Lake Hamilton Selected to Host 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship

by AnglersChannel

Toyota Tundra Giveaway Highlights 10th Anniversary Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament

Ridgedale, MO (June 3, 2021)- In celebration of the 10th year of the no-entry fee Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament, one lucky participating angler will win a new 2022 Toyota Tundra in a random drawing. This event will feature generous prizes and is set to take place October 23-24, 2021 at Table Rock Lake in Ridgedale, MO.

 

“As an angler myself, seeing the number of loyal participants grow consistently over the past nine years of this event has beenvery rewarding,” says Matt Ozawa, Engagement Marketing Manager, Toyota Motor North America. “And this year’s random drawing to give away a new 2022 Toyota Tundra to commemorate our 10th year, promises to add even more excitement to this fun-filled weekend in the Ozarks.”

 

The weekend kicks-off Saturday afternoon with a registration meeting at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Shooting Academy where Team Toyota Pro Anglers will be on hand to greet guests and talk fishing tips and tricks of the trade. B.A.S.S. tournament staff will conduct the tournament and be onsite Saturday afternoon for angler registration, where participants will receive a generous amount of 10th Anniversary commemorative gear, along with a complimentary dinner.

 

Launch and weigh-in for Sunday’s competition will take place at Long Creek Marina on Table Rock Lake. The top 31 teams in the tournament are guaranteed a paycheck and a free gift bag will be given to the first 200 anglers to sign up for the team tournament.

 

Only one of the two team members must be currently registered in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Program to be eligible to compete in the 2021 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament. (To be eligible to participate in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Program- participant must own or lease a 2017 or newer Toyota Tundra, Tacoma, Sequoia, or 4Runner).

 

Visit toyotafishing.com for more Program details. Bassmaster Elite Series, MLF Bass Pro Tour and Pro Circuit anglers are not eligible to participate in the Toyota Owners Tournament. Teams are required to pre-register by October 15, 2021. Participants are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible for this prize-rich event. Registration is limited to 300 teams.

 

To register, visit: https://ownersevent.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com . If you have questions, or need assistance, contact the Toyota Bonus Bucks Headquarters via email: bonusbucks@dynamicsponsorships.com, or at (918) 742-6424.

 

About Toyota

 

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands. Over the past 60 years, we’ve built more than 40 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold nearly 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.

by AnglersChannel

Montevallo Claims Bass Pro Shops Collegiate School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia

SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 2, 2021) –  The 2020-21 season out on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series came to a historic end last week at Lake Murray in South Carolina.  Following the conclusion of weigh-in at Dreher Island State Park last Thursday points totals were calculated, and the standings finalized for this season’s Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  The final standings revealed several shakeups to be one of the most dramatic reveals of the season as one new team leapt up into the Top 3 and Montevallo’s lead over 2nd place shrank to its slimmest margin in the past several months.  When it was all said and done, Montevallo did just enough at Lake Murray to claim the school’s first-ever title as Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  Back-to-back defending winners McKendree University closed the margin to less than 300 points to finish the season in 2nd, and Adrian College leap-frogged Murray State to earn 3rd place honors.   There were also several other moves inside the Top 25 national rankings which can be seen below.

View the complete standings.

“It was very exciting to see all the hard work finally pay off. This is my 6th season at Montevallo and each year I felt that we were getting closer and closer of reaching that top spot in collegiate bass fishing,” said William Crawford, Head Fishing Coach at the University of Montevallo.  “Being this is the first-ever title for the program or the University there has been a lot of excitement around our campus, community, state and even in the fishing community. I am amazed at the amount of support we have received since winning the title.”

Montevallo’s quest for its first-ever School of the Year title was not accomplished without a slight bit of drama.  Following Day 1 of competition, the number one ranked team in the nation had two teams inside of the Top 10 and looked poised to build on its 1,000 plus point lead and run away with the title.  James Willoughby & Chance Schwartz were in 5th place with 15.37 pounds, and fellow teammates Solomon Glenn & Ryan Thomas occupied 6th at 15.12 pounds.

Day 2 proved not to be as stress-free as Montevallo likely expected following a picture-perfect start on Day 1.  ACA camera crew staff covered both the 5th and 6th place teams throughout the morning, and it quickly became evident that those two angler pairings were finding the conditions to be much more difficult.  At weigh-in that afternoon, Montevallo’s confidence quickly began to shrink as several of the nation’s other top teams began to place teams inside of the Top 20 of the tournament standings and pushing Montevallo downward in the standings.

Willoughby & Schwartz zeroed on the final day of competition, dropping from 5th place after Day 1 all the way down to 66th overall.  Montevallo’s other highest-placing team after Day 1 struggled immensely on the final day as well.  The duo of Glenn & Thomas dropped from 6th overall down to 51st after weighing in just 2.75 pounds of bass on Day 2.  In just a matter of 24 hours, Montevallo went from having a commanding seven-month run atop the standings, to possibly watching its title hopes to dwindle as college fishing powerhouse McKendree University lurked within striking distance on the final day.

The team that had Montevallo looking back over its shoulder on Day 2 had won the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia the past two years and was just over 1,000 points shy of first place.  Upon the closing of the scales on the final day of competition, McKendree placed two teams inside of the Top 25 in the tournament standings earning valuable points in its quest toward claiming a third straight title.  Nate Doty & Bailey Bleser finished in 12th with a two-day total of 26.18 pounds, and Trevor McKinney & Blake Jackson took 24th with 22.48 pounds.

McKendree earned a total of 2,320 points at the 2021 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.  This point total was nearly 1,000 points higher than that of top-ranked Montevallo.  However, the lead Montevallo built up over the past seven months proved to be too much to overcome as McKendree came up 250 points short of claiming a three-peat as School of the Year winners.

A season full of hard work, dedication, and proper scheduling paid off for the University of Montevallo as it claims its first-ever title as Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  For three to four seasons now, Montevallo has been building towards this moment.  The team’s spring season has been chalked full of Top 10 finishes across the national stage, including two victories at ACA double points event.

“While the season wrapped up a bit closer than expected, I personally don’t think I’ve seen a school have such a good run as what Montevallo has had this season.  The talent pool at the school runs deep as they had a large roster of anglers that all contributed to earning points all season long.   Congratulations on a job well done on the water by this fine group of anglers,” said Wade Middleton, Director of Association of Collegiate Anglers.

“This is a group of guys that dedicates their heart and soul into the sport of bass fishing. This means a lot for us because this is something all of us dreamed of and strives for when we came to fish for Montevallo. Our coach, William Crawford, has put everything he has into trying to build the best team in the nation,” added Cal Culpepper, Montevallo angler.  “His drive to bring guys in from all over the country is one of the reasons why we ended up on top. Our team is full of versatility. It’s always someone different at the top at every tournament, and you need that if you want to be the best team in the nation.”

A majority of the anglers on this current roster have been at Montevallo for three to four years now and have seen steady growth through that time.  Last season ended in a runner-up finish, and the team’s goal entering the 2020-21 season was to cap this year off as the top-ranked team in the nation.

“It really means the world to all of us involved considering this has been one of our top goals, if not the top goal, for this organization for the past couple of years,” noted Adam Carroll, Montevallo angler.  “Back when I first came to the University of Montevallo, we established this goal and it seemed pretty far fetched, but after we came so close last year, and have now won it, it just goes to show that with hard work, teamwork and great effort and determination that anything is possible.”

by AnglersChannel

AC Insider Podcast - Classic Countdown Beatdown!

 

This week Chris and the boys prepare for next weeks Bassmaster's Classic with the help of AU Fishing Team Member and Dallas native Michael Peinado to talk about his latest 5 fish limit on Ray Roberts & how it is setting up for the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing. The Circus also welcomes in All-American Angler Drew Boggs to talk about this weeks Grass Roots Championship on Douglas Lake!

by AnglersChannel

Douglas Lake Gears Up for 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine All-American

Total Event Payout of More Than $480,000 and Advancement to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship Await Nation’s Best Weekend Anglers

DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (June 1, 2021) – The best weekend anglers from across the nation will come together June 3-5 for the 38th annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine All-American Presented by TINCUP on Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee. The three-day, no-entry-fee event – hosted by Visit Jefferson County TN – features a boater/co-angler format, with lucrative payouts and serves as a stepping-stone for anglers to advance to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship.

The 2021 All-American will feature a field of the top 49 boaters and 49 Strike King co-anglers from across the 24-division Bass Fishing League and The Bass Federation, all competing for a grand prize of up to $120,000 in the boater division, including a lucrative $20,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency award, and $50,000 in the Strike King co-angler division.

Additionally, the highest-finishing boater and Strike King co-angler from each of seven Regional Championships (including the Wild Card) and the TBF National Championship at the All-American will advance to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 and $33,500, respectively.

MLF pro Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, is no stranger to bringing home the hardware on Douglas Lake, with three major wins in Bassmaster Opens – the first win coming in 2014, followed by back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2018. DeFoe said he’s excited to watch anglers compete again on his favorite body of water in the country.

“I’m honestly jealous of these anglers, because I haven’t had the opportunity to fish in the All-American,” said DeFoe. “It’s the ultimate weekend angler championship. The payout is a huge draw but the prestige that goes with winning that event is something special. There’s only one All-American – if you say that name in the bass fishing world, people know what you’re talking about.”

DeFoe said there are a lot of fish to be caught on Douglas Lake, but finding larger fish is going to be the key.

“There are tons of 2-pounders, but 3-pounders seem to be more difficult to catch lately,” said DeFoe. “A few years ago on Douglas, 3-pounders didn’t really do you a lot of good in a tournament, but I think that’s what anglers should be targeting at the event. If they do that and can catch a 4-pounder or two per day, they’ll be doing really well.”

While storms and major fronts have rolled across the U.S. over the past week or so, DeFoe said he didn’t think that would significantly affect the fishery.

“It’s been in the 90s a lot up here, but a cold snap came through over the weekend, which probably knocked the surface temperature of the water back a couple degrees,” said DeFoe. “At this point the surface temperature should be in the 70s and that shouldn’t change fishing conditions too much.

“I expect deep cranking to be a major player this time of year, no question about that,” continued DeFoe. “We’ll probably see a lot of the Rapala DT Series crankbaits tied on – anything from the DT10 down to the DT20. Hollow-belly swimbaits rigged on jigheads will also be a big deal, as well as football jigs and big worms, drug around offshore.”

DeFoe said he expects it will take 45-50 pounds to win the three-day event, with anglers at the top of the leaderboard bringing in 15-17 pounds per day.

All-American competitors will take off from the Dandridge Boat Dock, located at 100 Public Drive in Dandridge, at 7 a.m. ET each morning, June 3-5. Weigh-in will also be held at the dock at 3:30 p.m. daily. Fans are welcome to attend or follow the event online through daily coverage, live blogs and photos at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Live weigh-in coverage will be streamed daily on MajorLeagueFishing.com. Television coverage of the 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine All-American Presented by TINCUP will premiere on the Sportsman Channel Sept. 29, 2021, and on the Outdoor Channel on Oct. 3, 2021.

The 2021 All-American field of 49 boaters and 49 Strike King co-anglers is comprised of the top six boaters and co-anglers from each of the six Bass Fishing League Regional Championships held in 2020, along with the top six boaters and co-anglers from the 2020 Wild Card tournament. They are joined by the top boater and co-angler from each of the seven divisions at the 2021 TBF National Championship.

The full field of anglers will compete on Days One and Two of the event, with the top 10 boaters and top 10 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2021 All-American champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.

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

by AnglersChannel

St. Lawrence Lands Bassmaster College National Championship

New York's scenic St. Lawrence River will host the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops August 12-14, 2021.

Photo by B.A.S.S.

May 28, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Just weeks after the world’s top professional anglers do battle for a Bassmaster Elite Series victory on the St. Lawrence River, the country’s best college teams will converge in Waddington, N.Y., for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, which will be held Aug. 12-14, 2021. Clarkson University and its Bass Fishing Team are the local hosts along with the St. Lawrence County Chamber and Village of Waddington.

The Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship will field as many as 130 teams of anglers representing colleges and universities across the nation. Qualifications are based on the teams’ finishes in four college tour stops as well as a Wild Card event being held throughout the country.

“We’re excited to work with these great partners to offer college anglers an incredible championship tournament experience,” said College Series Senior Manager Hank Weldon. “I am thrilled that we are able to get these young anglers up to New York to experience the extraordinary St. Lawrence River as well as the legendary hospitality of this community as they compete for a national title and chance to fish the Classic.”

Competitors will not only be fighting for a national championship but also a berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell via the College Classic Bracket tournament.

The leading anglers in the Bassmaster College Series Team of the Year points standings will be determined after the four regular-season events. The Team of the Year will punch their ticket to the College Classic Bracket event, which will be held in September. The College Classic Bracket takes the Top 3 teams from the National Championship plus the Team of the Year, and individual anglers compete head-to-head in bracket-style competition for a berth in the Classic, where they will compete for a prize purse of over $1 million.

“Clarkson University and its Bass Fishing Team are thrilled to be hosting the Bassmaster collegiate national tournament on the St. Lawrence River and in St. Lawrence County,” said Kelly O. Chezum, Clarkson University Vice President for External Relations. “As New York reopens and with our St. Lawrence County Chamber partners welcoming collegiate anglers to the region, we will be paying tribute through the fan experience during the tournament to the volunteer first-responder community which has done so much for our region, state and country during the pandemic.”

B.A.S.S. has hosted 20 major events at this Upstate New York smallmouth paradise, which took the top spot in 2019 on Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 100 Best Bass Lakes list.

“Collegiate anglers and their families will have a great opportunity to experience New York’s Northern border on and off of the water during the peak of summer in St. Lawrence County,” said Brooke Rouse, St. Lawrence County Chamber Director of Tourism. “The River is internationally recognized and is surrounded by trails, museums, outdoor festivities and warm local charm.”

The Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops is being hosted by the Village of Waddington, St. Lawrence County Chamber and Clarkson University. This tournament is also supported by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism awarded as part of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. The tournament and all associated festivities are being planned to ensure the safety of athletes, staff and guests.

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing Returns to Lake Chickamauga for Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage Four

Fourth Event of Bass Pro Tour Season to Showcase 80 Pro Anglers Competing on Lake Chickamauga Over Six Days for Top Prize of $100,000, Fans Encouraged to Attend and ‘Hangout’ at Chattanooga Bass Pro Shops 

DAYTON, Tenn. (May 28, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) is set to return to Lake Chickamauga and Dayton, Tennessee, next week, June 4-9, for the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage Four Presented by Wrangler at Lake Chickamauga.

The six-day event, hosted by Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic & Tourism Council, will feature 80 of the best professional anglers in the world, including local favorites like Dayton’s Andy Morgan and Michael Neal, Spring City’s Wesley Strader and John Murray, and Harrison’s Jacob Wheeler, fishing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable points in hopes of qualifying for REDCREST 2022, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

As part of the event, fans will also be treated to the Stage Four Hangout at Bass Pro Shops in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Friday, June 4 from 4 to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6 from Noon to 5 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 Stage Four Hangout hosted by Bass Pro Shops, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

“Rhea County is proud to host the top bass anglers in the world here on Lake Chickamauga, and we look forward to seeing the exciting Bass Pro Tour competition unfold. Our lakes are renowned for producing great largemouth bass, and we thank the TWRA for their stocking program that helped bring this about,” said Rhea County Executive George Thacker.

The tournament will be fished using MLF’s catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which the anglers try to catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament is being filmed for broadcast later this year on the Discovery Channel.

When the MLF Bass Pro Tour last visited Lake Chickamauga in 2019, hometown favorite Andy Morgan boated 34 bass weighing 80 pounds even in the Championship Round to win by more than 19 pounds and claim the $100,000 top prize.  Although Lake Chickamauga has played host to dozens of MLF BIG5 (previously FLW) tournaments over the years, 2021 will mark just the second time that the Bass Pro Tour has visited BassTown USA.

“This is going to be a fun event,” said Spring City’s Strader, who has more than $2 million in career earnings in MLF competition. “The lake has had a lot of pressure on it, but that’s pretty much everywhere because of COVID. But the numbers will still be really good – it should be a typical June offshore bite – and we’re still going to see some Chickamauga giants.”

Strader said the key to doing well will be having multiple different patterns in play.

“The key will be mixing things up,” Strader said. “I don’t think you’re going to be able to rely on one spot – you’ll need several areas. Bait selection and timing will be important, and also the water flow situation. If it rains a lot before the tournament or there is a lot of power usage, the water will be flowing and that would be good.

“I’ll definitely have a Zoom Superfluke on a scrounger head jig tied on,” Strader continued. “A Zoom Ol’ Monster worm, a crankbait like a (Strike King) 6XD, and maybe even a mid-depth PH Custom Lures Balsa Crankbait.”

Anglers will take off from the Dayton Boat Dock, located at 175 Lakeshore St., in Dayton, at 6:30 a.m. ET each day of competition. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will also be held at the Dayton Boat Dock, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all takeoff and takeout ceremonies and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage Four Presented by Wrangler at Lake Chickamauga will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

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 four pros from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit that will join the Bass Pro Tour to compete at the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage Four Presented by Wrangler at Lake Chickamauga are Matt Becker, David Williams, Tai Au and Evan Barnes. Those anglers qualified via their finishes in the third Pro Circuit event of the year – the Googan Baits Stop 3 at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Lake Chickamauga 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 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 the top prize of $100,000.

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 B&W Trailer Hitches Stage Four Presented by Wrangler at Lake Chickamauga will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Oct. 9 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 Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Ish Monroe joins Next Gen Lithium Batteries Pro Staff

Peoria, Ariz. – May 28, 2021 – Competing in bass fishing tournaments requires a lot of power.  Modern bass boats feature technological advancements from bow to stern.  Every single one of those components, requires a tremendous amount of electrical current to operate efficiently.  Having battery power that will run the accessories, and outlast the angler is a key, and being able to outwork a professional angler who makes his living on the pro circuits is not easy.

