AnglersChannel

MLF ‘Century Club’ Commemorative Coins Start Hitting Mailboxes

BENTON, Ky. (July 3, 2024) – Last week, the first round of MLF Century Club coins headed out to anglers who have fished 100 or more events with MLF or its predecessors, FLW and Operation Bass. It’s a mailing list that includes Bass Pro Tour stalwarts like Jacob Wheeler and Andy Morgan as well as hundreds of regional anglers — and quite possibly someone you know.

“We have over 1,200 anglers that have fished 100 or more tournaments with us since 1994, when we started digital records retention,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “That number undoubtedly climbs even higher going back to our very first tournament season in 1980, and our team is working to honor those early participants as well as we comb through paper archives. These anglers have shaped the history of our sport, and we are proud to honor them.”

Anyone with 100 or more tournaments to their name on the boater or co-angler side should receive a coin, which will certainly stoke some fond memories. As everyone knows, tournament fishing tends to turn into a lifestyle, and the trophies and paychecks are only a small part of the experience – the people you meet along the way can be just as special.

With more than 388 tournaments to his credit, Jim Tutt has competed with MLF and its predecessors more than anyone else. Tutt’s career started in the paper record days and is ongoing, and it’s one folks might remember for any number of reasons. Part of the Kellogg’s team for a long time on the FLW Tour, you could recall Tutt sporting the Rice Krispies wrap or have one of his various high finishes at Sam Rayburn locked into your mind. Or, perhaps you know him as one of the most personable and friendly anglers you could find.

“I’m so blessed to have been able to fish so much,” Tutt said. “I was able to fish for a long, long time and not have to work very much. I did the opposite of what most people do — I fished for a long time, and now I work a little bit. Most people work their whole lives and then retire and fish, but I got it backwards. Hopefully I can continue on for a lot more years.”

Even now, after shelving a national fishing career, Tutt is still running the circuit back home — he’s sixth in the points in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division this year. Over the years, Tutt has been fortunate to have his life align so he could be on the water a lot.

“One thing that allowed me to fish so many was that I was fortunate enough early in my career to win several tournaments, so I had a good starting spot with money,” Tutt said. “When I was with Kellogg’s for so long, that was also a great basis financially to go out and be able to do all that.

“Number one, I have great support from my wife,” he continued. “That’s No. 1 – she didn’t have a problem with me fishing. Number 2, no kids, that’s another thing. My dad traveled with me for a time; my family as a whole, I had good support from them. Truthfully, I didn’t realize it was that many (events), but the bottom line is I just love competing. Not always against the other fishermen, but the fish. I love fishing, but I love the competition of figuring it out on a given day.”

Tutt has some treasured memories from over the years, including a 2002 EverStart Series win at home on Sam Rayburn. But, one of the best memories is of his first FLW Tour event – in 1999 at Lake Okeechobee.

“The reason that stands out for me is I didn’t have any information about the lake, I had never been there before, I didn’t know anybody,” he said. “I just went fishing, I found the fish on my own, caught ‘em on my own, and at that point, I thought, ‘Man, this is pretty dang cool.’ I was proud. I didn’t have any help, no prior knowledge, I just showed up and went fishing.”

Rolling into Florida to fish a giant bowl of vegetation must have been daunting, but it didn’t stop him. Finishing third in the event, Tutt cashed $20,000, which kicked off a 24-year run on the FLW Tour and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit.

Still, for Tutt, it’s the people as much as anything that have made bass fishing so special for him.

“I’m sure I’ll forget someone, but there’s a short list of people I’m really fortunate to have met,” said Tutt. “Rick Lilegard, Joel Richardson, Troy Morrow, Mark Mowery, Jody White and Rick Taylor come to mind. These are guys I’ve met, fished against, roomed with and traveled with over the last 30 years, and they’ve become longtime close friends. Those guys really stand out, but holy smokes, I could go on and on. The best friends I’ve got, I’ve made through fishing.”

At MLF, we’re genuinely grateful for every angler who decides to trust us with their weekend on the water. The Century Club program is just getting off the ground, and if you haven’t received a coin yet and should have, please reach out. Going forward, we’ll run the numbers at the end of every season, so if you’re in the 90s now and shooting for a coin, stay by the mailbox this fall. Additionally, anglers who fished Operation Bass tournaments from 1980 through 1993 are encouraged to contact MLF at [email protected] to help verify participation for inclusion in the Century Club.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For tournament updates, photos, news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.

by AnglersChannel

Big Bass Tour Announces Addition to 2024 Schedule: Fall Smith Mountain Lake Big Bass Classic

Montgomery, TX – The Big Bass Tour is excited to announce an addition to our 2024 tournament schedule: Fall Smith Mountain Lake Big Bass Classic. This event will take place October 18-20, 2024, on Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, offering anglers an exceptional opportunity to compete in one of the premier bass fishing locations in the nation for $150,000 in prizes and payouts. Registration is open and the first 250 anglers to register for two or three days will receive an early entry prize.

New Event Location: Mariners Landing

We are pleased to introduce Mariners Landing at Smith Mountain Lake as the new event location for the Fall Smith Mountain Lake Big Bass Classic. Mariners Landing is a premier lakeside resort offering excellent amenities, including a championship golf course, dining options, and luxurious accommodations.

Event Details
• Dates: October 18-20, 2024
• Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia
• Entry Fees: $250 for three days, $165 for two days, $115 for one day, and $75 for youth
• Early Entry Prize: Fenwick Eagle Series Casting Rod
• Grand Prize: Fully rigged 2024 NITRO® Z18 with a Mercury® 150L Pro XS
• Guaranteed Total Hourly Paybacks: $63,525
• Hourly Weigh-Ins: 7 hourly weigh-ins each day
• Weigh-In Site: Mariners Landing, 1217 Graves Harbor Trail, Huddleston, VA 24104
• First Cast: To be announced the week of the tournament

____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

2300 Woodforest Parkway North, Suite 250-444
Montgomery Texas 77316

About Big Bass Tour
Founded in 2010, Big Bass Tour is the nation’s premier big bass tournament series, featuring events across the country with over $2,300,000 in guaranteed prizes for the 2024 season. Our mission is to provide a competitive and enjoyable tournament experience for amateur anglers of all levels.

Contact Information
Big Bass Tour
2300 Woodforest Pkwy. N Suite 250-444
Montgomery, TX 77316
Phone: 877-958-8687
Email: [email protected]

by AnglersChannel

Plattsburgh Set to Host MLF Toyota Series at Lake Champlain Presented by Suzuki Marine

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (July 2, 2024) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to continue its season in Plattsburgh next week, July 11-13, for the second event of the Northern Division – the Toyota Series at Lake Champlain Presented by Suzuki Marine.

The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, will feature the northeastern United States’ best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $105,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor in the co-angler division.

“The fish are biting good and expect to see some good weights in this one – even a little bit bigger than the (Tackle Warehouse) Invitational that was here a couple of weeks ago,” said pro Alec Morrison of Peru, New York, who has seven top-10 finishes on Lake Champlain in MLF competition. “The fish are going to be a little further ahead in their cycle – more into their summertime patterns. There are a lot of fish still mid-range, but the majority are moving out deep.

“I think the smallmouth will reign supreme, as usual,” Morrison continued. “But there have been some big largemouth weighed recently, not only in the Invitational but also in some local tournaments as well. I think we’ll see quite a few big largemouth in this one – more so than the Toyota Series event we had last year.”

Morrison said that he doesn’t think that anglers would be able to target and catch big largemouth for three days in a row, but that an angler could absolutely bring a limit of green bass to the scale.

“I think the angler who potentially can catch a good bag of smallmouth early – around 20 pounds – and then hunt for a big largemouth the rest of the day will likely be leading on the first day,” Morrison said.

Morrison predicts the standard smallmouth tactics to be strong, with a lot of drop-shot and jigging minnow presentations to be popular tactics. He mentioned that he would mix in a topwater and jerkbait for some shallow-water fish. For largemouth, Morrison said that he expects it to be a game of flipping grass, and maybe throwing a glide bait or a jig around docks.

“As a competitor, you have to go into a tournament at Champlain knowing that you’ll always need at least 20 pounds a day in order to be there at the end,” Morrison went on to say. “I think for this one it’ll take upwards of 63 pounds over three days to win. The top end weights will be similar to the Invitationals. But I expect the cutline weight to be a little higher for this one – maybe even a pound more.”

Anglers will launch at 6 a.m. ET each day from the Plattsburgh City Marina, located at 5 Dock Street in Plattsburgh. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 2 p.m. each day. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.

The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters, YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Travel Tuesday - Cybersecurity on Your Fishing Vacation

By Pete Robbins - Half Past First Cast

Part of the reason that we go on distant fishing trips to remote locations is to “disconnect” from the electronic tethers that increasingly rule our lives. Other than fishing itself, I love nothing more about a vacation than setting up an out-of-office message that says “I am away until XXXX and will be unable to check voicemail or email during that time.”

Nevertheless, I’ll be the first to admit that even when I don’t have service my phone remains an important part of my daily life. It is my alarm clock, my camera, my calculator and my
translator. It’s the first thing I grab when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I check before going to sleep. While we may not have internet or cell service on the water, most lodges and hotels we’ve stayed at – even in Africa, the Amazon, Mexico and throughout Central America – enable us to connect.

You should always be careful about where and how you get online, but when you’re abroad (and particularly in an isolated place) you need to be especially vigilant about protecting your
online self. Hanna is the more technologically-savvy member of our duo, but I nevertheless try to be careful in the following caveman-friendly ways:

PHYSICALLY SECURE YOUR DEVICES
Do you really need to bring a phone, a tablet and a laptop? On most trips, one or at most two will cover all of your techie needs. No matter how many you bring, keep them with you or
secured (in a hotel safe, in your carry-on, NOT your checked luggage) at all times. Don’t leave your phone unattended and charging in the airport waiting area while you go and grab a snack, or hit the john. Don’t work on even slightly sensitive matters where others can see your screen. There’s simply no upside. While you’re at it, make sure that all of your devices are password protected and locked when not in use.

EXTRA CAUTION ON PUBLIC WI-FI

When you’re connected to public wi-fi, just assume that anything you send or download is now in the public sphere. That means your passwords and other personally-identifiable information. If you must input or send such data, if possible use a VPN, which encrypts the data you send for an added layer of security. If you fear that you’ve used public Wi-Fi and sent information that could be compromising, change those passwords as soon as you get home. Be sure when abroad to also turn off the functions that auto-connect to wireless and Bluetooth networks.

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/cybersecurity-tips-international-travelers

FIND LOST DEVICES

If your phone does not come with a built-in means of finding your device, then add a Device Finder or enable the “Find My Device” feature. It may not help you if your phone is 30 feet
deep in Lake El Salto (here’s looking at you, Aaron Rygas!) but it might in some other circumstances. CONSIDER A SIM CARD (OR EVEN ANOTHER PHONE) You may have an international plan with your wireless carrier that enables you to connect, either all the time or for specified periods. Unfortunately, this can get rather expensive, rather quickly if you’re forced to churn through heavy amounts of data. One other option is to buy a SIM card in the country of origin (they’re often available at the airport upon arrival) and you can add a hefty data allowance for a small amount of money. It’ll give you a different phone number while you’re away (and may affect your ability to receive texts) but that may be a small price to pay. After all, you’re on a fishing trip, not a Tinder binge. Today some phones have “virtual eSIMs” which require a download rather than a separate card. Another option might be to bring/purchase an unlocked phone with prepaid minutes in the host country. That will also help you avoid having preloaded data compromised.

CARRY A SECOND CREDIT CARD

Recently, I got a notice from Chase that someone had tried to buy over $9,000 of industrial tools using my card, which happened to be in my pocket at that time. I called Chase, they confirmed that it was true, and that they had to cancel the card and overnight me a new one. What would have happened if I was at a remote international fishing lodge, with no mail
service, but would have needed the card for my trip home? I would’ve been screwed. It always pays to have a second card on hand, even if you never use it otherwise, just for emergencies like that. Many cards now have international capabilities built in, but if you’re not sure about yours call or email the issuer to make sure that you don’t need special authorization. No matter what, when you get home, check your online credit card and bank account statements to be sure there are no “fishy” charges.

More sorta-tech tips, as long as I’m at it...

When you’re searching for the best rates on a flight or a hotel, put your browser in “incognito” mode. Otherwise, you may be recognized through prior “cookies” and the search engines’
algorithms might fail to give you the best available rates.

Find downloadable apps that will be very necessary, often at times when you don’t have connectivity – like Google Maps and Google Translate.

I’ll write it for what seems like the hundredth time: Get WhatsApp so you can make calls anywhere you have Wi-Fi.

Get the right adapter (ideally an all-in-one) so that you don’t fry any of your devices when you try to charge them.

by AnglersChannel

Sixth Season of Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Set to Premiere Saturday on Discovery Channel

REDCREST 2024 to kick off sixth season of MLF Bass Pro Tour on Discovery Channel, new episodes premiere at 7 a.m. ET every Saturday through mid-November

BENTON, Ky. (July 2, 2024) – The sixth season of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour is set to premiere this Saturday, July 6, at 7 a.m. ET with a two-hour episode on the Discovery Channel.

The 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship, April 2-6, 2025, on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

The first two-hour episode of Major League Fishing premiering Saturday will feature the Knockout Round from REDCREST 2024 Powered by OPTIMA Lithium at Alabama’s Lay Lake, the Bass Pro Tour Championship. Each week a new episode will premiere on Discovery Channel, through mid-November.

The complete air schedule for the 2024 Bass Pro Tour on Discovery Channel is:

- July 6          Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2024 at Lay Lake Powered by OPTIMA Lithium Knockout Round
- July 13        NO EPISODE – DISCOVERY CHANNEL SHARK WEEK
- July 20        Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2024 at Lay Lake Powered by OPTIMA Lithium Championship Round
- July 27        B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round
- Aug. 3         B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Championship Round
- Aug. 10 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Qualifying Round Group A – Day 1
- Aug. 17 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Qualifying Round Group B – Day 1
- Aug. 24 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Qualifying Round Group A – Day 2
- Aug. 31 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Qualifying Round Group B – Day 2
- Sept. 7 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Knockout Round
- Sept. 14 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Championship Round
- Sept. 21 Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick Knockout Round
- Sept. 28 Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick Championship Round
- Oct. 5          PowerStop Brakes Stage Three at Dale Hollow Lake Presented by Mercury Knockout Round
- Oct. 6          PowerStop Brakes Stage Three at Dale Hollow Lake Presented by Mercury Championship Round
- Oct. 12        MillerTech Stage Four at Lake Eufaula Presented by REDCON1 Knockout Round
- Oct. 19        MillerTech Stage Four at Lake Eufaula Presented by REDCON1 Championship Round
- Oct. 26        U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters Knockout Round
- Nov. 2         U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters Championship Round
- Nov. 9         General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round
- Nov. 16 Minn Kota Stage Seven at St. Lawrence River Presented by Humminbird Championship Round

The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Bonnie’s Brookman Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Rend Lake

Adams and Johnson Tie for Win in Strike King Co-Angler Division

SESSER, Ill. (July 1, 2024) – Boater Adam Brookman of Bonnie, Illinois, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 8 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Rend Lake. The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Brookman earned $6,726, including the lucrative $3,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

The Rend Lake tournament was a classic “grind” for Brookman. To compete against the best local sticks on a small lake, he kept it simple, kept his head down and toughed it out, getting just five keeper bites all day long.

“I targeted main-lake rock points and riprap stretches with a jig, a Jig Shack shaky head and a crankbait. Pretty basic,” he said. “I practiced a few evenings this week and just stumbled upon some fish and just kind of grinded it out.”

Brookman said four of his keepers came on rocks and one came from a laydown.

“I was running six or eight spots,” he added. “I usually do a lot of running around, but I actually did less than what I typically do. I was just kind of rotating through some proven areas that usually pan out.”

Brookman thanked his partners at Rend Lake Sporting Goods for their support. This is his first BFL win on the boater side, to go with a previous co-angler win. To earn the win on Rend Lake was extra special for Brookman.

“It’s kind of cool because my dad used to take me to weigh-ins when I was 8 or 10 years old whenever the BFL would come to Rend Lake or some of the local lakes,” he said. “I always thought it would be kind of a cool deal to get to walk across the stage. I just kind of got lucky and pulled it off. It was kind of neat to see it come full circle.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Adam Brookman, Bonnie, Ill., five bass, 14-8, $6,726 (includes $3,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Mark O’Brien, Marion, Ill., five bass, 14-3, $1,713
3rd:       Riley Walk, Neoga, Ill., five bass, 13-13, $1,141
4th:        Greg Mullins, Mount Vernon, Ill., four bass, 11-4, $799
5th:        Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., five bass, 11-2, $685
6th:        Curt Erpenbach, Anderson, Ind., four bass, 11-1, $628
7th:        Toby Corn, Paducah, Ky., four bass, 10-11, $571
8th:        Gary Schild, Mundelein, Ill., three bass, 10-10, $639
9th:        William Walker, Mulkeytown, Ill., five bass, 9-6, $457
10th:     Terry Holsapple, Greenup, Ill., three bass, 8-11, $400

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jeffrey Lee of Olney, Illinois, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $430.

David Adams of Bloomington, Illinois, and Chase Johnson of Quincy, Illinois, tied for the win in the Strike King co-angler division Saturday with 10 pounds, 4 ounces. Adams brought four bass to the scale, while Johnson weighed a five-bass limit. They each took home $1,284.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        David Adams, Bloomington, Ill., four bass, 10-4, $1,284
1st:        Chase Johnson, Quincy, Ill., five bass, 10-4, $1,284
3rd:       Troy Boley, Mahomet, Ill., three bass, 9-3, $571
4th:        Caleb Peck, Charleston, Ill., three bass, 8-0, $400
5th:        Elmo Rogers, Albion, Ill., four bass, 7-10, $343
6th:        Kim Sapetti, Chatham, Ill., two bass, 6-12, $314
7th:        Zach Brookman, Opdyke, Ill., two bass, 5-14, $285
8th:        Peyton Keathley, Ashland, Mo., two bass, 5-2, $257
9th:        Ryan Murphy, Paris, Ill., two bass, 4-15, $228
10th:     Jay Fields, Breese, Ill., one bass, 4-12, $415

Jay Fields of Breese, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $215, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Riley Walk of Neoga, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash Illini Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 495 points, while Chase Johnson of Quincy, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash Illini Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 494 points.

The next event for BFL Illini Division anglers will be held July 13, at the Ohio River in Paducah, Kentucky. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on the Mississippi River Pools 13-17 in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Harrison Township’s Mandel Posts First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River

Indiana’s Oliver Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

TRENTON, Mich. (July 1, 2024) – Boater Nolan Mandel of Harrison Township, Michigan, caught a five-fish limit of smallmouth bass weighing 24 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Detroit River . The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Mandel earned $10,964, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

Mandel spent his tournament fishing the Canadian waters of Lake St. Clair.

“The fish are really spread out still,” he said. “It got warm early this year, and there’s still fish shallow with the mayfly hatch. Covering a lot of water was really the key. I caught them on a drop-shot with a (Berkley PowerBait) MaxScent Flat Worm.”

On St. Clair, covering water doesn’t necessarily mean running and gunning. Mandel kept his trolling motor in the water most of the day, only pulling it up five or six times to move. Instead of running, he eased around on the trolling motor, throwing at isolated patches of grass. He says he was focusing on “getting away from the people and finding the little sneaky places off of the famous areas.”

The area that Mandel fished is one where he felt he could consistently catch 4-pound-class fish, but he tried to focus on keeping an open mind and not getting too “locked into” any waypoints.

“I kind of knew spots to let it unfold in the tournament,” he said. “I basically practiced in the tournament. I’ve been shooting myself in the foot getting locked into areas. I really just wanted to let it drift and expect the big bites to come. There were times I’d go 45 minutes without catching a fish and then catch 10 within 10 minutes. It was kind of like that all day.”

In addition to the drop-shot, Mandel caught a few fish on a Ned rig. He also caught one of his final five keepers on a swimbait.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Nolan Mandel, Harrison Township, Mich., five bass, 24-11, $10,964 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Heath Wagner, Angola, Ind., five bass, 24-5, $1,757
3rd:       Brayden Federer, Adrian, Mich., five bass, 22-2, $1,172
4th:        Dan Mittlestat, Woodhaven, Mich., five bass, 21-3, $1,120
5th:        Charlie Land, Coatesville, Ind., five bass, 20-5, $703
6th:        Cody Kelley, Plainwell, Mich., five bass, 19-4, $615
6th:        Drake van Dike, Livonia, Mich., five bass, 19-4, $615
8th:        Noah Stauffer, Gowen, Mich., five bass, 18-14, $527
9th:        Jonathon Dewey, Fort Gratiot, Mich., five bass, 18-13, $469
10th:     Rob Kelley, Rockwood, Mich., five bass, 17-14, $410

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Mandel caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $450.

Kade Oliver of Muncie, Indiana, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,757 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 21 pounds, 3 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Kade Oliver, Muncie, Ind., five bass, 21-3, $1,757
2nd:       Gabriel Fishlock, Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 19-13, $1,104
3rd:       Craig Fanning, Elwood, Ill., five bass, 17-5, $585
4th:        Terry Bucciarelli, Ypsilanti, Mich., five bass, 17-3, $660
5th:        Tommy Pritchard, Bargersville, Ind., five bass, 16-12, $351
6th:        Grant Hatfield, Wadsworth, Ohio, five bass, 16-9, $322
7th:        Scott Davis, Morenci, Mich., five bass, 16-6, $278
7th:        Nicholas Yeung, Simcoe, Ontario, five bass, 16-6, $278
9th:        Sage Uhes, Farmington Hills, Mich., five bass, 16-4, $234
10th:     Doug Bradley, Syracuse, Ind., five bass, 16-1, $205

Gabriel Fishlock of Cincinnati, Ohio, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $225, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

The next event for BFL Michigan Division anglers will be held July 13, at Detroit River in Trenton, Michigan. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

by AnglersChannel

New Lebanon’s Cunnagin Gets the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Ohio River-Tanners Creek

Oxford’s Thome Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (July 1, 2024) – Boater Jamie Cunnagin of New Lebanon, Ohio, caught a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Ohio River at Tanners Creek. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Buckeye Division. Cunnagin earned $5,082 for his victory.

The Ohio River is a great place to break out classic shallow-water bass fishing tactics, and Cunnagin is a local stick who knows all the tricks.

“I basically threw a spinnerbait and a (Yamamoto) Senko most of the time,” he said. “I fished 2 feet or less most of the day. I fish down there a lot, and I kind of do the same thing usually.”

Cunnagin has some favorite creeks that he runs when he fishes out of Tanners Creek, and that’s exactly where he went for most of the tournament.

“It was just one of those days that what I was doing and where I was fishing they bit,” he said. “I just happened to stumble across a couple big fish. I actually came back in an hour early. I thought I had around 11 pounds at the time, and I had one small fish that I needed to get rid of – like a 1.16. I just went back in Tanners and milled around with 40 other boats in there the last hour. There’s a tree in there that I waited on a couple of guys to pull off of, and I actually flipped a (Zoom) Brush Hog in that tree and caught one like 2 pounds. I culled that fish (the 1.16) out, and that put me over 12 pounds.”

The majority of Cunnagin’s fish came on a 3/8-ounce spinnerbait. He was primarily targeting wood, but also caught fish on rock banks and in between pieces of cover during the cloudy hours of early morning.

“I rolled,” he added. “I was moving. I covered a lot of water in a short period of time. I had a limit in probably 35, 40 minutes.

“I just ran creeks that I like, that I feel comfortable fishing.”

The top 11 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Jamie Cunnagin, New Lebanon, Ohio, five bass, 12-2, $5,082
2nd:       Nick Ryan, Cleves, Ohio, five bass, 10-11, $2,019
3rd:       Hunter Colwell, Sidney, Ohio, five bass, 10-3, $1,845 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:        Michael Nesbitt, St. Paris, Ohio, five bass, 8-15, $942
5th:        Chris Martinkovic, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 8-3, $1,107
6th:        Brian Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 8-2, $740
7th:        James Rebholz, Morrow, Ohio, five bass, 7-13, $673
8th:        Ryan Hipsher, Hillsboro, Ohio, five bass, 7-6, $606
9th:        Matthew Strickland, Portsmouth, Ohio, five bass, 7-5, $538
10th:     Seth Fricke, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 7-4, $447
10th:     Brandon Smith, Mason, Ohio, five bass, 7-4, $447

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Cunnagin caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $545.

Austin Thome of Oxford, Ohio, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,019 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 9 pounds, 9 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Austin Thome, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 9-9, $2,019
2nd:       Jeff Moorman, Liberty Township, Ohio, three bass, 8-5, $1,114
2nd:       Jeffrey Smith, West Chester, Ohio, five bass, 8-5, $842
4th:        Adam Radovic, Brecksville, Ohio, four bass, 6-6, $471
5th:        Steve Sorrell, Beavercreek, Ohio, three bass, 5-7, $387
5th:        Dan Goforth, Monroe, Ohio, two bass, 5-7, $387
7th:        Bill Meyers, Urbana, Ohio, two bass, 5-1, $336
8th:        Dylan Grace, Scottsburg, Ind., four bass, 4-15, $386
8th:        Jacob Alltop, Lewistown, Ohio, four bass, 4-15, $286
10th:     Scott Standafer, Felicity, Ohio, three bass, 4-12, $235

Jeff Moorman of Liberty Township, Ohio, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $272, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Sean Wieda of Alexandria, Kentucky, leads the Fishing Clash Buckeye Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 735 points, while Adam Radovic of Brecksville, Ohio, leads the Fishing Clash Buckeye Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 707 points.

The next event for BFL Buckeye Division anglers will be held Aug. 3, at Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, South Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Chris Parks Claims Wire-To-Wire Win at Columbia River in BAM Tournament Trail Pro/Am

Bass Boat Technologies BAM Boardman Pro Am Presented by the the of Boardman Chamber of Commerce and Tackle Warehouse

Co-Angler Will Harris Also Goes Wire-To-Wire

By Jody Only

BOARDMAN, Ore. – Chris Parks of Eugene, Ore. put a final limit on the scales during Championship Sunday with his third consecutive bag to break the 20-pound mark for a three-day tournament-total of 67.12, locking up a wire-to-wire win at the Columbia River, the 4th stop of the BAM Tournament Trail Pro / Am presented by the Boardman Chamber of Commerce. For the victory, Parks pocketed $8,172, including a $250 contingency from Bass Boat Technologies, and a $400 Big Fish payout.

“I fish the Columbia quite a bit; but only the lower pools; so, this is actually the first event that I have weighed a fish in from Boardman and done an event out here,” Parks said. “To be able to put it all together is awesome!”

After a good practice credited to reaction baits in the wind, Parks launched on Day One to find it flat calm.

“There wasn’t even a ripple,” he said. “And so, I had to think about it. How do I read the water? What do I do? Where is my adjustment?”

Through some trial and error, Parks ended up with a Ned rig.

“My buddy Joe makes a Bass Union weedless shakey head in a 3/16 ounce, so I tied it on a spinning rod,” he shared. “I probably caught 15 keepers that first day and that was my Day One.”

The full setup that Parks used to throw the shakey head that put him in the lead was a St.Croix 7’ medium-heavy rod with a 2500 Shimano Stradic spooled with10-pound braid tied to a 10-pound fluoro leader. His plastic was a Z-Man TRD in the color The Deal.

Over the course of the three days of competition, the majority of all of Parks’ weigh fish fell to that TRD rig, with one notable exception.

“Today, I pulled into a shallow pocket late and threw a frog on a mat – it looked like a good place for a largemouth,” he said. “I got a really good bite, set the hook and it was a 4.1-pound smallmouth in two-feet of water. That was just icing on the cake. It was 2:15 p.m. and I culled out a 3.1 for that four – pulled out a full pound.”

The triumph will push Parks up the leaderboard in the BAM Tournament Trail Angler of the Year (AOY) points standings.

Of the three events that he has fished, with a possible 250 points in each, Parks will add this 250 to the 248 he logged at Shasta and the 246 from the Delta.

“It is my 3rd top-10 in a row,” he said. “I’m excited to see what happens at Clear Lake, which is next. It is going to be a big deal for me, and it can’t come soon enough.”

The BAM Tournament Trail will continue with its next stop at Clear Lake in California. Registration is underway. More insight on the Columbia River event can be found at the BAM TT site.

Harris Hangs on For Co Win at Columbia

Will Harris from Columbia City, Ore. also went wire-to-wire for the co-angler win, putting together a final weight of 50.01, earning the top co-angler prize of $2,478.

“I’ve always been told you can never lead it for three days, but I was really hoping that wasn’t true,” Harris said.

Paired with his Day One pro, Ron Wiseman from Pendelton, Ore., Harris sacked up 17.42, taking the co lead.

“I started with a Hula Grub,” he said. “They were in 8- to 10-feet of water, not super-deep. Later in the day, when there was a little bit of chop on the water,I caught a few on topwater.”

Harris added 15.91 and 16.68 while he was paired with Parks on Days Two and Three.

“It was an incredible place with Chris,” he said. “The water was clear, and they were shallow. We locked up through the dam. The bite was slow, but when you did get one, it was a good one.

“Today, itwas tougher than yesterday. It took me a little time to catch my five; but Iwas lucky enough to get the bites and they didn’t come unpegged.”

Over thethree days of fishing, Harris’ most productive presentation was the 4-inchYamamoto Hula Grub in cinnamon purple / black flake. He fished it on a 7’3medium-heavy Alpha Angler rod with 17-pound Seaguar AbrazX.

“I also threw a 3.3” Keitech swimbait on 8-pound line and a light head,” he added.

“I’ve fished eight or nine tournaments already; but this is my first top-10, and my first win” he said. “I’m just appreciative of all the people that support me and all the people that run this event. I’m just lucky to be here.”

