Dustin Connell Wins REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage on Lake Eufaula

Alabama Pro Catches 12 Fish Weighing 36 Pounds, 15 Ounces to Earn First Career MLF Victory, Win $300,000

EUFAULA, Ala. (Feb. 26, 2021) – Some days out on the water, it’s like you can do no wrong. Googan Baits pro Dustin Connell had himself one of those days Friday.  Connell, of Clanton, Alabama, caught 12 fish weighing 36 pounds, 15 ounces, to win REDCREST 2021, the Bass Pro Tour championship and earn the top prize of $300,000 at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. Connell grabbed the lead in the second period and never looked back, winning by a 5-pound, 11-ounce margin over second-place pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, who caught 10 bass totaling 31 pounds, 4 ounces, good for $60,000.

“I still can’t believe this, I really can’t,” said an emotional Connell on-stage after being awarded the REDCREST trophy. “This is truly what dreams are made of. I look around and I see guys like Jacob (Wheeler), (Bryan) Thrift, Ott (DeFoe), and I am just so blessed to be fishing against these guys. It’s an honor just to be here and compete. To come out of here with a win, this is a dream come true.”

Connell’s quest to get to Championship Friday was not easy. On Monday, the first day of competition, Connell caught five bass totaling 15 pounds, 5 ounces to finish the day comfortably in 12th place. Tuesday, Connell only managed two bass and squeaked into the top 20 cut in 19th place to barely advance.

“I threw a swimjig all day long on day two, and it just wasn’t happening,” Connell said. “I caught a 5-pounder on a crankbait and I am so lucky – had that fish not bit, I would not be here today.”

In Wednesday’s Knockout Round, Connell started to put the pieces to his winning pattern together.

“I pulled out a jerkbait at 10:30 (a.m.) in the Knockout Round and fired out my first cast and I watched two fish follow it up and was like, ‘huh’. Then I fired it out again and caught one. Then I caught a 3-pounder on it. I ended up throwing it for the rest of the Knockout Round and caught them pretty good and ended up finishing second.
“Near the end of the Knockout Round, I knew I was and had made the Championship Round,” Connell continued. “So, I spent the last 45 minutes idling in one area and marking every single brush pile that I could. I was going to fish them all on the final day.”

On Friday, Connell returned to the brush piles with his unnamed crystal-shad-colored jerkbait.

“Every fish that I caught today came on the same deep-diving jerkbait,” Connell said. “The key was that it had to be deep-diving – not because it runs deep but because I needed it to get down in the water column quicker.”

Connell threw the jerkbait on a 6-foot, 6-inch Favorite Fishing Rush jerkbait rod, with an unnamed 6:3:1 reel and 12-pound-test Seaguar INVISX fluorocarbon line. He took the lead midway through the second period and never gave it up. At one point in Period 3 he was catching them so well that his hand was cramping up.

“I would have caught some fish, but I would not have won this tournament without my Lowrance ActiveTarget,” Connell said. “I literally watched every single fish that I caught today come out of the brush piles and eat it on it.

“I was shook up the entire third period,” Connell went on to say. “It got real for me when there was 10 minutes left. I was standing on the deck and just praying. All the work, the time that I have spent learning, the sacrifices my family has made… it all came down to that moment. I haven’t been this emotional in a long time. I am so incredibly thankful and blessed. I’ll say it again – this is my dream, come true.”

The top 10 pros at REDCREST 2021 on Lake Eufaula finished:

1st:          Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala., 12 bass, 36-15, $300,000
2nd:         Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-4, $60,000
3rd:         Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn, nine bass, 25-6, $48,000
4th:         Zack Birge of Blanchard, Okla., seven bass, 24-1, $30,000
5th:         David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., six bass, 18-12, $27,000
6th:         Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan, five bass, 11-6, $24,000
7th:         Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn., four bass, 10-15, $23,000
8th:         Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., three bass, 8-1, $18,000
9th:         Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., two bass, 6-15, $16,000
10th:       Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., one bass, 2-15, $15,000

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

Overall, there were 59 bass weighing 176 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the final 10 pros in the Championship Round Friday.

Birge won Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 5-pound, 3-ounce largemouth in Period 1. Thrift won the $7,000 overall Berkley Big Bass award with his 7-pound, 1-ounce bass that he weighed in on Day 1 of competition.

Television coverage of REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship, will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 3 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside the REDCREST will premiere at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 18 on CBS. 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.

REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula, was hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce and was the conclusion of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour season.

The 2021 season of the Bass Pro Tour is set to open next month, March 21-26 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas. The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at each event – 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.

by AnglersChannel

Gustafson Sticks With Smallmouth, Maintains Lead At Bassmaster Elite On The Tennessee River

Jeff Gustafson, of Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, is leading after Day 2 of the 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River with a two-day total of 33 pounds, 8 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

February 26, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Despite cool, rainy conditions, Jeff Gustafson maintained the lead during Friday’s second round of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River, catching a limit of smallmouth bass that weighed 15 pounds, 10 ounces.

His two-day total of 33-8 gives him more than a 3-pound advantage of Tennessee pro Brandon Card, who is second with 30-7.

Gustafson, a two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier from Canada, said he never expected to catch two limits of smallmouth with the 18-inch minimum size restriction in place for this week’s tournament waters.

“It feels awesome,” he said. “Now with the position I’m in, there’s that stress. It’s been a good week so far. You could have signed me up for 50th place on Wednesday night. One thing I’ve learned doing this, these chances to win don’t come along very often and you just hope you take advantage of it when it happens.”

While the area Gustafson is fishing is still producing quality smallmouth, the bites didn’t come quite as fast Friday as they did on Day 1. The Keewatin, Ontario, native said he had more bass bump his bait instead of eating it.

After catching four fish in the first two hours, it took Gustafson until just before 1 p.m. to secure his final keeper.

“There are still some fish there, but they were harder to catch today and they are getting harder to catch,” he said. “I wasn’t really able to expand a whole lot, and part of that was it took me so long to catch my fifth fish.

“It was important to get that last one.”

With bass setting up in two or three “sweet spots” in his primary area, precision has been important. If he misses his spot by a couple of feet, he feels there is little chance of getting a bite.

The specific technique used to catch his fish on Day 1 has continued to produce, however.

“The way I’m fishing is the primary way we catch smallmouths back home in mid-summer through the fall, and I’ve been dying to utilize it in a tournament down here since I started fishing in 2013,” Gustafson said.

With very few options outside of his current strategy, Gustafson will return to the same area for Saturday’s semifinal round.

“I’m not leaving that area I’m fishing. I’m sure the fish are there, it’s just a matter of if I can wrangle five of them,” he said. “It seems like the morning is better and hopefully I can capitalize on that. Hit the juicy stuff first thing.”

With the big bag of the day at 16-10, Card jumped from fourth to second. The Knoxville native, who recently moved to North Carolina, used a flurry around mid-morning to secure four of his five bass, including a 4-pounder and a 3-pounder on back-to-back casts.

“I’m just grinding it out in an area,” Card said. “I have a section that seems like there is big fish. You can go hours and not even get a sniff. And then, you will catch like two or three or four in a row.

“I went from zero to five fish in literally 20 minutes. I culled and then to catch my seventh fish, it took me hours.”

While dragging an Advantage Baits Wild Card Finesse prototype jig was the key for Card on Day 1, he relied on jerkbaits and a jig on Day 2. Although he’s fishing a reaction bait, Card said he is using a deliberate approach.

“Yesterday with the high sun, they wouldn’t come up on a jerkbait,” Card said. “So yesterday, I had to drag. I’m fishing so slow it is unbelievable. I’m barely even moving.”

On his final cast Friday, Mississippi native Brock Mosley caught a 6-10 largemouth on spinning gear to anchor his limit of 14-10. The fish took Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day and helped move him from fifth to third with a two-day total of 27-10.

“I was stuck on four fish, and I saved enough time to hit two spots on my way back,” Mosley said. “One was the exact same spot I caught a big smallmouth yesterday.

“About 10 casts into it, I leaned into her. I actually thought I had some carpet or something until she shook her head. I got her in the boat to fill my limit and that’s huge on this place.”

With largemouth being the primary target, Mosley said he is trying to change with the conditions.

“It seems like this lake wakes up in a different mood every day,” he said. “I decided not to go to Tellico today about lunch as I was working that way. I figured I would stay up here and grind it out.

“I was really fortunate to get that last bite. Otherwise, I would have only had 8 pounds.”

The Top 50 remaining anglers will take off tomorrow from Volunteer Landing at 7 a.m. ET. Weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. at World’s Fair Park Performance Lawn. After Saturday’s round, only the Top 10 will advance to Championship Sunday.

Live coverage of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast the action live from 8-11:30 a.m. Saturday.

2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River 2/25-2/28
Tennessee River, Knoxville TN.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 10 33-08 100
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 15-10
2. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 30-07 99 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 16-10
3. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 27-10 98 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 14-10
4. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 25-05 97
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 13-04
5. John Cox Debary, FL 10 23-14 96
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 14-00
6. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 10 23-14 95
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 13-07
7. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 22-15 94
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 12-01
8. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 22-09 93
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 11-00
9. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 22-05 92
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 10-10
10. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 10 22-04 91
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 12-06
11. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 7 22-02 90
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 3 13-07
12. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 9 22-01 89
Day 1: 4 10-15 Day 2: 5 11-02
13. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 21-15 88
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 08-01
14. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 21-13 87
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 12-03
15. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 21-12 86
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 09-12
16. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 21-10 85
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 12-11
17. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 9 21-08 84
Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 5 14-10
18. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 10 20-15 83
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 10-03
19. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 7 20-01 82
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 2 06-01
20. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 8 20-00 81
Day 1: 4 07-09 Day 2: 4 12-07
21. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 19-07 80
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 10-04
22. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 8 19-06 79
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 5 13-15
23. Frank Talley Temple, TX 9 18-10 78
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 4 07-08
24. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 9 18-09 77
Day 1: 4 09-10 Day 2: 5 08-15
25. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 7 18-06 76
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 5 13-14
26. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 8 17-13 75
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 3 06-13
27. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 7 17-05 74
Day 1: 4 10-03 Day 2: 3 07-02
28. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 9 17-03 73
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 5 10-00
29. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 9 17-01 72
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 4 07-04
30. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 8 16-15 71
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 5 12-08
31. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 10 16-14 70
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 08-13
32. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 8 16-14 69
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-12
33. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 7 16-07 68
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 3 05-04
34. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 7 16-05 67
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 5 11-11
35. David Fritts Lexington, NC 8 16-05 66
Day 1: 4 06-10 Day 2: 4 09-11
36. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 8 16-05 65
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 3 08-02
37. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 8 16-03 64
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 3 04-13
38. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 7 16-02 63
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 3 07-10
39. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 7 16-00 62
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 2 05-15
40. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 8 15-15 61
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 5 11-02
41. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 8 15-14 60
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 5 10-04
42. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 6 15-07 59
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 5 13-10
43. Seth Feider New Market, MN 8 14-10 58
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 5 09-01
44. Bryan New Belmont, NC 6 14-02 57
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 5 12-01
45. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 6 13-15 56
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 1 02-14
46. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 7 13-12 55
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 09-11
47. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 8 13-11 54
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 3 04-07
48. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 7 13-10 53
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 5 10-03
49. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 8 13-04 52
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 5 08-15
50. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 8 13-02 51
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 5 08-07
51. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 7 12-15 50 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 5 10-00
52. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 7 12-13 49 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 2 02-14
53. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 7 12-10 48 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 5 09-07
54. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 8 12-10 47 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 5 08-07
55. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 6 12-06 46 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 4 08-15
56. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 5 11-06 45 $2,500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-06
57. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 7 11-06 44 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 2 04-04
58. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 6 11-04 43 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 1 02-04
59. Wes Logan Springville, AL 6 11-03 42 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 3 06-11
60. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 4 11-02 41 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 2 06-03
61. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 10-13 40 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 3 06-05
62. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 10-07 39 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 08-13 Day 2: 1 01-10
63. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 6 10-07 38 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 4 07-00
64. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 6 10-07 37 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 04-12
65. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 5 10-01 36 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 4 08-07
66. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 4 09-08 35 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 2 06-09
67. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 6 09-08 34 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 04-09
68. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 4 09-03 33 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
69. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 09-02 32 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 1 02-01
70. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 09-00 31 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 2 04-00
71. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 08-11 30 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 3 04-11
72. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 5 08-09 29 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 3 04-09
73. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 4 08-00 28 $2,500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 08-00
74. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 4 07-15 27 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 06-03
75. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 3 07-11 26 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
76. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 3 07-09 25
Day 1: 2 05-10 Day 2: 1 01-15
77. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 3 07-04 24
Day 1: 1 03-10 Day 2: 2 03-10
78. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 4 07-02 23
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 1 01-08
79. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 3 07-01 22
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 2 04-04
80. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 4 06-13 21
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 05-04
81. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 4 06-11 20
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 04-15
82. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 4 06-10 19
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 05-01
83. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 3 06-09 18
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 1 02-03
84. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 4 06-08 17
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 2 03-09
85. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 3 06-08 16
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 2 03-05
86. Darold Gleason Many, LA 4 06-07 15
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 1 02-02
87. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 2 06-06 14
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 1 03-11
88. Rob Digh Denver, NC 4 06-04 13
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 2 03-01
89. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 2 06-02 12
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 1 04-00
90. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 3 05-07 11
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 2 03-10
91. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 3 05-05 10
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 1 01-09
92. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 2 05-01 9
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 1 03-04
93. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 1 04-11 8
Day 1: 1 04-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
94. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 2 04-06 7
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-06
95. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 2 04-01 6
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 1 01-01
96. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 2 04-00 5
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 2 03-13 4
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-13
98. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 2 03-13 3
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 02-01
99. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 1 02-08 2
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-08
100. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 1 00-09 1
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-09

by AnglersChannel

Sumrall Smiling into Saturday

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

It was a good day to be a duck here in Knoxville for day two of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite on the Tennessee River. Elite Series pros were faced with 45-degree temperatures and a bone soaking, all day rain that began an hour after take off and continued through weigh-in.

Unfortunately the change in forecast didn’t seem to make the fish bite much better for most of the field, with the exception of guys like Xpress-Yamaha pro Caleb Sumrall. After bringing two keepers to the scale yesterday, which had him tied for 60th place, Sumrall weighed an impressive 13-lbs 14-ounces on day two.

Sumrall’s bag of fish ended up being one of the largest of the day and rocketed him up the leaderboard into 25th place. After finishing a disappointing 83rd at the first event of the year in Florida, Sumrall said his solid bag of fish “meant everything” today.

“After struggling at the St. Johns River – a place I feel I should do well – I needed a good tournament here,” Sumrall admitted. “I ‘ve been beating myself after the last derby, so today was huge for my confidence. Momentum, your confidence, and even financial struggles all play in to how you fish each day.

“Once a caught a limit and felt like I should make it to fish day three, I started to fish better and it allowed me to make a few key culls. I fished the same areas, the same baits, the same everything… the difference was execution. My mind was in in a better place today, and that helped me execute on those key bites.”

It may have been wet, cold, and rainy during weigh-in but Sumrall was all smiles to be heading into Saturday in a good position. Along with some extremely valuable Angler of the Year points, Sumrall earned at least a $10,000 paycheck thanks to his Friday rally.

Sumrall’s home in Louisiana was experiencing historic winter weather as he packed for this event, so cold temperatures were on his mind. But after checking the forecast one last time before leaving, the former oil field worker wisely made a phone call to order a few more sets of Carhartt Force Base layers, a pair of heavy gloves, and an extra rain jacket.

“Those base layers have been worth their weight in gold this week,” Sumrall said with a smile. “You hear bass fishermen talk about how much of a difference their apparel makes all the time, and on weeks like this it is absolutely true. I’m a Louisiana boy and I don’t get along real well with the cold. I’m serious when I tell you that last minute Carhartt order has been clutch.”

by AnglersChannel

Thrift Cruises to Knockout Round Win at REDCREST 2021

Neal Catches two 3½ -Pounders in Final Six Minutes to Advance, 10 Anglers Set for Championship Friday – Final-Day Shootout for $300,000

EUFAULA, Ala. (Feb. 25, 2021) – The fishing improved over Wednesday, but it was still not an easy day for tournament competitors Thursday on Lake Eufaula. Unless your name was Bryan Thrift. Thrift weighed in 14 bass totaling 40 pounds, 8 ounces Thursday to easily cruise to the win in the Knockout Round (Group B) on Day 4 at REDCREST 2021, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. The five-day competition featured a field of 40 of the best anglers in the world from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour competing for a top cash prize of $300,000.

Thrift now advances to Championship Friday, along with pros Ott DeFoe, Michael Neal, Takahiro Omori and Anthony Gagliardi.
“I’ve made it to the Championship Round of my very first REDCREST, and I am beyond excited,” Thrift said. “I feel like I’m on enough fish right now to at least have a chance. I am a little nervous – a lot of people watched me catch them this morning off of my one place, and that’s where I’ve caught most of my fish this week. So, I’m really hoping that I can still get on it tomorrow. Hopefully there are still a few there, and if they are then I think we have a chance.”

Despite four straight days of sunny skies and warmer temperatures that had many predicting the fish would be heading to the bank, Thrift has done the majority of his fishing offshore with a swimbait and a shaky-head rig.

