Magical day lifts Lowen to St. Johns lead
Feb. 21, 2025
PALATKA, Fla. — When the necessary became the nemesis, Bill Lowen’s patient persistence delivered a clutch catch that typified his amazing day.
Bolstering a Day 1 limit of 21 pounds, 5 ounces with a second-round bag that went 24-4, the seasoned pro from Brookville, Ind., leads the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River with a two-day total of 45-9. Lowen heads into Semifinal Saturday with a 7-14 margin over Day 1 leader Jay Przekurat.
“It was an amazing day; you just can’t explain it when it happens,” Lowen said. “You look for those days all the time, and I had one of those days today.”
Lowen has been targeting shallow wood with a flipping jig and swim jig. When he hooked a solid bass around noon, the fish became entangled in a pile of limbs. After a couple of minutes of Lowen tugging and carefully poking his rod tip toward the snare, the fish suddenly found its way free.
“I saw the fish run a bream up against the bank, so I threw my jig over there, and as soon as the jig hit the water, she ate it,” Lowen said. “I was going to the back of the boat to land her and she just got stuck in a (submerged tree). I could feel her pulling, so I knew she was still there, but I couldn’t gain on her.
“After what felt like an eternity, I just put a lot of pressure on her. I was thinking the line was gonna break, but actually, the branch broke, and she just floated to the top. Usually, when that happens, it doesn’t end well. I got really lucky.”
Not long after that miracle catch, Lowen culled his smallest fish — a 1 1/2-pounder — with a 5 1/2. Another late-day cull gave him the confidence to pack up and head to weigh-in.
Lowen has been fishing a creek north of Palatka where deep, protected water has suffered less impact from the cold front that arrived on Day 1. While high, bright skies and significantly lower air and water temperatures challenged other competitors, Lowen found his fish generally cooperative.
“It’s all about the tide on the St. Johns, and when it finally got right around 11, I went to my main area and my first bite was a 6-pounder,” Lowen said. “From there on out, every decision I made was the right decision.
“I’m very comfortable doing what I’m doing. Obviously, I was worried about the cold front, but I don’t think it’s bothering them at all.”
Lowen knows he still has a lot of ground to cover, but the potential for adding a blue trophy to the one he claimed at Pickwick Lake in 2021 is well within his sights.
“Typically, on the St. Johns, I catch them good the first day and then I stub my toe,” Lowen said. “I didn’t want to do that this time. Obviously, I didn’t, but I was blessed.
“Everything just went right, and I’m looking forward to getting the XPress boat and Yamaha back out there, throwing my little cricket around and making a run at this thing. After last year, coming off my worst season ever, it feels good to start out like this. I definitely needed this to get my confidence back up.”
Hailing from Plover, Wis., Przekurat set the Day 1 high mark with 24-15, the event’s heaviest bag. Day 2’s shivering, windy weather halved his productivity with a limit of 12-12 and dropped him to second with 37-11.
“It was a tough day for me; I kinda knew that going into the day,” Przekurat said. “I had to scramble around a little bit and caught what I caught. Hopefully, tomorrow, I can step it up a little bit and stay in the Top 10.”
Calling his day a junk-fishing exhibition, Przekurat said the day’s weather complexion made consistency nonexistent.
“I caught a couple off the bed on a dropshot, I caught a couple just (blind casting) a wacky-rigged Strike King Ocho, and I caught one on a jerkbait on a little channel-swing place,” Przekurat said. “I didn’t catch many fish at all.”
Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., is in third place with 37-7. Turning in a consistent performance, he backed up his Day 1 score of 18-15 with 18-8 and gained seven spots from 10th.
“It was the same bait as yesterday; I caught every one on a Texas-rigged black/blue Z-Man Bang StickZ with a 3/16-ounce weight,” Feider said. “I fished some different areas today and moved around a little more. It seems like I can’t keep beating on the same areas over and over again.
“I’m trying to pick one or two areas each day and try to catch everything I can out of it and then move on down the road. I caught some of my fish on docks and seawalls, but mostly on pads.”
Despite the conventional wisdom of expecting sunny afternoons to excel in post-frontal conditions, Feider said the morning hours produced his best bites — including an estimated 6-pounder.
John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-13.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.
Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon and Sunday from 8-11 a.m. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.
Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
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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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2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite Series St. Johns River 2/20-2/23
St. Johns River, Palakta FL.
Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 45-09 104
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 24-04
2. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 10 37-11 103
Day 1: 5 24-15 Day 2: 5 12-12
3. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 10 37-07 102
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 18-08
4. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 35-07 101
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 17-03
5. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 35-06 100
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 16-01
6. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 35-04 99
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 20-02
7. John Cox Debary, FL 10 35-02 98 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-13
8. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 34-07 97
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 21-15
9. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 34-03 96
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-08
10. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 33-09 95
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 13-09
11. Bryan New Leesville, SC 10 33-05 94
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 12-11
12. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 33-01 93
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 19-10
13. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 32-07 92
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-04
14. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 32-02 91
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-11
15. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 31-14 90
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 13-04
16. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 31-14 89
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 17-05
17. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 31-14 88
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 15-05
18. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 31-05 87
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 17-05
19. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 31-04 86
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 18-08
20. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 10 30-10 85
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 12-07
21. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 30-09 84
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 18-12
22. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 30-09 83
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 17-00
23. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 30-04 82
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 11-13
24. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 30-03 81
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-11
25. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 30-00 80
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-15
26. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 29-09 79 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 18-12
27. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 29-05 78
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 08-03
28. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 29-04 77
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 18-14
29. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 28-11 76
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-15
30. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 28-08 75
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12
31. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 8 28-07 74
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 3 12-02
32. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 7 28-06 73
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 2 05-09
33. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 9 28-06 72
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 5 17-13
34. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 28-03 71
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 12-08
35. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 28-01 70
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 09-00
36. Wes Logan Springville, AL 8 27-15 69
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 3 08-03
37. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 27-02 68
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-04
38. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 27-00 67
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-04
39. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 27-00 66
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 13-07
40. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 26-15 65
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 17-08
41. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 26-15 64
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-07
42. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 26-13 63
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 19-01
43. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 26-13 62
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-15
44. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 26-09 61
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 15-11
45. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 26-09 60
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 11-02
46. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 26-06 59
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 17-08
47. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 26-06 58
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-14
48. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 26-01 57
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-05
49. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 25-15 56
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 16-03
50. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 25-02 55
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 08-14
51. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 24-15 54
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 08-08
52. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 24-13 53
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-09
53. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 7 24-09 52
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 2 10-02
54. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 24-07 51
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 16-04
55. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 7 24-06 50
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 2 06-14
56. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 24-05 49
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 14-04
57. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 24-02 48
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 08-13
58. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 24-02 47
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 14-13
59. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 8 24-01 46
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 5 14-08
60. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 10 24-01 45
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 14-06
61. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 10 23-12 44
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 10-13
62. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 23-03 43
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 08-06
63. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 23-01 42
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 09-13
64. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 9 22-15 41
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 4 08-04
65. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 22-13 40
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-07
66. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 10 22-11 39
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 11-11
67. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 22-09 38
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 14-10
68. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 8 21-09 37
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 5 15-06
69. Ben Milliken Omaha, NE 10 21-08 36
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 10-01
70. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 21-05 35
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 09-15
71. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 10 21-03 34
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 08-15
72. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 21-00 33
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 11-15
73. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 20-15 32
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 08-14
74. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 20-09 31
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 08-01
75. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 10 20-08 30
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 07-09
76. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 19-13 29
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 08-14
77. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 19-06 28
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 11-10
78. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 7 19-05 27
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 5 15-13
79. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 18-13 26
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 09-00
80. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 18-11 25
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 09-11
81. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 6 18-04 24
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 1 02-10
82. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 17-04 23
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 06-10
83. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 17-02 22
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 09-02
84. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 17-00 21
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 06-09
85. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 16-15 20
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-13
86. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 10 16-10 19
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-08
87. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 10 16-07 18
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 07-06
88. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 8 16-03 17
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 3 07-01
89. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 7 16-02 16
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 2 02-08
90. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 8 15-05 15
Day 1: 3 02-13 Day 2: 5 12-08
91. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 9 14-07 14
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 04-14
92. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 8 14-04 13
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 3 03-07
93. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 13-13 12
Day 1: 3 10-01 Day 2: 2 03-12
94. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 9 13-09 11
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 4 07-15
95. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 6 13-07 10
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 1 01-15
96. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 4 13-06 9
Day 1: 4 13-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 13-00 8
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 8 12-05 7
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 3 06-11
99. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 6 12-00 6
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 1 03-02
100. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 3 11-10 5
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 11-10
101. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 7 11-07 4
Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 4 08-00
102. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 8 10-12 3
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 3 04-14
103. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 4 07-09 2
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 1 01-04
104. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 1 02-11 1
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $1,000.00
2 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA08-12 $1,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 494 1317-03
2 81 456 1205-06
------------------------------
174 950 2522-09
Illinois Pro Ryan Armstrong takes Day 1 Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain Presented by VOSKER
Third year Invitationals pro battles through wind and sets the bar high with 29-12
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2025) – Though Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 Presented by VOSKER on the Kissimmee Chain was far from balmy, which can often make for a tough bite in Florida, the fishing proved solid. A strong north wind made large swaths of Kissimmee barely fishable, and the going was slow in the morning. But by weigh-in, the quality of the field shone through.
Leading the way, pro Ryan Armstrong of Robinson, Illinois, blasted 29 pounds, 12 ounces to claim a solid lead of nearly 4 pounds. In second, pro Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, snatched up 25-13, and Berrien Springs, Michigan’s Ron Nelson caught 23-1 for third place. Three more anglers brought in 20-pound bags, and a bunch of pros got into the mid-teens, putting themselves within striking distance if they can land a couple of the big bass Florida is known for.
Competitors will conclude the two-day opening round on Saturday, with only the top 30 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advancing to Championship Sunday. The three-day tournament, hosted by Experience Kissimmee, features pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and valuable points to qualify for the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship in September.
“I practiced hard, like everybody else, from sunrise to sunset and kept the trolling motor down and fished a lot of water,” Armstrong said. “A couple times, I got around a lot of bites. I think I have two or three areas that I have a whole lot of faith in. I shook the fish off for the most part in practice, and so I just went to where I thought I had the best bites. I started there this morning, and I never left.”
Fishing away from most of the field, Armstrong caught fish early and often.
“I had a limit pretty quick, and I left around noon,” he said. “I just took my time getting back in and making sure I was in safe.”
While leading an Invitationals event isn’t a familiar position for Armstrong, he’s feeling good.
“I feel very, very comfortable fishing grass,” he explained. “I feel very, very comfortable in the area that I'm in. I know what's going on. And what I've seen today, I learned a lot about my area that I wasn't able to learn in practice, because I didn't want to expose the fish anymore.
“So, today was a really good learning day for me about my area, which really is probably more important than what my weight was. Because I think I'm going to be more efficient, and I have a better idea of how many fish are around me to manage it.”
Armstrong hasn’t declared victory yet, and he’d be a little premature to call game, especially with last week’s Bass Pro Tour winner on the Harris Chain, Bobby Lane, lurking in the Top 10 along with a bevy of high-level talent within striking distance. But he couldn’t ask for a better way to open the season.
“It feels great, man,” said Armstrong. “But it's far from over. I'm nowhere near what we want. This is a long road, and it was a good Day 1. But we want to win, and we're going to try to do everything in order to make it happen.”
Despite the new rules limiting forward-facing sonar this year, second-place angler Drew Gill was likely a fixture in most Phoenix Fantasy Fishing rosters, and he rewarded his faithful on Day 1. Knocking their lights out as he is known to do, the young Illinois pro is in striking position again.
“I went out there and executed the game plan,” said Gill. “It was a pretty high-risk approach, fishing isolated targets for isolated big ones. I caught eight or nine bass today and caught them all on the spinning rod – a pretty unique deal for here.”
With his echolocation machines turned off on Day 2, Gill is planning on making some pretty big changes.
“I’m going to fish mostly new water,” he said. “A little bit of the same stuff less precisely, but most of my stretches just don't have enough of a population to catch them blind. I mean, you would throw for four hours before ever hitting a single bass.
“We're going to try and hold serve for the last day and see if we can't pull off something crazy,” he said. “I know 30 is doable doing what I'm doing, and I want to get another shot at it on Day 3. So, we’ve got to make it through tomorrow.”
The top 20 pros after Day 1 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes are:
1st: Ryan Armstrong, Robinson, Ill., five bass, 29-12
2nd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., five bass, 25-13
3rd: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 23-1
4th: Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, five bass, 21-14
5th: Troy Stokes, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 21-12
6th: Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., five bass, 20-3
7th: Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., five bass, 19-4
8th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 18-14
9th: Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 18-14
10th: Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala., five bass, 18-13
11th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 18-10
12th: Bryson O’Steen, Live Oak, Fla., five bass, 18-8
13th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., five bass, 17-7
14th: Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., five bass, 17-7
15th: John Brown, Wedowee, Ala., five bass, 17-0
16th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, five bass, 16-12
17th: Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 16-10
18th: Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., five bass, 16-10
19th: Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., five bass, 16-6
20th: Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., five bass, 16-4
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Matt Reed earned the first $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award of the year, Friday, with a largemouth bass that weighed in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces.
In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field compete in the two-day opening round on Days 1 and 2 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 Sunday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight.
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each morning from the Big Toho Marina, located at 69 Lakeview Drive in Kissimmee, Florida. Weigh-ins will be held at the marina and will begin at 3 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 each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on CBS Sports Network.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitationals updates, photos, tournament 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 20 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.
Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Pickwick Lake relocates to Wheeler Lake
Feb. 21, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After confirming a tournament scheduling conflict with the Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Pickwick Lake Oct. 2-4, B.A.S.S. tournament officials have announced the event will relocate to Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala. Tournament dates will remain the same.
The Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Wheeler Lake will be hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.
“Moving a tournament is never easy,” said Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon. “Ultimately, we needed to keep our anglers in mind as well as anglers who are planning on fishing the other events. We are thankful for our friends in Tennessee and Pickwick Landing State Park for understanding as well as Decatur Morgan County Tourism committing to host the second stop of the EQs. Wheeler fishes great in October. It will be exciting to see the EQs start to take shape at this second stop.”
The first EQ event is scheduled for Sept. 18-20 at Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The series will then head to Wheeler Lake Oct. 2-4 before heading to the third and final EQ stop of the season Nov. 13-15 at Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla.
In addition to the 100 anglers qualifying from both divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, all current Bassmaster Elite Series anglers will be eligible to compete in the Elite Qualifiers, as well as the second- and third-place finishers from the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance.
B.A.S.S. remains committed to the “win and you’re in” concept for the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. Anglers who fish every event in a division of the Opens will receive a berth to the Classic if they win an event. The same applies to the three-event EQ series, taking the total to 11 berths to the Classic, which is an increase of two berths from years past.
Also new for 2025, the number of anglers who will qualify for the Elite Series has been increased to 10 (nine qualified in each of the past two years). Additionally, the EQ series rules will mirror those of the Elite Series, meaning the “no-info rule” is currently in effect and soliciting information for these bodies of waters is now prohibited.
EQ entry fees will be $3,500 per event. For full details please visit Bassmaster.com.
2025 Elite Qualifiers
Sept. 18-20, Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Oct 2-4, Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala.
Nov. 13-15, Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.
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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
2025 Season of the Alabama Bass Trail (ABTTS) Kicks Off the South Division at Lake Martin This Week!
DECATUR, AL (February 20, 2025) - The Alabama Bass Trail Teams Series (ABTTS) is set to kick off its twelfth season of the South Division on Stop #1 at Lake Martin on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
The season's South Division opener will take place at Wind Creek State Park, 4325 AL-128, Alexander City, AL 35010 at 7:00 A.M. or safe daylight, with the first flight due in at 3:00 P.M. for weigh-in.
"It is always good to get to Alexander City, and one reason we love to go there is Wind Creek State Park—they always roll out the red carpet. Sandra Fuller with the Tallapoosa Tourism Bureau does a phenomenal job welcoming our teams in. She is there during the weigh-in, along with the local news media. It is always great to see them, and it is a lot of fun. This facility is well equipped for tournaments," said Kay Donaldson, Director of the Alabama Bass Trail.
This promises to be an exciting and challenging tournament. We invite viewers to tune into our live broadcast on www.alabamabasstrail.org on February 22,nd, at 7:00AM CST for the tournament action. Weigh-ins will be held at Wind Creek State Park, and will be available on live broadcast, beginning at 3:00PM CST.
Named "Event of the Year" by Decatur Morgan Tourism, the Alabama Bass Trail stands as one of the Southeast's most competitive tournament circuits and is the second-largest tournament trail in the United States. Selling out in under 7 minutes, the ABTTS 2025 Season will bring in anglers from across the United States, fishing the best lakes in the state of Alabama. The series maintains a guaranteed first-place prize of $15,000 per tournament, with payouts extending to the top 40 finishers in the regular divisions. Over $750,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs this season! The Tournament Trail offers two divisions along with a no-entry-fee championship with a grand prize of $50,000! As a sanctioned tournament series in the B.A.S.S. Team Championship, the ABTTS will qualify 18 teams to fish the BASSMASTER Team Championship in 2025. The top angler fishing the BASSMASTER Team Championship will qualify to fish the 2026 BASSMASTER Classic!
Our South Division angler roster link is below.
https://www.alabamabasstrail.
org/wp-content/uploads/2025/ 02/ABTTS-2025-South-Division- Roster.pdf
For additional questions, photos, and interviews, please contact Angela Cross.
The 2024 Alabama Bass Trail Sponsors Include; Phoenix Boats, AMFirst, Landers-McLarty Chevrolet, McGraw-Webb Chevrolet, Rapala, VMC, Crush City, Buffalo Rock, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Jack's, Garmin, Lew’s, Strike King, Alabama State Parks, Halo Fishing, Snag Proof, NetBait, Bait Fuel, TH Marine Supplies, Power-Pole, Pro Guide Batteries, American Trailer Rental, Yamaha, Anheuser-Busch, American Baitworks, E3 Sports Apparel, FishAlabama.org, Sweet Home Alabama, and Alabama Mountain Lakes.
About Alabama Bass Trail Since its inception, the Alabama Bass Trail has generated over $103 million in tourism revenue for Alabama, underscoring its importance as a premier fishing destination.
The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Its mission is to promote Alabama as a year-round fishing destination, to preserve natural resources for generations to come, and to educate high school and college-aged students to be good stewards of natural resources. The 13 bass fishing lakes consist of Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Martin, Lay Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula, and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. For more information, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org
and www.alabamabasstrail100. org .
Anglers will share small areas during Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee
Feb. 20, 2025
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — As Florida’s largest lake and the 10th-largest lake nationally, Lake Okeechobee boasts 730 square miles of surface area. However, when the Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee visits the storied fishery Feb. 27-March 2, anglers will focus on relatively small sections defined by the right habitat.
As with most Florida lakes, “the right habitat” refers to plant life, both submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) like hydrilla and emergent species such as lily pads, Kissimmee grass and various reeds. In recent years, Okeechobee has lost vast areas of its vegetation, largely due to high water, which reduces sunlight penetration necessary for photosynthesis and limits plant growth.
Two weeks prior to the tournament’s commencement, Lake Okeechobee’s water level was 14.11 feet. That’s well within the historic average for mid-February, and barring any major influx, that number will be declining.
Florida Elite Series pro Scott Martin, who grew up fishing and guiding on “The Big O,” claimed a wire-to-wire victory at the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN. Making his home in Clewiston, at the lake’s south end, Martin said Okeechobee will present the upcoming Elite event with a challenging but optimistic scenario.
“The lake is fishing small like usual, but the fishing’s been really good,” Martin said. “I believe that we’ve had a good spawn around the lake due to light winds and warm temperatures for the last three weeks.
“The water is falling .03 feet per day and is targeted to hit 12 feet by May. This will help greatly in increasing our submerged vegetation.”
Typically, productive areas exist at the lake’s upper end where the tournament is based, as well as the southern portion, where the famous Roland Martin Marina resides. Notably, late January saw the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops won in Pelican Bay at the lake’s southeast side.
“The tournament could be won in the north or south end, but this time of year, if the south end turns on, it’s hard to beat,” said shallow-water stick Drew Cook. “If they’re eating in South Bay, it’s going to be the deal.
“It’s always been that way. South Bay is a long (boat) drive from anywhere, so maybe it’s a little less pressured.”
