Smith wins Toyota Series event on Dardanelle
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (May 10, 2021) – Toyota Series angler Kirk Smith of Edmond, Oklahoma, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 15 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Lake Dardanelle Presented by Fenwick in Russellville, Arkansas. Mundy’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 51-3 earned him the win by a 6-pound margin over second-place angler Zach King of Clarksville, Arkansas, and earned Smith the top payout of $36,104 in the third and final tournament of the 2021 Toyota Series Plains Division.
Smith said he considers himself an offshore and electronics geek, a combo that helped him blow it out on Lake Dardanelle. While the majority of the field’s success seemed to go up and down throughout the event, Smith had a pattern like no one else that allowed him to lay off early the first two days and still be leading by an ounce.
Saturday, he finally got to show off what that pattern could do, bringing in 19 pounds, 15 ounces – the second-largest bag of the event – to blow away the field by 6 pounds with a 51-3 total.
“I never knew what I had (with my pattern), because I was letting up on on Days 1 and 2,” said Smith. “That final day, I absolutely unleashed the fury on them and just mashed them as hard as I could. Even I’m impressed with what I had.”
In practice, Smith said he was trying to find secret backwaters like many other pros, but it just wasn’t happening. Yet, while idling out of a pocket he inadvertently found something most people came across but simply overlooked.
“I was watching my side-imaging and noticed this little underwater point of grass and that’s when it all started,” said Smith. “I threw a waypoint on it and said, ‘huh, that looks good,’ but I didn’t know exactly where it was. So, I got up on the trolling motor and realized it was 15-20 feet off the bank. That’s when a lightbulb went off. The guys were either on the bank or the guys offshore were way offshore, out too deep. I knew no one else would be fishing that.”
Fishing mainly in the Shoal Bay and Thompson Creek area, Smith found grass points, isolated stumps and isolated stumps with grass that were far off the bank but not deep, and were not getting hit by anyone else. Best of all, Smith said he realized on Day 3 those spots were reloading thanks to the falling water, so it was just a matter of precisely hitting them.
Much like pros do over open water, Smith said he’d get in an area and troll around while watching his electronics for stumps and isolated grass patches. When he saw one, and if he saw a fish on it, he could nearly call his shot tossing a prototype ½-ounce BOOYAH swim jig with a Zoom Super Chunk trailer (both black-and-blue).
“I’m not much of a swim jig guy,” says Smith. “I’m a ¾-ounce, 25-feet of water guy. But getting that bait down there and swimming it, getting kind of aggressive with it was a big, big thing.”
The results spoke for themselves, with Smith catching a limit before 9 a.m. all three days of the tournament.
“It’s been a magical week,” said Smith. “I was talking to a buddy from the Muddy Water Mob before the week. I told him I’m feeling warm and fuzzy about this tournament. I can’t explain it, because when I saw this tournament on the schedule this year … Lake of the Ozarks, I can compete. Grand Lake, I can compete. Dardanelle, I thought I could just survive. So, winning this is just amazing.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Dardanelle finished:
1st: Kirk Smith of Edmond, Okla., 15 bass, 51-3, $36,104
2nd: Zach King of Clarksville, Ark., 15 bass, 45-3, $13,409
3rd: Theron Caldwell of Decatur, Texas, 15 bass, 44-6, $10,381
4th: Bruce Parsons of Arbela, Mo., 15 bass, 38-7, $10,151
5th: Wayne Dixon of Morrilton, Ark., 15 bass, 37-12, $7,786
6th: Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Okla., 15 bass, 37-0, $6,921
7th: Fred Roumbanis of Russellville, Ark., 15 bass, 35-13, $6,056
8th: Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., 14 bass, 35-5, $5,191
9th: Chip Hawkins of Little Rock, Ark., 12 bass, 34-9, $4,445
10th: BJ Miller of Adams, Neb., 10 bass, 28-12, $3,579
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Chip Hawkins of Little Rock, Arkansas, took home an additional $119 for the Day One Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, with a bass weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces. BJ Miller of Adams, Nebraska, won the Day Two Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, bringing a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass to the scale.
Bruce Parsons of Arbela, Missouri, took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Michael Carter of Raytown, Missouri, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 10 bass weighing 26 pounds, 1 ounce. Carter took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Dardanelle finished:
9th: Roscoe White, III of Rogers, Ark., six bass, 16-8, $1,318
10th: Micheal Sharp of Calera, Okla., six bass, 14-13, $1,098
The Toyota Series at Lake Dardanelle was presented by Fenwick and was hosted by the Russellville Advertising and Promotion Commission. It was the third and final regular-season tournament in 2021 for Plains Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on May 13-15 – the Toyota Series at the California Delta in Oakley, California. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Alabama Bass Trail Announces 2022 Schedule
Decatur, Ala. – The Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) is excited to announce dates and locations of the 2022 tournament series which includes a payout reaching over $580,000. Now in its ninth season, the team-style tournament series is held on eleven different lakes of the Alabama Bass Trail beginning February 19, 2022, with the championship tournament to be held on October 21-22, 2022. Anglers in the no entry fee championship will be competing for over $100,000 in cash, including a $50,000 first place prize and top bragging rights for the year.
“Announcing the schedule for the ninth season of the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series seems almost surreal,” said ABT Program Director Kay Donaldson. “Each year, we begin working with the host cities in February and it is always an interesting puzzle to put together. There are so many considerations that go into assembling a schedule that offers a little something different each year but is still attractive to a large variety of anglers. We hope the 2022 Tournament Series is everything an angler expects from a fishing tournament – a flawlessly run event with big fish and big payouts.”
North Division:
- February 19, 2022 – Neely Henry Lake / Hosted by the City of Gadsden and Greater Gadsden Area Tourism
- March 12, 2022 – Lewis Smith Lake / Hosted by Chamber of Commerce of Walker County
- April 23, 2022 – Weiss Lake / Hosted by the Town of Leesburg
- May 21, 2022 – Wheeler Lake / Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism
- June 11, 2022 – Lake Guntersville / Hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce
South Division:
- February 26, 2022 – Logan Martin Lake / Hosted by the City of Lincoln, Ala.
- March 19, 2022 – Lake Martin / Hosted by the Lake Martin Tourism Association
- April 9, 2022 – Alabama River / Hosted by the City of Prattville Parks and Recreation
- May 14, 2022 – Lay Lake / Hosted by the Shelby County Commission
- June 18, 2022 – Lake Eufaula / Hosted by the Eufaula-Barbour County Chamber of Commerce
Hosted by the city of Wetumpka, the championship tournament will be held October 21-22, 2022, on Lake Jordan.
Sanctioned by BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society), the ABT Tournament Series contains two divisions, North and South, and each division is made up of five tournaments on five different lakes. The maximum number of boats for each tournament is 225. Teams must fish in all five tournaments in their respective division; no single entries will be allowed.
The no-entry fee championship event will include up to 185 boats. The 185 boats are comprised of the 10 regular season winners, top 75 teams in points from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective divisions, along with the top 15 student teams, top five college teams and the top five couples teams collectively from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective division.
Each regular season tournament features a $10,000 guaranteed first place prize and pays 40 places totaling over $47,000. The no-entry fee championship will feature a $100,000 payout with a first place prize of $50,000. There is also a $5,000 bonus cash prize for Angler of the Year and $2,500 for runner-up Angler of the Year. According to Donaldson, over $580,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded when the ABT Tournament Series wraps up its season in 2022.
2022 Payout Schedule:
First place $10,000
Second place $5,000
Third place $4,000
Fourth place $3,000
Fifth place $2,000
Sixth place $1,500
Seventh place $1,100
Eighth place $1,100
Ninth place $1,100
Tenth place $1,100
11th – 20th $750 each
21st – 40th $500 each
2022 Championship Payout:
First place $50,000
Second place $10,000
Third place $5,000
Fourth place $4,000
Fifth place $3,000
Sixth place $2,500
Seventh place $2,200
Eighth place $2,000
Ninth place $1,800
Tenth place $1,500
11th-15th $1,200 each
16th-25th $1,100 each
Big Fish $500 daily
Anglers who fished all five events in their respective divisions in 2021 will be given a priority entry period beginning August 1, 2021, at 6 a.m. online at www.alabamabasstrail.org. Registration opens for new teams August 15 at 6 a.m. The entry fee is $1,300 per team, which includes registration for all five tournaments in the respective division. Each team may choose to pay a $500 nonrefundable deposit to hold the team’s spot. The balance of $800 must be paid by January 15, 2022.
“Year after year, registration for the ABT tournament series sells out in record time and we look forward to shattering the record again with the 2022 season,” stated Donaldson. “Registration for the 2021 tournament series opened to the public August 15, 2020, and both divisions sold out in under 25 minutes.”
Local Pro Wes Logan Takes Lead In Bassmaster Elite Series Event At Neely Henry Lake
Wes Logan, of Springville, Ala., is leading after Day 3 of the 2021 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake with a three-day total of 43 pounds, 8 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 9, 2021
GADSDEN, Ala. — Wes Logan grew up fishing this 11,200-acre Coosa River fishery, so it’s no surprise his intimate knowledge of the lake helped him climb to the top of the leaderboard on Day 3 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake.
But with the Neely Henry bass still adjusting to extremely heavy rains last week, Logan admits he’ll have to lean on every bit of his experience if he’s to win his first B.A.S.S tournament Monday.
Logan has three consecutive limits for a total weight of 43 pounds, 8 ounces. He was in eighth place after Day 2, but a 16-15 bag on Sunday tied for the tournament high and vaulted him into the pole position at Neely Henry.
Despite his know-how on Neely Henry, Logan is leery of all nine of the remaining competitors. That’s mostly because the lake has been a mystery since the extreme storms trained across the area last week. The water level soared, the lake muddied and the bass scattered to some unusual places. It was a combination that tested the Elites from the start, Logan included.
“The only thing that helps me is I know how things act when something changes here,” Logan said.
And there have been plenty of shifts on Neely Henry in the past few days. The north end of the lake had high water following the heavy rain but is now draining into its south end, which had been extremely shallow. As the water pushes through the lake, bass are moving with the heaviest flow, which Logan said convinced him to try for offshore bites on Sunday.
It’s not what he’d normally do, but this week has been different.
“I caught a 3 1/2-pounder in a place I’ve caught fish in the past, but this time it was in bright sunshine and in 6 inches of water,” he said. “That fish shouldn’t have been there. I was running by and wasn’t even going to go in there, but I went with my gut feeling. I’ll have to do that tomorrow because where I thought I could win the tournament, there’s not going to be any water in the grass anymore.”
Logan’s heaviest bass weighed 5-4, which was only 2 ounces shy of the heaviest catch on Sunday. He said he’ll look for more of that caliber bass on Day 4, feeling he’ll need the extra weight to hold off his competitors.
“After that morning flurry, I find if you get an afternoon bite, it’s going to be a good one,” he said. “So, no way I’m fishing for 2-pounders. Like that big one I had today, I don’t like fighting big ones on crankbaits. I like boat flippin’ them on a frog or a swim jig. Getting that bite later in the day was a blessing for sure.”
Logan predicted earlier in the tournament that 55 pounds over four days could win the event. If so, he’d need only about 13 pounds Monday, which he said feels about right.
Still, he’s not going to complicate matters. He may be junk fishing, but he’s using the same lures, just in different places.
“Swim jig, frog, squarebill and a 5/8s big jig,” he said, listing the four baits he is sure to have tied on Monday. “It’s the only rods you need here.”
Connecticut pro Paul Mueller led after Day 2, but he caught 12-0 Sunday and now is second with 42-6.
Mueller, 37, is also junk fishing on Neely Henry, hoping he can find a few quality bites to keep him in the hunt for a tournament title. He knows he’ll have to improve on the 12-0 limit he weighed Sunday.
“I’m gonna have to really think about what I’m doing tomorrow because I only caught five fish today,” he said. “I thought I would drop to seventh or eighth with the weight I had. If I get three solid bites tomorrow, I’ll have a shot.”
Mueller is fishing the lower end of Neely Henry and he’ll likely go back there Sunday because he prefers to fish away from other boats. He’s caught his bass Sunday on a Deps Evoke 2.0 squarebill crankbait (chartreuse/brown back) and an 1/8-ounce custom shaky head with a custom Gamakatsu hook and a Zoom Swamp Crawler (watermelon candy).
Jay Yelas won the daily $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award for the 5-6 he caught Sunday. Cliff Prince’s 5-11 caught Saturday remains the heaviest of the tournament to date.
The Top 10 remaining anglers will take off Monday from the Gadsden City Boat Docks, also known as Coosa Landing, at 6:30 a.m. CT for the fourth and final day of the tournament and the winner will claim a $100,000 first prize. Weigh-in will start back at the Gadsden City Boat Docks at 2:30 p.m.
Minnesota pro Seth Feider missed the Top 10 cut, finishing 12th with 35-13, but he maintained a commanding lead in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 525 points. Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., is next with 484, followed by Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., with 464, Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, with 462 and Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., with 456.
Live coverage of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
The City of Gadsden and the Greater Gadsden Area Tourism are hosting this week’s Elite Series event.
2021 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake 5/7-5/10
Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Wes Logan Springville, AL 15 43-08 100
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 16-15
2. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 15 42-06 99
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 12-00
3. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 15 40-12 98
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 13-11
4. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 39-02 97
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 11-12
5. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 15 39-00 96
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 14-14
6. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 15 37-15 95
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 08-09
7. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 15 37-15 94
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 12-14
8. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 37-13 93
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 08-00
9. Bryan New Belmont, NC 15 37-09 92
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 09-11 Day 3: 5 11-07
10. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 15 36-15 91
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 5 11-04
11. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 35-14 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 14-14 Day 3: 5 12-00
12. Seth Feider New Market, MN 15 35-13 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 09-15
13. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 15 35-11 88 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 5 10-01
14. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 15 35-00 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 08-00
15. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 15 34-13 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 11-04
16. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 34-12 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 11-15
17. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 15 34-08 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 07-14
18. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 14 34-06 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 09-10 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 11-12
19. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 34-06 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-05 Day 3: 5 11-11
20. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 15 33-14 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 5 10-15
21. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 15 33-10 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 11-06
22. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 14 33-03 79 $11,000.00
Day 1: 4 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 12-04
23. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 14 33-00 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 09-08 Day 3: 4 09-11
24. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 15 32-14 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 5 10-04
25. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 15 32-02 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 09-00
26. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 15 32-02 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 5 12-08
27. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 14 31-13 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 4 06-08
28. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 15 31-05 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 07-15
29. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 14 31-03 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 4 08-11
30. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 31-02 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 5 06-15
31. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 15 30-12 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 07-12 Day 3: 5 09-02
32. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 30-03 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 09-14 Day 3: 5 10-01
33. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 14 29-12 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 4 09-02
34. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 13 29-09 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 5 09-09
35. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 13 29-06 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 3 06-13
36. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15 29-06 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 09-14
37. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 15 29-04 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 5 09-11
38. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 15 28-15 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 09-04 Day 3: 5 09-04
39. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 15 28-09 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 09-09 Day 3: 5 07-04
40. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 11 28-04 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 4 12-10 Day 3: 2 05-11
41. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 15 27-15 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 09-09 Day 3: 5 07-04
42. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 13 27-13 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 11-01 Day 3: 3 04-07
43. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 15 27-13 58 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 5 09-00
44. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 15 27-11 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 09-01 Day 3: 5 07-13
45. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 12 27-07 56 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 2 03-10
46. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 15 27-07 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 09-03 Day 3: 5 08-05
47. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 14 26-13 54 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 4 05-15
48. Frank Talley Temple, TX 11 24-08 53 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 4 09-07 Day 3: 2 03-10
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 05-04 $1,000.00
2 Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 05-11 $1,000.00
3 Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 05-06 $1,000.00
Perfect Consistency Gives Mueller The Lead At Bassmaster Elite On Neely Henry Lake
Paul Mueller, of Naugatuck, Conn., is leading after Day 2 of the 2021 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake with a two-day total of 30 pounds, 6 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 8, 2021
GADSDEN, Ala. — Paul Mueller said consistency will decide who wins the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake.
If that’s the case, the 37-year-old pro from Naugatuck, Conn., is in the perfect position at the halfway point of the tournament.
Mueller caught a five-bass limit on Saturday that weighed 15 pounds, 3 ounces, the same total he boated Friday on this 11,200-acre reservoir of the Coosa River in northeast Alabama. His 30-6 total leads the event, which began a day late due to heavy rains earlier in the week that swelled Neely Henry’s water level in places and stained the water throughout.
Those conditions have made fishing tricky for most anglers through Day 2, but Mueller has stayed steady. Fifty other anglers weren’t so lucky as the 98-angler field was trimmed to 48 following the Day 2 weigh-in at the Gadsden City Boat Docks.
“To win one of these, you can’t have one bad day,” Mueller said. “If you slip, it’ll keep you from winning. I’ve been in that position more times than winning. You have that bad day, you finish fifth or whatever.”
Mueller weighed three largemouth and a pair of spotted bass on Saturday. He said he didn’t cover nearly as much water as he did a day earlier, but he’s pounding the areas he is fishing.
“I’m doing what I like to do, chunking and winding a crankbait,” he said. “I’d rather do that than eat. I like to do my own thing and not fish next to anyone. It’s important for me to fish my own stuff. And if you can do what you like to do, you’re better off. You don’t play someone else’s ball game.”
Mueller’s heavy on Saturday was a 4-pound largemouth. He added a spotted bass that weighed about 3 1/4 pounds, another quality bite here this week, but he lamented missing two spots he said were heavier than the couple of 2 1/2-pounders that rounded out his Day 2 bag.
“You really need one big bite here to go with four 2 1/2-pounders,” he said. “If you get that, you’ll have the right weight.”
Brock Mosley, a 32-year old Elite from Collinsville, Miss., caught 12-14 Saturday. Coupled with his Day 1 weight of 16-15, he’s in second place with 29-13.
Mosely said he continued the “junk fishing” that vaulted him to the top of the standings Friday.
“I’m just trying to not get into a bad rotation,” Mosley said. “I’m fishing a lot of new water and I don’t know where my good bites are going to come from. I’m just trying to keep my head down and fish as hard as I can.”
Mosley said Neely Henry was draining Saturday, which produced different conditions and made more water available to him.
“I caught a couple on topwater today after not catching anything in practice on that,” he said. “I’m just fishing what’s in front of me and trying to survive each day.”
Mosley said the pleasant weather on Saturday (mid- to high 60s, sunny) attracted many local anglers, which made Neely Henry fish smaller than it would with just 98 pros on the water. He was able to fend off the crowd, though, and knows he’s in a power position with the derby halfway home.
“There’s so much still that can happen,” he said. “My goal today was a 13- or 14-pound bag and one big bite could make it 15 pounds. There’s a chance to catch a 5- to 7-pound fish, too. There are some in here, I just have to make them open their mouths. It’ll be interesting.”
Todd Auten of Lake Wylie, S.C., is in third with 29-6. He caught 14-4 Saturday to go with the 15-2 that had him in sixth place after Day 1.
“I’m just moving around the lake, trying to fish a pattern and key on some things when the weather’s right,” the 55-year-old pro said. “I really need the sunshine to help my bite.”
Sunday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a continued warming trend, with temperatures peaking above 80 degrees. There’s a 60% chance of rain on Monday, though.
That forecast didn’t dampen Auten’s spirit. He’s won a tournament on Neely Henry previously and finished third in another.
“This lake has been good to me,” he said.
The next five anglers are all within 13 ounces of one another, though at least 2 pounds behind Auten and 3 behind Mueller.
Gerald Swindle of Guntersville, Ala., is fourth with 27-6, followed by Bob Downey of Hudson, Wis., with 27-1 and Drew Benton of Blakely, Ga., with 27-0. Alabamians Clent Davis of Montevallo and Wes Logan of Springville are seventh and eighth, with 26-10 and 26-9, respectively.
Cliff Prince of Palatka, Fla., won the daily $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award for the 5-11 he caught Saturday. That’s the heaviest bass caught through two days of competition.
Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., is in 10th place at Neely Henry with 25-14. He’s still clinging to the lead in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 527 points, followed by Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., with 484, Mosley with 470 and Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, with 456.
The remaining 48 Elites will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Gadsden City Boat Docks, also known as Coosa Landing, with weigh-in back at the docks at 2:30 p.m. The Top 10 following Sunday’s weigh-in will compete on Championship Monday with $100,000 on the line.
Live coverage of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast the action live with the leaders beginning at 7 a.m.
The City of Gadsden and the Greater Gadsden Area Tourism are hosting this week’s Elite Series event.
2021 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake 5/7-5/10
Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 30-06 100
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 15-03
2. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 29-13 99
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 12-14
3. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 10 29-06 98
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 14-04
4. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 27-06 97
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 13-03
5. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 10 27-01 96
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 13-02
6. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 10 27-00 95
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 14-08
7. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 10 26-10 94
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 12-01
8. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 26-09 93
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-08
9. Bryan New Belmont, NC 10 26-02 92
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 09-11
10. Seth Feider New Market, MN 10 25-14 91
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 12-07
11. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 25-11 90
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 10-07
12. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 10 25-10 89 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 09-13
13. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 25-05 88
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 13-12
14. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 25-01 87
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 11-07
15. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 24-03 86
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 10-11
16. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 24-02 85
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 12-15
17. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 23-14 84
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 14-14
18. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 23-13 83
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 14-04
19. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 23-09 82
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 13-05
20. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 23-06 81
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 13-07
21. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 23-06 80
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 11-01
22. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 10 23-05 79
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 09-08
23. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 23-02 78
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 14-00
24. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 10 22-15 77
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 13-06
25. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 22-13 76
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 11-14
26. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 22-11 75
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-05
27. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 9 22-10 74
Day 1: 4 09-10 Day 2: 5 13-00
28. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 22-10 73
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-02
29. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 9 22-09 72
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 4 12-10
30. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 22-09 71
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 12-06
31. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 22-08 70
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 12-00
32. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 10 22-04 69
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 11-04
33. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 21-10 68
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 07-12
34. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 10 21-05 67
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 09-09
35. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 9 20-15 66
Day 1: 4 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-00
36. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 10 20-14 65
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 11-07
37. Frank Talley Temple, TX 9 20-14 64
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 4 09-07
38. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 20-11 63
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 09-09
39. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 20-10 62
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-05
40. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 20-02 61
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 09-14
41. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 8 20-00 60
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 5 13-08
42. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 19-14 59
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 09-01
43. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 10 19-11 58
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 09-04
44. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 19-10 57
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 09-13
45. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 19-09 56
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 10-00
46. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 19-08 55
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 12-03
47. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 10 19-02 54
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 09-03
48. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 10 18-13 53
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 09-12
49. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 9 18-10 52 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 4 07-05
50. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 9 18-09 51 $5,000.00
Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 5 11-11
51. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 8 18-07 50 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 5 12-11
52. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 9 18-07 49 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 4 08-04
53. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 10 18-05 48 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 09-13
54. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 8 18-04 47 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 5 12-01
55. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 18-03 46 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 07-02
56. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 10 17-15 45 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 09-05
57. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 17-14 44 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 07-13
58. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 10 17-13 43 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 09-08
59. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 10 17-10 42 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 08-10
60. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 17-06 41 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-13
61. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 17-03 40 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 09-08
62. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 17-03 39 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 08-05
63. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 7 17-02 38 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 5 13-11
64. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 17-02 37 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 5 10-04
65. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 6 16-15 36 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 5 15-11
66. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 8 16-13 35 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 5 11-13
67. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 10 16-05 34 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 05-08
68. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 9 16-05 33 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 5 09-10
69. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 16-03 32 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 08-02
70. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 9 16-00 31 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 5 09-03
71. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 9 15-15 30 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 5 09-02
72. Darold Gleason Many, LA 9 15-10 29 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 5 08-03
73. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 15-02 28 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 07-14
74. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 9 14-10 27 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 4 07-00
75. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 9 14-04 26 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 4 04-04
76. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 7 14-03 25
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 5 10-13
77. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 6 14-01 24
Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 4 08-12
78. Rob Digh Denver, NC 8 13-12 23
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 5 09-08
79. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 6 13-11 22
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 4 09-08
80. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 7 13-07 21
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 2 03-01
81. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 6 12-09 20
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 1 00-12
82. David Fritts Lexington, NC 9 12-09 19
Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 4 07-00
83. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 8 12-09 18
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 3 05-14
84. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 7 12-05 17
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 4 08-12
84. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 7 12-05 17
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 5 08-12
86. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 9 12-02 15
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 4 04-06
87. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 11-12 14 $1,000.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-12
88. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 6 11-10 13
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 06-08
89. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 5 11-01 12
Day 1: 1 03-05 Day 2: 4 07-12
90. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 6 10-15 11
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 4 08-05
91. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 7 10-09 10
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 2 02-15
92. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 5 10-08 9
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-08
93. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 8 10-07 8
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 5 06-03
94. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 8 10-05 7
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 5 06-05
95. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 09-09 6
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 2 03-00
96. John Cox Debary, FL 5 09-02 5
Day 1: 1 03-08 Day 2: 4 05-10
97. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 2 06-12 4
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-12
98. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 4 06-10 3
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 3 04-04
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 05-04 $1,000.00
2 Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 05-11 $1,000.00
Mosley Junk Fishes His Way To Early Lead In Bassmaster Elite At Muddy Neely Henry Lake
Brock Mosley, of Collinsville, Miss., is leading after Day 1 of the 2021 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake with 16 pounds, 15 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 7, 2021
GADSDEN, Ala. — After a few forgettable practice rounds, Brock Mosley polished his junk fishing repertoire to produce a shining start at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake.
Mosley, a 32-year-old pro from Collinsville, Miss., weighed a limit of five bass on Friday that totaled 16 pounds, 15 ounces, putting him at the top of the pack in the tournament that was due to start Thursday but was postponed because of extremely heavy rain in the region earlier this week.
All that rain swelled Neely Henry’s water level and sent sediment shooting through the north end of the fishery. Anglers struggled to find clean water, if they could at all, and a muddy Neely Henry made fishing tough on those heading uplake. Others heading down the 11,250-acre impoundment found many of their spots inaccessible thanks to the flow of water choked at the natural bottleneck on the lake known as Minnesota Bend.
The varied conditions led Mosley to “junk fishing,” or using a variety of techniques and lures in numerous places to see what worked.
Something certainly did for him, with 5-pound and 4 1/2-pound kickers anchoring the limit he brought to the Gadsden City Boat Docks.
“It was a special day, especially after my practice,” Mosley said. “The biggest one I had in practice was only 2 1/4. I was hoping to just catch a limit today and they just bit better than they have all week. I’m fishing upriver, downriver, anything I can. It was just one of those days where everything bounced my way.”
Because he struggled to find anything consistent during practice, Mosley had no idea where he wanted to begin fishing Friday morning. He settled on a place, he said, mostly “because no one else was in there.”
“I was Boat 92 (of 98 taking off) this morning, and this being a small lake, I figured it might be the only place all day I wouldn’t fish behind somebody,” he said. “That’s where I caught the 4 1/2-pounder and I just started fishing new stuff from there. I had all my weight by 11 a.m., but I didn’t lay off anything because I didn’t have anything to lay off.”
Mosley noted that Friday’s weather (mid-60s, partly cloudy skies) was the best it’s been all week, which could have contributed to the better catches most anglers had.
“The fish also got a break yesterday (with the tournament postponed),” he said. “They got the chance to adjust to the high water, the low water. But it’s not easy. It’s a real grind out there.”
Bryan New of Belmont, N.C., is in second place with 16-7. Like Mosley, the 31-year-old pro was surprised by the heft of his bag, considering the struggles he endured in practice.
“I had a little place where I thought I could get some bites, but I couldn’t get to it,” New said. “The water was too low. So, I wound up messing around, practicing, junk fishing. I caught a 4 1/2-pounder and a 3-plus … I think I ruled some stuff out today, maybe added a few things. I think we can make something happen tomorrow.”
Reigning Bassmaster Angler of the Year Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, is in third place with 15-13. He was another in the long line of anglers who didn’t figure much out in practice but struck some Alabama gold when competition began.
“I caught four in practice doing the same thing I did today when I caught 15 or 20,” he said. “The water’s dirty still, but I think it’s making the fishing better. Nothing has been easy this week.”
Wendlandt won $1,000 for the 5-4 he caught that was the day's Phoenix Boats Big Bass.
“I kind of ran into that 5-4,” he said. “I’d love for that to happen again tomorrow.”
Matt Arey of Shelby, N.C., is fourth with 15-4, followed by Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., with 15-3 and Todd Auten of Lake Wylie, S.C., with 15-2.
A cluster of Alabama anglers is just behind that group — Clent Davis of Montevallo with 14-9, Gerald Swindle of Guntersville with 14-3 and Wes Logan of Springville with 14-1.
The full field of 98 Elites will take off again at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Gadsden City Boat Docks, also known as Coosa Landing, with weigh-in back at the docks at 2:30 p.m. The Top 48 after Day 2 will advance to the semifinal round on Sunday.
Live coverage of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast the action live with the leaders beginning at 7 a.m.
2021 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake 5/7-5/10
Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 16-15 100
Day 1: 5 16-15
2. Bryan New Belmont, NC 5 16-07 99
Day 1: 5 16-07
3. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 15-13 98 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13
4. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 15-04 97
Day 1: 5 15-04
5. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 15-03 96
Day 1: 5 15-03
6. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 15-02 95
Day 1: 5 15-02
7. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 14-09 94
Day 1: 5 14-09
8. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 14-03 93
Day 1: 5 14-03
9. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 14-01 92
Day 1: 5 14-01
10. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 5 13-15 91
Day 1: 5 13-15
11. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 13-14 90
Day 1: 5 13-14
12. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 5 13-13 89
Day 1: 5 13-13
13. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 13-10 88
Day 1: 5 13-10
14. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 13-08 87
Day 1: 5 13-08
15. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 13-07 86
Day 1: 5 13-07
16. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 5 12-08 85
Day 1: 5 12-08
17. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 12-05 84
Day 1: 5 12-05
18. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 5 11-13 83
Day 1: 5 11-13
19. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 5 11-12 82
Day 1: 5 11-12
20. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 11-09 81
Day 1: 5 11-09
21. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 11-08 80
Day 1: 5 11-08
22. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 11-07 79
Day 1: 5 11-07
23. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 11-06 78
Day 1: 5 11-06
24. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 11-05 77
Day 1: 5 11-05
25. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 11-03 76
Day 1: 5 11-03
26. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 11-02 75
Day 1: 5 11-02
27. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 11-01 74
Day 1: 5 11-01
28. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 11-00 73
Day 1: 5 11-00
29. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 10-15 72
Day 1: 5 10-15
30. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 10-13 71
Day 1: 5 10-13
30. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 5 10-13 71
Day 1: 5 10-13
32. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 10-08 69
Day 1: 5 10-08
33. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 10-07 68
Day 1: 5 10-07
34. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 10-06 67
Day 1: 5 10-06
35. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 10-05 66
Day 1: 5 10-05
36. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 10-04 65
Day 1: 5 10-04
36. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 10-04 65
Day 1: 5 10-04
38. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 10-03 63
Day 1: 5 10-03
38. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 10-03 63
Day 1: 5 10-03
40. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 10-01 61
Day 1: 5 10-01
41. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 5 10-00 60
Day 1: 5 10-00
42. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 09-15 59
Day 1: 5 09-15
42. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 09-15 59
Day 1: 5 09-15
42. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 09-15 59
Day 1: 5 09-15
45. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 4 09-15 56
Day 1: 4 09-15
46. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 09-13 55
Day 1: 5 09-13
47. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 4 09-10 54
Day 1: 4 09-10
48. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 09-09 53
Day 1: 5 09-09
48. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 5 09-09 53
Day 1: 5 09-09
48. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 09-09 53
Day 1: 5 09-09
51. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 09-07 50
Day 1: 5 09-07
52. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 09-02 49
Day 1: 5 09-02
53. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 09-01 48
Day 1: 5 09-01
54. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 5 09-00 47
Day 1: 5 09-00
54. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 09-00 47
Day 1: 5 09-00
56. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 08-14 45
Day 1: 5 08-14
57. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 08-10 44
Day 1: 5 08-10
58. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 08-09 43
Day 1: 5 08-09
59. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 08-08 42
Day 1: 5 08-08
60. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 5 08-05 41
Day 1: 5 08-05
61. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 08-01 40
Day 1: 5 08-01
62. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 5 07-12 39
Day 1: 5 07-12
63. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 07-11 38
Day 1: 5 07-11
64. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 07-10 37
Day 1: 5 07-10
64. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 07-10 37
Day 1: 5 07-10
66. Darold Gleason Many, LA 4 07-07 35
Day 1: 4 07-07
67. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 07-05 34
Day 1: 5 07-05
68. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 07-04 33
Day 1: 5 07-04
69. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 06-14 32
Day 1: 5 06-14
70. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 4 06-14 31
Day 1: 4 06-14
71. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 4 06-13 30
Day 1: 4 06-13
71. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 4 06-13 30
Day 1: 4 06-13
73. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 06-11 28
Day 1: 5 06-11
74. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 4 06-11 27
Day 1: 4 06-11
75. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 3 06-09 26
Day 1: 3 06-09
76. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 3 06-08 25
Day 1: 3 06-08
77. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 3 06-03 24
Day 1: 3 06-03
78. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 3 05-12 23
Day 1: 3 05-12
79. David Fritts Lexington, NC 5 05-09 22
Day 1: 5 05-09
80. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 2 05-05 21
Day 1: 2 05-05
81. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 3 05-02 20
Day 1: 3 05-02
82. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 3 05-00 19
Day 1: 3 05-00
83. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 3 04-04 18
Day 1: 3 04-04
83. Rob Digh Denver, NC 3 04-04 18
Day 1: 3 04-04
85. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 2 04-03 16
Day 1: 2 04-03
86. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 3 04-00 15
Day 1: 3 04-00
87. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 3 03-09 14
Day 1: 3 03-09
88. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 2 03-09 13
Day 1: 2 03-09
89. John Cox Debary, FL 1 03-08 12
Day 1: 1 03-08
90. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 2 03-07 11
Day 1: 2 03-07
91. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 2 03-06 10
Day 1: 2 03-06
92. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 1 03-05 9
Day 1: 1 03-05
93. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 2 02-10 8
Day 1: 2 02-10
94. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 1 02-06 7
Day 1: 1 02-06
95. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 1 01-04 6
Day 1: 1 01-04
96. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
96. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
96. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
MLF Announces Updated Schedule for 2021 Western Events
New Dates and Locations Confirmed for Toyota Series, Abu Garcia College Fishing and U.S. Army High School Fishing Events on California Delta and Lake Havasu
TULSA, Okla. (May 7, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today an updated schedule for the 2021 Toyota Series Western Division, along with the accompanying Abu Garcia College Fishing and U.S. Army High School Fishing Open events.
The first Western event of the season, the Toyota Series at the California Delta, will run as scheduled next week, May 13-15, with the accompanying Abu Garcia College Fishing Open taking place on May 15 and the U.S. Army High School Fishing Open Presented by Googan Baits taking place on May 16.
The second Toyota Series Western Division event of the season, originally set for earlier this year at Lake Shasta, has been rescheduled to August 3-5, and will now take place on the California Delta in Oakley, California. The coinciding College Fishing event will take place on Aug. 5 and the High School Fishing Open Presented by Googan Baits is set for Aug. 6.
The third and final Toyota Series Western Division event in 2021, originally set to take place on Clear Lake, Sept. 23-25, has been moved due to low water conditions on Clear Lake. The event, and the accompanying College Fishing and High School Fishing events will now take place at Lake Havasu, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
UPDATED 2021 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Western Division Schedule:
- May 13-15 California Delta Oakley, Calif.
- Aug. 3-5 California Delta Oakley, Calif.
- Sept. 23-25 Lake Havasu Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
UPDATED 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI Western Conference Schedule:
- May 15 California Delta Oakley, Calif.
- Aug. 5 California Delta Oakley, Calif.
- Sept. 25 Lake Havasu Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
UPDATED 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Schedule:
- May 16 California Delta Presented by Googan Baits Oakley, Calif.
- Aug. 6 California Delta Presented by Googan Baits Oakley, Calif.
- Sept. 26 Lake Havasu Presented by Googan Baits Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
The 2021 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – the Central Division Presented by Neat Companies, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Tournament winners and anglers who finish in the top 25 after three events in any of the six divisions qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $245,000 cash. Anglers may also qualify for the championship as one of the top 12 in the new virtual Wild Card division where anglers who fish four or more Toyota Series tournaments are ranked on their top three finishes.
Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. Registration is accepted from any eligible college team from across the United States. 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.
U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school team in the United States. The top 10-percent of each High School Open, held prior to June 14, 2021, will qualify to compete at the 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship, held in conjunction with the High School Fishing World Finals June 30-July 3 on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Avoiding tennis ball behavior at Neely Henry
Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
In addition to several folks asking Caleb Sumrall why he was carrying around a tennis ball, concerns about catching a limit of bass from Neely Henry’s flooded muddy waters were running high Friday morning, minutes prior to the start of competition at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite.
“I’ll bet I’ve had five people ask me why I have a tennis ball in the cupholder of my Xpress this week – from service yard mechanics to fans at the boat ramp, and PR and media dudes too, everybody wants to know about the tennis ball,” grinned Sumrall.
The answer is simple. The former oil field supply yard worker spliced a tennis ball he borrowed from the family’s silver Labrador “Sky” and uses it to cover the hard-angled bracket of his sonar unit when he covers his boat, to avoid tearing the boat cover.
That was an easy fix. What’s not so simple is catching a bass from Neely Henry’s high and muddy waters. And even more concerning is catching them consistently to avoid bouncing around in the standings like a tennis ball.
Sumrall’s close friends and fellow competitors Darold Gleason and Brock Mosley agreed.
“I caught 14 pounds to lead Day 1 at the Bassmaster Open here last fall, but then only had 8-pounds on Day 2,” recalled Gleason. “Consistency is super tough to achieve here.”
To which Mosley added, “My dad and I had a 20-pound limit here in the Spring of 2015, and that was only good enough for 5thplace. But this week I feel like Neely will be tougher to get a biteand stay consistent than the Sabine River,” says Mosley who finished 2nd at the Sabine Elite last month.