“I know they’re headed to the bank, any time now,” Thrift said. “I went in one pocket today and seen six or seven bass cruising around – no big ones yet – but buck bass up there looking. So, I definitely think they’re coming to the bank soon, but they’re still not quite right yet. I’ll probably look again tomorrow and see what happens. I have a lot of stuff to run tomorrow. I have some stuff left that I didn’t fish today that hopefully could be good, but you never know.”

Michael Neal continued his last-minute REDCREST heroics Thursday, matching what he started earlier this week. After catching a 4-pounder with just 50 seconds left in the final period to advance from Tuesday’s Qualifying Round, Neal caught two 3½-pounders in the final six minutes Thursday to jump from sixth place to third place and advance to the final day.

“What a day. I don’t know how I keep putting myself in this position – right on the cutline, every time,” Neal said. “It’s getting kind of old. It’s fun, don’t get me wrong. But I’d like to have a strong start for once. Who knows, maybe tomorrow will be the day.

“I think I stuck with the spinnerbait a little too long today,” Neal continued. “This morning they were biting it really good, and then the sun got up and it was slick calm, I should have went to the jerkbait a lot earlier. It’s a lesson learned for tomorrow, and I’m very fortunate to make it. Everything goes back to zero, and now it’s anyone’s ballgame.”

The top five pros that made the cut and will advance to Championship Friday on Lake Eufaula are:

1st:          Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., 14 bass, 40-8
2nd:         Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn., seven bass, 23-14
3rd:         Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., seven bass, 20-9
4th:         Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan, seven bass, 19-10
5th:         Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 18-6

The five pros eliminated from competition Thursday are:

6th:         Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., six bass, 15-14
7th:         Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala., five bass, 15-8
8th:         Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas, four bass, 11-11
9th:         Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan., two bass, 6-14
10th:       Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., two bass, 6-5

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 59 bass weighing 189 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the 10 pros in Group B Thursday.

Thrift and DeFoe split Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, each weighing in a 5-pound, 8-ounce largemouth. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $7,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

At REDCREST 2021, the full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Days 1 (Monday) and 2 (Tuesday) of the event. The field was cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers were split into two groups for the Knockout Round – 10 (Group A) competed on Day 3 (Wednesday) and 10 (Group B) competed on Day 4 (Thursday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight now advance to the Championship Round – the fifth and final day of competition (Friday) where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight on the final day will be crowned the REDCREST 2021 champion.

The 10 anglers that will compete in the final Championship Round on Lake Eufaula on Friday are:

Zack Birge of Blanchard, Okla.
Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala.
Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark.
Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn.
David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va.
Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C.
Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn.
Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan
Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C.
Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn.

The final 10 anglers in the competition have a combined four FLW Cup titles, three Bassmaster Classic wins, and 10 Angler of the Year (AOY) titles.

REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula, is hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce.

Attendance is limited to competing anglers, essential staff and media covering the event only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2020 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing in a COVID-shortened five regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 40 anglers in the AOY standings after the five events qualified to compete in Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2021 presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action each day of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com. and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship, will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 3 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside the REDCREST will premiere at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 18 on CBS. 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 REDCREST 2021, 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

Smallmouth Guru Gustafson Takes Lead At Bassmaster Elite On Tennessee River

Jeff Gustafson, of Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, is leading after Day 1 of the 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River with 17 pounds, 14 ounces. 

                                                                                                                                                   Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
February 25, 2021

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In his tournament experience thus far, Canadian Jeff Gustafson said he had never fished a Southern fishery where smallmouth bass act the same as they do up North.

 

That changed Thursday when the Canadian pro most people know simply as “Gussy” smashed a limit of mostly smallmouth weighing 17 pounds, 14 ounces, securing a Day 1 lead in the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River.

 

The Keewatin, Ontario, native holds a nearly 4-pound advantage over three-time Elite Series champion Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., who put 14-0 on the scales.

 

“I’m catching them a way that I love to fish at home,” Gustafson said. “I’m pretty excited to get back out there, and I’m 100% committed to smallmouth. I spent five hours largemouth fishing this afternoon and caught one 2-pounder and a couple shorts.”

 

Gustafson said he found the spot during the final day of practice. But with the 18-inch minimum size limit for smallmouth on the Tennessee River, he wasn’t sure if the area held the right quality of fish.

 

He learned quickly on Thursday that it did, landing a limit of smallmouth by 9:30 a.m. in an area with several other competitors close by.

 

“It was one of the toughest practices I’ve ever had, and I found a little something yesterday and I didn’t catch big fish like that,” he said. “I didn’t know if I could get a keeper; the 18-inch thing is tough.

 

“My first fish I hooked this morning was 17 7/8 inches. Then I caught another short and another short, and then the next three I got were keepers. It worked out.”

 

The bass Gustafson located are in about 20 feet of water, and he said what he is doing is something a little different than most of his competitors.

 

“What I’m doing is kind of a unique way of catching them,” he said. “It’s not easy for everyone if you’ve never done it.”

 

With a weather system expected to arrive Friday that could bring heavy rains for the second round, Gustafson said he isn’t sure how the smallmouth will react.

 

“They could be gone tomorrow, but I think if I don’t have a lot of company I should be able to catch a few more,” he said. “I think that is just where they are living right now. I’m confident and excited to go again tomorrow. I’m not calling my shot, but I’m going to do that again tomorrow.”

 

The rest of the field managed to catch mostly largemouth bass in shallow water.

 

Kennedy said he caught nearly all of his fish on a jig and was fishing painfully slow to get his bites. He added that he broke off a quality fish on a crankbait.

 

The nine-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier said he had success in dirty water during practice. Then when he arrived at one of his best spots Thursday, he discovered the area had cleared tremendously.

 

“It was loaded in practice,” Kennedy said. “I got down there this morning and did not get a bite. The water was crystal clear. They weren’t there. I had to punt and just go fishing.

 

“I’m grinding. It’s not like I’m on them. I only caught five keepers.”

 

While Kennedy caught all largemouth Thursday, he still expects smallmouth to play during the event. He isn’t sure what the weather will do to his bite on Day 2, especially with the water clarity changing every day.

 

“When we first got here, the main river was muddy, the pockets were clear and the very backs were muddy,” he said. “By yesterday, the very backs were clear, the midsection of the creeks were muddy and the river started to clear.

 

“So, I don’t know if I’m going to have any dirty water left. I’m scared to death to do this again.”

 

John Crews of Salem, Va., secured 13-14 of mostly largemouth to finish Day 1 in third place, 2 ounces behind Kennedy and an ounce ahead of fourth-place Brandon Card. Crews said he was using a mix of reaction baits to catch his bass, with long lulls between bites.

 

“It seemed like I kept catching one every 45 minutes. You had to beat them down,” Crews said. “I ended up catching four keepers by noon and a couple shorts. I changed techniques and ended up catching a keeper right away. About another 45 minutes later, I caught a big one that weighed 5-7.”

 

Card anchored his Day 1 bag with a 5-9 largemouth, which was the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day.

 

The full field will take off from Volunteer Landing at 7 a.m. ET Friday, and the Day 2 weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. After Friday, only the Top 50 will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round.

 

The Top 10 anglers will compete on 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 live from the tournament beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament is being hosted by the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission.
 

2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River 2/25-2/28
Tennessee River, Knoxville  TN.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Jeff Gustafson         Keewatin Ontario CANADA  5  17-14  100
Day 1: 5   17-14
2.  Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  14-00   99
Day 1: 5   14-00
3.  John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  13-14   98
Day 1: 5   13-14
4.  Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            5  13-13   97   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-13
5.  Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  13-00   96
Day 1: 5   13-00
6.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  12-01   95
Day 1: 5   12-01
7.  Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  12-00   94
Day 1: 5   12-00
8.  Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  11-11   93
Day 1: 5   11-11
9.  Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            5  11-09   92
Day 1: 5   11-09
10. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             5  11-06   91
Day 1: 5   11-06
11. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA             4  11-03   90
Day 1: 4   11-03
12. Frank Talley           Temple, TX               5  11-02   89
Day 1: 5   11-02
13. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  11-01   88
Day 1: 5   11-01
14. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  11-00   87
Day 1: 5   11-00
15. Jake Whitaker          Fairview, NC             4  10-15   86
Day 1: 4   10-15
16. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL            5  10-14   85
Day 1: 5   10-14
17. Bob Downey             Hudson, WI               5  10-12   84
Day 1: 5   10-12
18. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL            5  10-07   83
Day 1: 5   10-07
19. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          4  10-03   82
Day 1: 4   10-03
20. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                5  10-01   81
Day 1: 5   10-01
21. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              5  09-15   80
Day 1: 5   09-15
22. John Cox               Debary, FL               5  09-14   79
Day 1: 5   09-14
22. Taku Ito               Chiba JAPAN              5  09-14   79
Day 1: 5   09-14
24. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  09-13   77
Day 1: 5   09-13
25. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK            5  09-10   76
Day 1: 5   09-10
26. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           4  09-10   75
Day 1: 4   09-10
27. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            5  09-04   74
Day 1: 5   09-04
28. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             5  09-03   73
Day 1: 5   09-03
29. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN              4  09-03   72
Day 1: 4   09-03
30. Joshua Stracner        Vandiver, AL             5  09-00   71
Day 1: 5   09-00
31. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             5  08-15   70
Day 1: 5   08-15
32. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO         4  08-13   69
Day 1: 4   08-13
33. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            4  08-11   68
Day 1: 4   08-11
34. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC           4  08-08   67
Day 1: 4   08-08
35. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             5  08-03   66
Day 1: 5   08-03
36. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                3  08-02   65
Day 1: 3   08-02
37. Patrick Walters        Summerville, SC          5  08-01   64
Day 1: 5   08-01
38. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              3  07-11   63
Day 1: 3   07-11
39. Chad Morgenthaler      Reeds Spring, MO         4  07-09   62
Day 1: 4   07-09
40. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              4  07-03   61
Day 1: 4   07-03
41. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           5  07-02   60
Day 1: 5   07-02
42. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            4  07-01   59
Day 1: 4   07-01
43. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              4  06-14   58
Day 1: 4   06-14
44. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            4  06-10   57
Day 1: 4   06-10
45. Dale Hightower         Mannford, OK             3  05-11   56
Day 1: 3   05-11
46. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           3  05-10   55
Day 1: 3   05-10
46. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 3  05-10   55
Day 1: 3   05-10
48. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA             2  05-10   53
Day 1: 2   05-10
49. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           3  05-09   52
Day 1: 3   05-09
50. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               3  05-07   51
Day 1: 3   05-07
51. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               3  05-00   50
Day 1: 3   05-00
52. Bill Weidler           Helena, AL               3  04-15   49
Day 1: 3   04-15
53. Buddy Gross            Chickamauga, GA          2  04-15   48
Day 1: 2   04-15
54. Derek Hudnall          Denham Springs, LA       3  04-13   47
Day 1: 3   04-13
55. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              3  04-11   46
Day 1: 3   04-11
56. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN           1  04-11   45
Day 1: 1   04-11
57. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               2  04-10   44
Day 1: 2   04-10
58. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          3  04-08   43
Day 1: 3   04-08
59. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         2  04-08   42
Day 1: 2   04-08
59. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           2  04-08   42
Day 1: 2   04-08
61. Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL              3  04-07   40
Day 1: 3   04-07
62. Jay Yelas              Lincoln City, OR         2  04-06   39
Day 1: 2   04-06
63. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         3  04-05   38
Day 1: 3   04-05
63. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                 3  04-05   38
Day 1: 3   04-05
65. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               3  04-03   36
Day 1: 3   04-03
66. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  2  04-01   35
Day 1: 2   04-01
67. Destin DeMarion        Grove City, PA           2  04-00   34
Day 1: 2   04-00
67. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             2  04-00   34
Day 1: 2   04-00
67. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              2  04-00   34
Day 1: 2   04-00
70. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            2  03-12   31
Day 1: 2   03-12
71. Tyler Carriere         Youngsville, LA          1  03-10   30
Day 1: 1   03-10
72. Drew Benton            Blakely, GA              2  03-07   29
Day 1: 2   03-07
72. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            2  03-07   29
Day 1: 2   03-07
72. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                2  03-07   29
Day 1: 2   03-07
75. Rob Digh               Denver, NC               2  03-03   26
Day 1: 2   03-03
75. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               2  03-03   26
Day 1: 2   03-03
77. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC           1  03-03   24
Day 1: 1   03-03
78. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             1  03-00   23
Day 1: 1   03-00
79. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             2  02-15   22
Day 1: 2   02-15
79. Mike Huff              Corbin, KY               2  02-15   22
Day 1: 2   02-15
79. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX               2  02-15   22
Day 1: 2   02-15
82. Kyle Monti             Okeechobee, FL           1  02-13   19
Day 1: 1   02-13
83. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA     1  02-11   18
Day 1: 1   02-11
84. Harvey Horne           Bella Vista, AR          1  02-02   17
Day 1: 1   02-02
85. Bryan New              Belmont, NC              1  02-01   16
Day 1: 1   02-01
86. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  1  01-13   15
Day 1: 1   01-13
86. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN            1  01-13   15
Day 1: 1   01-13
86. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               1  01-13   15
Day 1: 1   01-13
89. Cody Hollen            Beaverton, OR            1  01-12   12
Day 1: 1   01-12
89. Rick Morris            Lake Gaston, VA          1  01-12   12
Day 1: 1   01-12
89. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI               1  01-12   12
Day 1: 1   01-12
92. Randy Pierson          Oakdale, CA              1  01-10    9
Day 1: 1   01-10
93. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               1  01-09    8
Day 1: 1   01-09
93. Brett Preuett          Monroe, LA               1  01-09    8
Day 1: 1   01-09
95. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
95. Quentin Cappo          Prairieville, LA         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
95. Chris Groh             Spring Grove, IL         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
95. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
95. Randy Sullivan         Breckenridge, TX         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
95. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Brandon Card             Salisbury, NC       05-09      $1,000.00

by AnglersChannel

Grand Lake Readies for 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship presented by Lowrance

College Fishing Anglers Compete for the Opportunity to Fish as a Pro in the 2021 Toyota Series Championship and the Chance to Win up to $235,000

GROVE, Okla. (Feb. 25, 2021) – The nation’s best college fishing teams head to Grove, Oklahoma, next week, March 3-5, for the 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship presented by Lowrance at Grand Lake. This is the 12th annual College Fishing Championship – hosted by the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau – where 150 college bass fishing teams have qualified to compete for a $33,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.

In addition to the boat package, both members of the winning team and the runners-up at the 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship will advance to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship where they will compete as pros for a top prize of up to $235,000. Both members of the third-place team will advance to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for a shot at winning a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.

“I’m pretty excited about getting to fish a national championship in my home state,” said Ty Crutchfield of Inola, Oklahoma, who competes for Rogers State University. “This will be the second College Fishing National Championship I’ve competed in, but the first one was in Louisiana, so it’s going to be cool to have a championship on one of my local lakes.

“The national championship is such a great opportunity. Most college fishing anglers dream of eventually being able to fish professionally, so the chance to compete in the 2021 Toyota Series Championship could be life-changing.”

Crutchfield said he was able to do a little pre-practice prior to the lake going off-limits, but with the recent weather conditions, he expects to see pretty tough conditions at Grand Lake and assumes the lake has changed significantly since he was there.

Bass Pro Tour angler Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, said he is looking forward to following all the action from Grand Lake throughout the week.

“The event is going to be tough, but we’ve had a fairly warm week in Oklahoma so things are starting to thaw out,” said Evers. “Mentally these events can be tough because half the field goes into the tournament defeated because they didn’t get a single bite in practice. You have to keep your head in it.

“The main thing these anglers are going to need to look for is the cleanest, warmest water,” continued Evers. “There are a few areas on Grand Lake that clean up and warm up faster than others, so they just need to keep their head down.”

Evers said he expects the event will be a mental challenge due to the scarcity of bites anglers will likely receive, so it will be important that they make the most of every one of them.

“The Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship is a huge opportunity to launch these college anglers’ career in the professional bass fishing world,” said Evers. “Qualifying for the Toyota Series Championship and the notoriety of fishing that event will truly help them.”
Anglers will take off from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th St. in Grove at 7 a.m. CT each day of competition. Weigh-ins will be held at the park starting at 3 p.m. and will be livestreamed daily. Due to COVID-19 protocols, attendance is limited to competing anglers, family, essential staff and media covering the event. Fans are encouraged to tune in to the weigh-in and follow the online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .

National television coverage of the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship presented by Lowrance will premiere Sunday, July 4, from 8-9 a.m. ET on the Outdoor Channel, with re-airs on the Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network in the fall.

Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Grass Will Play A Key Role In Bassmaster Southern Open On Harris Chain

Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes will host the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open March 4-6, 2021.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.

February 25, 2021

LEESBURG, Fla. — March in Central Florida typically sees plenty of big bass occupying the shallow spawning zone. But, while this seasonal element will likely play a significant role in the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain of Lakes, Keith Carson is betting on the offshore game.

Competition days will be March 4-6 with daily takeoffs from Venetian Gardens (Ski Beach) at 6:45 a.m. ET. Weigh-ins on Days 1 and 2 will take place at Venetian Gardens at 2:45 p.m., and the final-day weigh-in will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Orlando at 4 p.m.

Located northwest of Orlando and totaling approximately 75,000 acres, the Harris Chain comprises eight primary lakes: Apopka, Harris, Griffin, Eustis, Dora, Beauclair, Carlton and Yale. Linked by canals, these lakes sport a diverse array of classic Florida vegetation with plenty of docks and seawalls.

