand Lake with 34 pounds, 11 ounces.
After placing second on Day 1 with 19-1, Soukup added 15-10 Friday. He enters Championship Saturday with a margin of 1-12 over Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, La.
Starting his day near takeoff, Soukup ran as far as 25 miles and fared best with a mobile game plan. Noting that he fished a variety of habitat in 1 to 50 feet of water, Soukup said his electronics were essential.
“I had my Garmin LiveScope on all day and the key to where I was catching fish was 100% bait oriented,” Soukup said. “If you can’t see the bait, you should probably get out of there.
“It was just an environmental study. You’d look down there and it’s full of bait, but they weren’t flickering. That’s the key — if the bait is flickering, that tells you to fish something high in the water column. If they’re not, that tells you to slow down and fish deeper.”
Soukup anchored his bag with a 5-5 that bit around noon. His most aggressive bite, by far, this fish started his only flurry of the day.
“That 5-pounder nearly ripped the rod out of my hand,” Soukup said. “It literally came out of my hand; I had to grab it and that was the hook set — just hold on!
“That was around noon and I only had two fish, but I put that one in the boat, caught another two really quickly and continued to fish around that area because I caught two good ones there yesterday and two today.”
Soukup said the scattered nature of fall denied him any more consistency. He fished bluffs, flat banks and docks and caught bass on a buzzbait, a Zara Spook, a squarebill crankbait and a jig.
“One thing would be on fire for an hour or two and then another one would be on fire,” he said. “The last 15 minutes of the day, I just fished off my gut and caught three fish doing three different things.
“It’s just typical fall stuff. You have (several) rods on your deck, you see a place that looks good and it’s right, but you try to repeat it on 20 different places and it’s not right.”
LeBrun is in second place with 32-15. He placed third on Day 1 with a limit of 17-12 and gained a spot Friday by adding 15-3.
Capitalizing on a particular pattern he established on Day 1, LeBrun said he had to work harder Friday. He’s fishing multiple spots and working a reaction bait with what he described as an atypical presentation.
“I had to cover a lot more water and I never had a big one,” LeBrun said. “I just had some good ones. The ones I had weren’t that aggressive and I think that was because of the lack of wind.”
Day 1 leader Kenta Kimura of Osaka, Japan, is in third with 32-14. After opening with 21-14 — the event’s biggest bag — he struggled to add 11 pounds Friday.
On Day 1, Kimura fished in the last of 18 flights. On Friday, he was the first to weigh in, so his day was significantly shorter. Also, he needed more of the wind that delivered a huge Day 1 afternoon.
“I still caught a couple the first thing in the morning when there was no wind at all, but then it just completely shut down,” Kimura said. “I knew it was going to happen, so I just tried to catch my limit the rest of the day.”
Kimura fished a Deps 1/2-ounce wobble head with a Deps creature bait around rock with brushpiles and a 3/8-ounce Deps flipping jig with a creature bait around docks. He also fished a Japanese finesse rig.
Jacob Walker of Alabaster, Ala., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 6-9.
Scott Hill of Saint Louis, Mo., won the co-angler division with a two-day total of 14-12. He placed second on Day 1 with 8-14 and added 5-14 Friday.
Bill Benford of Phil Campbell, Ala., won Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors among co-anglers with a 6-4.
Cody Huff of Ava., Mo., leads the Central Opens standings with 568 points. Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., is in second with 558, followed by Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., with 546, Joseph Webster of Winfield, Ala., with 544 and John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., with 543.
Powroznik won the $10,000 Falcon Rods Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year award with 1,547 points. Committing to all three divisions, he notched three Top 10 finishes, including a win on Smith Lake, an eight at the season opener on Florida’s Harris Chain and 10th on New York’s Oneida Lake.
Powroznik, who never finished below 59th, achieved his goal of qualifying for the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series. For his Smith Lake win, he qualified for the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on Lake Hartwell.
He attributed his success to a disciplined game plan.
“Catch five a day, that was my plan throughout the whole deal — to catch five a day,” Powroznik said. “A lot of guys came in with two or three (in some events) and that hurt them.
“There were a lot of nerves and emotions that I had to go through this week, but it’s been a blessing. It’s something I worked hard for. Any kind of dream you have, if you put your mind to it, dreams do come true. I guess the good Lord wanted me to be back on the Elites, so that’s where I’m headed.”
Jon Jezierski of Troy, Mich., won the Falcon Rods Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Co-Angler of the Year award with 1,380 points. Jezierski receives paid entries to fish as a pro or co-angler in the 2022 Bassmaster Opens.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. CT at Wolf Creek Park. The final weigh in will be at the Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, Okla., at 4:45 p.m.
The final day’s action will be available on Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, starting at 7 a.m. CT on FS1, Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
Kimura Overcomes Slow Start To Lead Bassmaster Central Open On Grand Lake
Kenta Kimura, of Osaka, Japan, is leading after Day 1 of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Grand Lake with 21 pounds, 14 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
October 21, 2021
GROVE, Okla. — It was a tale of extremes for Japanese pro Kenta Kimura, whose limit catch of 21 pounds, 14 ounces leads Day 1 of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Grand Lake.
After spending the first half of his day in a painfully unproductive drought, the Bassmaster Elite Series pro shifted gears and tallied a huge second half. Kimura was the only competitor to break the 20-pound mark.
“I had a really good day, but I only had one keeper until 1 o’clock and then I just figured it out,” Kimura said.
Starting his day on the lake’s lower end, Kimura tried to find a big bite offshore. Fishing in about 10 feet of water, he thought he could get a jump on the day by targeting rock structure.
“I didn’t have a good practice, so I just kept looking around,” he said. “I fished all over this lake, up and down, but it just didn’t work out.”
Abandoning his offshore ambitions, Kimura switched to a shallower game. He spent the final hours of his day rotating between various hard targets.
“I fished docks, rock and wood,” he said. “I got them on a little bit of everything. I was mainly looking for baitfish, but sometimes I couldn’t see it on my Garmin LiveScope because the spot was so shallow.”
Continuing the premise of extreme differences, Kimura said he caught his fish on fast-moving reaction baits and slow presentations. He kept his bait specifics confidential but said his slow presentations included a specialized Japanese technique.
“I would take almost 20 minutes on each cast,” he said.
Kimura said he often tried both presentation styles on the same spot. His strategy was to show the fish multiple looks.
“I caught my biggest one by fishing really slow and my second-largest one on a reaction bait,” Kimura said. “It really didn’t matter, I was just trying to fish each spot the way I know how.”
Kimura fished in the last of 18 flights Thursday. With the take-off order reversing for Day 2, he said he’s hoping he can get the ball rolling early.
“I really don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow, I’m probably going back to where I caught them,” he said. “It looks like I’m going to have a short day, so I’ll really have to think about it.”
John Soukup of Sapulpa, Okla., is in second place with 19-1. Noting that he started his day power fishing and then switched to finesse baits, Soukup said the key to his success was covering water. Around 2 p.m., his fast-paced presentations yielded a 4-7 kicker.
Using his Garmin LiveScope all day, Soukup said he fished from 1 to 50 feet deep. While he’s fished Grand many times and competed in a recent tournament, he decided to enter this event with a clean slate.
“I wanted to come up here and fish off my instincts and that’s what today was about,” Soukup said. “It was all instinctual; watching the wind, running the wind.
“The big deal was how much wind and current was hitting a spot and from what direction. Also, where the little and big drop-offs were at.”
Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, La., is in third place with 17-12. Enjoying a quick start, LeBrun started his day with a 5-8.
“I had that big one about 8 o’clock, then I caught a 2 1/2- and a 3-pounder really quickly,” LeBrun said. “I really just got in a flurry and I had four in the first hour of fishing.”
LeBrun said one bait presented in a unique manner in a specific scenario was the key to his success. He held his cards low, but noted that the setup he sought was so dependable he could practically expect a bite.
“It’s definitely conditions-related and I do need wind,” he said.
Jacob Walker of Alabaster, Ala., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 6-9.
Cole Boyd of Springfield, Mo., leads the co-angler division with 10-10. Boyd anchored his bag with a 5-3 that he caught around 9 o’clock.
“I was just following my pro (Bassmaster Elite) Carl Jocumsen and he was throwing a big swimbait, so I was throwing a Yo-Zuri jerkbait up shallow,” Boyd said.
Boyd caught his other keepers on a brown football jig with a Berkley Chigger Craw trailer. He fished the jig around docks and a chunk rock point with wood.
Bill Benford of Phil Campbell, Ala., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 6-4.
Cody Huff of Ava., Mo., leads the Central Opens standings with 568 points. Walker is in second with 541, followed by Daisuke Aoki of Japan with 531, Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., with 529 and Masayuki Matsushita of Japan with 522.
Powroznik leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,530 points.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. CT at Wolf Creek Park with the weigh-in back at the park at 3:15 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, Okla., at 4:45 p.m.
The final day’s action will be available on Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, starting at 7 a.m. CT on FS1, Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
Who is the World's Best Bass Angler
Courtesy of Vance McCollough
“I’ve always said you can tell more about a person through their avocation than their vocation.”
- Shaw Grigsby from his book Bass Master Shaw Grigsby: notes on fishing and life
Who is the world’s best bass angler?
Not the best known. Not the one you initially think of with all the trophies and titles. Not the one you’ve watched on TV for years.
No, the best.
The one the world will never know. The one floating on some obscure lake or wading a tiny creek and casting not for glory or cash prizes but for pure and simple love of the sport.
Pure and simple.
‘Pure and simple’ seem to have gone out of style. With the 24-hour news cycle and an internet that never sleeps it seems that we’ve developed a two-pronged obsession with both, giving our loyal spectatorship and seeking personal attention. Consider the ancient riddle: ‘If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it did it make a sound?’ Now compare the modern equivalent: ‘If I catch a fish but don’t post a picture to social media, did it ever really happen?’
And the best place to show off our skills is the tournament scene, be it the local Tuesday night wildcat tourney beneath bugs circling an overhead streetlamp or the spot-lighted stage of the Bassmaster Classic amid thunderous applause and rapturous music.
Not to down tournament fishing. Not at all. Tournaments are, perhaps, the greatest laboratories ever for exploring fish and fishing techniques. They’re even better laboratories for exploring human behavior, the character of contestants against the weather, the clock and other contestants.
And against the fish.
The fish as adversary. This may be the biggest stumbling block to growth for many anglers. I believe the best anglers look at the fish as partners in a dance rather than something to be mastered, which will never happen anyway. The greatest among us have developed an acute awareness of natural rhythms and cycles, changing weather, cues as to how fast to dance, when to slow the tempo and how to get the fish to dance along with them. A Pied Piper of bass. Have you ever seen such? Many of us have watched someone touch greatness for minutes or maybe hours. Surely, the best angler would be able to reach such a state more often than anyone else and stay there longer, but since nobody pays us to actually fish, professional status matters little. It’s about time on the water. After all, ‘love’, for any person or any thing or any activity is spelled ‘T-I-M-E’.
So where is that greatest angler? I met some good ones in Cuba. A wonderful thing about America is that anyone can pursue practically any dream. A guy can make his livelihood by fishing here where sponsors poor money into the sport. They come from around the world to do so – Italy, Japan, South Africa, even Canada.
But in Cuba, the one thing you know about a fisherman is that he does not pursue his game for fortune or fame. These don’t exist in Cuba. Not for the angler. The angler in Cuba does what he does for sheer joy and love of the pursuit. True, they are fishing for food too, but my friends down there who kick their way to the blue water three miles offshore in nothing but old tire innertubes to cast jigs on cheap spinning rods are as eat up with their sport as anybody I know, anywhere. In this way, they are the purest of all anglers. And theirs is the purest pursuit.
Pure and simple.
The Cuban angler is destitute. Yet he fishes still. Then again, there’s not much else to do. And there is so much water in which to do it.
Many in the US risk financial brokenness to chase their finned dreams. That’s dedication. But what happens when the dream chaser goes broke? Does his threadbare soul continue to fish in threadbare clothes? If fishing fails to provide his living, does he continue to fish? Alone? For sheer joy? If so, he continues to grow closer to the fish; to deepen his understanding of them.
And that’s what the greatest angler possesses – not mastery but understanding.
More than what he possesses, the greatest thing any angler can give is a shared love of the outdoors. We can be great stewards, not only of the fish but of the next generation who can then enjoy and pass along our sport, creating a common thread to reach up through the generations and connect us in a meaningful way to a future that will outlive us. The greatest will instill in others a reverence for the magic that swims through all places watery and wild along with the common sense to protect these places and the things that live there.
Keep it pure. And simple.
The world will never meet him, though more than a few fish have, and if you said you knew his name, I’d call you a liar because nobody knows who the greatest angler alive is. He is likely fishing now. Or practicing his vocation to financially support his avocation. Fishing need not be expensive, but tournament angling is prohibitively so. Therefore, the odds that we’ve ever seen what people are capable of on the water are correspondingly small. And so, he fishes on in anonymity needless of the cheers and approval, the trophies or the money.
He has already won.
Thibodaux Claims Overall Title At Inaugural Bassmaster High School Combine
Lane King of Harrison, Ark., (Casting Distance), Justin Frey of Landisburg, Pa., (Casting Accuracy), Levi Thibodaux of Thibodaux, La., (Overall) and Kyle Smith of Richland, Mich., (Knot Tying) took home awards at the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
October 21, 2021
Thibodaux Claims Overall Title At Inaugural Bassmaster High School Combine
Levi Thibodaux-sized.jpgDECATUR, Ala. — Talented high school anglers from across the U.S. gathered for the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., for a weekend combining skills challenges and recruiting visits in hopes of reeling in college fishing offers. After three challenges — Casting Distance, Knot Tying and Casting Accuracy — the combine’s overall points winner was Levi Thibodaux of Thibodaux, La.
Thibodaux edged out second-place finisher Jeremy Radford of Huntly, Va., by just four points and notes that the deciding factor in his performance was consistency throughout each of the three disciplines.
“(Leading up to the combine) I practiced evenly in every category prior to the event,” said Thibodaux. “You can ask anyone who has ever won an Angler of the Year title or multiple-day event, constancy in the sport of bass fishing is the key that separates luck from skill.
“I'm not one to be overconfident, I'm just thankful I got the chance to attend this event and be a part of this inaugural combine. I'm ready to start my career in college and see how I stack up against those guys. Fishing is my passion and being around others that share that passion is an incredible feeling.”
Thibodaux was also one of several anglers who signed with colleges during the weekend, inking an offer to fish for the Louisiana State University Shreveport Pilots and Coach Charles Thompson.
“By Sunday morning, my decision was clear,” said Thibodaux. “LSUS was the perfect fit for me. The recent standings prove that the LSUS program is headed in the right direction, and with a coach like Mr. Charles they will continue to see success. I'm glad that I'll get a chance to make my mark on the program, and I am proud to fish on the collegiate level and represent my home state of Louisiana.”
Awards were also handed out to each of the skills challenge discipline winners. Justin Frey of Landisburg, Pa., took home the victory in Casting Accuracy with a perfect score of 50 completed in 1 minute 22 seconds. Kyle Smith of Richland, Mich., won the Knot Tying technical challenge, completing the discipline in 1 minute 16 seconds with a perfect score of 50. It took a tiebreaker for Lane King of Harrison, Ark., to take home the trophy for Casting Distance. After the first round of competition, King and Thibodaux went head-to-head to determine a winner.
Just like in a tournament, weather played a factor in testing the anglers’ skills as winds over 15 mph buffeted Ingalls Harbor where the event was taking place.
“I like that the wind was a factor; it added some real-world factors to the events,” said King. “The main thing for the casting competitions was to cast the bait into the wind from the side of the target in order to let the wind carry the bait back. My first long throw was timed perfectly where the wind died down just enough for me to bomb the cast. I had to play the wind exactly right to get my casting in bounds. The best way for me to get the long cast was to sweep the rod from behind around to the right of my body to keep it as close to the ground as possible.”
In addition to the three skills challenges, anglers spent portions of the weekend meeting with college coaches. After the first day, colleges could select anglers for a “second look” to further explore everything that angler has to offer and see if they would be the perfect fit for their fishing program.
“I connected with two universities during the combine that both have fantastic programs at an elite level,” said Frey. “What separated them the most in my mind was that both coaches were awesome, caring individuals. I was ecstatic and very blessed to sign with an athletic scholarship from Bethel University thanks to Coach Garry Mason. I can’t wait to get started; it’s been a dream come true.”
Prior to the combine, Frey was not being recruited by Bethel University, which was the first college in America to offer bass fishing scholarships and has claimed 11 national titles.
Only colleges offering bass fishing scholarships were invited to attend and a full recap of commitments and scholarship offers is expected at a later date.
For more information on the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine as it becomes available, visit Bassmaster.com/high-school.
Six Bassmaster Elite Series Berths To Be Awarded At Grand Lake
Jacob Powroznik will try to lock up the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year title and an Elite Series berth when Oklahoma's Grand Lake hosts the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open Oct. 21-23, 2021.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
October 20, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After weigh-in on Day 2 of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lewis Smith Lake earlier this month, Jacob Powroznik felt good about his chances at maintaining his spot in the Top 3 of the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings.
Entering the tournament with the lead in the overall points, Powroznik posted two bags over 11 pounds on a stingy Smith Lake to secure his third Top 10 of the season. The North Prince George, Va., native then went out on Day 3 and caught 14-5 to win the event, earning a berth to the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk and putting himself in a great position to secure a spot in the 2022 Elite field.
While Powroznik holds a 70-point lead in the AOY standings over second-place Tommy Williams heading into the final event of the season this week, the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Grand Lake in Grove, Okla., he has not mathematically secured his spot and there is still plenty left to decide in the overall and Central Opens point standings.
Here are the overall Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings heading into Grand Lake:
Jacob Powroznik, 1371 points
Tommy Williams, 1,301 points
Daisuke Aoki, 1,269 points
Masayuki Matsushita, 1,251 points
Sam George, 1,230 points
John Garrett, 1,203 points
Matt Pangrac, 1,160 points
These seven anglers are mathematically still in contention for the three Elite Series berths offered in the overall standings. Powroznik and Aoki have won events this season, Powroznik at Smith and Aoki at Douglas Lake in the second Southern Open of the season. Meanwhile, Williams hasn’t posted a finish worse than 86th this season and has posted six Top 50s in eight events. His best finish of the season was at the James River, where he finished 7th.
Only 18 points separate Aoki from fellow Japanese angler Matsushita, who has finished in the Top 60 in seven of the eight Opens in 2021 but stumbled at the St. Lawrence River with a 138th-place finish. Meanwhile, George and Garrett have both made one championship cut throughout the season, George with a third-place finish at Oneida Lake and Garrett with a third-place at Pickwick Lake.
The two young anglers will need strong finishes at Grand to climb into the Top 3 and will likely need one or two of the anglers in front of them to stumble as well.
While Pangrac has the highest hill to climb in the overall standings, the Oklahoma native and Bass Talk Live cohost has spent countless hours on Grand Lake and that history could prove invaluable in a fall transition type of tournament.
In the Central Opens standings, there are 20 anglers separated by 50 points or less, and with an unpredictable fall bite, there could be a lot of moving and shaking at Grand Lake. After two events, Joseph Webster leads the points standings with 381 points with a fifth-place finish at Pickwick and a 16th-place finish at Smith. Jay Przekurat and Brandon Lester are tied for second with 378 points.
As an Elite Series veteran, Lester has already secured his spot in the 2022 field. If he finishes in the Top 3 in the Central Opens standings, his spot would roll down to the fourth-place finisher, which is currently Aoki with 376 points. If Aoki were to double-qualify for the Elites, he would earn his Elite spot through his placement in the overall standings, and his qualification spot in the Central Opens standings would roll down to the next angler.
Jesse Wiggins, a former Elite Series angler, is currently sitting in fifth place in the Central standings and within striking distance of requalifying for the top circuit; however, Wiggins has opted not to compete this week.
Former Bethel University angler and Bassmaster Classic qualifier Cody Huff sits behind Wiggins in sixth-place with 372 points followed by Powroznik in seventh with 370, Lake Pickwick Central Open winner Joey Nania in eighth with 364, Garrett in ninth with 357 and University of Montevallo angler Wesley Gore in 10th with 351.
All of this will be decided Oct. 21-23 on Grand Lake with takeoffs from Wolf Creek Park at 7:15 a.m. CT. Weigh-ins the first two days will be at the park at 3:15 p.m., with the final day’s weigh-in shifting to the Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, Okla., at 4:45 p.m.
The final day’s action will be available on Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, starting at 7 a.m. CT on FS1, Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
Elite Series Anglers Share How To Reel In A Win In Bassmaster Fishing 2022
October 20, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Join Elite Series anglers Scott Martin, Hank Cherry and Carl Jocumsen for a video Q&A featuring expert tips and tricks to help anglers reel in a victory in the new Bassmaster Fishing 2022 video game. Plus, see their reactions to being three of the game’s 10 playable characters.
In this new video hosted by Dovetail Games, developer and publisher of Bassmaster Fishing 2022 and other authentic sports simulation titles, Martin, Cherry and Jocumsen offer their thoughts on how they look in the digital world as well as favorite locations to fish from the eight real-world venues that players will be able to fish when the title releases next week. Each angler also has some tips for players, whether they’re new to fishing or are longtime fans, on how to make a career in bass fishing or how to set themselves up for success in the adrenaline-pumping Bassmaster Royale multiplayer mode.
For those who can’t wait to see these anglers in action in-game, Jocumsen is fishing the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake this weekend.
Dovetail Games continues its support for the B.A.S.S. tournament trail by sponsoring Bassmaster Opens LIVE coverage on Championship Saturday. The final day’s action will be available on Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, starting at 7 a.m. CT on FS1, Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. Attendees at the weigh-ins will also be able to catch Jocumsen talking about the game.
Bassmaster Fishing 2022 will be available beginning Oct. 28 in North America and Europe on the PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X and Xbox Game Pass, and Windows PC via Steam. The game is available for preorder now on PlayStation, and Playstation®Plus members get a 10% discount.
For regular updates and more information, please visit Bassmasterthegame.com.
Martin Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Potomac River
MARBURY, Md. (Oct. 19, 2021) – Pro Jarrett Martin of Westerville, Ohio brought a three-day total of 14 bass to the scale weighing 47 pounds, 7 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at the Potomac River Presented by THE BASS UNIVERSITY TV . For his victory, Martin earned $62,500, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Martin also received automatic entry into the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, June 2-4, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, as well as priority entry into the Toyota Series – the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
Martin said he mined a stretch of mats in Pohick Creek most of the event, which is where a majority of the other contenders fished as well.
“Pre-fishing was a little bit rough,” said Martin. “I tried to go run a lot of the patterns I’ve run in the past – I’d been there twice and had caught a couple of fish on docks – but I couldn’t get a solid run going like I have before. So, it resulted in going into and really dissecting the creeks. I fished nonstop but really never found anything in practice until the last day, when I finally went up into Pohick.”
In Pohick, Martin said he immediately started to get quality frog bites. Though he didn’t catch any, he had a good starting spot, and said when he found the area during practice, no one else was around.
“I pulled in the first morning of the tournament, and there were already six boats all over the entire flat,” said Martin. “So, I went into the corner where I had caught them and started going back and forth, on like a 100-yard stretch. I just went back and forth on it all day. When the tide was wrong, the fish would come up and hit it, but they’d never actually eat it until that tide got right.”
As Day 1 continued, Martin said he figured out that the tide needed to be at a certain level for the fish to bite, but whether it was rising or falling didn’t seem to matter.
“I figured out that a 1.9-foot tide was the best tide,” said Martin. “Regardless of it going up or going down, for some reason, right there in that spot I was in, once 1.9 hit you could see big red crawdads come up to the surface and start flicking around in that scum, and man, they just started eating. You’d get a 30-minute window where they would just eat.”
On Day 1, Martin only caught 14-5 all day. On Day 2, he hit the tide just right and put the biggest bag of the tournament on deck first thing.
“On Day 2, I rolled into that spot – first cast, 4-pounder,” said Martin. “I looked back at the tide, and it was at 1.8. I was like, ‘Alright, it’s coming up, these fish are about to go off.’ And they did. It was unbelievable, I had all my fish by 8:45 a.m. that morning. I just sat in that spot with a flipping rod in my hand and protected it all day.”
On the final day, however, Martin said he was thrown a significant curveball by the weather. With most of the top anglers also fishing in Pohick, adjusting wasn’t an easy task.
“On Day 3, I rolled into the same location, and the wind was blowing in there. I pulled in, and looked at my waypoints, and I’m already 20 yards past my waypoints, going to the mats. I was sitting where the fish were. I was like ‘This is bad, this is not ideal.’”
After scratching out one keeper early on, Martin got dealt another round of bad luck. The fish in Pohick started biting, but for the anglers who were fishing alongside him – not where Martin was.
“For some reason, those fish started to fire off to the right,” said Martin. “As soon as those fish fired, everybody kind of circled up and tried to get in on the action. I was pretty much blocked out and didn’t want to go in there. So, I pulled the plug around 10:30 or 11, and ran to the other side and caught a 3-pounder and put it in the box.”
Around 11:30, with just two in the box and his main area wrecked from the wind, Martin said he knew things were slipping away.
“Luckily, my co-angler [John Martin] had caught some good ones in Mattawoman,” said Martin. “At probably 11:30, we decided to send it on back there. So, we run back, start fishing this mat, and like the fifth cast, I catch a 4-pounder. We go a little farther, another 20 minutes, and I catch a 3-pounder. That was all I could get, so thank goodness for him having caught some fish there the day before.”
Four fish on the final day ended up being enough to get the job done, sending Martin home to Ohio with the biggest payday of his career, all while catching literally every one of his fish on a frog. Doing most of his work with a SPRO Bronzeye 65 in black, Martin said he also caught a few on a BOOYAH Pad Crasher in cricket frog. For his tackle, he rolled with a Shimano Curado, a 7-foot, 3-inch, heavy power Daiwa Tatula Elite and 65-pound Sufix 832 braid.
A Project Engineer at Thomas Door Controls, Martin said he has won before in college and fished live on the final day of the National Championship, but this was his biggest win to date.
“I don’t think it’s really fully processed yet,” said Martin. “I drove 8 hours home, right after the tournament, and I had tons of phone calls and texts. I just answered the phone the whole time, I never listened to music or anything. I couldn’t believe it. This is what we work for – this is what everybody works for. There are so many factors that go into creating success on tidal water, so pulling out the win and making the All-American is definitely a dream come true. I think the All-American is one of the most coveted tournaments out there, and I never thought I would be in this position.”