Championship Sunday’s Top-10 Field

Pro Angler

PLACE PRO BIG FISH DAY 1 BIG FISH DAY 2 DAY 1 WEIGHT DAY 2 WEIGHT DAY 3 WEIGHT TOTAL WEIGHT PLACE WINNINGS BIG FISH $ TACKLE WAREHOUSE TOTAL PAYOUT

1 Chris Parks 5.42 22.04 23.73 21.35 67.12 $7,522.00 $400.00 $250.00 $8,172.00
2 Jacob Anderson 19.84 21.73 20.59 62.16 $2,364.00 $2,364.00
3 Ben Hanes 6.7 20.80 18.00 18.29 57.09 $2,149.00 $400.00 $2,549.00
4 Dave Kromm 18.22 19.99 18.24 56.45 $1,934.00 $1,934.00
5 Jake Boomer 18.95 16.96 20.49 56.40 $1,719.00 $1,719.00
6 Gary Posten 17.15 21.92 17.14 56.21 $1,504.00 $1,504.00
7 Donny Biagi 17.04 18.40 17.84 53.28 $1,289.00 $1,289.00
8 Sean Minderman 17.74 18.27 16.64 52.65 $1,075.00 $1,075.00
9 Ron Wiseman 16.43 18.62 15.22 50.27 $1,075.00 $1,075.00
10 Darryl Burkhardt 18.07 16.72 13.20 47.99 $860.00 $860.00

CoAngler
PLACE CO BIG FISH DAY 1 BIG FISH DAY 2 DAY 1 WEIGHT DAY 2 WEIGHT DAY 3 WEIGHT TOTAL WEIGHT PLACE WINNINGS BIG FISH $ TACKLE WAREHOUSE TOTAL PAYOUT
1 Will Harris 17.42 15.91 16.68 50.01 $2,478.00 $2,478.00
2 Joe Cote 14.88 15.24 17.30 47.42 $779.00 $779.00
3 Rodney Brown 13.24 13.76 16.02 43.02 $708.00 $708.00
4 Ugene Downing 13.45 13.41 16.08 42.94 $637.00 $637.00
5 Tommy Rice 16.24 13.13 13.27 42.64 $566.00 $566.00
6 Sean Omalley 08.42 18.74 14.45 41.61 $496.00 $496.00
7 Mike Swearngin 12.12 16.16 11.00 39.28 $425.00 $425.00
8 Will Wyman 15.44 11.30 10.27 37.01 $354.00 $354.00
9 Scott Wightman 16.04 10.93 09.65 36.62 $354.00 $354.00
10 Troy Mays 11.75 15.59 00.00 27.34 $283.00 $283.00

About BAM Tournament Trail

The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM Trail) offers an unparalleled media platform for anglers and sponsors alike combining vast exposure opportunities that celebrate the skills of western bass anglers. The circuit garners extensive coverage across television, print magazine, podcasts, websites, video, digital magazine, and multiple social media channels.

ProTour Event Sponsors:

The BAM Pro Tour proudly welcomes a diverse array of sponsors including BassBoat Technologies, Tackle Warehouse, BassCat Boats, Mercury Outboards, Garmin, Storquest and our dedicated conservation sponsor, Fisherman’s Warehouse.

Proud Sponsors of the BAM Tournament Trail:

BAM TT is honored to be associated with its title sponsor, Bass Boat Technologies, and presenting sponsor, Tackle Warehouse. The trail’s also supported by Storquest, Garmin, BassCat Boats, Mercury Outboards, Ford Fairfield, Dish - Accel Marketing, PowerPole, , Bob’s Machine, Wood Bros, Sticky Graphics, Jean Deleonardi Real Estate, Valley Outdoors, Eternal Lithium, Alpha Angler Rods, and Fisherman’s Warehouse.

BAM’s Esteemed Tourism Sponsors:

The BAM TT is grateful for the support of its tourism sponsors: the City of Oakley, the Lake Almanor Chamber, the Boardman Chamber, and the Feather River Tourism Association.

TournamentDetails:

The BAM Tournament Trail features the BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am, and Kayak events, each designed to test the determination of western anglers in a competitive and environmentally conscious format.

Connect with BAM TT:

To learn more about the BAMPro Tour, Pro-Am and Kayak events. Visit: BAMTRAIL, Facebook, Twitter,YouTube and Instagram

Media and AdvertisingInquiries: Please contact Mark Lassagne for further information regarding media and advertising opportunities.

#bamtrail #bassanglermagazine #bamprotour

See more tournament news here

by AnglersChannel

Skeet Reese Claims First Bass Pro Tour Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at James River

General Tire pro catches 23 bass totaling 54-3 on final day to earn top award of $100,000

RICHMOND, Va. (June 30, 2024) – On his 55th birthday, Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, received one of the best presents of his life. The newly-announced Bass Fishing Hall of Famer added his first Bass Pro Tour trophy to his long list of accolades at the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts on the James River, plus the $100,000 top prize that came with it.

Reese totaled 54 pounds, 3 ounces on 23 scorable bass during Sunday’s Championship Round. He would need just about all of it, as pro Jeff Sprague of Wills Point, Texas, put together a furious late-day rally but ultimately fell 3-11 shy of Reese’s total.

The California pro said the 12th victory of his legendary career will go down as one of his most memorable, as each passing season has made him increasingly hungry to join the list of Bass Pro Tour champions.

“This I what I’ve been fishing for the last five years out here, trying to be able to be in a position to hoist one of these Bass Pro Tour trophies,” Reese said. “To beat the group of guys that we compete against – I mean, literally, this is the best group of anglers assembled ever in the history of the sport. So, to beat these guys, that means a lot to me.”

Between his highlighter yellow color scheme and effervescent personality, Reese has never been one to blend in. This week, standing out paid off.

Like just about everyone else in the field, Reese started each day of the Qualifying Round in the Chickahominy River, noting that the tides were perfect for the healthy bass population in the James tributary to feed each morning. Later in the day, he would run back up the James, chasing the low tide. A late flurry on the second day of qualifying near the mouth of the Appomattox River not only assured him a spot in the Knockout Round but showed him the potential of the area.

Assessing the changing tides and the cumulative fishing pressure on the Chickahominy, Reese decided to start both the Knockout and Championship Rounds around the mouth of the Appomattox. Fishing farther upriver than most of his peers gave him a lower tide during the morning – the one time of day bass seemed to feed regardless of tide.

“The tides weren’t getting right, plus the fish were getting pressured,” Reese explained. “So, I was trying to fish for fish that were not getting hammered as much as what was going on down in the Chick.”

On Championship Sunday, Reese’s decision paid off to the tune of six scorable bass in the first 20 minutes. He wound up totaling nearly 30 pounds during Period 1, taking a lead he would never relinquish.

While just about everyone found the bite best around low tide, the fact that Reese was able to generate bites amid higher water proved key. Sprague caught just one bass during the first three hours of competition. Despite stacking up 31-7 in the final period, he couldn’t quite dig out of that hole.

“I wasn’t expecting to catch as many as I did this morning, and I put the hammer on ‘em and caught almost 30 pounds that first period,” Reese said. “I was like, ‘So, you’re saying I have a chance?’”

Reese’s bait selection also differed from the rest of the field. Fishing “the way I like to fish” – that is, power fishing around shallow cover – Reese targeted docks and bridge pilings, primarily using a Lucky Craft BDS1 crankbait. He put on a close-quarters casting clinic with the Dive model from his newly released Reese Fishing line of rods, which he paired with a KastKing MG12 reel and 15-pound-test Berkley Trilene fluorocarbon.

“I fished a bladed jig a lot the first day, and I caught a decent amount of fish on it, but it just seemed like the Lucky Craft wound up getting bigger bites for me consistently,” Reese said. “Even if I was fishing water that other guys had fished, it’s something that they weren’t throwing. It was a different look and feel, and once I got dialed into it, I was like, alright, they’re eating this thing.”

After his morning flurry, Reese steadily added to his total throughout the day. He never went an hour of competition time without catching at least one scorable bass. A 2-2 and 1-10 caught within a few casts of one another with little more than an hour left proved to be the winning fish, although Reese had to sweat out the final few minutes as Sprague caught six bass for 12-5 in a 22-minute span, pulling within one big bite of the lead.

“I went from being, ‘I got this no problem’ to, ‘oh crap, what’s going to happen?” the ever-colorful Reese said. “Thank goodness I built up a big lead early … It was meant to be. I’m going to hold that trophy, and that means a lot.”

As the time ticked away and Reese got closer and closer to the win, it became evident how bad he wanted it. He punctuated most of his fish catches with a shout or a growl. When his boat official confirmed that he’d finished the day atop SCORETRACKER®, he unleashed his loudest yell yet.

The triumph added another highlight to an unforgettable year. In March, Reese learned that he’d been selected as one of five new members of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. He’ll be formally inducted in September.

“Getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, they kind of tell you you’re old, and so to be able to get inducted into the Hall of Fame and win again the same year, that’s as good as it gets,” Reese said. “So, there’s a little exclamation point on it.”

The victory will also go a long way toward extending Reese’s Hall of Fame career beyond this year. With the Bass Pro Tour set to trim its roster to 65 anglers in 2025, Reese entered the season on the wrong side of the cut line. Two tough tournaments to start the year put him in a dire situation, 78th out of 80 anglers in points.

However, Reese turned it around with a Top 10 at Lake Eufaula, then added a 21st-place finish at the Chowan River and capped the charge with this week’s victory. He now sits 25th in the season-long standings – virtually guaranteed to keep his spot on the Bass Pro Tour roster and well positioned to qualify for REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville, where he’s won twice.

Perhaps most important, he proved to himself that, as his career continues, he still has what it takes to hang with the top anglers on tour.

“I wanted to make sure, for myself, personally, that I was able to compete against the best group of anglers in the world and still win,” Reese said. “It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve got lots of trophies, but I’ve been seeing how many guys have been winning the Bass Pro Tour trophies, and I said, I want one of those.”

The top 10 pros from the General Tire Stage 6 at the James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts finished:

1st:          Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 23 bass, 54-3, $100,000
2nd:        Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 25 bass, 50-8, $45,000
3rd: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 16 bass, 37-3, $38,000
4th:         Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 16 bass, 35-9, $32,000
5th:         Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 16 bass, 34-10, $30,000
6th:         Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 14 bass, 32-11, $26,000
7th:         Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 14 bass, 30-4, $23,000
8th:         Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 12 bass, 24-9, $21,000
9th:         Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 18-2, $19,000
10th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., seven bass, 14-6, $16,000

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

Overall, there were 153 scorable bass weighing 332 pounds, 1 ounce, caught by 10 pros Sunday, which included one 5-pounder, three 4-pounders and 10 3-pounders.

Thrift earned Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 5-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on a speed worm during Period 3, while the $3,000 prize for heaviest bass of the tournament went to Pike Road, Alabama’s Keith Poche, who caught a largemouth weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces on Day 1 of Group A competition.

Sunday’s action didn’t have much bearing on the battle for the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year crown, with the top four anglers in the points all missing out on the Championship Round. Thus, the situation remains the same: Jacob Wheeler will head to the season finale at the St. Lawrence River with a 19-point lead over Alton Jones Jr. Because Wheeler has won twice this year, even if Jones wins Stage Seven, Wheeler would prevail in a tiebreaker, which means if he makes the Knockout Round, he will claim his third AOY title in the past four years.

While a slip-up seems unlikely, should Wheeler falter, Jones, Dustin Connell and even rookie Drew Gill could be in the mix to win. Connell sits 16 points behind Jones, with Gill 8 points back of him.

Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.

The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts featured the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers caught as much weight as they could each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament featured anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, showcased 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.

by AnglersChannel

Japan's Ito spot-on in Alabama for win in TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake

June 30, 2024

CULLMAN, Ala. — The Bassmaster Elite Series Media Guide notes that Smith Lake is Taku Ito’s favorite U.S. fishery.

On Sunday, at the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite Series stop at Smith Lake, he showed the world why.

Ito, a 38-year-old pro from Chiba, Japan, led a field of 98 Elites with a four-day total of 20 bass totaling 58 pounds. That was 4-1 more than Robert Gee, who finished second with 53-15, and 4-2 more than Jay Przekurat, who placed third with 53-14.

Ito claimed $100,000 for finishing first in the derby, which was the second Bassmaster Elite Series win of his career. He snagged $2,000 more for having the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag (he caught 16-9 on Championship Sunday) and separate $1,000 prizes for the 5-12 spotted bass that anchored the bag. That fish was both the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day and of the tournament.

It was a wild finish to what had been a difficult tournament for many of the Elites. The Alabama heat made Smith’s fabled spotted bass bite go slack at times, and most bass caught ranged from 1 to 2 pounds. The heat index, which climbed into triple digits during the final three days of the tournament, made the sluggish bite that much more grueling.

But Ito had the right mix on Smith. He caught his best bass using a 14-millimeter OSP Saikoro Dice Rubber Magnum bait. The magnum-sized lure, which is not yet in distribution, was the difference maker, he said, with the bigger size sparking Smith’s spots into biting in the broiling heat. Ito said he was drop-shotting the lure rigged with a 3/16-ounce weight.

He also credited a thunderstorm that threatened north-central Alabama Sunday afternoon for changing his fortunes on Day 4.

“The storm coming brought many big fish to me, in 25 feet, 30 feet (of water),” he said. “They were on brush piles. I had some smaller fish in the morning, but it all changed when the storm (threatened). I lost a 3-pounder, but that 5-12 was so awesome.”

Ito had bags of 13-10, 13-11 and 14-2 leading up to his tournament-best bag on Day 4. His three-day total of 41-7 trailed only Gee, who had 41-9 and the pole position to start Sunday.

Ito, Gee and Przekurat battled throughout the morning, with each grabbing the lead at one point. A single ounce separated the trio at one point mid-morning, but Ito bagged a 2-5 bass before noon that gave him a slim five-ounce cushion on his top two rivals at Smith.

He blew the derby open an hour later with his 5-12, easily the biggest bass of the tournament.

“Smith Lake always is 100 percent my favorite lake,” he said. “It’s beautiful for sightseeing and it has beautiful bass. And the spotted bass, I like them. I don’t like so much the largemouth bass and there aren’t that many here. So, Smith Lake is perfect for me.”

Ito said he also threw a 3.6-inch Nories Flip Gill (Neko-rigged) and a Nories Wrapping Minnow Spy Bait for key bites earlier in the tournament.

Gee, of Knoxville, Tenn., was looking for his first B.A.S.S. win. Though he fell short of that goal, he was pleased with his finish. He caught 12-6 on Championship Sunday.

“I was LivesScoping the whole week for bait balls and fish roaming around the lake,” he said. “I was fishing in the middle of the lake for both single fish and wolfpacks. The main baits for me this week were a 4-inch Yamamoto Shad Shape in smoke color - a natural shad color. And what really saved my butt today was a homemade hair jig that a buddy of mine from Oklahoma ties. It’s like a crappie jig that’s sized for bass. It was big for me today.”

Przekurat, of Plover, Wis., caught 12-8 on Sunday.

“I was fishing timber in the middle of the lake that had a lot of bait around it, in anywhere from 40 to 120 feet,” he said. “The Strike King Baby Z-Too, in both Gray Glide and Smokey Shad, was my main bait … It was a big week for me. Taking a Top 3 in an Elite event is huge.”

Rounding out the Top 10 at Smith Lake are fourth, Cory Johnston, 53-1; fifth, Tyler Williams, 52-8; sixth, Cooper Gallant, 51-15; seventh, Kyle Patrick, 51-9; eighth, JT Thompkins, 50-7; ninth, Cody Huff, 49-13; and 10^th, Justin Hamner, 49-10.

Alabama’s Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 595 points. Illinois’ Trey McKinney is second with 571 points, followed by Missouri’s Huff in third with 569, Canada’s Chris Johnston in fourth with 556 and Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in fifth with 556.

McKinney leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 571 points, followed by Tennessee’s John Garrett in second with 553 points and South Carolina’s Thompkins in third with 547.

Ito also took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Huff earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Ito earned an additional $4,000 while Gee claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

Visit Cullman hosted the tournament.

2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.

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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake 6/27-6/30
Smith Lake, Cullman AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

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

1. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 20 58-00 103 $105,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 14-02 Day 4: 5 16-09
2. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 20 53-15 102 $35,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 14-02 Day 4: 5 12-06
3. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 20 53-14 101 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 13-03 Day 4: 5 12-08
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 20 53-01 100 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 13-05 Day 4: 5 12-06
5. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 20 52-08 99 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 13-12 Day 4: 5 14-10
6. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 20 51-15 98 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 12-13 Day 4: 5 13-01
7. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 20 51-09 97 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 13-07 Day 4: 5 11-07
8. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 20 50-07 96 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 11-14 Day 4: 5 12-00
9. Cody Huff Ava, MO 20 49-13 95 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 11-04 Day 4: 5 09-08
10. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 20 49-10 94 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 11-10 Day 4: 5 11-05
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 04-07 $1,000.00
2 Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 04-07 $1,000.00
3 Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 04-09 $1,000.00
4 Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 05-12 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 05-12 $2,000.00
CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

Taku Ito Dalton, GA 16-09 $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 480 1098-15
2 88 460 1057-12
3 40 229 538-09
4 10 50 125-12
----------------------------------
230 1219 2821-00

by AnglersChannel

Bigger Than Bass Fishing

By Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

Gerald Swindle had every right to be upset at the end of day two’s weigh-in at the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite on Smith Lake. The fan favorite and Alabama native finished the day in 51^st place, falling just one ounce short of the top 50 cut and the chance to fish on semifinal Saturday.

To throw a little salt in the wound, Swindle caught enough weight to finish well within Saturday’s cut, but a four-ounce dead fish penalty on Thursday cost him seven places and a $10,000 check. Anglers knew ounces would be critical on Smith Lake this week, with weights being stacked as tightly as any tournament in recent memory. Unfortunately for Swindle, a single ounce cost him big time.

But following the weigh-in the Team Toyota pro wasn’t complaining or gloomy, and instead was sporting a soft smile as he gave his new friend Aiden Beck a behind the scenes tour of a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament. Aiden is a fellow Alabamian and came to Smith Lake in hopes to meet his favorite angler, Gerald Swindle.

12-year-old Aiden Beck is battling cancer in the form of an inoperable brain tumor, but he doesn’t let that diminish his positivity or his love of the outdoors. Dan’O Sullivan of Advanced Angler is friends with Aiden’s family and made sure to make the introduction before Swindle crossed the stage on Friday.

Swindle heard his story, gave the young man a big hug and insisted he joined him on the Bassmaster stage to help him weigh his fish. The duo looked like old friends as they posed with a pair of Smith Lake spotted bass before Swindle summed up the moment in a genuine, heartfelt interview with emcee Dave Mercer.

“This puts things in perspective for me because I get so stressed with wanting to catch them and do good, but you come in and meet somebody who is fighting a bigger issue than trying to catch a stupid fish it kinda brings me back down to earth,” Swindle said.

“Sometimes we get caught up with work or what we’re doing, but we need to sit back and realize that our problems aren’t that bad. I guarantee if I asked everyone here to stand up and put your problems in a briefcase and you looked around at everyone else’s battles, you’d probably pick your problems back up and go home because you’d see your problems really aren’t too bad.”

Swindle closed this sentiment by asking for prayers and positivity for Aiden, reiterating that the young man is going to “bring it home” and continue to whoop cancers butt. The 8^th grade outdoor obsessed young man from Rainbow, Alabama loves to fish Texas-rigged flukes and is determined to beat cancer so he can one day get back to the Bassmaster stage as a tournament angler.

Sure, Swindle was disappointed with his competitive result yesterday but as big of a personality as “G-man” is known to be, he’s got an even bigger heart, and he knows some things are bigger than bass fishing.

by AnglersChannel

Arkansas’ Dylan Hays Paces Final 10 Anglers at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six

Hot Springs, Arkansas pro catches 22 bass weighing 53-13 to lead Saturday’s Knockout Round, field of 20 set for Sunday’s Final Day Championship Round

RICHMOND, Va. (June 29, 2024) – The James River has produced bass in bunches during General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, with anglers routinely catching 20-plus fish in a day. While the rate at which bass hit the scales flagged a bit during Saturday’s Knockout Round, pro Dylan Hays of Hot Springs, Arkansas, made up for it with some serious quality on his way to topping SCORETRACKER.

Hays totaled 53-13 on 22 scorable bass, which put him 3-6 ahead of Andy Montgomery. Four of the Arkansas pro’s fish weighed at least 4 pounds, including the Berkley Big Bass — a 5-12 that earned him an extra $1,000. His five biggest catches combined to weigh nearly 22 pounds.

Hays’ total marked the third-best day for any angler during Stage Six, and he said it could have been even better, noting that he lost another big one that likely would have topped 5 pounds at the boat. Still, after weights zero overnight, he predicted the Championship Round will be “anyone’s game.”

The tidal nature of the James has made for some pronounced bite windows this week. While that remained the case for Hays Saturday, with most of his weight coming during three distinct flurries, he didn’t only capitalize on low tide, when the bite has been best.

Even though high tide had just passed, Hays started the morning strong, boating five scorable bass in the first hour. He wound up totaling 13-1 during the first period. That marked a welcome change after he struggled during each of his first two mornings on the water. Hays knows finding a way to add to his total outside of the low-tide bite will be pivotal to his chances of earning his first Bass Pro Tour win.

“The biggest factor for me is trying to not have big slow periods on high tide,” he said. “That’s been so hard all week long, in practice and everything. I feel like I could have had a lot more weight today if I wanted to, but a big key to that was I caught like 13 pounds in the first couple hours.”

While his pair of 50-pound days might not suggest it, Hays said the James has tested his patience. Forcing himself not to run back to his low-tide juice when the tide is high and the bite is tough has been important. He’ll need to maintain that discipline Sunday, with low tide not forecast to arrive at the mouth of the Chickahominy River until around 3 p.m.

“One big key is not getting in a hurry and fishing the tide when it’s wrong, not fishing a good spot when the tide’s not right,” he said. “Because I haven’t caught a big one on a high-tide situation yet. Zero all week.”

Once low tide arrived, Hays took advantage. In a span of a little more than 30 minutes during the second period, he caught six fish for 15-12. That included a pair of 4-pounders one minute apart.

Running a pattern on a roughly 10-mile stretch of the Chickahominy Rover, Hays would continue to pick up a scorable bass here and there throughout the afternoon. With about 1 hour, 20 minutes left in the competition day, he knew his spot in the Championship Round field had been secured, so he decided to check on a spot he hadn’t visited since practice. There, he surprised himself by catching the aforementioned 5-12. He then ran to a brand new spot and promptly caught a 4-14. He's hopeful those spots can produce for him again during the Championship Round.

“I was like, you know what, I need to go just check some stuff, and I pulled up there and I caught the 5-12 like third cast,” Hays said. “I’m like, dang, I need to get off this. So, I was like, how about those over there? So, went over there, and something just looked good. Just trying to fish free — that’s something I’ve done a lot this week. And like third cast, catch another almost-5-pounder.”

Of the 14 bass of 4-plus pounds caught by the 20-angler Knockout Round field, Hays accounted for four of them. He admitted he’s not sure what, exactly, was the key to generating such big bites, but he attributed some credit to his bait choice. All of Hays’ fish ate a white 1/2-ounce bladed jig from Brazalo Custom Lures with a Zoom Z-Craw as the trailer. He tossed it on a 7-foot-3 Kistler Helium rod with a 7.3:1 Kistler Chromium reel spooled with 15-pound TUF-LINE fluorocarbon.

Between the fluctuating tide and fishing pressure, the bite has been different each day on the James. Add in the fact that just about every angler in the Top 10 has already experienced at least one day in which he’s topped 45 pounds, and Hays knows the competition will be wide open. Predicting it will take upwards of 60 pounds to win, he’s optimistic about his chances of lifting his first trophy on a national tour.

“Man, it’s anybody’s game,” he said. “There's a lot of guys that have caught a lot of weight this week. We’ll see what’s going on tomorrow, but I’m pumped to be able to go back.”

The top 10 pros from Saturday’s Knockout Round that now advance to the final day of competition on the James River are:

1st:        Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 22 bass, 53-13
2nd:       Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 23 bass, 50-7
3rd:       Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 23 bass, 48-13
4th:        Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 18 bass, 44-12
5th:        Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 19 bass, 44-8
6th:        Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 18 bass, 39-14
7th:        Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 13 bass, 34-12
8th:        Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 16 bass, 34-8
9th:        Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 16 bass, 34-1
10th:     Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 14 bass, 32-15

Eliminated from competition are:

11th:     Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 13 bass, 28-0, $10,000
12th:     Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 11 bass, 23-14, $10,000
13th:     Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 11 bass, 23-14, $10,000
14th:     Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 12 bass, 23-0, $10,000
15th:     Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., eight bass, 21-6, $10,000
16th:     Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 20-2, $10,000
17th:     Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., seven bass, 19-7, $10,000
18th:     Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., eight bass, 18-5, $10,000
19th:     Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., six bass, 17-11, $10,000
20th:     Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., three bass, 5-14, $10,000

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

Overall, there were 271 bass weighing 620 pounds even caught by the 20 pros Saturday. The catch included five 5-pounders, nine 4-pounders and 25 3-pounders.

Pro Dylan Hays earned Saturday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a largemouth weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

The 39 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Round was complete, the anglers that finished first through 10^th from both groups advanced to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights were zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers competed to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. Sunday, in the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

The final 10 anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. MLF has enacted the Trailering Policy for the entirety of the event, meaning pros can trailer their boats and drive them to any ramp on the fishery closer to where they plan to start fishing. Pros taking advantage of the trailering policy will leave Osborne Landing at 6:45 a.m. ET daily and will begin fishing at 8 a.m. ET (Lines In) with the full field.

Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the landing, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on Championship Sunday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on
MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

On Sunday, June 30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Osborne Landing for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

by AnglersChannel

Gee squeaks into Day 3 lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake

June 29, 2024

CULLMAN, Ala. — With the leaderboard as tight as it’s been at the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake, the door was open for any of the 50 remaining anglers in the tournament to move up the standings.

Robert Gee is that guy.

After lurking near the lead for the first half of the tournament, the 25-year-old Knoxville, Tenn., resident grabbed the pole position on Saturday with a 14-pound, 2-ounce bag that gave him a three-day total of 41-9.

It’s the slimmest of cushions, though, with every one of the remaining 10 anglers in the field less than four pounds from Gee’s lead. And that’s perfectly fitting for what could be one of the most competitive Championship Sundays in recent memory.

Taku Ito, the 38-year-old veteran from Chiba, Japan, is just behind Gee with a three-day weight of 41-7. Jay Przekurat, a 25-year-old Elite pro from Stevens Point, Wis., is third with 41-6.

Gee’s lead might be bigger, but he had three fish expire on Day 2 of the tournament, which resulted in a 12-ounce deduction to his daily total. In a difficult derby, when every ounce is precious, he’s hoping that unfortunate situation doesn’t come back to haunt him.

“It’s going to be a game of ounces,” Gee said. “And I might be up by a pound without that penalty. It was the heat. I guess I didn’t buy enough ice. It was just stress on the fish from being so hot.”

Better fish care on Saturday helped Gee count every ounce. He bagged 14-2 on Day 3, following 13-7 and 14-0 totals in the first half of the derby.

While many of the 98 anglers who started the tournament struggled for consistency, Gee’s steady hand has impressed. He’s fishing in the middle of the main channel within a mile or two of the Smith Lake Dam, LiveScoping for larger spotted bass chasing pods of threadfin shad and herring into 15 to 40 feet of water. He saw a 5-pound spotted bass on his electronics earlier in the week, and he’s hoping to catch that big one before the tournament ends.

“I lost a really fat one on the first day, a 4- or 5-pounder,” he said. “I’ve been using a smokey Yamamoto jighead minnow, and it’s worked so far. I don’t see myself fishing anywhere else.”

Gee said he’s confident he can catch another good bag to clinch what would be his first Bassmaster win.

“I’m only up a couple of ounces, and I usually like going into the final day being a little bit behind,” Gee said. “But I’ll be OK with the lead, too. It’s not much of one, anyway.”

Ito also has been consistent at Smith, despite the difficult bite and scorching temperatures (the heat index climbed into triple digits again on Saturday). He caught 14-2 on Day 3, the same weight posted by Gee, to compliment limits of 13-10 and 13-11 earlier in the week.

A trio of 3-pounders boosted Ito’s efforts Saturday. Though that might not stand out in a typical tournament, 3-pounders have been something of a brass ring on Smith this week when a $100,000 first prize is on the line.

“I got bites the whole day,” Ito said. “I found many schooling fish, and I used many different baits to get bites. I’m fishing about 25 feet deep on rocks and timber. There haven’t been very many big fish, but I found some this morning. I had a 3-2 and a couple of nice 2-pounders before I caught two more 3-pounders later in the day.”

Ito previously listed Smith Lake as one of his two favorite fisheries, though his best finish here was an eighth-place showing at a Southern Open in 2019. He expressed the same affection for Smith on Saturday.

“I love it here,” he said. “It’s very deep and there aren’t many largemouth, which is fine. I’m a spotted bass fan.”

Kyoya Fujita, of Lake Forest, Calif., won $1,000 for the 4-9 he caught Saturday, which was the Phoenix Big Bass of the Day. The catch also put him in the lead for the $2,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament. Todd Auten, of Clover, S.C., caught a 16-pound limit on Friday, giving him the lead for the $2,000 Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag prize.

The field of 50 was cut to 10 for Championship Sunday. Behind Gee, Ito and Przekurat are fourth, Cory Johnston, 40-11; fifth, Cody Huff, 40-5; sixth, Kyle Patrick, 40-2; seventh, Cooper Gallant, 38-14; eighth, JT Thompkins, 38-7; ninth, Justin Hammer, 38-5; and 10^th, Tyler Williams, 37-14.

The fourth and final day of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake will begin with a 6 am. CT take-off from Smith Lake Park. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

Alabama’s Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 596 points. Missouri’s Huff is second with 573 points, followed by Illinois’ Trey McKinney in third with 571, Canada’s Chris Johnston in fourth with 556 and Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in fifth with 556.

Sunday’s tournament coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 1 p.m. Sunday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 1 p.m. All coverage times are ET.

The tournament is being hosted by Visit Cullman.

