Jaye Relies On Experience To Claim Day 1 Lead In Bassmaster Elite At St. Johns River
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Alabama Resident Chris Lane Leaps Ahead in Day One
February 7, 2020 (Tulsa, Okla.) Alabama resident Chris Lane finished day one of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour B&W Hitches Stage One presented by Power-Pole at the top of the SCORETRACKER® with 35-pounds, 12-ounces representing nine bass. Weather over recent days on Lake Eufuala played a factor in today’s competition as the excessive rain, wind, and lightning led to rising lake levels and muddy water conditions. Josh Bertrand finished in second with seven total bass weighing in at 26-pounds, six ounces. Brandon Coulter caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day, which weighed in at seven pounds, 14 ounces.
Chris Lane took an early lead in Period 1 by catching the first bass of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour at 8:09 a.m. local time. The Power-Pole pro had eight fish for 33 pounds, nine ounces – a more than four-pound average – at the conclusion of that first period. Despite a drought in Period 2 and only one fish in Period 3, Lane held his lead throughout the day. Included in his total were fish that weighed five pounds, 11 ounces and five pounds, 7 ounces, respectively.
“That was a great first period,” exclaimed Lane. “(In Period 3), I found an area late in the day with some clear water, and I made the mistake of not going there soon enough in the day. I look forward to getting back there (Sunday).”
32-year-old Josh Bertrand of moved from fifth place to end the day at second despite a slower start in Period 1 than others. His largest bass of the day weighed in at six pounds, 10 ounces and landed two others over four pounds. The Berkley pro who lives in Arizona didn’t know what to expect today and indicated that he hopes better weather in coming days may help hasten the pace of the game.
“We have some better weather coming so it might bust wide open,” said Bertrand, when asked about returning on Sunday to Lake Eufaula for his second Qualifying Day.
The Top Ten of Day One, Qualifying Group A finished as follows:
| Place | Angler | Total Weight | Total Fish | Largest Fish |
| 1 | Chris Lane | 35-12 | 9 | 5-11 |
| 2 | Josh Bertrand | 26-06 | 7 | 6-10 |
| 3 | Todd Faircloth | 25-13 | 6 | 5-08 |
| 4 | Bryan Thrift | 19-11 | 7 | 3-13 |
| 5 | Greg Hackney | 19-08 | 5 | 5-07 |
| 6 | Anthony Gagliardi | 19-08 | 4 | 6-04 |
| 7 | Brent Ehrler | 17-14 | 5 | 5-15 |
| 8 | Jeff Sprague | 17-08 | 6 | 3-13 |
| 9 | Brandon Coulter | 16-04 | 3 | 7-14 |
| 10 | Mark Rose | 14-08 | 5 | 3-14 |
For complete results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com, Bass Pro Tour, Results.
The Qualifying Round continues Saturday with Group B, which includes Edwin Evers, 2019 Points Champion and REDCREST presented by Venmo Champion, fishing greats Kevin VanDam and Mike Iaconelli, as well as 2019 Major League Fishing (MLF) World Champion Jacob Wheeler and MLF Rookie David Dudley. The weather forecast calls for a slightly warmer day calling for a high of 57-degrees-Farenheit and scattered showers midday.
The day begins with launch 6-6:30 a.m. before lines-in at 7:00 a.m. Period 1 ends at 10:30 a.m. Period 2 spans 10:45 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Period 3 begins at 1:30 p.m. and lasts until day’s end at 4:00 p.m. The General Tire Takeout show airs approximately 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. as anglers return to the ramp.
Fans can catch all the action every day of competition on MLFNOW! livestream on MajorLeagueFishing.com or download the MLF App for your Apple or GooglePlay device or on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).
About the Bass Pro Tour:
The Bass Pro Tour began in 2019 and features 80 of the best professional anglers in the world, including Kevin VanDam, Edwin Evers, Aaron Martens, Mike Iaconelli, Jordan Lee, and Skeet Reese. Each stage includes six days of competition using the Major League Fishing, catch-weigh-and-immediately-release format, where every bass over a variable minimum weight, which is two pounds on Lake Eufaula for Stage One, toward a cumulative weight total for the day. Variable minimum weights are determined by fishery akin to a golf course handicap. The field of 80 anglers is divided into two groups of 40 to compete on days one and two respectively for the Shotgun Round. On days three and four, the Elimination Round culls the field based on a combined 2-day total weight from each angler’s Shotgun and Elimination Round. The top 20 anglers from each group in the Elimination Round (40 total) advance to the Knockout Round on day five, which determines who will compete on that final day, the Championship Round, for the Stage title and $100,000.
Each of Eight Stages of the Bass Pro Tour have the following payout schedule: 1st $100,000; 2nd $42,000; 3rd $30,000; 4th$24,000; 5th $18,000; 6th $16,800; 7th $15,600; 8th $14,400; 9th $13,200; 10th $12,000; 11th – 40th $6,000; Big Bass Daily $1,000; Big Bass Overall $1,000.
In addition to the economic impact on a host community, Major League Fishing showcases the region through their award-winning, live and linear programming. Each Stage of the Bass Pro Tour is broadcast live on the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), and majorleaguefishing.com, totaling more than 325 hours of original programming. Fans can follow the fast-paced nature of the MLF format as it unfolds on the live leaderboard through “SCORETRACKER® updates.” Highlights from each Stage of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour will air on Discovery Network beginning in July 2020 and Sportsman Channel in early 2021.
“MLF offers the strongest broadcast presence in the industry to fans and sponsors,” said Jim Wilburn, President and CEO of Major League Fishing. “And with these lakes planned for this coming Bass Pro Tour, we know 2020 will be our best year yet as we continue to capture a broad audience of both longtime fishing fans and those new to the sport, thanks to our fast-paced, fan-friendly format,”
About Major League Fishing
Founded in 2011, Major League Fishing (MLF) brings the high-intensity sport of competitive bass fishing into America’s living rooms on Outdoor Channel, Discovery, CBS, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel, and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). The Bass Pro Tour consists of eight events and a championship streamed live on www.MajorLeagueFishing.com and MOTV.
In late 2019 MLF acquired FLW, which expands their portfolio to include the world’s largest grassroots fishing organization, including the strongest five-fish format professional bass fishing tour, the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, as well as the Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine, and Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI, and High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing.
For more information on the league and anglers, visit www.MajorLeagueFishing.com and follow MLF on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Off Days - The good and Bad with Brandon Lester
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
The start of the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series season has been delayed this week here on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida due to two a couple dreaded cancelled competition days. While “off days” aren’t exactly celebrated in this line of work, that doesn’t mean the glass isn’t half full.
Make no mistake; there are approximately zero Elite Series pros that want to have tournament days cancelled throughout their season. These guys are fishermen and they make their living on the water. But, pros like Team Toyota’s Brandon Lester know there is a good and a bad side to everything.
The Good – quality time with family and friends.
Lester, his wife Kimberly, and their daughters Shiloh & Leann have taken full advantage of the two “off days” this week. Spending precious time together and seeing what the area has to offer.
“We’ve been having a great time,” Lester said with a smile. “Yesterday I loaded them up in the Tundra and we drove to St. Augustine to see the Fountain of Youth and learn some history about that area. Then today we headed to Blue Springs State Park and the girls saw their first manatee up close! They had a ball.”
Lester stays impressively controlled whether he just landed a giant bass, is on camera for an interview, or is hanging out with fans. But he couldn’t hide his happiness when talking about the down time spent with his family the past two days. And that right there will always be far more important than any fishing tournament.
The Bad – the concern of losing touch with the fish and it’s mentally taxing.
While Lester’s girls have helped him find the good in a somewhat negative situation, the humble Tennessee native isn’t naïve enough to completely ignore the bad in having competition delayed.
“This is the first event of the year and we (the anglers) want to have a strong first event, for ourselves and for the fans,” Lester said. “There are a lot of emotions coming into the tournament season after a long time off and the very last thing I wanted was to not be fishing these first two days. With that being said, I definitely think B.A.S.S. made the right call.”
With a wind advisory being declared for the area and 40+ mph wind gusts being the norm over the past two days, there is no doubt the B.A.S.S. tournament staff made the right decision. Safety of the anglers, their marshals, and the B.A.S.S. camera crews on the water is paramount. Still,Lester would be lying if he said he wasn’t thinking about how the bass are changing.
“Man, this time of year bass are moving every single day,” Lester said as he looked over the St. Johns River. “Down here in Florida, they want to get up shallow and spawn. Things could literally be changing by the hour. We haven’t been on the water since Tuesday, so I absolutely worry about losing touch with the fish I found in practice.”
The good news for everyone is the wind is finally calming. The Elite Series competitors will have to deal with a major cold-front on the heels of this weather system, but with any luck they’ll be kicking off the 2020 season with a bang at the Palatka City Dock and Ramp tomorrow afternoon.
Zaldain Working Towards a Win
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
When day one of Bassmaster Elite Series competition on the St Johns River was called off this morning due to high and dangerous winds, most pro anglers took advantage of the “off-day” by resting. Some went fishing on non-tournament waters, others caught up on social media content, and plenty spent the day taking it easy. Not Chris Zaldain.
Around lunchtime I found last year’s Angler of the Year runner-up rocking a Carhartt t-shirt and a power drill in the boat yard. Fine-tuning his Humminbird electronics with service crewmembers before heading home to meticulously work on tackle.
“After nine years as a professional angler, I know my way around a toolbox,” Zaldain said with a laugh. “Equipment malfunctions are a reality of being a professional angler when you travel and push your equipment as much as we do. I’ve learned the best way to diagnose problems and give myself every possible minute of fishing time is to know my boat in and out; bow to stern.”
After watching Zaldain tinker for a few minutes, it was obvious he wasn’t embellishing. It turns out Zaldain has taken to rigging his own Skeeter Boat the past several years in order to be as knowledgeable as possible about his equipment. From his Yamaha Outboard to his Minn Kota trolling motor and every accessory in between, Zaldain is able to troubleshoot common issues so he can maximize his fishing time.
Paying attention to detail in all facets of fishing is partially what has helped Zaldain become the angler he is today. The California born pro who now resides in Texas had an absolutely red hot 2019 season. With three 2nd place Elite Series finishes, along with two more top 10s bookended by narrowly missing the Toyota Angler of the Year title.
But don’t expect Zaldain to revel in his past accomplishments, the freshly signed Carhartt sponsored pro has his sights set looking forward.
“What happened in 2019 is old news,” Zaldain explained. “Don’t get me wrong, it was an awesome year and I am extremely grateful for it, but it is in the history books. Now I feel like I’ve got to work twice as hard to put myself in a similar position at the end of this season. I need to come out hungrier.”
A harder working and hungrier Zaldain is a scary thought for his fellow Elite Series competitors. The trajectory of Zaldain’s career the past few years has been nothing short of impressive and he shows no signs of slowing down.
“This year the goal is some hardware,” Zaldain said. “I won’t lie, coming in 2nd four different times last year stung. This year I want to collect some trophies! An Elite Series championship or the Angler of the Year title would be incredible, but the Classic trophy outweighs them all for me. I already can’t wait for this year’s 50th Bassmaster Classic in Alabama. It’s going to be an awesome tournament.”
Whether or not Zaldain hoists a trophy overhead throughout the season won’t be due to a lack of effort. He works as hard as anyone both on and off the water, and maintains the right attitude while doing so. Tomorrow marks Zaldain’s first day back on the job for the 2020 season and the first step toward his yearlong goal.
Strong Winds Force Another Delay in Elite Series Opener
For the second day, strong winds have forced B.A.S.S. Officials to cancel a day of competition and the start of the 2020 Elite Series season. According to BASS the National Weather Service has called for a Wind advisory until 2:00pm today.
UPDATE: 8:46am - Courtesy of BASS
The Bassmaster Elite Series Outdoors Expo will be open at 2 p.m. ET on Friday at Palatka Riverfront Park. Fans will be able to meet their favorite Elite Series pros for autographs, photos and to share stories.
Competition in the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River is expected to resume Saturday morning, when the field of 88 anglers launches at 7:15 a.m. ET from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp. Weigh-ins will be held at 3:30 p.m. ET at Palatka Riverfront Park. The full field will compete Saturday and Sunday.
The current plan is to complete the tournament on Monday, when anglers will fish a shortened competition day. Launch on Monday will be at 6:45 a.m. ET and the weigh-in will be held at 2:00 p.m. ET.
UPDATE 9:47am
Top 20 To Fish Monday At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On St. Johns River
PALATKA, Fla. — After high-wind advisories forced the cancellation of the first two days of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, B.A.S.S. officials have adjusted plans and announced the Top 20 will fish a shortened competition day on Monday, Feb. 10.
Takeoff on Monday will be at 6:45 a.m. ET from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp, and the weigh-in will be held at Palatka Riverfront Park at 2 p.m.