So while Sumrall has never played tennis in his life, admitting the only sport he played in high school was golf, the goal at Neely Henry this week is to give a Roger Federer like effort to avoid bouncing the wrong direction in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings where he currently sits a very respectable 11th.
Lester attacking muddy Neely Henry with simplicity
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Toyota pro Brandon Lester utilized part of his unplanned day off Thursday at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite on Neely Henry to wipe mudlines off his boat with a rag and a spray bottle full of cherry blossom and pomegranate scented Lysol his wife Kim gave him.
“I don’t know how many bass we’re gonna catch in this muddy water, but at least we’ll look good and smell good,” laughed Lester.
While he’s guessing he’ll need to average 12-pounds a day to take home a Top 10, he’s certain he’ll lean on simplicity in his lure selection to help establish productive patterns now that 6-inches of recent rainfall wiped out much of what he learned in practice.
“When you’re dealing with water that’s as muddy as this, you really only need to focus on the depths of less than 3 or 4-feet because the bass’ ability to see at depths any greater than that is pretty darn limited, so your lure choices and colors don’t need to be complicated either,” reasons the Tennessee pro.
Hence, Lester will lean on two of bass fishing’s all time most tried and true baits to begin competition – a chartreuse/black squarebill and a ½-ounce black and blue pitchin’ jig.
“Since everything has changed so much since earlier in the week, I can use this squarebill as a search bait around everything from rocks to laydowns while moving quickly down a stretch of shoreline. It’s a super visible color and it deflects well off all kinds of habitat,” he explains.
If Lester is fortunate enough to locate a concentration of bass in the currently flooded Coosa waters, then he’ll pick up the bulky black and blue jig and pick apart every piece of visible habitat, or swim it quickly around vegetation if he spots any.
When asked why he favors the jig over a Texas-rigged creature bait or other soft plastic, he reasons the bulk of the jig displaces more water to help bass find it easier in the mud.
“I’m not freaked out by this high and muddy water because I know you can still definitely get some bites. These are river fish. They live here. They’ve seen this before, and they gotta keep eating. My job is to pick a couple proven lures I’ve got confidence in and put ‘em in front of their face,” concluded one of pro angling’s most consistent top finishers.
Sportsmans Product Spotlight with Andy Montgomery & Lews Fishing!
This week MLF BPT Pro Andy Montgomery talks about his "Skipping Jig" set-up dialing in on the Lews Signature Series Skipping rod and new Pro SP Pitching/Skipping reel.
James River Looking Good For Basspro.com Bassmaster Northern Open
Richmond, Va., will host the Basspro.com Bassmaster Northern Open at James River May 13-15, 2021.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
May 6, 2021
RICHMOND, Va. — Bassmaster Elite pro Bryan Schmitt has fished the James River for over two decades and said he’s impressed with the scenario awaiting anglers at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Northern Open.
Competition days will be May 13-15 with daily takeoffs from Osborne Park & Boat Landing at 6 a.m. ET. Weigh-ins for Days 1 and 2 will take place at the Landing at 2 p.m., while the Day 3 weigh-in is set to be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Ashland, Va., at 3 p.m.
Schmitt, who makes his home in Deale, Md., said recent mild weather trends have promoted favorable conditions on this tidal fishery. The bass and the areas where they live, he said, are both in great shape.
“The (river) system is definitely on an uptick as far as quality of habitat, water quality and the overall fish population,” Schmitt said. “You get a couple of springs that don’t get really nasty muddy and that allows (the bass) to have a really good spawn and allows the habitat to grow a little earlier.”
Shallow pads — mostly spatterdock — along with river grass comprise the common habitat features that have benefited from mild weather and good water clarity. Both of these, along with shallow wood, cypress trees, docks and old piers will offer abundant targets for what will likely be a diverse tournament.
“There will definitely be some fish spawning, some will have done it; it’s going to be a spawn-related event,” Schmitt said. “The fish could be anywhere, but I would say the upper region of the river will have a little better chance of having fish still spawning. It’s more of a deeper river, and those upper (fish) seem to go later.”
By contrast, anglers running downriver to the popular Chickahominy Creek (aka “Chick”) will likely be targeting postspawn fish. In any region of the James River, daily ebb and flow will position forage and bass, but Schmitt said the tidal influence is most profound with bedding bass.
“If I’m targeting spawning fish on the James River, I want higher water,” he said. “It seems like the fish need a little more water to feel comfortable. Then, if I’m fishing postspawn, I always want that low tide because it concentrates them in the deeper holes.”
Despite the relatively good water clarity, Schmitt said it is usually hard to sight fish James spawners because of the darker, tannic water color. That being said, looking for beds during low tide and then fishing the more relaxed bass during higher stages tends to deliver the best opportunities.
“If you have an area with fish on beds and the tide comes in, they’re more apt to bite,” Schmitt said. “It’s hard to beat a wacky-rigged or Neko-rigged Missile Baits 48 fished really slow. It’s painful, but that’s how you have to do it.”
Other likely baits for this event include swim jigs, popping topwaters, frogs, buzzbaits and shallow-running crankbaits. Schmitt said shaky heads and drop shots could also deliver, especially when probing deeper man-made structures.
“This has been my formula for the James River: You have to find a way to get a limit — no matter what size it is — and then you have to have a big-fish spot,” Schmitt said. “You have to be able to get one of those big bites a day.”
As Schmitt notes, the James River system holds a good population of Florida-strain largemouth bass. Genetically wired for massive growth potential, these big fish will impact the tournament’s overall results.
“If there’s not a big storm system and the water color stays good, I would say that 15 to 16 pounds a day will make the Top 10,” Schmitt said. “It would not surprise me if the winner had right around 60. There are some absolute giants in there now — 7, 8, 9-pounders — and if you can trick one or two of those a day, all of a sudden, it’s a really good day.
“I would say a 23- to 24-pound bag would be very good, just because the fish are going to be doing so many different things — pre-, post- and spawning. Also, just the sheer number of boats will dilute the opportunities.”
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. Coverage of the event will be available at Bassmaster.com.
B.A.S.S. Postpones Day 1 Of Bassmaster Elite At Neely Henry Lake
GADSDEN, Ala. — High waters caused by extremely high rainfall totals across the region Tuesday and Wednesday have forced B.A.S.S. officials to postpone the first day of competition at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake.
The full field of 98 anglers will now compete on both Friday and Saturday, with only the Top 48 advancing to Sunday’s semifinal round. The Top 10 will compete for the championship on Monday. Daily takeoffs will be held at 5:40 a.m. CT from Gadsden City Boat Docks, also known as Coosa Landing, with weigh-ins back at the docks each day at 2 p.m.
The tournament is being hosted by the City of Gadsden and Greater Gadsden Area Tourism.
Swindle talks NFL draft, white gravy, and top lures at Neely Henry Elite
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Gerald Swindle is clinging to his Positive Mental Attitude mantra as torrential rains and flooding washed most of what he learned in practice for the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite on Neely Henry downstream.
But he took a few moments on the eve of competition to talk football, good grub, and what to expect when the derby starts Thursday in Gadsden, Alabama 50 miles from where he grew up.
Q: Were you at all surprised that six Crimson Tide players were chosen in the first round of last week’s NFL draft?
Swindle: Heck no, I’m just surprised it was only six and not eight.
Q: How will you deal with the insane current in this river right now?
Swindle: If you fight the current, the current will beat you. So, I try to let the current tell me where to fish.
Q: Will practice help you at all, or did 6” of rain wash away all the wisdom you gathered?
Swindle: I lost everything I learned Monday and Tuesday, but Wednesday’s practice was definitely helpful.
Q: Will you spend most of your time upriver where the water is flooding, or down toward the dam where it’s falling super-fast?
Swindle: I’ll stay sort of in the middle rather than battle either of those extremes.
Q: What four lures can fans expect to see the Elite Series anglers throw a bunch this week on Neely Henry?
Swindle: Spinnerbait, buzzbait, swim jigs, and Texas rigged pitching baits.
Q: It’s dinner time, what’s the best meal you’ve eaten since arriving in Gadsden?
Swindle: Lulu and I are camping at River Rocks Landing and she made a chicken fried steak covered in white gravy that was awesome, and a lemon chicken alfredo that was pretty dang good too.
Jacob Wheeler Wins Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Berkley Stage Two Presented by Mercury at Lake Travis
Harrison, Tennessee pro Earns Third Career Victory on Bass Pro Tour, $100,000
AUSTIN, Texas (May 5, 2021) – In a crazy finish that had bass-fishing fans watching the MLF NOW!® livestream on the edges of their seats, Academy pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, held off a late charge from Berkley pro “Big Fish” Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, to win the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury event in Austin, Texas and the top prize of $100,000.
Link to Photo of Stage Two Winner Jacob Wheeler
Link to Photo Gallery of Wheeler’s Championship Day
Link to Video of Wheeler’s Trophy Presentation
Link to Video of Fish Catch Highlights from Day 6, Championship Round
Wheeler caught his last fish of the day at 2:19 p.m., a 2-pound, 2-ounce bass that gave him a total of 13 bass weighing 28 pounds, 13 ounces, and a 9-pound, 4-ounce lead with just under an hour left in competition. Then, Lane caught fire. Lane boated five scorable bass in the last hour to rally to within 2-ounces of the lead with just three minutes remaining in competition. But Lane never caught another fish, and Wheeler walked away with the win by just 2 ounces, a new record for the closest margin of victory in Bass Pro Tour history.
“Wow, that was unbelievable,” said Wheeler, who earned his third career Bass Pro Tour victory – most all-time. “I knew that I was going to have to have a good first and second period, and I just didn’t know how long I could prolong it. I grinded all day long. I felt like the best chance that I had was just to keep a topwater bait and a vibrating jig in my hand, so I threw those all day long and just fished for big ones. I never got a real big bite today, but I got more bites today and it was enough.”
Wheeler’s 1-2 pattern with the vibrating jig and the topwater bait centered around the docks. Wheeler would pick apart the dock with the vibrating jig, then throw the topwater bait in between while making his way to his next dock.
“The big key with the docks was that there was only a certain zone of the lake that had a little bit of dirtier water. The water clarity was the key more so than anything,” Wheeler said. “I couldn’t catch them on the flatter docks, it needed to have a channel bank or deeper bank adjacent to it. If it didn’t have 10 feet of water or more, I wouldn’t get a bite.
“The little ones would stay on the outskirts,” Wheeler continued. “I realized the big ones were in the top five feet of the water column and that was the key with the vibrating jig.”
Wheeler said that he threw a ½-ounce vibrating jig and caught them on four different colors. He fished it on his own Signature Series Duckett Jacob Wheeler Casting rod with a Duckett Paradigm Jacob Wheeler Baitcasting reel, using 20-pound Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon line.
Despite coming up 2-ounces short, second-place finisher Bobby Lane was still very optimistic after a red-hot start to his Bass Pro Tour season. After two events, Lane leads the 2021 Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year race.
“I fished hard today, stuck with it, had a positive attitude and kept my confidence,” Lane said in his post-game interview. “I love Lake Travis, and I love the way I was catching them today. But congratulations to Jacob Wheeler, he out-fished me today and he earned it. Two ounces shy, it just wasn’t meant to be this week. It’s been a great start to the Bass Pro Tour for me this year and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m ready to go for the Harris Chain.”
The top 10 pros at the Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis finished:
1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 13 bass, 28-13, $100,000
2nd: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 15 bass, 28-11, $45,000
3rd: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 23-11, $38,000
4th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., nine bass, 22-4, $32,000
5th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 22-0, $30,000
6th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 11 bass, 20-10, $26,000
7th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., seven bass, 17-1, $23,000
8th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 12-3, $21,000
9th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 10-1, $19,000
10th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, four bass, 9-0, $16,000
Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 90 bass weighing 194 pounds, 6 ounces caught by the final 10 pros Wednesday.
Browning won Wednesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 4-pound, 9-ounce largemouth that bit his bladed swim jig in Period 2. Fletcher Shryock of Guntersville, Alabama, won the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass award for the largest bass of the event with his 8-pound, 4-ounce bass that he weighed in on Day 2 of competition.
The MLF Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury was hosted by the Austin Sports Commission. The six-day event featured 80 of the top professional anglers from around the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner.
Television coverage of the Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 11 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
The 2021 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined at each event by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit – competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2022 championship. The next event for Bass Pro Tour anglers will be the Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats, held May 21-26 at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action each day of competition. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
For complete details and updated information on 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.
Georgetown College Wins Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Smith Mountain Lake
| RANK | COLLEGE NAME | ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Georgetown College | Jacob Locke of Georgetown, Ky. Hunter Osborne of Irvine, Ky. |
5 | 24-0 | $2,000 |
| 2nd | Radford University | Brandon Miskell of Vienna, Va. Jackson Norton of Ferrum, Va. |
5 | 20-1 | $1,000 |
| 3rd | Virginia Tech | Jacob Johnson of Blacksburg, Va. Perry Marvin of Peru, N.Y. |
5 | 18-14 | $500 |
| 4th | NC State University | Jacob Moore of Stanley, N.C. | 5 | 18-2 | $500 |
| 5th | Western Michigan | Bo Thomas of Edwardsburg, Mich. Mason Vernia of Schoolcraft, Mich. |
5 | 17-8 | $500 |
| 6th | University of South Carolina | Nic Basham of Salem, Va. Gabe Brown of Aynor, S.C. |
5 | 17-2 | |
| 7th | California University of Pennsylvania | David Blaker of Rices Landing, Pa. Nick Fulks of Burgettstown, Pa. |
5 | 17-0 | |
| 8th | East Carolina University | Aaron Digh of Denver, N.C. Austin Woody of Burlington, N.C. |
5 | 16-5 | |
| 9th | Virginia Tech | Jacob Hodges of Boones Mill, Va. Paul Southern of Pulaski, Va. |
5 | 15-9 | |
| 10th | Auburn University | Chase Clarke of Auburn, Ala. | 5 | 13-3 |
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
2021/2022 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI | May 15 | California Delta, Oakley, Calif. | City of Oakley |
| Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship presented by Lowrance | TBA - 2022 | TBA | TBA |
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.
Holston High School Wins U.S. Army High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing at Smith Mountain Lake
| RANK | SCHOOL/CLUB NAME/CITY | ANGLER NAME | BASS | WEIGHT |
| 1st | Holston HS Cavaliers* | John Milhorne Dylan Thomson |
5 | 13-13 |
| 2nd | Clinch Mountain Jr. Anglers | Brenton Powers Thai Tatum |
4 | 10-14 |
| 3rd | Southwest Virginia Jr. Anglers | Carson Blevins Blaine Miller |
5 | 9-11 |
| 4th | Badin Bandits | Harrison McCall Carson Palmer |
5 | 9-3 |
| 5th | Jefferson County | Alex Gore Kobi May |
3 | 8-5 |
| 6th | Bass Legends BBT | Austin Blow Chris Nolte |
2 | 8-5 |
| 7th | Winfield | Ryan Fuellhart Wyatt Gabehart |
3 | 6-15 |
| 8th | Long Creek Anglers | Avery Doughty Luke Miller |
2 | 6-13 |
| 9th | Capital City Jr. Bass Masters | Wade Detweiler Jacob Vanscoik |
3 | 6-12 |
| 10th | Fishaholics | Trenton Carey Josh Kauffman |
2 | 3-10 |
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
2021 UPCOMING QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing California Delta Open | May 1 | California Delta, Oakley, Calif. | City of Oakley |
| 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing National Championship & World Finals | Jun. 30 – Jul. 3 | Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C. | Anderson 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.
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 2021 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 2020 World Finals.
Full schedules and the latest announcements, photos and articles are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Yelas and others starting from scratch Wednesday at Neely Henry
Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Rain fell on Alabama Tuesday with the same equivalency as Crimson Tide football players being taken in the first round of last week’s NFL draft. Four to six inches of rain soaked the Gadsden, AL region during the second day of practice at this week’s Whataburger Bassmaster Elite on Neely Henry Lake.
Streets flooded, lots of lightning strikes caused major power outages, schools were delayed Wednesday morning, and pretty much everything Jay Yelas and the other Elite Series pros learned during Monday’s practice got flushed down the Coosa River Tuesday.
“We’re starting from scratch today,” said Yelas early Wednesday before launching at Coosa Landing as the current ripped past. “It’s ironic, because the same thing happened last month at our Elite event on Pickwick not too far from here.”
Adding to the hydrological dynamic is a region of this river called Minnesota Bend that’s a giant S-curve, essentially serving as a natural impedance that “stacks” the water, leaving Neely Henry higher on the northern stretches and lower toward Logan Martin.
However, no matter where anglers choose to fish along the 77 miles of the Coosa, there’s no lack of habitat or visible targets, causing Yelas to tie on a spinnerbait and buzzbait Wednesday, while keeping a swim jig and squarebill crankbait handy too.
“I’m sure there were some guys who spotted a few spawning beds Monday, but man all the tributaries have turned to chocolate milk, so I seriously doubt any bed fishing will play a factor now. And while there was a pretty good shad spawn Monday when there was very little current, that’s obviously changed too,” says Yelas
So Wednesday is the big day. A day to start over in preparation for getting dialed-in for Thursday’s start of competition, not unlike the Elite Series practice period at Pickwick last month.
“Actually, I’d say prepping for Pickwick was way worse, because it flooded so bad we basically learned nothing in practice. At least we have today to figure out something here at Neely,” concluded the always optimistic Yelas, a longtime Toyota Bonus Bucks participant.
AC Insider Podcast with Joey Nania - "Just going fishing & having fun!"
This week Chris and the boys welcome in Pick Bass Open Champ Joey Nania to talk about his plan, strategy and execution on winning the recent BASS Open on Pickwick Lake!
Bobby Lane Wins Knockout Round at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Berkley Stage Two Presented by Mercury at Lake Travis
Final 10 Anglers Set for Championship Wednesday and Final-Day Shootout for $100,000
Link to Photo of Knockout Round Winner Bobby Lane
Link to Video of Fish Catch Highlights from Day 5, Knockout Round
AUSTIN, Texas (May 4, 2021) – Berkley pro “Big Fish” Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, caught 14 bass Tuesday totaling 28 pounds, 1 ounce to win the Knockout Round and advance to the final day of competition at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury event in Austin, Texas. The final 10 anglers are now set, and competition will resume Wednesday morning with the Championship Round. Weights are zeroed, and the angler that catches the most weight will win the top prize of $100,000.
The six-day tournament, hosted by the Austin Sports Commission, featured 80 of the top professional anglers from around the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner.
The top eight pros from Tuesday’s Knockout Round that will compete in Wednesday’s Championship Round on Lake Travis are:
1st: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 14 bass, 28-1
2nd: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., seven bass, 24-11
3rd: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 11 bass, 24-2
4th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., nine bass, 18-11
5th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 18-2
6th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, eight bass, 17-7
7th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., six bass, 17-3
8th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., nine bass, 16-10
They’ll be joined by Qualifying Round Winners:
Group A: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Group B: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
“Man, am I excited to be going to my second straight Championship Round in Texas,” said Lane, who finished in 10th place at the season-opening Bass Pro Tour event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. “Last year it seemed like I finished in 11th and 12th place all year long, but this is a new year and Bobby Lane is heading to his second straight Championship Round.”
Lane said he caught his fish Tuesday fishing the outside of marinas, mainly targeting docks and rocks.
“The key to my success so far this week has been my equipment,” Lane said. “I’m using the new (Abu Garcia) Veritas, 7-foot, medium, and this rod has been absolutely phenomenal. I love it. I’m fishing a wacky-rigged Berkley PowerBait (MaxScent) General worm (green-pumpkin) with a size 1 hook and a nail weight right in the head.
“I’ve got 10-pound braided line and I’m using an 8-pound-test Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon leader,” Lane continued. “I’m using a very long leader – around 14-foot. Fishing here on Lake Travis you’re going to break off, you’re going to get hung on the cables and you’re going to have to re-tie quite often. The longer leader allows me to re-tie more quickly and efficiently.”
Second-place angler Academy pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, was much more optimistic after his day on the water, Tuesday, than he was after only boating two fish in Monday’s Qualifying Round.
“It was a good morning, and a really tough afternoon – just as it has been the last few days – but we got it done and I’m so thankful for those quality bites this morning,” Wheeler said. “If I can get at least 10 keeper bites tomorrow, I think I’ll have a shot at this thing. I’m going to have to generate some big bites, though, so we’ll see what happens. I’m looking forward to going to the Championship Round. This feels good after yesterday’s struggles, so I’m ready to get after it tomorrow.”
Third-place pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California, also made the Championship Round in his second-straight event after a ninth-place showing at the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event last month.
“I left a fair amount of water today that I didn’t fish, so I’ve still got some stuff left to fish tomorrow,” Ehrler said. “I got kind of lucky today. I had a couple of key bites that really helped me get to where I’m at right now – over that 20-pound mark. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get those again tomorrow; they were kind of single fish. I found an area that had a few fish that had moved up – I’d already fished it earlier in the week – but a few more had moved up. I don’t think I can go back and catch those fish again. I’m going to have to bob and weave by the minute tomorrow, and hopefully I’ll have a chance at winning this thing.”
Rounding out the top 40 finishers were:
11th: Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., eight bass, 16-4, $10,000
12th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., nine bass, 16-2, $10,000
13th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., seven bass, 15-5, $10,000
14th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., seven bass, 14-10, $10,000
15th: Jared Lintner, Arroyo Grande, Calif., seven bass, 14-10, $10,000
16th: Alton Jones, Woodway, Texas, three bass, 13-8, $10,000
17th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., seven bass, 13-4, $10,000
18th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., seven bass, 12-15, $10,000
19th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., five bass, 12-12, $10,000
20th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 12-5, $10,000
21st: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, six bass, 11-15, $10,000
22nd: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., four bass, 11-10, $10,000
23rd: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 9-14, $10,000
24th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, four bass, 9-6, $10,000
25th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 9-1, $10,000
26th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., five bass, 8-14, $10,000
27th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., three bass, 8-9, $10,000
28th: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., four bass, 8-7, $10,000
29th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., two bass, 8-5, $10,000
30th: Miles Burghoff, Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., five bass, 8-3, $10,000
31st: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 7-9, $10,000
32nd: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., three bass, 5-10, $10,000
33rd: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, three bass, 5-0, $10,000
34th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., two bass, 4-14, $10,000
35th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., two bass, 4-2, $10,000
36th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., one bass, 4-2, $10,000
37th: Ish Monroe, Oakdale, Calif., two bass, 4-0, $10,000
38th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La, two bass, 3-11, $10,000
39th: Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., two bass, 3-8, $10,000
40th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., zero bass, 0-0, $10,000
There were 202 bass weighing 443 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 37 pros Tuesday, which included one 6-pounder and six 5-pounders caught from Lake Travis.
Browning won the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award on Tuesday, catching a 6-pound, 3-ounce largemouth in Period 2. Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.
The MLF Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury is hosted by the Austin Sports Commission.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Friday and Sunday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Saturday and Monday. After the two-day Qualifying Round, the anglers that finished in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advanced to Tuesday’s Knockout Round, while the winner from each group advanced directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round, the weights were zeroed and the remaining 38 anglers competed to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. Tomorrow, in the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins. Full breakdown of the format can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The final 10 anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT Wednesday from Mansfield Dam Park, located at 4370 Mansfield Dam Park Road in Austin. The General Tire Takeout will also be held at the park beginning at 3:15 p.m.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined at each event by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit – competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2022 championship.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action from the final day of competition from 7 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 11 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
For complete details and updated information on 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.
Blankenship Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Kerr Lake
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | James Blankenship of Siler City, N.C. | 5 | 19-9 | $5,488 |
| 2nd | Billy Shelton, III of La Crosse, Va. | 5 | 18-2 | $3,824 |
| 3rd | Aaron Falwell of Forest, Va. | 5 | 16-8 | $1,829 |
| 4th | Wesley Cashwell of Roanoke Rapids, N.C. | 5 | 16-3 | $1,281 |
| 5th | Larry Church of Keysville, Va. | 5 | 15-11 | $1,098 |
| 6th | Kevin Kane of Woodbridge, Va. | 5 | 15-10 | $1,006 |
| 7th | Alden Patterson of Mebane, N.C. | 5 | 15-9 | $915 |
| 8th | Greg Lahr of Fayetteville, N.C. | 5 | 15-3 | $823 |
| 9th | Wayne Burchett of Pulaski, Va. | 5 | 14-11 | $732 |
| 10th | Brian Morgan of Mooresville, N.C. | 5 | 14-10 | $640 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Kenneth Brown of Leesburg, Va. | 5 | 18-1 | $2,744 |
| 2nd | Lenny Baird of Stafford, Va. | 5 | 14-1 | $2,012 |
| 3rd | Matthew Waldron of Wake Forest, M.C. | 5 | 11-10 | $702 |
| 3rd | Christopher Mills of Manassa, Va. | 5 | 11-10 | $702 |
| 3rd | Timothy Kinder of Manassas, Va. | 4 | 11-10 | $952 |
| 6th | Jason Hinger of Tinberlake, N.C. | 5 | 11-7 | $503 |
| 7th | Tanner Glasglow of Newport News, Va. | 5 | 11-4 | $457 |
| 8th | Scott Howard of Bedford, Va. | 5 | 11-2 | $389 |
| 8th | Philip Ragland, Jr. of Fairfield, Va. | 5 | 11-2 | $389 |
| 10th | Anthony Pulley of Chester, Va. | 5 | 10-14 | $320 |
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Big Bass | Billy Shelton, III of La Crosse, Va. | 6-pound, 7-ounce bass | $880 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Lenny Baird of Stafford, Va. | 5-pound, 5-ounce bass | $440 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Tyler Trent of Nathalie, Va. | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $500 |
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater | Unspecified Jig | N/A |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Carolina Rig | N/A |
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Piedmont Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 14-16 | Potomac River, Marbury, Md. | Charles County Board of Commissioners |
| Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 3-5 | Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn. | Jefferson County Department of Tourism |
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.
McDavid Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Douglas Lake
DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (May 4, 2021) – Boater Gregory McDavid of Blountville, Tennessee, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee. McDavid earned $13,056 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Jefferson County Department of Tourism.
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Gregory McDavid of Blountville, Tenn. | 5 | 18-8 | $13,056 |
| 2nd | Jeremy Shuman of Louisville, Tenn. | 5 | 16-0 | $2,403 |
| 3rd | Jacob McCray of Big Stone Gap, Va. | 5 | 15-5 | $1,605 |
| 4th | Rocky Huff of Chilhowie, Va. | 5 | 14-11 | $1,121 |
| 5th | Curtis Hoskins of LaFollette, Tenn. | 5 | 14-7 | $961 |
| 6th | Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tenn. | 5 | 14-4 | $881 |
| 7th | Michael Anderson of Knoxville, Tenn. | 5 | 14-0 | $801 |
| 8th | Bryant Ailor of Knoxville, Tenn. | 5 | 13-11 | $721 |
| 9th | Philip Gordon of Middlesboro, Ky. | 5 | 13-9 | $641 |
| 10th | Hunter Price of Morristown, Tenn. | 5 | 13-8 | $561 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Matthew Jones of Bean Station, Tenn. | 5 | 14-0 | $2,415 |
| 2nd | Jeff Short of Bean Station, Tenn. | 5 | 13-0 | $1,207 |
| 3rd | Dusty Kelley of Kingsport, Tenn. | 5 | 12-4 | $806 |
| 4th | Travis Pridemore of White Pine, Tenn. | 5 | 11-13 | $523 |
| 4th | Mike Holtsclaw of Limestone, Tenn. | 5 | 11-13 | $523 |
| 6th | Lloyd Pickett, Jr. of Bartlett, Tenn. | 5 | 11-7 | $422 |
| 6th | Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tenn. | 5 | 11-7 | $422 |
| 8th | Harrison Heins of Knoxville, Tenn. | 5 | 10-8 | $362 |
| 9th | Bradley Stringfield of Oliver Springs, Tenn. | 5 | 10-4 | $322 |
| 10th | Konnor Sweet of Abingdon, Va. | 5 | 10-3 | $282 |
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Big Bass | Brian Vicchio of Gray, Tenn. | 5-pound bass | $725 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Matthew Jones of Bean Station, Tenn. | 4-pound, 13-ounce bass | $360 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Gregory McDavid of Blountville, Tenn. | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $7,000 |
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater | Unspecified Swim Bait/Jig | N/A |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Neko Rig | N/A |
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Volunteer Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 14-16 | Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C. | Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board |
| Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 3-5 | Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn. | Jefferson County Department of Tourism |
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.
Pare Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Hartwell
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Mitchell Pare of Statesboro, Ga. | 5 | 15-14 | $4,072 |
| 2nd | Tra Dumit of Greer, S.C. | 5 | 14-6 | $1,796 |
| 3rd | Ronnie Wilson of Kings Mountain, N.C. | 5 | 13-14 | $1,201 |
| 4th | Sammy Moody of Piedmont, S.C. | 5 | 13-13 | $1,338 |
| 5th | Matthew Guffey of Simpsonville, S.C. | 5 | 12-12 | $718 |
| 6th | John Bitter of Maitland, Fla. | 5 | 12-9 | $659 |
| 7th | Steve Thornhill of Pineville, S.C. | 5 | 11-12 | $599 |
| 8th | Roger Vinson of Flowery Branch, Ga. | 5 | 11-7 | $539 |
| 9th | Lane Gerbers of Blackstock, S.C. | 5 | 10-11 | $479 |
| 10th | James Wade of Loris, S.C. | 5 | 10-9 | $419 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Harold Addison, II of Columbia, S.C. | 5 | 10-4 | $1,796 |
| 2nd | Brandon Hendrix of Anderson, S.C. | 5 | 9-15 | $898 |
| 3rd | Samuel Jones of Raleigh, N.C. | 5 | 9-9 | $598 |
| 4th | Wayne Hancock of Cumming, Ga. | 5 | 8-13 | $419 |
| 5th | Kenny Mathis of Boiling Springs, S.C. | 5 | 8-5 | $359 |
| 6th | Tim Chadwick of Mount Pleasant, S.C. | 5 | 8-4 | $329 |
| 7th | Westley Denny of Westminster, S.C. | 5 | 8-1 | $299 |
| 8th | Brian Bultman of Aiken, S.C. | 5 | 7-7 | $269 |
| 9th | Gage Spagnola of Columbia, S.C. | 5 | 7-3 | $239 |
| 10th | Ken Hodges of Hodges, S.C. | 5 | 7-2 | $210 |
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Big Bass | Mitchell Pare of Statesboro, Ga. | 4-pound, 15-ounce bass | $230 |
| Boater Big Bass | Brian Anthony of Pickens, S.C. | 4-pound, 15-ounce bass | $230 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Jace Ramey of Easely, S.C. | 4-pound, 9-ounce bass | $230 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Sammy Moody of Piedmont, S.C. | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $500 |
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater | Unspecified Jig/Blades | N/A |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Unspecified Jerkbait/Dropshot | N/A |
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| South Carolina Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 21-23 | St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla. | Putnam County Tourist Development Council |
| Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 3-5 | Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn. | Jefferson County Department of Tourism |
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.
Dickson’s Singleton Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Kentucky-Barkley Lake
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 4, 2021) – Boater Gary Singleton of Dickson, Tennessee, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Kentucky-Barkley Lake Presented by TINCUP Whiskey in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Singleton earned $5,743 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau.
TOP 10 RESULTS
RANK
BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN
BASS
WEIGHT
AWARD
1st
Gary Singleton of Dickson, Tenn.
5
18-0
$5,743
2nd
Brady Bickers of Carrollton, Ky.
5
16-3
$2,082
3rd
Stephen Barga of Benton, Ky.
5
15-13
$1,387
4th
Doug Caskey of Madisonville, Ky.
5
14-15
$971
5th
Keith Claridge of Oakland City, Ind.
5
14-11
$1,333
6th
Richard Meuth of Henderson, Ky.
5
14-5
$763
7th
Edward Gettys of Paris Tenn.
5
14-1
$694
8th
Scott McWaters of Clarksville, Tenn.
5
13-12
$625
9th
David Hames of Trezevant, Tenn.
5
13-10
$555
10th
Brandon S. Johnson of Crofton, Ky.
5
13-9
$486
RANK
STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN
BASS
WEIGHT
AWARD
1st
Terry Bassemier of Carmi, Ill.
4
8-13
$2,041
2nd
Kevin Mulverhill of Moria, N.Y.
3
8-11
$1,021
3rd
Carl Oelker of Greenbrier, Tenn.
4
8-10
$808
4th
Brant Gish of Evansville, Ind.
4
8-9
$476
5th
Chuck Ledbetter of Fort Campbell, Ky.
3
8-5
$408
6th
Chuck Condiff, Jr. of Fort Branch, Ind.
3
8-3
$374
7th
John Dunn of Paducah, Ky.
4
7-13
$340
8th
Jordan McWhirter of Carmi, Ill.
3
7-12
$306
9th
Johnny Brantley of Medon, Tenn.
3
7-10
$272
10th
Dalton Wilson of Bowling Green, Ky.
4
7-7
$238
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD
NAME
CONTINGENCY
PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass
Gary Singleton of Dickson, Tenn.
5-pound, 12-ounce bass
$580
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass
Alan Scott of Shelbyville, Ind.
5-pound bass
$280
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus
Keith Claridge of Oakland City, Ind.
Eligible Phoenix Boat*
$500
* 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
Unspecified Chatterbait & Beaver Bait
N/A
Strike King Co-Angler
Unspecified Chatterbait &Bandito Bug
N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT
DATE
LOCATION
HOST
LBL Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship
Oct. 7-9
Lake Norfork, Mountain Home, Ark.
Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce
Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American
June 3-5
Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.
Jefferson County Department of Tourism
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.