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake 6/27-6/30
Smith Lake, Cullman AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

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

1. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 41-09 103
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 14-02
2. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 15 41-07 102
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 14-02
3. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 15 41-06 101
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 13-03
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 40-11 100
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 13-05
5. Cody Huff Ava, MO 15 40-05 99
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 11-04
6. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 15 40-02 98
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 13-07
7. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15 38-14 97
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 12-13
8. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 15 38-07 96
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 11-14
9. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 38-05 95
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 11-10
10. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 15 37-14 94
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 13-12
11. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 37-13 93 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 11-14
12. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 15 37-11 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 12-13
13. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 15 37-10 91 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 14-10
14. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 37-10 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 12-13
15. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 15 37-09 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 11-11
16. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 15 37-09 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 12-11
17. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 37-08 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 11-15
18. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15 37-04 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 12-09
19. Bryan New Leesville, SC 15 37-02 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 10-14
20. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 15 36-14 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 13-13
21. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 15 36-07 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 11-13
22. Wes Logan Springville, AL 15 36-03 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 11-07
23. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 36-03 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 11-13
24. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 15 36-02 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 13-00
25. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 15 36-02 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 11-15
26. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 36-01 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 10-03
27. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 15 35-15 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 12-13
28. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 15 35-09 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 11-14
29. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 15 35-07 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 08-07
30. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 14 35-06 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 4 08-14
31. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 35-03 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 12-00
32. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 15 35-02 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-14 Day 3: 5 11-13
33. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 15 35-01 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 11-02
34. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 15 35-00 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 10-13
35. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 34-10 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 11-11
36. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 34-10 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 5 11-00
37. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 15 34-08 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 10-10
38. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 34-07 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 11-07
39. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 14 34-06 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 4 11-02
40. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 15 33-14 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 10-09
41. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 15 33-13 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 09-13
42. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 15 33-11 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 5 10-09
43. Seth Feider New Market, MN 14 32-14 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 4 09-02
44. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 14 32-12 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 4 07-03
45. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 13 32-06 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 3 04-12
46. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 14 32-01 58 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 4 07-12
47. Todd Auten Clover, SC 12 29-13 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 2 03-03
48. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 12 28-13 56 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 2 02-10
49. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 12 27-12 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 2 04-00
50. Mike Huff London, KY 10 23-01 54 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 04-07 $1,000.00
2 Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 04-07 $1,000.00
3 Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 04-09 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 480 1098-15
2 88 460 1057-12
3 40 229 538-09
----------------------------------
220 1169 2695-04

by AnglersChannel

Custom Mugs and “Mindless” Fishing

By Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

Matt Arey had plenty to smile about after day one concluded for the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite on Smith Lake. Not only did the Team Toyota pro bring over 12-pounds of spotted bass to the scales, which has him firmly inside the cut in this tight-weight tournament, he was also gifted two custom tumblers (drinking mugs) for his daughters Reese and Wren.

Arey had just finished weighing his fish and was walking back to his boat when he saw a familiar face with two gift bags in her hands.

“I met a sweet lady named Rhonda and her husband at Pickwick Lake two years ago and she gifted me the coolest custom mug,” Arey explained. “When I say custom, I mean straight up one of a kind. It had an almost exact replica of the sponsors on my jersey, and I just thought it was the coolest thing. Her business is called Custom Creations by Rhonda Mae. Today, I saw Rhonda again but this time she had two homemade tumblers for my daughters Reese and Wren. That’s gotta be the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever been given by a fan.”

The Shelby, North Carolina native is proud girl dad and isn’t ashamed to tell you just how much his Taylor Swift-loving daughters and wife Emily mean to him. While a gift for himself would have gotten Arey excited, it was plain to see that he was touched by the gesture because these mugs were for two of the people he loves most.

It took his mind off the Alabama heat and tricky fishing for a moment, which he welcomed. While his day one catch and 30^th place standing wouldn’t reflect it, Arey explained he was somewhat struggling mentally with the way he is catching his fish on Smith.

Arey, like most of the field, is using forward-facing-sonar to target suspended or roaming spotted bass in extremely deep water near the main river channel of this beautiful fishery.

“I’m happy to have what I caught today but in a weird way I’m almost not proud of how I caught them if that makes any sense,” Arey said scratching his head. “All we (he and fellow Elite Series competitors) are doing is getting around a lot of bait and bass and zigzagging around with our heads down all day. 90% of the field is scoping, and you can absolutely catch fish doing it, so that’s what I’ll continue to do to cash a check and get points.

“But in my honest opinion, it doesn’t feel like bass fishing. I’m not following my instincts or using my brain really, outside of chasing down individual fish and maybe making minor bait adjustments. Lowrance Active Target 2 is a phenomenal tool and it’s one of the coolest products to ever hit our industry. But when the conditions setup like Smith this week, FFS has taken a lot of the sport out of tournament fishing.”

Arey has proven extremely adept at using FFS, cashing several checks this year “pinging a minnow” or scoping. For many competitors like Arey, this tournament is mentally taxing for a multitude of reasons. Not only are anglers battling summer heat and boat wakes, but they are having to fight the urge to go fish any techniques that don’t include staring at fish on their electronics.

While you could argue this has long been the case in summertime, offshore-dominated tournaments, Arey and many other pro anglers believe the efficiency FFS provides presents a whole new ball game. This has been an ongoing conversation the last few years, especially in 2024, and it seems as though the way Smith Lake is setting up this week will bring the topic to the forefront again.

by AnglersChannel

Nick LeBrun Wins Group B Qualifying Round at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six

Louisiana pro catches two-day total of 95-3 to win Group B Qualifying Round, field of 20 set for Saturday’s Knockout Round

RICHMOND, Va. (June 28, 2024) – The James River continues to kick out impressive numbers of bass under the sweltering Virginia heat at the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts . The James is proving to be a very healthy fishery through four days of competition, the latest example being the 43 bass loaded onto SCORETRACKER® by Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, to the tune of 95 pounds, 3 ounces to win Group B.

With a 20-8 lead over second place heading into Friday and a cushion of over 30 pounds over the elimination line, LeBrun was never in doubt of advancing to the Knockout Round and spent most of his time Friday looking for more water. Still, LeBrun added another 21-9 to secure a nearly 10-pound margin over second-place angler Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Alabama, who had a day’s best 44-7 on 18 bass.

There was plenty of shuffling in the standings below LeBrun, but only one new entrant into the Top 10 who wasn’t there to begin the day. Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California, jumped from 13th into the final spot, and Clanton, Alabama's Dustin Connell fell from fourth to 11th.

As the winner of the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit stop on the James, LeBrun has the most recent pro-level success in the field, and he's picking up right where he left off. His 73-10 on his first competition day would have been enough to advance to the Knockout Round, but he added some padding to his total and more information to his plan for the rest of the event.

"My game plan today was to catch a 5-pounder, but I never had that big bite," LeBrun said. "I threw topwater most of the day to get a big one, but it never happened. However, I still caught some scorable bass and learned a little bit."

LeBrun fished new water today but still monitored his best areas throughout the day. How many casts did he make in his primary areas?

"None,” LeBrun said. “I fished some good stuff but saved all of the main juice. I have two different areas, and one was getting a little pressure. The other one, I never saw a boat fishing it, and I ran past it a few times during the day. That was encouraging to see."

Looking ahead to Saturday’s Knockout Round, LeBrun is excited about the possibility of advancing to the Championship Round but is also tempering those expectations based on the tide schedule.

"I’m going to the spots that were good to me on the first day and hoping I can get on another flurry on the outgoing tide," he said. "That may not happen until the second period, though, because the tide keeps shifting later and later every day. The tide is going to be different and also during much hotter weather. That's my big 'what if?' that I'm thinking right now."

Overall, LeBrun likes his chances and feels right at home on the James, given his success in the past two years.

"I fished carefree today, and I'm excited for tomorrow,” LeBrun said. “I'm glad I was in Group B this time so I can get back there tomorrow without an off day without having to think about it. I'm excited to see what's going to happen tomorrow."

As for what he thinks it will take to advance, LeBrun believes things are getting more challenging each day.

"It may take 40 or 45 pounds, somewhere in there, to advance," he said. "There will be a lot of recreational traffic since it's a weekend and the Chickahominy has been getting all the pressure. It might not even take that much to move on.”

On a day with very little movement on SCORETRACKER, California's Ehrler was the only angler who vaulted into the Knockout Round that wasn't inside the cut when the day began. That alone is a win for Ehrler.

"I feel good because, at this point in the event, I can't fall any more places," he said. "The last one to make it in your group, 20th place, is the worst I can do even if I don't catch another bass."

His hesitation about the Knockout Round bite stems from the tide, but he also predicts some fireworks at the end of the day.

"I don't like the tide because we keep losing a little bit of the best bite every day," Ehrler said. "We'll catch a little bit of it tomorrow in the last 45 minutes, which should make things very interesting. I could see a guy 15 pounds out of the cut and way down the standings make a huge rally to make it. You have to be at the right place at the right time, and I don't know where that will be, so I'll be rotating spots a lot tomorrow."

The top 10 pros from Group B that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on James River are:

1st: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 43 bass, 95-3
2nd:        Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 35 bass, 85-6
3rd: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 40 bass, 84-7
4th:         Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 37 bass, 81-11
5th:         Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 35 bass, 80-5
6th:         Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 42 bass, 80-3
7th:         Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 37 bass, 78-6
8th:         Greg Vinson, Wetumka, Ala., 34 bass, 75-5
9th:         Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 28 bass, 73-4
10th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 33 bass, 73-4

Eliminated from competition are:

11th:      Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 35 bass, 70-12
12th:      Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 30 bass, 65-12
13th:      Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 29 bass, 60-12
14th:      Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 29 bass, 59-12
15th:      John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 25 bass, 59-3
16th:      Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 28 bass, 56-12
17th:      David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 28 bass, 54-12
18th:      Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 24 bass, 52-0
19th:      Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 24 bass, 50-1
20th:      Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 21 bass, 49-3
21st:      James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 20 bass, 46-10
22nd:     John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 21 bass, 46-10
23rd:     Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 19 bass, 46-9
24th:      Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 21 bass, 45-12
25th:      Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 21 bass, 44-5
26th:      Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 22 bass, 44-4
27th:      Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., 21 bass, 43-11
28th:      Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., 19 bass, 42-6
29th:      Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 17 bass, 40-6
30th:      Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 20 bass, 40-6
31st:      Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 18 bass, 40-1
32nd:     Dave Lefebre, Erie, Penn., 16 bass, 38-14
33rd: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 15 bass, 38-8
34th:      Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 18 bass, 38-0
35th:      Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 20 bass, 36-9
36th:      Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 15 bass, 35-2
37th:      Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 16 bass, 34-14
38th:      Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 15 bass, 34-3
39th:      Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 11 bass, 21-5

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

Overall, there were 439 scorable bass weighing 953 pounds, 8 ounces, caught by 39 pros Friday, which included one 5-pounder, seven 4-pounders and 37 3-pounders.

Jacob Wheeler came into the event 14 points ahead of Alton Jones Jr. in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race. Both anglers have advanced to the Knockout Round, so the points difference when the anglers leave Virginia is still to be determined.

With just one event to go in the Bass Pro Tour season, the stakes couldn't be higher. Behind Wheeler and Jones, Dustin Connell and Drew Gill both missed the Knockout Round, potentially turning the race into a nail-biting showdown between the top two anglers. The outcome of the next event will be crucial, making it a must-watch for fishing fans.

James Elam of Tulsa, Oklahoma, earned Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 5-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on an unnamed worm during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

The 39 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. Now that each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finished first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. Due to long boat runs, tides and high temperatures, MLF has enacted the Trailering Policy for the entirety of the event, meaning pros can trailer their boats and drive them to any ramp on the fishery closer to where they plan to start fishing. Pros taking advantage of the trailering policy will leave Osborne Landing at 6:45 a.m. ET daily and will begin fishing at 8 a.m. ET (Lines In) with the full field.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

On Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Osborne Landing for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

by AnglersChannel

Huff heats up, claims Day 2 lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake

June 28, 2024

CULLMAN, Ala. — The heat was on, literally and figuratively, on Day 2 of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake.

And at the halfway point of this Elite Series derby, Cody Huff is the one holding fellow Elite feet to the fire.

Huff, a 27-year-old pro from Ava, Mo., leads the tournament with a two-day total of 10 bass for 29 pounds, 1 ounce. And while that might not be the eye-popping weight the sport’s best sticks regularly post, it’s certainly an impressive total given the slack bite on Day 1 followed by blistering temperatures that pushed the heat index into triple digits Friday.

The heat was extreme enough that Huff came to the scales more than an hour early on Friday, weighing in at approximately 1 p.m.

“I had a fish die on me, and I didn’t want to take the chance of losing any more,” Huff said.

His 15-4 total Friday was the heaviest of the day, even with the expired fish factored into his total. He bagged 13-13 on Thursday.

Huff may have the tournament lead, but the secret to his success remains a mystery, much like Smith Lake has been for all competitors this week.

“You never know what kind of fish you’re on here, really, because the fish are moving a lot,” he said. “I ran through some areas in practice that I thought might have fish, and I’ve just been circulating back through them and catching what I can.”

Huff said he’s sharing some spots with competitors, but for the most part has focused on secondary spots, trying to get away from boat traffic. The forecasted warm weekend should bring out a bevy of recreational boaters, too, so Huff said catching an early limit will remain important.

“I know it’s gonna be bumpy out there with some wake, but it might play to my favor, being out of the way of most traffic,” Huff said.

The goal, he added, is to remain consistent.

“I’m catching fish,” he said. “I caught 103 (on Day 1), but you obviously have to weed through a lot of them to get the bigger fish. I didn’t catch nearly as many today, but I had an early limit. Today, I had a 3-5, but I didn’t have a 3-pounder at all on Day 1.”

And yet, he’s still in the lead.

“That doesn’t happen very often, having only one 3-pounder and the lead,” he said, chuckling.

Jay Przekurat, a 25-year-old pro from Stevens Point, Wis., is in second place on Smith with a two-day total of 28-3. He said all his keeper fish have been spotted bass, and that mornings have been the only time he’s hooked up.

“My bite just stops at about 11 o’clock,” he said. “But all that could change. The fish are moody here right now. I haven’t fished much new water, but these fish are educated.”

Przekurat caught a 4-pounder on Friday – pretty much the gold standard anglers are gunning for on Smith this week.

“That 4 is a rare fish right now,” he said. “It’s like catching a 7 or 8 on Toledo Bend. You get one, it’s a game-changer. It was for me. Without the 4-pounder, I’m at 13 pounds today rather than the 14-8 I caught.”

Przekurat said he’s fishing for spotted bass on timber in about 40 feet of water. His best bites have come on a Strike King Z-Too jerkbait in either Gray Glimmer or Smokey Shad colors.

“You have to roam around to find them,” he said, “and I’ve been keying on certain sections of the lake with better timber and more bait. You can LiveScope in some areas and not see a thing. But the spots like to hide in that deep timber. And there’s a lot of bait down there for them – threadfin shad, herring. There’s a meal down there.”

Longtime Elite angler Steve Kennedy, who hails from Auburn, Ala., is third at the tournament’s halfway point, with a 27-10 total. Kennedy moved up from fifth place courtesy of a 3-10 spot he hooked just before 11 a.m.

“There were seven or eight of them that showed up, a real wolfpack,” Kennedy said. “I could’ve had a bigger bag today, but when I swung back around on that group, I got three bites on a Glide but didn’t catch one of them. I took out a Senko and hooked a 3-pound largemouth, but he broke off, then I took out an Original Glide and just missed on another 2-pound largemouth.”

Robert Gee, a 25-year-old pro from Knoxville, is in fourth place with 27-7. Canada’s Cory Johnston is in fifth place with 27-6.

Mukwonago, Wis., pro Caleb Kuphall won $1,000 for the 4-7 he caught Friday, the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day. That ties him with Day 1 leader Hunter Shryock for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament and the $2,000 prize that goes with it. Shryock’s 15-15 total on Day 1 still leads for the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag prize of $2,000.

A total of 90 of the 98 Elite anglers competing in the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake caught limits on Friday. The Top 50 anglers advanced to fish on Day 3 of the tournament, which will begin with a 6 a.m. CT take-off from Smith Lake Park. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

The Top 10 anglers after Saturday’s weigh-in will advance to fish on Championship Sunday with the winner taking home a top prize of $100,000. Everyone in the cut also will earn additional points in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.

Carbondale, Ill., rookie Trey McKinney self-reported after weigh-in that he received a phone call from a family member asking his whereabouts during competition and was alerted that he was late to check in for weigh-in, which violated rule C3 xiv of the Practice and Competition of the Official Rules of Competition. As a result, McKinney’s weight was disqualified for the day.

“Unfortunately, we made a mistake today that will cost us greatly in the long run,” McKinney said. “We don’t know why the Lord lets some things happen, but He has a plan, and the positivity is we get to fish to win for the rest of the year. Sometimes we don’t always know God’s plan for the future.”

As a result of the disqualification, McKinney slipped out of the lead for the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.

Alabama’s Justin Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 597 points. Missouri’s Cody Huff is second with 577 points, followed by McKinney in third with 571, Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in fourth with 551 and Przekurat in fifth with 550.

McKinney leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 571 points, followed by Tennessee’s John Garrett in second with 548 points and South Carolina’s J.T. Thompkins in third with 544.

Saturday’s tournament coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 11 a.m. Saturday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 11 a.m. Sunday’s coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 1 p.m. Sunday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 1 p.m. All coverage times are ET.

The tournament is being hosted by Visit Cullman.

About B.A.S.S.

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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake 6/27-6/30
Smith Lake, Cullman AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 29-01 103
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 15-04
2. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 10 28-03 102
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-08
3. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 27-10 101
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-08
4. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 27-07 100
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 14-00
5. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 27-06 99
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-10
6. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 27-05 98
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-11
7. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 27-00 97
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 12-08
8. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 26-11 96
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-10
9. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 26-11 95
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-03
10. Todd Auten Clover, SC 10 26-10 94
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 16-00
11. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 26-09 93
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-15
12. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 26-08 92
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-04
13. Bryan New Leesville, SC 10 26-04 91
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 12-01
14. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 26-03 90 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 10-04
15. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 26-01 89
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-04
16. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 25-15 88
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-07
17. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 25-14 87
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 12-02
18. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 10 25-14 86
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-04
19. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 25-09 85
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 13-05
20. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 25-09 84
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-11
21. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 24-14 83
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-12
21. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 24-14 83
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-12
23. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 24-13 81
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 12-06
24. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 24-12 80
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 13-04
25. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 24-11 79
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-10
26. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 24-10 78
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 13-03
27. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 24-06 77
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-00
28. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 24-05 76 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-02
29. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 10 24-03 75
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-14
30. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 24-03 74
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-05
31. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 24-02 73
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-04
32. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 24-00 72
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-10
33. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 23-15 71
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-08
34. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 23-14 70
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-08
35. Seth Feider New Market, MN 10 23-12 69
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 14-07
36. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 10 23-12 68
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 10-07
37. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 10 23-11 67
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 11-00
38. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 23-10 66
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-10
39. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 23-05 65
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-14
40. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 23-05 64
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-00
41. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 23-04 63
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 10-08
42. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 23-03 62
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-03
43. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 23-02 61
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-12
44. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 10 23-02 60
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 10-03
45. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 23-02 59
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-02
46. Mike Huff London, KY 10 23-01 58
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-13
47. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 23-01 57
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-01
48. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 23-00 56
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-03
49. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 23-00 55
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-03
50. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 22-15 54
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 12-04
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 04-07 $1,000.00
2 Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 04-07 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 480 1098-15
2 88 460 1057-12
----------------------------------
180 940 2156-11

by AnglersChannel

2024-25 to Mark 20th Season for the Association of Collegiate Anglers

SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 25, 2024) – In 2005, the Association of Collegiate Anglers and the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship was formed out of a need and desire to provide college student anglers with a platform to compete and grow. The organization was led by key individuals, fueled by overwhelming sponsor support, and quickly began to grow a dedicated angler base across college campuses nationwide.

“At that time, we knew this was an important, untapped segment for the sport of bass fishing. We also knew that the fishing industry as a whole needed to help create opportunities for anglers in this age class and younger. Many of these anglers had been fishing since they were young children, but others had only started to fish recently, and as they grew older…they needed a place to compete and meet like-minded individuals,” said Wade Middleton, ACA Director and President of CarecoTV. “That first event was met with a lot of anticipation, as well as quite a few unknowns. But, the college anglers showed up in full support…and from that moment we’ve embarked on an incredible journey that has led us to here, where we’re thrilled to be celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the ACA.”

The ACA’s first-ever event, the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship, was contested as the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship on Lake Lewisville. That event is now college fishing’s longest-running National Championship tournament. This inaugural event saw dozens of teams from across the nation travel to Lake Lewisville in north Texas to compete for what would grow into one of college fishing’s most prestigious titles. ACA team members and industry leaders poured their full support behind this event, helping to launch a platform for these college students to grow as anglers and individuals, both on-the-water and off.

From day one, the ACA has strived to bring expansive media coverage to share the achievements of the competitors on the trail, as well as provide exposure and brand awareness to the companies and products that partnered with the organization. Our goal since that first event was to provide major events without an entry fee or membership, while also providing programs to help more anglers get on the water and pursue their passions. Every partner we have has developed some sort of a program to help grow college fishing and it’s become something we’re proud of.

Since the very first event, and continuing still today, the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series is the only dedicated nationally televised college bass fishing tournament trail. The series has been seen on a variety of networks and platforms, and as digital media has evolved over the past 20 years, the ACA has worked diligently to target these anglers across a variety of platforms and mediums. Today, across social media, television, and other properties, the ACA reach extends to millions of viewers and users worldwide to promote college fishing.

Following that first National Championship in Texas, the ACA established the Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, a dedicated tournament series featuring major no-entry-fee events over the course of 12 months. These events are now the backbone of college bass fishing and provide a platform to help these anglers grow both on-the-water, as well as into the business world.

In 2011, the ACA developed an all-encompassing National Rankings system for college bass fishing. The Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia is a year-long race in which school bass fishing clubs and teams earn valuable points throughout the season. Thousands of anglers, representing hundreds of colleges and universities, compete to see how high up in the standings their school can finish at the end of the year. The ACA’s School of the Year standings is the only program of its kind to rank and reward college bass fishing clubs and teams for their success across all college bass fishing events nationwide.

“As a junior at the University of Arkansas, we finished in the Top 3 for the National Rankings in its very first year,” said Kyle Curry, ACA Managing Director. “Now in my 8^thyear working for the ACA and CarecoTV, I am privileged to be a part of this monumental 20^th season. It is amazing to see what college fishing has grown into. The programs and opportunities offered to these anglers through the ACA are extremely valuable, and the quality of the angler competing at this level is reflective of that support…as well as the dedication of the anglers and teams.”

Today, the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series consists of three major regular-season events and a year-end National Championship tournament. Throughout the 2023-24 season, the ACA saw record numbers of participation at events, anglers requesting discount codes at a high rate, as well as strong engagement across social media platforms. Attendance at regular season events neared 600 total anglers at the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley, and a record-breaking field of close to 250 boats at the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open on Lake Dardanelle.

Here is a look at the 2024-25 schedule on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series:

Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley

September 21-22, 2024 – Kentucky Lake – Henry County and Paris, TN

AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open

October 12-13, 2024 – Lake Dardanelle – Russellville, AR

Pickwick Slam

April 5-6, 2025 – Pickwick Lake – Florence, AL

Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops

May 22-23, 2025 – Lake Hartwell – Anderson, SC

Throughout the 2024-25 season, the ACA is excited to celebrate its 20^th anniversary. This is a major milestone for the organization, student anglers, and series partners. Over the next 12 months, the ACA will be introducing new programs, promotions and features across digital media, as well as look backs at some of the great moments that have occurred over the years.

To the anglers, host sites, companies, and everyone that has helped to contribute to the growth of college fishing the past 20 years, the ACA would like to say, “thank you,” and we look forward to celebrating this accomplishment in the coming months…because without every one of you, this milestone wouldn’t have been possible and many of today’s anglers who now work in the industry, fish competitively or fish recreationally would never have had the chance to do so.

by AnglersChannel

Jacob Wheeler Earns Group A Qualifying Round Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at James River

Two-time Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year boats two-day total of 107-9 to win Group A Qualifying Round, Top 10 pros advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round

RICHMOND, Va. (June 27, 2024) – Followers of the Bass Pro Tour know Jacob Wheeler’s MO by now. The two-time winner this season wants to catch as much weight as he can during the first day of Qualifying Rounds, then use the second day to explore new water and dial in his pattern in preparation for the Knockout and Championship Rounds.

The Harrison, Tennessee pro has used that strategy to rack up more victories, Angler of the Year (AOY) titles and earnings in Bass Pro Tour competition than any of his peers, and so far at the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts on the James River, he’s following the same blueprint. Wheeler, who amassed a big lead over the rest of Group A when he stacked nearly 80 pounds on SCORETRACKER® on Day 1, added 15 scorable bass for 29-1 Thursday. That brought his total to 107-9, 23-4 ahead of Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma.

Behind Wheeler, the weights remained tightly bunched throughout the day, allowing three anglers who started below 10^th place to climb above the cut line and secure spots in Saturday’s Knockout Round. The battle to stave off elimination was so close that it took a tiebreaker to determine the final spot in the Top 10, with Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, South Carolina, prevailing over Jared Lintner of Covington, Georgia , after both totaled 70-10.

The top 10 anglers advancing from Group A will now have an off day from competition Friday, while the 39 anglers competing in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 10 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

No surprise, Wheeler’s focus Thursday was less on adding to his weight total and more about learning the nuances of the fishery. However, there was one difference from his typical script. Instead of running new water once he felt he’d amassed enough weight to make the Knockout Round, the tidal nature of the James led Wheeler to revisit out several of the same spots he fished during practice and Day 1 on a different tide.

“Some places that I really thought looked good and I never got a bite in practice, I had to re-check them during a different tide and make sure, and I caught some fish,” Wheeler said. “It was a really good learning day just to understand what’s going on. It truly does make such an impact what tide you have and where the fish are at. It was definitely a learning experience for the future of understanding tidal fisheries.”

Like many in the field, Wheeler feels like he has a solid grasp of how to generate bites around low tide. The challenge has come when the water is high. Avoiding a high-tide lull will be increasingly important as the event progresses, with high tide scheduled to arrive right around lines in during the Knockout Round and shortly thereafter during the Championship Round.

Thus, Wheeler focused his efforts Thursday on finding spots that could hold groups of fish during high tide. He said he’s had more success with winding baits amid high water, whereas he’s slowing down and targeting “pinpoint locations” when it drops.

“The higher water is definitely a little bit tougher,” he explained. “It's harder to generate a bite. There’s just so much more cover available, and you just spread so many more fish out. That’s why it gets a little bit more difficult with the higher water, and that’s something that I’ll have to figure out — at least shoot par, if you will, on the higher water come Saturday.”

The other unknown that Wheeler and the rest of the Knockout Round field will have to contend with is fishing pressure. With much of the field congregated in and around the Chickahominy River, Wheeler found himself sharing water with more competitors Thursday. It remains to be seen how his spots will hold up to the pressure — and whether there are even more boats in the mix come Saturday.

“I feel good about it; I feel like I can catch some bass,” Wheeler said. “But I just don’t know until you put 10 more boats on that body of water what is going to be available to fish. Plus, local anglers, Saturdays, it gets a little bit more difficult.”

Despite those unknowns, Wheeler is optimistic about his chances of advancing to a sixth Championship Round in eight events this season. Having another day to learn the fishery couldn’t have hurt.

Starting strong typically bodes well for Wheeler’s end result. The Qualifying Round win marks the 10^th time he’s won his group during his Bass Pro Tour career, easily the most of any angler. During five of his eight BPT victories, Wheeler led his group after at least one of the two qualifying days.

“I’m hopeful,” he said. “With the conditions and the tides changing, it’s hard to say for sure, but I’m hoping that I added a few more things to my rotation.”

Thanks to its live scoring, the Bass Pro Tour is no stranger to drama around the cut line, but it doesn’t get any closer than Thursday’s scramble to finish among the Top 10. For most of the third period, seven or so anglers grappled for the final two spots. Then, after Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, went on a tear that saw him add 22-2 to his total in less than an hour, the bubble shrunk to one spot.

Lintner looked like he would claim the final Knockout Round berth when he caught a 1-12 with 11 minutes before lines out, then followed it up with a 1-8 shortly thereafter. However, Montgomery came through in the clutch, boat-flipping a 1-11 with less than 2 minutes remaining. That fish tied him with Lintner in total weight, and Montgomery won the tiebreaker, which was determined by each angler’s biggest bass of the round. A 4-9 caught by Montgomery during the first period Thursday bested Lintner’s 3-3.

Montgomery, who began the day in 15^th place, rocketed up SCORETRACKER® with 19-7 in the opening period then did just enough to hold on. Most of his 17 scorable bass, including the buzzer beater, ate a Strike King Thunder Cricket.

“They bit the Thunder Cricket today,” Montgomery said. “That was the difference. I was able to lay it in my hand and roll with it.

“I may take the Thunder Cricket for ice cream tonight. I’m getting ice cream; I may take the Thunder Cricket with me.”

The top 10 pros from Group A that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on the James River are:

1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 48 bass, 107-9
2nd: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 34 bass, 84-7
3rd: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 35 bass, 84-2
4th:         Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 37 bass, 83-6
5th:         Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 38 bass, 82-13
6th:         Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 36 bass, 82-4
7th:         Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 39 bass, 81-6
8th:         Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 36 bass, 79-15
9th:         Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 32 bass, 76-11
10th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 31 bass, 70-10

Eliminated from competition are:

11th:      Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 36 bass, 70-10
12th:      Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 31 bass, 68-5
13th:      Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 30 bass, 67-15
14th:      Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 32 bass, 65-4
15th:      Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 30 bass, 64-6
16th:      Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 28 bass, 64-4
17th:      Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 30 bass, 63-9
18th:      Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 30 bass, 63-4
19th:      Grae Buck, Green Lane, Penn., 25 bass, 51-10
20th:      Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 20 bass, 51-3
21st:      Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 20 bass, 50-2
22nd:     Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 21 bass, 49-12
23rd: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., 23 bass, 49-3
24th:      Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 21 bass, 47-10
25th:      Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 22 bass, 47-6
26th:      Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 21 bass, 44-9
27th:      Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 21 bass, 44-1
28th:      Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, 21 bass, 41-10
29th:      Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 18 bass, 40-9
30th:      Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 18 bass, 38-12
31st:      Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 16 bass, 38-11
32nd:     Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, 20 bass, 38-10
33rd: Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, 19 bass, 38-6
34th:      Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 16 bass, 34-3
35th:      Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 12 bass, 31-3
36th:      Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 12 bass, 29-12
37th:      David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., 14 bass, 28-7
38th:      Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 13 bass, 28-5
39th:      Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 12 bass, 24-9

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

Overall, there were 455 scorable bass weighing 1,014 pounds, 13 ounces, caught by 39 pros Thursday, which included one 6-pounder, seven 5-pounders, and 12 4-pounders.

Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, earned Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 6-pound largemouth that he caught on a drop-shot rig during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

Wheeler isn’t making things easy for his pursuers in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race. The two-time AOY winner arrived at the James River with a 14-point cushion over Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas , meaning as long as he finishes in the top 14 of the Knockout Round, he’s guaranteed to hold the lead entering the final event of the season on the St. Lawrence River. Oh by the way, the last time the Bass Pro Tour visited the St. Lawrence, Wheeler won.

Jones and Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, who sits third in the points, will try to join Wheeler in the Knockout Round when Group B returns to the water Friday.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

by AnglersChannel

Shryock jumps out to Day 1 lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake

June 27, 2024

CULLMAN, Ala. — As predicted, catching a big bag on Day 1 of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake wasn’t the easiest proposition.

But a handful of competitors gutted out a tough day on the 21,000-acre fishery and gave themselves a slim edge on opening day of this derby in north-central Alabama.

Hunter Shryock, a 35-year-old resident of Ooltewah, Tenn., caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces to take the Day 1 lead. He’s just ahead of Canada’s Cory Johnston, who’s second with 14-12, and Ohio’s Alex Redwine, in third with 14-8.

In all, 76 of the 98 competitors are within 6 pounds of Shryock’s lead – underscoring not only how tough the fishing was on Smith, but also the unlikelihood anyone will run away with the lead.

Shryock did all he could, however, to put some distance between himself and the field on Day 1. Like most, he weighed spotted bass, but he added a trio of heftier largemouth to his catch, which isn’t exactly common on Smith Lake in June. One of them was a 4-7, earning Shryock $1,000 for having the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day.

With the leaderboard as close as it is, Shryock wasn’t sharing much after he weighed in the day’s best bag.

“There’s not a lot of bites, obviously, and I’m kinda playing with fire,” he said. “But I learned some stuff today. I only had two fish at 11 a.m. and then I went on a little run. Sunshine helps me, so I think the cloud cover earlier today messed me up a lot. But honestly, I’m not sure. I’m still trying to figure it all out.”

Despite having only two bass by the lunch hour, Shryock said he probably couldn’t have asked for a much better start on Smith.

“I qualified for the Elites here (in a 2017 Southern Open), so I’ve fished here quite a bit,” he said. “One thing I learned then is that however you catch them one day, you can pretty much forget about it the next day. Just start over. Every time I’ve fished here it’s been like that. You take the days one by one and don’t fight it.”

Johnston shared that sentiment on Day 1, when he pulled five spotted bass from different locations and on different lures.

“This place is extremely hard to find the better-than-average size fish right now,” Johnston said.

“I’m covering a lot of water, using the LiveScope, looking for a lot of individual fish,” he continued. “I caught a few on a jig, a few on a minnow, a few on drop shots. They’re biting pretty short, but when you see them on the LiveScope, you get a pretty good idea if they’re big or not. You just have to cover water and hope the bigger ones bite.”

Johnston said he just missed some bigger bass Thursday, and that gives him some confidence heading into Day 2 and, perhaps, the weekend.

“It was a good day,” he said, “and I think I figured a few things out. But you never know with this place. You could catch 8 pounds tomorrow or it could be 16 pounds. I’m just trying to get in the right area and cast in front of the right ones.”

Redwine, 24 and from Blue Ash, Ohio, said Day 1 was a study in patience.

“It was a decent one here, a decent one there,” he said. “I felt like I was catching slightly above-average fish all day.”

But it wasn’t much more than that, he said.

“There are qualify fish out here, bigger than the ones it seems like everyone’s catching,” Redwine noted. “You can see them on the electronics. I think they’re a little bit smarter, a little bit older. It might take a little more time and better execution to catch them, but those are the ones you need to win.”

Bryan New, of Leesville, S.C., is in fourth place with a 14-3 total. Steve Kennedy, of Auburn, Ala., is fifth with 14-2. All but six of the 98 Elites caught a limit on Thursday.

The Alabama summer wasn’t nearly as unrelenting as it could have been on Day 1, with temperatures hovering in the mid-80s and intermittent rain showers throughout the morning. Friday’s forecast calls for highs near 90 with mostly sunny skies and a slim chance for scattered showers.

How those conditions help, or hurt, competitors is anyone’s guess – fitting for this summer showdown on Smith.

Carbondale, Ill., rookie Trey McKinney continues to lead the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 634 points. Alabama’s Justin Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, is second with 599 points, followed by Missouri’s Cody Huff in third with 571, Tennessee’s John Garrett in fourth with 552 and Wisconsin’s Jay Przekurat in fifth with 543.

McKinney also leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 634 points, followed by Garrett in second with 552 points and Alabama’s Wesley Gore in third with 537.

Day 2 of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake will begin with a 6 a.m. CT take-off from Smith Lake Park. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. The Top 50 anglers after Friday’s weigh-in will advance to fish on Day 3 while the Top 10 will make the cut to compete on Championship Sunday.

The winning angler will take home a top prize of $100,000 and valuable points in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.

Bassmaster LIVE coverage begins Friday at 8 a.m. on Bassmaster.com. Saturday’s coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 11 a.m. Saturday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 11 a.m. Sunday’s coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 1 p.m. Sunday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 1 p.m. All coverage times are ET.

The tournament is being hosted by Visit Cullman.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake 6/27-6/30
Smith Lake, Cullman AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 15-15 103 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15
2. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 5 14-12 102
Day 1: 5 14-12
3. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 14-08 101
Day 1: 5 14-08
4. Bryan New Leesville, SC 5 14-03 100
Day 1: 5 14-03
5. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 14-02 99
Day 1: 5 14-02
6. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 14-01 98
Day 1: 5 14-01
7. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 13-13 97
Day 1: 5 13-13
8. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 13-12 96
Day 1: 5 13-12
9. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 5 13-11 95
Day 1: 5 13-11
10. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 5 13-10 94
Day 1: 5 13-10
11. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 13-08 93
Day 1: 5 13-08
12. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 13-08 92
Day 1: 5 13-08
13. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 13-07 91
Day 1: 5 13-07
14. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 13-06 90
Day 1: 5 13-06
15. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 13-05 89
Day 1: 5 13-05
16. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 13-04 88
Day 1: 5 13-04
17. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 5 12-15 87
Day 1: 5 12-15
18. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 12-14 86
Day 1: 5 12-14
18. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 12-14 86
Day 1: 5 12-14
20. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 12-13 84
Day 1: 5 12-13
21. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 12-12 83
Day 1: 5 12-12
22. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 5 12-11 82
Day 1: 5 12-11
23. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 12-10 81
Day 1: 5 12-10
24. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 5 12-10 80
Day 1: 5 12-10
25. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 12-07 79
Day 1: 5 12-07
25. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 12-07 79
Day 1: 5 12-07
27. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 12-07 77
Day 1: 5 12-07
28. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 12-06 76
Day 1: 5 12-06
29. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 12-04 75
Day 1: 5 12-04
30. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 12-02 74
Day 1: 5 12-02
30. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 12-02 74
Day 1: 5 12-02
30. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 12-02 74
Day 1: 5 12-02
33. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 12-01 71
Day 1: 5 12-01
34. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 12-00 70
Day 1: 5 12-00
34. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 12-00 70
Day 1: 5 12-00
36. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 5 11-14 68
Day 1: 5 11-14
36. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 5 11-14 68
Day 1: 5 11-14
38. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 11-14 66
Day 1: 5 11-14
39. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 11-13 65
Day 1: 5 11-13
39. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 11-13 65
Day 1: 5 11-13
39. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 11-13 65
Day 1: 5 11-13
42. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 11-12 62
Day 1: 5 11-12
43. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 11-11 61
Day 1: 5 11-11
43. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 11-11 61
Day 1: 5 11-11
45. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 11-08 59
Day 1: 5 11-08
46. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 11-07 58
Day 1: 5 11-07
47. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 5 11-06 57
Day 1: 5 11-06
47. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 11-06 57
Day 1: 5 11-06
47. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 11-06 57
Day 1: 5 11-06
50. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 11-06 54
Day 1: 5 11-06
51. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 5 11-05 53
Day 1: 5 11-05
51. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 11-05 53
Day 1: 5 11-05
53. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 5 11-05 51
Day 1: 5 11-05
54. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 11-03 50
Day 1: 5 11-03
55. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 11-00 49
Day 1: 5 11-00
55. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 5 11-00 49
Day 1: 5 11-00
55. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 11-00 49
Day 1: 5 11-00
58. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 10-15 46
Day 1: 5 10-15
59. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 10-11 45
Day 1: 5 10-11
59. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 10-11 45
Day 1: 5 10-11
61. John Cox Debary, FL 5 10-10 43
Day 1: 5 10-10
62. Todd Auten Clover, SC 5 10-10 42
Day 1: 5 10-10
63. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 10-09 41
Day 1: 5 10-09
63. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 10-09 41
Day 1: 5 10-09
65. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 10-08 39
Day 1: 5 10-08
66. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 10-07 38
Day 1: 5 10-07
66. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 10-07 38
Day 1: 5 10-07
68. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 10-05 36
Day 1: 5 10-05
69. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 10-04 35
Day 1: 5 10-04
69. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 10-04 35
Day 1: 5 10-04
69. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 10-04 35
Day 1: 5 10-04
72. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 10-04 32
Day 1: 5 10-04
73. Mike Huff London, KY 5 10-04 31
Day 1: 5 10-04
74. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 10-03 30
Day 1: 5 10-03
75. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 10-02 29
Day 1: 5 10-02
76. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 10-02 28
Day 1: 5 10-02
77. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 09-15 27
Day 1: 5 09-15
78. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 09-14 26
Day 1: 5 09-14
78. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 09-14 26
Day 1: 5 09-14
80. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 09-13 24
Day 1: 5 09-13
81. Frank Talley Belton, TX 5 09-12 23
Day 1: 5 09-12
82. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 09-10 22
Day 1: 5 09-10
82. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 09-10 22
Day 1: 5 09-10
84. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 09-07 20
Day 1: 5 09-07
85. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 09-05 19
Day 1: 5 09-05
86. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 5 09-00 18
Day 1: 5 09-00
87. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 08-15 17
Day 1: 5 08-15
87. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 08-15 17
Day 1: 5 08-15
89. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 08-14 15
Day 1: 5 08-14
90. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 08-12 14
Day 1: 5 08-12
91. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 3 08-09 13
Day 1: 3 08-09
92. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 08-05 12
Day 1: 5 08-05
93. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 4 08-04 11
Day 1: 4 08-04
94. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 07-15 10
Day 1: 5 07-15
95. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 3 07-03 9
Day 1: 3 07-03
96. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 4 06-13 8
Day 1: 4 06-13
96. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 4 06-13 8
Day 1: 4 06-13
98. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 2 03-02 6
Day 1: 2 03-02
99. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 04-07 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 480 1098-15
----------------------------------
92 480 1098-15

by AnglersChannel

Brackish and Tidal Water is All Good with Scroggins

Photo Credit: Major League Fishing

By Luke Stoner: Dynamic Sponsorships

Team Toyota pro Terry Scroggins is feeling right at home on the James River, thanks to his experience on the St. Johns River in Florida. The playing field for General Tires Stage Six may be a 10-hour haul in the Tundra from Big Show’s hometown of San Mateo, but his second-place effort during Group B’s day one of competition supports this familiarity.

According to Scroggins, the James and St Johns have plenty of differences, but what they have in common is they are tidal fisheries and are both influenced by the presence of saltwater fish and forage types.

“I don’t want to say too much this early in the event but my experience with understanding tide swings and bite windows definitely seems to be helping me here on the James,” Scroggins said. “I pre-practiced here a few months ago, but that was the first time I had ever made a cast on the James. The fish don’t live everywhere here but I got a little something figured out after practice and day one.”

Scroggins believes maximizing bite windows presented by changing tides is a lot different on the James River as opposed to the St Johns, but knowing what to look for has helped him spend time in productive water.

“At home I might run for 40 or 50 miles to stay with the right tide,” Scroggins offered. “Here it is more about choosing the right creeks or pockets to fish on different tides, and how the changing tide could affect the water clarity or quality. There is a lot of fishing pressure and a lot of us sharing water this week. Knowing when to fish a pocket and staying stealthy in shallow water by using my Power Poles to not stir things up too much could be key.”

Another similarity Scroggins is drawing from the St Johns to bring him success on the James River is the proximity of this fishery to the ocean, and the presence of marine crustaceans and fish. While many of his competitors see the existence of saltwater species as a bad sign during a bass tournament, it feels like home for Big Show.

“A bass will eat a fiddler crab just like he’ll eat a crawfish,” Scroggins said with a smile. “Seeing crabs or saltwater fish while looking for a bass spins a lot of these guys out a little bit. But I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve caught bass and redfish or flounder from the same spot with the same lure on the St. Johns. A lot of times they are looking for the same thing or using the same areas. It’s all good!”

Scroggins had to make several bait adjustments throughout his first competition day, logging scoreable bass to the SCORETRACKER with multiple lures and presentations. He believes he has one key area mostly to himself and is excited to get back on the water in hopes to notch another Knockout Round and continue his strong 2024 season.

by AnglersChannel

Nick LeBrun Grabs Early Group B Lead at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six - James River

Louisiana pro leads Group B by 20 pounds, 8 ounces after Day 1, Group A to wrap up two-day Qualifying Round Thursday

RICHMOND, Va. (June 26, 2024) – The last time Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana , visited the James River prior to Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, he left with a trophy, winning a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event on the Virginia fishery in 2022, en route to qualifying for the Bass Pro Tour.

While that win remains a highlight of LeBrun’s fishing career, to say he picked up where he left off doesn’t do justice to how he started Wednesday.

LeBrun wasted no time claiming the top spot on SCORETRACKER® and racing away from the rest of the field during Group B’s first day of the Qualifying Round. In the first hour and 45 minutes after Lines In, the Louisiana native boated 22 scorable bass totaling 51 pounds, 4 ounces. From there, he cruised to a 73-10 total, which has him more than 20 pounds clear of Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Florida, at the top of the leaderboard.

“I don’t know what else to say besides just praise the Lord,” LeBrun said. “It was just an incredible day. I’ll never forget it the rest of my life.”

While LeBrun’s first period alone (54-2) would have eclipsed everyone else’s total for the day, he was far from the only angler to find the bite just as hot as the weather during another blazing day on the James. For the second day in a row, it took more than 40 pounds to claim a spot in the Top 10, and 29 of the 39 anglers on the water topped 20 pounds on the day.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism , showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

The Louisiana pro knew he’d found some areas on the tidal river system during practice that would produce on a falling tide, which was the case for the entire first period Wednesday. However, he had no idea just how good they would be.

In fact, at one point he joked with his boat official that the two of them should jump into the water to cool off if he amassed 70 pounds on the day, not thinking he’d actually hit that mark. Once he got there early in the third period, though, he made good on his word.

“When the tide is right, I had a few places in practice where I just got a few bites and went on, and I didn’t really know what was there,” LeBrun said. “I knew that there were some fish there, but today, I got to see what was really there, and man, it was incredible.”

LeBrun didn’t want to share too many details about his approach but said he caught almost all his weight power fishing — chunking and winding with his Temple Fork Outfitters baitcasting rods. Once low tide passed and the tide changed, that pattern waned, and LeBrun used the rest of the day to explore new water.

“When the tide gets low and it starts coming back in, my spots aren’t as productive,” he said. “So, I really used the last period to try to just go and figure out something new and caught a few fish here and there.”

The good news for LeBrun is that the field will fish an outgoing tide longer and longer as the event progresses. The concern, though, is that as low tide gets later each day, the heat might make the bass less active. After temperatures reached triple digits Wednesday, the weather is forecast to cool off a bit in the days to come, but not much, with highs in the upper 80s and low 90s.

“I think I could ride it a little bit longer,” LeBrun said of his starting pattern. “It’s definitely an outgoing tide type of a thing, and so with these tidal days, the tide shifts about 30 minutes to an hour every day, and so if I whacked them in the first period, my bite might shift more toward the second period on Day 2. So, we’ll see.

“The heat is definitely not helping. In practice, when we had outgoing tide closer to daylight, it was really easy to get bites. But now that it’s so hot and the outgoing is getting pushed further in the morning and kind of midday, it’s making it more challenging.”

With a cushion of nearly 35 pounds over 11^th place, LeBrun’s spot in the Knockout Round should be nearly secure. As a result, he plans to use the second day of qualifying as “a day of learning,” focusing especially on identifying a productive pattern around high tide.

While he knows he’ll need to make the right adjustments to have a shot at going back-to-back on the James, he made sure to soak in his special start. LeBrun called the day his most fun on the water in nearly two years on the Bass Pro Tour.

“This is a fun place,” LeBrun said. “I feel at home fishing here. It's a special place to me and my wife. And it would be real special to do well here again. I’m just really humbled, because the guys in my group and the guys on the Bass Pro Tour in general are such top-notch competitors, and man, to be leading the round is just really special to me, especially against this group of names. It’s really special to be competing against these guys and to be doing well, because they’re the best out there.”

The 39 anglers in Group B will now have an off day from competition Thursday, while the 39 anglers competing in Group A will wrap up their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B will finish their Qualifying Round on Friday.

The top 20 pros in Group B after Day 1 on the James River are:

1st: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 32 bass, 73-10
2nd: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 26 bass, 53-2
3rd: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 22 bass, 52-12
4th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 26 bass, 50-15
5th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 19 bass, 50-8
6th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 23 bass, 44-4
7th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 19 bass, 43-1
8th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 20 bass, 42-13
9th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 19 bass, 41-0
10th:      Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 17 bass, 40-15
11th:      Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 17 bass, 39-0
12th:      Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 17 bass, 37-6
13th:      Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 14 bass, 34-4
14th:      David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 16 bass, 34-0
15th:      Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 16 bass, 33-3
16th:      Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 17 bass, 32-12
17th:      Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 14 bass, 29-5
18th:      Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 12 bass, 28-13
19th:      Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 14 bass, 28-9
20th:      John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 12 bass, 27-15

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

Overall, there were 543 scorable bass weighing 1,191 pounds, 3 ounces caught by 39 pros Wednesday, which included one 7-pounder, one 6-pounders, four 5-pounders and 11 4-pounders.

Luke Clausen of Spokane, Washington, earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award after a 7-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bit his creature bait in Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

Fishing Clash Angler of the Year leader Jacob Wheeler threw down the gauntlet on Day 1, jumping out to a big lead in Group A with 78-8 and all but assuring himself a spot in the Knockout Round. Wednesday, his two closest pursuers showed they’re not going to let Wheeler run away with his third AOY award.

Alton Jones, Jr., who entered Stage Six 14 points back of Wheeler in the season-long competition, currently sits eighth in Group B with 42-13, while Dustin Connell is fourth with 50-15. Connell arrived at the James in third place, 24.5 points off Wheeler’s total. As of now, all three anglers are positioned to meet in the Knockout Round, although Connell and Jones still have some work to do to assure their spots in Saturday’s field.

The 39 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

by AnglersChannel

Revised Schedule for NPFL Event on Pickwick Lake

The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) has announced changes to the tournament schedule and times for stop three on Pickwick Lake in Counce, TN. To maximize angler opportunities and alleviate fishing pressure on weekends, the NPFL has adjusted the schedule.

Anglers will now compete from Wednesday through Friday. Takeoff is scheduled for 10:30 AM, with the first flight checking in at 5:45 PM. Live coverage of the event will run from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. These changes aim to optimize fishing conditions during typical afternoon flows and enhance overall fishing quality for the field.

"Water flow on any TVA system undeniably impacts fishing quality," said Brad Fuller, President of the NPFL. "Our goal is to maximize daily weights and overall catch numbers. After extensive discussions, we concluded that the 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM offers optimal conditions for our competitors."

Local angler Brandon Perkins, who won the last two events on Pickwick Lake in July 2021 and March 2023, commended the league for recognizing this opportunity.

"I appreciate the flexibility the league has shown with this event," said Perkins. "By avoiding a large event scheduled for Saturday and adjusting launch times, the league has opened up another feeding window for all competitors"

Perkins anticipates a challenging competition given the widespread understanding of ledge fishing among participants.

"Despite the post-spawn conditions and scattered fish, the later launch and check-in times should benefit the entire field," Perkins explained. "This change will not only improve overall fish care but also enhance the competitive dynamics of the event."

Jesse Wise, another competitor, echoed Perkins' sentiments, noting the potential impact of weather and TVA flow regulations on fishing conditions.

"The afternoon window will undoubtedly help us catch more fish," said Wise. "While we may miss the morning bite window, the extended fishing hours should level the playing field and contribute to a more exciting tournament."

As the event approaches, anglers are optimistic about the opportunities presented by these schedule adjustments, mindful of the dynamic conditions that could influence their strategies.

Pickwick Event Schedule:
Saturday, July 6: Community Outreach
Sunday, July 7: Official Practice
Monday, July 8: Official Practice
Tuesday, July 9: Official Practice
Wednesday, July 10: Day One
Thursday, July 11: Day Two
Friday, July 12: Day Three

Pickwick Tournament Hours (CST):
10:30 AM: Launch from the Pickwick Landing State Park Ramp
5:45 PM: First Flight Checks at Pickwick Landing State Park Ramp
6:00 PM: Weigh-in begins at Pickwick Landing State Park
7:30 PM: Last Flight Check-In

Live Coverage: Noon to 5:00 PM
To learn more about the NPFL, visit https://thenationalprofessionalfishingleague.com/.

-###-
About the National Professional Fishing League
The NPFL was designed to bring simplicity back to professional bass fishing - one lake, the full field fishing all three days, and the heaviest combined three-day weight winning. The goal of the NPFL is to put the anglers first and build a trail that gets back to what the founders of bass fishing intended it to be.

Media Contacts:
Brad Fuller: [email protected]
Paul Benson: [email protected]

by AnglersChannel

Jacob Wheeler Leads After Hot Start at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at James River

Tennessee pro weighs in 78 pounds, 8 ounces to lead after Day 1 for Group A – Group B begins competition Wednesday

RICHMOND, Va. (June 25, 2024) – The heat wave that greeted the Bass Pro Tour field upon its arrival to the James River for practice prior to the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts relented during the opening day of competition, but only barely, with temperatures still climbing into the low 90s. The fishing, meanwhile, was just as hot.

Of the 39 pros who took to the water for the first day of qualifying in Group A, 27 stacked at least 20 pounds on SCORETRACKER® and 11 hit the 40-pound mark. It took 40 pounds, 6 ounces to claim a spot inside the cut line – the third-heaviest 10th-place total for an opening day of qualifying all season, narrowly trailing only the first two days of Stage Three at Dale Hollow.

And yet, despite that torrid pace, two-time Fishing Clash Angler of the Year Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee , still managed to put plenty of distance between himself and the rest of the field. Wheeler stacked up 78-8 on 33 scorable bass, 30-15 ahead of General Tire pro Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, in second. Behind Wheeler, the weights are tightly bunched, with just 2-9 separating Reese from seventh place.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism , showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

The 39 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition Wednesday, while the 39 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Thursday.

Seeing Wheeler’s name atop SCORETRACKER® might not come as a surprise to anyone. A two-time winner this season, he’s made the Knockout Round in six of seven events and the Championship Round in five of them. But based on his practice, Wheeler said he didn’t anticipate such a strong start.

“I did not expect that at all,” he said. “You’d get a bite here, a bite there in practice, and then when you really lean on things, you start to realize what you have. Some places I thought were going to be really good, they were horrible, and I didn’t catch anything. And then other places that I thought were like ‘ehh’ were really good.”

Wheeler made it a point to cover water Tuesday. He caught fish in multiple areas using “five completely different techniques.” While that might sound random, it’s not; he’s matching the technique to the area to the tide.

The mouth of the Chickahominy River, a popular James tributary, experienced low tide (typically regarded as the best bite) around the end of the first period on Day 1. Wheeler’s most productive stretch came shortly thereafter. Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., he racked up more than 60 pounds on 24 scorable bass.

“There are bite windows on this body of water, and the tide dictates that,” Wheeler explained. “There are bite windows at high tide, there are bite windows at incoming, outgoing. So, it’s just slowly dialing that in, and today, everything collided and worked out well.”

As impressive as Wheeler’s opening day was, he knows he’ll need to adapt as the tournament progresses. Even though he didn’t have much trouble accessing the spots he wanted to hit Tuesday, fishing pressure could impact the bite, with much of the field crowded in and around the Chickahominy. More important will be adjusting to the changing tide, with low tide getting later each day.

That’s where Wheeler’s sizable advantage over the cut line could help him. As usual, he caught as much weight as possible on Day 1 with the hope that he can use the second day of qualifying to continue to learn the fishery. More than 38 pounds clear of 11th place, he should only have to catch a few scorable bass to ensure himself a spot in the Knockout Round.

“I think I have some stuff that will continue, but it’s definitely temperamental,” Wheeler said. “Looking at paper, you’re like, ‘holy crap, Wheeler is going to win.’ But it’s not like that. We’re running an incoming tide on the Championship Day. I think we’re going to have a very little bit of an incoming tide on the Knockout Round. I mean, it’s just completely different conditions, and I’m going to have to make the right adjustments to have a really good finish in this tournament.”

Wheeler’s biggest takeaway from his first day of competition on the James was the fruitfulness of the fishery. He estimates he caught at least 80 bass on the day including those under the 1-8 minimum weight.

“This place is really healthy,” Wheeler said. “It’s got an insane number of bass in it. My thumbs are definitely sore.”

The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on James River are:

1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 33 bass, 78-8
2nd: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 21 bass, 47-9
3rd:        Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 21 bass, 47-5
4th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 21 bass, 47-0
5th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 21 bass, 46-6
6th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 22 bass, 45-3
7th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 20 bass, 45-0
8th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 20 bass, 43-10
9th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 21 bass, 41-9
10th:      Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 15 bass, 40-6
11th:      Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 20 bass, 40-4
12th:      Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 15 bass, 39-6
13th:      Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 18 bass, 37-0
14th:      Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 17 bass, 34-10
15th:      Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 14 bass, 33-5
16th:      Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 14 bass, 33-1
17th:      Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 15 bass, 31-1
18th:      Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., 13 bass, 30-9
19th:      Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 13 bass, 29-7
20th:      Grae Buck, Green Lane, Penn., 13 bass, 28-8

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

Overall, there were 543 scorable bass weighing 1,194 pounds, 8 ounces caught by 39 pros Tuesday, which included one 7-pounder, one 6-pounder and two 5-pounders.

Keith Poche of Pike Road, Alabama, earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award after a 7-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bit his shaky head rig in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

Wheeler arrived at the James leading the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing. The two-time AOY winner started the event 14 points clear of Alton Jones Jr., with Dustin Connell another 10.5 back of Jones. Jones and Connell will take the water with Group B on Wednesday.

The 39 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

by AnglersChannel

Game Wardens and Nixon Guide Young Anglers To Vexus Varsity™ Bonus

If the tiny community of Bee Branch, Arkansas, sounds familiar to serious bass fishing fans, blame it on Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Larry Nixon, who has called the rural community home for decades.

The area is also home to Nixon’s nephew and talented high school angler Cole Pennington, who partnered with Vexus® Boats angler Ely Hagans to become one of the very first teams to win a celebratory banner and $500 in Tackle Warehouse gift cards.

“Uncle Larry (Nixon) has been a huge influence. He’s taught us a lot about fishing but also to trust the Lord and His plan. He and Joey Cifuentes have told us to keep our faith, trust our gut, and never give up easily. We were both raised to believe that,” says Pennington.

The new Vexus Varsity program rewards qualifying high school teams who win a sanctioned tournament while competing in a Vexus boat with a Tackle Warehouse gift card for $500. Qualifying college teams who win a sanctioned tournament in a Vexus boat will win a $1,000 Tackle Warehouse gift card.

Pennington and Hagans won the Vexus Varsity prizes as a result of their victory at the Arkansas Game & Fish Commissioners’ Cup event on Lake Hamilton, where they cast big Zoom worms and Jewel finesse jigs on Powell rods to boat a winning weight of 13.92 pounds.

Ironically, Pennington’s grandfather and Hagan’s father worked together as Arkansas Game Wardens. So, there’s no doubt these two young fishermen have been mentored with a double helping of morality, integrity, and a rare insight into all things outdoors.

Hagans, who fishes out of a Vexus AVX1980 aluminum boat, says he’s already spent his portion of the $500 Tackle Warehouse gift card on Aaron’s Magic-colored drop-shot worms, light wire hooks, and Berkley Dredger 17.5 crankbaits.

When asked what he likes most about his Vexus, the future Bethel University angler responded without hesitation, “This boat floats in super shallow water, which allows us to fish in places some people won’t even try to take a fiberglass boat.”

Given the incredible guidance these two young anglers have been given, coupled with high aspirations to fish for a living someday, this will likely be their first of many times to hang a Vexus banner in their boat garage or dorm room. There’s also a strong chance they’ll keep Bee Branch, Clinton, and the rest of Van Buren County, Arkansas, recognizable to fishing fans for years to come.

Young anglers who wish to join the Vexus contingency programs are encouraged to register under the “Info” tab at vexusboats.com.

by AnglersChannel

Weaver Withdraws from Final Two Bass Pro Tour Events of 2024, Trailering Policy Enacted for Week

WHAT:
Bass Pro Tour angler Joshua Weaver of Macon, Georgia, has withdrawn from the final two Bass Pro Tour events of 2024, including this week’s General Tire Stage Six at the James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, due to undisclosed personal reasons.

Pro Kelly Jordon has been moved from Group B to Group A to even the fields at 39 anglers each for the event this week.

Bass Pro Tour Tournament Director Daniel Fennel has also enacted the MLF’s trailering policy this week on the James River at Stage Six – in effect for each day of competition.

Anglers can launch at any public boat launch within the tournament boundaries on the James River and can also put their boat back on the trailer and drive to a different boat ramp during competition hours, if they so choose.

WHEN:
Tuesday-Sunday, June 25-30
Departure from Osborne Landing for anglers launching from other landings: 6:45 a.m. ET
Takeoff from desired launch ramp: 7:30 a.m. ET
General Tire Takeout: 4 p.m. ET

WHERE:
*Osborne Landing, 9530 Osborne Turnpike, Richmond, Va.
*Trailering policy enacted – anglers can launch from any public ramp

NOTES:
Major League Fishing (MLF) and the Bass Pro Tour are visiting Richmond, Virginia, and the James River this week, June 25-30, for the sixth regular-season event of the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season – General Tire Stage Six at the James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, will feature a field of 78 professional anglers competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

The 39 anglers in Group A will compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.

by AnglersChannel

O’Connell Posts Second Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Clarks Hill

North Carolina’s Spurlin Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

APPLING, Ga. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Matt O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Clarks Hill . Hosted by Visit Columbia County, Georgia, the tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Division. O’Connell earned $6,805, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

O’Connell fished a Savannah River Division tournament on Clarks Hill a week prior and found some fish on brush piles. This time around, he realized the schools had set up a little bit shallower. He kicked the day off throwing a topwater.