Hailing from DeBary, Fla. — about an hour east of Leesburg — Carson earned his first Opens win at last year’s Eastern Open on Alabama’s Lay Lake. Notably, it was grassy habitat that delivered that December win. While the timing and venue will differ significantly, Carson is no less confident in the vegetation game.

“Harris is probably the best fishery in the nation right now,” he said. “You look at any tournament results in the last two years and it’s on fire.”

Case in point: late October saw Bryan College anglers Cole Sands and Conner Dimauro win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at the Harris Chain with a three-day total of 84 pounds, 12 ounces.

“It’s going to take some high weights to win,” Carson said. “I went out there recently and caught a 10-pounder and one that was almost 10. It’s pretty darn good right now. For catching numbers and (quality), it’s some of the best fishing I’ve seen in a long time.”

Carson attributes the Harris Chain’s tremendous productivity to “an explosion of offshore grass.” It’s mainly hydrilla, and the dense, green subsurface jungles offer bass the perfect blend of cover and feeding opportunities.

“Any time you have an abundance of grass, the fish get large, they eat a lot and it’s great for fishing,” he said. “It holds the forage — you have bream and crappie out there.

“A friend who works for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told me that they find more crappie in (the stomachs of sampled bass) than anything. That tells me that those fish are offshore. They’re out there eating crappie in the grass, in the brushpiles.”

Notwithstanding the likelihood of shallow fish in all three stages of the spawn — prespawn, bedding and postspawn — Carson is convinced the winning bags will be caught in the chain’s deeper areas. Electronics, he said, will help anglers find sweet spots like points, shellbars, humps and shelves where the grass tops off and then drops to form a vertical wall.

“I see offshore winning,” he said. “Even in the dead middle of the spawn, when you’d think that would be a factor, it’s not (the dominant pattern). There are just too many fish and too much quality offshore.

“Maybe if you’re a sight fisherman, like myself, you can have a good day and catch a 25-pound bag, but there’s no way I can maintain that for three days. The offshore bite will hold up more consistently.”

Carson said the tournament will see a variety of offshore baits, including jigs, jerkbaits, swimbaits, swim jigs and crankbaits like the Berkley Frittside 5 he used on Lay. He said the entirety of the tournament waters should be in play.

Ultimately, he believes a mobile strategy will prove most productive.

“I think if a guy is good enough and he can have multiple offshore spots in multiple lakes, that will be the winning combination,” Carson said. “But as good as the grass is, I wouldn’t be surprised if a guy gets on one stretch that keeps reloading.”

Carson estimates that 23 pounds a day will be competitive. He’s looking for a three-day winning total of about 71 pounds.

Noting that one bite on this Florida powerhouse can dramatically change an angler’s fortune, Carson made a bold prediction: “I think we might see the big bass of the year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an 11- or 12-pounder weighed in.”

Fans can find real-time BassTrakk scoring updates and stream live coverage of the weigh-ins at Bassmaster.com. To help ensure the safety of all involved, those who wish to attend the tournament in person are encouraged to wear face coverings, maintain proper social distance and avoid congregating in large groups.

by AnglersChannel

Guaranteed Rate Sponsors Four 2021 Bassmaster Elite Events

February 25, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Guaranteed Rate, one of the Top 5 largest retail mortgage lenders in the country, has expanded its relationship with B.A.S.S., the worldwide authority on bass fishing. Guaranteed Rate will serve as the title sponsor for four Bassmaster Elite Series events in 2021: Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River, Feb. 25-28; Bassmaster Elite Series at Pickwick Lake, March 18-21; Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork, Apr. 22-25; and Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain, July 8-11.

“Sponsoring these marquee events takes our partnership with B.A.S.S. to the next level,” said Guaranteed Rate Chief Marketing Officer Steve Moffat. “We are excited to support the best anglers in the world as they compete in some of the sport’s most competitive tournaments.”

Guaranteed Rate is well known for its support of the Chicago White Sox, who play at Guaranteed Rate Field, but also has a diverse nationwide presence across the sports world. The company has sponsorship deals with NASCAR’s Ryan Newman, the NHL, the UFC, World TeamTennis, the Professional Bowlers Association and others.

Last fall, Guaranteed Rate sponsored the Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake. During that tournament, fans spent more than 22.4 million minutes absorbing live coverage as Texas angler Lee Livesay claimed his first Elite Series win. The young 2021 season is reaching historically high levels of interest as more fans take in real-time scoring and live on-the-water coverage streaming at Bassmaster.com and broadcast on FS1.

“Guaranteed Rate is already a fantastic supporter of sports, and we’re thrilled to partner with the company to reach enthusiastic sportfishing fans in a time when we’re seeing record-breaking levels of interest in the Elite Series,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin.

The Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River starts Thursday, Feb. 25, and live coverage for all four days of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live from every Elite Series tournament beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.

by AnglersChannel

Taming Tough Tournaments with Matt Arey

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

 

Ask any Bassmaster Elite Series pro after official practice concluded and they wouldn’t hesitate to tell you the buzzword for the 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at the Tennessee River was, “tough”. Practice reports were filled with concerns of cold, muddy water and few keepers to be found.

 

Judging by the unofficial weights on BASSTRAK just a few hours into Thursday’s competition, it’s safe to say the Tennessee River is already fishing better than expected. But anglers weren’t sandbagging. Matt Arey has proven to be honest as he is consistent and confirmed conditions set this event up to be among the toughest of the year.

 

Arey is no stranger to performing well in tough derbies. The Team Toyota pro has a pair of Tour level wins on Beaver Lake to his record, a notoriously stingy fishery by any seasoned angler’s definition, and has earned a paycheck in a myriad of others. We caught up with Arey Wednesday evening to pick his brain on his process for approaching tough tournaments.

 

Stay in it mentally

 

When you expect only a handful of keeper bites throughout an entire day of fishing, the number one advantage anglers can give themselves is to stay positive and mentally engaged, according to Arey.

 

“You have to fish your last five minutes like the first five minutes in a tough tournament,” Arey said. “We’ve heard Swindle talk about the benefits of a Positive Mental Attitude for years and it’s absolutely true. Prep for a grind mentality and don’t get caught up in worrying too much. Put your head down and go fishing.”

 

Staying comfortable on the water is one way Arey ensures he stays mentally engaged, especially when dealing with wet or cold weather. Arey said his Aftco Hydronaut rain suit has been worth its weight in gold this week in Tennessee.

 

Lean on confidence lures

 

 

“When individual bites are hard to come by, I pick a couple lures I have confidence in and keep them in my hands,” Arey admitted. “Until something with the weather or water conditions change, you aren’t doing yourself any good switching through 30 presentations in my opinion. I’ll be chunking a flat sided crankbait and flipping jig 90% of the time this week.”

 

The Lunkerhunt pro has learned the hard way it’s easy to spin yourself out during difficult events and believes keeping it simple with lure selection helps with his first tip; staying mentally focused.

 

Don’t be afraid to change on the fly 

 

Arey’s final piece of advice when the bite is brutal is to not get locked in to what you saw or didn’t see, in the days leading up to the tournament… especially in the spring of the year.

 

“Things change so fast this time of year and you have to be willing to change with them,” Arey explained. “One or two warm days can completely change the fish in the springtime. Keep an open mind and listen to the clues Mother Nature and the fish are giving you and you never know what can happen.”

by AnglersChannel

KVD REDCREST: It still stings

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

If you have any doubts as to whether Kevin VanDam’s competitive fire still burns hot at age 53, I wish you could have read my text messages last night.

 

At 9:30 p.m. Wednesday came a message from Kevin thanking me for all the media work I did with him this week at REDCREST, followed by a comma and “wish I could have got it done today. Still stings.”

 

Five hours after his week on Lake Eufaula was officially over -- it was classic KVD – class, appreciation, and a relentless competitor’s heart.

 

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and some days things just don’t go your way. I missed four fish that would have counted today. I didn’t get mad. I didn’t throw a fit. I truly believed I could get it done. I had my chances right to the end, but I just didn’t connect,” he lamented.

 

Fueled by wife Sherry’s lucky cookies, VanDam made thousands of casts at REDCREST with a Strike King Thunder Cricket – specifically a 3/8-ounce white one – with a matching white Strike King Menace trailer. It was for sure his best bait of the week.

 

His best day of the week was the first one when he totaled 20-pounds. “I made a location change early in the day on Monday and got a couple good bites right away. That started the ball rolling to that good 20-pound bag,” he grinned.

 

But what he described as “repetitive missed opportunities” is the part of REDCREST he wishes he could do over.

 

“I’m a little mad and frustrated, obviously. This one stings. I’ll think about those four missed bites for a long time,” concluded VanDam.

 

 

by AnglersChannel

Birge Wins Knockout Round at REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, Advances to Friday’s Championship Round on Lake Eufaula

Connell, Wheeler, Davis and Dudley Also Advance, 10 Anglers Set for Thursday

EUFAULA, Ala. (Feb. 24, 2021) – Pro Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, weighed in eight bass totaling 25 pounds, 14 ounces Wednesday to win the Knockout Round (Group A) on Day 3 at REDCREST 2021, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. The five-day competition features a field of 40 of the best anglers in the world from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour competing for a top cash prize of $300,000.

Advancing alongside Birge to Friday’s Championship round are pros Dustin Connell, Jacob Wheeler, Mark Davis and David Dudley.

The full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Days 1 (Monday) and 2 (Tuesday) of the event. The field was cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers were split into two groups for the Knockout Round – 10 (Group A) competed on Day 3 (Wednesday) and 10 (Group B) will compete on Day 4 (Thursday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight will advance to the Championship Round, the fifth and final day of competition (Friday) where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight on the final day will be crowned the REDCREST 2021 champion.

Birge said that every fish that he has caught so far this week – minus the very last fish of the day today – has come on a white Omega Genesis TI spinnerbait.

“I’ve been doing pretty much the same thing all week, throwing a spinnerbait around brush,” Birge said. “Overall, today went pretty good for me. I caught more today than either of the two previous days, even though the fishing was tougher overall. I ran around and fished brush, pretty much all over the bottom quarter of the lake.

“The event is going to boil down to whether I can get enough bites,” Birge continued. “I know the fish are around, because I can see them. But it’s whether or not they will want to chew. I keep thinking that any day the fish are going to move to the bank and it’s going to off, but it just hasn’t happened yet. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen Friday, but it’s going to be soon.”

Birge has thrown the spinnerbait all week on a 7-foot, 3-inch Favorite Fishing rod with 20-pound-test Yo-Zuri T7 Premium Fluorocarbon line.

The top five pros that made the cut and will advance to Championship Friday on Lake Eufaula are:

1st:          Zack Birge of Blanchard, Okla., eight bass, 25-14
2nd:         Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala., six bass, 17-4
3rd:         Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 15-2
4th:         Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., three bass, 11-14
5th:         David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., four bass, 10-14

The five pros eliminated from competition Wednesday are:

6th:         Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., two bass, 7-10
7th:         Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., two bass, 5-12
8th:         Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, S.C., one bass, 3-7
9th:         Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., one bass, 3-7
10th:       Fred Roumbanis of Russellville, Ark., zero bass

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 31 bass weighing 101 pounds, 4 ounces caught by nine pros on Wednesday

VanDam won Wednesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 5-pound, 6-ounce largemouth that he weighed in during Period 1. Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $7,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

The 10 anglers that will compete in the Group B Knockout Round on Thursday are:

Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan.
Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn.
Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla.
Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C.
Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas
Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala.
Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn.
Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan
Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla.
Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C.

REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula, is hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce.

Attendance is limited to competing anglers, essential staff and media covering the event only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com

The 2020 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing in a COVID-shortened five regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 40 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the five events qualified to compete in Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2021 presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action each day of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com. and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of REDCREST 2021 presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship, will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 3 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside the REDCREST will premiere at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 18 on CBS. 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.

by AnglersChannel

Zaldain: Working with Extreme Weather

Since leaving the St. Johns River just under two weeks ago, Bassmaster Elite Series pro Chris Zaldain has been through quite the roller coaster of challenges. After missing the cut in Florida, Zaldain jumped in his Tundra and drove 17 hours home to Fort Worth, Texas in hopes of beating the winter weather forecasted for the weekend. 

Zaldain made it home to his wife Trait and their “puppy children” Saturday night; the winter storm settled in Sunday evening. The once-in-a-hundred year storm ended up wreaking havoc on Texas, along with much of the rest of the country. 

“The weather hit Sunday and had us in complete lockdown for six days straight,” Zaldain explained. “We got more snow, ice, and cold temperatures than I’ve ever seen during my time in Texas. It was wild. Our house was one of the hundreds of thousands of homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that lost power and heat. Constantly burning firewood allowed us to keep it about 43-degrees in our house for the two days we were without power.” 

Instead of shorts and flip-flops like Zaldain was wearing in Florida, he and Trait had to break out the warmest Carhartt layers they owned while they hunkered down and waited for conditions to improve. Thankfully power came back on in their neighborhood and the weather got warmer, albeit slowly. 

After a few anxious days of worrying if they’d even be able to make it to Tennessee, Zaldain and his cameraman Johnny allowed two-days of travel for what would normally be an easy one day drive due to the slick, hazardous roads. 

The Yamaha Outboards pro had visions of big bass eating a Megabass MagDraft swimbait in current eddies occupying his mind throughout the entire drive to Knoxville, thanks to his experience in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic on this fishery. But the Tennessee River is offering a completely different puzzle for Elite Series anglers this time around.  He may have made it through the snowpocalypse in Texas, but Zaldain realized he had a whole new set of challenges in front of him. 

“I loved how this place set up back in 2019 but as soon as I rolled into town I could tell it was a very different river,” Zaldain admitted. “The water is colder and much lower than the last time we were here. There is a substantial shad die-off and this system is fishing extremely tough right now, but we still gotta get the job done.” 

3 Keys to Success this week 

Zaldain had three layers of warm-weather Carhartt gear on as he launched his Skeeter-Yamaha on the final morning of official practice, hinting that spring has not yet sprung in east Tennessee. 

The always dangerous Elite Series pro offered his three keys to success this week on the Tennessee River: Dealing with the weather, targeting 18-inch smallmouth, and bringing five keeper bass to the scales each day. 

“As hard as it is to believe, this part of the country is dealing with the same cold-weather system that just wreaked Texas,” Zaldain said with disbelief. “Good, bad, or ugly dealing with what Mother Nature throws at you is always important during springtime. My second and third keys to success are related, because I am playing with fire this week and targeting smallmouth. Which means I need to focus on catching five keepers a day.

“Smallmouth bass have to be 18-inches to be considered a keeper on this stretch of the Tennessee River, and they are not easy to come by. We always want to bring five fish to the scales each day, but the guy who can catch five keeper smallmouth a day will have a great chance to win this derby.” 

Zaldain’s ability to remain optimistic and roll with the punches has been on full display the past week. The eventual winner of this tournament will need to exhibit many of the same qualities. Don’t be surprised if the Zaldaingerous one channels some of his magic from the 2019 Bassmaster Classic on this fishery and finds himself near the top of the leaderboard by the time the weekend rolls around.

 

by AnglersChannel

KVD betting on the moon at REDCREST

(Editors Note: This is the third of a series of short daily accounts of Kevin VanDam’s MLF REDCREST event this week as told to Alan McGuckin of Dynamic Sponsorships.)

 

Kevin VanDam sat working on tackle Tuesday evening amid a perfect 65-degree late winter sunset over Lake Eufaula, but most of his thoughts were focused on the moon.

 

Tuesday at REDCREST was tougher than expected on Kevin VanDam. He managed just three scoreable Lake Eufaula largemouth for a total of 8 pounds, but still good enough for 10th place after two days of competition and the chance to move on to Wednesday’s Knockout Round.

 

And he’s still betting on all the goodness an approaching full moon is about to deliver.

 

“See that moon?” questioned VanDam to his avid angler buddy Joe who owns the lake home where he’s staying. “That moon is 90% full, and with water temps now 55-60, that means spring’s magic is about to happen,” he stated in confident VanDam style.

 

He knows the majority of Southeast Alabama’s largemouth will likely spawn around March 28th next month, but the “early bloomers” will show up this week during MLF’s REDCREST to kick off the annual reproductive ritual.

 

He’ll continue to throw a Strike King Thunder Cricket, and mix-in a swim jig too in less than 4-feet of water. It’s the pattern that’s worked well enough this week that VanDam sees no reason to change. In fact, he thinks it will actually get stronger.

 

The “pork pattern” continues to bode well too. He’s eaten pulled pork sandwiches every day in the boat for lunch. Smoked pork tenderloin for dinner Monday night. And was grilling pork chops for dinner Tuesday night.

 

“I’m just trying to fish areas where I know they’re coming to spawn, because I know when that first wave of fresh spawnerscome shallow, things can get really good in a hurry,” he warned prior to Wednesday’s Knockout Round.

 

by AnglersChannel

AC Insider Podcast - All Things Fantasy...... Fishing with Ronnie Moore!

This week Chris & the boys welcome in Fantasy fishing guru Ronnie Moore to the show to talk about this weeks event on the Elite Series trail and how you should look at your fantasy teams to keep yourself in the high percentile. Chris explains the additions to the U-Pick-em contest and they may talk a little about the Redcrest...... Hit Play, NOW!!!

by AnglersChannel

Cherry Cashes in with Toyota Bonus Bucks

Hank Cherry started the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series season with a strong 6th place finish on the St. Johns River just over a week ago and earned an extra $3,000 for being the highest finishing Toyota Bonus Bucks participant in the process. 