The full field of 88 anglers will fish Saturday and Sunday. On those two days, anglers will launch from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp at 7:15 a.m. ET. Weigh-ins will be held at 3:15 p.m. ET at Palatka Riverfront Park.
From Florida, the Elites head to Dayton, Tenn., for the Bassmaster Elite Series at Chickamauga Lake. Competition on Chickamauga will continue as scheduled Feb. 14-17.
AC Insider Rookie Podcast - Two Elite Rookie with a Rare Day Off
With a rare day off prior to their first Elite series tournament, Rookies Wes Logan and Cody Hollen chat with Professor Duran about how it feels to be an Elite Series Rookie. Check it out!
B.A.S.S. Cancels Day 1 of St. Johns Elite Event - Top 10 to Fish MONDAY! - Updated
February 6, 2020
PALATKA, Fla. — B.A.S.S. officials made a decision to cancel the first day of competition on the St. Johns River today after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a wind advisory making the fishery unsafe for boaters. The wind advisory is calling for winds 15-25 m.p.h. with guests over 40.
“Safety for our anglers and marshals is our primary concern,” said Trip Weldon, Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament Director. “We have been monitoring the weather closely, and had discussions with NWS last night and this morning to see if the weather situation would change.
“Beginning this morning and into the afternoon, the wind was just going to be too high to safely be on the water.”
Competition in the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River is expected to resume Friday morning, when the field of 88 anglers launches at 7:15 a.m. from Palatka Riverfront Park.
February 6, 2020
St. Johns Top 10 To Fish Monday At Bassmaster Elite Event
PALATKA, Fla. — After a high-wind advisory forced postponement of the first day of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, B.A.S.S. officials announced that the Top 10 would fish a shortened competition day on Monday, Feb. 10. Launch on Monday will be at 6:45 a.m. ET from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp, and the weigh-in will be held at the Palatka Riverfront Park at 2:00 p.m. ET.
The full field of 88 anglers will fish Friday and Saturday. The field will be cut to the Top 40 on Sunday. On those three days, anglers will takeoff from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp at 7:15 a.m. ET. Weigh-ins will be held at 3:15 p.m. ET at Palatka Riverfront Park.
From Florida, the Elites head to Dayton, Tenn., for the Bassmaster Elite Series at Chickamauga Lake. Competition on Chickamauga Lake will continue as scheduled Feb. 14-17.
Weights and Weather Predictions with Arey, Sumrall, and Lester
The 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series season officially kicks off tomorrow morning here on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida. Last year’s season opening tournament on this very same fishery proved to be a big bass bonanza, but the Elite Series anglers were singing a different tune for this weeks derby. Reports of the St. Johns being “tough” and “a grinder” were widely discussed.
While Bassmaster Elite Series pros are famous for sandbagging about their practice days, one thing they all have on their minds for this week’s tournament is weather. The forecast for Thursday through Sunday has a little bit of everything. With high winds and sunshine on Thursday, followed by rain and a substantial cold front moving in Friday.
It’s no secret Florida bass behavior is extremely susceptible to changes in the weather, so we asked Team Toyota pros Brandon Lester and Matt Arey along with Carhartt pro Caleb Sumrall what to expect.
Q: How will the erratic and inconsistent weather affect this four-day event?
Caleb Sumrall: “Weather is everything this week. These Florida fish are trying to get shallow and spawn, but the weather dictates when they’ll do it. The guy who wins this event will likely have to change what they are doing every single day. You’re going to have to play the conditions and make fast, confident decisions.”
Matt Arey: “Florida fish are constantly on the move this time of year. I think the changing weather will put a lot more fish in transition areas than usual, which makes staying on them tough. The weather each day will dictate where guys need to focus their efforts, and I’m guessing it’ll change day by day.”
Brandon Lester: “Thursdays forecast (high winds) will make boat positioning and sight fishing extremely difficult, which is usually what dominates the tournament after day 1 on this fishery. After that, we’ve got a cold front which will make the fishing all around tougher in my opinion. The weather is going to have a big affect for sure.”
Q: How much weight per day will it take to make the top 12 this week?
Caleb Sumrall: “I’m going to say 16-lbs. a day will be good this week.”
Matt Arey: “17-lbs. per day… realistically probably more.”
Brandon Lester: “15-lbs a day.”
Swindles Starting Fresh
Courtesy of Luke Stoner with Dynamic Sponsorships
Team Toyota pro Gerald Swindle was one of the final boats to pull up to the Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp as the last light faded Tuesday night, marking the end of the Elite Series official practice for the Aftco Bassmaster Elite onthe St. Johns River. As always, his faithful wife LeAnn (aka “LuLu”) was waiting in the Tundra to help expedite the boat loading process.
The two time Bassmaster Angler of the Year is starting out his 2020 fishing seasons with plenty of change, and both Swindles agree they are starting this year fresh.
“Man I am coming at this season with a whole new perspective,” Swindle said with blatant honesty. “I’ll be straight up with you – 2019 was a tough year on me, tough year on both of us (referring to LuLu). With that being said, I think last year has allowed me to appreciate my career more.”
Its often said that good times are made better after experiencing some not-so-good times; and it’s true. For better or for worse it seems to take a few nasty days of rain, wind, or cold for us to truly appreciate the warm sunny days. You can dwell on or complain about those not-so-good days and let that negativity find rent in your head, or you can use the adversity as a lesson.
Swindle returned to the Bassmaster Elite Series this year and is entering into his 23rd year of fishing professionallywith optimism and focus. His passion for fishing and competing still burns as bright today as it did twenty-three years ago, and Swindle believes he is more driven this year than ever.
“I can focus better now than I could at the start of my career,” Swindle explained. “I embrace the grinder’s mentality nowadays in tournaments when that may have spun me out 20 years ago. Now I can keep my head down, fish my strengths, and stay on target for the full day. Sounds simple but that right there is important.”
The “G-Man” is coming into this season with a few performance-related goals as always, but different this year are a couple well-defined ambitions he and LuLu have that are bigger than “just fishing”. Swindle may be bass fishing’s funniest man, but those who know and follow himhave seen his genuine, reflective, and serious side, too.
“My number one goal for the year… Be Happy,” Swindle said sincerely. “LeAnn and I talked a lot about it this off-season and had time to think about it in a deer stand. Being happy is most important for both of us.
“Goal number two is to build relationships and try to be a positive role model for some of the younger Elite Series guys this year. I feel like I have a responsibility to help guys coming up on the off-the-water side of fishing. No one taught me the business side of this gig when I started. No one told me where to stay or the best places to eat when we roll into a new town. I want to lend a helping hand with those kinds of things.”
Swindle’s personality and on-the-water accomplishmentsput him in rarified air in the bass fishing history books, but he’s not done yet. With a renewed appreciation and focus on things like being happy, staying confident, and elevating his peers --his 23rd year of chasing bass may just be his best one yet.
Longtime Florida Pro Peter T previews this weeks Bassmaster Elite Series on the St. Johns River
Vance McCullough
Peter Thliveros is among the most successful tournament pros to ever come from North Florida. A native of the St Johns River, ‘Peter T’ has left the tournament business to his son, Nick and now spends time guiding on the big river that will host this weeks Bassmaster Elite Series tournament.
While he would be a great guide for anybody wanting to catch big Florida bass or our nearby saltwater species, today Thliveros is helping to guide my expectations for this week’s event. “I could be wrong, but my gut says 18 pounds a day will win it.
“Tough bite. The water temp is hovering around 60 degrees because the nights have still been cool. And that front that’s coming will not only cool the water, but the wind from it will eliminate a lot of the places these guys may want to fish.”
Specifically, Thliveros is thinking of a nice stand of eel grass on the east side of Lake George near the area where Cliff Pirch made the final cut last year. “A southwest wind is going to trash that area. You won’t even be able to fish it. It ain’t too calm out there today,” he says on the eve of competition. With an average depth of only 10 feet across its 72-square miles, Lake George blows up big waves in a hurry.
So, just find grass on the west side of the lake, right? “There is no vegetation,” except for the aforementioned patch. On the whole lake.
The veteran pro thinks we may see some nice stringers from the Astor area tucked away south of the big lake and hidden from harsh winds. Locals have reported seeing beautiful pads fields down there this winter amid the no-wake zones and manatee speed zones that slow travel through the area. Adding to the adventuresome run, anglers will have to negotiate any rough water that may arise on the 13-mile length of Lake George, whitecapped waves eating away at the tournament clock as they pound boat, rider and gear, the occasional blast of cold water spraying across the bow.
Famed springs along the west shore of Lake George will not be lonely places. “They’ll have all the boats they can hold. After the bedding fish get picked off it might slow down in there, but they’ll give up whatever they have to offer,” notes Thliveros. The spring-fed runs hold a constant water temperature near 70 degrees regardless of weather and water temperatures on the main lake.
Will the weather stack fish along productive main river shell bars that give up so many bass throughout the seasons? “This can be a tough time of year for that,” notes Thliveros. “You can’t count on those fish being there for four days. I remember a tournament where I caught them for two days offshore and then, after that bite died, I went to a canal and I was like ‘where did all these fish come from?’. They can leave those shell bars in hours. Every fish out there, just gone.
“But with this weather, they may not go right to the bank either. They may just be in limbo – not really deep anymore, but not yet shallow either. Hard to find. They’re going to be close to where they want to go, but maybe not on the beds yet.”
Look for spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, crankbaits – lipless or otherwise – to play a role this week. Worms always work well when things get slow in Florida.
As the expected cold front makes it way through the region, winds will blow form all directions on the compass rose. The highest, as brisk as 20 mph, will come late Thursday and throughout competition hours Friday, mainly from the southwest and west. A friendly blow from the east should greet anglers who make the cut and fish this weekend. The 40 pros who launch Saturday morning will likely do so in near-freezing temperatures. The final 10 contestants should enjoy a mild warm up of about 10 degrees on Sunday, setting up what may be the 2nd-most productive day of the tournament, tomorrow’s sight-fish-fueled opening round likely being the heaviest.
Thliveros made a couple of interesting picks with respect to guys we should watch this week.
“Cliff Prince might be able to put it together for 3 or 4 days because he knows those shell bars so well.” Prince is a local favorite which makes him a measuring stick of sorts. His experience on the river, coupled with how he does in this event, will give onlookers a good idea as to how well the St Johns itself is performing lately.
Then there’s the wildcard.
“Seth Feider. He was dropshoting in 20 feet last year. Nobody fishes that way down here. It’s not typical shell bar fishing. He targeted suspended fish, and some on bottom, in water deeper than we, locals, ever fish for them here – in 18-to-20 feet of water. Those are some of those ‘limbo’ fish that aren’t where they’re supposed to be.”
Last year the Elite Series hit the river just right and Rick Clunn took another St Johns Elite Series title with 98 pounds, 14 ounces – 34-14 of it coming on the final day. This year doesn’t promise quite such a show, but hoards of big bass live here and the fish could make massive moves, as could our anglers, any given hour of the event.
Stay tuned!
St. Johns River Readies for Toyota FLW Series Tournament
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PALATKA, Fla. (Feb. 4, 2020) – The 2020 Toyota Series will continue their season next week at the St. Johns River, Feb. 13-15, with the Toyota Series at the St. Johns River. Hosted by the Putnam County Tourist Development Council, the three-day tournament will feature the best regional bass-fishing pros and co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus a $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
“I think that with the way the weather is setting up, we’re going to hit this one just right,” said legendary pro angler Peter Thliveros of Saint Augustine, Florida, who has 13 top-10 finishes in FLW competition and more than $620,000 in career earnings. “It’s going to be optimum conditions for the spawn – 80-degree temperatures being forecast, a moon phase earlier that week – I think the water temperatures will really jump up and we’re going to see a mass movement of fish to the bank.
“That being said, we’re probably going to see some really impressive limits over the first few days of the event,” Thliveros continued. “The key is going to be sight fish and it’s one of those deals where it won’t be predictable. It’ll be happening as the tournament progresses and a guy that is on nothing can all of a sudden be in the right place at the right time and just stumble on to them.”
With a spawn tournament primarily on the radar, Thliveros expects anglers preferred soft-plastic of choice to be the key bait – craws, creature baits, tubes and worms. He also predicted that some fish would be caught on swimbaits and topwater baits throughout the week.
“Not all of the fish will spawn at one time, so I could see spinnerbaits and ChatterBaits playing a role as well,” he said.
“I predict that the winner will likely have between 60 to 65 pounds,” the Florida pro went on to say. “I expect a couple of guys will bust big limits – 20 to 25 pounds, maybe even 28 one day – and they’ll have a couple of solid limits to go with it. There are so many factors that go into a three-day tournament, and going into the last day the final outcome will likely not be obvious.”