Balancing the outlook, Martin references his lifetime of experience to note that the lake’s annual cycle ensures a dynamic and challenging scenario. Essentially, summer rains can raise the lake level by several feet until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases the excess through dams on the lake’s west and east sides.
“The lake resets every year,” Martin said. “The water comes up during hurricane season then it comes down, so it’s all a matter of what habitat remains. This year, it’s very different and a lot of habitat has changed. There’s not one single waypoint where I caught them last year that I think I can catch them at this year.”
Adding to this truth, Tyler Rivet, who won the 2023 Elite held on Okeechobee, unveiled the previously underutilized potential found in the Kissimmee River. As the backstory goes, the Louisiana native fished the river prior to the event primarily to catch sac-a-lait (black crappie) for dinner but also located a previously unknown gold mine of unpressured bass.
Rivet got off to a quick start, and, during the first day’s weigh-in, he boldly stated that he was on the winning pattern. Three more days of Kissimmee River productivity earned the win and added a new facet to the Lake Okeechobee mystique — one that will, no doubt, receive serious attention at this year’s event.
While Cook expects a mostly spawn-centered tournament, he’s also aware the southern Florida bass work on a more relaxed schedule than the rest of the country. That could bring a mix, including prespawn and postspawn action that places a premium on prudent positioning.
“Any time in Florida, you’re going to have to have fish coming to you,” Cook said. “Whenever you find that area where they’re coming to you, you’re going to succeed.
“That area used to be a hard reedline, then you’d move back into the ponds to look for spawners. Now there’s not much of that left. If there are any offshore grasslines, they should be absolutely stacked with staging fish.”
Less habitat shared by a full field of 104 competitors means competition for prime areas. Predicting several groups of anglers fishing within sight of one another, Cook said success will require a measured pace and a disciplined focus.
“You’ll have to slow down; and if you think you're going slow, go slower,” Cook said. “You can’t pay attention to what other people are doing, and you can’t worry about fishing behind other people.
“Someone in front of you might catch the males in a spawning area, and then you might come behind them and find the larger females will eat your bait.”
In 2023, Rivet won with a four-day total of 86 pounds, 15 ounces. Cook finished 10th with 66-11 and is expecting similar numbers for this year’s event.
“It’s not going to be a home-run-type spawn, but it will still be good; I think it will take 85 pounds to win,” Cook said. “I think you’ll need about 17 a day to make the Top 10.”
Daily takeoffs for the event will be at C. Scott Driver Park at 7 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day will be held back at the park at 3 p.m.
Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on The Roku Channel’s Roku Sports Channel Thursday and Friday as well as on FS1 from 8-11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday from 8-10 a.m. Stay up to date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.
Visit Florida is hosting the event.
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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Montevallo Takes Over Number One Ranking in Bass Pro Shops School of the Year
University of North Alabama climbs to 2nd, Carson-Newman University drops to 3rd
SAN ANTONIO, TX (February 20, 2025) – The Association of Collegiate Anglers announces the latest points update to the standings for the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. This most recent points update is highlighted by points awarded at multiple School-Run/Other Events, as well as a MLF College Series tournament.
Four-time defending title winner the University of Montevallo moves into first place with a season total of 18,260 points. 2nd ranked University of North Alabama climbs two places since the previous update to trail Montevallo by just over 700 points, and Carson-Newman University moves from 1st to 3rd.
For the second time this season, the University of Montevallo is ranked 1st overall in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Montevallo’s other appearance atop college fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system came at the end of September, following the ACA’s first event of its historic 20th season. At that time, Montevallo was coming off of a victory at the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley. That 1st place finish by Evan Mabrey, paired with a 6th place finish by Storm Clark, helped to propel Montevallo into the number one spot.
Four months later, Montevallo finds itself ranked number one once again. A four-time defending title winner of the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), Montevallo earned 2,400 points at the latest MLF College Series event at Lake Seminole. Connor Bell & Nicholas Dumke finished in 5th, and Brennan Berglund & Colton White took 7th. Those two Top 10 finishes earned Montevallo the second most points of any school to compete at Lake Seminole.
Taking a look at the Top 4 ranked teams, it’s important to note that each team has fished the same amount of major national college tournaments. These teams are on equal footing in that respect, and just under 2,400 points separate 1st from 4th.
McKendree University (7th) and Drury University (13th) each have room to gain on the teams around them, as they’ve fished one less MLF event than every team in the Top 15. With the spring season set to continue for each of the three major college trails, a clearer picture in the race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia will continue to be drawn as teams continue to earn major points.
Here is a look at teams that made major moves up in the Top 25 for the latest standings in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia:
4) LSU-Shreveport: Previously Ranked 8th
9) Campbellsville University: Previously Ranked 13th
10) Lander University: Previously Ranked 15th
20) Florida Gateway College: Previously Ranked 24th
21) Georgia College: Previously Ranked 22nd
Click here to view the complete rankings.
Two teams moved up into the Top 25 after previously not being ranked in that coveted position. The University of Tennessee moved from 27th to 24th, and Troy University jumped five spots from 30th to 25th.
St Johns River Questions and Insights
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
The first event of the Elite Series season conjures a unique, nervous excitement amongst the entire field of pro anglers. Even for established veterans, who have competed in most, if not all, of the twenty seasons of Bassmaster’s premier level of competition; the first day of a new season brings certain questions that only a full day of fishing can answer.
Such was the case on day one at the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at the St Johns River. To compound the first day mental debates anglers were dealing with prior to blast-off at the Palatka City Boat Dock & Ramp, they had to factor in how Wednesday’s off-day would affect what they found in practice, as well what a volatile forecast featuring a significant cold front might do to these Florida bass.
As fans we expect professional fishermen to have all the answers, but the reality is most top finishes require real-time adjustments and adapting with the fish as each day progresses. Make no mistake, how they approach an event mentality, and their decision-making process is every bit as important as the lures or equipment they employ.
With day one behind them, Elite Series pros now have the insights of yesterday to lean on. Peek inside this process with Team Toyota pros Mike Iaconelli and Matt Arey. What questions did they have coming into day one, what did they learn, and what new riddles do they hope to answer on the water today?
Mike Iaconelli: 16-lbs 7-ounces, 20th place after day one.
Longtime fan favorite Mike Iaconelli is fishing his 30th season as a full-time pro in 2025, but a few weeks ago he started dealing with a right arm injury that jeopardized his season. The Yamaha Outboards pro is making due, fishing through obvious pain and wearing a brace on his arm to hopefully thwart his elbow from getting worse.
“Yesterday I was asking questions I’ve never asked myself in my entire career,” Iaconelli admitted. “I was wondering if I was really going to be able to compete with my injury. Can I make the casts I need to make? Is my elbow going to hold up to the hooksets? Normally, the questions I’m looking to answer revolve around fish patterns but yesterday was all about physical capabilities. Which is wild to say. My elbow felt OK during practice, but practice is half speed compared to a tournament day.”
Ike had a strong day one, catching over 16-lbs including a six-pound St. Johns River special.
“Yesterday I learned I can compete, and that adrenaline is a good pain reliever,” Iaconelli said with a laugh. “My arm hurt at times, but my mindset is… I’m fishing, I’m happy. A few days before I came here, I didn’t know if I’d get to fish my “dirty thirty” season or not. It’s all good! Today, my mindset has shifted and the questions I’m facing revolve around how this cold front is going to affect the fish in my area.
“I am making a long run and fishing an area I don’t think the fish are going to completely vacate. They aren’t going to swim several miles out of there, so I just have to see what their mood is and what adjustments I need to make to put together another solid day.”
Matt Arey: 10-lbs 15-ounces, 65th place after day one.
Arey ended day one on the wrong side of the top 50 cut and while he’ll tell you he didn’t find definitive answers to his internal questions yesterday, he did eliminate some things. Which is all part of the problem-solving process for Arey, who’s proven to be one of the most consistent anglers on tour.
“Coming into day one I was battling the typical Florida questions of how these fish, that really would like to move up to spawn, will be affected by this cold front,” Arey explained. “Florida bass do not like the cold, so my main goal for yesterday was figuring out what adjustments I needed to make to capitalize on the few good bites I’ll get this week. I only had seven keeper bites yesterday. I salvaged day one, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for.
“Honestly, I don’t feel like I got answers to those main questions (on day one). I got a puzzle piece or two figured out, but the whole picture isn’t clear yet. I have more work to do today, and I’m hoping to answer the cold-front conundrum I came into day one chewing on. I have a longer day today (Friday), so I’m thinking I’ll make a long run and try to keep putting the puzzle pieces together.”
Przekurat warms up to Florida’s cold for St. Johns lead
Feb. 20, 2025
PALATKA, Fla. — Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., was just happy to finally hit the water, but his winter-weary enthusiasm lead him to a five-bass limit of 24 pounds, 15 ounces that leads Day 1 of the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.
Przekurat, who won the 2022 Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year title, leads Texan Lee Livesay by 2-2.
Not the least bit intimidated by takeoff temperatures in the upper 40s, or Friday’s forecast for 34 degrees at sunrise, Przekurat ignored the traditionally gloomy outlook associated with cold fronts and notoriously weather-sensitive Florida bass. The result was a nearly flawless day far surpassing his expectations.
“What a day; I couldn’t do any wrong today,” Przekurat said. “All I have to say is ‘I’m so happy to be fishing in Florida.’ At home yesterday they cancelled school because it was so cold. Whatever tomorrow is, I know everybody at home will be watching me fishing in Florida, wishing they were fishing in Florida.
“I’m just happy to be fishing. Prior to this tournament, I hadn’t wet a line since before October, so I was really anxious to get out.”
Growing up around weedy Wisconsin fisheries, Przekurat’s solid on the skill sets that equally fit Sunshine State waters.
“I’m fishing shallow; that’s what I like to do in Florida,” he said. “I’m not much for fishing past about 8 feet in Florida. I like a flipping stick, and I like to use a spinning rod with a wacky worm.
“It’s a lot like back home in Wisconsin. The only difference is this place has 8- to 10-pounders and we have 4-pounders.”
Indeed, Przekurat anchored his bag with an 8-4 — his first catch, which ate a Strike King Baby Z-Too. He caught several other fish on that bait and also fished a wacky-rigged Strike King Ocho.
“I was looking for flats and places where the fish are going to pull up to spawn,” Przekurat said. “We had a really warm week (before the cold front) and I think a lot of fish had pulled up to where they were spawning, and now they’re kinda getting that push back. But they’re still lingering in those areas; they’re not going to swim a mile away.”
Notably, the past several years have seen the lush eelgrass meadows that once carpeted much of the St. Johns sadly absent. Hurricanes and the sunlight-choking high water that followed rendered much of the historically productive patterns and places irrelevant.
Starting his fourth Elite Series season, Przekurat said he’s unhindered by changes that preceded his pro career.
“I wasn’t able to fish here when they had eelgrass, so I’m not even familiar with how good the fishing used to be, which maybe is an advantage for me,” he said. “I think (the lack of eelgrass) makes areas a lot smaller, and it makes you concentrate on areas where you know there’s fish instead of running around.”
Despite his clearly productive efforts, Przekurat admitted to a pleasantly casual day where all the pieces simply fell into place. Spending most of his time in the Lake George area, he went into the day without a defined target list.
“There wasn’t a specific spot that I thought was going to be the deal,” Przekurat said. “I’m kinda playing this tournament day by day. I thought I had an area that I could catch fish in today, but I don’t know if I can catch fish there tomorrow.
“Today looked great, but tomorrow might be a completely different area and a completely different style of fishing. I didn’t expect to catch 24-15 today, not in my wildest dreams. I was hoping for 15 pounds. Tomorrow I’ll be really happy with 15 pounds.”
Lee Livesay of Longview, Texas, is in second place with 22-13. Making a big run paid off, in terms of jump-starting his day, but returning to waters closer to the tournament site proved most productive.
“I ran an hour south to Lake Astor, fished some shellbeds and caught a limit really quick,” Livesay said. “It was maybe 7-8 pounds, but it got me comfortable. Then I went and fished some new water and caught a 6-pounder on a Chatterbait in some pads.
“I caught a nearly 3-pounder on a 6th Sense Provoke 97X jerkbait, then I came back (downriver) toward Palatka and caught a 7, a 4 and a couple of 3s just flipping a black/blue-tip 6th Sense Clout (stick worm). I made the right decisions today.”
Contemplating Day 2, Livesay said he’s planning to repeat the shallow power-fishing game plan.
“It kinda feels like I can’t do it again, but at the same time, I had them fairly early and it felt pretty good,” Livesay said. “I kinda laid off some areas where I think maybe I could duplicate today.”
Bill Lowen of Brookville, Ind., is in third place with 21-5. Enjoying a fast start to his day, Lowen drew on his vast experience fishing the Ohio River’s shallow, muddy water and relied on tactics with which he’s deeply familiar.
“I ran to my primary area where I had kinda figured out a little deal with a swimming technique, but they were just nipping at the bait,” Lowen said. “I figured out a flipping bait to get bit on, and my first bites this morning were a 5 and a 4. That’s a good way to start the morning.
“I’m just fishing shallow wood, and I don’t have any company in my area, so hopefully, what I have going on will hold out. I have two other areas that I didn’t even look at today, because I have my weight pretty quickly.”
John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-13.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.
Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon and Sunday from 8-11 a.m. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.
Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 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
2025 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
B.A.S.S. inks deal with Champion Power Equipment as Elite Series event title sponsor
Feb. 20, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. announced today that Champion Power Equipment has signed on as the title sponsor of the upcoming Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee to be held in Okeechobee, Fla., Feb. 27-March 2.
Champion Power Equipment is a market leader in power generation equipment, and the Nevada-based company’s product lineup now includes portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, lithium-ion power stations, winches, log splitters and other outdoor power equipment.
“At Champion Power Equipment, we’re excited to partner with the Bassmaster Elite Series and celebrate the spirit of adventure that fishing embodies,” said the Director of Marketing at Champion Power Equipment Scott Henning. “While this sponsorship showcases the playful side of our tagline, ‘For home, work, and play,’ it’s also a reminder that our versatile equipment does so much more. From providing backup power during emergencies at home to reliable energy at remote job sites, we make the power that makes people’s lives easier — whether at work, at play, or somewhere in between.”
The Elite Series last visited Lake Okeechobee in 2023, and fans were treated to a victory by Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet when he posted a four-day weight of 86-15 and won by almost 4 pounds over Texas’ Clark Wendlandt, who brought 83 pounds to the scales.
“Champion Power Equipment specializes in outdoor power equipment — something that is used extensively by the fishing demographic, and this partnership is a natural fit,” said B.A.S.S. Chief Operating Officer Phillip Johnson. “We are looking forward to a very successful and exciting event at Lake Okeechobee and a mutually beneficial partnership in 2025.”
Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on The Roku Channel’s Roku Sports Channel Thursday and Friday as well as on FS1 from 8-11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday from 8-10 a.m. Stay up to date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.
About Champion Power Equipment
Champion Power Equipment is a market leader in power generation equipment. Champion has decades of experience providing dependable and durable power products designed and engineered in the US for the North American and world markets. For home, work or play, Champion products are the standard of performance excellence. We make the power that makes your life easier.
Since 2003 Champion Power Equipment has earned a reputation for designing and producing the market’s finest power equipment. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Champion's North American footprint also includes facilities in Southern California, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada.
Today Champion’s product line has expanded to include portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, engines, winches and log splitters. With over 4.5 million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field.
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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Cox picks fishing partners and lures prior to Elite Series opener
We caught up with always jovial John Cox prior to opening day of the Bassmaster Elite Series season in his home state of Florida. He disclosed what variables fans should keep an eye on at this event, along with folks he’d love to share a day fishing with, and lures he’ll depend on this week.
Q: What two variables should fans keep an eye on as they follow this event on the St. Johns River at Palatka, Florida.
Cox: As always, the weather. We’ll be dealing with gusty north winds the first two days, and then things calm down considerably for the weekend. It could be like two different events packed into one. And the leaderboard. Don’t assume what you see on the leaderboard after Day 2, is what the final score will look like.
Q: What two people do you wish you could spend a day on the water with?
Cox: Forrest L. Wood, he’s no longer with us, but being a part of Vexus® Boats has grown my appreciation for the super-quality guy he was. He was a great fishing guide too. Plus, he handed me the big $300,000 check when I got my first championship win in 2016, but I never really got the chance to know him.
And I’d pick Shaw Grigsby. He’s a Florida guy that I’ve admired since 5th grade, but I would make him take me gator hunting, not bass fishing.
Q: What are you loving most about your new Vexus?
Cox: It’s the smoothest riding aluminum boat made. It rides and feels like a fiberglass boat. So, I no longer have to worry about how rough the water will be. I can go anywhere I want to go. It floats super shallow too, so I’ve got peace-of-mind knowing I can get into any backwater I’m wanting to fish.
Q: What two lures will you for sure have tied on this week?
Cox: A Texas-rigged 6” Berkley Maxscent General in black-blue tip, and a new tungsten-weighted lipless style bait called the Berkley Jack. It was kind of designed for vertical jigging walleyes, but I like it around St. Johns River shell beds.
Major League Fishing BFL Arkie Division Opener on Lake Ouachita Set for Saturday Postponed
WHAT:
The Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Arkie division season-opening tournament on Lake Ouachita, scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 22, has been postponed due to inclement weather.
MLF officials are working to reschedule the tournament at a later date. The rescheduled tournament date and location will be announced very soon, once confirmed.
NOTES:
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 24-25 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, 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.
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.
Smith Lake primed to shine during Bassmaster College Series event
Feb. 19, 2025
CULLMAN, Ala. — Smith Lake is as healthy as it’s ever been, according to guide Logan Johnson, which is good news for teams looking to make a splash during the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops event.
“Really and truly, the lake as a whole health-wise, the population of the fish, is exponentially better than it has been in a while,” the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN pro said. “Every bass you catch is fat, round and happy as they can be. They are healthy. And the clouds of blueback herring seem to get bigger and bigger.”
Tournament days are scheduled for Feb. 26-27 with daily takeoffs at Smith Lake Park in Cullman at 6:30 a.m. CT and weigh-ins to be held back at the park at 2:30 p.m. The top 10% of the field will punch a ticket to the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops and all teams will earn points toward the Team of the Year race in the Legends Trail. The Strike King Bassmaster High School Series and Bassmaster Junior Series events will follow on March 2.
Located in north-central Alabama, Smith Lake sports an impressive population of big spotted bass as well as lunker largemouth. Last year, the Bassmaster Elite Series showcased that when they took on the Black Warrior River impoundment in early July. Taku Ito won that event thanks in part to a 5 1/2-pound spotted bass he landed on the last day.
Barring a major freeze or flood, Johnson anticipates the lake to be close to full pool with both the spotted bass and largemouth in the prespawn stage. If there is a really impactful warming trend, there might be a couple of bass that find their way to the bank to spawn.
On the whole, though, Johnson expects there to be a lot of offshore fishing using forward-facing sonar.
“There will obviously be a lot of ’Scoping,” he said. “But whoever wins that event will have to have one or two big largemouth every day. You won’t be able to win on straight spotted bass. You can win on straight spots all winter, but once spring arrives, you have to have one or two largemouth.”
Much of the spotted bass population will be chasing blueback herring. Ditches just off the main-lake channel are the best areas to find herring chasers this time of the year, but Johnson says finding the right areas requires a lot of scanning.
“Herring are a little bit unpredictable,” he said. “It takes a lot of seat time and finding as many areas with good herring in them as you can, because they will move on you in a heartbeat.”
Jighead minnows will be key baits for these bass as well as a medium-diving crankbait like a Strike King Gravel Dawg or a Spro RkCrawler. A big glidebait could also come into play if the correct conditions present themselves.
Meanwhile, the largemouth will gravitate to the back thirds of the pockets and secondary points leading into the spawning coves. Isolated rock and wood will give those bass a place to stage. Moving baits like ChatterBaits will be key for getting big bites.
Visit Cullman will host the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Toyota Adds Brandon Palaniuk to Star Studded Team Toyota Roster
PLANO, TX – Fifteen years after purchasing a used 2008 Tundra in his home state of Idaho, Brandon Palaniuk’s journey with Toyota comes full circle with his addition to Toyota’s team of professional anglers. Texas-based Toyota Motor North America is proud to welcome Palaniuk to Team Toyota.
“We are proud to welcome Brandon to Team Toyota,” said Dedra DeLilli, Vice President of Marketing, Toyota Motor North America. “As a dedicated husband, father, and champion, Brandon embodies the values we admire. Having owned and towed with multiple Tundras, he truly understands the strength and reliability of our vehicles.”