“I used a CAST The OG to get a key fish early – a 4-pounder,” he said. “Last week, my biggest fish was like 3 1/2. Then I just kind of mixed in various other blueback baits; other topwaters, flukes, stuff like that. Basically, I caught most of my weight before 8 o’clock in the morning and then continued catching a bunch of other fish throughout the day, but they were mostly 1- to 2-pounders.”

A big boating event on the lake presented some challenges for O’Connell’s offshore bite in the middle of the day because he had to work around a lot of extra traffic. Thankfully, his first spot produced that 4-pounder, and his second put out a 4½ and 3¾ .

“My initial spot was a shallow hump,” he said. “There was a ton of bluebacks moving through. The fish would school around you off and on. The second spot wasn’t a hump. It was just a long point.”

After he left those areas, O’Connell targeted brush piles. The shining spot in the afternoon was a key cull that came with 45 minutes remaining. He was able to gain about a half-pound, giving him a solid cushion over second place.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Matt O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., five bass, 18-0, $6,805 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Continency Bonus)
2nd:       Aspen Martin, White, Ga., five bass, 16-15, $1,753
3rd:       Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 15-10, $1,169
4th:        Norm Attaway, Clearwater, S.C., five bass, 15-1, $1,258
5th:        Hunter Eubanks, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 15-0, $672
5th:        Logan Mills, Chapin, S.C., five bass, 15-0, $672
7th:        Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., five bass, 14-15, $584
8th:        Jeffrey Borne, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 14-9, $526
9th:        Tyler Campbell, Martin, Ga., five bass, 14-6, $438
9th:        Jeff Coble, Manson, N.C., five bass, 14-6, $438

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Norm Attaway of Clearwater, South Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $440.

Braxton Spurlin of Ellenboro, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,753 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 14 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Braxton Spurlin, Ellenboro, N.C., four bass, 11-14, $1,753
2nd:       Wayne Smelser, Wytheville, Va., five bass, 9-14, $876
3rd:       Ross Doolittle, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 9-13, $585
4th:        Riley Smallwood, Shallotte, N.C., five bass, 9-7, $509
5th:        Trent Killian, Bostic, N.C., five bass, 8-11, $351
6th:        Carter Jefferies, Mount Pleasant, S.C., five bass, 8-4, $321
7th:        Jacob Yaden, Evans, Ga., five bass, 8-1, $442
8th:        Rodney Tapp, Inman, S.C., five bass, 7-12, $263
9th:        Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., five bass, 7-8, $219
9th:        Dale Ball, Asheville, N.C., four bass, 7-8, $219

Travis Ruff of Connelly Springs, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $220, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Joe Anders of Easley, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 955 points, while Trent Killian of Bostic, North Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 952 points.

The next event for BFL South Carolina Division anglers will be held Sept.7-8, at Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Muskogee’s Capps Secures the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Arkansas River Presented by Suzuki Marine

Owasso’s Corriveau Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Blake Capps of Muskogee, Oklahoma, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Arkansas River Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Capps earned $10,877, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

Capps employed simple, shallow-water river fishing tactics to get the win. He also decided not to lock to maximize his fishing time.

“There’s a lot of current on the main Arkansas River,” he said. “I was mainly focusing on the main-river eddies and stuff like that – places for them to kind of slide out of the current – whether that be a rock or bend in the river or laydown.”

Capps kicked off the morning throwing a Heddon Super Spook topwater bait in current seams, primarily around rock jetties. He also caught some on a Gene Larew Biffle Bug in those same areas. The topwater bait produced the biggest fish of the day.

“Later in the day, I went farther downriver, and I made some of my best culls on a Booyah (XCS1 Series) square bill,” he added. “The laydowns were the main thing I was focusing on with the square bill. There was a ton of current right on the logs.”

According to Capps, a depth of 2 feet of water was “deep” for this pattern. And it was clearly a quality bite, as his co-angler, Jeff Corriveau, also came out victorious.

“We caught ’em all day,” Capps said. “It was a lot of fun. It really surprised me there weren’t more people out there doing it with me. I never really had any company wherever I went.

“It was a pretty simple pattern,” he added. “Not a whole lot of rods out on the deck. My front graphs were turned off. I just went fishing. It was all visual stuff, too. It’s nice going to the bank and turning the locaters off and just going fishing.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Blake Capps, Muskogee, Okla., five bass, 20-9, $10,877 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Joel Baker, Talala, Okla., five bass, 16-5, $1,408
2nd:       Nic Conger, Fort Smith, Ark., five bass, 16-5, $1,823
4th:        Dale Andrews, Jay, Okla., five bass, 15-15, $788
5th:        Zachery Fowler, Konawa, Okla., five bass, 13-3, $675
6th:        Shane Pickett, Rose Hill, Kan., five bass, 13-1, $919
7th:        Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., five bass, 12-12, $563
8th:        Brett Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 12-1, $507
9th:        Mike Hesson, Hackett, Ark., five bass, 11-15, $450
10th:     Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., five bass, 11-7, $394

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Nic Conger of Fort Smith, Arkansas, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $415.

Jeff Corriveau of Owasso, Oklahoma, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,689 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 2 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Jeff Corriveau, Owasso, Okla., four bass, 12-2, $1,689
2nd:       Thad Hewitt, Delaware, Okla., five bass, 11-14, $944
3rd:       Russell Malone, Grove, Okla., four bass, 10-0, $564
4th:        David Blankinship, Cushing, Okla., three bass, 9-12, $394
5th:        Randy Peoples, Prairie Grove, Ark., three bass, 9-1, $338
6th:        Nathan McCartney, Inola, Okla., four bass, 8-0, $310
7th:        Charles Covington, Claremore, Okla., three bass, 7-10, $281
8th:        Marco Flores, Topeka, Kan., four bass, 7-6, $253
9th:        Daniel Payne, Warr Acres, Okla., three bass, 7-5, $225
10th:     Lane McCartney, Braggs, Okla., three bass, 6-13, $197

Stephen Vogel of Muenster, Texas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $207, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Chris M. Jones of Bokoshe, Oklahoma, leads the Fishing Clash Okie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 965 points, while Alan Hill of Ada, Oklahoma, leads the Fishing Clash Okie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 936 points.

The next event for BFL Okie Division anglers will be held Sept. 14-15, at Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Wright Patman Lake in Texarkana, Texas. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Brownsville’s Logsdon Earns First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Barren River

Tennessee’s Suratt Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Cole Logsdon of Brownsville, Kentucky, caught a three-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 4 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Barren River. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Mountain Division. Logsdon earned $3,418 for his victory.

In the Barren River Lake event, anglers were limited to weighing three fish. Add in a field of more than 80 boaters on a small reservoir, and it was almost a guarantee that weights would be tight in this tournament. Logsdon overcame those challenges by relying on a ton of experience on the lake.

“I live 20 minutes down the road,” he said. “I’ve spent a lot of time out on Barren River over the years. Especially, I’ve had a lot of help over the years from some people who mentored me. That kind of came into play with the late boat draw I had. Some of the history stuff I had was the deal. I got lucky because I was the second-to-last boat out and I couldn’t get on a lot of my stuff.”

Logsdon spent most of his practice scanning the lake for offshore schools. He didn’t even take rods with him for practice. In the tournament, he started the morning by running to one of his better areas only to find another boat there. When he shifted to his second spot – a shallow drop – Logsdon found the type of school he’d been hunting for all through practice.

“I eased up the lake, set the trolling motor down and there they were,” he said. “I knew it was about to go down right then. I got right in a hurry.

“It’s a place that we’ve fished for a long time, and when they get there, they get there. It’s a place I knew, but it’s a place I wasn’t expecting the fish to be there. I sat there for probably 45 minutes.”

After he left that area, Logsdon started running and gunning. He figures he deployed the trolling motor 40 to 50 times throughout the day and wound up making some key culls that bumped up his three-fish limit to more than a pound better than second place.

“I knew with 80 boats it was going to be a packed house, and these guys are so good I knew they were going to find a lot,” Logsdon said. “I just got lucky and got on a spot I knew and they were there, and it worked out in my favor.”

Logsdon’s key lures were a homemade football-head jig, a Strike King 6XD crankbait and a Stealth Lures umbrella rig with 6th Sense 3.2-inch Divine Swimbaits.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Cole Logsdon, Brownsville, Ky., three bass, 12-4, $3,418
2nd:       Dathan Jones, Harrodsburg, Ky., three bass, 11-0, $1,709
3rd:       Michael Morrison, Stamping Ground, Ky., three bass, 10-15, $1,263
4th:        Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., three bass, 10-14, $798
5th:        Josh Boone, Richmond, Ky., three bass, 10-13, $655
5th:        Christopher O’Bryan, Harned, Ky., three bass, 10-13, $1,075
7th:        Lee Sinclair, Albany, Ky., three bass, 10-7, $570
8th:        Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., three bass, 10-4, $513
9th:        Grant Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., three bass, 9-12, $456
10th:     Clint Brodsky, Burlington, Ky., three bass, 9-7, $1,199 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Christopher O’Bryan of Harned, Kentucky, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $420.

Johnny Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,709 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 8 pounds, 14 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., three bass, 8-14, $1,709
2nd:       Robert Pepiot III, Lexington, Ky., three bass, 8-12, $712
2nd:       Devin Brown, Richmond, Ky., three bass, 8-12, $712
4th:        Chevy King, Russell Springs, Ky., three bass, 8-10, $609
5th:        Josh Smith, Williamsburg, Ky., three bass, 7-6, $342
6th:        Jerry Wittmer, Shepherdsville, Ky., three bass, 7-3, $313
7th:        Dan Basham, Taylorsville, Ky., three bass, 6-15, $285
8th:        Jeff Johnston, Nashville, Tenn., three bass, 6-11, $256
9th:        Ben Carter, Lancaster, Ky., three bass, 6-5, $228
10th:     Pete Balishin, Sharps Chapel, Tenn., three bass, 6-1, $349

Chevy King of Russell Springs, Kentucky, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $210, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Michael Morrison of Stamping Ground, Kentucky, leads the Fishing Clash Mountain Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 969 points, while Johnny Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Mountain Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 949 points.

The next event for BFL Mountain Division anglers will be held Sept. 14-15, at Lake Cumberland in Monticello, Kentucky. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

by AnglersChannel

North Carolina Angler Hodges Mines One Spot for the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Potomac River

Virginia’s Steinberg Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

MARBURY, Md. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Richard Hodges, Jr., of Camden, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Potomac River . Hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, the tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Shenandoah Division. Hodges earned $6,139 for his victory.

Hodges’ winning experience proves that even though things sometimes don’t start the way you expect, they can still turn around real quickly.

“It was a struggle for about the first hour,” he said. “I went to what I thought was my best spot, and I left there with one 13-inch fish. But the day before, I found a school of what I thought was 2-pounders. I went running to them – they were back in a deep hole – and they ended up being bigger than what I saw the first day (practice). I caught them on a swimbait and a ChatterBait Jack Hammer. My co-angler and I, out of a 50-yard stretch, we caught 40 or 50 bass.”

When Hodges found the spot in practice, the tide was at its lowest, and the water was clear enough that he could see the fish swimming around. In the tournament, the water had dirtied, so he couldn’t see them. So he sat on the edge of the hole and blind-cast into it.

The perimeter of the spot was about 2 feet deep, with the middle dropping to about 4 feet. He’d found it while trolling across a shallow flat.

“I’ve been fishing that area for years and never saw it before,” he added. “We sat there for probably four or five hours until we quit getting bites. I caught the first big one (a 5-pound, 12-ounce fish) on a ChatterBait almost instantly when we got there. We fished it and fished it until we quit getting bites, and then we left for an hour and went to fish some grass. When we came back, on my first cast with the ChatterBait I ended up catching a 5-4.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Richard Hodges, Jr., Camden, N.C., five bass, 20-10, $6,139
2nd:       Jessie Moore, Severn, Md., five bass, 17-14, $2,952
3rd:       Brian Laclair, Denton, Md., five bass, 17-13, $1,768
4th:        Jonathan Hamilton, Newburg, Md., five bass, 17-7, $1,238
5th:        John Duarte, Middle River, Md., five bass, 16-15, $1,686 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th:        Ed Milton, Chester, Va., five bass, 16-13, $972
7th:        Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., five bass, 16-7, $884
8th:        Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., five bass, 16-5, $796
9th:        Jarvis Raynor, Spotsylvania, Va., five bass, 16-3, $707
10th:     Joshua Greenberg, Bumpass, Va., five bass, 16-2, $619

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Hodges caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $835.

Josh Steinberg of Midland, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,631 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 14 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Josh Steinberg, Midland, Va., five bass, 16-14, $2,631
2nd:       Glenn Eskin, Henderson, N.C., five bass, 16-1, $1,725
3rd:       Lenny Baird, Stafford, Va., five bass, 15-2, $1,127
4th:        Lew Jenkins, Waldorf, Md., five bass, 15-0, $614
5th:        Matthew Ross, Barton, Md., five bass, 14-12, $526
6th:        Jeff McBeth, New Philadelphia, Ohio, five bass, 14-6, $482
7th:        Eric Nelson, Gainesville, Va., five bass, 14-3, $438
8th:        Keyshawn Bratcher, Altamonte Springs, Fla., five bass, 14-2, $395
9th:        Jeff Turner, Morris, Ill., five bass, 14-1, $351
10th:     Stephen Barr, Wilmington, N.C., five bass, 14-0, $307

Glenn Eskin of Henderson, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $410, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, leads the Fishing Clash Shenandoah Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 733 points, while David Williams of Fredericksburg, Virginia, leads the Fishing Clash Shenandoah Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 720 points.

The next event for BFL Shenandoah Division anglers will be held July 27, at James River in Henrico, Virginia. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Huk A1A Collection Elevates Anglers’ Experience with Style and Functionality

Charleston, SC (May 24, 2024) - Huk, a trailblazer in outdoor apparel, is thrilled to introduce its latest innovation, the A1A Performance Collection. Inspired by the iconic Florida highway known for its access to coveted fishing spots, this collection's meticulous design enhances every angler's experience on the water.

The A1A Performance Collection is committed to ensuring anglers' comfort, protection, and performance. Crafted from a blend of premium polyester and elastane materials, each garment in the A1A Collection ensures exceptional breathability and 4-way stretch. This thoughtful design allows anglers to cast, reel, and move effortlessly, enhancing the fishing experience by providing flexibility and comfort to fully enjoy long days on the water.

The standout feature of the A1A Performance Crew Neck is the exceptional UPF rating, which offers anglers the most protection against the sun's harmful rays while keeping them cool. With the 50+ UPF rating, anglers can fish with peace of mind, knowing they can rely on A1A Performance Shirts to keep them comfortable and shielded from the sun.

The A1A Performance Hoodie expands upon the performance of the A1A Performance Crew Neck shirt. Crafted with a full-mesh fabric to boost breathability, this hoodie ensures anglers remain focused on their catch, not the rising temperatures. The hood and built-in face gaiter provide exceptional sun protection, so anglers can fully immerse themselves in their passion without worrying about the sun's harsh rays.

The A1A Collection features a woven button-down shirt that blends style with functionality. This shirt features a full laser perforation for enhanced breathability, essential to staying cool on the water. Equipped with the same UPF protection and stretch as the performance shirts, the woven button-down shirt is for those who prefer a classic, long-sleeve option without sacrificing performance.

The collection includes lightweight and durable shorts for warmer days, ensuring comfort no matter the conditions. The A1A Short features full laser perforation, increasing breathability for long hours under the sun. Keep items secure and close by with the side cargo pockets. With the comfortable design, stain resistance, and 30+ UPF rating, anglers can rely on the A1A Short for wherever their adventure takes them.

The A1A Performance line enhances any fishing experience with a wide array of garments. With the A1A Collection, anglers can stay protected, cool, and comfortable without compromising style.

A1A Crew Neck Features

Superior 50+ UPF Sun Protection
Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
92% Polyester and 8% Elastane blend
Available Sizes S-XXXL

A1A Hoodie Features

Superior 50+ UPF Sun Protection
Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
92% Polyester and 8% Elastane blend
Built-in Face Gaiter
Available Sizes S-XXXL

A1A Woven Button-down Features

Superior 50+ UPF Sun Protection
Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
92% Polyester and 8% Elastane blend
Available Sizes S-XXXL

A1A Short Features

30+ UPF Sun Protection
Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
89% Polyester and 11% Elastane blend
Stain Resistant
Superior Breathability
5-inch Inseam
Available Sizes S-XXXL

About Marolina Outdoor

Marolina Outdoor Inc. was founded to bring deep-seated product expertise across all outdoor categories. Our innovative designs and technologically focused products create the foundation of our authentic outdoor apparel. Huk clothing represents a fresh take and a unique understanding of angling needs, offering functional styles that appeal to anglers of all ages. Huk is motivated to provide quality apparel so anglers can maximize their fishing adventures and provide quality comfort and style regardless of the size of the fish or where their pursuit leads them. For more information, please visit www.hukgear.com.

by AnglersChannel

Pennsylvania’s Carey and Kauffman Conquer Lake Hartwell to Win 2024 High School Fishing National Championship

High School Anglers Josh Kauffman and Trent Carey and Claim Title with Three-Day Total of Nine Bass Weighing 29-15

ANDERSON, S.C. (June 24, 2024) – On one hand, Trent Carey of York Springs, Pennsylvania, and Josh Kauffman of Marysville, Pennsylvania, knew how difficult it would be to top a field containing 249 of the country’s best teams at the Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship. As Carey said on stage Friday, “that just doesn’t happen; you don’t get these opportunities.”

But as the Fishaholics team made the drive from their home in Pennsylvania to Lake Hartwell earlier in the week, they had a feeling they could contend for the title. In fact, Kauffman set his sights on winning not only the National Championship but the accompanying World Finals, a concurrent event held by the Student Angler Federation.

“To our knowledge, I don’t think anybody has ever won nationals and worlds,” Kauffman said. “And coming down here, I thought to myself, you know what, that’s our goal. I want to win both.”

The two recently graduated seniors punctuated a strong three days on Hartwell with a three-bass limit Friday weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces. That brought their three-day total to 29-15, 1-4 clear of Lanier High School’s Angel Cornejo and Bryson Dover.

For the win, Carey and Kauffman earned $5,000 apiece in college scholarship money plus entry into the Toyota Series Championship on Wheeler Lake in November, where they will compete as co-anglers.

“I wish I could put it into words, but I can’t comprehend that we just did this,” Carey said. “It feels amazing that all the hard work paid off.”

Carey and Kauffman’s optimism about contending on Lake Hartwell sprang from the last time the famed fishery hosted the National Championship and World Finals, in 2021. Freshmen at the time, they finished 13^th in the World Finals and fell in love with the lake. They’ve returned to fish it every summer since.

The knowledge gained during those trips proved invaluable this week. They arrived at Hartwell with a sizable stash of offshore waypoints, then added more during practice. With 437 boats on the water between the two tournaments, having so many spots at their disposal came in handy.

“With a 400-plus boat field out here, there are people on a lot of spots 24/7,” Kauffman said. “So, running down the lake, you’re like, ‘Oh, they’re there, they’re there. Oh, this spot is open.’ So, just having a large amount of spots to fish really helped. Just running waypoint after waypoint after waypoint all day long; eventually ran into the right ones at the right time when they’re schooling, actively feeding.”

Carey and Kauffman spent all their time offshore targeting brush and humps. While they weighed four largemouth compared to two spotted bass across the first two days of competition, Friday’s bag was all spots. They used “traditional herring baits” to catch them, rotating between a chrome Sebile Magic Swimmer, a flutter spoon and a rising bait. They only caught one fish they weighed on a fluke, but the Hartwell staple produced their biggest bass of the week, a 4-11 spot on Day 1.

That fish anchored a 12-2 opening-day bag, which had Carey and Kauffman in second place (although they thought they were leading at the conclusion of weigh-in due to a clerical error that excluded a 12-8 limit from the National Championship results). Despite losing a “giant” when a treble hook pulled off a split ring, they added 8-10 on Day 2 and climbed into the lead.

Friday, while most of the field reported a slower bite, Carey and Kauffman arrived at their starting spot to find fish actively feeding. While Carey said their bite wasn’t fast and furious, it didn’t take too long to put a similar limit to the previous day in the livewell. Then, around noon, Carey caught a 2 3/4-pounder, which culled a 2-pounder. At that point, the teammates let themselves believe they might actually be national champs.

“Whenever we caught that one, we both just kind of looked at each other, and we were like, ‘dude, I got a feeling,’” Carey said. “I’m always the most nervous person, the most down person, ‘we’re never going to win.’ And we kind of just looked at each other, and we’re like, this feels right. This feels like it might happen.”

Carey and Kauffman both plan to continue their fishing careers. Carey will join the accomplished team at Lander University in the fall, while Kauffman plans to keep competing in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League. Topping such a massive field should send both off with a shot of confidence.

“It’s a huge jumpstart to any career winning a tournament of this caliber, winning a tournament with this number of boats,” Carey said.

The 2024 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship featured 249 teams, and the top 10 teams on Lake Hartwell finished:

1st:        Rock Proof – Trent Carey, York Springs, Pa., and Josh Kauffman, Marysville, Pa., nine bass, 29-15
2nd:      Georgia High School Fishing – Angel Cornejo, Sugar Hill, Ga., and Bryson Dover, Buford, Ga., nine bass, 28-11
3rd:       South Forsyth High School, Cumming, Ga. – Reece Mutter and Charles Roberts, nine bass, 26-11
4th:        Dawson County High School, Dawsonville, Ga. – Carter Cunningham and Landon Glander, nine bass, 26-10
5th:        Cherokee High School, Canton, Ga. – Noah Dzyuba and Lane Parker, nine bass, 25-11
6th:        Alcoa Fishing Team, Alcoa, Tenn. – Walker Larue and Joe Vaulton, nine bass, 25-7
7th:        Arizona High School Bassmasters – Dash Dawson, Chandler, Ariz., and James Murphy, Jr., Gilbert, Ariz., nine bass, 24-15
8th:        Shelby County High School, Columbiana, Ala. – Brody Holliman and Aiden King, nine bass, 24-7
9th:        Highland Park High School, University Park, Texas – Cullum Brown and Dylan Sorrells, nine bass, 24-6
10th:     West Virginia Student Angler Federation – Micah Osborne, Clay, W.Va., and Luke Stewart, Procious, W.Va., nine bass, 24-4

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

The 2024 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship on Lake Hartwell was hosted by Visit Anderson. MLF High School Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advanced to the 2024 High School Fishing National Championship.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit HighSchoolFishing.org. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow High School Fishing on Facebook and on MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and headquartered out of Ponca City, Oklahoma. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth, and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations, and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for over 55 years. TBF founded not only the Junior program in 1994 and the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and the National High School Fishing program in 2007 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.

by AnglersChannel

Huge kicker pushes Fothergill to victory in St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Eufaula

EUFAULA, Okla. — Easton Fothergill’s an easygoing guy with no apparent mean streak, but he started Day 3 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula presented by SEVIIN with a chip on his shoulder. Suffice to say, his winning total of 52 pounds, 8 ounces more than settled the score.

Keeping himself near the top, the pro from Grand Rapids, Minn., weighed a third-place limit of 17-12 on Day 1 and held his position with a second-round limit of 16-11. Championship Saturday saw Fothergill charge ahead with his biggest bag, a limit of 18-1 that pushed him across the finish line.

Edging Andrew Loberg by 2-12, Fothergill collected the $44,155 top prize and received an invitation to fish the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors March 21-23 on Lake Ray Roberts.

“In practice, I was thinking the fish were residential, but I learned that they’re not,” said Fothergill, who earned his first Classic berth by winning the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s. “The key was just to cover water and make sure you’re putting your bait in front of as many fish as possible.

“If you found a spot and caught one fish off it, you could go back a half hour later and another one would be pulled on it.”

Fothergill’s final-round consternation stemmed from a heartbreaking Day 2 loss. After randomly finding a school of big fish under a dock on Day 1, he started the second day on that spot, but lost a 5-pounder and scattered the school.

Day 3 erased that pain with another random encounter — this time, with a triumphant conclusion. Naturally, Fothergill gave that special dock an early look, but the fish had inexplicably vanished.

Continuing on, Fothergill ran a few more of his key areas, but none produced. Around 10:30 a.m. he happened upon a particularly interesting point with a mix of mostly scattered rock.

“I wasn’t seeing anything, and I wasn’t catching anything, so I thought I should check something new,” Fothergill said. “That point caught my eye as I was running by it, so I pulled in there and the first fish I caught was that giant one.

“It was just a slow tapering chunk rock point with basketball-sized boulders on one side of it, and it had a super sharp break, which provided immediate deep-water access.”

The sweet spot, Fothergill said, was the thin line of bigger rocks that were dotted with big fish. Casting his Neko-rigged Strike King Cut-R-Worm toward that sweet spot, he came tight on an absolute Eufaula mud monster that went 8-12.

“I knew I was right back in it with that fish,” Fothergill said. “The fish jumped 4 feet out of the water and then it dove under the boat. I had to get on the trolling motor and chase him down a couple of times.

“I was super excited. I couldn’t put my worm back on my hook, I was shaking so bad.”

Prior to that fish, Fothergill used the Neko rig to box a small keeper on a rock pile near his dock.

After his massive kicker busted up the school, Fothergill let the point rest. Around noon, he gave it one more look and found another keeper on a nearby boulder.

At 12:45 p.m., he made his final move and filled his limit by throwing a Chatterbait over a shallow, wind-blown gravel point.

“When I caught my fifth keeper, I was thinking, ‘Okay, I got some EQ points,’” Fothergill said. “I had no idea how far an 8 3/4-pound bass would go.”

Hailing from Grant, Ala., Loberg finished second with 49-12. Focusing on the mid lake region, he turned in daily limits of 18-01, 15-4 and 16-7.

Doing most of his work on isolated rock just off the bank, Loberg caught his fish on a hand-tied custom-made football jig with a Yamamoto Flappin’ Hog, a Damiki-rigged Strike King Z-Too, and a dropshot with a 6-inch Roboworm.

“You really had to try and get it in their face in the muddy water,” Loberg said. “In the cleaner water, if you messed a school up, you had to leave because they were done.”

Connor Jacob of Auburn, Ala. finished third with 48-9. His daily weights were 14-3, 17-9 and 16-13.

“Going into this tournament, after last year, I heard how pressured the lake was and how brush piles get beat on,” Jacob said. “So instead of bigger brush piles, I fished smaller brush, shallower brush — anything that might not get hit as hard.”

That plan served him well on Day 1, but the second day saw Jacob establish a good marina bite. On Day 3, the marina produced four of his keepers, with his fifth biting on a stump.

A dropshot with a 6-inch Roboworm in morning dawn produced most of Jacob’s fish. A late day crankbait fish gave him a 1 1/2-pound cull.

Fothergill won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-12.

Fothergill leads the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers standings with 878 points. Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas is in second place with 869, followed by Evan Kung of Pickering, Can. with 853, Cody Meyer of Eagle, Idaho with 853, and Matt Adams of Oxford, Ala. with 850.

The event was hosted by Visit Lake Eufaula.

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula - OK 6/20-6/22
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 15 52-08 200 $44,155.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 16-11 Day 3: 5 18-01
2. Andrew Loberg Grant, AL 15 49-12 199 $17,362.00
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 16-07
3. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 15 48-09 198 $13,022.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 17-09 Day 3: 5 16-13
4. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 15 46-05 197 $12,453.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 12-10
5. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 15 46-02 196 $11,486.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 11-10
6. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 14 43-08 195 $10,417.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 4 08-12
7. Matt Adams Oxford, AL 13 40-14 194 $9,549.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 3 07-13
8. Jack York Emory, TX 14 40-07 193 $8,681.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 4 11-15
9. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 11 36-06 192 $8,681.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 4 13-11 Day 3: 2 05-10
10. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 10 30-01 191 $8,681.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 71 622 1495-06
2 57 536 1286-15
3 5 38 109-11
----------------------------------
133 1196 2892-00

by AnglersChannel

O’Reilly Auto Parts Named Presenting Sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage Six at the James River

BENTON, Ky. (June 21, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that O’Reilly Auto Parts, a leading specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment and accessories, has been named the official presenting sponsor of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour event at the James River next week. MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will take place June 25-30 in Richmond, Virginia.

“This is a great opportunity for O’Reilly Auto Parts to support a fan-favorite outdoor sport, while also reminding customers that our expertise extends beyond highway vehicles,” said Hugo Sanchez, vice president of Advertising and Marketing for O’Reilly Auto Parts. “Customers can visit O’Reilly Auto Parts or oreillyauto.com for a wide variety of marine, agricultural and heavy-duty parts and accessories that we carry. We’re here to help whether you’re cruising down the highway, enjoying your favorite fishery or working on your land.”

While the James River has hosted numerous bass tournaments over the years, this will be the Bass Pro Tour’s maiden voyage on the fishery. MLF’s experience on the James includes Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournaments, several Toyota Series events, the 2003 Forrest Wood Cup and a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event in 2022. The Bass Pro Tour features anglers competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard.

General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will feature live coverage on the final two days of the Qualifying Rounds, the Knockout Round and the Championship Round of competition. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble apps.

Television coverage of General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will air as a two-hour episode on Discovery, starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

For additional information about MLF, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about O’Reilly Auto Parts and its full line of automotive replacement parts, visit OReillyAuto.com.

About O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
Since 1957, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc., has grown from a family-owned company to a leader in the automotive replacement parts industry. It supplies equipment, tools, parts, and accessories to professional service providers and doit-yourself customers across the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada. With more than 6,100 store locations and growing, the O’Reilly Professional Parts People deliver excellent customer service, knowledge and value to the communities they serve.

by AnglersChannel

Wool Sunshirt?

Whitewater Fishing innovative new Merino Fishing Hoodie blends the natural qualities of premium Merino wool with added features and performance for fishing.