That reason is precisely why MLF Bass Pro Tour angler and winner of nine national tournament titles Ish Monroe has chosen to join the Next Gen Lithium Batteries pro staff.  Monroe is running a pair of Next Gen Lithium’s 36-volt, 40 amp hour models rigged in parallel to give him an 80 amp hour system that powers his Lowrance Ghost trolling motor.

 

 

Monroe said that believing in his product is essential and that is why he chose to represent Next Gen Lithium Batteries.  “I love the NextGen Lithium, their efficiency gives me the confidence to run two 36 volt batteries which gives me all the power I need, and more space in my Battery compartment,” Monroe said.  “Next Gen Lithium batteries are lighter, which allows my boat to run faster and draft shallower to allow me to go further and fish shallower.  

Monroe added that he can fish longer with confidence.  “They also charge faster by design, which allows me to fish longer on practice days and still get a full charge.  To top it all off, the owner of the company is a tournament fisherman, so he understands and knows what is needed when I am out there on the water; I couldn’t be happier to be working with Next Gen Lithium Batteries.”

Kevin Johnson, President of Next Gen Lithium Batteries explains what goes into the product. “We have the most advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFe PO4) batteries on the market and we have learned how to keep anglers on the water longer, go further, be able to fish harder and go faster all while eliminating the excess weight of conventional batteries,” said Johnson. “We did all of this while striving to keep our prices affordable and still be able to offer and industry best 12-year warranty.” 

Johnson also explained and why they chose Monroe to be their primary spokesman. “Ish has earned a reputation for fishing hard, and for getting himself on the podium, and to do that brings the demand of the best equipment on the market,” said Johnson.  He also has a reputation of being one of the few professional anglers that works as hard for his sponsors as our batteries do for the angler, the combination of being a winner and his work ethic are why he is the perfect choice to run Next Gen Lithium Batteries, we are excited and proud to have Ish running our batteries.”

 

 

Find more information about Next Gen Lithium Batteries on their website, https://nextgenlithium.com/, on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/NextGenLithium and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/nextgenlithium/ or contact the company directly for information or to become a dealer at 623-999-4460, support@nextgenlithium.com.

About Next Gen Lithium Batteries - At Next Gen Lithium we strive to bring you the world’s best and safest lithium batteries and chargers for the marine, RV, off road and UTV customer. Made with the highest-level materials and workmanship, when you purchase from Next Gen Lithium or any of our authorized dealers if you are not happy within 30 days of your purchase feel free to return your batteries for a refund.  Next Gen Lithium offers the industry’s best 12-year warranty that is easy to activate. We strive to show everyone the Next Gen way and lead with our customer service, we want everyone to be happy and we go the extra mile to deliver!

by AnglersChannel

Sportsmans Warehouse Product Spotlight with Greg Bohannon

 

This week Lews Pro Staffer Greg Bohannon gives us a sneak peek into the new Greg Hackney Signature Series rods from Lews due in stores this summer!

by AnglersChannel

Ott DeFoe Wins Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour at Harris Chain

by AnglersChannel

AC Insider Podcast - Total Domination!

This week Bassmaster Elite Series Champ Caleb Kuphall joins the Circus for to talk about his wire-to-wire, dominating performance this past week on Guntersville. Under Armour Pro Chris Johnston joins in for the UA Fish, Countdown to the Classic and of course there is plenty more!

by AnglersChannel

Nonprofits Launch Clean Water, Habitat Protection Campaign

“Back Your Water” campaign promotes waterways, offers brag swag

 COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two South Carolina nonprofits are teaming up to help promote and protect some of the state’s most famous waterways.

 Outdoor enthusiasts have the opportunity to get some brag swag sun shirts featuring their favorite waterways with the added bonus of conserving and protecting the state’s world-famous waterways.

A partnership between the South Carolina Boating and Fishing Alliance (SCBFA) and Global Eco Adventures (GEA) has launched the “Back Your Water” campaign with the waterway shirts. A donation from the sale of each shirt will be made to much-needed clean water, habitat enhancement, and floodwater monitoring programs. The price of the shirts is $40.

 The sun shirts, made by Local Boy Outfitters of Columbia, will feature four of the state’s most premier waterways: Lake Hartwell and Lake Wylie in the Upstate; Murray in the Midlands; and Santee Cooper Lakes in the Lowcountry. The Charleston Harbor and other popular waterways will be featured on the shirts in the near future.

 “South Carolinians love their waterways,” said Gettys Brannon, CEO of the SCBFA. “We are excited for South Carolinians to be able to wear their water and contribute money directly back to the waterways we all enjoy.”

 South Carolina is the twenty-third most populous state but ranks seventh in the U.S. in registered boats per capita and sales over 725,000 fishing licenses per year.

 The Back Your Water campaign is in conjunction with the first South Carolina Boating and Fishing Week that the General Assembly has set for the week of June 7th.

 “Boating and fishing are South Carolina’s most popular outdoor recreational activities, and we all are responsible for protecting our natural resources for future generations,” said Brannon. “Global Eco Adventures for years has been dedicated to this effort. Every penny donated will go directly to their conservation efforts.”

“We are proud to stand with the South Carolina Boating and Fishing Alliance (SCBFA) as part of the “Back Your Water” campaign,” said Tom Mullikin, Chairman of the Board of GEA. “SCBFA is an important voice protecting our state’s waterways, and every dollar contributed to GEA will go directly to our programs for floodwater monitors, habitat restoration, and water cleanups,” said Mullikin.

Both Brannon and Mullikin expressed appreciation to the S. C. Department of Natural Resources for its advice and support.

“We are excited to see the SCBFA partnering on a program with GEA to raise monies for these important resource issues,” said Ross Self, SCDNR Chief of Freshwater Fisheries. “I am particularly excited to see the inclusion of habitat enhancement as a priority.  Habitat has become an increasingly critical issue as the state’s reservoirs age, and the timber and woody debris that existed when the waterways were impounded have broken down over time.  Enhancement of larger reservoir habitat is a huge effort and will require innovative thinking and partnerships to really move the needle.”

 

by AnglersChannel

Brent Chapman Tops Knockout Round at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at Harris Chain

Final 10 Anglers Set for Championship Wednesday and Final-Day Shootout for $100,000

LEESBURG, Fla. (May 25, 2021) – Toro pro Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kansas, caught 23 bass weighing 51 pounds, 12 ounces Tuesday to win the Knockout Round and advance to the final-day Championship Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida. The field has now been cut to the final 10 anglers, and competition will resume Wednesday morning with the anglers departing Leesburg’s Venetian Gardens Ski Beach at 6:30 a.m.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Lake County, 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 the Harris Chain of Lakes are:

1st:        Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 23 bass, 51-12
2nd:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 18 bass, 46-0
3rd:       Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 16 bass, 38-0
4th:       Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 14 bass, 36-14
5th:       Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 14 bass, 36-10
6th:       Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 16 bass, 35-7
7th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 13 bass, 34-15
8th:       Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, 14 bass, 29-2

They’ll be joined by Qualifying Round Winners:

Group A: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz.
Group B: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.

Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

“I knew it was going to be a special day for me when we had our 30-minute morning ride-around before lines in at 7 (a.m.),” Chapman said in his post-day interview. “The area where I wanted to sit down and start was an area that I had finished my day in on Sunday. When I pulled in there, there were birds everywhere feeding along the shoreline. There was a shad spawn going on, and when you see that many birds along the shore there are probably just as many bass under the water that you can’t see. It killed me to sit there and have to wait 20 minutes for lines in.

“Once we got going, it got going pretty quick,” Chapman continued. “But, the thing that was really crazy is that the birds dissipated pretty quickly and within 30 minutes the fishing went from really, really good to quite a bit tougher. It was interesting. You can learn a lot from the birds and I’m definitely going to be looking for as many more as I can possibly find tomorrow.”

Chapman said that he caught his fish Tuesday on just two key baits.

“Just like I’ve been doing all season, I’m fishing my strengths and sticking with the simple stuff,” the Kansas pro said. “I’m fishing a bladed jig – nothing fancy – just a shad color with chartreuse and white. And I’m throwing a big jig – 1-ounce – with a big chunk. When a good one bites, I want the upper hand so there is no sense in using anything lighter.

“Tomorrow, for me, is basically going to be that 1-2 punch,” Chapman went on to say. “I’ll have a couple of different colors of bladed jigs tied on and I’ll be flipping that big jig, and we’re going to go out and swing for the fences and see if we can’t bring home that big red trophy. It’s been a fantastic week. I just need it all to come together for me just one more day.”

Rounding out the top 40 finishers were:

11th:     Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss., 11 bass, 26-12, $10,000
12th:     Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., nine bass, 25-3, $10,000
13th:     Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 11 bass, 24-12, $10,000
14th:     John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 12 bass, 24-4, $10,000
15th:     James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., eight bass, 24-4, $10,000
16th:     Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, nine bass, 24-1, $10,000
17th:     Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 23-11, $10,000
18th:     David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., eight bass, 23-5, $10,000
19th:     James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 10 bass, 21-15, $10,000
20th:     Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., nine bass, 21-7, $10,000
21st:     Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, nine bass, 21-6, $10,000
22nd:    Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., nine bass, 20-8, $10,000
23rd:    Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., nine bass, 20-6, $10,000
24th:     Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 11 bass, 19-12, $10,000
25th:     Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 10 bass, 19-5, $10,000
26th:     Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 15-12, $10,000
27th:     Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., eight bass, 15-11, $10,000
28th:     Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 14-0, $10,000
29th:     Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., six bass, 13-9, $10,000
30th:     Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., six bass, 13-4, $10,000
31st:     Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., four bass, 12-12, $10,000
32nd:    Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., six bass, 12-4, $10,000
33rd:    Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., six bass, 12-3, $10,000
34th:     John Cox, DeBary, Fla., four bass, 12-2, $10,000
35th:     Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 11-4, $10,000
36th:     Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., three bass, 10-9, $10,000
37th:     Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., four bass, 10-8, $10,000
38th:     Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., five bass, 8-13, $10,000
39th:     Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., four bass, 8-4, $10,000
40th:     Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., three bass, 5-4, $10,000

There were 349 bass weighing 825 pounds, 14 ounces caught by the 38 pros on Tuesday.

Elam won the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award on Tuesday, catching an 8-pound, 14-ounce largemouth on a squarebill crankbait in Period 3. Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler who 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 Favorite Fishing Stage Three at the Harris Chain Presented by Bass Cat Boats is hosted by Lake County.

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 from the Venetian Gardens Ski Beach Boat Ramp, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive, in Leesburg, at 6:30 a.m. ET Wednesday. The General Tire Takeout and Championship Moment will also be held at the Ski Beach at the Venetian Gardens, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend, but encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at 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 from the final day of competition on Wednesday 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 Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at the Harris Chain of Lakes will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 25 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.

by AnglersChannel

New lifestyle frames by Costa Sunglasses offer premium lens technology in beach-ready styles

 

New Rincondo and Maya are ready for everything from a day on the coast with friends to traveling to a faraway watery world.

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 25, 2021) – Costa Sunglasses - the first manufacturer of color-enhancing, all-polarized glass sunglass lenses - grows its lifestyle collection just in time for summer with two new beach-ready lifestyle frames, the Rincondo and the feminine Maya. The new frames are built for those looking to enjoy long days on a sun-drenched beach, boat - or anywhere your adventure takes you.

 

For nearly 40 years, Costa has built a reputation for being the best sunglasses on the water. The brand's legacy continues as it welcomes two new styles to its beach lifestyle collection. With its roots in performance eyewear for anglers, Costa brings active  details to the frames with its 580 color-enhancing and polarized lens technology, durable Bio-Resin frames and Hydrolite nose and temple grips to keep your frames locked in place.

The Rincondo, a cousin to the well-loved Rincon and Rinconcito, is the paragon of style and function. With a fresh look and more coverage, the versatile frames offer a rounded lens shape and one-of-a-kind wrap that will make your sun-drenched day trip easy to enjoy.

The women’s Maya is inspired by the royal blue waters and iconic landmarks of the Yucatán. The lightweight, feminine frame has a distinctive cat-eye design and combines style with beach-ready features. Its colorways are inspired by our watery world - Shiny Sea Urchin Crystal and Shiny Coral Tortoise.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/azeUzFTSQ-46ekFFHmY8Az0VzTLutjbpITe4emvPszaJq_l9zh0M0Hht8N2LOA4DejzN8x21qSo-DKJZFLdRuzHERXm_QaFZWC6QkkE2X_CaGo6yO7ShYWIxgo8WJHz95jVrk2xy

“Maya and Rincondo give watermen and women who love the Costa lens more options that look great while still offering protection from the sun,” said TJ McMeniman, Vice President of Marketing at Costa. “Our roots are in performance eyewear, and we’ve found ways to incorporate the same active features of our pro frames into our beach lifestyle collection. The category is growing in popularity with anglers who are looking for versatile eyewear that looks as great as it performs. That’s where  Rincondo and Maya come in - they balance the best of both worlds in a fresh, new style.”

 

The Maya and Rincondo are now available at CostaSunglasses.com, where you can also find additional information on Costa and its collection of best-selling sunglasses.

by AnglersChannel

Elite Series Champ Jocumsen Leads Guntersville Trash Cleanup

Bassmaster Elite Series champion Carl Jocumsen and his wife Kayla spent Championship Sunday picking up trash along the shores of Lake Guntersville, inspiring others to join them.

Photos courtesy Carl Jocumsen

May 25, 2021

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Bassmaster Elite Series pro Carl Jocumsen had just finished a week of fishing, practicing for 15 hours each day before going all out for the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville, where he finished 13th. After six days of grinding it out from sunup to sundown, you’d think sleeping in and relaxing was the plan for Championship Sunday.

Instead, this Australian angler and his wife, Kayla, who now make their home in Tennessee, got up early and went out to pick up trash around the lake. It wasn’t a spontaneous or one-time idea.

“Kayla and I had been thinking about doing something to give back to the community that welcomed us to fish on their lake,” Carl said. “Wherever we are, during practice, I always fill my livewells with rubbish that I find floating in the water.”

The idea to extend that to land came after Jocumsen observed the trash left behind by shoreline anglers.

“It always bothered me to see so much rubbish around bridges, and there are many of those on Guntersville,” Jocumsen said.

The Jocumsens set out with a load of trash bags. They picked up trash on both sides of three bridges, collecting 10 full garbage bags during the three-hour outing.

“It was overwhelming how much trash was left behind,” Kayla said. “The reality of it all, and doing our part in a small way, left us feeling really good about the difference you can make.”

The hard work didn’t go unnoticed by shoreline anglers encountered by the Jocumsens along the way.

“It changed us, and also left a lasting and good impression on some of the people we met at the bridges,” Jocumsen said. “People saw us doing it, and then they wanted to do it, too.”

Strangers became united for a common effort when the Jocumsens gave them trash bags to use.

“People were so grateful, and it rubbed off on us,” Kayla said. “It was a life-changing experience.”

Jocumsen was later recognized by another angler, who recognized him as fishing the tournament. He was curious as to why Jocumsen was out on a Sunday morning picking up trash on Guntersville.

“I told him it doesn’t matter where you live, and that if more people did this it could make a difference everywhere,” Carl said.

That’s the long-term idea for the Jocumsens. Their plan is to stay over after each future Elite Series event and even recruit volunteers and other resources to join them in trash pickups around the lakes.

Conservation efforts are a cornerstone of the B.A.S.S. tradition, and leading efforts to collect litter can have a sizable impact on the waterways the organization and its fans frequent. In the past year, local volunteers have gathered lakeside during Bassmaster Elite events on Lake Guntersville, Lake Eufaula, Lake Fork and the St. Johns River to collect litter as part of the B.A.S.S. Nation Clean-Up Challenge sponsored by AFTCO and Huk.

“At every stop we made, it seemed like there was a lack of education about the harm leaving trash behind does to the environment,” Jocumsen said. “We want to do our part to change it.”

“B.A.S.S. was founded on three things: tournament fishing competition, youth participation and conservation,” B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland said. “(B.A.S.S. Founder) Ray Scott used to always talk about the three-legged stool. This is one of the legs, and it doesn’t get talked about a lot.”