BRIAN MATER & ROBERT BUTLER WIN TTZ ON BELTON WITH 16.07LBS AND TAKE HOME $10,000
| PL | ANGLER 1 | ANGLER 2 | FISH | BIG BASS | WEIGHT | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BRIAN MATER | ROBERT BUTLER | 5 | 16.07 | $10,000 | |
| 2 | CHARLES WHITED | TREY GROCE | 5 | 15.58 | $2,500 | |
| 3 | ADAM GLAZENER | 5 | 6.97 | 13.58 | $1,250 + $1,140 Big Bass | |
| 4 | JAYSON KISSELBURG | DEAN GOLMON | 5 | 13.44 | $1,000 | |
| 5 | LYNN PIERCE | TERRY HALL | 5 | 13.38 | $800 | |
| 6 | DANIEL BARNES | ADRIAN BARNES | 5 | 13.21 | $700 | |
| 7 | MIKE MCEACHEM | JOSEPH KENNEDY | 5 | 13.15 | $600 | |
| 8 | JAMIE SLAYDEN | COLT SLAYDEN | 5 | 13.02 | $500 | |
| 9 | JACOB MARSAC | TYLER LUDEMANN | 5 | 12.81 | $450 | |
| 10 | RYAN BODE | TRISTIAN RATCLIFF | 5 | 12.27 | $400 | |
| 11 | JUSTIN MAY | HOLLY ROBERSON | 5 | 12.07 | $350 | |
| 12 | DAVID REID | THOMAS HOWE | 5 | 12.05 | $300 | |
| 13 | BRYAN SCOTT | KEITH HEINRICH | 5 | 11.74 | ||
| 14 | JAMES OLSON | JAMES MALONE | 5 | 11.65 | ||
| 15 | JACOB FROESE | JONAS INMAN | 5 | 11.56 | ||
| 16 | ERIC CRUMLEY | RONNY MAYNARD | 5 | 11.50 | ||
| 17 | DARREL ROUTON | 5 | 11.48 | |||
| 18 | BUBBA WAMPLER | RONNIE ANDREWS | 5 | 11.27 | ||
| 19 | JAKE MASSEY | MARTY MASSEY | 5 | 11.06 | ||
| 20 | GREG MEHAFFEY | JOEY MARTIN | 5 | 10.98 | ||
| 21 | DAVID WENCIL | MICHAEL GLYNN | 5 | 10.77 | ||
| 22 | MIKE BUCK(Y) | COLTON CHRISTIANSEN | 5 | 10.60 | ||
| 23 | CRAIG BULLOCK | DAVID BARATZ | 5 | 4.88 | 10.58 | |
| 24 | JOE BRAY | LEROY ELLERBEE | 5 | 10.55 | ||
| 25 | RANDALL BEAUCHAMP | REGINA BEAUCHAMP | 5 | 10.38 | ||
| 26 | BILL KIMBERLY | 5 | 10.30 | |||
| 27 | PAUL SCHROEDER | BRAD ANKRUM | 5 | 10.22 | ||
| 28 | JEREMIAH WAFFORD | GARY WEIMER | 5 | 10.18 | ||
| 29 | TRENT STAFFORD | BRET STAFFORD | 5 | 10.17 | ||
| 30 | DARRELL WUENSCHE | 5 | 10.09 | |||
| 31 | CLINT ROBERTSON | STEVE MAGNELIA | 5 | 10.02 | ||
| 31 | DENNIS WHITED | MAX KIPP | 5 | 10.02 | ||
| 33 | LARRY SMITH | KEN EVERETT | 5 | 9.96 | Shoreline Decal $250 Fuel Card Winners | |
| 34 | ANDREW SWEET | RUSTY REEDY | 5 | 9.82 | ||
| 35 | SPENCER SCHNEIDER | BRIAN HUGHES | 5 | 9.78 | ||
| 36 | BILLY MCCRARY II | DONNIE O'NEAL | 5 | 9.71 | ||
| 37 | JIM SUNVISON | DALE READ | 5 | 9.70 | ||
| 38 | TIM VEACH | TIM MABRAY | 5 | 9.62 | ||
| 39 | RYAN WARREN | JASON DERRICK | 5 | 9.56 | ||
| 40 | JASON BUCHANAN | TERRY KIRCUS | 5 | 9.46 | ||
| 41 | JAMES JONES | SOREN HANSEN | 5 | 9.41 | ||
| 42 | BLAKE ROBERSON | LES COPELAND | 5 | 9.33 | ||
| 43 | ERIC WASHBURN | ZANE WASHBURN | 5 | 9.23 | ||
| 44 | GARRETT SHEPPERD | GREG SHEPPERD | 5 | 9.12 | ||
| 45 | RICHARD KELSEY | ANTHONY KELSEY | 5 | 8.99 | ||
| 46 | DAVID SCHWERTNER | CHLOE SCHWERTNER | 5 | 8.96 | ||
| 47 | PAT GRIMM | JACK MORSE | 5 | 8.86 | ||
| 48 | BRIAN BUSTILLOZ | CODY RANDOLPH | 5 | 8.69 | ||
| 49 | TRENT ERXLEBEN | DAVID DELGADO | 5 | 8.56 | ||
| 50 | GLENN RUCKEL | SCOTT ROSS | 5 | 8.52 | ||
| 51 | CANYON CAROTHERS | SKYLER CAROTHERS | 5 | 8.33 | ||
| 52 | DYLAN CROWNOVER | FELLER SMITH | 5 | 8.28 | ||
| 53 | GARRETT GOETTEE | CLINT MAREK | 5 | 8.26 | ||
| 54 | STEVEN KIRKWOOD | 5 | 8.21 | |||
| 55 | BARRY DODD | MATTHEW HATHAWAY | 5 | 8.16 | ||
| 56 | RUSSELL MATHIS | RONNIE GRIGGS | 5 | 8.12 | ||
| 57 | MICHAEL ATKINS | JAMES HENRY | 5 | 8.01 | ||
| 58 | CRAIG UROFSKY | HANNAH UROFSKY | 5 | 7.93 | Pre-Registration Winners-Shimano Clarus Rods | |
| 59 | BYRON ALBRECHT | DALLAS ALBRECHT(Y) | 5 | 7.92 | ||
| 60 | BOBBY THRASHER | 5 | 7.85 | |||
| 61 | TRAVIS MEYER | 5 | 7.57 | |||
| 62 | CASEY MARTZ | AMY WATSON | 5 | 7.55 | ||
| 63 | FRED CATES | APRIL CATES | 5 | 7.47 | ||
| 64 | STEVE ODOM | JOHN HARDESTY | 4 | 7.42 | ||
| 65 | SHAE SEALE | LARRY HOLYBEE | 5 | 7.41 | ||
| 66 | WYATT SMITH | JUSTIN ROGERS | 5 | 7.35 | ||
| 67 | BRAD DENTON | TOM GRIDLEY | 5 | 6.94 | ||
| 68 | VINCENT SANTOS | CARL RALSTON(Y) | 5 | 6.87 | ||
| 69 | MARION KOPF | SETH FISHER | 4 | 6.59 | ||
| 70 | BILL LEE | MICHELLE LEE | 5 | 6.32 | ||
| 71 | COREY MARTENSON | RON EBERT | 5 | 6.24 | ||
| 72 | BRANDON JONES | THOMAS WEIMER | 3 | 3.86 | ||
| 73 | DENA VINES | DEBBIE MARSHALL | 1 | 1.42 | ||
| 74 | MARCO MCDONALD | JACOB WATKINS | 1 | 1.04 | ||
| 75 | LANCE DILLARD | JACKSON DILLARD(Y) | ||||
| 75 | LEE BEUERSHAUSEN | RANDY GROUNDS | ||||
| 75 | WESLEY MCCLAIN | MIKE HARMAN | ||||
| 75 | JAMES HESTER | NEAL CHILDERS | ||||
| 75 | ED COLE | BILLY FREEMAN | ||||
| 75 | EDDIE PELFREY | DAVID LANDRY | ||||
| 75 | ANDY ARMENDARIZ SR | TOM LORDEN | ||||
| 75 | ROBBIE THORSTEINSON | CURTIS WESLEY | ||||
| 75 | BRANDON DICKENSON | TREY EPICH | ||||
| 75 | CRIS TATUM | JUSTIN TATUM | ||||
| 75 | TONY FERDINANDO | DAVID MAULDIN | ||||
| 75 | FRANK MALES | EDEN MALES | ||||
| 75 | COLT DIETZ | JOHN WARDEN | ||||
| 75 | BILLY FORD | WILLIAM LYNCH | ||||
| 75 | KYLE FORD | TONY THOMPSON | ||||
| 75 | BRANDON MCQUEEN | GARRETT HENNIG | ||||
| 75 | BOBBY AMIDON | LORNE DORNAK | ||||
| 75 | MAT KEVIL | BRYAN RICHARDS | ||||
| 75 | DAN SHARPHORN | WYATT SHARPHORN | ||||
| 75 | BILL GUZMAN | |||||
| 75 | JOSH SMITH | JACOB SMITH | ||||
| 75 | CORD ZAHN | COLTON ZAHN | ||||
| 75 | JOHN MILLS | DAVID ACHILLES | ||||
| 75 | COLTEN WASHBURN | EVAN WASHBURN | ||||
| 75 | JOHNNY MATTHEWS | DANIEL UPTMOR | ||||
| 75 | DIRK AMAN | DANIEL WESSMAN | ||||
| 75 | LANDON GLASS | MANDI GLASS | ||||
| 75 | RANDY HIBLER | RANDALL CHRISTIAN | ||||
| 75 | LANDEN BENNETT(Y) | LOGAN DRAKE | ||||
| 75 | NATHEN LABAY | RICHIE LAND | ||||
| 75 | STEVEN GREER | PIERCE MCBRIDE | ||||
| 75 | RYAN CRAWFORD | JUSTIN ALLISON | ||||
| 75 | CHARLES YOUNG | JEFFERY MARKERT | ||||
| 75 | TRAVIS PROFFITT | STEPHEN MALINA | ||||
| 75 | JOHNNY ZUNKER | WADE MEHAFFEY | ||||
| 75 | MICHAEL MASTERS | ROBERT MASTERS | ||||
| 75 | LOGAN CLARK | TRAVIS COCKERHAM | ||||
| 75 | JACOB MEREDITH | JIMMY MEREDITH | ||||
| 75 | ANTHONY GOODSON | TRAVIS DAUGHERTY | ||||
| 75 | CLINT WRIGHT |
Wiggins Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lewis Smith Lake
JASPER, Ala. (May 4, 2021) – Boater Jordan Wiggins of Cullman, Alabama, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Lewis Smith Lake in Jasper, Alabama. Wiggins earned $5,839 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County.
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Jordan Wiggins of Cullman, Ala. | 5 | 17-6 | $5,839 |
| 2nd | John Simmons of Jasper, Ala. | 5 | 14-3 | $2,419 |
| 3rd | Andy Chappell of Warrior, Ala. | 5 | 14-0 | $1,614 |
| 4th | Justin Blalock of Cullman, Ala. | 5 | 13-12 | $1,859 |
| 5th | Lee Black of Danville, Ala. | 5 | 13-8 | $968 |
| 6th | Wesley Smith of Vinemont, Ala. | 5 | 13-6 | $846 |
| 6th | Destry Ford of Tuscaloosa, Ala. | 5 | 13-6 | $1,346 |
| 8th | Ethan Flack of Baileyton, Ala. | 5 | 13-4 | $726 |
| 9th | Carl Hayes, III of Eatonton, Ga. | 5 | 13-3 | $645 |
| 10th | Greg Pugh of Cullman, Ala. | 5 | 12-15 | $536 |
| 10th | Cameron Robinson of Jasper, Ala. | 5 | 12-15 | $536 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Michael Benson of Cullman, Ala. | 5 | 11-7 | $2,419 |
| 2nd | Chaz McMahan of Leoma, Tenn. | 5 | 11-5 | $1,210 |
| 3rd | Johnny Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. | 5 | 11-3 | $807 |
| 4th | William Maddox of Trussville, Ala. | 5 | 10-15 | $565 |
| 5th | Troy Calloway of Sylacauga, Ala. | 5 | 10-13 | $484 |
| 6th | Brad Smith of Montevallo, Ala. | 5 | 10-12 | $769 |
| 7th | Willie Hill of Tuskegee, Ala. | 5 | 10-9 | $403 |
| 8th | Randy Wiggins of Birmingham, Ala. | 5 | 10-5 | $363 |
| 9th | Daniel Corkern of Florence, Miss. | 5 | 10-1 | $302 |
| 9th | Terry Harper of Ranburne, Ala. | 5 | 10-1 | $302 |
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Big Bass | Justin Blalock of Cullman, Ala. | 5-pound, 14-ounce bass | $730 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Jacob Robinson of Temple, Ga. | 4-pound, 11-ounce bass | $365 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Destry Ford of Tuscaloosa, Ala. | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $500 |
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater | Unspecified Shaky Head | N/A |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Unspecified Berkley MaxScent | N/A |
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Bama Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 7-9 | Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala. | Decatur Morgan County Tourism |
| Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 3-5 | Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn. | Jefferson County Department of Tourism |
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.
Crystal Clear or Dirty, Whats your mentality to catching more fish?
Courtesy of Vance McCullough / Photo courtesy of Major League Fishing
I was talking with Shaw Grigsby when a funny story came up. The famous sight fisherman took another legend fishing near Grigsby’s lifelong home in Gainesville, Florida where drinking quality waters spring straight from the aquifer through holes in the limestone bed and flow to the sea beneath centuries old live oaks and towering cypress. There’s no prettier place to not catch a fish.
“Years ago, I took Rick Clunn to one of my favorite springs, along with Peter T (Thliveros), both great guys. Crystal clear water. We floated down the run and Pete and I said ‘this is so cool, look at this bass, look at that bass’ and we’d catch one here and one there and I asked Rick, ‘what do you think? This is one of my favorite places in the world.’ He said, ‘I hate it.’ I said ‘what? What do you mean you hate it?’,” chuckles Grigsby. Clunn explained, “I throw over there by that tree and twenty-five bass will come out and I don’t get any of them to eat, or I get maybe one to eat, and that’s destroying my self-confidence. When I pitch into dirty water, I have the confidence that I’m going to get bit or there’s not one there.”
“The difference was,” Grigsby elaborated about Florida’s sight-fishing anglers, “we know there are ten or fifteen fish there and they didn’t eat your bait and we’re ok with that. Every now and then one will eat it and we’re good with that. So, the difference was amazing in terms of mentality, you know, that crystal clear water and the dirty, stained water and seeing how many fish, so when you have three, four or five that refuse you, don’t get frustrated because the next one is probably going to eat. Every time you go, you learn.”
The unpredictable, some might say surprising, nature of bass is among the reasons Grigsby likes sight fishing. “I think that’s one of the reasons we enjoy bass fishing in the first place, it’s a challenge.”
The challenge doesn’t go away when using electronics. Yes, the best sight fisherman in bass tournament history uses electronics when called for, but he is basically doing the same thing with a different set of eyes. “I posted some stuff on social media about the new Active Target from Lowrance. I was reading the comments. Some of the guys were going, ‘man, they need to outlaw this,’ and all this kind of stuff and I’m like ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’. Everything I can get that helps me catch fish is what I want to do. Never is it so easy that you can just go do it. It’s always a challenge even if you know that school is there. You’ve still got to figure out the right bait, the right presentation, the right color to get that fish to hit. You’ve just got great technology to help you find them. Instead of going out and catching one or two you go out and catch nine or ten and that makes it special.
“Every second I get to spend with that unit, it’s stupid,” laughs the affable host of the long running One More Cast TV Show. “You can spot them out away from the boat, see the school of fish and fire a bait out there. Again, you have to choose the bait and choose the color and see what they’re doing, are they up high or are they following it down.”
He talks about a video he put on social media “If you look closely at the bottom right-hand side of the screen, you’ll see the fish starting to go crazy and then right at the end, you’ll see a little dot twitch, and then twitch again and then disappear. Well, that’s my grandson’s jerkbait. You can actually see the fish and what they’re doing by just watching your screen.”
A hack that Grigsby recommends is to turn the transducer sideways and get into the Scout Mode. “You’re not as precision as you are with forward-facing, you know, if I dial that forward-facing in and point it at a brush pile, it’s right there. You just shoot it right where the arrow is facing on your trolling motor. With Scout Mode you actually see how far away the fish is and you have about 100-degree field of vision.”
Grigsby also says the technology would open another world for small craft anglers who typically can’t stand and follow fish the way he can when sight fishing on bass boat but who still want to see what’s out there. “I would think, if you’re kayak fishing, that Active Target from Lowrance is a must because you’re so low to the water that your vision when sight fishing is limited. Now all of sudden, you can see out a long way. It would be like ‘oh yeah!’.”
For those who want to keep it low tech and use only their eyes to locate cruising fish, Grigsby recommends Strike King S11 shades to eliminate glare and illuminate the watery world below. . “Being able to see them is ninety-percent of the game. I use Strike King S11’s. The older I get, the more I appreciate that Cloud lens they have too, the best for sight fishing. They’re an incredible pair of sunglasses. They’re also reasonably priced and they protect your eyes. That’s been my favorite pair of glasses for years.” Picking on big fish with spinning gear can feel like hunting bears with a willow switch. Grigsby tips the odds in his favor. “I use a Lew’s Custom Pro All Purpose Spinning rod, 7’ or 7’2” and I’ll pair it with a Lew’s Custom Pro 300-size reel. I’ll use Seaguar Smackdown braided line for backing, three rods with 15-lb for dropshoting and two more with 20-lb, which is still extremely small. With those I can go straight braid to bait on certain techniques. Then I put my fluorocarbon top shot on there, 20 feet, 25 feet, sometimes 30 feet of InvizX on there.” Weights range from 6-to-10 pounds on Grigsby’s fluoro leaders. He leans heavily on the dropshot when sight fishing and makes frequent use of Trokar’s TK 180 hook, 1/0, a size that allows him to rig the lure weedless if he needs to. Because of their “lifelike” qualities, the Strike King Dream Shot or Strike King Half Shell close the deal on many bass for Grigsby.
Ryan Autery goes solo to top 233 teams & win over $20,000 on Cedar Creek with 21.49 lbs
| Place | Boat | Truck | Angler 1 | Angler 2 | Fish | Big Bass | Wt. | Prize Amt. | |
| 1 | RYAN AUTERY RICHARDSON , TX |
5 | 0 | 21.49 |
|
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| 2 |  |
LARRY BENCH DENISON , TX |
HI HILLBURN COLBERT , OK |
5 | 6.62 | 21.44 |
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| 3 | KEVIN ALLEN JEWETT , TX |
BRANDON BROSSETT GROESBECK , TX |
5 | 0 | 19.34 |
|
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| 4 | BRETT KILMER ROCKWALL , TX |
BRANNON MCMILLAN WEST TAWAKONI , TX |
5 | 6.75 | 18.94 |
|
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| 5 |  |
STEPHEN COOKSEY BULLARD , TX |
TROY SLAUGHTER TRINIDAD , TX |
5 | 5.65 | 18.71 |
|
||
| 6 | WILLIE BENSLEY MESQUITE , TX |
MICHAEL HULSEY SEVEN POINTS , TX |
5 | 0 | 18.67 |
|
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| 7 | |
TOM WARD TYLER , TX |
JIM CRAWFORD NACOGDOCHES , TX |
5 | 0 | 18.42 |
|
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| 8 | JOHNNY UNDERFUSSER DENISON , TX |
RON SAUCEMAN COLLINSVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 18.32 |
|
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| 9 | |
MATT TALLAS CANTON , TX |
ERNIE SISTRUNK WILLS POINT , TX |
5 | 0 | 18.26 |
|
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| 10 | |
GORDON WELLS GUN BARRELL CITY , TX |
CHRIS RYAN CRANDALL , TX |
5 | 0 | 18.14 |
|
||
| 11 | KENNETH MOORE RED OAK , TX |
KEITH GLASBY OVILLA , TX |
5 | 8.53 | 18.02 |
|
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| 12 | TERRY PEACOCK ROYSE CITY , TX |
SCOTT DEAN TERRELL , TX |
5 | 7.80 | 17.85 |
|
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| 13 | |
GIB COATS FORT WORTH , TX |
BILL WILCOX SCURRY , TX |
5 | 8.24 | 17.32 |
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| 13 | |
TANNER SPURGIN MCKINNEY , TX |
TYLER HOLMES RICHARDSON , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.32 |
|
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| 15 | CODY MORRISON COLLINSVILLE , TX |
ADAM PELS PILOT POINT , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.21 |
|
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| 16 | |
 |
JEFF NORRIS DECATUR , TX |
RONNIE NORRIS BOYD , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.09 |
|
|
| 17 | |
JOHN ADAMS FRISCO , TX |
RICK CLARK TERRELL , TX |
4 | 0 | 17.01 |
|
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| 18 | SHAWN TEMPLE KRUGERVILLE , TX |
COLE TEMPLE FORT WORTH , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.44 |
|
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| 19 |  |
MARK BIONDI JR BURLESON , TX |
MARK BIONDI SR BURLESON , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.31 |
|
||
| 20 | RUSS CHAVERS ATOKA , OK |
JEFF CULBREATH LANE , OK |
5 | 0 | 16.28 |
|
|||
| 21 | LANCE UEBERROTH ENNIS , TX |
JOE PEREZ KEMP , TX |
5 | 6.92 | 16.06 |
|
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| 22 | KEITH TAYLOR ROCKWALL , TX |
LARRY LADNIER ROCKWALL , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.96 |
|
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| 23 | |
SCOTTY GALBREAITH WEATHERFORD , TX |
JASON GALBREAITH BURLESON , TX |
5 | 5.96 | 15.63 |
|
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| 24 | NOLAN JACKSON ROYSE CITY , TX |
DREW SLOAN SCURRY , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.60 |
|
|||
| 25 | CHARLIE HERRON EUSTACE , TX |
DAVID COLE COMBINE , TX |
4 | 0 | 15.31 |
|
|||
| 26 | MIKE REID FATE , TX |
RON ROGERS ROCKWALL , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.29 |
|
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| 27 | CODY BURDINE BRIDGEPORT , TX |
BOBBY POINTER ALVORD , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.12 |
|
|||
| 28 | CRAIG DOWIS DALLAS , TX |
MICHAEL VASQUEZ TEMPLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.09 |
|
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| 29 | KEN SMITH RICHARDSON , TX |
TERRY HAWKINS CORSICANA , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.82 |
|
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| 30 | |
|
JEREMY LAMBERT DECATUR , TX |
BRANDEN HOLLINGSHEAD AZLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.69 |
|
|
| 31 | KEITH TRIMBLE TRINIDAD , TX |
GARRETT THOMAS MALAKOFF , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.55 |
|
|||
| 32 | RONNIE CASTLEBURY ELGIN , OK |
JAKE CASTLEBURY ELGIN , OK |
5 | 0 | 14.47 |
|
|||
| 33 | RANDY TURNER GREENVILLE , TX |
TREY TURNER ROYSE CITY , TX |
3 | 6.15 | 14.42 |
|
|||
| 34 | |
JUSTIN KEITHLEY ARLINGTON , TX |
JOSH KEITHLEY FORT WORTH , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.29 |
|
||
| 34 | |
MARK MCWHIRTER ARGYLE , TX |
ZEB STRICKLAND TIOGA , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.29 |
|
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| 36 | KEITH CULLUM CORINTH , TX |
JIM FENNELL WHITESBORO , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.23 |
|
|||
| 36 | JEFF PITRUCHA GREENVILLE , TX |
GARY COOPER COMBINE , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.23 |
|
|||
| 38 | STEVE WHITE EUSTACE , TX |
CHANCE STONE MALAKOFF , TX |
4 | 0 | 14.12 |
|
|||
| 39 | J BRAD KOEHLER BROKEN ARROW , OK |
DWAYNE LIKENS MILLS , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.09 |
|
|||
| 40 | |
SAM MCCOLLUM CORSICANA , TX |
PAUL MCCOLLUM CORSICANA , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.63 |
|
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| 41 | |
BERNARD GUNN JR FARMERSVILLE , TX |
DOUG BRUNDIDGE FARMERSVILLE , TX |
3 | 0 | 13.56 |
|
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| 42 | |
DANIEL RAMSEY TRINIDAD , TX |
DEWAYNE THOMAS MALAKOFF , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.49 |
|
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| 43 | |
|
ALLEN SHELTON FARMERS BRANCH , TX |
JOHN MCCALMONT ROCKWALL , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.42 |
|
|
| 44 | |
JOE ROME FLOWER MOUND , TX |
JOEL MCBRIDE CORINTH , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.39 |
|
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| 45 | |
MARK PERRY RUNAWAY BAY , TX |
MIKE PETROVIC ALVIN , TX |
4 | 0 | 13.35 |
|
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| 46 | |
TYLER WOODS MANSFIELD , TX |
MATTHEW ANTHONY FT WORTH , TX |
3 | 0 | 13.34 |
|
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| 47 | BLAKE HENDERSON ATHENS , TX |
BRAD CARTER SCURRY , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.30 |
|
|||
| 48 | |
MARK MAYBEN PLANO , TX |
JOHN MAYBEN DALLAS , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.02 |
|
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| 49 | |
ROB MEDDERS CELINA , TX |
ROB WILSON SHERMAN , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.88 |
|
||
| 50 | |
STEVE TERRY BULLARD , TX |
LEE HAMMERS FRANKSTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.87 |
|
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| 51 | JOEFRANK THOMAS FORNEY , TX |
BILLY THOMAS FORNEY , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.77 |
|
|||
| 52 | RUSSELL LEE SACHSE , TX |
JODIE HONZA ENNIS , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.74 |
|
|||
| 53 | |
TIM WILCOXSON EDGEWOOD , TX |
JERAMY MARINELLI ROYSE CITY , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.61 |
|
||
| 54 | |
TOMMY HULSEY JR CORSICANA , TX |
JUSTIN GARNETT FAIRFIELD , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.56 |
|
||
| 55 | |
STEVEN LOFTICE VAN ALSTYNE , TX |
MONTY EDGE VAN ALSTYNE , TX |
5 | 0 | 12.42 |
|
||
| 56 | RANDY SPENCE TERRELL , TX |
BOBBY BADARACK FT WORTH , TX |
4 | 0 | 12.41 |
|
|||
| 57 | JUSTIN WOOLARD BEDFORD , TX |
ROBERT SMITH EULESS , TX |
3 | 0 | 12.15 |
|
|||
| 58 | |
CHRIS MOORE ROCKWALL , TX |
KY MARTIN GRANDVIEW , TX |
3 | 0 | 12.11 |
|
||
| 59 | JOEL MYERS CONROE , TX |
SKYLER EWING ARLINGTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.76 |
|
|||
| 60 | |
JOE SMITH FORNEY , TX |
KENNETH GERECHT PALMER , TX |
4 | 0 | 11.41 |
|
||
| 61 | |
KRIS CHITTY CANTON , TX |
JASON ZITO MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.28 |
|
||
| 62 | |
DARRELL CAMPBELL ALBA , TX |
JOE DALE SMITH FORT WORTH , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.26 |
|
||
| 63 | JEFF ARNOLD LEWISVILLE , TX |
RICK NEWTON GRAPEVINE , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.25 |
|
|||
| 64 | MIKE BURNS ALLEN , TX |
ROB BURNS PLANO , TX |
4 | 0 | 11.23 |
|
|||
| 65 | |
JUSTIN TUNNELL RICHARDSON , TX |
PATRICK TUNNELL HAWKINS , TX |
3 | 7.46 | 11.21 |
|
||
| 66 | |
JOHNNY WATKINS MAYBANK , TX |
JOHN VAUGHT AZLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 11.08 |
|
||
| 67 | DALE BOREN FORT WORTH , TX |
JODY HOLUBEK FORT WORTH , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.98 |
|
|||
| 68 | |
|
TIM WILCOXSON ROCKWALL , TX |
ERIC ELDER SCROGGINS , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.83 |
|
|
| 69 | |
KELVIN HOGG ARLINGTON , TX |
BRIAN ROUSSEL ARLINGTON , TX |
4 | 0 | 10.81 |
|
||
| 70 | |
BUTCH SCHEPPLER ALBA , TX |
RICKY CAMPBELL ALBA , TX |
4 | 0 | 10.58 |
|
||
| 71 | |
RICKY CONWAY SULPHUR SPRINGS , TX |
HADEN SICKLES SULPHUR SPRINGS , TX |
4 | 0 | 10.55 |
|
||
| 72 | |
JD LAUGHERY ROCKWALL , TX |
STAN LAWING POETRY , TX |
5 | 0 | 10.46 |
|
||
| 73 | |
COREY WALDROP FT WORTH , TX |
CRAIG WALDROP BENBROOK , TX |
3 | 0 | 10.18 |
|
||
| 74 | |
TYLER STOUT RED OAK , TX |
ELDON STOUT MESQUITE , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.92 |
|
||
| 75 | JONATHAN LANCASTER QUITMAN , TX |
JOSH PRIEST QUITMAN , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.37 |
|
|||
| 76 | |
JEREMY SIMS EMORY , TX |
ZACH HUGHES QUITMAN , TX |
3 | 0 | 9.33 |
|
||
| 77 | |
WILLIAM PALMER MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
JERAMIE BYRD MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.19 |
|
||
| 78 | |
GARY KINARD FORNEY , TX |
JACOB KINARD ROCKWALL , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.18 |
|
||
| 79 | |
|
JUSTIN DUBOSE PARADISE , TX |
STEVE LYNAM SOUTHLAKE , TX |
5 | 0 | 9.13 |
|
|
| 80 | KEITH IVY PONDER , TX |
TOMMY MURRAY BEDFORD , TX |
4 | 0 | 9.03 |
|
|||
| 80 | CHRISTOPHER WALLING PALESTINE , TX |
JON GRAHAM PALESTINE , TX |
3 | 0 | 9.03 |
|
|||
| 82 | |
|
CHRIS BACHTA GRAPEVINE , TX |
CHARLIE JOHNSON DECATUR , TX |
3 | 0 | 8.78 |
|
|
| 83 | |
CHUCK BISHOP SANGER , TX |
JUNIOR MITCHELL KRUGERVILLE , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.77 |
|
||
| 84 | |
JOE HUCHOWSKI AZLE , TX |
NORMAN MINERICH FORT WORTH , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.30 |
|
||
| 85 | MICHAEL HUTTON ROYSE CITY , TX |
3 | 0 | 8.17 |
|
||||
| 86 | RONNIE ELMS SCURRY , TX |
DOYLE HATCHER SCURRY , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.06 |
|
|||
| 86 | |
RODNEY HUNTER FERRIS , TX |
JERRY BELL WYLIE , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.06 |
|
||
| 88 | |
BYRON BIONDI TERRELL , TX |
JASON GREENFIELD KENNEDALE , TX |
4 | 0 | 8.05 |
|
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| 88 | DEVIN BUSHLAND ALLEN , TX |
CARSON KIRKHUFF COLLEYVILLE , TX |
3 | 0 | 8.05 |
|
|||
| 90 | JEFF MCBRIDE WINNSBORO , TX |
DAKOTA MCBRIDE WINNSBORO , TX |
3 | 0 | 7.95 |
|
|||
| 91 | |
|
JOHN BYLER ARGYLE , TX |
JOHN BYLER SOUTHLAKE , TX |
4 | 0 | 7.90 |
|
|
| 92 | |
GEORGE RIDDLE MCKINNEY , TX |
ROCKY EPPS BEDFORD , TX |
3 | 0 | 7.84 |
|
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| 93 | |
TERRY JOHNSON FATE , TX |
TODD JOHNSON FORNEY , TX |
4 | 0 | 7.78 |
|
||
| 94 | DON KUYKENDALL GUN BARRREL CITY , TX |
ARON BOLDEN TAYLOR , TX |
4 | 0 | 7.47 |
|
|||
| 95 | BEN FALLIS MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
BILLY MULLEN EULESS , TX |
2 | 6.92 | 6.92 |
|
|||
| 96 | ANDY WILBURN ROYSE CITY , TX |
JOEL CHAPMAN WYLIE , TX |
4 | 0 | 6.81 |
|
|||
| 97 | |
PERRY POWELL ALBA , TX |
JARED TAYLOR SOUTHLAKE , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.71 |
|
||
| 98 | CHASE WELCH CRANDALL , TX |
CHASE WOOD COMBINE , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.57 |
|
|||
| 99 | |
JAMES BIGGERSTAFF LINDALE , TX |
BRADLEY BIGGERSTAFF FAIRFIELD , TX |
2 | 0 | 6.53 |
|
||
| 100 | SHAWN BROOKS BOYD , TX |
MICHAEL HARVEY TULSA , OK |
3 | 0 | 6.38 |
|
|||
| 101 | |
ALAN SWARTS MT VERNON , TX |
DAN BENSON COMBINE , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.32 |
|
||
| 102 | |
KENT SKOGLUND TIOGA , TX |
KYLE SKOGLUND DECATUR , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.22 |
|
||
| 103 | |
BRUCE POWELL WINNSBORO , TX |
SCOTT SCROGGINS SULPHUR SPRNGS , TX |
2 | 0 | 6.16 |
|
||
| 104 | |
GRADY CHAMBERS JUSTIN , TX |
DOUG CHAMBERS PILOT POINT , TX |
3 | 0 | 6.10 |
|
||
| 105 | |
|
EDDIE HALL CADDO MILLS , TX |
BRANDON BREWER CADDO MILLS , TX |
3 | 0 | 5.88 |
|
|
| 106 | |
MITCHELL VINES WOLFE CITY , TX |
CHRIS DOUGLAS WHITEWRIGHT , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.81 |
|
||
| 107 | |
CALEB HAND ANNA , TX |
CHAD OWEN CELESTE , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.75 |
|
||
| 108 | |
KEVIN DRITSCHLER PROSPER , TX |
TIM BROCKWAY KAUFMAN , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.73 |
|
||
| 109 | DON STAPLETON YANTIS , TX |
CHUCK RIZUTO ALBA , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.58 |
|
|||
| 110 | |
MARK CHILD ARLINGTON , TX |
ANDY SALLEE NRH , TX |
2 | 0 | 5.21 |
|
||
| 111 | |
ZACHARY SHIMON MCKINNEY , TX |
HEATH COLEMAN CARROLLTON , TX |
3 | 0 | 5.11 |
|
||
| 112 | AARON WALKER MT VERNON , TX |
STEVEN STROMAN SCROGGINS , TX |
1 | 4.95 | 4.95 |
|
|||
| 113 | |
ANDREW MILLER LOS LUMAS , NM |
GARY MILLS ALBUQUERQUE , NM |
2 | 0 | 4.83 |
|
||
| 114 | TRENT MENEES NORTHLAKE , TX |
TERRY BOLLOM FRISCO , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.80 |
|
|||
| 115 | DA SHON PECK THE COLONY , TX |
ALONZA BROWN MCKINNEY , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.66 |
|
|||
| 116 | |
TIM CLINE SHERMAN , TX |
CHRIS TILTON WYLIE , TX |
1 | 4.61 | 4.61 |
|
||
| 117 | JEFF LOONEY TEAGUE , TX |
FRANK POLLEY OAK POINT , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.45 |
|
|||
| 118 | ANDREW RICKMAN JR CANTON , TX |
MIKE CRAIN AZLE , TX |
1 | 4.37 | 4.37 |
|
|||
| 119 | |
JAMES SMILEY MCKINNEY , TX |
RYAN DELAUGHTER CORINTH , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.18 |
|
||
| 120 | |
MIKE HITT CRANDALL , TX |
KEVIN BROWN GRAND SALINE , TX |
2 | 0 | 4.01 |
|
||
| 121 | STEVEN BROOM AZLE , TX |
SKYLAR BROOM AZLE , TX |
1 | 0 | 3.40 |
|
|||
| 122 | PERRY SWEARINGEN ROCKWALL , TX |
BRAD SWEARINGEN WESTLAKE , TX |
2 | 0 | 3.15 |
|
|||
| 123 | MICHAEL MURPHY ROCKWALL , TX |
DILLON FITZGERALD QUINLAN , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.55 |
|
|||
| 124 | TOM MCELROY NORTH RICHLAND HILLS , TX |
CHERYL SPEAR NORTH RICHLAND HILLS , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.51 |
|
|||
| 125 | JERRY DAVID II PILOT POINT , TX |
JACOB DAVID PILOT POINT , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.42 |
|
|||
| 126 | |
JUSTIN KELLEY JOSHUA , TX |
RAY BOSQUEZ JR FORT WORTH , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.18 |
|
||
| 127 | |
RYAN REYNOLDS LAVON , TX |
JAYSON FUNKHOUSER WYLIE , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.07 |
|
||
| 128 | MARK RHODES ODESSA , TX |
EVAN MULLEN ODESSA , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.04 |
|
|||
| 129 | |
RORY LAYNE EMORY , TX |
BRIAN JACKSON ALBA , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.03 |
|
||
| 130 | DWIGHT BOUTTE FRISCO , TX |
DAMON NEAL PROSPER , TX |
1 | 0 | 2.00 |
|
|||
| 131 | ROCKIE MARTIN ROCKWALL , TX |
CLINT NOWELL FORT WORTH , TX |
1 | 0 | 1.79 |
|
|||
| 132 | JACOB SHANNON ARLINGTON , TX |
JAMES SHAMBURGER MABANK , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
KURT KLOSOWSKI PLANO , TX |
TOM MOCNY LITTLE ELM , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | CHRIS GILROY FRISCO , TX |
MICHAEL FULLER BLUE RIDGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | MARK HARMON MANSFIELD , TX |
COLBY HARRIS SAN ANTONIO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
MARK WYLIE KELLER , TX |
MARK PARKER GRAPEVINE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | STEVE SCHMIDT MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
BILLY RYAN MANSFIELD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | RANDY MILLENDER TEAGUE , TX |
KENNETH NICHOLS TEAGUE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
JASON BURTON EUSTACE , TX |
MIKE KIENY MURCHSION , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
CHRIS FORD WINNSBORO , TX |
DAVID EASLEY KELLER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
SCOT MCDONALD CELINA , TX |
KEITH KRZEMINSKI AUBREY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | MARK LAMB TROPHY CLUB , TX |
SHANE THOMPSON FORNEY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
DEAN TRUDELL HIGHLAND VILLAGE , TX |
MIKE KUBANEK HIGHLAND VILLAGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
STEVE ELDRED JR ALBA , TX |
JUSTIN PRIEST CANTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | JOHN LITTLE TEXARKANA , AR |
DANIEL SHELMAN NEED INFO |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | SCOTT BARNETT MANSFIELD , TX |
BRIAN CLARK HALTOM CITY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
CHAD DAVIS SPRINGTOWN , TX |
RODNEY BROOKS DURANT , OK |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
CODY NIX PLANO , TX |
CORY NIX CELINA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | CHASE BUSCH MALAKOF , TX |
COOPER BUSCH MALAKOFF , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | JIMMY ERWIN FORT WORTH , TX |
JAMES LONGINO SPRINGTOWN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
WILLIAM BRUNSON LIBERTY HILL , TX |
RORY LAYNE EMORY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | JOHN CARTER MABANK , TX |
JOHN CARTER SR MABANK , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
GEORGE SHIPPEY MT PLEASANT , TX |
RICHARD FAULKNER PROVIDENCE VILLAGE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
JAY EICHLER EMORY , TX |
TROY THOMAS ANNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | JACOB BAKER TERRELL , TX |
MATTHEW KIRKLIN HOLLY LAKE RANCH , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | STEVE SIMS SANGER , TX |
RONNIE SIMS LEWISVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | BILL ROBINSON HURST , TX |
GARY HARRISON GUN BARREL CITY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | MICHAEL NANTZ LINDALE , TX |
DUSTIN BLACK CANTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | BRYAN FLENNIKEN FORT WORTH , TX |
JASON FLENNIKEN MIDWEST CITY , OK |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
AARON ASHMORE IVANHOE , TX |
ROBERT NULL PONDER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | ROBERT MEGALLON MABANK , TX |
HANNAH CARTER MABANK , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
CHRIS DUROY KINGSTON , OK |
BOE FOSSETT KINGSTON , OK |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | STEVE TRIMBLE DUNCANVILLE , TX |
DAKOTA TRIMBLE KAUFMAN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
DAVID REYNOLDS MCKINNEY , TX |
ROBERT BROCK JR MCKINNEY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | ANTHONY SMITH ATHENS , TX |
WILLIAM THORNTON EDGEWOOD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
BUSTER JOHNSON KRUM , TX |
ZACH PARKER DENTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
STEVE FOUSHEE MURPHY , TX |
BRYAN TUCKER CARROLLTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
LARRY LANDIS JR GRAFORD , TX |
LARRY LANDIS III GRAFORD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | LEE YOWELL ENNIS , TX |
MARK CROW PALMER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | JOHN BIONDI ARLINGTON , TX |
JASON MARVICSIN DUNCANVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | ED BLACKBURN GRAND PRAIRIE , TX |
RONNIE HAMBY AURORA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | ROBERT BROOKS ARDMORE , OK |
BRYAN BROOKS ARDMORE , OK |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
JIMMY HARRISON SR BOYD , TX |
DONALD HARRISON ARLINGTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
|
ROGER RITCHIE WICHITA FALLS , TX |
RICHARD RITCHIE BENTON , AR |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|
| 132 | CHRIS ZMOLIK SR FORNEY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||||
| 132 | GREG OSTERTAG MT VERNON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||||
| 132 | |
CECIL TUBB DIKE , TX |
SAM HOOTEN WINNSBORO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | NICK BROWN LINDALE , TX |
CHAD THEDFORD TYLER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | SHANE GRAY PALESTINE , TX |
DUSTIN GRAY ELKHART , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
JOE ANDERSON GATESVILLE , TX |
TULLY WILLIAMS GATESVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
DALE BROWN ARLINGTON , TX |
MARK MCCLURE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
COREY NEWBY ALLEN , TX |
BRANDON LEHMER GUNTER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | RONALD TROUTT CORINTH , TX |
BENJAMIN TROUTT CORINTH , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | JORDAN LOGAN FORT WORTH , TX |
CHASE KELLEY AZLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
LOGAN FRY CHICO , TX |
MIKE PICHA DECATUR , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | BRYCE CAIN COLLEYVILLE , TX |
JEFFERY JOHNSON MOUNT PLEASANT , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | JACOB NEAL MABANK , TX |
KENNETH COLLARD CANTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | DEAN HOLLINGSWORTH KERENS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||||
| 132 | |
ROBERT DISANTO CHANDLER , TX |
CHRIS DISANTO TYLER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
DONNIE COVERT MALAKOFF , TX |
JAMES COVERT MALAKOFF , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | PHILLIP THOMAS PALESTINE , TX |
JONATHAN PRATER PALESTINE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | JON PASLEY KAUFMAN , TX |
CODY FRAZIER CRANDALL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | DEREK ROGERS MALAKOFF , TX |
BRANDON MOBLEY DAWSON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | RAY PAGE JR CRANDALL , TX |
CHRIS CLARK HUBBARD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | BILL SIMS GREENVILLE , TX |
JASON CONN ANNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | TERRY EASLEY CANTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||||
| 132 | |
SCOTT WHITTEN SPRINGTOWN , TX |
MATTHEW BIEHL BELLEVUE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | MICHAEL GROSSMAN DALLAS , TX |
JAY KENDRICK IRVING , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
WAYLON REYNOLDS JARALES , NM |
TODD REYNOLDS BELEN , NM |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
STEVEN RIZZO PROSPER , TX |
CHRIS STRATTA LITTLE ELM , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
CHRIS COLE BELLS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
MARIO LUCCHETTI COMMERCE , TX |
JASON AMPERSE COMMERCE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
VENTURA TORREZ FORT WORTH , TX |
MICHAEL ALLS FT WORTH , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
RONALD MAPLES CLEBURNE , TX |
MICHAEL EDGETT GRAND PRAIRIE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
BOBBY WALKER PONCA CITY , OK |
RAY SPEAR WATAUGA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
JOHN MCDIFFITT GRANBURY , TX |
BOBBY VINCENT HUDSON OAKS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
STERLING MARTIN COMFORT , TX |
COURTNEY BEHREND COMFORT , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | MICKEY TALBERT STAR HARBOR , TX |
TRYCE TALBERT MALAKOFF , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | LEE BATSON HEATH , TX |
JOHN FLEMING COMBINE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
SHANE MOORE ARGYLE , TX |
BRET STAFFORD BELTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | GARY TUGGLE WYLIE , TX |
TANNER YOUNG WYLIE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | MATT CANNON TROY , TX |
JARED SIEGLER BELTON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
ZACHARY WYMER YANTIS , TX |
MATT CARR SCURRY , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
RICKY MAYO ARDMORE , OK |
SEAN DAVIS DENISON , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | BENSON KELLY PONDER , TX |
KENNETH CUMMINS SANGER , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
RICHARD HUGHES MALAKOFF , TX |
KEVIN ODOM ATHENS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | SHAWN TAYLOR ABILENE , TX |
DUSTIN WALTON ABILENE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
DIRK SMITH FARMERSVILLE , TX |
BRYON HARRISON QUINLAN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
ROBIN MCGUIRE DALLAS , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | ERIC GARZA MABANK , TX |
KAITLYN BEEBE MABANK , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | RUSTY NELSON AZLE , TX |
GINO NAPOLI WEATHERFORD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
PAT LESIAK TROPHY CLUB , TX |
TYLER LESIAK TROPHY CLUB , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
DEREK SWINDLER WAXAHACHIE , TX |
STEPHEN HAMPTON WILLS POINT , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
KODY SARGENT WEATHERFORD , TX |
TREY WINSTEAD WEATHERFORD , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
WESLEY BARNARD HALLSVILLE , TX |
ANDREW SCOTT MARSHALL , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | DAVID THOMAS MELISSA , TX |
KYLE ROBINSON ANNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | DERRICK CORSO MCKINNEY , TX |
BRANDT BIGGERSTAFF FRISCO , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
VIRGIL KUYKENDALL MALAKOFF , TX |
DEREK JOHNSON MALAKOF , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | |
MATT MORTON DALLAS , TX |
MICHAEL BURNSIDE ANNA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
||
| 132 | FARREN HANSEN RED OAK , TX |
DEVON CROWE KAUFMAN , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | ROBERT WEST MCKINNEY , TX |
LOGAN FORBESS NEVADA , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | BEAU SULLIVAN FORT WORTH , TX |
JOE SWANEY GAINESVILLE , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
|||
| 132 | |
JEFF CADE MCKINNEY , TX |
GREG FLEMING HOLLY LAKE RANCH , TX |
0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Zack Birge Tops Qualifying Group B at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Berkley Stage Two Presented by Mercury at Lake Travis
Oklahoma Pro Advance Directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round to Compete for $100,000 with Two-Day Total of 67 Pounds, 4 Ounce, Field of 38 Set for Tuesday’s Knockout Round
Link to Photo of Qualifying Group B Winner Zack Birge
Link to Video of Fish Catch Highlights from Day 2, Qualifying Group B
AUSTIN, Texas (May 3, 2021) – Favorite Fishing pro Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, boated 15 scorable bass Monday weighing 25 pounds, 2 ounces to win the two-day Qualifying Group B round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury event in Austin, Texas. Birge’s two-days total of 33 bass weighing 67 pounds, 4 ounces, was enough to earn the victory by more than 9 pounds and advance the Oklahoma angler directly into Wednesday’s final-day Championship Round of competition.