The top six boaters that qualified for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
2nd: Jim Vitaro of Wooster, Ohio, 15 bass, 46-10, $10,000
3rd: Ryan Powroznik of Hopewell, Va., 15 bass, 44-6, $5,000
4th: Christopher Helfer of Baltimore, Ohio, 15 bass, 44-1, $3,000
5th: Brody Campbell of Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 44-1, $2,000
6th: Michael Duarte of Baltimore, Md., 15 bass, 43-10, $1,800
8th: Cody Salzmann of Clarkston, Mich., 15 bass, 42-5, $1,900
9th: Bryan Elrod of Mechanicsville, Va., 15 bass, 41-1, $1,200
10th: Dick Shaffer of Rockford, Ohio, 15 bass, 39-9, $1,000
Martin took home an extra $2500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Evan Eldred of Gaines, Michigan weighed in 14 bass over three days totaling 35 pounds, 15 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
2nd: Max Meister of Atco, N.J., 13 bass, 30-2, $5,000
3rd: Steve Sorrell of Beavercreek, Ohio, 15 bass, 30-1, $2,500
4th: B.K. Kelley of Chester, Va., 11 bass, 29-2, $1,500
5th: Brian Short of Oxford, Ohio, 11 bass, 27-14, $1,000
6th: John Martin of Ridley Park, Pa., 11 bass, 24-10, $900
8th: Samuel Jones of Fuquay Varina, N.C., 10 bass, 24-3, $700
9th: John Lane of Findlay, Ohio, 11 bass, 24-3, $600
10th: Lavon Raber of Wolcottville, Ind., 11 bass, 23-12, $500
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, which will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Crossland Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Murray
PROSPERITY, S.C. (Oct. 19, 2021) – Pro Johnathan Crossland of Chapin, South Carolinabrought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 43 pounds, 12 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Murray. For his victory, Crossland earned $61,500, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Crossland also received automatic entry into the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, June 2-4, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, as well as priority entry into the Toyota Series – the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
“Leading up to the off-limits the offshore bite was really good,” said Crossland. “I was catching 15 to 18 pounds pretty easily. But come practice, it got really tough as you can see from the results.
“Traditionally, Murray can get tough in October. I think there was some turnover happening in parts of the lake, but it’s also just that transition where they’re moving off the brush towards the bank, following bait. They’re just in a funk.”
Weather didn’t help matters and heavy rains leading up to the Regional had Crossland, along with other competitors, looking for other ways to get bit across the lake.
“One thing that messed the offshore bite up a little bit was that the water came up,” said Crossland. “We got all that rain up north of us and it came down the Saluda River and blew it out for the most part.
“I knew I was going to fish offshore on brush piles and things like that, so I wanted to look for something else. I looked up shallow and found grass on some deeper points – the first one I caught was like a 4-pounder and I had four more blowups. The river crested just before the tournament and was starting to fall, so I knew I was going to get one day of trying to catch a few on a frog.”
By the time the tournament got rolling on Day 1, Crossland said it didn’t take long for him to realize that offshore fishing was going to be key.
“I had one blow up by 9 o’clock on Day 1 and from there I committed to the offshore thing,” said Crossland. “I ran to a brush pile about 9:30 and it was the first one I stopped on and I got bit – at that point I was committed.”
Fishing drops, brush and points in around 20 feet of water from Buffalo Creek to the dam for the entirety of the event, Crossland said he made about 50 stops the first day but was able to narrow it down a bit over the final two days.
“I burned a lot of fuel and did a lot of running,” said Crossland. “It was a timing deal – sometimes they were there and sometimes they weren’t. I was using Garmin LiveScope, so that gave me the confidence to come back to areas where I didn’t catch a fish simply because I could see they were down there.”
Getting just five keeper bites on Day 1, and six keeper bites on days 2 and 3, Crossland said he knew each bite would count.
“On the final day I was nervous because the wind was supposed to blow bad and when it blows that hard for me it doesn’t usually work out well. I didn’t have a keeper by 9:30 and the wind was already starting to blow good. I pulled up to a brush pile and I caught my biggest fish of the final day. From there, I just got in my rotation and had a limit by about 12 o’clock.”
Opting for a topwater to call fish up from their offshore haunts, Crossland said he put a Castaic Cowboy in his hand all day, every day. He threw it on a 6-foot, 9-inch medium-action Bulldawg Rod spooled with 12-pound Berkley Trilene Big Game.
Winning a tournament of this caliber on his home pond certainly means a lot to the South Carolina boater, but it meant even more with his friends and family watching.
“I lost my father-in-law, Mike Patsolic, on August 17 to COVID,” said Crossland. “It’s been almost two months but to know he was there with me and proudly watching means a lot. My friends and family were also there, so I had a crowd rooting me on. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like. It still hasn’t really even set in.”
Having a good support system is vital to any tournament angler and Crossland said he is looking forward to representing them all at the All-American next year.
“The All-American is the hardest tournament to qualify for in bass fishing, in my opinion,” said Crossland. “The things you have to do to get there and all the locals you have to beat, it’s just a dream come true.”
The top six boaters that qualified for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
2nd: Chase Stewart of Ware Shoals, S.C., 15 bass, 40-10, $10,000
3rd: Andy Wicker of Pomaria, S.C., 13 bass, 39-4, $5,000
4th: Scott Browning of Franklin, N.C., 11 bass, 37-12, $3,000
5th: Hunter Eubanks of Inman, S.C., 15 bass, 35-10, $2,000
6th: David Bright of Mooresville, N.C., 14 bass, 35-0, $1,800
8th: Corey Brooks of Louisville, Tenn., 15 bass, 33-7, $1,400
9th: Chris Dover of Blacksburg, S.C., 13 bass, 32-5, $1,200
10th: Rodney Bell of Salisbury, N.C., 13 bass, 31-11, $1,000
Khris Williams of Mount Holly, North Carolina took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Cory Guinn of Mountain Rest, South Carolina weighed in 12 bass over three days totaling 27 pounds, 2 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
2nd: Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tenn., 12 bass, 20-7, $5,000
3rd: Randy Hudson of Columbus, N.C., seven bass, 18-8, $2,500
4th: Carl Whipple of Manassas, Va., seven bass, 16-15, $1,500
5th: Harrison McCall of Salisbury, N.C., six bass, 15-9, $1,000
6th: Kyle Rogers of Cleveland, Ga., seven bass, 15-3, $900
8th: Justin Beaty of Flowery Branch, Ga., seven bass, 13-12, $700
9th: William Bensel of Abbeville, S.C., six bass, 12-11, $600
10th: Andrew Starnes of Chapin, S.C., six bass, 12-6, $500
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, which will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Hawk Man Cometh!
This week with everyone back on the Zoom Machine, The boys welcome in WON BASS US Open Champ Roy Hawk to the show to talk about his recent win in the West's most illustrious tournament and how he became a two-time champ. Chris catches up with DX on his Pure Michigan visit and they took a look at the week ahead.
Counce to Host Toyota Series Championship on Pickwick Lake
400 Bass Anglers Set to Compete for a Total Event Purse of $679,000
COUNCE, Tenn. (Oct. 19, 2021) – The 2021 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Guaranteed Rate at Pickwick Lake will take place next week in Counce, Tennessee, Oct. 28-30, where the nation’s best bass-fishing pros and top international anglers will compete for up to $235,000 cash. The three-day, no-entry-fee event, hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the culmination of the 2021 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. season, a six-division circuit that offers the best payouts and advancement opportunities for the lowest entry fees available, paving a path to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
“We are thrilled to welcome anglers who qualified for the 2021 Toyota Series Championship on Pickwick Lake and to display the scenic outdoor lifestyle and rich history of our area,” said Beth Pippin, Tourism Director of Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Hardin County is well-known for our world-class smallmouth fishing and the consistency and reliability we bring to sportsmen, both on and off the water. We feel honored to continue our partnership with Major League Fishing by hosting this championship and are looking forward to a fantastic week.”
Pro Jimmy Washam of Covington, Tennessee, said he felt fortunate to be fishing the championship on his home lake and is excited to see how the tournament unfolds.
“There’s not as much vegetation on Pickwick Lake as we normally have this time of year, and the fish haven’t made a push to the bank yet,” said Washam. “However, the cooler weather coming in should help them get out of suspension mode and start biting. The bigger fish are already getting easier to catch, and we should see a lot of healthy fish in the 3- to 4-pound class, so it’s setting up to be a fun event.
“I expect to see some junk fishing, but I think moving baits will play a big role with the cooler weather and cooler water temperatures, and fish should really start keying in on bait. Depending on what type of water release schedule we have, there will be some traditional tail water baits in play, but I expect there to be a surface bite and a pretty good moving bait bite that will either be full-blown or will develop throughout the event.”
Washam said he anticipates it will take an average of 19 pounds per day to win the championship, and approximately 17½ pounds per day to get into the Top 10.
“I’m planning to enjoy myself at this event because there’s no stress for me – whether I finish first or last, I’ve had a great year, and I couldn’t be more thankful for it,” said Washam, who won the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Championship in August, taking home the prestigious TITLE belt and $200,000 cash. “The TITLE win was amazing, but my family wasn’t with me, so I’m excited to have my wife and my son and a lot of friends from the Memphis area at this event.”
The Toyota Series Championship at Pickwick Lake marks the third time Washam has qualified for the championship in the five years he has fished the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E.
“My greatest accomplishment, outside of the TITLE win, was winning the 2021 Toyota Series Angler of the Year in the Central division,” said Washam. “To me that’s one of the hardest accomplishments to get, because you’re fishing against a lot of great fishermen on their home water. The Toyota Series is the perfect place to prove to yourself whether or not you can make it to the next level, because if you can be successful in that series, then you can fish at any level beyond that.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Pickwick Landing State Park, located at 120 Playground Loop, in Counce. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3:15 p.m. Outdoor vendors will be onsite prior to weigh-ins Thursday and Friday from 1-3 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Guaranteed Rate will premiere on the Outdoor Channel at 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 15, 2022, with additional airings to follow on the Sportsman Channel.
The full field of anglers will compete on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 10 pros and top 10 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2021 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.
Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros. The winning Strike King co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The 2021 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consisted of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus.
The 2021 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 12 pros and 12 co-anglers from the Wild Card division; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the Wild Card at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International champions from Canada, Italy, Korea, Mexico and Zimbabwe.
For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. via social media outlets at Facebook , Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .
High school football helped make Swindle a 2-time AOY
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Fishing fans know 2-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Gerald Swindle as “G Man” – but folks around Blount County, Alabama football fields back in the 1980s might have heard Coach Dean call him “Termite.”
“I was about 160 pounds soaking wet with my cleats on, fairly shifty, played a lot of positions, and Coach knew I’d chew through wood if he asked me to, so he called me Termite,” grins Swindle with fond reflection.
Shifty is one way to put it. Ultra-competitive and highly athletic fit well too in describing the lanky kid from Locust Fork who wore jersey #15 and played everything from running back and cornerback to kick returner, and field goal kicker too.
“Coach was working with an almost empty bottle of ketchup. He didn’t have a whole lot of kids or talent to work with, so he just kind of added water to the bottle and spread the ketchup around a little further,” laughs bass fishing’s funniest man.
There was nothing funny about getting your butt kicked most Friday nights though. And that happened on all but two Fridays during Swindle’s senior season. Often outnumbered and of lesser athleticism, the Hornets found themselves on the losing end often – but losing is what ultimately made Swindle a winner.
“Coach would tell us before the game, “They’re bigger, faster, and better than us, so just try not to embarrass your family out there tonight.,” says Swindle. “That may sound harsh, but man, he was right, and so you learned to compete for pride, not necessarily wins, by leaving it all on the field.”
Ultimately, that mindset was a tremendous tool in carving Swindle into a perfectly-suited pro bass fishing competitor – a career in which losing is way more common than winning.
“Countless times I’ve found myself 2-pounds out of making a check with one day left to compete, my knees aching, elbows sore, and no true chance to win, but that’s where Locust Fork High School football shaped me,” says Swindle.
“I know how to jog back to that huddle – dig a little deeper – and play for pride. And in bass fishing, that will make you a lot of paychecks even if you don’t win,” he explains.
While Swindle never came close to playing for a high school football state championship, his perseverance-rich soul ultimately led to both the 2004 and 2016 Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles.
Only 11 men in history have ever achieved the coveted AOY title more than once, and he’s also qualified for 19 Bassmaster Classics, placing him again in very rare company.
Ultimately, 34 years later, the tough lessons learned on a challenging Locust Fork Hornet football field back in 1986 landed him in Blount County, Alabama’s highest ring of honor – as part of the Blount County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Not so much for what he achieved as “Termite” but because the heart and soul that was shaped beneath jersey #15 made “G Man” one of the greatest bass anglers of all time.
Kaneland High School Wins U.S. Army High School Fishing Open at Lake of the Ozarks
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Oct. 19, 2021) – The Kaneland High School duo of Jake Mantovani of Napierville, Illinois, and Carter Pjesky of Sugar Grove, Illinois, won the U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Googan Baits on Saturday in Osage Beach, Missouri. The victory advanced the winning team to the 2022 U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship.
According to post-tournament reports, the duo caught their fish targeting bridges and rocks in deep water with an underspin, a Heddon Zara Spook, a Ned rig and a drop-shot rig.
TOP 10 RESULTS
| RANK | SCHOOL/CLUB NAME/CITY | ANGLER NAME | BASS | WEIGHT |
| 1st | Kaneland High School, Maple Park, Ill.* | Jake Mantovani, Napierville, Ill. Carter Pjesky, Sugar Grove, Ill. |
5 | 12-8 |
| 2nd | Lincoln County Lunkers* | Alec Davidson, Troy, Mo. Ronin Picker, Moscow Mills, Mo. |
5 | 12-6 |
| 3rd | Bradleyville High School* | Wyatt Marler, Oldfield, Mo. Brock Rogers, Bradleyville, Mo. |
4 | 12-1 |
| 4th | Bolivar High School* | Ryder Hall, Bolivar, Mo. Logan Welch, Bolivar, Mo. |
5 | 11-15 |
| 5th | Clearwater High School, Piedmont, Mo. | Caden McAlister, Piedmont, Mo. Brayden Wilson, Piedmont, Mo. |
5 | 9-14 |
| 6th | Timberland High School, Wentzville, Mo. | Nick Dawson Wentzville, Mo. Austin Smith, Wentzville, Mo. |
3 | 8-9 |
| 7th | Aurora Central Catholic High School, Aurora, Ill. | Adam Bartlett, Aurora, Ill. Michael Cooper, Aurora, Ill. |
2 | 8-9 |
| 8th | Carthage High School, Carthage, Mo. | Tristan Beck, Carthage, Mo. Colson Brust, Carthage, Mo. |
3 | 8-7 |
| 9th | Eureka High School, Eureka, Mo. | Nate Bridges, Eureka, Mo. Grant Priesmeyer, Eureka, Mo. |
2 | 6-11 |
| 10th | Newton Community High School, Newton, Ill. | Kyson Bradley, Newton, Ill. Ian Fehrenbacher, Ingraham, Ill. |
3 | 6-8 |
*National Championship Qualifier. The top 10% of teams advance to the 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
2022 UPCOMING QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| 2022 U.S. Army High School Fishing National Championship & World Finals | June 22-25, 2022 | Pickwick Lake & Wilson Lake | Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau |
U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships will advance to the 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship. The U.S. Army High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.
The first 25 high school teams that enter each U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournament will receive a free Favorite Fishing package, including one Favorite Fishing casting rod and reel, one Favorite Fishing spinning rod and reel, six packs of Googan Baits and two Favorite Fishing hats, a total package value of $230. Most tournaments are also hosted by a Bass Pro Tour angler or Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler, giving high school students the chance to meet the sport’s top pros. As an added bonus, the winning team at each tournament will receive a guided fishing trip with their pro angler host.
In addition to the U.S. Army High School Fishing National Championship, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest open high school bass tournament, the 2022 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. More than $2.8 million in scholarships and prizes were offered at the 2021 World Finals.
Full schedules and the latest announcements, photos and articles are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and MajorLeagueFishing.com.
McKendree University Takes Win at Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament at Lake of the Ozarks
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Oct. 19, 2021) – The McKendree University duo of Bailey Bleser of Burlington, Wisconsin, and Nathan Doty of Decatur, Illinois, brought five bass the scale weighing 14 pounds, 4 ounces to earn the victory Friday at the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at Lake of the Ozarks. The victory earned the Bearcats bass club $2,000 and qualified the duo to compete in the 2022 College Fishing National Championship.
According to post-tournament reports the duo caught their fish on a River2Sea Whopper Ploppers, targeting docks and chunk rock.
TOP 10 RESULTS*
| RANK | COLLEGE NAME | ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | McKendree University | Bailey Bleser, Burlington, Wis. Nathan Doty, Decatur, Ill. |
5 | 14-4 | $2,000 |
| 2nd | Greenville University | Cordell Beckmann, Breese, Ill. Dru Johnson, Bartelso, Ill. |
5 | 14-2 | $1,000 |
| 3rd | Drury University | Brock Bila, Overland Park, Kan. Dylan Chambers, Nixa, Mo. |
5 | 13-12 | $500 |
| 4th | McKendree University | Jaxson Freeman, Loda, Ill. Nicholas Holtgrave, Trenton, Ill. |
5 | 13-12 | $500 |
| 5th | McKendree University | Tyler Christy, Bolingbrook, Ill. Trey Schroeder, Crestwood, Mo. |
5 | 13-9 | $500 |
| 6th | Greenville University | Trevor Davis, East Palatka, Ill. Keaton Roadman, Greenville, Ill. |
5 | 13-0 | |
| 7th | Arkansas Tech University | Ethan McMahan, Batesville, Ark. Parker McMahan, Batesville, Ark. |
5 | 12-14 | |
| 8th | McKendree University | Trey Budach, Lebanon, Ill. Colton Hill, Patoka, Ill. |
5 | 12-11 | |
| 9th | Murray State University | Jacob Autry, Beaver Dam, Ky. Braiden Koerber, Abbeville, Ala. |
5 | 12-8 | |
| 10th | University of Iowa | Kaden Darby, West Branch, Iowa John Hatfield, West Branch, Iowa |
5 | 12-0 |
*Top 10 teams advance to the 2022 College Fishing National Championship
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance | March 29-31, 2022 | Fort Gibson Lake, Wagoner, Okla. | Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce |
The event was the third and final qualifying tournaments for Central Conference anglers.
Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI teams compete in regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Chad Foraker, Kemp, TX, Tops over 1200 anglers from 24 states at 16th Annual Berkley Big Bass on Fork
Heaviest "Under"
Henry Jones - 3.16 lbs
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Rick Scheen & Mike Harman top a record field of 300 teams at Championship presented by Yamaha on O.H. Ivie.
| Place | Boat | Truck | Angler 1 | Angler 2 | Fish | Big Bass | Wt. | Prize Amt. | |
| 1 | RICK SCHEEN AUSTIN , TX |
MIKE HARMAN BASTROP , TX |
10 | 11.32 | 49.77 |
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| 2 |  |
WENDELL RAMSEY SR SAN ANGELO , TX |
WENDELL RAMSEY JR PFLUGERVILLE , TX |
10 | 0 | 43.18 |
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| 3 |  |
SHANE MOORE ARGYLE , TX |
BRET STAFFORD TEMPLE , TX |
9 | 0 | 42.88 |
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| 4 | LOWELL BENNETT HEWITT , TX |
CHARLES REAGAN THORNTON , TX |
8 | 0 | 36.77 |
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| 5 | |
PHILLIP MASSOLETTI BURNET , TX |
NOEL LOWE BURNETT , TX |
9 | 7.30 | 36.73 |
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| 6 | MARTIN ELSHOUT ABITA SPRINGS , LA |
MARK PRICE RUSTON , LA |
8 | 8.67 | 36.11 |
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| 7 | |
TYLER WOODS MANSFIELD , TX |
MATTHEW ANTHONY FT WORTH , TX |
9 | 0 | 36.02 |
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| 8 | ANDREW GOLDEN CENTER , TX |
JOHN BARRERA MILAM , TX |
9 | 0 | 35.09 |
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| 9 | JACOB JOHNSON LAKE CHARLES , LA |
SHANE CORMIER RAGLEY , LA |
9 | 0 | 34.86 |
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| 10 | BUBBA HARALSON DEL RIO , TX |
JERRY GREEN BRECKENRIDGE , TX |
9 | 0 | 33.33 |
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| 11 | STEVE TRIMBLE DUNCANVILLE , TX |
DAKOTA TRIMBLE KAUFMAN , TX |
9 | 0 | 32.99 |
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| 12 | |
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ROGER RITCHIE WICHITA FALLS , TX |
RICHARD RITCHIE BENTON , AR |
8 | 11.31 | 32.75 |
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| 13 | |
RONNY MAYNARD GEORGETOWN , TX |
ERIC CRUMLEY LEANDER , TX |
7 | 6.98 | 32.59 |
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| 14 | NOLAN JACKSON ROYSE CITY , TX |
DREW SLOAN SCURRY , TX |
8 | 9.96 | 30.14 |
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| 15 | BRADLEY HILLEBRANDT FLORIEN , LA |
JORDAN BREAUX LAKE CHARLES , LA |
8 | 0 | 29.67 |
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| 16 | NICK BROWN LINDALE , TX |
CHAD THEDFORD TYLER , TX |
8 | 0 | 29.61 |
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| 17 |  |
BYRON BIONDI TERRELL , TX |
JASON GREENFIELD KENNEDALE , TX |
7 | 7.55 | 29.30 |
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| 18 | |
CHARLES GUTHRIE CONROE , TX |
COLE BREWER LEESVILLE , LA |
8 | 0 | 28.59 |
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| 19 | RANDY SPENCE TERRELL , TX |
BOBBY BADARACK FT WORTH , TX |
8 | 0 | 28.25 |
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| 20 | |
JOHNNIE FRANKS HEMPHILL , TX |
CHET SLAYDON DE RIDDER , LA |
7 | 0 | 28.24 |
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| 21 | |
CLIFF BROWN HARKER HEIGHTS , TX |
SCOTT MEADS KILLEEN , TX |
8 | 0 | 27.64 |
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| 22 | |
BRENT SMITH BERTRAM , TX |
WILLIAM FESLER LAMPASAS , TX |
7 | 0 | 27.03 |
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| 23 | DEVIN BUSHLAND ALLEN , TX |
SONTUS MITCHELL RUSTON , LA |
8 | 7.19 | 26.51 |
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| 24 | |
CHANCE ARCENEAUX LAKE CHARLES , LA |
KENNETH FAIRLY LOCKHART , TX |
7 | 0 | 25.33 |
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| 25 | |
TONY COBURN LAKE CHARLES , LA |
RICKY TRAHAN LAKE CHARLES , LA |
6 | 7.86 | 25.21 |
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| 26 | SAM HUCKABEE SHREVEPORT , LA |
TOBY JOHNSON WASKOM , TX |
7 | 0 | 24.83 |
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| 27 | LAMARCUS MCCRAY HOUSTON , TX |
JAMES ROZELL NEW CANEY , TX |
8 | 0 | 24.58 |
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| 28 | |
SCOTT WHITTEN SPRINGTOWN , TX |
MATTHEW BIEHL BELLEVUE , TX |
7 | 0 | 24.30 |
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| 29 | |
MIKE BATES CANYON LAKE , TX |
GERALD DELAFUENTE CASTROVILLE , TX |
6 | 7.63 | 24.14 |
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| 30 | |
DAVID CHILES WACO , TX |
KYLE ROWE WACO , TX |
7 | 0 | 24.03 |
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| 31 | RUSTY NELSON AZLE , TX |
GINO NAPOLI WEATHERFORD , TX |
7 | 0 | 24.00 |
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| 32 | JEFF MCBRIDE WINNSBORO , TX |
DAKOTA MCBRIDE WINNSBORO , TX |
7 | 0 | 23.91 |
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| 33 | LEE YOWELL ENNIS , TX |
MARK CROW PALMER , TX |
8 | 0 | 23.67 |
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| 34 | |
RORY LAYNE EMORY , TX |
BRIAN JACKSON ALBA , TX |
6 | 8.39 | 23.44 |
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| 35 | |
LEE LEONARD MARTINDALE , TX |
SCOTT BRONDER FALLS CITY , TX |
7 | 0 | 23.34 |
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| 36 | |
BRIAN HALL BRONTE , TX |
JACOB BECK STERLING CITY , TX |
8 | 0 | 23.24 |
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| 37 | KEN SMITH RICHARDSON , TX |
TERRY HAWKINS CORSICANA , TX |
7 | 0 | 23.18 |
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| 38 | |
JEFF CADE MCKINNEY , TX |
GREG FLEMING HOLLY LAKE RANCH , TX |
6 | 0 | 23.02 |
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| 39 | |
SAM MCCOLLUM CORSICANA , TX |
PAUL MCCOLLUM CORSICANA , TX |
7 | 0 | 22.96 |
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| 40 | RUSSELL LEE SACHSE , TX |
JODIE HONZA ENNIS , TX |
6 | 0 | 22.88 |
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| 41 | |
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TIM WILCOXSON ROCKWALL , TX |
ERIC ELDER SCROGGINS , TX |
7 | 0 | 22.34 |
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| 42 | |
DEAN ALEXANDER GEORGETOWN , TX |
THOMAS MARTENS CEDAR PARK , TX |
6 | 0 | 22.20 |
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| 43 | SEAN MECHE LAKE CHARLES , LA |
RODNEY OWENS RAGLEY , LA |
7 | 0 | 22.19 |
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| 44 | |
MATT HILL JONESTOWN , TX |
BARRY MOTT LIBERTY HILL , TX |
6 | 0 | 21.88 |
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| 45 | DALE HUGHES SAN ANGELO , TX |
BARRY STUARD CANYON LAKE , TX |
7 | 0 | 21.85 |
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| 46 | |
DAVID WENCIL BUCHANAN DAM , TX |
JEFF WHITEHEAD SLATON , TX |
7 | 0 | 21.64 |
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| 47 | TED PRIESING DALLAS , TX |
VIRGIL CHANEY JASPER , TX |
7 | 0 | 21.49 |
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| 48 | |
DOUG MCCAIN LAKE CHARLES , LA |
MASON MCCAIN LAKE CHARLES , LA |
8 | 0 | 21.24 |
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| 49 | TONY FERDINANDO SPICEWOOD , TX |
MATT COOPER SMITHVILLE , TX |
7 | 0 | 21.21 |
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| 50 | WILLIAM BLAINE SAN ANGELO , TX |
ROSS JEWELL SAN ANGELO , TX |
7 | 0 | 20.84 |
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| 51 | JUSTYN PARRISH LAGO VISTA , TX |
LUCAS LARSON HUTTO , TX |
6 | 0 | 20.67 |
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| 52 | |
CALEB HAND ANNA , TX |
CHAD OWEN CELESTE , TX |
7 | 0 | 20.57 |
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| 53 | |
WAYNE ORENDER JR PFLUGERVILLE , TX |
TOM NILSSEN NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