To learn more, visit Carl Jocumsen’s page on Facebook.

by AnglersChannel

Vicchio and Smith Win Phoenix Bass Fishing League on South Holston Reservoir

Aultman Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
BRISTOL, Tenn. (May 25, 2021) – Boater Ken Vicchio of Bluff City, Tennessee wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at South Holston Presented by Googan Baits in Bristol, Tennessee. Vicchio earned $3,203 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS
RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Ken Vicchio of Bluff City, Tenn. 5 17-3 $3,203
1st Kyle Smith of Elizabethton, Tenn. 5 17-3 $4,203
3rd Tim Saylor of Johnson City, Tenn. 5 16-14 $1,424
4th Joshua Norris of Powell, Tenn. 5 16-10 $1,497
5th Josh Lee of Powell, Tenn. 5 16-6 $854
6th Tyler Altizer of Abingdon, Va. 5 15-3 $783
7th John Huff of Abingdon, Va. 5 14-7 $712
8th Bryan Leonard of Blountville, Tenn. 5 14-5 $641
9th Colton Chambers of Elizabethton, Tenn. 5 14-4 $569
10th Richard Pugh of Knoxville, Tenn. 5 14-2 $498
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Audie Aultman of Knoxville, Tenn. 5 14-11 $2,433
2nd Justin Goodman of Lancing, Tenn. 5 12-1 $1,068
3rd Blaine Miller of Rosedale, Va. 5 11-6 $712
4th Nick Coker of Knoxville, Tenn. 5 11-5 $698
5th Dylan Meade of Big Stone Gap, Va. 4 10-6 $427
6th Jonathon Kennedy of Bloomingdale, Tenn. 4 10-5 $392
7th Smiley Lewis of Easley, S.C. 4 10-4 $356
8th Dean Dalton of Keeling, Va. 5 10-3 $320
9th Jim Neece, Sr. of Bristol, Va. 4 9-15 $285
10th Gerrit Goins of Charleston, Tenn. 4 9-2 $249
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Ron Burger of Decatur, Tenn. 4-pound, 14-ounce bass $595
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Audie Aultman of Knoxville, Tenn. 5-pound, 3-ounce bass $297
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Joshua Norris of Powell, Tenn. 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 Jig Did Not Disclose
Boater V&M Chopstick Worm Did Not Disclose
Strike King Co-Angler Unspecified Spinnerbait Did Not Disclose
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
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 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 .

by AnglersChannel

Murray Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Eufaula

Thomas Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
EUFAULA, Ala. (May 25, 2021) – Boater Flint Murray of Parrott, Georgia wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Eufaula Presented by Googan Baits in Eufaula, Alabama. Murray earned $7,000 for his victory at the event.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Flint Murray of Parrott, Ga. 5 16-14 $7,000
2nd Jordan McDonald of Jackson, Ga. 5 16-12 $3,000
3rd Dalton Tankersley of Copperhill, Tenn. 5 15-11 $2,000
4th Scott Hayes of Newnan, Ga. 5 15-8 $2,100
5th Mylan Beasley of Luverne, Ala. 5 15-3 $1,200
6th Tony Muina of Wewahitchka, Fla. 5 14-7 $1,100
7th Parker Guy of Ocilla, Ga. 5 13-12 $1,000
8th Chad McMurrian of Perry, Ga. 5 13-11 $900
9th Donald Griffith of Robertsdale, Ala. 5 13-7 $800
10th Holland Harris of Dothan, Ala. 5 12-15 $700
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Will Thomas of Madison, Ga. 5 10-6 $2,960
2nd Robert Enke of Columbus, Ga. 5 8-15 $1,480
3rd Jason Sayers of Eatonton, Ga. 4 8-14 $1,728
4th Zack Tunney of Marietta, Ga. 4 8-11 $691
5th James Murphy of Phenix City, Ala. 5 8-8 $592
6th Joseph Chilcott of Crestview, Fla. 4 8-4 $543
7th Albert McNair of Watkinsville, Ga. 3 8-1 $493
8th Harrison Dunahoo of Gainesville, Ga. 3 7-11 $444
9th Mike Langdale of Sycamore, Ga. 5 7-10 $395
10th Matthew Welcher of Opelika, Ala. 5 6-13 $345
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Jeff Hendricks, Hull, Ga. 6-pound, 8-ounce bass $1,000
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Jason Sayers, Eatonton, Ga. 5-pound, 10-ounce bass $490
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Scott Hayes, Newnan, Ga. 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 Z-Man Original ChatterBait White
Strike King Co-Angler Did Not Divulge N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Bulldog 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 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 .

by AnglersChannel

Casey Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Chesapeake Bay

Seamon Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
NORTH EAST, Md. (May 25, 2021) – Boater Ed Casey of Whiteford, Maryland wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Chesapeake Bay in North East, Maryland. Casey earned $5,618 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS
RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Ed Casey of Whiteford, Md. 5 21-5 $5,618
2nd Jason Burger of Bridgeton, N.J. 5 20-9 $2,309
3rd Travis Manson of Conshohocken, Pa. 5 19-1 $1,539
4th Richard Leadbeater of Haddon Heights, N.J. 4 18-6 $1,078
5th Michael Duarte of Baltimore, Md. 5 18-2 $924
6th Matt Weber of Sykesville, Md. 5 18-1 $847
7th Ryan Bauman of Reading, Pa. 5 17-10 $770
8th Michael Sentore of Gloucester City, N.J. 5 17-7 $1,193
9th Pete Gluszek of Mt. Laurel, N.J. 5 17-3 $616
10th Joe a. Zombek, II of Scranton, Pa. 5 17-0 $539
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Michael Seamon of Tully, N.Y. 5 18-13 $2,309
2nd Griffin Ludwig of Newark, Del. 5 17-0 $1,155
3rd Andrew Wiley of Joppa, Md. 5 16-5 $770
4th Chris Jackson of Jeffersonton, Va. 5 15-10 $539
5th Samuel Jenesky of Pittsburgh, Pa. 5 14-15 $442
5th John Snyder of Nazareth, Pa. 5 14-15 $442
7th Andre Wynn of Windsor Mill, Md. 5 14-12 $385
8th John Welsh of Slatington, Pa. 5 14-4 $346
9th Darren Noble of Hainesport, N.J. 4 13-3 $288
9th Andrew Frosini of Rochester, N.Y. 5 13-3 $288
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Andrew Heivly of Malvern, Pa. 6-pound, 6-ounce bass $680
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Derek Heyne of New Freedom, Pa. 5-pound, 2-ounce bass $340
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Michael Sentore of Gloucester City, N.J. 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 Swim Jig Did Not Disclose
Strike King Co-Angler Z-Man Original ChatterBait Did Not Disclose
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Northeast 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 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 .

by AnglersChannel

Corn Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Rend Lake

West Frankfurt’s Jarvis Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
WHITTINGTON, Ill. (May 25, 2021) – Boater Toby Corn of Paducah, Kentucky wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Rend Lake Presented by TINCUP Whiskey in Whittington, Illinois. Corn earned $3,376 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS
RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Toby Corn of Paducah, Ky. 5 10-3 $3,376
1st Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo. 4 10-3 $3,176
3rd Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill. 5 9-10 $1,200
3rd Scott Rice of Cobden, Ill. 5 9-10 $1,200
5th James Powell of Murphysboro, Ill. 4 9-5 $847
6th Dan Morehead of Paducah, Ky. 5 8-13 $776
7th Luke Budde of St. Louis, Mo. 4 7-13 $706
8th Riley Walk of Neoga, Ill. 4 7-11 $635
9th William Walker of Mulkeytown, Ill. 4 7-7 $565
10th Jeremy Mull of Pawnee, Ill. 4 6-15 $494
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st James Jarvis of West Frankfort, Ill. 5 9-4 $2,318
2nd Brian McKay of Woodlawn, Ill. 4 8-13 $1,059
3rd Jordan Bowlin of Benton, Ill. 3 8-0 $706
4th Jackson Clark of Sugar Grove, Ill. 3 7-10 $494
5th Bill Grashoff of Marion, Ill. 3 6-10 $424
6th Tim Tresslar of Bloomington, Ill. 3 6-2 $388
7th Jeff Turner of Plainfield, Ill. 3 6-1 $353
8th Garrett Thompson of Bluford, Ill. 3 5-11 $318
9th Cordell Beckmann of Breese, Ill. 3 5-2 $282
10th Alan Bernicky of Joliet, Ill. 3 4-15 $372
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass John Wright of Windsor, Ill. 5-pound, 13-ounce bass $590
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Jason Korando of Chester, Ill. 3-pound, 15-ounce bass $295
* 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 Humdinger Tom Monsoor Swim Jig Did Not Disclose
Strike King Co-Angler Did Not Disclose Did Not Disclose
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Illini 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 .

by AnglersChannel

Scary Knee Infection Sidelines Terry Scroggins

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

Major League Fishing pro Terry Scroggins was forced to miss Stage Three of the Bass Pro Tour this week on the Harris Chan due to an infection in his left knee that became serious extremely quickly. Instead of competing like he planned to on Friday morning, Scroggins had emergency surgery on his knee to treat the infection.  

“I came down with a slight fever last Sunday and didn’t think much of it. Then I started to feel pain in the knee they replaced last year,” Scroggins said. “I fished the first day of practice as best as I could, but I was hurting pretty bad. I woke up Thursday and couldn’t walk. So I headed down to the Mayo Clinic and found out I had a bad infection and needed to get it taken care of as soon as possible.” 

Scroggins surgery was schedule for Friday morning to clean the infection, replace any corrupted “plastic parts” and outfit “Big Show” with a PICC Line in his right arm to give prescribed antibiotics a straight shot into the 18-year tournament veteran. 

Thankfully Scroggins was released to go home this past Sunday night and he is already on the mend. Those who know “Big Show” can attest that he isn’t the best at sitting idle, but he’ll have to force himself to relax and heal for the next few weeks. 

 

“I already feel a lot better than I did going into practice at the Harris Chain,” Scroggins said. “There is still some pain, but the pain of having to miss an event right up the road from my house is about as bad if I’m being honest. The Harris Chain is one of the best fisheries in Florida right now and I was really looking forward to it.” 

Scroggins had his left knee fully replaced this around seven months ago during the off-season in hopes he’d be ready to fish the full 2021 Bass Pro Tour schedule. Both of Scroggins’ knees were the source of constant aches and pains for the Team Toyota pro. 

After having the procedure in November, going through the arduous physical therapy and rehab process, and getting cleared by his doctor “Big Show” thought his days of worrying about that particular knee were over. 

Unfortunately his right knee is still the cause of considerable pain and he hoped to get that replaced before the 2022 season. This latest infection / procedure could delay his next knee surgery, and will certainly keep Scroggins sidelined through Stage Four of the Bass Pro Tour on Lake Chickamauga. 

Hopefully Scroggins will be fully healed and able to compete in the northern swing of the Bass Pro Tour beginning in late June. 

“I’d love to be fishing but I’m fully focused on healing up for now,” Scroggins offered. “I really appreciate all the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes from everyone. I heard them, I felt them, and I thank y’all.”

 

by AnglersChannel

Introducing the Quantum Fishing Team

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

TULSA, Okla. – Quantum is excited to introduce the Quantum Fishing Team; a new program which enables anglers of all levels to engage and interact with the brand. The iconic Oklahoma-based rod and reel manufacturer has been putting rock-solid fishing equipment into the hands of anglers since 1984.

The Quantum Fishing Team is taking place of what was formally the VIF Program. Quantum is building off the foundation the VIF Program provided to make improvements for our members and provide more opportunities to earn swag and interact with the brand. 

These improvements include a tiered rewards platform; which allows anglers to move up within the Quantum Fishing Team and earn incentives based on the Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels of membership. Climb the ranks of the program by earning points, which translate to exclusive apparel, swag, equipment, and steeper discounts on Quantum products. 

Members earn points by making Quantum-specific posts on social media, competing in fishing tournaments, making event appearances, and engaging with the brand. Along with a new platform, the Quantum Fishing Team will increase communication opportunities for program members; continuing to make improvements based on members’ input. 

“We are so excited to launch the revamped Quantum Fishing Team program and can’t wait for current and new members to experience even more incentives than before,” said Balay Hartman, Quantum’s Brand Manager. “This program is designed to reward anglers for using products and supporting a brand they already know and love.” 

Whether you are a high school or college angler, regional tournament angler, or you’re a fan of Quantum gear this new program is a perfect fit for you. It’s 100% free to register for the Quantum Fishing Team, just click here and sign up! 

If you have any questions, comments, or want to learn more about how the Quantum Fishing Team works, please reach out to us at quantum@dynamicsponsorships.com. 

by AnglersChannel

Bobby Lane Holds on To Win to Qualifying Group B at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at Harris Chain

Florida Pro Holds off Hard Charge from Tennessee’s Ott DeFoe to Advance Directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round, Field of 38 Set for Tuesday’s Knockout Round

LEESBURG, Fla. (May 24, 2021) – Berkley pro Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, boated 14 bass weighing 34 pounds, 2 ounces to hold off a hard-charging Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, and win the two-day Qualifying Group B round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida. After Lane started the day with a 24-pound lead, DeFoe’s massive rally had him within 8 pounds of Lane’s lead early in the second period, but Lane pulled away in the third and earned the victory with a two-day total of 39 bass weighing 102 pounds, 6 ounces.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Lake County, 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.

DeFoe caught a two-day total of 35 bass weighing 78-2 to end the round in second place, while General Tire pro Skeet Rese of Auburn, California, finished the round in third place with a two-day total of 22 bass weighing 60 pounds even.

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 Brett Hite, Group B winner Bobby Lane, and the top eight anglers from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for the top prize of $100,000.

“I really didn’t plan on fishing that hard today, but Ott DeFoe scared the living fire out of me,” Lane said in his post-game interview. “I had been planning to start practicing in the second round, but Ott was catching them so fast I knew it was only a matter of time before I was his next victim. We’re all competitors out here, though, and it doesn’t get much better than that. That was an awesome round.”

Lane said his key bait Monday was a black and blue-colored Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General Worm, fished with a ½-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Screw In weight on a 7-foot, 6-inch heavy Abu Garcia Fantasista Premier rod with an Abu Garcia REVO IKE casting reel spooled with 50-pound Spiderwire Ultracast Braid line.

“That bait really got it done for me today,” Lane said. “I missed a lot of fish, but I think a lot of them were small. But none of that matters anymore because we’re moving on to the Championship Round. There will only be 10 of us left on Wednesday, and I’m so excited because I get to keep a flipping stick in my hand all day long. Let’s see if this Florida boy can get it done on one of his favorite lakes.”

DeFoe, meanwhile, overcame every negative fishing superstition that you can think of on his whirlwind day.

“I ate a banana in my boat this morning, and on my very first cast I missed one on a swimjig,” DeFoe said. “So, not only did I have a banana, but I had a bite on my first cast. I did miss it, but after that it was on, quick. I caught a couple of scorable bass, then I caught a really nice one, and then it just kept rolling after that.

“The morning was really unbelievable and set the tone for the day,” DeFoe continued. “On Saturday I went to Lake Griffin, but today I stayed close and was able to use the 30-minute ride-around period to actually look around. I graphed and idled and looked at some different stuff, and by the time the 30 minutes was close to being up, I had idled a stretch that had Kissimmee Grass, a few docks, and some baitfish flipping. I just figured that looked as good as anywhere to start. It ended up being pretty special.”

DeFoe said that he caught some fish on a swimjig and a topwater bait, but his key lure was a Rapala OG Slim Crankbait in a new color – bream – set to debut at ICAST in July.

“That bait has some chartreuse and green and blue and some brown, with a white belly – it’s just an excellent dirty-water color, and that’s what we’ve got out there right now with the algae bloom,” DeFoe said.

“There is definitely some fish left there that I didn’t catch, and I’m definitely going to start there tomorrow,” DeFoe went on to say. “But, what was interesting, the area I started in and I fished down through there… eventually I ran into Andy Montgomery, who was catching them this morning. Then a little bit later, (James) Watson runs by and he was catching them today. And Alton Jones came by, and he caught them today. That area of the lake, there was a lot of fish caught today. So I hope it can produce again tomorrow.”

The top 20 pros from Qualifying Group B that now advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round on the Harris Chain of Lakes are:

1st:        Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 39 bass, 102-6 – ADVANCES TO CHAMIONSHIP ROUND
2nd:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 35 bass, 78-2
3rd:       Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 22 bass, 60-0
4th:       David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 21 bass, 59-10
5th:       Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 24 bass, 57-10
6th:       Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 25 bass, 57-4
7th:       Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 23 bass, 57-3
8th:       Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 21 bass, 54-8
9th:       Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 18 bass, 48-3
10th:     James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 19 bass, 47-10
11th:     John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 47-9
12th:     Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 19 bass, 47-0
13th:     Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 17 bass, 45-7
14th:     Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 19 bass, 44-6
15th:     Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 18 bass, 44-3
16th:     Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 19 bass, 44-0
17th:     Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 17 bass, 42-15
18th:     Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 18 bass, 41-12
19th:     John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 17 bass, 40-6
20th:     Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., 14 bass, 39-14

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 358 bass weighing 870 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the 40 pros on Monday.

Pro Aaron Martens of Leeds, Alabama, caught a 7-pound, 2-ounce largemouth on a creature craw in Period 2 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 Favorite Fishing Stage Three at the Harris Chain Presented by Bass Cat Boats is hosted by Lake County.

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 from the Venetian Gardens Ski Beach Boat Ramp, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive, in Leesburg, at 6:30 a.m. ET each day of competition. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will also be held at the Gardens, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend, but encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at 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 Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at the Harris Chain of Lakes will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 25 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.

by AnglersChannel

Hartman Wins Toyota Series Event on Lake Chickamauga

Benton Angler Wins by Ounces, Takes Home $51,500

DAYTON, Tenn. (May 23, 2021) – Toyota Series angler Jordan Hartman of Benton, Kentucky brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Chickamauga Presented by Googan Baits in Dayton, Tennessee. Hartman’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 51-13 earned him the win by a 12-ounce margin over second-place angler Seth Davis of Harrison, Tennessee and earned Hartman the top payout of $51,500 in the third and final tournament of the 2021 Toyota Series Central Division Presented by Neat Companies.

Hartman said Chickamauga in the summer suits him perfectly and was a great place to take home his first MLF win.

“I got to catch them exactly how I wanted to,” said Hartman, who is a Murray State graduate and just 24 years old. “I love fishing offshore. If I can be off the bank, I’m going to do it. I ledge fished the whole time. I spent every hour of practice looking at those screens. I committed to offshore and never went to the bank one time.

“I found about 30 schools, but there were only approximately five of them that would bite consistently,” continued Hartman. “I knew all 30 of them had potential, but you take into consideration the boats, and you can probably cut about half of those off. So, it was tough.”

With the boat traffic, fishing pressure, lack of current and negative mood of many of the offshore bass, Hartman was really the only pro in the entire Top 10 that stayed offshore exclusively.

“I had one area that I caught almost everything I’ve weighed on,” said Hartman. “It was a little high spot with some shells up there – I actually wasn’t even scanning it, I was just pulling up and fishing. There was one cast on this spot that I was catching almost every fish on. You had to bring it over the shells, and as soon as it fell off, they were sitting right on the back side.”

On his best spot, Hartman said he stuck with a Strike King 5XD and a True Bass Shuttlecock Hair Jig. Deeper, on other spots, he long-lined a Strike King 10XD.

While Hartman did much of his damage on his shallow ledge, which topped out at about 9-feet deep, he also caught fish as deep as 28 feet on the 10XD and ran at least a half dozen places each day of the event. One of his final fish, which may have given him the edge over Davis, was actually caught on a Strike King Sexy Spoon.

“I pulled up on this spot where I hadn’t had a bite all week,” said Hartman. “I also hadn’t had a bite on a spoon all week – I almost put that spoon in the box Friday night. But I pulled it out, threw it out there, and I didn’t even do anything. It just went slack. Everything just went my way this week – when you’re going to win, you’re going to win, and everything just clicked for me in this event.”