Long before Palaniuk became a household name in tournament bass fishing, he was a young man from Idaho with what seemed like a farfetched dream of fishing for a living. In 2010 he was climbing the ranks of Bassmaster competition in hopes of one day qualifying for the Elite Series. It was then he made a pivotal decision to purchase a used Toyota Tundra, which proved to be the beginning of this new partnership.
“A big reason I bought that first Tundra was Toyota’s involvement in the sport and because I aspired to be one of the guys on Team Toyota,” Palaniuk recalled. “I wanted to be KVD, Swindle, Ike or Big Show. I was trying to emulate what they had. Fast forward over a decade, it’s incredibly humbling to be mentioned in the same conversation and on the same team as the anglers I idolized at the start of my career. It’s an honor that I don’t take for granted.”
Palaniuk has been a long-time member and proponent of the Toyota Bonus Bucks program. Toyota’s popular contingency program was another major factor in establishing his loyalty to the brand and tow vehicle in the early stages of his competitive fishing pursuits.
“I credit the money I made through Bonus Bucks with helping launch my professional career,” Palaniuk said. “I didn’t have sponsorship money coming in back in those days. I was working for a timber company in between tournaments to support my fishing, running heavy equipment building logging roads in the mountains, pretty much living paycheck to paycheck. The extra cash from Bonus Bucks checks here and there was a difference maker for me in being able to fund my first year on tour.”
Since those humble beginnings, which sometimes included sleeping in his “Tundra Suites” in the back of his tow vehicle, Palaniuk has gone on to live up to his nickname of “the prodigy”. His resume includes a B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, two Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, and five Bassmaster Elite Series trophies in his 15-years as a full-time pro angler.
More than his impressive accolades, Palaniuk is a leader both on and off the water. He’s looked up to by fans and his peers alike for his positive outlook and supportive nature. Palaniuk works just as hard at being the best dad, husband, business partner and person as he does at being the top bass angler on tour.
Toyota’s partnership with Palaniuk is a testament to the brand’s on-going support of bass fishing. Sponsoring numerous top-level tournament trails, a team of pro anglers, the BassmastHER movement, and amateur anglers of all levels through Toyota Bonus Bucks.
B.A.S.S. announces multifaceted partnership with Yokohama Tire
Feb. 19, 2025
B.A.S.S. announces multifaceted partnership with Yokohama Tire
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. and Yokohama Tire announced today that Yokohama has signed an agreement to sponsor multiple events, including title sponsorship of the Yokohama Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair, in Macomb County, Mich., Aug. 7-10.
Other touchpoints of the agreement include Bassmaster supporting-level sponsorship for the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Series presented by Lowrance, Bassmaster Team Championship, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, as well as presenting sponsors of the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am and of the daily weigh-ins at Dickies Arena during the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour at Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas, Mar. 21-23.
“We’re excited to partner with Bassmaster again and increase our support and involvement,” said Andrew Briggs, Yokohama Tire’s VP of marketing and product management. “Last year was a hit with our customers, and we really connected with Bassmaster’s incredibly passionate fan base around our wide range of GEOLANDAR truck and CUV/SUV tires. We’re looking forward to an even greater presence this year with more fan-related activities and activations.”
Along with the Bassmaster Classic, Yokohama will have an outdoor experiential activation at several of the Elite Series locations in 2025, which will incorporate an interactive display, giveaways and autograph sessions with Team Yokohama athletes.
“We’re proud to have Yokohama become a supporting sponsor in the 2025 season,” said B.A.S.S. Chief Executive Officer Chase Anderson. “Bassmaster anglers require the best equipment available to them both on and off the water, and Yokohama tires are a constant they can count on to get them safely to every destination during a tournament season. I personally made the switch to Yokohama on my vehicles and can attest to the quality and durability of Yokohama’s tires.”
About Yokohama Tire Corporation
Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology, innovation, sustainable manufacturing and environmentally conscious products. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, and commercial truck and bus. For more information on Yokohama’s broad product line, visit yokohamatire.com and yokohamatruck.com.
Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Tires 101” section at yokohamatire.com.
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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Saturday’s Upcoming BFL Tournament on Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Postponed Due to Flooding and Extreme Weather
WHAT:
The Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine tournament on Kentucky and Barkley lakes, scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 22 has been postponed due to the recent flooding and extreme weather conditions being forecast by the National Weather Service.
The event, set to be the first event in the BFL LBL Division, has been rescheduled to Sunday, March 16, and will piggyback on the next BFL LBL event at Kentucky and Barkley lakes on Saturday, March 15.
WHEN:
Saturday-Sunday, March 15-16
Takeoff: 7 a.m. CT
Weigh-in: 3 p.m. CT
WHERE:
Moors Resort & Marina, 570 Moors Road, Gilbertsville, Ky.
NOTES:
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 24-25 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, 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.
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.
Roku becomes the streaming hub of Bassmaster tournaments
Feb. 18, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Audiences can soon hook free access to live coverage of Bassmaster professional bass fishing tournaments thanks to a new streaming rights partnership between Roku, America’s No. 1 TV streaming platform, and Bassmaster, the world’s leading authority on sportfishing. Upcoming Bassmaster LIVE events will include action from the brand-new Elite Qualifiers (EQ) Series, five Bassmaster Open Series events, which set the field for the EQs, select coverage of all nine Bassmaster Elite Series events, Friday coverage of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour and a special prime time production of the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am presented by Yokohama, all streaming for free on The Roku Channel.
Kicking off with Thursday and Friday coverage of the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series season on Feb. 20, the Bassmaster tournaments will stream live on The Roku Channel’s Roku Sports Channel. Professional fishing fans can also enjoy replays of the live stream alongside additional on-demand content, clips and highlights across The Roku Channel, Roku Sports Channel and Roku's Sports Zone, plus a dedicated Bassmaster FAST channel launching later this year. The partnership will expand coverage availability of Bassmaster LIVE properties and further bolster Roku's free lineup of exclusive live sports.
“It’s an honor to call Roku the streaming home of Bassmaster, an iconic brand with a decades-spanning history of producing best-in-class professional fishing tournaments,” said Joe Franzetta, head of sports, Roku Media. “We look forward to bringing these events for free to the passionate fanbase of this top outdoor sport, as well as introducing Bassmaster to new audiences, expanding the tournaments’ reach to millions of streaming households in the U.S.”
“We are proud to bring so much live programming to Roku's fast-growing sports channel, and we’re very excited about the creation of a new outlet for posted video content on a dedicated Bassmaster FAST channel on Roku. It’s thrilling to have one of the first streaming-rights partnerships in outdoor sports and the first for professional fishing on America's No. 1 streaming platform,” said B.A.S.S. Chief Operations Officer Phillip Johnson. “This partnership will allow Bassmaster to bring our exciting coverage of the highest level of professional bass fishing to Roku’s enormous audience and introduce our sport to a new fan base.”
Viewers not familiar with Bassmaster events are in for a real treat, as the show follows the best bass anglers on the planet racing against the clock to catch the five biggest bass they can wrangle to end the multiday tournaments with the heaviest weight. Of course, high winds, rainstorms, intense heat waves and the drama of tricking largemouth and smallmouth bass into biting leads to intense moments, as the competitors vie for the coveted trophy and millions of dollars in prize money. New viewers and die-hard fishing fans alike can expect world-class coverage of each storyline as the catches unfold across the competitions.
David Katz and Mike Kelly of ThePostGame, a leading sports media consultancy and content production company, represented Bassmaster in its recent third-party media negotiations and helped secure the partnership with Roku.
The Roku Channel is available to stream for free — no subscription or sign-up required. Audiences can watch it on Roku devices or TVs, and it's also easily accessible online at TheRokuChannel.com, iOS and Android devices, Amazon Fire TVs, Samsung TVs, Google TVs and other Android TV OS devices.
*By hours streamed (Hypothesis Group: Dec 2024)
About The Roku Channel
Launched in 2017, The Roku Channel is the home of free ad-supported streaming television on Roku, and features a diverse lineup of more than 80,000 on-demand movies and programs, more than 500 live linear television channels, and premium subscription offerings in the U.S. It licenses and distributes content from more than 250 partners and features a growing library of Roku Originals. In Q3 2024, The Roku Channel was the #3 app on Roku's platform by both reach and engagement.
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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
At the Junction of Youth and Humility
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
Life tried to land a right-hook on Toyota Bonus Bucks pro Easton Fothergill a few years ago. Not only did he dodge it; he landed an even stronger counterpunch showcasing his elite mental fortitude.
Imagine being a college-aged angler and having the world at your proverbial fingertips. You’re in your early 20s, you’ve earned a college scholarship to fish bass tournaments and you’re looking forward to graduating with your hard-earned 3.6 GPA in Marketing from The University of Montevallo.
Life is good.
Heck, life is better than good. The 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket is in a few weeks and you’re feeling optimistic about your chances. You’re currently practicing for an upcoming derby on famed Pickwick Lake, enjoying a beautiful day in nature. What more could someone want?
As you make a cast, however, your focus is quickly interrupted when you notice a twinge of pain in your head. Maybe you didn’t drink enough water, or you might have skipped breakfast, so no big deal. You’re a young buck and you can handle it.
A few casts later, the pain returns. It goes away for a bit so hopefully it’s a one-off thing and you’re in the clear. But then it happens again. This time, it doesn’t go away. This time, the intense headache causes you to pass out in your boat.
Toyota Bonus Bucks pro Easton Fothergill will never forget that pivotal day on the water. Just three weeks before the biggest college tournament of his life, his world was turned upside down in a matter of hours.
“I was determined to fish this Pickwick tournament and somehow I got through it by taking Ibuprofen,” Fothergill said. “I felt terrible, but I was able to finish the event. Four days later, about three weeks before the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket, I couldn’t take the pain any longer and ended up at an urgent care clinic to get checked out. A few hours later, I was having brain surgery.”
The doctors found a tangerine-sized mass on Fothergill’s brain. The doctors said it was an infectious mass initially caused by a small sore in his mouth from brushing his teeth. The infection got into his bloodstream and came to rest in the young man’s brain. The doctors told him this only happens to four in one million people.
Thankfully, the surgery went well, and Fothergill was totally pain free from the moment the surgery was finished. After being prescribed 20 weeks of strong antibiotics, both his youth and impressive mental fortitude shined through.
“I had the biggest college tournament of my life in three weeks,” he said. “They gave me a recovery time of four weeks, but I had work to do. I didn’t have any intention of missing the tournament. That was absolutely not an option.”
He’s a man of his word because not only did he fish the tournament while recovering from emergency brain surgery… he won it against the best college anglers in the country.
“I was catching them on a small finesse jig and a spinnerbait,” Fothergill said. “I’ll never forget that tournament for so many reasons. As you can imagine, it was such a wide range of emotions. I had a hot starting spot each tournament day, so I’d catch some key fish first thing but after that, it was super tough and it took a lot of discipline for me to remain confident and focused.”
This impressive victory gave the Minnesota native an opportunity to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Classic while driving a 2024 Toyota Tundra. His win also earned him paid entry fees into the 2024 Bassmaster Open EQs. Fothergill ended up winning two of them—one on his home lake of Leech Lake and the other on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. The 22-year-old also earned the 2024 Bassmaster EQ Opens Angler of the Year honors for his efforts which qualified him for the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series.
That’s quite the run (and mouthful), wouldn’t you say?
While he’s always been a talented angler from a very young age, Fothergill credits his calmness and level head for his unprecedented success.
“I’ve never been the kind of person to get too up or down,” he said. “But that whole brain surgery issue put things into a unique perspective for me. I don’t take a single day on the water for granted whatsoever. There is always someone having a worse day than you so whether a fish jumps off or you have a bad tournament, it’s important to get over it quickly and accept it. Negativity doesn’t fix anything, and you can’t go back and change mishaps, so there’s no need to let it mess with your head.”
With plans to lean heavily on those traits, the Toyota Bonus Bucks angler is full of excitement and admittedly a few nerves as the 2025 Elite Series season approaches. A large part of his excitement comes from his new ride. He had never owned his own vehicle before, so Fothergill was able to purchase the 2023 Toyota Tundra he won the rights to use after his Bassmaster College Classic Bracket victory.
“I knew after about two months that I wanted to buy it,” Fothergill said. “I put about 55,000 miles on it last year and I’ve only had it in the shop for oil changes. At least I know I’m going to get to and from tournaments and to and from boat ramps towing my Skeeter/Yamaha with no problems this year. That might sound silly but having confidence in my equipment, especially my truck, boat, and outboard are huge. It lets me totally focus on my job.”
Both the fishing industry and fans are in for a treat as they watch this young man embark on his dream career. Whether it’s a shallow, dirty-water tournament on the Sabine River or a northern smallmouth event, everyone will quickly learn just how well-rounded his skillset is.
“I’ve spent the time necessary with forward-facing sonar because I have to stay with the times,” Fothergill said. “Just like I had to learn about side imaging technology when I was a kid, I owe it to my career to stay updated on technology. But I love a good junk-fishing tournament when I don’t even have to look down at my units. I’ll fish any and everything with a smile on my face and a positive attitude. I don’t ever want to be a one-trick pony.”
At the junction of youth and humility, you’ll find very few young men who have what it takes to make it in this game full of trials, difficult decisions and heartbreak. But whether it’s shrugging off emergency brain surgery, fishing old school or staying up to date with the new, Easton Fothergill has what it takes to become a household name in the fishing world.
Lawrence Loads up on Bonus Bucks at Lake Conroe
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
It took Jake Lawrence exactly one endeavor in Bass Pro Tour competition before he notched a top ten finish in the dynamic format that often throws even the most seasoned pros a curveball. This comes as no surprise to fishing fans who have been following the career of this young fishing phenom who calls Paris, Tennessee home. The BPT rookie left Lake Conroe with a sixth-place finish and strong momentum to start the 2025 season.
Lawrence backed up his Stage One finish with an impressive second-place result in the slugfest that was the Toyota Series on Pickwick Lake. These finishes allowed Lawrence to load up $4,500 of Toyota Bonus Bucks earnings ($3,000 for Lake Conroe, $1,500 on Pickwick), as he was the highest placing angler hauling his boat with a 2021 or newer Toyota tow vehicle in both events.
“This is the third Tundra I have owned, and I absolutely love this thing,” Lawrence said. “More than the added incentive of Bonus Bucks, I believe Toyota makes the safest and most comfortable vehicle on the road. I have two young children, so the safety factor means more to me than anything.”
Before becoming a full-time pro, Lawrence actually competed in the amateur-only Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament in 2023 on Pickwick Lake and won the event in dominating fashion. It was plain to see then that he was a special angler, and it nearly seemed par for the course when he continued his impressive campaign on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals last year en route to qualifying for the 2025 Bass Pro Tour.
“Tournament anglers are crazy if they overlook the opportunities with Toyota Bonus Bucks,” Lawrence said. “My wife and I were talking, and I think we paid all but two or three truck payments with Bonus Bucks winnings last year. It’s a great vehicle that literally pays you to fish.”
Well known as a wizard with forward facing sonar, Lawrence caught most of his weight on Lake Conroe employing either a 3-inch or 4-inch Yamamota Scope Shad during the one-period he was allowed to use FFS each day. The other two-thirds of each competition day, Lawrence targeted hydrilla and eelgrass secondary points with a vibrating jig or ¼-ounce Rat-L’Trap.
Much of the BPT field employed a similar one-two punch on Lake Conroe, but Lawrence and the rest of the top ten caught scoreable bass at such a blistering rate it was hard for the field to keep up. Thankfully, you don’t have to out fish Jake Lawrence to reap the rewards of Toyota’s popular fishing contingency program.
Bonus Bucks is paying out on over 620 supported tournaments in 2025, rewarding anglers of all levels for towing their boat with an eligible Toyota tow vehicle. For more information or to get signed up today, visit https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/ or shoot an email to bonusbucks@dynamicsponsorships.com.
B.A.S.S., Cavender’s Boot City announce 2025 Bassmaster Classic partnership
Feb. 17, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. announced today that Cavender’s Boot City, the leading Western wear retailer based out of Tyler, Texas, has signed on to partner for the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. Cavender’s will join the Classic as a local partner as well as title sponsor of the Bassmaster Classic Kickoff Party.
The Cavender’s Bassmaster Classic Kickoff Party will officially start the festivities surrounding Classic week Thursday, March 20 at Fort Worth’s Historic Stockyards in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Last year’s Kickoff Party at the Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa, Okla., featured live music from the Toyota Music Den from country sensation Stoney LaRue.
“We’re excited to have Cavender’s as a partner with us at the Fort Worth Bassmaster Classic,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “Cavender’s represents 60 years of building their brand into the authority on Western lifestyle clothing. The Classic Kickoff Party is one of the most anticipated events surrounding the Bassmaster Classic, and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate it in the heart of cowboy country in Fort Worth with Cavender’s.”
Details about the Bassmaster Classic Kickoff Party and other fan-favorite events surrounding the Bassmaster Classic in Fort Worth can be found here.
“The outdoor enthusiast and Western lifestyle go hand in hand. Cavender’s carries many products that we want to share with the Bassmaster Classic,” said Joe Cavender. “We look forward to everyone’s visit to Fort Worth and the Stockyards.”
About Cavender's Boot City
Founded by James and Patricia Cavender in 1965 in the small east Texas town of Pittsburg, Cavender’s has grown into America’s premier destination for top-of-the-line Western boots, jeans and hats for the entire family. Across a dozen states, every one of its 100-plus stores takes great pride in embracing the history, values and culture Cavender’s shares with the American West. Likewise, Cavender’s exclusive lines — Rafter C, Rockin’ C, and JRC & Sons — ensure that its customers’ wardrobes are as authentic and enduring as their lifestyles. As the Cavender’s family puts it: “We will always remain true to who we are and what we stand for: the cowboy way of life. Because ours is not just a Western lifestyle. This is how we live.”
Cavender’s commitment to quality is also evident in its comprehensive range of boots and Western wear from brands such as Ariat, Wrangler, Rock & Roll Denim, Resistol and Stetson, as well as its full line of top-shelf workwear and work boots. For more information on Cavender’s products and history, and to find a store near you, visit cavenders.com.
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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Clarification on Membership Requirement for Points Leaders in The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament
February 17, 2025 — In response to inquiries from anglers and fans, Unified Pros would like to provide a clarification regarding the requirements for qualifying for The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament as a points leader in a professional bass fishing league.
To be eligible for qualification as a points leader, anglers must be active members of Unified Pros by the official cutoff date of March 5th. This membership requirement is an essential step in ensuring all anglers meet the necessary criteria for competing in this prestigious tournament.
Anglers who have accumulated enough points to qualify leading up to the championship, but who are not Unified Pros members by the cutoff date, will not be eligible to qualify for The Ultimate Angler World Championship, regardless of their performance.
"We want to make sure there is no confusion moving forward," said Danny Groves, Unified Pros Chairman. "To clarify, being a Unified Pros member by March 5th is a requirement for any angler hoping to qualify for the World Championship by being a points leader. This is part of our ongoing efforts to support professional anglers and maintain the integrity of the tournament."
For more details on how to become a Unified Pros member and ensure qualification, please visit www.unifiedpros.org.
The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament will take place at Lake Guntersville, one of the top bass fishing lakes in the United States, in October 2025. This highly anticipated event promises to be a thrilling competition for anglers from around the world.
For further information about the tournament, please visit www.theultimateangler.
For any further questions or membership information, please contact:
Susan Carothers
susan@theultimateangler.org
Lake View’s Shields Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division Opener at Lake Guntersville
Illinois’ Spacil Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Feb. 17, 2025) – Boater Austin Shields of Lake View, Alabama, caught a five-bass limit weighing 29 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Guntersville . The tournament, hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, was the first event of the season for the BFL Choo Choo Division. Shields earned $5,133 for his victory.
Shields caught not only his biggest-ever tournament limit, but also his biggest tournament bass. And that kicker – an 8-pound, 2-ounce fish – knocked a foot of slack in the line while Shields was fishing the way he really loves to fish: old-school power fishing. But more on that in a bit.
Shields came to Guntersville Friday to practice, armed with a tip from a buddy that put him around some really nice quality bass. In fact, he was able to put 20 pounds in the boat in practice on one key spot then bounced around checking secondary areas and eventually landed more than 29 pounds for the day. You might be thinking that’s too many fish to hook in practice, but Shields was just catching one here and one there to gauge the quality on each spot – and there was plenty left for the tournament.
“This morning (Saturday), I ran to that spot first thing, and I had 25 pounds by 8 a.m.,” Shields said. “I made a couple of small culls throughout the day, and late in the day, like 2:30 or 2:45, I rolled up the river because the wind started getting rough. So we decided to come back and just kind of fish close to the ramp for the last hour or so.