5 | 6.68 | 20.45 |
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| 54 | RYAN AUTERY RICHARDSON , TX |
7 | 0 | 20.31 |
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| 55 | ANDY WILBURN ROYSE CITY , TX |
JOEL CHAPMAN WYLIE , TX |
7 | 0 | 20.30 |
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| 56 | JAY STIDHAM CHINA SPRING , TX |
CHARLIE GANTENBEIN TEMPLE , TX |
6 | 0 | 20.22 |
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| 57 | WESLEY PULLIG WALL , TX |
MASON PULLIG WALL , TX |
7 | 0 | 20.19 |
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| 58 | |
DANNY LASHLEY ALEXANDRIA , LA |
MICHAEL IVEY OTIS , LA |
7 | 0 | 20.10 |
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| 59 | DAVID UNDERWOOD WACO , TX |
CHARLES SIMMONS WACO , TX |
7 | 0 | 19.85 |
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| 59 | |
TRENT ERXLEBEN ROUND ROCK , TX |
DERON MUELLER ROUND ROCK , TX |
6 | 0 | 19.85 |
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| 61 | |
WESTON BROWN HOUSTON , TX |
DAVID DOONAN CALDWELL , TX |
5 | 0 | 19.81 |
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| 62 | |
MARK BIONDI JR BURLESON , TX |
MARK BIONDI SR BURLESON , TX |
6 | 0 | 19.78 |
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| 63 | KENT SIKES ROANOKE , TX |
DARRELL CAMPBELL ALBA , TX |
6 | 6.73 | 19.16 |
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| 64 | |
JUSTIN KELLEY JOSHUA , TX |
RAY BOSQUEZ JR FORT WORTH , TX |
6 | 0 | 19.06 |
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| 65 | |
|
EDDIE HALL CADDO MILLS , TX |
BRANDON BREWER CADDO MILLS , TX |
6 | 0 | 19.04 |
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| 66 | |
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LEE BEUERSHAUSEN MARBLE FALLS , TX |
RANDY GROUNDS HORSESHOE BAY , TX |
6 | 0 | 18.99 |
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| 67 | DENTON COOPER SMITHVILLE , TX |
DANIEL HARRIS SMITHVILLE , TX |
6 | 0 | 18.87 |
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| 68 | JOHN MADDOX LUFKIN , TX |
JEFFERY WISE LUFKIN , TX |
7 | 0 | 18.72 |
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| 69 | ANDREW RICKMAN JR CANTON , TX |
MIKE CRAIN AZLE , TX |
6 | 0 | 18.59 |
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| 70 | MIKE REID ANDREWS , TX |
MICHAEL REID ANDREWS , TX |
7 | 0 | 18.47 |
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| 71 | ERIC WASHBURN GATESVILLE , TX |
ZANE WASHBURN GATESVILLE , TX |
6 | 0 | 18.26 |
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| 72 | |
EARL ARMSTRONG DEL RIO , TX |
GARY SCHMITT MIDLAND , TX |
7 | 0 | 18.14 |
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| 73 | GROVER MANSFIELD BROOKELAND , TX |
CORTLAND WESTON BAYTOWN , TX |
6 | 0 | 18.09 |
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| 74 | |
BUSTER JOHNSON KRUM , TX |
ZACH PARKER DENTON , TX |
6 | 0 | 17.39 |
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| 75 | |
KURT KLOSOWSKI PLANO , TX |
TOM MOCNY LITTLE ELM , TX |
6 | 0 | 16.89 |
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| 76 | |
RONNIE CHARANZA BROWNWOOD , TX |
WESLEY FLETCHER BROWNWOOD , TX |
6 | 0 | 16.59 |
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| 77 | |
JAMES BIGGERSTAFF LINDALE , TX |
BRADLEY BIGGERSTAFF FAIRFIELD , TX |
4 | 9.03 | 16.43 |
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| 78 | WILL CARSTENS ALEXANDRIA , LA |
ROSS BRYANT ALEXANDRIA , LA |
5 | 0 | 16.33 |
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| 79 | |
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BRANDON BLAYLOCK BROWNWOOD , TX |
ADAM MIRANDA BROWNWOOD , TX |
6 | 0 | 16.26 |
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| 80 | |
BENJI DUMAS MINDEN , LA |
JIMMY DUCK III CENTER , LA |
5 | 0 | 16.14 |
|
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| 81 | |
JUSTIN TUNNELL RICHARDSON , TX |
PATRICK TUNNELL HAWKINS , TX |
6 | 0 | 16.07 |
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| 82 | |
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ALLEN SHELTON FARMERS BRANCH , TX |
STRIDER BROWNING TIMPSON , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.00 |
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| 83 | |
JOE SMITH FORNEY , TX |
KENNETH GERECHT PALMER , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.92 |
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| 84 | RUSTY REEDY SPRING BRANCH , TX |
4 | 0 | 15.74 |
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| 85 | |
GREG MIRANDA BROWNWOOD , TX |
ROGER SOTO BROWNWOOD , TX |
6 | 0 | 15.71 |
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| 86 | JORDAN LOGAN FORT WORTH , TX |
CHASE KELLEY ALEDO , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.70 |
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| 87 | SAMMY CHRISTIAN LUMBERTON , TX |
ALLAN SHIVERS JASPER , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.63 |
|
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| 88 | |
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JUSTIN DUBOSE PARADISE , TX |
STEVE LYNAM SOUTHLAKE , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.60 |
|
|
| 89 | |
|
JEFF NORRIS DECATUR , TX |
RONNIE NORRIS BOYD , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.49 |
|
|
| 90 | |
KEVIN DRITSCHLER PROSPER , TX |
TIM BROCKWAY KAUFMAN , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.44 |
|
||
| 91 | DON STAPLETON YANTIS , TX |
CHUCK RIZUTO ALBA , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.40 |
|
|||
| 92 | JASPER HUNTER JARRELL , TX |
JEFFERY HUNTER JARRELL , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.35 |
|
|||
| 92 | JEFFREY JONES SAN ANTONIO , TX |
FRANKIE BENITEZ SAN ANTONIO , TX |
6 | 0 | 15.35 |
|
|||
| 94 | |
SCOTTY GALBREAITH WEATHERFORD , TX |
JASON GALBREAITH BURLESON , TX |
5 | 8.49 | 15.33 |
|
||
| 95 | JACOB SHANNON ARLINGTON , TX |
JAMES SHAMBURGER MABANK , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.25 |
|
|||
| 96 | BILLY BREWER HEWITT , TX |
L J CASTILLO WACO , TX |
6 | 0 | 15.22 |
|
|||
| 97 | STEVE MAGNELIA AUSTIN , TX |
MICHAEL TENNANT PFLUGERVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.19 |
|
|||
| 98 | |
MICHAEL GRIMES GEORGETOWN , TX |
TRAVIS OWEN GEORGETOWN , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.15 |
|
||
| 99 | CLAY DARDEAU RAGLEY , LA |
CRAIG BEAN LAKE CHARLES , LA |
6 | 0 | 14.82 |
|
|||
| 100 | |
GARY WEIMER LEANDER , TX |
JEREMIAH WAFFORD CEDAR PARK , TX |
4 | 0 | 14.81 |
|
||
| 101 | |
CHAD BLACK CANYON LAKE , TX |
CHUCK BLACK LOGAN , NM |
5 | 0 | 14.57 |
|
||
| 102 | |
CHANCE HUNDLEY CASTROVILLE , TX |
CODY HUNDLEY RIO MEDINA , TX |
6 | 0 | 14.54 |
|
||
| 103 | |
CHARLES HICKMAN HUNTINGTON , TX |
TERRY HICKMAN KINGWOOD , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.49 |
|
||
| 104 | |
BRENNAN FERTIG BELLVILLE , TX |
JAMES BEAUCHAMP SUNRISE BEACH , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.41 |
|
||
| 105 | |
BRANDON JONES FAIR OAKS , TX |
THOMAS WEIMER CEDAR PARK , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.40 |
|
||
| 106 | SHAWN TAYLOR ABILENE , TX |
DUSTIN WALTON ABILENE , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.36 |
|
|||
| 107 | GARY JOHNSON BELTON , TX |
DON SCHUETZE TEMPLE , TX |
6 | 0 | 14.28 |
|
|||
| 108 | |
TIM FLOWERS MIDLAND , TX |
BRIAN ANKRUM HONDO , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.26 |
|
||
| 108 | JAMES STANLEY SAN ANTONIO , TX |
ANTHONY SKOUBY CIBOLO , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.26 |
|
|||
| 110 | |
JEFFREY PIEL CANYON LAKE , TX |
KASEN PIEL CANYON LAKE , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.14 |
|
||
| 111 | |
DEAN LEWIS NATCHITOCHES , LA |
JOHNNY COSTELLO BOSSIER CITY , LA |
5 | 0 | 14.00 |
|
||
| 111 | |
|
CHRIS BACHTA GRAPEVINE , TX |
CHARLIE JOHNSON DECATUR , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.00 |
|
|
| 113 | |
JOHN MCDIFFITT GRANBURY , TX |
STEPHEN WELLS MARSHALL , TX |
6 | 0 | 13.93 |
|
||
| 114 | |
THOMAS DAVILA MIDLAND , TX |
ROGER MONTEJANO DEL RIO , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.78 |
|
||
| 115 | |
TIM CLINE SHERMAN , TX |
CHRIS TILTON WYLIE , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.73 |
|
||
| 116 | MARK RHODES ODESSA , TX |
EVAN MULLEN ODESSA , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.71 |
|
|||
| 117 | |
JJ LARSON LEANDER , TX |
JASON LARSON LEANDER , TX |
5 | 7.65 | 13.60 |
|
||
| 118 | MIKE BURNS ALLEN , TX |
ROB BURNS PLANO , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.37 |
|
|||
| 119 | |
MARK WYLIE KELLER , TX |
MARK PARKER GRAPEVINE , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.19 |
|
||
| 120 | |
COREY NEWBY ALLEN , TX |
BRANDON LEHMER GUNTER , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.18 |
|
||
| 121 | ANTHONY SMITH ATHENS , TX |
WILLIAM THORNTON EDGEWOOD , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.96 |
|
|||
| 122 | |
TIM WILCOXSON EDGEWOOD , TX |
JERAMY MARINELLI ROYSE CITY , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.87 |
|
||
| 123 | MIKE REID GREENVILLE , TX |
RON ROGERS ROCKWALL , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.76 |
|
|||
| 124 | TOM GRIDLEY WIMBERLEY , TX |
DEREK ROGERS MALAKOFF , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.53 |
|
|||
| 125 | TERRY PEACOCK ROYSE CITY , TX |
SCOTT DEAN TERRELL , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.45 |
|
|||
| 126 | MIKE PICKWELL DRIPPING SPRINGS , TX |
CHUCK EBBINGHAUS WIMBERLY , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.39 |
|
|||
| 127 | |
DIRK SMITH FARMERSVILLE , TX |
BRYON HARRISON QUINLAN , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.32 |
|
||
| 127 | BRENDON KENNELL BOERNE , TX |
JIMMY SHELTON GRANBURY , TX |
4 | 0 | 12.32 |
|
|||
| 129 | |
DON PEARSON CEDAR PARK , TX |
JUSTIN KING BRYAN , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.31 |
|
||
| 130 | SHAWN BROOKS BOYD , TX |
MICHAEL HARVEY TULSA , OK |
5 | 0 | 12.24 |
|
|||
| 131 | |
DEREK MONG MANY , LA |
TAMMY MONG MANY , LA |
5 | 0 | 11.93 |
|
||
| 132 | BRETT CASSIDY PASADENA , TX |
MICHAEL BELVIN ALVIN , TX |
4 | 0 | 11.84 |
|
|||
| 133 | COLE STEWART HEMPHILL , TX |
3 | 0 | 11.82 |
|
||||
| 134 | KENNETH MOORE RED OAK , TX |
KEITH GLASBY OVILLA , TX |
4 | 0 | 11.64 |
|
|||
| 135 | |
TANNER SPURGIN MCKINNEY , TX |
TYLER HOLMES RICHARDSON , TX |
4 | 0 | 11.45 |
|
||
| 136 | |
JOHN FORSTER CENTER POINT , TX |
CLAYTON FORSTER CENTER POINT , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.19 |
|
||
| 137 | |
JAMES DORTLON MARTHAVILLE , LA |
LAYNE LACAZE ROBELINE , LA |
5 | 0 | 11.18 |
|
||
| 138 | TOM CAUTHEN INGRAM , TX |
RONNY GAZAWAY KERRVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.99 |
|
|||
| 139 | |
|
DANNY BENNETT HUNTSVILLE , TX |
MICHAEL BENNETT PARIS , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.89 |
|
|
| 140 | |
MATT MORTON DALLAS , TX |
MICHAEL BURNSIDE ANNA , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.68 |
|
||
| 141 | |
MARK MCWHIRTER ARGYLE , TX |
ZEB STRICKLAND TIOGA , TX |
3 | 0 | 10.52 |
|
||
| 142 | |
MARK MAYBEN PLANO , TX |
JOHN MAYBEN DALLAS , TX |
3 | 0 | 10.51 |
|
||
| 143 | RANDY MILLENDER TEAGUE , TX |
KENNETH NICHOLS TEAGUE , TX |
3 | 0 | 10.21 |
|
|||
| 144 | JOHN NEMECEK FRIENDSWOOD , TX |
BRADLEY PAGE FRIENDSWOOD , TX |
4 | 0 | 10.02 |
|
|||
| 145 | |
ZACHARY WYMER HALTOM , TX |
MATT CARR SCURRY , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.81 |
|
||
| 146 | |
LANCE SILVERTOOTH KILGORE , TX |
CHARLIE BROWN III FLINT , TX |
3 | 0 | 9.71 |
|
||
| 147 | DAVID THOMAS MELISSA , TX |
KYLE ROBINSON ANNA , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.64 |
|
|||
| 148 | |
CASEY FRIDAY LAPORTE , TX |
MICHAEL CLEMENTS SANTAFE , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.57 |
|
||
| 149 | |
CHARLIE FORSTER CENTER POINT , TX |
MIKE BINGHAM KERRVILLE , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.56 |
|
||
| 150 | TRENT MENEES NORTHLAKE , TX |
TERRY BOLLOM FRISCO , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.48 |
|
|||
| 151 | |
|
ZACH BROWN GEORGETOWN , TX |
MIKE RICHARDSON THORNDALE , TX |
3 | 0 | 9.35 |
|
|
| 152 | |
DANIEL HICKMAN HUNTINGTON , TX |
DUSTIN ALEXANDER HUNTINGTON , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.21 |
|
||
| 152 | BRANNON MIRE BLOUSSARD , LA |
DENNIS NARCISSE ST MARTINVILLE , LA |
3 | 0 | 9.21 |
|
|||
| 154 | SCOTT BARNETT MANSFIELD , TX |
BRIAN CLARK HALTOM CITY , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.18 |
|
|||
| 155 | TOM MCELROY NORTH RICHLAND HILLS , TX |
CHERYL SPEAR NORTH RICHLAND HILLS , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.09 |
|
|||
| 156 | |
TERRY JOHNSON FATE , TX |
TODD JOHNSON FORNEY , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.89 |
|
||
| 156 | STEVE SIMS SANGER , TX |
RONNIE SIMS LEWISVILLE , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.89 |
|
|||
| 158 | KEITH TAYLOR ROCKWALL , TX |
LARRY LADNIER ROCKWALL , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.81 |
|
|||
| 158 | |
COREY WALDROP FT WORTH , TX |
CRAIG WALDROP BENBROOK , TX |
3 | 0 | 8.81 |
|
||
| 160 | |
MATTHEW WRIGHT ORANGE , TX |
CAMERON MALLETT BUNA , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.80 |
|
||
| 161 | |
ROBERT BROWN ROUND ROCK , TX |
CHARLES PURSELL AUSTIN , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.78 |
|
||
| 162 | |
KELVIN HOGG ARLINGTON , TX |
BRIAN ROUSSEL ARLINGTON , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.74 |
|
||
| 163 | |
MARK DOREMUS EARLY , TX |
TIM MANLEY BROWNWOOD , TX |
3 | 0 | 8.71 |
|
||
| 164 | STEVE SCHMIDT MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
BILLY RYAN MANSFIELD , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.61 |
|
|||
| 165 | ELENO BALBOA JR DEL RIO , TX |
ELENO BALBOA III DEL RIO , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.60 |
|
|||
| 166 | LEE BATSON HEATH , TX |
JOHN FLEMING COMBINE , TX |
3 | 0 | 8.50 |
|
|||
| 167 | |
PATRICK ANDERSON BUDA , TX |
DOUG HAMILTON LAKEWAY , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.39 |
|
||
| 168 | |
NATHAN BYRD MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
JOE BYRD SPRING , TX |
3 | 0 | 8.35 |
|
||
| 169 | |
TAYLOR DARDEN LOMETA , TX |
JOEY WYNN EARLY , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.10 |
|
||
| 170 | RYAN WARREN GATESVILLE , TX |
JASON DERRICK VALLEY MILLS , TX |
3 | 0 | 8.00 |
|
|||
| 171 | KEITH IVY PONDER , TX |
TOMMY MURRAY BEDFORD , TX |
3 | 0 | 7.94 |
|
|||
| 172 | |
JARED TALBERT CHINA SPRING , TX |
JESSE RAWLS LORENA , TX |
3 | 0 | 7.93 |
|
||
| 173 | ROCKIE MARTIN ROCKWALL , TX |
CLINT NOWELL FORT WORTH , TX |
3 | 0 | 7.54 |
|
|||
| 174 | DUANE PITTMAN PRAIRIEVILLE , LA |
DWIGHT MINOGUE KEITHVILLE , LA |
3 | 0 | 7.44 |
|
|||
| 175 | |
BUDDY BOONE SAN ANTONIO , TX |
RALPH CELEDON ALAMO , TX |
3 | 0 | 7.23 |
|
||
| 176 | |
MIKE COON KERRVILLE , TX |
WESLEY GRAHAM WINNSBORO , TX |
3 | 0 | 7.20 |
|
||
| 177 | |
WAYNE JACKSON RIO FRIO , TX |
JASON SCHNEEMANN D'HANIS , TX |
3 | 0 | 7.04 |
|
||
| 178 | |
ROBERT LOPEZ DEL RIO , TX |
JEFF BUTTERS DEL RIO , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.60 |
|
||
| 179 | DEVIN GIBSON GONZALES , TX |
ROBERT PRESCOTT SEGUIN , TX |
4 | 0 | 6.35 |
|
|||
| 180 | |
LON SHIPE LEAGUE CITY , TX |
FARREN MOUNTS PRESCOTT , AZ |
3 | 0 | 6.19 |
|
||
| 181 | MICHAEL HUTTON EMORY , TX |
2 | 0 | 6.16 |
|
||||
| 182 | DENNIS COURTNEY LAKE CHARLES , LA |
GRADY MAYEAUX RAGLEY , LA |
3 | 0 | 6.10 |
|
|||
| 183 | JOHNNY UNDERFUSSER DENISON , TX |
RON SAUCEMAN COLLINSVILLE , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.96 |
|
|||
| 184 | |
BLAINE BUTLER CEDAR PARK , TX |
HANK GRAVES LAGO VISTA , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.92 |
|
||
| 185 | |
KEVIN UNGER SMITHVILLE , TX |
TIM GOETZ SMITHVILLE , TX |
3 | 0 | 5.90 |
|
||
| 186 | |
|
BRAD DRAKE IRVING , TX |
JOHN MCCALMONT ROCKWALL , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.88 |
|
|
| 187 | |
|
JOHN BYLER ARGYLE , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.58 |
|
||
| 188 | |
CHRIS DUROY KINGSTON , OK |
BOE FOSSETT KINGSTON , OK |
4 | 0 | 5.50 |
|
||
| 189 | |
JOE ROME FLOWER MOUND , TX |
JOEL MCBRIDE CORINTH , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.48 |
|
||
| 190 | |
DELL BROWN ARLINGTON , TX |
MARK MCCLURE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.39 |
|
||
| 191 | |
KEITH HONEYCUTT TEMPLE , TX |
SAM JONES ROGERS , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.20 |
|
||
| 192 | |
CODY NIX PLANO , TX |
CORY NIX CELINA , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.14 |
|
||
| 193 | BASIL WILSON COMFORT , TX |
JEFF WILSON COMFORT , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.09 |
|
|||
| 194 | KEVIN ALLEN JEWETT , TX |
BRANDON BROSSETT GROESBECK , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.07 |
|
|||
| 195 | BEN FALLIS MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
BILLY MULLEN WILLOW PARK , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.05 |
|
|||
| 196 | MICHAEL ZIBERT GARDEN RIDGE , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.00 |
|
||||
| 196 | |
KRISTOPHER PICKETT COUSHATTA , LA |
CHRISTOPHER GORDON CLARENCE , LA |
2 | 0 | 5.00 |
|
||
| 198 | GEORGE GLASS DERRIDER , LA |
KANE BASS DE RIDDER , LA |
2 | 0 | 4.82 |
|
|||
| 199 | |
RICK SHOCK VICTORIA , TX |
TED SPRENCEL PORT LAVACA , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.80 |
|
||
| 200 | |
STERLING MARTIN COMFORT , TX |
COURTNEY BEHREND COMFORT , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.72 |
|
||
| 201 | |
WESLEY BAXLEY CYPRESS , TX |
AUSTIN WOODDELL CYPRESS , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.66 |
|
||
| 201 | RICHARD CREMO LAREDO , TX |
ROBERTO GONZALEZ LAREDO , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.66 |
|
|||
| 203 | CODY MORRISON PILOT POINT , TX |
BARRETT MCCLENDON DENTON , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.64 |
|
|||
| 204 | |
CHRIS SNYDER CIBOLO , TX |
STEVE WADE SAN ANTONIO , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.62 |
|
||
| 204 | |
JAMES SCOGIN AUSTIN , TX |
ROLAND LOERA AUSTIN , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.62 |
|
||
| 206 | MIKE STANFORD NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
BRADY STANFORD MIDLAND , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.45 |
|
|||
| 207 | |
PAT LESIAK TROPHY CLUB , TX |
TYLER LESIAK TROPHY CLUB , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.40 |
|
||
| 208 | |
ROB MEDDERS CELINA , TX |
ROB WILSON SHERMAN , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.37 |
|
||
| 209 | DANIEL BARNES BELTON , TX |
TANNER BARNES BELTON , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.36 |
|
|||
| 209 | JONATHAN CLICK CHRISTOVAL , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.36 |
|
||||
| 211 | TYLER WALKER BURTON , TX |
STEVEN WALKER BURTON , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.30 |
|
|||
| 212 | |
ROBERT KESSLER SPRING , TX |
RUSSELL KESSLER LA VERNIA , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.26 |
|
||
| 213 | |
DALE READ LEANDER , TX |
JIM SUNVISON PFLUGERVILLE , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.21 |
|
||
| 213 | CODY BURDINE BRIDGEPORT , TX |
BOBBY POINTER ALVORD , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.21 |
|
|||
| 213 | JOHN PRICE LA GRANGE , TX |
DUSTY FRANK WEST POINT , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.21 |
|
|||
| 213 | BRINTON HASKINS NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
MICHAEL ATKINS NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.21 |
|
|||
| 217 | |
GARY KINARD FORNEY , TX |
JACOB KINARD ROCKWALL , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.19 |
|
||
| 218 | SHELBY SHAW HUNTSVILLE , TX |
WESLEY LEWIS KIRBYVILLE , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.18 |
|
|||
| 219 | JERRY MCKNIGHT WELLS , TX |
QUINTON MCKNIGHT WELLS , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.15 |
|
|||
| 220 | JERRY DAVID II PILOT POINT , TX |
JACOB DAVID PILOT POINT , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.14 |
|
|||
| 221 | |
RICKY CRUZ NATCHEZ , LA |
WESLEY HOLT OTIS , LA |
2 | 0 | 4.10 |
|
||
| 222 | |
CECIL TUBB DIKE , TX |
SAM HOOTEN WINNSBORO , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.09 |
|
||
| 223 | |
DEREK SWINDLER WAXAHACHIE , TX |
STEPHEN HAMPTON WILLS POINT , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.02 |
|
||
| 224 | |
ALFONSO HERRERA ALAMOGORDO , NM |
ALEJANDRO RAMIREZ ALMOGORDO , NM |
2 | 0 | 4.01 |
|
||
| 225 | GARY WAFFORD CEDAR PARK , TX |
GREG WAFFORD CEDAR PARK , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.00 |
|
|||
| 226 | |
|
COLT DIETZ AUSTIN , TX |
JOHN WARDEN DRIPPING SPRINGS , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.99 |
|
|
| 227 | |
RANDY DESPINO COLFAX , LA |
WILLIAM DOWDEN ANACOCO , LA |
2 | 0 | 3.94 |
|
||
| 228 | |
RUSTY CLARK JASPER , TX |
BRYAN LOHR LUMBERTON , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.93 |
|
||
| 229 | |
GEORGE SHIPPEY MT PLEASANT , TX |
RICHARD FAULKNER PROVIDENCE VILLAGE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.92 |
|
||
| 230 | |
GENE BAGLEY BEAUMONT , TX |
MITCH STEPHENSON BEAUMONT , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.90 |
|
||
| 231 | |
CHARLES HICE BURNET , TX |
CHRISTOPHER STANLEY MARBLE FALLS , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.88 |
|
||
| 232 | |
RICKY MADOLE MANY , LA |
RONNIE MADOLE SHREVEPORT , LA |
2 | 0 | 3.86 |
|
||
| 233 | |
BILL GARZA JR SAN ANTONIO , TX |
GABRIELLE GARZA SAN ANTONIO , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.85 |
|
||
| 234 | JEFF PITRUCHA GREENVILLE , TX |
GARY COOPER COMBINE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.82 |
|
|||
| 235 | |
MIKE HITT CRANDALL , TX |
KEVIN BROWN GRAND SALINE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.81 |
|
||
| 236 | |
MATT TALLAS CANTON , TX |
ERNIE SISTRUNK WILLS POINT , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.79 |
|
||
| 237 | |
GARRETT GILL TEMPLE , TX |
ROBERT GILL BELTON , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.69 |
|
||
| 238 | |
DAVID REYNOLDS MCKINNEY , TX |
ROBERT BROCK JR MCKINNEY , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.68 |
|
||
| 239 | DAVID HESSKEW BLANCO , TX |
VICTOR STEPHENS LEANDER , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.66 |
|
|||
| 240 | MICHAEL GROSSMAN DALLAS , TX |
JAY KENDRICK IRVING , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.62 |
|
|||
| 241 | |
|
TOBY JONES STONEWALL , LA |
CARL JONES DAYTON , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.61 |
|
|
| 242 | MARK CHILD ARLINGTON , TX |
ANDY SALLEE NRH , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.60 |
|
|||
| 243 | RICKY PIERCE THORNDALE , TX |
RHETT PIERCE THORNDALE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.52 |
|
|||
| 244 | |
CHUCK BISHOP SANGER , TX |
JUNIOR MITCHELL KRUGERVILLE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.40 |
|
||
| 245 | GEORGE ESCAMILLA SAN ANTONIO , TX |
BRANDON KITCHENS CANYON LAKE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.32 |
|
|||
| 246 | JOHNNY HOMANN KYLE , TX |
J. HESS LOCKHART , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.31 |
|
|||
| 247 | |
CRAIG CRIM VICTORIA , TX |
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
1 | 0 | 3.24 |
|
||
| 248 | BOBBY BURKEEN CARLSBAD , NM |
BRANDON BURKEEN CARLSBAD , NM |
2 | 0 | 3.22 |
|
|||
| 249 | BEAU SULLIVAN FORT WORTH , TX |
JOE SWANEY GAINESVILLE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.18 |
|
|||
| 249 | KEVIN DAVIS FLORESVILLE , TX |
JIM HARCROW MCKINNEY , TX |
1 | 0 | 3.18 |
|
|||
| 251 | JOSHUA RHODES SAN ANTONIO , TX |
DAVY CRANDAL HONDO , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.13 |
|
|||
| 252 | JACOB BAKER TERRELL , TX |
MATTHEW KIRKLIN HOLLY LAKE RANCH , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.08 |
|
|||
| 253 | |
CODY ROBERSON EMORY , TX |
DON BAILEY SAN ANTONIO , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.07 |
|
||
| 254 | CHASE WELCH CRANDALL , TX |
CHASE WOOD COMBINE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.02 |
|
|||
| 255 | |
WILLIAM PALMER MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
JERAMIE BYRD MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
2 | 0 | 2.96 |
|
||
| 256 | CHRIS EAVES PORTER , TX |
ROBERT SCOTT LIVINGSTON , TX |
2 | 0 | 2.83 |
|
|||
| 257 | |
GEORGE RIDDLE MCKINNEY , TX |
ROCKY EPPS BEDFORD , TX |
2 | 0 | 2.67 |
|
||
| 258 | SHAWN TEMPLE KRUGERVILLE , TX |
COLE TEMPLE FORT WORTH , TX |
2 | 0 | 2.48 |
|
|||
| 259 | CHRIS CLEMENTS ROUND ROCK , TX |
CHRIS WOEHL CEDAR PARK , TX |
1 | 0 | 1.96 |
|
|||
| 260 | |
PERRY POWELL ALBA , TX |
WILLIAM TAYLOR SOUTHLAKE , TX |
2 | 0 | 1.60 |
|
||
| 261 | ROBERT HATCHETT HOUSTON , TX |
CHRIS BERRY HOUSTON , TX |
1 | 0 | 1.18 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
DEAN TRUDELL HIGHLAND VILLAGE , TX |
MIKE KUBANEK HIGHLAND VILLAGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | |
GENE FUESSEL AUSTIN , TX |
GERALD MUELLER JR HUTTO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | |
CHRIS COLE BELLS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
ROY STEGER BELTON , TX |
CHET SUTTON SALADO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | J BRAD KOEHLER BROKEN ARROW , OK |
DWAYNE LIKENS MILLS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | RYLON GANEY PINEVILLE , LA |
JARED GANEY PINEVILLE , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | LARRY DEAN HUMBLE , TX |
TERRY MORGAN BUNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | MIKE LOTT MONTGOMERY , TX |
JIMMY ROZELLE JR PORTER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
JIM CULP TULSA , OK |
THOMAS BOWDEN SR LAFAYETTE , LA |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | |
BRIAN MATER AUSTIN , TX |
PHILLIP WARREN AUSTIN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | |
|
JEREMY LAMBERT DECATUR , TX |
BRANDEN HOLLINGSHEAD AZLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|
| 262 | CHRIS GILROY FRISCO , TX |
MICHAEL FULLER BLUE RIDGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | STEVEN PITCOX KINGSLAND , TX |
BRANDI PITCOX KINGSLAND , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | JORGE BENITEZ WALLIS , TX |
JOE GARCIA HOBSON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | ADAM DUNN HOUSTON , TX |
JOSHUA WARE NEW CANEY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | BRANDON DAVIDSON LITTLE ELM , TX |
JIM FURR HEMPHILL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | ED BLACKBURN GRAND PRAIRIE , TX |
RONNIE HAMBY AURORA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
LARRY BENCH DENISON , TX |
HI HILLBURN COLBERT , OK |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | |
TIMOTHY LOUPE HUFFMAN , TX |
WILLIAM BRIGGINS HUFFMAN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | |
MONTE REAGAN BURLESON , TX |
LANCE KENNY NORTH RICHLAND HILLS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | MARSHALL HOSEA BROADDUS , TX |
BUD PRUITT HOUSTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
DARRELL WUENSCHE THRALL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | MATTHEW BENEFIELD HUFFMAN , TX |
LARRY BENEFIELD HUFFMAN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
JD LAUGHERY ROCKWALL , TX |
STAN LAWING POETRY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | RAYMOND NEWTON JUNCTION , TX |
STEVEN CRAVEY JUNCTION , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
CHRISTOPHER SULLIVAN EARLY , TX |
ROBBIE DUDLEY BROWNWOOD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | RICARDO CARRILLO LAREDO , TX |
SUSAN CARRILLO LAREDO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | WADE MEHAFFEY NEW BRAUNFELS , TX |
WESTIN MEHAFFEY NEW BRAUNSFELS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
RYAN CRAWFORD GATESVILLE , TX |
TULLY WILLIAMS GATESVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | KENT WITCHER NEED INFO |
ERIC TAUER KIRBY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
CHRIS MOORE ROCKWALL , TX |
KY MARTIN GRANDVIEW , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | AARON WALKER MT VERNON , TX |
STEVEN STROMAN SCROGGINS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
JUSTIN KEITHLEY ARLINGTON , TX |
JOSH KEITHLEY FORT WORTH , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | |
DAVID LAINE BRYAN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | TREY GROCE DRIPPING SPRINGS , TX |
CHARLES WHITED SAN MARCOS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 262 | |
JUSTIN KETCHUM LIBERTY HILL , TX |
SEAN CLAMPITT ROUND ROCK , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | |
CRAIG MIRANDA BROWNWOOD , TX |
BRANDON LOFSTROM BRADY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | |
WILLIAM BRUNSON LIBERTY HILL , TX |
RORY LAYNE EMORY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 262 | |
DAVID REID CANYON LAKE , TX |
JUSTIN WOJCIK BULVERDE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Big Bass Tour Berkley Lake Breakdown - Smith Mountain Lake
Crews Says Smith Mountain Lake Anglers Should Prepare for Giants
By Pete Robbins
Veteran Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Crews has plenty of things going on in his life, including his career on tour, a busy family, and a thriving business, but lately the Virginia angler hasn’t ben able to take his eyes off of the tournament results from nearby Smith Mountain Lake.