Anglers will take off from Palatka Riverfront Park, located at 100 Memorial Parkway in Palatka at 7 a.m. EDT each day of competition. The weigh-ins will be held each day at Palatka Riverfront Park beginning at 3 p.m. All takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
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 full field, pros will fish for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if FLW PHOENIX BONUS qualified. Co-anglers will cast for the top prize of a brand new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at more than $30,000).
The Toyota Series consists of eight divisions – Central, Eastern, Northern, Plains, Southeastern, 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 Championship for a shot at winning $200,000 cash, plus lucrative contingency bonuses. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2020 Toyota Series Championship is being held Nov. 5-7 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky, and is hosted by the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and the Burnside Tourism Commission.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE ANNOUNCES 3 NEW STORE LOCATIONS
WEST JORDAN, Utah, Jan. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sportsman's Warehouse Holdings, Inc. ("Sportsman's" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SPWH), www.sportsmans.com, today announced plans to open new stores in Parker, Colorado, Brentwood, California and Corona, California this year. Local residents in these locations will soon be able to experience the Company's well-known, high level of customer service and quality, brand-name hunting, fishing, camping, shooting, apparel, and footwear merchandise in person at each store.
"As we continue to grow our brand and business, we are excited to expand our presence in Colorado and California. We look forward to offering our huge selection of high-quality merchandise, backed by our guaranteed, everyday low prices and local expertise to three new communities in these states," stated Jon Barker, Sportsman's CEO. "While we continue to expand in northern California with our Brentwood location, our new store in Corona will be our first store in Southern California. After the grand opening celebrations, we will have a total of 13 stores in California and 7 in Colorado."
These new stores are planned to open in 2020: Parker in February, Brentwood in August and Corona in October. Soon, local residents in these markets will be able to:
- Access an assortment of over 60,000 region-specific items accompanied by unsurpassed levels of customer service;
- Have fun and learn new skills with unique workshops, demonstrations and seminars for the entire family; and
- Enjoy grand opening celebrations with giveaways, doorbuster sales and more!
"While other competitors de-emphasize or exit the space, Sportsman's continues to opportunistically open new stores and grow our business through both ecommerce and store locations. We look forward to serving these communities through providing outstanding gear and exceptional service to inspire outdoor memories," continued Barker.
The three new locations in Parker, Brentwood and Corona are Sportsman's first announced store openings in 2020 with additional openings likely to be announced in the near future. Including the three new locations, Sportsman's will have a total of 107 stores in 27 states.
For more information about Sportsman's Warehouse, visit www.sportsmans.com.
ABT Podcast Featuring Cody Huff and Bassmasters Ronnie Moore!
This week the boys welcome in two time Toledo Bend Champ Cody Huff to the show to talk about his College Win two weeks ago and his Toyota FLW Series Win last week on Toledo Bend! Chris sits down with Bassmaster's Ronnie Moore at Grosse Savanne and of course we have plenty of mischief left in the show!
Humminbird® and Minn Kota® Expand Pro Roster for 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series
RACINE, Wis., February 4, 2020 – As the Bassmaster Elite Series kicks off the 2020 season this Thursday with the first event on the St. John’s River, Humminbird® and Minn Kota® announce a significant expansion to the team, adding 14 new pros to their list of sponsored Elite Series anglers.
New to the pro team are Patrick Walters, Greg DiPalma, Garrett Paquette, Buddy Gross, Ray Hanselman, Lee Livesay, Luke Palmer, Mike Huff, Bob Downey, Brad Whatley, Bill Weidler, Ed Loughran, Wes Logan and Chris Groh.
The new pro team members join Chris Zaldain, Matt Herren, Gerald Swindle, Brandon Palaniuk, Keith Combs, Seth Feider, Bill Lowen, Chad Pipkens, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, Carl Jocumsen, Koby Kreiger, Harvey Horne and Dale Hightower as anglers who will be tapping into the power of the One-Boat Network™ this season. Utilizing best in class technologies including Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging™, the industry-leading Minn Kota Ultrex™, Lakemaster® mapping and Talon shallow water anchors and unmatched connectivity across these products will put these competitors at the top of their game as they tackle nine diverse fisheries over the course of the season.
“This group of anglers represents some of the best of the best, including proven Angler of the Year champions and young guns alike,” said Tim Price, Humminbird and Minn Kota Field Promotions Manager. “Combining their talents with best technology in the game is a recipe for success and we can’t wait to see how the season shapes up.”
Similar to last year, these anglers will be running Humminbird electronics, a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor and Talon shallow water anchors. Continuing its legacy of innovation, Minn Kota debuted the Built-In MEGA Side Imaging® in its Ultrex trolling motors last fall which allows anglers to run their boats confidently, while seeing the clearest, most precise images of structure and fish in real-time directly below and to either side of their boat.
The Minn Kota Ultrex changed the way anglers approach boat control by combining Spot-Lock™ – a GPS anchoring system with unparalleled accuracy – with power steering in an intuitive and responsive heel-toe foot pedal.
New for the 2020 season, anglers can spend more time fishing the most productive water and see fish more clearly with Humminbird’s MEGA 360 Imaging. MEGA 360 Imaging provides sonar clarity more than three-times traditional 455 kHz frequencies and is the only sonar option that gives a high-resolution 360-degree view around the boat and is integrated to allow full use of the trolling motor. MEGA 360 Imaging delivers a unique tool to see around the boat while fishing, which can be used simultaneously with Spot-Lock and other Minn Kota boat control features without interfering with sonar returns.
For more information visit www.humminbird.com or www.minnkotamotors.com.
COX, HOWELL JOIN T-H MARINE IN 2020 PRO STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT
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Hible & Christian win TTZ Lake Travis event with 19 even!
| PL | ANGLER 1 | ANGLER 2 | FISH | BIG BASS | WT | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RANDY HIBLER | RANDALL CHRISTIAN | 5 | 19.00 | $10,000 + 1st Place Side Pot $2,750 | |
| 2 | JJ LARSON | JASON LARSON | 5 | 7.41 | 18.39 | $5,000 |
| 3 | BYRON ALBRECHT | MIKE JOHNSON | 5 | 17.11 | $3,500 + 2nd Place Side Pot $1,100 | |
| 4 | TERRY HALL | LYNN PIERCE | 5 | 17.04 | $2,250 + 3rd Place Side Pot $825 | |
| 5 | TERRY WILLIAMS JR | BILLY WALDSCHMIDT | 5 | 15.82 | $1,750 | |
| 6 | BRIAN BUSTILLOZ | CODY RANDOLPH | 5 | 7.45 | 15.50 | $1,500 + $1900 BIG BASS + 4th Place Side Pot $550 |
| 7 | ROBERT BUCHANAN | 5 | 14.83 | $1,250 | ||
| 8 | DONNIE ROSS | DAMON ROSS | 5 | 5.39 | 14.63 | $1,000 |
| 9 | SHAWN TAMEZ | CRAIG CORDOVA | 5 | 14.59 | $800 | |
| 10 | DEREK TAYLOR | JOHN-MICHAEL DUNAWAY | 5 | 5.92 | 14.32 | $700 |
| 11 | TONY FERDINANDO | SHANE LOGAN | 5 | 14.21 | $600 + 5th Place Side Pot $275 | |
| 12 | SETH FISHER | MARION KOPF | 5 | 6.47 | 14.18 | $550 |
| 13 | DENNIS BECK | MICHAEL BECK | 5 | 13.77 | $500 | |
| 14 | JAKE KENNAMER | CARSON CONKLIN | 5 | 13.71 | $450 | |
| 15 | TODD IVINS | SCOTT SMITH | 5 | 13.65 | $425 | |
| 16 | CLINT MAREK | CODY GARRETT | 5 | 13.60 | $400 | |
| 17 | CHRIS WILKINSON | MASON WILKINSON(Y) | 4 | 13.25 | $375 | |
| 18 | DUSTIN SMITH | JARED SMITH | 5 | 12.96 | $350 | |
| 19 | JOHN WARDEN | CHARLES DORTCH | 5 | 12.60 | $325 | |
| 20 | JASON MURPHREE | PATRICK AMICK | 5 | 6.48 | 12.36 | $300 |
| 21 | HAL GATEWOOD | RYAN KACZMAREK | 5 | 12.32 | ||
| 21 | TRAVIS COCKERHAM | LOGAN CLARK | 5 | 12.32 | ||
| 23 | RAY TOMASITS | CARY LAUDADIO | 5 | 12.18 | ||
| 24 | DIRK AMAN | DANIEL WESSMAN | 5 | 12.03 | ||
| 25 | JASON OLIVO | JOEY RODRIGUEZ | 5 | 12.01 | ||
| 26 | MATT HILL | BARRY MOTT | 5 | 11.93 | ||
| 27 | JOHNNY RAY | JASON TRUITT | 5 | 11.86 | ||
| 28 | MARK RIBERA | RICK RIBERA | 5 | 11.82 | ||
| 28 | DEVIN GIBSON | BOB PRESCOTT | 5 | 11.82 | ||
| 30 | DON GORDON | JAMES ROBERTS | 5 | 11.79 | ||
| 31 | DONNIE O'NEAL | BILLY MCCRARY II | 5 | 11.78 | ||
| 32 | BILL MCANN | WAYLON PAPST | 5 | 11.52 | ||
| 33 | DEAN ALEXANDER | ADRIAN SANCHEZ | 5 | 11.50 | ||
| 34 | WILL BERNHARD | DARYL PRICE | 5 | 11.48 | ||
| 34 | TREY GROCE | JOE BILL HALE | 5 | 11.48 | ||
| 34 | PHILIP THOMPSON | THOMAS HOWE | 5 | 11.48 | ||
| 37 | BRYAN SCOTT | TYLER TORWICK | 5 | 11.46 | ||
| 38 | JIMMY CHAPMAN | KENNETH CUMMINS | 5 | 11.44 | ||
| 39 | GARRETT HENNIG | BRANDON MCQUEEN | 5 | 11.36 | ||
| 40 | STEVE MAGNELIA | CLINT ROBERTSON | 5 | 11.27 | ||
| 40 | ALLEN GASS | JOHN RATLIFF | 5 | 11.27 | ||
| 42 | BRIAN MATER | PHIL WARREN | 5 | 11.12 | ||
| 43 | GARY JOHNSON | MIKE SODEN | 5 | 11.10 | ||
| 44 | BRETT ORLICH | GARY FERGUSON | 5 | 11.08 | ||