“I get here, and I was like, it’s Guntersville and there’s always big fish around causeways. I pulled up to a causeway, picked up a ChatterBait and caught an 8-2 that culled out a 4.90, and that gave me 29.”
Making the switch to the Z-Man ChatterBait and following his instincts was a big reward for Shields, who spent the entire morning shaking a minnow on secondary points using forward-facing sonar. The new technology is not his favorite, but he’s driven to win and has learned to use it by necessity.
“This afternoon, I noticed that they quit biting. They wouldn’t react to the bait anymore on LiveScope,” Shields said. “So I just kind of had to go old school. I grew up fishing old school without LiveScope, so I’ve kind of been rebellious toward using it. I have not wanted to use it. But all this past winter, I made myself use it to make myself get up to date with it because in central Alabama, like on the Coosa River, if you’re not using it in the wintertime, you’re getting beat. So I had to figure it out. But it was refreshing to pull up (on the causeway with the ChatterBait) and just kind of fish instinctually.”
Reflecting on his win, Shields was quick to credit his wife, Brittney, for her support.
“We’ve got a 3-year-old, and we’ve got a 5-month-old. We’ve got two very young kids in the house,” he said. “It’s not easy taking care of them and trying to spend time with them and still get out here to do a little practice and still working Monday through Friday like most everybody does. I’m glad that my wife takes the time and sacrifice to watch our kids while daddy comes out here and fishes. I’ve got to give credit to her. My family is up here with me. We rented a cabin in Goose Pond. Because it’s not just a me thing, it’s a family thing. We’re all in it together. We’re just a little fishing family.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Austin Shields, Lake View, Ala., five bass, 29-3, $5,133
2nd: Michael Hood, Winchester, Tenn., five bass, 26-11, $2,566
3rd: Mike Lowry, Hixson, Tenn., five bass, 25-3, $1,710
4th: Jake Bice, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 24-3, $1,198
5th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 24-2, $1,527 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th: Mark Guhne, Hixson, Tenn., five bass, 23-14, $941
7th: Chuck Medley, Owens Cross Roads, Ala., five bass, 23-6, $855
8th: Brody Robison, Dawson, Ala., five bass, 23-2, $770
9th: Jimmy Neece Jr ., Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 22-14, $684
10th: Chip Wammack, Muscle Shoals, Ala., five bass, 22-12, $599
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Bo Collins of Robbinsville, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $800.
Frank Spacil of Downers Grove, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,566 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 15 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Frank Spacil, Downers Grove, Ill., three bass, 15-15, $2,566
2nd: Tim van Polen, Guntersville, Ala., three bass, 15-12, $1,683
3rd: Rodney Bolte, Bloomington, Ind., three bass, 15-5, $855
4th: Roderick Green, Columbia, Tenn., three bass, 15-2, $599
5th: Jonathan Majors, Chelsea, Ala., three bass, 14-10, $513
6th: Coy Gregg, Cleveland, Tenn., three bass, 14-9, $449
6th: Shane Browder, Lynville, Ind., three bass, 14-9, $449
8th: Adam Brenton, Terre Haute, Ind., three bass, 14-2, $385
9th: Gerald Bennett, Dallas, Ga., three bass, 13-10, $320
9th: Jeff McWhorter, New Concord, Ky., three bass, 13-10, $320
Tim van Polen of Guntersville, Alabama, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $400, catching a bass that weighed in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After one event, Austin Shields of Lake View, Alabama, now leads the Fishing Clash Choo Choo Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Frank Spacil of Downers Grove, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash Choo Choo Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 250 points.
The next event for BFL Choo Choo Division anglers will be held March 8, at Lake Chickamauga out of Dayton, Tennessee. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11 BFL Regional tournament on Logan Martin Lake in Lincoln, Alabama. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, 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.
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 20 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.
Haughton Fishing Team Wins MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open on Lake Seminole
BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (Feb. 17, 2025) – The MLF High School Fishing team of Carsen Adcock and Colton Arnold, representing the Haughton Fishing Team, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 3 ounces to win the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open at Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia.
A field of 36 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by Visit Bainbridge. In MLF High School Fishing competition, the top 10 percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top three teams that advance to the 2025 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Haughton Fishing Team, Haughton, La. – Carsen Adcock and Colton Arnold, five bass, 18-3
2nd: Lancaster Academy – Fisher Lancaster and Jesse Lancaster, five bass, 14-11
3rd: Bainbridge Bass Cats, Bainbridge, Ga. – Caleb Logue and Hayden Reynolds, four bass, 14-7
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
4th: Westfield High School, Perry, Ga. – Brant Beckham and Daniel Sapp, five bass, 14-3
5th: Bainbridge Bass Cats, Bainbridge, Ga. – Mason Bright and Drake Walls, five bass, 13-8
6th: Wayne County High School, Jesup, Ga. – Tucker Chalfant and Tripp Harvey, five bass, 12-15
7th: Thomas County Central High School, Thomasville, Ga. – Nathan Henson and Gareth Joslin, five bass, 12-11
8th: Highland Park High School, Dallas, Texas – Carson Falk and Dylan Sorrells, five bass, 12-7
9th: Southwest Georgia Academy, Damascus, Ga. – Nate Akers and Noah Fetner, five bass, 12-0
10th: Rehobeth High School, Rehobeth, Ala. – Jacob Johnson and Karson Peterman, five bass, 11-6
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing presented by Tackle Warehouse 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, advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. Tournaments held on or before March 29, 2025, advance teams to the 2025 National Championship. Tournaments held after March 29, 2025, advance teams to the 2026 National Championship.
The 2025 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship & World Finals events will take place June 25-27, at Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. The High School Fishing National Champions each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2025 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota , WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s 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 20 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.
LSU-Shreveport Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake Seminole Presented by Suzuki Marine
BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (Feb. 17, 2025) – The Louisiana State University (LSU)-Shreveport duo of Miles Smith of Houma, Louisiana, and Levi Thibodaux of Thibodaux, Louisiana, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Seminole Presented by Suzuki Marine Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 24 pounds, 2 ounces. The victory earned the Pilots’ bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2025 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
Both business majors, Thibodaux and Smith are comfortable fishing grass from their time on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. So when they came to Lake Seminole – the first time there for each of them – they tried to spend practice running the lake and getting a feel for the grass. Bad weather on two of the days limited their search efforts, but the anglers were able to find a handful of spots in one area where they could stay on the fish amid a cold front.
“We found a few different holes in the grass that had a few fish,” Thibodaux said. “We really didn’t know what to expect because we didn’t practice the last day because of the rain and all. We didn’t expect to do that great, to be honest.
“Basically, what we figured out in practice was there were a lot of fish roaming on the grass flats. We kind of figured out with that cold front coming some of them would get off the flats and get in the holes or edges where it’s a little deeper.”
The grass flats were mostly 2 to 4 feet deep, and Thibodaux and Smith targeted holes that were anywhere from 5 to 10 feet deep, mostly keying on edges and hard-bottom areas. They found five or so areas that fit the bill, ranging in size from an area the size of a couple bass boats to one area that was about 100 yards long. The champs caught their fish throwing a jerkbait and a Strike King Hybrid Hunter crankbait – a lure they have plenty of experience with back home.
Throughout the day, the LSU-Shreveport anglers rotated their best spots, staying close and “burning down” each spot for everything they could catch.
“Since we really couldn’t see a lot of the lake like we wanted to, we just kind of settled into that area where we knew we had fish,” Thibodaux added. “It’s a popular area. There were a lot of boats there, but I don’t know that they were focusing on the same things we were focusing on.”
The top 10 teams finished:
1st: LSU-Shreveport – Miles Smith, Houma, La., and Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., five bass, 24-2, $2,000
2nd: University of North Alabama – Jake Brown, Loretto, Tenn., and Nathan Reynolds, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 22-14, $1,000
3rd: Florida Gateway College – Bryce Balentine, Sorrento, Fla., and Connor Koch, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 22-10, $700
4th: Emanuel University – Colby Elliott, Blairsville, Ga., and Michael Gammons, North Charleston, S.C., five bass, 21-11, $600
5th: University of Montevallo – Connor Bell, Lisbon, N.Y., and Nicholas Dumke, Grand Rapids, Minn., five bass, 21-6, $500
6th: University of Tennessee – Matthew Dettling, El Macero, Calif., and Cody Domingos, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 20-15
7th: University of Montevallo – Brennan Berglund, Zimmerman, Minn., and Colton White, Moore, Okla., five bass, 20-10
8th: Florida Gateway College – Will Boyd, Quincy, Fla., five bass, 20-9
9th: Campbellsville University – Noah Dabney, Mannsville, Ky., and Evan Fields, Shelbyville, Ky., five bass, 20-7
10th: Lander University – Harrison McCall, Salisbury, N.C., and Cameron Yates, New Durham, N.H., five bass, 19-15
The full list of National Championship qualifiers and complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Seminole was hosted by Visit Bainbridge. The next tournament for MLF College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Grand Lake, March 7 in Grove, Oklahoma.
The 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI season features college teams from across the country competing in six regular-season open tournaments. The top 15 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the 2026 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota , WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s 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.
Western U.S. bass anglers corralling a bunch of Vexus® bonuses and buckles
California’s famous for gold, Arizona for its copper, and thanks to a loyal group of talented tournament anglers, Vexus® Boats is becoming famous throughout the Western United States for its uniquely cool silver belt buckle trophies and generous cash bonuses that are part of the premium boat brand’s REV Rewards™ tournament contingency program.
Anglers such as Matt Frazier, Alex Klein, Joe Uribe Jr., Ken Mah, Ryan Friend. K.C. Harris, and Jeff Michels made the decision to invest in a heritage-rich, top-quality Vexus bass boat, and collectively they’ve now won around $200,000 in REV Rewards bonuses, along with enough silver buckles to make a herd of bull riders happy.
In fact, Joe Uribe Jr. of Surprise, Arizona just added another buckle and $10,000 bonus check to his growing collection for his win at the cold and wet WON BASS Lake Shasta Open.
“I’ve now won $40,000 cash total through Vexus REV Rewards program, and if you don’t think the silver buckles are a source of pride for us anglers, look no further than the trophy case in our home’s dining room,” smiles Uribe, who works at Complete Marine in Phoenix, AZ.
He’s proven he can catch ‘em everywhere, but says throwing squarebill crankbaits on Clear Lake in the fall is as good as it gets, and when it comes to the favorite features of his Vexus VXs20, he loves the unmatched smooth ride, and the highly insulated cooler that will keep ice frozen for days, even in the Sonoran Desert heat.
Even better news is the fact you don’t have to live near a desert, or west of the Mississippi to win REV Rewards and silver buckles, you simply need to make sure you’re eligible by visiting https://vexusboats.com/rev-rewards/ and taking a few minutes to register.
Livingston Lures Adds Scott Canterbury to Pro Staff
2019 Bassmaster Angler of the Year to Promote Brand, Help with Product Development
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. – February 14, 2025 –– Livingston Lures, the San Antonio, Tex. based manufacturer of premium fishing lures featuring their patented EBS (Electronic Baitfish Sounds) Technology introduce the addition of 2019 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Scott Canterbury to their world class Pro Fishing Team.
Canterbury, from Odenville, Ala., who has competed on the FLW Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series since 2008. In his career, Canterbury competed in 257 professional events, claimed two FLW wins, the 2019 Bassmaster Angler of the Year title, 54 top 10 finishes, qualified for 10 trips to the Forrest Wood Cup and four Bassmaster Classics. He has claimed $1,984,937 in paychecks in his career.
The veteran pro is a shallow water, power fisherman who honed his craft on the famed Coosa River and the legendary fisheries of North Alabama before hitting the tours. He joins the Livingston Lures team because he has used the lineup throughout his career to put bass in his livewell that equates to being able to feed his family.
Having trust in a product lie is key to the Alabama pro. “I have had some success in my career with several of the Livingston Lures products before deciding to join with them officially,” said Canterbury. “I have caught a lot of fish on the Howeller Series of crankbaits, the Walking Boss is a great topwater bait and the Flat Master and Walk ‘n Pop have all been a part of my arsenal for a while.”
He said that he is proud to be joining the Livingston Lures family. “I am beyond excited to be a part of such a great team,” he said. “The EBS technology is proven to be a great fish catcher and the crew at Livingston is continuously working with their pros to bring out new, fish catching baits; I am thrilled to be a part of this family and be a part of this process.”
Erick Arnoldson, Livingston Lures’ Vice President of Operations knows adding Canterbury is a definitive addition to his team. We are thrilled to welcome Scott Canterbury to the Livingston Lures family,” said Arnoldson. “His exceptional skill, experience, and passion for fishing perfectly align with our mission to push the boundaries of innovation and performance.”
Arnoldson said he trusts Canterbury to contribute to the brand. “As a Livingston Lures Pro Staff member, he will play a key role in product development, serve as a brand ambassador at tournaments and industry events, and contribute to educational content designed to help anglers elevate their skills,” Arnoldson continued. “His insights and expertise will be invaluable as we continue developing cutting-edge solutions for anglers worldwide.”
Canterbury joins a Pro Staff that includes 2014 Bassmaster Classic Champion Randy Howell, five-time Bassmaster Champion Jacob Powroznik, Six-time Major League Fishing winner and the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup Champion Anthony Gagliardi and Bassmaster Opens pro Laker Howell.
About Livingston Lures: Livingston Lures has built a reputation among top freshwater and saltwater anglers for innovation and premium quality baits that flat out catch fish. These hard plastic lures are designed to call the fish and meet the highest standards for swimming action with quality construction. Every Livingston Lures’ bait features EBS™, Electronic Baitfish Sound Technology™. For more information visit www.LivingstonLures.com or visit a retailer near you.
Yamaha Welcomes Accomplished Bassmaster Elite Angler Randy Howell to Pro Fishing Team
KENNESAW, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Yamaha Marine today announced the addition of veteran BASS® angler Randy Howell to the freshwater Pro Fishing Team for the 2025 season. Requalifying via the Legends invitations, Howell will join current Yamaha Pro Team members to compete in the 2025 Bassmaster® Elite Series, representing Yamaha’s premium brand position and serving as an ambassador for the sport of competitive fishing.
“Not only is Randy an outstanding competitive angler, he also lends support to his community through Kings Home, an Alabama-based independent charity that houses over 160 youth, teens, ladies and moms with children suffering from severe abuse, abandonment, neglect or homelessness,” said Connor Megan, Pro Staff and Sponsorship Supervisor, Yamaha Marine Business Unit. “Overall, Randy exemplifies the Yamaha Angler Code of Ethics and his passion for competitive fishing aligns with our commitment to excellence. We look forward to supporting him as he returns to the Bassmaster® Elite Series.”
Howell, the 2014 Bassmaster Classic® champion, has more than four decades of experience under his belt. Amassing more than $1.9 million in career earnings, the elite series angler boasts four first place finishes, 37 Top 10 finishes and 125 Top 30 finishes. The Guntersville, Alabama native returns to BASS® from the Major League Fishing® (MLF), where he broke the Bass Pro Tour record twice, two days in a row during Stage One of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour.
The 2025 Bassmaster® Elite season kicks off at St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, Feb. 20-23. Fans can follow Howell during the season on bassmaster.com.
Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Engine Systems, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.
This document contains many of Yamaha's valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only and are not intended to be an endorsement. B.A.S.S., Bassmaster and Bassmaster Classic are registered trademarks of B.A.S.S. LLC.
REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear.
© 2025 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Contacts
Serena Ortiz
Public Relations Specialist
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit
Mobile: (678) 832-9158
serena_ortiz@yamaha-motor.com
Neal Wheaton
Wilder+Wheaton for
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit
Mobile: (404) 317-0698
neal.wheaton@gmail.com
Bobby Lane Rallies to Comeback Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI at Harris Chain of Lakes
Lakeland, Florida pro catches 19 bass totaling 56-5 in final day Championship Round to earn top prize of $150,000
LEESBURG, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2025) – Across a decorated 17-year career that includes a REDCREST victory, one of the few accomplishments that had eluded Bobby Lane was a national-tour win in his home state of Florida. He’d come close – in fact, the last time the Bass Pro Tour visited the Harris Chain of Lakes, Lane finished second to Ott DeFoe – but had yet to lift a trophy in his home state.
Midway through the Championship Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI at the Harris Chain of Lakes, it looked like Lane would have to keep waiting.
Matt Becker and Mark Davis shot out of the starting blocks, both amassing more than 30 pounds in the first period. Lane, meanwhile, started on the opposite end of Lake Apopka from where he’d caught most of his fish due to the strong south wind and struggled to gain traction. Halfway through Period 2, he’d tallied just 17 pounds, 6 ounces and trailed Davis by more than 20 pounds – and as the wind continued to increase in intensity, presenting baits and generating bites became more difficult by the minute.
But while the action slowed for everyone else, Lane used his Sunshine State savvy to steadily stack weight onto his total. He boated six bass in an hour, which included a 5-8 and a 4-9, to pull within one scorable bass of Davis’ lead at the end of the second period. He took over the top spot on SCORETRACKER® for the first time all tournament 30 minutes into the final frame. Finally, a flurry of five fish totaling 16-10 brought his total to 56-5 and sealed the long-awaited win – and $150,000 prize that comes with it – for the Lakeland native.
“I've been close before,” Lane said of winning in Florida. “I finished second here last time to Ott DeFoe, and to finally seal the deal on one in the home state – in a big, national tournament, not just a team event or something like that, but to get a big tournament – means the world to me.”
Prior to the start of practice, much of the dock talk centered on a recent fish kill that occurred on Lake Apopka. That news made Lane, like most of the field, hesitant to venture into the southernmost lake on the Harris Chain, especially since doing so meant a long run from takeoff each morning at Venetian Gardens.
Lane almost didn’t even check Apopka during his two days of practice. It wasn’t until the second day, when he was in nearby Lake Beauclair, that he figured he might as well lock through the Apopka canal and at least check it out.
The first place he stopped, he got six bites without lifting his Power-Poles. His next spot – the area where he ultimately caught most of his fish during competition – produced similar action.
“I make maybe 15, 20 flips, and I have five bites in a row, and two of them were big ones,” Lane said. “And I’m like, oh boy.”
Lane started Day 1 of competition in Lake Harris due to his late boat number, but after that, he was all-in on Apopka, which wound up producing six of the Top 10 finishers. He said the key to finding concentrations of bass was locating hard-bottom areas next to patches of emergent reeds. He thinks bass were staging on the hard bottom before spawning on the reeds.
“When you drop your Power-Poles, it sounds like you’re hitting rocks,” Lane said. “I think with all the grass being eradicated out of that lake, those fish have nowhere else to go but to swim to shore, and I think with the full moon we had during practice, all those fish that wanted to spawn on this moon were moving into that hard spot that I was on.”
While his area was full of fish, Lane said slow presentations were the only way to get them to bite. He locked an Abu Garcia Fantasista X 7-foot, 6-inch, heavy flipping stick in his hands with an Abu Garcia Premier REVO reel spooled with 50-pound-test Durabraid. Using a 5/0 Berkley Fusion19 hook and either a 5/16- or 3/8-ounce Epic Tungsten weight, he flipped a 6-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General to every reed in the area, slowly dragging the worm along the bottom.
Even for Lane, that could be painstaking. He joked that he was “tired of looking at the same 50 or 60-yard stretch of reeds.” But for an angler born and raised in Florida, wielding a flipping stick and slowly picking apart cover made for “a breath of fresh air.”
“Forward-facing sonar has its place, but it did not have its place on the Harris Chain of Lakes this week,” Lane said. “I live and breathe on that flipping stick. It usually gets me close sometimes. I’ve made a lot of money with it. But to actually seal the deal with it in my hands, there’s nothing sweeter.”
Far from the only accomplished flipper to find the bite in Apopka, Sunday’s Championship Round set up for an old-school slugfest. Lane’s first decision of the day almost took him out of the fight.
Seeing the wind buffeting his prime stretch, Lane decided to start the morning on the more protected southern end of the lake. On his third flip, he caught a 5-8, which reinforced his confidence in the area. But over the next 1 hour, 20 minutes, he would only get one more bite, a 2-pounder.
Watching his deficit to Becker and Davis balloon, Lane decided he had no choice but to battle the wind on the north end. The conditions made it almost impossible to present his bait accurately, but skillful boat positioning and patience allowed him to keep stacking up weight when no one else in the field could.