“Smith Mountain has been fishing really well all year,” he said. “The tournament weights haven’t dropped at all since the spring. I don’t ever remember them being this consistently good, in terms of overall weights, big fish, everything.”
That bodes well for the field fishing the Big Bass Tour event on the Blue Ridge lake from October 22nd through 24th. Results at Smith Mountain have been exceptional for the BBT over the past several events, and Crews thinks that past marks could be shattered. This past spring, Chris Markin won the overall title there with an 8.08 brute, followed by a pair of 7-plus magnums and a handful of bass over 6 pounds. Last fall, the winner was a nearly-as-impressive 7.39 pound largemouth and there were five more over 6 pounds brought to the scales.
“There are a ton of 4- to 6-pound bass in the lake now,” Crews explained. “That’s a combination of a few different things. There’s a good forage base, with more blueback herring than ever before, and some of the bass they stocked a few years ago might be getting up into that range now.”
The fall is a time of transition, and Crews expects that there will be a number of different patterns at play. He’d try to feed the biggest fish a topwater – it’s been a prime producer of both largemouths and smallmouths lately.
“You can get train wrecked,” he said. “And you can do it a couple of different ways. It’s not just a buzzbait thing or a walking bait thing and it’s definitely not going to get worse. It’s the most fun and obvious way to catch a big fish and it’s going on all over the lake right now. I talked to a guy the other day who caught them on a topwater way up the river, and then I talked to another guy who did the same thing down by the dam.”
He’d cover water until he found active fish and would then hunker down in key areas, staying until the action subsided.
While the surface bite would be his first choice, Crews added that “there’s been a deep water pattern that’s been good all summer” and it shows now sign of abating. It has been the constant and unflappable choice of anglers winning weeknight wildcat tournaments, where it almost never takes less than a 4-pound average to win a four or five hour tournament with a three fish limit, and “some took a five pound average.” He’d focus on a variety of soft plastics presentations in the 15 to 25 foot depth range.
For anglers who dislike fishing in the clearer sections of the lake, it’s possible to search out a little bit of stained water and put a crankbait to use, too. He’d spend time looking for populations of shad up shallow, and then he’d match the hatch with a crankbait.
Of course, Smith Mountain’s countless docks and brush piles will also play a role for both hourly and overall top prize contenders, as will both smallmouths and largemouths. That means this already-expansive lake will fish even bigger than normal. Crews said that will benefit the entire field and the results should be tremendous.
American Bass Anglers Announces 2022 Top 150 Solo Tour
October 12, 2021, Athens, AL. American Bass Anglers today announced the 2022 Top 150 Solo Tour details. The 2022 season will incorporate a few new features including a scaled championship and will also feature a wildcard end-of-the-season event.
The Top 150 Solo Tour is a boater-only tour with an entry fee of $600 for all events. For 2022 there will still be two divisions. One is based in the southeast and the other is based in Texas. Each division will hold 3 qualifying events. The top fifteen (15) anglers per division by points after their final qualifying event will advance directly to the Top 150 Solo Championship.
An additional wildcard event will be held after all qualifying events are completed. From this wildcard event the top five (5) by place of finish will advance to the Top 150 Solo Championship. These five additional wildcard slots will bring a total of thirty-five (35) anglers to the Top 150 Solo Championship.
As an additional incentive, at the Championship the top five (5) angler by place of finish from each division will advance to the 2023 Ray Scott Championship.
Registration will begin Monday, October 18, 2021, at 8 AM CT for package anglers that competed in the 2021 season. Open Package registration will begin October 19, 2021, at 8 AM CT. Rules and additional registration information is available at www.americanbassanglers.com/Top150
2022 Schedule
Southeast Division
| Date | Lake | Ramp |
| 3/4-5/2022 | Eufaula AL | Lake Point Resort State Park |
| 5/6-7/2022 | Guntersville AL | Goose Pond |
| 6/17-18/2022 | Chickamauga TN | Chester Frost |
Southwest Division
| Date | Lake | Ramp |
| 3/18-19/2022 | Texoma, TX | High Port Marina |
| 4/22-23/2022 | Eufaula, OK | South Port |
| 6/17-18/1/2022 | Rayburn, TX | Cassels Boykin |
Wildcard Event
| Date | Lake | Ramp |
| 9/9-10/2022 | Ross Barnett, MS | Madison Landing |
Championship
| Date | Lake | Ramp |
| TBA | Kentucky Lake, TN | Paris Landing |
Black Rain Ordnance partners with Bass Pro Tour Angler James “Worldwide” Watson
Black Rain Ordnance, Inc. is a precision firearms manufacturer specializing in the modern sporting rifle design. Founded in 2009 with a benchmark to only manufacture weapons that they would personally be proud to own and operate. Seeking out the best machinists to turn their ideas into reality with a goal of creating something any gun enthusiast would be gratified to not only own but to put on display as well. Black Rain Ordnance only uses American metal so that each of their products is truly an authentic American creation.
Mike Colahan, Marketing Manager at Black Rain Ordnance states “We are excited to welcome James Watson to the Black Rain team. As a U.S. Army Veteran, successful businessman, and a champion angler, we felt that James would be a great ambassador for Black Rain. This partnership was a great parallel between the hunting and fishing industry and we look forward to working together.”
James Watson, Bass Pro Tour Angler says “As a US Army Veteran I spent my time defending our Second Amendment and personal rights to own a firearm, I’ve owned a few of these awesome AR’s for some time and to me a great firearm is a valuable investment. If you are in the market for a new firearm you need a trip to Black Rain Ordnance. Plus they offer courses for all gun owners at all skill levels from total beginner to seasoned professional with P.O.S.T. certified instructors.”
James “JMFW WORLDWIDE” Watson is known for his quick wit and knack for jokes on the water. The real-estate mogul has used his success in residential real estate sales to fuel his passion for fishing. As a self-made angler and former United States Army Drill Sergeant he equally enjoys balancing the competition and the business sides of the bass community.
From a BASS Open victory to the Bassmaster Classic and a win at Lake Norris during the FLW Invitational, Watson promotes fishing on a WORLDWIDE level. Additionally, James has qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup and the Texas Toyota Bass Classic during his duration fishing the FLW Tour (now known as Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit), BASS Opens, PAA and Major League Fishing.
He is also a member of the US Bass Team and has competed in the Black Bass Championship in 2017 in South Africa and in 2018 in Mexico. Bringing home the gold medal with the team in 2018 and plans to compete at Lake Murray in 2022.
In 2018, he received the Forrest L. Wood Sportsmanship and Community Leadership Award per his involvement in FLW Community Outreach.
He prides himself on his personality, often gaining him media attention, which positively promotes his sponsors. All eyes are watching where James “WORLDWIDE” Watson will go with his professional fishing career.
You can find James fishing Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour as well as attending charity events when it fits his schedule.
Follow along with James and his partnership with Black Rain Ordnance to see all the excitement:
James Watson Professional Angler:
Facebook: James Watson Professional Angler
Instagram: @therealjameswatson
YouTube: JMFW Worldwide
Black Rain Ordnance:
Facebook: Black Rain Ordnance
Instagram: @blackrainordnance
PICTURED: Charlie Spires, Vice President of Black Rain Ordnance and James Watson
X Zone Lures 3.5" Adrenaline Craw Jr Released!
Since the release of the 4.25" Adrenaline Craw in early 2021, we have had great demand for a smaller version. We went straight to the drawing board to develop the 3.5" Adrenaline Craw Jr.
After looking at it and debating whether any changes should be made, we came to the conclusion that we should not change a thing! We simply scaled the regular version down proportionally for a smaller profile.
Designed by Elite Series, X Zone Pro, Brandon Palaniuk - We know you are going to love it!
Click here to see all the colors available in this great new product release.
Lake Ouachita Readies to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship
Top Prize of $60,000 and a Shot at the 2022 All-American Championship up for Grabs, Four-Hundred Boaters and Co-anglers Head to Mt. Ida
Mt. Ida, Ark. (Oct. 14, 2021) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Cowboy, Great Lakes, Mississippi and Okie divisions will finish out their 2021 season next week in Mt. Ida, Arkansas, Oct. 21-23, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Ouachita . The three-day regional championship – hosted by Visit Hot Springs – will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. CT from Mountain Harbor Marina in Mt. Ida. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, which will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Bassmaster Opens Will Feature Nine Events In Nine States During The 2022 Season
The 2022 Bassmaster Opens Series will feature nine tournaments in three divisions covering nine states.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
October 14, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced the slate for the 2022 Bassmaster Opens Series, with nine tournaments in three divisions covering nine states as the pathway to some of the most-coveted invitations in all of professional bass fishing.
After starting late in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Opens schedule will return in 2022 to a late-winter start date with the first tournament, a Southern Division event, set for Feb. 3-5 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Fla.
From there, the Opens will wind through Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, New York and Maryland.
“Interest in the Opens from both anglers and fans has been at an all-time high the past few seasons,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “The excitement is only growing as Opens anglers enjoy success on the Bassmaster Elite Series. In fact, 2020 Opens Angler of the Year Bryan New won his first Elite event in February this year on the St. Johns River. The competition has been intense, and we’re thrilled to spotlight the future stars of our sport.”
The winners of all nine Opens will earn a berth into the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, provided they have fished all three events in the division where their win occurred. In addition to Classic berths, the Top 3 anglers in every division and the Top 3 in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year overall standings will receive invitations to fish the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series.
“Twelve anglers will earn the right to fish professionally — to live their dreams on the most prestigious professional tour in bass fishing,” Anderson said. “And just like Chris Jones, who finished third at this year’s Bassmaster Classic as an Opens qualifier, nine anglers will have a chance at instant stardom in the Classic.
“Those are the things that will be on the line every time anglers take off for an Open.”
Starting the season in Florida has become a tradition for most of the major trails at B.A.S.S., and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes has been a favored destination of late. The organization’s most recent visit there was for a 2020 Eastern Open that was won by New.
After Kissimmee, the Southern Division will visit Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tenn., March 31-April 2, and Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., Oct. 6-8.
B.A.S.S.’s most recent visit to Cherokee was for a 2020 Eastern Open won by Kentucky pro Matt Robertson, while Hartwell is a common B.A.S.S. destination that is scheduled to host the iconic Bassmaster Classic for the fourth time, March 4-6, 2022.
In the Central Division, events will be held on Ross Barnett Reservoir in Ridgeland, Miss., April 28-30, the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier, La., Sept. 22-24, and Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas, Oct. 20-22. It’ll mark the first visit to Ross Barnett since 2018 and 35th time B.A.S.S. has held a major event on Sam Rayburn, dating back to 1968.
The trip to the Red River will be the first one for B.A.S.S. since the 2018 Central Open won by South Carolina pro Patrick Walters. Most notably, the fishery was the site of the Bassmaster Classic in 2009 and 2012.
“Shreveport-Bossier City is excited to host the 2022 Bassmaster Open on the Red River,” said Kelly Wells, executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. “We look forward to providing world-class hospitality for anglers and their families here in Sportsman’s Paradise! We also want to give a special thank you to the Red River Waterway Commission for co-hosting this incredible event.”
The Northern Division slate will include visits to the James River in Richmond, Va., April 14-16, Oneida Lake in Syracuse, N.Y., July 7-9 and the Upper Chesapeake Bay in Cecil County, Md., Sept. 8-10. The latter tournament will mark B.A.S.S.’s first visit to the Chesapeake since a 2015 Elite Series event won by Alabama pro Aaron Martens.
“We are thrilled to be hosting a prestigious Bassmaster Open tournament in Cecil County’s Upper Bay waters,” said Cecil County Executive Danielle Hornberger. “We consider Bassmaster anglers to be VIPs and look forward to showcasing the best of Cecil throughout their visit. Competitors and fans can expect to find beautiful scenery, vibrant small towns and fabulous Chesapeake Bay inspired cuisine while exploring Cecil County, Maryland.”
As in the past, the full field will compete the first two days before the boater side is cut to 10 anglers on Championship Saturday. The co-angler champion will be crowned after the Day 2 weigh-in.
Entry fees will remain the same for the 2022 Opens circuit. Pro anglers will pay $1,800 per event with an $800 deposit due up front, while co-anglers will pay $475 per event with a $200 deposit. Online registration for both pro and co-anglers will begin Nov. 9 for B.A.S.S Nation and Life members and B.A.S.S. members Nov. 11.
“It’s always nice to have a good mix of fisheries that are familiar to us and places we haven’t been to in a while,” said Opens Tournament Director Chris Bowes. “We definitely have that with the 2022 schedule — and we have a diverse collection of fisheries that will test the versatility of our anglers.
“That always makes for a great tournament season.”
In 2022, FOX Sports will continue to broadcast live coverage from Championship Saturday of each of the division final tournaments on FS1 and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
Mobility And Diversity Will Be Key For Bassmaster Central Open On Grand Lake
Oklahoma's Grand Lake will host the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open Oct. 21-23, 2021.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
October 14, 2021
GROVE, Okla. — Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jason Christie has seen just about every inch of Grand Lake and he’s making two predictions for the upcoming Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open: anglers can catch fish just about anywhere, but they won’t be able to win in any one spot.
Competition days will be Oct. 21-23 with takeoffs from Wolf Creek Park at 7:15 a.m. CT. Weigh-ins the first two days will be at the park at 3:15 p.m., with the final day’s weigh-in shifting to the Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, Okla., at 4:45 p.m.
“It’s really wide open in the fall,” said Christie, who won’t be taking part in this event. “That’s one of the things that has made Grand so good: it can be won from one end to the other and it can be won from 30 feet to on the bank.
“I don’t think there’s any way to win off one spot. An angler will need multiple spots and probably multiple areas. The fish will be moving. We haven’t had enough cold water to have them funneling through one area.”
Properly named, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, this Grand River (lower Neosho River) impoundment stretches 60 miles down to the Pensacola Dam and covers approximately 46,500 surface acres. A mostly rocky, wood-strewn lake, Grand will offer anglers plenty of opportunities and, according to Christie, the wise will consider them all.
“I think you’re going to have some lingering summer patterns and then you’re going to have a lot of fall patterns working,” Christie said of his home lake. “It’s just that time of year when anything could happen.
“You’re going to see someone catch them 30 feet deep and you can see someone catch them on the bank. It’s probably going to be a mix of a lot of that stuff. You may have guys fishing deep and shallow patterns in one day.”
Common Grand Lake shallow patterns include throwing topwaters, jigs, spinnerbaits, shallow-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and bladed jigs around boat docks, points, rocks and laydowns. Offshore targets include drop-offs, brushpiles and bait schools spotted on forward-facing sonar. Likely baits include deep-diving crankbaits, football jigs and 1-ounce tandem willow-leaf spinnerbaits.
“The problem with deep is that it’s inconsistent; you’ll catch a big bag one day and nothing the next because those fish moved according to the bait,” Christie said. “Typically, when you see those giant bags of 20 to 25 pounds, 90 percent of the time, they came from deep.
“You’re not going to have giant schools, but you can have enough to where you can live off of it for a day. That’s the problem, it’s hard to make it work for three days.”
Similarly, Christie said that shallow success demands mobility. Limits shouldn’t be terribly difficult, but finding those key bites will make the difference.
“You have to be able to run enough water to cover enough high-percentage targets to catch some. A big one — 5 pounds or bigger — will give you a high finish. A couple of big ones each day will give you a chance to win.”
A week and a half before the tournament, Grand’s water level stood at 743.02 feet — about a foot below the full pool mark of 744. With no major rains over the summer, the water has been fairly stable for a couple of months and clarity is about where it should be for fall.
The stage is set for a good event, but Christie said the lake is never a cakewalk — especially during the dynamic fall period. Opportunity abounds, but only the open-minded will excel.
“It’s been consistent and local tournament results have been really good,” Christie said. “Weights have been a little above average, but October fishing is hit or miss on Grand. I’ve seen days when somebody will catch a big bag and then the next day, not catch anything.
“A lot of it’s based on the weather. If you get some colder days and colder nights, that seems to help the fishing. When summer lingers on, it can get pretty tough.”
A cold front the weekend before the tournament will send overnight lows into the mid-40s and hold daytime highs in the low 70s. The weather should serve up several pleasant days on the water, but most importantly, it should crack the whip on fall feeding.
“That’s what those tournament anglers are going to need — some cooler weather to get these fish moving; get them headed toward the bank and get those shad up in the water column,” Christie said. “We have some chilly weather coming and that should do nothing but make it better.”
Christie said he expects 14 1/2 pounds a day to make the Top 10 cut for Championship Saturday. He believes it will take a three-day total of approximately 52 pounds to win.
“Getting a big bite will be key,” he said. “There are a lot of fish in the lake and guys can get caught up in catching 2- to 2 1/2-pounders, but getting that big bite is what will make a difference. It could come out of 2 feet of water, or it could come out of 20.”
The tournament will decide the final Central Opens points standings, with Elite Series invitations going to the top three finishers. Prior to the event, Joseph Webster leads the race with 381 points, followed by Jay Przekurat with 378 and Brandon Lester with 378. Lester is double-qualified as a current Bassmaster Elite angler, leaving the door open for another angler to earn an Elite spot. Currently, Daisuke Aoki (376), Jesse Wiggins (375) and Cody Huff (372) round out the Top 6.
The final Open event of the season will also decide the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year race.
Veteran Virginia pro Jacob Powroznik all but locked up that title with a win at the Central Open on Smith Lake last week. Powroznik leads with 1,371 points, followed by Tommy Williams with 1,301 and Aoki with 1,269.
The Top 3 from the overall Opens standings will also receive invitations to fish the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series.
The full field will compete the first two days before the boater side is cut to the Top 10 anglers for Championship Saturday. The co-angler champion will be crowned after the Day 2 weigh-in.
Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, kicks off with the leaders Saturday morning at 7 a.m. CT on FS1, Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Set for St. Johns River
Four-Hundred Boaters and Co-anglers Descend on Palatka to Compete for $60,000 and Their Shot at the 2022 All-American Championship
PALATKA, Fla. (Oct. 14, 2021) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Bulldog, Choo Choo, Gator and South Carolina divisions will finish out their 2021 season next week in Palatka, Florida Oct. 21-23, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at St. Johns River . Hosted by the Putnam County Tourist Development Council, the three-day regional championship will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. ET from Palatka Riverfront Park in Palatka. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, which will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
For the Love of Lures
Courtesy of Vance McCollough
Some lures are too pretty to fish with
"If I fished only to capture fish, my fishing trips would have ended long ago."
-Zane Grey
I knew it was all wrong. But the clackity-clack racket of the buzzbait was mesmerizing so I continued to throw it, knowing I wouldn’t get a strike.
Is it wrong to love a lure just because it’s fun to play with?
I think not. And I believe many of you out there join me in fishing your favorites, occasionally even when conditions dictate a different approach. I mean, unless you’re in a tournament, the whole point of recreational fishing is to have fun. Right?
Bass fishermen love lures. I have dozens that are basically artwork – I won’t even fish with them. Some are special because of who gave them to me, a spinnerbait from Kevin Van Dam, cut right off his line, a swimjig Fred Roumbanisused in the Bassmaster Classic, a crankbait I lifted out of my dad’s tackle box as a boy.
Some are special because I did use them. Well. A football jig with which I caught a heavy limit behind Denny Brauer. And he congratulated me for it. A big, beautiful worm and a homely flipping tube hang together on my wall, reminders of the giant bass they helped me catch.
Some are just cool to look at. I have swimbaits so big that I don’t even have appropriate tackle to toss them. But man, they look awesome!
Then there are the toys. The lures I’ll cast under any condition because they are fun to fish and even more fun when they do produce a strike. Most are topwaters or swimbaits. Many make noise. Poppers and Whopper Ploppers are tops. There are times when bass just want that high pitch squeal from a buzzbait. They’re going to have to tell me so because I am starting out with the blade bent down so it hits the head and sounds like tin cans dragged behind a car. Hey, it’s my trip, a slice of my time and I’ll fish it as I dang well please.
So there I was, cranking the handle on my baitcaster, meditating on keeping that rod tip in the right position, lost in the rhythmic din of that magical buzzer, not needing the validation that came anyway when a 3-pound bass arrested the intruder in a froth of white. A momentary pause, I struck back, each of us shocked to see the other across the tight line.
I mean, yeah, fishing lures are cool. Especially when they lure fish.
Field Announced For 2021 Redfish Cup Championship
October 13, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 10-team field has been set for the revived Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter. A combination of all-star teams and redfish champions will do battle for a top prize of $50,000 Nov. 12-14 on Texas’ Port Aransas.
The six all-star teams featuring Bassmaster pro anglers paired with redfish pros are:
Eight-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and former Texas Bass Classic champion Matt Herren and Elite Pro Redfish Tour Championship qualifier Chad Manning
Bassmaster Classic qualifier Derek Hudnall and former IFA Redfish Tour and FLW Redfish Tour winner Ron Hueston
Elite Series champion Mark Menendez and veteran multispecies pro Ricky Bort
Seven-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Chris Zaldain and veteran IFA Redfish Tour angler Ryan Rickard
Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens angler Trait Zaldain and 30-year veteran pro Matt McCabe
Elite Series champion Patrick Walters and former FLW Redfish Championship winner Dwayne Eschete
“For the first time, fans will get to witness the top pros from perhaps the two most popular sportfishing realms in the U.S. come together as one,” said Hudnall, an Elite Series pro who grew up chasing redfish in southern Louisiana. “Our industry as a whole has never been more popular than it is today. Now, this unique format will not only increase the interest of the biggest bass and redfish fans, but will also cater to the many multispecies anglers.