The top 10 pros on Lake Chickamauga finished:
1st:           Jordan Hartman of Benton, Ky., 15 bass, 51-13, $51,500
2nd:          Seth Davis of Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 51-01, $21,250
3rd:          Miles Burghoff of Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., 15 bass, 48-01, $14,450
4th:           Tommy Brown of Louisville, Tenn., 15 bass, 46-11, $12,250
5th:           Jeff Dyer of Oak Hill, Ohio, 15 bass, 45-11, $11,250
6th:           Cody Nichols of Fayette, Ala., 14 bass, 45-2, $9,125
7th:           Joseph Webster of Winfield, Ala., 15 bass, 44-15, $7,900
8th:           Andrew Nordbye of Guntersville, Ala., 13 bass, 44-4, $6,900
9th:           Cody Harrison of Muscle Shoals, Ala., 14 bass, 44-1, $5,900
10th:        Jeff McLain of Columbus, Miss., 15 bass, 41-3, $4,650

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jeff McLain of Columbus, Mississippi took home an additional $150 for the Day One Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, with a bass weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Mike Casada of Stearns, Kentucky won the Day Two Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, bringing a 7-pound, 9-ounce bass to the scale.

Seth Davis of Harrison, Tennessee 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 Miller of Greenville, South Carolina won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 34 pounds, 12 ounces. Miller 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 Chickamauga finished:

1st:           Michael Miller of Greenville, S.C., 15 bass, 34-12, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard motor
2nd:          Sieg Taylor of Navarre Beach, Fla., eight bass, 31-2, $6,125
3rd:          Jeremy Nash of Cookeville, Tenn., 14 bass, 30-7, $4,900
4th:           Chris Graham of Blue Ridge, Ga., 13 bass, 28-11, $3,950
5th:           Terry Ezzell of Russellville, Ala., 11 bass, 28-3, $3,450
6th:           Ronald Young of New Braunfels, Texas, 11 bass, 26-13, $2,950
7th:           Sam Howell of Somerville, Tenn., 11 bass, 26-12, $2,450
8th:           Kenneth Heckel of Santa Claus, Ind., 13 bass, 25-5, $1,975
9th:           Shawn Burton of Frankfurt, Ind., 10 bass, 24-6, $1,590
10th:        Tim Kellam of Crittendon, Ky., 10 bass, 23-5, $1,350
In the Strike King co-angler division, the $100 Day One Berkley Big Bass award winner was Angie Copas of Lucasville, Ohio, with a 7-pound, 5-ounce bass, while the $100 Day Two award went to Josh Womack of Gellatin, Tennessee with a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass.

The Toyota Series at Lake Chickamauga was Presented by Googan Baits and was hosted by Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic & Tourism Council. It was the third and final regular-season tournament in 2021 for Central Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on July 15-17 – the Toyota Series at Lake Champlain Presented in Plattsburgh, New York. 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.

by AnglersChannel

Kuphall Closes Wire-To-Wire Win At Bassmaster Elite Event On Guntersville

Caleb Kuphall, of Mukwonago, Wis., has won the 2021 Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with a four-day total of 85 pounds, 14 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

May 23, 2021

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — An Elite angler’s “walk-up” music has no bearing on tournament performance, but Caleb Kuphall’s could not have been more fitting for his dominant wire-to-wire victory in the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville, where he tallied a four-day total weight of 85 pounds, 14 ounces.

The second-year pro from Mukwonago, Wis., enters the weigh-in stage each day to the Beach Boys’ Catch a Wave. The opening verse perfectly mirrors the eye-popping Day 1 performance that gave Kuphall nearly a 6 1/2-pound lead and positioned him to ride out the slower periods and end up surging across the finish line by a huge margin.

“Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world.”

“Having as much of a lead as I did, it was very nerve wracking, because you don’t want to blow it,” Kuphall said. “You’re like ‘I’ve got this lead and if I blow it, it’s a catastrophic train wreck.’ I kinda just rode that wave.”

Earning his first Elite trophy and becoming the first Wisconsin angler to do so, Kuphall set the bar high with a Day 1 catch of 27-10. With a windy Day 2 creating position and presentation challenges, his productivity dipped to 15-10, but Kuphall retained the top spot by a 4-9 margin.

Day 3 saw him getting back on track with a 23-9 limit that pushed his lead to 11 1/2 pounds. On Championship Sunday, Kuphall started slow, picked up steady momentum and sacked up the biggest bag of the final round — 19-1 — to collect a $100,000 top prize.

Notably, Kuphall’s 17-14 margin of victory is the second largest in Bassmaster Elite Series history (behind South Carolina pro Patrick Walter’s 29-10 margin last year at Lake Fork). Kuphall is only the 11th Elite angler to win by a double-digit margin.

Kuphall caught all of his bass flipping and punching shallow vegetation. In a tournament that saw competitors trying a wide range of spring tactics, he kept it simple and stuck to a fundamentally sound game plan that helped steady his nerves.

“I don’t generally get really nervous when I’m out fishing,” he said. “Throughout today, I felt totally calm because I just had two areas, so I didn’t really have a lot of decisions to make. I wasn’t going to do anything crazy and luckily it worked out.”

Kuphall fished two main areas. The first was a vast milfoil field just outside the take-off site at Goose Pond. Here, he mostly flipped a Texas-rigged Zoom Z Hog in the green pumpkin and California 420 colors on a 4/0 extra-wide gap hook with a 3/4-ounce tungsten weight. Saturday and Sunday, he also flipped a 1-ounce Dirty Jigs No Jack Punchin’ Jig with a forktail trailer.

When his first area slowed, Kuphall ran uplake to the east side of an island just below the B.B. Comer Bridge (State Route 35). That second spot comprised two large sections of matted grass, with scattered patches of floating weeds.

Targeting isolated clumps of the thicker mats proved most productive, but Kuphall said the uplake spot was likely bolstered by a fresh supply of hefty forage.

“Area is everything and on that secondary spot, I had a lot of fish moving to me,” he said. “I didn’t go up really shallow in that area during practice, but (second-place finisher) Wes Logan did and he told me there was a ton of bream beds.

“I think what happened was when all of those bluegill got done spawning, they moved out to the mats. Every day I’d hear bluegill going nuts (eating insects) in the mats and I’d see bass blowing up on them. Those bass just stayed under those mats and ate bluegill all day.”

Reflecting on his first career Elite Series victory, Kuphall said winning against a field peppered with anglers he’s admired for years made the victory especially rewarding.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” he said. “To beat this caliber of anglers is unreal. I’ve looked up to a lot of those guys like Jason Christie and Greg Hackney (also Top 10 finishers) over the years and to fish against those guys is crazy to begin with. To hold a blue trophy — I never thought it would happen this early in my career.”

Hailing from Springville, Ala., Logan made a big comeback after placing 43rd on Day 1 with 14-1. The next two days saw him add 20-12 and 20-8 to climb into sixth, then second place. His final-round limit of 12-11 gave him a second-place total of 68-0.

Logan spent his tournament between the Goose Pond area and just above the B.B. Comer Bridge and targeted a mix of shallow scenarios. He caught fish on a ChatterBait with a Zoom Super Fluke trailer and flipped a Zoom Z Craw on 3/4- and 1-ounce tungsten weights. He also tricked a 6 1/2-pounder on Day 2 with a wacky-rigged worm.

“I caught all of my fish today flipping,” Logan said. “I was targeting little stretches of grass where it was topped out a little bit, but not completely matted out.”

Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., finished third with 67-3. His daily weights were 16-2, 17-13, 16-8 and 16-12.

Hackney caught most of his bass by punching a Strike King Rage Rodent around shallow vegetation. He also caught fish on a Strike King KVD Sexy Frog and a Strike King Hack Attack swim jig with a Rage Craw trailer.

“I used the swim jig early when it was still (low light) and the frog would be during the day while I was punching,” Hackney said. “I would either get around a bream bed or I would see one move in the mat.”

Caleb Sumrall of New Iberia, La., won the $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-6 largemouth.

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., came into the event with a big lead in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, and he did nothing to hurt his strong run at professional fishing’s biggest season-long accomplishment.

After finishing 24th this week, Feider leads the AOY race with 602 points, followed by Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., with 554, Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., with 550, Chris Johnston of Otonabee, Ontario, Canada, with 541 and Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, with 541

Bryan New of Belmont, N.C., leads the Rookie of the Year standings with 457 points.

Fourth-place finisher Christie took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, and Chris Zaldain of Fort Worth, Texas, earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Logan earned $2,500 for being the highest-placing entrant, while Christie claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

2021 Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville 5/20-5/23
Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 20 85-14 100 $102,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-10 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 23-09 Day 4: 5 19-01
2. Wes Logan Springville, AL 20 68-00 99 $35,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 5 20-08 Day 4: 5 12-11
3. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 20 67-03 98 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 16-08 Day 4: 5 16-12
4. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 20 66-09 97 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 16-15 Day 3: 5 16-08 Day 4: 5 14-06
5. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 20 65-03 96 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 20-04 Day 3: 5 19-04 Day 4: 5 15-07
6. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 20 64-13 95 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 17-15 Day 4: 5 16-12
7. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 20 64-10 94 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 16-07 Day 4: 5 15-06
8. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 20 64-08 93 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 12-02 Day 4: 5 15-03
9. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 20 63-12 92 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 19-10 Day 3: 5 13-09 Day 4: 5 11-08
10. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 20 63-10 91 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 19-13 Day 4: 5 13-12

by AnglersChannel

Hite Coasts to Group A Qualifying Round Win at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at Harris Chain

Arizona Pro Breaks the Century Mark, Boating Two-Day Total of 42 Bass Weighing 100 Pounds, 7 Ounces to Advance Directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round, 19 Anglers Advance to Knockout Round

LEESBURG, Fla. (May 23, 2021) – It turns out Brett Hite could have taken the day off. After catching a whopping 34 bass weighing 83 pounds, 5 ounces on Friday, the Phoenix, Arizona pro added eight more bass totaling 17 pounds, 2 ounces Sunday to coast to an easy victory in the Qualifying Group A round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at the Harris Chain of Lakes with a two-day total of 42 bass for 100 pounds, 7 ounces.

Hite earned the win by a 25-pound, 4-ounce margin over second place and now advances directly into the Championship Round of competition, set for Wednesday. The six-day tournament, hosted by Lake County, is being live-streamed online and filmed for television broadcast on the Discovery Channel and the Outdoor Channel later this year.

Toro pro Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kansas, caught a two-day total of 29 bass weighing 75-3 to start and end the day in second place. Jasper, Texas pro Todd Faircloth, boated a two-day total of 28 bass weighing 70-7 to end the round in third place. After starting the day in 26th place, pro Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, Arizona , was the big mover of the day Sunday, catching 17 bass weighing 44 pounds, 4 ounces to vault into fourth with a two-day total of 24 bass for 57-13. Rounding out the top five is pro Boyd Duckett of Guntersville, Alabama, who caught a two-day total of 22 bass weighing 54-10.

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 Hite, 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.

“All of the hard work that we put in pays off every once in a while, and it’s been a really good couple of days for me so far,” said Hite, who has five career wins and 33 top-10 finishes in MLF competition. “Today, it was almost like those fish were kind of in shock because the wind had been blowing 20 to 30 (miles per hour) every day for the last week and today it was dead, slick calm. I guess if I am going to have a bad execution day, it’s nice to have a 40-pound lead when I do it. I’m looking forward to a couple of days off – my shoulder needs it after what seems like 1,000 casts a day.”

Like Friday, Hite relied mainly on a Z-Man Jackhammer and an EverGreen Grass Ripper swimjig to catch his fish.

“The bread and butter bait for me today was the (Z-Man) Jackhammer StealthBlade (green pumpkin shad) with a Yamamoto Zako trailer,” Hite said. “We designed this bait – EverGreen, myself and Morizo Shimizu – for days like this. In the slick calm conditions, those fish are just real finicky, and the StealthBlade just doesn’t vibrate quite as hard as the regular Jackhammer. I threw it with 14 or 16-pound Sunline FC Sniper fluorocarbon line and that’s what I caught most of my fish on today.

“I also caught some key fish on an original ½-ounce (Z-Man) Jackhammer (green shad), also with a Yamamoto Zako (sight flash) with 20-pound Sunline FC Sniper fluorocarbon,” Hite continued. “I threw it on a 7-foot, 3-inch heavy-action EverGreen Combat Stick with a 6:3:1 Daiwa Tatula Elite reel. And I let the cat out of the bag this week on our new swimjig. I worked on this thing for about a year and it’s going to be coming out in a couple of weeks – the new EverGreen Grass Ripper swimjig. I fished that with a Yamamoto Zako Paddletail Swimbait (sight flash) with 20-pound Sunline fluorocarbon line and a Daiwa Tatula Elite with a 7:1 gear ratio.

“I’m super excited to advance into the Championship Round on Wednesday,” Hite went on to say. “I’ve got a good game plan, and we’re going to let those fish rest and hopefully have a shot to win this thing.”

Tuskegee, Alabama pro Mark Daniels Jr. felt the pressure of the SCORETRACKER leaderboard on Sunday. After starting the day in 10th place, Daniels found himself sitting in 21st place, outside the Toro Cut Line, with just six minutes left in the day. Luckily for Daniels, he caught a 1-pound, 8-ounce largemouth as the clock ticked down to overtake pro Randy Howell by just 5 ounces and advance to the Knockout round in the final spot.

“Oh my gosh, that was one of the most stressful days of my entire career,” a relieved Daniels said in his post-game interview. “I don’t have any gray hairs yet, but I think I might have gotten a couple after today. I was trying to fish the conditions, but nothing was working. I had to fall back on what got me here, a Z-Man ChatterBait with a Z-Man RaZor ShadZ trailer. And golly, I can’t believe it was a 1-8. Literally the fish that I needed. He could have been a 1-7 and I wouldn’t be here. Unreal. I’m so, so happy that I’m going to get another opportunity in the Knockout Round.”

The top 20 pros from Qualifying Group A that now advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round on the Harris Chain of Lakes are:

1st:        Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 42 bass, 100-7
2nd:       Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 29 bass, 75-3
3rd:       Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 28 bass, 70-7
4th:       Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 24 bass, 57-13
5th:       Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., 22 bass, 54-10
6th:       Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss., 23 bass, 54-8
7th:       Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 21 bass, 54-1
8th:       Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 25 bass, 54-0
9th:       James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 21 bass, 53-5
10th:     Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 25 bass, 52-13
11th:     Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 22 bass, 52-13
12th:     Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, 24 bass, 52-1
13th:     Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 23 bass, 51-14
14th:     Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 21 bass, 51-14
15th:     Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe, Fla., 19 bass, 51-7
16th:     Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 24 bass, 48-15
17th:     Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 22 bass, 47-4
18th:     Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 18 bass, 46-3
19th:     Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 14 bass, 41-3
20th:     Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 15 bass, 39-7

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 327 bass weighing 776 pounds, 15 ounces caught by 38 pros on Sunday.

Elam won Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 9-pound, 1-ounce largemouth on a squarebill crankbait 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 Favorite Fishing Stage Three at the Harris Chain Presented by Bass Cat Boats is hosted by Lake County.

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 from the Venetian Gardens Ski Beach Boat Ramp, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive, in Leesburg, at 6:30 a.m. ET each day of competition. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will also be held at the Gardens, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend, but encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at 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 Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at the Harris Chain of Lakes will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 25 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.

by AnglersChannel

Last Minute Heroics for MDJ

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

Stage Three of the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour offered plenty of drama today at the conclusion of Group A’s Qualifying Round on the Harris Chain of Lakes. Mark Daniels Jr. and Randy Howell played leapfrog on the Toro Cut Line throughout the third period, which culminated in MDJ catching one last scoreable bass in the waning minutes of competition to lock in the 20th spot.   

By sliding into the 20th place position in the last five minutes, the Toyota Bonus Bucks angler secured his qualification for Tuesday’s Knockout Round, with just 5-ounces separating him from Randy Howell. Talk about last minute heroics.  

“Man it is so dang stressful to be right there on the cut line as the clock is winding down,” Daniels Jr. said. “I don’t like being in that position at all, but thankfully for me I ended up on the shiny side today. I’m not happy I put myself in that position, but I’m grateful it turned out the way it did.” 

The always-gracious Bill Lewis pro started the day in 10th place and was hopeful he could wind up enough fish to cruise into the Knockout Round, but changing weather conditions threw a wrench into that plan. On the first day of his Qualifying Round, MDJ caught every bass on a reaction bait but he struggled to get that pattern going today. 

“The lack of wind really seemed to hurt the bite I was on,” MDJ explained. “It becomes extremely hard to fool Florida bass with a reaction bait when it slicks off.” 

Daniels Jr. tried of plethora of other techniques, and actually caught one key scoreable bass with a flipping stick, but ultimately had to go back to the well with a moving bait to give him the boost he needed. 

Team Toyota pro Jacob Wheeler travels with MDJ on the Bass Pro Tour and was unfortunately on the other side of the cut line drama today in the sunshine state. Wheeler finished the day just over 4-pounds out of 20th place and lost a big bass on a crankbait with just a few minutes remaining in dramatic fashion. 

Wheeler is coming off his third Bass Pro Tour victory on Lake Travis just a couple short weeks ago and will have to live vicariously through his travel mates Dustin Connell and Mark Daniels Jr. this week. Both anglers advanced to the Knockout Round today and will start fishing again Tuesday morning with a clean slate. 

“The beauty of this Major League Fishing format is I can absolutely still win this tournament,” Daniels Jr. proposed. “I barely squeaked in to the Knockout Round, but come Tuesday the weights will be zeroed and anything can happen.”

 

by AnglersChannel

Bobby Lane Leads Group B at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at the Harris Chain

Florida Pro Catches 25 Bass Weighing 68 Pounds, 4 Ounces to Grab Early Lead for Group B, Group A to Complete Two-Day Qualifying Round Sunday

LEESBURG, Fla. (May 22, 2021) – After a back-and-forth battle at the top of the leaderboard during Period 1, Berkley pro Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, surged ahead in Period 2 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Three at the Harris Chain Presented by Bass Cat Boats event in Leesburg, Florida. Lane caught a total of 25 bass on Saturday – including a pair of 6-pounders and several 4-pounders – to lead Qualifying Group B with 68 pounds, 4 ounces.