I caught up with Cherry just as he pulled his Basscat boat from the Tennessee River Tuesday night to talk about his St. Johns finish and contrast that Florida fishery to this week’s playing field. 

Cherry relied on The General from Berkley PowerBait’s MaxScent line of soft plastics and mixed in a Brian’s Bee Series Propbait to catch his fish in Florida, but promised it is a “whole different world” this week in Knoxville for Elite Series competitors. 

“I am trading The General and a topwater for winter presentations like a Megabass Jerkbait and a jig,” Cherry laughed. “I was looking for water temperatures ranging from 61 to 65 degrees on the St. Johns. Here on the Tennessee River this week I am happy to see 41 to 43 degrees. These fish are coming out of the deep freeze this week, but I won’t complain. The Tennessee River has been good to me.” 

The reigning Bassmaster Classic Champ credited slowing way down for one of the best finishes of his career in Florida, but admitted the decision to stay put in certain areas wasn’t natural or easy for him to do. Cherry typically opts to cover water relatively quickly with a jerkbait, even in Florida. 

One decision that was easy for Cherry was buying a brand new 2021 Toyota Tundra before the start of the season, the 6th Tundra he has owned in his professional fishing career.  The loyal Bonus Bucks participant offered a myriad of reasons he continues to support Toyota. 

“The Bonus Bucks program and Toyota’s reliability should be enough to convince any angler who tows a boat to trust this brand,” Cherry said. “But my local dealer, Scott Clark Toyota in North Carolina, and their staff are the best in the world when it comes to working with bass fishermen. Whether I’m needing routine maintenance, something fixed in a hurry, or buying a new truck they make everything a breeze.” 

Fortunately, you don’t have to be one of the best anglers in the world like Hank Cherry to reap the rewards of the Bonus Bucks program. As long as you tow your boat with a 2017 or newer Toyota tow vehicle and fish in one of the hundreds of supported tournaments you are eligible for extra earnings from the popular contingency program. 

Whether you fish in college, walleye tournaments, or compete in countless bass fishing derbies from weekend events to the Bassmaster Elite Series you should head to https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/ to get signed up and learn more. Toyota Bonus Bucks is absolutely free to register for and is the only vehicle rewards program that pays you to fish. 

 

by AnglersChannel

Thrift Wins Qualifying Round at REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage on Lake Eufaula

Top 20 Pros Advance – 10 Fish Wednesday, 10 Fish Thursday, Top 5 from Each Group Compete on Championship Friday

EUFAULA, Ala. (Feb. 23, 2021) – Pro Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, weighed in 15 bass totaling 50 pounds, 4 ounces over the first two days of competition to win the two-day Qualifying Round at REDCREST 2021, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. The five-day competition features a field of 40 of the best anglers in the world from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour competing for a top cash prize of $300,000.

The field is now cut to 20, and weights are zeroed as competition moves into the Knockout Round. A field of 10 anglers (Group A) will compete on Wednesday and the remaining 10 anglers (Group B) will compete Thursday. The top five anglers from each day advance to the fifth and final day of competition, Championship Friday.

Lake Eufaula was a bit tougher for anglers on Tuesday, however quite a few anglers, including Thrift, spent most of the day practicing and searching for new areas to fish during the upcoming Knockout Round.

“I didn’t catch a lot of fish today – only two scorable bass – but it was a fun day because I eliminated a lot of water,” Thrift said. “That’s pretty much all we got accomplished today, but that’s just a part of it. Sometimes that’s almost as good as finding the winning hole, because now I’ve got a great idea of what not to do when I get back out there, and that’s definitely a plus.

“It feels great to be leading in my very first REDCREST, but I’ve still got some work left to do,” Thrift said. “You can’t win if you don’t make it to the Championship Round. I’m looking forward to getting back out there and seeing what we can do.”

Reigning REDCREST champion, Oklahoma’s Edwin Evers, had a great day Tuesday, catching eight bass weighing 22 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest weight of the day – to vault from 25th place to inside the Toro Top 20 Cut and end the day in 8th place.

“I caught the largest weight of the day, and I know that doesn’t mean a lot to some of the guys that laid off their fish, but it gives me a lot of confidence going into the Knockout Round,” Evers said. “The majority of my fish today came on a Berkley PowerBait Power Hog. I’m learning more and putting more pieces of the puzzle together each day and I can’t wait to get back out there and compete in the Knockout Round.”

The top 20 pros that made the cut and will advance in competition at Lake Eufaula are:

1st:           Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., 15 bass, 50-4
2nd:          Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, S.C., 12 bass, 39-7
3rd:          Zack Birge of Blanchard, Okla., 10 bass, 36-3
4th:           Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 33-8
5th:           Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 33-2
6th:           Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., 11 bass, 31-1
7th:           Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., nine bass, 31-1
8th:           Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., 11 bass, 30-0
9th:           Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 29-7
10th:        Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., nine bass, 28-12
11th:        David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., eight bass, 28-7
12th:        Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 27-4
13th:        Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., eight bass, 27-0
14th:        Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., seven bass, 26-8
15th:        Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn., eight bass, 26-4
16th:        Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan., nine bass, 26-3
17th:        Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala., six bass, 23-5
18th:        Fred Roumbanis of Russellville, Ark., nine bass, 23-3
19th:        Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala., seven bass, 22-15
20th:        Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., eight bass, 20-10

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 105 bass weighing 101 pounds, 3 ounces caught by 35 pros on Tuesday, which included eight 5-pounders and eight 4-pounders caught.

Fletcher Shryock of Guntersville, Alabama, won Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 5-pound, 14-ounce largemouth during Period 1. Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $7,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

The 10 anglers that will compete in the Group A Knockout Round on Wednesday are:

Zack Birge of Blanchard, Okla.
Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark.
Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala.
Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark.
David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va.
Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, S.C.
Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn.
Fred Roumbanis of Russellville, Ark.
Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn.
Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich.

The 10 anglers that will compete in the Group B Knockout Round on Thursday are:

Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan.
Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn.
Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla.
Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C.
Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas
Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala.
Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn.
Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan
Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla.
Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C.

REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula, is hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce.

All 40 Anglers competed on Day 1 (Monday) and 2 (Tuesday) of the event. Now, the field is cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers are split into two groups – 10 compete on Day 3 (Wednesday) and 10 compete on Day 4 (Thursday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight will advance to the fifth and final day of competition (Friday), where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight on the final day will be crowned the REDCREST 2021 champion.

Attendance is limited to competing anglers, essential staff and media covering the event only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com

The 2020 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing in a COVID-shortened five regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 40 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the five events qualified to compete in Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2021 presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action each day of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com. and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of REDCREST 2021 presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship, will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 3 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside the REDCREST will premiere at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 18 on CBS. 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 REDCREST 2021, 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

Parker Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Norman

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 23, 2021) – Boater John Parker of Gaffney, South Carolina, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake Norman in Mooresville, North Carolina. Parker won by a 1-ounce margin, earning $5,843 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Mooresville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st John Parker of Gaffney, S.C. 5 14-5 $5,843
2nd Craig Chambers of Charlotte, N.C. 5 14-4 $2,921
3rd Eric Moser of Concord, N.C. 5 13-8 $1,948
4th Christopher Brown of Lexington, N.C. 5 12-15 $1,363
5th Shane Lehew of Catawba, N.C. 5 12-0 $1,169
6th John Wiese of Charlotte, N.C. 4 11-11 $2,031
7th Curtis Dillon of Advance, N.C. 5 11-0 $974
8th Ben Hudson of Lynchburg, Va. 4 10-15 $876
9th Ron Farrow of Rock Hill, S.C. 5 10-13 $779
10th Aaron Digh of Denver, N.C. 5 10-12 $682

 

RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Michael Benfield of Hickory, N.C. 4 6-15 $2,921
2nd Ernest McIntyre of Fayetteville, N.C. 4 6-14 $1,461
3rd Charles Wood of Thomasville, N.C. 3 6-11 $973
4th David L. Deciucis of Chester, Va. 3 6-10 $682
5th Drew Lumpkin of Cameron, N.C. 3 6-2 $584
6th Mike Shatley of North Wilkesboro, N.C. 4 6-1 $536
7th Artie Phillips of Monroe, N.C. 2 5-14 $727
8th Grant McPeters of Marion, N.C. 3 5-11 $438
9th William Britt of Clarkton, N.C. 2 5-5 $390
10th Scottie Elswick of Gordon, W.V. 2 4-15 $341

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Berkley Big Bass John Wiese of Charlotte, N.C. 5-pound, 15-ounce bass $910
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Patrick Brondos of Wilkesboro, N.C. 4-pound bass $455
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Artie Phillips of Monroe, N.C. 4-pound bass $240
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Matt Stark of Mooresville, N.C. 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 Jerkbait Did Not Disclose
Strike King Co-Angler Shaky Head & Rapala Shad Rap Crankbait Did Not Disclose

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
North Carolina 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.

by AnglersChannel

Smith Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Harris Chain of Lakes

California’s Sharp Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

Leesburg, Fla. (Feb. 22, 2021) – Boater Corey Smith of Clermont, Florida, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Googan Baits in Leesburg, Florida. Smith earned $6,000 for his victory at the event, hosted by Visit Lake County, Florida.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Corey Smith of Clermont, Fla. 5 29-9 $6,000
2nd Neil Nix of Okeechobee, Fla. 5 27-3 $3,000
3rd Tyler Sheppard of Jacksonville, Fla. 5 23-4 $2,000
4th Eric Panzironi of Longwood, Fla. 5 23-2 $1,400
5th Robert Crosnoe of Inverness, Fla. 5 22-8 $1,200
6th Michael King of Riverview, Fla. 4 22-7 $1,100
7th Tim Frederick of Leesburg, Fla. 5 22-1 $1,000
8th Casey Marsh of Dunnellon, Fla. 5 21-15 $900
9th Jonathan Hoobler of Alachua, Fla. 5 19-7 $800
10th Joel Willert of Prior Lake, Minn. 5 19-1 $900
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Brennon Sharp of Folsom, Calif. 5 21-6 $3,500
2nd Joshua Dunn of Mulberry, Fla. 5 20-3 $1,500
3rd Justin Brown of Frostproof, Fla. 5 18-4 $1,050
3rd Luis Lindstedt of Melbourne, Fla. 5 18-4 $850
5th Dawson Wiles of Fruit Cove, Fla. 4 16-2 $600
6th John Brown of Deltona, Fla. 5 15-15 $550
7th Kenneth Hunnicutt of Jacksonville, Fla. 5 14-11 $500
8th Adam Giran of Wesley Chapel, Fla. 5 14-3 $450
9th Sean Ripley of Lakeland, Fla. 5 13-13 $400
10th Bill Richards of Davenport, Fla. 3 12-13 $350
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Berkley Big Bass T.W. Garten of East Palatka, Fla. 10-pound, 7-ounce bass $1,000
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Brennon Sharp of Folsom, Calif. 8-pound, 10-ounce bass $500
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Matt Gee of Grand Island, Fla. 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 Jigs N/A
Strike King Co-Angler Jigs N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Gator Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 21-23 St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla. Visit Lake County, Florida
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

B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Named To National Fish Habitat Partnership Board

February 23, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. Conservation Director, has accepted a seat on the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) Board. Chartered by Congress in 2006, NFHP coordinates 20 regionally-based Fish Habitat Partnerships, each working to improve fish habitat, and has supported more than 1,000 projects benefiting fish habitat in all 50 states.

“In this new role with the National Fish Habitat Partnership Board of Directors, I will be representing not only the 515,000 B.A.S.S. members but the broader community of freshwater recreational anglers,” said Gilliland. “My goal in volunteering for the NFHP Board is to ensure that freshwater recreational fishing is a priority in the decision making and funding process.”

Federal funds flow through NFHP in the form of grants to local entities that do the hands-on work of protecting and restoring fish habitat in streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, while the organization also helps leverage state, tribal and private funding resources to support these programs. While many of the partnerships have species-specific interests — such as brook trout or salmon — others are regionally focused, such as protecting Midwest glacial lakes and the Great Lakes Basin.

The bipartisan America’s Conservation Enhancement Act, which passed in late 2020, requires that Fish Habitat Partnership projects address the causes and processes behind the decline of fish or fish habitats, achieve measurable habitat conservation results and lead to increased fishing opportunities.

“As an angler myself, I am excited to learn more and support these projects,” said Gilliland. “Healthy and abundant habitats produce more fish. And when there are more fish, there are more opportunities for recreational fishermen.”

B.A.S.S. has a long history of holding positions on national-level boards and councils that deal with fishery policy. B.A.S.S. already works with the Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership and its Friends of Reservoirs Foundation (FOR). It is the only partnership that has a nationwide reach and works primarily to enhance sportfish populations. Several B.A.S.S. Nation chapters have received grants through the Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership and the FOR Foundation.

Among the other conservation and advocacy groups B.A.S.S. partners with are the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, which works with Congress, governors and state legislatures to protect and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping, the American Sportfishing Association, Center for Sportfishing Policy and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

by AnglersChannel

Stephen Browning Is Coming Home To Ranger Boats

The Bass Pro Tour tournament angler is returning to the boat manufacturer he began his successful career in more than two decades ago.

HOT SPRINGS, AR (February 22, 2021) - As the 2021 Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour gets under way on Lake Eufaula for the Redcrest 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, veteran tournament professional, Stephen Browning, has announced he is returning to the boat manufacturer he began his career in back in 1996.

“I’m grateful for the years I’ve spent with Triton that goes back to 2000,” Browning said. “But when the most iconic bass boat brand in the industry asks you to come aboard, quite honestly, it’s a privilege and honor. Of course I said yes.”

Browning’s career has spanned more than two decades and includes multiple wins and almost $1.5 million in earnings. He has been featured in episodes of The Bass Pros, Day on the Lake and Bass Tech, to name a few, each airing on ESPN. Stephen was also chosen to compete in The Wild Rules, a reality survival series shown during prime time on ESPN. Stephen eventually won the contest along with the $100,000 prize check.

“I started my career in a Ranger and I want to finish my career in a Ranger. Whether it be 5 years down the road or 20 years,” Browning said. “It’s no surprise that Ranger has one of the most loyal followings in the industry, and being associated with the Ranger brand, I feel my fanbase will no doubt grow as well. I’ll also be working with Bradford Marine as my local Ranger Dealer, another iconic brand and dealership in the state of Arkansas and one that I’ve had a personal relationship with for over 40 years.”

“Ranger's decades-long tradition of excellence on the water has been proven at every level of competitive fishing, and our pro staff is a reflection of that," said Scott Arms, White River Marine Group Pro Staff Manager. "We couldn't be prouder to be welcoming back homegrown Arkansas boy Stephen Browning, who brings immense experience and a wealth of success to the Ranger Family. We're excited to see what he does out of his Z521L."

With more than 50 years of boat-building expertise built into the Z521L Comanche®, it’s an unparalleled bass fishing machine. No one comes close to the level of quality, commitment and proven excellence inside and out of every Ranger boat. The bold look of the Z521L translates into confidence whether you’re blowing across big water or sliding into shallows. The L Series designs feature unique styling, handmade Ultra-Comfort bucket seats, a simple and secure keypad, distinctive consoles, LED lights and a custom trailer for functional beauty that sets you apart. A tournament-proven layout is designed with efficiency, maximum storage and convenience in mind. A high-strength pultruded fiberglass transom, fiberglass stringers, upright, level flotation and a foam-filled core all add up to deliver that legendary one-piece feel and responsive performance for which Ranger® boats are known. Every Z521L is custom built to be the apex of bass boat performance, technology and style. Like Ranger itself, the Z521L has nothing to prove.

“Quite honestly, I could highlight the countless advanced features and the meticulous level of detail that goes into the finish of each and every Ranger Boat, but that can all be summed up by saying, ‘I ride a Ranger.’” Browning said. “That says it all.”

Browning and the rest of the Bass Pro Tour field open the season with the Redcrest 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage on Lake Eufaula, Alabama Monday through Friday, Feb. 22-26, on Lake Eufaula at Lakepoint State Park. The Bass Pro Tour is Major League Fishing’s top-level competitive circuit, in which 80 anglers compete in seven Stages, culminating with REDCREST, the Bass Pro Tour championship. The Bass Pro Tour events stream live on MLF NOW! and you can watch for free on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MLF app.

by AnglersChannel

X2POWER ANNOUNCES ADDITIONS TO 2021 PRO STAFF

Newest additions to the pro staff are poised to bring the advantages of premium batteries from X2Power to even more outdoor enthusiasts.

HARTLAND, Wis. (February 23, 2021) — X2Power, the premium power source for the marine, car/light truck and motorsports markets, announces the newest additions to its pro staff. The newest members of the pro staff come from the ranks of the world’s elite saltwater captains, an outdoor industry empire and country music’s hottest acts. They join fellow pro staff members competing at the highest levels of professional bass fishing, all of them benefitting from the competitive advantage of being powered by X2Power’s line of premium batteries.

Newest additions to the X2Power pro staff include No.1-selling singer-songwriter Lucas Hoge, who also serves as the host of “Hoge Wild” on the Sportsman Channel; Duck Commander General Manager and “Duck Dynasty” star Justin Martin, as well as acclaimed saltwater captain Duane “Diego” Mellor and MLF angler Josh Douglas. Each of these pro staff members will be powering their boats and tow vehicles with X2Power premium batteries throughout 2021.