“I have never fished with my partner, Ron Hueston, but know of his success in the professional redfish circuits. I cannot wait to put our skills together and chase down the Redfish Championship trophy.”
Joining these all-star teams will be four teams from the Elite Redfish Tournament Series and Power-Pole Pro Redfish Tour. Multiple tour championship angler Travis Land and former IFA Redfish Tour Team of the Year angler and NFL tight end Nicky Savoie along with two-time 2021 tournament champions Glenn Vann and Thomas Barlow will represent the Elite Redfish Tour. Competing from the Power-Pole Pro Redfish Tour are its Top 2 in the 2021 Team of the Year standings Jeremy Heimes, a five-time Team of the Year angler, and decorated veteran Mickey Gibbs and the multievent championship team of Chris Cenci and Chris Kennedy, who has won nine tournaments in his career.
Fans can catch Bassmaster Redfish LIVE coverage all three days of the tournament as cameras capture all of the action beginning at 7 a.m. CT each day on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will broadcast live Nov. 13-14 from 7-10 a.m.
“We handpicked this fishery, so we think it should be exciting and all 10 teams should be in contention all the way to the end of the third day,” said tournament director Hank Weldon. “We’re expecting Port Aransas to prove its reputation as the ‘Fishing Capital of Texas.’”
Bassmaster High School Combine Tests Anglers’ Skills With Three Challenges
High school anglers from 28 states will participate in a series of three skills challenges at the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine Oct. 15-17 in Decatur, Ala.
October 12, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When 85 of the country’s most talented young anglers gather this weekend for the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine in Decatur, Ala., they will be showcasing their skills for championship-caliber college coaches in a series of three skills challenges.
“College coaches have told us time and again that it’s hard to judge high school anglers based on tournament results, so each of the three skills tests at the High School Combine was designed to create a fair method to compare the skills and techniques of the anglers,” explained Hank Weldon, senior manager of the B.A.S.S. College and High School program.
Each of the three disciplines — Casting Distance, Knot Tying and Casting Accuracy — will operate on a point system and be timed by an official judge. Each angler will accumulate points to determine an overall winner.
Anglers will have three casts from a platform on a B.A.S.S.-provided Abu Garcia rod and reel combination in the Casting Distance challenge with the judge scoring their longest cast. Moving on to the Knot Tying discipline, anglers will showcase their technical skills by tying one line-to-lure knot and one line-to-line knot in the allotted time. Anglers will be scored on both knot accuracy and strength. In their third Casting Accuracy skills test, anglers will earn points for hitting a series of targets using B.A.S.S.-provided equipment.
The participating anglers are ready to take advantage of the level playing field to see how they stack up against other anglers in hopes of reeling in college offers.
“Fishing is a sport of constantly changing circumstances, conditions and variables,” said Kyle Smith, a senior from Richland, Md. “Every high school angler has a very unique set of skills and circumstances that are not always easy to see and recruit during a fishing tournament. However, this event allows anglers to show their skill, talent and passion to college coaches in a way that a regular tournament does not allow.”
In addition to the three skills challenges, Day 1 will be spent meeting with college coaches. After the first day, colleges will have the opportunity to select anglers for a “second look” where they can further explore everything that angler has to offer and see if they would be the perfect fit for their fishing program.
Only colleges offering bass fishing scholarships were invited to attend, and coaches from 20 schools will be on-site recruiting during the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine.
For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/high-school.
Marbury to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Potomac River
Top Prize of $60,000 and a Shot at the 2022 All-American Championship Up for Grabs as Four-Hundred Boaters and Co-anglers Head to Marbury
MARBURY, Md. (Oct. 12, 2021) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Buckeye, Michigan, Northeast and Piedmont divisions will finish out their 2021 season this week in Marbury, Maryland, Oct. 14-16, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at the Potomac River Presented by THE BASS UNIVERSITY TV . The three-day regional championship – hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners – will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. ET from Smallwood State Park in Marbury. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, which will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Set for Lake Murray
Four-Hundred Boaters and Co-anglers Head to Prosperity to Compete for $60,000 and Their Shot at the 2022 All-American Championship
PROSPERITY, S.C. (Oct. 12, 2021) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s North Carolina, Savannah River, Shenandoah and Volunteer divisions will finish out their 2021 season this week in Prosperity, South Carolina, Oct. 14-16, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Murray . Hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, the three-day regional championship will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. ET from Dreher Island State Park in Prosperity. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, which will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Smith Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Wheeler Lake
DECATUR, Ala. (Oct. 12, 2021) – Tyler Smith of Selma, Alabama brought a three-day total of 14 bass to the scale weighing 43 pounds even to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Wheeler Lake . For his victory, Smith earned $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Smith also received automatic entry into the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, June 2-4, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, as well as priority entry into the Toyota Series – the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
With just one previous experience on Wheeler, Smith said he committed to the upriver section in practice.
“That’s where I was going to live or die,” he said. “I only had two days of practice, so I thought I’d learn as much up there as I could.
“The first day of the tournament, I went where I had practiced and the water was chocolate milk from all the rain the night before,” said Smith. “I stayed up there until about 12 o’clock, and finally I had to do something different. I just ran down the lake and fished some obvious stuff, pulled up to a bridge and saw some fish busting behind me. As I was trolling to them, I looked down at the depth finder and thought ‘That looks like fish on the ledge.’ I picked up my crankbait, turned around, made a cast, and that’s how I found the magical spot.”
That spot turned out to be a shell bed in about 12 feet of water on the edge of a ledge that he was able to Spot-Lock on and cast along, bringing his bait down with the current parallel to the break. On Day 1, Smith managed four keepers off it in the last 45 minutes of fishing and rode it the rest of the way.
Starting there on Day 2, Smith tallied up a pair of 4-pounders, a 3-pounder and a keeper before it went dead and he ran up the river to catch his fifth keeper.
Smith clinched the win on Day 3, but it didn't come easily.
“I went out and told myself the fish are on that shell bed to win,” said Smith. “I started there the last day, and they weren’t really there. I caught one 4-pound smallmouth on the jig, and that was really it. I couldn’t get any more bites.”
After running up the river again and catching a tiny keeper in the back of a creek, Smith said he knew he needed to be down on his main spot to have a shot at a win.
“I ran all the way back down there, and about 30 minutes later I caught a 2 ½-pound smallmouth,” said Smith. “At 2:45, I caught a 5 ½-pound smallmouth. At 2:50, I caught a 6-pound smallmouth on my last cast. I got it in the boat, put it in the livewell, and I didn’t want to take a chance being late. It literally came down to the last cast for me.”
Catching eight smallmouth, four spotted bass and two largemouth on the week, Smith won by more than 3 pounds but needed every fish to do it. His key bait was a chartreuse and blue Strike King 3XD, fished on 12-pound Bass Pro Shops Excel mono, which he burned the first few days and fished a little slower for his final afternoon flurry.
“That is the only thing I could get them to bite on that ledge, except for that one jig bite,” said Smith of his crank. “Other than that, I couldn’t get them to hit a jerkbait, come up on topwater, hit a shaky head, I couldn’t even get a bite on a drop-shot. The only thing they would touch was that crankbait, and they were absolutely eating it.”
Leaving college after about a year, Smith started fishing BFL events and working at the family electrical business. Now, he’s earned a sterling win after three days against some of the stiffest competition the BFL level can offer.
“I’m still speechless, I’ve talked to family, and that’s all I can say,” said Smith of the win. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of and worked hard at for a long time, and to watch it come true, I feel fortunate, because I know there are a lot of people that have worked, if not harder than me, at least longer than me, and still have not been able to accomplish something like this. I feel very blessed.
“I was still using my dad’s boat, the one he let me use since high school,” said Smith. “The first thing I said to him when he hugged me at weigh-in was, ‘I don’t have to use your boat anymore.’ My wife and I had just been looking at buying a boat – everything that has happened lately has just been a dream come true, that’s the best way I can explain it.”
The top six boaters that qualified for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
2nd: Sean Wieda of Walton, Ky., 15 bass, 39-6, $10,000
3rd: Chris Wilkinson of Farmersburg, Ind., 15 bass, 37-5, $5,000
4th: Taylor Parker of Lake View, Ala., 15 bass, 35-7, $3,750
5th: Preston Henson of College Grove, Tenn., 15 bass, 35-0, $2,000
6th: George Brown of Camby, Ind., 15 bass, 33-6, $1,800
8th: Adam Wagner of Cookeville, Tenn., 15 bass, 32-9, $1,400
9th: Brandon Edel of Hendersonville, Tenn., 15 bass, 31-9, $1,200
10th: David Wesson of Southside, Ala., 15 bass, 30-3, $1,000
Parker took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Jeffery Johnson of Austin, Indiana weighed in 15 bass over three days totaling 27 pounds, 13 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
2nd: Gilbert Jolley of Livingston, Tenn., 14 bass, 25-5, $5,000
3rd: Luke Schmits of Alexandria, Ky., 10 bass, 24-8, $2,500
4th: Eric Eden of Hartsville, Tenn., 11 bass, 24-8, $1,500
5th: Andy Vance of Danville, Ind., 11 bass, 22-11, $1,000
6th: Brad Smith of Montevallo, Ala., 10 bass, 21-11, $1,025
8th: Teddy Baggett of Nashville, Tenn., nine bass, 19-12, $700
9th: Zach Smith of Flatwoods, Ky., 14 bass, 19-6, $600
10th: Barry King of Liberty, Ky., 11 bass, 18-10, $500
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, which will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Kell Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Norfork Lake
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. (Oct. 12, 2021) – Brad Kell of Benton, Kentucky brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale on Saturday, weighing 34 pounds, 15 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Norfork Lake . For his victory, Kell earned $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Kell also received automatic entry into the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, June 2-4, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, as well as priority entry into the Toyota Series – the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
While Kell is a far cry from a Norfork local, he said he’s certainly no stranger to the area.
“I’ve been to the area quite a few times as a kid,” said Kell. “But I’ve always been trout fishing on the Norfork and White rivers. I’ve been down to [Norfork] for half days of bass fishing in some Bass Cat tournaments, but this was the first week I’ve spent full days bass fishing on it.”
Kell started practice chasing the topwater bite, but with rain coming in on the second practice day, he said he knew that wouldn’t hold up throughout the event.
“I started looking for brush piles and in two hours I found two of the biggest schools of bass I’ve ever found in my life – and I have found some on Kentucky Lake that had 400 or 500 in it. These schools were that size, but just smaller than a normal Kentucky Lake bass.”
After discovering two mega schools, Kell said he was uneasy about what the tournament day would bring, but when things got rolling on Day 1, it didn’t take long for him to start putting on a show.
Weighing 11-8 on Day 1 to sit in 10th, Kell picked up right where he left off on Day 2 after a two-hour fog delay.
“I went to my second area on Day 2 and they were there, but I didn’t catch them as good,” said Kell. “I felt good though because I had 12 pounds with the fog delay and the shallow water guys just didn’t catch them.”
Taking the lead after Day 2, Kell went back to his second school on the final day, but things weren’t going as smoothly.
“I was stressing on the final day because I culled the wrong fish twice,” he said. “I was catching them so fast, and they all looked identical, but I was culling the wrong fish. Around noon I started thinking I should have more weighed than I did and when I looked in the livewell I still had one that weighed 1-7.
“I got my plug hung in a brushpile and I was shaking it when I got right on top of it and a 2 ½- or 2 ¾-pounder ate it and I flipped it in the boat and that’s when I knew some things you can’t stop from happening.”
To target his schools of fish, which were in anywhere from 13 to 22 feet of water, Kell said a Strike King 6XD and 10XD did the heavy lifting for him throughout the tournament. He also caught several fish on a Mark Kirby spinnerbait and a ¾-ounce All Terrain Tackle jig with a Strike King Rage Craw trailer, with his two biggest fish coming on a 5-inch Ignite Swimbait.
With this being just his second season fishing the LBL Division, Kell has made the Regionals two years running. Though he’s late to the party, he said he’s happy to finally have accomplished one of his fishing goals.
“This feels great,” said Kell of his win. “When the fishing went downhill on Kentucky Lake, I knew this would be the time to go try and make the All-American. I’m 43 and I started fishing [BFLs] when I was 41, so this was the time to do it. My kids are old enough, my wife is super supportive, so I started fishing [with MLF].
Kell said he was worried he wouldn’t even make the Regional this year, due to missed opportunities at the Super-Tournament and schedule conflicts with fishing the Wild Card Regional.
“However, everything worked out perfectly. It just fell into place, and I think I might fish the Toyota Series next year and see how that goes,” said Kell.
The top six boaters that qualified for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
3rd: Drew Tabor of Harrison, Ark., 15 bass, 32-7, $5,000
4th: Brien Vaughn of Branson, Mo., 15 bass, 31-2, $3,000
5th: David Rice of Galena, Mo., 15 bass, 30-14, $2,000
6th: Brad Jelinek of Lincoln, Mo., 15 bass, 29-0, $1,800
7th: Corey Cook of Lebanon, Mo., 13 bass, 28-8, $1,600
8th: Wesley Rogers of Thayer, Mo., 15 bass, 28-7, $1,400
9th: Michael Harlin of Sunrise Beach, Mo., 15 bass, 28-5, $1,200
10th: Kyle Presley of Harrison, Ark., 12 bass, 27-9, $1,000
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Cunningham took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Tyler Stuart of Manchester, Missouri weighed in 15 bass over three days totaling 25 pounds, 10 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
2nd: Brian Choate of Conway, Ark., 11 bass, 20-5, $5,000
3rd: Danny Robinson of Fairland, Ind., 12 bass, 18-12, $2,500
4th: Andrew Wooley of Little Rock, Ark., 12 bass, 18-3, $1,500
5th: Randy Allen of Russellville, Ark., nine bass, 17-5, $1,200
6th: Drew Cress of Highland, Ill., eight bass, 16-0, $800
8th: Brayden Schaben of Westphalia, Mo., eight bass, 13-2, $700
9th: Wes Oxley of Murryville, Ill., eight bass, 12-13, $600
10th: Ethan Sutton of Hot Springs, Ark., seven bass, 10-9, $500
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, which will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Two for One Special
This week Chris and Kenneth welcome in National Professional Fishing League Grand Lake Champ Taylor Watkins to the show to talk about his incredible win last week. Your NPFL Angler of the Year Keith Carson also stops by to talk about his incredible year and what its like to be the first ever TNPFL AOY.
TEAM MARKLEY FINDS SUNSHINE ON A CLOUDY DAY
CLEWISTON, FL — Welcome to the Sunshine State. Well, usually. Seems Mother Nature decided to throw our anglers a little curve for Qualfier #3 of the Roland Martin Marine Center Series presented by HUK. Sorry Mom, you’re going to have to try a little harder to throw these sticks off their game.
Our anglers knocked the rust off their bilge pumps and got down to work on legendary Lake Okeechobee on Saturday with hopes of filling the well and padding their bank accounts. As it turns out, the winning team shares the same account.
With a 24.7 pound limit, the husband and wife team of Adam and Melinda Markley collected the winner’s check along with half of the other contingency awards. The happy couple was even happier with quite a payday for their second trip to the winner’s circle in the series history.
“We caught about 10 flipping before we decided to head in early,” Adam said. “We waited but never went back out.”
So what’s it like as a husband and wife team on the tournament trail?
“It’s great,” admitted Adam. “I don’t have to split anything, it just all goes to her.”
The couple didn’t pre-fish and didn’t even risk heading back out with the remaining time in the afternoon to pad their weight. As it turned out, they didn’t need it. All they needed was a calculator to add up the winning checks.
The first place check netted them $6,100. The highest finishing angler to cross the stage in HUK Gear added another $250. The top Lady Anglerearned Melinda $100 from Mary Ann Martin. A kicker in the bag weighing 7.94 ended up being the US Sugar Big Bass of the tournament and added another $500. That left the couple singing in the rain to the tune of $6,950.
The second place team of William Bennion and Kenny Harris bagged 22.95 pounds. They lost one that might have given them the edge but were comforted with a $3,100 second place check. Harris also added another $250 as the highest finisher with a Mercury under warranty.
“We were about 15 from the locks,” Harris said. “We were flipping all day. We caught one on a trap, but for the most part, we were flipping.”
Rounding out the top three was the team of Mike Keyso and John Perry. A prolific team that always seems to be a top resident on the leaderboard. Even with Perry doing his best while on crutches with a broken leg.
“We had the winning fish on,” Keyso Said. “We had it near the boat and he (Perry) ended up falling in trying to net it.”
The team admitted it was a grind all day but they managed 22.64 for a 3rd place finish and a check for $1,550.
Despite the weather, a majority of the field still brought a limit to the stage and battled for the remaining checks the Markley’s didn’t already have their name on.
As the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida, the payouts extended to the top 26 places. Additional contingencies kept the rewards coming. The 17-year-old angler, Conner Swindle, collected $100 from Mercury as the Highest Fishing Youth Angler. 2nd Big Bass awarded the team of Val Osinksi and Todd Scherr $100 Gambler Bucks for their 7.89 bass (the only fish they weighed). Gilbert Chevrolet, with feature vehicles on display at the weigh-in from the South Florida Chevy Dealers, awarded the highest finishing Gilbert Chevrolet vehicle owners, Rick Wilhelm and Dell Hatfiled $500 for their ride. And last but not least. Well, actually it was the least. The team of John Tavano and Doug Caldwell collected $300 from AV Inspection for the smallest limit.
That puts a wrap on Qualifier #3 with one more on November 20th before the 2-Day Championship December 11-12. Teams must fish 3 of the 4 qualifiers to qualify for the Championship. So make sure you don’t miss out on what’s gearing up to be another record payout for the Series Championship. Register today and we’ll see you in November.
Scroggins feeds finicky bass a Petey Rig
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
The first time Florida bass fishing legends Terry “Big Show” Scroggins and Peter “T” Thliveros met, Scroggins was 10 years old and mowing the lawn at Ditto lure company where Thliveros worked as a teen pouring Ditto’s famous Fire Claws, and Gator Tail worms.
Both youngsters had dreams of fishing for a living, but it’s doubtful they imagined back in 1979 that Peter “T” would later create a unique finesse Carolina Rig that would put thousands of dollars in their pockets as pros.
Yes indeed, credit the “Petey Rig” for a portion of the $4 million dollars the two best buddies have won as pros, including Scroggins’ Bassmaster Open win at Lake Toho, and Thliveros’ victory at the 2007 Bassmaster Memorial at Onondaga Lake near Syracuse.
“Yup, I’ve known Pete for 42 years. And anytime you’re struggling to get a bite, that Petey Rig he came up with will save your butt,” insists Scroggins who also shares a love of cooking and grilling with Thliveros.
So, what exactly is a Petey Rig?
It’s sort of a finesse Carolina Rig without a glass bead or 2-way swivel. Scroggins throws it on spinning tackle. He first slides a 1/8 to 3/8-ounce worm weight on his line, then adds not one, but two bobber stoppers immediately behind.
He keeps about 18” of line between the bobber stoppers and the hook – to which he most often attaches either a 5” Zoom Super Fluke or a Big Show Kicker Tail worm. Of course, you can adjust the distance between your worm weight and the lure by simply sliding the bobber stoppers up or down your line.
The main line on Scroggins’ spinning reel is 10-pound braid, but he ties it to a 10-pound fluorocarbon leader.
Year round, and all three species – just Don’t fish it fast
“You’d think since we’re Florida boys this would be a warm water largemouth rig, but it’s not. It’ll catch smallmouth and spotted bass too. In fact, some of Pete and I’s best days with the Petey Rig have been up north around aquatic vegetation,” says Scroggins.
Scroggins says it really seems to shine in the fall of the year around vegetation, but he can’t emphasize enough that much like a shaky head or drop shot, the Petey Rig is an all seasons rig from north to south, hydrilla to rocks – anytime you need a bit of finesse to make ‘em bite.
“The whole key is to not get in a hurry. The best way to get bites is to leave it dead still for a couple seconds between every short hop or drag. If you fish it slow and let that Fluke or Kicker Tail sit still for a couple seconds, that’s where the magic is,” he emphasizes.
But what about the grub, bub?
Thliveros worked as chef for years in the family restaurant when not on the road competing, and Scroggins has been featured in his own grilling blog series. Neither men ever lack for a healthy appetite. Scroggins says Pete can even cook a wild hog on a rotisserie that is “off the chain delicious.”
But when bass seem to lack an appetite you can bet both these veteran Florida pros will serve up a Petey Rig as the featured menu item.
Pinell & Knowles From LSU Win the 2021 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open
Big Morning Lifts Hollen And Clark To Bassmaster Junior Championship Win
Bo Hollen and Ari Clark, of West Virginia's Mon Valley Bassmasters, have won the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake with a two-day total of 19 pounds, 11 ounces.
Photo by Emily Hand/B.A.S.S.
October 9, 2021
HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — A double dose of early excitement set Bo Hollen and Ari Clark of the Mon Valley Bassmasters on course to winning the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship on Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake. They had a two-day total of 19 pounds, 11 ounces.
Starting their day on a windward mid-lake point that went from about 7 to 25 feet, the anglers threw Carolina rigs with 1-ounce weights, 3-foot leaders and green pumpkin Strike King Space Monkey baits.
“We caught our first big one (an 8-pounder) around 7:20,” Clark said. “Then the 5-pounder was at 7:45, so they were near each other. We knew we’d get in the Top 10, but I told myself ‘We need to catch another one at least 4 pounds if we’re going to get first.’
“We tried; we didn’t get it, but we still won.”
After placing 28th on Day 1 with a four-fish bag of 3-8, the anglers from West Virginia more than quadrupled their productivity by turning in a final-round limit of 16-3 — the event’s heaviest catch. For their efforts, Hollen and Clark will split a $2,000 scholarship.
Hollen said the point they fished was a place they had visited during a previous Bassmaster Junior National Championship event. Patient presentations were the key.
“We made long casts and reeled it kind of slow,” Hollen said.
Hollen and Clark caught a few fish — including their first keeper of the day — on a drop shot. They fished this finesse rig with 4- and 6-inch Roboworms in the morning dawn color.
Hollen, who had plenty to say on stage, was nearly speechless when he lifted his trophy. Clark shared the enthusiasm and noted that catching a pair of kickers sweetens the experience.
“I’m shocked because I don’t get to see bass that big a lot,” he said. “The fact that I got to see an 8- and 5-pounder just blows my mind.”
Clayburn Reed and Gavin Gooding of Academy at the Farm finished second with 16-7. After placing 11th on Day 1 with a 5-pound limit, the Florida anglers added a four-fish bag of 11-7, which included a 6-12. Reed and Gooding earned a $1,000 scholarship.
“We changed things up today after we figured something out yesterday,” Reed said. “Today, we figured we should fish topwaters shallow in the morning. We were mostly fishing offshore yesterday, but we saw some bigger fish moving up shallow.
“This morning, we went to a cove and fished shallow and caught (that big fish) on a Yo-Zuri Pencil Popper in a translucent shad color.”
Gooding said he and his partner caught the other three keepers on a Texas-rigged pink stickworm. They fished that bait around shallow trees and offshore grass.
Brooks Hibbit and Grant Buzard of the Hartley’s Hawgs Youth Fishing Club finished third with 16-3. Catching an 8-1 gave them a big Day 1 lead with a 12-1 limit. Today, they could manage only 4 fish for 4-2.
“If we hadn’t caught that big fish (on Friday), we probably would have had only 8 pounds (total),” Hibbit said. “We weren’t on them today. It kind of started like it did on Day 1; about two hours in, no fish.
“But we got three fish in like 10 to 15 minutes. It was probably 10 casts, but that was the only hot action we had. We probably moved back and forth across the lake three or four times, just looking for spots, but it didn’t work that well.”
Sticking with their Day 1 strategy, Hibbit and Buzard slow-rolled Carolina-rigged green pumpkin Venom Trench Hogs. They used 4-foot leaders to allow the bait to float up as the weight impacted bottom structure.
For their third-place finish, Hibbit and Buzard won a $500 scholarship. They also took home the $200 Big Bass scholarship for their 8-1.