MUSKEGON, Mich. (June 20, 2024) – Yes, a wool sunshirt. Leave it to Whitewater Fishing with their combined 100-years of apparel design expertise to leverage the inherent comfort, moisture-wicking, and cooling properties of Merino wool and merge them with sunshirt features and technologies. And it’s called the Merino Fishing Hoodie…

What is Merino wool?

For starters, it’s not that itchy, scratchy fabric in your ugly Christmas sweater. Rather, it’s a superfine natural fiber that’s sheared from Merino sheep. Originally from Spain, Merino sheep are now raised in South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States.

Key to Merino wool of the highest quality is the diameter of its fibers, measured in microns (one millionth of a meter). For example, routine Merino wool measures in the low 20’s, whereas Whitewater’s new Merino Hoodie comes in at 18.5 microns. That means more of Merino wool’s beneficial properties per square inch of material. (To give you an idea of how fine that is, human hairs average between 50 and 100 microns.)

So, what are those beneficial properties?

Temperature Regulation

Merino wool adapts to your body’s needs. It provides a degree of warmth when it’s cold and offers breathability when it’s warmer. So, in the case of Whitewater’s Merino Fishing Hoodie, it can perform as a lone outer-layer if it’s warm – or – there’s a bit of a nip in the air. Additionally, the Merino Fishing Hoodie serves as the ultimate mid-layer under raingear, such as Whitewater’s Great Lakes Pro and Tamer jacket.

Sun Protection

Perhaps surprising to some, Merino fibers possess natural pigments that absorb UV light. This inherent UV resistance provides some level of sun protection, but not enough for Whitewater. They jacked up the sun protection on the Merino Fishing Hoodie to 50+ UPF.

Odor Resistance

While Whitewater is famous for its antimicrobial treatments, in the case of the Merino Hoodie, the fabric alone offers native antimicrobial properties. This comes from a sheep’s ability to produce a natural wax (sheep grease) that repels water and prevents the accumulation of bacteria, mold, and fungus.

Moisture Wicking

Specialty fabrics and treatments, including some of those from Whitewater, are purposed for wicking moisture off your skin. Merino wool? It naturally lifts perspiration off and away as it does for sheep. Mother Nature is amazing…

Elasticity

Unlike conventional wool, Merino wool offers a degree of elasticity. Meaning, the fabric holds its shape. For the purposes of the Merino Fishing Hoodie, Whitewater blended in nylon and elastane to add the stretch and motion-promotion required for fishing.

Comfort and Softness

This is the no-brainer. Instantly feel the softness with one touch of the fabric. This softness translates into unrivaled comfort against your skin.

Hypoallergenic

Maybe not a requirement for fishing, but it’s factual, nonetheless. Merino wool is officially recognized as asthma and allergy friendly by the international certification body Allergy Standards Limited (ASL).

Fire-Resistant

Yes, it’s true. Merino wool fibers are difficult to ignite, have limited ability to sustain a flame, and can self-extinguish. Merino wool clothing is worn by firemen, police, soldiers, and rescue teams because of its natural fire protection.

Construction-wise, the Merino Fishing Hoodie features flatlock seams for maximum durability and comfort. The exceptional flatlock seams are visible on the outside and designed to keep the smooth Merino feel on the inside.

The Merino Fishing Hoodie’s premium 3-piece hood is designed for fit and comfort, as well as sun protection. And, in cooler conditions, it yields a level warmth.

You might pay a little more for the Merino Fishing Hoodie, but when you consider all the benefits of Merino wool, it’s really more of an investment.

Merino Fishing Hoodie FEATURES:

Featuring 83% 18.5-micron Merino wool, 12% nylon, and 5% elastane for the perfect blend of stretch with all the benefits of Merino wool
Lightweight 120g fabric
Natural thermal regulation
Natural moisture-wicking
Natural antimicrobial
Natural sun protection increased to 50+ UPF
3-piece hood offers sun protection and warmth if temps drop
Flatlock seams for next-to-skin comfort and overall durability

$129.99

by AnglersChannel

Minimal Footprint Rain Gear

Whitewater Fishing’s Packable Rain Jacket and Pant scrunches into a grapefruit-sized bag—perfect for “those days”

MUSKEGON, Mich. (June 18, 2024) – If there’s a constant in fishing, it’s unpredictable weather, like wind, spray, rain. Spend any time on the water and you’ll encounter them all, occasionally at the same time… Yes, “those days” are as certain as death and taxes.

But we all know that anglers who keep dry and comfortable can stay focused on the business at hand – namely rigging, presenting, and catching fish – catch way more fish, while lesser prepared anglers run for the barn.

STEEL GREY

Whitewater Fishing makes apparel that inspires confidence, helping anglers brave Mother Nature so they can fish longer, better, more often, and ultimately earn more success. While Whitewater’s rain gear products run the gamut – one of our favorites is the wallet-friendly Packable Rain Jacket and Pant, foundational apparel pieces that employ the best materials, technologies, and tailoring so anglers can enjoy versatile, comfortable, and highly packable, breathable waterproof protection on demand.

Plus, the Packable Rain Jacket and Pant scrunches to the size of a grapefruit for easy storage in boat compartments, under a truck seat, in your backpack, or even larger tackle boxes. And, given minimal cost, they’re the perfect rainsuit to buy for guests who inevitably show up to fish with little or no gear… Just keep ‘em in your boat storage locker and prepare to play hero when the skies turn gray and release the wet stuff…

Gear designed to keep anglers dry serves no purpose if they soak themselves with sweat because it doesn’t breathe. The remarkable performance of the new Whitewater Packable Rain Jacket and Pant begins with a 100% polyester interlock fabric with a laminated interior lining and optimal balance of 10K water resistance and 10K breathability. Fully taped seams, waterproof zippers, and adjustable Velcro cuff closures at the wrists and ankles further defy the elements. The result is comfortable, lightweight rainwear that wicks moisture from the inside as well as it protects on the outside.

The Whitewater Packable Rain Jacket features a zip-away adjustable hood and high storm collar that offer protection by design. Two zippered side pockets deliver hand warming and secure gear storage, while a sculpted, tailored fit looks great, but feels and moves even better. The Whitewater Packable Rain Pant features an elastic waistband with adjustable drawcord. Both highly packable garments stow conveniently inside included bags for easy storage and access.

BLACK

Whitewater Packable Rain Jacket Features & Specs

Polyester interlock fabric with laminated interior lining with optimal balance of water resistance and breathability
Moisture wicking for comfort and fast drying
Fully taped seams
Premium waterproof zippers
Adjustable Velcro cuff closures
Zip-away adjustable hood
Tailored fit for comfort and mobility
Two zippered side pockets
Highly packable design stows in included stuff bag
Available in five sizes, men’s SM-3X
Available in Black or Steel Gray

MSRP $99.99

Whitewater Packable Rain Pant Features & Specs

Polyester interlock fabric with laminated interior lining with optimal balance of water resistance and breathability
Moisture wicking for comfort and fast drying
Fully taped seams
Elastic waistband with adjustable drawcord
Adjustable Velcro cuff closures
Tailored fit for comfort and mobility
Highly packable design stows in included stuff bag
Available in five sizes, men’s SM-3X
Available in Black or Steel Grey

MSRP $89.99

BLACK

STEEL GREY

Do yourself a favor and invest in a Whitewater Packable Rain Jacket and Pant for easy storage, transport, and supreme performance – all on a budget. They’re the perfect suit to outfit the entire family, big or small, and go on that week-long canoe trip or hit the big water without having to worry about grimaces and complaints…

by AnglersChannel

Moynagh manages Eufaula for Day 1 lead at Bassmaster Open

June 20, 2024

Moynagh manages Eufaula for Day 1 lead at Bassmaster Open

EUFAULA, Okla. — It’s a big lake, but Jim Moynagh committed to what he believed was the region with the greatest potential and caught a five-bass limit of 19 pounds, 5 ounces to lead Day 1 of the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula presented by SEVIIN.

The seasoned pro from Remer, Minn., said he took his best shot and paid close attention to the response from the bass. Doing so gave Moynagh a lead of 1-4 over Andrew Loberg.

“Practice was pretty sporadic and pretty sparse, so I went with what I thought would give me the best chance to catch a 5-pounder,” Moynagh said. “Things just started to develop and each bite became a feel for what I needed to do today.

“Every bite’s a clue and when you run into the right size fish, that (confirms your belief.)”

On a day when high heat and falling water presented tough fishing conditions, Moynagh was understandably guarded with his details. Noting that he stayed in one of the lake’s main basins, Moynagh said he fished a variety of habitat features, but none yielded much consistency.

“I caught eight keepers today and it was one here, one there,” Moynagh said. “I didn’t catch two on any one location.”

As Moynagh explained, the limited success he found in practice proved helpful — but more as a deterrent than encouragement.

“So much of practice I spent not catching anything, so I knew a lot of what not to do,” Moynagh said. “So, I kinda went with how I caught one that was about 5 pounds in practice. I didn’t catch many in practice. When I tried that pattern, I didn’t do that great, but I caught that one 5-pounder.

“Today, I went with that pattern, got a bite. A little while later, I got another bite. I was ecstatic because they were decent fish.”

With nearly a 4-pound average, Moynagh said his day exceeded his expectations.

“Realistically, I was hoping I could get 10 pounds each day,” he said. “On my best days of practice, one day I had 12 pounds, one day I had 10.

“Both of those days were in different basins. Today, I almost went to the basin where I had more bites in practice. I went to where I had fewer bites, but that’s where I caught the 5-pounder. I guess that was a good decision.”

Moynagh said two unspecified baits produced his weight. He had his limit around 10:30 a.m. and made his last cull with 90 minutes left in his fishing day.

“If I can just get five keepers tomorrow, it should be a decent amount of weight,” Moynagh said.

Hailing from Grant, Ala., Loberg is in second place with 18-1. Knowing he’d be facing a challenging scenario, he committed to a game plan based on diligence and probability.

“I just picked a few different spots and a handful of baits and really just ground away,” he said. “I was just keeping my lines wet.

“When the lake’s not fishing very good, you want to run around and hopefully find a better spot. But, in reality, you have to stay where you’re at and pick everything apart.”

Loberg anchored his bag with a 6-6. Despite seeing Eufaula’s potential during the days leading up to the tournament, he said his Day 1 kicker proved pleasantly surprising.

“I know there are big ones in this lake and I was lucky to catch a couple of them in practice,” Loberg said. “It was one of those deals where if you’re in the right area at the right time, you might get a good bite.

“There was definitely a lot of boats running around in my area and the pressure definitely got to them. But they live there.”

Easton Fothergill, a native of Grand Rapids, Minn., and a veteran of the powerhouse fishing team at the University of Montevallo (Ala.), is in third place with 17-12. Taking off in the 12th of 14 flights, Fothergill enjoyed the rare gift of fishing in nearly complete solitude.

“I was expecting a lot of boats in my area and I actually fished alone most of the day, which was super surprising to me,” Fothergill said. “I was boat 161 today and when I got to my spot, there was no one there.”

Fothergill said his area had five main spots. Rotating through his spots kept the him in the action.

Using a single slow-moving bait, Fothergill said his productivity started quickly.

“I caught a 4-pounder in the first five minutes I was there, so that was a super-good start,” he said. “Tomorrow’s a different day. I just have to go out and work on them and see how we do.”

Loberg is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 6-6.

Zach Roberts of Morris, Okla., leads the co-angler division with 8-7.

Michael Harp of Linden, Texas, holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 6-1.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. CT at Nichols Point. The weigh-in will be held at the Nichols Point at 2 p.m.

The event is being hosted by Visit Lake Eufaula.

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula - OK 6/20-6/22
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Jim Moynagh Remer, MN 5 19-05 200
Day 1: 5 19-05
2. Andrew Loberg Grant, AL 5 18-01 199
Day 1: 5 18-01
3. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 5 17-12 198
Day 1: 5 17-12
4. Matt Adams Oxford, AL 5 17-09 197
Day 1: 5 17-09
5. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 17-02 196
Day 1: 5 17-02
6. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 5 17-01 195
Day 1: 5 17-01
7. Sean Clayton Seneca, SC 5 16-11 194
Day 1: 5 16-11
7. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 16-11 194
Day 1: 5 16-11
9. Justin Phillips Checotah, OK 5 16-03 192
Day 1: 5 16-03
10. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 5 15-11 191
Day 1: 5 15-11
11. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 15-08 190
Day 1: 5 15-08
12. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 5 15-05 189
Day 1: 5 15-05
13. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 15-04 188
Day 1: 5 15-04
14. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 5 15-01 187
Day 1: 5 15-01
15. Brett Cannon Kiln, MS 5 15-00 186
Day 1: 5 15-00
16. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 14-14 185
Day 1: 5 14-14
17. Jack York Emory, TX 5 14-05 184
Day 1: 5 14-05
18. Keith Brashers Rogers, AR 5 14-03 183
Day 1: 5 14-03
18. Shane Fields Mcalester, OK 5 14-03 183
Day 1: 5 14-03
18. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 5 14-03 183
Day 1: 5 14-03
21. Mike Rhinehart Pottsville, AR 5 13-15 180
Day 1: 5 13-15
22. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 5 13-14 179
Day 1: 5 13-14
23. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 13-10 178
Day 1: 5 13-10
24. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 13-03 177
Day 1: 5 13-03
25. Kevin Dritschler Prosper, TX 5 13-02 176
Day 1: 5 13-02
26. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 5 13-00 175
Day 1: 5 13-00
27. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 4 12-15 174
Day 1: 4 12-15
28. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 4 12-14 173
Day 1: 4 12-14
29. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 5 12-13 172
Day 1: 5 12-13
30. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 5 12-13 171
Day 1: 5 12-13
31. Blake Schroeder Whitehouse, TX 5 12-12 170
Day 1: 5 12-12
32. Kollin Crawford Broken Bow, OK 5 12-10 169
Day 1: 5 12-10
32. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 12-10 169
Day 1: 5 12-10
34. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 4 12-10 167
Day 1: 4 12-10
35. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 5 12-07 166
Day 1: 5 12-07
35. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 5 12-07 166
Day 1: 5 12-07
35. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 5 12-07 166
Day 1: 5 12-07
38. Paul Browning Monahans, TX 5 12-06 163
Day 1: 5 12-06
38. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 12-06 163
Day 1: 5 12-06
40. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 5 12-05 161
Day 1: 5 12-05
41. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 5 12-03 160
Day 1: 5 12-03
41. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 5 12-03 160
Day 1: 5 12-03
43. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 12-01 158
Day 1: 5 12-01
44. Josh Butler Hayden, AL 4 12-01 157
Day 1: 4 12-01
45. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 5 11-15 156
Day 1: 5 11-15
45. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 5 11-15 156
Day 1: 5 11-15
47. Mark Watson Victoria, TX 4 11-12 154
Day 1: 4 11-12
48. Eli Brumnett Wagoner, OK 5 11-11 153
Day 1: 5 11-11
49. Kyle Palmer Winchester, TN 5 11-09 152
Day 1: 5 11-09
50. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 11-05 151
Day 1: 5 11-05
50. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 5 11-05 151
Day 1: 5 11-05
52. Tommy Dunaway Havana, FL 5 11-02 149
Day 1: 5 11-02
52. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 5 11-02 149
Day 1: 5 11-02
52. Kyle Weisenburger Columbus Grv, OH 5 11-02 149
Day 1: 5 11-02
55. Caden Cowan Stephenville, TX 5 11-01 146
Day 1: 5 11-01
56. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 11-00 145
Day 1: 5 11-00
57. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 5 10-14 144
Day 1: 5 10-14
57. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 5 10-14 144
Day 1: 5 10-14
59. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 5 10-13 142
Day 1: 5 10-13
60. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 5 10-12 141
Day 1: 5 10-12
61. Hunter Stanley Mustang, OK 3 10-10 140
Day 1: 3 10-10
62. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 4 10-07 139
Day 1: 4 10-07
63. Yui Aoki Minamitsurugun JAPAN 5 10-06 138
Day 1: 5 10-06
63. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 10-06 138
Day 1: 5 10-06
65. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 4 10-06 136
Day 1: 4 10-06
66. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 5 10-05 135
Day 1: 5 10-05
66. Dalton Smith Taylorsville, KY 5 10-05 135
Day 1: 5 10-05
66. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 5 10-05 135
Day 1: 5 10-05
69. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 5 10-04 132
Day 1: 5 10-04
70. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 5 10-00 131
Day 1: 5 10-00
71. Jason Abram Piney Flats, TN 3 09-15 130
Day 1: 3 09-15
72. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 5 09-14 129
Day 1: 5 09-14
73. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 09-11 128
Day 1: 5 09-11
74. Richard Lowitzki Fort Myers, FL 4 09-09 127
Day 1: 4 09-09
75. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 5 09-07 126
Day 1: 5 09-07
76. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 09-05 125
Day 1: 5 09-05
76. Jay Nyce Rogers, AR 5 09-05 125
Day 1: 5 09-05
78. Bryan Finch Belton, TX 4 09-04 123
Day 1: 4 09-04
79. Ben Burk Norman, OK 5 09-02 122
Day 1: 5 09-02
80. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 5 09-00 121
Day 1: 5 09-00
81. Lucas Ragusa Gonzales, LA 3 09-00 120
Day 1: 3 09-00
82. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 4 08-15 119
Day 1: 4 08-15
83. Ian Leybas Mcalester, OK 4 08-12 118
Day 1: 4 08-12
84. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 5 08-11 117
Day 1: 5 08-11
85. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 3 08-10 116
Day 1: 3 08-10
86. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 4 08-09 115
Day 1: 4 08-09
87. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 4 08-08 114
Day 1: 4 08-08
88. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 3 08-06 113
Day 1: 3 08-06
89. Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI 4 08-04 112
Day 1: 4 08-04
90. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 08-03 111
Day 1: 5 08-03
91. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 4 08-02 110
Day 1: 4 08-02
92. Tanner Barton Edmond, OK 4 08-01 109
Day 1: 4 08-01
93. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 4 07-15 108
Day 1: 4 07-15
94. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 4 07-13 107
Day 1: 4 07-13
94. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 4 07-13 107
Day 1: 4 07-13
96. Bryan Partak Marseilles, IL 4 07-12 105
Day 1: 4 07-12
97. Naohiro Maruo Ayagawa Town Ayauta Kag 3 07-12 104
Day 1: 3 07-12
98. Steven Doolittle Chelsea, OK 3 07-11 103
Day 1: 3 07-11
99. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 4 07-09 102
Day 1: 4 07-09
100. Jeremy Radford Huntly, VA 2 07-09 101
Day 1: 2 07-09
101. Seiji Kato Los Alamitos CA JAPAN 3 07-06 100
Day 1: 3 07-06
102. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 3 07-05 99
Day 1: 3 07-05
103. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 2 07-02 98
Day 1: 2 07-02
104. Jackson Swisher Lake City, FL 4 06-15 97
Day 1: 4 06-15
105. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 3 06-15 96
Day 1: 3 06-15
106. Craig Danna West Monroe, LA 3 06-13 95
Day 1: 3 06-13
107. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 4 06-10 94
Day 1: 4 06-10
108. Masayuki Matsushita Porter TX JAPAN 3 06-10 93
Day 1: 3 06-10
109. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 3 06-09 92
Day 1: 3 06-09
110. Bailey Bleser Burlington, WI 3 06-08 91
Day 1: 3 06-08
111. Brian Post Janesville, WI 3 06-04 90
Day 1: 3 06-04
111. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 3 06-04 90
Day 1: 3 06-04
113. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 3 06-01 88
Day 1: 3 06-01
114. Gary Hall Wardville, OK 4 05-15 87
Day 1: 4 05-15
115. Stephanie Hemphill - Pellerin Village Mills, TX 3 05-15 86
Day 1: 3 05-15
115. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 3 05-15 86
Day 1: 3 05-15
117. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 3 05-13 84
Day 1: 3 05-13
118. Andy Newcomb Camdenton, MO 3 05-11 83
Day 1: 3 05-11
119. Wardell Motley III Little Rock, AR 2 05-11 82
Day 1: 2 05-11
120. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 2 05-10 81
Day 1: 2 05-10
121. Steve Drinnon Wetumpka, AL 2 05-09 80
Day 1: 2 05-09
122. Lance Owen Greer, SC 2 05-03 79
Day 1: 2 05-03
123. Joe Wieberg Freeburg, MO 1 05-03 78
Day 1: 1 05-03
124. Lance Crawford Broken Bow, OK 3 05-02 77
Day 1: 3 05-02
124. Colton White Moore, OK 3 05-02 77
Day 1: 3 05-02
126. Allen Armour Cumming, GA 2 05-00 75
Day 1: 2 05-00
126. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 2 05-00 75
Day 1: 2 05-00
128. Clint Leonard Jr Saint Cloud, FL 2 04-14 73
Day 1: 2 04-14
129. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 3 04-11 72
Day 1: 3 04-11
130. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 3 04-10 71
Day 1: 3 04-10
131. Kyle Metzger Pearl River, LA 3 04-09 70
Day 1: 3 04-09
131. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 3 04-09 70
Day 1: 3 04-09
131. Derrick Sadlowski Monaca, PA 3 04-09 70
Day 1: 3 04-09
134. Billy Billeaud Lafayette, LA 1 04-09 67
Day 1: 1 04-09
135. Billy Smith Montgomery, TX 2 04-08 66
Day 1: 2 04-08
135. Roland Stevens Prairieville, LA 2 04-08 66
Day 1: 2 04-08
137. Trace Antunes III Henderson, TX 3 04-07 64
Day 1: 3 04-07
138. John Voyles Petersburg, IN 3 04-05 63
Day 1: 3 04-05
139. Stan Kaminski Jonestown, TX 2 04-05 62
Day 1: 2 04-05
140. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 2 04-04 61
Day 1: 2 04-04
141. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 2 04-03 60
Day 1: 2 04-03
141. Frank Williams Mountain Home, AR 2 04-03 60
Day 1: 2 04-03
143. Kevin Rogers Pleasant Hill, MO 2 04-02 58
Day 1: 2 04-02
143. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 2 04-02 58
Day 1: 2 04-02
145. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 1 04-02 56
Day 1: 1 04-02
146. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 2 04-01 55
Day 1: 2 04-01
147. Tai Au Glendale, AZ 2 03-15 54
Day 1: 2 03-15
148. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 2 03-14 53
Day 1: 2 03-14
149. Phillip Kroll Otego, NY 2 03-13 52
Day 1: 2 03-13
150. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 1 03-13 51
Day 1: 1 03-13
150. Bart Stanisz Austin, TX 1 03-13 51
Day 1: 1 03-13
152. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 2 03-12 49
Day 1: 2 03-12
153. Jeremiah Kindy Benton, AR 2 03-10 48
Day 1: 2 03-10
154. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 2 03-07 47
Day 1: 2 03-07
155. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 2 03-05 46
Day 1: 2 03-05
156. Elijah Benson Dahlonega, GA 2 03-04 45
Day 1: 2 03-04
157. Brent Shores Boise, ID 1 03-02 44
Day 1: 1 03-02
158. Zack Williams Shell Knob, MO 2 02-15 43
Day 1: 2 02-15
159. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 1 02-13 42
Day 1: 1 02-13
160. Trevor McKinney Noble, IL 1 02-08 41
Day 1: 1 02-08
161. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 1 02-06 40
Day 1: 1 02-06
161. Tom Lloyd Jr Springfield, MO 1 02-06 40
Day 1: 1 02-06
163. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 1 02-05 38
Day 1: 1 02-05
163. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 1 02-05 38
Day 1: 1 02-05
165. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 1 02-01 36
Day 1: 1 02-01
165. Garrett Warren Scottsboro, AL 1 02-01 36
Day 1: 1 02-01
167. Evan Ferguson Catlettsburg, KY 1 02-00 34
Day 1: 1 02-00
168. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 1 01-15 33
Day 1: 1 01-15
169. Philip Roesener Choctaw, OK 1 01-13 32
Day 1: 1 01-13
170. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 1 01-11 31
Day 1: 1 01-11
171. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 1 01-10 30
Day 1: 1 01-10
172. Darold Gleason Many, LA 1 01-09 29
Day 1: 1 01-09
173. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 1 01-08 28
Day 1: 1 01-08
173. Tim Tyndell Mineola, TX 1 01-08 28
Day 1: 1 01-08
175. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 1 01-07 26
Day 1: 1 01-07
176. Richard Kaluba Litchfield, OH 1 01-06 25
Day 1: 1 01-06
176. Nathan Thompson Eagan, MN 1 01-06 25
Day 1: 1 01-06
178. Christian Ostrander Turlock, CA 1 01-05 23
Day 1: 1 01-05
179. Wardell Motley Jr Cleburne, TX 1 00-04 22
Day 1: 1 00-04
180. Sean Anderson Leesville, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Brian Mathis Manchaca, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Yukihiro Sawamura Harker Heights, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Dylan Welton Middleville, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Kelvin Wilcox Hazlehurst, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Wyatt Wimberley Broaddus, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
180. Doc Wootton Collierville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
195. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 71 622 1495-06
----------------------------------
71 622 1495-06

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula - OK 6/20-6/22
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula OK.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Zach Roberts Morris, OK 3 08-07 200
Day 1: 3 08-07
2. Craig Schmidt Prague, NE 3 08-01 199
Day 1: 3 08-01
3. Mike Bennett Eufaula, OK 3 07-11 198
Day 1: 3 07-11
4. Adam Tims Royse City, TX 3 06-12 197
Day 1: 3 06-12
5. Michael Harp Linden, TX 3 06-01 196
Day 1: 3 06-01
6. Lonnie Miller Broken Arrow, OK 3 05-15 195
Day 1: 3 05-15
7. Landon Lawson Jonesborough, TN 3 05-10 194
Day 1: 3 05-10
7. Mike Steckel Las Vegas, NV 3 05-10 194
Day 1: 3 05-10
9. Takaaki Kojima Temecula CA JAPAN 3 05-08 192
Day 1: 3 05-08
10. Neill Beckham Jacksonville, TX 2 05-00 191
Day 1: 2 05-00
11. Daniel Vasquez Boynton Beach, FL 1 04-09 190
Day 1: 1 04-09
12. John Yezak Spring, TX 2 04-08 189
Day 1: 2 04-08
13. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 2 04-05 188
Day 1: 2 04-05
13. David Waack Cary, NC 2 04-05 188
Day 1: 2 04-05
15. Sam Mitchell Kiowa, OK 3 04-02 186
Day 1: 3 04-02
16. Willy Becker Kansas City, MO 2 04-00 185
Day 1: 2 04-00
16. Tristian Dupuis Shreveport, LA 2 04-00 185
Day 1: 2 04-00
16. Morgan Payne Kilgore, TX 2 04-00 185
Day 1: 2 04-00
19. Ryan Rodgers Perry, OK 1 03-12 182
Day 1: 1 03-12
20. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 2 03-09 181
Day 1: 2 03-09
21. Chris Gaudin East Camden, AR 2 03-06 180
Day 1: 2 03-06
22. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 2 03-03 179
Day 1: 2 03-03
22. Marty Trent Dodge City, KS 2 03-03 179
Day 1: 2 03-03
24. Jimmy Fellegy Mustang, OK 1 02-13 177
Day 1: 1 02-13
25. Jay Northcutt Little Elm, TX 1 02-12 176
Day 1: 1 02-12
26. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 1 02-11 175
Day 1: 1 02-11
27. Troy Enmeier Enid, OK 1 02-07 174
Day 1: 1 02-07
28. Eddie Kidd Fort Moore, GA 1 02-06 173
Day 1: 1 02-06
29. Andrew Shores Boise, ID 1 02-01 172
Day 1: 1 02-01
30. Chris Harrell Conroe, TX 1 02-00 171
Day 1: 1 02-00
30. Albert Jones Jr Covington, GA 1 02-00 171
Day 1: 1 02-00
32. Robert Jacuzzi Mount Ida, AR 1 01-15 169
Day 1: 1 01-15
32. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 1 01-15 169
Day 1: 1 01-15
34. Mark Cowart Kearney, MO 1 01-12 167
Day 1: 1 01-12
34. Kyle Gates Little Rock, AR 1 01-12 167
Day 1: 1 01-12
34. Noel Rendon Mansfield, TX 1 01-12 167
Day 1: 1 01-12
37. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 1 01-09 164
Day 1: 1 01-09
38. Frank Clymer Kinta, OK 1 01-08 163
Day 1: 1 01-08
39. Brandon Clayton Haslet , TX 1 01-07 162
Day 1: 1 01-07
40. Ronald Robbs Fredericktown, MO 1 01-06 161
Day 1: 1 01-06
40. Kevin Roberts Cherokee, OK 1 01-06 161
Day 1: 1 01-06
42. Donald Biggs Murphysboro, IL 1 01-04 159
Day 1: 1 01-04
43. Johnny Ramos Odessa, TX 1 00-10 158
Day 1: 1 00-10
44. Stephen Babcock Belton, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Jason Barber Gun Barrel City, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Gary Bates Athens, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Rex Ellis Gore, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Jack Evans Bucklin, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Richard Greene Ocala, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Danny Hanna Jr Corsicana, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Nathan Harbison Jasper, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Colten Hutson Edmond, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Tiffany Leal Austin, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Aaron Miller Wichita Falls, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Gene Mitchell Stuart, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Jon Mohon Sr Metairie, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Kara Moss Tyler, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Jimmy Obrien Southampton, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. David Palma Hobbs, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. William Payne Kilgore, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Ethan Puller Guthrie, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Clark Smallwood Paris, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Hayden Spradling Gilbert, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Scott Springer Lisle, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. James Thompson Dodge City, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Kerry Trent Dodge City, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Travis Villines Kansas City, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Craig Wiser Independence, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
44. Melvin Yezak Bremond, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 10 74 152-15
----------------------------------
10 74 152-15

by AnglersChannel

Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake could be ‘mystery’ for anglers

June 20, 2024

Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake could be ‘mystery’ for anglers

CULLMAN, Ala. — Though he won’t be competing in the 2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake, David Kilgore knows a thing or two when it comes to fishing this central Alabama hotbed.

The 50-year-old Jasper, Ala., resident is known as something of a wizard on the lake, having won a Bassmaster Southern Open tournament here a decade ago — one of four B.A.S.S. victories in his lengthy career, and all coming in his home state. Kilgore is a fierce stick on Smith, and he proved it by winning consecutive one-day derbies on the 21,000-acre fishery last month.