| 45 | CONNER ISELT | JOSH SOROKA | 5 | 11.07 | ||
| 46 | JAMES CANTWELL | DONNA CANTWELL | 5 | 11.05 | ||
| 47 | JUSTIN STEWART | BRODE PICKENS | 5 | 11.03 | ||
| 48 | DALE READ | JIM SUNVISON | 5 | 10.96 | ||
| 48 | EDDIE PELFREY | JACKY ROBERTS | 5 | 10.96 | ||
| 48 | BRENT SMITH | RANDY FESLER | 5 | 10.96 | ||
| 51 | GARY WEIMER | JEREMIAH WAFFORD | 5 | 10.89 | ||
| 52 | JEFF HAGER | DAVID PEMBERTON | 5 | 10.85 | ||
| 53 | HUNTER PRICE | WYATT RAE | 5 | 10.84 | ||
| 54 | DAVID BUECHE | 5 | 10.82 | |||
| 55 | JAYSON KISSELBURG | DEAN GOLMON | 5 | 10.80 | ||
| 56 | KELLEY MAULDIN | LOYD WARD | 5 | 10.77 | ||
| 57 | JOSH LASSETER | ROBERT MILLER | 5 | 10.75 | ||
| 58 | JAMES WHITE | WAYNE ALBERTHAL | 5 | 10.74 | ||
| 58 | MICHAEL MASTERS | ROBERT MASTERS | 5 | 10.74 | ||
| 60 | STERLING MARTIN | JUSTIN MADDING | 5 | 10.73 | ||
| 61 | BUBBA WAMPLER | HANK FRY | 5 | 10.67 | ||
| 61 | MICHAEL WERSIG | 5 | 10.67 | |||
| 63 | RYAN BODE | BLAKE STASIUNAS | 5 | 10.62 | ||
| 64 | CHARLES WHITED | BRENDAN KENNELL | 5 | 10.53 | ||
| 65 | KEN EVERETT | LARRY SMITH | 5 | 10.51 | ||
| 66 | STAN KAMINSKI | CODY BAILEY | 5 | 10.40 | ||
| 67 | JEFF ACHILLES | PHILIP HENDERSON | 5 | 10.31 | ||
| 68 | JUSTIN HUMMEL | LEONARD DEBRASKA | 5 | 10.28 | ||
| 69 | DAVID REID | ROBBIE THORSTEINSON | 5 | 10.17 | ||
| 70 | CHRISTOPHER WASHINGTON | JARRID HOHENSEE | 5 | 10.08 | ||
| 70 | LANCE DILLARD | BLAKE DILLARD | 5 | 10.08 | ||
| 72 | JARROD SANDERS | MICHAEL WALDROP | 5 | 10.06 | ||
| 73 | STEVE BAILEY | CHRIS BREWTON | 5 | 10.03 | ||
| 74 | KEITH VERDECANNA | CLIFF HOLDER | 5 | 9.97 | ||
| 75 | ROBERT ETHERIDGE | COLTON ETHERIDGE | 5 | 9.96 | ||
| 76 | SPENCER SCHNEIDER | BRIAN HUGHES | 5 | 9.93 | ||
| 77 | MICHAEL ATKINS | BRINTON HASKINS | 5 | 9.90 | ||
| 78 | BRANDON BRAY | JESSE FRY | 5 | 9.83 | ||
| 79 | DANIEL ABERNATHY | DAVID LINDLEY | 5 | 9.82 | ||
| 80 | RANDALL BEAUCHAMP | REGINA BEAUCHAMP | 5 | 9.79 | ||
| 81 | DEREK MCNABB | KYLE JENKINS | 5 | 9.75 | ||
| 82 | JAMIE SLAYDEN | BRANDON HOUSTON | 5 | 9.74 | ||
| 83 | JR BRIANT | JAMES DEISO | 5 | 9.69 | ||
| 84 | PHILLIP MASSOLETTI | NOEL LOWE | 5 | 9.62 | ||
| 85 | SHAWN MARKGRAFF | TRENT BLAKE | 5 | 9.61 | ||
| 86 | TOBY TUCKER | GARRETT WILKINS | 5 | 9.60 | ||
| 87 | DARREL ROUTON | JACK CULBREATH | 5 | 9.46 | ||
| 88 | PRESTON DANNA | PHILLIP WALKER | 5 | 9.44 | ||
| 89 | RONNY MAYNARD | ERIC CRUMLEY | 5 | 9.40 | ||
| 90 | JASON PATUREAU | LOUIE MALLERNEE | 5 | 9.29 | ||
| 91 | DAVID SCHWERTNER | DAVID RIDLEY III | 5 | 9.26 | ||
| 92 | DENNIS WHITED JR | MAX KIPP | 5 | 9.15 | ||
| 93 | JAY JOHNSON | EASTON JOHNSON | 5 | 9.14 | ||
| 94 | LEONARD PHILIPP | HUNTER ARTHUR | 5 | 8.97 | ||
| 95 | BRAD DENTON | TOM GRIDLEY | 5 | 8.88 | ||
| 96 | DOUG GEORGE | MERLE GEORGE | 5 | 8.72 | ||
| 97 | JEFFREY HUNTER | JASPER HUNTER(Y) | 5 | 8.64 | ||
| 98 | BRANDON JONES | THOMAS WEIMER | 5 | 8.61 | ||
| 98 | TOM PURSELL | MATT PURYEAR | 5 | 8.61 | ||
| 100 | RICHIE LAND | SCOTT ROSS | 5 | 8.58 | ||
| 100 | JOHN HAND | JERAD POOL | 5 | 8.58 | ||
| 102 | JUSTYN PARRISH | GARRIT AFMAN | 5 | 8.55 | ||
| 102 | COLT DIETZ | HEATH GRANT | 5 | 8.55 | ||
| 104 | BLAIR COBBLE | RAEANN COBBLE | 5 | 8.54 | ||
| 105 | MIKE HARMAN | WESLEY MCCLAIN | 5 | 8.49 | ||
| 106 | CODY BARCHENGER | HERMAN GEORGE | 4 | 8.27 | ||
| 106 | JASON BUCHANAN | TERRY KIRCUS | 5 | 8.27 | ||
| 108 | KENNETH FAIRLY | JUSTIN WISIAN | 5 | 8.19 | ||
| 109 | TRAVIS DAUGHERTY | COLTON BEAN(Y) | 3 | 8.09 | ||
| 110 | MICKEY SANDERS | ROGER MEEK | 5 | 8.05 | ||
| 110 | NATHEN LABAY | BRANDON BUSSELL | 4 | 8.05 | ||
| 112 | DANIEL BARNES | ADRIAN BARNES | 5 | 7.97 | ||
| 113 | CHAD KALLINA | ERIC JOHNSON | 5 | 7.90 | ||
| 114 | STEPHEN MALINA | TRAVIS PROFFITT | 4 | 7.85 | ||
| 115 | DUSTAN OUSTAD | CHRIS HOOTEN | 4 | 7.82 | ||
| 116 | MATTHEW HATHAWAY | THOMAS MYERS | 4 | 7.62 | ||
| 117 | RANDY GROUNDS | LEE BEUERSHAUSEN | 3 | 7.58 | ||
| 118 | AUSTIN QUIET | BRIAN ARABIE | 4 | 7.57 | ||
| 119 | JAMES DORTCH | CLINTON HOLSTINE | 4 | 7.43 | ||
| 120 | RANDALL GARCIA | 4 | 7.24 | |||
| 121 | JOSEPH GONZALES | CHRIS NEWBERG | 4 | 7.14 | ||
| 122 | KEVIN THRESS | JUSTIN MAY | 5 | 7.00 | ||
| 123 | RONNIE WISDOM | JAMES WILKINSON | 4 | 6.88 | ||
| 124 | CHRIS BERTELSON | QUINN VANCE | 4 | 6.84 | ||
| 125 | DAVID ACHILLES | JOHN MILLS | 4 | 6.77 | ||
| 126 | LANDRE WILSON | JIM WILSON | 5 | 6.74 | ||
| 127 | GROVER CHAMBLISS | RONALD YOUNG | 4 | 6.65 | ||
| 128 | CRIS TATUM | JUSTIN TATUM | 4 | 5.89 | ||
| 129 | RICK HAMILTON | TONY MALDONADO | 2 | 5.78 | ||
| 130 | TOM GUIDRY | DUSTIN ISBELL | 3 | 5.22 | ||
| 131 | BRYAN RICHARDS | MAT KEVIL | 2 | 5.18 | ||
| 132 | DAVID MILLER | JOSH BALADEZ | 2 | 5.16 | ||
| 133 | DAVID STEPHENS | BILL KIMBERLY | 3 | 5.15 | ||
| 134 | SHAE SEALE | LARRY HOLYBEE | 2 | 5.03 | ||
| 135 | JOHN HALLEY | JAMES SCOTT | 3 | 4.90 | ||
| 136 | STEVE THIEL | GEORGE CASTLEBERRY | 3 | 4.79 | ||
| 137 | JASON RANFT | JEREMY ANZVALDE | 3 | 4.76 | ||
| 138 | MATT RUSSELL | DEAN JONES | 3 | 4.49 | ||
| 139 | PHILLIP SMITH | HAYDEN SMITH(Y) | 2 | 3.77 | ||
| 140 | MATTHEW WHITTINGTON | DAVE MANGELSDORF | 2 | 3.58 | ||
| 141 | MICHAEL KILE | BRIAN KILE | 2 | 3.34 | ||
| 142 | CASEY COLLINS | CALEB COLLINS(Y) | 1 | 2.26 | ||
| 143 | ZACHRY AKERS | WILLIAM JACOBSEN | 1 | 1.54 | ||
| 144 | DILLON KOPACZ | JUSTIN DAVIS | 1 | 1.49 | ||
| 145 | JAMES JONES | LINCOHN JONES(Y) | ||||
| 145 | MIKE PICKWELL | FRANK WIGET | ||||
| 145 | DAVID HICKS | |||||
| 145 | JOE LOOZE | DYLAN LOOZE | ||||
| 145 | STEVEN KIRKWOOD | |||||
| 145 | ANTHONY RIBERA | |||||
| 145 | NORM WILSON JR | NORM WILSON SR | ||||
| 145 | CHRIS CONNER | CHUCK BROOKE | ||||
| 145 | JOHNNY ALLEN | DANIEL GIBSON | ||||
| 145 | CHARLES YOUNG | RONNIE ANDREWS | ||||
| 145 | DARRELL WUENSCHE | |||||
| 145 | BRYAN COTTER | JUSTIN FISHER | ||||
| 145 | ROBBIE BEARDMORE | ROBERT BEARDMORE | ||||
| 145 | CHUCK WARE | CODY FRAISER | ||||
| 145 | CJ OATES | DERON MUELLER JR | ||||
| 145 | BLAYNE THOMPSON | DANIEL MCCUE | ||||
| 145 | RICK LOWE | BRONWYN LOWE | ||||
| 145 | FRED CATES | MARK COLLIER | ||||
| 145 | TONY THOMPSON | KYLE FORD | ||||
| 145 | JOHN KAPALDO | DONNIE WEBER | ||||
| 145 | JAMES HESTER | NEAL CHILDERS | ||||
| 145 | LEE BENTON | CODY SMITH | ||||
| 145 | JOE DUCK | LORNE DORNAK | ||||
| 145 | RUSTY REEDY | STEVE MAPLES | ||||
| 145 | JAY FRAZIER | JOE BRAY | ||||
| 145 | DEE WILLS | DEWAYNE HARNED | ||||
| 145 | JOHN WEBBER | COREY MARTENSON | ||||
| 145 | GRANT GOODNER | JAMES GOODNER | ||||
| 145 | KAENA FREITAS | ANDY ZAVALA | ||||
| 145 | CRAIG BULLOCK | DAVID BARATZ | ||||
| 145 | EVAN COLEMAN | SAM STONE | ||||
| 145 | NATHAN BOWERS | HUNTER OWENS | ||||
| 145 | ANTHONY SKOUBY | BOBBY ACOSTA | ||||
| 145 | ANDY TOLLEY | TYLER TOLLEY | ||||
| 145 | BLAKE ARAPIS | GLENN WILSON | ||||
| 145 | CODY HAMER | MIKE HAMER | ||||
| 145 | DEREK KURYKENDALL | FORREST WILSON | ||||
| 145 | MICHAEL ZIBERT | KIMBERLY ZIBERT | ||||
| 145 | BRANDON ODELL | SAM CASTRO | ||||
| 145 | MYLES SCHOPFER | MYLES SCHOPFER JR(Y) | ||||
| 145 | MARIO GOMEZ | JOSH MCGUIRE | ||||
| 145 | MATT FORBIS | TYLER FORBIS(Y) | ||||
| 145 | DAVID HESSKEW | NICK CASTLEBERRY | ||||
| 145 | AUSTIN CRANFORD | SHYAN STALLINGS | ||||
| 145 | MARK HARMON | JERRY HARMON | Mark Harmon Shimano Loyalty Winner | |||
| 145 | JOEY MARTIN | GREG MEHAFFEY | Pre-Registration Winner- Shimano Curado Rod Joey Martin-Shimano Loyalty Winner |
Mark Mueck and Kaden Mueck Win Inaugural Outlaw Team Series event with over 24 pounds!
Congratulations to the father-son team of Mark Mueck and Kaden Mueck for bringing in 24.06 lbs and taking home $11,000. We also added $6,100 to The Outlaw Team Series Championship Fund.
1st Place - Mark Mueck & Kaden Mueck 24.06 lbs
2nd Place - Bryan Lohr & Harold Moore 22.53 lbs
3rd Place - Danny Iles & Brian Shook 22.12 lbs
4th Place - Cory Rambo & Rusty Clark 21.64 lbs
5th Place - Norman Land & Travis Moore 19.45 lbs
6th Place - Kevin Lasyone & Jim Dillard 18.98 lbs
Full Results can be found here:
Garmin® signs multiyear deal to sponsor Bassmaster Tournament Trail
OLATHE, Kan./Feb. 4, 2020/Business Wire – Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), the world’s leading marine electronics manufacturer1, today announced it has signed a three-year deal to become a sponsor of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, beginning with the first Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla., Feb. 6-9, 2020.
“Garmin is proud to be a supporting sponsor of B.A.S.S. and further strengthen our continued relationship with this iconic fishing brand,” said Dave Dunn, Garmin director of marine sales.
“We are deeply committed to the freshwater fishing industry, and the Bassmaster Tournament Trail is a great place for us to showcase our award-winning products and technologies to anglers of all ages and skill levels.”
Garmin will be a supporting sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the grass-roots TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation regional and championship tournaments. As a sponsor, Garmin will have an opportunity to engage with avid fans during the Bassmaster Outdoors Expo at Elite events and live weigh-ins for other trail series tournaments.
“B.A.S.S. fans and anglers are not only enthusiastic about fishing and boating, they genuinely enjoy spending time outdoors,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “That makes Garmin a natural fit to team with our tournament series to reach an audience that is passionate about living an active lifestyle.”
The relationship between Garmin and B.A.S.S. is already strong, with 18 members of the Garmin national pro team competing on the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series, ranging from veteran anglers Todd Auten and Clark Wendlandt to newcomer Bryan Schmitt.