The Lakeland pro ended the day with a 24-pound advantage over second-place pro David Walker of Sevierville, Tennessee, who caught 14 bass weighing 44 pounds, 4 ounces. Pro Keith Poche of Pike Road, Alabama , sits 3 pounds, 12 ounces behind Walker, ending the day in third place with 15 bass weighing 40-8.

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 Lake County, 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.

Ending Period 1 in second place behind Poche, Lane caught a 4-pounder in the middle of Period 2 that moved him to the top of the leaderboard – and he never looked back.

“Today was a lot of hooksets and a lot of fun,” said Lane, 2016 Challenge Cup Champion on the Harris Chain of Lakes. “The wind was my friend and I basically had the whole entire South side of Lake Harris to myself.”

Lane, who never went more than an hour without padding his lead with a scoreable bass, said he caught almost all his fish flipping a Berkley PowerBait Power Hawg with a ½-ounce weight and a 4/0 Berkley Fusion19 hook along grass lines.

“This was one of the best days of flipping I’ve had in a while and the windy conditions were a huge benefit today,” said Lane. “The Berkley Power Hawg is perfect for the grass I’m flipping in and I tied on a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General as a back-up when my Power Hawg got hung up.”

Lane said he expects the conditions to change by Monday but he’s excited to have won the first round and to go back out on the water with the security of a 24-pound lead.

“My goal is to get into that Championship Round and I’m going to do whatever I can to make that happen,” said Lane. “If the water is slick and calm like I anticipate, I plan to focus on finding really thick clumps of grass where the fish are hiding in the shade. I may even venture over to the other side of Lake Harris.”

Location didn’t seem to matter much for Walker, who racked up several 4-pounders throughout the day in different areas across the lake.

“The way things were going during that second period had me a little worried, but thankfully I did well in the first and third period,” said Walker. “We’re still in it and we’re doing good – looking forward to getting back out there on Monday.”

The top 20 pros in Qualifying Group B after Day 1 on the Harris Chain of Lakes are:

1st:           Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 25 bass, 68-4
2nd:          David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 14 bass, 44-4
3rd:          Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 15 bass, 40-8
4th:           Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 14 bass, 36-1
5th:           Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 16 bass, 35-10
6th:           Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-4
7th:           John Cox, DeBary, Fla., seven bass, 28-2
8th:           Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 12 bass, 27-5
9th:           Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 11 bass, 27-3
10th:        Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., nine bass, 27-2
11th:        Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 11 bass, 26-10
12th:        Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., nine bass, 23-15
13th:        Tai Au, Glendale, Ariz., eight bass, 21-0
14th:        Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 20-6
15th:        Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., eight bass, 20-1
16th:        Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., four bass, 17-14
17th:        Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., six bass, 17-0
18th:        Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., eight bass, 16-8
19th:        Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., eight bass, 15-12
20th:        Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., eight bass, 15-6

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 290 bass weighing 747 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the 40 pros on Saturday.

Shryock won Saturday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in an 8-pound, 6-ounce largemouth on a creature bait during Period 3. 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 Favorite Fishing Stage Three at the Harris Chain Presented by Bass Cat Boats is hosted by Lake County.

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 from the Venetian Gardens Ski Beach Boat Ramp, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive, in Leesburg, at 6:30 a.m. ET each day of competition. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will also be held at the Gardens, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend, but encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at 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 Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at the Harris Chain of Lakes will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 25 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.

by AnglersChannel

Kuphall Extends Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On Lake Guntersville

Caleb Kuphall, of Mukwonago, Wis., is leading after Day 3 of the 2021 Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with a three-day total of 66 pounds, 13 ounces.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

May 22, 2021

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Knowing when to shift gears rewarded Caleb Kuphall with a five-bass limit of 23 pounds, 9 ounces, which helped him extend his lead in the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with a three-day total weight of 66 pounds, 13 ounces.

Holding the top spot since Day 1, the pro from Mukwonago, Wis., set the pace with a first-round limit of 27-10 — the tournament’s biggest bag — and followed with 15-10. After the first two days found Kuphall with leads of 6-7 and 4-9, he enters Championship Sunday 11 1/2 pounds ahead of Alabama pro Wes Logan.

“The more the better,” Kuphall said of his numerical advantage. “If you’re going to lead, you might as well lead big, I guess. I don’t know; I’ve never been in this position before.

“It feels great to be in the lead, but I’m going to be nervous tonight.”

As he has done the past two days, Kuphall began on a large milfoil bed close to takeoff. The area yielded much of his weight on Days 1 and 2, but intense fishing pressure — from him and other anglers — has steadily decreased the area’s productivity.

Kuphall had been Texas-rigging a Zoom Z Hog in the California 420 color on a 4/0 extra-wide gap hook with a 3/4-ounce tungsten weight, but today he switched to a 1-ounce Dirty Jigs No Jack Punchin’ Jig with a forktail trailer.

“I was just trying to show them something different,” Kuphall said of his bait change. “They started taking my (Texas rig) really lightly and I was missing a couple.

“Generally, with that jig, if they get it, you’re gonna get them. It’s just a better hookup percentage.”

Around 9 a.m., Kuphall had four fish for approximately 10 1/2 pounds, so he pulled the plug and relocated to his secondary spot — a large milfoil bed near the B.B. Comer Bridge (State Route 35). Expansive cover with lots of sunfish and big gizzard shad presented a promising scenario.

Within 30 minutes of arriving, Kuphall experienced a flurry that started with a 6-pounder and followed with two in the 4-pound class. Adding two more quality fish later in the day, Kuphall culled all the fish he’d caught on his starting spot.

“I knew the big fish were there,” he said. “I just got on a good stretch and conditions were just right today.

“The sun was positioning the fish in those mats and the wind was so light it wasn’t affecting my ability to fish the mats. Everything just set up perfectly to go in there and do damage.”

On Day 2, Kuphall found the stronger wind was compacting the mats and making presentations more difficult. Also, he had to use higher trolling motor power, which likely spooked the fish. Today’s conditions allowed him to leisurely work isolated grass clumps on the mat’s perimeter.

“I was looking for the thickest stuff available; the thicker the better,” Kuphall said. “You’d flip in there and they’d destroy the bait as soon as it gets through.

“I was using a Z Hog with an ounce weight. I try to go as light as possible because I miss a lot of fish if you go too heavy on the weight.”

Looking ahead to Championship Sunday, Kuphall said he’ll give his first spot a chance to produce, but unless he finds a big bite, he’ll transition to his spot near the B.B. Comer Bridge much earlier.

“By the way my first area’s going, I’m thinking I’m going to spend a lot of time in (the second spot) tomorrow,” he said.

Hailing from Springville, Ala., Logan bolstered his first two limits of 14-1 and 20-12 with a third-round bag of 20-8 and tallied 55-5. Fresh off his win at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake, Logan caught all of his bass by flipping milfoil mats in the same general area where Kuphall spent most of his day.

“There’s so much floating eelgrass that it’ll get blown into a milfoil mat and make a canopy that they’ll get under,” Logan said. “I’m flipping three or four different baits and a couple of them have different actions. I’m in really thick cover, I threw a beaver-style bait and in the open stuff, I’m flipping a Zoom Z Craw.”

Logan said he’s optimistic about Championship Sunday because, in addition to his mat pattern, he noticed an increase in shoreline activity — big bass staking out bream beds.

“I saw a lot of fish this afternoon that weren’t there this morning or yesterday,” Logan said. “They may be flooding offshore, but there’s a lot of them that aren’t leaving the bank.”

Canadian pro Chris Johnston is in third with 52-4. He entered Day 3 in second place, but fell one spot after a slower bite added 13-9 to his previous weights of 19-1 and 19-10.

Johnston started his day targeting an offshore hard spot in about 10 feet where he caught fish on a drop shot with a Roboworm in the morning dawn color. He returned to the pad field that yielded a couple of big bites on a Spro Popping Frog on Day 2, but could not get that pattern going.

“My starting spot has gotten a lot of pressure and I just didn’t get the big ones to bite today,” Johnston said. “There’s tons of fish there; you can see them (on the graph), but it’s very tough to get bites now.”

After his frog pattern fizzled, Johnston tried a few different areas and ultimately caught a couple of small keepers off beds.

Caleb Sumrall of New Iberia, La., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-6 largemouth.

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., leads the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 602 points. Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., is second with 554, followed by Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., with 550, Johnston with 547 and Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, with 541.

Bryan New of Belmont, N.C., leads the Rookie of the Year standings with 457 points.

The Top 10 remaining anglers will take off at 5:30 a.m. CT on Championship Sunday from Scottsboro's Goose Pond Colony Resort Marina. The weigh-in will be held back at Goose Pond at 2 p.m., with $100,000 going to the winner.

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.

by AnglersChannel

Brett Hite Jumps Out to Early Lead at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour – Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at the Harris Chain

Phoenix, Arizona Pro Leads After Day 1 of Qualifying Round Group A with 34 Bass Weighing 83 Pounds, 5 Ounces – Group B to Compete Saturday

LEESBURG, Fla. (May 21, 2021) – Pro Brett Hite of Phoenix, Arizona, dominated the field on Friday, catching 34 bass totaling a staggering 83 pounds, 5 ounces, to grab the early lead in Qualifying Group A on Day 1 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Three at the Harris Chain Presented by Bass Cat Boats event. The six-day tournament, hosted by Lake County, 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.

Hite will bring a commanding 40-pound, 9-ounce, lead into the second day of competition for Group A on Sunday, nearly doubling the weight of the second-place angler. Toro pro Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kansas, who ran neck-in-neck with Hite during Period 1, caught 16 bass weighing 42-12 to end the day in second place, while Alabama pro Boyd Duckett of Guntersville sits in third place, 3 pounds back of Chapman with 16 bass weighing 39-12.

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.

Hite was in the same general area throughout the day as several other pros, yet he put on a ChatterBait clinic, shooting ahead on the SCORETRACKER®  early in Period 2.

“I’m in awe of the day – this is one of the type of days that you dream about,” said Hite. “I found a massive area with a lot of fish during practice. I’m fishing the way I love to fish, catching plenty of fish and a bunch of big ones.

“It really came down to two different ChatterBait Jack Hammers that were the bread and butter for me,” continued Hite. “A BHite Delight-colored ½-ounce with a metal blade and a green pumpkin-colored Yamamoto Zako  as well as a ½-ounce  Jack Hammer StealthBlade with a Yamamoto Zako trailer.”

Hite said both baits had seen their fair share of action throughout the day.

“This bait looks like it should after a full day – all beat up, with teeth marks and paint coming off – that’s the mark of a good day,” said Hite. “I caught a lot of fish, and an 8-pounder on that ChatterBait. I’m really looking forward to going fishing on Sunday and hopefully making that Championship Round.”

Hite credited his sweet setup of an Evergreen rod, a Daiwa Tatula Elite reel and 20-pound Sunline fluorocarbon for his exceptional start to the event.

Chapman was also thrilled with his Day 1 results, taking advantage of his lead later in the day to practice and learn more about the water he’s fishing. That practice resulted in three additional fish in the third and final period and a second-place finish.

“To catch that many scoreable bass in a day is just phenomenal,” said Chapman. “I’m familiar with this fishery, but not at this time of year, so I wasn’t really sure how it would fish. I’m really happy with how my practice went this week and it really paid off today.”

The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on the Harris Chain of Lakes are:

1st:           Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 34 bass, 83-5
2nd:          Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 16 bass, 42-12
3rd:          Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., 16 bass, 39-12
4th:           Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 15 bass, 37-15
5th:           Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 12 bass, 32-14
6th:           Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss., 13 bass, 32-13
7th:           James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 15 bass, 32-7
8th:           Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 13 bass, 31-11
9th:           Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 13 bass, 30-0
10th:        Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 11 bass, 28-12
11th:        Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 13 bass, 26-6
12th:        Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 11 bass, 25-8
13th:        Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., seven bass, 25-0
14th:        Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., eight bass, 24-3
15th:        Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 10 bass, 24-0
16th:        Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 22-0
17th:        Shin Fukae, Thomson, Ga., 10 bass, 20-0
18th:        Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., nine bass, 19-4
19th:        Jared Lintner, Arroyo Grande, Calif., eight bass, 17-5
20th:        Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., seven bass, 15-12

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 332 bass weighing 797 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 38 pros on Friday.

Britt Myers won Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 9-pound, 8-ounce largemouth on a bladed jig during 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 Favorite Fishing Stage Three at the Harris Chain Presented by Bass Cat Boats is hosted by Lake County.

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 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 from the Venetian Gardens Ski Beach Boat Ramp, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive, in Leesburg, at 6:30 a.m. ET each day of competition. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will also be held at the Gardens, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend, but encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at 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 Favorite Fishing Stage Three Presented by Bass Cat Boats at the Harris Chain of Lakes will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 25 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.

by AnglersChannel

Kuphall Maintains Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On Lake Guntersville

Caleb Kuphall, of Mukwonago, Wis., is leading after Day 2 of the 2021 Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with a two-day total of 43 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

May 21, 2021

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — On Thursday, Caleb Kuphall said he was concerned he’d exhausted his Day 1 hot spot, but the area still held enough quality fish to help him maintain his lead at the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with a two-day total of 43 pounds, 4 ounces.

Sacking up a Day 1 limit of 27-10 — the tournament’s biggest bag so far — the pro from Mukwonago, Wis., carried a lead of 6-7 into Friday’s competition. Adding 15-10, Kuphall heads into Saturday’s semifinal round with a 4-9 margin over Canadian Chris Johnston.

Starting both days on a large milfoil bed not far from takeoff, Kuphall has done most of his work in a relatively small area within this sprawling habitat. Other boats were fishing around him, but Kuphall has dialed in a particular sweet spot.

“There’s a lot of pressure in that spot; today, there was another two boats in there and another one came in later on,” Kuphall said. “There’s still a lot of fish there; I got bit pretty much up until I left around 9:30. I just don’t think I can get another two days out of it.”

Kuphall is catching his bass on a Zoom Z-Hog in the California 420 color. He’s rigging the bait on a 4/0 extra-wide gap hook with a 3/4-ounce tungsten weight.

Once his starting spot fizzled, Kuphall ran about 15 minutes uplake to fish a matted milfoil bed. This area holds scattered pads, but he said the secondary habitat isn’t factoring into his game plan.

“You have the mat line, and what I’m fishing is out from that,” he said. “It’s a little deeper water and the isolated grass clumps are key to getting my bites. I really haven’t gotten any bites fishing the line.

“I’m using the Z-Hog here too, but I’m using a 1-ounce weight. If the wind blows again tomorrow, I may have to go to an ounce and a quarter or an ounce and a half.”

On Day 1, Kuphall’s second spot yielded two sizable culls, but on Friday it afforded only a 1/4-pound upgrade. He noted that Friday’s wind impeded his efficiency on his uplake area.

“The wind was coming right up the gut and I had my trolling motor on 80 to 100% just to hold in that area,” he said. “When you’re shallow like that in the mats, I think I was spooking a lot of fish before I was getting to them.”

Assessing his day, Kuphall said he’s pleased with his position but thankful for a huge first round, which buoyed his weight. Overall, Friday proved considerably more challenging.

“One of my areas is drying up on me and the other one ... I just didn’t catch them today,” he said. “I think I’m going to have to look for something else to do because I don’t see that first spot holding up another two days.

“It was a grind today. I only caught about 10 fish today. I was hoping I’d get some bigger bites, but I didn’t get them. But tomorrow’s another day.”

Kuphall said he plans on giving his starting spot another look Saturday, but he won’t burn much time there unless he finds a big bite early.

“I have a couple of other areas that I haven’t touched yet,” he said. “They’re (mostly) keeper areas; just limit areas. If I get into trouble, I can go and get a couple of bites.”

Hailing from Peterborough, Ontario, Johnston added 19-10 to the 19-1 he caught Thursday and gained three spots from fifth with a total weight of 38-11.

Johnston caught three of his limit fish by throwing a bream-colored Spro Poppin’ Frog over pads. He caught the other two while fishing a drop shot with a Roboworm in the morning dawn color over an offshore hard spot in about 10 feet.

“I didn’t go to my frog area on Day 1 because I had two 3-pounders blow up on it in practice and I was saving it in case I needed it,” Johnston said. “Luckily, it worked out today and there were more fish there than I thought. I wasn’t expecting to get those big ones and that many.”

Luke Palmer of Coalgate, Okla., is in third with 37-3. After placing eighth on Day 1 with 17-12, Palmer added a limit of 19-7, which included a 5 1/2-pounder.

Palmer divided his day between throwing a Zara Spook in shallow water and rotating through a drop shot, jerkbait and rattlebait in deeper grass.

“I’m just mixing it up and trying to figure out what the fish want,” Palmer said. “You’re liable to go down one stretch, turn around and come back with another bait and just wreck them.”

Caleb Sumrall of New Iberia, La., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-6.

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., leads the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 612 points. Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is in second with 557, followed by Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., with 554, Johnston with 548 and Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., with 541.

Bryan New of Belmont, N.C., leads the Rookie of the Year standings with 463 points.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 5:30 a.m. CT from Scottsboro's Goose Pond Colony Resort Marina. The weigh-in will be held back at Goose Pond at 2 p.m. After Saturday’s weigh-in, only the Top 10 remaining anglers will advance to Championship Sunday with a chance at the $100,000 first-place prize.

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.

by AnglersChannel

Britt Myers Wrestles With Wrist Injury and 9-lber

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

Major League Fishing pro Britt Myers woke up Wednesday morning to start practice on the Harris Chain of Lakes for Stage Three of the Bass Pro Tour but immediately felt something was seriously wrong with his right wrist. The General Tires pro said his wrist was completely fine when he went to bed, but woke up to a swollen hand and intense pain. 

Myers is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet off the water, but he’s a fierce competitor on the water; he’s fished through pain plenty of times in his career but this time it was almost unbearable. He gave up precious practice time to head to the local Urgent Care.  

