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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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