“You really had to get the boat positioned properly when you find the piece of cover you want to fish, drop your Power-Poles, and focus on keeping your bait on the bottom no matter what the wind was doing,” Lane explained. “That was the hardest task today was trying to keep that bait down there where the fish live.”
Lane committed to fighting the wind for the rest of the day, figuring the weather system would eventually blow through the area. With about an hour left before lines out, the gusts finally relented. Right on cue, he caught a 2-pounder, then a 2-6 (which Lane dove onto the front deck of his Phoenix to wrangle after it shook free of his hook). A 5-10, his biggest bass of the day, followed by a 4-8 five minutes later sealed his victory.
“I decided I was going to stay there until the wind shifted directions, which it did, and it just got better and better and better and better,” Lane said. “The minute that wind laid down, it was just perfect. Big one, big one, big one.”
Lane’s wife, Madeline; his daughter, Lexi; and his son-in-law, Kenny, cheered from shore as they watched him swing those final few fish into the boat. When time expired, he trolled over to them to exchange hugs, the perfect cap to the Florida win he’d been waiting for.
“That’s one thing you dream of is winning a huge tournament in your home state,” Lane said. “I’ve had a lot of close calls. They couldn’t stop me today.”
The top 10 pros at the Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI on the Harris Chain of Lakes finished:
1st: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 19 bass, 56-5, $150,000
2nd: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 14 bass, 38-13, $45,000
3rd: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 15 bass, 36-15, $35,000
4th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 13 bass, 36-7, $30,000
5th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 11 bass, 27-15, $25,000
6th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., eight bass, 23-9, $23,000
7th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., seven bass, 16-10, $22,000
8th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 10-3, $21,000
9th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 7-6, $20,500
10th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., one bass, 2-2, $20,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall there were 97 scorable bass weighing 256 pounds, 5 ounces caught by the final 10 pros on Sunday.
Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, won the Berkley Big Bass Award on Sunday – his third Big Bass Award of the week – with a 7-pound, 1-ounce largemouth that he caught in the third period. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
A new angler has taken the lead in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year competition: pro Jacob Wall of New Hope, Alabama. The third-year Bass Pro Tour pro finished seventh on the Harris Chain after a third-place showing at Stage 1 on Lake Conroe.
Wall leads Jacob Wheeler, who has claimed the AOY crown in three of the past four years, by just one point. The two of them have a bit of cushion over Stage 1 winner Justin Cooper, who sits 10 points back of Wheeler.
The four-day tournament, hosted by Discover Lake County Florida , showcased 66 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $650,000, including a top payout of $150,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2026, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Television coverage of the Suzuki Marine Stage 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by YETI will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 13 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering the following Saturday on Sept. 20. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 66 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 Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2026 championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sports Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine and Toyota.
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.
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 20 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.
Malabar’s Robert Branagh Goes Wire-to-Wire, Wins MLF Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2025) – Hopes were high going into the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division event on Lake Okeechobee, and through two days, the lake lived up to the hype. But on Saturday’s Day 3, with a strong southern wind blowing out many key areas, things started to fall apart.
Entering with a comfortable lead after two great days, Robert Branagh almost stumbled as well. But, with the rest of the field struggling, 16 pounds, 13 ounces for a 73-1 total was enough for the win and $44,000.
The victory is Branagh’s second Toyota Series title on Okeechobee, which is not a common feat. Branagh also set the three-day Toyota Series weight record for the fishery, bumping the top weight up to 73-1, a bit more than the previous high-water mark of 72-9 that Jessie Mizell set in 2024.
As the vegetation in Okeechobee has deteriorated in recent years, the frequency of success off the lake has increased. Now, it’s pretty well-known that the various canals and ditches around the edge of the lake can kick out winning weight. Still, old habits die hard, and the bulk of the weight and the bulk of the pressure remains in the lake.
Though Branagh did spend some practice time there, he made the canals his primary focus, and it worked.
“I saw what the wind was going to do for the first two days and then the third day,” said the Florida pro. “That’s why I targeted something out of the ordinary. I knew that the water would stay clean and the wind wouldn’t affect it, and it paid off.
“Now that there’s no grass in the lake to clean the water, I knew the water would get muddy right up to the hard line. And I knew fish were going to spawn. They spawn in the canals just like they spawn in the lake. Just so happens, I found them spawning on rocks. No grass, no nothing; but they were spawning on the rocks.”
Branagh found two key areas where bass were bedding on rock and the hard-bottom areas around it.
“I started in practice,” he explained. “I caught a few on a Senko, and then I picked up the Bruiser Baits Bullet, and I caught a couple of better ones. So, I went to another spot in another canal and did the same thing and caught an 8. So, I knew that was the plan going in.”
Branagh never used his forward-facing sonar. He simply fished very methodically, picking apart his zones foot by foot and using his Power-Poles every inch of the way.
“I’d ease up, I’d say, about 5 feet off the bank,” he said. “The fish were actually out about 3 foot from the from the actual rock piles. I would parallel the rocks, put it on the rocks, and just slow roll it out, ticking the top of the rocks. When you felt it tick the rock, sometimes it was rock, and sometimes it was a fish swimming out with your bait.”
Branagh basically only those needed two areas to win – one was responsible for his weight on Day 1, and his backup spot was the place to be on Day 2 and Day 3.
“I was going to try to save my second spot for today and not burn it up yesterday,” he explained. “But I went in there yesterday and should’ve had over 30 pounds again and lost a double-digit. So, I went in there today and just expanded on it.”
Branagh’s victory was not without flaw – he did lose some key fish. But, it turned out not to matter, and he was thrilled on stage after a grueling Day 3.
“Man, I was sick to my stomach for the last two hours,” he said. “Now, I’m freaking stoked.”
The top 10 pros at the Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee finished:
1st: Robert Branagh, Malabar, Fla., 15 bass, 73-1, $44,000
2nd: Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., 15 bass, 65-8, $17,000
3rd: Parker Knudsen, Minnetonka, Minn., 14 bass, 59-8, $13,750 (includes $1,000 Phoenix Bonus)
4th: Kyle Glasgow, Guin, Ala., 15 bass, 56-1, $10,750
5th: Michael Venditto, Boca Raton, Fla., 15 bass, 53-14, $9,750
6th: Hunter Weston, Palm City, Fla., 15 bass, 53-10, $8,375
7th: Dillon McMillan, Palm Bay, Fla., 15 bass, 52-2, $7,300
8th: Kyle Monti, Okeechobee, Fla., 15 bass, 51-10, $6,300
9th: Travis Pitt, Niceville, Fla., 15 bass, 50-1, $5,300
10th: Michael Catt, Jacksonville, Fla., 15 bass, 49-9, $4,200
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Brian Haseotes of West Newton, Massachusetts, earned Thursday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass Award with a bass weighing 9 pounds, 2 ounces. On Friday, pro David Sheffield of Davie, Florida, brought an 8-pound, 5-ounce largemouth to the scale to earn the $500 award.
Alan Hults of Gautier, Mississippi, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 45 pounds, 11 ounces. Hults earned the top co-angler prize package worth $34,000, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers at the Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee finished:
1st: Alan Hults, Gautier, Miss., 15 bass, 45-11, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Rich Frey, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 41-5, $5,375
3rd: Ray Ruiz, Boca Raton, Fla., 15 bass, 38-13, $4,300
4th: Brady Lunsmann, Citrus Springs, Fla., 13 bass, 38-5, $3,650
5th: Roger Phillips, Delta, Ala., 15 bass, 36-11, $3,150
6th: Garrett Vick, Lake Worth, Fla., 10 bass, 36-8, $2,650
7th: Jeffery Baffa, Estero, Fla., 14 bass, 36-0, $2,150
8th: Grant McPeters, Marion, N.C., 11 bass, 35-9, $1,825
9th: Grayson Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, 15 bass, 35-2, $1,530
10th: Michael Leach, Shenandoah, Texas, 12 bass, 34-10, $1,290
Strike King Co-angler Greg Shaughnessy of Miami, Florida, earned Thursday’s $150 Berkley Big Bass co-angler award with an 8-pound, 15-ounce bass, while Friday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to Shannon Pike of Sarasota, Florida, who weighed in an 8-pound, 9-ounce largemouth bass.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Sam Rayburn Reservoir was hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council. It was the first of three regular-season tournament for the Toyota Series Southern
Division. The next event for the Toyota Series Southern Division will be March 27-29 on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and the Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the five 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 2026. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2025 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 6-8 on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, and is hosted by the City of Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and 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.
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 20 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.
Mark Davis Tops Knockout Round at MLF Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI at Harris Chain of Lakes
B&W Trailer Hitches pro catches 22 bass weighing 62-2 to pace Knockout Round, final 10 anglers set for Championship Sunday in final-day shootout for top prize of $150,000
LEESBURG, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2025) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI on the Harris Chain of Lakes has largely turned into an old-school Florida flipping fest. And no one on the Bass Pro Tour does old-school quite like Mark Davis .
The 61-year-old Davis led the way through Saturday’s Knockout Round, stacking up 60 pounds, 2 ounces on 22 scorable bass. That put him 8-4 clear of Fletcher Shryock and easily earned him a trip to Sunday’s Championship Round. There, Davis will look to add his first Bass Pro Tour victory to his Hall of Fame resume, which already includes two national-tour Angler of the Year titles and a Bassmaster Classic win.
Davis and the rest of the top nine finishers from the Knockout Round will be joined by Qualifying Round winner Jacob Wheeler in a one-day sprint for the Stage 2 trophy. The angler who amasses the most weight will take home $150,000.
Like many of the top anglers this week, Davis has been fishing slowly, using his years of experience to identify sweet spots among the emergent vegetation that lines the shallows of Lake Apopka and methodically picking them apart with a Yamamoto Senko.
Once he got into the right zone Saturday, he stacked up weight in a hurry. During a stretch that lasted a little more than 2 hours (including the break between Periods 1 and 2), Davis boated 16 scorable bass that weighed a combined 43-6. The flurry shot him to the top of SCORETRACKER® and only ended because he decided he’d done enough to secure a spot in the Championship Round and set off to scout new water.
“It was a lot of fun,” Davis said. “It was the way I love to fish, just casting a Senko and getting a lot of bites. Had a few mishaps there in that first period, but I got it lined out and caught a 5 1/2-pounder there in the second period. I said, ‘Yep, we need to get out of here,’ and I just went kind of looking around after that.”
Davis is optimistic that he not only left some fish in that zone that he might be able to catch during the Championship Round; he said he has two other productive areas that he never visited Saturday.
That said, Davis is “not counting any chickens” yet. The veteran knows how fickle Florida bass can be, especially given the strong south wind forecast for Sunday. He experienced that firsthand in 2023, when the Bass Pro Tour opened its season on the nearby Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Davis sacked up a gaudy five-fish total of 34-10 during that Knockout Round, but the wind switched, and he was only able to muster 14-0 the following day, opening the door for Chris Lane to pass him and steal the win.
“There’s no telling what’s going to happen,” Davis said. “Everything down here is susceptible to wind and weather. If you get bad wind and weather, you can go from a hero to a zero. You just never know. It’s hard; there’s no protected areas, so depending on direction and how hard the wind is blowing, it could just take you right out of it.”
Regardless of the weather, Davis said he’s committed to Apopka. He and the rest of the anglers fishing there will benefit from the MLF trailering policy, which will be enacted on Sunday to accommodate for the wind. That frees up a minimum of 90 minutes traveling to Apopka and dealing with the lock.
“I really don’t have any other options,” he said. “I’ll have to go down there and try to make something happen no matter what the weather does.”
Davis would love to get some redemption and leave Florida with a trophy in tow. He knows better than just about anyone that opportunities like this don’t come often. His last national victory came in an FLW Tour event on Fort Loudon and Tellico Lakes in 2007, and he’s realistic about the fact that he doesn’t have too many years left in his career to earn another one.
“It’d mean a bunch,” Davis said. “At my age – I'm 61, been at this now for 40 years – it would be great to lift a trophy one more time.”
Shryock awoke Saturday morning feeling “awful.” Battling a stomach bug that brought with it a fever, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to endure the 8-hour competition day.
A red-hot punching bite was the best medicine he could ask for.
Shryock, long one of the best on tour with a big weight, returned to the hydrilla mats where he’d spent virtually the entire event and found the bass biting. By the midpoint of the day, he had hauled in 16 scorable bass totaling 47-6 – more than enough to advance to his first Championship Round since 2022. So, Shryock used the second half of the day to check some new water and conserve his strength.
“If I had to go hard all day – it's going to be hell tomorrow, I know that,” Shryock said.
While his chosen technique – wielding a heavy rod and winching bass out of thick grass mats – might not be the most suitable for someone feeling less than 100%, Shryock put a positive spin on it.
“I’m looking at it as a positive, like it might slow me down just a little bit,” he explained. “Because I got to the point today, like, it was hurting to set the hook. I’ve just got body aches and stuff. So, I’m definitely a lot more patient. Maybe that’s the deal.”
Shryock has had to deal with some company in his primary area this week – he said he spent most of Day 2 “playing defense.” But he’s the only angler in the Top 10 who has found the punching pattern, which excites him.
“I really feel good about just fishing my own deal tomorrow, and there’s no excuses,” he said.
Like Davis, though, Shryock knows how temperamental Florida bass can be. Fishing the same technique in largely the same area for the past three days, he’s now experienced two in which the action has been fast and furious and one that saw him “begging for a bite until noon.” He thinks he’ll be around enough fish to earn his first career BPT win, but whether they cooperate remains to be seen.
“When the sun comes up in Florida, you don’t ever know what you’re going to get,” Shryock said. “I know that much. Today was phenomenal. I don’t expect tomorrow to be as easy, just because it never is.
“Can I win? Absolutely. Can I go out tomorrow and finish ninth? Absolutely. I’m going to flip around and find out.”
The top nine pros from the Knockout Round that now advance to Championship Sunday on the Harris Chain of Lakes are:
1st: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 22 bass, 60-2
2nd: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 17 bass, 51-14
3rd: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 21 bass, 50-14
4th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 21 bass, 50-9
5th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 16 bass, 44-8
6th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 14 bass, 41-10
7th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 17 bass, 38-13
8th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 34-13
9th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 16 bass, 32-12
*QR Winner: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Eliminated from competition is:
11th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 11 bass, 29-5, $15,900
12th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 13 bass, 27-13, $15,800
13th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 13 bass, 27-0, $15,700
14th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 11 bass, 25-10, $15,600
15th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., nine bass, 23-11, $15,500
16th: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 13 bass, 23-0, $15,400
17th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., eight bass, 22-1, $15,300
18th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., eight bass, 18-3, $15,200
19th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., seven bass, 14-4, $15,100
20th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., five bass, 11-10, $15,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Becker won Saturday’s Berkley Big Bass Award with a 7-pound, 15-ounce largemouth. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
The full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Round was complete, leader Jacob Wheeler advanced directly to Sunday’s Championship Round. The anglers that finished 2nd through 20th competed in Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights were zeroed, and the top nine finishers now join Wheeler in Sunday’s Championship Round. In the Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $150,000.
Based on the forecast for stronger winds, MLF will enact the trailering policy for Championship Sunday. The final 10 anglers will arrive at 5:30 a.m. ET to the Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg. Anglers will depart the Venetian Gardens at 6:15 a.m. to approved launch ramps located around the fishery. Anglers will return to the Venetian Gardens Sunday evening, following the end of competition at 3:45 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 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
On Sunday, Feb. 16, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Venetian Gardens for the MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways, listen to live music and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel. The Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand both days to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The Suzuki Marine Stage 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by YETI is hosted by Discover Lake County Florida and 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.
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 66 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 Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2026 championship.
Television coverage of the Suzuki Marine Stage 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by YETI will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 13 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering the following Saturday on Sept. 20. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sports Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine and Toyota.
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.
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 20 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.
Iowa’s Miller ‘times it just right’ in weather-shortened Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn
Feb. 14, 2025
JASPER, Texas — Foul weather trimmed the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by SEVIIN from a three-day tournament to a one-day derby. So, before competition even began, the 233 competing anglers knew they’d have to go big if they wanted to go home a winner.
Chris Miller of Spirit Lake, Iowa, found the right bites Friday, weighing a limit of five bass totaling 28 pounds, 10 ounces. That clinched the win for the 37-year-old homebuilder who’d fished in only eight B.A.S.S. events prior to his victory at Rayburn.
Miller collected a hefty $52,086 cash prize with the win, part of a $345,850 cash purse split among the top 45 anglers competing on the 114,500-acre reservoir in east Texas.
“I knew it was just a matter of keeping my head down and running into a few (big bass),” Miller said, noting a 41-pound limit caught in a team tournament on Rayburn earlier this month. “And still, you’re either around them or you’re not. You still have to catch them.”
Stiff winds forced Thursday’s Day 1 competition to be postponed, though B.A.S.S. officials remained hopeful they still could pull off a two-day tournament. Saturday’s forecast of severe thunderstorms and sustained winds of 15-20 mph forced that day to be cancelled, as well, which dialed up the pressure to perform on Friday.
Miller shined in the spotlight. He set up near natural drains and fished for spawning bass in as little as 6 feet of water, as well as transitioning fish that cruised ledges some 15 to 20 feet below the surface.
“They were stationed a little deeper in practice, but I knew they would come to the drains,” he said. “These storms had them messed up, but they came to me. I went from shallow to deep all day … I timed it just right.”
Miller jumped to the top of the BassTrakk board around 10:30 a.m. on Friday after boating a pair of monster bass within a 15-minute span. His biggest fish, a 9-6 bucketmouth bass, came on a Strike King Z-Too jerkbait. It paired perfectly with the 7-pounder he caught in the same area using a white, 7-inch Berkley PowerBait Nessie swimbait. He credited Berkley Forward Braid for helping him put the lures precisely where he wanted them over big bass.
“The key was keeping the bait on top of them, not letting it fall,” Miller said.
Miller primarily fishes Spirit Lake and West Okoboji Lake back home in Iowa. He noted the differences between those smaller fisheries and a mammoth reservoir like Rayburn but said he’s getting increasingly comfortable on other water bodies.
“(The lakes I fish at home) are more deep weedlines, a lot of docks,” he said. “There’s no shad. It’s a whole different animal. But these last couple of years fishing in the Opens, I’ve really started to pick up on how these shad lakes work.
“You cut your teeth and learn a lot fishing these big tournaments … Hopefully I can keep the momentum rolling at Kentucky Lake,” which is the next Division 2 Open, scheduled for March 6-8 in Paris, Tenn.
The Top 50 anglers in both the Division 1 and Division 2 Open standings will qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers series. Top anglers following the three EQ tournaments, which are scheduled for September through November, will earn invitations into the vaunted 2026 Bassmaster Elites Series.
Rounding out the Top 5 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir are second, Michigan’s Garrett Paquette, 23-15, $20,834; third, Texas’ Pake South, 23-11, $15,626; fourth, Virginia’s Jack Dice, 23-3, $14,584; and fifth, Texas’ Jaden Parrish, 23-2, $13,542.
Missouri’s Brad Jelinek caught a 9-8 largemouth on Friday and won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award of $750. He finished sixth overall with 22-7 and won $12,501.
Jasper County (Texas) Development District #1 hosted the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 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
2025 Bassmaster Opens 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 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, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Wheeler Advances to Championship Round at MLF Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2
Tennessee pro draws closer to his ninth Bass Pro Tour win with two-day total of 32 bass weighing 101-9, 2nd through 20th advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round
LEESBURG, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2025) – When Jacob Wheeler took the water for the second day of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI on the Harris Chain of Lakes, his goal wasn’t necessarily to finish atop SCORETRACKER®.
Sure, the winner of the two-day Qualifying Round would earn a direct berth to Sunday’s Championship Round, and Wheeler started the day with a lead of nearly 11 pounds over his nearest pursuer. But he was more concerned with positioning himself to earn his ninth Bass Pro Tour victory than notching his 34th Top 10 (both far and away the highest marks among BPT anglers), and he didn’t want to handicap his chances by catching too many of the fish he’d found during practice.
Turns out, Wheeler achieved both objectives. He added 21 pounds, 6 ounces on six scorable bass, bringing his two-day total to 101-9. That was easily enough to retain his spot atop the leaderboard, 13-14 ahead of Takahiro Omori. As a result, he’ll take Saturday off, while finishers 2 through 20 contest the Knockout Round, then join the top nine from there in the winner-take-all Championship Round.
One of the leaders when it comes to tournament strategy, Wheeler didn’t decide to fish for the Qualifying Round win (rather than using all of Day 2 to scout new water) until he’d made the long run to Lake Apopka Friday morning.