So how does the hometown ace, who's currently fishing the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, think his favorite fishery will perform when 99 Elite anglers compete here June 27-30?

“No one knows really,” he said. “It’s a mystery.”

Kilgore’s not being coy or trying to keep the world’s best bass anglers from hitting his Smith Lake honey holes. Not at all. He said he really isn’t sure what the Elite Series crew should expect later this month.

And why?

“This tournament is pretty late in the season and there have already been a lot of tournaments in there this year,” he said. “I won two up there with 15.8 and 17 pounds a month ago. But the 15- and 16-inch spotted bass the place was filled with three or four years ago, those 3 1/2- and 4-pounders, they’ve been much harder to find.

“So, I think you’re gonna see a lot of 9-, 10- (and) 11-pound bags coming in. The bass have been a bit smaller, and while that may be promising for the future, it’s not especially great for right now.”

Kilgore suspects the best bags will come from anglers who locate pockets of herring off points in the lake. He assumes most anglers will be using forward-facing sonar and thinks key offshore bites could play a role, too.

The scalding Alabama heat should also play a role, and likely in more ways than one.

“Thursday and Friday fishing should be OK, but by Saturday, boats are going to be everywhere on the water,” he said. “I took off recently from Cullman about 5 a.m. with no problem, but when I got back at noon, it was absolute chaos over there. The recreational boat traffic on the weekend — the ski boats, the Jet Skis — those boats are throwing big wakes.

“They’re not doing it because they’re mad at us or anything. They just don’t realize how a 4-foot wave can knock you around in a bass boat. They’ll smile and wave as they zip by. It’ll be interesting to see how the LiveScopers handle that, trying to hold a spot on a fish when they’re bouncing around out there.”

Kilgore thinks anglers with early bites will have the best chance. When the summer sun gets overhead, though, he thinks action could slow to a crawl.

“If there’s some chop out there, they could be OK,” he said. “But if it’s slick, it could be a long day for a lot of guys. I’d fish super-shallow early, looking for a largemouth bite on a bluff. You might get a couple hours out of that. Then I’d fish every point I know, LiveScoping with a topwater bait like a Strike King Sexy Dawg. I might try a Fluke-style bait if I need to be under the water a little bit.”

As for a winning weight, Kilgore made a conservative estimate.

“I think 15 pounds a day wins it, unless someone finds the mother lode of big spots out there,” he said. “But if I had 15 pounds a day, I’d be thrilled.”

Only time will tell if competitors will feel the same come tournament time.

The TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake will begin at 6 a.m. CT each day from Smith Lake Park in Cullman. Weigh-ins are scheduled for 2 p.m. The full field will fish for the first two days of the derby with a cut to the Top 50 on Day 3 and to the Top 10 on the final day. Fans can follow the action live on Bassmaster.com.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday at 7:00-10:00 a.m. and Sunday at 7:00-a.m.-12:00 p.m.

VisitCullman.com is hosting the tournament.

About B.A.S.S.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.com

by AnglersChannel

Unified Pros Announces the Ultimate Angler World Championship

Unified Pros and the State of Alabama Join Forces to Offer the Largest Pro & Amateur Bass Fishing Tournament and Payout Ever on Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro, AL, October 5th-11th, 2025.

Scottsboro, AL (June 19, 2024) – Dig into tournament bass fishing and history reveals the blood, sweat, and tears of a dedicated group of bass anglers and hard-working folks in Alabama. Front and center, we are talking about the late Ray Scott, the genius behind the first pro bass fishing tournaments going back to the 1960s.

Years after the launch of the Bassmaster Series and the Bassmaster Classic (aka “The Super Bowl of Bass Fishing”), numerous other national pro bass fishing circuits popped up, many of which still exist today, like Bassmaster itself, MLF, NPFL, and many others.

Well, meet a new organization similarly founded in Scott’s home state of Alabama, a group that refers to itself as Unified Pros, a nonprofit with no ownership, promising to be the biggest news in tournament bass fishing since those early days of Ray Scott, Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, and other passionate anglers who got the whole ball of wax started, thus creating a billion-dollar-plus industry across the world.

Working hand-in-hand, the new organization Unified Pros and the state of Alabama will launch its first tournament, the Ultimate Angler Championship—October 5th- 11th on Lake
Guntersville, near Scottsboro, AL. with a guaranteed 1st Place payout of $500,000—the largest pot in bass fishing’s history—the tournament will over a total of over 1 million in cash
payouts.

The vision is to inspire and unify a global community of professional athletes from all leagues to champion the power of the outdoors, fostering unity, excellence, competition, and philanthropy—and elevate the sportfishing, the outdoors, and conservation. Alabama State Senator Majority Leader, Steve Livingston, comments: “Alabama offers outdoor recreational activities unlike any other place in the world, and we are committed to conserving our abundant, God-given natural resources. We are absolutely thrilled to host The Ultimate Angler World Championship in Scottsboro, as we put Alabama on the map for competitive fishing and will continue to raise funds for further conservation initiatives.”

How did the group conceive and underwrite such an amazing tournament? The team’s concept was driven by passionate pro anglers and other industry folks looking for a way to unite and raise bass fishing to an entirely new level for “the love of the game.” In combination with the state of Alabama, as well as local partners, City of Scottsboro, Jackson County and state leadership, the group also wanted to raise awareness of the state’s healthy bass fisheries and help raise funds for conservation—ultimately, to fund grants for federal matched dollars for conservation grants. The unprecedented payout is secured and over $1 million will go to a guaranteed, top 10 finish payout to kickstart United Pros’ and greater Alabama’s first event, which is slated to occur every year in Alabama.

The team modeled the Ultimate Angler Tournament after the Masters US Open, and like the Masters US Open, Ultimate Angler will be open to qualifying college anglers, amateurs, and
pros. United Pros also modeled the tournament after AP college football, essentially creating a bass fishing version of an FCS game, the first and only champion crowned across multiple
leagues and tournament trails.

The other thing that separates United Pros inaugural event from other tournaments is that it will not be sponsor-driven. All of the money is being underwritten by the state of Alabama,
Jackson County, and the City of Scottsboro.

Also note: This tournament will have a five fish limit and prohibit use of forward-facing sonar.

Nothing against today’s fishing technology, but United Pros really wanted to bring the sport back to what it used to be before forward-facing sonar. This event will showcase all the lures
and techniques that make up professional bass fishing. It may just bring more intuition, hard work, and even luck back into the game; After all, that’s how bass fishing started with conservation and love for the outdoors.

Event Formats: Unified Pros’ “Ultimate Angler” Intro—World Championship

Get ready for the most exhilarating showdown in the world of bass fishing—the Ultimate Angler Championship! The largest payout ever to declare a champion across all professional
fishing leagues, and with one of the largest cash payouts in bass fishing history. Brace yourself as fearless anglers paint a breathtaking backdrop; this championship promises heart-pounding action and jaw-dropping catches that will leave you in awe. The anticipation is palpable as top-notch fishermen armed with their skillful techniques, cutting edge gear, and unwavering determination prepare to battle it out for the coveted title of “Ultimate Angler.”

Goose Pond on Lake Guntersville sets the stage like no other venue can. With its pristine waters shimmering under the golden sun and surrounded by lush greenery, it is a true angler’s paradise. The legendary body of water boasts some of the biggest and most elusive bass known to mankind. Only those who can decipher their secretive behavior and masterfully lure them into biting will triumph over these formidable opponents.

The atmosphere crackles with excitement as spectators line the shores, eagerly awaiting each cast and electrifying hookset. As boats race across the crystal-clear lake surface, adrenaline courses through every angler’s veins while they navigate through hidden cover and strategic hotspots in pursuit of that mythical catch.

The Ultimate Angler Championship is not just a fishing tournament; it is a celebration of the enduring spirit of those who dare to chase their dreams. It unites anglers from diverse backgrounds, highlighting their talents while fostering camaraderie and mutual respect for the sport we all love at a place “Where tournament bass fishing all began… Alabama.”

So, mark your calendars for October 5-11, 2025, and make your way to Jackson County, in Scottsboro, Alabama. Witness history unfold as the finest qualified bass anglers in the world battle against nature in an epic quest to become the Ultimate Angler World Champion.

Prepare for non-stop thrills, heart-stopping moments, and an experience that will forever be etched in your memory—and bass fishing history.

About Unified Pros
Unified Pros, a nonprofit alliance of professional athletes, through our sanctioned competitions, charity events, and membership, aim to elevate the love for outdoor competition while raising awareness for our fisheries, habitat, and their continued conservation. We envision an inclusive world where athletes collaborate and compete in the outdoor arena to create transformative experiences that make a lasting impact on individuals, communities, professional athletes, and the Sport of Bass Fishing. Through collaborative partnerships with esteemed organizations such as the Major League Fishing Anglers Association (MLFAA), Bassmaster Professional Anglers, National Professional Fishing league (NPFL), NFL Professional Players Association (NFLPA), MLB Players Association (MLBPA), NBA Players Association (NBAPA), and Professional Golfers Association (PGA), we aim to create Pro-Pro events that bring together professionals from various sports disciplines in unique competitive formats. These events will not only offer major payments to winners but also serve as platforms to raise awareness for outdoor activities and conservation efforts. By harnessing the collective influence of these associations, we envision creating extraordinary experiences that unite athletes, build camaraderie, and promote the importance of preserving our outdoors and fisheries.

REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 1, 2024

https://www.theultimateangler.org/

Contact: [email protected]

by AnglersChannel

Travel Tuesday - Have You Truly Been Tested?

By Pete Robbins - Half Past First Cast

My personal best largemouth bass is 12 pounds. I’m immensely proud of that fish and thankful that I had a chance to capture it, but nothing about it truly stressed my tackle. The fight was certainly less than a minute long. In fact, while I’ve had bass strip drag and otherwise test my gear, I’ve never had one that truly provided a physical challenge.

That’s what I love about our trips to Panama – catching tuna, some of which weigh more than me. I’ve been part of landing a 205-pounder. This year one of our traveling partners handled a 247-pounder on his own – over two hours of backbreaking labor. Two days later, he and I were part of a four-angler team that spent over three hours working on a tuna that would’ve gone north of 300 before the hook pulled. It was exhausting and demoralizing. Everyone on the boat just silently retreated to separate corners and we started the long ride back to the lodge, an hour late for appetizers.

Nevertheless, while bass fishing will always be my bread and butter, I love our opportunities to try – and occasionally fail – to beat up on true giants. On our first trip to Panama, tangling with a 135 convinced me to join a gym. Subsequent trips and lots of questions have led me to understand more about how to properly tire them out, while conserving my own energy. It has also led me to understand more about tackle design and choice, and how to make the most of what you’ve got. All of that translates into every type of angling that I do.

Fortunately, we get lots of chances at 60-90 pound fish down there. Those are the “rebellious teenagers” that’ll test every aspect of your game without “wasting” half of your day bringing them in. Afterwards, you deserve a cold Panama beer and high fives from your boatmates – as well as the fillets that you’ll bring home.

If you’ve never tangled with giant fish, I strongly recommend that you give it a try, not just for bragging rights, but rather to really see what kind of angler you are. You may be able to do it in your backyard with big catfish or gar. Or maybe you want to see a tail-walking marlin. But for my money, and all of the species I’ve caught, tuna are the champs. Maybe I’ll reconsider when I catch a Giant Trevally, but for sheer bulldogging power and trickery, yellowfin will put you to the test. They’ll make you a better angler.

If you’d like to learn more about our trips to Panama, email us any time. We’d love to get you down there for a test of your stamina and angling skills.

by AnglersChannel

Gallatin’s Womack Earns First Career Win at Rescheduled Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Old Hickory

Sparta’s England Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

GALLATIN, Tenn. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Josh Womack of Gallatin, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces, Sunday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Old Hickory Lake . Hosted by Sumner County Tourism, the tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Music City Division. This was a makeup event for the tournament originally scheduled for May 11 at Center Hill Lake, which had to be cancelled due to unsafe boating conditions. Womack earned $2,748 for his victory.

When asked to break it down to the most important key for him on Old Hickory, Womack kept it simple: “Covering a lot of water.”

He spent Sunday running and gunning in the mid-lake area.

“I was fishing a mixture of brush piles and grass,” he said. “Just a jig and a crankbait in brush piles and a ChatterBait in grass. The brush piles were offshore a little deeper. The grass was shallow, like 1 to 3 feet.”

In Saturday’s Old Hickory tournament, Womack finished 25th and spent most of the day trying to “make a deep bite work.” He didn’t make that same mistake on Sunday.

“At the end of the day yesterday (Saturday) I went up shallow and caught a few,” he said. “And it kind of clued me in that the fish were not as deep as I tried to make them be. I spent a lot more time up shallow today (Sunday).”

Womack started the day shallow, then worked some deeper brush. Then Womack went back shallow to the grass and made a couple key culls. Later in the day, he culled a couple more times from the brush.

That back-and-forth, shallow-to-deep-to-shallow approach got him over the hump and into the winner’s circle for a Father’s Day victory.

Womack’s go-to lure up shallow was a white Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer. His main brush pile bait was a homemade 3/8-ounce jig with a green pumpkin skirt with some blue mixed in.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Josh Womack, Gallatin, Tenn., five bass, 16-9, $2,748
2nd:        Jacob Woods, Loudon, Tenn., five bass, 14-15, $1,374
3rd: Josh Tramel, Smithville, Tenn., five bass, 14-0, $916
4th:         Jeremy Walker, Mount Juliet, Tenn., five bass, 13-12, $1,141 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
5th:         Tim Messer, Hendersonville, Tenn., five bass, 13-9, $550
6th:         Anthony Guffie, Lafayette, Tenn., five bass, 13-3, $504
7th:         Joey Mallicoat, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 12-10, $458
8th:         Willie McMullen, Covington, Ga., five bass, 12-4, $412
9th:         Mickey Beck, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 11-15, $366
10th: Brady Duncan, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 11-12, $321

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jay Melton of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $305.

Ricky England of Sparta, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,370 Sunday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 3 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st: Ricky England, Sparta, Tenn., five bass, 11-3, $1,370
2nd:        Barry McEntire, Lebanon, Tenn., four bass, 9-14, $832
3rd: Ike Gillentine, Quebeck, Tenn., five bass, 9-5, $457
4th:         Roderick Green, Columbia, Tenn., five bass, 9-2, $320
5th:         Alex Roberts, Franklin, Tenn., four bass, 9-1, $274
6th:         Earl Ross Jr., Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., five bass, 9-0, $251
7th:         Kyle Pillars, Ashland City, Tenn., five bass, 8-6, $228
8th:         Taylor McMullen, Oxford, Ga., three bass, 7-13, $206
9th:         Adam Radovic, Brecksville, Ohio, four bass, 7-10, $183
10th: Rodney Powell, Many, La., four bass, 7-3, $160

Barry McEntire of Lebanon, Tennessee, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $147, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Jacob Woods of Loudon, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Music City Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 971 points, while Wayne Crouch of Jamestown, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Music City Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 975 points.

The next event for BFL Music City Division anglers will be held Sept. 7-8, at Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Galena’s Statler Earns First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Truman Lake

Oronogo’s Moss Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

WARSAW, Mo. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Dillon Statler of Galena, Missouri, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 6 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Truman Lake . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Ozark Division. Statler earned $4,119 for his victory.

Typically, Statler flips bushes when the water’s up at Truman Lake. He tried that this time around with the water up and didn’t like what he found.

“I started in a couple places that have some grass in the water and caught one on a buzzbait first thing this morning. Then I flipped for five or six hours and didn’t catch a thing,” Statler said.

“I went out to a hump just down the lake with a rock pile on it. It was 10 or 15 feet deep on top. I caught a 4 (pounder) and a 3½, back to back. And then on the end of it I caught a 2½.”

After the quick action offshore, Statler ran around trying to find other similar places.

“The last place I pulled up to is another rock vein I’ve caught them off before,” he said. “My first cast I caught one around 3. That was pretty much all she wrote.”

Five bites was all Statler could get throughout the day, and five bites was all he needed.

He figures he got in a bad rotation on the flipping bite, and that’s why it never panned out. Regardless, adapting to the conditions paid off.

“It happened pretty quick,” he said. “They kicked the current up this afternoon, and those places I was fishing were down around the dam. So all the current they were running was rolling right through there. They just set up on it. It happened to be the right place at the right time, really.”

Statler caught his fish on a buzzbait with a toad trailer and a 1/2-ounce Chompers football jig.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Dillon Statler, Galena, Mo., five bass, 16-6, $4,119
2nd:        Anthony Johnson, Excelsior Springs, Mo., five bass, 16-5, $2,059
3rd:        Adam Boehle, Warrenton, Mo., five bass, 15-9, $1,874 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:         David Hughes, Olathe, Kan., five bass, 14-12, $961
5th:         Darin Lankford, Clinton, Mo., five bass, 14-9, $1,389
6th:         Zac Udock, Belton, Mo., five bass, 14-2, $720
6th:         Greg Nicks, Kansas City, Mo., five bass, 14-2, $845
8th:         Doug Henzlik, Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 13-14, $618
9th:         Tom Statler, Kimberling City, Mo., five bass, 13-8, $549
10th: Ronnie Dobbs, Shell Knob, Mo., five bass, 13-6, $480

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Darin Lankford of Clinton, Missouri, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $565.

Jeff Moss of Oronogo, Missouri, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,609 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds even.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st: Jeff Moss, Oronogo, Mo., five bass, 15-0, $2,609
2nd: Jim Kopff, Old Monroe, Mo., five bass, 13-3, $1,030
3rd: Alex Waisner, Greenwood, Mo., four bass, 11-7, $687
4th:         Craig Rose, Olathe, Kan., five bass, 10-15, $480
5th:         Josh Colley, O’Fallon, Mo., five bass, 10-3, $412
6th:         Kirk Short, St. Clair, Mo., five bass, 10-2, $378
7th:         Koby Murrell, Lebanon, Mo., five bass, 9-14, $343
8th:         Ben Bromley, Odessa, Mo., four bass, 9-4, $309
9th:         Peyton Keathley, Ashland, Mo., three bass, 9-0, $275
10th: Bryce Atchison, Tonganoxie, Kan., three bass, 8-5, $240

Tyler Neis of Arnold, Missouri, and Vincent Jones of Robertsville, Missouri, tied for the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of by each catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day. They each took home $141 for their share of the prize.

After four events, Eric Olliverson of Shell Knob, Missouri, leads the Fishing Clash Ozark Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 948 points, while Kirk Short of St. Clair, Missouri, leads the Fishing Clash Ozark Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 980 points.

The next event for BFL Ozark Division anglers will be held Sept. 7-8, at Table Rock Lake in Kimberling City, Missouri. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

by AnglersChannel

La Crosse’s Fitzpatrick Earns Third Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Wolf River Chain

Illinois’ Strepacki Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

WINNECONNE, Wis. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Brian Fitzpatrick of La Crosse, Wisconsin, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Wolf River Chain . The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Great Lakes Division. Fitzpatrick earned $4,052 for his victory.

After 30 years of fishing the Wolf River Chain, Fitzpatrick knows plenty of spots to get a bite in a summertime tournament.

“It’s not like I had one area I could just stay in, so I just ran a bunch of different spots that are kind of like one- or two-fish spots,” Fitzpatrick said. “Some had fish, some didn’t. I was just fishing fast, mainly throwing a swim jig and buzz bait.

“A (Yamamoto) Senko was big for me,” he added. “A lot of them weren’t hitting the topwater real good, so I’d get a hit and follow up with a Senko. I think I weighed three with a Senko, and all three of them were off a topwater hit first. It was weird. I’d try throwing the Senko first and wouldn’t get any bites. It almost seemed like they needed that topwater first to get going.”

Fitzpatrick said he fished just about every lake and area on the system except for Winnebago. He fished some grass, rock, wood and even clean-bottom areas within grass.

“I maybe caught 10 keepers,” he added. “It wasn’t fast and furious.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Brian Fitzpatrick, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 16-10, $4,052
2nd: Jeff Ritter, Prairie du Chien, Wis., five bass, 15-9, $1,921
3rd: Mike Feldermann, Galena, Ill., five bass, 15-1, $1,201
4th:         Severin Tubbin, Viroqua, Wis., five bass, 14-7, $838
5th:         Parker Kratochvill, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 14-5, $718
6th:         Joseph Johnson, Maquoketa, Iowa, five bass, 14-0, $659
7th:         Brandon Briscoe, McHenry, Ill., five bass, 13-14, $599
8th:         Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 13-11, $539
9th:         Rick Bosshard, Hartland, Wis., five bass, 13-10, $479
10th: Chris Aswegan, Tiffin, Iowa, five bass, 13-8, $919 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Fitzpatrick caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 6 ounces, and also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $460.

Luka Strepacki of Naperville, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,796 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 14 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:          Luka Strepacki, Naperville, Ill., five bass, 12-14, $1,796
2nd:        Robert Johnson, Omro, Wis., five bass, 12-4, $898
3rd:        Jason Hull, Belleville, Wis., five bass, 12-2, $598
4th:         Jason Swanson, Waterloo, Iowa, five bass, 12-0, $419
5th:         Matthew Vang, Milwaukee, Wis., five bass, 11-11, $359
6th:         David Ondrla, Elmhurst, Ill., five bass, 11-9, $329
7th:         Chia Xiong, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 10-15, $299
8th:         Brian Brecka, Alma, Wis., five bass, 10-10, $239
8th:         Dan McAdams, Reedsburg, Wis., five bass, 10-10, $389
8th:         Will Ahnen, Fennimore, Wis., five bass, 10-10, $389

Anthony Gray of Menasha, Wisconsin, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $230, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Brandon Briscoe of McHenry, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash Great Lakes Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 709 points, while Jason Olson of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, leads the Fishing Clash Great Lakes Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 728 points.

The next event for BFL Great Lakes Division anglers will be held Aug. 17, at the Mississippi River in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Mississippi River Pools 13-17 in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Burroughs and Rowland Tie for the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Clarks Hill Lake

Honea Path’s Henderson Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

APPLING, Ga. (June 17, 2024) – Boaters Jason Burroughs of Hodges, South Carolina, and Hampton Rowland of Appling, Georgia, each caught five-bass limits weighing 21 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to tie for the win at the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Clarks Hill Lake . Hosted by Visit Columbia County, Georgia, the tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division. For his share of the win, Burroughs earned $9,741 thanks to the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus. Rowland earned $2,841.

On tournament day, Burroughs and Rowland went in opposite directions, so to speak. Burroughs fished shallow and Rowland stayed out deep.

“I decided to fish shallow and fish for bream eaters,” Burroughs added. “I caught them on a popping frog and a Buckeye buzz bait.”

Burroughs ran a milk run of shallow pockets and caught his fish from shallow grass and bushes. He added one late offshore kicker that boosted him from 19 pounds to his winning weight.

“It really went down early,” Burroughs said. “I had all of them but one by 9 o’clock. I actually caught one out deep late in the day. But everything had already died (up shallow), and I fished one little swing and caught one deep late.”

Rowland’s day worked in reverse.

“I actually didn’t catch my first fish until probably 9:15,” he said. “I messed around trying to catch some schooling fish thinking they were going to school that morning, and they never did.”

He spent the rest of the day cycling as fast as he could through 50 to 60 offshore spots – mostly rocks and humps.

“It’s my home lake, so I’ve got a lot of hours there,” he said. “So I just kind of fished off memory and past. I don’t have time to go like I used to. I just picked up the (3/4-ounce football) jig and went to work. That’s what I love to do.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 21-1, $9,741 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
1st:        Hampton Rowland, Appling, Ga., five bass, 21-1, $2,841
3rd:       Kyle Brown, Easley, S.C., five bass, 17-2, $1,084
4th:        Eric Allen, Powder Springs, Ga., five bass, 15-10, $760
5th:        Matt O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., five bass, 15-5, $776
6th:        Caleb Hudson, Lincolnton, Ga., five bass, 14-13, $597
7th:        Justin Raines, Easley, S.C., five bass, 14-10, $515
7th:        Brandon Martin, Lula, Ga., five bass, 14-10, $515
9th:        Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., five bass, 14-6, $434
10th:     Hogan Benson, Boiling Springs, S.C., five bass, 14-3, $380

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Rowland caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $400.

Kevin Henderson of Honea Path, South Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,603 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., five bass, 12-15, $1,603
2nd:       Matthew Johnson, Evans, Ga., five bass, 10-11, $801
3rd:       JD Carter, Honea Path, S.C., two bass, 10-9, $725
4th:        River Huffman, Young Harris, Ga., five bass, 9-14, $374
5th:        Chase Gurkin, Simpsonville, S.C., five bass, 9-2, $321
6th:        William Thomas Cowart, Danielsville, Ga., five bass, 8-14, $294
7th:        Matthew Hamilton, Hoschton, Ga., five bass, 8-10, $267
8th:        Gibson Huntley, Inman, S.C., two bass, 8-8, $240
9th:        Rodney Tapp, Inman, S.C., five bass, 8-1, $314
10th:     Matthew Guffey, Simpsonville, S.C., five bass, 8-0, $187

JD Carter of Honea Path, South Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $192, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Joe Anders of Easley, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 955 points, while Andy Burgess of Greenville, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 938 points.

The next event for BFL Savannah River Division anglers will be held Aug. 17-18, at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

by AnglersChannel

China Grove’s Smith Works Offshore for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at High Rock Lake

Arlington, Virginia’s Grant Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

LEXINGTON, N.C. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Ronnie Smith of China Grove, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Smith earned $3,838 for his victory.

“I’ve been catching them pretty good for about three weeks out deep,” Smith said. “I fished deep today (Saturday). I caught them on a big worm and a jig in about 18 feet of water. They were set up on stumps, brush, high places in the mid-lake.”

Smith says a tip from a buddy led to his starting the day out in deep water, even though he’d been fishing shallow water in the mornings leading up to the tournament. After losing his first fish, he quickly landed three quality bass, including a 6-pound, 15-ounce kicker that earned him the Berkley Big Bass award on the boater side.

With those three in the box, Smith ran to another creek and caught a 5-pounder, then moved again and landed several more quality fish to solidify his limit early.

“They bit good this morning,” said Smith, who has decades of experience on High Rock.

“That’s the key,” he said of his experience. “I’ve fished that lake for about 40 years. Over 40 years. Fifty years, probably. So I’ve got a lot of seat time down there. And the fish aren’t everywhere. They’re just in certain areas.”

His key baits were a 3/4-ounce football-head jig and a 10-inch Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Ronnie Smith, China Grove, N.C., five bass, 20-5, $3,838
2nd:       Ron Wolfarth, Oakboro, N.C., five bass, 18-11, $1,709
3rd:       Mike Kiser, Linwood, N.C., five bass, 18-3, $1,138
4th:        David Bright, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 17-11, $923
5th:        Adam Flora, Red House, W.Va., five bass, 16-14, $684
6th:        David Wright, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 16-12, $1,127 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th:        Jason Thomas, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 15-13, $570
8th:        Scott Hamrick, Denver, N.C., five bass, 14-8, $513
9th:        Landon Whicker, Winston-Salem, N.C., five bass, 13-13, $756
10th:     Chad Sims, Lancaster, S.C., four bass, 13-8, $399

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Smith caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $420.

David Grant of Arlington, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,709 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 10 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        David Grant, Arlington, Va., five bass, 16-10, $1,709
2nd:       Greg Mauldin, Archdale, N.C., five bass, 15-0, $855
3rd:       David Deciucis, Chester, Va., five bass, 14-4, $570
4th:        Jean Lacerte, Elm City, N.C., five bass, 9-12, $399
5th:        Alex Moss, Lambsburg, Va., three bass, 8-6, $442
6th:        Chip Crews, Trinity, N.C., two bass, 8-3, $313
7th:        Dustan Hudson, Grover, N.C., four bass, 7-12, $285
8th:        Joel Cerv, North Wilkesboro, N.C., two bass, 7-1, $256
9th:        Andy Kearns, Trinity, N.C., four bass, 6-15, $228
10th:     Jason Hinger, Timberlake, N.C., four bass, 6-13, $349

Richard Young of Rutherfordton, N.C., earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $210, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Scott Hamrick of Denver, North Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash North Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 953 points, while Hunter Alexander of China Grove, North Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash North Carolina Co-Angler of the Year race with 963 points.

The next event for BFL North Carolina Division anglers will be held Sept. 28-29, at Lake Norman in Mooresville, North Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Santee Cooper Lakes in Clarendon County, South Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON 1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

by AnglersChannel

Munson Flips for the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on the Ohio River at Tanners Creek

Boater winner Braxton Munson of Anderson, Indiana, and Strike-King co-angler winner Rod Yoder of Lafayette, Indiana.

West Lafayette’s Yoder Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Braxton Munson of Anderson, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 10 pounds, 14 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Ohio River-Tanners Creek. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Hoosier Division. Munson earned $4,684 for his victory.

Sometimes tournament practice reveals a hot bite or a key area. For Munson, it didn’t exactly work out that way. Instead, he figured out where not to fish in practice, then uncovered the winning pattern during competition.

“Basically, in practice I fished the main lake (river) and went down and fished a few creeks and never really figured anything out,” he said. “I didn’t catch a single keeper. So fast-forward to tournament day, I decided to stick to Tanners Creek and basically just fished in there. I was just trying to get five bites. I wasn’t really on anything at all.”

Keeping it simple and staying close to takeoff paid off despite needing to fish within a crowd.

“I kept my head down,” Munson said. “I flipped a creature bait just like everybody else and just got the right five.”

Munson’s primary targets were wood, including stumps and laydowns. He flipped a Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver to catch six keepers throughout the day.

Reflecting on his win, Munson pointed to his thoroughness as a key to success.

“Just picking everything apart and not getting in a hurry. That’s my biggest key,” he said. “Sometimes you’re not getting a bite so you think you’ve got to move, but really they’re right there and you’ve just got to make them bite.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Braxton Munson, Anderson, Ind., five bass, 10-14, $4,684
2nd:       Eric Moore, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 8-9, $2,059
3rd:       Clay Ennis, Ludow, Ky., four bass, 8-4, $1,374
4th:        Chris Myers, Madison, Ind., five bass, 7-14, $1,192
4th:        Rob Flowers, West Harrison, Ind., five bass, 7-14, $892
6th:        Jordan Nauert, Fillmore, Ind., five bass, 7-8, $1,255 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th:        Chris Malas, Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 7-5, $652
7th:        Joseph House, Terre Haute, Ind., five bass, 7-5, $652
9th:        Jamil Abdullah, Indianapolis, Ind., five bass, 7-4, $549
10th:     Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 7-1, $480

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Munson caught a bass that weighed 3 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $565.