“This diverse group of pro staffers has one thing in common: they spend a lot of time in the woods and on the water—so they appreciate the importance of a premium power source like X2Power,” said Vice President of Product Development Shawn Budiac “We’re proud to have them join the team for 2021 and beyond and we look forward to working with them to bring the X2Power brand to the hunting and saltwater fishing communities.”

Proudly made in the USA, X2Power Marine batteries are part of a line of premium power options that includes AGM batteries for cars/light trucks and emergency vehicles, as well as lithium batteries for powersports applications. X2Power marine batteries feature a pure-lead, dual-purpose design, which gives them both the high cranking power to start modern boat motors as well as the cycling capabilities necessary to run trolling motors, depth finders, side-imaging, radios, radar, lights, pumps, coolers and more. Backed by a 4-year, free-replacement warranty and available at more than 700 Batteries Plus Bulbs locations nationwide, X2Power’s AGM batteries are built to provide years of worry-free use for anglers and boaters.

2021 X2POWER PRO STAFF ADDITIONS
Josh Douglas
Instagram: @joshdouglasfishing

Lucas Hoge
Instagram: @lucashoge

Justin Martin
Instagram: @jmartinduckman

Duane “Diego” Mellor
Instagram: @duanediego

by AnglersChannel

KVD REDCREST: Fueled up for another 20-pound limit

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

 

Kevin VanDam stopped for boat gas Monday evening with a satisfied grin knowing he’d just reached his goal of catching at least 17-pounds on Day 1 at Major League Fishing’s REDCREST Championship on Lake Eufaula, Alabama.

 

In fact, he exceeded his goal by catching 20-pounds to land in 6th place to begin Tuesday’s second day of competition. He deemed Monday’s catch worthy of a cold beverage and pork tenderloin on the Traeger Grill for dinner.

 

“Since I’m staying alone at a buddy’s lake house, it’d be easy to grab a burger at a drive-thru window on my way back from weigh-in, but that’s not my style, I love to grill good food,” says VanDam.

 

Grilling and chilling occurs at least once weekly back in Michigan when he’s not on the road. Roughly 25 VanDam family members gather every Sunday afternoon at his mom and dad’s lake house on Pretty Lake, home to mongo-sized bluegills.

 

“Over the years we’ve collected five different grill and frying apparatuses at Dad’s house, and trust me, we use ‘em – we’ve got a big family,” smiles VanDam.

 

A ‘family first’ guy to the core, far greater than celebrating his 20-pound catch, was the chance to smile knowing his dad had been released from the hospital after a battle with pneumonia, and his twin sons Jackson and Nicholas have grown to be two great guys as they celebrated their 24th birthday Monday.

 

His plan for Tuesday was to spend a lot of time slinging a 3/8-ounce Strike King Thunder Cricket in less than 4-feet of water. He’ll alternate between white and green pumpkin, and says the biggest mistake anglers make when throwing a vibrating jig is using the wrong rod.

 

“A vibrating jig throws off so much vibration, that if you’re using a pure graphite rod you have a tendency to feel a little too much and pull it away from a lot of bass. I use a composite rod with a lot more flex in it, and I catch everyone that bites it,” says VanDam.

 

His go-to rod is a Lew’s 7’ 1” CC3, and his biggest bass on Monday weighed 5-pounds. With the moon already 85% full, and lots of 72-degree weather coming to Eufaula, AL this week, VanDam is licking his chops at the promise of another 20-pound day like an Auburn Tiger nose tackle slobbering over a juicy pork tenderloin.

by AnglersChannel

Menendez: Power Pay Will Help Pay for the Wedding

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin-Dynamic Sponsorships

KENNESAW, Ga. -  Feb. 23, 2021 - For 30 seasons, Mark Menendez has proven he’s got the sort of rare bass fishing talents reserved for a select group. His sustainability, professionalism and ability to overcome life’s adversity are admirable.

In October, Mark will marry Melissa, a wonderful woman he met months after both of them lost spouses they loved dearly far too early in life. He admits at first both he and Melissa were emotionally challenged to move on, but love eventually stepped in to propel them forward.

Amid a rainstorm during the final day’s weigh-in on the banks of the St. Johns, Menendez couldn’t help but grin about their relationship as he added up the winnings from his second Top 5 in recent years at a Bassmaster Elite Series in Palatka, Fla.

“My tournament paycheck will be $20,000, plus I’ll get $1,000 from Skeeter Boats Real Money, and $1,500 from the new Yamaha Power Pay program. Man, that’ll all add up to pay for the wedding,” said Menendez.

Fellow Yamaha pro Patrick Walters won $3,000 in Power Pay money because he edged out Menendez by one place in the standings, but Menendez is more than grateful for Yamaha’s second place contingency money, which is now available through 600 bass, walleye and saltwater events.

He caught 67 pounds of Florida largemouth from the famed St. Johns on two lures, a Texas-rigged junebug Strike King® Space Monkey reeled slowly beneath the surface, and a Rage Craw he stair-stepped from the shoreline out to four feet of water.

“I’ve run a Yamaha outboard for 19 seasons, and I’ll promise you, if it’ll run as reliable under me as it does, then it will stand up to just about any angler out there, because I put my equipment to the test,” he says.

The fact is, Menendez has also proven highly reliable no matter what tests life has tossed his way, and in eight months when he marries the woman he describes as the most motivated and positive woman he’s ever met, the Yamaha team can smile knowing they had a tiny hand in supporting a much deserved celebration.

Introduced in the fall of 2019, Power Pay gives anglers the opportunity to receive compensation for running eligible Yamaha outboards. Eligible anglers running Yamaha outboards can sign up for the program by visiting yamahapowerpay.com. All applicants are required to accept and adhere to the Yamaha Angler Code of Ethics before completing the registration for the program. Once registered, the highest placing angler in specified Power Pay sanctioned tournaments that meets all eligibility requirements will be compensated by Yamaha accordingly.

New tournaments for 2021 include the MLF Bass Pro Tour, Bass Champs Texas, Carolina Bass Challenge, Texas Team Trail®, Skeeter XFL, Nichols Team Series Oklahoma, Phoenix BFL Regionals, EFL™ Redfish Contender Series and EFL™ Redfish Tour. Additional eligible Power Pay tournaments and trails include the Bassmaster Classic®, Bassmaster® Angler of the Year, Bassmaster Opens, B.A.S.S. Nation®, Bassmaster Elites, Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School series, A.B.A. Bass Pro Shops® Open Series, Alabama Bass Trail, MWC, The National Walleye Tour®, AIM® Walleye, Kingfish Cup and Flatsmasters®.

For more information and complete terms and conditions about Power Pay, visit yamahapowerpay.com. Some restrictions apply. Void where prohibited by law.

Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Engine Systems, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.

by AnglersChannel

Thrift Leads on Day One of REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage on Lake Eufaula

North Carolina Pro Catches 13 Bass Weighing 45 Pounds Even, Full Field of 40 Anglers to Compete Again Tuesday

EUFAULA, Ala. (Feb. 22, 2021) – A field of the top 40 pros from the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour converged on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama, this morning for the start of REDCREST 2021, the Bass Pro Tour championship. The five-day competition, which awards a top cash prize of $300,000 to the winner, is being live-streamed online and filmed for television broadcast on CBS, the Discovery Channel and the Outdoor Channel.

Pro Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, weighed in 13 bass totaling 45 pounds even, to take the early lead after Day One of the Qualifying Round. Thrift holds a 13-pound, 14-ounce, lead over Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, who caught nine bass weighing 31-2, good for second place.

“Today went about as good as I could have imagined,” said Thrift in the post-game General Tire Take Out show. “It started out kind of slow – it took me an hour, an hour and a half to kind of figure out where the fish were setting. Once I found them, I ended up catching five or six on a jerkbait and a Damiki swimbait. When they quit, I went running around and caught a couple on a shaky-head and hit another spot and ended up catching a 7 (pounder) and a 5 (pounder). I couldn’t have asked for a better day.

“I’ve got about 50 rods on my deck, and I think I caught a bass on most of them today,” Thrift joked. “I caught fish on a lot of different baits. My big one came on a 4-inch swimbait with light line – when I first hooked it and was fighting it on the light line I felt like it was way too big to be a bass. I caught it with a 7-foot medium-heavy Fitzgerald Stunner rod paired with a (Abu Garcia) Revo MGX reel and P-Line Tactical 10-pound-test fluorocarbon line.”

With only the top 20 pros advancing after tomorrow’s day of competition, Thrift’s 30-pound cushion over 20th place will allow him to spend Tuesday’s day of competition expanding on his pattern and looking for new areas.

“I’m going to use tomorrow as a practice day,” Thrift went on to say. “I don’t think I have enough right now to win the event, so I’ve got to try to find more. There are going to be a lot of fish in new water in the next few days – we’re looking at three days of sunshine and 70-degree weather. The water is going to warm a lot, and these fish could change up really quickly. It’s almost March in Southern Alabama, so these fish are ready to spawn. Two or three of these hot sunny days, they can push up shallow. The first person to find that can definitely win this event, so I’m going to spend a lot of time looking for that tomorrow.”

Like Thrift, DeFoe credited a jerkbait as a big part of his success today as well.

“I switched up to the jerkbait this morning and that was the big player for me today,” DeFoe said. “The 13 Fishing Loco Special was the deal. Those fish wanted something a little slower, something you could pause and let hang right in front of their faces. I did catch a really nice one late in the day on a Terminator Pro Series spinnerbait, but the jerkbait was key. I feel like I’m in pretty good shape and all in all, today was a great start. I’ve got a little bit of a cushion, so tomorrow I’m going to try to find something else for later this week to go with what I’ve got.”

The top 20 pros after Day One on Lake Eufaula are:
1st:          Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., 13 bass, 45-0
2nd:         Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn., nine bass, 31-2
3rd:         Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., nine bass, 26-4
4th:         Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan., nine bass, 26-3
5th:         Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., seven bass, 26-3
6th:         Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., six bass, 20-10
7th:         Zack Birge of Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 20-9
8th:         Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 20-8
9th:         Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan, six bass, 19-15
10th:       Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, S.C., six bass, 18-9
11rh:      Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas, six bass, 17-5
12th:       Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala., five bass, 15-5
13th:       Fred Roumbanis of Russellville, Ark., six bass, 15-2
14th:       Mark Rose of Wynne, Ark., five bass, 14-11
15th:       David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., three bass, 13-7
16th:       Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., four bass, 12-14
17th:       Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 12-5
18th:       Scott Suggs of Alexander, Ark., three bass, 11-13
19th:       Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., four bass, 9-14
20th:       Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn., two bass, 9-10

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

Overall, there were 156 bass weighing 492 pounds, 8 ounces caught by 38 pros on Monday, which included one 7-pounder, one 6-pounder and 11 5-pounders caught from Lake Eufaula.

Thrift won Monday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 7-pound, 1-ounce largemouth during Period 2. Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $7,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula, is hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce.

All 40 Anglers compete on Day 1 (Monday) and 2 (Tuesday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field is cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers are split into two groups – 10 compete on Day 3 (Wednesday) and 10 compete on Day 4 (Thursday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight will advance to the fifth and final day of competition (Friday), where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight on the final day will be crowned the REDCREST 2021 champion.

Attendance is limited to competing anglers, essential staff and media covering the event only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com

The 2020 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing in a COVID-shortened five regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 40 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the five events qualified to compete in Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2021 presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action each day of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com. and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of REDCREST 2021 presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship, will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 3 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside the REDCREST will premiere at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 18 on CBS. 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 REDCREST 2021, 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

Larry Walters and Shane Patterson win Alabama  Bass Trail South Lake Martin with 13.91 pounds

By Jason Duran

Photos: Chris Brown

 

Lake Martin hosted the Alabama Bass Trail South division for the start of another season. After a deep freeze blanketed the south for nearly a week, anglers arrived Saturday morning to find the weather on what some would consider to be a warming trend. Fishing conditions were blue bird skies with temps in the 50s at midday, causing many anglers to adapt after a very cold practice. Catching fish isn’t typically a problem at Lake Martin with teams often catching over 30-50 fish a day, and the winning bag being anchored with a five pounder. The team of Larry Walters and Shane Patterson broke outside the numbers to bring home the win on the first stop of the ABT South Division.

 

Larry Walters and Shane Patterson made a 35 mile run in 27 degree temps past Parker Creek to a spot they found in practice to be holding fish. When they arrived, they quickly went to work and “caught a fish within ten minutes, but after that it kind of went dry,” said Shane. They cycled through about 12-15 spots fishing brush piles and were able to boat a limit of just 6 pounds. With that small limit about noon they returned to their starting spot, and this time the fish were ready. Here they caught a key 5-pound fish which was the kicker to put them over the top.

 

They targeted fish in 30 feet of water using a Ned rig with a ¼ oz round head teamed up with a green pumpkin senko, cut down to 4 inches. Larry said the real key for them “was using 6-pound test line fishing that deep.” He said, “the fish that deep are line shy and you really have to have small line.” They weighed in a mixed bag of four spotted bass and one largemouth. The team expected it to take over 16 pounds to win, so with just 13.91, they were excited to claim the win and the $10,000 first place check.

David Newman and Chris Patterson caught 13.25 for second place. The team said practice was really tough for them. They “found a spot on the last afternoon of practice where they felt they could scratch out a limit then go off-shore and hope to maybe catch 8 pounds.”  Shane said “that was the plan, and by 7:30 I caught a 4.5 pounds spot helping us realize the big fish were starting to move up shallow and we needed to stay” in that spot.

 

They described their most productive spot as a rocky point with docks for cover. “It had a shelf in 5 to 6 feet of water where we felt fish might come up and spawn and stage under the docks.”  They spent most of the morning in this area “flipping to the dock corners in 12 feet of water and dragging it out to 20 feet.” Their key baits were a homemade ¼ oz and 3/8 oz shaky head paired up with a green pumpkin blue flake trick worm and a smoke and purple trick worm.

 

They said, “once the sun came up high and the water calmed, our bite changed. We got a limit and culled up three times, but at 11:00 the bite died so we made a run up the lake to try and get a big largemouth. We were unable to get anything to bite.”

With 12.81 Rob Lee and Steve Winslett finished third. They are no strangers to Lake Martin winning here in 2019 with over 20 pounds and a 4thplace finish here in the ABT Championship. Practice was very productive for them locating fish up shallow in 2 feet of water or less. “The cold weather doesn’t bother these fish, and once they commit up shallow they stay. Today was much different for us than practice; the blue bird skies really hurt us today.”

 

They started their morning with the hopes to catch 10 pounds of spotted bass on their first spot and then go shallow. In practice Steve said he caught a 2 pounder and when he got it to the boat, there were others chasing trying to get his bait away from the other fish. They describe this area as a high spot with a rock pile going into a spawning pocket, in about 10 feet of water. A ¼ oz Davis Baits shaky head with a Zoom trick worm in Alabama craw and one in green pumpkin were their key spotted bass baits. They were only able to catch two fish on this spot, so they had to make the move shallow.

 

They spent the rest of the day fishing shallow brush piles with a “homemade jig in black and blue using a Big Salty Trailer in black and blue and one in green pumpkin orange.” Fishing about 50-70 brush piles to finish out their limit in the afternoon, they caught two big largemouth: one weighing about 5 pounds and the other about 4.25 pounds. Their bites were very few and they only boated 8 fish all day.

 

Top five standings are below. For a complete list see https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/lm-results/

Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.”  The Podcast is released each week on Tuesday. This week podcast will feature winners Larry Walters and Shane Patterson.

by AnglersChannel

KVD MLF REDCREST: Throwing blades and eating pork

(Editors Note: This is the first of a series of short daily accounts of Kevin VanDam’s MLF REDCREST event this week as told to Alan McGuckin of Dynamic Sponsorships.)

With high muddy water, Kevin VanDam and the rest of the field at the Major League Fishing REDCREST Championship on Lake Eufaula, Alabama are hungry for just a handful of good keepers today.

And when it’s time for lunch, the angler most consider the greatest of all time will satiate his appetite with a pulled pork sandwich.

“When I thought we were headed to Lake Palestine in East Texas where all the residents, restaurants and stores had been so badly affected by ice and snow, I filled-up on plenty of my own groceries including some pulled pork that I brought in a cooler I packed in my Tundra,” grinned VanDam prior to Monday’s take-off.

As far as ‘groceries’ he plans to feed Eufaula’s largemouth, he says a spinnerbait and Strike King’s Thunder Cricket vibrating jig will be major players in the high muddy 48-degree water. He’ll mix in a structure jig and a medium diving crankbait as back-ups.

“The biggest X-factor this week is the weather because we’re starting with heavy clouds, passing rain, and pretty cold water, but we have lots of sunshine coming this way, and it’s going to change everything for the better – big time – as this tournament progresses,” says an optimistic VanDam.

He practiced until dark Sunday on the only allotted practice day, then worked on prepping tackle until 9:30 p.m. while his buddy who owns the lakeside home he’s staying in grilled them a steak.