2021 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship 10/8-10/9
Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake, Huntington TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Bo Hollen - Ari Clark Mon Valley Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 4 03-08 Day 2: 5 16-03 Total: 9 19-11
2. Clayburn Reed - Gavin Gooding Academy at the Farm 0
Day 1: 5 05-00 Day 2: 4 11-07 Total: 9 16-07
3. Grant Buzard - Brooks Hibbit Hartleys Hawgs Youth Fishing Clu 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 4 04-02 Total: 9 16-03
4. Trey Richardson Iii - Reid Luckett Free State Bass 0
Day 1: 5 04-15 Day 2: 5 11-00 Total: 10 15-15
5. Parker Adair - Jackson Miller Arkansas Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 09-05 Day 2: 5 05-04 Total: 7 14-09
6. Wes Warnock - Ryan Seitz Southeastern Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 5 12-02 Total: 7 14-01
7. Drew Lee - Cole Mcausland American Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 5 04-09 Day 2: 4 08-07 Total: 9 13-00
8. Luke Stewart - Austin Craze Clay Co Middle School and Clay C 0
Day 1: 5 04-14 Day 2: 5 08-00 Total: 10 12-14
9. Nolan Savage - Jake Paradis LA Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 04-09 Total: 10 12-13
10. Nolan Holloway - Jackson Fanning Morgan County Middle School 0
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 3 02-09 Total: 8 12-01
11. Milam Mcillwain - Landon Lewis CREEKWOOD FISHING 0
Day 1: 3 03-01 Day 2: 5 07-02 Total: 8 10-03
12. James Barkley - Tanner Moulton New Hampshire Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 05-08 Day 2: 5 04-11 Total: 10 10-03
13. Dominic Bianchi - Ethan Haley Rochester Bassmaster 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 1 01-02 Total: 6 10-01
14. Chase Black - Cayden Collins South side middle 0
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 4 03-15 Total: 9 09-09
15. Lucas D'angelo - Drew Hinzman Elkins 0
Day 1: 4 03-10 Day 2: 5 05-13 Total: 9 09-07
16. Presley Lannom - Preston Maddux Mt Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 04-05 Day 2: 5 05-02 Total: 10 09-07
17. Kent Falls - Colby Falls York Middle School 0
Day 1: 4 03-01 Day 2: 5 06-01 Total: 9 09-02
18. Jackson Rogers - Caden Sellers Jr. Southwest Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 04-08 Day 2: 5 04-07 Total: 10 08-15
19. Tate Reynolds - Blane Smith Russell County High School 0
Day 1: 4 03-04 Day 2: 3 05-09 Total: 7 08-13
20. Caleb Hildenbrand - Ethan Denu Port City Jr. Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 04-08 Day 2: 5 04-05 Total: 10 08-13
21. Jase Johnson - Keaton Coe Anoka Ramsey Jr Bassers 0
Day 1: 5 04-08 Day 2: 5 03-15 Total: 10 08-07
22. Aiden King - Dillyn Dill Shelby County Jr Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 6 08-04
23. Connor Kennedy - Hayden Johns Mulberry High School 0
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 2 01-11 Total: 7 08-03
24. Rhiauna Switzer - Abigail Panak Pretty Water Junior Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 03-09 Day 2: 5 04-06 Total: 10 07-15
25. Murphy Childers - Ryder Colee 0
Day 1: 1 00-12 Day 2: 5 07-00 Total: 6 07-12
26. Charles Klug - Brock Huebner PJ Jacobs Junior High 0
Day 1: 1 06-13 Day 2: 1 00-15 Total: 2 07-12
27. Alexander Tyler - Briley West McKeel Junior Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 5 07-07
28. Wyatt Massey - Leland Pageler Phoenix Junior Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 5 04-01 Day 2: 4 03-05 Total: 9 07-06
29. Lainie Holbert - Sarah Swindle Riverside Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 02-06 Day 2: 5 04-06 Total: 8 06-12
30. Cameron Prokop - Tom Shumowsky New Age Bass Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 5 04-05 Day 2: 3 02-07 Total: 8 06-12
31. Alex Meland - Carter Michalek Eastern Iowa Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 05-03 Day 2: 3 01-08 Total: 8 06-11
32. Nathan Chiasson - Evan Breaux Lafourche Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 01-07 Day 2: 3 05-03 Total: 5 06-10
33. Ty Magargle - Quintin Bergey Wildcat Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 04-12 Day 2: 2 01-09 Total: 7 06-05
34. Cole Bowen - Tate Bowen Mecklenburg 0
Day 1: 5 04-06 Day 2: 2 01-15 Total: 7 06-05
35. Terryn Boland - Wyatt Becker West Salem 0
Day 1: 5 03-13 Day 2: 2 01-15 Total: 7 05-12
36. Cassidy Sawyer - Vaughn Mckay L A Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 1 00-11 Day 2: 5 04-06 Total: 6 05-01
37. Caleb Moore - Joseph Siegel Off The Hook IL Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 01-09 Day 2: 2 03-08 Total: 4 05-01
38. Parker Eubanks - Garrett Evans Plainview Jr. Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 03-09 Day 2: 1 01-00 Total: 6 04-09
39. Boots Burleson - Brady Mikes Texas Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 4 03-06 Total: 5 04-05
40. Cameron Mcdonel - Trenton Zoellner Swatara and CD Middle 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 03-04 Total: 4 04-04
41. Cason Redwine - Bo Helms Bear Creek Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 2 02-01 Total: 3 03-15
42. Justin Waggener - Eli Pauley Burgin Independent School 0
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 03-14
43. Brayden Vallie - Easton Fett Fruitport 0
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 2 01-11 Total: 4 03-10
44. Beau McQuade - Elijah Ambrose Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 01-12 Day 2: 2 01-14 Total: 4 03-10
45. Jack Meiser - Blake Meiser Eureka 0
Day 1: 3 02-03 Day 2: 1 01-00 Total: 4 03-03
46. Lucas Sheafer - Steele Smith Louisburg Middle School 0
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 1 00-13 Total: 3 02-15
47. Avery Bowen - Laiken Emanuel Jefferson West High School 0
Day 1: 1 00-10 Day 2: 2 02-03 Total: 3 02-13
48. Carter Gaines - Charlie Brekke Poudre School District 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-12 Total: 2 02-12
49. Princeton Jordan - Peyton Jordan Marshfield Blue Jays 0
Day 1: 3 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 02-11
49. Troy Watson - Shockley Hiatt Mount Airy Middle School - Maybe 0
Day 1: 3 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 02-11
51. Tyler Camp - Kason Carmichiel Pine Grove 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 02-11 Total: 3 02-11
52. Jonathan Jarvis - Tanner Trawick Seminole Co. Middle High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-03
53. Connor Krech - Landon Bizal Anoka Ramsey 0
Day 1: 1 00-09 Day 2: 2 01-10 Total: 3 02-03
54. Nicholas Syrett - Landon Homrich Howell Highlander Way Middle Sch 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 1 00-15 Total: 2 01-15
55. Grant Rees - Keegan Carnicle West Delaware 0
Day 1: 1 00-11 Day 2: 1 01-03 Total: 2 01-14
56. Leo Yonkman - Drew Wagner Southside Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-02 Total: 1 01-02
57. Mackenzie Muntz - Jacob Muntz Gibsonburg 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
58. Austin Evans - Trevor Wallace Mecklenburg Youth Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
58. Levi Sowell - Maggie Miller Broaddus 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
60. Nikolas Foster - Massachusetts BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
60. Kaleb Harris - Dakota Power Ark-La-Tex Bassmaster 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
60. John Pharr - Collin Pharr 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
Powroznik Storms Back To Win Bassmaster Central Open On Lewis Smith Lake
Jacob Powroznik, of North Prince George, Va.., has won the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake with a three-day total of 37 pounds, 9 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 9, 2021
JASPER, Ala. — Jacob Powroznik had one goal in mind when he signed up for the entire 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens schedule: requalify for the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Saturday was another major step toward accomplishing that goal, as Powroznik rallied in the final round to win the second Central Open of the season, on Alabama’s Lewis Smith Lake, with a three-day total of 37 pounds, 9 ounces.
After catching 11-12 on Day 1 and 11-8 on the second day, the North Prince George, Va., native landed 14-5 of spotted bass on the final day, propelling him past Days 1 and 2 leader Nick LeBrun, who caught just three keeper bass on the final day to finish with a three-day total of 33-6.
Not only does Powroznik maintain his lead in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings, but he also punches his ticket to the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell. The win is his fifth in Bassmaster competition.
“It is a dream come true. That is what you fish for,” Powroznik said. “My best friend Hank (Cherry) has won it two years in a row, so now I’ve got something to shoot for. I put myself in to requalify for the Elite Series, and then to be able to come here and win this tournament is a blessing.
“It all kind of came together and I can’t wait to get to Hartwell. God is good and I love bass fishing.”
Powroznik’s pattern all week centered around standing timber in deep water areas where suspended spotted bass were feeding on blueback herring. Some of the trees he was fishing were in over 100 feet of water, but the bass were suspended only 20 feet deep.
“I was fishing in ditches that run into pockets and they had to have standing timber that was taller than anything else,” he said. “The thermocline was at about 35 feet this week, so those bass would never go below that.”
After experimenting with several techniques in practice, Powroznik settled on a V&M Drop Shad rigged on a 3/16- or 1/4-ounce jighead paired with a Quantum Smoke spinning outfit and 10-pound High Seas braid and an 8-pound fluorocarbon leader. He added his Lowrance Active Target units were essential as he could watch how the bass reacted to the bait as it fell to them.
“The technique is called tight-lining,” he said. “When I know it is going to fall right to them, I’ll hold my rod and it will pendulum down. It looks like a dying shad or a herring, whatever they are after. They didn’t want anything with a paddletail, they wanted it kind of clean and one of them was going to get it.”
Powroznik noticed distinct feeding windows for the spotted bass.
“They would bite right off the bat and then there would be an hour or two lull,” he said. “Once it got to be around noon, that’s when they clustered around those trees a whole lot better. And then they would slack off toward the end.”
While there had been a couple of striper fishing boats in his areas throughout the tournament, Powroznik didn’t have very much fishing pressure around him throughout the week. When he arrived at his spot Saturday, there were a few more boats, but he was able to find success.
“I don’t ever say this, but I told my buddy that I might have found the winning bag of fish,” Powroznik said. “I ended up catching a big one right off the bat and then I caught another one. I am never sitting still, so I moved around and ended up catching another big one. They were bigger than the ones I had been catching all week.
“Being around the striper fisherman, they know what is in there and the stripers feed on herring and so do the big spots.”
After leading through the first two days with 15-2 on Day 1 and 12-13 on Day 2, LeBrun weighed in just three bass for 5-7 to drop into second place.
“It was a great week,” LeBrun said. “Something changed with those suspended fish. It was tough to get bites and when they did they were small and I hadn’t had that problem all week. It seemed like the bait was up at the surface a lot more and I think that was due to the lack of boat traffic. When the fish were busting, I couldn’t catch them.”
Hometown favorite Jesse Wiggins finished in third with 33-3, jumping up from fifth place with a Day 3 bag that weighed 10-10.
“Overall, I’m not satisfied but I’m pleased,” Wiggins said. “It could have been a lot worse. I know how fickle it is and it could have been a really bad deal. I’m excited to be in the Top 10. It was a tough week and this lake doesn’t handle boat pressure really well, especially during a tough time of year.”
After a tough Day 1, Wiggins went all in on a largemouth pattern on Day 2 to catch 12-6 to get to the final day.
“The water cleaned up a little and I was able to grind out 10 pounds on Day 1,” Wiggins said. “I started on my river stuff Day 2 and they were biting. I caught them all on a Jackall Firecracker Buzzbait and then one on a squarebill.
“Today I went back up there and caught a few on a buzzbait and a couple on a shaky head and my second biggest one on a squarebill.”
With a 5-15 largemouth on Day 1, Brandon Ackerson won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament and earned $750.
With 1,371 points, Powroznik leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings. Tommy Williams is second with 1,301 and Daisuke Aoki is third with 1,269.
Joseph Webster leads the Central Opens standings with 381 points while Jay Przekurat and Brandon Lester are tied for second with 378.
The final Central Open is scheduled for Grand Lake in Grove, Okla., Oct. 21-23. The final three Central Opens Elite Series invites will be awarded at the conclusion of that tournament as well as the invites from the overall Opens standings.
2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lewis Smith Lake 10/7-10/9
Smith Lake, Jasper AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 37-09 200 $50,400.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 14-05
2. Nick LeBrun Bossier City, LA 13 33-06 199 $24,480.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 3 05-07
3. Jesse Wiggins Logan, AL 15 33-03 198 $17,280.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 10-10
4. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 15 31-08 197 $14,900.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 10-10
5. Cody Huff Ava, MO 14 28-15 196 $12,528.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 09-10 Day 3: 4 08-01
6. Tom Frink Cedartown, GA 10 27-08 195 $11,520.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 0 00-00
7. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 24-15 194 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 4 10-02 Day 3: 1 01-10
8. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 10 23-06 193 $10,080.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 4 07-07 Day 3: 1 01-05
9. Allen Stewart Lakeview, AR 11 23-00 192 $7,920.00
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 1 01-07
10. Robin Erb Crane Hill, AL 9 20-14 191 $6,480.00
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 0 00-00
LeBrun Maintains Lead At Bassmaster Central Open On Lewis Smith Lake
Nick LeBrun, of Bossier City, La., is leading after Day 2 of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake with a two-day total of 27 pounds, 15 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 8, 2021
JASPER, Ala. — Nick LeBrun has been using Lowrance Active Target for nearly a year to target crappie in deep water back in his home state of Louisiana. During that time, he has learned he often has one opportunity to make the perfect cast and lead those fish to the bait.
LeBrun has used that same mindset to catch quality spotted bass this week and lead both days of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake. He caught 12 pounds, 13 ounces Friday to increase his total weight to 27-15.
“I fished a pro circuit event here in February and had the bites to do really well and couldn’t get them in the boat and kind of stubbed my toe,” said LeBrun, a Bossier City resident. “It feels good to come back here when it is tough against so many top-notch anglers and catch them two days in a row.”
After weighing a mixed bag of 15-2 Thursday, LeBrun’s Friday bag contained all spotted bass that he saw using his Active Target units. Using a Damiki rig — a Hayabusa Ball Head jig rigged with a V&M Drop Shad — he caught all the spotted bass suspended over 50 feet of water.
The main difference between his crappie tactics and his spotted bass approach was when the bass would eat his bait.
“You have one shot to make one perfect cast and then you marry the fish and the bait on screen,” LeBrun said. “But every one I caught today, while the bait was falling 10 feet above their head, they would come up and smoke it.
“If it gets down to them, they won’t eat it. But if you can get them to come up at it, that increases your chances.”
LeBrun said the larger groups of fish were more likely to eat the bait while little packs of four or five would only look at it.
While there was a short period of fog early, sunny skies soon prevailed and LeBrun said that shut down his largemouth bite.
“The lack of cloud cover hurt me on the power fishing thing and on my largemouth tactic,” he said. “I only caught one short doing that and I know I reeled that bait on some good banks and behind some good docks. I just could never get a bite on it. The lack of clouds shut them down.”
Tom Frink of Cedartown, Ga., jumped from fourth to second with a 13-6 limit on Day 2 after securing 14-2 on the first day. With a two-day total of 27-8, he trails LeBrun by only 7 ounces heading into the final day.
With a later boat draw Friday, Frink decided to stay close to the ramp to take advantage of the morning bite and it paid off with three keepers in the first hour. From there, Frink weeded through several nonkeeper bass before filling his limit around noon.
“Thirty minutes later I caught a 2 3/4-pounder and culled a 2-pounder,” he said. “I think I caught eight keepers and around 25 fish today. This afternoon they just started biting kind of funny.”
After about 2 p.m., Frink decided to scout some new water in hopes of finding some areas that might produce on Championship Saturday.
Covering as much water as possible has been important for Frink this week. Each day he has found new water to fish as well and caught most of his weight in areas where he hadn’t previously made a cast.
Despite landing only four keepers for 10-2, Wisconsin native and two-time Bassmaster Open co-angler winner Jay Przekurat moved into third place with a two-day total of 23-5. After landing in sixth place on Day 1 with 13-3, Przekurat struggled to find bites Friday, landing his first keeper largemouth around 9:30 a.m.
He did not land another keeper until he hit an early-afternoon flurry when he landed a 3-pound spotted bass, a 2-pounder and another keeper. His fifth bite never came.
“Today was way tougher. The blue-bird skies and the post-front conditions absolutely shut down the fishing,” he said. “I hardly saw any fish busting or anything. It’s not a great day and you can tell by the weights.”
Although he battled tough conditions on Day 2, Przekurat said he is excited to head back to the water Saturday for a chance to potentially win his first trophy on the boater side after a 17th-place finish at the first Central Open earlier this year at Pickwick Lake.
“Anytime you are fishing on the final day, you have a chance at a big bag,” he said. “This is my first Top 10 as a pro in my first year as a pro. This is great.”
Although he stumbled on Day 2, Brandon Ackerson still holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the tournament on the boater side, a 5-15 largemouth he landed on Day 1.
Kelly Townson of Hartselle, Ala., took home the nonboater title and just over $16,000. He landed 5-0 on Day 2 to increase his two-day total to 11-13, edging out second-place Justin Stephenson by over a pound.
Townson said he used a buzzbait and a shaky head primarily on Day 1, while the shaky head was the biggest producer on the final day.
Jeffrey Jennings of Lanett, Ala., took home the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament on the co-angler side with a 4-9 he caught on Day 2, earning $250.
With a two-day total of 23-4, Jacob Powroznik jumped into the Top 10 cut, maintaining his lead in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,368 points. Tommy Williams is second with 1,301 and Daisuke Aoki is third with 1,269.
In the Central Open standings, Przekurat jumped into the top spot with 382 points. He leads second-place Joseph Webster (381) by just one point while Brandon Lester is third with 378.
The Top 10 boaters earned a spot to compete on Championship Saturday and will takeoff from Smith Lake Public Boat Ramp starting at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for check-in at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Ala., and is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. CT.
JASPER, Ala. — Nick LeBrun has been using Lowrance Active Target for nearly a year to target crappie in deep water back in his home state of Louisiana. During that time, he has learned he often has one opportunity to make the perfect cast and lead those fish to the bait.
LeBrun has used that same mindset to catch quality spotted bass this week and lead both days of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake. He caught 12 pounds, 13 ounces Friday to increase his total weight to 27-15.
“I fished a pro circuit event here in February and had the bites to do really well and couldn’t get them in the boat and kind of stubbed my toe,” said LeBrun, a Bossier City resident. “It feels good to come back here when it is tough against so many top-notch anglers and catch them two days in a row.”
After weighing a mixed bag of 15-2 Thursday, LeBrun’s Friday bag contained all spotted bass that he saw using his Active Target units. Using a Damiki rig — a Hayabusa Ball Head jig rigged with a V&M Drop Shad — he caught all the spotted bass suspended over 50 feet of water.
The main difference between his crappie tactics and his spotted bass approach was when the bass would eat his bait.
“You have one shot to make one perfect cast and then you marry the fish and the bait on screen,” LeBrun said. “But every one I caught today, while the bait was falling 10 feet above their head, they would come up and smoke it.
“If it gets down to them, they won’t eat it. But if you can get them to come up at it, that increases your chances.”
LeBrun said the larger groups of fish were more likely to eat the bait while little packs of four or five would only look at it.
While there was a short period of fog early, sunny skies soon prevailed and LeBrun said that shut down his largemouth bite.
“The lack of cloud cover hurt me on the power fishing thing and on my largemouth tactic,” he said. “I only caught one short doing that and I know I reeled that bait on some good banks and behind some good docks. I just could never get a bite on it. The lack of clouds shut them down.”
Tom Frink of Cedartown, Ga., jumped from fourth to second with a 13-6 limit on Day 2 after securing 14-2 on the first day. With a two-day total of 27-8, he trails LeBrun by only 7 ounces heading into the final day.
With a later boat draw Friday, Frink decided to stay close to the ramp to take advantage of the morning bite and it paid off with three keepers in the first hour. From there, Frink weeded through several nonkeeper bass before filling his limit around noon.
“Thirty minutes later I caught a 2 3/4-pounder and culled a 2-pounder,” he said. “I think I caught eight keepers and around 25 fish today. This afternoon they just started biting kind of funny.”
After about 2 p.m., Frink decided to scout some new water in hopes of finding some areas that might produce on Championship Saturday.
Covering as much water as possible has been important for Frink this week. Each day he has found new water to fish as well and caught most of his weight in areas where he hadn’t previously made a cast.
Despite landing only four keepers for 10-2, Wisconsin native and two-time Bassmaster Open co-angler winner Jay Przekurat moved into third place with a two-day total of 23-5. After landing in sixth place on Day 1 with 13-3, Przekurat struggled to find bites Friday, landing his first keeper largemouth around 9:30 a.m.
He did not land another keeper until he hit an early-afternoon flurry when he landed a 3-pound spotted bass, a 2-pounder and another keeper. His fifth bite never came.
“Today was way tougher. The blue-bird skies and the post-front conditions absolutely shut down the fishing,” he said. “I hardly saw any fish busting or anything. It’s not a great day and you can tell by the weights.”
Although he battled tough conditions on Day 2, Przekurat said he is excited to head back to the water Saturday for a chance to potentially win his first trophy on the boater side after a 17th-place finish at the first Central Open earlier this year at Pickwick Lake.
“Anytime you are fishing on the final day, you have a chance at a big bag,” he said. “This is my first Top 10 as a pro in my first year as a pro. This is great.”
Although he stumbled on Day 2, Brandon Ackerson still holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the tournament on the boater side, a 5-15 largemouth he landed on Day 1.
Kelly Townson of Hartselle, Ala., took home the nonboater title and just over $16,000. He landed 5-0 on Day 2 to increase his two-day total to 11-13, edging out second-place Justin Stephenson by over a pound.
Townson said he used a buzzbait and a shaky head primarily on Day 1, while the shaky head was the biggest producer on the final day.
Jeffrey Jennings of Lanett, Ala., took home the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament on the co-angler side with a 4-9 he caught on Day 2, earning $250.
With a two-day total of 23-4, Jacob Powroznik jumped into the Top 10 cut, maintaining his lead in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,368 points. Tommy Williams is second with 1,301 and Daisuke Aoki is third with 1,269.
In the Central Open standings, Przekurat jumped into the top spot with 382 points. He leads second-place Joseph Webster (381) by just one point while Brandon Lester is third with 378.
The Top 10 boaters earned a spot to compete on Championship Saturday and will takeoff from Smith Lake Public Boat Ramp starting at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for check-in at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Ala., and is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. CT.
Huge Kicker Lifts Hibbit And Buzard To Bassmaster Junior Championship Lead
Ohio's Grant Buzard and Brooks Hibbit, of the Hartley's Hawgs Youth Fishing Club, are leading after Day 1 of the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake with 12 pounds, 1 ounce.
Photo by Emily Hand/B.A.S.S.
October 8, 2021
HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — Brooks Hibbit and Grant Buzard of the Hartley’s Hawgs Youth Fishing Club used an 8-pound, 1-ounce kicker largemouth to anchor a five-bass limit of 12-1 that leads the opening round of the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship on Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake.
“That was our first fish of the day,” Hibbit said of his big catch. “We were about two hours into our day and we weren’t off to a great start. We pulled up to a new spot and I caught it on the fifth cast.
“I thought I was snagged on something at first, but then it started moving and fighting back. It swam under the boat and jumped on the other side.”
The only team with a double-digit weight, Hibbit and Buzard caught their fish on finesse baits. As Hibbit explained, their day turned out much differently than they had anticipated.
“In practice, we found a spot where we caught fish, but it didn’t seem to work today,” he said. “Then we fished another spot where we only caught a 1 1/2-pounder in practice. We thought there would be a bunch of people on it, but there was no one there.
“We sat there and fished for probably 2 1/2 hours. We actually got our limit there.”
Noting that he and Buzard caught their bass in 15 to 25 feet of water, Hibbit said knowing when to abandon an unproductive effort was key to his team’s performance.
“The fish are pretty much in their fall pattern, but (not many) are coming up shallow, they’re still hanging deep,” Hibbit said. “We thought they’d be pretty shallow because it’s still pretty warm out, but they’re not. We had to switch up and fish deeper water.
“We were marking bait on the fish finder, so we tried throwing crankbaits. It didn’t seem like crankbaits were working, so we switched to finesse and started catching fish.”
With stocked Florida-strain largemouth swimming its waters, the Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake has a reputation for producing impressive catches. Hibbit said he was thrilled the lake saved its quality for when it mattered.
“At the registration meeting last night, we heard that the lake has verified 10-pounders,” he said. “In practice, the biggest thing we caught was 1 1/2, so we thought that we were going to have maybe 6 pounds today.
“That big fish shook us up a little bit. I had to take a 10-minute break to cool down. I was getting jumpy and setting hooks on logs. I took a break and then got back to it and in the next hour and a half, we had a limit.”
Nolan Holloway and Jackson Fanning of Morgan County Middle School are in second place with 9-8. The anglers initially tried throwing reaction baits but ended up getting all their bites on slower presentations.
“We came into this event thinking a moving bite was going to work for fish that were pushing shad up, but we really couldn’t find a pattern on that, so we just moved back and forth from deep to shallow all day,” Holloway said. “We were fishing 1/4-ounce War Eagle shaky heads with Zoom Trick worms around deep brushpiles. We caught our biggest shallow fish on a Texas-rigged Zoom Old Monster worm.”
Fanning said that remaining diligent was their formula for success.
Parker Adair and Jackson Miller of the Arkansas Youth Anglers team are in third place with 9-5. While they weighed only two bass, one of them was Adair’s personal best — a 7-14 that ranked as the event’s second-heaviest bass.
Adair caught the big fish around noon by fishing a soft plastic bait with a slow presentation.
“I had just changed from a reaction bait to this slower technique,” he said. “I caught that fish in about 4 feet of water. It was close to wood and sandy bank.
“I didn’t think it was a 7-pounder, I thought it was more like a 2-pounder. But when it got up and jumped, it was like ‘Oh man, we gotta get that one.’”
Miller added: “We were on the trolling motor most of the day; we didn’t really use the big motor much. Once we got that fish, we tried to find a similar pattern. If the conditions are the same tomorrow, we’re hoping to do the same thing.”
Hibbit and Buzard are in the lead for Big Bass honors with their 8-1.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. CT at the Carroll County Lake Launch. The weigh-in will be held in downtown Huntingdonat 19463 West Main Street at 3:30 p.m.
NPFL - The Progressive 2021 NPFL Angler of the Year is Keith Carson Inbox
Keith Carson
The final stop of the 6-event NPFL season came to a close at Grand Lake with Taylor Watkins taking the crown, but the Progressive Angler of the Year Title was the one that came down to the final minutes in Grove, Oklahoma. When the dust settled on the final weigh-in, Keith Carson took the golden AOY trophy back to Florida, capping off a stellar season that included his first NPFL win at Wright Patman Lake in Texas.
Edging second place angler Brandon Perkins by one point, Carson averaged an 11.17 place finish for the season through six events, cashed a check at every event throughout the season, and his worst finish was 29th at Pickwick Lake where some on the water trouble led to being 6-minutes late to check in, costing him almost 10-places in the standings and $1000 in earnings. In the end, it didn’t matter, as Carson solidified his season by qualifying for the No-Entry Fee Championship at Nickajack Lake in November, and proving to himself that competing at the highest level was something he could do.
“I am a big believer of coming up through the ranks. I fished when I was a teen, then went to ABAs and BFLs, then fished Costas and B.A.S.S. Opens. I had success at every level. When you are able to do well locally and regionally, it’s a good time to fish nationally and it not only solidifies the fact that I can do it for myself, it’s a huge confidence builder. Making decisions on the fly was something I had to trust in myself, and not second guessing anything. The way the weather and the wind change during multi day events, you have to change and adapt every day. Doing it with faith and trust is different than doing it reluctantly.”
There are no shortcuts in fishing, and there is no better way to learn than to do so from experience. There were several times throughout the season where Carson made a decision that changed his entire event. One of those times was at Wright Patman Lake in Texarkana, Texas. Carson was able to follow the moving water to stay ahead of moving fish. A lesson he had learned just a week before at Lake Chickamauga told him rather than staying on the same bushes and catching smaller fish, the bigger ones were moving with the water.
“When we got to Wright Patman, we were in falling water conditions and I think it fell like 3-foot throughout practice and the event. The week before I was on the water and it was doing the same thing. As it was falling, I was able to see new spawning fish that I couldn’t see the day before. It didn’t mean I could catch the, but they were out there and I knew what they were doing during the changing water levels. In Texas, I knew where the fish wanted to be and it turned out to be one of those events you just get dialed. I can't explain it, but some decisions come easy on the fly.”
Another example was a near victory on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin. Carson was facing a tough practice and made a decision to put the motor down and fish for hours straight.
“When I don’t know what to do and I am struggling with practice, I'll go to an area that looks good, decent water clarity, good grass, cover, whatever. I dropped my motor on day two of practice and went 7-miles until I figured out a few key areas. I started on those areas the first day and it kept reloading over and over. It was the perfect recipe.”
After boxing a good limit early on day one, a decision to save fish and work back towards the ramp was in order. During the run, Carson noticed a spot with matted grass way back off the channel. It was another decision to explore that mat that led to the day one lead.
“That mat was way back there, and it was not easy to get to. I had to navigate all back through this stuff, shallow water, laydowns to get back there and make one flip.”
The one flip was a 3.2-pound largemouth and that gave him the lead in the event. Having never been to Grand Lake, Carson explored the standings and decided to go and trust what he does. Finishing 16th, it was enough to cash his 6th NPFL check in a row, cashing at every event, and enough to seal the AOY.
I had heard I could have zeroed and still been in the top 25 in points to make the Championship. I didn’t want to do that, but I had pretty much written AOY off and was able to focus on finding fish to cash a check. Brandon Perkins did what he needed on day one catching over 17-pounds, and Carson knew he had to step it up.
“On day two, I knew I had to catch more weight. I ended up with 14-pounds, but so did Perkins. He fell a couple spots on the leaderboard but I made a big jump. On the final day, with the storms and such, I knew it was going to be tough, but I had to keep catching fish. I had planned before the storm hit where I was going to go to tuck out of it. There was a dock close by that I had settled on. When the time came, I made a last second decision to head to a bridge instead. For, whatever reason, it felt right.”