Rod Yoder of West Lafayette, Indiana, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,005 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 8 pounds, 4 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Rod Yoder, West Lafayette, Ind., five bass, 9-8, $2,005
2nd:       Dustin Cronenwett, Dayton, Ohio, five bass, 8-4, $1,102
3rd:       Gary Baker, Vallonia, Ind., four bass, 7-8, $668
4th:        Jeremy Aslinger, Richmond, Ind., five bass, 7-7, $468
5th:        Travis Lakes, Miamisburg, Ohio, five bass, 6-1, $551
6th:        Rob Campbell, Martinsville, Ind., five bass, 5-13, $368
7th:        Mark Goodridge, Burlington, Ky., three bass, 5-7, $334
8th:        Mark Bouchie, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 5-3, $301
9th:        Danny Robinson, Fairland, Ind., four bass, 4-15, $267
10th:     Paul Eckert, Jasper, Ind., three bass, 4-12, $234

Tanner McCartney of Tipton, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $275, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Braxton Munson of Anderson, Indiana, leads the Fishing Clash Hoosier Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 711 points, while Paul Eckert of Jasper, Indiana, leads the Fishing Clash Hoosier Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 731 points.

The next event for BFL Hoosier Division anglers will be held July 27, at Lake Monroe in Bloomington, Indiana. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

by AnglersChannel

Clarksville’s Timms Gets Career Win No. 2 at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Old Hickory Lake

Rickman’s Burgess Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

GALLATIN, Tenn. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Robert Timms of Clarksville, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Old Hickory Lake. Hosted by Sumner County Tourism, the tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Music City Division. Timms earned $3,526 for his victory.

For Timms, it was a last-minute decision to enter the tournament. And even though he’s a recent transplant to Tennessee from Connecticut, he had some good background to go on during the tournament.

“I got into the tournament like three days ago,” he said on Saturday. “I signed up just to do something on the weekend. I never even practiced, which probably helped me for once.

“I fished a benefit tournament two weeks ago and took second place,” Timms added. “I went to that same spot (that he fished in the benefit tournament) and it was loaded. They were there.”

The key spot was a point in the back of a creek arm.

“There was some milfoil that sits off the point in 4 to 5 feet of water,” he said. “It drops off to 8 to 10 feet. I could see on my (Lowrance) ActiveTarget that the fish were moving in and out, and there’s a lot of bait in the area. They were feeding on the bait. I started throwing a ChatterBait up on the point and bringing it out, and those fish were coming up and just crushing it.”

While Timms could see fish on his ActiveTarget unit, he was primarily fan-casting across the point instead of casting to specific fish. He caught his limit using a white and chartreuse Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer with a 4-inch Keitech Easy Shiner trailer in the sexy shad color.

Timms was pretty well done by about 10 a.m. – his winning weight anchored by a 5-pound, 9-ounce fish that earned the Berkley Big Bass award among boaters.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Robert Timms, Clarksville, Tenn., five bass, 14-11, $3,526
2nd:       Jacob Hudson, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 14-3, $1,578
3rd:       Michael Stout, Gallatin, Tenn., five bass, 12-12, $894
3rd:       Nathan Reynolds, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 12-12, $894
5th:        Terry Steele, Sparta, Tenn., five bass, 12-9, $605
5th:        Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., five bass, 12-9, $605
7th:        Matt Underhill, Lascassas, Tenn., five bass, 12-3, $999 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th:        Jason Dies, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 12-3, $499
9th:        Brady Duncan, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 12-2, $421
10th:     Brent Sain, Manchester, Tenn., five bass, 12-0, $368

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Timms caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $370.

Parker Burgess of Rickman, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,535 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 11 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Parker Burgess, Rickman, Tenn., five bass, 10-15, $1,535
2nd:       Gary Haraguchi, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 9-5, $768
3rd:       Douglas Gibbons, Dunlap, Tenn., two bass, 9-0, $513
4th:        Taylor McMullen, Oxford, Ga., five bass, 8-2, $332
4th:        Jason Barr, Fort Campbell, Ky., four bass, 8-2, $432
6th:        Trenton Webb, Goodlettsville, Tenn., five bass, 7-9, $281
7th:        Jenn Nolan, Hitchcock, Tenn., four bass, 7-6, $256
8th:        Daniel Nolen, Lexington, N.C., four bass, 7-5, $230
9th:        Wayne Crouch, Jamestown, Tenn., three bass, 7-2, $181
9th:        Teddy Baggett, Nashville, Tenn., three bass, 7-2, $181
9th:        Barry McEntire, Lebanon, Tenn., two bass, 7-2, $361

Barry McEntire of Lebanon, Tennessee, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $180, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

Music City Division anglers competed again on Old Hickory Lake on Sunday in an event that was originally scheduled for May 11 on Center Hill Lake but had to be cancelled due to high water. Sunday’s tournament was the division’s fourth event this season. Jacob Woods of Loudon, Tennessee, now leads the Fishing Clash Music City Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 971 points, while Wayne Crouch of Jamestown, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Music City Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 975 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament Celebrates Success at Pickwick Lake

David Mullis Takes Home $50,000 Grand Prize Amidst Tough Competition and Challenging Weather on Historic Pickwick Lake.

RACINE, Wis. (June 17, 2024) – The Second Annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament, held at Pickwick Landing State Park May 30 to June 1, 2024, attracted over 700 anglers from 27 different states and distributed over $180,000 in cash and prizes. The tournament, set against the backdrop of Tennessee's historic Pickwick Lake, showcased three days of intense competition, culminating in outstanding performances and memorable catches. Minn Kota and Humminbird partnered with Trifecta Fishing (Big Bass Tour) to manage the tournament, marketing and event execution. Trifecta operates one of the largest big bass tournament organizations in the country and has been in business since 2010.

The event kicked off with registration day on May 29, featuring a Clean Earth Challenge trash clean-up event in collaboration with Johnson Outdoors (parent company of Minn Kota and Humminbird) and the Tennessee Bass Nation. The local fishing team from Scotts Hill High participated in the Clean Earth Challenge, a global cleanup initiative launched in 2022 by Johnson Outdoors and the National Wildlife Federation, collecting over 2000 pieces of litter weighing over 200 pounds. Since its inception in 2022, the initiative has removed over 7 million pieces of trash from natural spaces worldwide.

Tournament competitors vied for hourly prizes, with seven weigh-ins each day, awarding cash to the top ten anglers for the biggest catch every hour. The grand prize of $50,000 was awarded to Tennessee angler David Mullis, weighing in a 7.12-pound largemouth bass during the first weigh-in hour on the final day. The top five overall winners also received Minn Kota and Humminbird products including all-new Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motors and APEX 13 Fish Finders.

How Mullis Made It Happen
Despite 20 mph winds and torrential downpours on Pickwick, Mullis and his dog “Scout” set out just after the official start time on Saturday and got set up on some structure that produced a quality bass for him back in 2023. He fished from his Scout Sportfish 185 Center Console boat, got in position with the Minn Kota Terrova Trolling Motor using Spot-Lock®, and started fishing.

“I had formulated a game plan based on last year and thought that first thing was my best chance to catch a big one. I got to the ‘structure’ and on my first cast I felt one bite, but I missed it,” Mullis said. “On the very next cast, I got bit again and set into what I initially thought was a catfish.”

After what felt like an eternity, the Tennessee angler finally got eyes on the lunker bass and the adrenaline rush began. With the Minn Kota locked in place, he had the spinning rod in one hand and the net in the other while the bass took him all around the boat. It was soon over with the fish in the boat and the celebration with his dog began.

“I knew it was a money fish, but I had no idea it was even a bass at first; my dog was barking and I was shaking,” he added. “It was definitely one of those forever memorable moments. I was in a bay boat, competing against hundreds of other anglers in bass boats, and through my experience and planning, I was able to make it happen. I had no idea it was that big.”

With the fish safely in the livewell just before 6:00 am, Mullis had some time to enjoy the moment and spent his efforts on making sure the fish was well kept until the scales opened at 7:00 am. After weighing his fish over 7 pounds, the weight master told him it was the biggest fish thus far, but he was shocked that it actually held up.

“I cannot believe with all the anglers in the field that I would end up winning, but that is one of the reasons I love the Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament. With the flexibility of these events, anyone at any age, with any boat or any skill level, has a shot - I love it. If you get into a school, you could weigh in every hour and earn prizes. Or you can hunt for one fish the entire time like I did. There are plenty of good incentives just for signing up including an Abu Garcia fishing rod for being one of the first, and the swag bag at registration. It was another fun event.”

In addition to utilizing Spot-Lock®, Mullis gained confidence in locating structure and fish by studying available maps on his electronics and his phone. The One-Boat Network App revealed several key areas where he was able to mark pins and visit when he got to the water.

“I've noticed that each of the lake maps on the market will usually reveal something, but Humminbird Lakemaster is the most current, up-to-date mapping available to anglers, and it helped me locate structure and those really defined, detailed edges. I had a ton of confidence in the area I was fishing,” he concluded.

With over $30,000 in draw prizes awarded to randomly selected anglers and more than 210 hourly payouts, the tournament provided amateur anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to participate and win.

Overall Winning Weights:
First Place: 7.12
Second Place: 6.96
Third Place: 6.76
Fourth Place: 6.67
Fifth Place: 6.51

“We extend our gratitude to all the anglers who participated in this year’s annual Owners Tournament,” said Brad Henry, Sr. Brand Manager. “Your passion, dedication, and genuine love for the sport and our Minn Kota and Humminbird brands have truly made this event the best one yet. We are already looking forward to next year, where we will continue to raise awareness for our sport and strengthen our incredible fishing community.”

The success of the Second Annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament underscores the enduring popularity and competitive spirit of the event, setting a high bar for future tournaments and further solidifying the legacy of Minn Kota and Humminbird in the angling community.

For more information about the tournament results, visit minnkotaowners.com.

To learn more about Minn Kota, visit minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us.
To learn more about Humminbird, visit humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com/us.

-30-

About Johnson Outdoors
JOHNSON OUTDOORS FISHING is comprised of the Humminbird®, Minn Kota® and Cannon® brands. Humminbird is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including fish finders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers, and premium cartography products. Minn Kota is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as a complete line of shallow water anchors, battery chargers and marine accessories. Cannon is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation company that inspires more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Fishing, Diving and Camping.

Visit Johnson Outdoors at www.johnsonoutdoors.com

Media Contacts:
Ben Anderson: (612) 655-1122 or [email protected]
Justin Brouillard: (802) 342-2078 or [email protected]

by AnglersChannel

Alabama Pro Jacob Walker Declared Winner at Weather-Shortened Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain

Inclement Weather Forces MLF to Cancel Day 3, Walker Earns Victory and $80,000 Top Prize

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 17, 2024) – It wasn’t a total shock when the final day of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 Presented by 7 Brew on Lake Champlain was called off Monday morning. With a lot of wind at takeoff and more in the forecast, it was setting up to be a pretty rough day on the lake. With a 2-pound margin on his competition, Springville, Alabama pro Jacob Walker hoisted the trophy in the parking lot at the Plattsburgh City Marina around 8 o’clock Monday morning, while gulls wheeled overhead and most folks were clocking in or starting their morning coffee.

With a two-day total of 42 pounds, 5 ounces, Walker caught over 21 pounds each day of the event to win handily. In second, pro Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tennessee, had 40-5, and local favorite Alec Morrison of Peru, New York, weighed 40-4 for third. For the win, which is his first with MLF, Walker pocketed $80,000 and locked up a trip to REDCREST 2025 next year in his home state of Alabama.

Well-schooled with a jig and a minnow, Walker was a first-timer to Champlain, but he was in his element as far as the fishing goes. Perhaps the biggest thing that set him apart this week was his location. Walker fished in the Alburg Passage and could pick and choose what he caught with little competition.

“The first day of practice, I wanted to try to find some spawners to get an idea of what stage the fish were in,” he said. “I was running through the Alburg Pass, and the wind was blowing, and it was a little calmer in there.

“I pulled over and I cruised down the bank for 15 minutes and saw probably 30 empty beds. I had a feeling that those fish had probably spawned before we got there – I knew they couldn’t be far. I was on the phone with my buddy Mark [Condron], told him I saw some beds, and I was on the phone and I trolled out there, off the flat into that channel. As I trolled out, I saw a smallmouth sitting on that break – made a cast, and it was a 3½-pounder. I could tell by how she acted, there had to be a lot of them around, to be so aggressive and eat so easily.”

Walker could have cranked his Mercury to leave. Instead, he trolled and looked at the screen. The rest is history.

“I cruised around for a second, saw another, caught it, and it was a 3-15,” he said. “They were both fat, so I knew there had to be some bait around. I put my rod down, trolled around for a second and saw some bait and some groups in the bait and I left. I was in there no more than 10 minutes.”

After re-checking the area on the final day of practice, Walker was feeling pretty good.

“I knew it was a safe bet I could catch five in there and probably guarantee myself a check,” Walker said. “I had no clue it would be like that. I had no clue that bigger-than-average fish would be in there. Now it makes sense now that I’ve spent so much time in there – if I wanted to, I could catch over 100 fish per day.”

Throwing a 5- or 6-inch Deps Sakamata Shad in the sliver shiner color on mostly a 3/16-ounce Owner Range Roller head, Walker whooped up on the bass every day he went fishing.

“It’s identical to the alewives, and it looks like the smelt,” said Walker of his bait. “I could have gone through 100 of them a day if I wanted to. I caught an alewife yesterday [that] I showed the camera man. It’s incredible how similar it really is – it’s identical.”

Using 16-pound-test mainline and a 10-pound-test fluoro leader, Walker went with a G. Loomis GLX 863 rod, which he thought was the perfect rod for the task.

“It’s a medium-heavy, but it’s extremely parabolic,” he said. “So, I have the backbone to carry that big bait, make a good cast with it and pin the fish. But it’s very parabolic, so I don’t lose them. If you see in pictures, a lot of that rod is bending, but it’s still strong enough to where I can pin them and put a hook in them, especially those real big ones.”

As far as catching the fish, Walker had his boat in 20 to 35 feet most of the time but caught fish throughout the water column. A big part of his success was making very precise presentations, and sometimes trying to wait for bigger fish to show themselves or become available.

“I run my (Garmin) LiveScope at 80 feet because I can really see a fish and really decipher where the fish is,” Walker explained. “It’s a big deal with how you present a bait. A lot of times, I think if your bait is too close to them, and you come over their backs, it spooks them. The real big ones, the smart ones, if you spook them, you might catch some but a lot of times they’ll spin around and they’ll look at it but they know it’s not natural.

“How many times does a bologna sandwich hit you in the face? It never happens. Most of the time, I try to present my bait first, very high, and get an initial reaction to get them to come up and eat it. If it’s too high, and they don’t see it, I’ll make a cast closer to them, but maybe 5 or 10 feet to their left or right. I’m very patient – I don’t just see a fish and bomb on it.”

To hear him tell it, Walker could have been burning through 100 bass a day, but he took a more considered approach.

“At some point, I had to stop,” he said. “I would sit on a group of fish and wait until I knew I could get a good cast on a 4-pounder. When my trolling motor was in the water, very rarely was I not looking at fish. I had to really be patient and understand that if there’s a group, there’s a big one in there, and I had to watch them and try to pick them out.”

With the wind whipping at takeoff and a trophy in hand, Walker was adamant that he wanted to win it all the way.

“It’s a big move; it’s a very big deal,” he said. “It’s not real yet. When I get back home to reality it’ll probably set in. It’ll set in eventually, but I just want to go do it again. I love bass fishing.”

The top 30 pros at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 on Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew finished:

1st:        Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., 10 bass, 42-5, $115,000
2nd:       Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 10 bass, 40-5, $50,000
3rd:       Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., 10 bass, 40-4, $20,000
4th:        Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., 10 bass, 39-1, $18,000
5th:        Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 38-11, $17,000
6th:        Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 38-11, $16,000
7th:        Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 38-2, $15,000
8th:        Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 38-1, $14,000
9th:        Hunter Eubanks, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 37-14, $13,000
10th:     Jake Lawrence, Buchanan, Tenn., 10 bass, 37-12, $12,000
11th:     Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., 10 bass, 37-11, $10,000
12th:     Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 bass, 37-10, $10,000
13th:     Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 37-7, $10,000
14th:     Erik Luzak, Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 37-6, $10,000
15th:     Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, 10 bass, 37-5, $10,000
16th:     Colby Dark, West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 37-0, $10,000
17th:     Britt Myers, Jr., Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 37-0, $10,000
18th:     Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 36-15, $10,000
19th:     Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, 10 bass, 36-15, $10,000
20th:     Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 36-14, $10,000
21st:      Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 10 bass, 36-12, $10,000
22nd:    Bryan Labelle, Hinesburg, Vt., 10 bass, 36-10, $10,000
23rd:     Evan Barnes, Dardanelle, Ark., 10 bass, 36-9, $10,000
24th:     Ken Thompson, Roaring Springs, Pa., 10 bass, 36-9, $10,000
25th:     Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., 10 bass, 36-9, $10,000
26th:     Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, 10 bass, 36-9, $10,000
27th:     Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 36-7, $10,000
28th:     Ryan Latinville, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 bass, 36-6, $10,000
29th:     Jason Reyes, Huffman, Texas, 10 bass, 36-5, $10,000
30th:     Jordan Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 36-4, $10,000

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

The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, featured a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000. The final Tackle Warehouse Invitational event of the 2024 season will take place next month, July 26-28 at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 6 Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches on the Detroit River in Trenton, Michigan .

In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Saturday and Sunday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advanced to the final round on Championship Monday. The winner of the weather-shortened Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew was be determined by the heaviest two-day cumulative weight and now receives an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 2 on CBS Sports Network.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak Fishing, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitational updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Walker Adds to Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain

Alabama pro brings 2-pound lead into Monday’s final day of competition

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 16, 2024) – Through two days, pro Jacob Walker of Springville, Alabama, has been in command on Lake Champlain. Sacking up over 21 pounds on Day 1 and 21-1 on Day 2 for a 42-5 total, the first-year Invitationals pro is handily leading Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 Presented by 7 Brew Coffee.

Leading the way with LiveScope and smallmouth bass, Walker has an impressive cast in pursuit. Also ‘Scoping for smallmouth, pro Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tennessee, and local favorite Alec Morrison of Peru, New York, are both over the 40-pound mark and on his heels. In fourth with 39-1, Milford, Delaware’s Kurt Mitchell is relying on largemouth from docks and rocks, and there are some other notable largemouth anglers in the hunt as well (plus the usual cadre of folks looking at screens). Day 2 on Champlain did put one pattern pretty much to bed – it looks like the smallmouth spawn is about wrapped up.

Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, now advance to Championship Monday. The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, featured a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025.

Over the last few years, with the development of the open water bite on Champlain, fishing with company has become more common than ever before on the big lake. It makes sense – you can see a long way, and smallmouth are not sneaky about being hooked. But it might make finding something new – or an untapped area – all the more valuable. This week, Walker has been able to fish in relative peace and quiet, and he seems to have a lot of fish at his disposal.

“It was a little slower start than I expected,” said Walker, who works for a tackle shop in Alabama. “I wasn’t nervous, I was just excited. I was kind of rushing myself, I think. I lost a couple. On one particular rod, I had the drag at a certain point, and then I changed it last night – I think that’s why I was losing them. It was too loose, and they were eating it, and I would swing on them and it would peel. I tightened the drag down and hit ‘em with it hard, I lost a few more, but I caught a lot more.

“I don’t know at what point I had 20 (pounds), I feel like it was probably pretty early, 10 o’clock or so,” he added. “Today was a game of numbers, I swung on a lot more today, to try to catch as much as I could – I caught at least 60 today. The last place I found, I caught at least 25, and they were all over 3 pounds. But, I was trying to catch one over 4, to make a big difference, and I did, eventually.”

Fishing a few areas in a couple of miles of water, Walker isn’t doing anything groundbreaking from a technique standpoint. But, he’s doing it well, and he’s on the cusp of a huge win.

“I still don’t feel like I’m leading,” he said. “It’s really hard to get excited when I catch one, because they’re all pretty close, and I can’t really tell how big they are. If I knew it was a 4½ (pounder), I’d probably be screaming. I’m not anxious or nervous or anything like that, but I still have to catch them. They’re going to catch them even if I don’t – the job’s not done, so I’m not fired up yet.”

Walker has finished runner-up in a Bassmaster Open on Lay Lake – his home fishery – and he’s had a lot of success this season, including some close calls along the way. Now, he’s a day away from his first high-level W.

“Not that I doubt myself, or that anyone doubts me, but it’d prove it – to myself and everybody,” he said. “It would be a big deal for sure, but, I don’t know what’d it’d mean – I hope I can tell you tomorrow.”

The top 30 pros now advancing to the final day of competition on Lake Champlain are:

1st:        Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., 10 bass, 42-5
2nd:       Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 10 bass, 40-5
3rd:       Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., 10 bass, 40-4
4th:        Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., 10 bass, 39-1
5th:        Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 38-11
6th:        Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 38-11
7th:        Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 38-2
8th:        Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 38-1
9th:        Hunter Eubanks, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 37-14
10th:     Jake Lawrence, Buchanan, Tenn., 10 bass, 37-12
11th:     Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., 10 bass, 37-11
12th:     Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 bass, 37-10
13th:     Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 37-7
14th:     Erik Luzak, Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 37-6
15th:     Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, 10 bass, 37-5
16th:     Colby Dark, West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 37-0
17th:     Britt Myers, Jr., Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 37-0
18th:     Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 36-15
19th:     Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, 10 bass, 36-15
20th:     Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 36-14
21st:      Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 10 bass, 36-12
22nd:    Bryan Labelle, Hinesburg, Vt., 10 bass, 36-10
23rd:     Evan Barnes, Dardanelle, Ark., 10 bass, 36-9
24th:     Ken Thompson, Roaring Springs, Pa., 10 bass, 36-9
25th:     Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., 10 bass, 36-9
26th:     Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, 10 bass, 36-9
27th:     Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 36-7
28th:     Ryan Latinville, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 bass, 36-6
29th:     Jason Reyes, Huffman, Texas, 10 bass, 36-5
30th:     Jordan Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 36-4

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

Pro Taylor Parker of Lake View, Alabama, was the recipient of Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award, as he brought a bass to the scale that weighed in at 6 pounds, 3 ounces to earn the prize.

Overall, there were 625 bass weighing 2,047 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 127 pros Sunday. The catch included 124 five-bass limits.

In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Saturday and Sunday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Monday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

The final 30 anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET Monday from the Plattsburgh City Marina, located at 5 Dock St. in Plattsburgh. Monday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the marina and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live on Championship Monday from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble apps.

by AnglersChannel

Florida flair helps Prince win his first Bassmaster Elite Series trophy at Wheeler Lake

June 16, 2024

Florida flair helps Prince win his first Bassmaster Elite Series trophy at Wheeler Lake

DECATUR, Ala. — Cliff Prince has suffered several difficult defeats in his 12-year career on the Bassmaster Elite Series, but this week he made sure he wasn’t going to beat himself.

By catching 15 pounds, 2 ounces on Championship Sunday, Prince collected his first Elite Series victory at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake with a four-day total of 80-15. He survived a hard charge from Ray Hanselman Jr. on the final day to hoist the blue trophy and earn a $100,000 payday.

“I’ve been close several times and I let it slip through my fingers,” Prince said. “I told myself, ‘I’m not going to beat myself this week. If I’m going to get beat, it is going to be by somebody else, not me.’ I think I did that. I accomplished what I set out to do once I saw that I had a chance to win.”

Throughout his career, Prince admittedly does not have a great track record on the Tennessee River, including a 105th-place finish on this particular lake when the Elites last visited in 2016. With that in mind, Prince wanted to come into this event with a clean slate and did not study for Wheeler before arriving.

“I was hoping to survive,” Prince said. “I know how to ledge fish, and this time of year I do well at home. But this is way different than at home. I don’t have all the secret hidey holes.

“To beat these guys outside of your own state that means you got it done.”

All week, Prince maximized one main-lake sweet spot on the Decatur Flats. That spot featured two prominent hard spots surrounded by submergent grass. While a 4-pound smallmouth on Day 1 came specifically out of the grass, the rest of his bites came from those hard spots.

To get to those bass, Prince needed to incorporate his Florida flair. He tossed a white/chartreuse Z-Man Evergreen JackHammer with a snow storm-colored Bass Assassin Little Boss trailer and reeled it slowly through the grass and over the hard spots.

His casting setup was a 7-foot-3 medium Fitzgerald baitcasting rod, a 7:4 gear ratio Shimano reel and 17-pound Seagaur Tatsu fluorocarbon.

“That’s kind of what we do at home. It was right up my alley,” he said. “The slower you could fish it the better. If you could keep it on the bottom with a slight wobble, that is when they would eat it. Sometimes they would eat it on the fall for whatever reason. If you threw it and started cranking, they would not eat it. You had to let it hit the bottom.”

He also mixed in a 7-inch green pumpkin Bass Assassin Tapout worm on a 1/8-ounce Texas Rig from time to time, landing several key bass with it. He fished that bait on a 6-10 Fitzgerald medium-heavy spinning rod with 20-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid and a 15-pound Tatsu fluorocarbon leader.

The first three days, Prince caught early limits of 19-4, 20-7 and then a remarkable 26-2, which stood as the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament. Championship Sunday was no different, as Prince landed his biggest bass of Day 4, a 4-pounder, just seven minutes after leaving takeoff at Ingalls Harbor at 6 a.m.

He filled his limit at 6:32 a.m. and 20 minutes later, he capitalized on another flurry and culled twice. Prince added a 2 1/2-pounder close to 8:30, but the following hours were agonizing, as he did not hook another bass before 2 p.m.

“Obviously they didn’t bite as well as they did the days before,” he said. “For whatever reason they didn’t bite when the wind was blowing. It blew pretty much all day. Yesterday when I really crushed them, it was slick calm.”

The wait was well worth it, as the “Prince of Palatka” landed a 4-pounder as his family watched from a pontoon boat.

“That fish was obviously a pound upgrade, and a pound in this tournament is a lot,” Prince said. “They were all whooping and hollering. That bass right there, I went from 13 1/2 to 15.”

Catching bags of 15-8, 17-12 and 20-7 the first three days and entering the final day with a 12-pound deficit, Hanselman made a heroic comeback in the final round by landing 23-5 Sunday.

During the first hour of the day, the veteran pro from Del Rio, Texas, landed two bass over 5 pounds and filled his limit by 7 a.m. A half hour later, he caught another 5-pounder and added several more key bass by 9:30 a.m. to secure his best finish as an Elite Series angler.

“I had a feeling they were going to be there,” Hanselman said. “I just started out catching them. I wanted them to get going fast and furious with a moving bait like a big squarebill, but the first one that nipped it, I reeled it in reel fast and picked up a worm and hammered on them.”

Most of Hanselman’s bass were caught off a shellbar he stumbled on during Day 1 as he was targeting isolated stumps. He started on that spot the final three days of the tournament, catching numerous quality bass using several 6th Sense presentations including a Crush 50X squarebill, a prototype crankbait, a 6th Sense Flock Hair Jig and a 6th Sense Boosa ribbontail worm on a 3/8-ounce Texas rig.

“I was radio silent all week. No forward-facing sonar, just my map and a big worm,” Hanselman said.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Hanselman earned an additional $4,000.

With bags of 22-2, 12-11, 17-12 and 17-15, Florida’s John Cox finished third with a total of 70-8. It is the first Top 10 of the season for an angler known for always plying the shallows. He also earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program.

“We made the most of it,” he said. “I was super fortunate with the weather and how the bass were really holding tight to the milfoil. It helped tremendously. I don’t know how it would have played out if the weather would have been different.”

Cox spent most of his tournament inside a backwater pond on Wheeler Lake that featured a big milfoil mat. A shad-colored Berkley Swamp Lord frog was his weapon of choice.

“I couldn’t move the trolling motor because it seemed like anytime I did, it seemed to throw the whole area off,” he explained. “I would just drift in and Power Pole down.”

Prince and Louisiana pro Greg Hackney tied for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors after both anglers landed 7-9 largemouth, Hackney on Day 1 and Prince on Day 3. Prince also earned a $3,000 bonus for being the highest-finishing angler in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program.

Hawaiian pro Matty Wong earned the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency prize for accurate reporting during the first two days of the tournament.

Carbondale, Ill., rookie Trey McKinney continues to lead the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 560 points. Alabama’s Justin Hamner is second with 501 points, followed by Missouri’s Cody Huff in third with 474, Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in fourth with 473 and Canadian pro Chris Johnston in fifth with 470.

McKinney also leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings, followed by Tennessee’s John Garrett in second with 460 points and Alabama’s Wesley Gore in third, also with 460 points. South Carolina’s JT Thompkins is fourth with 451 points and Maine’s Tyler Williams is fifth with 415.

The tournament was hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.

About B.A.S.S.

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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake 6/13-6/16
Wheeler Lake, Decatur AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

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

1. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 20 80-15 103 $104,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 20-07 Day 3: 5 26-02 Day 4: 5 15-02
2. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 20 77-00 102 $36,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 5 20-07 Day 4: 5 23-05
3. John Cox Debary, FL 20 70-08 101 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-02 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 5 17-12 Day 4: 5 17-15
4. John Garrett Union City, TN 20 68-09 100 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 5 17-13 Day 4: 5 16-15
5. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 20 66-13 99 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 17-08 Day 4: 5 17-11
6. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 20 64-09 98 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 18-01 Day 3: 5 16-12 Day 4: 5 16-04
7. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 20 62-14 97 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 16-09 Day 4: 5 13-10
8. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 20 62-11 96 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 17-08 Day 4: 5 15-12
9. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 20 58-10 95 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 20-08 Day 3: 5 10-02 Day 4: 5 11-05
10. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 20 57-12 94 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 19-08 Day 3: 5 16-03 Day 4: 5 08-06
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 07-09 $1,000.00
2 Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 05-13 $1,000.00
3 Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 07-09 $1,000.00
4 Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 05-03 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 07-09 $1,000.00
Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 07-09 $1,000.00
CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 26-02 $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 94 485 1227-13
2 88 474 1161-02
3 47 246 616-13
4 10 50 156-05
----------------------------------
239 1255 3162-01

by AnglersChannel

Championship Sunday’s Top-10 Field

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