But today, it’s pulled pork. And hopefully seven or eight keeper bites that will total around 17 pounds based on what VanDam predicts it will take to do well. And as of this writing at 11:00 a.m., according to SCORETRACKER™, he was more than halfway there.

by AnglersChannel

Washam Goes Wire-to-Wire, Wins Toyota Series Event on Lake Guntersville presented by Googan Baits

Tennessee Pro Wins by 5-pound, 10-ounce margin, Earns $55,650

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Feb. 20, 2021) – Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler Jimmy Washam of Covington, Tennessee, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Friday weighing 18 pounds, 15 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Lake Guntersville presented by Googan Baits in Guntersville, Alabama. Washam led the event wire-to-wire, and his three-day total of 15 bass weighing 58-5 earned him the win by a 5-pound, 10-ounce margin over second-place angler Sloan Pennington of Childersburg, Alabama . Washam earned the top payout of $55,650 in the first tournament of the 2021 Toyota Series Central Division presented by Neat Companies.

Looking back on the three-day tournament, Washam said Day 1 was a grind, with only two fish in the livewell by noon; however, he just happened to land on them later in the day.

“I went back to an earlier spot I’d fished, and they were just turned on,” he said. “They were trying to take the [bladed jig] out of my hand. I caught the 7-5 and the 4 [pounder] in the last 10 minutes.”

Washam brought in his smallest bag of the tournament on Thursday (Day 2), but it was big enough to provide him with a 5-plus-pound lead going into the final day.

His pattern throughout the week was a carbon copy of most other anglers in the field.

“The fish were in the grass,” he said. “That was no secret.”

Like most pros, Washam had an array of rods and baits on the front deck, but the one lure he said he depended on the most on Lake Guntersville was a Profound Outdoors Azuma Shaker Z lipless crankbait.

“They just really ate it this week,” he said. “It’s got more of a subtle action and a good flutter to it. Out of all the lipless crankbaits I tried in practice, it was the one that got the most bites.”

The top 10 pros on Lake Guntersville finished:
1st: Jimmy Washam of Covington, Tenn., 15 bass, 58-5, $55,650
2nd: Sloan Pennington of Childersburg, Ala., 15 bass, 52-11, $22,000
3rd: Jeff McLain of Columbus, Miss., 15 bass, 48-11, $15,250
4th: Ethan Greene Tracy of Eufaula, Ala., 15 bass, 46-3, $13,250
5th: Brennon McCord of Thompsonville, Ill., 15 bass, 46-1, $13,250
6th: Blake Hall of Guntersville, Ala., 14 bass, 44-6, $9,625
7th: Terry Fisher of Madison, Ala., 15 bass, 43-8, $8,300
8th: Mickey Beck of Lebanon, Tenn., 10 bass, 35-4, $7,300
9th: Cody Nichols of Fayette, Ala., 12 bass, 34-9, $6,300
10th: Steve Lopez of Oconomowoc, Wisc., 10 bass, 29-9, $4,700

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

Washam also won the Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Wednesday, with a largemouth weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces. Greg Lamb of Birchwood, Tennessee, won Thursday’s Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, bringing an 8-pound, 9-ounce bass to the scale. Both anglers earned an additional $150.

McCord 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.

Larry Franks, Jr. of Wilsonville, Alabama, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Friday with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 41 pounds, 11 ounces. Franks 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 Guntersville finished:
1st: Larry Franks, Jr. of Wilsonville, Ala., 14 bass, 41-11, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd: Keith Newsom of Memphis, Tenn., 12 bass, 36-4, $6,625
3rd: Zach Britton of Hazel Green, Ala., 10 bass, 28-5, $5,300
4th: Wayne Crouch of Jamestown, Tenn., nine bass, 26-1, $4,150
5th: Hayden Marbut of Birmingham, Ala., nine bass, 25-15, $3,650
6th: Shane Combs of New Hope, Ala., eight bass, 23-1, $3,150
7th: Jared Murphree of Toney, Ala., nine bass, 22-12, $2,650
8th: Blake Lewis of Pace, Fla., seven bass, 21-5, $2,075
9th: Alex Moore of Chester, Ill., seven bass, 20-14, $1,630
10th: Terry Ezzell of Russellville, Ala., seven bass, 19-9, $1,390

In the co-angler division, the Day One Berkley Big Bass award winner was Kyle Roy of Jamestown, Kentucky, with a 6-pound, 7-ounce bass, while the Day Two award went to Adam Slupcznynski of Austell, Georgia, with an 8-pound, 5-ounce bass. Both anglers earned a $100 bonus.

The Toyota Series at Lake Guntersville was presented by Googan Baits and was hosted by the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments in 2021 for anglers in the Central Division presented by Neat Companies. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place March 4-6 – the Toyota Series at Lake of the Ozarks presented by Fenwick in Osage Beach, Missouri. 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

Second Bassmaster Elite Series Event Of 2021 Set For Tennessee River In Knoxville

The waters of Fort Loudoun Reservoir and Tellico Lake will play host to the Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River Feb. 25-28.

Photo by B.A.S.S.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Although it was the first time Knoxville had hosted a Bassmaster event, the 2019 Bassmaster Classic was one of the most memorable Classics ever, particularly for sixth-place finisher Brandon Lester, who was floored by the support from his fellow Tennesseans.

“It was awesome. It made me proud to be from Tennessee, it really did,” the Elite Series veteran from Fayetteville, Tenn., said. “Putting in right next to Neyland Stadium was a really cool experience. We had massive crowds every morning cheering us on, and it was really a cool deal. I was excited when I saw Knoxville pop back up on the schedule this year, and I’m definitely looking forward to getting back up there.

“I’m hoping I can tap back into what I found in practice then and pick up where I left off a little bit.”

Competition for the Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River will be Feb. 25-28 on the waters of Fort Loudoun Reservoir and Tellico Lake. Daily takeoffs will be at 7 a.m. ET from Calhoun’s On The River Boat Dock. Weigh-ins on Days 1 and 2 will be held at 3 p.m. at Volunteer Landing Marina before shifting to World’s Fair Park Performance Lawn for Days 3 and 4.

With the exception of this week’s frigid weather, Lester said Eastern Tennessee has had a fairly mild winter and the Tennessee River has avoided any major flooding. He said that should set up for a tournament similar to that 2019 Classic, which Knoxville resident Ott DeFoe won with a three-day total of 49-3.

“Most of the fish caught were caught in less than 6 or 7 feet, which is typical of the Tennessee River this time of the year, and I don’t see it being any different,” Lester said. “I figure it will be another late winter to early spring prespawn. I think it will still be won shallow, predominantly with largemouth.”

Current plays a key role on this section of the Tennessee River, Lester said, and it provides several different options for anglers to target, including flats, creeks, bluff walls and rock transitions. He said bridges could also come into play, along with boat docks. Shallow-running crankbaits, jigs, bladed jigs and spinnerbaits will be productive lures, with jerkbaits coming into play if the water clarity is right.

Largemouth and smallmouth are the dominant species, but a keeper smallmouth bass must measure at least 18 inches. Lester said while very few anglers went to Tellico in the 2019 Classic, the lake has big smallmouth and anglers that figure out the bite in that lake have a chance to excel.

“Tellico is kind of the X factor. In that Classic last time, I think there were only a couple of guys who fished on Tellico Lake. It is a lot clearer and it has some big smallmouth, but nobody really tapped into that,” Lester said. “If somebody ever does, smallmouth may be a bigger player than they were in that Classic. There is a good population of them on Loudoun as well, and you will see them show up.

“There will be some mixed bags, just like last time. As a matter of fact, on the third day of the Classic, I think I had 18 pounds and had two big smallmouth in my bag. There is always that chance of catching a big smallmouth.”

While 8- to 10-pound fish are a rarity on Loudoun and Tellico, Lester said there could be a couple of bags over 20 pounds weighed, and a four-day total of 64 pounds will likely be hard to beat.

The full field of anglers will fish the first two days, with only the Top 50 advancing to the semifinal round on Saturday. The Top 10 remaining anglers will fish Championship Sunday with a $100,000 first-place prize on the line.

Live coverage for all four days of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live from the tournament beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.

by AnglersChannel

Texas Reservoir To Host Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship

February 19, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After kicking off the inaugural tournament at the 50th Bassmaster Classic in March 2020, the country’s best kayak anglers are Classic-bound once more, this time competing for a National Championship trophy and over $97,000 in prizes. Officials have announced that the Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series National Championship will be held at Possum Kingdom Lake in Mineral Wells, Texas, as part of festivities surrounding the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk in nearby Fort Worth.

The National Championship at Possum Kingdom Lake will be a two-day event, June 9-10, 2021. The awards ceremony will be held on the Bassmaster Classic stage at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on June 11 prior to the Day 1 Classic weigh-in.

“With this new trail, we wanted to give kayak anglers an opportunity to show what they can do from a small craft,” B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart said. “Both the anglers and host communities have embraced these tournaments during the first season and we’re looking forward to 2021 and to naming our first Kayak National Champion in June.

“It’s just one more opportunity for bass anglers. That’s what we’re all about.”

Possum Kingdom Lake, located in the rugged canyon country of the Brazos River Valley, was the first water supply reservoir constructed in the Brazos River basin and is renowned for offering some of the clearest water in the southwest.

After launching the Kayak Series 2020 season on Logan Martin Lake in Pell City, Ala., the series made stops at Lake Fork in Alba, Texas, Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis., Clear Lake in Lakeport, Calif., and concluded the season at Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn.

Among the anticipated field of 270 anglers who qualified for the National Championship will be 2020 event winners Jim Davis of Knoxville, Tenn., Cody Milton of Heber Springs, Ark., Barry Davis of Startex, S.C., Rus Snyders of Nashville, Tenn., and Tyler Cole of Hopkinton, Iowa. B.A.S.S. officials will be contacting all eligible participants with tournament specifics and registration information.

Instead of a standard weigh-in that uses scales to measure pounds and ounces, anglers will practice “catch, photograph and release” to determine the standings.

When an angler catches a bass, he or she will photograph the fish lying on a standard-issue measuring board and submit the photo through a special mobile app provided by TourneyX. The boards will measure each fish in inches down to a quarter of an inch, and the angler with the longest five-bass limit will win.

For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/kayak.

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing Shifts REDCREST 2021 to Alabama’s Lake Eufaula

by AnglersChannel

Plano Renews Sponsorship with Major League Fishing

Leading Supplier of Plastic Organizational Products Renews as Official Sponsor of Major League Fishing Cup and Bass Pro Tour events

TULSA, Okla. (Feb. 18, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Plano Molding, an industry leader in outdoor equipment protection and storage solutions, has extended its sponsorship agreement through the 2021 season.

“Plano’s EDGE™ series of tackle organizers give our anglers the advantage they need across all levels of MLF tournaments,” said MLF President and CEO Jim Wilburn. “Competitive anglers know that they don’t have any time to waste. They need to be able to grab the right bait at a moment’s notice, and Plano’s innovative solutions make that possible. We are excited to feature Plano across our media platforms and look forward to continuing our successful partnership.”

Plano will receive exposure through MLF’s website and social media communities and will be the presenting sponsor of the Tackle Box Challenge, a fun feature segment produced for web, social and in-show broadcast that showcases various MLF pro anglers trying to guess which of their fellow anglers a tackle box belongs to. The brand will also be prominently featured in the filmed-for-television MLF Cup events, including logos on the angler jerseys and wrapped boats.

“The top pros have been using Plano storage for years. All you have to do is look in their boats and you will see dozens of Plano boxes in use, so really we have always been a part of tournament fishing,” commented Chris Russell, Marketing Director for Plano Molding. “We work closely with many of the best anglers to create storage solutions that give them an edge on the water and we are looking forward to showcasing that with the MLF fans.”

For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Plano, visit PlanoMolding.com.

by AnglersChannel

Batteries Plus Announces Partnership with RELiON Battery

 

Retailer will offer RELiON lithium batteries in over 170 stores across the U.S.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., and HARTLAND, WI (February 18, 2021) – In celebration of National Battery Day, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb, key fob and repair franchise, Batteries Plus, is pleased to announce a new agreement with global lithium battery company, RELiON Battery. The company announced today the addition of RELiON’s lithium battery products in select stores across the U.S. With increasing consumer demand for lithium batteries, Batteries Plus aims to provide customers with an alternative to conventional lead-acid batteries as lithium batteries are inherently lightweight, have a longer life and charge quickly, among many other benefits.

“As the nation’s leading battery retailer, we are always looking for opportunities to build mutually beneficial partnerships and that is exactly what RELiON offers,” said Shawn Budiac, VP Category Management for Batteries Plus. “As a leader in manufacturing lithium iron phosphate
batteries, RELiON offers a high-quality solution for our customers looking to elevate their battery needs for outdoor recreational vehicles, solar energy systems and commercial applications.”

RELiON Battery is leading the industry with innovative power options as many consumers shift to lithium batteries for high power applications such as bass fishing, sailing, recreational vehicles, overland, solar, electric vehicles, and more. RELiON’s lithium batteries are built to withstand harsh environmental elements, while being maintenance-free and highly efficient. They allow those seeking an outdoor lifestyle to do so without worrying if their batteries will last.

“We are thrilled to bring our lithium battery solutions to Batteries Plus customers across the U.S.,” said RELiON Battery CEO Paul Hecimovich. “RELiON and Batteries Plus have the same goal: to provide reliable, long-lasting power so customers can go where they want, when they want with ease. We look forward to this partnership and continuing to bring industry-leading lithium batteries to the forefront.”

Batteries Plus will offer customers RELiON’s most popular lithium products, including 12V, 24V and 48V batteries that can power all types of equipment. In addition, customers that purchase RELiON Battery products are also supporting the planet, as the company donates 1% of annual revenue to nonprofits fighting for a healthier and more sustainable environment.

To learn more about Batteries Plus and RELiON Battery, visit batteriesplus.com and relionbattery.com.

by AnglersChannel

Marathon To Sponsor Bassmaster Studios And Tournament Trail

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Marathon Petroleum Corporation, which operates the nation’s largest refining system and thousands of retail locations from coast to coast, has signed on as the title sponsor for Bassmaster Studios and as a Supporting Sponsor for the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, B.A.S.S. officials announced today.

“Marathon has always helped Americans fuel their passion, and millions of people have discovered — or rediscovered — a passion for fishing in the past year,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “We are proud to help Marathon reach our anglers and fans. Whether anglers are traveling to a dream destination or hauling their boat to home waters, Marathon is sure to be nearby to help them reach their destination.”

“In 2021, we’re all looking for new places to explore,” said John Rice, Marathon’s Manager–Advertising & Brand Management. “It’s a new year and a chance to see how far we can go. Bassmaster is the perfect opportunity for Marathon to dive into an incredible partnership.”

Beginning with the Bassmaster Elite Series season-opener last week on Florida’s St. Johns River, Marathon will be heavily featured during the award-winning Bassmaster LIVE show. The show, which is broadcast on FS1 and streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms, will be hosted from the Marathon Bassmaster Studios.

“A new season always comes with an extra measure of excitement and this 2021 season has definitely got that,” said Bassmaster LIVE Host Tommy Sanders. “We have an expanded field with some very impressive anglers, plus the newly christened Marathon Bassmaster Studios represents a terrific new partnership for the new year.”

As a Supporting Sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the grass-roots TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation regional and championship tournaments, Marathon will enjoy exposure in Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times magazines and across various social media platforms. Among the new Marathon-sponsored content will be new “Peak Performance” interviews which focus on the pros’ winning ways and aim to help anglers of all levels improve their own techniques.

“Partnering with Bassmaster makes perfect sense,” said Rice. “At Marathon, we focus on providing quality fuels to achieve peak performance. At Bassmaster, anglers need to reach their peak performance to come out on top. It’s really a perfect partnership when you think about it.”

by AnglersChannel

Professional Angler Terry “Big Show” Scroggins Starts 15th Year with Toyota Pro Angler Reaches Milestone with Automaker as his Title Sponsor

Palatka, Fla. – February 2, 2021 - Professional bass fisherman Terry “Big Show” Scroggins has accumulated plenty of accolades throughout his eighteen-year fishing career, but 2021 represents a special milestone for Scroggins; 15 years of partnership with Toyota trucks. 

The Palatka, Florida native represents Toyota on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour tournament trail along with sponsors such as Triton Boats, Carhartt apparel, Mercury Marine, Power Pole, and Mud Hole Custom Tackle. 

There have been plenty of changes during Scroggins’ stint as a pro fisherman, but treating others how he’d want to be treated, widespread respect from his peers, and loyalty to Toyota have remained constant themes. 

Scroggins is a favorite among fans and competitors alike.  Whether he’s on the water competing, helping a fellow angler troubleshoot their equipment, or grilling up rib eye steaks for tournament staff you can bet Scroggins is wearing a Toyota hat and a smile. 

“I’m proud to be a part of Team Toyota for a long list of reasons,” explained Scroggins. “Not only does Toyota support me, they support the fishing industry as a whole. They sponsor every major bass fishing league in the country and facilitate the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, which rewards anglers whether they’re a pro or a weekend warrior. If you fish, Toyota has your back.”

Scroggins estimates he’s logged nearly a million miles in a Toyota Tundra – almost entirely while towing a bass boat. More impressive than his mileage total is Scroggins’ complete lack of major mechanical failures or issues.

He said it is the reliability of his Tundra that would make it his choice regardless.  “I would be using a Toyota Tundra to tow my tournament rig across the country even if I wasn’t representing the brand,” said Scroggins.  “In order to make a living on a professional fishing trail, you have to show up no matter the conditions; my Toyota Tundra has gotten me there every time without anything other than standard maintenance; if only the fishing was that dependable.”

In between long hauls Scroggins has accrued over $2 million in tournament winnings, which includes five professional wins and eleven trips to the Bassmaster Classic. Pretty impressive for a former automotive painter turned full-time tournament angler, after local performances offered the opportunity to compete at a professional level. With his success, Scroggins gratitude and loyalty to his supporters has never waivered. 

The Bass Pro Tour tournament season kicks off March 21st on the legendary Sam Rayburn Reservoir for Scroggins and his fellow competitors. This east Texas fishery is rich with fishing history and is famous for big bass. After undergoing a total knee replacement in the fall of 2020 to “fix his bad wheel”, Scroggins is excited to put on a “Big Show” in 2021.  

About Terry “Big Show” Scroggins
Known as “Big Show” MLF angler Terry Scroggins has lived up to his nickname throughout his career.  the Florida native is a veteran of hundreds of professional fishing tournaments, Scroggins has claimed five victories, 47 top 10 finishes and earned more than $1.9-million in his professional fishing career, and was a member of the four-man team that won the very first Toyota Texas Bass Classic in 2007.  His sponsors include Toyota, Triton, Boat Mercury, Carhartt, Power-Pole, Mud Hole, T-H Marine, Stanford Baits, Minn Kota, Humminbird and Lew's. Follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bigshowscroggins, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/terry_scroggins and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bigshowscroggins. 

 

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing Announces Champions Club Membership Program

Membership Offering Includes New Bass Fishing Tackle Subscription and Webinars tied to the MLF Bass Pro Tour

TULSA, Okla. (Feb. 18, 2021) – As part of several new membership program offerings from Major League Fishing (MLF) in 2021, MLF recently announced the Champions Club, a unique fishing subscription service tailored specifically to anglers looking to take their skills to the next level with content and products from the sport’s top pros and industry-leading brands. Champions Club is available for preorder now and will officially launch in March, with the first subscription boxes delivered in just a few weeks.

The MLF Champions Club is the first and only monthly subscription service that follows a professional bass fishing tour, offering a wide variety of benefits including five to six premium lures from industry-leading brands delivered each month, exclusive discount codes on fishing gear and outdoor products, exclusive webinars and an 8x10 Champion’s Collectors Photo, along with opportunities to win loads of free product through monthly members-only Champions Challenges.

“The Champions Club is the premier monthly tackle subscription in the industry and a no-brainer for bass anglers that are looking to learn how to perfect the same baits that we throw out on the Bass Pro Tour,” said Berkley Baits pro Jordan Lee, the 2020 Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year.

Each month subscribers will find a new Champions Club subscription box at their doorstep. The MLF team is constantly working with professional anglers and top brands to identify the hottest baits on the market. These premium selections are sourced from all over the industry and hand-picked for inclusion in each pack. Each product included in the Champions Club is accompanied by an in-depth, how-to video to maximize its effectiveness on the water.

In addition to sourcing the premium lures, MLF has also partnered with top outdoor brands to provide exclusive discounts to Champions Club members. Discount offerings will change each month, including offers on items such as rods, reels, baits, equipment, sunglasses, apparel and other outdoor products.

A Champions Club subscription is $29.99 per month, with each monthly pack containing an estimated value of $150.

For complete details and updated information, 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

Major League Fishing Adds Old Wisconsin Sausage to Sponsorship Lineup

Premier Provider of Premium Hand-Crafted Naturally Smoked Meat Snacks Signs on as Presenting Sponsor of REDCREST 2021

TULSA, Okla. (Feb. 17, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, has announced a sponsorship agreement with Old Wisconsin Sausage, a leading provider of premium, hand-crafted, naturally-smoked meat snacks for the 2021 season. The agreement marks the first time that Old Wisconsin Sausage will enter into the fishing and outdoors realm and market to the loyal MLF consumer base.

“When the opportunity arose for us to collaborate with Major League Fishing to become the presenting sponsor of the REDCREST Tournament, we jumped on it immediately,” said Tom Buddig, Executive Vice President of Old Wisconsin. “Expanding the Old Wisconsin Sausage consumer marketing efforts to grow brand awareness and product sales, while strengthening its relationships with retail partners, has been a No. 1 priority for the company.  It’s exciting to know this national sponsorship will allow the brand a chance to significantly expand its promotional footprint and to engage with Major League Fishing fans in a meaningful way. Our end goal is to delight as many consumers as possible with the Old Wisconsin, great-tasting, hard-wood smoked sausage snacks. And this partnership provides a certain avenue to help us accomplish it.”

As part of the agreement, the Sheboygan, Wisconsin-based company will receive exposure through multiple MLF outlets, including the MLF website and social media communities, as well as the presenting sponsorship of REDCREST 2021, the Bass Pro Tour Championship, scheduled for Feb. 22-26 at Lake Palestine in Flint, Texas. Old Wisconsin Sausage will also run a sweepstakes contest in 2021 with the top prize being a day on the water fishing with MLF pro angler Edwin Evers.

“Old Wisconsin Sausages are a quality product that we are thrilled to be partnering with,” said MLF President and CEO Jim Wilburn. “Their line of smoked meat snacks are a perfect fit with Major League Fishing. In the boat, in the car, or at home, Old Wisconsin Sausages are a delicious snack that can be enjoyed anywhere. We look forward to an extremely successful partnership, starting with REDCREST 2021 later this week.”

For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Old Wisconsin Sausage, visit OldWisconsin.com.

by AnglersChannel

Bryan New - Batting a Thousand

 

Your Rookie Elite Series Winner on the St. Johns last week, Bryan New joins the show to talk about being 1 for 1 so far in his Elite series career. Blonde Girl Behind the Scenes Michele Eichstead joins us to give Bryan a hard time and Chris reveals the U-Pick-em winners!

by AnglersChannel

Rather Outdoors Acquires Zebco

Rather Outdoors (“Rather”), a global leader in the fishing industry, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Zebco Brands (“Zebco”), the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based manufacturer of fishing rods, reels and accessories.

Zebco is a preeminent marketer of fishing tackle and outdoor gear.  Operational since 1949, it is now one of the oldest companies in the Rather Outdoors portfolio of brands and is indisputably one of the most important names in the fishing industry.

Ken Eubanks, CEO of Rather, said “We are thrilled to welcome Zebco to the Rather family of brands.  From a company perspective, this business represents robust growth potential for Rather Outdoors and enables us to continue building a complementary offering for our most important partner, our consumers in the fishing community.”

The fishing equipment space has seen a consistent upward trajectory in consumer participation in the sport.  In the past year alone, consumer interest has grown substantially, particularly in the segments of youth anglers and new anglers, areas where the Zebco brands have excelled.  “This bold acquisition positions Rather Outdoors to take full advantage of the sport’s growth and momentum,” Eubanks said.

A key component of the Zebco acquisition is the strong Europe portfolio, which includes Telford, England based Preston Innovations (“Preston”), and Zebco Europe, located in Tostedt, Germany.  Preston, a leading UK match fishing brand, has an established presence in coarse, carp and bait segments of the European market.  Zebco Europe distributes the namesake Zebco brand, but also has a strong share of Europe’s predator fishing with Quantum, which originally launched in the United States in 1984, and is well-established in the lexicon of American and European angling.  Together, the acquisition of Zebco Brands solidifies Rather’s goal of attaining a leading global position in the fishing tackle space.

Eubanks added, “What the Zebco acquisition means for our retail partners is of utmost importance to Rather.  A strong partnership between Rather and our retailers is in this company’s DNA.  We believe this deal will enhance consumer engagement and provide retail customers with a full complement to our heritage brands.”

Steve Smits, President and Chief Operating Officer of Zebco offered, “The team here at Zebco is proud of our past and the strong traditions of our brands.  We believe that the leadership of Rather Outdoors remains committed to delivering the highest quality products to the loyal consumers of Zebco Brands.”

 

About Rather Outdoors

Rather Outdoors is a global Outdoors corporation uniting some of the most recognizable names in the fishing space.  With historic and iconic brands such as Lew’s, Strike King, Salmo, and Fox, Rather Outdoors provides a wide assortment of fishing products worldwide in an effort to enhance anglers’ success and the enjoyment of outdoor pursuits.  To learn more about the Rather Outdoors brands, visit www.ratheroutdoors.com.

by AnglersChannel

3 lipless crank colors that made KVD a million bucks

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

 

If you were smoking chicken wings on the grill next to Kevin VanDam, you can bet he’d do everything in his power to make sure his tasted better than yours. But he’d also fetch you a cold beverage of your choice. Yup, the Team Toyota pro is an awesome blend of fierce competitor and humble class.

So when asked how much of his $6 Million career total he’s won on these three colors of Strike King’s Red Eye Shad – at first, with humility he hesitated to say – but then stated it was for sure a million bucks – and was gracious enough to share a first-hand look into his tackle box.

“Lipless crankbaits are fish catchers year-round, but late winter and really early spring, when water temps are 45 to 55 is the ideal time to throw them. And if I had to pick three colors I’ve had the most success on, it would be Delta Craw, Chartreuse Perch and Gold Sexy Shad,” says VanDam, bass fishing’s all-time leading money winner.

 

Delta Craw

 “Most people know red is a great color during the early pre-spawn, and I love it anytime I’m around vegetation – especially in Texas,” he says.

 

Chartreuse Perch

 “This is my stained water special. I’ve had great luck with it at places like Kentucky Lake, Wheeler, and Guntersville along the Tennessee River. You don’t need aquatic vegetation for this one to shine. It’s great when you’ve got off colored water around gravel bars, secondary points, or when the back of creeks get a little dirty after a springtime rain.”

 

Gold Sexy Shad

“Sort of the opposite of Chartreuse Perch being awesome in heavily stained water, Gold Sexy Shad is my favorite when the water is clearer, like it was when I won the 2010 Classic on Lay Lake in late February throwing it in the back of a creek around stumps where gizzard shad were present.”

 

Make it shimmie, and use great hooks

 VanDam says the magic of the Red Eye Shad is that it ‘shimmies’ from side to side as it falls on slack line, hence the reason he rips and yo-yos it amid the retrieve, versus simply winding it straight in each time. He also emphasizes the importance of his proven rod, reel, line, hook system playing in perfect harmony when casting a lipless crank.

“I use a 7’ medium action composite rod with plenty of flex in the tip so cold water bass have plenty of chances to suck it in, and you’re not going to tear the hooks free once they eat it,” he explains. His reel of choice is a 6.2:1 Lew’s KVD baitcaster spooled with 17-pound fluorocarbon, and he can’t emphasize enough how critical it is to change all factory hooks to Mustad KVD TripleGrip #2 treble hooks.

“If you look in my tackle box, you’ll notice I’ve taken time to replace the hooks on every single ½ ounce Red Eye Shad in there,” punctuates VanDam in much the same way he speaks of how to smoke the perfect batch of chicken wings.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Postpones Two Phoenix Bass Fishing League Events Scheduled for Saturday

Mississippi Division Event at Ross Barnett Reservoir and Ozark Division Event at Table Rock Lake to be Rescheduled Due to Inclement Weather, Rescheduled Dates and Locations Announced

TULSA, Okla. (Feb. 16, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that two Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine events scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, have been canceled due to inclement weather. The Mississippi Division event at Ross Barnett Reservoir in Brandon, Mississippi and the Ozark Division at Table Rock Lake in Kimberling, Missouri, will both be rescheduled.

The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Gator Division event at Harris Chain of Lakes and North Carolina Division event at Lake Norman will proceed as scheduled.

Due to inclement weather, four Phoenix Bass Fishing League events have been cancelled over the past week. MLF is working to reschedule those events and to alert participants as quickly as possible.

The current Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine rescheduled dates and locations are:

  • Cowboy Division at Toledo Bend presented by Berkley, originally scheduled for Feb. 13, has been moved to Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas, and will be held on Sunday, Mar. 7, following the Cowboy Division event on Sam Rayburn on Saturday, Mar. 6.
  • Arkie Division at Lake Ouachita presented by Abu Garcia, originally scheduled for Feb. 13, has been rescheduled at Lake Ouachita in Mount Ida, Ark., on Sunday, Mar. 7.
  • Mississippi Division at Ross Barnett Reservoir presented by Googan Baits, originally scheduled for Feb. 20, has been moved to Pickwick Lake in Iuka, Miss., and rescheduled to Saturday, Mar. 13.
  • Ozark Division at Table Rock Lake presented by Finwick, originally scheduled for Feb. 20, will be rescheduled at a later date.

Angler registration for the postponed events will automatically be carried over to the rescheduled events. For questions, call the MLF BIG5 customer service department at (270) 252-1000.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, 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.

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

Toro and Major League Fishing Announce Sponsorship Agreement

Toro Named Exclusive Lawn Mower Provider of Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour, Title Sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir

TULSA, Okla. (Feb. 16, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, and Toro, a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment, announced today a sponsorship agreement that will showcase the Toro brand to millions of outdoor and fishing enthusiasts. The tremendous marketing benefits offered by MLF in digital assets, social media and connections with the top anglers in the world make the organization a perfect fit for Toro, now the exclusive lawn mower provider of the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

“We are pleased that another major non-endemic brand has tapped into the sport of professional bass fishing,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF President and CEO. “Our MLF fans and anglers have shown tremendous loyalty to our sponsors’ products, and we are confident that Toro will find this partnership extremely beneficial. Toro is a great brand, and we’re excited that they’ve chosen the Bass Pro Tour to showcase their products.”

Toro has been named the title sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour Stage One event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir and will sponsor the “Toro Cut Line” – a television feature segment that will showcase anglers that are on the elimination bubble at each event. Toro will also receive exclusive exposure across numerous MLF media platforms, including its many tournaments and activation opportunities, website and MLF social media outlets.

“The partnership with Major League Fishing and Toro is a natural fit,” said Greg Janey, Toro VP of Residential and Landscape Contractor Businesses. “We’re avid fishing fans – and so are our customers. We’re thrilled to partner with Major League Fishing and two outstanding anglers in Jeff and Brent for the 2021 season.”

Bass Pro Tour anglers Jeff Sprague of Point, Texas, and Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kansas, have been selected to represent Toro as brand ambassadors while competing across the country on the 2021 Bass Pro Tour. Sprague has finished in the top 5 of the ultra-competitive Angler of the Year race in each of the last two seasons, while Chapman finished the 2020 season ranked No. 12 and will look to build on his more than $2.2 million in career earnings.

“When I represent a major sponsor, it needs to be a company that I believe in and can really endorse wholeheartedly,” Sprague said. “I am honored to represent Toro in 2021. The company has been around for more than 100 years and they are known for upholding the highest of standards throughout their product line. That is extremely important to me, and I know this will be a successful partnership. I am extremely excited to get the 2021 Bass Pro Tour season underway.”

Along the same lines, Chapman said, "Having the support of a great sponsor like Toro is amazing and extremely valuable while I’m competing on the Bass Pro Tour. Now that we live on 20 acres and have a big beautiful lawn to mow, it’s great to have my Z Master 4000 from Toro to make the job fun and easy. The comfort of MyRIDE suspension and the great cut I get from the Turbo Force deck allows me to save time and get back to working on tackle and prepare for competition. Last year was a phenomenal season, and I’m looking forward to carrying that momentum for Toro right into 2021."

For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Toro, visit Toro.com.

by AnglersChannel

Bassmaster Elite At Sabine River Rescheduled For August

February 16, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River, originally scheduled for April 8-11, has been moved to the designated Elite Series make-up date Aug. 19-22.

Previous Elite events in Orange, Texas have drawn record-breaking crowds — in three previous visits, the crowds totaled more than 96,000; however, regional mandates currently in place would dramatically reduce the number of fans permitted on-site.

“Our priority is keeping everyone safe, the anglers, staff, community and all of the fans who want to attend this exciting event,” said Orange County Judge John Gothia. “We’re happy to be able to work with B.A.S.S. on rescheduling due to ongoing COVID safety concerns. Previous tournaments have brought Orange County waterways to the forefront in the fishing world, and we look forward to welcoming the Elite Series and its fans back to Orange, Texas later in the year.”

B.A.S.S. has emphasized over the past year that the organization is dedicated to ensuring both competition and fan activities are held in a safe and responsible manner and is working closely with local hosts and authorities to monitor each state’s mandates on crowd sizes and public spaces.

As the dates shift to August, when temperatures at this fishery on the Texas/Louisiana border are likely to soar, fish care will also be a major priority.

“In these hot, late-summer tournaments it is incumbent on the anglers and our team to be at the very top of our game to protect the fish,” said B.A.S.S. National Conservation Director Gene Gilliland. “Our goal is for all of these fish to be returned to the waters so that they can be caught again by other passionate bass anglers.”

Another Texas tournament, the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork scheduled for April 22-25, is being hosted in Quitman, which is not currently experiencing the same local conditions restricting the size of outdoor gatherings.

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing Launches MLF SHOP – New Online Merchandise Store

TULSA, Okla. (Feb. 16, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the launch of a new, improved MLF SHOP , a new online store featuring authentic merchandise from professional bass fishing’s premier tournament organization. MLF’s e-commerce site went live Monday and is located at the recently re-vamped MajorLeagueFishing.com. The shop is an extension of the MLF brand identity, featuring the highest quality fishing and casual apparel with pricing at or below standard retail price. In addition, MLF members will receive a permanent 25% discount on every order at the MLF SHOP.