“I seriously think I am dealing with maybe 10% function in my right hand,” Myers said. “The nurse at the Urgent Care couldn’t tell me exactly what it was. She thought it could be tendonitis but I’ve had surgeries in the past and know all about tendonitis. This one feels different.” 

After spending a lot of time icing and babying his wrist, the longtime owner of CS Motorsports in North Carolina decided he was just going to have to grit his teeth and fish through the discomfort to the best of his abilities on the Harris Chain. 

While day one of his Qualifying Round didn’t go as well as it could have without dealing with the injury, Myers certainly made the most of his predicament; catching 25-lbs. of bass, including a 9-pound 8-ounce giant, to finish the day in 13th place. 

“I literally fished the entire day one handed,” Myers said in disbelief. “I lost so many fish that could have been scoreables because I couldn’t set the hook properly. I was a mess out there. But I’m super thankful for that big bass and the other fish I did catch… today could have been much more of a train wreck.” 

Like most, Myers is right handed. He typically casts with his right hand, reels with his right hand, and grabs big bass at the edge of his boat with his right hand. Today that all had to change. 

“As long as I could keep the rod straight and the fish came right at me, I could reel them in like I was working a pencil sharpener without too much pain,” Myers said. “But as soon as a fish would surge to the left or right I was practically helpless. My range of motion is so limited right now and I can’t put tension on my right hand.” 

Myers promises the scene was absolute chaos when he hooked and eventually landed the big bass of the day, which earned him $1000, and he believes he caught it all on GoPro. That video will likely publish on his social media pages in the days to come, but first Myers is going to focus on rehabbing his wrist and qualifying for the Knockout Round.

 

by AnglersChannel

Steady Winds Will Play a Factor on Harris Chain

Courtesy of Luke Stoner -Dynamic Sponsorships

 

 Major League Fishing pros headed out on the vast and beautiful Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida to kick off the Favorite Fishing Stage Three this morning. The eight individual lakes of the Harris Chain covering over 75,000 acres of water offer a myriad of ways Bass Pro Tour anglers can target scoreable bass this week.

 

While it’s hard to know what to expect in terms of presentations, techniques, or bait selection; one thing MLF pros anticipate is strong winds from the east these first two days of competition.

 

“The winds have been blowing hard out of the east since we got here,” James Elam said. “It’s not dangerous or anything, but it definitely limited the areas you could effectively fish in practice. The wind has churned up the water in a lot of spots I thought could be good and affected the water quality.”

 

The Oklahoma native and longtime Toyota Bonus Bucks member said the easterly winds will have both fish and anglers bunched up in certain areas on the Harris Chain. Something Elam and the rest of the Major League Fishing pros are used to in the sunshine state.

 

“Florida fisheries always seem to fish small,” Elam said. “But I don’t get too worried if I’m fishing around other anglers down here. If the fish are there, sometimes you have to be willing to fish around a crowd.”

 

Sure some areas will be negatively affected by turbulent water due to the steady winds, but the same breeze will undoubtedly turn other areas and groups of fish on like a light switch.

 

Kevin VanDam has made millions of dollars throughout his career capitalizing on this type of scenario. KVD plans on leaning into the wind, using his equipment to help deal with what Mother Nature throws at him and his fellow competitors.

 

“It’s all about the grass down here in Florida. Whether it’s Kissimmee grass and lily pads around the shoreline or the offshore eelgrass and hydrilla,” VanDam explained. “Taking advantage of the Minn Kota Raptors, electronics, and spot lock capabilities on my boat are going to be key in all this wind.”

 

VanDam relies on these tools because they give him the ability to make pinpoint casts and presentations to fish keying in on subtleties in the aquatic vegetation. Shallow water anchors like Power Poles and Raptors always play an important role for anglers when fishing in Florida, and that’ll be no different for Major League Fishing pros on the Harris Chain this week.

 

by AnglersChannel

Sumrall’s birthday bass is biggest of the day at Guntersville Elite

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

 

Caleb Sumrall may not be leading the Berkley Bassmaster Elite Series tournament at Lake Guntersville, but catching the biggest bass of the day on his 34th birthday provided a pretty strong gift. Sumrall caught the 7 pound 6 ounce beast of a largemouth at high noon after a morning that fell well short of a party.

 

“This fish was a total day saver, or maybe even a tournament saver, because the first five hours of my birthday out there was not a good scene,” smiled Sumrall.

 

Sumrall sees life’s big picture clearly, realizing that catching fish is his job, but not his highest priority. “I’ve got two awesome healthy kids, a super sweet and supportive wife, and I’m fishing for a living, that’s a pretty good place to be at age 34, and while there’s still stress, it’s a different kind of stress than I had in my previous job,” says the Carhartt pro.

 

One of bass fishing’s all-time great Cinderella stories, Sumrall had just been laid-off from his job in the oil field industry when he won the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Lake Hartwell in October, 2017 to make enough money to keep the bills paid and get an invite to the Bassmaster Elite Series.

 

“I was managing 100 employees and trying to keep a $25 Million dollar a year company happy before I lost that job. That was stressful. And obviously this career is stressful too, but a better kind of stress,” says a reflective Sumrall.

 

Sumrall is rooming with Chris and Cory Johnston, as well as his close buddy Lee Livesay, and ironically, May 20th is Cory’s birthday too, so there’s a strong chance a few celebratory ‘cold pops’ might get consumed in Guntersville among the fun-loving bunch Thursday night.

 

But at the core of his 34th birthday is gratefulness and fellowship.

 

“Five years from now when I turn 39, I want to be known as a good guy, an honest and fun guy to be around, and hopefully have a couple Elite Series wins under my belt. The fellowship among the Elite Series pros is the best it’s ever been, and why not shoot for the stars, right?” quizzed Sumrall in conclusion.

 

You bet, pal. It’s your birthday. Shoot for the stars. And the 7-pounder you caught on your 34th birthday should provide a big boost toward a great weekend ahead.

by AnglersChannel

Kuphall Builds Hefty Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On Guntersville

Caleb Kuphall, of Mukwonago, Wis., is leading after Day 1 of the 2021 Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with 27 pounds, 10 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

May 20, 2021

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — A fast start plus two afternoon upgrades yielded a five-bass limit of 27 pounds, 10 ounces for Caleb Kuphall of Mukwonago, Wis., who leads Day 1 of the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville.

Heading into Day 2, Kuphall holds a lead of 6-7 over veteran South Carolina pro Todd Auten.

According to BassTrakk’s unofficial standings, Kuphall had secured a limit of approximately 19-4 by 6:58 a.m. Registering his first keeper — a 2-12 — 24 minutes after the 5:30 takeoff, Kuphall quickly added four more keepers, including two over 5 pounds.

About 30 minutes after securing the day’s first limit, Kuphall upgraded to 21-12. Several hours passed without further improvement, but shortly after noon, he added a 4-8 and followed with a 5-8 just before 1 p.m.

Noting that he fished two different areas, Kuphall described his primary spot as a classic postspawn staging area. Located in a large spawning cove, the area he targeted provided a natural stopping point for bass on their way out toward summer habitat.

“It was a point with a big mat of milfoil going out to the main lake,” he said. “I got back-to-back bites — in the morning, I caught a 6- and a 5 1/2-pounder on the very next cast.

“I kind of had two things going today, and the first one was a supershallow deal. I caught two of my weigh-in fish in about 3 feet of water, and the rest of them came in about 6 feet.”

Kuphall kept his bait details guarded, but he noted that a bottom-oriented presentation tempted all of his bites. He used multiple colors, but he said the appearance is less important than the presentation.

“It’s a reaction bite; a fast-fall kind of deal,” he said.

Kuphall said he ended up having to fish his area out, as a fellow competitor was showing interest. He’s hopeful that a few quality fish remain, so he’ll explore it again on Day 2.

“I hit it pretty hard, I don’t think there’s much left there,” he said. “I’m going to give it a go tomorrow and hopefully get a few bites off of it.

“It’s not something that’s going to hold up for multiple days. It’s pretty much a one-and-done deal.”

In second place, Auten sacked up a limit that weighed 21-3. His morning also started quickly, but it took a few hours for him to dial in the quality bites.

“About 9:30, I had one fish — a 7-pounder — but I pulled into a little place and caught a couple of good ones, messed around and caught another good one,” Auten said. “That was about it on the big fish and then I caught a couple more 2-pounders.

“I struggled, really. I just got lucky and got a couple of good bites. It might be the area. I’ll have to go back in there tomorrow and see.”

Auten described his most productive area as a windblown point where prespawn and postspawn fish were staging. A crankbait and spinnerbait produced all of his weight, with the 7-pounder biting the latter.

Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is in third with 20-12. One week after winning the Basspro.com Bassmaster Northern Open at James River, Palaniuk took a mobile approach to tracking down Guntersville’s transitioning bass.

Having gone through about 35 baits Thursday, Palaniuk said he caught all of his weight on two reaction baits. One of them was a Storm Arashi Glide Bait in the black silver shad color.

“I saw a piece of cover and said, ‘I have to stop and throw a glide on that,’” he said. “I caught a 3-pounder and one that was about 5 1/2.

“I was just trying to cover water. I feel like these fish are moving so much, you have to stay on top of them.”

Caleb Sumrall of New Iberia, La., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-6.

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., maintained his lead in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 602 points. Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., is in second with 574, followed by Palaniuk with 560, Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., with 552 and Chris Johnston of Peterborough, Canada, with 545.

KJ Queen of Catawba, N.C., leads the Rookie of the Year standings with 451 points.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 5:30 a.m. CT from Goose Pond Landing. The weigh-in will be held at Goose Pond at 2 p.m. Only the Top 48 anglers will advance after Friday’s weigh-in to fish the semifinal round on Saturday.

Live coverage of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

2021 Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville 5/20-5/23
Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 27-10 100
Day 1: 5 27-10
2. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 21-03 99
Day 1: 5 21-03
3. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 20-12 98
Day 1: 5 20-12
4. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 19-05 97
Day 1: 5 19-05
5. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 19-01 96
Day 1: 5 19-01
6. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 18-12 95
Day 1: 5 18-12
7. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 5 18-06 94
Day 1: 5 18-06
8. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 17-12 93
Day 1: 5 17-12
9. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 17-10 92
Day 1: 5 17-10
10. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 5 17-06 91
Day 1: 5 17-06
11. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 17-00 90
Day 1: 5 17-00
12. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 16-14 89
Day 1: 5 16-14
13. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 16-13 88
Day 1: 5 16-13
14. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 16-12 87
Day 1: 5 16-12
15. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 5 16-05 86
Day 1: 5 16-05
16. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 5 16-02 85
Day 1: 5 16-02
16. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 16-02 85
Day 1: 5 16-02
16. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 16-02 85
Day 1: 5 16-02
16. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 16-02 85
Day 1: 5 16-02
20. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 5 16-00 81
Day 1: 5 16-00
20. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 16-00 81
Day 1: 5 16-00
22. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 15-15 79
Day 1: 5 15-15
22. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 15-15 79
Day 1: 5 15-15
24. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 15-12 77
Day 1: 5 15-12
25. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 15-10 76
Day 1: 5 15-10
26. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 15-07 75
Day 1: 5 15-07
26. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 15-07 75
Day 1: 5 15-07
28. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 15-06 73
Day 1: 5 15-06
29. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 15-04 72
Day 1: 5 15-04
30. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 15-03 71
Day 1: 5 15-03
31. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 14-15 70
Day 1: 5 14-15
31. Bryan New Belmont, NC 5 14-15 70
Day 1: 5 14-15
33. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 5 14-13 68
Day 1: 5 14-13
34. John Cox Debary, FL 5 14-10 67
Day 1: 5 14-10
34. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 14-10 67
Day 1: 5 14-10
36. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 14-09 65
Day 1: 5 14-09
37. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 14-05 64
Day 1: 5 14-05
37. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 5 14-05 64
Day 1: 5 14-05
37. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 5 14-05 64
Day 1: 5 14-05
40. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 5 14-04 61
Day 1: 5 14-04
41. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 4 14-04 60 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 14-04
42. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 5 14-02 59
Day 1: 5 14-02
43. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 14-01 58
Day 1: 5 14-01
43. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 14-01 58
Day 1: 5 14-01
45. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 14-00 56
Day 1: 5 14-00
46. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 13-15 55
Day 1: 5 13-15
47. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 13-15 54
Day 1: 5 13-15
48. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 13-14 53
Day 1: 5 13-14
49. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 13-12 52
Day 1: 5 13-12
50. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 5 13-11 51
Day 1: 5 13-11
51. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 13-07 50
Day 1: 5 13-07
51. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 13-07 50
Day 1: 5 13-07
53. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 13-06 48
Day 1: 5 13-06
54. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 13-05 47
Day 1: 5 13-05
55. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 13-03 46
Day 1: 5 13-03
56. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 13-01 45
Day 1: 5 13-01
57. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 12-15 44
Day 1: 5 12-15
57. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 12-15 44
Day 1: 5 12-15
57. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 5 12-15 44
Day 1: 5 12-15
60. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 5 12-14 41
Day 1: 5 12-14
60. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 5 12-14 41
Day 1: 5 12-14
62. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 12-09 39
Day 1: 5 12-09
63. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 12-08 38
Day 1: 5 12-08
64. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 12-06 37
Day 1: 5 12-06
65. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 12-05 36
Day 1: 5 12-05
66. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 5 12-03 35
Day 1: 5 12-03
67. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 12-02 34
Day 1: 5 12-02
67. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 12-02 34
Day 1: 5 12-02
69. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 11-14 32
Day 1: 5 11-14
69. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 11-14 32
Day 1: 5 11-14
71. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 5 11-12 30
Day 1: 5 11-12
72. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 11-08 29
Day 1: 5 11-08
72. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 5 11-08 29
Day 1: 5 11-08
72. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 11-08 29
Day 1: 5 11-08
75. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 5 11-08 26
Day 1: 5 11-08
76. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 11-02 25
Day 1: 5 11-02
77. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 11-01 24
Day 1: 5 11-01
78. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 10-12 23
Day 1: 5 10-12
79. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 10-12 22
Day 1: 5 10-12
80. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 10-09 21
Day 1: 5 10-09
81. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 10-09 20
Day 1: 5 10-09
82. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 10-06 19
Day 1: 5 10-06
83. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 10-04 18
Day 1: 5 10-04
83. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 10-04 18
Day 1: 5 10-04
85. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 4 10-03 16
Day 1: 4 10-03
86. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 5 10-00 15
Day 1: 5 10-00
87. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 09-09 14
Day 1: 5 09-09
88. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 4 08-08 13
Day 1: 4 08-08
89. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 4 08-06 12
Day 1: 4 08-06
90. Rob Digh Denver, NC 3 08-00 11
Day 1: 3 08-00
91. David Fritts Lexington, NC 4 07-15 10
Day 1: 4 07-15
92. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 4 07-13 9
Day 1: 4 07-13
93. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 4 07-12 8
Day 1: 4 07-12
94. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 3 07-03 7
Day 1: 3 07-03
95. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 3 07-01 6
Day 1: 3 07-01
96. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 2 06-07 5
Day 1: 2 06-07
97. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 3 05-13 4
Day 1: 3 05-13
98. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 2 03-15 3
Day 1: 2 03-15

by AnglersChannel

Swindle: heavy spaghetti and soaking crankbaits at Guntersville Elite

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin -Dynamic Sponsorships

At the end of a speed walk back from a boat ramp bathroom, and just before launching at Day 1 of the Berkley Bassmaster Elite Series on Lake Guntersville, Team Toyota’s Gerald Swindle took time to talk about everything from soaking his Rapala crankbaits to wife Lulu’s spaghetti.

 

Q: You posted a picture on social media last night of Rapala crankbaits soaking in water inside a Y’all Sweet Tea mug, what was going on there?

 

Swindle: I had drilled four microscopic holes in them to let the water soak into the famous Rapala balsa wood, which will make ‘em sink a little better, and dive a little deeper.

 

Q: How many pounds would you be happy with catching today to go to bed tonight knowing you had a great day, and a solid chance at Sunday’s Top 10?

Swindle: 21-pounds

 

Q: What’s the very first lure you’re going to throw today?

Swindle: One of those custom-soaked DT crankbaits.

 

Q: How was Lulu’s spaghetti last night?

Swindle: Good and gone. I put four paper plates together to hold the weight of it all.

 

Q: You’re a music lover. What song is stuck in your head right now?

Swindle: Old school country – John Conlee’s “Rose Colored Glasses.”

 

“These rose colored glasses that I'm looking through show only the beauty. 'Cause they hide all the truth.” – John Conlee (1978).

 

by AnglersChannel

Scaife, Waters Win Wolfson Tourney with over 30 pounds of St Johns River bass!

Courtesy of Vance McCullough

Photos courtesy of Becky Williams

 

“Saturday was an absolute blur!” said Will Scaife. “When God does something, He makes sure there is no doubt or question, and He was definitely with us! Winning the Wolfson Bass Tournament is a life-long dream that so many can relate to, and you honestly don’t know if it will ever happen. To bust 30lbs for the first time and do it in the biggest tournament in the southeast is an indescribable feeling.”

“God has blessed us with a special opportunity to catch these fish,” said Branden Waters. “It was a special opportunity to get to fish the Wolfson together. 48 hours ago, I wasn’t even sure I was going to fish. We fished extremely clean and had a really fun day fishing.”

Scaife and Waters topped a field of 395 boats to win the 32nd Woldson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament out of Palatka, Fla. and collect the top prize of $10,000.

Their total weight was 30.66 pounds (5-fish limit) and included a kicker that weighed 8.01.

“We should have lost two fish in the net nut didn’t,” noted Scaife. “Just blessed.”

Sight-fishing was the main game for Scaife and Waters but a locally made, semi-secret topwater lure provided two key catches. “Out of the five we weighed,” said Scaife, “a couple of them came on topwater, a Devil’s Horse, well, actually the Heaberlin horse, as we call it, made a local guy, Bryan Heaberlin.” “It’s modified to work,” said Waters of the special plug.