The six-day tournament, hosted by the Austin Sports Commission, features 80 of the top professional anglers from around the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner.
Day 1 leader, Academy pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of 18 bass weighing 58-3 to end the round in second place, and South Carolina angler Andy Montgomery finished the round in third place with a two-day total of 15 bass weighing 34-0.
The remaining 38 anglers – 19 from Group A and 19 from Group B – will now compete Tuesday in the Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top eight to advance to Championship Wednesday. Wednesday’s Championship Round will feature Group A winner Brent Chapman, Group B winner Birge, and the top eight anglers from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for the top prize of $100,000.
“The goal coming into today was to win the Round,” Birge said. “I had a near 10-pound deficit to Wheeler, but fortunately we were able to make that up. I was a little worried throughout the first period, but I slowly caught up and we ended up pulling ahead in the third period. I made some good decisions and ended up catching a few more at the end of the day that gave us a little bit of a margin.”
On a tough day where the majority of the field struggled, Birge excelled using an Omega Custom Tackle finesse jig.
“Basically, all I’ve done the past two days is thrown a small finesse Omega Custom jig,” Birge said. “It’s a green-pumpkin and purple jig, and I’m throwing it with a small trailer, a Googan Krackin’ Craw Junior. I’m throwing the jig on my 7-foot, 3-inch Signature Series Favorite rod with 12-pound Yo-Zuri T7 fluorocarbon line . I’ve been downsizing my line to try to get more bites – this water is gin clear, and I definitely think that has helped me get more bites throughout the day. That little jig gets a lot of bites and catches a lot of fish.”
Despite finishing the round in second place, Wheeler was definitely one of the anglers that struggled, Monday. After catching 16 scorable bass for 52-11 Saturday on Day 1, the Tennessee pro only managed to add two scorable bass to his tally.
“Although I came up short of winning, at the end of the day I’m trying to look at this more as a positive because the key to winning this tournament is going to be finding groups of fish,” Wheeler said. “Things are changing here, constantly. My pattern completely died today. The water temperature is rising – it’s up to 80 degrees right now – and I really think that to do well I’m going to have to get on a current-based pattern. I’m looking forward to getting back out here tomorrow and trying to see if we can’t catch them again.”
The top 20 pros from Qualifying Group B that now advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round on Lake Travis are:
1st: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 33 bass, 67-4
2nd: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 18 bass, 58-3
3rd: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 15 bass, 34-0
4th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 11 bass, 31-0
5th: Ish Monroe, Oakdale, Calif., 14 bass, 30-2
6th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 15 bass, 29-14
7th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 12 bass, 29-11
8th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 14 bass, 28-3
9th: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-0
10th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 12 bass, 26-9
11th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 11 bass, 25-8
12th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 13 bass, 24-13
13th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 14 bass, 24-10
14th: Ott DeFoe, Knoxville, Tenn., 12 bass, 24-5
15th: Alton Jones, Woodway, Texas, 13 bass, 23-8
16th: Jared Lintner, Arroyo Grande, Calif., 12 bass, 22-13
17th: Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., nine bass, 22-8
18th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 12 bass, 21-15
19th: Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 12 bass, 21-13
20th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., seven bass, 21-6
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 162 bass weighing 334 pounds, 12 ounces caught by 38 pros on Monday.
Lefebre caught a 7-pound, 4-ounce largemouth on a finesse jig in Period 3 to win Monday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award. Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.
The MLF Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury is hosted by the Austin Sports Commission.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Friday and Sunday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Saturday and Monday. With both groups two-day qualifying round now complete, the anglers that finish in 2nd through 20th place from both groups now advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round, while the the winner of each group advances directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed and the remaining 38 anglers compete to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins. Full breakdown of the format can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT each day of competition from Mansfield Dam Park, located at 4370 Mansfield Dam Park Road in Austin. The General Tire Takeout will also be held at the park daily beginning at 3:15 p.m.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined at each event by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit – competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2022 championship.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 7 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 11 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
For complete details and updated information on 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.
Lake Seminole Readies to Host Toyota Series Event
BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (May 3, 2021) – The Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Southern Division will kick off its third and final event of the 2021 season with a tournament next week in Bainbridge, Georgia, May 6-8, with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Seminole . Hosted by the Bainbridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. ET from Bainbridge Earle May Boat Basin in Bainbridge, Georgia. Weigh-ins will also be held at the basin and will begin at 3 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Lake Dardanelle Readies to Host Toyota Series Event
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (May 3, 2021) – The Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Plains Division will kick off its third and final event of the 2021 season with a tournament next week in Russellville, Arkansas, May 6-8, with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Dardanelle Presented by Fenwick . Hosted by the Russellville Advertising & Promotion Commission, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro Jason Lieblong has two Toyota Series wins on Dardanelle to his credit and knows the fishery about as well as anyone. With most of the bass done spawning, the Arkansas pro believes the fishing will be pretty diverse.
“The water is clearing up, and the river flow is dropping,” said Lieblong. “The bite ought to be good on the river parts, whether you lock down or go on up to Ozark. That’s going to take some pressure off the backwater areas and Illinois Bayou. The river stuff could be better than the lower end stuff – I’ll definitely be looking at it in practice.”
Dardanelle has a reputation as a junk fishing lake, where putting a good spread of rods on deck and a flexible attitude will do you a lot of good. Lieblong said he thinks that could be a good strategy again.
“The willow grass should be greening up, so it’ll be good enough to run swim jigs in it, and for ChatterBaits, frogs and buzzbaits,” said Lieblong. “The lily pads will still be pretty early, but there will be some places where they’re coming in on the river – the frog bite will be good this week. Plus, the shad spawn will be going on in some places too, so square-bills, spinnerbaits and ChatterBaits will also be a big play.”
In addition to a slew of shallow options, Lieblong said he thinks a few fish will be in play offshore on the lower end.
“I’ve seen some tournaments in the past with warm springs when they’ve caught them pretty good on shell beds and drop offs in May,” said Lieblong. “So, they’re going to catch some fish off them, and some of the locals have been out dropping brush.”
Despite a lot of recent tournament pressure, Lieblong said he thinks the fishing will be good and 44 to 46 pounds will win.
“Everyone is fishing, and I’m glad that they are, but they’re having fundraisers and high school events on Dardanelle every week it seems like,” said Lieblong. “It may not be as easy as everybody thinks, but everybody is going to catch some fish – all in all, it’ll be a fun tournament.”
Anglers will take off daily at 6 a.m. CT from Lake Dardanelle State Park. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 2 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Davy Hite catches 6 bass over 6 pounds with very limited tackle
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
When Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Davy Hite left home in South Carolina in early April he thought he was headed for back-to-back weeks of Elite Series coverage at Orange, Texas and Lake Fork.
So with an all work and no play mentality, Hite headed west with only three rods and reels in his Yamaha-powered Phoenix for the perceived ‘two week’ road trip. However, as Hite wrapped up his work as on-air commentator in Orange, Texas he realized there was actually an off week between The Sabine River and Lake Fork.
Too far west to make the 14-hour drive back home for just a few days, Hite called on several longtime friends he’d met through 28 years of pro angling, and with just three rods and reels in his locker, launched a week long fishing crusade filled with fellowship and fat bass around the Texas-Louisiana border.
“I actually started by hanging around Orange and caught a Texas Saltwater Slam – which consist of a flounder, redfish, and speckled trout – all in the same day. And the highlight was catching my personal best speckled trout – a 5-pounder, which is one heck of a big trout,” grinned Hite.
From Orange, Davy turned his sights to freshwater near Grand Bayou, LA, and in the company of an old buddy, the next two days yielded magic. He caught a 7 pounder on a Storm Largo Shad swimbait, and an 8-pounder on a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko.
He then moved a pinch further west to mine the shallows of two famous bassin reservoirs on the Texas-Louisiana border: Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend, and Rayburn turned out 5 and 6-pound bass like the Gamecock’s Alshon Jeffery caught touchdown passes in the SEC.
Hite wrapped-up his epic week near Lake Fork at Lake of the Pines where he caught 6-pounders on spawning beds to bring the week’s final tally to six bass over 6-pounds in seven days with just three rods.
“I’ll admit fishing a jig with a 6’ 10” medium action rod felt a little less than ideal, but it worked. I made the best of the three rods and reels from 13 Fishing I had with me. The simplicity was refreshing in a sense, and sharing life with old friends I hadn’t really planned to see was even better than catching 6-pounders,” concluded the always classy Hite.
KVD’s Approach to Busting the Bubble
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Kevin VanDam was the man on the Toro Cut Line here at Lake Travis for Stage TWO of the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour after his first day on the water.
KVD came into the second day of his Qualifying Round on the bubble; holding down the 20th place position after adding just under 10-lbs to the SCORETRACKER during a shortened day of fishing due to inclement weather.
The Team Toyota pro will be the first to tell you he isn’t exactly happy with his day one results. While most pros would be content with limping in and moving on to the Knockout Round by any means necessary, VanDam’s competitive fire burns too bright to allow that kind of thinking.
“After what I saw during our two days of practice I am really surprised I struggled as much as I did (on Saturday),” VanDam said. “I figured out two pretty strong patterns the second day of practice but couldn’t really get the momentum rolling with them yesterday. I caught a pile of fish but most were just under the 1-pound 8-ounce minimum. We’re going to change that on Monday.”
Make no mistake; VanDam has no intention of targeting just enough weight to survive today. You don’t win over $6.8 million dollars with a rod and reel by playing it safe.
No, KVD plans to put his foot to the gas on and catch as much weight as possible to get him as far away from the cut line as he can. Instead of making substantial changes or overthinking it, VanDam intends to employ the same two patterns that proved fruitful for him during practice, but with subtle tweaks.
“I’m going to try and catch a couple big finicky shallow water largemouth first thing in the morning and then spend the rest of the day on a deeper deal that I never could get going on Saturday,” VanDam explained. “I had several nice fish show themselves on day one, but couldn’t get them to eat. I’ll try to change up my timing a bit and see where that takes me.”
In a way VanDam’s brain is kind of like a high-speed bass fishing computer. He computes information he’s learned from previous experience, his Humminbird electronics, current lake and weather conditions, as well as recent knowledge gained from practice.
The product of all this data usually results in a game plan that finds KVD finishing near the top of the leaderboard. There is certainly a science to it all.
The second-prong of VanDam’s Lake Travis approach is an offshore pattern focusing on twenty to thirty feet of water. It’s a pretty “sneaky deal” as he called it, even for KVD. It never ceases to amaze me how one of the most followed, studied, and covered bass anglers of all time is able to keep anything a secret.
But VanDam always has a few tricks up his sleeve. If his approach works out the way he believes it could, KVD might put on a Texas-sized show today on Lake Travis.
West Virginia Pair Tops Junior Series Field At Lake Cumberland
West Virginia's Luke Stewart and Austin Craze, of Clay County Middle School and Clay County Elementary School, have won the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior Series at Lake Cumberland with 10 pounds, 1 ounce.
Photo by Chris Brown/B.A.S.S.
May 2, 2021
RUSSELL COUNTY, Ky. — Luke Stewart and Austin Craze were one of only three tandems to catch a limit on Sunday, and their 10-pound, 1-ounce haul was just enough to win the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior Series at Lake Cumberland.
Luke, 11, and Austin, 10, hail from the tiny town of Clay, W.Va., population 500, but they fished big in the derby that featured 32 duos from seven different states. The first cousins won $517 for the Clay County Middle School and Clay County Elementary School bass fishing team, part of a $1,360 purse split by the top four teams.
“The boys caught three fish on swimbaits and then caught two spawning fish, a smallmouth and a largemouth on a white wacky rig,” said the boys’ boat captain Mike Samples, who is Luke’s father and Austin’s uncle. “We were fishing in only a couple feet of water, mostly in the back of pockets around midlake. There were only five keepers today, but they were the right ones.”
The heavy of their bag was a 3-6 smallmouth Luke caught with the wacky rig.
“It swam into a bush, so I had to get it out of there,” Luke said. “Then he came right into the net. When I hooked it, I thought it was gonna be a big fish.”
Austin caught a 2-pound largemouth on a clear, 5-inch Senko worm to start the day right. He lost a 5-pounder later in the day that the boys wound up not needing to claim victory in the one-day event.
“This place is a lot like where we fish at home,” Austin said. “There are a lot of trees and a lot of rocks.”
The win continued a hot streak for the boys. Luke paired with his dad to win a 75-boat tournament three weeks ago on Summersville Lake back in West Virginia, and he and Austin teamed to win the state’s B.A.S.S. Nation Youth Championship last week.
The Kentucky team of Miles and Macgregor Allen (Holy Trinity) finished second with three fish weighing 9-12. They caught the big bass of the day — a 4-0 that earned them a $100 cash prize.
The Tennessee tandem of Jackson Leath and Hudson Clark (Mt. Juliet Fishing) placed third with five bass weighing 7-9, and Landon Gabby and Carson Bruner of the Southern Illinois Future Anglers finished fourth with a limit weighing 6-12.
2021 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior Series at Lake Cumberland 5/2-5/2
Lake Cumberland, Jamestown KY.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Luke Stewart - Austin Craze Clay Co Middle School and Clay C 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
2. Miles Allen - Macgregor Allen Holy Trinity 0
Day 1: 3 09-12 Total: 3 09-12
3. Jackson Leath - Hudson Clark MT.JULIET FISHING 0
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
4. Landon Gabby - Carson Bruner Southern Illinois Future Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 06-12 Total: 5 06-12
5. Tristan Stewart - DJ Johnson Mt. Pleasant High School (357) 0
Day 1: 2 05-13 Total: 2 05-13
6. Rex Reagan - Jonah Johnson Pickett County Elementary Fishin 0
Day 1: 2 05-08 Total: 2 05-08
7. Camden Randall - Peyton Davidson Mt Pleasant Junior Bass (297) 0
Day 1: 3 04-04 Total: 3 04-04
8. Lainie Holbert - Sarah Swindle Riverside Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 04-00 Total: 3 04-00
9. Landon Pierce - Korbin Neat Casey County 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Total: 2 03-05
10. Wyatt Downs - Brayden Huddleston Upperman (198) 0
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
11. Fletcher Brasington - Jaxon Melancon Headland High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Total: 1 02-11
12. Owen Ray - Jackson Ray Rhea County Eagle Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 02-05 Total: 2 02-05
13. Jackie Hatfield - Levi Huffstetler Alcoa Fishing Team (244) 0
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
14. Mason Grose - Sailor Mckinney Southern West Virginia Jr Bassma 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
15. Carson Howell - Colton Howell mount pleasant high school (200) 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
16. Brayden Rivest - Christopher Volpe Off the Hook Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 1 01-03 Total: 1 01-03
17. Austin Benson - Aubrey Hicks 0
Day 1: 1 01-02 Total: 1 01-02
18. Tate Reynolds - Blane Smith Russell County High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-01 Total: 1 01-01
19. Parker Batts - Brody Jones Jefferson County Patriots 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Gabe Browning - Evan Bradshaw Russell County Middle School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Dawson Bryant - Shelby County Jr Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Kaden Chadwell - Kaleb Chadwell Campbell County Middle School ( 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Cole Drawdy - Carter Rouse Mckeel Fishing team (225) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Tybee Flanery - Landon Chenault George Rogers Clark (605) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Cullen Howell - Talen Ashworth MOUNT PLEASANT high school (268) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Walker Larue - Jason Bennett Alcoa Middle School (219) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Annie Lassiter - Jameson Pursley warren county (451) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Mackenzie Muntz - Jacob Muntz Gibsonburg 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Jaxson Pierce - Tucker Larrance Jefferson County Patriots (410) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Gunnar Rhodus - Tre Smith Garrard County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Kayden Waller - Michael Harris Mt. Juliet high school (263) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
19. Kaleb Winstead - Gabriel Avalos Scotts Hill High School Anlgers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
Brent Chapman Wins Group A Qualifying Round at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Berkley Stage Two Presented by Mercury at Lake Travis
Kansas Angler Boats Two-Day Total of 30 Bass Weighing 67 Pounds Even to Advance Directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round, 19 Anglers Advance to Knockout Round
Link to Photo of Qualifying Group A Winner Brent Chapman
Link to Video of Fish Catch Highlights from Day 2, Qualifying Group A
AUSTIN, Texas (May 2, 2021) – Toro pro Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kansas – who led Group A after the first day of competition – held his lead throughout the entire day Sunday, catching nine bass totaling 20 pounds, 8 ounces to win the two-day Qualifying Group A round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury event in Austin, Texas. Chapman’s two-day total of 30 bass weighing 67 pounds even earned him the win by an 11-pound, 3-ounce margin and now advances him directly into the Championship Round of competition, set for Friday. The six-day tournament, hosted by the Austin Sports Commission, is being live-streamed online and filmed for television broadcast on the Discovery Channel and the Outdoor Channel later this year.
General Tire pro Mark Rose of Wynne, Arkansas, caught a two-day total of 23 bass weighing 55-13 to remain in second place. Favorite Fishing pro Mark Daniels Jr. of Tuskegee, Alabama, boated a two-day total of 22 bass weighing 40-1 to end the round in third place. After starting the day in 13th place, Polaris pro David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia , had the most weight on the day Sunday, weighing 11 bass totaling 23-15 to vault into fourth place with a two-day total of 19 bass for 39-10. Rounding out the top five is South Carolina pro Casey Ashley, who caught a two-day total of 20 bass weighing 38-10.
The top 20 anglers from Group A will now enjoy an off day, while the 40 anglers in Qualifying Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition on Monday. The Knockout Round, featuring 38 anglers competing to finish in the top eight, will take place on Tuesday. Wednesday’s Championship Round will feature Chapman, Monday’s Group B winner, and the top eight anglers from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for the top prize of $100,000.
“I came into this tournament not really knowing what to expect. I thought I might have a good finish, but little did I know that I’d be leading after the first two days,” Chapman said. “That just shows you that when you stick to your strengths and fish what you’re confident in, it can pay off.”
Chapman pretty much threw the bass fishing rule book out the window and has went against the grain over the first two days of the event. Despite Lake Travis being a crystal-clear, desert-type impoundment, Chapman has gone to the lower end of the lake with a vibrating jig and had massive success.
“I’d like to think what I’m doing is a little bit off the wall down here in this clearer water, so hopefully it’s something on Championship day that I can have to myself and go out there and win this deal,” Chapman said.
Chapman said that all of his fish Sunday came on an unnamed ½-ounce and 3/8- ounce bladed jig. He threw the bladed jigs on a 7-foot, 6-inch KastKing Speed Demon Pro rod with a KastKing Bassinator Elite reel with an 8:1 gear ratio. For the ½-ounce bladed jig he used 20-pound Gamma fluorocarbon line, and for the 3/8-ounce bladed jig he used the same line but in 16-pound test.
“I typically throw a bladed jig on a 7-foot, 3-inch KastKing bladed jig rod, but this Speed Demon pro is a 7-foot, 6-inch swimbait rod with basically the same tip, but 3 inches longer. I’m making these really long casts in the clear water, so the longer rod helps. Plus, I’m able to hold my rod really high when I have to get up there really shallow.
“I couldn’t be more excited to win the round,” Chapman went on to say. “I’ve just fished what I’m confident in and so far, it’s paid off. I’m really looking forward to competing in the Championship Round.”
The top 20 pros from Qualifying Group A that now advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round on Lake Travis are:
1st: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 30 bass, 67-0
2nd: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 23 bass, 55-13
3rd: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 22 bass, 40-1
4th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 19 bass, 39-10
5th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 20 bass, 38-10
6th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 18 bass, 36-6
7th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 19 bass, 35-8
8th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 18 bass, 33-12
9th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 16 bass, 33-0
10th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 12 bass, 32-10
11th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 14 bass, 32-1
12th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 14 bass, 31-6
13th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 18 bass, 30-14
14th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 13 bass, 28-10
15th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 12 bass, 28-7
16th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 11 bass, 28-0
17th: Miles Burghoff, Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., 12 bass, 24-5
18th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., eight bass, 24-2
19th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 11 bass, 23-10
20th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., 10 bass, 23-7
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 219 bass weighing 470 pounds, 9 ounces caught by 39 pros on Sunday.
Pro Boyd Duckett of Guntersville, Alabama, won Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 5-pound, 14-ounce largemouth on a drop-shot rig during Period 1. Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.
The MLF Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury is hosted by the Austin Sports Commission.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Friday and Sunday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Saturday and Monday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the anglers that finish in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round, while the the winner of each group advances directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed and the remaining 38 anglers compete to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins. Full breakdown of the format can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT each day of competition from Mansfield Dam Park, located at 4370 Mansfield Dam Park Road in Austin. The General Tire Takeout will also be held at the park daily beginning at 3:15 p.m.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined at each event by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit – competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2022 championship.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 7 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 11 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
Keith Combs Wins Toyota Series Event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Texas Pro Goes Wire-to-Wire for First Career Victory in MLF Competition, Earns $36,764 and Qualifies for Toyota Series Championship
BROOKELAND, Texas (May 2, 2021) – Pro Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, brought five bass to the scale Friday weighing 10 pounds, 15 ounces to go wire-to-wire and win the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Berkley . Combs weighed in 15 bass over three days of competition totaling 63 pounds, 3 ounces, earning the win by an 8-pound, 10-ounce margin over second-place angler Josh Bensema of Willis, Texas. For his victory, Combs earned the top payout of $36,764 in the third and final regular-season tournament of the 2021 Toyota Series Southwestern Division.
Combs said it was actually his first win of any kind on Sam Rayburn, which was surprising considering his Huntington, Texas, address, and his years as a top-level pro angler.
“I’ve fished very few tournaments and not had a top 10 or 15 on this place,” said Combs. “I’ve finished second and third, but never won one. That was fun, I always wanted to.”
Weighing 22-9 on Day 1 and 29-11 on Day 2, Combs staked himself to a lead of more than 17 pounds heading into the third and final day. After a weather delay at takeoff that lasted more than 2 hours, Combs was forced to scramble a bit Friday to make sure of the win.
“The first couple days were really easy, but today we just didn’t have enough time,” said Combs. “I went to try to catch a couple big ones, but I had to just catch some fish. I would have loved to have had a full day to go out and stand on ‘em and try to catch a big bag again. They’re definitely there.”
On the first two days, Combs did what he’s famous for – catching big bass offshore.
“I stayed out, I cranked, I threw a big spinnerbait and a big swimbait,” said Combs. “I fished a lot of different spots, some of them were shallow, 4- to 6-foot. Some of the fish I’ve caught this week have been as deep as 16.
“There’s just not many fish out there. I had a good bag the first day and moved around and checked on a bunch of places. I felt like if I stayed out all day and fished for those big ones, I’d have a chance to catch five. Thursday, I stayed out all day, and I only caught seven fish, but the smallest one was a 4-pounder.”
On Day 3, Combs ended up altering his strategy and put a jerkbait and a crankbait in hand to nab a limit.
“Friday I just went and caught schooling fish on a little gravel bar,” said Combs. “It has a ton of 2- and 3-pounders. I hadn’t fished there all week, but I felt like I just needed to go catch a limit of fish today, so that’s what I did.”
Combs said he targeted a mix of hard spots on points and flats and isolated stumps. For the stumps, he could often pull up and make just a handful of casts, but he found himself fishing around a little more on the other offshore areas.
“I used my Humminbird MEGA 360 a lot. The stumps I know about, but a lot of the stuff was real big flats, and main lake points,” said Combs. “I would pull up, and I could look at 360 and fish around, and eventually you might see a fish or two. Then at least I knew which direction to throw. They’re big areas, so it was very important to run that this week.”
For his baits, Combs said he used a big single swimbait, a 1-ounce Strike King Bottom Dweller Spinnerbait in blue glimmer, a Strike King Magnum Squarebill 4.0 in Tennessee shad and a Strike King 6XD in chartreuse and blue.
With his fourth-place finish in the Southwestern standings and his win, Combs is now qualified for the Toyota Series Championship this fall on Pickwick Lake. From the sounds of it, he’s going to be a handful.
“I’m excited about that,” said Combs. “That’s a big money tournament. It’s pretty good to get an opportunity to fish for that kind of money. To me, it’s pretty incredible to fish for that kind of jack without having to spend $50,000 in entry fees. I think it will be a really good tournament. I got the opportunity to see what really lives in Pickwick when we were there for the Elites, and I know it will be tougher in the fall, but I think I’ll get a lot of practice time and I’m excited about it.”
The top 10 pros on Sam Rayburn Reservoir finished:
1st: Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas, 15 bass, 63-3, $36,764
2nd: Josh Bensema, Willis, Texas, 15 bass, 54-9, $15,147
3rd: Jeff Bridges, Prosper, Texas, 15 bass, 52-0, $10,952
4th: Todd Castledine, Nacogdoches, Texas, 15 bass, 44-4, $9,127
5th: Cameron Mattison, Benton, La., 15 bass, 42-7, $8,214
6th: Troy Roder, Brookeland, Texas, 15 bass, 40-14, $7,302
7th: Mitchell Webb, Skiatook, Okla., 13 bass, 38-1, $6,639
8th: Shawn Temple, Krugerville, Texas, 15 bass, 37-12, $5,476
9th: Garrett Hilton, China, Texas, 13 bass, 36-9, $4,564
10th: River Lee, Nacogdoches, Texas, 14 bass, 35-11, $3,651
Results for the remainder of the field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Combs also earned both of the Berkley Big Bass awards, weighing a 7-pound, 15-ounce largemouth on Day 1 to claim that prize of $128, then weighing a 7-14 on Day 2 to again earn the $128 awards.
Bensema took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Kevin Carter of Spring, Texas, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Friday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 36 pounds, 1 ounce. For his victory, Carter won the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Sam Rayburn Reservoir finished:
1st: Kevin Carter, Spring, Texas, 15 bass, 36-1, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Kevin Bonds, Cleveland, Texas, 15 bass, 31-6, $4,616
3rd: Robert Davis, Lufkin, Texas, 12 bass, 30-12, $3,693
4th: Jason Geesey, Heartland, Texas, 12 bass, 27-5, $3,231
5th: John Goebel, Lumberton, Texas, 14 bass, 26-9, $2,770
6th: Dustin Robinson, Glendale, Ariz., 13 bass, 25-1, $2,308
7th: Jason Cochran, Pearland, Texas, 12 bass, 24-11, $1,846
8th: Robert Spangenberg, Magnolia, Texas, 12 bass, 23-8, $1,616
9th: Mike Power, Conroe, Texas, 12 bass, 22-13, $1,385
10th: Kenny Moser, Alba, Texas, 10 bass, 20-5, $1,154
Co-angler Steve Baskins of Owasso, Oklahoma, weighed the largest bass of the day for co-anglers on Day 1, boating a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass to earn the $85 Berkley Big Bass award. Tristan Riddle of Nacogdoches, Texas, earned the $85 Berkley Big Bass award on Day 2 with a 6-pound, 8-ounce largemouth.
Despite the successful tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, the fishing community was deeply saddened on Thursday after an accident at the event claimed the life of a co-angler. Major League Fishing (MLF) announced Friday that the identity of the co-angler that died after falling from the boat had been released. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) confirmed that co-angler Pete Lammons of Houston, Texas, fell overboard near the San Augustine Park area. Attempts to rescue Lammons were unsuccessful. Lammons was an experienced co-angler, competing in his 57th career MLF event. He was also a former NFL football player, who played tight end for the New York Jets from 1966-1971, including winning the AFL Championship with them in 1968 and Super Bowl III in 1969.
The Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Berkley was hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce. It was the third and final regular-season tournament in 2021 for Southwestern Division anglers. The next events for Toyota Series anglers will be a double-header, both held May 6-8 – the Toyota Series at Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia, and the Toyota Series at Lake Dardanelle Presented by Fenwick in Russellville, Arkansas. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com .
The 2021 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – the Central Division Presented by Neat Companies, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the six divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2021 Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Bridges And Duncan Go Big For Bassmaster High School Series Win On Lake Cumberland
Caleb Bridges and Brady Duncan, of the Mt. Juliet (Tenn.) High School Fishing Club, have won the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series at Lake Cumberland presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with 14 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Chris Brown/B.A.S.S.
May 2, 2021
RUSSELL COUNTY, Ky. — Caleb Bridges and Brady Duncan saved the best for “almost last” at the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series at Lake Cumberland presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors held Sunday.
Bridges and Duncan were among the final teams to come to the stage at Halcomb’s Landing, and their five-bass limit of 14 pounds, 4 ounces jumped them to the top of the leaderboard. None of the final few tandems could bump them from that position, securing the tournament title for the Mt. Juliet anglers.
The duo won a $1,624 cash prize for their bass fishing team with the victory. The Top 12 teams split a total purse of $5,600 in the one-day tournament and the Top 15 of the 149 tandems competing qualified for the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. That event will be held July 29-31 on Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee.
Bridges and Duncan had already qualified for nationals through the Tennessee Federation, so they “fished big” at Cumberland, targeting largemouth bass bedding in the shallows along the shorelines of the sprawling 65,000-acre reservoir in south-central Kentucky. They located the bass they wanted during practice rounds on Thursday and Saturday, and they hadn’t moved when anglers hit the water again Sunday morning.
Bridges, 19, did the heavy lifting for Mt. Juliet, a collection of young anglers from the Nashville area. He used a Strike King swim jig (bluegill color) with a Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver trailer for the best bass. A two-hour flurry of catches just after noon allowed the duo to complete their limit and eventually upgrade their total weight.
“We just kept pitching that swim jig around their beds and they were getting mad at it,” Bridges said. “We kept flipping. There were two or three fish we had to work on for 30 minutes to catch them. They finally turned on.”
Duncan, 18, said having already earned a spot in July’s National Championship provided him and Bridges the confidence to focus on the reservoir’s biggest bedding bass.
“We came here to win,” Duncan said. “Any other tournament, we’d be trying to qualify and we would have settled for (smallmouth). But that wasn’t going to cut it here.”
Jacob Lycans and William Copley of the Louisa (Ky.) Bass Club finished second with 12-14. Brandon Sales and Logan Johnson of Lenoir City (Tenn.) High School placed third with 12-10.
Will Hughes and Corbin Olsson of the East Grand Rapids (Mich.) team caught the biggest bass— a 4-6 that earned them a $100 cash prize.
The tournament was the second of four regular-season events scheduled in the High School Series this year. The first was held on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida in February, while events at Saginaw Bay, Mich., and Lay Lake, Ala., are scheduled for June 19 and June 26, respectively.