The launch of the MLF SHOP is based on a multi-phase approach heading into the start of the 2021 bass-fishing season. The first phase is focused on the new retail e-commerce and providing customers with a streamlined website and improved shopping experience. The next phase will highlight new designs, apparel, and swag. The final phase will emphasize site enhancements and showcase new angler products.

“We worked with a talented group of designers who have a passion for the outdoors,” said Michael Mulone, MLF Senior Director of Events & Partnerships. “The quality, along with the on-trend creative designs have brought the shop to a new level. We appreciate our fans and anglers and want to give them plenty of opportunities to wear MLF gear, on and off the water.

“Keeping the pricing competitive and putting in a hefty discount for members was one of our first decisions when revamping the online store,” Mulone continued.

Consumers of MLF’s official online store have access to a full catalog of men’s, women’s and youth apparel, headwear, accessories, and collections. New gear, including compelling, creative designs will be added throughout the year.

For complete details and updated information on the new MLF SHOP 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

Skeeter Extends Long-Standing Partnership With Bassmaster Tournament Trail

February 16, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Skeeter, a world-class manufacturer of high-performance boats, has signed a multi-year deal to continue as an Official Premier Boat Sponsor of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk and the prestigious Bassmaster Tournament Trail through 2024.

“There is simply no better way for Skeeter to reach enthusiastic anglers and fans of fishing at all levels than through the Bassmaster events,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “Skeeter has a long heritage of helping anglers build memories on the water, and we’re thrilled to continue working with Skeeter on initiatives designed to reach new anglers and help fans experience the beauty of America’s waterways.”

Skeeter, which has been a B.A.S.S. sponsor since 2008, will be a Premier Sponsor for the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the grass-roots TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation regional and championship tournaments.

“B.A.S.S. and Skeeter have a long history together and we’re excited to continue our relationship with an organization that shares our passion for fishing and boating,” said Jeff Stone, Senior Vice President, Skeeter Boats. “B.A.S.S. has a way of generating enthusiasm for competitive fishing that stands above the rest of the industry. We look forward to watching our Skeeter pros compete during the next four years, and we also look forward to introducing new boaters and anglers to the sport through our B.A.S.S. sponsorship.”

As a Premier Sponsor, Skeeter will be highlighted during Bassmaster LIVE, which is streamed on Bassmaster.com and broadcast Saturday and Sunday mornings on the FOX Sports platforms, and enjoy exposure in Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times magazines and across various social media platforms as well as showcasing their boats at live events, including the well-attended Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo.

During the 2021 season, 19 Elite Series pros will be depending on the reliability of their Skeeter boat, including two-time 2020 winner Brandon Palaniuk and rookie Pat Schlapper, who double-qualified for the 2021 Elite Series via the Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens and as TNT B.A.S.S. Nation Champion.

“I have run Skeeter boats since 2004,” said Schlapper. “Layout, drivability and reliability are all key factors for me. Skeeter has them all. Another huge bonus is their Real Money program. I won an extra $15,000 in Skeeter contingency money last year alone. I couldn't be more excited to be running a Skeeter FXR21 for another season.”

by AnglersChannel

University of North Florida Wins Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on the Harris Chain of Lakes

Duo Sets New All-Time Single-Day Record with Heaviest Five-Fish Weight in MLF College Fishing History

LEESBURG, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2021) – The University of North Florida’s Nicholas Oldham of Jacksonville, Florida and Jacob Sanders of Julington Creek, Florida, took the win on Friday at the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at Harris Chain of Lakes . The victory earned the University of North Florida bass club $2,000 and qualified the duo to compete in the 2021 College Fishing National Championship.

Their limit of 31 pounds, 11 ounces, set a new all-time single-day record with the heaviest five-fish weight in College Fishing history. The record was previously set in 2009 on Falcon Lake by the Tarleton State University team of John Anderson and Tanner Morgan, with a limit of 29 pounds, 13 ounces.

TOP 10 RESULTS*

RANK COLLEGE NAME ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st University of North Florida Nicholas Oldham of Jacksonville, Fla.
Jacob Sanders of Julington Creek, Fla.		 5 31-11 $2,000
2nd University of South Carolina Andre Eaton of Naples, Fla.
Trevor Topken of Warwick, N.Y.		 5 30-1 $1,000
3rd Lander University Kaleb Brown of Greenwood, S.C.
Caleb Sheldon of Lexington, S.C.		 5 27-4 $500
4th Auburn University Connor Jacob of Peoria, Ill. 5 26-14 $500
5th Auburn University Cam Busby of Huntsville, Ala.
Ty Mundhenke of Chatham, Ill.		 5 21-6 $500
6th Emmanuel College Brooks Anderson of Marietta, Ga.
Parker Guy of Ocilla. Ga.		 5 21-0
7th University of South Carolina Jackson Denny of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Colton Parrott of Simpsonville, S.C.		 5 20-14
8th Emmanuel College Cole Holloway of Madison, Ga.
Taylor McMullen of Oxford, Ga.		 5 20-9
9th University of West Alabama Tyler Elmore of Demopolis, Ala.
Nathan Williams of Linden, Ala.		 5 19-14
10th University of Montevallo Brenton Godwin of Stapelton, Ala.
Hunter Odom of Chunchula, Ala.		 5 19-13

*Top 10 teams advance to the 2021 College Fishing National Championship

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

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at Lake Guntersville April 23 Guntersville, Ala. Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship presented by Lowrance at Grand Lake Mar. 3-5 Grove, Okla. Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau & City of Grove

The event was the first of three qualifying tournaments for Southeastern Conference anglers and was hosted by Visit Lake County, Florida.

Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI teams compete in regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook , Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Okeechobee High School Wins U.S. Army High School Fishing Open at Harris Chain of Lakes

LEESBURG, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2021) – The Okeechobee High School duo of Tyler Scott and Zack Zainitzer, both of Palm City, Florida, won the U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Open at the Harris Chain of Lakes on Saturday in Leesburg, Florida. The event was hosted by Visit Lake County, Florida and the victory advanced the winning team to the 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK SCHOOL/CLUB NAME/CITY ANGLER NAME BASS WEIGHT
1st Okeechobee High School* Tyler Scott
Zack Zainitzer		 5 23-3
2nd Southern Boone High School* Isaac Jacober
Nathan Vandelicht		 5 19-5
3rd Marion County Bass Masters* Claude Loftin
Tyson Verkaik		 5 17-8
4th Oneida Lake Bassmasters Club Christian Misciagna
Owen Niles		 3 17-2
5th Harmony High School Grant Jackson
Grady Johnson		 5 17-1
6th Umatilla High School Hayden Mooney
Owen Vanzant		 5 15-1
7th Hidden Lake Big Bass Club Dalton Defelice
Elijah Meyers		 5 15-0
8th Central Florida Youth Anglers Bryce Balentine
Carson Russell		 5 14-8
9th Mulberry Bassmasters Club Andrew Ready
Garrett Thomas		 5 13-11
10th Detroit Lakes High School Anthony Bender
Noah Besser		 5 13-3

*National Championship Qualifier. The top 10% of teams advance to the 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship

Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

2021 UPCOMING QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Table Rock Lake Open Mar. 27 Branson, Mo. Explore Branson
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

Epting Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Murray

Boiling Springs’ Pennell Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

PROSPERITY, S.C. (Feb. 15, 2021) – Boater Chris Epting of Chapin of South Carolina won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina, earning $6,509 for his victory.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Chris Epting of Chapin, S.C. 5 24-06 $6,509
2nd Cody Hoyle of Rutherfordton, N.C. 5 23-0 $2,555
3rd Ross Burns of Columbia, S.C. 5 20-2 $1,336
4th Jeremiah Jensen of Columbia, S.C. 5 19-7 $935
5th Christopher Marshall of Forest City, N.C. 5 18-15 $802
6th Andy Wicker of Pomaria, S.C. 5 18-4 $735
7th Ronald W. Catoe, Jr. of Lugoff, S.C. 5 17-15 $668
8th Michael Stephens of Gastonia, N.C. 5 17-2 $601
9th Justin Hadden of Leesville, S.C. 5 16-14 $535
10th Ronnie Wilson of Grover, N.C. 5 16-11 $468

 

RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Thomas Pennell, III of Boiling Springs, S.C. 5 18-9 $2,005
2nd Brennan Gunther of Mount Pleasant, S.C. 5 14-3 $1,002
3rd Michael Campbell of Pineville, S.C. 5 13-1 $668
4th Rodney Tapp of Inman, S.C. 5 12-13 $434
4th Andrew Starnes of Chapin, S.C. 5 12-13 $434
6th Bill Hawkins of Piedmont, S.C. 3 11-11 $568
7th Zahreed McClinton of Fort Bragg, N.C. 4 10-10 $334
8th Richie Dixon of Camden, S.C. 4 10-7 $301
9th Lonnie Drusch of Sumter, S.C. 3 10-0 $267
10th Brian Bultman of Aiken, S.C. 3 9-10 $234

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

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Berkley Big Bass Cody Hoyle of Rutherfordton, N.C. 8-pound, 12-ounce bass $550
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Markice Johnson of Thomson, Ga. 7-pound bass $275
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Chris Epting of Chapin, S.C. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $2,500

* 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 Divulge Did Not Divulge
Strike King Co-Angler Square Bait Did Not Divulge

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
South Carolina Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 21-23 St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla. Putnam County Tourist Development Council
Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 3-5 Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn. Jefferson County Department of Tourism

The 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

McCay Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Lanier

Blue Ridge’s Pack Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 15, 2021) – Boater J.R. McCay of Robertstown, Georgia, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake Lanier presented by Googan Baits in Gainesville, Georgia. McCay earned $6,000 for his victory at the event, which was hosted by the Gainesville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st J.R. McCay of Robertstown, Ga. 5 18-11 $6,000
2nd Brad Stalnaker of Eatonton, Ga. 5 17-0 $3,000
3rd Carter Koza of Marietta, Ga. 5 16-13 $2,000
4th Kim Carver of Milledgeville, Ga. 5 16-6 $1,400
5th Joe Eubanks of Marietta, Ga. 5 16-1 $1,200
6th Randy Dover of Buford, Ga. 5 15-8 $1,100
7th Jason Densmore of Dawsonville, Ga. 5 15-2 $1,000
8th Michael Conley of Bainbridge, Ga. 5 15-0 $900
8th Chris Williams of Kennesaw, Ga. 5 14-10 $800
10th Jody Holland of Clermont, Ga. 5 14-9 $665
10th Jeff Hendricks of Hull, Ga. 5 14-9 $665

 

RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Jerrit Pack of Blue Ridge, Ga. 5 17-4 $3,500
2nd Justin Nalley of Fayetteville, Ga. 5 13-8 $1,500
3rd Steve Hall of Mableton, Ga. 5 12-6 $1,000
4th Wayne Hancock of Cumming, Ga. 5 12-5 $700
5th Joshua Little of Cartersville, Ga. 5 12-2 $600
6th Tyler Campbell of Martin, Ga. 5 11-13 $550
7th Bobby Rogers of Acworth, Ga. 5 11-12 $475
7th Dustin Elrod of Jasper, Ga. 5 11-12 $475
9th Jonathon Schooler of Lula, Ga. 5 11-6 $400
10th Timothy Logan of Jasper, Ga. 5 11-2 $350

Full results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Berkley Big Bass Lamontie Walters of Warner Robins, Ga. 6-pound, 5-ounce bass $1,000
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Jerrit Pack of Blue Ridge, Ga. 6-pound, 4-ounce bass $500
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Jayme Rampey of Liberty, S.C. 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 BAITS COLOR
Boater Spot Sticker Swimbait with a ¾-ounce swimbait head Not Disclosed
Strike King Co-Angler Unnamed Crankbait Not Disclosed

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

Palmer Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Guntersville

Tennessee’s Roye Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Feb. 15, 2021) – Boater Freddy Palmer of Estill Springs, Tennesssee, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Alabama. Palmer earned $7,000 for his victory at the event, which was hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Freddy Palmer of Estill Springs, Tenn. 5 21-6 $7,000
2nd Hunter Eubanks of Inman, S.C. 5 20-2 $3,000
3rd Michael Lowry of Soddy-Daisy, Tenn. 5 19-12 $2,000
4th William Merrick of Mount Juliet, Tenn. 5 19-4 $1,900
5th Roger Chisenall of Flat Rock, Ala. 5 19-1 $1,200
6th Greg Lamb of Birchwood, Tenn. 5 18-15 $2,100
7th Tyler Pendergrass of Cullman, Ala. 5 18-7 $1,000
8th Andrew Clayton of Westpoint, Tenn. 5 17-15 $850
8th Tracy Robinson of Gadsden, Ala. 5 17-15 $850
10th Heath Gilmore of Meridian, Miss. 5 17-8 $700

 

RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st James Roye of Altamont, Tenn. 5 15-14 $3,000
2nd Brian Koch of Hixson, Tenn. 5 15-1 $1,500
3rd Matt Marcel of Tullahoma, Tenn. 5 14-11 $1,000
4th Philip Moore of Batesville, Miss. 4 14-5 $700
5th T.J. Anderson of Sumter, S.C. 5 14-2 $600
6th Raymond Hanlon of Chattanooga, Tenn. 4 13-13 $550
7th Rich Frey of Owens Cross Roads, Ala. 5 13-7 $500
8th Ron Creasy of Florence, Ala. 5 13-6 $425
8th Robert Moore of Mobile, Ala. 5 13-6 $425
10th Michael Roush of Mobile, Ala. 5 13-2 $350

Full results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Berkley Big Bass Greg Lamb of Birchwood, Tenn. 7-pound, 8-ounce bass $1,000
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Johnny Hancox of West Union, S.C. 4-pound, 12-ounce bass $497
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus William Merrick of Mount Juliet, 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 BAITS COLOR
Boater - Umbrella rig
- Jig
- Swimbait		 N/A
Strike King Co-Angler - Strike King Bitsy Bug Not Disclosed

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Choo Choo Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 21-23 St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla. Putnam County Tourist Development Council
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

"New" in Name Only

Vance McCullough - AnglersChannel.com

Photo Courtesy of BASS

 

 

Bass afficionados know who Bryan New is. Contrary to his name, New has been around the tournament scene, steadily building his career first as a co-angler, then last year as the Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year. But given his win at the St Johns River in his first-ever Bassmaster Elite Series tournament, now the whole fishing world knows New’s name.

“A week and a half ago I didn’t have a title sponsor,” shared New behind the Bassmaster stage as he waited to weigh-in on Championship Sunday. “I have no idea what is about to happen,” he continued, voice trembling, knowing that he had a strong shot at winning.

When emcee Dave Mercer called the weight - 26 pounds, 11 ounces - Knew went nuts. So did the delighted, rain-soaked crowd gathered beside the river in Palatka, Florida.

Minutes later it became apparent that New had taken his first Big Blue Trophy in as many attempts, a feat only accomplished by Derek Remitz in his debut 14 years ago.

Starting the day in 6th place New consistently upgraded his weight until he had overcome the more than 5-pound deficit he began with, turning it into a 9-pound, 9-ounce margin of victory.

His total weight was 79-07.

A few main river shell bar bass ate a lipless plug and kept New in contention throughout the week, but his heavyweight beatdown took place in the pads that lined a creek south of Lake George. He pitched a Texas-rigged stick worm to unseen bass that were spawning or thinking about it. Most of his best action came from scattered or isolated pads where he figures increased sunlight made those areas more attractive than shaded waters beneath thicker stands of pads.

Greg Hackney pitched around super shallow cypress tress in Lake George to place runner-up with 69-14 on the week.

Seth Feider caught at least some of his fish in the big river’s numerous canals. He placed 3rd with 69-06.

Budding star Patrick Walters spent the tournament in Rodman Reservoir where he fished a little deeper than many of the sight-fishers who didn’t fare as well in Rodman. His 68-13 total was good for 4th place.

Mark Menendez returned to Elite Series action following a medical hiatus. It was a good week for him. Qualifying for the final round in 10th place, Menendez climbed to 5th by fishing among shallow cypress trees on Crescent Lake.

by AnglersChannel

MLF to Delay REDCREST start by One Day due to inclement weather.

FLINT, Texas (Feb. 15, 2021) – Major League Fishing announced today that the dates for REDCREST 2021 presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour Championship, has been delayed one day due to inclement weather in the region. The championship event, scheduled to start on Sunday, Feb. 21, has been postponed one day to allow for safer travel conditions. The tournament will now take place Monday through Friday, Feb. 22-26, on Lake Palestine in Flint. The practice day for the anglers will now be on Sunday, Feb. 21.

“The safety of our anglers and their families, our staff, our sponsors and our fans are priority number one,” said Michael Mulone, MLF Senior Director of Events & Partnerships. “With the tough weather conditions that a large part of our country is currently facing, we made the decision to postpone the start of the event by one day to allow everyone an extra day to safely travel to the event. The competition will start on Monday and we look forward to a very successful championship tournament.”

All 40 Anglers will compete on Days 1 (Monday) and 2 (Tuesday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field is cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers are split into two groups – 10 compete on Day 3 (Wednesday) and 10 compete on Day 4 (Thursday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight will advance to the sixth and final day of competition (Friday), where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight on the final day will be crowned the REDCREST 2021 champion.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, attendance at the tournament is limited to competing anglers, essential staff and media covering the event. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all five days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com. and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

For complete details and updated information on REDCREST 2021, 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