When the storms passed, Carson started fishing around the bridge and caught 3 keepers. In the midst of catching a ton of bass and striped bass, those 3 keepers combined with the one fish caught earlier in the day, was enough to do what was needed to be in the hunt for a solid check in the event and gave him a shot for AOY. The shot was all that was needed. Perkins was dealing with boat troubles and Carsons decision not to fold on the final day got it done.
Brandon Perkins
To end the year in 2nd place AOY is accomplishment. To make 3 top ten finishes. To win an event on the home body of water. To cash a check at every event. Major accomplishments. Brandon Perkins had a season like he had hoped, checking off all the items on his list of goals, and having himself in position to win the AOY crown, on the last day of the last event of the season. Brandon Perkins is humble. He understands when it's your time, it's your time, and you won't understand why.
“I don’t understand how things happen or why, but when I was on that boat, making phone calls, trying to figure out how to get back to weigh in, I went through a lot of different stages. When God says it's not your time, it's just not. But, selfishly I'm like when is my time. I don’t understand and I won't understand it as bad as I wanted it.”
On the final day, Perkins stopped his run back to weigh in. Set off pad, put the boat in neutral. Because of a massive storm that had blown through, the rain was coming down. Perkins stopped to get a helmet on to keep the rain from hitting him in the face. The boat would not go back into gear. The shift actuator had quit, and his hopes of AOY were gone.
As bad as it hurt, when the event began on Grand Lake, there were a few anglers who had a shot to win. Perkins was not looking to play to play it safe. Even on the last day of the event, sitting in the top 5. Perkins had located fish near the ramp, and opted to pass on them to hunt for the winning fish.
“I was not going to win with those fish, and my travel partner asked if I was going to play it safe. I said no. He was scuffling for a check and I told him to run to this dock, in the creek by the ramp. In the first 30-minutes, he caught 13-pounds. I knew I wouldn’t be able to win the tournament there and I went to try to win. If I had played it safe all season, I wouldn’t be where I am, so I went to win.”
Keith Carson had caught enough fish after a spectacular season to finish in 16th place. It was exactly enough to win the AOY by one point. Carson had an average finish of 11.17, while Perkins's average was 11.33. Super close, one single point.
“I just want Keith to know, he 100% earned the Angler of the Year. He was in that position to be there at the end. I had a good Grand Lake tournament; it just didn't work out for me. When I went live on my way home, I had shut my phone off for 24-hours or so before that. The response helped give me a better understanding of why that happened to me. I might ask Keith sometime, he can keep the money, but can I borrow that gold trophy for a few weeks a year,” laughed the Counce, Tennessee angler.
Perkins understood that he and everyone else needed to hear the message. Someone reached out after and told him they had been on the fence with the lord. His message helped them get back in line and it also helped to better understand the situation.
“I dumped a lot into this season. I have fished everywhere and I have been beat bad. All the hard lessons came into play this season and helped me. I turned adversity from the past into the good fortune this year. That was a tough moment for me. I cried a lot. I asked why. As much work that goes into it, its stinks and hurts. I am thankful for the messages from everyone,” Perkins said.
“My biggest take away, the NPFL is awesome, its growing and moving upwards. Anyone reading this should know, you can work your butt off for something, and you won't always get what you want. But this. This has increased my faith in God.”
Bryant Smith
After beginning the season cashing checks finishing 24th at Eufaula, and 28th at Wright Patman, Bryant Smith rallied for four top 10 finishes in a row to end his season on a high note and in the 3rd place spot in points. With an average finish of just over 12th place, Smith earned a cool $74,000 in earnings, and was the only angler in the top 5 to not take home a win in 2021.
“The biggest thing for me was getting that top 10 at Harris Chain. That gave me the confidence to trust my decisions and not second guess anything. My travel partner, Jake Boomer, and I tried not to get outer influence for any event going in. With him having a good tournament in Florida, and me as well, we just rode that wave all season.”
Decisions are key to success on and off the water. When it comes to crunch time, little decisions can make or break your day or entire season. It was leading up to Winnebago where Smith had to make that call, and it continued a string of dominance that carried him throughout the rest of the season.
“In practice I had fished all four lakes but only had one little creek on the main lake that going in I felt good about getting some bites. I went there on day one and caught my 14-pounds by 9am, and then went practicing. I ran the entire west side and never was able to cull. I then fished a secondary pattern of flipping super shallow and also struck out. I thought I was screwed.”
On day two, the creek that had produced the day before had dried up and Smith had one keeper bite to show for it. While doing research before the event, all signs had told him to avoid the east side of the lake. However, on the final day of practice, Smith sampled a small stretch and shook off seven bites on 10 docks.
“I got some bites, but I had no idea if they were bass, or bluegill, or what. After catching one fish in the little creek, and then striking out on the West side, I had no choice but to fish those docks. I rolled in around 10am caught a good keeper instantly. I fished down that strip for two hours and dialed in where I could get bites. That stretched changed mt whole event and my outlook. Having those fish helped me big time and I am glad I sampled them even though the research told me otherwise.”
Coming into the season, Smith wanted to compete and learn. With how things played out, and the lessons learned, and money earned, the California angler has to thank Jake Boomer for lighting the fire.
“Jake got the seed planted. I had thought about fishing (the NPFL), but he talked me along. I had no expectations coming in but it was a good opportunity and I took the shot. The schedule was tough, and on top, guys who can figure fish out extremely well. To end in 3rd, and make some money, it exceeded my expectations, and I can't wait for the championship in November!”
John Soukup
Winner of the first ever NPFL event at Lake Eufaula, and winner of stop number three at the Harris Chain of Lakes, John Soukup averaged a 15th place finish for the season and pocketed a cook $138,000 for his efforts.
Setting goals at the beginning of the season, Soukup reached and exceeded his expectations. Key decisions along the way and trusting himself at every stop, Soukup was consistently finishing near the top and catching them at every lake all around the country.
“The second half of the year, I made some decisions I wish I didn’t. At Pickwick, I decided to fish for more money, and a higher finish paid more than AOY. Same thing at Grand, I went off away from the where the majority of the fish were and pushed into areas where others were not with hopes of blowing it up. I figured to win AOY, I needed to win Grand while others stumbled. 5-minutes into that event I caught a fish and knew I made the championship.”
Soukup admits he fished differently in the second half of the season, and realized he made a mistake. Learning to fish more conservatively when necessary is on the agenda for 2022, but it's hard to argue with the two wins and top five in AOY – the season was a success.
“Anyone in the top this year will tell you they fished open minded, and a good example for me was at Grand Lake. A voice in my head kept telling me I wasn’t fishing how I needed to. I finally swapped rods, picked up a whopper plopper, and I caught a 3-pounder on my first cast. At 2pm, I had only 4 fish, on the final day I mind you, my gut told me to run 35 minutes in the wrong direction to fish a dock. I finally decided to go for it. I got there, caught two more keepers and filled my limit. For the most part, I didn’t listen to the voices and it worked out well. I learned to trust it, and not fish with a preconceived notion.”
Looking forward to the Championship, Soukup has never been to Nickajack but does bring some Tennessee River experience with him. Some time on Guntersville in the spring, Kentucky Lake in the fall, and of course Pickwick, its setting up to be interesting and enjoyable.
“I don’t think anyone is going to be fishing for 2nd place. I am not going to study much before, I'm done with that. I am going to gear up with fall ledge gras fishing stuff and use practice to figure it out. With two half days, and 2 full days, I don’t know if I'll even pick up a rod. I may leave them out of the boat actually and see everything I can see. Ill rely on the gut decisions and the key will be getting bigger bites.”
Taylor Watkins
Grand Lake champion Taylor Watkins saved his best for last after a season of consistency on new lakes. Watkins took the win at Grand Lake and earned a solid $99,000 for his season efforts. Averaging an 18th place finish for the year, Watkins worst finish was 33rd place, but he still cashed a check at every event.
“My original goal was to cash a check at each event, and then on top of that, make the championship. That was the biggest goal. If I was able to make that, the no entry fee, I would have made enough money (by qualifying), and I have a shot to win more to get me to next season.
Watkins didn’t spend too much time thinking about the AOY in general, but after Harris, was sitting in 7th, and a little far back. With half a season left, he fished hard and if not for a missed opportunity at Pickwick, the points race would have been a little tighter.
“I had a bad day one. I made an adjustment late and was able to finish a small limit. On day two I started there and cracked them good in the first 3-hours and then while looking for big fish, my livewells quit, and I had 4 dead fish. That’s a 4-pound penalty. Weighed in 12-pounds and was sitting decent, but should have been in the top 10 with one day left. I did get a check, but some unfortunate mishaps caused me to stumble. It was a salvaged event. I fell to 10th in AOY.”
At Winnebago, more unfortunate things caused Watkins his worst event of the season. Finishing in 33rd place, his practice revealed a stellar offshore bite, but unfavorable weather during the event killed all hopes of moving up in the AOY standings. Another event viewed as a survival event.
“Going into Grand, I was still in 10th place and knew I survived. I just needed to catch a few fish to make the championship. I literally put my head down and swung for the fence, not technically, but I went looking for bigger fish regardless. I had no spinning rods, and was able to uncover a dock pattern that revealed some larger fish. “
The move paid off as Watkins was able to seal the victory with a big bag on the final day. With a guaranteed spot in the championship, Watkins played the weather changing game and was able to execute where others were not. A win is huge, but there is still unfinished business.
“I never said this all season, but I still have another goal. I want to win the championship. Nobody ever forgets who wins the championship, especially the first one. I didn’t know where it was going to be, but regardless, it's no pressure, still getting paid no matter what, I can go out, relax, and fish free. That’s when I am at my best. To top it all off, it's on a place where I have countless hours on the river in the fall – I cannot wait.”
See the final Progressive Angler of the Year results, here!
FIRST SEASON OF “MY WORLD WITH MIKE IACONELLI” A BIG HIT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (October 7, 2021) –– The exciting inaugural season of Mike Iaconelli’s new television series “My World With Mike Iaconelli” came to a close Monday night with the epic season finale featuring LPGA Tour Professional, Marina Alex.
To recap the second half of the show’s inaugural season, in Episode Four Iaconelli stepped into the ring with UFC Fighter Jim Miller and experienced firsthand how tough being a fighter truly is. When Miller was able to hop in the boat with Iaconelli, both were able to see that in their respective sports, there are no days off. In Episode Five with Professional Bull Rider Keyshawn Whitehorse, Iaconelli took this adventure by the reins and came face-to-face with what life is like as a traveling professional bull rider before inviting Whitehorse onto the front deck of his bass boat to experience the mental stamina and patience required of a professional angler.
In the sixth and final episode with LPGA Tour Professional Marina Alex, Iaconelli broke out the clubs to face one of the most talented athletes in women’s golf and quickly learned that focus and coordination is the name of the golf game. Alex then put away her clubs and picked up a spinning rod while they compared the crossover mindset needed in both sports.
After the first season, one thing is certain; Iaconelli and his guests are dedicated to their sports and passionate about sharing their industries with others. Season one reeled in attention from those who fish and gained the attention of those who do not...yet!
Check out the lures, rods, reels and techniques that worked during each episode on Ike’s YouTube series “Ike In the Shop” on his YouTube channel:
Ep. 1 – Lane Johnson
Ep. 2 – Martin Truex Jr.
Ep. 3 – Kyle Troup
Ep. 4 – Jim Miller
Ep. 5 – Keyshawn Whitehorse
Ep. 6 – Marina Alex
About Mike Iaconelli: Mike Iaconelli, an icon in the world of professional bass fishing, is a South Philadelphia native who now lives in New Jersey. He’s had a passion for fishing since childhood and has been competing in fishing tournaments since high school. Iaconelli has won, or come close to winning, almost every major award in tournament bass fishing, most notably the 2003 Bassmaster Classic, 2006 Angler-of-the-Year awards. For more information, visit mikeiaconelli.com
Battle For The Trophy In Bassmaster Fishing 2022’s “Bassmaster Royale” Multiplayer Mode
October 8, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, launches later this fall, angling aficionados will enjoy two multiplayer options for relaxing fun or ultracompetitive gaming.
Enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon playing with friends on the Sabine River or the relaxing waters of Chickamauga Lake in a noncompetitive environment, exploring the waters for the ideal fishing spots and showing off custom characters or, for a more adrenaline-pumping experience, battle other gamers to become the Bassmaster Royale champion.
Bassmaster Royale mode, a game mode never before offered in a fishing game, challenges players to find hot spots and catch more fish than other anglers. Players will need to stay above the cut line, a moving target setting a minimum combined weight of all fish caught, to avoid being eliminated during four events taking place throughout the match. Players will need to keep their eyes on the leaderboard to avoid being culled.
Anglers will begin their competitions in one of three different spots, where they’ll need to quickly race to their favorite fishing hot spot to start hooking bass while keeping an eye out for other anglers trying to muscle in on their territory. Like in a real tournament, changing locations can waste precious time but pay dividends if other anglers are packed closely together and competing for the same bass. Those who don’t make the cut during each event will be eliminated while the angler with the highest combined weight at the end of the four events is declared the Bassmaster Royale Champion!
Dovetail Games, maker of Bassmaster Fishing 2022, offers full support for multiplayer cross-play across all platforms so anglers can compete against each other, or relax together, no matter what system they use.
Post launch, the Dovetail Games team has exciting plans to bring new multiplayer modes where players can fish against others to be the Bassmaster Classic champion online or become the angler of the month in the global Dovetail Fishing League! More information about post launch multiplayer plans will be revealed later this year.
Bassmaster Fishing 2022 will be available beginning Oct. 28 in North America and Europe on the PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X and Xbox Game Pass, and Windows PC via Steam. The game is available for preorder now on PlayStation, and Playstation®Plus members get a 10% discount.
For regular updates and more information, please visit Bassmasterthegame.com.
Roster Set for Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2022 in Tulsa
Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees to Host 41 Anglers Competing for Top Prize of $300,000, Outdoor Sports Expo to Be Held at Tulsa’s Expo Square
TULSA, Okla. (Oct. 8, 2021) – Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is ready. The field of 41 professional anglers is confirmed. The Outdoor Sports Expo planning is underway. REDCREST 2022, the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Championship, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is set to be a massive event for fishing and outdoors enthusiasts.
Originally scheduled for February of 2021, the event was postponed a year after mounting uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions and a guest capacity reduction at Expo Square. With relaxed restrictions and Tulsa once again open for business, it’s full steam ahead for MLF and event hosts VisitTulsa, the City of Grove, and the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.
“With our MLF headquarters based in Tulsa, this is a homecoming for Major League Fishing and we are honored to showcase our sport and the outdoors to the Tulsa community with our world championship event,” said Michael Mulone, Senior Director of Events and Partnerships for MLF. “REDCREST 2022 is going to be a show like no other, and we look forward to highlighting Grand Lake and Tulsa to the tens of thousands of passionate fishing and outdoors fans that will attend the event and the hundreds of thousands of fans that will be watching from around the world.”
The five-day bass-fishing world championship, shot for television broadcast on CBS, the Discovery Channel and the Outdoor Channel, will showcase the top 41 Bass Pro Tour anglers from the 2021 season competing for the prestigious REDCREST Championship and the top prize of $300,000.
According to MLF rules, the REDCREST field of 40 is determined by Angler of the Year (AOY) points ranking at the end of the seven-Stage 2021 Bass Pro Tour. This year, MLF and the MLF Anglers Association agreed upon a structure that allowed all 76 anglers on the Bass Pro Tour roster to drop their lowest finishes from the 2021 regular season. That helped to level the playing field after multiple anglers sat out of events due to health and safety concerns that fell under MLF’s CDC-recommended Healthy Operating Protocols and Executions (HOPE) guidelines.
When all of the AOY points were tallied, one angler that had qualified to compete in the event was negatively affected and dropped out of the 40-angler qualification. In the interest of fairness, that angler will still be allowed to compete in the event as the lowest-finish drop was not meant to penalize an angler that had already qualified. REDCREST 2022 will feature 41 anglers competing over the five-day competition.
The 41 pros from the 2021 Bass Pro Tour season that will compete in REDCREST 2022 at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees are:
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
John Cox, DeBary, Fla.
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va.
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala.
Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark.
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Fletcher Shryock of Guntersville, Ala.
Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La.
Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Scott Suggs, Harrison, Ark.
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala.
In addition to the competition, REDCREST 2022 will feature an Outdoor Sports Expo at Tulsa’s Expo Square on March 25-27, 2022. Tens of thousands of passionate MLF fans will pack the halls ready to see the latest in tackle and gear innovation, meet their fishing heroes, learn from the greatest anglers in the world, spend their money on merchandise and celebrate all things bass fishing. Bass Pro Tour anglers will conduct seminars and will be available for meet and greets with fans. Additional celebrities of the outdoors will be on site. All activities are free and open to the public.
Exhibitor space if filling up fast, but a limited number of spaces are still available. If your business is interested in being a part of the consumer outdoor sports show, please visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/
For complete details and updated information on the REDCREST 2022 and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
MLF Announces Fort Loudoun and Tellico Lakes as Venue for 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card Tournament
TULSA, Okla. (October 7, 2021) – Major League Fishing, the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, announced that the 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Wild Card Regional will take place on Fort Loudoun and Tellico Lakes in Lenoir City, Tennessee, Nov. 5-6. The two-day event, hosted by Visit Loudon County and City of Lenoir City , will launch from the Tellico Dam Reservation Boat Ramp in Lenoir City.
Anglers must have entered all five events within a Phoenix Bass Fishing League division during the 2021 season and fished at least two of them in order to be eligible to fish the no-entry-fee Wild Card. In addition, anglers who fish in a regular BFL Regional Championship are ineligible.
Anglers will take off from Tellico Dam Reservation Boat Ramp, located at 1075 US-321 in Lenoir City, at 8 a.m. ET each day of competition. Weigh-ins will be held at the ramp both days beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The full field competes both days at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card, with winners determined by the heaviest two-day catch. The top six boaters and top six Strike King co-anglers will advance to the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine All-American, held on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, June 2-4, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
An optional pot is available to anglers who elect to participate at the Wild Card tournament. Entry fees for the optional pot is $300 for boaters and $150 for co-anglers, with the top 20 percent of anglers who elect to participate in the optional pot receiving checks. There will be no official practice period or off-limits period prior to the pre-tournament meeting for the Wild Card. No contestant may be on tournament waters for the purpose of locating bass or potential fishing waters after the start of the pre-tournament meeting except during tournament hours.
Entry for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card is now open and runs through Thursday, November 4, 2021, at 5 p.m. CT. Anglers can enter by phone at 270.252.1000.
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Mixed Bag Lifts LeBrun To Day 1 Lead In Bassmaster Central Open At Lewis Smith Lake
2021 Day 1 Smith Open Leader.jpg
Nick LeBrun, of Bossier City, La., is leading after Day 1 of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake with 15 pounds, 2 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 7, 2021
JASPER, Ala. — While the bites were hard to come by, Louisiana angler Nick LeBrun caught 15 pounds, 2 ounces of spotted and largemouth bass Thursday to take the Day 1 lead of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lewis Smith Lake.
After a practice filled with thunderstorms and drenching rains that brought the lake up several feet, Mother Nature threw one more curveball Thursday morning as the Day 1 takeoff was delayed nearly two hours by fog.
“I didn’t start fishing until after 9 o’clock and that was kind of in my head a little bit,” said LeBrun, who leads Cody Bird by 8 ounces and Brandon Ackerson by 15 ounces. “I was rushing and really wasn’t seeing much on the graph and I changed things up and caught a 3 1/2 about 10 o’clock. That got the momentum going.”
From there, LeBrun was able to add quality spotted bass and largemouth to his bag.
The bass he is targeting are chasing bait over deep water — as deep as 80 feet — but are suspended in the 10- to 20-foot zone. A Damiki rig on 12-pound Sunline SX1 braid with a Sunline FC Sniper 8-pound leader was his most productive bait.
Later in the day, LeBrun said he was able to also find a shallow bite that helped him make a few key culls. He added that some of the areas he’s been fishing got better with the rising water levels.
“I was using ActiveTarget most of the day,” he said. “Nine out of 10 fish that looked like they were good size would dart up at (my bait) and stare at it and follow it. But every once in a while, you’d find one that acted like it hadn’t seen a bait before.
“There wasn’t any getting it away from it. But the key is covering enough water and finding those active fish.”
Of his seven keepers, LeBrun landed four spotted bass and three largemouth. While he has one particular pattern going to target largemouth, the spotted bass aren’t that far away.
“If you point that transducer out there while you are fishing, you can stumble on some schools,” LeBrun said. “I’m being intentional about largemouth fishing, but every once in a while, I need to stop and look around out there. The spots are out there on that bait.”
Meanwhile, Bird also found a pattern centered around largemouth bass, securing 14-10 to land in second.
The winner of the 2020 Central Open on Alabama’s Neely Henry Lake and a qualifier for the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, Bird said many of the areas he found in practice were dirtier than expected after the heavy rains. He didn’t land a keeper until around 1 p.m.
“During practice, I only caught two 3-pounders,” Bird said. “This is the best day I’ve had since Friday. I stayed shallow and decided not to chase those herring fish.”
While a weather delay messed with his mindset during the Classic, a later boat draw and check-in time Thursday helped the Texas native stay focused.
In his years of experience on Lewis Smith Lake, Bird knows the largemouth bite can be finicky and that makes him unsure how the rest of the tournament will go.
“I may not catch one tomorrow,” he said. “I’ve got some other stuff, but when you run around you waste so much time and I have a short day tomorrow. I’m going to have to stick it to them earlier tomorrow.”
He added that he has caught keeper spotted bass in practice and was surprised he didn’t land any Thursday.
Ackerson caught 14-3 and anchored his bag with a 5-15 largemouth, which leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament standings.
“I thought I was hung up in a brushpile,” the Oklahoma native said. “I knew I had a bite and I set the hook and it didn’t move. Then I felt the head shake, and then it came free and still didn’t come up. And I said, ‘I’m in trouble.’ I cranked hard on it and never stopped and brought it right over the gunnel and right in the boat.”
While Ackerson had quality bites, they were few and far between. His first stop was in an area where he caught fish on a topwater bait in practice, but he was unable to get those fish to commit. From there, he moved close to 40 times throughout the day.
“The zones I was targeting were pretty specific. It was hit it and move,” Ackerson said. “I had a good first day of practice but it progressively got worse every day. I was pretty limited to what I thought was good, so I stuck with that and never put it down. I knew I wasn’t going to get a lot of bites, but I thought I could get five.”
On the co-angler side, Kelly Townson of Hartselle, Ala., leads with 6-13 followed by Levi Allgeier with 6-11 and Ruben Arevalos with 6-7. Curtis King of Plaquemine, La., caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day on the co-angler side with a 3-15.
After landing in 11th with 11-12 on Day 1, Jacob Powroznik from North Prince George, Va., maintained his lead in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,361 points. Tommy Williams is second with 1,315, followed by Sam George with 1,240.
John Garrett leads the Central Opens standings with 387 points, while Brandon Lester and Jay Przekurat are tied for second with 379.
The full field will launch from Smith Lake Public Boat Ramp Friday at 6:30 a.m. CT and will return for weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. The nonboater champion will be crowned at the conclusion of weigh-in, while the Top 10 boaters will compete on Championship Saturday. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Ala. Full coverage of the event will be available at Bassmaster.com.
The Chamber of Commerce of Walker County is hosting the event.