2021 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series at Lake Cumberland presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors 5/2-5/2
Lake Cumberland, Jamestown KY.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Caleb Bridges - Brady Duncan Mt. Juliet High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
2. Jacob Lycans - William Copley Louisa Bass Club HS Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 12-14 Total: 5 12-14
3. Brandon Sales - Logan Johnson Lenoir City High School 0
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
4. Blake Roberts - Riley Faulkner 0
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
5. Chanler Brake - Landon Brake Southwestern High School- KY 0
Day 1: 4 11-07 Total: 4 11-07
6. Rein Golubjatnikov - Matthew Pitcher Pittsford 0
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
7. Chase Hicks - Dyllan Jenkins Walker Valley High School 0
Day 1: 5 11-02 Total: 5 11-02
8. Trey Woliver - Trent Burns Heritage High School Maryville, 0
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
9. Keaton Smith - Jaydon Coggins Southwestern High School 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
10. Jake Mattingly - Landon Burton Danville Christian academy 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
11. Coleman Stewart - Keenan Stewart Boyle County High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-09 Total: 5 09-09
12. John Nutt - Carter Nutt Backwoods Bassin 0
Day 1: 5 09-02 Total: 5 09-02
12. Will Stephens - Lucas Wray Russell County High school 0
Day 1: 5 09-02 Total: 5 09-02
14. Andon Goins - Blake Wheat Rhea County High School 0
Day 1: 4 09-02 Total: 4 09-02
14. Corbin Templon - Kaleb Delaney Stewart County High School 0
Day 1: 4 09-02 Total: 4 09-02
16. Colby Patterson - Landon Dodson Rehobeth Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 08-14 Total: 3 08-14
17. Kelcie Cobb - Austin Plants Lake Cumberland bass club 0
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
18. Connor Mclaughlin - Barclay Butler Scottsboro High School BassCats 0
Day 1: 3 08-12 Total: 3 08-12
19. Nicholas Boggs - Brady Howard Kentucky Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
20. Allen Powe - Jonathan Combs George Rogers Clark High School 0
Day 1: 4 08-07 Total: 4 08-07
21. Evan Fields - Evan Hellmann Collins High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Total: 5 08-05
22. Presley Lannom - Preston Maddux Mt Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 4 08-05 Total: 4 08-05
23. Lane Lassiter - Braxton Campbell Warren County High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
24. Braden Leffew - Brady Raines Mt Juliet Fishing Team (300) 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Total: 5 08-00
25. Will Hughes - Corbin Olsson East Grand Rapids 0
Day 1: 3 07-13 Total: 3 07-13
26. Logan Lemaster - Keaton Meade Cardinal Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 4 07-12 Total: 4 07-12
27. Brayson Claunch - Cameron Owens Boyle Co 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Total: 3 07-12
28. Emory Olinger - Bryce Tucker Bledsoe County High School 0
Day 1: 3 07-11 Total: 3 07-11
29. Cole Johnson - Keegan Cranmer North Bullitt 0
Day 1: 5 07-10 Total: 5 07-10
30. Kaden Snavely - Logan Cardwell Central Florida Youth Anglers (3 0
Day 1: 5 07-08 Total: 5 07-08
31. Alex Standerfer - Collin Mcglin New London High School 0
Day 1: 5 07-07 Total: 5 07-07
32. Ryan Manis - Colton Cravens fentress county (511) 0
Day 1: 3 07-07 Total: 3 07-07
33. Braylan Tyler - Logan Ashby Franklin County High School (141 0
Day 1: 4 07-05 Total: 4 07-05
34. Ethan Chase - Dylan Kidder Garrard County High School 0
Day 1: 5 07-04 Total: 5 07-04
35. Jackson Baltz - Mason Bohland Noblesville High School 0
Day 1: 5 07-03 Total: 5 07-03
36. Nathan Reynolds - Jimmy Oguin Backwoods Bassin 0
Day 1: 5 07-02 Total: 5 07-02
37. Hayden Short - Archer Smith Burgin High School 0
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
38. Kolby Clark - Landon Grider Scottsboro High School BassCats 0
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
39. Hayden Marshall - Austin Bates Gardendale High School 0
Day 1: 4 06-15 Total: 4 06-15
40. Cameron Dials - Jordan Dalton Cardinal Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 06-11 Total: 5 06-11
41. Mason Mullins - Caden Graham Soddy Daisy High School (443) 0
Day 1: 2 06-06 Total: 2 06-06
42. Justin Waggener - Brantley Mckinney Burgin Independent School 0
Day 1: 5 06-04 Total: 5 06-04
43. Christian Misciagna - Owen Niles Oneida Lake HS Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 06-03 Total: 2 06-03
44. Landon Brown - Connor Mckinzie Bourbon County High School 0
Day 1: 3 06-01 Total: 3 06-01
45. Daniel Moon - Zachary Helton Halls High School (232) 0
Day 1: 5 06-00 Total: 5 06-00
46. Will Carnes - Lawson Hon Lincoln County High School (195) 0
Day 1: 4 05-13 Total: 4 05-13
47. Tucker Pendergrass - Lucas Roberts Livingston Academy 0
Day 1: 5 05-11 Total: 5 05-11
48. Peter West - Zach Knight Gallatin High School 0
Day 1: 4 05-11 Total: 4 05-11
49. Tyler Finley - William Cothran Mt Pleasant High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
50. BJ Collins - Owen Jenkins Chatuge Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 05-11 Total: 2 05-11
51. Fischer Barber - Wells Johnson Heritage Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 3 05-09 Total: 3 05-09
51. Easton Drennon - Chase McConnell Mt. Juliet Fishing (216) 0
Day 1: 3 05-09 Total: 3 05-09
53. Brayden Stotler - Braydon Myers Bloomington South High School 0
Day 1: 2 05-07 Total: 2 05-07
54. Will Oberman - Clay Oberman Garrard County High School 0
Day 1: 2 05-06 Total: 2 05-06
55. Joe Vaulton - Pierce Tollett Alcoa High School (644) 0
Day 1: 2 05-05 Total: 2 05-05
56. Andrew Haney - Kenneth Young Martin County High School 0
Day 1: 5 05-03 Total: 5 05-03
57. Jake Swindle - Cole Lackey Riverside High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Total: 3 05-01
58. Ben Hester - Mason Caldwell Rhea County High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-00 Total: 3 05-00
59. Riley Christensen - Jeffrey Lotierzo Riley's Catch 0
Day 1: 4 04-15 Total: 4 04-15
59. Briar Dodson - Chris Fallon Gardendale Rockets 0
Day 1: 4 04-15 Total: 4 04-15
61. Clay Ferguson - Branson Campbell Russell County High School 0
Day 1: 2 04-14 Total: 2 04-14
62. Cole Berry - Graham Palmer Terre Haute North Vigo 0
Day 1: 3 04-11 Total: 3 04-11
63. Sadie Rodgers - Brentlea Rodgers Soddy Daisy High School 0
Day 1: 3 04-08 Total: 3 04-08
64. Logan Webb - Camden Bruner 0
Day 1: 3 04-07 Total: 3 04-07
65. Hannah Kempton - Jenna Morrow Wayne County 0
Day 1: 2 04-05 Total: 2 04-05
66. Andy Napier - Dalton Coale Spencer County High School 0
Day 1: 3 04-02 Total: 3 04-02
67. Kason Stockton - Alex West Wayne County High School- KY 0
Day 1: 2 04-00 Total: 2 04-00
68. Brent Key - Hunter Canova Lenoir City High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Total: 2 03-15
69. Max Yeast - Clark Denney Somerset High School 0
Day 1: 1 03-15 Total: 1 03-15
70. Jake Krauth - Franklin County High School 0
Day 1: 3 03-13 Total: 3 03-13
71. Gregory Hansford - Walker Johnson Casey County Rebels 0
Day 1: 3 03-12 Total: 3 03-12
72. Zane O'Domirok - John Thompson Lenoir City High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-12 Total: 2 03-12
73. William Hoskins - Joshua Vanderpool Wilson Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
74. Dalton Benson - Mason Snider Mt. Juliet fishing 0
Day 1: 1 03-08 Total: 1 03-08
74. Mason Gross - Jason Mendenhall Carmi-White County 0
Day 1: 1 03-08 Total: 1 03-08
76. Cody Morgan - Brant Langley Bishop Kenny High School- FL 0
Day 1: 3 03-06 Total: 3 03-06
77. Cameron Aaron - Nate Aaron Russell County High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
77. Caden Cardoza - Brice Lumpkins Gallatin High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
77. Trent Rivers - Bennett Chenoweth Northville High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
77. Justin Robbins - Jordan Garrett Fentress County High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
81. James Saylor - Kyler Moore Garrard County High School- KY 0
Day 1: 1 03-04 Total: 1 03-04
82. Austin Hall - Hagan Merrick Lake Cumberland high school bass 0
Day 1: 1 03-02 Total: 1 03-02
82. Jacob Nekvinda - Devon Dvorak Benton Community 0
Day 1: 1 03-02 Total: 1 03-02
84. Gage Sharp - Levi Sharp La anglers 0
Day 1: 2 03-01 Total: 2 03-01
85. George Jude - Jacob Hunt Cardinal Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 02-15 Total: 3 02-15
86. Jacob Davidson - Tristen Boyd Mt Juliet High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-12 Total: 2 02-12
87. Summer Evans - Brandon Vanderpool Estill County High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-09 Total: 2 02-09
87. Blake Marcum - Nicholas Giompalo Martin County High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-09 Total: 2 02-09
89. Asher Peters - Andrew Davis Headland High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-07 Total: 2 02-07
90. Ryder Rousseau - Tyler Thilmany White Bear Lake 0
Day 1: 2 02-06 Total: 2 02-06
91. Tyler Phillips - Drake Crosby Montgomery County High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-04 Total: 2 02-04
92. Luke Fletcher - Michael Flynn Estill County High School- KY 0
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
93. Nathan Muse - Connor Chenault 0
Day 1: 2 02-02 Total: 2 02-02
94. Will Travis - Rhea County High school- TN 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
95. Colton Parten - Colton Teffer Rhea County High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
96. Jake Carney - Knox Whalen Soddy Daisy High School 0
Day 1: 2 01-15 Total: 2 01-15
97. Logan Evans - Reece Nixon Soddy Daisy High School 0
Day 1: 2 01-14 Total: 2 01-14
98. Collin French - Daley Vincent Montgomery County High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
99. Brett Mouw - Tj Wright The Hill Toppers 0
Day 1: 2 01-13 Total: 2 01-13
100. Autumn Belcher - William Crawford Boyle County High School (597) 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Total: 1 01-09
101. Zavian Smith - Skylar Cummins Lake Cumberland High School Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
102. Tanner Mcclain - Garrett White Rhea County Eagle Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
103. Zachary Taylor - Ethan Thompson Walker Valley High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Total: 1 01-05
104. Leah Parsley - Blake Pedley Bullitt Central High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
105. Ethan Burnette - Kendall Neal Wayne County High school 0
Day 1: 1 01-03 Total: 1 01-03
105. Harrison Wims - Coby Wright Gallatin High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-03 Total: 1 01-03
107. Dj Arias - Ayden Braddy Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-02 Total: 1 01-02
108. Clay Gough - George Rogers Clark (309) 0
Day 1: 1 01-01 Total: 1 01-01
108. Evan Taylor - Campbell Taylor George Rogers Clark HS (530) 0
Day 1: 1 01-01 Total: 1 01-01
110. Nick Aaron - Isaac Roy Russell County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Wayland Adkisson - Daniel Summers BGA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Victor Alford - Jordan Boswell Roane County High School (305) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. John Anderson - Cain Obitts Bledsoe County High (415) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Taedem Ashworth - Evan Wood Mount Pleasant (369) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Bennett Bauer - Preston Venable RoCo Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Logan Beane - Kortni Gowers Shelby County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Kurtis Blair - Nate Turner Berea Bass Busters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Alex Bowen - Aaron Mills Cardinal Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Kaden Casey - Jackson Pulley Montgomery County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Clay Christopher - Brent Christopher Boyle County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Dylan Colegrove - Dylan Liming Greenup County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Aaron Cravens - Noah Adkins Casey County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Levi Dalton - Nathaniel Craven Bullitt Central High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Chase Davis - Jonathan Stogner Shelby County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Logan Deloney - Tucker Williams Rehobeth high School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Christian Ferguson - Carter Hazlett Siegel High School (266) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Jacob Frizzell - Johnathan Walls Warren County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Lane Galloway - Levi Galloway Travelers Rest HS Devildog Angle 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Scotty Hagan - Mason Hagan Edmonson County HS BottomLine Ba 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Chloe Hollon - Cody West Southwestern High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Jake Hoover - Dickson County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Ben Howard - Jason Burchfield Southwestern High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Camden Judson - Lainey Judson Terre Haute North HS 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Jake Lovingood - Jonah Burchfield Alcoa High School (259) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Aidan Mann - Dakota Jude Cardinal Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Culley Mcdowell - Riley Margeson Warren County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Julian Moss - Hunter Tucker Gallatin High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Natalie Ochs - Russell County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Ashton Ozolins - Ethan Arkell Montgomery County Highschool 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Quinton Pepiot - Adam Stone Trinity Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Noah Ray - Kyler Smith Tullahoma High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Cody Smith - Rhett Stottlemire Soddy Daisy High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Hunter Spry - Hayden Spry Mt. Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Owen Spurlock - Landon Phillips Soddy Daisy High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. C.J. Stanley - Peyton Jones Rhea County Eagle Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Evan Waggener - Jacob Curry Martha Layne Collins High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Tyler Williams - Blaise Gatrell Terre Haute North HS 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
110. Kyle Wilmoth - Blaine Mattingly Central Hardin High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
Liberty’s Jack Dice Goes Solo To Win Bassmaster College Series On Lake Cumberland
Jack Dice, of Liberty University, has won the 2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Lake Cumberland presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 32 pounds, 8 ounces.
Photo by Chris Brown/B.A.S.S.
May 1, 2021
JAMESTOWN, Ky. — Two heads are better than one, unless you’re Jack Dice of Liberty University.
In his case, fishing alone in a tournament filled with two-person teams wasn’t a deterrent. In fact, it was the self-check he needed to win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Lake Cumberland presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The 21-year-old digital marketing major from Lynchburg, Va., was better than any team or other solo angler in the field, catching a pair of five-bass limits that totaled 32 pounds, 8 ounces.
In all, 212 of the 225 boats entered at Cumberland carried two-person teams, with 13 anglers, including, Dice, fishing alone.
“As a competitor, of course, I thought I could win,” Dice said. “But after practice, I didn’t think I was going to win. My hope was to catch five keepers every day and I really didn’t know if that was going to happen.”
Dice’s winning weight was nearly 3 1/2 pounds more than Matt Baker and Kory England of Arkansas Tech who caught 29-2 and finished second. Cal Culpepper and Mason Waddell of the University of Montevallo (Ala.) placed third with 27-3, Carter Ball and Austin Tapley of Adrian College (Mich.) were fourth with 27-0 and Joe McCloskey and Ryan Winchester of Bethel University (Tenn.) were fifth with 26-12.
Dice won $2,773 for the Liberty bass fishing team with his victory. He also qualified for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, to be held later this year at a yet-to-be-disclosed location.
Day 1 leaders Jacob Woods and Samuel Vandagriff of Tennessee Tech closed Saturday’s weigh-in, the only team with a chance to bump Dice from atop the leaderboard. Their Day 2 bag fell well short however, which sealed the win for Dice. He extended both title trophies toward the crowd, one in each hand, as a double helping of applause and camera flashes washed over him.
Dice weighed six smallmouth and four largemouth over two days to amass his winning weight. Each of the fish was caught in Indian Creek, which is about a 5-mile run from Halcomb’s Landing, site of take-offs and weigh-ins this week.
He caught a 5-2 largemouth Friday, the heaviest bass weighed on Day 1. A smallmouth that weighed just shy of 5 pounds was one of the heaviest bass boated overall on Day 2, as well.
“I dialed in the smallmouth a lot better today,” said Dice, who had four smallies among his 16-14 limit on Saturday, the heaviest bag weighed on Day 2.
“The smallmouth I caught Friday were on a Ned rig and a drop shot I was throwing into these little crevasses right along the bank. But I figured I burned those areas and had to try something different today. I ran all over this morning looking for active fish and it didn’t work out. So, I went back to (Indian Creek) and I lucked out. They were still there.”
Dice caught his best bass on Saturday using a 5-inch green pumpkin Gary Yamamoto Senko worm. The heavy largemouth that anchored his Day 1 bag came on a Megabass Magdraft swimbait.
“I actually used the swimbaits today to find the bedding smallmouth,” he said. “They’d swirl on it then you could throw back with the Senko to catch them.”
It amounted to a winning formula for Dice, who said he had several final exams waiting back at Liberty next week.
“I’ve had a couple of rough tournaments recently, so to have this all work out this week is just an incredible blessing,” he said. “It’s been an amazing week.”
Following their tournament-best bag of 17-4 on Day 1, Woods and Vandagriff slipped to seventh overall with four bass for 8-11 on Day 2. The former Bassmaster High School All-American anglers won a $250 Bass Pro Shops gift certificate with the week’s big bag.
Ball and Tapley of Adrian College won a $500 Carhartt gift certificate for weighing the heaviest bass of the event, a 6-2 smallmouth Tapley hooked mid-morning on Day 2 using a 4-inch green pumpkin tube bait.
“It was a bummer to only come in with four fish after having one like that, but we didn’t think we had (a 15-12 total today) either,” Tapley said. “That big fish helped. When I caught it, we definitely were freaking out.”
The top 10 percent of teams (23 in all) at Cumberland qualified for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The youngest B.A.S.S. anglers hit the water Sunday for a 6 a.m. CT takeoff in the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, as well as the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior Series. Weigh-in for the one-day tournaments will begin at 1 p.m. for Juniors and at 2 p.m. for the High Schoolers.
The tournaments are being hosted by the Russell County Chamber of Commerce and State Dock on Lake Cumberland.
2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series - Lake Cumberland 4/30-5/1
Lake Cumberland, Jamestown KY.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Jack Dice - Liberty University 250
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 16-14 Total: 10 32-08
2. Matt Baker - Kory England Arkansas Tech 249
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 13-10 Total: 10 29-02
3. Cal Culpepper - Mason Waddell University of Montevallo 248
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 13-02 Total: 10 27-03
4. Carter Ball - Austin Tapley Adrian College 247
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 4 15-12 Total: 9 27-00
5. Joe McClosky - Ryan Winchester Bethel University 246
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 13-03 Total: 10 26-12
6. Logan Parks - Tucker Smith Auburn University 245
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-00 Total: 10 26-03
7. Jacob Woods - Samuel Vandagriff Tennessee Tech University 244
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 4 08-11 Total: 9 25-15
8. Tanner Barnes - Jordan Smallwood Campbellsville University 243
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 14-04 Total: 10 25-13
9. Brad Ableman - K.P Palmer Bethel University 242
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 4 12-02 Total: 9 25-07
10. Nathan Doty - Bailey Bleser McKendree University 241
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-09 Total: 10 25-04
11. Sam Hanggi - Auburn University 240
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 12-15 Total: 10 25-03
12. Ryan Park - Sam Niemeyer Murray State University 239
Day 1: 4 12-06 Day 2: 4 12-03 Total: 8 24-09
13. Hayden Scott - Griffin Fernandes Adrian College 238
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 09-09 Total: 10 24-07
14. Hunter Baird - Beau Browning Drury University 237
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 10 24-06
15. Tristan McCormick - Stevie Mills Bethel University 236
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 10 24-06
16. Jacob Lambert - Austin Smith Carson-Newman University 235
Day 1: 3 09-13 Day 2: 5 14-07 Total: 8 24-04
17. Lafe Messer - Matt Messer Kentucky Christian University 234
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-06 Total: 10 24-00
18. Adam Puckett - Nate Lear Murray State University 233
Day 1: 3 10-00 Day 2: 5 13-11 Total: 8 23-11
19. Robert Gee - Chase Dawson University of Tennessee 232
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 13-01 Total: 10 22-14
20. Carson Maddux - Jake Maddux Auburn University 231
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 2 06-04 Total: 7 22-13
21. Cole Lamb - Tristan Weaver Arkansas Tech University 230
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 4 09-03 Total: 9 22-12
22. Solomon Glenn - Ryan Thomas University of Montervallo 229
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 11-10 Total: 10 22-11
23. Benjamin Moore - David Gadd Eastern Kentucky University 228
Day 1: 2 07-00 Day 2: 5 15-09 Total: 7 22-09
24. Garrett Warren - Will Jones Auburn University 227
Day 1: 4 14-05 Day 2: 3 08-00 Total: 7 22-05
25. Lucas Smith - Dalton Mize Jacksonville State University 226
Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 3 10-11 Total: 7 22-02
26. Thomas Millraney - Zachary Bowen Bethel University 225
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 10 22-00
27. Sean Clayton - Owen Dimaio Clemson University 224
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 21-14
28. Chase Carey - Dylan Akins Emmanuel College 223
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 2 04-11 Total: 7 21-09
29. Jarred Jones - Logan Tate Jacksonville State University 222
Day 1: 2 08-06 Day 2: 4 12-14 Total: 6 21-04
30. Dax Ewart - Wilson Smith Bethel University 221
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 3 06-12 Total: 8 21-00
31. Ty Black - Avry Thomason Georgia Southern University 220
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 5 13-09 Total: 8 20-14
32. Dalton Smith - Cade Hayford Campbellsville University 219
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 1 05-01 Total: 6 20-13
33. Justin Botts - Conner Dimauro Bryan college 218
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 4 09-14 Total: 9 20-11
34. Brock Bila - Jack Rankin Drury University 217
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 4 07-13 Total: 9 20-09
35. John Wesley Wardlaw - Easton Lindus Emmanuel College 216
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 3 07-11 Total: 8 20-07
36. David Hendel - Jacob Blackburn Ohio State University 215
Day 1: 4 11-01 Day 2: 3 09-06 Total: 7 20-07
37. Sam Moll - Aidan Kolb Murray State University 214
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 3 06-04 Total: 8 20-04
38. Braden Perry - Aidan England Carson-Newman University 213
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 2 06-04 Total: 7 19-15
39. Logan Hawkins - James Duncan Campbellsville University 212
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 4 11-04 Total: 8 19-13
40. Tommy Sendek - Andrew Howell University of Montevallo 211
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 3 07-02 Total: 8 19-11
41. Weston Bison - Tommy Teaster Lander University 210
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 5 14-12 Total: 7 19-07
42. Dustin Bauer - Cody Cissell Campbellsville University 209
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 4 07-10 Total: 9 19-06
43. Anthony Cicero Iv - Coleman Bingham Bethel 208
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 4 09-01 Total: 9 18-12
44. Griffin Heffington - Drake Hemby Carson-Newman University 207
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 2 05-03 Total: 7 18-11
45. Cade Rudiger - Cooper Thor Stephen F. Austin University 206
Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 5 12-13 Total: 7 18-09
46. Jeremy Dellinger - Nathan Smith Catawba Valley Community College 205
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 2 04-05 Total: 7 18-08
47. John Sells - Cooper Hesling Georgia Southern University 204
Day 1: 4 11-09 Day 2: 2 06-15 Total: 6 18-08
48. Fisher Overton - Fisher Young Blue Mountain College 203
Day 1: 4 11-05 Day 2: 3 07-01 Total: 7 18-06
49. Austin Parr - Chase Cole Erskine College 202
Day 1: 3 09-02 Day 2: 3 09-02 Total: 6 18-04
50. Parker Domschke - Harper Burkeen McKendree University 201
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 1 03-06 Total: 6 18-02
51. Ryan Franks - Andrew Heppe Kent State University 200
Day 1: 4 09-13 Day 2: 3 08-05 Total: 7 18-02
52. Harbor Lovin - Allen Mullins Murray State University 199
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 2 05-06 Total: 7 18-00
53. Kyle Svachula - Rick Hamann UW-Stevens Point 198
Day 1: 2 06-01 Day 2: 4 11-15 Total: 6 18-00
54. Brian Linder - Nathan Thompson 197
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 3 06-10 Total: 8 17-14
55. Ben Ford - Augustana College 196
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 2 04-10 Total: 7 17-12
56. Matthew Cummings - Joseph Woods Bethel University 195
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 3 05-07 Total: 8 17-10
57. Jacob Butts - Trevor Gorman Erskine College 194
Day 1: 4 11-04 Day 2: 3 06-05 Total: 7 17-09
58. Rob Lindsey - Mason Cizek Bryan College 193
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 1 02-06 Total: 6 17-03
59. Dylan Adams - Independent 192
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 2 04-12 Total: 7 17-00
60. Cole Breeden - Cameron Smith Drury University 191
Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 3 07-00 Total: 7 17-00
61. Cole Rankin - Ewing Minor Carson-Newman University 190
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 07-08 Total: 6 16-12
62. Adam Carroll - Trey Dickert University of Montevallo 189
Day 1: 3 09-01 Day 2: 3 07-09 Total: 6 16-10
63. Tyler Campbell - Caleb Hudson Emmanuel College 188
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 1 03-07 Total: 6 16-09
64. Garrett Smith - Jonathan Hanna Erskine College 187
Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 7 16-09
65. Jacob Welch - Lee Lambrecht Drury University 186
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 3 08-11 Total: 6 16-06
66. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty Bethel University 185
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 2 04-07 Total: 7 16-04
67. Grayson Morris - Jacob Pfundt University of Montevalllo 184
Day 1: 4 09-07 Day 2: 3 06-13 Total: 7 16-04
68. Shane Nelson - Brayden Federer Adrian College 183
Day 1: 4 09-11 Day 2: 2 06-08 Total: 6 16-03
69. Trevor Easter - Caden Cowan Tarleton state 182
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 5 12-01 Total: 7 16-01
70. Drew Elrod - Luke Byerly University of Tennessee Knoxvill 181
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 2 04-03 Total: 7 15-14
71. Whit Edmonds - Bobby Long Lander University 180
Day 1: 4 12-04 Day 2: 1 03-08 Total: 5 15-12
72. Matthew Benson - Emmanuel College 179
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 3 05-12 Total: 8 15-04
73. Hunter Bailey - Jr Young Jacksonville State University 178
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 4 10-05 Total: 6 15-03
74. Benson Dowler - Tyler Pendergrass university of north alabama 177
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 6 15-02
75. Connor Jacob - Sam Smith Auburn University 176
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 1 02-05 Total: 6 14-15
76. John Nowlin - Blue Mountain College 175
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 1 03-09 Total: 6 14-14
77. Trace Odell - Brian Arabie Texas AM University 174
Day 1: 2 07-04 Day 2: 2 07-09 Total: 4 14-13
78. Conner Johnson - Tyler Greenlee Georgetown college 173
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 6 14-11
79. Kobe Thompson - Russel Buffa Adrian College 172
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 2 05-01 Total: 7 14-08
80. Anderson Van Bibber - Cameron Fults Tennessee Tech Univeristy 171
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 14-05
81. Cody Mcentire - Coulter Crain Arkansas State University- Mount 170
Day 1: 1 03-10 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 6 14-05
82. Tyler Lubbat - Hayden O'barr University of Alabama 169
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 5 11-10 Total: 6 14-02
83. Jade Craft - Parker Mcmahan Arkansas Tech 168
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 14-01
84. Gus Mclarry - Dawson Cassidy 167
Day 1: 4 08-13 Day 2: 2 05-02 Total: 6 13-15
85. Riley Lawson - Jay Issac Morehead State University 166
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 13-06
86. Reese Kingston - Caleb Barrow Brewton-Parker College 165
Day 1: 4 13-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 13-01
87. Hunter Bond - GL Compton Clemson University 164
Day 1: 2 06-00 Day 2: 3 06-14 Total: 5 12-14
88. Dawson Burton - Jonathan Fraley Kentucky Christian University 163
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 4 10-11 Total: 5 12-12
89. Tyler Cory - Jackson Pontius University of Montevallo 162
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 5 09-09 Total: 6 12-12
90. Christian Wright - Conner Giles Bryan college 161
Day 1: 4 07-04 Day 2: 2 05-07 Total: 6 12-11
91. Jordan Nicely - Cam Cornelius Georgetown 160
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
92. Cole Crossman - Kirk Stilwell Missouri State University 159
Day 1: 1 03-10 Day 2: 3 09-00 Total: 4 12-10
93. Tyler Thompson - Charles Snawder Rougeux University of Louisville 158
Day 1: 2 06-03 Day 2: 2 06-06 Total: 4 12-09
94. Drew Gill - Zebulon Frasure Wabash Valley College 157
Day 1: 4 09-06 Day 2: 1 03-02 Total: 5 12-08
95. Paul Tabisz - Nicholas Ringler University of Michigan 156
Day 1: 2 05-04 Day 2: 3 07-03 Total: 5 12-07
96. Wil Rigdon - Dustin Jones Campbellsville University 155
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 2 06-04 Total: 5 12-04
97. Matthew Roberts - Nick Sergent Alice Lloyd College 154
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 1 02-10 Total: 4 12-03
98. Cole Dodson - Trent Jones University of Montevallo 153
Day 1: 2 07-04 Day 2: 2 04-12 Total: 4 12-00
99. Levi Mullins - Chase Milholen Bethel University 152
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 2 04-03 Total: 5 11-13
100. Eion Patterson - Brandon Dayvault 151
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 06-02 Total: 6 11-13
101. Hunter Waldrop - Mark Kershaw University of South Carolina Uni 150
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 1 03-13 Total: 4 11-12
102. Drew Jennings - Cody Griffith Auburn University 149
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 1 03-08 Total: 4 11-11
103. Kollin Smith - Lilly Smith Emmanuel College 148
Day 1: 1 03-05 Day 2: 3 08-03 Total: 4 11-08
104. Chase Mundhenke - Blake Milligan Auburn University 147
Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 11-07
105. Robert Cruvellier - Auburn University 146
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 3 08-07 Total: 4 11-07
106. Cole Thompson - Chase Fernandez University of North Alabama 145
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 2 05-07 Total: 5 11-06
107. Cole Holloway - Taylor Mcmullen Emmanuel College 144
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 3 09-01 Total: 4 11-04
108. Tanner Shriver - Jacob Klicman Kent State University 143
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 3 06-08 Total: 5 10-10
109. Elijah Kirk - Austin Goins bryan college 142
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 2 06-07 Total: 4 10-07
110. Jackson Staib - Baylor Howell Bethel University 141
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 08-08 Total: 4 10-06
111. Bryar Chambers - Clent Blackwood Wallace State 140
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 1 03-14 Total: 4 10-05
112. Lake Norsworthy - Jake Kimbrough Blue Mountain College 139
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 2 04-01 Total: 4 10-05
113. Ryan Phillips - Austin Polly Morehead State University 138
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 1 03-03 Total: 4 10-01
114. Hunter Enlow - Will Lindley Lander University 137
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 09-15 Total: 4 09-15
115. Hunter Palmer - Tim Herrmann bryan college 136
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 2 07-09 Total: 3 09-14
116. Matt Short - Colton Combs Eastern Kentucky University 135
Day 1: 2 06-03 Day 2: 1 03-11 Total: 3 09-14
117. Landon Lawson - Donavan Carson King University 134
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 1 02-04 Total: 4 09-11
118. Avery Hammock - Daniel Wilson Erskine College 133
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 1 02-08 Total: 4 09-08
119. Chase Sansom - Tyler Drown Marshall University 132
Day 1: 2 05-00 Day 2: 2 04-08 Total: 4 09-08
120. Tate Sloan - Thaddeus Simerly Tennessee Tech University 131
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 09-07 Total: 3 09-07
121. Bryant Marsh - Tyler Hill Blue Mountain College 130
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 2 06-08 Total: 3 09-04
122. Layton Brown - Jacob Witkowski Dallas Baptist University 129
Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 09-00
123. Tanner Maness - Ross Parris Lander University 128
Day 1: 1 03-02 Day 2: 2 05-11 Total: 3 08-13
124. Seth Jenkins - Taylor Green Emmanuel College 127
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 2 06-07 Total: 3 08-11
125. Mark Harris - Reece Martin Dallas Baptist University 126
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 1 03-02 Total: 3 08-01
126. Caz Anderson - Lee Koza Carson-Newman University 125
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 07-14
127. Harmon Marien - Devon Rathbun McKendree University 124
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 1 03-13 Total: 3 07-13
128. Cody Brumfield - Masden Ball Marshall University 123
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 07-12
129. Brenton Godwin - Hunter Odom University of Montevallo 122
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 1 02-15 Total: 3 07-12
130. Nate Lesch - Will Schibig Tennessee Tech 121
Day 1: 1 04-01 Day 2: 1 03-05 Total: 2 07-06
131. Rob Schmidt - Tyson Stork University of Illlinois 120
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 1 03-00 Total: 3 07-04
132. Grant Harris - Dylan Chambers Drury University 119
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 1 01-14 Total: 3 07-00
133. Jack Lewis - Dalton Mccauley University of Louisville 118
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 1 03-12 Total: 2 06-15
134. Caleb Stephenson - Matthew Bradham Campbellsville University 117
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 06-14
135. Calvin Currie - Hayden Fuhr Lander University 116
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-14 Total: 2 06-14
136. TJ Edwards - Camdon Lewis Blue Mountain College 115
Day 1: 1 03-02 Day 2: 1 03-12 Total: 2 06-14
137. Ben Cully - William Gaddis Carson-Newman University 114
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 06-11
138. Bennett Kudder - Andrew Fisher Bryan College 113
Day 1: 2 06-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 06-11
139. Austin Owen - Carter Thompson Clemson University 112
Day 1: 1 04-04 Day 2: 1 02-05 Total: 2 06-09
140. Kyle Dillon - Jesse Mull Western Carolina University 111
Day 1: 2 06-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 06-08
141. Garrett McWilliams - John Berry Hinds community college 110
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-07 Total: 2 06-07
142. Luke Henderson - Tavin Hodgens Campbellsville University 109
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 1 04-07 Total: 2 06-07
143. Cordell Beckman - Dru Johnson Greenville University 108
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-04 Total: 2 06-04
143. Ben Rand - Austin Jager Davenport University 108
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-04 Total: 2 06-04
145. Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 106
Day 1: 1 03-13 Day 2: 1 02-07 Total: 2 06-04
146. Drew Traffanstedt - Dakendrick Patterson University of Montevallo 105
Day 1: 1 03-01 Day 2: 1 03-03 Total: 2 06-04
147. Daelyn Whaley - Cy Casey Emmanuel College 104
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 2 03-15 Total: 3 06-03
148. Cody Gregory - Seth Roberts Bethel University 103
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
149. Louis Monetti - 102
Day 1: 2 06-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 06-01
150. Kreed Averhoff - Jordan Kalsbeek Tarleton State University 101
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-00 Total: 2 06-00
151. Avery Whitwell - Jackson Holbert University of North Alabama 100
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-15
152. Jacob Frazier - Maddux Walters Carson-Newman University 99
Day 1: 2 05-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-15
152. Brycen Hendriks - Gavin Ange 99
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-15 Total: 2 05-15
154. Brooks Anderson - Parker Guy Emmanuel College 97
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 1 02-15 Total: 2 05-15
154. Tyler Christy - Trey Schroeder McKendree University 97
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 1 02-15 Total: 2 05-15
156. Nathan Meyers - Brock Schueck 95
Day 1: 1 03-11 Day 2: 1 02-03 Total: 2 05-14
157. Evan Seggerman - Nate Overocker Greenville University 94
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-12 Total: 2 05-12
158. Bryce Kostman - Jenson Kay Adrian College 93
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-11
159. Hunter Jones - Colby Kerr Kentucky Christian University 92
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 1 02-13 Total: 2 05-11
160. Wyatt Pearman - Kyle Workman Campbellsville University 91
Day 1: 2 05-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-10
161. Jake Blumling - Nathanael Wright Emmanuel College 90
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 1 02-09 Total: 2 05-08
162. Daniel Schroeder - Walker Goodwin Murray State University 89
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-06
163. Brody Kitchings - Zach Williams Mississippi State 88
Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-05
164. Zach Adamec - Blair Cox Missouri State University 87
Day 1: 2 05-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-04
165. Conner Crosby - James Cobbs Auburn University 86
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 1 02-12 Total: 2 04-14
166. Christopher Daniels - Alex Cummings Erskine College 85
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-13
167. Gunner Whitaker - Mitchell Johnson Kentucky Christian University 84
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
167. Gunner Wilson - Zach Manneback Adrian College 84
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
169. Austin Carr - Justin Carr 82
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 1 03-12 Total: 2 04-11
170. James Philpot - Hunter Ruber Eastern Kentucky University 81
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-06
171. Garrett Thompson - Corey Pyles West Virginia University 80
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-03
172. Isaac Duncan - Taylor Owens Blue Mountain College 79
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 04-03 Total: 1 04-03
173. Lain Peake - Andrew Ragains Eastern Kentucky University 78
Day 1: 1 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 03-13
174. Morgan Miracle - Jake Thornbury Campbellsville University 77
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-12
175. Will Sams - Dustan Jones University of Kentucky 76
Day 1: 1 03-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 03-11
175. Caden Sweeten - Ben Saba 76
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-11 Total: 1 03-11
177. Jacob Silver - 74
Day 1: 1 03-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 03-10
177. Corey Yaden - Blake Stephenson Brewton Parker college 74
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-10 Total: 1 03-10
179. Hunter Stone - Dante Piraino Clarkson University 72
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-09 Total: 1 03-09
179. Daniel Young - Lukas Mckinney Murray State University 72
Day 1: 1 03-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 03-09
181. Dale Hansard - Jacksonville State University 70
Day 1: 1 03-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 03-08
182. Mary Goode - Nicholas Watson Brewton-Parker College 69
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-07 Total: 1 03-07
183. Chase Noland - Tommy Bayer West Virginia University 68
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 03-06
183. Eric Rasmussen - Nick Redlin 68
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 03-06
185. Troy Gibson - Adam Hope University of Louisville 66
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-04 Total: 1 03-04
185. Braden Jenkins - Bailey Rene Indiana University Southeast 66
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-04 Total: 1 03-04
187. Andrew Mega - 64
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-03 Total: 1 03-03
188. Matthew Kauffung - Jacob Bell Ohio State University 63
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 03-00
188. Alden Keel Jr - Grant Busby Blue Mountain College 63
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
188. Steve Kinard - Jimmy Mitchum Lander University 63
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 03-00
188. Collin Sutherland - Aiden Free Erskine College 63
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 03-00
192. Seth Elkins - John Russell Reaves Jacksonville State University 59
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-14
193. Chad Pruner - Ethan Ange 58
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-11
194. Will Lutes - Jacob Middleton Ohio State University 57
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-09
195. Brandon Leach - Kaden Brown Eastern Kentucky Unversity 56
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
196. Luke Iles - Alyssa Taylor Northwestern State University 55
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
197. Emily Freeman - Braiden Koerber Murray State University 54
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-03
198. Thomas Mingle - Stone Payne Univerity of Tennessee 53
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-02
199. Riley Fletcher - Jack Long Drury University 52
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-01
200. Cody Clifton - Austin Ware Missouri State University 51
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-00
201. Chandler Ellis - Parker Lambert Lander University 50
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
202. Patrick Henry - Mekenzie Vander Molen Ohio State University 49
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-14
203. Trey Barnett - Bryce Siegle University of Kentucky 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Kaleb Brown - Caleb Sheldon Lander University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Christopher Buckhart - Adelina Jones Arkansas State University- Mount 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Dalton Coleman - Noah Hurford Kentucky Christian University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Britney Cox - Bella Bramblett University of Kentucky 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Bradley Dunagan - Shawn Coots Campbellsville University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Bryce Fowler - Christopher Bowen East Carolina University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Nate Hunhoff - Connor Nagy University of Wisconsin Stevens- 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Chandler Jarrard - James Rogers Georgia Southern University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Ethan Jones - Joseph Bruener McKendree University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. JJ Kocevar - Logan Knoebel Kent State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Christopher Lemaster - Damon Stepp Eastern Kentucky University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Wesley Livingston - Garrison Hendrix 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Hunter Loftin - Mac Johnston-Herzberg Missouri State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Michael Looker - Ethan Perry West Virginia University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Alek Masters - Nicholas Shortridge Eastern Kentucky University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Alex Palomba - Brennan Kenison 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Chris Payne - Terry Sentell Tennessee 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Levi Sanchez - Nathan Schrader Clemson University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Ashton Smith - Dustin Lewis Brewton-Parker College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Max Sullivan - Indiana Univeristy Southeast 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. William Vega - Logan Stewart Sam Houston State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Wyatt Wright - Austin Francis Emmanuel College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
Key Adjustment Lifts Nania To Bassmaster Open Win On Pickwick
Joey Nania of Cropwell, Ala., has won the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Pickwick Lake with a three-day total of 58 pounds, 2 ounces.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
May 1, 2021
COUNCE, Tenn. — An astute observation led Joey Nania to a strategic bait change that delivered a five-bass limit of 18 pounds, 10 ounces and sealed his first B.A.S.S. win at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on Pickwick Lake.
After placing third on Day 1 with 21-11, the pro from Cropwell, Ala., added 17-13 and held his position. With his Championship Saturday weight, Nania tallied 58-2 and edged Day 2 leader Lonnie Cochran by a pound.