Garmin was recently named Manufacturer of the Year for the fifth consecutive year by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA), an honor given to the most recognized marine electronics company for support of products in the field. Garmin’s portfolio includes some of the industry’s most sophisticated chartplotters and touchscreen multifunction displays, sonar technology, high-definition radar, autopilots, high-resolution mapping, sailing instrumentation, audio, entertainment and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and ease-of-use. Other Garmin marine brands include Navionics®, Fusion® and EmpirBus™.
For more than 30 years, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garminnews, or youtube.com/garmin.
Unpredictable Florida Weather Will Be A Factor In Bassmaster Elite Series Opener
January 31, 2020
PALATKA, Fla. — The St. Johns River is a fertile fishery with proven big-bass potential, but local Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cliff Prince said the fishery will provide a challenging chessboard when the Elites kick off their 2020 season there.
Competition days will be Thursday through Sunday, with daily takeoffs from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp at 7:15 a.m. ET. Weigh-ins will be held at 3:15 p.m. at Palatka Riverfront Park.
Grass will play a role — or more specifically, the lack thereof. Historically, the St. Johns has held lush fields of eelgrass, but the majority of this thin-bladed vegetation fell victim to a one-two punch delivered in 2017 when Hurricane Irma ripped up existing grass and dumped a massive volume of water into the system. Dark outflows from local swamps blocked sunlight and impeded regeneration.
The habitat picture was also dire last February when the Elite Series opened its season on the St. Johns. But the event benefitted from a major meteorological whip cracking, and B.A.S.S. legend Rick Clunnclaimed his 16th Bassmaster victory with an astounding 98 pounds, 14 ounces.
Prince says weather patterns may sway the script again.
“Last year, we had the perfect storm of conditions,” said Prince, who lives in Palatka and considers the St. Johns his home fishery. “We had a month of really cold weather and then all of a sudden, we had a week of 80 degrees. If the forecast holds, I don’t foresee another scenario like that.
“We are going to have a full moon on Saturday of the tournament, so you know there’s going to be some big females pulling up (shallow) somewhere. It’s just a matter of how many and who can capitalize on that.”
Stretching 310 miles from its marshy headwaters in Lower Indian River County to its Atlantic Ocean exit through Jacksonville’s Mayport Inlet, the St. Johns is Florida’s longest and its only north-flowing river. Fed mostly be storm water and natural springs, the St. Johns’ low flow rate of 0.3 mph classifies it as a “lazy” river.
That being said, the St. Johns’ coastal connection also makes it a partially tidal fishery. As Prince notes, daily ebb and flow fluctuates the water level in 72-square-mile Lake George — the most commonly fished pool, located south of the tournament’s takeoff and weigh-in site — and nearby Crescent Lake.
Noting that the lack of eelgrass will make the St. Johns fish small, Prince said the one significant patch on the east side of Lake George may be less productive than normal.
“The wind’s supposed to blow out of the west for a week, so that patch of grass is going to get (disrupted),” he said.
While the primary habitat source may be lacking, the St. Johns River and its major pools offer several viable options. Offshore shell bars often hold staging prespawners, while laydowns, stumps and loads of docks provide substantial targets.
“There’s a lot more vegetation — pads, hyacinth, pennywort — south of Lake George,” Prince said. “I don’t go down there a lot, just because of the no-wake zones and (manatee) speed zones, but some guys may capitalize on that.”
In the floating vegetation, flipping/punching beaver-style baits will produce. Similarly, dock and laydown fish like those Texas rigs and jigs. For searching open water, Prince suggests lipless baits, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs and topwaters.
A full field of 88 anglers will fish the first two days, with only the Top 40 making it to Saturday’s semifinal round. Only the Top 10 remaining anglers will advance to Championship Sunday with a chance to win the $100,000 first-place prize.
Prince said he expects 15 pounds a day to make the Top 10 Championship Sunday cut, but fireworks are never far away.
“If you look back in the history of the Elites visiting the St. Johns, the person that wins always has a 28- to 31-pound bag,” Prince said. “Somebody’s going to run into three big ones in a day — somebody always does.”
The AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River is being hosted by the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.
Johnson Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Lanier
Gainesville’s Thompson Wins Co-angler Division
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 3, 2020) – Boater Jason Johnson of Dawsonville, Georgia, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 1 ounce to win the 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia. For his victory, Johnson earned a total of $13,596, including the lucrative $7,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus contingency award. The victory was the first win of Johnson’s FLW career.
“I’ve been close in the Bass Fishing League events several time, and it feels great to finally get a win,” said Johnson, who earned his first victory after eight prior top-10 finishes in FLW competition. “It’s even sweeter with the new Phoenix contingency award. It made for a really good payday.”
Johnson said that he spent his tournament day fishing on the south end of the lake, near the Buford Dam. He targeted timberlines in 35 to 50 feet of water – where the timber met off of a point or hump – and had 12 bites all day, landing nine.
“It was pretty much Lanier staples – a shaky-head and drop-shot rig,” he said. “I’ve fished quite a few local tournaments over the past couple of weekends and I just got lucky that the fish have been there every week and are staying in their wintertime patterns.”
Johnson said his key drop-shot rig was a hologram dawn-colored Zoom Z3 original worm, as he caught three of his five keepers by dropping the bait directly to them after seeing them on his Lowrance units. He also added a few fish on a Georgia Blade ½-ounce green-pumpkin-colored jig and a ½-ounce SpotSticker Underspin with an albino-colored Zoom Fluke Jr.
“I’m signed up for all of the Savannah River division events as well,” Johnson went on to say. “I’m looking forward to fishing at Lake Keowee next weekend and I’m going to try my best to qualify for that BFL Regional tournament on Lanier in October.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: Jason Johnson of Dawsonville, Ga., five bass, 19-1, $6,596
2nd: Mitchell Mullins of Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 18-11, $2,798
3rd: Nathan Ragsdale of Athens, Ga., five bass, 17-10, $1,867
4th: Joe Eubanks of Marietta, Ga., five bass, 17-8, $1,306
5th: Jason Densmore of Dawsonville, Ga., five bass, 16-13, $1,119
6th: Clabion Johns of Social Circle, Ga., five bass, 16-10, $1,931
7th: Rusty Evans of Roswell, Ga., five bass, 16-3, $933
8th: Jerry Brumfield of Cumming, Ga., five bass, 16-1, $839
9th: Phil Johnson of Alpharetta, Ga., five bass, 15-11, $746
10th: Brad Wiley of Alto, Ga., five bass, 15-8, $653
Complete results can be found at FLWFishzing.com.
Johns brought a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass to the scale to win the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $905.
Johnson took home an extra $7,000 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member. 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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Justin Thompson of Gainesville, Georgia, won the Co-angler Division and $2,798 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 8 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Justin Thompson of Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 14-8, $2,798
2nd: David Quintero of Flowery Branch, Ga., five bass, 14-7, $1,851
3rd: David Uselton of McDonough, Ga., five bass, 14-5, $931
4th: William Mercer of Cumming, Ga., five bass, 14-0, $653
5th: Tyler Pendley of Jasper, Ga., five bass, 13-4, $560
6th: Brent Thomas of Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 13-0, $513
7th: Kyle Rogers of Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 12-13, $466
8th: Levon Fattal of Suwanee, Ga., five bass, 12-7, $420
9th: Tim Greene of Loganville, Ga., five bass, 12-4, $373
10th: Nicholas Ray of Milledgeville, Ga., five bass, 11-15, $326
Quintero caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $452.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Lake Lanier was hosted by the Gainesville Convention & Visitors Bureau. It was the opening event of five qualifying tournaments in the Bulldog division.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Bulldog division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 16-18 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Cherokee in Jefferson City, Tennessee, hosted by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.
The 2020 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 co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held April 30 through May 2 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina and is hosted by Visit Anderson. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division earn priority entry into the FLW Series, the pathway to the FLW Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour, where top pros compete with no entry fees.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Date Change Announced For Bassmaster Open At Lake Hartwell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2020
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Officials announced a schedule change today for the 2020 Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C. This three-day event has been moved to Sept. 23-25 to accommodate the Clemson University football schedule, which was released last week.
The Eastern Division points race and the Elite Series berths that go with it will be on the line when anglers launch onto the storied waters of Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C. — site of three previous Bassmaster Classics and six major B.A.S.S. events.
“The decision to move dates, while not easy, was made in the best interest of the anglers,” said Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson, which is hosting the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open on Lake Hartwell. “Our commitment is to provide the best experience for the competitors and their families during their time in our community, and this change will allow us to provide that experience.”
While always popular and competitive, the Bassmaster Opens have garnered even deeper interest in 2020 as massive changes in the pro fishing industry have many of sportfishing’s biggest names — like Anderson’s-own Brian Latimer, Scott Martin, Randy Blaukat and Andrew Upshaw — competing in all eight Opens this year to try and earn a coveted spot in the Bassmaster Elite Series.
“It’s the most interesting dynamic we’ve ever had for the Opens — and without a doubt, the toughest field we’ve ever had,” said Chris Bowes, tournament director for the Bassmaster Opens. “Maybe the best thing about it is that there’s a young kid out there right now, ready to fish these events. He’s looking at the list, seeing all these big names and he’s not scared one bit. He’s just ready for the challenge.”
In addition to the event payout of $250,400 (based on a field of 150 anglers), anglers in both the pro and nonboater divisions will be competing for Falcon Rods Bassmaster Angler of the Year points. The AOY award comes with a $10,000 prize for the overall points winner in the pro division. The top co-angler will earn entry fees into the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens division of his or her choice — a value of approximately $7,200.
Missouri’s Huff Wins Toyota Series Season Opener on Toledo Bend Reservoir
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANY, La. (Feb. 1, 2020) – Boater Cody Huff of Ava, Missouri – a standout collegiate angler for Bethel University – brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday totaling 17 pounds, 15 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series at Toledo Bend Reservoir. Huff’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 61-11 gave him the win by a commanding 7-pound, 11-ounce margin and earned him a payout of $35,395 in the season opening Toyota Series event.
Huff has had a pretty good run on Toledo Bend over the last two weeks. First, he and Bethel University partner Dakota Pierce won the Bassmaster College Series event on Toledo Bend last week. After driving home to drop Pierce off, Huff returned earlier this week for another round on the Sabine River impoundment. Three more days of fishing later, he locked up the first FLW win of his career.
The Missouri angler played a simple game plan throughout both the college event and the Toyota Series event – fish like he would back home in the Ozarks with a jigging spoon for suspended fish. However, he didn’t come south with that game plan in mind.
“The fish were shallower early last week in the mouths of the creeks, but when that cold front hit, it moved them,” said Huff, who was competing in his ninth event as a boater on the Toyota Series. “The first day of the college tournament we caught them close to the creeks, the second day halfway out and the third day out in the main river channel.”
That wave of fish movement is almost exactly how things shook out this week. The bait and bass pushed halfway back towards the creeks from the river channel over the first two days. On the final day, Huff had to scramble around to relocate the fish back near the main channel.
Working three primary areas from Cypress Bend Park down to just north of Housen Bay, Huff spent the majority of his time in anywhere from 40 to 70 feet of water scanning with his electronics to stay with the bait and the bass. Suspended bass were the target and the higher they sat in the water, the easier they were to catch.
“From 11 o’clock on those bass started to group up and that’s when you could really catch them,” the 22-year-old pro said. “Whenever you’d see them in that 15- to 30-foot range, they’re catchable. When they get below that they’re not really feeding, but when they’re up in and around that bait you can catch them.”
Even though sun would help to group the bass up, the bright skies on Saturday had Huff scrambling for a bite with two hours to go. Having only a small spotted bass and keeper largemouth in the box shortly after noon, Huff was beginning to wonder if his luck had run out.
“I thought today was the perfect conditions and I was going to stroke them,” he said. “I pulled up to two of my best places and there wasn’t a ball of bait within a mile. The best place had them good for the last two weeks, and they were gone. I checked it four or five times today and they never pulled up.”
Once the day got nice and the wind calmed down, Huff revisited a spot he checked in the morning.
“With two hours to go I catch a 3-pounder and see there is a mega-school down there,” said Huff. “One of the biggest schools I’ve seen all week. I flipped back and only one fish comes to meet my spoon out of the school and follows it for three or four jerks and about that time I lock up and it’s an 8-8. I got a limit and with about 30 minutes left my trolling motor batteries were so dead that my foot pedal wouldn’t even move on my Ultrex, so I came in.”
One rod is all Huff needed on Toledo Bend and a 7/8-ounce jigging spoon was the ticket. He threw it on a 6-foot, 8-inch Johnny Morris Signature Series rod with a 7.8:1 Johnny Morris Signature Series reel spooled up with 12-pound Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon line.