Wheeler, who spent both days of practice as well as Day 1 in the southernmost lake on the Harris Chain, suddenly found himself with more company. As a result, he decided to return to the areas where he’d done most of his damage on Thursday. He figured they’d get fished hard by someone, so it might as well be him.
“Today, there was probably 30-plus local anglers and probably 25 or 30 of our guys that decided to move down (to Apopka), so it fished really small, and things got pressured a ton,” Wheeler explained. “And so, in that instance, you’ve got to start thinking through things and saying, alright, it’s not going to be as easy now as it would have been, because things are getting more pressure than I anticipated. Once I saw the pressure, I’m like, it’s not a guarantee I make the Top 10 (during the Knockout Round).”
Wheeler, who has amassed all his weight flipping a Rapala CrushCity Bronco Bug around reed clumps, also chose to ply a stretch that he figures will be unfishable during the Championship Round due to the strong southwest wind forecast for Sunday. The area yielded his biggest bass of the day, a 6-9. Through two days, he’s now boated seven bass of 5 pounds or bigger.
“I knew even if I fished the Championship Round, I would never be able to fish the fish that I caught midway through the second period, so I just caught them,” Wheeler said.
After pushing his lead back above 20 pounds, Wheeler used just about all of Period 3 to check out new water – “eliminating places” for the Championship Round, he said. The benefit of having spent his entire practice in Apopka – which much of the field initially avoided due to reports of a recent fish kill – is that he still has a few areas in his back pocket that he’s yet to visit during competition.
“There’s still areas that I have not visited that I will fish in the Championship Round,” Wheeler said. “There’s probably three different zones that I have not made a cast on.”
In some ways, Wheeler said, sitting out the Knockout Round could be a disadvantage. Those anglers who take the water will have a better idea which zones are getting pressured the hardest and have a better chance of finding fresh groups of spawners that might be more willing to bite. That said, he’s excited about the opportunity to spend a day with his six-year-old daughter, Olivia, and three-year-old son, Hudson, who made the trip to Florida to cheer him on.
Wheeler is confident he can put himself around the winning fish. The key to cementing victory No. 9 will be making the right adjustments to counter the changing weather and mounting fishing pressure – something he’s historically done better than any of his peers.
“I feel like the tournament will be won in Apopka,” Wheeler said. “Now, do I feel like there’s an outside chance that I turn on (forward-facing sonar) in the last period or something like that? There is. I’ll make a decision based on the conditions, and I’ll fish the conditions exclusively. The guy who makes the right decisions and makes adjustments will win this tournament on that final day. It’ll all come down to the adjustments made on that day, and that’s what is going to be fun about it.”
While Wheeler held the top spot on SCORETRACKER® all day, Friday brought plenty of movement around the Elimination Line. Seven anglers who started the day outside the Top 20 moved across the cut and qualified for the Knockout Round: Jacob Wall, Terry Scroggins, Zack Birge, Matt Becker, John Hunter, Edwin Evers and Justin Cooper.
Evers and Hunter made the most dramatic rallies. Both anglers found themselves on the wrong side of the Elimination Line with 30 minutes left in Period 3 but manufactured clutch flurries to make the cut. Hunter boated three scorable bass totaling 6-9 in the final 15 minutes, while Evers caught three for 6-1 in the last 22 minutes.
The top 20 pros that now advance in competition on the Harris Chain of Lakes are:
1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 32 bass, 101-9
2nd: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 32 bass, 87-11
3rd: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 27 bass, 84-14
4th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 35 bass, 80-12
5th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 34 bass, 80-9
6th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 34 bass, 80-6
7th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 29 bass, 68-9
8th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 34 bass, 68-3
9th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 27 bass, 68-2
10th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 26 bass, 67-14
11th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 23 bass, 66-0
12th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 24 bass, 64-8
13th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 29 bass, 63-0
14th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 22 bass, 62-8
15th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 29 bass, 61-15
16th: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 28 bass, 61-12
17th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 23 bass, 57-13
18th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 25 bass, 57-9
19th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 20 bass, 56-13
20th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 24 bass, 55-0
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Wheeler earned the Day 2 Berkley Big Bass Award Friday with a 6-pound, 9-ounce largemouth that he caught in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
The full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. With the two-day Qualifying Round now complete, Wheeler advances directly to Sunday’s Championship Round. The anglers that finished 2nd through 20th advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the top nine anglers will join Wheeler in Sunday’s Championship Round. In the Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $150,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:15 a.m. ET each day from the Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg. Each day’s takeout will be held at the same location, beginning at 3:45 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 all four days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 15-16, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Venetian Gardens for the MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways, listen to live music and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel each day. The Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand both days to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The Suzuki Stage 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by YETI is hosted by Discover Lake County Florida and 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.
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 66 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 Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2026 championship.
Television coverage of the Suzuki Stage 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by YETI will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 13 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering the following Saturday on Sept. 20. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sports Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine and Toyota.
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.
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 20 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.
The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament Announces Sanctioned Qualifiers by Ikon Boats
Date: February 14, 2025
The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament is proud to announce its partnership with Ikon Boats to sanction two of the qualifying events for the prestigious competition. The Ikon Tailgate Tour presented by Mercury Outboards, a highly anticipated grassroots team bass fishing tournament series for amateur anglers, will feature four qualifying events, with two of them taking place at iconic fishing destinations—Lake of the Ozarks (June 7, 2025) and Lake Guntersville (September 6, 2025). These events will provide an opportunity for anglers to earn a spot in the Ultimate Angler World Championship, which will take place at Lake Guntersville, Alabama from October 5-11, 2025.
The Ultimate Angler World Championship is the most prestigious and inclusive bass fishing competition ever created. It is set to crown a World Champion by bringing together top anglers from all leagues and backgrounds, providing a platform for every level of angler to compete for the ultimate title. The championship will feature the best of the best, with the world’s top anglers competing for bragging rights and a grand prize.
Details of the Qualifying Ikon Events:
- Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri – June 7, 2025
- Lake Guntersville, Alabama – September 6, 2025
- Entry Fee: $200 per team + $95 for membership
- Expected Participation: 150-200 boats per event
- Prize Structure: 100% of entry fees paid back to anglers, with a guaranteed $10,000 for 1st place
The Ikon Tailgate Tour presented by Mercury Outboards is a grassroots tournament series focused on offering amateur anglers a chance to compete in team-based events, with substantial cash prizes. The series is open to all anglers who meet the eligibility requirements, and teams are not required to fish more than one event. The tournaments are designed to provide a level playing field for non-professional anglers, with a structure that promotes competition, community, and fun.
Each event will feature a conventional 5-fish weigh-in format, hosted through Fishing Chaos, a leading tournament management platform. Ikon Boats, Ikon Dealers, and well-known professional anglers such as Jacob Wheeler, Kyle Welcher, and Hunter Shryock will promote and support the events, alongside other Ikon pro-staffers.
Tournament weigh-ins will be held in an event-style manner, with additional attractions including food, raffles, boat demos, and sponsor booths for a family-friendly atmosphere.
About Ikon Boats:
Ikon Boats is a premier manufacturer of high-performance bass fishing boats that combine cutting-edge technology, durability, and precision engineering. Known for their versatility and exceptional performance, Ikon Boats provides anglers with the tools they need to compete at the highest level. The 2025 Ikon VLX20 is the latest model from the brand, offering unmatched reliability and fishing capabilities. Through their support of grassroots events like the Ikon Tailgate Tour presented by Mercury Outboards, Ikon Boats demonstrates its commitment to fostering the next generation of bass anglers.
About The Ultimate Angler World Championship:
The Ultimate Angler World Championship is a revolutionary event designed to bring anglers from every corner of the bass fishing world together to compete for a world title. Taking place in the bass-fishing capital of the world, Lake Guntersville, Alabama, this event will crown the Ultimate Angler, a true champion of the sport. With teams from all leagues and skill levels competing, the Ultimate Angler World Championship will become the pinnacle of bass fishing and the ultimate proving ground for anglers everywhere.
Media Contact: Susan Carothers
VP of Communications
Unified Pros
susan@theultimateangler.org
Major League Fishing to Host Celebration for Local Fans with Watch Party and Championship Trophy Ceremony at Ski Beach
On Saturday and Sunday, Major League Fishing (MLF) will host a Celebration Event for MLF fans of all ages, inviting fans to come out and celebrate with the professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour as they crown the champion of the Suzuki Marine Stage 2 on Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by YETI.
WHEN:
Saturday, Feb. 15 and Sunday, Feb. 16
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. – MLF Bass Pro Tour Watch Party
- Watch MLF pros LIVE on the big screen on MLFNOW!
- FREE food – first 100 fans each day
- Youth fishing derby – gear provided/worms donated by DMF Bait Company
- Casting contest
- Hourly giveaways
- MLF merchandise
- Sat. – Soundscaper (Rock/Classic Rock)
- Sun. – Harrison Davis (Country)
- First 50 kids 14 and under receive a FREE Abu Garcia rod and reel each day
- Autographs and photos from Bass Pro Tour finalists
- Hourly giveaways
Ski Beach
201 E. Lake Harris Drive
Leesburg, Florida
NOTES:
The FREE, family-friendly event will be fun for fishing fans of all ages, with opportunities to watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways, listen to live music and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free Abu Garcia rod and reel each day. The event also includes a meet and greet with Paw Patrol's Skye and Marshall, a youth fishing derby, casting contest and a food festival. The Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand both days to talk about their days on the Harris Chain of Lakes, meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
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.
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.
Jacob Wheeler Leads Early at MLF Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI at Harris Chain of Lakes
Tennessee pro catches 26 largemouth weighing 80-3 to lead after Day 1 on the Harris Chain of Lakes, full field to complete Qualifying Round Friday
LEESBURG, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2025) – Across a Bass Pro Tour career that has seen him earn eight wins and three Fishing Clash Angler of the Year titles, Jacob Wheeler has enjoyed a lot of memorable days on the water. Even though there wasn’t a trophy up for grabs (yet), Thursday’s opening day of Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI just earned a spot near the top of the list.
On a day that saw the Harris Chain produce impressive numbers of bass including 10 over 6 pounds, Wheeler set a scorching pace. He stacked up 80 pounds, 3 ounces on 26 scorable bass, including an 8-7 and a 7-15, to claim the top spot on SCORETRACKER®. Wheeler leads Michael Neal by 10-15, and no other angler is within 28 pounds of his total.
“One of the best days I’ve ever had,” Wheeler said. “And to do it in a tournament, that’s always a great thing. Catching the quality of fish that we caught, whew, it was a lot of fun.”
Wheeler has embraced forward-facing sonar as enthusiastically as just about anyone during his domination of the Bass Pro Tour. His mastery of the technology is a big reason why he’s won three AOY crowns and six events since the start of the 2021 season.
But that kind of sustained excellence requires versatility, and Wheeler showed Thursday that he’s quite capable of catching bass without the beam, too. He made it a point to never unlock his forward-facing sonar transducers, even though the Bass Pro Tour’s 2025 rules allow each angler to utilize the technology for one period each day.
Instead, Wheeler glued a flipping stick in his hands and spent his entire day methodically picking apart reed patches.
“That was a point that I wanted to make: It doesn’t really matter,” Wheeler said. “The anglers that do well in these tournaments, it doesn’t matter whether you’re using (forward-facing sonar) or you’re not. It’s all strategy; it’s all part of the game we play, and I just wanted to say, hey, look, it doesn’t matter, guys.”
Wheeler’s day actually got off to a slow start. He made a long run from takeoff at Venetian Gardens in Lake Harris to his starting spot that included a wait to pass through a lock, which resulted in him missing a good chunk of Period 1. By the time he arrived at his destination, he was more than 19 pounds back of Dean Rojas, the early leader, and it took a few moments to settle himself down.
He made up the deficit in a hurry. Wheeler boated his first scorable bass around 9:30 a.m. Over the next 34 minutes, he added seven more for a total of 27-9, which vaulted him into the lead. He’d hold the top spot for almost the entire rest of the day.
That early flurry included the 8-7, which earned Berkley Big Bass honors for the day. Wheeler also landed another near-8-pounder and three bass of 5 pounds or bigger – plus he hooked and lost one that he estimated to be around 7. He attributed his ability to generate bigger-than-average bites to his bait selection. He caught all his fish on a Rapala CrushCity Bronco Bug, which he helped design.
“That bait does some things that just gets bites,” Wheeler said. “It has a pretty big profile; it has a little bit more meat to it. But I’m able to maneuver it, really get into those areas, generate those big ones to bite.”
After another string of catches early in Period 3 extended his cushion on the rest of the field, Wheeler already started to think about his strategy for the days ahead. He hasn’t yet decided whether to return to the area that produced most of his Day 1 weight on Friday and fish for the Qualifying Round win – which would allow him to bypass the Knockout Round and advance directly to the Championship Round – or to search for new water.
He’s hoping he can do both, as he thinks fishing pressure and the strong southwest wind that’s forecast to blow Sunday will force him to fish elsewhere.
“If I happen to catch them practicing, too, I could still win (the Qualifying Round),” Wheeler said. “So, I don’t know yet. I’m going to sleep on it, think about it. You know, my mind is always working, trying to figure out how to win this tournament.
“I can’t win doing what I was doing,” he continued. “The wind is just not going to cooperate, I don’t think. Now, maybe I’m wrong. We’ll see. I need to find a couple little sneaky stretches to myself or a couple areas that are going to be protected from the wind with that really bad forecast for Championship Day.”
The top 20 pros after Day 1 on the Harris Chain of Lakes are:
1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 26 bass, 80-3
2nd: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 29 bass, 69-4
3rd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 20 bass, 52-1
4th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 24 bass, 52-1
5th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 20 bass, 51-14
6th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 21 bass, 49-8
7th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 16 bass, 46-1
8th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 22 bass, 45-9
9th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 14 bass, 39-15
10th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 15 bass, 37-11
11th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 17 bass, 36-14
12th: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 16 bass, 36-9
13th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 16 bass, 35-11
14th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 16 bass, 35-7
15th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 15 bass, 33-13
16th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 12 bass, 33-2
17th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 15 bass, 32-12
18th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 17 bass, 32-8
19th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 17 bass, 31-12
20th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 12 bass, 30-10
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Wheeler earned the Day 1 Berkley Big Bass Award Thursday with an 8-pound, 7-ounce largemouth that he caught in Period 1. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
The full field of anglers compete in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the pro with the highest two-day total advances directly to Sunday’s Championship Round. Anglers that finish 2nd through 20th will advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining anglers compete to finish in the top nine 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 $150,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:15 a.m. ET each day from the Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg. Each day’s takeout will be held at the same location, beginning at 3:45 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 all four days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 15-16, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Venetian Gardens for the MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways, listen to live music and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel each day. The Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand both days to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The Suzuki Stage 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by YETI is hosted by Discover Lake County Florida and 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.
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 66 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 Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2026 championship.
Television coverage of the Suzuki Stage 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by YETI will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 13 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering the following Saturday on Sept. 20. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sports Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine and Toyota.
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.
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 20 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.
High winds lead to shortened competition at Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
JASPER, Texas — Due to severe weather threats and high winds forecast for Saturday, B.A.S.S. tournament officials have canceled Saturday’s competition day at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by SEVIIN. The decision was made after officials consulted with local meteorologists.
“The National Weather Service is forecasting sustained winds out of the SSW of 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph,” said Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon. “In addition, there is a significant threat of severe weather. The meteorologist I just spoke with is confident a severe line will come through early- to midafternoon, which will be before we can complete weigh-in for a full field.”
As a result, Friday will be the only day of competition for the Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and the tournament will conclude at the end of the day.
Takeoff will be Friday at 7 a.m. CT at Umphrey Family Pavilion in Brookeland, Texas, with weigh-in at 3 p.m. at the same location.
The event is being sponsored by the Jasper County (Texas) Development District No. 1.
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 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
2025 Bassmaster Opens 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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
MLF Pros Make a Difference in Leesburg with a Day of Service, Fan Engagement and Youth Outreach
LEESBURG, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2025) – On Wednesday, before the Major League Fishing (MLF) pros hit the Harris Chain of Lakes for the Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2, many spent their “off day” giving back to the Leesburg, Florida, community in a series of impactful events. From volunteering at the Leesburg Food Bank to meeting fans at Bass Pro Shops Orlando and mentoring young anglers at a student angler clinic, the day was filled with meaningful connections and memorable moments.
At sunrise, four MLF pros – Justin Cooper, Alton Jones Jr., Fred Roumbanis and Jeff Sprague – arrived at the Leesburg Food Bank, ready to roll up their sleeves and serve. Food was dispensed to more than 65 families Wednesday morning, thanks in part to the anglers, who sorted, weighed and distributed shopping carts full of essentials.
"Growing up, I knew that need personally, and taking the opportunity to give back to people who are struggling to make ends meet is something very important to me,” Sprague said. “Fishing and competing is a lot of fun, but this is the kind of thing that hits me right in the heart."
Beyond the hands-on work, the pros connected with longtime food bank volunteers, including a couple of military veterans who have dedicated years to the organization. The morning was not without its lighthearted moments, as the veteran volunteers took advantage of the “young guns’” strong backs and one of the pros tried their hands at maneuvering a forklift – resulting in a few mishaps but plenty of laughs.
Roumbanis said he was impressed by the scale of the food bank’s operation – over 700,000 pounds of food pass through the food bank each year, ran solely by volunteers – and encouraged members of the Florida community to get involved.
"As we walked through room after room full of food and saw the full scope of the organization, it was obvious how much pride and determination is put in by each of these volunteers,” said Roumbanis. “With more than 7,200 shopping carts of food distributed each year, the need is great and any donations – time, food, money, drivers – is a huge necessity to help keep the wheels turning.”
By midday, the action shifted to Bass Pro Shops in Orlando, where fans gathered to meet some of the biggest names in professional fishing. Nine MLF pros – Dustin Connell, Justin Cooper, Mark Daniels Jr., Ott DeFoe, Brent Ehrler, Edwin Evers, Chris Lane, Andy Montgomery and Skeet Reese – signed autographs, took photos and even helped feed the fish in the store’s massive tank. One redfish put on a show, slamming bait at the surface and soaking fans in the splash zone.
The day wrapped up at the Venetian Center, where 25 students from the Florida Teen Sportfishing Association gathered for the MLF Student Angler Clinic. The young anglers spent over an hour peppering MLF pros Matt Becker, Wesley Strader and Jacob Wall with questions, learning tips and tricks from the Bass Pro Tour anglers.
"Being able to share our experiences and foster the love for bass fishing with these young anglers is so important,” said Wall. “I love seeing the excitement and joy on their faces as they ask questions or laugh about mishaps on the water."
Thanks to MLF sponsors, the students didn’t leave empty-handed. Many went home with Abu Garcia rods and reels, as well as MLF signed angler jerseys, bait packs and merchandise – a fun end to an unforgettable day.
While the Bass Pro Tour competition began on the Harris Chain of Lakes Thursday, Wednesday’s community events left a lasting impression on the pros, volunteers, fans and students alike. Whether handing out food, signing autographs or inspiring the next generation, MLF’s day of service reinforced that professional bass fishing is about more than just competition—it’s about community.
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.
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 20 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.
Water and weather foretell favorable fishing for Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River
Feb. 13, 2025
PALATKA, Fla. — “Cold” typically is a four-letter word in Florida, but Bassmaster Elite Series pro Drew Benton said winter weather in the right measure and with the right timing could unleash an eruption of Sunshine State potential during the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.
Competition days will be February 20-23 with daily takeoffs from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp at 7 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day at Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.
“The big thing that is going to positively influence this event is the cold weather we had leading up to the (recent) warming trend,” Benton said. “Any time we get cold weather in Florida, and it warms up, it makes these lakes explode.
“The power of weather on these Florida fisheries is incredible. When we have a good, cold winter and the fish can’t just trickle spawn and do their thing whenever they want to, it makes them flood the bank all at the same time. They don’t all spawn at once, but they get up there where you can catch them all at once.”
Acknowledging late winter’s notoriously fickle nature, Benton wisely hedges his prediction. Late January saw a historic winter storm drop 8 inches of snow at his home in Panama City, Fla., so he’s taking nothing for granted.
“That was unheard of, but barring any (extreme) weather, all things are pointing to two strong Florida events (at St. Johns on Feb. 20-23 and at Lake Okeechobee Feb. 27-March 2),” Benton said. “People think cold weather is a bad thing in Florida, but it can really set up the fishing.”
Last year’s Elite at the St. Johns was held mid-April and saw Canadian hammer Cory Johnston win by targeting spawning bass in the Salt Springs area of the fishery. Even though this year’s tournament takes place approximately two months earlier in the year, Benton expects the warming trend to again highlight the spawn.
Benton, who has placed fourth at the St. Johns twice (2024, 2016), also points to water level as a key factor. The St. Johns suffered a tremendous loss of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) — mostly eelgrass — during past hurricanes, with winds ripping up much of the vegetation and lingering high water choking out any resurgence.
While it takes years to regrow the eelgrass that once carpeted much of the system and made areas like Crescent Lake and Lake George spawning meccas, Benton said the current scenario will deliver immediate impacts.
“One thing I’ve been watching is the water level, and it has been down this year, which is a positive,” Benton said. “That’s what has negatively affected the grass growth. I don’t know if the current water level is going to impact the grass growth, but as a whole, it’s going to make the river healthier.
“Typically, as long as it’s not high it’s going to be clear. And (the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) put in a lot of work on the fishery with eelgrass planting and (protective fencing around planted areas). From what I’ve seen online, some of those planted areas have taken off. That little bit of grass will help with water quality.”
Despite a major change in fishable waters, Benton believes anglers will find significant opportunities throughout tournament waters. Last year, competitors were allowed to fish Rodman Reservoir — a man-made reservoir on the Ocklawaha River that connects to the St. Johns through a canal south of Palatka.
This year, Rodman is off-limits, but Benton remains optimistic. Tournament boundaries stretch from the Fuller Warren Bridge (I-95) in Jacksonville down to State 44 in DeLand. Past events have seen anglers push far north of Palatka and nearly to the southern boundary.
With the combination of lower water and favorable weather, Benton believes competitive bags could come from both extremes and all points in between.
“Initially, I didn’t like that Rodman was out of the equation this year, because in the past it attracted a lot of boats and kept them off the river,” he said. “I was afraid that would make the river fish extremely small this year, but because of that weather we’ve had, I think it’s going to spread guys out.
“I think the entire range is hitting the magical water temp. I think that as far as you want to go north or south could be in play.”
Sight fishing likely will make up a large portion of the angling effort, but Benton said late prespawners preparing to move up will also present solid opportunities. He’s also pondering the potential for a traditional postspawn pattern.
“Shellbeds always play, because not all the fish are gonna bed at the same time,” Benton said. “If a guy finds a place where they’re pulling up before they spawn and they’re stopping on a shellbed or a little drop on that river, that’s what’s gonna win this tournament. That’s because you’ll have fish coming to you and fish stopping on their way back out.
“The guys doing the shellbed game will have a rotation of jerkbaits, Carolina rigs, Ned rigs and rattling baits, depending on tide and depth. It’s a little early, but any time water temperatures are in the 70s, you have the potential to have a shad spawn.”
Benton went on to say that in the absence of any significant SAV, spawning bass will utilize any hard cover, including wood and lily pad root systems standing above the bottom substrate. Past events have seen anglers targeting spawning fish on cypress tree roots. That also could be in play this time around, but Benton warned of navigational challenges.
“Some of that stuff is deceptively shallow,” he said. “You may be 100 yards out trying to get in, and your trolling motor is hitting the bottom. Finding that stuff with the right amount of water on it is going to be the big deal.”
Benton said he’s looking for a four-day winning total of 88 pounds, with 19 pounds a day making the Top 10 cut. Johnston won with 93-6 last year, so if weather and water factors remain as Benton expects, the field should easily meet or exceed those numbers.
Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday and Sunday. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.
Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 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
2025 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
High winds force postponement of Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Feb. 13, 2025
JASPER, Texas — Due to unsafe, sustained high winds, Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by SEVIIN has been postponed to ensure the safety of anglers. Tournament officials made the decision after examining conditions and the body of water early this morning.
“Post-frontal conditions have made navigation unsafe for our competitors,” said Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon. “We are experiencing sustained northerly winds of 15-20 mph, with gusts reaching 25-30 mph. These conditions are expected to persist until later this afternoon. The full field will compete tomorrow.”
The tournament will resume Friday at 7 a.m. at Umphrey Family Pavilion in Brookeland, Texas, with weigh-in at 3 p.m. at the same location.
The event is being sponsored by the Jasper County (Texas) Development District No. 1.
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 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
2025 Bassmaster Opens 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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
B.A.S.S., FXR Pro Fish announce Elite Series title sponsorship
Feb. 12, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. announced today that FXR Pro Fish, a leader in high-performance apparel, has signed on as the title sponsor for the upcoming FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River to be held in Palatka, Fla., Feb. 20-23.
FXR Pro Fish produces gear that integrates top-of-the-line technical features and fabrics everywhere possible, with a high-octane lifestyle in mind. FXR clothing, outerwear and accessories are designed by people who share that lifestyle and passion.
“We are excited that FXR will be the title sponsor for the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River in Florida,” said FXR Pro Fish Brand Director Chris Meyeraan. “This prestigious event marks a significant milestone, and we are thrilled that all of our anglers have the opportunity to chase the ultimate prize — the iconic blue trophy — at the end of the week. With the talent and dedication of our team, we are confident that the FXR anglers will be a force to be reckoned with in the Elite Series this season.”
“We are looking forward to the partnership between the Bassmaster Elite Series and FXR Pro Fish,” said B.A.S.S. Chief Operating Officer Phillip Johnson. “Our Elite Series athletes face some very taxing conditions on the water, and having FXR join us as the title sponsor for the Elite Series event at Palatka is a welcome addition to the tournament.”
The Elite Series last visited the St. Johns River in 2024 when Canadian Cory Johnston won in stellar fashion with a total weight of 93 pounds, 6 ounces. Johnston’s winning weight was 21 pounds, 2 ounces over Texan Brad Whatley, who placed second.
“Our partnership with the Bassmaster organization as the title sponsor for the first event of the season exemplifies our dedication to the sport,” said FXR Pro Fish and FXR Racing Chief Executive Officer Brian Danielson. “It also comes at a perfect time for the FXR Pro Fish brand, as it follows the launch of our Spring 2025 lineup. We are excited to see our Elite roster take to the water in their fresh gear.”
Live coverage of all four days of the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River will begin Feb. 20 on Bassmaster.com as well as the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast the event live Feb. 22-23 at 8 a.m. ET.
About FXR
FXR is a leader in high-performance apparel, designed for anglers who demand the best in quality, durability and comfort. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, FXR continues to be a trusted name in the fishing community.
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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Scroggins Eyes Redemption on Harris Chain
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
Team Toyota pro Terry Scroggins looks to take advantage of a warm front and make hay on his home waters.
If you’ve been a fan of professional bass fishing for any length of time, the name Terry Scroggins certainly rings a bell. The Team Toyota pro is a well-known expert on Florida waters, and he looks to capitalize on his reputation this week at Suzuki Marine Stage 2 - Harris Chain of Lakes.
Although the tournament is being held on a fishery just over an hour from his house, Scroggins is still dealing with somewhat of a learning curve.
“I’m coming off a tough tournament on Conroe,” Scroggins said. “Honestly, a lot of it was just trying to figure out the new forward-facing sonar format. I learned that you have to be smack-dab on a good school during that ‘scoping’ period and if you’re not, you’re essentially dead in the water. You have to make hay while you’re allowed to use the forward-facing technology, and I simply didn’t in Texas. What’s funny though, is that I caught the big bass of the event—a 9 1/2-pounder—on a little bitty jighead and minnow but I just didn’t have much else to go with it.”
If you were a betting person, you’d be hard pressed to overlook Big Show for this upcoming event on the Harris Chain. Not only is it his home water but the weather looks absolutely perfect for him to put on a Florida-fishing clinic. While he remains modest in his approach, lots of other pros have him on their short list for this event.
“I’m running around town in my Tundra on our off day and it’s 86 degrees,” Scroggins said. “The weather people say it’s going to be in the 80s for the next week so we have plenty of great weather ahead of us. The bad thing is that they’ve had a fish kill in Apopka recently and that’s where a lot of the big bags have been coming from. Add to that a bunch of recent fishing pressure from some other big tournament trails and I honestly don’t think it’s going to be as easy as some folks might think.”
Shallow fishing is likely to dominate this event due to the time of year and the weather, but when Florida bass make their moves to the shallows, they can be some of the finickiest bass in the country. Even just a degree or two of water temperature change can totally flip their moods.
“I want to spend a bunch of time sight fishing in this event,” Scroggins said. “But you have to be careful with that in this format. If you’re camped out on a single 6-pound bass, your competitor can fly down the bank and catch 10 small fish and jump way ahead of you in the standings. It’s definitely a delicate balance. I’m going to have to pay close attention to the body language of the bass when I’m sight fishing. If she’s making tight circles on my bait and staying interested, I’ll probably stay on her for a little longer than I’d like. If she’s uninterested and swimming big circles around my bait, I won’t have much of a choice but to move on to other, more willing participants. The time management aspect is just too important to ignore.”
History tends to be a tricky thing when pro anglers return to their home waters for a tournament. Imagine all the huge limits Scroggins has caught on the Harris Chain over the decades—that all has to go down the proverbial toilet this week. Every spring season is different in Florida and he has to try and ignore all of his history on this fishery to truly fish the moment. It’s easier said than done, but he’s prepared for the challenge.
“I can’t even worry about stuff like that,” Scroggins said. “I’m going to fish the way I like to fish and hopefully block out all the history I have in this area. These Florida bass don’t just change by the day and the week; they change by the hour and you have to put yourself ahead of them in order to have a shot at winning. And I plan on trying to do that.”
No matter what the weather might bring to the table, the Florida pro is certainly expecting to see some double-digit bass caught throughout the event. While that might sound crazy to some of us in the rest of the country, a February warm front in Florida does wonderful things to a bass and can create magic in a hurry.
“This is going to be one of those tournaments you’ll want to be watching because somebody is going to catch a giant on camera, if not multiple,” Scroggins said.
Will the prodigal son pull out the victory close to home? It’s too early to tell now but if you’re a betting person… he might be a safe one to put your money on.
BFL Tournament on Toledo Bend Postponed Due to High Winds
WHAT:
The Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine tournament on Toledo Bend Reservoir, scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 15 has been postponed due to the extremely high winds and lightning being forecast by the National Weather Service.
The event, set to be the third event in the BFL Cowboy Division, has been rescheduled to Sunday, April 6, and will piggyback on the next BFL Cowboy event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir on April 5.
WHEN:
Saturday-Sunday, April 5-6
Takeoff: 7 a.m. CT
Weigh-in: 3 p.m. CT
WHERE:
Umphrey Family Pavilion, 5438 Sam Rayburn Parkway, Brookeland, Texas
NOTES:
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 24-25 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, 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.
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.
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes set to host Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 Presented by Vosker
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2025) –The first Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitational tournament of the 2025 season is set to kick off next week, Feb. 21-23, at Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes – the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 Presented by Vosker.
The three-day tournament, hosted by Experience Kissimmee, will feature a field of pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000. Anglers will take to the water to catch their five biggest bass each day, and the winner will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative total.
"We are excited to welcome the Major League Fishing Tackle Warehouse Invitationals to Lake Toho and the Kissimmee area,” said Tyler Weyant, Director of Sports Development at Experience Kissimmee. “It's an honor to continue our relationship with MLF, building on the success of our past collaborations. To all participants, families, and friends joining us for the tournament, I encourage you to explore our local shops, diverse flavors of our restaurants, and rich heritage that makes Kissimmee a must-see destination.”
Although Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain have played host to dozens of MLF tournaments over the years – including four Bass Pro Tour events since 2019 – this event marks the first time since 2019 that a professional-level MLF tournament with the five-fish weigh-in format will be held.
Known for its sprawling waterways and healthy bass populations, the Kissimmee Chain should offer anglers the chance to catch fish in all phases of the spawn, setting the stage for an extremely competitive tournament, according to pro Blake Smith of Lakeland, Florida, who will be among the competitors.
“Since December, we’ve already seen a few waves of fish spawning,” Smith said. “Guys are going to be able to catch some prespawn, some spawning, and some postspawn fish in this one.”
Smith said that he expects Lake Toho, where the tournament launches, to remain the most popular destination on the chain for anglers, but he predicts that some anglers may venture further due to the dense vegetation.
“Toho is always pretty good, even though right now it is a little choked out,” Smith explained. “There’s a lot of topped-out vegetation, so it’s really going to be a pick-your-poison kind of deal. You can fish Toho and punch and flip grass, or head to the other lakes like Kissimmee, Cypress or Hatchineha. Those lakes absolutely will play in this one. Especially for the guys that don’t like flipping.”
Recent weather fluctuations have added another layer of complexity.
“We’ve had some crazy weather in Florida this year,” Smith said. “It’s not been taking tons of weight to win tournaments lately, but somebody is usually in the mid-twenties for the top bag.”
When it comes to bait choices, Smith shared some standout picks.
“The first thing I’ll throw, without a doubt, is a Yamamoto Senko – it’s a staple here,” he said. “I think we’ll see a lot more of the bigger glide baits playing, now, as well. They’re getting to be pretty popular down here. I’ll have a Bucca Trick Shad tied on. And I think the traditional Florida favorites like ChatterBaits, swim baits, and (Yamamoto) Speed Senkos will all come into play.”
For this event, Smith said he expects the winner to average about 25 pounds per day, with a final three-day total of 75 pounds likely to take the crown.
“If you can get to 20 pounds a day, you’re going to be in good shape,” Smith went on to say.
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each day from Big Toho Marina, located at 69 Lakeview Drive in Kissimmee, Florida. Weigh-ins will be held at the marina and will begin at 3 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 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals feature a field of professional anglers competing across six invitational tournaments around the country, for a total purse of $4.3 million and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for the Invitationals Championship, set for Sept. 5-7 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, and a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the sport’s top circuit.
In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field compete in the two-day opening round on Days 1 and 2 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 Sunday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by Vosker will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight.
New this season, forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar is limited to only days 1 and 3 of competition. No forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar will be allowed on day 2 of competition.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by Vosker will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on CBS Sports Network.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Vosker, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitationals updates, photos, tournament 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 20 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.
2025 Bassmaster Team Championship to return to Lake Hartwell
Feb. 11, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. has announced the 2025 Bassmaster Team Championship will make a return to Lake Hartwell Dec. 3-6. The winner of the four-day event featuring the best grass-roots anglers in the country will fill the final spot in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
The event’s return marks the first time the Team Championship has been held in Anderson, S.C., since 2022. Lake Hartwell was ranked No. 22 in the Southeastern Division of Bassmaster Magazine’s 2024 100 Best Bass Lakes list and features a world-class facility in Green Pond Landing.
“We're very excited to have the Bassmaster Team Championship back to Green Pond Landing, Lake Hartwell and Anderson County,” said Visit Anderson Executive Director Neil Paul. “The leadership of our county continues to provide us with the resources to host championship events and the continued support to develop our facilities. We have a tremendous inventory of local and regional anglers that will have an opportunity to earn their way to the Bassmaster Classic. We look forward to welcoming B.A.S.S. and the many wonderful anglers, their families and industry representatives to our community for an experience that is second to none.”
The team portion of the event will be held Dec. 3-4, with the winning duo not only claiming a cash prize, but also leading the charge into the Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off section of the event, which will take place Dec. 5-6.
The Top 3 teams through Day 2 — six anglers in all — will have their weights zeroed and then compete individually in the Fish-Off. The competitor with the heaviest two-day total of the group will earn the final spot in the 2026 Bassmaster Classic.
“We’re thrilled to return to Lake Hartwell for the 2025 Bassmaster Team Championship,” said GL Compton, tournament manager for the B.A.S.S. Nation and Kayak Series. “This iconic fishery has a rich history of producing exciting competition, and its deep, clear waters and vast shoreline make this the perfect stage for anglers to showcase all of their skills. The enthusiasm and support from the local community make Hartwell a special destination, and we can't wait to crown the next Team champions and award the final 2026 Bassmaster Classic berth in such a legendary setting.”
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Nation 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 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, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Blake Hall and Jeremy Lamb Win ABT Smith Lake with 19.03
By Jason Duran
The Alabama Bass Trail kicked off its 12th season at Smith Lake. Historically, this lake has presented challenges for teams, as Mother Nature often throws unexpected weather conditions just before tournament day. Some years, it has been extremely cold, while other times, the water has even reached the parking lot at the ramp. This year, however, Mother Nature delivered a week of summer weather right at the beginning of February. With the warming trend, teams needed to adjust their strategies on Smith Lake to locate fish that seemed confused by the transition from shallow to deep water. Nevertheless, the 225 teams competing in the Alabama Bass Trail North Division always find a way to adapt. Blake Hall and Jeremy Lamb emerged victorious, leading the field by over two pounds and securing the first ABT North win of 2025.
Blake Hall and Jeremy Lamb managed to catch a mixed bag consisting of four largemouth bass and one nice spotted bass, with a total weight of 19.03 pounds. “Our practice didn’t go well at all. We spent a couple of days out here and only found a few spots with small fish. After exhausting those areas, we decided to explore new water today, and it paid off. We started deep in the morning, targeting spotted bass. Initially, we weren’t sure if we could catch a largemouth, so we focused on getting a limit of spots first before pursuing largemouth bass. Finding some good largemouths was crucial for us to even have a chance at a payout, considering our practice. We managed to secure a limit in about 30 minutes, including a nice spotted bass that weighed over 4 pounds. We caught it using a Rapala Mooch Minnow in green shad, fished on a ¼ oz head while utilizing Live Scope to guide our casts. The fish were really scattered, and most of the time, we were targeting individual fish. The four largemouth bass we weighed in were caught on a Rapala DT6 in Brown Crawdad. After completing our limit, we decided to revisit some areas we had fished in the past, hoping that the fish would be moving shallower due to the warm weather. We found some wind and muddy water, and we used the DT6 to target fish holding close to the bottom. We also fished around long points mixed with wood. After culling through about 15 fish, we put together our mixed bag." This win earned them $15,000 plus a $8,000 Phoenix Boats Bonus.
Mark McCaig and Tim Hurst finished in second place with a total catch of 16.85 pounds. They practiced for two days, stating, “We caught fish, but we didn’t catch the size we did today.” They noted that recent weather changes had impacted fishing conditions at Smith Lake. Just a few weeks prior, the air temperature had been below freezing for several days. However, the week leading up to the event saw temperatures in the 70s. The team observed, “When it was really cold, the fish were locked on the bottom, but now, with the warming trend, they have started moving shallower.
The water temperature is currently in the mid- to upper 50s.” They explained that the fish were so shallow that casting would spook them and they could see it on their Live Scope. By around 10:30 AM, they had already caught their limit. In practice, the area they fished contained a lot of spotted bass, but on the day of the event, they were able to locate more largemouth bass in the same area. Throughout the day, they caught a total of 20 fish, most of which were found in 12 to 15 feet of water within brush. Previously, the fish had been deeper than that. The warm front and windy conditions contributed to a better bite from the largemouth bass. They targeted these fish using the Rapala Crush City Mooch Minnow. Later in the afternoon, they noticed that they could typically scope the fish around the brush more effectively, but that changed. They decided to switch to using a jig in the brush, which led to them catching one fish and ultimately changing their strategy. This adjustment allowed them to cull up to the weight they achieved. They had expected to catch around 12 to 13 pounds and thought it would take about 16 pounds to win. However, being able to catch more largemouth bass significantly boosted their weight today. They expressed their love for this location, mentioning that they come here often. “This lake is full of fish, and it’s really fun when the spotted bass start spawning,” they added. With their second place finish they won $7,500.
Chad Hall and Ryan Hall's team caught a total of 16.38 pounds, securing a third-place finish. They shared that practice was somewhat slow, noting, "The fish were trying to move up to shallow water. We think they are confused because it got so warm so quickly. We had a decent practice, but nothing really noteworthy." Their day began with them catching their limit within about an hour in a ditch where they found fish. After attaining their limit, they moved on and culled the rest of the day, ultimately landing around 20 fish, which included a mix of spots and two largemouth bass. They used a ned rig and minnows, fishing in depths of 15 to 40 feet of water. They covered both the Ryan side and the Rock Creek side, emphasizing that covering a lot of water was crucial to their success. When asked about their goals for the year, they expressed, "We want to qualify for the Team Championship. It seems like every year we have one tournament where we perform poorly, and that's usually this one. By starting off strong here, we hope to avoid that setback and have a great year." For their efforts, they earned a $6,000 payday for their third-place finish. Plus a $1,000 AmFirst Bonus.
The top ten standings are below. For a complete list of standings please visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/lewis-smith-lake/results/
Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for "Alabama Bass Trail Podcast." The Podcast is released each week on Tuesday.
