Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships / Photo: MLF

Drew Gill made waves in Stage 3 of the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour on Lake Murray in South Carolina, bringing home a victory that left a mark on the competition. The talented angler secured a win that not only added another title to his growing list of accomplishments but also earned him $3,000 of extra cash through the Toyota Bonus Bucks contingency program. 

For anyone who has followed the Bass Pro Tour, it’s clear this victory is a testament to Drew’s ability to perform under pressure. Stage 3 proved to be a real test for Gill but in true competitive spirit, he emerged on top. 

“Right now, I feel like there’s nobody you’d rather beat in a tournament than Jacob Wheeler, but you definitely don’t want him chasing you,” Gill said with a chuckle. “We were neck-and-neck, and I respect his ability so much. To beat him is awesome because nobody in the sport is fishing stronger than him. It was a super stressful tournament, especially on the last day of competition.” 

This reference to the high-level competition Gill faced highlights the constant mental and physical battle that anglers face in these high-stakes events.

Fishing the docks at Lake Murray

For Drew, Lake Murray presented a unique challenge. The clear waters meant that fish were often aware of their surroundings, making it necessary to employ precision tactics and a lot of patience. The key to his success was in dock fishing; an approach that required perfect timing, long casts and a bit of finesse.

“I had a very specific dock deal I was fishing during my normal fishing time without forward-facing sonar,” Gill said. “I needed the sunshine. They’d get right in the core of the dock floats. I could fish every dock with one cast and cover a lot of water. It was very efficient. When we’re fishing ‘blind’, how can you be super effective but still efficient? This pattern was the answer for me.” 

For Drew, efficiency is paramount, especially when fish are acting fickle. The docks provided an excellent opportunity for a quick bite but also demanded total concentration and precision. However, the weather wasn’t always in his favor. 

“I felt just okay about my odds on the last day, and it just got really hard to do because of the overcast conditions,” Gill said. “The lowlight conditions made them more spread out on the docks, which made me less efficient as a result.” 

As any seasoned angler knows, weather plays a pivotal role in the behavior of fish and that overcast day made his normally efficient pattern far more difficult to execute.

Well-educated fish posed a challenge

Fishing on Lake Murray is never a simple task, but somehow Gill made magic happen. 

“It wasn’t a super tough tournament, but it also wasn’t great,” Gill said. “If every fish in Lake Murray bit, it might be the best largemouth lake in the country because the average size is incredible. But they’re really smart and hard to catch—you can go from getting a lot of bites to no bites very quickly.”

The water clarity and abundance of wary fish on Lake Murray proved to be a challenge but Gill was able to outfox the competition. 

“The clear water makes it very tough,” Gill said. “They know when your boat’s around. It was dock fishing but you had to keep your distance and skip docks from 60 feet away. If you hit a dock float with your cast, you’re done with that dock and they’re not going to eat.” 

Despite the difficulty, Lake Murray is unique for its population of quality bass. 

“In terms of population, I’ve never been on a lake that has that many 3-5 pounders in it,” Gill said. “There’s no dead water. It’s almost like you can’t run away from the bass.” 

Toyota Bonus Bucks Nets Gill an extra $3,000

What makes Drew’s victory even sweeter is the additional boost provided by the Toyota Bonus Bucks program. 

“I won $3,000 with Bonus Bucks,” Gill said. “I’ve been driving my Tundra for a little over a year and it was the first new vehicle I’ve ever had. Choosing a Tundra in the sport we compete in—it’s a no-brainer. It’s an awesome truck and turns heads everywhere I go. It’s comfortable riding, I love the features, and it has a lot to offer. Bonus Bucks is just the cherry on top.”

The impact of the Toyota Bonus Bucks program has been significant for Drew, who’s seen the benefits over the past two seasons. 

“In the last two seasons, I’ve won around $30,000 with it. You simply cannot beat that.” 

Looking ahead to 2025 REDCREST on Guntersville

While Drew’s victory on Lake Murray was a well-deserved triumph, his focus quickly turned to the next challenge: Lake Guntersville. Known for its world-class fishing, Guntersville is an intimidating venue where the competition only intensifies. 

“I’m looking forward to Guntersville but it’s a lot to think about and you know you’re going to have to catch them at a blistering pace,” Gill said, acknowledging the spectacular recent weights on the famed bass fishery. “That lake is fishing incredible right now. There will be absolutely no time to relax.”

With so much on the line in every tournament, Drew’s mindset and preparation are crucial to his continued success. His victory at Stage 3 proves that he’s more than capable of performing at the highest level. It’s clear that his sights are set on pushing himself even further as the tour moves forward.