The top 10 pros on Toledo Bend Reservoir finished:
1st: Cody Huff, Ava, Mo., 15 bass, 61-11, $35,395
2nd: David Curtis, Trinity, Texas, 15 bass, 54-0, $14,134
3rd: Matthew Boyt, Converse, La., 15 bass, 50-13, $10,168
4th: Stephen Johnston, Hemphill, Texas, 15 bass, 49-7, $8,589
5th: Justin O’Brian Cooper, Zwolle, La., 15 bass, 49-3, $7,626
6th: Chris Lewis, Longview, Texas, 15 bass, 48-14, $6,779
7th: Darold Gleason, Many, La., 15 bass, 48-11, $5,932
8th: Benjamin Gulett, Converse, La., 15 bass, 46-11, $5,084
9th: Cody Pitt, Many, La., 13 bass, 41-4, $4,237
10th: Phil Marks, Dallas, Texas, 12 bass, 38-10, $3,389
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Johnston brought a mammoth bass to the scale Thursday weighing 10 pounds, 7 ounces, to earn the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $115.
Robert Kessler of Spring, Texas, won the Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 36 pounds, 13 ounces. For his win, Kessler took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor, worth $27,000.
The top 10 co-anglers on Toledo Bend Reservoir finished:
1st: Robert Kessler, Spring, Texas, 13 bass, 36-13, $27,077
2nd: Hugh Rose, Davis, Okla., 14 bass, 33-7, $4,313
3rd: Dustin Robinson, Glendale, Ariz., 14 bass, 33-5, $3,450
4th: Rusty Harvey, Lumberton, Texas, 12 bass, 33-2, $3,019
5th: Aubrey Hyde, Winnfield, La., 10 bass, 27-11, $2,588
6th: Lane Haymond, Cave Springs, Ark., 11 bass, 27-7, $2,156
7th: Rick Parker, Kaufman, Texas, 11 bass, 27-5, $1,925
8th: Brian Bayless, Porter, Texas, 11 bass, 26-8, $1,510
9th: Anthony Templeton, Beckville, Texas, 11 bass, 25-9, $1,294
10th: Sam Sharp, Hillsboro, Ala., seven bass, 21-12, $1,078
Kessler also caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Friday, a fish weighing 8 pounds, 13 ounces. He earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $77.
The Toyota Series on Toledo Bend Reservoir was hosted by the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments in 2020 for Southwestern Division anglers. The next tournament for Toyota Series anglers will be the Southern Division opener – the Toyota Series at the St. Johns River, held Feb. 13-15 in Palatka, Florida. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
The Toyota Series consists of eight divisions – Central, Eastern, Northern, Plains, Southeastern, 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 Championship for a shot at winning $200,000 cash, plus lucrative contingency bonuses. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2020 Toyota Series Championship is being held Nov. 5-7 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky, and is hosted by the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and the Burnside Tourism Commission.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Robertson Scores Big On Final Day To Win B.A.S.S. Nation On Okeechobee
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Huff Leads FLW Series event on Toledo Bend
January 31, 2020 by Kyle Wood - Courtesy of FLWfishing.com
Last week, the Bethel University angler won the Bassmaster College Series event on Toledo with his partner Dakota Peirce. And after heading to back to Tennessee to drop off Pierce, Huff hightailed it back to Toledo Bend and picked up right where he left off.
The only pro to weigh back-to-back 20-pound bags, Huff put 23 pounds, 6 ounces on the scale on day two and has a 7-8 lead over local guide Justin Cooper who sits in second with 36-4 total. With 43-12 overall, Huff appears to be cruising toward the win in the first Toyota Series Southwestern Division event of the year. Going into the final day, Huff certainly seems to have a handle on things, but you can never count a comeback out on Toledo Bend – a 30-pound bag is always just around the corner for someone.
Huff’s main program involves staring at his electronics offshore until he marks suspended bass chasing shad. He won’t make a cast with his jigging spoon until he marks fish, so he’s not winning any award for most casts made this week, but he has been making the most of his opportunities. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s fishing comfortable – similar to how he would back in the Ozarks.
“It’s something I’ve grown up around,” Huff says of chasing suspended fish. “It’s what everyone does at home in the wintertime when the bait goes deep. This isn’t the deepest I’ve ever caught them, they’re suspended over deep water, but not really that deep. A lot of them are from 20 to 40 feet. But at Table Rock you could go there now and catch one from 70 to 90 feet.
“I’m not casting unless I’m casting at fish. Today I probably caught 12 keepers, maybe 15,” says Huff. “Not a crazy amount, but enough. But I’m around a lot of fish and I’m seeing a lot of fish, so I’m hopeful for another day of it.”
Throughout the college event and this tournament, Huff has relied on consistent good bites. Not the 8- to 10-pound fish that swim in Toledo, but instead a good supply of 4- to 6-pounders. Yesterday the fish didn’t setup how he needs them until the afternoon, but today he got the ball rolling early.
“As soon as I pulled up this morning the bait was already where it’s supposed to be, but the bass were still spread out,” he adds. “But it didn’t take them long to group up like they should and by 9 or 10 o’clock they grouped up and bit a little better today for me. They were where they are supposed to be and were still there when I left.
“The first big bite I got today was around 11 o’clock and the next big one was close to 1 o’clock. Then I culled with a 4-pounder on my last cast and came in a little early hoping to save the rest for tomorrow.”
While the locals behind Huff are utilizing a wealth of knowledge on this lake coupled with years of experience, Huff has been hunkering down in a few areas where he knows big bass swim because of the amount of bait in the areas.
“I know I’m around giants; I’ve caught three big ones the last two days in the same area and I see what’s with them,” says Huff. “I know there’s more big ones with them. It’s a big area, so I’m not sitting in the spot, I’m just moving around a lot in the same area.”
With one day to go, Huff is excited to get back out and see if Toledo Bend can be kind to him for one more day and put an incredible ribbon on a fantastic week of fishing.
So, is this his favorite lake now?
“Not yet, but I’ll let you know tomorrow afternoon around 3 o’clock.”
Top 10 pros
1. Cody Huff – Ava, Mo. – 43-12 (10)
2. Justin Cooper – Zwolle, La. – 36-4 (10)
3. Stephen Johnston – Hemphill, Texas – 35-10 (10)
4. Phil Marks – Dallas, Texas – 34-8 (10)
5. Matthew Boyt – Converse, La. – 34-0 (10)
6. Darold Gleason – Many, La. – 33-7 (10)
7. Cody Pitt – Many, La. – 33-4 (10)
8. Benjamin Gulett – Converse, La. – 33-4 (10)
9. David Curtis – Trinity, Texas – 32-0 (10)
10. Chris Lewis – Longview, Texas – 31-12 (10)
Hyde takes co-angler lead
For his first FLW tournament, Aubrey Hyde of Winnfield, La., is holding his own. Hyde caught a limit worth 12 pounds, 9 ounces on day one to sit in sixth-place. Today, he found a kicker bite and that bumped his day-two bag to 15-2 with 27-11 overall. Heading into the final round, he holds a 1-pound lead over Robert Kessler.
Consistency has been a key for Hyde this week, but his big bite today really helped push him into the lead.
“Thanks to my boater and thank God for that big fish,” Hyde says. “I’ve been praying.”
Paired with Jack Covas today, Hyde was able to capitalize on an offshore bite.
“Jack is a real nice guy and he showed me how to catch these fish today, otherwise I wouldn’t have had a clue," says Hyde. "Most all my fish have come offshore from 18- to 40-foot deep. Today, they wanted something small, like a little swimbait, drop-shot, Carolina rig or an underspin. I’ve never fished this deep, but I’ve learned a lot this week and I like fishing deep now.”
With one day to go, Hyde is looking to go one for one in his FLW tournament career. Though, he’s not too worried about the win just yet. He’s just happy to be here.
“A friend of mine, Benjamin Gullett, talked me in to coming out here and trying this out and I’m glad I did.”
Top 10 co-anglers
1. Aubrey Hyde – Winnfield, La. – 27-11 (10)
2. Robert Kessler – Spring, Texas – 26-11 (8)
3. Lane Haymond – Cave Springs, Ark. – 25-11 (10)
4. Brian Bayless – Porter, Texas – 24-4 (10)
5. Hugh Rose – Davis, Okla. – 22-13 (9)
6. Rick Parker – Kaufman, Texas – 21-14 (8)
7. Sam Sharp – Hillsboro, Ala. – 21-12 (7)
8. Dustin Robinson – Glendale, Ariz. – 21-7 (9)
9. Anthony Templeton – Beckville, Texas – 20-5 (9)
10. Rusty Harvey – Lumberton, Texas – 20-0 (7)
Perspective by Ott DeFoe
2019 Classic Champ has decided to address questions regarding his Classic Win and the defense of his title. This story was sent to AnglersChannel.com from Ott Defoe.
“perspective.” Merriam-Webster.com (noun): the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.
Perspective—that’s the word for 2019. We—Jennie and I—developed a whole new perspective last year that we have carried into 2020. We learned so much in 2019.
One thing we learned is that there are a lot of fishing fans out there. There are fans of television icons Bill Dance, Roland Martin, and Jimmy Houston, as well as fans of The Bass Pros on Outdoor Channel and my television show—The Hunt for Monster Bass. There are fans of the Bassmaster Classic and certainly fans of Major League Fishing.
Times are great in fishing these days for anglers, fans, and companies. We can all watch more fishing programming than ever. When I was recovering from heart surgery last year, I got to watch every minute of the Bass Pro Tour event on Lake Winnebago. I learned a lot, and I found it very entertaining, too. I watched my friends competing over at Bassmaster during my recovery time as well.
So many people have reached out and offered congratulations on the Classic win as well as prayers and support for the heart surgery and recovery. Honestly, the heart surgery response was the biggest outpouring of support of all. That fact changed our perspective. Bass fishing fans are some of the finest people who walk the earth.
One question that has been hanging out there is whether or not I’ll be fishing the Bassmaster Classic on Guntersville this year.
I will not be fishing. It is not any single tournament organization’s fault, either. It was ultimately my decision. When we chose to fish the Bass Pro Tour instead of the Elite Series, we knew this would be the last Classic I would qualify for. Per B.A.S.S. rules, you must fish the Elite Series in order to receive your automatic berth for the next year.
Not fishing it this year makes me appreciate the win in Knoxville even more. I can always say I won it. My name will be on the trophy from here on out.
But you know what?—trophies fade. Titles lose importance. People forget. Money gets spent. Accolades become ancient history. I’m reminded of a passage from the book of Matthew, chapter 6.
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
There will be a new Classic winner this year. I know for a fact that it’s a career-changer. My hope is we will grow the Bass Pro Tour’s championship to be a career-changer as well. That will take some time and a lot of effort, but we are excited to have the opportunity to be along for the journey.
I plan to be in Birmingham to hand off the trophy. When Jordan Lee handed it to me, he said two things –“this thing is heavy, and throw away your phone.” It was indeed heavy, but I decided to hang onto my phone. I’ve met a lot of great people this year and had a lot of great conversations, both in-person and on that phone.
I’ll be at the Expo on Sunday and welcome anyone to stop by and say hello.
11:00 a.m. – Bass Pro Shops/Nitro
12:00 p.m. – Mercury
1:00 p.m. – Humminbird/Minn Kota
2:00 p.m. – Mossy Oak
In a year filled with blessings, gaining more perspective was the biggest one of 2019.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
JOHNSTON IN FRONT IN FLW SERIES AT TOLEDO BEND
Courtesy of FLWfishing.com
January 30, 2020
Toledo Bend isn’t fishing like its normal self at the moment, but it still kicked out some solid bags to start the Toyota Series Southwestern Division season opener. With the lack of grass and low water (it’s down several feet due to recent work on the dam), word on the street was that local knowledge would really shine through this week – and so far that’s holding true.
Hemphill, Texas, pro and regional hammer Stephen Johnston sacked up 23 pounds, 8 ounces worth of Toledo Bend bass to take the early lead, thanks in large part to the 10-7 kicker he caught this afternoon.
“When you put a 10 in and throw a 2.4 out, it’s a game-changer all the way around,” Johnston says of his day-one big bass. “I really struggled all day. I didn’t have a bunch of opportunities. I knew it was going to be tough to start with.
“These fish got up there shallow and got comfortable until it started raining last week, and the water temperature has fallen and they just don’t want to bite, but they’re sitting there.”
While the majority of the field fished the offshore bite away from the bank, as did Johnston, the leader also tried to keep the shallow bite honest. And though he didn’t catch many fish, he showed that there is enough potential close to the bank to make a run at his second Toyota Series title.
“I’m running and gunning,” Johnston adds. “I fished 15, 18 spots today and just didn’t get many bites. I only caught seven keepers all day.