Nania won $53,750 and a berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on Lake Hartwell.
All week, Nania had been fishing main-river bars between Koger Island and Seven Mile Island, where he focused on a mix of grass and stumps. The latter became an increasingly important element of his game plan and Saturday, he used a forage-appropriate bait to target the hard cover.
“Today, I switched it up and I was throwing a Z-Man Mag FattyZ worm on a 3/16-ounce shaky head,” Nania said. “I found them in the carport of the place where we’re staying. I had thrown them out of the boat, but I rigged one up last night and caught all five fish on that.
“I saw a lamprey stuck on some of the fish I was catching and they would get thrown off when the fish jumped. I figure this thing looks like a lamprey; I’m going to throw it.”
Nania said the key to his presentations was making precise casts that hit the tops of stumps and triggered reaction bites. The only variation was his biggest Day 3 fish — a 6-pounder that bit when Nania threw beyond a stump and pulled his bait past the structure.
The first two days saw a 3/4-ounce green pumpkin shad Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer with a smoky shad Z-Man Razor ShadZ trailer producing most of Nania’s fish, including the 8-2 that anchored his Day 1 limit and won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award.
“I was just honored that that fish decided to eat my bait,” Nania chuckled. “It was a freak. It was just so big and so long broad; it was just a beautiful fish.”
Prior to switching to the shaky head presentation, he also caught fish pulling a Carolina rig past the stumps.
Nania’s 6-pounder bit right after he lost an estimated 5. Had he caught that first fish, he likely would have drifted past the stump where the bigger one was sitting.
“I’m a believer in Jesus and when it’s your time, it’s your time,” Nania said. “If I hadn’t caught that 6-pounder, I could have been within ounces of not winning.”
Hailing from Section, Ala., Cochran placed 11th on Day 1 with 18-10 and bolted into the Day 2 lead after posting the tournament’s heaviest bag — 25-3. Adding 13-5 Saturday gave Cochran a three-day total of 57-2.
Cochran did most of his work north of Koger Island on a 50-yard stretch of main-river shell bottom in 6 feet of water with scattered milfoil. On Friday, an early boat number allowed him to reach his spot quickly and sack up his big limit by about 7:30 a.m.
Today’s postfrontal conditions brought bright skies and still wind. This took a toll on Cochran’s fish and he struggled with a slower bite.
“I caught most of my fish on a 3/4-ounce Scottsboro Hellcat football jig with a creature bait trailer,” Cochran said. “When it got tough during the day, I’d catch a few on a spinnerbait in the scattered grass.”
John Garrett of Union Springs, Tenn., finished third with 56-11. With limits of 21-12 and 18-12, Garrett held the second-place spot for Days 1 and 2. On Saturday, Garrett added 16-3.
While a morning shad spawn played a role the first two days, Garrett caught most of his better bass on a 16-foot ledge in front of spawning areas. Devoting his final day to this area, he caught all of his fish on a powder blue back chartreuse Strike King 6XD.
“I had a fun week; I honestly didn’t want to grab those fish today — I caught so many fish my hands were hurting,” Garrett chuckled. “I love (cranking); I just never got a good bite today.”
Nania leads the Central Open points standings with 200 points. Cochran is in second with 199, followed by Garrett with 198, Andy Hribar of Lakeville, Minn., with 197 and Joseph Webster of Winfield, Ala., with 196.
Jacob Foutz of Charleston, Tenn., leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year overall points standings with 553.
The Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted the event.
2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Pickwick Lake 4/29-5/1
Pickwick Lake, Counce TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 15 58-02 200 $53,750.00
Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 18-10
2. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 15 57-02 199 $25,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 25-03 Day 3: 5 13-05
3. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 56-11 198 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-12 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 16-03
4. Andy Hribar Lakeville, MN 15 54-09 197 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 17-00
5. Joseph Webster Winfield, AL 15 52-04 196 $13,050.00
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 17-02
6. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 15 50-01 195 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 13-13
7. James Rampey Liberty, SC 15 48-10 194 $11,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 5 13-13
8. Brent Crow Hartselle, AL 15 48-05 193 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-11 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 11-12
9. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 14 47-14 192 $8,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 20-01 Day 3: 4 11-12
10. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 47-11 191 $6,750.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 17-15 Day 3: 5 12-13
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 08-02 $750.00
Afternoon Surge Earns Snyders B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series Win At Lake Eufaula
Rus Snyders, of Nashville, Tenn., has won the Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX at Lake Eufaula with a five-fish limit measuring 91.5 inches.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
May 1, 2021
EUFAULA, Ala. — With several key bites in the afternoon, Rus Snyders took home the victory in the second 2021 Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX event of the season at Lake Eufaula, catching a five-bass limit that measured 91.5 inches.
Along with the trophy, Snyders, a Tennessee native, earned $5,500. Texas angler Doug Hill finished second with 89.5 inches, and Dylan Lowery of Georgia was third with 85.25.
“It means a lot,” Snyders said. “It is a lake I’ve never been to before. Eufaula is a legendary lake and I heard so much about it growing up and was really excited that B.A.S.S. was holding this tournament this time of the year. It suits my style, power fishing shallow.”
When he arrived for practice Wednesday, Snyders found an active shad spawn happening and attempted to unlock the bite with a number of baits — but with limited success. That continued during the tournament, as Snyders was only able to catch two small keepers during the shad spawn Saturday.
“I really struggled even after seeing bass bust all over the place,” he said. “Eventually, I left that area and thought I would cover as much water as possible and find some more active fish.”
As his struggles continued around the shad spawn area, Snyders took a look at the standings to see what others were catching and was surprised to see very few fish posted to the leaderboard.
Seeing the lack of activity allowed him to reset his mind and adjust his strategy. Around 9 a.m., Snyders caught his biggest bass of the day, a 20.75, on a Lucky Craft BDS3 crankbait.
“It was barely hooked. It was just by the skin of the lip,” he said. “So, I got very fortunate with that.”
After fishing another stretch of unproductive water, Snyders turned around and went back to where he caught the big bass and caught another 18.25-incher, this time on a black and blue swim jig on a 7-foot-2 medium-heavy iRod Stone Cold Swim Jig rod.
From there, Snyders used his Torqeedo 1103 motor, which he installed Friday on his Wilderness Systems Atak 120, to cover as much water as possible. Around noon, he caught a couple of fish around a group of cypress trees and keyed on that pattern the rest of the day.
“I looked at my map and tried to find all the cypress trees I could,” he said. “Sometimes it would be a few hundred yards or quarter-mile run from one patch to the next. I decided to stick with that pattern and they were eating that black and blue swim jig pretty good for the last couple hours.”
Not only was it his first time fishing Eufaula, but Saturday also marked the first kayak tournament in Hill’s long fishing career. He made the most of it, earning $2,188 and a spot in next year's national championship.
“This was my first kayak tournament and I came here with one goal, and that was to qualify for the championship,” Hill said. “It means quite a bit. All in all, it was a great day. I’m really pleased with the way it turned out.”
Fishing out of an Old Town kayak, Hill spent his day targeting postspawn bass around grass islands and found success flipping a creature bait to the edge of the grass.
The morning started fast for Hill, catching a 16-inch keeper on a spinnerbait. After missing a couple of bites, he made a move to the islands, switched to the creature bait and landed a 19-incher.
“It was game on from there. A little after 8 a.m. I had a limit,” Hill said. “Next thing I knew I was in the lead. I played chase with the gators the rest of the day. I lost three really good fish and another smaller fish and, to win a tournament you can’t lose fish.”
The boater traffic around his area also muddied up his water, making it harder for Hill to get a bite.
Knowing a lot of anglers would be targeting the shad spawn, Lowery, who grew up on Lake Eufaula, decided to fish a backwater pond he had only been in twice in his life. The bass there were guarding fry and he was able to coax them into biting a swim jig paired with a Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon trailer on a 7-foot-6 heavy-moderate action Impulse rod.
He caught most of his bass in the first two hours.
“I was burning it over the lily pads and killing it on the edge and they would eat it as it was falling,” Lowery said. “I caught two in the creek on the way out of that backwater pond on a ChatterBait and then made a cull with 15 minutes to go on a swim jig on the main river.”
The third-place finish earned Lowery $1,515.
Nick Dyer earned $500 for catching the big bass of the day, a 24-inch largemouth.
The Top 10 anglers from this event earned a place in the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak National Championship. More details on that event will be released at a later date.
Jacob Wheeler Leads Group B at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Berkley Stage Two Presented by Mercury at Lake Travis
Tennessee Pro Catches 16 Bass Weighing 52 Pounds, 11 Ounces to Grab Early Lead on Weather-Shortened Day, Group A to Complete Two-Day Qualifying Round Sunday
Link to Photo of Qualifying Group B Leader Jacob Wheeler
Link to Video of Fish Catch Highlights from Day 1, Qualifying Group B
AUSTIN, Texas (May 1, 2021) – It was a back-and-forth battle at the top for most of the day Saturday, between pros Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, and Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury event in Austin, Texas. The duo traded the lead back and forth for most of Period 2, however Wheeler boated a 4-pounder right near the end of the Period, then added another 4-pounder shortly after the start of Period 3 to increase his lead to just over 10 pounds.
Then, Mother Nature intervened.
Lightning in the area forced tournament officials to institute a weather-delay at 1:35 p.m. as the 40 anglers on the water stopped fishing and took shelter. After a two-hour delay, and with no end in sight, officials called the day and competition was over. It was the first time in MLF Bass Pro Tour history that competitors did not complete three full periods and was also the shortest day of competition in history.
On the day, Wheeler caught 16 bass weighing 52 pounds, 11 ounces, to lead Qualifying Group B on their first day of competition. Wheeler will bring a 10-pound, 9-ounce lead over Birge into Monday’s second day of competition for Group B. In third place on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard is Oakdale, California pro Ish Monroe, who caught 13 bass weighing 28-5.
The 40 anglers in Group B will have the day off on Sunday, while the 40 anglers in Group A will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition. Group B will conclude their Qualifying Round on Monday. The six-day event, hosted by the Austin Sports Commission, features 80 of the top professional anglers from around the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner.
“I had a tough practice and never really got dialed in, so I didn’t know what was going to go down this morning,” Wheeler said. “To have it all come together, it ended up being a really awesome day. I’m super blessed to be in the position that I am in, but I’m definitely going to have to catch them again on Monday.”
Wheeler said that he caught his fish on two different patterns.
“I don’t want to get too specific since we’ve still got a ways to go, but basically it came down to two different things for me – spending time on the bank with a topwater bait and catching fish around boat docks,” Wheeler said. “It seemed today like every dock had multiple fish on it. It’s just whether they were the right quality. This lake is full of ¾- to 1-pounders, but it’s not that easy to generate the bigger bites. I was fortunate to get into a little stretch today and catch a couple of the right ones.”
For Birge, he did all of his damage on just one bait, although he also was not ready to divulge specifics, yet.
“I actually started in a place I wasn’t planning on fishing,” Birge said. “I went in there to look for some schoolers because it wasn’t windy, but the schooling fish never showed up so I just went to the bank and started fishing what looked good and I ended up catching a bunch of fish.
“I caught everything on just one bait, but I didn’t really try anything else because they were biting it so good,” Birge said.
Birge did not mention his exact bait but did offer clues that he was running steep banks with an Omega Custom Tackle lure. His setup included a 7-foot, 3-inch Favorite Fishing Rush Casting rod and he threw his bait on 12-pound Yo-Zuri T7 fluorocarbon line.
The top 20 pros in Qualifying Group B after Day 1 of on Lake Travis are:
1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 16 bass, 52-11
2nd: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 18 bass, 42-2
3rd: Ish Monroe, Oakdale, Calif., 13 bass, 28-5
4th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., eight bass, 22-12
5th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 20-3
6th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 20-0
7th: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., seven bass, 19-11
8th: Ott DeFoe, Knoxville, Tenn., nine bass, 18-15
9th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., nine bass, 18-9
10th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., nine bass, 17-12
11th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., eight bass, 14-6
12th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., six bass, 14-4
13th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., six bass, 14-2
14th: Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., four bass, 14-1
15th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, six bass, 13-15
16th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., six bass, 12-13
17th: Jared Lintner, Arroyo Grande, Calif., seven bass, 12-3
18th: Alton Jones, Woodway, Texas, six bass, 11-12
19th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., six bass, 10-6
20th: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 9-12
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 236 bass weighing 514 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the 40 pros on Saturday, which included one 8-pounder, one 6-pounder and two 5-pounders caught from Lake Travis.
Shryock won Saturday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in an 8-pound, 4-ounce largemouth on a jig during Period 1. Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.
The MLF Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury is hosted by the Austin Sports Commission.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Friday and Sunday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Saturday and Monday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the anglers that finish in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round, while the the winner of each group advances directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed and the remaining 38 anglers compete to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins. Full breakdown of the format can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT each day of competition from Mansfield Dam Park, located at 4370 Mansfield Dam Park Road in Austin. The General Tire Takeout will also be held at the park daily beginning at 3 p.m.
As part of the event, fans will also be treated to the Hill Country Hangout at Bass Pro Shops in Round Rock, Texas, on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free event includes the opportunity to interact with Bass Pro Tour anglers, enjoy activities and special fan-only giveaways provided by MLF sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities in fishing seminars. All activities are free and open to the public. For more information on the Hill Country Hangout hosted by Bass Pro Shops, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined at each event by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit – competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2022 championship.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 6:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 11 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
Adkins Overcomes All Odds To Win B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional On Hartwell
Willie Adkins Jr., of Wayne, W.Va., has won the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional at Lake Hartwell with a three-day total of 34 pounds, 13 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
April 30, 2021
ANDERSON, S.C. — After 30 years of fishing the West Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation, Willie Adkins Jr. will finally get to fish for a national championship.
Adkins caught a limit of bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces Friday on the final day of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional at Lake Hartwell to secure the victory with a three-day total of 34-13, earning $5,000 and a spot in the 2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
“I’ll never ask for anything else. I don’t care if I ever make the Classic, this right here tops everything for me,” Adkins said. “I probably won’t do it again and I’m going to eat it up.”
It was a moment Adkins thought he may never experience — for a number of reasons.
On his way to a tournament three years ago, Adkins was involved in a car accident that broke his left arm. Not only did the car accident leave doctors worried his arm may need amputation, Adkins also discovered he had Stage 4 kidney cancer and surgery was performed to remove one of his kidneys.
“The boy who hit me saved my life. The doctors told me I wouldn’t have lived six months if I hadn’t found out,” Adkins said. “They said I would lose my arm. I went to get a second opinion and the doctor told me he would see what he could do and he fixed it. Now I’m back fishing again.”
When he received the winner’s trophy from Tournament Director Jon Stewart, Adkins hoisted it above his head with both arms, celebrating more than just one victory.
When Adkins arrived at Lake Hartwell, his plan was to fish shallow water, similar to the style he fishes back home in West Virginia. To his delight, he was able to find some spawning activity in those shallow areas.
“I live to fish for bedding fish,” Adkins said. “Anybody who knows me, if I can find them I can catch them because I love to fish that way. I’m going to have a heart attack one of these days on the front of that boat trying to catch a fish off the bed. It is so exciting to see a big fish grab your bait.”
Throughout the week, Adkins targeted the spawners with a craw-imitating bait as well as a lizard. On the second day, he used a spinnerbait to target windy points around the main lake when the wind picked up in the afternoon. Adkins also gave credit to one of his co-anglers, Sam Nowalk, for helping him figure out Lake Hartwell.
After placing third on Day 1 with 13-6 and first on Day 2 with 10-15, Adkins began the final day targeting bedding bass and filled out his limit about three hours into the event throwing a floating worm around docks.
Around 10 a.m., Adkins noticed a group of spotted bass schooling in the middle of the lake and proceeded to make several important culls that improved his Day 3 bag.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “I looked out in the middle and these big spotted bass started coming up. I ran out there with a big spinnerbait and caught two 3-pound spotted bass.”
With just a few minutes to go, Adkins said he lost a fish that he estimated to be about 3 pounds and thought he lost the tournament.
“But I didn’t need it,” he said.
Adkins has a long scar on the back of his arm from surgeries to put replacement bones in his arm. While the cancer has not yet been beaten, Adkins said he is going to continue to fight the disease as long as he can.
“I’ve still got it. I’m still fighting and it’s not going to get me. I don’t care, I’m not going to give up,” he said. “I’ve fished this B.A.S.S. Nation for years and years and never even came close until this year. That boy saved my life in that car wreck and he gave me this, what else could I ask for?”
After barely making the Top 20 cut on Day 2, North Carolina boater Michael Belter jumped from 19th place to second on the final day with a limit weighing 14-2 to improve his three-day total to 33-12, earning himself a spot in the Nation Championship.
After failing to key in on any herring spawn during practice, Belter said he decided to fish for largemouth during the event.
“I didn’t even get my limit the first day,” Belter said. “I only had four fish because I was focused on catching largemouth. I was getting a lot fewer bites that way. But, this isn’t a points tournament and you have to catch as much as you possibly can, and I thought that would take largemouth.”
He did, however, start each day by fishing a buzzbait around a shad spawn he found along some riprap bank. From there, he moved to shallower pockets with docks.
On the final day, Belter filled his limit around 9:30 a.m. fishing a Dave’s Tournament Tackle HD Swim Jig under boat docks. Later in the day, he caught several fish off a bed that helped him cull his smaller fish.
“When I went to the docks Day 1, I couldn’t catch any on a swim jig. I got some fish to swipe at it, but couldn’t catch any,” he said. “Yesterday, I got a couple to swipe at it and then I could throw a Senko and catch them. Today, the first one I went to I caught a fat, little 12-incher and then I caught the big one. From there, I caught four more keepers.”
With a Day 3 bag of 11-11, South Carolina native Bryan Gunter finished third with 33-4, punching his ticket to the championship after boat issues almost derailed his day.
Gunter rotated through multiple topwater walking baits trying to capitalize on the herring bite on shallow points. On Day 1, Gunter caught five bass and only seven on Day 2, filling out his limit in the last hour both days. On the final day, he caught eight total fish, but they had the size to help him pull off a Top 3 finish.
In the process, Gunter traveled approximately 60 miles each day searching for high percentage areas.
“I skipped a lot of points that probably had fish on them, but I stuck with what I thought were high percentage points and what I thought was a high percentage bait,” Gunter said. “The largemouth I caught were postspawn. A lot of the spotted bass I caught were likely postspawn and were waiting for the herring to get there.”
Jody Belcher took home the co-angler victory with a three-day total of 20-2, catching 6-13 on the final day to give the West Virginia Nation team a sweep of the top spots in the tournament. Belcher was emotional after the victory remembering his late father and what he meant to his fishing career.
“This is pretty awesome,” he said. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and it means a lot to me. We’ve got a great team.”
The top finishers on the boater and co-angler side from each state earned a spot in the 2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship to be held Nov. 3-5 on the Ouachita River in Monroe, La. The winner of that event will qualify for the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on Lake Hartwell.
2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional Lake Hartwell 4/28-4/30
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Willie Adkins Jr Wayne, WV (WV) 15 34-13 0
2. Michael Belter Reidsville, NC (NC) 14 33-12 0
3. Bryan Gunter Ninety Six, SC (SC) 15 33-04 0
4. Richard Smith Cecilia, KY (KY) 15 32-13 0
5. Derek Lilley Charlotte, NC (NC) 15 32-09 0
6. Patrick Brown Swainsboro, GA (GA) 15 32-04 0
7. Coby Carden Shelby, AL (AL) 15 32-02 0
8. Ronald Pope Jr Georgetown, SC (SC) 15 32-02 0
9. Brandon Marks Walton, WV (WV) 15 31-14 0
10. Chris Jones Conway, SC (SC) 15 31-11 0
11. Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN (TN) 15 31-10 0
12. Chris Moody Brooks, GA (GA) 15 30-13 0
13. Jason Pittman Covington, MS (MS) 15 30-07 0
14. Bryant Copley Altavista, VA (VA) 15 29-05 0
15. Adam Richardson Littleton, NC (VA) 15 28-11 0
16. Zack Smith Starke, FL (FL) 15 28-10 0
17. John Wilkerson Nashville, TN (TN) 15 28-02 0
18. Adam Petty Garner, NC (NC) 15 28-01 0
19. John Proctor Conway, SC (SC) 14 27-14 0
20. Jay Ladner Perkinston, MS (MS) 13 27-02 0
21. Kyle Christopher Danville, KY (KY) 14 25-12 0
22. Lee Byrd Jr. Pell City, AL (AL) 15 25-02 0
23. Edward Owens Hemingway, SC (SC) 12 25-00 0
24. Charles Proctor Conway, SC (SC) 15 24-12 0
25. Paul Tyre Tallahassee, FL (FL) 15 24-05 0
26. Donald Tully Canton, GA (GA) 13 23-08 0
27. Trenton Pittman Covington, LA (MS) 10 18-15 0
28. Gary Little Soso, MS (MS) 10 18-14 0
29. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV (WV) 10 18-10 0
30. Joshua Milam Elkview, WV (WV) 10 18-08 0
31. Charles Morrison Georgetown, KY (KY) 10 18-07 0
32. Michael Eubanks Milledgeville, GA (GA) 10 18-07 0
33. Todd Chaney Catlettsburg, KY (KY) 10 18-02 0
34. Brent Long Lincolnton, NC (SC) 10 18-01 0
35. Chris Blair Newnan, GA (GA) 10 18-00 0
36. Bill Pioch Beckley, WV (WV) 10 17-13 0
37. Sam Jenkins Abita Springs, LA (MS) 9 17-11 0
38. Jeffrey Hager Alexis, NC (NC) 9 17-09 0
39. Mark Swink Shelby, NC (NC) 10 17-09 0
40. Patrick King Lincolnton, NC (NC) 10 17-05 0
41. Cody Huddleston South Charleston, WV (W 10 17-03 0
42. Jack Tibbs Jr Eufaula, AL (AL) 10 16-13 0
43. Brody Brown Pollocksville, NC (VA) 10 16-12 0
44. Steve Dyer Mt Plesant, NC (NC) 9 16-12 0
45. Sawyer Mcmurphy Long Beach, MS (MS) 7 16-08 0
46. Kevin Allen Newnan , GA (GA) 9 16-08 0
47. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL (FL) 9 16-06 0
48. Emile Gennaro Sr Wesson, MS (MS) 10 16-05 0
49. Kyle Fox Lakeland, FL (FL) 10 16-05 0
50. Roy Galbraith Guin, AL (AL) 10 16-04 0
51. Austin Woody Burlington, NC (NC) 9 16-03 0
52. Ed Newton Jr. Tifton, GA (GA) 10 16-03 0
53. Johnny Roth Lawrenceburg, IN (KY) 10 16-00 0
54. Scott Holmes Odenville, AL (AL) 10 15-15 0
55. Corey Smith Clermont, FL (FL) 10 15-14 0
56. Brendan Smith Lavonia, GA (GA) 10 15-11 0
57. Mike Lanier Leland, NC (NC) 8 15-07 0
58. Benjamin Nowalk Milton, WV (WV) 10 15-04 0
59. Brad Weese Petersburg, WV (VA) 8 14-15 0
60. Garrett Towler Powhatan, VA (VA) 9 14-06 0
61. Steve Wicker Pomaria, SC (SC) 10 14-02 0
62. Matt Martin Brookhaven, MS (MS) 8 14-01 0
63. Max Haygood Franklin, GA (GA) 8 14-00 0
64. David Cook White House, TN (TN) 10 13-15 0
65. Ben Ballou Spring Hill, TN (TN) 10 13-15 0
66. James Collins Holden, WV (WV) 9 13-13 0
67. Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 8 13-12 0
68. David Presley Kingston , TN (TN) 10 13-09 0
69. Stephen Noble Newport, KY (KY) 8 13-08 0
70. Doug Sauls Winter Garden, FL (FL) 9 13-03 0
71. Joseph Puentes Clarksville, TN (TN) 7 12-12 0
72. Michael Gunn Mechanicsville, VA (VA) 9 12-11 0
73. Jeff Gilliam Gordo, AL (AL) 7 12-10 0
74. Bruce Sargent Gardendale, AL (AL) 9 12-06 0
75. Mark Bell Fisherville, KY (KY) 8 12-02 0
76. Keith Broyles Jackson, TN (TN) 8 11-15 0
77. Mark Jones Meadville, MS (MS) 9 11-13 0
78. Brandon Pritchett Goode, AL (VA) 5 11-05 0
79. Chirs Vickery Greenwood, SC (SC) 6 11-05 0
80. Brent Riley Cross, SC (SC) 7 11-05 0
81. Ryan O'Shea Crestview , FL (FL) 7 11-05 0
82. Travis Lively Vinton, VA (VA) 8 11-04 0
83. Nathan Sheehan Danville, KY (KY) 7 11-04 0
84. Jason Brown Beckley, WV (WV) 7 10-14 0
85. Will James Greenville, NC (NC) 8 10-09 0
86. Jeremy Homeyer Franklin, TN (TN) 7 10-05 0
87. Richard Hodges Camden, NC (VA) 7 10-03 0
88. Chuck Halbert Jr Lexa, AR (MS) 6 09-11 0
89. Mark Cooper Nicholasville, KY (KY) 6 09-06 0
90. Tom Hill Lexington, KY (KY) 7 09-04 0
91. Jeff Greene Pell City, AL (AL) 6 09-00 0
92. Sal Pinto Cumming, GA (GA) 8 08-04 0
93. Steve Gross Marianna , FL (FL) 6 07-12 0
94. David Boyd Jr Quincy, FL (FL) 6 07-05 0
95. J.C Christopher II Clarksburg, WV (WV) 5 07-02 0
96. John Thornton Russellville, AL (AL) 5 06-15 0
97. Alec Lancaster Hendersonville, TN (TN) 4 06-07 0
98. Toby Lillard Clarksville, TN (TN) 3 06-02 0
99. Jabo Bowman Talladega, AL (AL) 3 04-05 0
100. Jamie Lanier Jr. Branford, FL (FL) 1 00-14 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 73 444 799-11
2 65 423 742-12
3 21 121 225-13
----------------------------------
159 988 1768-04
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 SOUTH CAROLINA 327-04
2 NORTH CAROLINA 300-10
3 WEST VIRGINIA 296-01
4 VIRGINIA 272-08
5 GEORGIA 271-02
6 MISSISSIPPI 268-02
7 KENTUCKY 233-10
8 ALABAMA 221-10
9 FLORIDA 210-06
10 TENNESSEE 210-05
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Bryant Copley Altavista, VA 15 29-05 0
2 Adam Richardson Littleton, NC 15 28-11 0
3 Brody Brown Pollocksville, NC 10 16-12 0
4 Brad Weese Petersburg, WV 8 14-15 0
5 Garrett Towler Powhatan, VA 9 14-06 0
6 Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, VA 8 13-12 0
7 Michael Gunn Mechanicsville, VA 9 12-11 0
8 Brandon Pritchett Goode, AL 5 11-05 0
9 Travis Lively Vinton, VA 8 11-04 0
10 Richard Hodges Camden, NC 7 10-03 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Willie Adkins Jr Wayne, WV 15 34-13 0
2 Brandon Marks Walton, WV 15 31-14 0
3 Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 10 18-10 0
4 Joshua Milam Elkview, WV 10 18-08 0
5 Bill Pioch Beckley, WV 10 17-13 0
6 Cody Huddleston South Charleston, WV 10 17-03 0
7 Benjamin Nowalk Milton, WV 10 15-04 0
8 James Collins Holden, WV 9 13-13 0
9 Jason Brown Beckley, WV 7 10-14 0
10 J.C Christopher II Clarksburg, WV 5 07-02 0
MISSISSIPPI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jason Pittman Covington, MS 15 30-07 0
2 Jay Ladner Perkinston, MS 13 27-02 0
3 Trenton Pittman Covington, LA 10 18-15 0
4 Gary Little Soso, MS 10 18-14 0
5 Sam Jenkins Abita Springs, LA 9 17-11 0
6 Sawyer Mcmurphy Long Beach, MS 7 16-08 0
7 Emile Gennaro Sr Wesson, MS 10 16-05 0
8 Matt Martin Brookhaven, MS 8 14-01 0
9 Mark Jones Meadville, MS 9 11-13 0
10 Chuck Halbert Jr Lexa, AR 6 09-11 0
GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Patrick Brown Swainsboro, GA 15 32-04 0
2 Chris Moody Brooks, GA 15 30-13 0
3 Donald Tully Canton, GA 13 23-08 0
4 Michael Eubanks Milledgeville, GA 10 18-07 0
5 Chris Blair Newnan, GA 10 18-00 0
6 Kevin Allen Newnan , GA 9 16-08 0
7 Ed Newton Jr. Tifton, GA 10 16-03 0
8 Brendan Smith Lavonia, GA 10 15-11 0
9 Max Haygood Franklin, GA 8 14-00 0
10 Sal Pinto Cumming, GA 8 08-04 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Bryan Gunter Ninety Six, SC 15 33-04 0
2 Ronald Pope Jr Georgetown, SC 15 32-02 0
3 Chris Jones Conway, SC 15 31-11 0
4 John Proctor Conway, SC 14 27-14 0
5 Edward Owens Hemingway, SC 12 25-00 0
6 Charles Proctor Conway, SC 15 24-12 0
7 Brent Long Lincolnton, NC 10 18-01 0
8 Steve Wicker Pomaria, SC 10 14-02 0
9 Chirs Vickery Greenwood, SC 6 11-05 0
10 Brent Riley Cross, SC 7 11-05 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Zack Smith Starke, FL 15 28-10 0
2 Paul Tyre Tallahassee, FL 15 24-05 0
3 Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 9 16-06 0
4 Kyle Fox Lakeland, FL 10 16-05 0
5 Corey Smith Clermont, FL 10 15-14 0
6 Doug Sauls Winter Garden, FL 9 13-03 0
7 Ryan O'Shea Crestview , FL 7 11-05 0
8 Steve Gross Marianna , FL 6 07-12 0
9 David Boyd Jr Quincy, FL 6 07-05 0
10 Jamie Lanier Jr. Branford, FL 1 00-14 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Coby Carden Shelby, AL 15 32-02 0
2 Lee Byrd Jr. Pell City, AL 15 25-02 0
3 Jack Tibbs Jr Eufaula, AL 10 16-13 0
4 Roy Galbraith Guin, AL 10 16-04 0
5 Scott Holmes Odenville, AL 10 15-15 0
6 Jeff Gilliam Gordo, AL 7 12-10 0
7 Bruce Sargent Gardendale, AL 9 12-06 0
8 Jeff Greene Pell City, AL 6 09-00 0
9 John Thornton Russellville, AL 5 06-15 0
10 Jabo Bowman Talladega, AL 3 04-05 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Michael Belter Reidsville, NC 14 33-12 0
2 Derek Lilley Charlotte, NC 15 32-09 0
3 Adam Petty Garner, NC 15 28-01 0
4 Jeffrey Hager Alexis, NC 9 17-09 0
5 Mark Swink Shelby, NC 10 17-09 0
6 Patrick King Lincolnton, NC 10 17-05 0
7 Steve Dyer Mt Plesant, NC 9 16-12 0
8 Austin Woody Burlington, NC 9 16-03 0
9 Mike Lanier Leland, NC 8 15-07 0
10 Will James Greenville, NC 8 10-09 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Richard Smith Cecilia, KY 15 32-13 0
2 Kyle Christopher Danville, KY 14 25-12 0
3 Charles Morrison Georgetown, KY 10 18-07 0
4 Todd Chaney Catlettsburg, KY 10 18-02 0
5 Johnny Roth Lawrenceburg, IN 10 16-00 0
6 Stephen Noble Newport, KY 8 13-08 0
7 Mark Bell Fisherville, KY 8 12-02 0
8 Nathan Sheehan Danville, KY 7 11-04 0
9 Mark Cooper Nicholasville, KY 6 09-06 0
10 Tom Hill Lexington, KY 7 09-04 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN 15 31-10 0
2 John Wilkerson Nashville, TN 15 28-02 0
3 David Cook White House, TN 10 13-15 0
4 Ben Ballou Spring Hill, TN 10 13-15 0
5 David Presley Kingston , TN 10 13-09 0
6 Joseph Puentes Clarksville, TN 7 12-12 0
7 Keith Broyles Jackson, TN 8 11-15 0
8 Jeremy Homeyer Franklin, TN 7 10-05 0
9 Alec Lancaster Hendersonville, TN 4 06-07 0
10 Toby Lillard Clarksville, TN 3 06-02 0
2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional Lake Hartwell 4/28-4/30
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jody Belcher Naoma, WV (WV) 9 20-02 0
2. Reggie Guffey Jr Bessemer City, NC (NC) 9 19-03 0
3. Travis Lugar McGaheysville, VA (VA) 9 19-01 0
4. Brian Canterbury Madison, VA (VA) 9 18-12 0
5. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL (FL) 9 18-01 0
6. Matt Luken Independence, KY (KY) 8 17-11 0
7. Spencer Humphrey Madison, VA (VA) 9 17-11 0
8. Timothy Garrison Jefferson, SC (SC) 9 17-07 0
9. Jay Phillips Bancroft, WV (WV) 9 17-05 0
10. Stacey Proctor Conway, SC (SC) 9 17-05 0
11. JJ Dickens Beaver, WV (WV) 8 17-01 0
12. Zach Leech Gastonia, NC (NC) 9 16-02 0
13. Mason Gunter Newnan, GA (GA) 9 15-02 0
14. Mark Pierce Cadiz, KY (TN) 9 15-00 0
15. Justin Jensen Laurel, MS (MS) 6 14-12 0
16. Brian Hughes Conway, SC (SC) 8 14-12 0
17. Skipper Smith Jr Moss Point, MS (MS) 9 14-10 0
18. Jason Hannah Dingress, WV (WV) 9 14-08 0
19. Mark Edmonds Eldridge, AL (AL) 7 14-03 0
20. Sonny Woodward Attalla, AL (AL) 9 13-15 0
21. Tanner Steffan Niceville, FL (FL) 9 13-02 0
22. Steven Mccrea Ocean Springs, MS (MS) 8 12-03 0
23. Kevin Walton Norfolk, VA (VA) 6 12-01 0
24. Michael Bray New Haven, KY (KY) 6 11-07 0
25. Marshall Rufo Lagrange, GA (GA) 8 11-07 0
26. Justin Hof Kinston, NC (NC) 6 10-00 0
27. Marc Marsh Prosperity, SC (SC) 6 10-00 0
28. Timothy Mayhew Danville, VA (VA) 6 10-00 0
29. Caleb Mccaffery Mccomb, MS (MS) 4 09-12 0
30. Roger Castillo Goode, VA (VA) 5 09-09 0
31. Shawn Lehr Clarksville, TN (TN) 5 09-03 0
32. Chase Bryant Milton, WV (WV) 5 09-00 0
33. Mark Moran Weston, WV (WV) 5 09-00 0
34. Larry Rockhill Tuscumbia, AL (AL) 5 08-15 0
35. Parrish Argo Thorsby, AL (AL) 4 08-09 0
36. Dan Carrigan Citrus Springs, FL (FL) 5 08-09 0
37. Daniel Jackson Townville, SC (SC) 6 08-08 0
38. Chuck Murray Jr Louisburg, NC (NC) 5 08-07 0
39. Travis Culbreth Columbia, AL (AL) 5 08-06 0
40. Daniel Herrmann Villa Rica, GA (GA) 6 08-06 0
41. Lane Bailey Granite Falls, NC (NC) 6 08-05 0
42. Andy Evans Kenly, NC (NC) 5 08-02 0
43. Keith Thompson Mooresville, NC (NC) 6 08-02 0
44. Bryan Asay Newnan GA YEMEN (GA) 4 08-00 0
45. Jarrett Hughes Conway, SC (SC) 5 07-15 0
46. Gary Kennedy Trion, GA (GA) 6 07-15 0
47. Mike Hildenbrandt Chesapeake, VA (VA) 5 07-13 0
48. Johndale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA (MS) 6 07-13 0
49. Larry Witt Forest, VA (VA) 5 07-09 0
50. David Wheat Choctaw, MS (MS) 5 07-06 0
51. Mason Wheeler Hebron, KY (KY) 5 07-05 0
52. Justin Grigg Clover, SC (SC) 5 07-03 0
53. Rod Gentry White House, TN (TN) 5 07-03 0
54. Chris Neely Sneads, FL (FL) 4 07-02 0
55. Nick Coleman Kuttawa, KY (KY) 5 07-02 0
56. Floyd Pittman Covington, LA (MS) 6 06-14 0
57. L.R. Amos II Claysville, PA (WV) 5 06-12 0
58. Samuel Nowalk Milton, WV (WV) 4 06-11 0
59. Tom Bateman Orlando, FL (FL) 4 06-11 0
60. Cliff Jenkins Elm City, NC (NC) 4 06-10 0
61. Jans Santiago Covington, GA (GA) 5 06-10 0
62. Ryan Rakestraw Villa Rica, GA (GA) 4 06-09 0
63. Carter Northcutt Maryville, TN (TN) 4 06-03 0
64. Justin Foster Bude, MS (MS) 3 06-02 0
65. Charles Nowling Andalusia, AL (AL) 4 05-15 0
66. Matt Hall Frankfort, KY (KY) 4 05-14 0
67. Nicholas Boggs Wheelersburg, OH (KY) 4 05-09 0
68. Georges Fattal Buford, GA (GA) 4 05-09 0
69. Barry Ward Louisville, KY (KY) 4 05-09 0
70. Kevin Jones Ft Campbell, KY (TN) 5 05-08 0
71. Jimmy Haggerty Palm Bay, FL (FL) 3 05-04 0
72. Lucas Oliver Morganton, NC (NC) 2 05-03 0
73. Scott Hill Gallatin, TN (TN) 3 05-01 0
74. Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC (SC) 3 05-00 0
75. Matthew Gower Carolina, WV (WV) 3 04-14 0
76. Kevin Postalwait Ripley, WV (WV) 4 04-14 0
77. Shawn Todd Aynor, SC (SC) 4 04-13 0
78. Tab Anderson Pendleton, SC (SC) 4 04-13 0
79. Rick Foss Jr La Grange, NC (NC) 3 04-12 0
80. Greg Barnes Morning View, KY (KY) 3 04-07 0
81. Buddy French Monticello, MS (MS) 3 04-04 0
82. Randy Ditto Tallahassee, FL (GA) 3 04-02 0
83. Robert Clarkson Jr Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 3 03-14 0
84. Daniel Sutton Franklin, TN (TN) 2 03-13 0
85. AJ Jones Odessa, FL (FL) 2 03-13 0
86. Pedro Quinones Lilburn, GA (GA) 2 03-12 0
87. Dave Frost Mount Dora, FL (FL) 3 03-10 0
88. Kris Trammel Portland, TN (TN) 3 03-08 0
89. Matthew Daniel Camp Hill, AL (AL) 3 03-04 0
89. David Uskavitch Franklin, TN (TN) 3 03-04 0
91. Dale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA (MS) 2 02-15 0
92. Jeramie Vance Scottsville, KY (TN) 3 02-14 0
93. Terry Weese Petersburg, WV (VA) 2 02-14 0
94. Lee Hanvey Opelika, AL (AL) 1 02-08 0
95. Chris Wiemar Warrior, AL (AL) 2 02-05 0
96. Buddy Elston Jr. Odenville, AL (AL) 2 02-02 0
97. Michael Chelinsky Vine Grove, KY (KY) 2 02-00 0
98. Matthew Keeble Lakeland, FL (FL) 1 01-04 0
99. Matthew Bass Tallahassee, FL (FL) 1 00-15 0
100. Bill Mayes Shelbyville, KY (KY) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 54 219 364-02
2 0 218 363-03
3 18 66 116-01
----------------------------------
72 503 843-06
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 SOUTH CAROLINA 327-04
2 NORTH CAROLINA 300-10
3 WEST VIRGINIA 296-01
4 VIRGINIA 272-08
5 GEORGIA 271-02
6 MISSISSIPPI 268-02
7 KENTUCKY 233-10
8 ALABAMA 221-10
9 FLORIDA 210-06
10 TENNESSEE 210-05
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Travis Lugar McGaheysville, VA 9 19-01 0
2 Brian Canterbury Madison, VA 9 18-12 0
3 Spencer Humphrey Madison, VA 9 17-11 0
4 Kevin Walton Norfolk, VA 6 12-01 0
5 Timothy Mayhew Danville, VA 6 10-00 0
6 Roger Castillo Goode, VA 5 09-09 0
7 Mike Hildenbrandt Chesapeake, VA 5 07-13 0
8 Larry Witt Forest, VA 5 07-09 0
9 Robert Clarkson Jr Virginia Beach, VA 3 03-14 0
10 Terry Weese Petersburg, WV 2 02-14 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jody Belcher Naoma, WV 9 20-02 0
2 Jay Phillips Bancroft, WV 9 17-05 0
3 JJ Dickens Beaver, WV 8 17-01 0
4 Jason Hannah Dingress, WV 9 14-08 0
5 Chase Bryant Milton, WV 5 09-00 0
6 Mark Moran Weston, WV 5 09-00 0
7 L.R. Amos II Claysville, PA 5 06-12 0
8 Samuel Nowalk Milton, WV 4 06-11 0
9 Matthew Gower Carolina, WV 3 04-14 0
10 Kevin Postalwait Ripley, WV 4 04-14 0
MISSISSIPPI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Justin Jensen Laurel, MS 6 14-12 0
2 Skipper Smith Jr Moss Point, MS 9 14-10 0
3 Steven Mccrea Ocean Springs, MS 8 12-03 0
4 Caleb Mccaffery Mccomb, MS 4 09-12 0
5 Johndale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA 6 07-13 0
6 David Wheat Choctaw, MS 5 07-06 0
7 Floyd Pittman Covington, LA 6 06-14 0
8 Justin Foster Bude, MS 3 06-02 0
9 Buddy French Monticello, MS 3 04-04 0
10 Dale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA 2 02-15 0
GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mason Gunter Newnan, GA 9 15-02 0
2 Marshall Rufo Lagrange, GA 8 11-07 0
3 Daniel Herrmann Villa Rica, GA 6 08-06 0
4 Bryan Asay Newnan GA YEMEN 4 08-00 0
5 Gary Kennedy Trion, GA 6 07-15 0
6 Jans Santiago Covington, GA 5 06-10 0
7 Ryan Rakestraw Villa Rica, GA 4 06-09 0
8 Georges Fattal Buford, GA 4 05-09 0
9 Randy Ditto Tallahassee, FL 3 04-02 0
10 Pedro Quinones Lilburn, GA 2 03-12 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Timothy Garrison Jefferson, SC 9 17-07 0
2 Stacey Proctor Conway, SC 9 17-05 0
3 Brian Hughes Conway, SC 8 14-12 0
4 Marc Marsh Prosperity, SC 6 10-00 0
5 Daniel Jackson Townville, SC 6 08-08 0
6 Jarrett Hughes Conway, SC 5 07-15 0
7 Justin Grigg Clover, SC 5 07-03 0
8 Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC 3 05-00 0
9 Shawn Todd Aynor, SC 4 04-13 0
10 Tab Anderson Pendleton, SC 4 04-13 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 9 18-01 0
2 Tanner Steffan Niceville, FL 9 13-02 0
3 Dan Carrigan Citrus Springs, FL 5 08-09 0
4 Chris Neely Sneads, FL 4 07-02 0
5 Tom Bateman Orlando, FL 4 06-11 0
6 Jimmy Haggerty Palm Bay, FL 3 05-04 0
7 AJ Jones Odessa, FL 2 03-13 0
8 Dave Frost Mount Dora, FL 3 03-10 0
9 Matthew Keeble Lakeland, FL 1 01-04 0
10 Matthew Bass Tallahassee, FL 1 00-15 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mark Edmonds Eldridge, AL 7 14-03 0
2 Sonny Woodward Attalla, AL 9 13-15 0
3 Larry Rockhill Tuscumbia, AL 5 08-15 0
4 Parrish Argo Thorsby, AL 4 08-09 0
5 Travis Culbreth Columbia, AL 5 08-06 0
6 Charles Nowling Andalusia, AL 4 05-15 0
7 Matthew Daniel Camp Hill, AL 3 03-04 0
8 Lee Hanvey Opelika, AL 1 02-08 0
9 Chris Wiemar Warrior, AL 2 02-05 0
10 Buddy Elston Jr. Odenville, AL 2 02-02 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Reggie Guffey Jr Bessemer City, NC 9 19-03 0
2 Zach Leech Gastonia, NC 9 16-02 0
3 Justin Hof Kinston, NC 6 10-00 0
4 Chuck Murray Jr Louisburg, NC 5 08-07 0
5 Lane Bailey Granite Falls, NC 6 08-05 0
6 Andy Evans Kenly, NC 5 08-02 0
7 Keith Thompson Mooresville, NC 6 08-02 0
8 Cliff Jenkins Elm City, NC 4 06-10 0
9 Lucas Oliver Morganton, NC 2 05-03 0
10 Rick Foss Jr La Grange, NC 3 04-12 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matt Luken Independence, KY 8 17-11 0
2 Michael Bray New Haven, KY 6 11-07 0
3 Mason Wheeler Hebron, KY 5 07-05 0
4 Nick Coleman Kuttawa, KY 5 07-02 0
5 Matt Hall Frankfort, KY 4 05-14 0
6 Nicholas Boggs Wheelersburg, OH 4 05-09 0
7 Barry Ward Louisville, KY 4 05-09 0
8 Greg Barnes Morning View, KY 3 04-07 0
9 Michael Chelinsky Vine Grove, KY 2 02-00 0
10 Bill Mayes Shelbyville, KY 0 00-00 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mark Pierce Cadiz, KY 9 15-00 0
2 Shawn Lehr Clarksville, TN 5 09-03 0
3 Rod Gentry White House, TN 5 07-03 0
4 Carter Northcutt Maryville, TN 4 06-03 0
5 Kevin Jones Ft Campbell, KY 5 05-08 0
6 Scott Hill Gallatin, TN 3 05-01 0
7 Daniel Sutton Franklin, TN 2 03-13 0
8 Kris Trammel Portland, TN 3 03-08 0
9 David Uskavitch Franklin, TN 3 03-04 0
10 Jeramie Vance Scottsville, KY 3 02-14 0
Tennessee Tech Pair Targets Largemouth To Take Bassmaster College Series Lead At Cumberland
Jacob Woods and Samuel Vandagriff, of Tennessee Tech University, are leading after Day 1 of the 2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Lake Cumberland presented by Bass Pro Shops with 17 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Chris Brown/B.A.S.S.