For Live coverage of this event and others visit https://www.youtube.com/@alabamabasstrailtv
The 2025 Alabama Bass Trail Sponsors Include: Phoenix Boats, AMFirst, Landers – McLarty Chevrolet, McGraw – Webb Chevrolet, Rapala, VMC, Crush City, Buffalo Rock, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Jack’s, Garmin, Alabama State Parks, Halo Fishing, Snag proof, NetBait, Bait Fuel, TH Marine Supplies, Power-Pole, Pro Guide Batteries, American Trailer Rental, Yamaha, Anheuser-Busch, American Baitworks, E3 Sports Apparel, FishAlabama.org, Sweet Home Alabama, and Alabama Mountain Lakes.
Gill North America (Gill NA) promotes the Aqua Parka: The Essential Utility Parka for Anglers and Outdoor Enthusiasts
Engineered for comfort, protection, and convenience on the water and in the wild.
Gill NA, a trusted leader in outdoor and fishing gear, is proud to share one of its best sellers - the Aqua Parka, a waterproof, windproof, and breathable utility parka designed specifically for anglers and outdoor adventurers. Built to withstand the toughest conditions, the Aqua Parka offers unparalleled protection, comfort, and convenience, making it the go-to choice for those who live to fish, boat, and explore the outdoors.
Whether you’re prepping your boat for an early morning tournament, changing clothes on a windy deck, braving the weather for kids sports or simply seeking extra warmth and protection, the Aqua Parka has you covered. Crafted with a waterproof shell, 4-way stretch fabric, and a thermal lining that wicks moisture away from the skin, this utility parka keeps you dry, warm, and comfortable, even in the harshest weather.
Key Features of the Aqua Parka:
- Waterproof and Windproof Shell: Featuring a stitch-free, welded seam construction with stretch the Aqua Parka keeps you dry and shielded from the wind, providing reliable protection from the elements while you're on the water or in the field.
- 4-Way Stretch Fabric: Designed to move with you, the fabric makes changing quick and easy while ensuring freedom of movement—whether you’re reeling in the big one or getting ready for the next fishing spot.
- High-Loft Thermal Lining: The high-loft thermal lining wicks moisture away and traps heat, keeping you warm even when you're wearing it over damp clothes—perfect for chilly mornings on the boat or cold, rainy days outdoors.
- Generous, Oversized Design: The Aqua Parka’s loose fit allows you to pull your arms inside and change comfortably anywhere if that suits your fancy, offering full coverage and privacy, even in the most exposed locations.
- Adjustable Full-Length Sleeves and YKK Zipper: With adjustable cuffs and a two-way YKK zipper, the Aqua Parka provides a customizable fit, letting you zip up quickly for warmth or unzip for ventilation as needed.
- Multiple Storage Pockets: Equipped with both internal zippered and stow pockets, the Aqua Parka keeps your valuables safe, and your gear organized, so you can stay focused on your next catch.
- Portable and Easy to Pack: Pair the Aqua Parka with the Gill changing mat for added convenience and easily stow the robe in the Gill wet/changing bag for easy transport—so you can stay prepared wherever your adventure takes you.
"The Aqua Parka was designed with anglers and outdoor adventurers in mind," said Jane Scott Design Manager of Gill. "We know how important it is to stay comfortable and dry, especially during those long days on the water. With its innovative features, the Aqua Parka makes being on the go simple and comfortable, all while providing the warmth and protection needed to keep you performing at your best."
A perfect addition to your fishing and outdoor gear lineup, the Aqua Parka is made to stand up to tough weather and help you make the most of every outdoor experience. Whether you’re battling the wind on a boat deck, changing out of wet clothes after a day of fishing, or simply staying warm during your outdoor adventures, the Aqua Parka delivers the reliability and performance you need.
The Aqua Parka is now available for purchase on Gill’s website and at select retailers. For more details, including pricing and availability, visit gillfishing.com
For media inquiries, please contact:
Michele Eichstead
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About Gill:
Trusted on the water for 50 years Gill did not start as a brand or business, it started as a solution to find better more capable sailing clothing using the best fabrics possible. Combined with innovative design to increase performance and tested on elite athletes in the most challenging of conditions it means you can rely on Gill on or off the water – only you limit how you use our products.
Our collection of fishing apparel and gear is specially designed to cover all bases, with fishing clothing and accessories that can truly help you focus on the task at hand, rather than worrying about protecting your body and staying comfortable. Our fishing apparel comes with the best design features and fabrics to allow you to stay warm, dry, and able to concentrate fully on your fishing. Engineered for all elements.
2025 NPFL Championship Set For Lake Hartwell
WILKESVILLE, Ohio—The National Professional Fishing League and Visit Anderson today announce that Lake Hartwell on the South Carolina-Georgia state line will be the site of the 2025 NPFL Championship, October 3-5, 2025, and that Visit Anderson will host the event. It will be the second annual championship for the league and the third NPFL bass tournament to be held on the lake.
“We’ve known for some time that Lake Hartwell would be the site for our Championship,” said NPFL President Brad Fuller, “but settling on the dates took a little time because of our scheduling demands and the popularity of the venue. Lake Hartwell, with the support of Visit Anderson, is one of the most attractive and popular tournament sites in the country. We’re confident that early October will offer excellent weather and outstanding fishing, making it a true test of the best for the anglers scheduled to compete.”
In all, 42 anglers will vie for the Championship, including the top 40 finishers in the Progressive Angler of the Year standings, defending champion Brandon Perkins, and Nick Brown—winner of the Chompers/NPFL Stop #5 on Lake of the Ozarks. The full list of qualifiers is available here.
“We’re honored to have the opportunity to host the NPFL Championship at Green Pond Landing, Lake Hartwell and Anderson County,” said Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson. “Our community has enjoyed a special relationship with the NPFL and their anglers for several years now. In each visit to Anderson County, the NPFL has made a positive impact in our community, and we’re looking forward to providing a championship-caliber experience.”
The 2025 NPFL season begins March 6-8 at the Santee Cooper lakes (Marion and Moultrie) in South Carolina. That’s the first of six regular season tournaments that will qualify 40 or more top pros for next year’s Championship. The full schedule can be found here.
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) was founded to bring competitive fishing to a broader audience and offer anglers a platform to compete at the highest level. The NPFL is committed to fostering integrity, competition, and innovation in the sport, providing anglers and fans alike with an exciting and unique experience.
Media Contact: Ken Duke — (407) 574-1898 or ken@tnpfl.com.
SPRO Expands Distribution of Premium Japanese Fishing Brands to U.S. Market
Kennesaw, GA - SPRO, a leading distributor of high-quality fishing gear, proudly announces the expansion of its portfolio to include more premier Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) brands, making them accessible to U.S. anglers and retailers. SPRO is now the exclusive U.S. distributor for Hide Up, a renowned Japanese fishing brand known for its innovative and high-performance tackle, including the highly sought after Coike.
SPRO’s growing lineup already includes top-tier Japanese brands such as Nories, Meiho, Marfix, and Sea Falcon. By strengthening its distribution network, SPRO ensures that hard-to-find JDM products are now more accessible than ever to U.S. consumers. With SPRO’s inventory strategically located in the United States, anglers can enjoy faster shipping, eliminating the long wait times typically associated with international orders. Additionally, by purchasing through SPRO, U.S. customers can avoid the complexities of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, import duties, and elevated shipping costs.
"Japanese fishing gear is highly sought after for its superior craftsmanship and performance," said Syd Rives SPRO National Sales Manager. "We are excited to bring these exceptional brands to anglers across the United States, helping them elevate their fishing experience without the usual challenges of importing."
We are Sports Professionals. SPRO works with America's best anglers to design the world's finest fishing tackle. Using cutting edge technology and innovation, SPRO leads the way in developing the highest quality premium fishing equipment available.
For more information, please visit
Bass Fishing Hall of Fame offering grants to fisheries students and conservation groups again in 2025
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— For Immediate Release — Feb 10, 2025 —The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has funded over $100,000 in conservation projects since 2020, and in 2024 awarded fisheries students $27,500 in scholarship money.
Continuing to stand true on its pillars of celebrating, promoting and preserving bass fishing, the BassFishing Hall of Fame begins 2025 with an invitation to grassroots conservation groups and students to again apply for grants and scholarships at: https://www.bassfishinghof.com/community-impact.
Bass Fishing Hall of Famer and fisheries biologist Gene Gilliland says the real-world impact of these grants can be witnessed at bass fisheries across America.
“Projects that our sport’s Hall of Fame has helped fund recently include aquatic plant introductions in Bloomington and Evergreen, Illinois, Leavenworth, Kansas, Clarks Hill, South Carolina and Philpott, Virginia. Along with building live release tournament trailers in Alabama, Iowa and Kansas; and installing artificial fish habitat in New Mexico, Texas and Tennessee,” says Gilliland.
Bass clubs, lake associations, reservoir groups, and youth fishing organizations have been recipients of BFHOF grants and are the "boots on the ground" volunteers that put these funds to work. All in an effort to help to preserve the sport of bass fishing.
Natalie Coash, who now works as a fisheries research specialist for the Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife research Unit says the money she received from the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame during her time as a student at Auburn were helpful not only to her academic growth, but “The money I received from the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame was instrumental in my growth as a fisheries biologist, and also made everyday life a bit easier as my tuition, rent, utilities and health insurance totaled about $16,000 a year, and my graduate student salary was $20,000,” says an ever-grateful Coash.
Again, conservation groups and current fisheries students are encouraged to apply now at https://www.bassfishinghof.com/community-impact.
About the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF)
Celebrating its 25th year, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors, dedicated to celebrating, promoting, and preserving the sport of bass fishing. The Hall’s inductees and historical memorabilia are showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. For more information about the road to induction, the Hall’s impact on the community, or to get involved, visit www.BassFishingHOF.com.
or contact BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at bbowman@bassfishinghof.com.
Chouteau’s Allen Posts First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Grand Lake
Afton’s Fielder Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
GROVE, Okla. (Feb. 10, 2025) – Boater Ronnie Allen of Chouteau, Oklahoma, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 6 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Grand Lake . The tournament, hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau, was the first event of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Allen earned $11,575 for his victory, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus.
A good game plan goes a long way in a bass tournament, especially when fishing against the best local sticks on a fishery like Grand Lake. In this case, according to Allen, it took solid execution and a fair bit of something else.
“A lot of luck,” he said. “I just got lucky and pulled up on the right spot at the right time. I pulled up on my first spot, and I caught all my fish on that one school in about a hundred-yard stretch. I caught ’em all pretty early in the morning. I think I had 20 pounds at 8:30 or 9 o’clock, and then was able to upgrade twice from there. I was just throwing an A-rig in deep water.”
Allen found these fish more than a week ago and never made it back to check on them before the event started. He hoped they would still be there, and they were – that’s the lucky part.
He used forward-facing sonar to bird dog individual bass that were roaming open water near some deep ledges. Catching them early was a good thing, as changing conditions eventually hurt the bite.
“I think that cold front that blew in really shut them off,” Allen added. “I was happy to have my bag early because after about 10 or 11 o’clock the fish shut off.”
The top 11 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Ronnie Allen, Chouteau, Okla., five bass, 22-6, $11,575 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Billy Gordon, Catoosa, Okla., five bass, 20-13, $2,288
3rd: Justin Barbour, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 19-11, $1,525
4th: Camden Kozikoski, Edmond, Okla., five bass, 19-5, $1,068
5th: Tate Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 19-4, $915
6th: Kyle Kitts, Joplin, Mo., five bass, 18-7, $839
7th: Shawn Clark, Afton, Okla., five bass, 17-0, $763
8th: Nathen Luce, Claremore, Okla., five bass, 16-13, $686
9th: Preston Cook, Miami, Okla., five bass, 15-15, $610
10th: Brad Cook, Afton, Okla., five bass, 15-9, $507
10th: Cody Miller, Shell Knob, Mo., five bass, 15-9, $507
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Kacey Moreland of Porter, Oklahoma, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $665.
Fred Fielder of Afton, Oklahoma, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,288 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 12 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Fred Fielder, Afton, Okla., three bass, 11-12, $2,288
2nd: Dave Harvey, Centerton, Ark., three bass, 9-0, $1,144
3rd: Eian Odle, Willow Springs, Mo., three bass, 8-9, $762
4th: Thad Hewitt, Delaware, Okla., two bass, 7-8, $634
5th: James West, Spiro, Okla., three bass, 6-15, $458
6th: Bo Dunlap, Broken Arrow, Okla., two bass, 6-12, $419
7th: Zack Holt, Yukon, Okla., three bass, 6-2, $381
8th: Jared Geary, Joplin, Mo., two bass, 5-15, $343
9th: Mark Sloan, Harrison, Ark., three bass, 5-12, $286
9th: Tad Harp, Cave Springs, Ark., two bass, 5-12, $286
Robert Joslin of Fort Smith, Arkansas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $332, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 8 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
In addition to earning the win, Ronnie Allen of Chouteau, Oklahoma, also has the early lead in the Fishing Clash Okie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Fred Fielder of Afton, Oklahoma, leads the Fishing Clash Okie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 250 points.
The next event for BFL Okie Division anglers will be held March 22, at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11 BFL Regional tournament on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Vosker, 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.
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 20 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.
Bristol’s Neece Picks up Third Career Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Lake Chickamauga
Oliver Springs’ Paul Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
DAYTON, Tenn. (Feb. 10, 2025) – Boater Corey Neece of Bristol, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 32 pounds, 7 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Chickamauga . The tournament, hosted by Fish Dayton, was the first event of the season for the BFL Volunteer Division. Neece earned $11,037 for his victory, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus.
“I just caught ’em scoping an Alabama rig all day,” said Neece, who used 4-inch swimbaits on his A-rig. “I didn’t catch many though. I only caught eight or nine fish all day.”
According to Neece, fishing was slow in the morning. He didn’t start catching them until 10:30 or 11. He attributed the low number of overall bites to the fishing pressure. He said the fish are grouped up in the middle of creek channels with bait – areas where anglers are able to find and target them with live sonar.
“They’re moving into early stages of prespawn, probably,” Neece said about the fish. “They’re starting to move back into the creeks. I had two pretty small stretches of creek channel that they were in. I just bounced back and forth between the two throughout the day.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Corey Neece, Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 32-7, $11,037 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Josh Lee, Powell, Tenn., five bass, 29-14, $2,564
3rd: Jacob Foutz, Philadelphia, Tenn., five bass, 26-3, $1,345
4th: Tim Smiley, White Pine, Tenn., five bass, 25-1, $942
5th: Blake Smith, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 22-13, $807
6th: Kevin Drake, Cleveland, Tenn., five bass, 22-11, $740
7th: Jeremy Gordon, Rutledge, Tenn., five bass, 22-5, $673
8th: Derrick Stafford, Kingston, Tenn., five bass, 22-4, $606
9th: Robert Wroblewski, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 21-11, $538
10th: Bryce McDonald, Paintsville, Ky., five bass, 20-14, $471
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Josh Lee of Powell, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 9 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $545.
Joshua Paul of Oliver Springs, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,019 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Joshua Paul, Oliver Springs, Tenn., three bass, 12-1, $2,019
2nd: Christopher Davis, Huntsville, Ala., three bass, 11-7, $1,009
3rd: Justin McGaha, Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 10-8, $675
4th: Hunter Wilson, Greenback, Tenn., three bass, 10-2, $471
5th: Kasey Hunley, Sharps Chapel, Tenn., three bass, 9-14, $404
6th: Tony Thompson, Friendsville, Tenn., three bass, 9-10, $370
7th: Ransom Boone, Marshall, N.C., three bass, 9-5, $336
8th: Ricky Sexton, Oliver Springs, Tenn., three bass, 8-11, $303
9th: Randall Kramer, Signal Mountain, Tenn., three bass, 8-7, $269
10th: Don Carmack, Middlesboro, Ky., three bass, 8-2, $235
Tim Martin of Jonesborough, Tennessee, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $272, catching a bass that weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After one event, Corey Neece of Bristol, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Volunteer Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Joshua Paul of Oliver Springs, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Volunteer Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 250 points.
The next event for BFL Volunteer Division anglers will be held March 8, at South Holston Reservoir out of Bristol, Tennessee. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 24-25 BFL Regional tournament Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Vosker, 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.
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 20 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.
Local Angler Seabolt Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Gator Division Opener at Lake Okeechobee
Valachovic and Hunter Tie for Win in Strike King Co-Angler Division
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2025) – Fishing in his first career tournament in MLF competition, 19-year-old boater Tanner Seabolt of Okeechobee, Florida, caught a five-bass limit weighing 31 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Okeechobee . The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Gator Division. Seabolt earned $4,507 for his victory.
Seabolt, who works at Fast Break Bait & Tackle up on Okeechobee’s north end, is able to stay pretty dialed in on what’s happening at his home lake.
“I found a spot up there on the north end – cattails with some bedded fish around them,” he said. “I was just throwing a worm at them. It was pretty consistent all day. I had my bag by around 12:30ish and then just kept on throwing a bigger worm for a big one.
“I found these fish two weeks ago. I didn’t really catch anything great off it, but I caught some solid fish. I guess they pulled in there either last night or today.”
After 12:30, Seabolt made one nice cull, tossing back a 4-pounder for a 5 1/2. His biggest fish weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces.
What’s wild about the spot where Seabolt caught his fish is that, according to Seabolt, another local tournament was also won there on Saturday, and it took 30-plus to win that one, too.
Seabolt spent the tournament working down one key stretch, pitching a Gambler Ace in black and blue on a 7-foot, 2-inch Scenko Stix custom rod. Seabolt wasn’t sight-fishing, but he was fishing his Texas rig slowly, knowing that the fish were setting up on beds. Most of his bass came in little clusters.
For Seabolt, this is win No. 1 with Major League Fishing.
“I went into this tournament thinking that if they were there I could catch them really good,” he said. “So I just went into the tournament praying. Honestly, it (winning this event) means everything to me.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Tanner Seabolt, Okeechobee, Fla., five bass, 31-9, $4,507
2nd: Dylan Quilatan, Windermere, Fla., five bass, 24-15, $2,253
3rd: Roger Gonzalez, Coco, Fla., five bass, 24-5, $1,502
4th: Finn Taylor, Lake Placid, Fla., five bass, 23-15, $1,052
5th: Casey Warren, Myrtle Beach, S.C., five bass, 23-11, $901
6th: Fred Chivington Jr., San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 21-2, $826
7th: Richard Newberry, Pinellas Park, Fla., five bass, 20-14, $1,251
8th: Brandon St. Pierre, Lehigh Acres, Fla., five bass, 19-10, $638
8th: Ben Harris, Haines City, Fla., five bass, 19-10, $1,293
10th: Eric Morgan, Royal Palm Beach, Fla., five bass, 18-5, $526
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Ben Harris of Haines City, Florida, caught a bass that weighed 10 pounds, 4 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $655.
Anthony Valachovic of Coral Springs, Florida, and Evrett Hunter of Nokomis, Florida, tied for the win in the Strike King co-angler division Saturday, after each bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 2 ounces. Valachovic earned $2,017, including the $327 Berkley Big Bass co-angler award, which he received for catching the biggest fish of the day in the co-angler division – a 10-pound, 5-ounce bass. Hunter earned $1,690 for his share of the victory money.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Anthony Valachovic, Coral Springs, Fla., three bass, 16-2, $2,017
1st: Evrett Hunter, Nokomis, Fla., three bass, 16-2, $1,690
3rd: Chuck Crow, Windermere, Fla., three bass, 14-5, $638
3rd: Shannon Pike, Sarasota, Fla., three bass, 14-5, $638
5th: David Lane, Orlando, Fla., three bass, 13-14, $451
6th: Dean Bligh, Heddon Heights, N.J., three bass, 12-14, $413
7th: Michael Ryan, Mount Dora, Fla., three bass, 11-7, $376
8th: Tyler Nekolny, Coral Springs, Fla., three bass, 10-10, $319
8th: Jeremy Bouldin, Kings Mountan, N.C., three bass, 10-10, $319
10th: Scott Hopping, Port Saint Lucie, Fla., three bass, 10-8, $263
In addition to earning the win, Tanner Seabolt of Okeechobee, Florida, has the early lead in the Fishing Clash Gator Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Anthony Valachovic of Coral Springs, Florida, and Evrett Hunter of Nokomis, Florida, are tied for the lead in the Fishing Clash Gator Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 250 points apiece.
The next event for BFL Gator Division anglers will be held March 8, at Lake Toho out of Kissimmee, Florida. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-18 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Vosker, 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.
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 20 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.