“I caught some in 3 foot and I caught some in 14, so there’s no rhyme or reason. I’m going to have to re-run water tomorrow. I had 25 sticks on the front deck, and I’m just chunking and winding.”
With Johnston’s years of experience on Toledo Bend, including eight top 10s in FLW competition, he knows to take it day by day – especially with the caliber of anglers in the field and the size of the bass that call Toledo home.
“No matter what, when it comes back down to it, having that 10-pounder makes a day.”
Top 10 pros
1. Stephen Johnston – Hemphill, Texas – 23-8 (5)
2. Matthew Boyt – Converse, La. – 20-13 (5)
3. Darold Gleason – Many, La. – 20-10 (5)
4. Cody Huff – Ava, Mo. – 20-6 (5)
5. Jim Dillard – West Monroe, La. – 19-5 (5)
6. Justin O’Brian Cooper – Zwolle, La. – 18-10 (5)
7. Billy Hurt – Spring Creek, Tenn. – 18-0 (5)
8. Benjamin Gulett – Converse, La. – 17-6 (5)
9. Jacopo Gallelli – Florence, Italy – 16-6 (5)
10. Ryan Pinkston – Center, Texas – 16-4 (5)
SHARP LEADS CO-ANGLERS
Having never been to Toledo Bend before this week seems to be the lucky charm for Sam Sharp of Hillsboro, Ala., who hauled in 17 pounds, 11 ounces to take the early co-angler lead.
Paired with pro Benjamin Gulett – who also sacked up 17 pounds – Sharp fished offshore the entire day and says he wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“I love structure fishing,” says Sharp. “It’s my favorite thing to do. I was fortunate to fish with Benjamin today, who’s a local, and we had a good time. I culled probably at least four times today.
“This is my first trip here, but I came out here because I have a friend who lives close by, and I figured why not come see him and we could fish together on his home lake. It’s been a fun trip.”
Top 10 co-anglers
1. Sam Sharp – Hillsboro, Ala. – 17-11 (5)
2. Leroy Green – Anderson, Texas – 14-10 (5)
3. Lane Haymond – Cave Springs, Ark. – 13-14 (5)
4. Almonzo Hillard – Arkadelphia, Ark. – 13-6 (5)
5. Dean Krambeck – Newalla, Okla. – 12-13 (5)
6. Aubrey Hyde – Winnfield, La. – 12-9 (5)
7. Dustin Robinson – Glendale, Ariz. – 12-6 (5)
8. Edward Yao – The Woodlands, Texas – 12-4 (3)
9. Brian Bayless – Porter, Texas – 12-3 (5)
10. Kip Passant – Lake Charles, La. – 12-0 (5)
Florida Takes B.A.S.S. Nation Team Title On Lake Okeechobee
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B.A.S.S. LLC, 3500 Blue Lake Drive, Suite 330, Birmingham, AL 35243 United States
Post Rayburn FLW Rookie Talk
This week Professor Duran welcomes in FLW Tour Rookies Mitch Crane and Jake Ormond to talk about their first tase of the FLW Pro Circuit last week on Sam Rayburn and their goals for the 2020 season.
Toyota Announces Sponsorship of Major League Fishing and Fishing League Worldwide Multi-year partnership kicks off this month.
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Grosse Savanne Part 1..... with a High Kick!
This week Chris joins the gang from Lake Charles, Louisiana where he is attending a media event and has the opportunity for a sit down with BPT Pro Greg Hackney and Elite Series sophomore Quentin Cappo. David takes over the Bass wrap up and more! Stay Tuned!
Parrish’s James Swindle Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Guntersville
Kentucky’s Fouts Wins Co-angler Division
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Jan. 27, 2020) – Boater James Swindle of Parrish, Alabama, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 20 pounds, 7 ounces to top 223 boats and win the 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake Guntersville in Scottsville, Alabama. Swindle earned $6,000 for his victory.
“This is awesome,” said Swindle, who earned his first career win in Bass Fishing League competition. “My dad has fished in BFL tournaments since I can remember, and I’ve seen him bring home a couple of trophies over the years. So to get one of my own is pretty special, and I’m so proud to be bringing this home.”
Swindle said that he spent the day fishing up past the B.B. Comer Bridge, because he knew that the fishing pressure would not be as bad. One a tough day where most anglers had to scramble to catch a limit, Swindle boated more than 40 keepers throughout the day.
“I commited to a jig and a crankbait for most of the day,” Swindle said. “I had some deeper stuff and some shallow stuff, but most of my fish came from 6-foot of water. My key bait was a green-pumpkin-colored structure jig with a twin-tail grub trailer.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1st: James Swindle of Parrish, Ala., five bass, 20-7, $6,000
2nd: Will Robinson of Columbia, Tenn., five bass, 18-14, $3,000
3rd: Jordan Wiggins of Cullman, Ala., five bass, 17-11, $1,574
3rd: Matt Adams of Oxford, Ala., five bass, 17-11, $1,101
3rd: Brad Harmon of Ringgold, Ga., three bass, 17-11, $944
6th: Gavin Ainslie of Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 17-9, $865
7th: Cassidy Evans of Auburn, Ala., five bass, 17-1, $787
8th: Derek Miller of Grant, Ala., five bass, 17-0, $708
8th: Will Yelverton of Hazel Green, Ala., five bass, 17-0, $629
10th: Terry Tucker of Gadsden, Ala., five bass, 16-12, $551
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Rick Williams of Decatur, Alabama, brought a 7-pound, 6-ounce largemouth to the scale to win the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $1,000.
Jim Leary of Guntersville, Alabama, took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member. 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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Benjamin Fouts of Morehead, Kentucky, won the Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1st: Benjamin Fouts of Morehead, Ky., five bass, 17-1, $3,000
2nd: Tony Pendley of Oakman, Ala., five bass, 16-14, $1,500
3rd: Bruce Stanley of Jasper, Ala., five bass, 16-9, $1,000
4th: Brian Martin of Ranburne, Ala., five bass, 15-10, $700
5th: Jacob Daily of Chattanooga, Tenn., five bass, 15-2, $600
6th: Randy Hill of Athens, Ala., five bass, 14-12, $550
7th: Shane Browder of Lynnville, Ind., four bass, 14-3, $500
8th: Christian Greico of Tampa, Fla., four bass, 13-15, $450
9th: Roger King of Killeen, Texas, five bass, 13-10, $400
10th: Lynn Spears, Athens, Tenn., five bass, 13-7, $350
Chase Fleeman of Summertown, Tennessee, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $500.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Lake Guntersville was hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce. It was the opening event of five qualifying tournaments in the Choo Choo division.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Choo Choo based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 16-18 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Cherokee in Jefferson City, Tennessee, hosted by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.
The 2020 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 co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held April 30 through May 2 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina and is hosted by Visit Anderson. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division earn priority entry into the FLW Series, the pathway to the FLW Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour, where top pros compete with no entry fees.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Carhartt to Support Hard-Working Anglers Caleb Sumrall, Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain
Dearborn, Mich. (January 27, 2020) – As part of its continued support of the sport, Carhartt announced today the addition of Bassmaster Elite Series pros Caleb Sumrall and Chris Zaldain to their team, along with Trait Zaldain, a longtime competitor in the Bassmaster Open series.
Sumrall, a former oil industry supply yard worker, became one of bass fishing’s all-time dream come true stories in 2017. The husband and father of two young children went from the stressful concerns of being laid-off in the Southern Louisiana petroleum industry to a B.A.S.S. National Champion, earning a $40,000 cash prize, and an invitation to become a Bassmaster Elite Series pro.
The highly personable Iberia, LA pro has since leveraged his pro angling opportunity to the fullest with six Top 30 finishes in 2019 that sends him back to the Bassmaster Classic for the second time, and builds great promise for his still young career.
Speaking of making the most of an opportunity, few pros in the world converted a promising fishing career into one of best in the business last year more so than California native, turned part time Texas cattle farmer, Chris Zaldain.
Zaldain notched three super-impressive, yet somewhat heartbreaking second place finishes in 2019, and qualified for his fifth Bassmaster Classic – an event he nearly won last year. He makes hard work the common fiber to all he does, whether challenging for an Elite Series win or managing Black Angus near his Fort Worth home.
However, Chris is not the only Zaldain who fishes. His wife Trait was raised by an avid angling father, and was already competing in B.A.S.S. tournaments when she and Chris met. Trait has worked diligently to further her tournament fishing career, while inspiring other females to become involved in fishing.
Carhartt has been recognized as America’s leading workwear brand since 1889, but many may not know the iconic brand has been an avid supporter of bass fishing for the past eight years. In fact, its hats, raingear, shirts and more have become the outdoor clothing of choice for passionate college anglers and those who enjoy trading their toolbox for a tacklebox, no matter the season.
“We’re excited to welcome these world-class anglers to the Carhartt family,” said Brian Spiro, Manager of Partnerships and Influencer Marketing at Carhartt. “We know they will outwork them all, just as our rugged gear does for our consumers every day, either on the job or off.”
Hard work, honesty, and a passion for fishing are just a few of the characteristics these anglers share with 30 million other Americans, and Carhartt is excited to be a part of their 2020 season.
About Carhartt, Inc.
Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium workwear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged products for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, with more than 5,500 associates worldwide, Carhartt is family-owned and managed by the descendants of the company’s founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.Carhartt.com.
Cox Goes Wire-to-Wire to Win Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
BROOKELAND, TEXAS (Jan. 26, 2020) – Berkley pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, already had an impressive resume – four career victories, two runner-up finishes in the FLW Angler of the Year race and the 2016 FLW Cup Championship. Sunday in Texas, Cox added another accolade to the FLW record books.
Cox weighed a five-bass limit totaling 12 pounds, 9 ounces to win with a wire-to-wire victory at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Cox’s four-day total of 65-15 was enough to get the win by a 2-pound, 7-ounce margin and earn his fifth career victory in FLW pro-level competition. Each of those five victories have come from a different fishery and a different state.
“This was the best win I’ve ever had,” said Cox, who moved into a tie with David Dudley at No. 6 all-time with five career wins. “I usually start off the year pretty slow and get better through the season. To start the season with a win, I don’t even know what to say. I’m so thankful – this is just incredible.”
Cox caught all of his fish on the first two days of competition at one specific spot, making one specific cast with one specific bait. He described the area as a 3-foot high spot with a little bit of sand and rock with hydrilla all around it, right at the mouth of one of the best-known spawning creeks on Sam Rayburn.
“I had to make the same cast the entire time,” Cox said. “I could feel the crankbait come over their backs – it felt like logs – and then one would just smoke it.”
After mining the same spot for the first two days with aBerkley Frittside 5 Crankbait (Lone Ranger- and Ghost Morning Dawn-colored), the area fizzled on Saturday. Cox was forced to scramble for the final two days of competition, but in true John Cox-fashion he was able to find just enough weight to hang on and earn the win.
“The last two days have been the hardest that I’ve ever had to grind, ever, just to catch a limit,” Cox said. “Coming back to the weigh-in today, I thought I had blown it.”
Cox managed to scratch up limits on Saturday and Sunday throwing a Dirty Jigs swimjig with a black and blue Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Meaty Chunk and a Z-Man Original ChatterBait with a black and blue Berkley Powerbait Grass Pig. He also added two small keepers Sunday on an unnamed frog.
“The key was definitely the Frittside crankbait and catching all of them on that spot,” Cox went on to say. “I didn’t even own a crankbait rod until this year.”
Cox’s crankbait was thrown on a 7-foot, 6-inch Abu Garcia Veritas Winch rod paired with an Abu Garcia REVO EXD casting reel.
The top 10 pros on Sam Rayburn Reservoir finished:
1st: John Cox of DeBary, Fla., 20 bass, 65-15, $100,000
2nd: Tommy Dickerson of Orange, Texas, 20 bass, 63-8, $30,000
3rd: Darold Gleason of Many, La., 20 bass, 62-14, $25,000
4th: Corey Neece of Bristol, Tenn., 19 bass, 59-9, $20,000
5th: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., 20 bass, 57-5, $19,000
6th: Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Mich., 20 bass, 56-10, $18,000
7th: Kerry Milner of Bono, Ark., 20 bass, 54-0, $17,500
8th: Sam George of Athens, Ala., 17 bass, 52-13, $16,000
9th: Alex Davis of Albertville, Ala., 20 bass, 52-12, $15,000
10th: Jonathan Canada of Helena, Ala., 18 bass, 51-11, $14,000
Complete results for the entire field can be found atFLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 44 bass weighing 108 pounds, 8 ounces caught by pros Sunday. Seven of the final 10 pros weighed in five-bass limits.
Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir will premiere in the third quarter of 2020. The 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will have 156 two-hour airings on network television, including 26 consecutive weeks of Friday nightprimetime airing on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel for a total of 312 hours of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit programming.