The duo used Lucky Strike G4 tubes to pull the rest of their weight off of beds in Lake George where bass are still spawning under record cool temperatures that included overnight lows in the 50’s for at least 3 nights prior to Saturday’s tournament. “We were tickled that we had to put the hoodies on this morning,” said Scaife. Waters said, “I told him if it stayed cool, we were going to catch them.”

Runners-up Kevin Duncan and Austin Duncan weighed-in 23.05 pounds.

Phillip Turwitt and Jason Jackson placed 3rd with 21.74, followed closely by Brandon Wilkes and Jimmy Cornn with 21.63.

Justin Woods and Clayton Woods rounded out the Top 5 with 20.97 pounds.

Big bass honors went to James Sojka and Andrew Pulliam with a 9.59-pound beauty that ate a Strike King Red Eye Shad in Rodman Reservoir.

Organizers and anglers generated well over $400,000 for the hospital at this year’s event.

by AnglersChannel

Zaldain talks heavy metal and uprooted eel grass prior to Guntersville Elite

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

Thanks to early sunrises and late sunsets, most pros have logged 13-hour practice days in preparation for the Berkley Bassmaster Elite on Guntersville that begins Thursday.

 

Chris Zaldain was certainly among them. He was one of the very last pros to come off the water Wednesday. But the always classy and even-keeled caster of oversized swimbaits graciously took time at the dock to share his thoughts with fans on the eve of competition.

 

Q: Let’s start with an easy one, where did the nickname “Zaldaingerous” come from?

CZ: Brandon Palaniuk started calling me that during one of the very first seasons we competed as pros when I made a lot of Top 10 cuts.

 

Q: What’s going to be the biggest challenge on Guntersville this week?

CZ: Making a clear cast among on the uprooted, chopped up, eel grass floating on the surface.

 

Q: Every fishery is in a constant state of ecological change, but what remains Guntersville’s greatest asset?

CZ: The abundance of aquatic vegetation and shad here is still amazing.

 

Q: How much weight will an angler need to average here each day to get a Top 10?

CZ: I’ll say 17-pounds a day.

 

Q: What four lures can fans watching on Bassmaster.com and Fox Sports 1 expect to see pros using a bunch?

CZ: Frogs, soft plastic stick worms, deep diving crankbaits, and a swimjig

 

Q: What music or podcasts are you listening to most right now?

CZ: Heavy metal – a lot of Avenged Sevenfold

 

 

by AnglersChannel

Jason Abram - Finding his groove again

 

This week Chris and David welcome in MLF Pro Circuit Winner Jason Abram to the show to talk about his recent win on Lake Eufaula. With KG out practicing or the Toyota Series Event on Chickamauga, the pair check in to see how his week is going.

 

 

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. Announces Inaugural High School Combine To Debut This Fall

May 19, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that 100 high school anglers will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of colleges during the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine, which is set to debut October 15-17 on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala.

“This is something we have dreamed of for years,” said Hank Weldon, senior manager of the B.A.S.S. College and High School program. “B.A.S.S. is constantly looking for ways to grow the High School and College platforms and give young anglers opportunities to excel not only in the sport but also in the industry. What better way than to give college coaches a chance to see all of the skills these high school anglers possess and possibly award scholarships?”

The Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine will be a three-day event where anglers will perform multiple tasks to show their skillset not only on the water but also display their knowledge of the sport as a whole. After the first day, colleges will have the opportunity to select anglers for a “second look” where they can further explore everything that angler has to offer and see if they would be the perfect fit for their fishing program.

The following 16 colleges have already signed up to participate in this inaugural event:

Adrian College
Bethel University
Blue Mountain College
Bryan College
Campbellsville University
Carson-Newman University
Dallas Baptist University
Drury University
Emmanuel College
Faulkner University
Florida Gateway College
Kentucky Christian University
University of Kentucky
University of Montevallo
University of North Alabama
Wabash Valley College

“Decatur Morgan County Tourism is very proud to host the Bassmaster High School Combine. This is an incredible opportunity for The City of Decatur,” said Don Dukemineer, Director of Sports Development for Decatur Morgan County Tourism. “We are always proud to showcase the beautiful Tennessee River. We will work diligently to create a fantastic experience for all of the participants. We always enjoy working with this wonderful organization and look forward to our continued partnership.”

Registration for the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine will open at 8 a.m. CT on June 1 at Bassmaster.com/high-school and remain open until 100 participants have registered. The $500 registration fee includes accommodations for two nights and all meals for the weekend.

For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/high-school.

by AnglersChannel

Arey says Guntersville’s exceptional water clarity is altering patterns

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

Matt Arey’s not saying Guntersville’s water clarity is anywhere near that of the bottled water for sale at the lake’s iconic Waterfront Bay Grocery & Tackle store. But he will tell you it’s the clearest he’s ever seen Guntersville in his 13 years of fishing professional tournaments on the famed Northeastern Alabama bass fishery. 

“I fished my first pro level event here in 2007 or 2008, and I’ll promise you, I’ve never seen Guntersville this clear. There are places where you can see your lure 5-feet below the surface,” said Arey while fueling up next to Seth Feider at Waterfront Grocery after two days of practice. 

The Team Toyota pro believes much of G’Ville’s newfound clarity is the result of an abundance of eel grass (Zostera) that acts as a natural filter. And while bass and their prey love living in it, Arey says it will definitely alter the typical early summer patterns fans are accustomed to seeing Elite Series pros rely on.  

Arey finished 3rd here in June of 2019 by mining a classic off-shore structure spot in 17 to 20’ of water with a ¾-ounce football jig and a deep diving crankbait. But he says those kinds of magical isolated spots are less of a player now because the eel grass beds offer so many top-notch stopping locations between the spawning areas and deeper creek and river channels. 

“At one point today, I was offshore with a spinning reel and a dropshot rig trying to find some deep fish in that clearer water and Hank Cherry found it so rare and funny he stopped and took a picture of me with his cell phone,” grinned Arey.

“I’d guess only 20% of the field will focus on the classic off-shore, post-spawn ledge bite or isolated structure spots this week,” says Arey. “And I still think you’ll need to average 17-pounds a day to make the Top 10 cut, but you’ll see a lot of limits being caught around shallower grass on a topwater and other baits like Jamie Hartman wrecked ‘em on the final day of our 2019 event here,” concludes Arey.

 

by AnglersChannel

Alhambra Bulldawg Bassin Wins U.S. Army High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing at the California Delta

OAKLEY, Calif. (May 18, 2021) – The Alhambra Bulldawg Bassin duo of Luke Beaty and Emmett Gargaro, both of Martinez, California, won the U.S. Army High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing at the California Delta Presented by Googan Baits on Sunday in Oakley, California. The event was hosted by the City of Oakley and the victory advanced the winning team to the 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship.

TOP 20 RESULTS

RANK SCHOOL/CLUB NAME/CITY ANGLER NAME(S) BASS WEIGHT
1st Alhambra Bulldawg Bassin* Luke Beaty
Emmett Gargaro		 5 23-6
2nd Delta Teen Team* Hunter Binns
Guy Laackmann		 5 19-11
3rd Heritage High School* Asher Haynes
Sean O’Malley		 5 18-3
4th Delta Teen Team* Max Gonzalez
Tyler Wood		 5 18-2
5th Rio Vista* Daniel Hurley
Dominic Vieira		 5 18-0
6th Grizzly Bass Masters* Lucas Gerondakis
Jon Loya		 5 16-7
7th Grizzly Bass Masters* Sam Houston
Riley Malonoey		 5 16-5
8th Roosevelt* Chee Moua Vang
Keith Yang		 5 16-4
9th Liberty High School* Joaquin Elliott
Vince Fonte		 5 14-14
10th Freedom* Tyler Hurney
Silas Jones		 5 14-8
11th Lake County HS Fishing Club* Joey Gentle
Justin Gentle		 5 14-5
12th SO CAL Junior Bass Anglers* Connor Dreas
Tyler Parks		 5 14-5
13th SO CAL Junio Bass Anglers* Logan Howarter
Kaine Navarro		 5 14-0
14th Vista Del Lago* Christopher Gritts
Westly Gritts		 5 13-12
15th Del Oro Wyatt Holthaus
Ryan Vinci		 5 13-11
16th Livermore Jadrien Garcia
Colin Perotti		 5 13-8
17th NOR CAL Junior Bass Club Ian Maynard
Arian Valencia		 5 12-13
18th Delta Teen Team Maxwell Kaneko
Sam Shimabukuro		 5 12-7
19th San Joaquin Bassmasters Zackary Anderson
Joshua Marlin		 5 12-0
20th Oakdale Michael Brush
Levi Duesterhaus		 4 11-4
*The top 20% of teams advance to the 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship. (This event was a double qualifier, combining the MLF Open and the TBF California State Championship.)

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 Sam Rayburn Open June 5 Potomac River, Marbury, Md. The Commissioners of Charles County MD
2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing National Championship & World Finals Jun. 30 – Jul. 3 Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C. Anderson Convention & Visitors Bureau
The first 25 high school teams that enter each U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournament will receive a free Favorite Fishing package, including one Favorite Fishing casting rod and reel, one Favorite Fishing spinning rod and reel, six packs of Googan Baits and two Favorite Fishing hats, a total package value of $230. Most tournaments will also be hosted by a Bass Pro Tour angler or Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler, giving high school students the chance to meet the sport’s top pros. As an added bonus, the winning team at each tournament will receive a guided fishing trip with their pro angler host.

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.

by AnglersChannel

New B.A.S.S. Program Inspires And Educates Families On Outdoor Exploration

The Go Out{side} lifestyle initiative was designed to inspire and educate families as they begin exploring the outdoors.

Photo by B.A.S.S.

May 18, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — As more people reconnect with each other and nature, B.A.S.S. has announced a new lifestyle initiative to inspire and educate families as they begin exploring the great outdoors. The Go Out{side} program encourages a new audience of burgeoning outdoor enthusiasts who can turn to the authorities at B.A.S.S. for guidance on a variety of outdoor topics, including fishing, camping, hiking, cooking, travel, gear and conservation.

“The stories, videos and information found on Go Out{side} are truly designed to be easy-to-follow and practical for people of any skill level who are ready to explore,” explained Go Out{side} Director Laurie Tisdale. “In fact, our entire Simple 7 series was created to offer simple steps to get you safely in nature now.”

2020 saw a surge in people turning to outdoor activities for recreation and an opportunity to interact responsibly with each other. According to the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, 81% of Americans say they spent time enjoying outdoor activities during the pandemic, 31% for the first time. But many of these people struggle with the basics of getting started.

“For five decades, B.A.S.S. and the Bassmaster brand have inspired millions of people to spend time in the outdoors, fueled the passion for fishing and led efforts to promote youth fishing and conservation,” said B.A.S.S. Chairman Chase Anderson. “Go Out{side} is a natural extension of our commitment to introduce people of all skill levels and backgrounds to fishing and the outdoors. Go Out{side} is particularly focused on providing an easy gateway to the outdoors for families to create memorable experiences outside. The entire Bassmaster family encourages you to go outside and enjoy God’s beautiful creation!”

Along with the knowledgeable writers and staff from B.A.S.S., Go Out{side} Ambassadors including Chef Jimmy Kennedy, outdoor bloggers and photographers Philip and Corey Hunt from Two Dog Outdoors, tournament angler Kristine Fischer and multispecies kayak angler John Deshauteurs will lend their expertise to the program.

“We hope that people can take our tips and create new memories with their friends and families,” said Deshauteurs. “Getting involved with the Go Out{side} program was important to us because it allowed us to get outdoors as a family even more! Experiencing life with our family is why we do what we do, and to be able to share those experiences with the Go Out{side} team has been such a gift.”

In addition to enjoying a variety of information resources on Bassmaster.com, families can also delve into a variety of outdoor activities during the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk June 11-13 in Fort Worth, Texas. As part of the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, the Go Out{side} Experience will offer fun, free options including inflatable archery, cornhole, jumping dogs, knot tying and more. Kids can even catch their first fish at an on-site catfish pond.

For helpful tips, videos and more information on the Go Out{side} program, visit Bassmaster.com/go-outside.

Go Out{side} Launch Partner: Eukanuba

Go {Fish} Supporting Sponsor: AFTCO

Go {Gear Up} Supporting Sponsor: Grizzly Coolers

Go {Cook} Supporting Sponsor: Big Green Egg

Go {Camp) Supporting Sponsor: Go RVing

by AnglersChannel

Melton Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by Googan Baits on Center Hill Lake

Kentucky’s Parnell Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

SPARTA, Tenn. (May 18, 2021) – Boater Jay Melton of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Center Hill Lake Presented by Googan Baits in Sparta, Tennessee, Sunday. Melton earned $4,350 for his victory at the event.

TOP 10 RESULTS
RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Jay Melton of Murfreesboro, Tenn. 5 13-13 $4,350
2nd Beau Grissim of Lebanon, Tenn. 5 13-9 $2,175
3rd Terry Steele of Sparta, Tenn. 5 13-6 $1,451
4th Brandon Edel of Hendersonville, Tenn. 5 13-5 $1,015
5th Adam Wagner of Cookeville, Tenn. 5 13-0 $1,334
5th Tony Eckler of Lebanon, Tenn. 5 13-0 $834
7th Hunter Bouldin of McMinnville, Tenn. 5 12-15 $725
8th John Hopkins of Hendersonville, Tenn. 5 12-13 $653
9th Jacob Daily of Rossville, Ga. 5 12-12 $580
10th Jeremy Nash of Cookeville, Tenn. 5 12-8 $508
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Kendall Parnell of Monticello, Ky. 5 9-14 $2,064
2nd Bobby Harris of McEwen, Tenn. 4 9-10 $1,032
3rd Mark Gilbert of Murfreesboro, Tenn. 4 9-6 $813
4th James Roye of Altamont, Tenn. 4 9-1 $447
4th Josh Underhill of Watertown, Tenn. 4 9-1 $447
6th Jake Cross of Byrdstown, Tenn. 4 8-12 $378
7th Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tenn. 4 7-11 $344
8th Ricky England of Sparta, Tenn. 5 7-10 $310
9th Garrett Davis of Manchester, Tenn. 3 7-5 $275
10th Wayne Crouch of Jamestown, Tenn. 4 6-7 $229
10th Travis Akers of Morehead, Ky. 3 6-7 $229
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass John Wells of Nashville, Tenn. 4-pound, 5-ounce bass $615
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Richard Hawkes of Murfreesboro, Tenn. 4-pound, 3-ounce bass $287
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Adam Wagner of Cookeville, Tenn. 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 Strike King Rage Bug N/A
Strike King Co-Angler Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Game Hawg N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Music City 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 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 .

by AnglersChannel

Shipton Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Potomac River

Virginia’s Williams Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

MARBURY, Md. (May 18, 2021) – Boater Jason Shipton of Muncy, Pennsylvania, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Shipton earned $4,082 for his victory at the event.

TOP 10 RESULTS
RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Jason Shipton of Muncy, Pa. 5 18-6 $4,082
2nd Richard Hare of Fredericksburg, Va. 5 17-5 $1,701
2nd Keith Estes of Spring Grove, Va. 5 17-5 $1,901
4th Jesepth Hughes of King George, Va. 5 17-0 $952
5th Joe Wilkerson of Falls Church, Va. 5 16-11 $816
6th Al Fiorille of Mount Airy, Md. 5 16-4 $748
7th Lenny Baird of Stafford, Va. 5 16-1 $680
8th Matthew Caffi of Fairfax, Va. 5 15-11 $612
9th Robert Henderson of King George, Va. 5 15-7 $544
10th Fred Aldridge of Brandystation, Va. 5 14-15 $452
10th Fredderick Chandler of Mount Airy, Md. 5 14-15 $452
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st David Williams of Fredericksburg, Va. 5 16-7 $2,491
2nd Gilbert Brown of Fredericksburg, Va. 5 15-13 $1,301
3rd Jeramy Evans of Galax, Va. 5 15-7 $683
4th John Castro of Lorton, Va. 5 15-2 $476
5th Jeff Mellott of Warfordsburg, Pa. 5 14-11 $408
6th Rickey Mummert Jr. of Hanover, Pa. 5 14-7 $340
6th Christopher Butler of Glen Allen, Va. 5 14-7 $340
6th Jonathan Patkus of Columbia, Md. 5 14-7 $340
9th David Deciucis of Chester, Va. 4 13-15 $272
10th Travis Waterman of Fredericksburg, Va. 5 13-12 $238
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass David Wright of Fort Meade, Md. 5-pound, 4-ounce bass $560
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Gilbert Brown of Fredericksburg, Va. 5-pound, 4-ounce bass $280
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Joseph Thompson of Coatesville, Pa. 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 Yamamoto Senko & Z-Man ChatterBait N/A
Strike King Co-Angler Yamamoto Senko N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Shenandoah Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 14-16 Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C. Capital City/Lake Murray Country
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 .

by AnglersChannel

College Anglers Win with Costa Compete + Conserve

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

The first major tournament win of Jack Dice’s college fishing career came with plenty of surprises for the 21-year old Digital Marketing major. Dice, a junior attending Liberty University, was as shocked as anyone when he found out he had won the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series tournament on Lake Hartwell back in April. 

While most of the 200+ boats he was competing against consisted of two person teams, Dice was fishing alone, and after an up and down practice the Lynchburg, Virginia native was just hoping to catch five keepers each day of the derby. 

Fast forward to the end of the event not only did Dice hoist the first place trophies, but he became the first collegiate angler to win through the brand new Costa Compete + Conserve contingency program. 

“Of course I was pumped to win the tournament, but after the initial excitement waned I got fired up all over again when the folks from Costa contacted me,” Dice explained. “My parents bought me a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses with Green Mirror lenses for my birthday five or six years ago. I absolutely love them and have been wearing them ever since.” 