April 30, 2021
JAMESTOWN, Ky. — Samuel Vandagriff and Jacob Woods know they have the luxury of choosing which species of bass they want to target during this week’s Carhartt Bassmaster College Series on Lake Cumberland presented by Bass Pro Shops.
But the duo from Tennessee Tech firmly believes that mastering the largemouth bite is key to winning on this massive reservoir that covers more than 65,000 acres in south-central Kentucky.
With the first of two competition days complete, they might be right.
Vandagriff and Woods, 20-year-old agriculture business majors, took the Day 1 lead on Friday with a limit of five largemouth that totaled 17 pounds, 4 ounces. Vandagriff anchored the bag with a 4-13 heavy, and he added a healthy 4-5 largemouth for good measure that gave him and his teammate just enough weight to lead at the halfway point on Cumberland.
In all, 225 tandems from around the U.S. are competing this week in the second of five regular-season College Series events taking place in 2021. The Top 12 tandems will earn cash prizes for their schools and the top 10% of teams (23 total) will qualify for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, to be held later this year at a yet-to-be-disclosed location.
Vandagriff and Woods got an early jump on the rest of the field with their opening limit.
“One of those bigger fish came off a bed and another one I caught on a bank,” Vandagriff said. “There’s a bunch of bedding fish here, but they’re all 2-pounders. So, we’re looking for the right ones.”
Vandagriff said Cumberland fishes a lot like Center Hill Lake, his home water in Tennessee, which put him in a comfort zone on Day 1.
“We caught a decent limit of about 13 pounds early and then just fished around,” he said. “Slowly but surely, we were able to add weight. Practice was pretty tough, so I’m thrilled with 17 pounds. And we’ll try to do the same thing tomorrow — go catch a small limit and then hope to add some bigger ones. We’ll have to have at least 17 or 18 (pounds) again if we’re thinking about winning this thing.”
The sun shined brightly on a cloudless Friday, with temperatures hovering in the mid-70s most of the afternoon. It was a welcome change for the anglers, following steady storms that soaked the Bluegrass State a day earlier, and many anglers took advantage of steady (but manageable) winds to zigzag across Cumberland searching for the variety of largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass that swim here.
Chase Carey and Dylan Akins of Emmanuel College (Ga.) are just behind the leaders with 16-14. Brothers Carson and Jake Maddux of Auburn University are third with 16-9 and Dalton Smith and Cade Hayford of Campbellsville (Ky.) University are fourth with 15-12. Jack Dice of Liberty University in Virginia is fishing solo, but that didn’t keep him from charging into fifth place with 15-10.
Each of the Top 10 teams in the Day 1 standings caught limits as 51 of the 225 boats weighed the maximum number of fish.
Dice caught the big bass of the day, a 5-2 largemouth that put him in the lead for a $500 Carhartt gift certificate. Woods and Vandagriff have the early lead for the $250 Bass Pro Shops gift certificate that goes to the duo with the heaviest bag of the week.
The near picture-perfect weather that slipped into the area Friday could be disrupted overnight. A frost warning is in effect for Russell County early Saturday, with temps expected to plunge into the 30s before warming again into the 70s by Saturday afternoon.
The 2021 College Series began on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell in March and was headed to Alabama’s Smith Lake earlier this month before high water postponed that tournament until May 14-15. College anglers head to Michigan’s Saginaw Bay on June 16-17, and a wildcard tournament is scheduled for Alabama’s Lay Lake June 23-24 leading up to the National Championship.
Anglers will take to Cumberland again at 6 a.m. CT for the second and final day of the tournament, with weigh-in set to begin at 2 p.m. Both takeoff and weigh-in will be held at Halcomb’s Landing in the shadow of the Wolf Creek Dam.
Anglers from the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, as well as the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior Series, will compete in one-day tournaments Sunday on Lake Cumberland.
2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series - Lake Cumberland 4/30-5/1
Lake Cumberland, Jamestown KY.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Jacob Woods - Samuel Vandagriff Tennessee Tech University 250
Day 1: 5 17-04 Total: 5 17-04
2. Chase Carey - Dylan Akins Emmanuel College 249
Day 1: 5 16-14 Total: 5 16-14
3. Carson Maddux - Jake Maddux Auburn University 248
Day 1: 5 16-09 Total: 5 16-09
4. Dalton Smith - Cade Hayford Campbellsville University 247
Day 1: 5 15-12 Total: 5 15-12
5. Jack Dice - Liberty University 246
Day 1: 5 15-10 Total: 5 15-10
6. Matt Baker - Kory England Arkansas Tech 245
Day 1: 5 15-08 Total: 5 15-08
7. Hayden Scott - Griffin Fernandes Adrian College 244
Day 1: 5 14-14 Total: 5 14-14
8. Rob Lindsey - Mason Cizek Bryan College 243
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
9. Parker Domschke - Harper Burkeen McKendree University 242
Day 1: 5 14-12 Total: 5 14-12
10. Anderson Van Bibber - Cameron Fults Tennessee Tech Univeristy 241
Day 1: 5 14-05 Total: 5 14-05
11. Garrett Warren - Will Jones Auburn University 240
Day 1: 4 14-05 Total: 4 14-05
12. Dax Ewart - Wilson Smith Bethel University 239
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
13. Jeremy Dellinger - Nathan Smith Catawba Valley Community College 238
Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03
14. Jade Craft - Parker Mcmahan Arkansas Tech 237
Day 1: 5 14-01 Total: 5 14-01
14. Cal Culpepper - Mason Waddell University of Montevallo 237
Day 1: 5 14-01 Total: 5 14-01
16. Sam Moll - Aidan Kolb Murray State University 235
Day 1: 5 14-00 Total: 5 14-00
17. Hunter Baird - Beau Browning Drury University 234
Day 1: 5 13-11 Total: 5 13-11
17. Braden Perry - Aidan England Carson-Newman University 234
Day 1: 5 13-11 Total: 5 13-11
19. Cole Lamb - Tristan Weaver Arkansas Tech University 232
Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09
19. Joe McClosky - Ryan Winchester Bethel University 232
Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09
21. Griffin Heffington - Drake Hemby Carson-Newman University 230
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
22. Riley Lawson - Jay Issac Morehead State University 229
Day 1: 5 13-06 Total: 5 13-06
23. Brad Ableman - K.P Palmer Bethel University 228
Day 1: 5 13-05 Total: 5 13-05
24. Tristan McCormick - Stevie Mills Bethel University 227
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
25. Tyler Campbell - Caleb Hudson Emmanuel College 226
Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02
25. Ben Ford - Augustana College 226
Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02
27. Reese Kingston - Caleb Barrow Brewton-Parker College 224
Day 1: 4 13-01 Total: 4 13-01
28. Brock Bila - Jack Rankin Drury University 223
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
28. John Wesley Wardlaw - Easton Lindus Emmanuel College 223
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
30. Connor Jacob - Sam Smith 221
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
30. Harbor Lovin - Allen Mullins Murray State University 221
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
32. Tommy Sendek - Andrew Howell University of Montevallo 219
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
33. Ryan Park - Sam Niemeyer Murray State University 218
Day 1: 4 12-06 Total: 4 12-06
34. Dylan Adams - Independent 217
Day 1: 5 12-04 Total: 5 12-04
34. Sam Hanggi - 217
Day 1: 5 12-04 Total: 5 12-04
36. Whit Edmonds - Bobby Long Lander University 215
Day 1: 4 12-04 Total: 4 12-04
37. Matthew Cummings - Joseph Woods Bethel University 214
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
37. Logan Parks - Tucker Smith 214
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
39. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty Bethel University 212
Day 1: 5 11-13 Total: 5 11-13
40. Dustin Bauer - Cody Cissell Campbellsville University 211
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
41. Nathan Doty - Bailey Bleser McKendree University 210
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
41. Drew Elrod - Luke Byerly University of Tennessee Knoxvill 210
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
43. Lafe Messer - Matt Messer Kentucky Christian University 208
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
44. Tanner Barnes - Jordan Smallwood Campbellsville University 207
Day 1: 5 11-09 Total: 5 11-09
44. Sean Clayton - Owen Dimaio Clemson University 207
Day 1: 5 11-09 Total: 5 11-09
46. John Sells - Cooper Hesling Georgia Southern University 205
Day 1: 4 11-09 Total: 4 11-09
47. Chase Mundhenke - Blake Milligan 204
Day 1: 4 11-07 Total: 4 11-07
47. Lucas Smith - Dalton Mize Jacksonville State University 204
Day 1: 4 11-07 Total: 4 11-07
49. John Nowlin - Blue Mountain College 202
Day 1: 5 11-05 Total: 5 11-05
50. Fisher Overton - Fisher Young Blue Mountain College 201
Day 1: 4 11-05 Total: 4 11-05
51. Carter Ball - Austin Tapley Adrian College 200
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
51. Brian Linder - Nathan Thompson 200
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
53. Jacob Butts - Trevor Gorman Erskine College 198
Day 1: 4 11-04 Total: 4 11-04
54. Solomon Glenn - Ryan Thomas University of Montervallo 197
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
55. David Hendel - Jacob Blackburn Ohio State University 196
Day 1: 4 11-01 Total: 4 11-01
56. Justin Botts - Conner Dimauro Bryan college 195
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
57. Thomas Millraney - Zachary Bowen Bethel University 194
Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09
58. Cole Breeden - Cameron Smith Drury University 193
Day 1: 4 10-00 Total: 4 10-00
59. Adam Puckett - Nate Lear Murray State University 192
Day 1: 3 10-00 Total: 3 10-00
60. Robert Gee - Chase Dawson University of Tennessee 191
Day 1: 5 09-13 Total: 5 09-13
61. Ryan Franks - Andrew Heppe Kent State University 190
Day 1: 4 09-13 Total: 4 09-13
62. Jacob Lambert - Austin Smith Carson-Newman University 189
Day 1: 3 09-13 Total: 3 09-13
63. Anthony Cicero Iv - Coleman Bingham Bethel 188
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
64. Shane Nelson - Brayden Federer Adrian College 187
Day 1: 4 09-11 Total: 4 09-11
65. Matthew Roberts - Nick Sergent Alice Lloyd College 186
Day 1: 3 09-09 Total: 3 09-09
66. Matthew Benson - Emmanuel College 185
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
67. Kobe Thompson - Russel Buffa Adrian College 184
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
68. Grayson Morris - Jacob Pfundt University of Montevalllo 183
Day 1: 4 09-07 Total: 4 09-07
69. Drew Gill - Zebulon Frasure Wabash Valley College 182
Day 1: 4 09-06 Total: 4 09-06
70. Cole Rankin - Ewing Minor Carson-Newman University 181
Day 1: 3 09-04 Total: 3 09-04
71. Austin Parr - Chase Cole Erskine College 180
Day 1: 3 09-02 Total: 3 09-02
72. Adam Carroll - Trey Dickert University of Montevallo 179
Day 1: 3 09-01 Total: 3 09-01
73. Layton Brown - Jacob Witkowski Dallas Baptist University 178
Day 1: 3 09-00 Total: 3 09-00
74. Gus Mclarry - Dawson Cassidy 177
Day 1: 4 08-13 Total: 4 08-13
75. Logan Hawkins - James Duncan Campbellsville University 176
Day 1: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
76. Jarred Jones - Logan Tate Jacksonville State University 175
Day 1: 2 08-06 Total: 2 08-06
77. Drew Jennings - Cody Griffith Auburn University 174
Day 1: 3 08-03 Total: 3 08-03
78. Hunter Waldrop - Mark Kershaw University of South Carolina Uni 173
Day 1: 3 07-15 Total: 3 07-15
79. Caz Anderson - Lee Koza Carson-Newman University 172
Day 1: 3 07-14 Total: 3 07-14
80. Cody Brumfield - Masden Ball Marshall University 171
Day 1: 3 07-12 Total: 3 07-12
81. Jacob Welch - Lee Lambrecht Drury University 170
Day 1: 3 07-11 Total: 3 07-11
82. Levi Mullins - Chase Milholen Bethel University 169
Day 1: 3 07-10 Total: 3 07-10
83. Landon Lawson - Donavan Carson King University 168
Day 1: 3 07-07 Total: 3 07-07
84. Ty Black - Avry Thomason Georgia Southern University 167
Day 1: 3 07-05 Total: 3 07-05
85. Christian Wright - Conner Giles Bryan college 166
Day 1: 4 07-04 Total: 4 07-04
86. Cole Dodson - Trent Jones University of Montevallo 165
Day 1: 2 07-04 Total: 2 07-04
86. Trace Odell - Brian Arabie Texas AM University 165
Day 1: 2 07-04 Total: 2 07-04
88. Avery Hammock - Daniel Wilson Erskine College 163
Day 1: 3 07-00 Total: 3 07-00
89. Benjamin Moore - David Gadd Eastern Kentucky University 162
Day 1: 2 07-00 Total: 2 07-00
90. Ryan Phillips - Austin Polly Morehead State University 161
Day 1: 3 06-14 Total: 3 06-14
90. Caleb Stephenson - Matthew Bradham Campbellsville University 161
Day 1: 3 06-14 Total: 3 06-14
92. Ben Cully - William Gaddis Carson-Newman University 159
Day 1: 3 06-11 Total: 3 06-11
93. Bennett Kudder - Andrew Fisher Bryan College 158
Day 1: 2 06-11 Total: 2 06-11
94. Kyle Dillon - Jesse Mull Western Carolina University 157
Day 1: 2 06-08 Total: 2 06-08
95. Bryar Chambers - Clent Blackwood Wallace State 156
Day 1: 3 06-07 Total: 3 06-07
96. Lake Norsworthy - Jake Kimbrough Blue Mountain College 155
Day 1: 2 06-04 Total: 2 06-04
97. Matt Short - Colton Combs Eastern Kentucky University 154
Day 1: 2 06-03 Total: 2 06-03
97. Tyler Thompson - Charles Snawder Rougeux University of Louisville 154
Day 1: 2 06-03 Total: 2 06-03
99. Louis Monetti - 152
Day 1: 2 06-01 Total: 2 06-01
99. Kyle Svachula - Rick Hamann UW-Stevens Point 152
Day 1: 2 06-01 Total: 2 06-01
101. Wil Rigdon - Dustin Jones Campbellsville University 150
Day 1: 3 06-00 Total: 3 06-00
102. Hunter Bond - GL Compton Clemson University 149
Day 1: 2 06-00 Total: 2 06-00
103. Cole Thompson - Chase Fernandez University of North Alabama 148
Day 1: 3 05-15 Total: 3 05-15
103. Avery Whitwell - Jackson Holbert University of North Alabama 148
Day 1: 3 05-15 Total: 3 05-15
105. Jacob Frazier - Maddux Walters Carson-Newman University 146
Day 1: 2 05-15 Total: 2 05-15
106. Cade Rudiger - Cooper Thor Stephen F. Austin University 145
Day 1: 2 05-12 Total: 2 05-12
107. Bryce Kostman - Jenson Kay Adrian College 144
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
107. Eion Patterson - Brandon Dayvault 144
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
109. Wyatt Pearman - Kyle Workman Campbellsville University 142
Day 1: 2 05-10 Total: 2 05-10
110. Daniel Schroeder - Walker Goodwin Murray State University 141
Day 1: 2 05-06 Total: 2 05-06
111. Brody Kitchings - Zach Williams Mississippi State 140
Day 1: 2 05-05 Total: 2 05-05
111. Garrett Smith - Jonathan Hanna Erskine College 140
Day 1: 2 05-05 Total: 2 05-05
113. Zach Adamec - Blair Cox Missouri State University 138
Day 1: 2 05-04 Total: 2 05-04
113. Paul Tabisz - Nicholas Ringler University of Michigan 138
Day 1: 2 05-04 Total: 2 05-04
115. Grant Harris - Dylan Chambers Drury University 136
Day 1: 2 05-02 Total: 2 05-02
116. Chase Sansom - Tyler Drown Marshall University 135
Day 1: 2 05-00 Total: 2 05-00
117. Mark Harris - Reece Martin Dallas Baptist University 134
Day 1: 2 04-15 Total: 2 04-15
118. Hunter Bailey - Jr Young Jacksonville State University 133
Day 1: 2 04-14 Total: 2 04-14
119. Christopher Daniels - Alex Cummings Erskine College 132
Day 1: 2 04-13 Total: 2 04-13
119. Brenton Godwin - Hunter Odom University of Montevallo 132
Day 1: 2 04-13 Total: 2 04-13
121. Weston Bison - Tommy Teaster Lander University 130
Day 1: 2 04-11 Total: 2 04-11
122. James Philpot - Hunter Ruber Eastern Kentucky University 129
Day 1: 2 04-06 Total: 2 04-06
123. Rob Schmidt - Tyson Stork University of Illlinois 128
Day 1: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
124. Austin Owen - Carter Thompson Clemson University 127
Day 1: 1 04-04 Total: 1 04-04
125. Garrett Thompson - Corey Pyles West Virginia University 126
Day 1: 2 04-03 Total: 2 04-03
126. Tanner Shriver - Jacob Klicman Kent State University 125
Day 1: 2 04-02 Total: 2 04-02
127. Nate Lesch - Will Schibig Tennessee Tech 124
Day 1: 1 04-01 Total: 1 04-01
128. Trevor Easter - Caden Cowan Tarleton state 123
Day 1: 2 04-00 Total: 2 04-00
128. Elijah Kirk - Austin Goins bryan college 123
Day 1: 2 04-00 Total: 2 04-00
128. Harmon Marien - Devon Rathbun McKendree University 123
Day 1: 2 04-00 Total: 2 04-00
131. Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 120
Day 1: 1 03-13 Total: 1 03-13
131. Lain Peake - Andrew Ragains Eastern Kentucky University 120
Day 1: 1 03-13 Total: 1 03-13
133. Morgan Miracle - Jake Thornbury Campbellsville University 118
Day 1: 2 03-12 Total: 2 03-12
134. Nathan Meyers - Brock Schueck 117
Day 1: 1 03-11 Total: 1 03-11
134. Will Sams - Dustan Jones University of Kentucky 117
Day 1: 1 03-11 Total: 1 03-11
136. Cole Crossman - Kirk Stilwell Missouri State University 115
Day 1: 1 03-10 Total: 1 03-10
136. Cody Mcentire - Coulter Crain Arkansas State University- Mount 115
Day 1: 1 03-10 Total: 1 03-10
136. Jacob Silver - 115
Day 1: 1 03-10 Total: 1 03-10
139. Daniel Young - Lukas Mckinney Murray State University 112
Day 1: 1 03-09 Total: 1 03-09
140. Dale Hansard - Jacksonville State University 111
Day 1: 1 03-08 Total: 1 03-08
141. Chase Noland - Tommy Bayer West Virginia University 110
Day 1: 1 03-06 Total: 1 03-06
141. Eric Rasmussen - Nick Redlin 110
Day 1: 1 03-06 Total: 1 03-06
143. Kollin Smith - Lilly Smith Emmanuel College 108
Day 1: 1 03-05 Total: 1 03-05
144. Tyler Cory - Jackson Pontius University of Montevallo 107
Day 1: 1 03-03 Total: 1 03-03
144. Jack Lewis - Dalton Mccauley University of Louisville 107
Day 1: 1 03-03 Total: 1 03-03
146. TJ Edwards - Camdon Lewis Blue Mountain College 105
Day 1: 1 03-02 Total: 1 03-02
146. Tanner Maness - Ross Parris Lander University 105
Day 1: 1 03-02 Total: 1 03-02
148. Drew Traffanstedt - Dakendrick Patterson University of Montevallo 103
Day 1: 1 03-01 Total: 1 03-01
149. Brooks Anderson - Parker Guy Emmanuel College 102
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
149. Tyler Christy - Trey Schroeder McKendree University 102
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
149. Robert Cruvellier - Auburn University 102
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
149. Matthew Kauffung - Jacob Bell Ohio State University 102
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
149. Steve Kinard - Jimmy Mitchum Lander University 102
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
149. Collin Sutherland - Aiden Free Erskine College 102
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
155. Jake Blumling - Nathanael Wright Emmanuel College 96
Day 1: 1 02-15 Total: 1 02-15
156. Benson Dowler - Tyler Pendergrass university of north alabama 95
Day 1: 1 02-14 Total: 1 02-14
156. Seth Elkins - John Russell Reaves Jacksonville State University 95
Day 1: 1 02-14 Total: 1 02-14
156. Hunter Jones - Colby Kerr Kentucky Christian University 95
Day 1: 1 02-14 Total: 1 02-14
159. Bryant Marsh - Tyler Hill Blue Mountain College 92
Day 1: 1 02-12 Total: 1 02-12
160. Chad Pruner - Ethan Ange 91
Day 1: 1 02-11 Total: 1 02-11
161. Will Lutes - Jacob Middleton Ohio State University 90
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
162. Tyler Lubbat - Hayden O'barr University of Alabama 89
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
163. Conner Johnson - Tyler Greenlee Georgetown college 88
Day 1: 1 02-07 Total: 1 02-07
164. Hunter Palmer - Tim Herrmann bryan college 87
Day 1: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
165. Seth Jenkins - Taylor Green Emmanuel College 86
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
165. Daelyn Whaley - Cy Casey Emmanuel College 86
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
167. Emily Freeman - Braiden Koerber Murray State University 84
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
167. Cole Holloway - Taylor Mcmullen Emmanuel College 84
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
169. Conner Crosby - James Cobbs Auburn University 82
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
169. Thomas Mingle - Stone Payne Univerity of Tennessee 82
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
171. Dawson Burton - Jonathan Fraley Kentucky Christian University 80
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
171. Riley Fletcher - Jack Long Drury University 80
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
173. Cody Clifton - Austin Ware Missouri State University 78
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
173. Luke Henderson - Tavin Hodgens Campbellsville University 78
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
175. Patrick Henry - Mekenzie Vander Molen Ohio State University 76
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
175. Jackson Staib - Baylor Howell Bethel University 76
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
177. Austin Carr - Justin Carr 74
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
178. Kreed Averhoff - Jordan Kalsbeek Tarleton State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Trey Barnett - Bryce Siegle University of Kentucky 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Cordell Beckman - Dru Johnson Greenville University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Kaleb Brown - Caleb Sheldon Lander University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Christopher Buckhart - Adelina Jones Arkansas State University- Mount 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Dalton Coleman - Noah Hurford Kentucky Christian University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Britney Cox - Bella Bramblett University of Kentucky 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Calvin Currie - Hayden Fuhr Lander University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Bradley Dunagan - Shawn Coots Campbellsville University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Isaac Duncan - Taylor Owens Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Chandler Ellis - Parker Lambert Lander University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Hunter Enlow - Will Lindley Lander University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Bryce Fowler - Christopher Bowen East Carolina University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Troy Gibson - Adam Hope University of Louisville 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Mary Goode - Nicholas Watson Brewton-Parker College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Cody Gregory - Seth Roberts Bethel University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Brycen Hendriks - Gavin Ange 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Nate Hunhoff - Connor Nagy University of Wisconsin Stevens- 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Luke Iles - Alyssa Taylor Northwestern State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Chandler Jarrard - James Rogers Georgia Southern University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Braden Jenkins - Bailey Rene Indiana University Southeast 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Ethan Jones - Joseph Bruener McKendree University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Alden Keel Jr - Grant Busby Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. JJ Kocevar - Logan Knoebel Kent State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Brandon Leach - Kaden Brown Eastern Kentucky Unversity 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Christopher Lemaster - Damon Stepp Eastern Kentucky University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Wesley Livingston - Garrison Hendrix 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Hunter Loftin - Mac Johnston-Herzberg Missouri State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Michael Looker - Ethan Perry West Virginia University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Alek Masters - Nicholas Shortridge Eastern Kentucky University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Garrett McWilliams - John Berry Hinds community college 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Andrew Mega - 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Jordan Nicely - Cam Cornelius Georgetown 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Alex Palomba - Brennan Kenison 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Chris Payne - Terry Sentell Tennessee 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Ben Rand - Austin Jager Davenport University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Levi Sanchez - Nathan Schrader Clemson University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Evan Seggerman - Nate Overocker Greenville University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Tate Sloan - Thaddeus Simerly Tennessee Tech University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Ashton Smith - Dustin Lewis Brewton-Parker College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Hunter Stone - Dante Piraino Clarkson University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Max Sullivan - Indiana Univeristy Southeast 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Caden Sweeten - Ben Saba 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. William Vega - Logan Stewart Sam Houston State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Gunner Whitaker - Mitchell Johnson Kentucky Christian University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Gunner Wilson - Zach Manneback Adrian College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Wyatt Wright - Austin Francis Emmanuel College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
178. Corey Yaden - Blake Stephenson Brewton Parker college 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
The Tale of Two Strategies
Go big and aggressive, or small and subtle. That’s the question many Major League Fishing pros are toiling with this week for Stage Two of the Bass Pro Tour on beautiful Lake Travis. The gin-clear water that flows from the Colorado River helps to make this fishery just outside of Austin, Texas so scenic, but also presents its share of challenges to bass anglers.
Costa Sunglasses pro Casey Ashley faired well during his first day of competition, catching 13 scoreable bass that have him sitting in 4th place halfway through his Qualifying Round. Ashley was quick to point out he caught a lot more than 13 bass today, but quality bites were tough to come by.
“Catching fish isn’t the problem on Lake Travis, it’s catching scoreable bass over 1-lb 8-ounces that’s challenging,” Ashley said. “This place is absolutely full of fish, but in practice it seemed like I could only catch big ones with something super aggressive, or super finesse. So I’m on two opposite ends of the spectrum.”
Ashley rotated through several presentations today, but he racked up most of his weight on a big topwater tied to a 7:3:1 Quantum Smoke HD reel and a 7-foot medium action rod as well as a shakey head paired with a size 30 Smoke S3 spinning reel and 7-foot medium spinning rod. From 50-pound braided line to 8-pound fluorocarbon, Ashley explained his lure choices are based around water clarity.
“The water is so clear in most places that the fish get too good of a look at what you’re throwing and they just won’t eat it,” Ashley offered. “Even in windy, cloudy conditions like we had today I either had to fish a fast, aggressive topwater or drag a finesse bait painfully slow to trigger scoreable bass to bite. It’s kinda impressive how finicky these fish can be.”
The South Carolina native said there was over fifteen feet of visibility in many of the areas he keyed in on today. Ashley took advantage of the water clarity and a quality pair of polarized sunglasses during practice, spending a majority of his time looking with his eyes instead of his electronics.
Keeping his trolling motor on high, Ashley covered a lot of shoreline during the second day of practice and ultimately found the stretches where he caught most of his fish during day one of competition.
“The nice thing about fishing a lake this clear is you can learn a lot if you get some sunshine during practice,” Ashley said with a smile. “You can see so well it really allows you to learn how the bottom lays out. I was looking for quality fish that I could come back to, but I was also seeing what kind of cover bass were keying in on and that’s really what helped me most today.”
Brent Chapman Jumps Out to Early Lead at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Berkley Stage Two Presented by Mercury at Lake Travis
Lake Quivira, Kansas Angler Leads After Day 1 of Qualifying Round Group A with 21 Bass Weighing 46 Pounds, 2 Ounces – Group B to Compete Saturday
AUSTIN, Texas (April 30, 2021) – Pro Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kansas, caught 21 bass totaling 46 pounds, 2 ounces, to grab the early lead in Qualifying Group A on Day 1 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury event. The six-day event, hosted by the Austin Sports Commission, features 80 of the top professional anglers from around the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner.
Chapman will bring a 5-pound, 6-ounce, lead into Sunday’s second day of competition for Group A. In second place on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard is General Tire pro Mark Rose of Wynne, Arkansas, who has eight career victories – including a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit (then FLW Tour) win on Lake Travis in 2017 – who caught 16 bass weighing 40-12. Texas pro Alton Jones Jr. of Waco sits in third place, 19½ pounds back of Chapman with 16 bass weighing 26-10.
The 40 anglers in Group A will now enjoy a day off Saturday, while the 40 anglers in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A resumes competition on Sunday.
Chapman had a huge third period rally Thursday, catching 18 pounds in the final period alone to overtake Rose and never relinquish the lead. He did most of his damage with a vibrating jig, but he also added a few keepers with a squarebill crankbait.
“What a day. If someone had told me I’d be leading after Day 1 of this event, I’d have told them they were crazy,” Chapman said. “It just goes to show you what hard work in practice does. I had an absolute blast on the water today doing what I love to do.”
Chapman caught most of his fish fishing stained water in the back of a creek, an area that he said he found on a prior trip to Lake Travis.
“The last time I was here, I went way up the river and flipped a big worm and a jig and caught fish in the dirtier water,” Chapman said. “I went up there again, but the lake is nearly 12 feet lower than the last time, so I think I’m a little too early for that deal. I got into this little creek that I remembered – it has a little bit of an off-color to it – and caught several fish there during practice.
“The thing that is most intriguing to me about that spot is that I caught a 4 (pounder) and several 2½ (pounders), so it seems like the average fish in this creek is a little better than everywhere else. It just seems like it has all of the perfect ingredients. I’m really looking forward to getting back out here Sunday, it should be a fun one.”
The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Lake Travis are:
1st: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 21 bass, 46-2
2nd: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 16 bass, 40-12
3rd: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, nine bass, 26-10
4th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 13 bass, 23-10
5th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 11 bass, 22-8
6th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, nine bass, 22-0
7th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 13 bass, 21-14
8th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 11 bass, 21-11
9th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., nine bass, 21-6
10th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 20-10
11th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., nine bass, 19-9
12th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, seven bass, 15-15
13th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., eight bass, 15-11
14th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., seven bass, 15-1
15th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., five bass, 14-6
16th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., four bass, 14-5
17th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., eight bass, 13-13
18th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., seven bass, 12-1
19th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., five bass, 11-15
20th: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 11-7
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 244 bass weighing 526 pounds, 14 ounces caught by the 40 pros on Friday, which included one 7-pounder, one 6-pounder and 11 4-pounders caught from Lake Travis.
