HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (April 4, 2025) – In a rewarding display of community involvement and environmental stewardship, Major League Fishing (MLF) pros joined forces with Suzuki Marine and Madison Academy to make a meaningful impact in Northern Alabama. On Wednesday, April 2, professional anglers used their “off day” before the kickoff of Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy – the Bass Pro Tour Championship – for two significant initiatives: a visit from the pros to Madison Academy and cleaning up the shores of Lake Guntersville with the Suzuki Marine Lake Cleanup project.

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The day kicked off with a visit to Madison Academy, just west of Huntsville, where MLF pros Drew Gill and Nick LeBrun, along with MLF Competition Official Brian Poppe, met with the entire second and third-grade classes, reading fish stories and discussing the importance of protecting natural waterways. Students were captivated by the anglers’ stories and had the chance to ask questions, learn valuable fishing tips and hear about the pros’ experiences on the water.

“It’s incredible to see the students’ enthusiasm for fishing and the environment,” said Gill, who was thrilled to be part of the event. “I remember being their age not very long ago and dreaming of becoming a professional angler. It’s great to be able to inspire them and talk about conservation efforts that help keep our waters clean for future generations.”

The visit wasn’t limited to the younger grades – members of the Madison Academy High School Bass Fishing Team also met with the pros, sharing their own experiences in the world of competitive fishing and gleaning valuable insight from the professional anglers. As part of the event, students excitedly gathered autographs and snapped photos with their bass fishing heroes, creating memories that would last a lifetime.

While one set of pros was engaging the youth of the sport, another group made their way to Civitan Park in Guntersville, Alabama, for the Suzuki Marine Lake Cleanup project, a two-hour event packed with enthusiasm, teamwork and even a little competition.

As part of Suzuki Marine’s CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, over 40 participants – including more than 20 anglers from both the MLF Bass Pro Tour and the Elite Series – scoured the shoreline, collecting more than 242 pounds of trash. In true MLF fashion, a bit of friendly competition was added to the mix, with a “mini weigh-in” to guess how much trash was collected. The pro with the closest guess took home a Suzuki Marine gift pack, but every pro was rewarded with a much cleaner Lake Guntersville shoreline as the prize.

The event was not only a great success in terms of environmental impact, but also a fantastic example of the fishing community uniting for a good cause. The partnership between MLF and Suzuki Marine has proven to be a powerful force for good, expanding the CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT’s efforts beyond the oceans to include lakes and rivers across the country.

“It’s amazing to see everyone come together to make a difference,” said REDCREST 2025 competitor and Suzuki Marine pro Matt Becker. “We compete hard on the water, but it’s important to work together to ensure our lakes, rivers and oceans stay clean and sustainable for generations to come.”

The event was hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the  Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association and the Madison County Commission.

“We’re so grateful to our partners at Suzuki Marine and our local hosts for making the lake cleanup such a success,” said Joe Opager, Sr. Director of Communications for MLF.  “It was a fun event that not only made a positive impact on the environment but also helped foster a sense of community in our sport.”

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.