2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lewis Smith Lake 10/7-10/9
Smith Lake, Jasper AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Nick LeBrun Bossier City, LA 5 15-02 200
Day 1: 5 15-02
2. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 5 14-10 199
Day 1: 5 14-10
3. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 5 14-03 198
Day 1: 5 14-03
4. Tom Frink Cedartown, GA 5 14-02 197
Day 1: 5 14-02
4. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 14-02 197
Day 1: 5 14-02
6. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 13-03 195
Day 1: 5 13-03
7. Joseph Hardy Hewitt, TX 5 12-09 194
Day 1: 5 12-09
8. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 5 12-06 193
Day 1: 5 12-06
9. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 12-00 192
Day 1: 5 12-00
10. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 5 11-15 191
Day 1: 5 11-15
11. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 11-12 190
Day 1: 5 11-12
12. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 11-11 189
Day 1: 5 11-11
13. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 11-07 188
Day 1: 5 11-07
14. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 11-04 187
Day 1: 5 11-04
15. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 5 11-03 186
Day 1: 5 11-03
16. Kyle Glasgow Guin, AL 5 11-02 185
Day 1: 5 11-02
17. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 5 11-00 184
Day 1: 5 11-00
17. Johnny McCombs Morris, AL 5 11-00 184
Day 1: 5 11-00
19. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 5 10-15 182
Day 1: 5 10-15
20. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 5 10-14 181
Day 1: 5 10-14
20. Greg Vance Delhi, IA 5 10-14 181
Day 1: 5 10-14
22. Connor Graham Minneapolis, MN 4 10-06 179
Day 1: 4 10-06
23. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 10-04 178
Day 1: 5 10-04
24. Jesse Wiggins Logan, AL 5 10-03 177
Day 1: 5 10-03
25. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 10-01 176
Day 1: 5 10-01
26. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 5 10-00 175
Day 1: 5 10-00
27. Brian Peterson Sauk City, WI 4 09-15 174
Day 1: 4 09-15
28. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 09-13 173
Day 1: 5 09-13
28. Nick Ratliff Vine Grove, KY 5 09-13 173
Day 1: 5 09-13
30. Jeff Kitchens Auburn, AL 5 09-12 171
Day 1: 5 09-12
31. Allen Stewart Lakeview, AR 5 09-11 170
Day 1: 5 09-11
31. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 5 09-11 170
Day 1: 5 09-11
33. Allen Mcreath Cullman, AL 4 09-09 168
Day 1: 4 09-09
34. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 5 09-08 167
Day 1: 5 09-08
35. Justin Hymel Norco, LA 5 09-05 166
Day 1: 5 09-05
36. Chris White Russiaville, IN 5 09-04 165
Day 1: 5 09-04
37. Dustin Williamson Aiken, SC 4 09-04 164
Day 1: 4 09-04
38. Allan Glasgow Ashville, AL 5 09-01 163
Day 1: 5 09-01
39. Lee Black Moulton, AL 5 09-00 162
Day 1: 5 09-00
40. Jordan Wiggins Cullman, AL 5 08-15 161
Day 1: 5 08-15
41. Terry Luedtke Burton, TX 4 08-15 160
Day 1: 4 08-15
41. Jimmy Steed Zapata, TX 4 08-15 160
Day 1: 4 08-15
43. Jennings Earnest Guin, AL 3 08-15 158
Day 1: 3 08-15
44. Jay Nyce Jr. Rogers, AR 5 08-14 157
Day 1: 5 08-14
45. Justin Kerr Lake Havasu, AZ 5 08-12 156
Day 1: 5 08-12
46. Greg Pugh Cullman, AL 4 08-12 155
Day 1: 4 08-12
47. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 3 08-11 154
Day 1: 3 08-11
48. Robin Erb Crane Hill, AL 4 08-08 153
Day 1: 4 08-08
49. Jacob Walker Alabaster, AL 5 08-06 152
Day 1: 5 08-06
50. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 4 08-04 151
Day 1: 4 08-04
50. Hensley Powell Whitwell, TN 4 08-04 151
Day 1: 4 08-04
52. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 4 08-03 149
Day 1: 4 08-03
52. Joseph Webster Winfield, AL 4 08-03 149
Day 1: 4 08-03
54. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 3 08-03 147
Day 1: 3 08-03
55. Brent Shores Boise, ID 4 08-01 146
Day 1: 4 08-01
56. Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, TX 4 08-00 145
Day 1: 4 08-00
56. Bobby Taylor Jasper, AL 4 08-00 145
Day 1: 4 08-00
58. Marshall Hughes Hemphill, TX 4 07-15 143
Day 1: 4 07-15
59. Austin Brimeyer Dubuque, IA 4 07-14 142
Day 1: 4 07-14
59. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 4 07-14 142
Day 1: 4 07-14
61. Billy Smith Montgomery, TX 4 07-13 140
Day 1: 4 07-13
62. Randy Blaukat Springfield, MO 4 07-04 139
Day 1: 4 07-04
63. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 4 07-03 138
Day 1: 4 07-03
64. Dustin Neat Dunnville, KY 4 07-02 137
Day 1: 4 07-02
65. Robbie McDonald Little Rock, AR 3 07-02 136
Day 1: 3 07-02
66. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 3 06-15 135
Day 1: 3 06-15
67. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 4 06-14 134
Day 1: 4 06-14
68. Todd Risinger West Monroe, LA 4 06-12 133
Day 1: 4 06-12
69. Oliver Ngy Frisco, TX 3 06-12 132
Day 1: 3 06-12
70. Daisuke Kita Ootsu-Shi JAPAN 3 06-11 131
Day 1: 3 06-11
71. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 4 06-08 130
Day 1: 4 06-08
72. James Christian Dickson, TN 4 06-04 129
Day 1: 4 06-04
72. Sam George Athens, AL 4 06-04 129
Day 1: 4 06-04
72. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 4 06-04 129
Day 1: 4 06-04
75. Jarrett Brown Montevallo, AL 3 06-00 126
Day 1: 3 06-00
75. Lucas Ragusa Gonzales, LA 3 06-00 126
Day 1: 3 06-00
77. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 3 05-14 124
Day 1: 3 05-14
78. Jay Brainard Mountain Home, AR 3 05-13 123
Day 1: 3 05-13
78. Josh Oliver Southside, AL 3 05-13 123
Day 1: 3 05-13
80. Caleb Gibson Tahlequah, OK 4 05-11 121
Day 1: 4 05-11
80. David Williams Newton, NC 4 05-11 121
Day 1: 4 05-11
82. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 3 05-11 119
Day 1: 3 05-11
83. Matt Green Cartersville, GA 3 05-10 118
Day 1: 3 05-10
84. Blake Whatley Harleton, TX 2 05-10 117
Day 1: 2 05-10
85. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 3 05-09 116
Day 1: 3 05-09
86. Chris Jones Bokoshe, OK 2 05-09 115
Day 1: 2 05-09
87. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 3 05-08 114
Day 1: 3 05-08
88. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 3 05-07 113
Day 1: 3 05-07
89. Brandon Looney Athens, AL 3 05-05 112
Day 1: 3 05-05
90. Lance Crawford Broken Bow, OK 3 05-03 111
Day 1: 3 05-03
91. Philip Atkins Killen, AL 3 05-02 110
Day 1: 3 05-02
91. Randy Plyler Arkadelphia, AR 3 05-02 110
Day 1: 3 05-02
93. Nathan Harbison Madera, CA 3 05-01 108
Day 1: 3 05-01
93. Cory Leita Victoria, TX 3 05-01 108
Day 1: 3 05-01
95. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 3 05-00 106
Day 1: 3 05-00
96. Josh Bragg Jacksonville, AL 3 05-00 105
Day 1: 3 05-00
97. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 2 04-15 104
Day 1: 2 04-15
97. Adam Neu Forestville, WI 2 04-15 104
Day 1: 2 04-15
99. Derek Hicks Rocky Face, GA 2 04-14 102
Day 1: 2 04-14
99. James Rampey Liberty, SC 2 04-14 102
Day 1: 2 04-14
101. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 3 04-13 100
Day 1: 3 04-13
102. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 2 04-11 99
Day 1: 2 04-11
103. Ryan Heavener Tulsa, OK 2 04-09 98
Day 1: 2 04-09
103. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 2 04-09 98
Day 1: 2 04-09
105. Darrell Newman Bruceville, TX 2 04-08 96
Day 1: 2 04-08
105. Cody Shry Pinehrst, TX 2 04-08 96
Day 1: 2 04-08
105. Caiden Sinclair Wilsonville, AL 2 04-08 96
Day 1: 2 04-08
108. Mark Hicks Glouster, OH 2 04-06 93
Day 1: 2 04-06
108. Brian Robison Bellville, TX 2 04-06 93
Day 1: 2 04-06
110. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 2 04-05 91
Day 1: 2 04-05
111. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, AL 2 04-04 90
Day 1: 2 04-04
111. Kaoru O'Bryan Benton, KY 2 04-04 90
Day 1: 2 04-04
113. Mark Russell Mt Vernon, TX 2 04-03 88
Day 1: 2 04-03
114. Adam Knowles Trevor, WI 2 03-14 87
Day 1: 2 03-14
114. Myles Palmer Alexander City, AL 2 03-14 87
Day 1: 2 03-14
114. Brian Post Janesville, WI 2 03-14 87
Day 1: 2 03-14
117. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 2 03-13 84
Day 1: 2 03-13
118. Briana Tucker Trinity, AL 1 03-13 83
Day 1: 1 03-13
119. Brent Crow Hartselle, AL 2 03-12 82
Day 1: 2 03-12
119. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 2 03-12 82
Day 1: 2 03-12
119. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 2 03-12 82
Day 1: 2 03-12
122. BJ Baxter Willshire, OH 2 03-11 79
Day 1: 2 03-11
122. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 2 03-11 79
Day 1: 2 03-11
124. Justin Nichols Tuscaloosa, AL 2 03-10 77
Day 1: 2 03-10
125. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 2 03-08 76
Day 1: 2 03-08
125. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 2 03-08 76
Day 1: 2 03-08
125. Mark Watson Midlothian, TX 2 03-08 76
Day 1: 2 03-08
128. Clayton Barnes Clanton, AL 2 03-05 73
Day 1: 2 03-05
128. Andy Hribar Lakeville, MN 2 03-05 73
Day 1: 2 03-05
130. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 2 03-04 71
Day 1: 2 03-04
130. Dustin Wheeler Hulbert, OK 2 03-04 71
Day 1: 2 03-04
132. John Maner Falkville, AL 2 03-03 69
Day 1: 2 03-03
132. Corey Stewart III Lees Summit, MO 2 03-03 69
Day 1: 2 03-03
134. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV 2 03-02 67
Day 1: 2 03-02
135. Tim Arnold Cullman, AL 2 03-00 66
Day 1: 2 03-00
135. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 2 03-00 66
Day 1: 2 03-00
135. Danny Hardy Cantonment, FL 2 03-00 66
Day 1: 2 03-00
135. Mitchell Jennings Valley, AL 2 03-00 66
Day 1: 2 03-00
139. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 1 03-00 62
Day 1: 1 03-00
140. Billy McCaghren Jr Mayflower, AR 1 02-15 61
Day 1: 1 02-15
140. Connor Rushing Zachary, LA 1 02-15 61
Day 1: 1 02-15
142. Richard Kaluba Litchfield, OH 2 02-14 59
Day 1: 2 02-14
142. Christian Mazzola Sr Walnutport, PA 2 02-14 59
Day 1: 2 02-14
144. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 2 02-12 57
Day 1: 2 02-12
145. Chris Bailey Eddy, TX 1 02-12 56
Day 1: 1 02-12
146. Clay Dyer Hamilton, AL 2 02-11 55
Day 1: 2 02-11
147. Ken Iyobe Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 1 02-06 54
Day 1: 1 02-06
148. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 1 02-05 53
Day 1: 1 02-05
149. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 1 02-04 52
Day 1: 1 02-04
150. Michael Wooten White House, TN 1 02-02 51
Day 1: 1 02-02
151. James Meers Rome, GA 1 02-01 50
Day 1: 1 02-01
151. Crispin Powley Camden, TN 1 02-01 50
Day 1: 1 02-01
153. Travis Burch La Cygne, KS 1 02-00 48
Day 1: 1 02-00
154. Greg Mansfield Olathe, KS 1 01-15 47
Day 1: 1 01-15
154. Jaxon Sullivan Reagan, TN 1 01-15 47
Day 1: 1 01-15
156. Travis Harriman Huntsville, AR 1 01-14 45
Day 1: 1 01-14
156. Jerod Hawkes Eagle Pass, TX 1 01-14 45
Day 1: 1 01-14
158. Luke Dunkin Lawrenceburg, TN 1 01-13 43
Day 1: 1 01-13
158. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 1 01-13 43
Day 1: 1 01-13
158. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 1 01-13 43
Day 1: 1 01-13
158. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 1 01-13 43
Day 1: 1 01-13
162. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 1 01-12 39
Day 1: 1 01-12
162. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 1 01-12 39
Day 1: 1 01-12
164. Shane Melton Kokomo, IN 1 01-11 37
Day 1: 1 01-11
164. Brian Morris Cullman, AL 1 01-11 37
Day 1: 1 01-11
166. Austin Archer Anniston, AL 1 01-10 35
Day 1: 1 01-10
166. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 1 01-10 35
Day 1: 1 01-10
166. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 1 01-10 35
Day 1: 1 01-10
166. Cody Ryan Greaney La Grange, TX 1 01-10 35
Day 1: 1 01-10
166. Ethan King Wilsonville, AL 1 01-10 35
Day 1: 1 01-10
171. Bill McNutt Henry, IL 1 01-09 30
Day 1: 1 01-09
172. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 1 01-08 29
Day 1: 1 01-08
173. David Dove Columbus, MS 1 01-07 28
Day 1: 1 01-07
173. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 1 01-07 28
Day 1: 1 01-07
173. Travis Loyd Brookeland , TX 1 01-07 28
Day 1: 1 01-07
176. Billy Billeaud Lafayette, LA 1 01-06 25
Day 1: 1 01-06
176. Joe Combs Paragould, AR 1 01-06 25
Day 1: 1 01-06
176. Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX 1 01-06 25
Day 1: 1 01-06
179. Tom Statler Kimberling City, MO 1 01-05 22
Day 1: 1 01-05
180. Todd Childs Waxahachie, TX 1 01-04 21
Day 1: 1 01-04
180. Toby Hartsell Afton, OK 1 01-04 21
Day 1: 1 01-04
182. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 1 00-07 19
Day 1: 1 00-07
183. Rutger Hyche Double Springs, AL 1 00-06 18
Day 1: 1 00-06
184. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Adrian Barnes Belton, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Adam Bartusek Lakeville, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Lucas Bradley Flippin, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Phillip Brannon Sylacauga, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Jon Canada Helena, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. RJ Chandler Jr. Vinton, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Conner Choate Toddville, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. John Connell Marion, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Neal Gilmore Magnolia, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Darold Gleason Many, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Johnny Grice Arp, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Mitchell Grimsley Hiawassee, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Wayne Hall Cottonwood, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Brent Homan Graham, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Larry Jenkins Leesburg, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Jeremy Johnson Mansfield, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Tadd Johnson Lakeville, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Rick Nishio Southside, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Troy O'Rourke Bentonville, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Josh Pladies Belton, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Dave Redington Winnsboro, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Tom Redington Winnsboro, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Jason Reyes Huffman, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Tommy Robinson Westland, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Luke Shrader Barrington, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Spike Stoker Cisco, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Austin Sudduth Waterford, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Dustin Wilkey Durant, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Skyler Williams Arley, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Chris Wooten West Point, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 39 527 1073-00
----------------------------------
39 527 1073-00
2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake 10/7-10/9
Smith Lake, Jasper AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kelly Townson Hartselle, AL 3 06-13 200
Day 1: 3 06-13
2. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 3 06-11 199
Day 1: 3 06-11
3. Ruben Arevalos Poth, TX 3 06-07 198
Day 1: 3 06-07
4. Jacob Novak Clear Lake, MN 3 06-04 197
Day 1: 3 06-04
5. Jamey Sickafoose Dora, AL 3 05-15 196
Day 1: 3 05-15
6. Travis Culbreth Alexander City, AL 3 05-11 195
Day 1: 3 05-11
7. David Harrell Downsville, LA 3 05-10 194
Day 1: 3 05-10
8. Curtis King Plaquemine, LA 2 05-09 193
Day 1: 2 05-09
9. Mitch Van Ert Watertown, WI 3 05-07 192
Day 1: 3 05-07
10. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 3 05-06 191
Day 1: 3 05-06
11. Justin Stephenson Jasper, AL 3 05-05 190
Day 1: 3 05-05
12. Riley Kilpatrick Jasper, AL 2 03-13 189
Day 1: 2 03-13
13. Vernon Cooksey Bossier City, LA 1 03-12 188
Day 1: 1 03-12
14. John Jacobs Birmingham, AL 2 03-11 187
Day 1: 2 03-11
15. Joseph Shaw Madison, WI 2 03-09 186
Day 1: 2 03-09
16. Brad Hollowell Azle, TX 2 03-07 185
Day 1: 2 03-07
16. Terry Neal Magnolia, AR 2 03-07 185
Day 1: 2 03-07
16. Clayton Torson Cedar Rapids, IA 2 03-07 185
Day 1: 2 03-07
19. Charles Reed Batesville, MS 2 03-06 182
Day 1: 2 03-06
20. Collin Allison Vestavia, AL 2 03-04 181
Day 1: 2 03-04
20. Marty Tanner Tolar, TX 2 03-04 181
Day 1: 2 03-04
22. Jim Ford Magnolia, AR 2 03-02 179
Day 1: 2 03-02
23. Michael Butler Lake In The Hills, IL 2 03-01 178
Day 1: 2 03-01
23. Jacob Collins Hillsboro, IL 2 03-01 178
Day 1: 2 03-01
23. Kolten Goolsby Palestine, TX 2 03-01 178
Day 1: 2 03-01
23. Shane Soriano Merced, CA 2 03-01 178
Day 1: 2 03-01
27. Noah Armstrong Fayetteville, GA 2 03-00 174
Day 1: 2 03-00
28. James Scott Moore, OK 1 02-14 173
Day 1: 1 02-14
29. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 1 02-12 172
Day 1: 1 02-12
30. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 1 02-11 171
Day 1: 1 02-11
30. Sherman Marbutt Hackleburg, AL 1 02-11 171
Day 1: 1 02-11
30. Ken Yamate Richardson, TX 1 02-11 171
Day 1: 1 02-11
33. Adam Tims Royse City, TX 1 02-08 168
Day 1: 1 02-08
34. Gabe Pearce Logan, AL 1 02-07 167
Day 1: 1 02-07
35. Jeremy Duke Gautier, MS 1 02-06 166
Day 1: 1 02-06
36. John Stewart Lees Summit, MO 1 02-02 165
Day 1: 1 02-02
37. Matt Schiefelbein Marseilles, IL 1 02-00 164
Day 1: 1 02-00
38. Don Harvey Franklin, TN 1 01-13 163
Day 1: 1 01-13
39. Johnny Ward Jr Waynesville, MO 1 01-12 162
Day 1: 1 01-12
40. Blake McAnnally Springville, AL 1 01-11 161
Day 1: 1 01-11
40. Tim Rath Lake Havasu City, AZ 1 01-11 161
Day 1: 1 01-11
42. W Luckett Jr Ridgeland, MS 1 01-10 159
Day 1: 1 01-10
43. Trae Anderson Jasper, AL 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Wade Garcia Alma, AR 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Joshua Griffith Huntsville, AL 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Steven Hatch Long Beach, MS 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Clifton Overstreet Dothan, AL 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Hunter Reifschneider Marion, IA 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Gary Roberts Monroe, LA 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Douglas Vaughn Houston, AL 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
51. Hunter Miles Collinsville, MS 1 01-08 150
Day 1: 1 01-08
51. Dirk Wenzlaff Frisco, TX 1 01-08 150
Day 1: 1 01-08
53. Michael Benson Cullman, AL 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
53. Chase Cook Guin, AL 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
53. Carson Denmark Malcolm, AL 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
53. Jonathan Majors Chelsea, AL 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
53. Larry Mcneil Meridianville, AL 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
53. Frank Williams Saint Charles, MO 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
59. Keith Eddleman Buda, TX 1 01-06 142
Day 1: 1 01-06
59. Steve Madar Starkville, MS 1 01-06 142
Day 1: 1 01-06
59. Stephen Parnell Brandon, MS 1 01-06 142
Day 1: 1 01-06
62. Ryker Holmes Arlington, TX 1 01-04 139
Day 1: 1 01-04
62. John Keith Remlap, AL 1 01-04 139
Day 1: 1 01-04
62. Teron Prince New Hope, AL 1 01-04 139
Day 1: 1 01-04
65. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jason Adams Raceland, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Colten Anders Burton, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Gary Bates Athens, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. James Bell Pace, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Matthew Bierman Nashville, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Aaron Bishop Hamilton, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. David Booth Erin, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kevin Booty Many, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Cole Boyd Springfield, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. James Boyett Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Noah Boyett Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Skyler Browning Crosby, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Scott Burnett Warrior, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jamie Butler Jasper, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jeffrey Chapman Chunchula, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Andy Chappell Warrior, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Morris Collins Fairfield, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. David Cortinas Keller, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Rock Crowe Valley, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. John Cummings Maumelle, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Ethan Flack Baileyton, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Robert Fortner Conway, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Elliot Gardner Brenham, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Gerald Grace Jasper, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Bruce Griffin Jasper, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Brian Hamaker Huntsville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Chad Harvey Cave Creek, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Nikki Jo Hatten Clanton, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Christopher Haynes Memphis, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Yo Howard Bolingbrook, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Mike Isaak Caryle, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jeffrey Jennings Lanett, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kevin Johns Eads, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Joe Laseter Addison, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Will Major Port Allen, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kevin Maxwell Laneville, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Michael Mayo Collierville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. David McMurphy Wilsonville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jim Opetaia-Williamson Winter Garden, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Blake Oswalt Jasper, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Terry Petchinsky Lewisville, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Ethen Preston Tower City, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Dawain Rhudy Guin, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Cory Richard Carencro, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. David Riggs Hillsboro, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Ronald Robbs Fredericktown, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Richard Roulston Little Rock, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Dillon Saffle Eureka, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kelly Salow Delhi, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jeffrey Salter Bay Minette, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Grayson Sanders Lewisville, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Greg Secord Salem, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Lamar Shelton Athens, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Ben Shuler Midland, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Leland Smith Warrior, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Timmy Smith Jemison, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Sam Sobieck New Prague, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. William Spencer Maplesville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Randy Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Benjamin Townson Hartselle, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Dwain Vogelpohl Cambridge, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Randy Waddell Guntersville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Cory Weaver Ankeny, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Mark Wethington Liberty, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kaden Wiedenfeld Boerne, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Tray Williams Danville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Steve Wilson Empire, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
144. Andrew Packard Fresno, CA 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00
Autumn is Top Time for Action Craws
Courtesy of Vance McCullough
Some lures get hot during certain seasons and then seem to wane in popularity, if not productivity. Not so for soft plastics. These workhorse staples of the tackle box can always be counted on to save a trip no matter the conditions. But anglers who pay special attention to the design of their plastisol dupes can maximize the action of both, their lures and the fish that begin to feed heavily this time of year.
As days continue to shorten and waters cool, fish feel the need to feed up before winter. While subtle, straight tailed worms and flipping baits that feature slick, low action appendages were the ticket during the doldrums of late summer and into September, now is the time to kick up a fuss with action-oriented tails and claws on your creatures and craws. Some examples include the old reliable Zoom Ultra Vibe Speedcraw, the aptly named Z-Man Turbo Crawz, and perhaps the king of all flapping baits, the Strike King Rage Craw.
Now’s the time to pick up the pace and take advantage of these lures’ undulating antics. Not only are action craws suitable for flipping and dragging on a Texas rig, but they make great trailers on swim jigs, bladed jigs and even buzzbaits. Of course, you can just swim one on a light Texas rig, same as you would on a swim jig, and the smaller profile will generate more strikes under many conditions including the occasional fall cold front or Nor’easter. Cagey anglers have been quietly kicking up a surface fuss with weightless craws rather than the common toad for years. Again, the idea is to draw attention to a struggling lure without additional bulk.
There are times when a bulky bait is called for, but fall is a season wherein you can catch numbers of fish of all sizes and a simple craw bait is going to deliver more strikes more often than a skirted lure or a larger soft plastic.
Additionally, if you do want to pitch a jig or similar to upgrade your bag, now would be a great time to consider using a flapping-type craw as a trailer. You get the bulk, but also the action. Besides, you’ll be nursing a humble, lethargic spilt tail pork imitating trailer all winter so turn and burn while you can. You might even be among the small but growing group that is rediscovering the power of real pork trailers as Uncle Josh emerges from a decades-long hibernation this winter (more on that trend to follow here on AnglersChannel.com).
Whether you’re burning grass flats, seining miles of riprap, or surgically picking apart docks and laydowns this fall, kick up a fish-catching commotion with the motion of action craws!
Become a Better Map Reader – Foundations
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Learning how to read a lake map will make you a better bass fisherman. While folks in the south still have a few months of great fishing ahead of them, the bass fishing season in many parts of the country is starting to wind down.
Whether you can get out on the water this fall and winter or not, Gerald Swindle believes becoming a better map-reader should be high on your list of goals.
“I have old memories of giant paper maps spread all over my mom’s kitchen counter with soda cans or coasters weighing down the corners so they didn’t fold up on me,” Swindle said with a laugh. “Reading maps is pretty simple but a lot of people make it more complicated than it needs to be.”
Nowadays Swindle has traded old paper maps for apps on his iPad like Humminbird’s FishSmart app, Navionics Web App, and Google Maps but he still loves to spend thirty minutes studying maps over a cup of coffee. The Team Toyota pro offered a few basic tips to make you more efficient at reading and understanding these tools.
Learn the lay of the lake
“Everyone wants to find the winning school of fish from their couch but that’s not really what map study is to me,” Swindle admitted. “I’m trying to learn all the basic information I can before I get to the fishery.
“Like how does a lake lay out? Are there rivers flowing in to the lake, and if so, are they on the north or south end? Where is the dam? How will different wind directions affect different sides of the lake?”
These questions Swindle poses are tangible factors anglers of all skill levels can learn at home, and they’ll be super helpful when you get to the water. His wind direction example is something Swindle still uses regularly at the highest level.
After a day of practice Swindle will pull up a Google Maps view of the lake he is fishing, along with a weather app. If he sees high winds forecasted for a day of competition, he may alter his game plan depending upon how vulnerable certain areas of the lake are to high winds.
On the flip side, maybe he’s fishing a clear water reservoir and he needs the wind for a certain pattern. Swindle may rule in (or rule out) areas of the lake simply based on the weather forecast and map study.
Learn the names of the creeks / coves
Swindle’s next tip, as simple as it may sound, is to learn the names of different sections of a lake you are focused on. Study the names of major rivers, creeks, or coves throughout the body of water. Then commit these names to memory.
“If you’re a high school or college kid traveling for a fishing tournament and you hear an old man at a gas station tell his buddy they were chewing in Shoelace Creek… you better know where that is,” Swindle exclaimed. “That’s one example, but knowing the names to different areas on a lake helps in a lot of ways.”
Outside of the occasional fishing tip you may overhear, memorizing specific names to creeks or rivers helps when talking about the body of water to someone. Whether that’s your fishing buddy at the end of a long day or in the case of an issue on the water and you’re directing someone to your location.
Find the boat ramps and any major marinas
Another worthwhile piece of basic info Swindle pays attention to on a lake map is locating several different boat ramps and any major marinas on a body of water.
Swindle often prefers to drive his Tundra around a lake rather than making a long, unnecessary run in his Phoenix boat when not in competition. Knowing where numerous boat ramps are helps him be more efficient with his time on the water.
“Knowing boat ramps and marinas will also make you more prepared for emergencies on the water,” Swindle explained. “If your boat breaks down or runs out of gas, knowing the nearest place to troll to could save a lot of time. God forbid you experience a medical emergency on the water, whether it’s you or someone else, knowing how to get to the nearest ramp or marina means getting to safety.”
Mechanical or medical emergencies aren’t something we like to think about when preparing for a lake day, but having a game plan is imperative. Spending a few minutes on map study and following these suggestions from Swindle will assist in formulating that plan.
These tips will improve your time on the water whether you are fishing a tournament or heading to the lake to have some fun.
Salzman Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Lake Guntersville
SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Oct. 6, 2021) – Boater Ryan Salzman of Huntsville, Alabama wins the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Guntersville Presented by Googan Baits in Scottsboro, Alabama on Sunday. Salzman earned $15,088 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
TOP 10 RESULTS
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Ryan Salzman of Huntsville, Ala. | 10 | 34-6 | $15,088 |
| 2nd | Logan Brewer of Town Creek, Ala. | 10 | 34-2 | $3,544 |
| 3rd | Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala. | 10 | 33-2 | $2,363 |
| 4th | John Davenport of Huntsville, Ala. | 10 | 32-15 | $1,654 |
| 5th | John Maner of Falkville, Ala. | 10 | 32-5 | $1,418 |
| 6th | Evan Horne of Tuscumbia, Ala. | 10 | 31-8 | $1,299 |
| 7th | Brad Vice of Tanner, Ala. | 10 | 31-3 | $1,181 |
| 8th | Harl Romine of Grant, Ala. | 10 | 31-2 | $1,063 |
| 9th | Ryan Davidson of Branchland, W.V. | 10 | 31-0 | $1,445 |
| 10th | Eric Lampkin of Guntersville, Ala. | 10 | 30-3 | $827 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Chris Harcrow of Dawson, Ala. | 10 | 28-4 | $3,512 |
| 2nd | Red Calvert of Perdido Key, Fla. | 9 | 27-2 | $1,756 |
| 3rd | Trey Pinke of Huntsville, Ala. | 10 | 23-13 | $1,171 |
| 4th | Daniel Buswell, Jr. of Fayetteville, Ga. | 9 | 20-6 | $819 |
| 5th | BJ Collins of Robbinsville, N.C. | 7 | 19-9 | $902 |
| 6th | Brandon Bright of Crossville, Ala. | 9 | 19-7 | $644 |
| 7th | Ben Foster of Tucson, Ariz. | 7 | 19-3 | $585 |
| 8th | Scott Bussey of Hayden, Ala. | 9 | 19-0 | $527 |
| 9th | Landon McDaniel of Killen, Ala. | 7 | 18-6 | $468 |
| 10th | Kevin Lankford of Hollywood, Ala. | 8 | 17-3 | $410 |
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Big Bass | Corey McMullen of Madison, Ala. | 6-pound, 6-ounce bass | $1,057 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Randy Hill of Athens, Ala. | 8-pound, 8-ounce bass | $517 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Ryan Salzman of Huntsville, Alabama | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $7,000 |
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater |
|
Did Not Divulge |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Stanley Ribbit Floating Frog | White |
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Choo Choo Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 21-23 | St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla. | Putnam County Tourist Development Council |
| 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 2-4 | Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. | Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs |
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .