Edwin Evers Wins 2021 MLF Lucas Oil Challenge Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Neenah, Wisc.
Oklahoma Superstar Nearly Laps the Field with 39+ pounds to Win Third Challenge Cup Title of Career
NEENAH, Wis. (Feb. 6, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) pro Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, caught 18 bass totaling 39 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the Championship Round of the 2021 MLF Lucas Oil Challenge Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Neenah, Wisconsin, which premiered Saturday on the Outdoor Channel. It was the third MLF Challenge Cup title of Evers’ career, and pushed his career earnings to nearly $3.7 million.
“I am so incredibly excited right now,” Evers said in his post-game press conference. “I had a very tough season last year. It was really up and down for me and it was pretty frustrating. So, to start off the 2021 Cup season with a win is super special. And to win it on Lake Winnebago – this is such an awesome fishery. When we were riding to the lake and turned left out of the parking lot, my heart started beating out of my chest because I knew where we were going. I love this lake; it is super special to me.”
Period 1 of the Championship Round was dominated by Evers on the strength of a wacky-rigged 4-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General worm. All of his bites in the period came off of three docks near the main lake.
“It was a very specific pattern – it had to be docks that were on a point,” Evers said. “It had to have clean water, with a rocky bottom – not sand – and fairly clean with not a lot of grass around. And we talk about the 48 miles of shoreline and more than 23,000 acres of water… I fished every possible scenario where there would be a bass and I caught all of my fish off of just five docks. There might be one more dock out there, but I’m pretty sure those were the only five docks that worked with my pattern that day.”
Without either angler knowing, second-place finisher Mike McClelland also found those exact same three docks during Period 2 and they had reloaded. McClelland caught several key fish on a small spinnerbait and got to within 5 pounds of Evers, however the Oklahoma pro found two similar docks in the southern end of the competition zone and pulled away.
“I guess (Mike) McClelland also caught his fish off of those same docks, but unfortunately for him he was just behind me,” Evers said. “Everything I caught came on that Berkley General. I would have liked to catch them on a spinnerbait or with a vibrating jig, but it just wasn’t working for me. I learned early in the day I had to slow way down and just let that worm soak.”
Evers is now tied with two other anglers for the most Cup wins in MLF history with three – Kevin VanDam and Jacob Wheeler.
“I know I keep saying it, but just I’m super excited,” Evers went on to say. “You never know what tomorrow holds, so to win another one… I will never, ever, take one of these wins for granted. Period. These Cup events are so hard to win – they’re like a mini-championship. I am so fortunate and I’m looking forward to getting home to celebrate this win with my family.”
The final eight anglers at the 2021 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Neenah, Wisconsin finished:
1st: Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., 18 bass, 39-5
2nd: Mike McClelland of Blue Eye, Mo., nine bass, 18-3
3rd: Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala., four bass, 9-8
4th: Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 7-10
5th: Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan, three bass, 6-8
6th: Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., three bass, 5-6
7th: Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., two bass, 4-1
8th: Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala., one bass, 1-4
Complete results along with photos from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Lee caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a chunky 3-pound, 11-ounce largemouth during Period One.
Overall, there were 44 bass weighing 91 pounds, 13 ounces caught by the final eight pros during the Championship Round of competition on Lake Winnebago.
The 2021 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches was hosted by the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau and premiered on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon debuting on Jan. 2, 2021, and running through Feb. 6, 2021.
All six episodes of the event are available for viewing on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) streaming app.
The event was shot over six days in mid-September in Neenah and featured 30 MLF pro anglers visiting Eastern Wisconsin to compete on four different fisheries across the region, including Lake Poygan and Winneconne, Lake Butte des Morts and Lake Winnebago. The fisheries were unknown to the anglers – they did not learn where they were competing until they arrived at the launch ramp each morning of competition.
Florida Prepares for another BIG Week - Elite Series St. John's Preview
Courtesy of Vance McCullough
Just filled out my 5-man Fantasy Fishing roster at Bassmaster.com for the upcoming Elite Series season opener on Florida’s St Johns River. I picked Rick Clunn. Five times.
Not to jinx the man, but the weather forecast for the area during the competition dates of February 11th through the 14th calls for a steady breeze, overcast skies and a decent chance of rain every day. That should set up a strong ‘winding’ bite that will favor the types of lures Clunn used to become the oldest ever Elite Series champion with an impressive showing on the river in 2016 before breaking his own record on the same, but a very different St Johns River in 2019.
The river of lakes is now a different fishery than it was before Hurricane Irma scrubbed all the eel grass away in 2017. Eel grass has been the prime habitat for fish on the river since before William Bartram witnessed a Native American pull a bass from it on a “jig and a bob” – hook and line fishing – in the spring of 1774. Bartram estimated the bass would have weighed 30 pounds. A great explorer, Bartram likely would have made a terrible tourney director. But hey, maybe 30-pound bass were common on the river back then.
Thirty-pound limits hard to come by these days which makes Clunn’s 31-pound, 7-ounce sack on Day 3 of the 2016 tourney all the more impressive. To win that tournament on the ‘old’ St Johns he used a bladed jig/swimbait combo to pluck bass from eel grass along the east shore of Lake George for a 4-day total weight of 81-15. He then shifted techniques and location in 2019 to catch his fish on a Trickster spinnerbait and Gatortail worm around Drayton Island. His final round effort was worth 34-14. It pushed his 4-day total to 98-14. Clunn had figured out how to win on the ‘new’ St Johns River, proving his adaptability as well as his skill.
That new St Johns fishery revolves around thick stands of lily pads and scattered wood that litters its banks. The storms that striped the river of grass also pushed trees into the water. The resultant laydowns vie with old dock pilings, some still attached to platforms, for the attention of fish and fishermen.
Offshore bars can produce massive bags of bass but this time of year a single afternoon of warm weather can send them scurrying to the shallows in preparation for the spawn.
Sight fishing can be the ticket on this river in February but if clouds and rain materialize as expected during this derby that tactic will be difficult, at best, to execute. Even during the practice rounds considerable cloudiness and stormy skies will dominate. Bass are still spawning in protected canals as they tend to do in February, but anglers will have to pitch, sight unseen, to places where they imagine fish to be, an approach that’s less efficient but still effective.
Offbeat tactics could play well. Last year Paul Mueller ran north and flipped up the winning fish from beneath mats that clung to steep banks in deep creeks. In contrast to 2019 when Clunn scared the Century mark, Mueller’s win was very ‘2020’ in that it featured a canceled day, due to extreme weather. Mueller was the only angler to average more than 15 pounds per day.
Such is the fickle nature of the St Johns. Fishing fortunes rise and fall like the tide that feeds the slow, dark waterway.
Given the short supply of submerged grass, coupled with modern electronics and information available these days, if there is a clump of it somewhere, multiple anglers will find it, slicing the pie into ever
Schmitt Wins Toyota Series Event on Lake Toho
Maryland Pro Earns Sixth Career Toyota Series Victory – Breaks Record for Most All-Time
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2021) – Maryland pro Bryan Schmitt of Deale, Maryland, brought four bass to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 2 ounces – including a 9-pound, 2-ounce kicker – to win the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Lake Toho Presented by Googan Baits . Schmitt weighed in 15 bass over three days of competition totaling 66 pounds, 10 ounces, besting second-place angler Mikey Keyso of North Port, Florida, by more than 8 pounds. For his victory, Schmitt earned the top payout of $51,500 in the first tournament of the 2021 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Southern Division.
The victory was the sixth career Toyota Series win of Schmitt’s career and moved him to No. 1 for the most Toyota Series wins all-time. Schmitt had been in a three-way tie with Randy Haynes (5) and Koby Kreiger (5), now tied for second-most.
“I am so blessed,” Schmitt said. “I am blessed to have grown up fishing the Potomac River where I had no choice but to learn all the intricacies of grass fishing if I wanted to compete. Those lessons have served me well over the years.”
This week the puzzle started with a long, narrow vein of grass that ran out across a vast flat of bare sand and shell in about 6 feet of water. The thin strip of hydrilla was about ¼ of a mile long and terminated into a huge and shallower grass bed in about 3 or 4 feet of water.
“The band of grass grew up about 2 or 3 feet off the bottom and it was clumpy the whole way.” Schmitt said. “When I first found it in practice, I knew fish had to relate to it in some way.”
On the first day of the tournament, Schmitt figured out exactly how they related to it.
“I graphed the entire length of that narrow strip several times and finally found the mother lode where the strip ran into the shallow grass flat,” he said. “There was like an intersection right there.”
His suspicions were confirmed when he began using his LiveScope to scan along the clumpy grass strip and saw big dots swimming everywhere. With that, he picked up SPRO Aruku Shad 75, in a color aptly named wild shiner, tied to 15-pound test P-Line Tactical Fluorocarbon and the rest is history.
Schmitt guesses that he saw about 70 percent of the fish he caught on LiveScope before casting to them. On several occasions when he saw fish meander up close to the boat, he pitched the Aruku Shad to the fish, let sink, ripped it up and watch the fish annihilate it on his screen.
He also watched fish take a swipe at the rattle bait on the screen, but never touch it. When that happened, he would resort to a couple of back up lures, including a Missile Baits Quiver Worm (junebug) Neko-rigged on a Hayabusa Weedless Spin Muscle Wacky Hook. He also caught a few on his namesake ½-ounce swim jig called the Lil’ Schmitty (river special) trailed with a Missile Baits Shockwave (shrapnel).
“I caught a lot of big fish on that Aruku Shad this week,” Schmitt went on to say. “I put fresh Hayabusa trebles on it: a #4 on the back and #5 on the front. The very first fish I hooked this morning was that 9-pounder and she stayed pinned the whole way.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Toho finished:
1st: Bryan Schmitt of Deale, Md., 14 bass, 66-10, $51,500
2nd: Mikey Keyso of North Port, Fla., 15 bass, 58-8, $20,000
3rd: Bobby Bakewell of Orlando, Fla., 15 bass, 50-15, $14,250
4th: Steven Hatala of Harrison Township, Mich., 15 bass, 43-4, $12,250
5th: Eric Conant of Lakeland, Fla., 13 bass, 42-2, $11,250
6th: Trevor Fitzgerald of Belleview, Fla., 15 bass, 42-2, $9,125
7th: Eric Panzironi of Longwood, Fla., 15 bass, 38-11, $7,900
8th: Jared McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 37-14, $7,900
9th: Samuel Whitmire of Babson Park, Fla., 11 bass, 35-6, $5,900
10th: Cole Hewett of Orange Park, Fla., 14 bass, 34-3, $4,500
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Whitmire won Thursday’s Berkley Big Bass Award after bringing a 11-pound, 11-ounce lunker to the scale. Friday’s Berkley Big Bass Award went to pro McMillan with a 9-pound, 13-ounce largemouth. Each angler won a bonus of $150.
McMillan took home and extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Jeffrey Baffa of Frankfort, Illinois, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of nine bass weighing 35 pounds, 15 ounces. Baffa took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Toho finished:
1st: Jeffrey Baffa of Frankfort, Ill., nine bass, 35-15, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd: Benton Peoples of Bardstown, Ky, 11 bass, 34-2, $6,125
3rd: Ricky Grant of Inverness, Fla., 11 bass, 32-3, $4,900
4th: Theron Asbery of Longwood, Fla., 10 bass, 30-9, $3,950
5th: Frank Kitchens Jr. of Blairsville, Ga., 12 bass, 28-11, $3,450
6th: Todd Classon of Camilla, Ga., nine bass, 27-15, $2,950
7th: Clinton Lacinak of Homosassa, Fla., 10 bass, 24-2, $2,450
8th: James Littich of Davidson, N.C., eight bass, 20-3, $1,975
9th: Troy Johnson Jr. of Carrabelle, Fla., five bass, 18-2, $1,590
10th: Joe Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., six bass, 16-5, $1,350
The Toyota Series at Lake Toho was presented by Googan Baits and was hosted by Experience Kissimmee – Kissimmee Sports Commission. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments in 2021 for Southern Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on Feb. 16-18 – the Toyota Series at Lake Guntersville presented by Googan Baits in Guntersville, Alabama. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2021 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2021 Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Schmitt Takes 12-Pound Lead on Toho
Florida fisheries are magical places to experience a once-in-a-lifetime day of fishing. Single-day five-bass limits in Florida come in eye-popping denominations: 20-, 25- and 30-pound catches are entirely possible on any given day. But anglers who can make those magical Florida catches happen two days in a row are a much rarer breed.
In two days at the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. there have been a total of seven limits over 20 pounds weighed in. Only one person in the field owns two of those 20-plus bags: Bryan Schmitt of Deale, Maryland.
Schmitt weighed in 25 pounds, 9 ounces on day one and followed that up with 22 pounds, 15 ounces on day two for a two-day total of 48 pounds, 7 ounces. He now leads the first Toyota Series of the Southern Division on Lake Toho, presented by Googan Baits, by 12 pounds, 1 ounce.
Schmitt’s winning record in MLF competition on grass lakes is pretty impressive. Over the years Schmitt has proved that he truly understands the subtleties of grass fishing and, so far, his week on Toho has been no exception.
For the last two days, Schmitt has pulled nearly 50 pounds of bass from a ¼-mile-long vein of hydrilla that runs across a barren flat.
“It’s just a thin, narrow strip of grass out there in the middle of nowhere,” Schmitt details. “It runs out through a 6-foot flat of bare bottom; there is not a stitch of grass anywhere else around it. I know because I’ve looked all around the area for another strip or clump. The grass is only about 2 to 3 feet tall off the bottom.”
Schmitt found the hydrilla strip during practice, but it was fruitless.
“When I found it, I just knew it would be loaded with fish,” he says. “It’s one of the prettiest grass places I’ve ever found. But I never got a bite on it in practice.”
Where Schmitt proves his chops as a grass guru is in his conviction that bass had to live in the grass strip.
“Yesterday, I ran all the way down to Kissimmee thinking about that spot I found in Toho,” he says. “As soon as I got my fifth keeper in Kissimmee, I couldn’t wait to run back to Toho and try the spot again – even though it didn’t produce a bite in practice.”
When he relocated the thin line of grass on Thursday afternoon, he finally tapped the potential he knew existed there, sacking up the 25-9 as fast as he could cast.
He returned this morning and again caught big bass in short order on a SPRO Aruku Shad 75.
Schmitt also admits that LiveScope is playing a major role in the fish he has been catching.
“It’s the dangdest thing I have ever seen,” he says. “I can literally see the bass swimming up and down this strip of grass. Most of the time I’m casting that Aruku Shad way out there and ripping it like normal. But on several occasions today, I could see a fish out there right next to the grass. And I would literally pitch that Aruku Shad out there to the fish, let it sink and then rip it up right in front of her, and she would smash it. It’s just crazy!
“Now, I also had some that I pitched to and they lunged at it on the screen, but they never bit it,” he adds. “So it’s not like you catch every one you see. But just to see fish swimming up and down that line gives me the confidence to keep casting and ripping that Aruku Shad.”
Going into the final day, what worries Schmitt the most is that his bite completely disappeared by 9 a.m. this morning.
“Something happened,” he says. “I quit seeing fish on the LiveScope and I quit getting bites, just like that. I’m thinking that some of it was pressure, because a lot of people showed up in that spot after a couple of hours this morning. And they were poling down all up and down the grass line and stuff. So with only ten of us out there tomorrow, I’m hoping I’ve got it to myself again and the fish hang around longer.”
Top 10 Pros
1. Bryan Schmitt – 48 – 08 (10)
2. Mikey Keyso – 36 – 07 (10)
3. Eric Conant – 33 – 13 (9)
4. Bobby Bakewell – 32 – 04 (7)
5. Trevor Fitzgerald – 31 – 10 (10)
6. Eric Panzironi – 30 – 05 (10)
7. Samuel Whitmire – 29 – 09 (8)
8. Jared McMillan – 29 – 06 (10)
9. Steven Hatala – 29 – 00 (10)
10. Cole Hewett – 28 – 14 (10)
Baffa Still Leads Strike King Co-Angler Division
Jeffery Baffa continues to lead the co-angler division of the Toyota Series on Lake Toho, thanks in large part to the 24-pound, 11-ounce limit he caught on day one. He added 2 fish for 4 pounds, 6 ounces to his total today for a two-day total of 29 pounds, 1 ounce.
Top 10 Co-Anglers
1. Jeffery Baffa – 29 – 01 (7)
2. Ricky Grant – 28 – 01 (9)
3. Theron Asbery – 24 – 10 (7)
4. Benton Peoples – 21 – 07 (6)
5. Clinton Lacinak – 20 – 14 (8)
6. Frank Kitchens Jr. – 20 – 13 (8)
7. Troy Johnson Jr. – 18 – 02 (5)
8. James Littich – 18 – 00 (7)
9. Todd Classon – 16 – 13 (5)
10. Joe Cifuentes – 16 – 05 (6)
Late Giant Lifts Smith To Victory At B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional On Havasu
Taylor Smith, of Valleyford, Wash., has won the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional at Lake Havasu with a two-day total of 33 pounds, 15 ounces.
Photo by Brenden Kanies/B.A.S.S.
February 5, 2021
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. — Taylor Smith caught only five bass on the final day of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional at Lake Havasu, and it was the final bite that gave him the weight he needed to win the season-opener on the 2021 B.A.S.S. tournament schedule.
Smith hooked a 5-pound largemouth a few dozen yards from the Lake Havasu State Park weigh-in site with only 45 minutes of tournament time remaining on Friday. The catch rounded out his 15-pound, 13-ounce limit and added to his 18-2 limit on Day 1. Smith finished with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 33-15.
The 35-year-old Valleyford, Wash., resident won $5,000 for topping the boater division. It was part of a $27,200 total purse split between the best of the 177 competitors this week on the 19,200-acre impoundment straddling the Arizona/California border.
Smith is no stranger to success in B.A.S.S. Nation events. He finished second in the Nation Championship at South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell in 2019, which qualified him for the 2020 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk held on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville.
Smith’s win at Lake Havasu qualified him for the 2021 Nation Championship, which will be held later this year at a location to be determined.
“I’m jacked,” he said. “It was such a fun time down here. I didn’t have very high expectations. My pre-fishing was terrible. So, I’m elated. To have another chance to fish for a berth in the Classic is unbelievable.”
Smith was in second place after Day 1 on Wednesday, trailing only California’s Matty Wong, who led with 18-8. That’s how standings remained Friday, as Thursday’s competition was canceled due to strong winds in the region. B.A.S.S. officials determined the full field would fish again on Friday, and Mother Nature cooperated with postcard-perfect weather — winds at a much tamer 10 mph, bluebird skies and temperatures in the low 70s.
Still, Smith struggled to find bites Friday. His luck changed with the 5-pounder he caught on a green pumpkin football-head jig outfitted with a blue trailer.
“I yelled so loud when I caught that fish, I’m surprised you didn’t hear me up here (at weigh-in),” Smith said of his big catch. “But other than that, it really was a grind out there today.
“A lot of people had fish follow a jerkbait or a spinnerbait (on Wednesday), but I think that just slowly went away. I couldn’t get any kind of reaction bite today.”
Smith believed Thursday’s turbulent conditions made the fishing tougher Friday.
“The wind yesterday changed things for me, so I feel lucky to catch what I did,” he said. “I didn’t think I had (as much weight as I did).”
Steve Lund, who was in fourth on Day 1, climbed to second overall with a two-day total of 32-2. The Glendale, Ariz., resident caught a 16-1 limit on Friday, which was the heaviest bag of the day. Wong finished third with 28-5.
Jake Morrison of Scottsdale, Ariz., caught six bass weighing 12-11 and won $2,500 for finishing first in the co-angler division. Tom Nokes of Riverton, Utah, led the Day 1 co-angler standings and finished second overall with 12-8. Hunter Loveless of American Fork, Utah, was third with 12-0.
The squad from Washington State handily won the team championship portion. Washington anglers caught 76 bass over two days for a total weight of 188-13, and the squad collected $5,600 with the win. Idaho finished second (62 bass, 140-1) and won $3,350, while Arizona (56 bass, 135-15) placed third and won $2,200.
Other states in team scoring included California, fourth, 132-6; Utah, fifth, 131-10; Oregon, sixth, 129-3; Montana, seventh, 128-3; Wyoming, eighth, 127-5; and Nevada, ninth, 126-1.
Jay Evans of Missoula, Mont., won the $500 Big Bass Award with a 6-pounder he caught Wednesday. Scooter Griffin of Hayden, Idaho, caught a 4-12 bass Friday to win the $250 top prize for big bass among co-anglers.
JJ Gibbs IV, who lives in Lake Havasu City, won the Garmin Tournament Rewards prize of $500. He finished fourth in the boater division with a two-day total of 26-3.
The leading angler and co-angler for each state team at the Western Regional qualified for the B.A.S.S. Nation Team Championship. Four other regionals will be held in 2021, including: April 21-23 at Milford Lake in Junction City, Kan.; April 28-30 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C.; June 23-25 at Lake Erie/Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pa.; and Sept. 1-3 on the upper Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis.
2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional Lake Havasu 2/3-2/5
Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City AZ.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Taylor Smith Valleyford, WA (WA) 10 33-15 0
2. Steve Lund Glendale, AZ (AZ) 10 32-02 0
3. Matthew Wong Culver City, CA (CA) 8 28-05 0
4. JJ Gibbs IV Lake Havasu City, AZ (A 10 26-03 0
5. Jay Evans Missoula, MT (MT) 8 25-07 0
6. Jason Crone Kalispell, MT (MT) 10 23-15 0
7. Ken Day Kennewick, WA (WA) 10 22-05 0
8. Ben Byrd Moab, UT (UT) 10 21-15 0
9. Jeremy Mckay Eugene, OR (OR) 8 21-14 0
10. Harrison Bertsch Rathdrum, ID (ID) 10 21-08 0
11. Clint Johanson Cle Elum, WA (WA) 8 21-05 0
12. Don Allphin Manila, UT (UT) 7 19-15 0
13. Timothy Wells Clovis, CA (CA) 6 19-14 0
14. William Naugle Lake Havasu City, AZ (N 9 19-04 0
15. Earl Wells Payette, ID (WY) 8 18-02 0
16. Bubba O'Neill Jr Evanston, WY (WY) 7 18-00 0
17. Josh Worth Grand Junction, CO (UT) 7 17-05 0
18. James Castillo West Richland, WA (WA) 9 17-03 0
19. Sean Andrachick Marion, MT (MT) 7 16-04 0
20. Chris Harvey Idaho Falls, ID (WY) 6 15-15 0
21. Mat Cole Hayden, ID (ID) 5 15-15 0
22. Justin Campbell Pasco, WA (WA) 7 15-06 0
23. Dick Watson Alta Loma, CA (NV) 6 15-02 0
24. Frank Scarla Amity, OR (OR) 7 14-09 0
25. Jason Virgil Hermiston, OR (OR) 6 14-02 0
26. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV (NV) 6 13-07 0
27. Kevin Wiggins Winterheaven, NV (NV) 6 13-05 0
28. Timmy Wells II Fresno, CA (CA) 7 13-05 0
29. Toby Robinson Henderson, NV (NV) 5 13-04 0
30. Benny Mello Wilder, ID (ID) 8 12-11 0
31. David Kromm Kennewick, WA (WA) 4 12-10 0
32. Jeffry Ball Pendleton, OR (OR) 6 12-09 0
33. Cole Schneider Rathdrum, ID (ID) 6 12-07 0
34. Jason Warren Pleasant Grove, UT (UT) 6 12-01 0
35. Mel Williams Kennewick, WA (WA) 5 11-06 0
36. Frankie Mueller Kingman, AZ (AZ) 5 11-02 0
37. Bruce Harris Oakdale, CA (CA) 4 11-01 0
38. Justin Hicks Gunnison, CO (UT) 5 10-13 0
39. Addam Gross Pendleton, OR (OR) 5 10-04 0
40. Cody Pierson Pocatello, ID (WY) 4 10-01 0
41. Scott Rich Ogden, UT (WY) 4 09-09 0
42. Kenneth Cleveland Bakersfield, CA (CA) 3 08-11 0
43. Cully Scroggins Longview, WA (WA) 2 08-10 0
44. Dane Lawrence Tillamook, OR (MT) 4 08-10 0
45. Clif Gallagher Saint George, UT (WY) 3 08-05 0
46. Zackery Shaff Richland, WA (WA) 4 08-05 0
47. Tim Johnston Plains, MT (MT) 4 08-03 0
48. Kevin Melford Camarillo, CA (CA) 4 08-03 0
49. Justin Soppe Middleton, ID (ID) 3 07-11 0
50. Brent James St George, UT (NV) 2 07-09 0
51. Zack Holwerda Maricopa, AZ (AZ) 3 07-08 0
52. Stephen Pike Las Vegas, NV (NV) 3 07-06 0
53. Cory Kerber Kerman, CA (CA) 3 07-05 0
54. Kalib Lund Glendale, AZ (AZ) 4 07-00 0
55. Josh Ragan Rathdrum, ID (ID) 3 06-13 0
56. David Bertsch Harrison, ID (ID) 3 06-13 0
57. Tony McCalmant Post Falls, ID (ID) 3 06-11 0
58. Brandon Morton San Tan Valley, AZ (AZ) 3 06-06 0
59. Karl Okerman Sandpoint, ID (MT) 3 06-02 0
60. Douglas Gaskill Las Vegas, NV (NV) 3 05-15 0
61. Kory Ray Lebanon, OR (OR) 4 05-12 0
62. Tyler Ivie Ogden, UT (UT) 2 05-11 0
63. Brian Kennemer Bakersfield, CA (CA) 2 05-09 0
64. Ray Huff Bakersfield, CA (CA) 3 05-04 0
65. Joe Cole Coalville, UT (WY) 2 05-01 0
66. Drew Forster Kalispell, MT (MT) 2 05-00 0
67. Chris Cook Gilbert, AZ (AZ) 2 04-15 0
68. Jonathan Schuyler Las Vegas, NV (NV) 2 04-05 0
69. Paul Morley Kaysville, UT (WY) 2 04-01 0
70. Jake Anderson Richland, WA (WA) 1 04-01 0
71. Brian Bolander Scottsdale, AZ (AZ) 2 03-07 0
72. Mike Rennie Pioche, NV (NV) 2 03-07 0
73. Jim Hawkes A.J., AZ (AZ) 1 03-05 0
74. Andrew Sayles Middleton, ID (WY) 2 03-00 0
75. Levi Ployhar Kalispell, MT (MT) 1 02-13 0
76. Marc Caldwell Rifle, CO (UT) 1 02-10 0
77. Bill Brown Grand Junction, CO (UT) 1 02-09 0
78. Reece Wells Clovis, CA (CA) 1 02-07 0
79. Kenny Carver Coeur D Alene, ID (ID) 1 02-06 0
79. Eric Inman West Jordan, UT (UT) 1 02-06 0
81. Kyle Quinnell Kalispell, MT (MT) 1 02-00 0
82. Billy Ricker Clinton, UT (UT) 1 01-15 0
83. Todd Herman Gilbert, AZ (AZ) 1 01-13 0
84. Cody King Island City, OR (OR) 1 01-11 0
85. Brett Bennett Kalispell, MT (MT) 1 01-10 0
86. Don Dethloff Jr Rathdrum, ID (ID) 1 01-09 0
87. David Mays Portland, OR (OR) 1 01-06 0
88. Ryan Sparks Beaverton, OR (OR) 0 00-00 0
88. Ron Wiseman Pendleton, OR (OR) 0 00-00 0
Major League Fishing Wiley X Summit Cup Wraps Production on Lake Murray
Bass Fishing Event Completes Week-Long Television Shoot in Lake Murray Country with 30 Pro Anglers Competing to Win Prestigious Summit Cup Championship
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 5, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and 30 of the world’s best pro anglers wrapped production Friday at the MLF Wiley X Summit Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches event in Columbia, South Carolina. The event, hosted by the Capital City/Lake Murray Country and filmed entirely for television broadcast, was shot over six days this week and featured anglers competing for the prestigious Summit Cup championship.
Lake Murray has played host to numerous major bass-fishing championship events, including the 2008, 2014 and 2017 FLW Cup Championships, and a 2018 MLF Challenge Select event – won by pro Keith Poche (competing in this event). The Wiley X Summit Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will mark just the second time that MLF has visited the “Jewel of South Carolina.”
“Lake Murray has become a world-class fishing destination for anglers of all ages, and we are proud to once again host Major League Fishing as they return for a second time,” said Miriam Atria, president and CEO of the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board. “Time and time again, Lake Murray has delivered a competitive tournament experience for the anglers and showcased why it is one of the most productive bass fisheries in the world. We’re excited that Governor Henry McMaster was able to join us for the filming of the community segment showcasing Lake Murray Country to hundreds of thousands of outdoor recreational visitors.”
The six-episode, two-hour series features the professional anglers visiting Lake Murray to compete on different zones of Lake Murray on each day of competition. The anglers do not learn where they are competing until they arrive to the launch ramp each morning of competition, creating a reality-based television episode that showcases how the top anglers break down new and unfamiliar waters.
“A combination of the fast-paced MLF format and uncharted waters results in nerve-wracking competition for the anglers and creates incredible content for the viewer,” said Michael Mulone, Senior Director of Events and Partnerships for MLF. “Lake Murray is a fantastic fishery and once again the Lake Murray Country community truly rolled out the red carpet for us. It’s such a pleasure to come to a community that understands the positive impact MLF has on a destination’s economy. We look forward to returning later this year with the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and many more tournaments in the years to come.”
The 30 anglers competing in the Wiley X Summit Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches event are: Justin Atkins, Tommy Biffle, Brent Chapman, Luke Clausen, Dustin Connell, Brandon Coulter, Cliff Crochet, James Elam, Shin Fukae, Greg Hackney, Alton Jones Jr., Bobby Lane, Russ Lane, Jordan Lee, Mike McClelland, Andy Morgan, Ish Monroe, Takahiro Omori, Keith Poche, Jacob Powroznik, Skeet Reese, Marty Robinson, Bradley Roy, Fletcher Shryock, Gerald Spohrer, Jeff Sprague, Bryan Thrift, Jonathon VanDam, Kevin VanDam and Greg Vinson.
The MLF Wiley X Summit Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country, will air on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting May 15, 2021, airing from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-
Weather Will Be Key For Bassmaster Elite Series-Opener On The St. Johns River
The Bassmaster Elite Series will open its nine-event 2021 season on Florida's scenic St. Johns River Feb. 11-14.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
February 5, 2021
PALATKA, Fla. — John Cox wishes he could experience temporary amnesia during the upcoming AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at the St. Johns River. That’s because much of what the Florida pro has learned over the past two decades of fishing this big-fish factory will be of little relevance during this year’s season-opener.
Competition is set for Feb. 11-14 with daily takeoffs at 7 a.m. ET from Palatka City Docks and weigh-ins each day at 3 p.m. from Palatka Riverfront Park.
Long regarded as one of Florida’s top-tier fisheries, the St. Johns once boasted a vast acreage of swaying eelgrass that served as prime habitat for bass in all stages of the spawn. But the fishery lost nearly all of that grass during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
So now, anglers will face a vastly different fishery than the one that has produced winning weights upwards of 90 pounds at past Elite Series events.
“I wish I could forget everything from the past 20 years,” Cox said. “It’s hard to get out of my head what it looked like in the past with all the eelgrass.
“It’s almost to the point where I have to forget about all the sight fishing that used to go on. I just have to fish for those fish because I don’t think the clarity is like it was without the grass.”
Tournament boundaries stretch from Jacksonville’s Fuller Warren Bridge (Interstate-95), south to Highway 44 in Deland. Historically, much of the field during Elite events has dispersed throughout the 72-square-mile Lake George, located south of the tournament’s takeoff and weigh-in site in Palatka. Nearby Crescent Lake will also get its share of attention.
Even without eelgrass, more vegetation awaits the anglers south of Lake George in the form of lily pads, hyacinth and pennywort. Getting away from the crowds could pay off, but the lower region includes no-wake zones and (manatee) speed zones, which require a larger investment of time for anglers making the long trek.
North of Palatka’s Main Street Bridge, the river broadens and offers more docks, canals and creeks — the scenario in which Paul Mueller found last year’s winning fish during an event that was shortened to three days by inclement weather. Others, including fifth-place pro Jake Whitaker, fared well by tucking into protected canals and targeting docks and seawalls.
This year, anglers will also be allowed to lock into Rodman Reservoir, south of Palatka. Adding these waters will avail a wonderland of stump-strewn habitat rich with pad fields and random laydowns.
Throughout much of the St. Johns, offshore anglers will be looking for shellbars like the ones that nearly delivered the win for last year’s Day 1 leader, Kelley Jaye.
February is always a volatile month for Florida weather, so tournaments this month are usually a feast-or-famine affair. That said, if tournament week brings warm, stable conditions, a wave of spawning bass could turn the event into a barnburner.
“There’s been a cooler winter; it’s been spread out longer, so we’re a little behind,” Cox said. “So, all the fish could really come in, like 2019 when B.A.S.S. legend Rick Clunn claimed his 16th Bassmaster win with 98 pounds, 14 ounces.
“I’ve been fishing Lake Toho and the pond at my house and they’re a couple weeks (behind schedule). But it won’t take much for it to get back on track. We’ll have a little cooldown right before practice starts, so if there’s a warming trend during the whole tournament, it could be great.”
With lower water clarity curtailing traditional sight fishing, the tournament will see less precise bed-fishing strategies. Some anglers will still pursue spawners, but it’ll likely be a strategy of blind casting to promising areas with a mix of topwaters, light jigs and Texas-rigged plastics.
Depending on weather patterns, some may target prespawn staging fish. Swim jigs, bladed jigs, swimbaits, lipless baits and squarebills could come into play for that. Elsewhere, anglers will use flipping and punching techniques, suspending jerkbaits and wacky-rigged worms.
Last year’s event saw Mueller win his second Elite trophy with a three-day total of 47 pounds, 6 ounces. That’s an average of just under 16 pounds a day — far less than the nearly 25-pound average that Clunn had with a four-day winning total of 98-14 in 2019.
That’s Florida fishing; it varies year to year and, often, week to week during the first quarter. On the upside, the St. Johns is packed with quality fish, including a generous smattering of double-digit giants.
“I think if someone does stumble onto some eelgrass, they could win the tournament,” Cox said. “If we get the warming trend and we don’t get much wind, the winning weight could be in the 90s, and it could be a Century Club (100 pounds) tournament.”
David Fritts announced earlier this week that he is withdrawing from the event for medical reasons. Fritts, who was hospitalized briefly in January, hopes to return for the Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River Feb. 25-28.
The full field of anglers will fish the first two days, with the Top 50 advancing to Semifinal Saturday. The Top 10 remaining anglers will fish Championship Sunday with a $100,000 prize on the line.
Live coverage for all four days of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live from the tournament beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
Bakewell Leads on Toho with 26-13
Courtesy of Major League Fishing
What would it be like to enter your first tournament as a professional angler, go out on the first day, catch the biggest five-bass limit of your life, weigh it in and take the lead?
Well just ask Bobby Bakewell of Orlando, Fla. Because he did just that today. Fishing as a pro for the first time in the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E., Bakewell sacked up 26 pounds, 13 ounces to take the day-one lead at the Lake Toho event, which is presented by Googan Baits.
“I fished as a co-angler before but this is my first time fishing from the front,” Bakewell says. “And to catch the biggest bag of my life on this day! I got news for you: I’m on cloud 9 right now; I’m ecstatic.”
After several practice days of harsh northwest winds, Thursday brought bright, sunny and still conditions. Air temperatures dipped below the freezing mark and some boats had ice on them this morning.
Bakewell’s solution to the wind-churned lake was to fish stable offshore areas that did not get torched by the wind. He says he’s fishing the same offshore pattern, both above and below the Toho lock.
“The baits and pattern are identical; I’m just doing it in two different areas,” he says. “I’ve got a place in Toho where I can catch a limit fishing that way early, then I lock through and run way south to another spot like the Toho spot.”
Bakewell left Toho with about a 15-pound limit. When he got to his other area, he culled up with 8- and 6-pounders.
“After I caught those two, I left my primary areas alone and went shallow to look around,” Bakewell adds. “I did cull up once more flipping, then I called it a day.”
While 26-13 sounds like an incredible catch for the day, Bakewell still has his work cut out for him the next two days if he wants his dream day to turn into a dream week. Just behind him are some racehorses that hauled in several 20- to 26-pound bags, with more on the horizon considering the warming weather.
Top 10 Pros
1. Bobby Bakewell – 26 – 13 (5)
2. Eric Conant – 26 – 07 (5)
3. Bryan Schmitt – 25 – 09 (5)
4. Samuel Whitmire – 24 – 01 (5)
5. Zak Fadden – 20 – 09 (5)
6. Chad Schroeder – 18 – 10 (5)
7. Christian Greico – 18 – 08 (4)
8. Lance Oligschlaeger – 17 – 04 (5)
9. Joey Cifuentes – 17 – 01 (5)
10. Stephen Albertson – 16 – 09 (5)
Baffa Leads Strike King Co-Angler Division
If you think Bakewell had a magical day on Lake Toho, wait for the tale of Jeffery Baffa, who hauled in 24-11 to take the lead in the co-angler division.
Baffa fished with day-one runner-up pro Eric Conant. Conant weighed in 26 pounds, 7 ounces and Baffa, fishing right behind him, compiled nearly 25 pounds of bass from the back of the boat. That’s over 50 pounds of bass out of one boat.
Baffa has fished MLF events dating back as far as 1996. And his catch today was the biggest of his fishing career.
“What a day, I’ll tell you,” says Baffa. “Every time either Eric [Conant] or I set the hook, we’d say ‘Get the net, it’s a big one!’ And they really were all big ones! It was crazy. We laughed and joked all day long having the time of our lives.”
“My dad passed away two and a half weeks ago,” Baffa adds. “And he was my biggest fan. I couldn’t help but think he was out there with us laughing it up, too, watching us catch those big ones. It was a very, very special day and I dedicate it to him.”
Top 10 Strike King Co-Anglers
1. Jeffery Baffa – 24 – 11 (5)
2. Ricky Grant – 20 – 03 (5)
3. Frank Kitchens Jr. – 15 – 07 (5)
4. James Littich – 15 – 06 (5)
5. Derek Kaalberg – 13 – 07 (2)
6. Kevin Clark – 12 – 08 (5)
7. John Brooks – 10 – 14 (5)
8. James Brooks – 10 – 09 (4)
9. Eric Wild – 9 – 14 (4)
10. Sam Fish – 9 – 11 (5)
AC Rookie Podcast - "Changing Lane"
On this weeks Rookie Podcast, Chris Welcomes in MLF Pro Circuit Rookie Cal Lane to the show to talk about growing up in the shadow of his Father Chris Lane and his Uncle Bobby Lane and following in their footsteps.
X2POWER ANNOUNCES 2021 BASS PRO STAFF
Former champions, major award winners poised to educate professional bass fishing fans on the advantages of premium batteries from X2Power.
HARTLAND, Wis. (February 4, 2021) — X2Power, the premium power source for the marine, car/light truck and motorsports markets, announces its bass pro staff for 2021. The pro staff, comprised of accomplished anglers with multiple championships and other accolades to their credit, is designed to highlight the competitive advantage enjoyed by anglers who run X2Power marine batteries in their tournament boats.
The 2021 X2Power bass pro staff includes anglers from MLF and the Bassmaster Elite Series, including former champions and major award winners. A truly international group, the pro staff is comprised of anglers from the United States, Canada and Australia who will run their tournament boats and tow vehicles with X2Power throughout the 2021 tournament season.
“Professional bass anglers demand a lot of their equipment, and X2Power marine batteries are built to provide the most worry-free solution for anglers who rely on modern electronics on their boat. What better place than the world’s highest levels of professional bass fishing to prove the performance and value of a premium battery like X2Power,” said Vice President of Product Development Shawn Budiac “We’re proud to be aligned with such accomplished anglers and we look forward to cheering on their successes in 2021 and beyond.”
Proudly made in the USA, X2Power Marine batteries are part of a line of premium power options that includes AGM batteries for cars/light trucks and emergency vehicles, as well as lithium batteries for powersports applications. X2Power marine batteries feature a pure-lead, dual-purpose design, which gives them both the high cranking power to start modern boat motors as well as the cycling capabilities necessary to run trolling motors, depth finders, side-imaging, radios, radar, lights, pumps, coolers and more. Backed by a 4-year, free-replacement warranty and available at more than 700 Batteries Plus Bulbs locations nationwide, X2Power’s AGM batteries are built to provide years of worry-free use for anglers and boaters.
2021 X2POWER BASS PRO STAFF
Justin Atkins — Bassmaster Elite Series
Hometown: Florence, Alabama
Instagram: @justinatkinsfishing
Former Forrest Wood Cup champion (2017) competing for the first year in the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Brent Ehrler — MLF
Hometown: Redlands, California
Instagram: @brentehrlerfishing
Former Forrest Wood Cup champion (2006), Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year with more than $2 million in career earnings.
Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson — Bassmaster Elite Series
Hometown: Keewatin, Canada
Instagram: @gussyoutdoors
Joined the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2019 and qualified for the Bassmaster Classic in 2020.
Carl Jocumsen – Bassmaster Elite Series
Hometown: Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Instagram: @carl_jocumsen
First Australian to qualify for the Elite Series, logged his first Elite Series win in 2019.
Hunter Shryock — Bassmaster Elite Series
Hometown: Newcomerstown, Ohio
Instagram: @huntershryock496
Former motocross pro turned professional angler, joined the Elite Series in 2018 and qualified for the 2020 Bassmaster Classic.
B.A.S.S. Cancels Day 2 Of Lake Havasu Event
February 4, 2021
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. — B.A.S.S. officials made a decision to cancel the second day of competition at the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a wind advisory until 6 p.m. MST. The wind advisory is calling for sustained winds of 25 mph with gusts over 40, making the fishery unsafe for boaters.
“With a strong north-northwest wind blowing right down Lake Havasu, it can get very dangerous,” said Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation Director. “The safety of our anglers is always our first priority.”
When the tournament resumes Friday, the full field of 177 anglers across the boater and nonboater divisions will compete. The final day of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional will begin with a takeoff at 7:15 a.m. MST from Lake Havasu State Park. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m. and can be seen on Bassmaster.com.
Wong Takes Lead At B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional On Lake Havasu
Matthew Wong, of Culver City, Calif., is leading after Day 1 of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional at Lake Havasu with 18 pounds, 8 ounces.
Photo by Brenden Kanies/B.A.S.S.
February 3, 2021
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. — Matt Wong has only fished Lake Havasu four times, but the 32-year-old Los Angeles resident looked like an old pro here Wednesday on Day 1 of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional.
Wong weighed a five-bass limit that totaled 18 pounds, 8 ounces, giving him a slim 6-ounce lead in the tournament, which is the season-opener on the 2021 B.A.S.S. schedule. A total of 177 anglers (89 boaters and 88 nonboaters) are competing, with anglers hailing from Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Wong was the standout on Wednesday. His best bass was only in the 4-pound range, but he backed it up with a quartet of keepers that were only ounces lighter.
Wong said he didn’t have a particularly easy day on the 19,300-acre impoundment straddling the Arizona/California border.
“It was tricky out there,” he said. “I was banking on the early-morning bite, and I was able to catch three by about 10 a.m. I kept my rotation going, but they quit eating. So I made a long run to a place where I spotted a big fish on the last day of practice, and she was still there. That was the biggest one and, luckily, I got her to eat.”
That bass, which Wong caught at about 1 p.m., provided him the extra ounces he needed to climb atop the leaderboard. A trio of competitors are hot on his heels, including Washington’s Taylor Smith with 18-2; Montana’s Jay Evans with 17-10; and Arizona’s Steve Lund with 16-1.
No other angler is within 5 pounds of Wong’s lead.
Smith, a 35-year-old insurance company supervisor from Spokane, Wash., said he was grouchy after a few lackluster practice rounds. His mood was considerably lighter with an 18-2 limit on the board.
“I got bit throughout the day and on a lot of different things,” Smith said. “Everything came together and I wasn’t expecting that. I concentrated on fishing slow because there are so many fish in here.”
Evans, a 50-year-old research scientist from Missoula, Mont., drove through a substantial snowstorm to arrive at Lake Havasu City, where temperatures were 75 degrees and the sun shined brightly on Wednesday.
Like Smith, he said the first day was much more productive than his practice rounds.
“We probably caught 10 keepers today, but they were good fish,” Evans said. “I found them in practice. We shook them off then and just didn’t realize the quality of the fish or how many were in there. It ended up being a really nice day.”
He also said patience was key.
“I’m fishing slow,” Evans said. “I couldn’t get much of a reaction bite going, so I just slowed down and picked it apart. That helped me get some bites. Patience was key.”
Day 2 could try the patience of all anglers and B.A.S.S. officials, too.
Strong winds are expected to begin sweeping across the region overnight, with steady winds of more than 20 mph predicted for the duration of tournament hours.
B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart said he’ll consider his options Thursday morning and decide how to proceed based upon the weather.
If the three-day tournament continues without interruption, the field will be cut after Thursday’s round. The leading 17 anglers in both the angler and co-angler division — along with the Top 2 anglers and co-anglers from each state if they are not already in the Top 17 — will compete Friday. The angler with the heaviest three-day total will win a $5,000 cash prize, while the leading co-angler will earn $2,500. There’s a total purse of $27,200 up for grabs.
Evans caught a 6-pound bass, the heaviest in the angler division on Wednesday. The competitor with the heaviest fish after three days wins a $500 Big Bass Award. Dean Yamagata caught a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass and leads co-anglers for the $250 Big Bass Award.
Utah’s Tom Nokes leads the overall co-angler field with a limit of three bass weighing 8-6. Arizona’s Jake Morrison is second with 7-11 and Yamagata, who is from Las Vegas, is third with 6-8.
The nine states also are competing in a team competition this week on Lake Havasu. Washington leads with 40 bass for a 98-4 total. Nevada is second with 33 bass weighing 82-6, and Montana is third with 35 bass weighing 81-11.
This week’s tournament is the first of the 2021 B.A.S.S. season and the first of five B.A.S.S. Nation regionals scheduled this year. Other Nation events on the schedule include April 21-23 at Milford Lake in Junction City, Kan.; April 28-30 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C.; June 23-25 at Lake Erie/Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pa.; and Sept. 1-3 on the upper Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis. The B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will be held later this year when all regionals are complete, but a date and location have yet to be announced.
If the weather cooperates, Day 2 of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional will begin with a takeoff at 7:15 a.m. MST from Lake Havasu State Park. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m. and can be seen on Bassmaster.com.
Bad Boy Mowers Named Exclusive Mower of MLF BIG5 and Presenting Sponsor of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit
Leading Mower Manufacturer Expands on Three-Year Partnership with Major League Fishing
TULSA, Okla. (Feb. 3, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that Bad Boy Mowers, a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of zero-turn mowers, accessories and options, has been named the Exclusive Mower of the MLF BIG5 and the presenting sponsor of the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. Bad Boy Mowers’ legacy of patented innovations has set the standard for accessibility, comfort and quality for the past 15 years to develop classic, American-made muscle from the turf up and creates the ideal partnership with the cutting-edge MLF brand.
“Bad Boy Mowers is proud to sponsor the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and to be named the Exclusive Mower of the MLF BIG5,” said Lennie Foree, marketing director of Bad Boy Mowers. “We had a fantastic response to our partnership with MLF in its inaugural year and we’re excited to be involved and grow with the sport even more in 2021.”
The 26th season of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will feature six regular-season tournaments showcasing the best anglers in the world competing for up to $135,000 in a five-biggest-fish format on top bass fisheries at peak times.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Bad Boy Mowers into the Pro Circuit and the MLF BIG5 arm of the company,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF executive vice president and general manager. “Bad Boy Mowers is known for building some of the strongest, best-performing machines on the planet – much like our competitively-driven tournament anglers – and we look forward to continuing to build this mutually beneficial partnership throughout the upcoming year.”
The 2021 season culminates in the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE presented by Toyota, Aug. 17-22 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where the top 50 pros will compete for as much as $235,000.
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Bad Boy Mowers, visit BadBoyMowers.com . For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers on the MLF BIG5 social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter , Instagram and YouTube.
About Bad Boy Mowers
Bad Boy Mowers Inc., is a nationally recognized, leading manufacturer of zero-turn mowers. Featuring all-steel welded and fabricated construction with the most innovation, power and comfort, we’re also the biggest value in zero-turn mowers. With our patented EZ-Ride suspension systems, full operator adjustments for a perfect fit and heavier decks, we deliver the most comfortable mowing with the best cut quality for the lawn care pro and demanding homeowner.
Each and every employee, from the front desk to our own transportation department, has made Bad Boy Mowers the fastest growing zero-turn mower manufacturer in the country. Every mower is built by skilled craftsmen, utilizing the very latest manufacturing equipment and technologies, many developed right in-house. Our reputation rests on a Bad Boy Mower’s dependable ruggedness, power, reliability and ease to operate and maintain. With more than 830 employees, Bad Boy Mowers continues to lead in innovation and deliver value across the entire product line and are sold through a nationwide dealer network.
TH-MARINE RENEWS SPONSORSHIP OF TEXAS TEAM TRAIL
AC Insider Podcast - A show that will "Make ya Grin"
This week Chris & the boys welcome a check-in from Elite Series Rookie Darold Gleason all the way from Florida as he prepares for next weeks Elite Series kick off and then Derek "Money" Mundy joins the show for the second time this month to talk about his GIANT(s) on Rayburn in last weeks Toyota Derby!
Frabill Signs as Official Landing Net of MLF BIG5
Performance-Driven Gear Company Joins Forces with MLF To Expand Conservation Efforts
TULSA, Okla. (Feb. 2, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that Frabill, a trusted provider of high-quality, performance-driven fishing products, has partnered with MLF as the Official Landing Net of the MLF BIG5 for the 2021 season. The partnership aligns the conservation mindset of MLF with the tools provided by Frabill in an effort to continue to conserve and enhance natural resources at fisheries across the nation.
“Frabill is committed to conservation and has created a series of nets designed to land more fish and help ensure a healthy release,” said Chris Russell, Frabill Fishing marketing director. “It makes perfect sense to partner with MLF to show anglers how effective and useful having a quality net in their boat can be. Frabill is proud to sponsor all the highs and lows that make MLF the most exhilarating angling action to hit television screens worldwide, including the white-knuckle moments where winning fish are boated.”
As the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, MLF BIG5 provides anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money across five tournament circuits featuring a five-biggest-fish format, including the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League, Abu Garcia College Fishing and High School Fishing.
Frabill will provide each Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler with an Ultralight Conservation Net, specifically designed to allow anglers to net a fish with one hand and fit easily into most boat lockers for effortless storage.
“We’re honored to bring Frabill into the fold as the Official Landing Net of the MLF BIG5 for the 2021 season,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF President and CEO. “In addition to helping to conserve our natural resources, utilizing a Frabill net tips the odds for our pro anglers, ensuring their winning fish isn’t lost in the final moments and allowing those fish to add to the excitement and drama that continues the legacy of Major League Fishing as the strongest fishing show on network television.”
MLF’s award-winning network television airings on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel, along with the MLF NOW! live stream on MajorLeagueFishing.com, will also feature the Daily Scoop presented by Frabill, highlighting an impactful moment where a Frabill net is utilized by an MLF angler to land a fish that moves them significantly up the board on the MLF SCORETRACKER.
In addition, fans can log onto MLF BIG5 social media outlets for ‘Tackle Tuesdays’ and enter to win exciting Frabill products throughout the 2021 season.
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Frabill, visit Frabill.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Frabill
Frabill believes truly mastering a skill requires two things: preparation and repetition. Anglers generally don’t have a problem with practicing; however, finding the right gear that performs when they need it most is never a given. That’s where Frabill comes in.
Since 1938, Frabill has been trusted to position anglers for success. From bait management solutions, to ice shelters, to landing nets, they provide a robust collection of high-quality, performance-driven products to help anglers reach their fishing goals. Whether they are seeking records or memories, Frabill is there to create experiences that are not just enjoyable, but truly unforgettable.
Plano's College of Bass with KVD Debuts this Week!
Anglers across the country can tune in to Plano Fishing's Facebook page or Kevin's Facebook page to get tips, tricks, and techniques from Kevin VanDam and other seasoned pros live. And don't worry if you miss the broadcast, the College of Bass will be available on YouTube and many other social media platforms even after the live event.
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College Of Bass with Plano Pro, Kevin VanDam.
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Previewing Toyota Series Lake Toho Event - Wild Weather Ride
Vance McCullough
The MLFBig5 Toyota Series Southern Division begins its 2021 season in Kissimmee, Florida, home to more roller coasters than any other region on Earth. This week you can add another wild ride to the list – the weather.
Always a major factor in Florida tournaments, a passing cold front chilled the area just as anglers began official practice. Temperatures, which dipped into the 30’s on a sunny Tuesday morning, will steadily climb to a high pushing 80 degrees during Saturday’s final competition round. Increasing cloudiness and southern winds throughout the week, expected to blow in excess of 15 mph Friday, could dampen the sight bite during later competition rounds as popular south-facing spawning banks normally protected from typical north winds, could get muddied from the southern blow.
Adjustments will be required of the more than 200 boaters and as many co-anglers. “We have real good numbers this year,” said MLF’s Joe Opager, via phone, enjoying a 10-degree day in Minnesota. “Everybody loves Kissimmee, loves Lake Toho.” The number of anglers is definitely up over last year’s Toyota Series opener and the weights should be as well.
The warmup should push a wave of bass to the banks where they will join fish that have been up there since the full moon in late January. This makes a moving target of the fish population in the Kissimmee Chain. Anglers who find wads of prespawn females choking a Redeye Shad in offshore hydrilla midweek may find the cupboards bare on game day. Even veteran Florida pros are often amazed, or disappointed, at how fast the offshore bite can dry up when bass here decide to charge the shallows.
The flipping bite under thick mats can also evaporate quickly as big females fan out to join bucks on the beds in more open water when temps warm rapidly this time of year.
So, sight fishing should play well, right? Yes. And no. Wednesday offers the best chance during practice to locate beds. Thursday, the first competition day, will be good too for those who catch an early limit and then go looking for promising spots to return to during the cloudier 2nd round on Friday. By Saturday, most of the bedding fish will be hard to see even if they haven’t been caught already.
Enter the ‘winding’ bite - lures that can be used to cover water and draw fish that under warm, cloudy, breezy skies such as those forecast for Saturday, should be willing to chase anything that will fit in their mouths. A Chatterbait will be deadly in areas that allow it, but offerings of a more weedless nature will prove more efficient in many places. I’m looking at you, weightless Big EZ, Skinny Dipper and Xzone Swammer 5.5-inch, and . . . is it too early in the year to throw a toad?
While the winner may have to shift gears from sight fishing to winding, there is one approach that could carry an angler to the winner’s circle without much adjustment throughout the week - blind casting to bedded bass. JT Kinney won a big derby on Kissimmee a couple of years back, locating several dozen beds in huge, nondescript pad fields by practicing without a hook and marking the spot on his GPS every time his lure got picked up. During competition he returned and pitched a Texas-rigged Gambler Fat Ace, black and blue, to the same spots where he knew many of the bass would still be spawning, unseen, on the pad roots. It’s a slow approach that would be a total waste of time if an angler didn’t already know that fish might be present in the very specific spot he had just pitched to. It works because, in February, bass will take a week or more to complete the spawning rituals that might only keep them predictably positioned overnight in the warmer waters of May.
Of course, there is a handful of talented sticks who keep things even simpler and take their chances, rain or shine, by punching a small craw or beaver through surface mats behind a wrecking ball of tungsten - likely the most consistent way to find big bass any given day on the Kissimmee Chain. These hardheaded flippers are always a threat to win but have picked the pockets of many visiting pros even when coming up short of hoisting the big trophy. Mat punching is a bare knuckles brawl on a long rod and short line as thrilling as any ride at a nearby theme park.
This Toyota Series event promises to thrill anglers and onlookers. It will likely be won shallow regardless of the mix of techniques involved. Keep in mind that successful bass fishing in Florida usually boils down to finding the right location, not a pattern, and there is a handful of tactics to pick from once an angler finds the fish.
Finding quality fish, abundant though they may be, can be tricky on the sprawling chain that hides its bounty over several lakes and their disjointed 70,000 acres that feel much larger than that. A long run down the shotgun straight, chunk rock lined Kissimmee River south of the lock on 18,900-acre Lake Toho takes anglers to Cypress Lake’s 4,900 acres where the Hatchineha Canal will lead them to a corner of ‘Lake Hatch’, most of its 6,600 acres lying to the northwest. A little further south, over an hour now from the launch in the town of Kissimmee, they’ll enter Lake Kissimmee. If the 35,000-acre Kissimmee doesn’t offer enough options, relatively small Tiger Lake awaits via the scenic confines of Tiger Creek featuring hairpin turns to rival those on Mister Toad’s Wild Ride. For the truly adventuresome, there’s Lake Rosalie, a sort of ‘end of the rainbow’ that may or may not hold a pot of bass fishing gold. Tourney action around here usually centers on Toho and Kissimmee, perhaps because they comprise the vast majority of water in the chain, if for no other reason.
Keep your eye on this roller coaster of a bass tournament as the Southern Division of the Toyota Series kicks off this week in Central Florida, a most amusing place.
Smiley Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Chickamauga
Jacksboro’s Roberts Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
DAYTON, Tenn. (Feb. 2, 2021) – Boater Tim Smiley of White Pine, Tennessee, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee. Smiley earned $7,441 for his victory at the event, hosted by Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic and Tourism Council.
TOP 10 RESULTS
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Tim Smiley of White Pine, Tenn. | 5 | 25-5 | $7,441 |
| 2nd | Justin Botts of Bluff City, Tenn. | 5 | 22-10 | $2,775 |
| 3rd | Chris Dodson of Spring City, Tenn. | 5 | 22-8 | $1,846 |
| 4th | Tim Saylor of Johnson City, Tenn. | 4 | 20-4 | $1,295 |
| 5th | Chad Ball of Damascus, Va. | 5 | 20-0 | $1,310 |
| 6th | Mickey Beck of Lebanon, Tenn. | 5 | 19-6 | $1,018 |
| 7th | Jerry Shepard of Lebanon, Va. | 5 | 16-10 | $925 |
| 8th | Wayne Norman of Jacksboro, Tenn. | 4 | 16-6 | $833 |
| 9th | Blake Gideon of Cleveland, Tenn. | 3 | 16-1 | $740 |
| 10th | Seth Davis of Harrison, Tenn. | 5 | 15-10 | $1,148 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Seth Roberts of Jacksboro, Tenn. | 5 | 24-12 | $2,775 |
| 2nd | Andy McNeel of Soddy Daisy, Tenn. | 4 | 13-6 | $1,388 |
| 3rd | Cody Moore of Ooltewah, Tenn. | 4 | 12-4 | $924 |
| 4th | Curtis Crooke of Washburn, Tenn. | 2 | 12-1 | $848 |
| 5th | George E. Stoeppel of Spring City, Tenn. | 3 | 11-6 | $555 |
| 6th | Tim Godsey of Chickamauga, Ga. | 4 | 11-0 | $509 |
| 7th | Raymond Hanlon of Chattanooga, Tenn. | 5 | 10-10 | $463 |
| 8th | Lynn Spears of Athens, Tenn. | 4 | 9-8 | $416 |
| 9th | Jordan Loveless of Indianapolis, Ind. | 5 | 9-5 | $370 |
| 10th | Cameron Crider of Dwale, Ky. | 3 | 9-1 | $324 |
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Berkley Big Bass | Tim Smiley of White Pine, Tenn. | 10-pound, 6-ounce bass | $890 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Justyn Potter of McRoberts, Ky. | 8-pound, 14-ounce bass | $455 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Seth Davis of Harrison, Tenn. | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $500 |
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR |
| Boater | BOOYAH Hard Knocker lipless crankbait | Not Specified |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Queen Tackle 1/2-ounce tungsten jig | Not Specified |
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Volunteer Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 14-16 | Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C. | Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board |
| Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 3-5 | Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn. | Jefferson County Department of Tourism |
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram , and YouTube.
Griffith Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Eufaula
Vance’s Craver Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
EUFAULA, Ala. (Feb. 1, 2021) – Boater Donald Griffith of Robertsdale, Alabama, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. Griffith earned $5,627 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce.
TOP 10 RESULTS
| RANK | BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Donald Griffith of Robertsdale, Ala. | 5 | 18-11 | $5,627 |
| 2nd | Terry Stevens of Marianna, Fla. | 5 | 18-8 | $2,813 |
| 3rd | Ryan Ingram of Phenix City, Ala. | 5 | 18-5 | $1,877 |
| 4th | Chris Hensley of Marbury, Ala. | 5 | 17-10 | $1,813 |
| 5th | Dale Tomazin of Gainesville, Ga. | 5 | 17-2 | $2,035 |
| 6th | Jeremy Green of Gadsden, Ala. | 4 | 17-0 | $1,032 |
| 7th | Sean Bierman of Wewahitchka, Fla. | 5 | 16-13 | $938 |
| 8th | Michael M. Smith of Andalusia, Ala. | 5 | 16-5 | $797 |
| 8th | Austin Swindle of Parrish, Ala. | 5 | 16-5 | $797 |
| 10th | James Swindle of Parrish, Ala. | 5 | 15-11 | $623 |
| 10th | Mark McCaig of Oxford, Ala. | 5 | 15-11 | $623 |
| RANK | STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN | BASS | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| 1st | Jesse Craver of Vance, Ala. | 5 | 15-8 | $2,813 |
| 2nd | Scott Noles of Woodland, Ala. | 5 | 10-15 | $1,407 |
| 3rd | Justin Girdner of Wetumpka, Ala. | 5 | 10-11 | $938 |
| 4th | Jonathan Barksdale of Armuchee, Ga. | 5 | 10-5 | $656 |
| 5th | Terry Harper of Ranburne, Ala. | 5 | 10-4 | $563 |
| 6th | Austin Navarre of Carriere, Miss. | 4 | 10-2 | $516 |
| 7th | O’Brien Brown of Pinson, Ala. | 5 | 9-12 | $469 |
| 8th | Robert Slaton of Marietta, Ga. | 5 | 9-8 | $422 |
| 9th | Tommy Nichols of Fayette, Ala. | 5 | 9-6 | $375 |
| 10th | Cameron McBride of Newnan, Ga. | 3 | 9-3 | $328 |
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
| AWARD | NAME | CONTINGENCY | PAYOUT |
| Boater Berkley Big BasS | Dale Tomazin of Gainesville, Ga. | 6-pound, 13-ounce bass | $910 |
| Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass | Daniel Buswell Jr. of Fayetteville, Ga. | 6-pound, 12-ounce bass | $455 |
| Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus | Chris Hensley of Marbury, Ala. | Eligible Phoenix Boat* | $500 |
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
| ANGLER | BAIT | COLOR | TYPE OF COVER | DEPTH |
| Boater | Did Not Divulge | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Strike King Co-Angler | Spinnerbait | White | N/A | 5 to 8 Feet |
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
| EVENT | DATE | LOCATION | HOST |
| Bama Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship | Oct. 7-9 | Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala. | Decatur Morgan County Tourism |
| Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American | June 3-5 | Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn. | Jefferson County Department of Tourism |
The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Bass Pro Shops Announce U.S. Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Bass Pro Shops today announced a new era in the sport of fishing with the introduction of the Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships. Noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris had a dream to create “the ultimate owner’s appreciation event” while benefitting conservation. The first-of-its-kind tournament invites owners of Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brand boats to compete in two-person teams. With proceeds benefitting conservation and the future of fishing, the event is being created exclusively for amateurs including serious weekend tournament anglers, parents, grandparents, and youngsters, giving everyday anglers, friends, and families the chance to win big!
• The prize totals are staggering: Competitors will be rewarded with a total guaranteed purse value of $4.3 million. The national championship team wins a $1 million cash prize – the largest cash payout of any single freshwater fishing tournament in history. Conservation wins too, with a minimum of $1 million going to improve fish habitat.
• Build your own team with a fishing buddy or family member: Registration is open exclusively for amateur anglers, creating a thrilling opportunity for families and friends from all walks of life to compete together on the water. To help grow the sport, regional and international qualifier events will feature division payouts for youth, family teams, all-female teams, veterans, and more. Additional prizes will be offered for the biggest bass and other categories that add to the collective excitement. Johnny is awarding one lucky junior angler (ages 11 – 18) a $250,000 scholarship toward a conservation-related area of study. Events will offer fun for the whole family with activities and entertainment. Rewarding customer loyalty and supporting conservation: As a thank you to loyal customers, the event is open to owners of the world’s foremost boat brands
– Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brands. For over 50 years, these celebrated brands have come to represent the #1 best-selling boats in North America. Along the way, they made first-time boat ownership more affordable for thousands of families.
Anglers to compete for the ultimate prize with the biggest audience in
fishing history airing live internationally on NBC
Following a series of regional qualifying tournaments starting this spring, 350 two-person teams will compete in an internationally broadcast championship finale this fall at Big Cedar Lodge on famed Table Rock Lake. The competition will also include international teams from around the world including Japan, Spain, Germany, Romania, Mexico and Holland.
Celebrating Bass Pro Shops’ Origins
On the eve of our 50th Anniversary, the championship brings Bass Pro Shops back to its birthplace in the beautiful Ozark mountains of Missouri. Prior to founding the beloved outdoor brand in the back of his father’s liquor store in 1972, avid young angler Johnny Morris grew up float fishing on Ozarks rivers and later, Table Rock Lake, before spending five years competing on the professional bass circuit, which continues to have a profound impact on his life.
“Fishing in the first national BASS tournament on Table Rock Lake in 1970 rewarded me with friends for life and served as my inspiration to start Bass Pro Shops. Fishing on the BASS Tournament Circuit also helped keep us abreast of the latest emerging trends in fishing and enabled me to stay closely connected to our customers. And without our loyal customers and industry-leading independent boat dealers, we simply wouldn’t be here today. This tournament is our way of giving thanks and rewarding our customers with the chance to land the catch of a lifetime. Beyond offering the ultimate prize in fishing, we’re excited to celebrate our heritage, raise funds for conservation, and have some big fun with people who love fishing as much as we do,” said Johnny Morris.
Morris underscored, “We are also very grateful to our network of independent boat dealers. Their passion and support for helping get so many anglers and families out on the water has made this dream possible.”
Entry and Qualifying Process
In an effort to provide the widest opportunities for participation, there are three ways anglers can qualify for a chance to compete in the national championship event:
- Finish in the top 40 at one of eight regional qualifier events hosted around the country: Accommodating a grand total of 4,700 anglers, each regional qualifying event will be open to 250 two-person teams. Regional qualifiers will take place at some of the best bass fishing locations in the country while offering up plenty of fun:
• Lake Okeechobee, Fla. – March 13, 2021
• Lake Ray Roberts (Dallas), Texas – April 17, 2021
• Lake Mead, Nev. – April 24, 2021
• Chesapeake Bay, Md. – July 17, 2021
• Lake St. Clair (Detroit), Mich. – Aug. 21, 2021
• Old Hickory Lake (Nashville), Tenn. – Sept. 11, 2021
• Grand Lake ‘O the Cherokees (Tulsa), Okla –Oct. 16, 2021
• Last Chance Qualifier: Bull Shoals Lake, Ark. –Nov. 17, 2021
• Culminating in the Grand Championship finale for those who qualify: Table Rock Lake, Mo. –Nov. 19, 2021 - Win one of several existing fishing competitions across the United States and around the world organized by authorized independent dealers of Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brand boats, with details available at basspro.com/usopen.
- We’re also proud to make eligible the winning teams from the three major national collegiate championships: As a continued investment in the future of the sport, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops will honor the collegiate fishing champions of the three top college trail events with an invitation to the championship with special prizes and recognition for this division.
In addition to a festive environment with activities for the whole family, each qualifier event will feature celebrity weighmasters and guests such as country music star Chris Janson and fishing legends like Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin, Kevin VanDam, Ott DeFoe, Timmy Horton and more. Additional weighmasters and celebrity guests will be announced prior to each qualifier.
Entry fees are $450 per person, $250 for youth ages 12 – 17, and free for kids under 12. Entry includes a US Open Gift Bag for each team member with exclusive goods valued at $150. Most importantly, entry fees will go to conservation and the future of fishing (see details below).
Due to anticipated high demand, boat owners can only register for one qualifying event, with all entrants placed in an independently verified drawing to determine the 250 teams eligible for each event. Individuals who do not receive a slot in the regional qualifiers can register for the “last chance” qualifier on Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas, with registration opening later this year.
Epic 3-Day Championship Finale at Big Cedar Lodge on Missouri’s Legendary Table Rock Lake
The National Championship will take place in November, on one of America’s most legendary bass fishing lakes, Table Rock Lake in Missouri’s beautiful Ozark Mountains. Internationally televised on NBC in what is anticipated to be the largest audience in the history of the sport, the epic 3-day championship and star-studded festivities will be hosted by Bass Pro Shops’ Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort.
The National Championship will consist of a 5-fish limit each day, with overall weight recorded determining the champion at the conclusion of the three-day competition. Awaiting the champion is the $1 million cash prize. The angler who catches the biggest bass receives a 21’ fiberglass RANGER, NITRO or TRITON bass boat, a TOYOTA Tundra truck and other incredible prizes.
The event will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network on Sunday, November 21, followed by a feature special airing on NBC later this year.
Note: There is no additional entry fee to participate in the final championship event for those who qualify in regional events.
Anglers to Help Raise Over $1 Million for Conservation and the Future of Fishing
The tournaments will benefit local fish habitat with proceeds supporting The National Fish Habitat Initiative. One-third of all entry fees will directly support the project. Bass Pro Shops will match each donation as will Toyota, a longstanding conservation partner, enabling an amount equal to 100 percent of all entry fees – over $1 million – to benefit conservation.
The National Fish Habitat Initiative is a major conservation effort that can trace its roots back to Table Rock Lake. To improve the fisheries habitat that assures high-quality fishing in our lakes, in 2007 Johnny Morris convened the Army Corps of Engineers, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Arkansas Fish and Game Commission to establish a research-based approach to improving habitat in Army Corps of Engineers-managed reservoirs.
Piloted on Table Rock Lake, the resulting effort established a national model for freshwater reservoir habitat efforts that continues to positively impact fish populations. Since 2007, the initiative has supported over 1,000 projects in all 50 states, restoring tens-of-thousands of acres of habitat including freshwater impoundments and over 2,000 miles of rivers.
In keeping with a longstanding commitment to conservation, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops is partnering with local conservation agencies to help ensure all fish are released responsibly following a fish-friendly weigh-in.
Don’t miss your chance to support the future of fishing and compete for the ultimate prize with the biggest audience in fishing history airing live on NBC. For complete rules, registration details and updates, visit basspro.com/usopen.
Toyota Series to Host Event on Lake Toho
The Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Southern Division will kick off its 2021 season with a tournament next week in Kissimmee, Florida, Feb. 4-6, with the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Lake Toho presented by Googan Baits . Hosted by Experience Kissimmee and the Kissimmee Sports Commission, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler Tyler Woolcott of Port Orange, Florida has an intimate knowledge of Toho and the surrounding waters, finishing in 10th place when the FLW Tour hit Toho in 2019.
“Toho and Kissimmee are always going to be big hitters,” Woolcott said. “You’ll have the random shell bar or flipping bite in Cypress or Hatch, but Toho and Kissimmee are always the big guys.”
Woolcott said a winning weight depends significantly on the weather, but even in the cold, these lakes are primed to produce.
“If it sets up perfectly, I believe it could take up to 80 pounds to win,” Woolcott said. “Minimum, I think it will take 60 pounds to win. It’s starting to get really good now – when it’s cold, you can still catch big bags flipping, so even if the conditions aren’t great, I expect we’ll see good weights.”
When it comes to Florida fishing, the weather dictates the patterns in play to a degree, but there are also a handful of baits that work regardless of the conditions in the Sunshine State.
“If it’s cold, you’ll have offshore hydrilla, rattle baits and vibrating jigs in play,” Woolcott continued. “A 13 Fishing Magic Man is what I like to throw. And you’ll be able to drag a worm slow, like a 13 Fishing Big Squirm.
“If it’s warm, you’ll be able to do anything you want up shallow,” Woolcott added. “You can throw a worm, wind or flip. If the weather is right and they’re spawning, the 13 Fishing Bubble Butt is an awesome bait. It’s a Senko-style bait with an air pocket in the tail and it’s perfect for bed fishing.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. ET from Big Toho Marina in Kissimmee. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
DERON MUELLER JR & CAMERON OATES TOP 173 TEAMS ON LAKE TRAVIS!
| PL | ANGLER 1 | ANGLER 2 | FISH | BIG BASS | WEIGHT | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DERON MUELLER JR | CAMERON OATES | 5 | 8.11 | 18.10 | $10,000 + $1,730 Big Bass |
| 2 | LARRY SMITH | KEN EVERETT | 5 | 6.78 | 17.11 | $5,000 |
| 3 | JASON OLIVO | JOEY RODRIGUEZ | 5 | 5.35 | 16.39 | $2,500 |
| 4 | SCOTT ROSS | GLENN RUCKEL | 5 | 4.99 | 15.65 | $1,750 |
| 5 | TOMMY POWERS | TOMMY POWERS SR | 5 | 15.40 | $1,500 | |
| 6 | DANIEL BARNES | ADRIAN BARNES | 5 | 15.34 | $1,250 | |
| 7 | STEPHEN MALINA | TRAVIS PROFFITT | 5 | 14.73 | $1,000 | |
| 8 | HUNTER AMIDON | TANNER PATTESON | 5 | 14.02 | $900 | |
| 9 | MICHAEL WALDROP | JARROD SANDERS | 5 | 13.42 | $800 | |
| 10 | CHASE PARKS | AUSTIN DAVIS | 5 | 13.40 | $700 | |
| 11 | CHARLES WHITED | TREY GROCE | 5 | 13.36 | $600 | |
| 12 | MATT CANNON | JARED SIEGELER | 5 | 13.09 | $500 | |
| 13 | BARRY DODD | MATTHEW HATHAWAY | 5 | 13.07 | $450 | |
| 14 | CHRIS STUDINGER | JOSHUA RHODES | 5 | 13.00 | $400 | |
| 15 | JAMES SCOGIN | ROLAND LOERA | 5 | 12.93 | $375 | |
| 16 | JOSEPH HARDY | NATHAN DONNELL | 5 | 12.91 | $350 | |
| 17 | TERRY KIRCUS | JASON BUCHANAN | 5 | 12.85 | $325 | |
| 18 | JAYSON KISSELBURG | DEAN GOLMON | 5 | 12.48 | $300 | |
| 19 | MALCOLM MIDDLEBROOK | ZACHARY MIDDLEBROOK | 5 | 12.39 | ||
| 20 | JAMES ROLLINS | GRANT GALE(Y) | 5 | 12.32 | ||
| 21 | JUSTIN MADDING | STERLING MARTIN | 5 | 11.81 | ||
| 22 | VINCENT SANTOS | CARL RALSTON(Y) | 5 | 11.58 | ||
| 23 | JEFF ANDERSON | FRANK WIGET | 5 | 11.51 | ||
| 24 | RUBEN RIBERA | LINO GUTIERREZ | 5 | 11.49 | ||
| 24 | DAMON ROSS | DONNIE ROSS | 5 | 11.49 | ||
| 26 | DONNIE WEBER | JOHN KAPALDO | 5 | 11.28 | ||
| 27 | JASON SELGERT | GRANT LANGMORE | 5 | 11.16 | ||
| 28 | MARIO GONZALES | JR BRIANT | 5 | 10.99 | ||
| 29 | BRIAN MATER | ROBERT BUTLER | 5 | 10.88 | ||
| 30 | DALE READ | JIM SUNVISON | 5 | 10.43 | ||
| 30 | BILLY MCCRARY II | DONNIE O'NEAL | 5 | 10.43 | ||
| 32 | ADAM CLARK | CALEB GLOMB | 5 | 10.41 | ||
| 33 | DENNIS BECK | JONATHAN SHOLTIS | 5 | 10.02 | ||
| 34 | CHRIS SABINA | BOB SABINA | 5 | 10.01 | ||
| 35 | HOLLY ROBERSON | JUSTIN MAY | 5 | 9.94 | ||
| 36 | BRANDON JONES | THOMAS WEIMER | 4 | 9.63 | ||
| 37 | JASON LARSON | JJ LARSON | 5 | 9.62 | ||
| 38 | BILL MCANN | WAYLON PAPST | 5 | 9.55 | ||
| 39 | LANCE DILLARD | JACKSON DILLARD(Y) | 5 | 9.52 | ||
| 40 | GARY FRIEDEL | NOBLE SESSIONS | 5 | 9.50 | ||
| 41 | MIKE JOHNSON | BYRON ALBRECHT | 5 | 9.44 | ||
| 42 | JUSTIN FISHER | CHANTZ REED(Y) | 5 | 9.43 | ||
| 43 | CRAIG CORDOVA | BILLY WALDSCHMIDT | 5 | 9.36 | ||
| 44 | BRAD HAAS | RICHIE LAND | 5 | 9.31 | ||
| 45 | BRYCE MILLER | CARSON ROBERTS | 5 | 9.26 | ||
| 46 | STEVE MAGNELIA | CLINT ROBERTSON | 5 | 9.23 | ||
| 47 | JARAD GOHLKE | RYAN CRAWFORD | 5 | 9.08 | ||
| 48 | SPENCER SCHNEIDER | BRIAN HUGHES | 4 | 8.97 | ||
| 49 | JAMIE SLAYDEN | COLT SLAYDEN | 5 | 8.91 | ||
| 50 | RANDY HIBLER | RANDALL CHRISTIAN | 4 | 8.90 | ||
| 51 | RUSSELL TRUITT | CHRISTY TRUITT | 5 | 8.87 | ||
| 52 | BLAIR COBBLE | TERRY COBBLE | 5 | 8.86 | ||
| 53 | ANWAR SANDERS | DOYLE THOMPSON | 5 | 8.81 | ||
| 54 | NICK SULLIVAN | TRENT ERXLEBEN | 5 | 8.78 | ||
| 55 | MIKE PICKWELL | CHUCK EBBINGHAUS | 4 | 8.77 | ||
| 56 | DAVID REID | JUSTIN WOJCIK | 5 | 8.74 | ||
| 57 | BOBBY AMIDON | MICHAEL ROBERTS | 5 | 8.68 | ||
| 58 | JOHN SYER | 5 | 8.67 | |||
| 59 | DENNIS WHITED | MAX KIPP | 4 | 8.56 | ||
| 60 | CARY LAUDADIO | RAY TOMASITS | 5 | 8.39 | ||
| 61 | JESSE FRY | BRANDON BRAY | 5 | 8.26 | ||
| 62 | BEN STRIPLING | JORDAN WRIGHT | 5 | 8.25 | ||
| 63 | ROBERT HARRISON | MATT RODGERS | 4 | 8.20 | ||
| 64 | TYLER FRY | HANK FRY | 5 | 8.08 | ||
| 65 | JASON MURPHREE | RUSTY REEDY | 5 | 8.06 | ||
| 66 | GARY WEIMER | JEREMIAH WAFFORD | 5 | 8.00 | ||
| 67 | CHARLES YOUNG | 5 | 7.80 | |||
| 68 | FELLER SMITH | DYLAN CROWNOVER | 3 | 7.61 | ||
| 69 | ADRIAN SANCHEZ | DEAN ALEXANDER | 5 | 7.56 | ||
| 70 | JAY JOHNSON | EASTON JOHNSON | 4 | 7.49 | ||
| 71 | ANDY ARMENDARIZ SR | 4 | 7.44 | |||
| 72 | SCOTT EDMONDS | TREY WEBB | 4 | 7.35 | ||
| 73 | WILL BERNHARD | DARYL PRICE | 5 | 7.30 | ||
| 74 | JUSTIN HUMMEL | BRITTNEY HUMMEL(Y) | 4 | 7.19 | ||
| 75 | RICHARD EDWARDS | 4 | 7.16 | |||
| 76 | CRUZ ISAAC III | KOBE ISAAC | 4 | 7.04 | ||
| 77 | BILL KIMBERLY | 4 | 6.79 | |||
| 78 | ROBERT BUCHANAN | ALVIN DURAN | 3 | 6.61 | ||
| 79 | QUINN VANCE | CHRIS BERTELSON | 4 | 6.58 | ||
| 79 | SEAN CLAMPITT | AARON GILBERT | 4 | 6.58 | ||
| 81 | MYLES SCHOPFER | MYLES SCHOPFER JR(Y) | 2 | 6.55 | ||
| 82 | ROBBIE BEARDMORE | RUSSELL FELTS | 2 | 6.01 | ||
| 83 | DAVID PELATA | RORY HAECKER | 3 | 5.74 | ||
| 84 | COLT DIETZ | JOHN WARDEN | 2 | 5.63 | ||
| 85 | ROBERT ETHERIDGE | COLTON ETHERIDGE | 3 | 5.45 | ||
| 86 | SHAWN MARKGRAFF | DENISE MARKGRAF | 3 | 5.39 | ||
| 87 | PATRICK ANDERSON | DOUG HAMILTON | 3 | 5.25 | ||
| 88 | JAMES JONES | SOREN HANSEN | 2 | 4.84 | ||
| 89 | LEE BENTON | 1 | 4.54 | |||
| 90 | RANDALL BEAUCHAMP | REGINA BEAUCHAMP | 2 | 4.32 | ||
| 91 | FRANK MALES | EDEN MALES | 2 | 4.11 | ||
| 92 | HEATH GRANT | ROBERT MILLER | 1 | 3.41 | ||
| 93 | LEE BEUERSHAUSEN | RANDY GROUNDS | 2 | 3.14 | ||
| 94 | CHRIS DRYMALLA | JOHN REICH | 2 | 2.78 | ||
| 95 | DAVID WENCIL | MICHAEL GLYNN | 2 | 2.47 | Shoreline Decal $250 Fuel Card Winners | |
| 96 | SETH FISHER | MARION KOPF | 1 | 2.25 | ||
| 97 | MIKE MCEACHEM | JOSEPH KENNEDY | 1 | 2.23 | ||
| 98 | TROY BOLDWYN | MARK FOWLER | 1 | 2.14 | ||
| 99 | JASON RANFT | MATT TALLAS | Pre-Registration Prize Giveaway Winners! Shimano Clarus Rods | |||
| 99 | TYE GRISSOM | KENNETH RESTANI | ||||
| 99 | MATT RUSSELL | DEAN JONES | ||||
| 99 | WILL CURLEE | COLE STEVENS | ||||
| 99 | GROVER CHAMBLISS | RICKEY GRAHAM | ||||
| 99 | PAUL SCHROEDER | BRAD ANKRUM | ||||
| 99 | ZAC WASHBURN | ETHAN DALTON | ||||
| 99 | DIRK AMAN | DANIEL WESSMAN | ||||
| 99 | CARY DECUIR | RANDALL FRY | ||||
| 99 | JUSTIN ROGERS | TYLER FONSECA | ||||
| 99 | BLAKE ROBERSON | LES COPELAND | ||||
| 99 | MATTHEW DODD | GARY DAVIS | ||||
| 99 | DENA VINES | DEBBIE MARSHALL | ||||
| 99 | ELMER OWENS | LARRY OWENS | ||||
| 99 | STEVE THIEL | GEORGE CASTLEBERRY | ||||
| 99 | ANIBAL GUZMAN | LUIS GUZMAN | ||||
| 99 | RYAN WARREN | JASON DERRICK | ||||
| 99 | WYATT RAE | JAMES RAE | ||||
| 99 | TERRY HALL | LYNN PIERCE | ||||
| 99 | AUSTIN QUIET | BRIAN ARABIE | ||||
| 99 | RYAN BODE | JOHN JARAMILLO | ||||
| 99 | STEVEN KIRKWOOD | |||||
| 99 | CADE WILSON | BRANDON DAY | ||||
| 99 | ANTHONY GOODSON | TRAVIS DAUGHERTY | ||||
| 99 | NORM WILSON SR | NORM WILSON JR | ||||
| 99 | PAUL NEELY | RICK NEELY | ||||
| 99 | STEPHEN SCHORCK | CAYLIN RICE | ||||
| 99 | THOMAS HILL | DAVE TOTEDO | ||||
| 99 | PHILIP HENDERSON | JEFF ACHILLES | ||||
| 99 | RONNY MAYNARD | ERIC CRUMLEY | ||||
| 99 | CHUCK WARE | CODY FRAISER | ||||
| 99 | STAN KAMINSKI | KENT HARRIS | ||||
| 99 | DAVID WILSON | JIM WILSON | ||||
| 99 | KAENA FREITAS | ANDY ZAVALA | ||||
| 99 | MARK RIBERA | RICK RIBERA | ||||
| 99 | ROBERT KNIGHT | KYLE DERN | ||||
| 99 | JEFFREY JONES | DANIEL JANDREY | ||||
| 99 | JOHN MILLS | DAVID ACHILLES | ||||
| 99 | DON GORDON | JAMES ROBERTS | ||||
| 99 | ALLEN GASS | JOHN RATLIFF | ||||
| 99 | ANDY TOLLEY | TYLER TOLLEY | ||||
| 99 | KYLE JENKINS | CARLOS DELAFUENTE | ||||
| 99 | BRYAN RICHARDS | MAT KEVIL | ||||
| 99 | BRYAN COTTER | BILL GUZMAN | ||||
| 99 | DARRELL WUENSCHE | |||||
| 99 | CASEY MARTZ | TERRELL FRANKLIN | ||||
| 99 | CODY SMITH | CHUCK SMITH | ||||
| 99 | BUBBA WAMPLER | RONNIE ANDREWS | ||||
| 99 | DAVID PEMBERTON | JEFF HAGER | ||||
| 99 | JOE BRAY | CHRIS BRAY | ||||
| 99 | JOE LOOZE | DYLAN LOOZE | ||||
| 99 | JAMES HESTER | NEAL CHILDERS | ||||
| 99 | DARREL ROUTON | JACK CULBREATH | ||||
| 99 | CLINT MAREK | CODY GARRETT | ||||
| 99 | KYLE FORD | TONY THOMPSON | ||||
| 99 | JAMES GOODNER | GRANT GOODNER | ||||
| 99 | GENE FUESSEL | GERALD MUELLER | ||||
| 99 | BLAKE STASIUNAS | CHARLES DORTCH | ||||
| 99 | CHARLES HICE | CHRISTOPHER STANLEY | ||||
| 99 | GARRETT GOETTEE | HUGH KELLER | ||||
| 99 | COREY MARTENSON | |||||
| 99 | EDDIE PELFREY | |||||
| 99 | DUSTIN SMITH | JARED SMITH | ||||
| 99 | MICHAEL ATKINS | JAMES HENRY | ||||
| 99 | JOSH LASSETER | GERARD RUMSEY | ||||
| 99 | CRAIG BULLOCK | DAVID BARATZ | ||||
| 99 | GARRETT SHEPPERD | GREG SHEPPERD | ||||
| 99 | CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON | |||||
| 99 | ROBERT NUERNBERG | AYDEN REEDY(Y) | ||||
| 99 | JOHNNY ZUNKER | WADE MEHAFFEY | ||||
| 99 | ANDREW SWEET | PHILLIP DOUBEK | ||||
| 99 | GREG MEHAFFEY | JOEY MARTIN | ||||
| 99 | STEVE MAPLES | JENNIFER MAPLES | ||||
| 99 | MICKEY SANDERS | ROGER MEEK |
Zona’s 3 thoughts: Mud scratchers, mustangs and ‘rookies’
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships -
To say I’m a little pumped for the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series season to start would be like saying I was sort of into hair bands back in the early 90s.
Look, I’m going to give you three thoughts I’ve been wrestling in recent days. Some of them actually came from a dream while I slept, and others are purely as factual as Warrant’s “Cherry Pie” album being their highest-selling record ever.
Thought #1 – Just like we’ve been doing for like 53 years now, we have a tendency to study the upcoming schedule and think about how it’ll play out. And let me tell you, friends – this one is going to play out really, really, shallow. I’ll go out on a limb here and say we haven’t seen an Elite Series schedule this rich with derbies that could be won in less than 10-feet of water in a decade. And anytime we’re able to have a contest where dudes are scratchin mud to catch five fat ones each day it is absolutely “fan-o-licious” for our loyal Bassmaster Live viewers.
Thought #2 – I had a dream the other night that I swear was influenced by my battle with Covid last month, because I’ve had some really bizarre dreams recently. But anyhow, I dreamt the 2021 Bassmaster Classic was more like a rock concert than a bass tournament, and not only did Seth Feider become our 51st Classic Champion – but ready for this? – Dave Mercer appeared on stage as one-half Canadian emcee, and the lower half of him was a mustang, like a centaur in Greek mythology. If any of this comes true, count on an absolute bash beyond our wildest imagination once we get to Fort Worth in June.
Thought #3 – Some people don’t like to talk about it, but there are two guys in this Elite Series field full of very talented new rookies that are licking their chops to get started, and both of them put their guts on the line last year in the Bassmaster Opens to earn their way back to the Elites.
One lives at Lake Tenkiller in Eastern Oklahoma, and the other chap is a hunting buddy of mine from Gonzales, Louisiana, and if you’ll go back and reference Thought #1 about this schedule being shallow water friendly, it’s time to admit Christie and Hackney will both make a run at winning the 2021 Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.
That’s all I’ve got. Zackers and I are out. He and I have a lot to do before the fellas make their first cast on the St. Johns River to start the Elite Series season on February 11th, but don’t think for a minute we won’t be rockin to “I Saw Red” and “Blind Faith” while we’re gettin’ our work done.
Mundy wins Toyota Series on Sam Rayburn with over 70 pounds! -Updated
Broaddus Angler Weighs in Second-Biggest Limit in Toyota Series History
BROOKELAND, Texas (Jan. 31, 2021) – Toyota Series angler Derek Mundy of Broaddus, Texas, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Berkley in Brookeland, Texas. Mundy’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 70-11 earned him the win by a 14-pound margin over second-place angler Jason Bonds of Lufkin, Texas and earned Mundy the top payout of $44,150 in the first tournament of the 2021 Toyota Series Southwestern Division.
The Broaddus, Texas angler started off the year by crushing 40 pounds, 10 ounces – with an 11-10 kicker – to win a Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event on Sam Rayburn just a few weeks ago. In just under a month, Mundy became the only angler alive with two of the top 10 biggest single-day weights in MLF history.
Mundy said he caught fish from grass during the tournament, but all of his big fish, including a massive 13-10 kicker on Friday – the third-largest bass ever weighed by a pro in Toyota Series history – came from offshore.
“I was throwing [a lipless crankbait] in grass to try and bail me out when I couldn’t catch them offshore,” Mundy said. “They like a red ‘trap on Rayburn and you can catch a big bag with it.
“But all of my big fish came from hard spots in little transition areas,” he continued. “I fished probably five or six throughout the week. Sometimes I’d rotate through the same ones trying to catch them when they’d set up right. When we get hard winds like we had on Saturday they get up off the bottom and like to roam around and chase gizzard shad.
“Toward the end of the day, I knew I needed to pull something out of the hat,” Mundy said. “So, I picked up my No. 1 confidence bait for this time of year and that 10-pounder bit on my last cast.”
That confidence bait was a Strike King 8XD. Mundy said he builds his own rods and opts for Lew’s Super Duty Wide Speed Spool reels for his big crankbaits, throwing anything from 15- to 20-pound-test fluorocarbon line, depending on what depth he’s trying to target.
Fishing the tournament out of a borrowed boat due to a blown motor on his, Mundy said he was hoping to make a little money to be able to pay for the engine. With over $50,000 in winnings this month, that shouldn’t be much of an issue.
“That should get me [a motor] and still leave me with a little money to play with,” he laughed. “This is amazing. It really is.”
The top 10 pros on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir finished:
1st: Derek Mundy of Broaddus, Texas, 15 bass, 70-11, $44,150
2nd: Jason Bonds of Lufkin, Texas, 12 bass, 56-11, $17,000
3rd: Aaron Johnson of Shreveport, La., 15 bass, 52-11, $12,750
4th: Jason Conn of Anna, Texas, 15 bass, 51-9, $10,900
5th: Jeff Reynolds of Calera, Okla., 15 bass, 49-13, $9,750
6th: Garrett Hilton of China, Texas, 15 bass, 45-7, $8,375
7th: Jeff Sprague of Point, Texas, 15 bass, 45-2, $7,300
8th: Lowell Bennett of Hewitt, Texas, 14 bass, 44-9, $6,300
9th: Kevin Lasyone of Dry Prong, La., 15 bass, 41-3, $5,300
10th: Brandon Flowers of Baytown, Texas, 13 bass, 40-10, $4,200
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Dicky Newberry of Houston, Texas took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Kelsey Ray of Joplin, Missouri won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 36 pounds, 12 ounces. Ray took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir finished:
1st: Kelsey Ray of Joplin, Mo., 14 bass, 36-12, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd: Cody Wise of Chireno, Texas, 13 bass, 34-11, $5,375
3rd: Zack Freeman of Russellville, Ark., 15 bass, 33-15, $4,300
4th: Phil Smith of Orange, Texas, 15 bass, 33-12, $3,650
5th: Josh Clark of Chester, Texas, 15 bass, 33-08, $3,150
6th: Michael Hebert of Lafayette, La., 15 bass, 32-15, $2,650
7th: Gilbert Herald of Pittsburg, Texas, 11 bass, 32-02, $2,150
8th: Heath Ard of Silsbee, Texas, 12 bass, 31-05, $1,825
9th: John Goebel of Lumberton, Texas, 11 bass, 29-13, $1,530
10th: Justin Garza of San Angelo, Texas, 12 bass, 29-05, $1,290
The Toyota Series at Sam Rayburn was presented by Berkley and was hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments in 2021 for Southwestern Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on Feb. 4-6 – the Toyota Series at Lake Toho presented by Googan Baits in Kissimmee, Florida. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
From Majorleagufishing.com
Derek Mundy is the hottest stick on Rayburn right now. Photo by Kory Savage.
Derek Mundy has been firing on all cylinders since the calendar rolled over to 2021. He started the year off by crushing 40 pounds, 10 ounces (with an 11-10 kicker) to win a Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event on Sam Rayburn just a few weeks ago. So, it’s only fitting that he would end the month in the same fashion.
Mundy nearly hit the 40-pound mark yet again this week en route to his first Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. win of his career. Weighing 12-13 on day one of the event – which was presented by Berkley – Mundy dropped 39-7 on the scale Friday to easily climb from a tie at 59th to first. That bag included a massive 13-10 kicker that gave him more than a 12-pound cushion over second-place heading into the final round. Today, things were slow for Mundy, but with a small limit and time running out he landed a 10-pounder to more than seal the deal.
So, if January wasn’t Mundy’s favorite month before, it certainly has to be now.
“January used to be the month I always hated,” Mundy jokes. “I did. With a passion. But starting last year I started getting in the groove of things and studied some things and my fishing partner and I come up with some things and stuff to try and it’s worked out.”
Doing his homework has paid off, but it’s still hard to beat good ol’ time on the water.
“Oh, golly, it’s a bunch of time spent on the lake,” Mundy says of dialing-in late-winter bass. “I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent on the water this January, but it’s a bunch. That’s probably a better question for my wife.”
Swinging for the fence may be an overused term in the bass fishing world, but it certainly fits for Mundy. While many anglers in the field this week were drawn to the drains and lush hydrilla found throughout the lake, Mundy knew he had to keep some offshore stuff honest, especially after his first day didn’t pan out how he hoped.
The Broaddus, Texas pro did spend some time fishing grass and caught fishing from it during the tournament, but all of his big fish came offshore.
“I was throwing [a lipless crankbait] in grass to try and bail me out when I couldn’t catch them offshore,” Mundy says. “They like a red ‘trap on Rayburn and you can catch a big bag doing it.
“But all of my big fish came from hard spots in little transition areas,” he says. “I fished probably five or six throughout the week. Sometimes I’d rotate through the same ones trying to catch them when they’d set up right. When we get them old hard winds like we had today they don’t set up right. They’ll get up off the bottom and they like to roam around and chase them gizzard shad.”
Today, Mundy spent a few hours offshore early to try and capitalize on a good morning bite, but abandoned it to fish grass to try to get a limit. With a very small limit in the boat, he ran back to his starting spot to finish the day and finally connected with the key bite he was hoping for.
“I sat there and drug a Carolina rig around when I went back. Getting towards the end, I thought I needed to pull something out of the hat,” Mundy says. “So, I picked up my No. 1 confidence bait for this time of year and that 10-pounder bit on my last cast.”
That confidence bait is a Strike King 8XD. He builds his own rods and opts for Lew’s Super Duty Wide Speed Spool reels for his big crankbaits. As far as line goes, he throws anything from 15- to 20-pound-test fluorocarbon depending on what depth he’s trying to target.
Fishing the tournament out of a borrowed boat due to a blown motor on his, Mundy was hoping to make a little money to be able to pay for the engine. With over $50,000 in winnings this month, that shouldn’t be much of an issue.
“That ought to get me [a motor] and a still have little money to play with anyway,” he laughs. “This is amazing. It really is.”
Ray Takes Strike King Co-Angler Win on Rayburn
Fishing in his first MLF event, Kelsey Ray of Joplin, Missouri, won the Strike King co-angler title in the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. event. His winning total was 36 pounds, 12 ounces. The top co-angler prize for the event, which was presented by Berkley, was a brand new Phoenix bass boat package.
“My cousin Marco Vaca fishes the pro side and he’s been telling me to do this for a couple years,” Ray says of committing to fishing as a co-angler. “And my wife has given me a lot of support for it, too.”
Never falling outside of the top 10, Ray got the ball rolling on day one with a limit worth 14-11 to sit in sixth. He’d catch another, yet smaller, limit (9-4) on day two to slide up to third. Today, fishing with Jason Conn, Ray weighed the biggest bag on the co-angler side despite not bringing in a limit. Weighing 12-13 with four bass, it was more than enough to give him the W.
“I had great pros all three days and that’s what we did in practice,” Ray says. “It was basically a ChatterBait, a lipless crankbait and a flat-sided crankbait all week.”
Using an “ol’ faithful” Rayburn red XCalibur One Knocker lipless crankbait and a black and red Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer all week, Ray was in his element.
“I’d rather be power fishing up shallow,” Ray says. “Anything from about 2 foot of water to 8 foot of water is about where we caught ‘em.”
Hailing from Missouri, Ray doesn’t make it Rayburn often, but the fact he could get the win here means a lot to him.
“This is my second trip down here, and my first co-angler event, so it’s awesome,” says Ray. “I love this lake. Big bass. A lot of grass; it’s awesome.”
Mundy Blasts 39-7 to Take the Lead at Sam Rayburn
- Derek Mundy poses with his 13-pounder shortly before weighing his fish. Photo by Kyle Wood.
Derek Mundy is in the midst of one of the best months of fishing in history. Back at the beginning of January, Mundy weighed 40 pounds, 10 ounces to win the season-opening Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Sam Rayburn with the fourth-largest single-day bag in MLF history. This week, in the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. event, Mundy tallied a pedestrian 12-13 on day one. On day two of the Southwestern Division event, which is presented by Berkley, Mundy dropped 39-7 on the scale to rocket into first place with a 52-4 total.
His bag is the second biggest in Toyota Series history, and his 13-10 kicker is the third-largest bass ever weighed by a pro in Toyota Series history. Additionally, in just under a month, Mundy has become the only angler alive with two of the top 10 biggest single-day weights in MLF history, knocking out one of Greg Hackney’s giant Falcon Lake bags to do it.
“I don’t think the first [40-pound bag] has sunk in yet,” Mundy laughs. “It’s been unreal, for sure. You don’t have no control how big they’ll be down there.”
Things started off tough for Mundy, who is fishing out of a borrowed boat thanks to a blown motor on his. On day one, Mundy ran a good portion of his juice to only scrape together 12 pounds. Big bites eluded him on Thursday, but obviously, that changed today.
“I ran my best stuff yesterday, and I completely forgot about the spot I caught them today until I got back to the ramp,” Mundy says. “So, I thought I’d start there today and it all happened quick. My third cast I caught that 13-pounder and then I doubled a few casts later with my next biggest two.
“That big one came up shaking her head and I knew she had the bait good because I couldn’t see it. All I saw was mouth and I was like, ‘Oh my goodness.’ I didn’t realize she was that big. If she would have come off I would have never said it was a 13-pounder.”
After a fast start, things cooled off in a hurry. Knowing his big start could get him to Saturday if he filled his limit, Mundy headed to the grass.
“I started hustling every grass line I felt like I could get a bite on as fast as I could,” says Mundy. “I fished that until about noon and only had one fish that barely beat the ruler.”
So, Mundy decided to dip back to his offshore honey hole if nobody else was around. Once there, Mundy quickly caught his limit fish and culled his line-burner.
“I actually caught a 4-pounder after that, but I knew those were fish I’d need tomorrow,” says Mundy. “So, I talked it over with my co-angler and he was cool with it, so we came in early.”
With two polar opposite days behind him, Mundy knows his 12-5 lead over Jason Bonds isn’t safe. Still, things are working for Mundy and he’s not ready to get off the ride just yet.
“I feel like I know what it takes to do well [this time of year on Rayburn], but it is hard, hard, hard,” Mundy says. “I actually like the summer better because I feel like I can fish a tournament then without even practicing and do good, and I’m not trying to come off bragging. But this time of year is hard work. A lot of daylight to dark type stuff.
“I’m not scared to zero at all and you can’t be to come out here and expect to win,” says Mundy. “You can’t be conservative on Rayburn at all. You gotta go for bigguns and swing for the fences all day. It’d be amazing to win because I just bought a brand new motor for my boat and it’d be nice to have a little money to cover that.”
Ard Moves Into Strike King Co-Angler Lead
After catching 15 pounds, 3 ounces on day one, Heath Ardof Silsbee, Texas put together another limit worth 11-7 on day two to take a 2-2 lead heading into Saturday. With Rayburn being a bit stingy for anglers in the back of the boat, Ard is more than happy with how things have gone so far.
“Man, it was pretty awesome today for me,” Ard says. “I couldn’t have drawn a better partner. [Nick Diberardino] was asking me if I had a preference for what I wanted to fish. Dude, he’s awesome. We didn’t catch a lot of fish, but I caught five. If it hadn’t been for him I don’t know if I’d be where I am today.”
Tomorrow, Ard will be paired with Derek Mundy, so he’ll certainly be around some fish. Now, he just needs one more solid day of fishing to close it out.
“It’s gonna be a grind tomorrow, but I just hope we have good weather and everybody stays safe,” says Ard. “I’m just blessed to be here; it’s awesome.”
Ebare Sets the Pace in Sam Rayburn Toyota Series Event
Weighing an even 23 pounds, Dakota Ebare set the pace on day one of the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on Sam Rayburn. Day one of the event, which is presented by Berkley, saw more than 190 pros and Strike King co-anglers take to the water. Oddly enough, Ebare almost wasn’t one of them.
The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro’s original plan was to skip this event in order to head to Lake Okeechobee to pre-practice for the first Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers event of the season in a few weeks. However, a dentist appointment and final boat preparations kept that plan from coming together, so he signed up.
With only a day of practice, Ebare didn’t find much of anything. But with as much experience as he has on Rayburn and a bit of good timing, Ebare got the 2021 season started off on the right foot.
“I had probably 16 pounds this morning, but one of them was a spotted bass that was a line-burner,” Ebare says. “Then it got really tough and I fished my butt off and didn’t get a lot of bites. I just kept scratching and looking for something new since I didn’t get much time to practice for this and have been breaking in my boat. I really just spent the day practicing.”
Like most good anglers, Ebare didn’t let history make decisions for him today. He checked some areas he’s found success in the past, but still let the conditions lead him to fish.
“You gotta take into consideration the condition of the lake and what it’s current deal is,” Ebare says. “This isn’t a lake like Grand Lake where the water level fluctuates, but it’s always the same rock. Here, you’ve got grass that’s here sometimes and gone sometimes. This year the grass is really good and it’s accounting for a lot of the fish that are being caught.
“The fish aren’t really wanting to be deep. I mean, there are some out there; there’s always some out there. I caught an 11-pounder here in 24 foot of water on a 10XD and the lake was 10 foot high in mid-March. I mean, every fish was spawning up by a tree, but I was in a river channel. So, there’s always fish deep, but the grass is so healthy right now and there’s a lot of bait in it and that’s where a lot of fish want to be.”
While Ebare may not necessarily have a pattern he’s running, he does have an idea of where to set the boat down and start casting.
“I’m running areas that set up right historically, but I’m taking into consideration where the grass is best and that’s where I want to stay at,” he says.
Two lost fish may have cost Ebare the chance at a megabag on Rayburn, but he isn’t letting that get to him. Tomorrow he plans to keep practicing and not get caught up with how well things went today.
“I’m excited about tomorrow, but you know it’s a new day and there are no guarantees,” Ebare says. “I could go out there and have 10 pounds easily. We’ll see what the weather does and just go fishing again.”
Top 10 Pros
1. Dakota Ebare – Denham Springs, La. – 23-0 (5)
2. Jason Conn – Anna, Texas – 21-6 (5)
3. Jeff Sprague – Point, Texas – 21-3 (5)
4. Jeff Reynolds – Calera, Okla. – 20-14 (5)
5. Brandon Flowers – Baytown, Texas – 20-11 (5)
6. Lowell Bennett – Hewitt, Texas – 20-5 (5)
6. Rick Harris – Del Rio, Texas – 20-5 (5)
8. Garrett Hilton – China, Texas – 18-12 (5)
9. Jeff Bridges – Prosper, Texas – 18-7 (5)
10. Justin Sowell – Silsbee, Texas – 18-3 (5)
Goebel Takes Strike King Co-Angler Lead
Limits weren’t the easiest thing to come by from the back of the boat, but John Goebel pieced 18 pounds, 4 ounces together to take the lead in the Strike King Co-Angler division.
“It was really a grind for me fishing out of the back of the boat,” Goebel says. “I was fortunate to get some real good bites. I fished real clean today and feel blessed to just be able to get out on the water.”
Fishing with pro Tim Reneau, Goebel stuck to his own style of fishing and it paid off. Especially when he caught a 7-pounder to anchor his bag.
“I caught the big one midday, just after lunch,” Goebel explains. “I figured as the day went on and it started warming we were going to get better bites.”
Top 10 Co-Anglers
1. John Goebel – Lumberton, Texas – 18-4 (5)
2. Brad Ridgeway – The Woodlands, Texas – 18-1 (5)
3. Paul Hedrick – Andrews, Texas – 16-15 (5)
4. Zack Nick – Lufkin, Texas – 15-6 (5)
5. Heath Ard – Silsbee, Texas – 15-3 (5)
6. Kelsey Ray – Joplin, Mo. – 14-11 (5)
7. Curtis Biram – Tulsa, Okla. – 14-5 (5)
8. Michael Sharp – Calera, Okla. – 13-5 (5)
9. Travis Pattillo – Zavalla, Texas – 12-10 (5)
10. Hank Williams – Claremore, Okla. – 12-8 (5)
Graduation Day
College Angler and past Classic Qualifier Cody Huff joins Jason this week to talk about making the move from College and The Toyota Series to the Big Leagues on the MLF Pro Circuit. Check it out!
A.R.E. Renews Partnership with Major League Fishing
“I am very pleased that A.R.E will be the presenting sponsor of the 2021 Toyota Series tournament season,” said Kristina Coburn, A.R.E. marketing manager. “We have partnered with Major League Fishing for several years and are thrilled for the opportunity to align with MLF to this level. We look forward to seeing what the anglers have in store for us this year, throughout each division.”
As the largest single brand manufacturer of truck caps and hard tonneau covers in the nation, A.R.E. has spent over 50 years dedicated to manufacturing truck caps as well as creating unique solutions to preserve the lifestyle of the outdoor enthusiast.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with A.R.E.,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF executive vice president and general manager. “A.R.E. is known for producing the highest quality caps and covers, and they are the perfect company to pair with the determination, desire and grit of our loyal Toyota Series anglers. We are anticipating not only a great season, but a beneficial alliance between the brands.”
The Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. kicks off the 2021 season this week with the Toyota Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas, Jan. 28-30.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – each holding three regular-season events – and the opportunity to qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about A.R.E., visit 4are.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
About A.R.E.
With a focus to live outside of industry norms, A.R.E. partners with authorized truck accessory dealers that share this same focus and spread innovation across the United States and Canada. A.R.E. takes pride in the fact that they have more than 600 experienced authorized dealers, guaranteeing there is an A.R.E. upfitter nearby to provide truck owners with protective truck bed caps and quality customer support.
A.R.E. and adventure go hand in hand. Truck caps, covers, and accessories are the perfect companion for that truck owner hauling precious cargo to that next body of water they are about to tackle, to that mountain they are going to climb, or to that hike they are about to conquer. Whether you use your truck bed cover for travel, work, or adventure, A.R.E. can outfit your truck for life.
Huk Named Exclusive Apparel Sponsor of MLF BIG5
Industry Leader in Outdoor Apparel Expands on Five-Year Partnership with Major League Fishing
TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 27, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that Huk, an industry leader in performance fishing apparel, has signed on as the Exclusive Apparel of the MLF BIG5 for the 2021 season. This expanded partnership aligns the country’s top anglers and their fans with Huk, a brand known for exceptional, functional and technical clothing to anglers and enthusiasts of all ages.
As the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, MLF provides anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money across five tournament circuits featuring a five-biggest-fish format, including the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League, Abu Garcia College Fishing and High School Fishing.
“Marolina Outdoor is excited about our partnership with the Major League Fishing BIG5,” said Pete Angle, CMO of Marolina Outdoor Inc. “Aside from sharing many common goals like new angler recruitment and access to outdoor recreational opportunities, both brands are committed to showcasing the authentic passion for bass fishing and innovation. We look forward to the 2021 MLF BIG5 tournament season and the exciting opportunity to engage with all followers of our partnered brands.”
The MLF award-winning network television airings on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel and more, along with the MLF NOW! live stream on MajorLeagueFishing.com, create the perfect platform to showcase the high-quality variety of shirts, shorts, pants, accessories and outerwear apparel offered by Huk to anglers and fans across the nation.
“Huk has been a great partner of MLF for five years and we are happy that they have continued their partnership with us on the BIG5 side of our company,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF president and CEO. “These are exciting times in bass fishing and we are thrilled to bring Huk into the fold of our extensive tournament network and the thousands of anglers that fish the MLF BIG5 circuits.”
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Huk, visit HukGear.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
AC Insider Podcast - "Where I need to be"
This week Chris and the boys welcome in Elite Series Newcomer THE Jason Christie to the show to talk about his return to the Elite Series and what he's looking forward to the most.
T-H Marine Selects Chris Drahman for Sales and Marketing Leadership
Huntsville, AL – January 27, 2021 – T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., of Huntsville, Alabama, announces that it has selected Chris Drahman for the position of National Sales and Marketing Manager. In this role, Chris will put his considerable experience to work in meeting the needs of T-H Marine's customers, identifying business development opportunities, leading T-H Marine's sales strategies, and growing the company's brand. He will work alongside T-H Marine's veteran VP of Sales and Marketing, Greg Buie.
“I've had the pleasure of knowing T-H Marine and many members of their team for more than 20 years and it’s truly an honor to join them,” Chris Drahman said. “Few companies can compare when it comes to innovative product development, dedication to taking care of their customers, and having a game plan and a desire to continue their robust growth. They made joining an easy decision and I look forward to contributing for many years to come.”
Before his recent work in the world of marine components, Chris had over 14 years working for T-H Marine's OEM and distributor sales reps at William F. Miller & Associates. Now, as T-H Marine's National Sales and Marketing Manager, Chris will be leveraging his sales and sales leadership experience, his work history in the marine industry, and his strong ability to drive new business development and expansions into new markets.
“We are pleased to welcome Chris Drahman to the team!” T-H Marine President and CEO, Jeff Huntley said. “We have known Chris for many years and he is exactly what you expect from a true sales professional — a great fit with our boating-centric culture and our aggressive business attitude. With over 25 years of sales roles in the industry, he brings a lot of knowledge, experience, and relationships to the table.
"T-H Marine is building our next generation of executive-level leaders and Chris is a big part of that plan coming into place. We are very excited about the future as we continue to outpace industry growth and we are proud to have Chris’ horsepower to help push that dynamic growth, both organically and through acquisitions.”
Imbued by T-H Marine's commitment to supplying boaters with the gear they need, from TRANSOM TO TROLLING MOTOR®, Chris will work to ensure that the brand thrives across its various sales channels. With his experience in the marine industry, his long-standing familiarity with T-H Marine, and his love of the water, Chris brings a solid foundation to his new role.
“T-H Marine has always had a motto that 'Fridays are for Fishing', fostering an appreciation for why the company exists,” Chris added. “Especially as it is interwoven with a love of being outdoors and my own passion for saltwater fishing, I look forward to reinforcing T-H Marine's ability to put current products to the test, produce ideas for new products, and make the boating and fishing experience even better for everyone."
Now including more products for an even wider variety of boats, check out the full range of T-H Marine's growing product line at thmarine.com/products. For tips about T-H Marine products, company news, and more, including information to improve your boating and fishing experience, follow T-H Marine Supplies (@thmarineteam) on social media.
Yamaha Expands Power Pay Program
Broadens Eligibility Requirements, Adds New Tournaments to 2021 Season
KENNESAW, Ga. – Jan. 27, 2021 — Yamaha Marine today announced the expansion of Power Pay, a contingency program that provides a cash bonus to Yamaha anglers who place in sanctioned salt and freshwater tournaments. For the 2021 season, Yamaha adds 68 new competitive fishing events, enhances the payout bonus amounts and broadens the eligibility requirements to eligible anglers who own a Yamaha outboard with a warranty start date within the 60 months prior to registering for Power Pay.
“The rules no longer require Power Pay anglers to be the original outboard owners. Now, Power Pay eligibility is open to second, third and even fourth Yamaha owners as long as the outboard has been warranty registered within the stated time,” said Connor Megan, Senior Regional Marketing Specialist, Yamaha Marine Engine Systems. “The first year of the program was a tremendous success with hundreds of qualified anglers winning nearly $140,000 in Power Pay bonus money despite the difficult situations created by COVID-19. We think 2021 will be even bigger.”
Introduced in the fall of 2019, Power Pay gives anglers the opportunity to receive compensation for running eligible Yamaha outboards. Eligible anglers running Yamaha outboards can sign up for the program by visiting yamahapowerpay.com. All applicants are required to accept and adhere to the Yamaha Angler Code of Ethics before completing the registration for the program. Once registered, the highest placing angler in specified Power Pay sanctioned tournaments that meets all eligibility requirements will be compensated by Yamaha accordingly.
New tournaments for 2021 include the MLF Bass Pro Tour, Bass Champs Texas, Carolina Bass Challenge, Texas Team Trail®, Nichols Team Series Oklahoma, Phoenix BFL Regionals, EFL™ Redfish Contender Series and EFL™ Redfish Tour. Additional eligible Power Pay tournaments and trails include the Bassmaster Classic®, Bassmaster® Angler of the Year, Bassmaster Opens, B.A.S.S. Nation®, Bassmaster Elites, Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School series, A.B.A. Bass Pro Shops® Open Series, Alabama Bass Trail, MWC, The National Walleye Tour®, AIM® Walleye, Kingfish Cup and Flatsmasters®.
For more information and complete terms and conditions about Power Pay, visit yamahapowerpay.com. Some restrictions apply. Void where prohibited by law.
Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Engine Systems, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.
Bassmaster Host Davy Hite Joins The 13 Fishing Family
For Davy Hite, friends, family and fishing have always been in the same boat. Often, quite literally. So when a business merger married his Rapala friends into the 13 Fishing family, the Bassmaster TV co-host was excited to get welcomed aboard as well.
“It’s just a great opportunity to take a company like Rapala, that’s been a leader in our industry for many, many years and so successful, and combine them with 13 Fishing’s young, enthusiastic, and very good product designers and engineers,” says Hite, referencing a 2019 deal in which Rapala VMC purchased a minority stake in 13 Fishing’s parent company. “I just know the future is going to be great for 13 Fishing. And I just hope I can make it even better.”
A longtime star on Rapala’s Pro Team – his career highlights include winning the 1999 Bassmaster Classic and 1997 and 2002 Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles – Hite is excited to “get in on the leading edge of the future of 13 Fishing.” He will fish exclusively with, promote and help design 13 Fishing rods and reels, which Rapala now distributes outside the U.S. Hite’s pro-team liaison at both Rapala and 13 Fishing is Dan Quinn, who wears marketing hats for both companies.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Davy for many years and know that he brings a lot to the table,” Quinn says. “I mean, come on, he’s literally a living legend! He brings a long list of accolades and with that comes a lot of experience, which will be invaluable in helping promotion and product development for 13 Fishing. We are beyond excited to welcome Davy to the 13 Fishing family, the future is very bright!”
When It Comes To Hammers, He's A Sledge.
“Davy Hite is an established winner and welcome addition to the 13 Fishing stable,” says 13 Fishing’s marketing coordinator Reid Miller. “Like a champion thoroughbred, Hite has earned the respect of anglers far wide by proving he can lead the pack at the highest level of the sport. Davey has always been a stud, and he understands the importance of performance and reliability and with that he brings a wealth of experience to our team. We’re excited to partner with him to deliver the finest equipment for fishing.”
Hite’s Bassmaster tournament highlights also include eight first-place finishes, 14 Classic appearances, and 45 Top 10 finishes. In 2017, he left behind competition to begin co-hosting Bassmaster’s Elite Series LIVE webcasts and cable TV shows. That doesn’t mean he quit fishing, however.
“I get asked a lot ‘Are you still fishing?’” Hite says, laughing. “And honestly, I’m fishing as much or more as I was in all my years fishing Bassmaster.”
These days, Hite enjoys fishing with one of his grown sons, Payton (the other, Parker, is an Army Captain deployed in Germany), some high school buddies “I’ve fished off and on with my whole life” and his brother-in-law Scott Martin, a South Carolina stick and one-time Classic competitor with whom he fished team tournaments early in his career.
Seeing 13 Fishing logos on stickers, hats and hoodies “all over the country the last few years” first caught Hite’s attention. Glowing reviews from respected Bassmaster anglers then led him to try and like 13 Fishing rods and reels.
“The cool thing about my new job is all of these fishermen will share information with me now about new products, but when I was their competitor, they weren’t so eager to do so,” Hite says. “And that’s part of how I learned about what a good company 13 Fishing is. I started talking to a few people who use their rods and reels and they all had great comments.
“I can talk with guys about products they’re using, and they’ll talk straight with me,” Hite continues. “So if I get good reviews from them, it will spark my curiosity. So I went and played around with some 13 Fishing products and saw that for a young company they had a lot of really good stuff.”
Hite praises 13 Fishing’s product line for including quality rods and reels in both high-end and economical categories. “It’s a well-rounded line-up, from mid-range to upper-range product,” he says.
CLASSIC WINNER TAKAHIRO OMORI JOINS BASS CAT TEAM
New addition strengthens strategic partnership with Japan’s SDG Marine
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. (January 25th, 2020) – Bass Cat Boats, a leading manufacturer of tournament-ready, high-performance bass boats, has added veteran Bass Pro Tour competitor Takahiro Omori, winner of the 2004 Bassmaster Classic, to the company’s national pro team. This will bolster an already stout staff with the first and only international pro to win one of bass fishing’s major championships.
“They have supported Major League Fishing since day one,” Omori said. “On top of that, it gave me the opportunity to strengthen my relationship with Showa Denki Group (SDG) Marine, Japan’s leading bass boat dealer. It’s important to promote Bass Cat to Japanese anglers, and my boat will be wrapped to feature SDG’s logo.”
In his decorated career with Bassmaster, Omori won seven events, including the 2004 Classic on South Carolina’s Lake Wylie, one of the 12 Classics in which he competed. He was also a two-tour pro for many years. He qualified for seven Forrest Wood Cups and claimed a 2001 Tour victory on Alabama’s Lake Martin. Since moving to Major League Fishing, he’s added another major title to his list by winning the 2020 MLF Summit Cup at Lake of the Ozarks.
“I first met Takahiro while fishing the Bassmaster Invitationals in the early 1990s,” said Bass Cat President Rick Pierce. “It was obvious then that he had the drive and talent to experience exceptional success and he has fully met those expectations. We are proud to have him join the family.”
Omori will run a Cougar FTD powered by a Yamaha outboard on the Bass Pro Tour in 2021. “The floor plan fits my style, but what I really like about it is that it’s fast and floats higher in the water than other boats, so I can get into skinny water places. I talked a lot to Kelly Jordon and Shin Fukae and they agreed it was the perfect boat for the way I like to fish.”
Kevin Short, Bass Cat’s Pro Staff Director and Head of International Sales, was thrilled to add an angler who is highly respected on multiple continents. “Japan represents a huge opportunity for us, and SDG is a remarkably aggressive and innovative company,” Short said. “The beauty of it is that Takahiro’s influence is so widespread, and his accomplishments are so notable, that it’s like getting two pros in one.”
Heck and Berthelot win Outlaw Outdoors Team Series with over 29 pounds!
Why Brandon Lester chooses a jig over all other winter lures
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
See the Alabama Rig near Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Lester’s left hand in the photo? It’s the only one he owns. Like literally, he owns one A-Rig, and you’re looking at it.
And while he’s got plenty of proven cold water crankbaits laying there too, every lure in the universe plays second fiddle to a jig on the coldest days of winter for the easy-going Tennessee pro who is closing in on $1 Million in career earnings after just seven years as a full-time pro.
“I realize a lot of guys have come to depend on an Alabama Rig in the dead of winter, but we’re not allowed to use it in Bassmaster Opens or Elites. So there’s no reason for me to get dependent on it when I’m fishing around home at this time of year,” says the Team Toyota pro.
“And honestly, I believe with all my heart, when you’re throwing a jig at this time of year, you’re giving yourself a shot to catch the biggest fish in the lake,” he says.
Bringing the Heat with the Z Train
His recent appearance on “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show” epitomizes this point. The air temp was 18 degrees the day they filmed on Dale Hollow Lake, water temps were 42, and dragging a football jig brought the heat on quality fish more than any other lure the two tied on.
“We could catch fish on a Ned Rig that day, and probably could have caught some on a crankbait too. But the football jig was hands-down the key to Zona and I catching all our bigger fish,” he recalls.
Biggest Bass of Lester’s Life
However, Lester’s proof of a jig’s frigid water prowess is certainly not limited to his day filming with Zona. Each New Year’s Eve, he and a good buddy make a trip to Nickajack Lake – and it was on that tradition rich trip last year that Lester believes he caught the biggest bass of his life – on a jig of course.
“I had just gotten a brand-new boat. We didn’t even have my graphs mounted yet, let alone have a scale in the boat. I caught a 7-pounder first on a jig, and then caught one that I know was over 10-pounds, which would easily make it the biggest bass of my life,” says Lester.
Callin’ bull on hibernating crawfish
While schools of shad, and specifically, the weak and dying specimens within the school, often become the focal point of the bass’ cold weather dinner menu, crawdads remain a major player too. Lester simply doesn’t buy the dormant crawdad theory. “I’ve had guys tell me crawdads are so dormant in winter that they aren’t a factor for bass. That’s absolute bull! I’ve caught way too many bass in 45-degree water with crawdad pinchers sticking out of their gullets to ever rule out a jig,” he says emphatically.
Lester’s two favorite winter jigs
The skirted jewels he leans on most are pretty simple. First, he never varies far from the colors brown or green pumpkin, and secondly, one of his winter jigs will always be a ½-ounce SpotSticker flipping jig featuring a brown living rubber skirt and a meaty 5/0 Mustad hook. This is the jig that gets pitched to thicker shoreline habitat, and he emphasizes the merits of living rubber skirts in cold water.
The other jig is a football jig. If he’s dragging it on the bottom in less than 15-feet of water, he uses a ½ ounce model. Sometimes, however, bait balls and other desirable sonar images seem to be out in the 15 to 30-foot-deep zone. In that case, when going deeper, he ties a ¾-ounce model to his 15-pound Vicious fluorocarbon. He nearly always dresses his football jig with a craw-style trailer as shown in the photo.
Bama rigs, jerkbaits, and flat-sided cranks all have their mid-winter merits, but for Brandon Lester, jigs are the true trophy chaser when water temps are in the 40s. “All I can tell you is some of the most memorable and biggest bass I’ve ever caught in my life have come in the middle of winter, and all of them bit a jig.”
Lake Eufaula Lands 2021 Bassmaster Team Championship Event
Photo by Shane Durrance/B.A.S.S.
January 22, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The last spot in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will be filled on historic Lake Eufaula as this Alabama fishery hosts the Bassmaster Team Championship and Classic Fish-Off Dec. 8-11, 2021.
Battling for that coveted berth in the Bassmaster Classic will be the grassroots anglers competing at the Bassmaster Team Championship. The team portion of the event will be held Dec. 8-9 and will feature anglers from across the country — 32 states in 2020. The winning duo will not only win a cash prize, but they’ll also lead the charge into the Classic Fish-Off which will take place Dec. 10-11.
The top three 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 their spot in the Classic.
In 2020, that honor went to Jordan Wiggins, a 29-year-old Cullman, Ala., resident whose older brother Jesse notched a third-place finish in the 2019 Classic.
“What a wonderful way to end a year,” says Ann Sparks, Tourism and Main Street Executive Director for the City of Eufaula. “We are thrilled to be hosting the Bassmaster Team Championship and showing off what Lake Eufaula has to offer! Most anglers have fished our great lake, but we are excited to show off our changes and improvements to our beautiful town.”
B.A.S.S. has visited Lake Eufaula 17 times for major events, including an Elite Series tournament last year that was broadcast live to an audience of more than 2.8 million. The town itself — with a statue declaring Eufaula as the “Big Bass Capital of the World” — is known throughout the fishing industry as the hometown of legendary angler and lure designer Tom Mann. It’s the home of Mann’s Bait Company and the Johnson Outdoors location where Humminbird electronics are produced.
In addition to the Team Championship event, Lake Eufaula will also host the Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX on May 1.
Its a Family Tradition - with Lawson Hibdon
This week Chris welcomes in MLF Pro Circuit Pro Lawson Hibdon to the Rookie Podcast to talk about following in his Grandfather's, the late Guido Hibdon and his Dad, Dion Hibdon's footsteps and competing on the Pro Level. Check it out!
ABU GARCIA SEEKS INPUT NAMING TOP 100 FISHING LOCATIONS
Company kicks off 100th anniversary celebration by paying homage to the best U.S. fishing waters and is soliciting input from Abu Garcia loyalists.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 21, 2021) — Abu Garcia is celebrating a century of innovation and epic fishing in 2021 by asking fans around the country to weigh in on the Top-100 fisheries in the United States.
The list, which could include anything from backyard streams to sprawling lakes and everything in between, will celebrate the best freshwater fishing this country has to offer and introduce anglers of all levels to well-known big-fish locations as well as hidden gems.
Anglers can submit their favorite fisheries for consideration, explain why they top their list and share photos of their favorite honey holes through January 25. The final list will be released in phases, beginning in late February. The detailed results will be available online for avid anglers to explore their next fishing destination as they look ahead to the next century of fishing with Abu Garcia.
To learn more about Abu Garcia’s 100th anniversary and cast your vote by January 25, visit www.abugarcia.com.
XZone adds NEW Adrenaline Craw and Adrenaline Bug Jr to their line-up
The new X Zone Pro Series Adrenaline Craw is the brain child of one of the hottest anglers on earth; Brandon Palaniuk!!
This exciting new bait is fresh for 2021! The super aggressive claws produce unbelievable action . Use alone for great swimming action, tip your jig with it to give great water disturbance or add it to your chatter bait for what will be unmatched performance. Floating Claws are also featured on this bait! Never has a bait with such aggressive attributes been offered with floating claws. Perfect presentation, every time!
Use what Palaniuk uses and get the 4.25" Adrenaline Craw!
Like its bigger brother , the 4" Adrenaline Bug, the NEW 3.5" Adrenaline Bug Jr. is designed to provide a great creature bait presentation that bass love! The floating qualities found in this bait make it 100% NEDable.
The soft, body and floating claws make this bait irresistible to bass. Once they feel this soft bait in their mouth - they will not let go. The specialized plastic, super fine salt and scent infused formula used to make the Adrenaline Bug allows the claws to float at rest for a time, mimicking the defensive stance of a real crayfish. All of these exceptional features produce a creature bait that swims, hops and undulates in the water creating a NEW unique sonic signature and vibration that BASS LOVE!!!
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Nominations Now Open For 2021 Class Of Bassmaster High School All-Americans
Jan. 21, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. is seeking nominations for the best and brightest high school bass anglers in the country.
The Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors recognizes the 12 most outstanding high school anglers in the nation. The program is designed to reward young athletes for their performance in tournaments, leadership in their communities and involvement in conservation efforts.
Applications for the team, which is now in its seventh year, will be accepted today through Feb. 22.
To be considered, a student must be nominated by a parent, coach, teacher or other school official. Students currently enrolled in grades 10 through 12 with a current grade point average of 2.5 or higher are eligible.
Judges will select up to two student anglers in each state. These All-State Fishing Team members will become semifinalists in the selection of the 12-member Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Criteria include success in high school fishing tournaments and involvement in conservation efforts and other community service activities.
The anglers chosen will compete in a one-day Bassmaster High School All-American Tournament to be held in conjunction with the 2021 Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake which will be held May 6-9 — one of nine regular-season Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments being held this year. Elite Series anglers will serve as “coaches” for the student anglers in the one-day fishing event near Gadsden, Ala. The high school standouts and Elite Series coaches will be honored before the weigh-in crowd.
“The continued growth and success our High School All-American program has had over the past seven years is amazing,” said Hank Weldon, senior manager of the Bassmaster High School program. “We are so proud to offer a platform that not only recognizes successful student athletes on their accomplishments on the water, but on their academic success and community involvement as well. We can’t wait to see what this 2021 class of anglers has in store.”
All students who compete in high school fishing events are eligible, regardless if they are affiliated with B.A.S.S. or another fishing organization.
Notices have been sent to youth fishing directors of the B.A.S.S. Nation and other organizations, as well as leaders of state high school fishing programs. Adults can nominate students by filling out an online form at Bassmaster.com/allamerican. Nominations must be submitted before midnight on Feb. 22. Please send all questions to allamerican@bassmaster.com.
BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME ADDS SIX BOARD MEMBERS
All Volunteer Board Dedicated to Celebrating, Promoting and Preserving the Sport of Bass Fishing
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – For Immediate Release – 1/21/21 – The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has added six members to its Board of Directors to begin serving a three-year term in January 2021, leading the organization into its next steps of growth on the heels of a highly-successful recent effort to expand and increase the Hall’s outreach and impact. The new members include:
- Todd Ceisner, Associate Publisher of In-Fisherman;
- Kathy Fennel, Executive Vice President and COO for Major League Fishing;
- Matt Pangrac, Freelance journalist and tournament angler;
- Tim Price, Freshwater Field Promotions Manager for Johnson Outdoors Marine Group; and
- Bruce Stanton, Vice President and General Manager of PRADCO Fishing.
Restaurant executive Clifton Rutledge, a distinguished former member of the board, returns to serve another term.
“This is an impressive group, and we are thrilled to have every one of them,” said Bass Fishing Hall of Fame President John Mazurkiewicz “Each of our new Board members bring a distinct skill set to assist us in our mission of celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. We are an all-volunteer ‘working board’ and we pride ourselves on the fact that our leadership encompasses all of the major tours, media outlets and sectors of the industry.”
In addition to Mazurkiewicz, owner of Catalyst Marketing Services, a PR/media relations firm focusing on the recreational fishing industry, the Board’s executive committee includes Vice Presidents Daren Cole with Blue Heron Communications, a fishing/hunting-focused marketing firm, and Tim Carini, sales director at B.A.S.S, along with Treasurer Donald Howell, President & CFO of Southern Sky Aviation. Barbara Bowman serves as the Executive Director. Other Board members include Daiwa’s Curt Arakawa, B.A.S.S. Angler Relations manager Steve Bowman, pro bass angler Guy Eaker, Sr., B.A.S.S. conservation director Gene Gilliland, Wired2Fish CEO Todd Hammill, TH Marine’s Bill Huntley , fishing industry consultant Melinda Mize-Hays, noted bass fishing/travel writer Pete Robbins, and AFTCO president Casey Shedd.
Longtime Bassmaster editor Dave Precht retired from the Board at the end of 2020 after more than a decade of service. All of the members thank him for his extended service and hope that he will continue to guide the Hall’s path informally.
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors and is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. Since 2017, the Hall’s inductees and memorabilia representing the history of bass fishing have been showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, where it has rapidly become a popular destination.
Cody Huff – Graduating from College Fishing
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
After a successful season in tournament competition along with an unpredictable and challenging year off the water, Cody Huff’s reign as the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Bracket Champion has officially come to an end. Huff turned in his Bethel University wrapped rig last week and a new Toyota Tundra-Nitro Boat combo is being prepared for the 2021 college champ, Trevor McKinney.
Looking back on the year, Cody Huff has a lot to be proud of. Not only did he do an excellent job representing his school, himself, and college fishing on the biggest stages in bass fishing, he also had one of the best on-the-water performance records in the history of this program.
With anglers like Jordan Lee, Matt Lee, Andrew Upshaw, and Brett Pruett (to name a few) coming up through the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Classic Bracket program… that’s high praise.
The 2020 season wasn’t what Huff expected, largely due to the global COVID-19 Pandemic, but the 23-year old Bethel University student certainly made the most of a chaotic year.
After starting the year off with back-to-back victories on Toledo Bend Reservoir, Huff became the first college fishing representative to make it to Day 3 of the Bassmaster Classic since Jordan Lee. Huff had a solid 2020 Bassmaster Opens campaign and bookended his season with a second FLW Toyota Series victory on Table Rock Lake in early November.
“In a lot of ways I’d like to forget 2020 like most folks, but from a fishing standpoint I am extremely thankful,” Huff said. “From both an equipment and financial standpoint this year was a massive opportunity for me. For the first time in my fishing career I couldn’t use equipment as an excuse. From my baits and electronics, to my boat and tow vehicle, I was able to use the best of the best.”
Like most of his college fishing peers, Huff had always made due with any limitations in his equipment prior to becoming the 2020 Carhartt College Series Classic representative. He took full advantage of the opportunity this program provided, thanks to both his performance on the water and how he carried himself when not competing.
Huff finished his year by locking up sponsor support for his 2021 tournament season before purchasing a 2020 Toyota Tundra of his own so he could be eligible for Toyota Bonus Bucks in 2021 and have a tow vehicle he could depend on.
With Bass Pro Shops serving as his title sponsor Huff will compete on the Major League Fishing Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit as well as at least one Bassmaster Opens division this year, representing many of the same companies he worked with in 2020. While competing in his first season as a professional fisherman, Huff will complete a few remaining online classes to earn his diploma from Bethel University.
“It really is a dream come true,” Huff said with a smile. “I’ll be competing against guys I’ve been watching on TV since I was a little kid. I don’t think it has really hit me yet… I’m just extremely grateful for everything I learned last year. I wouldn’t be in this position without the support of Bassmaster, Carhartt, Bass Pro Shops, or Toyota.”
There’s no doubt about it, Cody Huff is a special talent with a bright future. His obvious skill for catching bass better than the competition will continue to serve him well in this sport; but his Midwestern roots, even-keeled attitude, and respectful nature put Huff at the top of our list of young anglers to watch.
MLF Postpones Upcoming Lake Shasta Tournaments
REDDING, Calif. (Jan. 20, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the postponement of three tournaments scheduled for Jan. 28-31 on Lake Shasta in Redding, California. The decision was made after MLF officials learned of new travel restrictions implemented by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Service in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The new restrictions prevent anglers who are traveling from more than 120 miles away from competing in the event.
The MLF events that have been postponed are:
- Jan. 28-30: Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Western Division at Lake Shasta
- Jan. 30: Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at Lake Shasta
- Jan. 31: High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing at Lake Shasta
Rescheduled dates for these three events will be announced as soon as possible.
Being an inherently socially distant sport, the vast majority of 2021 tournaments will continue as scheduled, operating under COVID-19 protocols to safeguard the health and well-being of all involved. MLF will continue to follow the suggestions and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public health professionals and permitting agencies.
For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
"Godzilla is my Spirit Animal"
Thats right, Chris and the boys welcome in Elite Series "Newcomer" Greg Hackney to this weeks show to talk about the effort made to prequalify for the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Arey: How to choose jig size
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Choosing jig sizes can cause as much contemplation as a burger joint drive-thru lane. Do you get the single patty from the value side of the menu to conserve fat calories and cash, or do you go all-in and get the double burger with bacon to leave you gut-stuffed and grinning?
Both serve a purpose, but like bass fishing jigs, one must choose the right-sized meal for the conditions at hand – and sometimes that’s a struggle. Thanks to Team Toyota’s Matt Arey, picking the perfect sized portion just got a whole lot easier.
“I let two primary rules lead me to picking the right-sized jig,” says Arey. “First, am I fishing a multi-species lake with spotted bass, smallmouth and largemouth like Table Rock, or are we on a body of water like Lake Fork, where it’s all about big largemouth? And also, I let weather dictate my jig of choice.”
If all three species are present, Arey often opts for the bite-sized 5/16- or 7/16-ounce finesse jig, but if it’s all about fat largemouth, he’ll tie on the full-sized ½ or 5/8 bulkier version.
“If I’m flipping flooded bushes or laydowns – I like to “yo-yo” the jig a little bit to keep it in a very small strike zone for a second or two, and the bulkier jig helps me do that easier. Even if I’m pitching or skipping docks, I still choose the bigger jig, but I may downsize the trailer to make it skip easier,” says the devout family man from Shelby, NC.
When it comes to weather’s dictation of Arey’s selection, it boils down to bigger is better when weather is stable, but when the bottom falls out in the form a harsh cold front, finesse wins the day.
If he’s dragging the little jig on a clean secondary point in greater than 15-feet of water, he may drop down to 12-pound line, but most of the time, it’s tied to 15-pound P-Line fluorocarbon.
When it comes to color, he keeps it extremely simple, choosing a shade of green pumpkin on all sizes of jigs 95% of the time, opting only for black/blue if the water’s exceptionally dirty.
Like all great anglers, Arey knows it’s the appetite of the bass based on species and weather that matters way more than his own when choosing the right jig. But dang, a Baconator™ does sound good right now.
Toyota Series to Kick Off 2021 Southwestern Division on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Multiple Patterns Expected to Be in Play for Competitors Descending on East Texas Reservoir
BROOKELAND, Texas (Jan. 19, 2021) – The Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Southwestern Division will kick off the 2021 season with a tournament next week in Brookeland, Texas, Jan. 28-30, with the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and co-anglers on some of the best bass water in the country, casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner. Anglers will also be competing for qualification opportunities to the Toyota Series Championship and a chance to win up to $235,000.
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler and accomplished Sam Rayburn pro Dicky Newberry of Houston, Texas, said he is expecting good things from the famed fishery at the end of January.
“We’ve had a lot of rain and the lake is coming up,” Newberry said. “We have a little color in the water and the creeks are kind of trashed, but the lake is in good shape with a lot of healthy fish, which is what you expect this time of year.”
By the end of next week, Newberry said some fish will begin to push shallow to stage in preparation for the spawn. Because of that, he expects there to be a little bit of everything to fish for during this tournament.
“Big stringers are going to come from the outside on the clay, drops and ridges,” he said. “That’s where those big ones are living right now. There’s also a pad stem bite and we might have water up in the bushes by then, so that could be going on – but that’s the thing about Rayburn, it’s got a little bit of everything.”
While fishing deep may produce the biggest limits of the event, Newberry said he isn’t ready to write off anything up shallow. Despite the lake kicking out a 40-pound limit a few weeks prior, he said he felt like 57 to 60 pounds should be the benchmark for a winning weight.
“It can be won in any of those patterns, or a combination of them,” said Newberry. “There’s just so many fish. Even though Rayburn gets a lot of pressure, it still takes over 20 to win single-day tournaments, and sometimes, 30 or 40. But I predict it will take around 60 pounds to win this one.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from the Umphrey Family Pavilion in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Umphrey Family Pavilion and will begin at 3 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Toyota Series to Kick Off 2021 Season Opener on Lake Shasta
REDDING, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2021) – The Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Western Division will kick off the 2021 season with a tournament next week in Redding, California, Jan. 28-30, with the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Lake Shasta. Hosted by the Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
“This is going to be an interesting tournament,” said Toyota Series angler Jason Milligan of Cottonwood, California. “The water took longer to cool off this year and due to that, the bait and fish aren’t really grouped up like they typically would be. The water is also a lot clearer than usual. We generally see green-colored water but it’s like desert clear right now – you can see down 15 feet in some spots.”
Milligan said things can change quickly though on the mountain reservoir and with a week to go before the event and weather between now and then, it’s likely the conditions will change.
“There’s a lot of bait in 45 to 65 feet right now,” Milligan added. “You can catch fish out there, but they’re small. There’s still a ton of fish in the lake, but it’ll be different than in years past – getting some rain and color in the lake should help. These western reservoirs fluctuate a lot. If we stay on a dropping trend the fish won’t move up, but if the lake stabilizes or comes up, it’ll be like a light switch.
“I expect this event will be tougher than usual for Shasta, but it’s still one of the places we broke records at not too long ago, so I’m excited to see what happens.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. PT from the Bridge Bay Resort in Redding. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Bridge Bay Resort and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
13 Fishing Partners with Major League Fishing
Premier Fishing Gear Company Named Presenting Sponsor of First Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Event of the Year
January 14, 2021 (Tulsa, Okla.) Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that 13 Fishing has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the 2021 season-opening Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers at Lake Okeechobee, Feb. 11-14. In its 26th season of professional competition and the second year since the acquisition by MLF, the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit is professional bass fishing’s premier five-fish limit tournament series, showcasing a field of 166 of the top bass anglers in the world competing for up to $135,000 at each regular-season tournament and up to $235,000 at the Tackle Warehouse TITLE, the Pro Circuit championship.
“We are thrilled to welcome 13 Fishing to the MLF sponsor family,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF President and CEO. “As an angler-centric league, MLF aligns perfectly with 13 Fishing in putting our professional anglers and their needs at the forefront of the sport, both on and off the water.”
The 2021 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will feature 154 two-hour airings on network television, in a run that includes 24 airings on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel, for a total of 308 hours of programming.
“We are extremely excited to partner with Major League Fishing in 2021,” said Ben Alcocer, 13 Fishing Marketing Director. “As one of the fastest growing brands in the fishing industry it only makes sense that we partner with such a prestigious tournament series and media powerhouse. Seeing our professional anglers like Ron Nelson (Pro Circuit 2020 Angler of the Year) not only compete, but win, using our product on one of the most competitive stages in the world is what it’s all about.”
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about 13 Fishing, visit 13Fishing.com.
Lucky Hat Leads High School Angler’s Family to $10,000
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
KENNESAW, Ga. – Jan. 19, 2021 - High school angler Hunter Keller understands his mom, Ashley, and dad, Dusty, need to live within the family’s financial means - but they’ve always done all they can to support Hunter’s love of competitive bass fishing.
Rather than buy a pricey fiberglass boat, they chose a tough 18-foot aluminum boat powered by a 115-horsepower Yamaha V MAX SHO®. It’s a decision that recently paid back $10,000 in Yamaha Power Pay contingency money after Hunter’s dad, Dusty, registered for the Yamaha Power Pay program.
“When Mom got the email confirming our sixth place finish at the high school national championship was good enough for a $10,000 Yamaha Power Pay bonus, she was screaming and in tears of joy. She’s my biggest fan,” said Hunter. “Dad read about the new Yamaha Power Pay program right after it launched, and knew we had to make sure we signed up and thank goodness we did.”
A self-described baseball hat collector, 17-year old Keller from North Carolina says the Yamaha hat that came in the mail after his dad registered for Power Pay played a major role in their success at the 2020 Mossy Oak® National Championship on Kentucky Lake in late October 2020.
He and partner Daniel Brackett, with dad Dusty as their boat captain, stayed purposely close to the Paris Landing launch and weigh-in area in their smaller vessel, and used a 3/8-ounce fish head dressed with a Keitech® Fat Swing Impact to catch the majority of their three-day weight.
“I took like a dozen hats to that tournament, and the night before, I was studying which one I’d wear to start the tournament and chose the Yamaha Power Pay hat. Once my partner Daniel and I finished sixth, I never took it off. Then I won the next two tournaments I fished in that hat,” recounted Keller.
The fact is, Hunter probably spent more time laboring over what hat to wear than what outboard they’d buy. “We knew we wanted a Yamaha and wouldn’t have bought a boat without a Yamaha on the transom. Now, after this $10,000 Power Pay bonus, there’s no doubt. We’ll never own a boat without a Yamaha,” concludes the up-and-coming fishing talent who will attend Erskine College® on a fishing scholarship next year.
The great thing about the Yamaha Power Pay program is anglers don’t have to win tournaments to take home Power Pay cash. Anglers simply have to be the highest finishing registered participant in a Power Pay supported tournament. Power Pay is not just for bass anglers, it also includes eligible saltwater, walleye, high school and college anglers (over the age of 18) through hundreds of events.
For more information, complete terms and conditions or to register for Yamaha Power Pay, visit yamahapowerpay.com or email Chip with questions at Chip@DynamicSponsorships.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.