Russ Lane won Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 7-pound, 12-ounce largemouth on a swimbait during Period 1.
Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.
The MLF Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury is hosted by the Austin Sports Commission.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Friday and Sunday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Saturday and Monday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the anglers that finish in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round, while the the winner of each group advances directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed and the remaining 38 anglers compete to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins. Full breakdown of the format can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT each day of competition from Mansfield Dam Park, located at 4370 Mansfield Dam Park Road in Austin. The General Tire Takeout will also be held at the park daily beginning at 3 p.m.
As part of the event, fans will also be treated to the Hill Country Hangout at Bass Pro Shops in Round Rock, Texas, on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free event includes the opportunity to interact with Bass Pro Tour anglers, enjoy activities and special fan-only giveaways provided by MLF sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities in fishing seminars. All activities are free and open to the public. For more information on the Hill Country Hangout hosted by Bass Pro Shops, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined at each event by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit – competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2022 championship.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 6:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Bass Pro Tour Berkley Stage Two at Lake Travis Presented by Mercury will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 11 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
For complete details and updated information on 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.
Bassmaster Elite At Lake Champlain Event Moves To New York
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain, originally scheduled to launch out of Burlington, Vt., will instead move across the lake to Plattsburgh, N.Y., B.A.S.S. officials announced today. The tournament will still be held July 8-11.
Plattsburgh hosted the Elite Series last summer, when COVID-19 restrictions prevented spectators from attending weigh-ins. That tournament featured an exciting final day, when Brandon Palaniuk mounted an afternoon rally to vault from fifth place to win the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain. B.A.S.S. staff and local officials expect that fishing fans will be allowed at this year’s event while emphasizing that they will adhere to any mandates limiting the crowd size.
“We appreciate the efforts and flexibility of our friends in Plattsburgh and Clinton County for the past two years as they’ve worked alongside our team to put on these tournaments,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin.
The Elite Series will close out their 2021 season with a two-event New York swing. From Plattsburgh the tournament trail travels to Waddington for the Bassmaster Elite at the St. Lawrence River July 15-18.
The tournament will be hosted by the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, City of Plattsburgh and Clinton County.
UPDATE: Accident Results in Death at MLF Series event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
News release courtesy of Major League Fishing Toyota Series
Friday April 30, 2021
Major League Fishing (MLF) announced Friday that the identity of the co-angler that died after falling from the boat, Thursday, has been released. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has confirmed that angler Pete Spencer Lammons Jr., 77 of Houston, Texas, was fishing near the San Augustine Park area on Sam Rayburn Reservoir when he fell overboard. Lammons was competing in the MLF Toyota Series event at Sam Rayburn.
The boat was not running when the co-angler entered the water.
At approximately 10:05 a.m. on Thursday, San Augustine County Game Warden Travis Fountain responded to a call about a fisherman that had fallen overboard on Sam Rayburn Reservoir near the San Augustine Park area.
Attempts were made to rescue Mr. Lammons by his boater but were unsuccessful.
Warden Fountain, along with the assistance of Wardens Austin Cryer and Doug Williams, was able to locate and recover Mr. Lammons’ body utilizing vessels equipped with side scan sonar.
An autopsy has been ordered.
Lammons was an experienced co-angler. This Toyota Series at Sam Rayburn tournament marked the 57th career MLF tournament that Lammons had competed in. His best finish was a third-place showing in 2019, competing on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in an MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League event.
Lammons was also a former NFL football player, who played tight end for the New York Jets from 1966-1971, including winning the AFL Championship with them in 1968 and Super Bowl III in 1969. He played in 95 games from 1966 to 1972, ending his career with 185 receptions, 2,364 yards and 14 touchdowns. Originally from Jacksonville, Texas. Lammons attended the University of Texas and led the Longhorns to a win over No. 1-ranked Alabama in the 1965 Orange Bowl.
Competition at the Toyota Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir event will continue Friday. Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Umphrey Family Pavilion in Brookeland. Weigh-in will be held at the pavilion and will begin at 2:30 p.m. A moment of silence will be held for Pete Lammons and his family before the start of the weigh-in.
MLF will continue to release information as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the MLF website, MajorLeagueFishing.com, as it becomes available.
Thursday April 29, 2021
A co-angler competing at the Toyota Series event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir died Thursday after falling from the boat. The boat was not running when the co-angler entered the water.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) recovered the body of the deceased co-angler Thursday afternoon. The incident is currently under investigation by the TPWD and San Augustine County officials. Officials have not yet released the name of the anglers involved.
Thursday's weigh-in from the Umphrey Family Pavilion will not be live-streamed.
MLF will continue to release information as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the MLF website, MajorLeagueFishing.com, as it becomes available.
We will continue to update as we get more information
Keith Drahman Joins T-H Marine as Aftermarket Sales Manager
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Early Start Sends Crow To Day 1 Lead At Bassmaster Open On Pickwick
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Shortest Show in AC Insider History
This week Chris fumbles the ball with new Tech and the show suffers because of it. But we are excited to Welcome in your TNPFL Wright Patman Winner Keith Carson to the show to talk about the lake, how he went wire-to-wire and more!!!
Sam Rayburn Set to Host Toyota Series Event
BROOKELAND, Texas (April 28, 2021) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Southwestern Division will continue its 2021 season with a tournament this week in Brookeland, Texas, April 28-30, with the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at the Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Berkley . Hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
Anglers will take off daily at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Umphrey Family Pavilion in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the pavilion and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Tennessee Angler Terajima Takes B.A.S.S. Nation Regional Lead On Lake Hartwell
Nobuyuki Terajima, of Hermitage, Tenn., is leading after Day 1 of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional at Lake Hartwell with 14 pounds, 2 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
April 28, 2021
ANDERSON, S.C. — Nobuyuki Terajima secured a five-bass limit of 14 pounds, 2 ounces Wednesday to take the lead on Day 1 of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional at Lake Hartwell.
It was a good start for the Tennessee pro, who is in search of his fourth appearance in the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. The Japanese-born angler holds an 11-ounce lead over Georgia angler Donald Tully, who is second with 13-7.
“I found a good morning bite on a shallow point,” Terajima said. “I was lucky enough to get four keepers in the morning.”
This isn’t the first time Terajima has found success on Lake Hartwell. During the 2019 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, he caught 29-5 and finished seventh in the field of 60 anglers.
That tournament was in November, however, and Terajima said he had to start from scratch when he began preparing for this week’s tournament.
“I had a horrible practice,” he said. “The water temperature went up a little bit and I couldn’t find any good fish. Only some in the shallow area. I feel lucky today.”
After a bad practice, Terajima started on a shallow point that had active bass and proceeded to catch three spots and a largemouth. As the day progressed, he moved shallow and landed a largemouth that he estimated was over 4 pounds.
“I didn’t see any beds. I wasn’t sight fishing, the line just started moving,” he said. “I culled four fish today.”
When Tully left the dock this morning, he was still unsure of which direction he was going. He decided to head up the Seneca River section of Hartwell and it paid off with a limit of largemouth.
He caught the majority of his bass on a topwater bait fishing main-lake points in 8 to 10 feet of water. Once he filled his limit, he moved shallow and targeted a couple of bass he found on bed.
“I could have kept two rods on the deck of the boat,” he said. “I just kept running the same type of water once I figured out where they were. I had nine spots that I rotated through, and if I caught a fish on a spot and saw something on the way down the river that looked similar I would check it out for tomorrow.”
In practice, Tully said he found a lot of bass cruising the shallows that he could not get to commit. Instead, he decided to target the bass that had finished spawning a couple of weeks before and were headed back to the main lake.
He added that Hartwell sets up a lot like Lake Lanier, a lake he fishes frequently.
With 13-6, Wayne, W.V., native Willie Adkins Jr. finished Day 1 in third place, anchoring his bag with a 6-0 largemouth that currently holds the lead for big bass of the tournament. Adkins did a lot of his damage on a fluke and covered as much water as he could throughout the day.
“I fished hard all day but lost about five fish. I should have had 18 or 20 pounds easy,” Adkins said.
A shallow-water angler at heart, Adkins used that mindset to target largemouth bass around docks and coves in the main-lake area. He estimated he made about 50 stops, hitting each area for a short time before moving to the next.
On Thursday, Adkins plans to fish a completely different area.
“I’m going to make a long run tomorrow and change things up,” he said. “I put a hurting on my fish today, the big ones. I have a few big ones where I’m going to run.”
Matt Luken of Independence, Ky., leads the co-angler division after catching a three-bass limit of 9-1, including a 4-1 that was the co-angler big bass of the day. Spencer Humphrey of Madison, Va., is second with 7-3.
South Carolina took a commanding lead in the team standings, catching 72 bass that weighed 139-8. West Virginia is second with 131-4, while North Carolina is third (126-15), Georgia is fourth (125-13) and Virginia is fifth (117-1).
The full field will launch from Green Pond Landing at 6:30 a.m. ET Thursday and return for weigh-in starting at 2:30 p.m.
After Day 2, the Top 20 boaters and nonboaters, as well as the top two boaters and nonboaters from each state if they are not in the Top 20 already, will compete on Championship Friday. The top boater and top nonboater after the final day will qualify for the 2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship to be held Nov. 3-5 on the Ouachita River in Louisiana.
2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional Lake Hartwell 4/28-4/30
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN (TN) 5 14-02 0
2. Donald Tully Canton, GA (GA) 5 13-07 0
3. Willie Adkins Jr Wayne, WV (WV) 5 13-06 0
4. Richard Smith Cecilia, KY (KY) 5 12-13 0
5. John Proctor Conway, SC (SC) 5 12-09 0
6. Ronald Pope Jr Georgetown, SC (SC) 5 12-05 0
7. Jay Ladner Perkinston, MS (MS) 5 11-12 0
8. Coby Carden Shelby, AL (AL) 5 11-11 0
9. Todd Chaney Catlettsburg, KY (KY) 5 11-10 0
10. Chris Jones Conway, SC (SC) 5 11-08 0
11. Austin Woody Burlington, NC (NC) 5 11-01 0
12. Kevin Allen Newnan, GA (GA) 5 11-00 0
13. Brent Long Lincolnton, NC (SC) 5 10-15 0
13. Brandon Marks Walton, WV (WV) 5 10-15 0
15. Joseph Puentes Clarksville, TN (TN) 5 10-12 0
16. Edward Owens Hemingway, SC (SC) 5 10-10 0
17. Roy Galbraith Guin, AL (AL) 5 10-09 0
18. Mike Lanier Leland, NC (NC) 5 10-08 0
18. Jason Pittman Covington, MS (MS) 5 10-08 0
20. Adam Richardson Littleton, NC (VA) 5 10-07 0
21. Patrick King Lincolnton, NC (NC) 5 10-03 0
22. Michael Eubanks Milledgeville, GA (GA) 5 10-02 0
22. Bryan Gunter Ninety Six, SC (SC) 5 10-02 0
22. Cody Huddleston South Charleston, WV (W 5 10-02 0
25. Charles Proctor Conway, SC (SC) 5 10-01 0
26. Derek Lilley Charlotte, NC (NC) 5 10-00 0
27. Ed Newton Jr. Tifton, GA (GA) 5 09-12 0
28. Brody Brown Pollocksville, NC (VA) 5 09-11 0
28. Bill Pioch Beckley, WV (WV) 5 09-11 0
30. Steve Wicker Pomaria, SC (SC) 5 09-10 0
31. Kyle Christopher Danville, KY (KY) 5 09-08 0
31. Chris Moody Brooks, GA (GA) 5 09-08 0
33. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV (WV) 5 09-07 0
33. Paul Tyre Tallahassee, FL (FL) 5 09-07 0
35. John Wilkerson Nashville, TN (TN) 5 09-07 0
36. Steve Dyer Mt Plesant, NC (NC) 5 09-06 0
37. Michael Belter Reidsville, NC (NC) 4 09-06 0
38. Joshua Milam Elkview, WV (WV) 5 09-03 0
39. Trenton Pittman Covington, LA (MS) 5 09-02 0
40. Patrick Brown Swainsboro, GA (GA) 5 09-01 0
41. Sam Jenkins Abita Springs, LA (MS) 5 09-00 0
41. Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 5 09-00 0
43. Chuck Halbert Jr Lexa, AR (MS) 5 08-14 0
44. Bryant Copley Altavista, VA (VA) 5 08-12 0
45. James Collins Holden, WV (WV) 5 08-11 0
45. Gary Little Soso, MS (MS) 5 08-11 0
47. Jeremy Homeyer Franklin, TN (TN) 5 08-10 0
48. Mark Swink Shelby, NC (NC) 5 08-08 0
49. Zack Smith Starke, FL (FL) 5 08-06 0
50. Mark Bell Fisherville, KY (KY) 5 08-05 0
50. Jack Tibbs Jr Eufaula, AL (AL) 5 08-05 0
50. Garrett Towler Powhatan, VA (VA) 5 08-05 0
53. Brandon Pritchett Goode, AL (VA) 3 08-04 0
54. Max Haygood Franklin, GA (GA) 5 08-01 0
54. Travis Lively Vinton, VA (VA) 5 08-01 0
56. Lee Byrd Jr. Pell City, AL (AL) 5 08-00 0
56. Brendan Smith Lavonia, GA (GA) 5 08-00 0
58. Charles Morrison Georgetown, KY (KY) 5 07-14 0
58. Corey Smith Clermont, FL (FL) 5 07-14 0
60. Adam Petty Garner, NC (NC) 5 07-12 0
61. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL (FL) 4 07-12 0
62. Chris Blair Newnan, GA (GA) 5 07-09 0
63. Doug Sauls Winter Garden, FL (FL) 5 07-07 0
64. Kyle Fox Lakeland, FL (FL) 5 07-06 0
65. Mark Jones Meadville, MS (MS) 5 07-03 0
66. J.C Christopher II Clarksburg, WV (WV) 5 07-02 0
66. Johnny Roth Lawrenceburg, IN (KY) 5 07-02 0
68. Emile Gennaro Sr Wesson, MS (MS) 5 07-00 0
69. Brent Riley Cross, SC (SC) 5 06-15 0
70. Will James Greenville, NC (NC) 5 06-14 0
71. Alec Lancaster Hendersonville, TN (TN) 4 06-07 0
71. Stephen Noble Newport, KY (KY) 4 06-07 0
73. Scott Holmes Odenville, AL (AL) 5 06-06 0
74. Jeffrey Hager Alexis, NC (NC) 4 06-05 0
75. David Presley Kingston, TN (TN) 5 06-04 0
76. Ben Ballou Spring Hill, TN (TN) 5 06-03 0
76. Benjamin Nowalk Milton, WV (WV) 5 06-03 0
78. David Cook White House, TN (TN) 5 06-02 0
79. Nathan Sheehan Danville, KY (KY) 4 06-02 0
80. Jeff Greene Pell City, AL (AL) 4 05-15 0
81. Bruce Sargent Gardendale, AL (AL) 4 05-11 0
82. Sal Pinto Cumming, GA (GA) 5 05-02 0
83. Brad Weese Petersburg, WV (VA) 3 04-14 0
84. Richard Hodges Camden, NC (VA) 4 04-10 0
85. Jeff Gilliam Gordo, AL (AL) 2 04-10 0
86. Ryan O'Shea Crestview, FL (FL) 3 04-08 0
87. Toby Lillard Clarksville, TN (TN) 2 04-07 0
88. Jabo Bowman Talladega, AL (AL) 3 04-05 0
89. Keith Broyles Jackson, TN (TN) 3 03-15 0
90. Tom Hill Lexington, KY (KY) 3 03-14 0
90. Matt Martin Brookhaven, MS (MS) 3 03-14 0
92. Chirs Vickery Greenwood, SC (SC) 3 03-09 0
93. Sawyer Mcmurphy Long Beach, MS (MS) 2 03-09 0
94. Michael Gunn Mechanicsville, VA (VA) 4 03-07 0
95. David Boyd Jr Quincy, FL (FL) 2 03-03 0
96. Jason Brown Beckley, WV (WV) 2 02-08 0
97. Steve Gross Marianna, FL (FL) 2 02-02 0
98. John Thornton Russellville, AL (AL) 1 01-11 0
99. Mark Cooper Nicholasville, KY (KY) 1 01-08 0
100. Jamie Lanier Jr. Branford, FL (FL) 1 00-14 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 73 444 799-11
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73 444 799-11
TEAM STANDINGS Day 1
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State Lbs-Oz
1 SOUTH CAROLINA 139-08
2 WEST VIRGINIA 131-04
3 NORTH CAROLINA 126-15
4 GEORGIA 125-13
5 VIRGINIA 117-01
6 MISSISSIPPI 115-15
7 TENNESSEE 110-04
8 ALABAMA 107-04
9 KENTUCKY 103-03
10 FLORIDA 86-10
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 1
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VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Adam Richardson Littleton, NC 5 10-07 0
2 Brody Brown Pollocksville, NC 5 09-11 0
3 Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, VA 5 09-00 0
4 Bryant Copley Altavista, VA 5 08-12 0
5 Garrett Towler Powhatan, VA 5 08-05 0
6 Brandon Pritchett Goode, AL 3 08-04 0
7 Travis Lively Vinton, VA 5 08-01 0
8 Brad Weese Petersburg, WV 3 04-14 0
9 Richard Hodges Camden, NC 4 04-10 0
10 Michael Gunn Mechanicsville, VA 4 03-07 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Willie Adkins Jr Wayne, WV 5 13-06 0
2 Brandon Marks Walton, WV 5 10-15 0
3 Cody Huddleston South Charleston, WV 5 10-02 0
4 Bill Pioch Beckley, WV 5 09-11 0
5 Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 5 09-07 0
6 Joshua Milam Elkview, WV 5 09-03 0
7 James Collins Holden, WV 5 08-11 0
8 J.C Christopher II Clarksburg, WV 5 07-02 0
9 Benjamin Nowalk Milton, WV 5 06-03 0
10 Jason Brown Beckley, WV 2 02-08 0
MISSISSIPPI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jay Ladner Perkinston, MS 5 11-12 0
2 Jason Pittman Covington, MS 5 10-08 0
3 Trenton Pittman Covington, LA 5 09-02 0
4 Sam Jenkins Abita Springs, LA 5 09-00 0
5 Chuck Halbert Jr Lexa, AR 5 08-14 0
6 Gary Little Soso, MS 5 08-11 0
7 Mark Jones Meadville, MS 5 07-03 0
8 Emile Gennaro Sr Wesson, MS 5 07-00 0
9 Matt Martin Brookhaven, MS 3 03-14 0
10 Sawyer Mcmurphy Long Beach, MS 2 03-09 0
GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Donald Tully Canton, GA 5 13-07 0
2 Kevin Allen Newnan, GA 5 11-00 0
3 Michael Eubanks Milledgeville, GA 5 10-02 0
4 Ed Newton Jr. Tifton, GA 5 09-12 0
5 Chris Moody Brooks, GA 5 09-08 0
6 Patrick Brown Swainsboro, GA 5 09-01 0
7 Max Haygood Franklin, GA 5 08-01 0
8 Brendan Smith Lavonia, GA 5 08-00 0
9 Chris Blair Newnan, GA 5 07-09 0
10 Sal Pinto Cumming, GA 5 05-02 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 John Proctor Conway, SC 5 12-09 0
2 Ronald Pope Jr Georgetown, SC 5 12-05 0
3 Chris Jones Conway, SC 5 11-08 0
4 Brent Long Lincolnton, NC 5 10-15 0
5 Edward Owens Hemingway, SC 5 10-10 0
6 Bryan Gunter Ninety Six, SC 5 10-02 0
7 Charles Proctor Conway, SC 5 10-01 0
8 Steve Wicker Pomaria, SC 5 09-10 0
9 Brent Riley Cross, SC 5 06-15 0
10 Chirs Vickery Greenwood, SC 3 03-09 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Paul Tyre Tallahassee, FL 5 09-07 0
2 Zack Smith Starke, FL 5 08-06 0
3 Corey Smith Clermont, FL 5 07-14 0
4 Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 4 07-12 0
5 Doug Sauls Winter Garden, FL 5 07-07 0
6 Kyle Fox Lakeland, FL 5 07-06 0
7 Ryan O'Shea Crestview , FL 3 04-08 0
8 David Boyd Jr Quincy, FL 2 03-03 0
9 Steve Gross Marianna , FL 2 02-02 0
10 Jamie Lanier Jr. Branford, FL 1 00-14 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Coby Carden Shelby, AL 5 11-11 0
2 Roy Galbraith Guin, AL 5 10-09 0
3 Jack Tibbs Jr Eufaula, AL 5 08-05 0
4 Lee Byrd Jr. Pell City, AL 5 08-00 0
5 Scott Holmes Odenville, AL 5 06-06 0
6 Jeff Greene Pell City, AL 4 05-15 0
7 Bruce Sargent Gardendale, AL 4 05-11 0
8 Jeff Gilliam Gordo, AL 2 04-10 0
9 Jabo Bowman Talladega, AL 3 04-05 0
10 John Thornton Russellville, AL 1 01-11 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Austin Woody Burlington, NC 5 11-01 0
2 Mike Lanier Leland, NC 5 10-08 0
3 Patrick King Lincolnton, NC 5 10-03 0
4 Derek Lilley Charlotte, NC 5 10-00 0
5 Steve Dyer Mt Plesant, NC 5 09-06 0
6 Michael Belter Reidsville, NC 4 09-06 0
7 Mark Swink Shelby, NC 5 08-08 0
8 Adam Petty Garner, NC 5 07-12 0
9 Will James Greenville, NC 5 06-14 0
10 Jeffrey Hager Alexis, NC 4 06-05 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Richard Smith Cecilia, KY 5 12-13 0
2 Todd Chaney Catlettsburg, KY 5 11-10 0
3 Kyle Christopher Danville, KY 5 09-08 0
4 Mark Bell Fisherville, KY 5 08-05 0
5 Charles Morrison Georgetown, KY 5 07-14 0
6 Johnny Roth Lawrenceburg, IN 5 07-02 0
7 Stephen Noble Newport, KY 4 06-07 0
8 Nathan Sheehan Danville, KY 4 06-02 0
9 Tom Hill Lexington, KY 3 03-14 0
10 Mark Cooper Nicholasville, KY 1 01-08 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN 5 14-02 0
2 Joseph Puentes Clarksville, TN 5 10-12 0
3 John Wilkerson Nashville, TN 5 09-07 0
4 Jeremy Homeyer Franklin, TN 5 08-10 0
5 Alec Lancaster Hendersonville, TN 4 06-07 0
6 David Presley Kingston, TN 5 06-04 0
7 Ben Ballou Spring Hill, TN 5 06-03 0
8 David Cook White House, TN 5 06-02 0
9 Toby Lillard Clarksville, TN 2 04-07 0
10 Keith Broyles Jackson, TN 3 03-15 0
2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional Lake Hartwell 4/28-4/30
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Matt Luken Independence, KY (KY) 3 09-01 0
2. Spencer Humphrey Madison, VA (VA) 3 07-03 0
3. Reggie Guffey Jr Bessemer City, NC (NC) 3 07-01 0
4. Parrish Argo Thorsby, AL (AL) 3 07-00 0
5. Brian Hughes Conway, SC (SC) 3 06-14 0
6. Jay Phillips Bancroft, WV (WV) 3 06-12 0
7. Shawn Lehr Clarksville, TN (TN) 3 06-11 0
8. Jody Belcher Naoma, WV (WV) 3 06-07 0
9. Brian Canterbury Madison, VA (VA) 3 06-06 0
9. Zach Leech Gastonia, NC (NC) 3 06-06 0
11. Steven Mccrea Ocean Springs, MS (MS) 3 06-05 0
11. Larry Rockhill Tuscumbia, AL (AL) 3 06-05 0
13. Kevin Walton Norfolk, VA (VA) 3 06-04 0
14. Timothy Garrison Jefferson, SC (SC) 3 06-02 0
14. Tanner Steffan Niceville, FL (FL) 3 06-02 0
16. Dan Carrigan Citrus Springs, FL (FL) 3 06-01 0
16. Travis Lugar McGaheysville, VA (VA) 3 06-01 0
18. Mark Edmonds Eldridge, AL (AL) 3 05-15 0
19. Andy Evans Kenly, NC (NC) 3 05-13 0
20. Caleb Mccaffery Mccomb, MS (MS) 2 05-10 0
21. Sonny Woodward Attalla, AL (AL) 3 05-08 0
22. Ryan Rakestraw Villa Rica, GA (GA) 3 05-07 0
23. Marc Marsh Prosperity, SC (SC) 3 05-05 0
24. Jarrett Hughes Conway, SC (SC) 3 05-02 0
25. Daniel Herrmann Villa Rica, GA (GA) 3 05-01 0
25. Timothy Mayhew Danville, VA (VA) 3 05-01 0
25. David Wheat Choctaw, MS (MS) 3 05-01 0
28. Justin Grigg Clover, SC (SC) 3 05-00 0
29. Stacey Proctor Conway, SC (SC) 3 04-15 0
30. Jason Hannah Dingress, WV (WV) 3 04-13 0
31. Daniel Jackson Townville, SC (SC) 3 04-12 0
31. Carter Northcutt Maryville, TN (TN) 3 04-12 0
33. Charles Nowling Andalusia, AL (AL) 3 04-11 0
34. Nicholas Boggs Wheelersburg, OH (KY) 3 04-10 0
34. Samuel Nowalk Milton, WV (WV) 3 04-10 0
34. Skipper Smith Jr Moss Point, MS (MS) 3 04-10 0
37. Mark Pierce Cadiz, KY (TN) 3 04-09 0
37. Johndale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA (MS) 3 04-09 0
39. L.R. Amos II Claysville, PA (WV) 3 04-08 0
39. Mason Gunter Newnan, GA (GA) 3 04-08 0
41. Georges Fattal Buford, GA (GA) 3 04-05 0
42. Tom Bateman Orlando, FL (FL) 3 04-03 0
43. JJ Dickens Beaver, WV (WV) 2 04-02 0
44. Gary Kennedy Trion, GA (GA) 3 04-01 0
45. Kevin Jones Ft Campbell, KY (TN) 3 04-00 0
46. Barry Ward Louisville, KY (KY) 3 03-15 0
47. Jimmy Haggerty Palm Bay, FL (FL) 2 03-14 0
48. Justin Hof Kinston, NC (NC) 3 03-13 0
49. Matthew Gower Carolina, WV (WV) 2 03-13 0
50. Pedro Quinones Lilburn, GA (GA) 2 03-12 0
51. Rod Gentry White House, TN (TN) 2 03-11 0
52. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL (FL) 3 03-10 0
53. Mark Moran Weston, WV (WV) 2 03-09 0
54. Floyd Pittman Covington, LA (MS) 3 03-06 0
55. Chuck Murray Jr Louisburg, NC (NC) 2 03-06 0
56. Keith Thompson Mooresville, NC (NC) 3 03-05 0
57. Nick Coleman Kuttawa, KY (KY) 2 03-05 0
58. Lane Bailey Granite Falls, NC (NC) 3 03-04 0
58. Matthew Daniel Camp Hill, AL (AL) 3 03-04 0
58. Marshall Rufo Lagrange, GA (GA) 3 03-04 0
58. David Uskavitch Franklin, TN (TN) 3 03-04 0
62. Roger Castillo Goode, VA (VA) 2 03-03 0
63. Kevin Postalwait Ripley, WV (WV) 3 03-01 0
64. Jeramie Vance Scottsville, KY (TN) 3 02-14 0
65. Terry Weese Petersburg, WV (VA) 2 02-14 0
66. Mason Wheeler Hebron, KY (KY) 2 02-10 0
66. Larry Witt Forest, VA (VA) 2 02-10 0
68. Travis Culbreth Columbia, AL (AL) 2 02-09 0
69. Buddy French Monticello, MS (MS) 2 02-08 0
69. Jans Santiago Covington, GA (GA) 2 02-08 0
69. Kris Trammel Portland, TN (TN) 2 02-08 0
72. Lee Hanvey Opelika, AL (AL) 1 02-08 0
73. Chase Bryant Milton, WV (WV) 2 02-05 0
73. Chris Wiemar Warrior, AL (AL) 2 02-05 0
75. Lucas Oliver Morganton, NC (NC) 1 02-02 0
76. Chris Neely Sneads, FL (FL) 1 02-01 0
77. Mike Hildenbrandt Chesapeake, VA (VA) 2 02-00 0
78. Tab Anderson Pendleton, SC (SC) 2 01-13 0
79. Dale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA (MS) 1 01-13 0
80. AJ Jones Odessa, FL (FL) 1 01-12 0
81. Scott Hill Gallatin, TN (TN) 1 01-10 0
82. Matt Hall Frankfort, KY (KY) 1 01-09 0
83. Michael Bray New Haven, KY (KY) 1 01-08 0
84. Justin Foster Bude, MS (MS) 1 01-07 0
85. Greg Barnes Morning View, KY (KY) 1 01-06 0
86. Bryan Asay Newnan GA YEMEN (GA) 1 01-05 0
86. Shawn Todd Aynor, SC (SC) 1 01-05 0
88. Justin Jensen Laurel, MS (MS) 1 01-01 0
89. Cliff Jenkins Elm City, NC (NC) 1 01-00 0
90. Rick Foss Jr La Grange, NC (NC) 1 00-14 0
91. Matthew Bass Tallahassee, FL (FL) 0 00-00 0
91. Michael Chelinsky Vine Grove, KY (KY) 0 00-00 0
91. Robert Clarkson Jr Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 0 00-00 0
91. Randy Ditto Tallahassee, FL (GA) 0 00-00 0
91. Buddy Elston Jr. Odenville, AL (AL) 0 00-00 0
91. Dave Frost Mount Dora, FL (FL) 0 00-00 0
91. Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC (SC) 0 00-00 0
91. Matthew Keeble Lakeland, FL (FL) 0 00-00 0
91. Bill Mayes Shelbyville, KY (KY) 0 00-00 0
91. Daniel Sutton Franklin, TN (TN) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 54 219 364-02
----------------------------------
54 219 364-02
TEAM STANDINGS Day 1
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 SOUTH CAROLINA 139-08
2 WEST VIRGINIA 131-04
3 NORTH CAROLINA 126-15
4 GEORGIA 125-13
5 VIRGINIA 117-01
6 MISSISSIPPI 115-15
7 TENNESSEE 110-04
8 ALABAMA 107-04
9 KENTUCKY 103-03
10 FLORIDA 86-10
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Spencer Humphrey Madison, VA 3 07-03 0
2 Brian Canterbury Madison, VA 3 06-06 0
3 Kevin Walton Norfolk, VA 3 06-04 0
4 Travis Lugar McGaheysville, VA 3 06-01 0
5 Timothy Mayhew Danville, VA 3 05-01 0
6 Roger Castillo Goode, VA 2 03-03 0
7 Terry Weese Petersburg, WV 2 02-14 0
8 Larry Witt Forest, VA 2 02-10 0
9 Mike Hildenbrandt Chesapeake, VA 2 02-00 0
10 Robert Clarkson Jr Virginia Beach, VA 0 00-00 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jay Phillips Bancroft, WV 3 06-12 0
2 Jody Belcher Naoma, WV 3 06-07 0
3 Jason Hannah Dingress, WV 3 04-13 0
4 Samuel Nowalk Milton, WV 3 04-10 0
5 L.R. Amos II Claysville, PA 3 04-08 0
6 JJ Dickens Beaver, WV 2 04-02 0
7 Matthew Gower Carolina, WV 2 03-13 0
8 Mark Moran Weston, WV 2 03-09 0
9 Kevin Postalwait Ripley, WV 3 03-01 0
10 Chase Bryant Milton, WV 2 02-05 0
MISSISSIPPI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Steven Mccrea Ocean Springs, MS 3 06-05 0
2 Caleb Mccaffery Mccomb, MS 2 05-10 0
3 David Wheat Choctaw, MS 3 05-01 0
4 Skipper Smith Jr Moss Point, MS 3 04-10 0
5 Johndale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA 3 04-09 0
6 Floyd Pittman Covington, LA 3 03-06 0
7 Buddy French Monticello, MS 2 02-08 0
8 Dale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA 1 01-13 0
9 Justin Foster Bude, MS 1 01-07 0
10 Justin Jensen Laurel, MS 1 01-01 0
GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Ryan Rakestraw Villa Rica, GA 3 05-07 0
2 Daniel Herrmann Villa Rica, GA 3 05-01 0
3 Mason Gunter Newnan, GA 3 04-08 0
4 Georges Fattal Buford, GA 3 04-05 0
5 Gary Kennedy Trion, GA 3 04-01 0
6 Pedro Quinones Lilburn, GA 2 03-12 0
7 Marshall Rufo Lagrange, GA 3 03-04 0
8 Jans Santiago Covington, GA 2 02-08 0
9 Bryan Asay Newnan GA YEMEN 1 01-05 0
10 Randy Ditto Tallahassee, FL 0 00-00 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brian Hughes Conway, SC 3 06-14 0
2 Timothy Garrison Jefferson, SC 3 06-02 0
3 Marc Marsh Prosperity, SC 3 05-05 0
4 Jarrett Hughes Conway, SC 3 05-02 0
5 Justin Grigg Clover, SC 3 05-00 0
6 Stacey Proctor Conway, SC 3 04-15 0
7 Daniel Jackson Townville, SC 3 04-12 0
8 Tab Anderson Pendleton, SC 2 01-13 0
9 Shawn Todd Aynor, SC 1 01-05 0
10 Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC 0 00-00 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Tanner Steffan Niceville, FL 3 06-02 0
2 Dan Carrigan Citrus Springs, FL 3 06-01 0
3 Tom Bateman Orlando, FL 3 04-03 0
4 Jimmy Haggerty Palm Bay, FL 2 03-14 0
5 Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 3 03-10 0
6 Chris Neely Sneads, FL 1 02-01 0
7 AJ Jones Odessa, FL 1 01-12 0
8 Matthew Bass Tallahassee, FL 0 00-00 0
8 Dave Frost Mount Dora, FL 0 00-00 0
8 Matthew Keeble Lakeland, FL 0 00-00 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Parrish Argo Thorsby, AL 3 07-00 0
2 Larry Rockhill Tuscumbia, AL 3 06-05 0
3 Mark Edmonds Eldridge, AL 3 05-15 0
4 Sonny Woodward Attalla, AL 3 05-08 0
5 Charles Nowling Andalusia, AL 3 04-11 0
6 Matthew Daniel Camp Hill, AL 3 03-04 0
7 Travis Culbreth Columbia, AL 2 02-09 0
8 Lee Hanvey Opelika, AL 1 02-08 0
9 Chris Wiemar Warrior, AL 2 02-05 0
10 Buddy Elston Jr. Odenville, AL 0 00-00 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Reggie Guffey Jr Bessemer City, NC 3 07-01 0
2 Zach Leech Gastonia, NC 3 06-06 0
3 Andy Evans Kenly, NC 3 05-13 0
4 Justin Hof Kinston, NC 3 03-13 0
5 Chuck Murray Jr Louisburg, NC 2 03-06 0
6 Keith Thompson Mooresville, NC 3 03-05 0
7 Lane Bailey Granite Falls, NC 3 03-04 0
8 Lucas Oliver Morganton, NC 1 02-02 0
9 Cliff Jenkins Elm City, NC 1 01-00 0
10 Rick Foss Jr La Grange, NC 1 00-14 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matt Luken Independence, KY 3 09-01 0
2 Nicholas Boggs Wheelersburg, OH 3 04-10 0
3 Barry Ward Louisville, KY 3 03-15 0
4 Nick Coleman Kuttawa, KY 2 03-05 0
5 Mason Wheeler Hebron, KY 2 02-10 0
6 Matt Hall Frankfort, KY 1 01-09 0
7 Michael Bray New Haven, KY 1 01-08 0
8 Greg Barnes Morning View, KY 1 01-06 0
9 Michael Chelinsky Vine Grove, KY 0 00-00 0
9 Bill Mayes Shelbyville, KY 0 00-00 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Shawn Lehr Clarksville, TN 3 06-11 0
2 Carter Northcutt Maryville, TN 3 04-12 0
3 Mark Pierce Cadiz, KY 3 04-09 0
4 Kevin Jones Ft Campbell, KY 3 04-00 0
5 Rod Gentry White House, TN 2 03-11 0
6 David Uskavitch Franklin, TN 3 03-04 0
7 Jeramie Vance Scottsville, KY 3 02-14 0
8 Kris Trammel Portland, TN 2 02-08 0
9 Scott Hill Gallatin, TN 1 01-10 0
10 Daniel Sutton Franklin, TN 0 00-00 0
Bassmaster Elite Angler Lester Reels In Lake Hop Title Sponsorship
April 28, 2021
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. — Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Lester announced a new partnership with Lake Hop, a boat share marketplace that connects people who want to have unique experiences on the water with local boats owners who love being on the lake and sharing their passion.
“Not only is Brandon a fierce competitor, he also has remarkable character on and off the water,” said Lake Hop founder DJ Boggs. “His values of hard work, discipline, and integrity along with his passion for the outdoors aligned with the goals of Lake Hop Inc. We feel that Brandon is a perfect ambassador to represent the Lake Hop brand, and we are excited to be able to support him in achieving his goals!”
Lester is a seven-year pro with 20 Top 10 finishes in major B.A.S.S. events, but his relationship with Boggs stretches back to a time before he fished professionally. Boggs and Lester went to high school together and fished against one another at the collegiate level.
While Lester went on to pursue a career as a professional angler, Boggs eventually transformed a lifelong love of fishing, boating and time on the water into the innovative Lake Hop brand.
“I couldn’t be more excited to work with Lake Hop and my friend,” said Lester. “This company is going to bring a lot of opportunities to the boating community. When DJ discussed this endeavor with me I couldn’t wait to help represent him and his company.”
Lake Hop was created to give boat owners an opportunity to share their passion for the water with others and turn their boat into a money-making asset while also allowing guests to experience the “lake like a local.”
“The goal is to make sure everyone has the ability to experience fishing, watersports, or spending time with friends or family on the lake, without owning a boat,” explained Boggs. “This allows guests to enjoy the water with the safety of having a designated captain who already has the knowledge of the lake and the equipment, so you can focus on having fun.”
To learn more, receives updates, or share your boat, visit golakehop.com.