Dice began tournament fishing as a co-angler in Bassmaster Open events around the age of 16. While he already had an affinity for the outdoors, Dice fell in love with tournament bass fishing. He began fishing the former FLW BFLs as a boater, started a popular YouTube channel ObsessedFishing, and took up college fishing tournaments upon attending Liberty University. 

Dice’s first tournament win came just days after Costa announced their new bass fishing rewards program. College anglers have the chance to win through the Compete + Conserve program in all Carhartt Bassmaster College Series events and MLF Abu Garcia College Series tournaments. 

The highest finishing registered angler / team wins a Costa prize package including a free pair of Costa Sunglasses, a branded Costa back pack, and Costa apparel / swag for all “regular season” events. For the two Championship Tournaments, the highest finishing college team will win an incredible $2,500!   

Whether they win a Costa prize package or cash, college anglers still choose a Conservation Partner to receive a $250 donation on behalf of Costa and themselves.  Of the five conservation organizations included, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation resonated with Dice the most.  

“In the tournament fishing world we as anglers are often incentivized by what we can win, so it’s super cool to see Costa offer a program where not only does the angler win, but the resource wins some too,” Dice said. “With more anglers on the water and increased fishing pressure, having a company like Costa help support the environment is critical and helps all of us catch more fish.”

For more information, a full list of supported events, or to get registered for Compete + Conserve, follow this link: https://www.costacompeteandconserve.com/. If you’d rather call than click, give (309) 202-2018 a call and Luke will be happy to help you. 

by AnglersChannel

Williams Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Dardanelle

Hardy’s Herring Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (May 18, 2021) – Boater Charles Williams of Clarksville, Arkansas, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Dardanelle Presented by Abu Garcia in Russellville, Arkansas. Williams earned $4,964 for his victory at the event, hosted by Russellville Advertising & Promotion.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Charles Williams of Clarksville, Ark. 5 17-6 $4,964
2nd Wayne Dixon of Morrilton, Ark. 5 15-4 $2,364
3rd Shawn Gordon of Russellville, Ark. 5 14-4 $2,039
3rd Marty Scudder of Rison, Ark. 5 14-4 $1,339
5th Brian Bean of Hot Springs, Ark. 5 13-14 $946
6th Quincy Houchin of Mabelvale, Ark. 5 13-10 $1,367
7th Karson Hamilton of Hot Springs, Ark. 5 13-8 $1,023
8th Justin Swayze of Gurdon, Ark. 3 12-6 $709
9th Robert Stevens of Hot Springs, Ark. 5 12-2 $631
10th Beau Browning of Hot Springs, Ark. 5 12-1 $552
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Kyle Herring of Hardy, Ark. 4 11-9 $2,364
2nd Ron Knight of Hot Springs, Ark. 5 11-1 $1,182
3rd Steve Meredith of Jessieville, Ark. 3 10-10 $1,140
4th Bill Hockaday of Nashville, Ark. 4 9-14 $552
5th Jody Jones of Harvey, Ark. 4 9-5 $433
5th John Duvall of Atkins, Ark. 5 9-5 $433
5th Tim Allen of Murfreesboro, Ark. 5 9-5 $433
8th Trever Jones of Bigelow, Ark. 5 9-0 $355
9th Andrew Wooley of Little Rock, Ark. 3 8-8 $315
10th Todd Garner of Pocola, Okla. 4 8-5 $276
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Mike Webster of Pottsville, Ark. 4-pound, 9-ounce bass $235
Boater Big Bass Charles Williams of Clarksville, Ark. 4-pound, 9-ounce bass $235
Boater Big Bass Karson Hamilton of Hot Springs, Ark. 4-pound, 9-ounce bass $235
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Steve Meredith of Jessieville, Ark. 5-pound, 3-ounce bass $352
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Quincy Houchin of Mabelvale, Ark. 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 Did Not Disclose N/A
Strike King Co-Angler Did Not Disclose N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Arkie 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 .

by AnglersChannel

Grissim Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Center Hill Lake

White Bluff’s Cheshire Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

SPARTA, Tenn. (May 18, 2021) – Boater Beau Grissim of Lebanon, Tennessee, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Center Hill Lake in Sparta, Tennessee. Grissim earned $4,498 for his victory at the event.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Beau Grissim of Lebanon, Tenn. 5 14-9 $4,498
2nd Anthony Nash of Quebeck, Tenn. 5 14-7 $2,249
3rd Terry Steele of Sparta, Tenn. 5 14-2 $1,498
4th Josh Tramel of Smithville, Tenn. 5 13-15 $975
4th Drew Boggs of Lebanon, Tenn. 5 13-15 $975
6th Brandon Edel of Hendersonville, Tenn. 5 13-10 $825
7th Dillon Massia of Mt. Juliet, Tenn. 5 13-9 $750
8th Tom Bowker of Terre Haute, Ind. 5 13-6 $1,625
9th Matt Underhill of Lascassas, Tenn. 5 13-0 $562
9th Ryan Dowell of Brandenburg, Ky. 5 13-0 $562
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Daniel Cheshire of White Bluff, Tenn. 5 11-14 $2,197
2nd Christopher Stites, Jr. of La Vergne, Tenn. 5 9-13 $1,098
3rd Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tenn. 4 8-9 $733
4th Brian Haworth of Cookeville, Tenn. 4 8-6 $513
5th Chris Rushing of Gamaliel, Ky. 4 8-1 $439
6th Dustin Forrest of Knob Lick, Ky. 3 7-10 $603
7th Alexander Villarreal of Franklin, Tenn. 5 7-8 $366
8th Billy Johnson of Nashville, Tenn. 2 7-1 $315
9th Todd Mowery of Munford, Tenn. 4 6-14 $293
10th Jake Cross of Byrdstown, Tenn. 2 6-4 $256
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Dwight Fox of Gainesboro, Tenn. 4-pound, 8-ounce bass $645
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Billy Johnson of Nashville, Tenn. 4-pound bass $315
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Tom Bowker of Terre Haute, 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 Beaver N/A
Strike King Co-Angler Unspecified Shaky Head & Frog N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Music City 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 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 .

by AnglersChannel

McCulley Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Ferguson

Lena’s Harrell Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

GREENVILLE, Miss. (May 18, 2021) – Boater Brad McCulley of Batesville, Mississippi, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Ferguson Presented by Googan Baits in Greenville, Mississippi. McCulley earned $3,418 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Greenville/Washington County CVB.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Brad McCulley of Batesville, Miss. 5 21-5 $3,418
2nd Andy Graves of Clarksdale, Miss. 5 21-0 $1,709
3rd John Anderson of Baysprings, Miss. 5 20-6 $1,838
4th Jason Honnoll of Starkville, Miss. 5 20-3 $798
5th Kirk Tisdale of Ellisville, Miss. 5 18-6 $684
6th Lloyd Pickett, Jr. of Bartlett, Tenn. 5 18-3 $627
7th Bradley Perkins of Raymond, Miss. 5 17-6 $570
8th Rob Livingston of Cleveland, Miss. 5 17-1 $513
9th Denny Patterson of Horn Lake, Miss. 5 17-0 $456
10th Charlie Jennings of Greenville, Miss. 5 16-14 $399
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Ramey Harrell of Lena, Miss. 5 20-6 $1,709
2nd Colin Fogerty of Memphis, Tenn. 5 18-0 $855
3rd Clay Atkins of Hamilton, Miss. 5 16-9 $570
4th Greg Hamblin of New Albany, Miss. 5 14-15 $399
5th Daniel McAfee of Smithville, Miss. 5 14-14 $342
6th Keith Whipple of Luka, Miss. 5 14-10 $313
7th Anthony House of New Albany, Miss. 5 13-7 $285
8th Scott Kirk of Houston, Miss. 5 13-2 $256
9th Thomas Sanderson of Amory, Miss. 5 12-7 $228
10th John Harrell of Lena, Miss. 5 12-6 $199
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Clay Lucas of Columbus, Miss. 5-pound, 12-ounce bass $420
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Elton Bryant of Flowood, Miss. 4-pound, 13-ounce bass $210
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus John Anderson of Baysprings, Miss. 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 Craw Tube Black/Blue
Strike King Co-Angler Zoom Brush Hog Watermelon
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Mississippi Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 21-23 Lake Ouachita, Mt. Ida, Ark. Visit Hot Springs
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 .

by AnglersChannel

Choctaw’s Waner Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Eufaula

EUFAULA, Okla.  (May 18, 2021) – Boater Paul Waner of Choctaw, Oklahoma, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Eufaula Presented by Berkley in Eufaula, Okla. Waner earned $5,645 for his victory at the event.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Paul Waner of Choctaw, Okla. 5 23-9 $5,645
2nd Shonn Goodwin of Moore, Okla. 5 19-14 $2,453
3rd Brett King of Kinta, Okla. 5 18-8 $1,635
4th Chris M. Jones of Bokoshe, Okla. 5 17-4 $1,063
4th Hunter McClary of Stigler, Okla. 5 17-4 $1,063
6th Jacob Capps of Muskogee, Okla. 5 16-14 $1,399
7th Darin Crowder of Claremore, Okla. 5 16-9 $818
8th Jeff Clark of Van Buren, Ark. 5 15-11 $736
9th Trevor Yates of Norman, Okla. 5 15-9 $654
10th Jeremy Johnson of Henryetta, Okla. 5 15-8 $543
10th Justin Phillips of Checotah, Okla. 5 15-8 $543
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Clay Campbell of Owasso, Okla. 5 16-2 $2,453
2nd Andrew Sharp of Fort Smith, Ark. 4 15-3 $1,226
3rd Glynn Reid of Baton Rouge, La. 5 14-3 $816
4th Justin Fuller of Broken Arrow, Okla. 5 14-0 $942
5th Timothy Cartwright of Sand Springs, Okla. 5 13-7 $491
6th Coby Fourkiller of Tahlequah, Okla. 5 12-14 $450
7th Patrick Weir of Park Hill, Okla. 5 12-12 $409
8th Aaron Warren of Inola, Okla. 5 12-10 $368
9th Nathan Colwell of Pryor, Okla. 5 12-7 $652
10th Jake Hess of Tulsa, Okla. 5 11-14 $286
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Paul Waner of Choctaw, Okla. 7-pound, 5-ounce bass $740
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Justin Fuller of Broken Arrow, Okla. 5-pound, 3-ounce bass $370
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Jacob Capps of Muskogee, Okla. 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 Custom Spinnerbait N/A
Strike King Co-Angler Custom Spinnerbait N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Okie Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 21-23 Lake Ouachita, Mt. Ida, Ark. Visit Hot Springs
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 .

by AnglersChannel

MLF Toyota Series Central Division Finale Set for Lake Chickamauga

DAYTON, Tenn. (May 18, 2021) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. is headed to Lake Chickamauga this week, May 20-22, for the Central Division Presented by Neat Companies regular-season finale with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Chickamauga Presented by Googan Baits . Hosted by the Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic & Tourism Council, 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

Bass Pro Tour angler John Murray of Spring City, Tennessee, said that he expects to see a lot of different patterns and techniques in play this week.

“Every day is different on Chickamauga, and I think we’ll see guys doing a variety of things to do well,” Murray said. “So much is happening on the lake right now. Some fish are still spawning, some have already spawned – I don’t think it’ll be just ledge-fishing or shallow-water fishing that will do well. You’re not going to be able to have one key spot, just yet. The guys that do well are going to be in more of a general area or two, with a couple of different patterns going.”

With warm weather on tap for this week, Murray said that he thinks the fishing will be pretty good for the Toyota Series anglers.

“We just had a big bass event this week with hundreds of boats on the water fishing for big ones, and a 9-pounder was the biggest and a 7-pounder finished in second,” Murray said. “That’s a little odd for Chickamauga – the big fish were not biting. But we’re about to go from 40- to 50-degree nights to 60- to 70-degree nights this week and it should change some things up. There will be a lot of options to catch them.”

Murray said that if he was fishing in this event, he’d be throwing a ChatterBait, jigs, a wacky-rigged Senko and a frog.

“I think if you can catch 17 pounds a day you’ll likely make the top 10,” Murray went on to say. “Overall, I think the three-day winner is going to need to average 19 to 20 pounds a day, so my winning weight prediction is 57 to 60 pounds.”

Anglers will take off daily at 6 a.m. ET from the Dayton Boat Dock in Dayton. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Dayton Boat Dock and will begin at 2 p.m. 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.

by AnglersChannel

Logan Huntze Wins Toyota Series Event on California Delta

Huntze Brothers Complete Clean Sweep at the Cal Delta, Winning Both Boater and Strike-King Co-angler Divisions

OAKLEY, Calif. (May 17, 2021) – Toyota Series angler Logan Huntze of Discovery Bay, California, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 7 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at California Delta in Oakley, California. Logan’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 64-12 earned him the win by a 1-pound, 6-ounce margin over second-place angler Phillip Dutra of Antioch, California, and earned him the top payout of $24,293 in the first tournament of the 2021 Toyota Series Western Division.

Putting more than 27 pounds on the scale on Day 1, Logan kicked off the event with a bang. After weighing a mere 18 pounds on Day 2, he fell to second behind Ish Monroe; however, with another 19 pounds, 7 ounces on Day 3, Logan earned his second MLF win.

Logan’s brother Colby Huntze also took the top prize on the Strike King co-angler side. Leading wire-to-wire, Colby weighed 11-8 on the final day for a total of 45-13. For his win, Colby earned a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat.

Logan has fished the California Delta events for the past three years on the boater side and his finishes have gotten progressively better each time. He had an 11th-place showing in 2019, followed by an eighth-place finish last summer, before notching the win on Saturday.

The week ended extremely well for Logan, but a rough start threatened him early on. Engine issues on the first day caused him to only be able to idle and cost him valuable hours of fishing time toward the end of the day.

Fishing the central Delta, Logan caught his winning bags by punching and throwing a frog, two of the best ways to catch big bass on the California Delta.

“I was fortunate that I found some mats that were protected from the wind,” said Logan. “My area was calmer and that really helped me on the first day. I caught an 8, a 5 and a 4 before my engine troubles. My co-angler that day was really positive and that helped, and I couldn’t really complain because I already had a good bag. I was able to catch two more 5-pounders in areas I saw while I was idling to get a ride back in.”

His key fish on the first two days came on a Missile Baits D Bomb in either green pumpkin or candy grass. He fished them on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook with a 1 ¼-ounce tungsten weight.

On the second day with a fully functional outboard, he ran back to his best area from the first day.

“There were a bunch of sea lions in the mats, and I couldn’t get a bite,” Logan recalled. “I had to run some new stuff and I was able to scratch up 18 pounds punching, including a 6-pounder. I was fortunate to get a good bite each of the first two days to keep me in it.”

On the final day, he switched gears again and primarily threw a frog en route to the win, although punching also contributed to a few bass.

“I fished more new stuff and caught two big ones on a frog and about ten smaller ones,” Logan said. “With the wind blowing so much the first two days, today was much easier to run around and fish where I wanted to.”

His frog of choice was a Snag Proof Bobby’s Perfect Frog in either sparrow or tweety.

With so much vegetation in the system, Logan said he keyed in on areas that were deep enough to hold fish based on the tide chart during the event.

“I was fishing hyacinth mats, some primrose, and dead tules,” he said. “Some of the areas had some grass mixed in. They had three to four feet of water on them during the high tide, which made for a good bite each morning. On the last day, I focused on the cheese mats with the frog.”

The top 10 pros on the California Delta finished:
1st:           Logan Huntze of Discovery Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 64-12, $24,293
2nd:          Phillip Dutra of Antioch, Calif., 15 bass, 63-6, $9,413
3rd:          Mark Lassagne of Dixon, Calif., 15 bass, 58-6, $7,788
4th:           Ish Monroe of Oakdale, Calif., 14 bass, 57-2, $6,073
5th:           Nick Salvucci of Atascadero, Calif., 15 bass, 55-12, $5,466
6th:           Blake Dyer of Concord, Calif., 15 bass, 52-5, $4,859
7th:           Michael Caruso of Peoria, Ariz., 15 bass, 51-4, $4,251
8th:           Michael Moreno of Salida, Calif., 15 bass, 50-5, $3,644
9th:           Tuan Nguyen of Woodland, Calif., 15 bass, 49-3, $3,037
10th:        Jordan Collom of Canyon Lake, Calif., 15 bass, 49-0, $2,429

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Christopher Owen of Poway, California, took home an additional $66 for the Day One Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, with a bass weighing 9 pounds, 10 ounces. Rodney Brinser of Discovery Bay, California, won the Day Two Berkley Big Bass award of $66 in the pro division, bringing a 7-pound, 5-ounce bass to the scale.

Justin Patti of Peoria, Arizona, 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.

Colby Huntze of Discovery Bay, California, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 45 pounds, 13 ounces. Huntze 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 the California Delta finished:

1st:           Colby Huntze of Discovery Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 45-13, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd:          Aaron Agner of Redding, Calif., 15 bass, 42-14, $3,334
3rd:          Michael Walsh of El Cajon, Calif., 14 bass, 42-6, $2,532
4th:           Larry Rogers of Riverside, Calif., 15 bass, 38-2, $2,215
5th:           Scott Bern of San Rafael, Calif., 12 bass, 35-3, $1,899
6th:           Zack Eggleston of Goleta, Calif., 15 bass, 34-5, $1,582
7th:           Jacob Traba of Pacifica, Calif., 14 bass, 34-0, $1,266
8th:           Roy Desmangles of Lincoln, Calif., 13 bass, 31-12, $1,108
9th:           Corey Vasquez of Porterville, Calif., 11 bass, 27-9, $949
10th:        Camron Diatte of Salinas, Calif., 10 bass, 26-0, $791
In the Strike King co-angler division, the $44 Day One Berkley Big Bass award winner was Aaron Agner of Redding, California, with a 8-pound, 11-ounce bass, while the $44 Day Two award went to Zach Ham of Byron, California, with a 7-pound, 2-ounce bass.

The Toyota Series at California Delta was hosted by the City of Oakley. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments in 2021 for Western Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on May 20-22 – the Toyota Series at Lake Chickamauga Presented by Googan Baits in Dayton, Tennessee. 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.

by AnglersChannel