The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir was hosted by the Jasper County Development District. The next event for FLW Pro Circuit anglers will be the FLW Pro Circuit at the Harris Chain of Lakes, Feb. 20-23, in Leesburg, Florida. The tournament will be hosted by Lake County, Florida.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 154 pro anglers competed in the two-day opening round Thursday and Friday. The top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advanced to fish Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continued competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2020 FLW TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship. The 2020 FLW TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 8-13 and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
For complete details and updated information visitFLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Tennessee pro Corey Neece Catches 20 Pounds, 7 ounces to Close Gap, Set Up Dramatic Final Day Showdown
Cox Retains Lead at Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BROOKELAND, TEXAS (Jan. 25, 2020) – The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir has set the stage for another dramatic finale on Sunday – the top 10 is stacked with a former FLW Cup champion, a Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) All-American Champion and two semi-local anglers with a wealth of experience on Sam Rayburn – all in striking distance to win the tournament, and the top prize of $135,000.
Berkley pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, who has led the tournament the entire way, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 13 pounds, 3 ounces to retain his lead with a three-day total of 53-6.
Pro Corey Neece of Bristol, Tennessee, (52-10), who started the day in seventh place, vaulted into second after bringing in the largest limit of the day Saturday weighing 20-7. Darold Gleason of Many, Louisiana, (50-1), Alabama’s Sam George (46-3) and Tommy Dickerson of Orange, Texas, (45-8) round out the top five.
With just a 12-ounce cushion heading into the final day, Cox is ready to see how it all shakes out on Championship Sunday.
“I am honestly so thrilled to have caught 13 pounds today,” said Cox, who has four previous wins in FLW pro competition. “Nothing felt right. I pulled up to my magic spot and everything seemed okay – the wind was blowing a little bit from a different direction, but no big deal. I threw out there and caught a 12-incher and that was it. I tried to stay there and wait, but it just wasn’t happening.
“I ended up just running around until I saw something that looked good, then I’d stop and fish. I probably stopped 100 times, and about every 10th stop I’d catch something.”
Cox had caught his fish earlier this week on a Berkley Frittside crankbait, but when his main area fizzled he was forced to switch to a Z-Man ChatterBait to cover more water.
“I couldn’t really throw the crankbait today, because I was moving too fast,” Cox said. “I had the trolling motor on 100 and was always looking for my next cast.
“Nothing came on the same thing,” he continued. “One came off of an isolated stick. One came off of a laydown. One came on a rocky point. One came off of a drain in the back of a pocket. I got so lucky to catch what I did.”
The upside for Cox after Day Three was that he survived, and still has the lead going into the final day.
“I was looking at my past results and it really seemed like I bombed on a lot of Day Threes last year,” Cox went on to say. “I was thinking that I blew it again today and was going to drop to fifth or sixth and really have to get lucky and catch a big fish tomorrow. I still think I’ll need some big fish – Neece caught 20 (pounds) today and he’s on something magical – but I’m hoping my little area turns back on, and if it doesn’t we’ll scramble again and see what happens.”
The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition Sunday on Sam Rayburn Reservoir are:
1st: John Cox of DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 53-6
2nd: Corey Neece of Bristol, Tenn., 10 bass, 52-10
3rd: Darold Gleason of Many, La., 15 bass, 50-1
4th: Sam George of Athens, Ala., 15 bass, 46-3
5th: Tommy Dickerson of Orange, Texas, 15 bass, 45-8
6th: Jonathan Canada of Helena, Ala., 15 bass, 45-8
7th: Kerry Milner of Bono, Ark., 15 bass, 45-2
8th: Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Mich., 15 bass, 43-8
9th: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 43-7
10th: Alex Davis of Albertville, Ala., 15 bass, 43-4
Finishing in 11th through 30th are
11th: Bill McDonald of Greenwood, Ind., 15 bass, 42-12, $11,000
12th: Jake Ormond of Sterlington, La., 15 bass, 42-9, $11,000
13th: Joshua Weaver of Macon, Ga., 15 bass, 42-4, $11,000
14th: Mitch Crane of Columbus, Miss., 15 bass, 42-0, $11,000
15th: Bradford Beavers of Summerville, S.C., 15 bass, 41-15, $11,000
16th: Hunter Freeman of Monroe, La., 12 bass, 41-12, $11,000
17th: Mike Surman of Boca Raton, Fla., 15 bass, 41-5, $11,000
18th: Miles Burghoff of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., 15 bass, 41-3, $11,000
19th: Grae Buck of Harleysville, Pa., 15 bass, 41-2, $11,500
20th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., 15 bass, 40-3, $11,000
21st: Greg Bohannan of Bentonville, Ark., 13 bass, 38-7, $10,500
22nd: Jeff Dobson of Bartlesville, Okla., 15 bass, 37-12, $10,500
23rd: Chris McCall of Palmer, Texas, 14 bass, 37-9, $10,500
24th: Tim Frederick of Leesburg, Fla., 13 bass, 37-0, $10,500
25th: Miles Howe of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., 13 bass, 36-12, $10,500
26th: Tyler Stewart of West Monroe, La., 15 bass, 35-15, $10,500
27th: Mark Fisher of Wauconda, Ill., 15 bass, 35-10, $10,500
28th: Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 34-0, $10,500
29th: Scott Ashmore of Broken Arrow, Okla., 13 bass, 32-14, $10,500
30th: Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., 13 bass, 32-3, $10,500
Full results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 138 bass weighing 354 pounds, 14 ounces, caught by pros Saturday. Of the final 30 pros, 23 of them were able to bring a five-bass limit to the scale.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 154 pro anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advanced to Saturday. Now, only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir is hosted by the Jasper County Development District.
The final 10 anglers will take off at 7:30 a.m. CST Sunday from the Umphrey Family Pavilion, located at 5438 Sam Rayburn Parkway, in Brookeland. Sunday’s championship weigh-in will be held at the pavilion, beginning at 4 p.m.
Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir will premiere in 2020. The 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will have 156 two-hour airings on network television, including 26 consecutive weeks of Friday night primetime airing on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel for a total of 312 hours of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit programming.
The popular FLW Live on-the-water broadcast will air Sunday, featuring live action from the boats of the tournament’s top pros each day. Host Travis Moran is joined by former FLW pro Todd Hollowell to break down the extended action each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The on-the-water broadcast will be live streamed onFLWFishing.com, the FLW YouTube channel and the FLW Facebook page.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Bethel Dynasty Grows With Victory At Bassmaster College Series Event On Toledo Bend
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Cox Pads Lead at Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: BROOKELAND, TEXAS (Jan. 24, 2020) – Berkley pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, brought a five-bass limit of largemouth to the Umphrey Pavilion scale Friday weighing 18 pounds, 12 ounces, to extend his lead after Day Two of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas. Cox’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 40 pounds, 3 ounces gives him a comfortable 5-pound, 4-ounce advantage heading into Day Three of the four-day competition that features a field of 154 bass-fishing professionals from around the world casting for a top award of up to $135,000.
Pro Darold Gleason of Many, Louisiana, who was in third place after Day One, moved up to second place with a limit totaling 13-12, good for a two-day total of 34-15. Pro Tommy Dickerson of Orange, Texas, who has seven top-10 finishes on Sam Rayburn in FLW competition, is just 1-pound, 8-ounces behind Gleason in third place with 33-7. The field is now cut to 30 for Saturday’s competition with only the top 10 anglers advancing to championship Sunday.
“It’s not often that I am able to fish a tournament where I make the same cast the whole time, but that’s exactly what is happening this week,” said Cox, who is competing in his 10th season at FLW’s top level. “It’s almost painful. I’ve tried to fan cast around in the same area, but nothing else works. I have to make the exact same cast, every time.”
Cox caught his fish Friday from the same spot that he did on Thursday, an area that he described as a spot with “a little bit of sand and rock with patches of hydrilla all around it.” He said it was right at the mouth of a creek, and he thinks fish are moving into the back of the creek to prepare for the spawn.
“They’re just coming through there and they stop and rest for a few seconds to get some sun – it’s real shallow, only three feet – they sit there for a little bit and then go to the back.”
Cox said that his fish bit in the morning Friday – he didn’t catch a keeper after 11 a.m. He caught all of his fish on the same bait as Thursday – a Berkley Frittside 5 crankbait.
“I think tomorrow I might make fewer casts. It seems like every time I take a little break and re-tie or whatever and let it settle, then I make another cast and seem to get one,” Cox said. “Tomorrow I’m just planning to sit there as long as I can. It might fall apart, or I might get there and make 10 casts and decide I can’t do this anymore. I’m just fortunate to be in this position heading into the final two days.”
The top 30 pros that made the cut and will fish Saturday on Sam Rayburn Reservoir are:
1st: John Cox of DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 40-3
2nd: Darold Gleason of Many, La., 10 bass, 34-15
3rd: Tommy Dickerson of Orange, Texas, 10 bass, 33-7
4th: Jonathan Canada of Helena, Ala., 10 bass, 33-3
5th: Hunter Freeman of Monroe, La., 10 bass, 33-0
6th: Kerry Milner of Bono, Ark., 10 bass, 32-5
7th: Corey Neece of Bristol, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-3
8th: Greg Bohannan of Bentonville, Ark., 10 bass, 31-12
9th: Joshua Weaver of Macon, Ga., 10 bass, 31-2
10th: Chris McCall of Palmer, Texas, 10 bass, 30-15
11th: Sam George of Athens, Ala., 10 bass, 30-10
12th: Bill McDonald of Greenwood, Ind., 10 bass, 30-6
13th: Grae Buck of Harleysville, Pa., 10 bass, 30-0
14th: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., 10 bass, 29-11
15th: Miles Howe of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., nine bass, 29-4
16th: Mitch Crane of Columbus, Miss., 10 bass, 28-12
17th: Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Mich., 10 bass, 28-12
18th: Mike Surman of Boca Raton, Fla., 10 bass, 28-7
19th: Scott Ashmore of Broken Arrow, Okla., 10 bass, 28-5
20th: Jake Ormond of Sterlington, La., 10 bass, 27-14
21st: Alex Davis of Albertville, Ala., 10 bass, 27-12
22nd: Miles Burghoff of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-12
23rd: Jeff Dobson of Bartlesville, Okla., 10 bass, 26-15
24th: Tim Frederick of Leesburg, Fla., nine bass, 26-12
25th: Bradford Beavers of Summerville, S.C., 10 bass, 26-11
26th: Mark Fisher of Wauconda, Ill., 10 bass, 25-12
27th: Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., 10 bass, 25-12
28th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., 10 bass, 25-11
29th: Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 25-5
30th: Tyler Stewart of West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 25-5
Full results for the entire field can be found atFLWFishing.com.
Milner brought the largest bass of the day, a 7-pound, 2-ounce largemouth, to the scale Friday to claim the day’s $500 Berkley Big Bass award.
Overall there were 607 bass weighing 1,412 pounds, 15 ounces caught by 145 pros Friday. The catch included 90 five-bass limits.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 154 pro anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight now advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2020 FLW TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship. The 2020 FLW TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 8-13 and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Anglers will take off at 7:30 a.m. CST each day from the Umphrey Family Pavilion, located at 5438 Sam Rayburn Parkway, in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will be held at the pavilion, beginning at 4 p.m.
For youth, the FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby will be held at the pavilion on Saturday from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. The event is hosted by Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit anglers, and is free and open to anyone under the age of 18 and Special Olympics athletes. Rods and reels are available for use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one. The 1st and 2nd place anglers that catch the biggest fish will be recognized Saturday on the FLW Pro Circuit stage, just prior to the pros weighing in.
Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir will premiere in 2020. The 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will have 156 two-hour airings on network television, including 26 consecutive weeks of Friday night primetime airing on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel for a total of 312 hours of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit programming.
The popular FLW Live on-the-water broadcast will air on Saturday and Sunday, featuring live action from the boats of the tournament’s top pros each day. Host Travis Moran is joined by former FLW pro Todd Hollowell to break down the extended action each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. On-the-water broadcasts will be live streamed onFLWFishing.com, the FLW YouTube channel and the FLW Facebook page.
For complete details and updated information visitFLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Bethel’s Huff And Pierce Maintain Lead At Bassmaster College Series Event On Toledo Bend
| Friday, but Cody Huff and Dakota Pierce remained consistent on Day 2 of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Toledo Bend presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The duo from Tennessee’s Bethel University caught a limit of five bass that weighed 19 pounds, 13 ounces and maintained their lead with a two-day mark of 39-8. Huff and Pierce have nearly a 4-pound lead on their closest competitors heading into the tournament’s third and final day. The Top 12 remaining teams from the original field of 248 will compete for the championship on Saturday. Huff and Pierce were confident the shift from Thursday’srain to Friday’s sunshine would not affect the quality of their bites, and they were right. Their Friday bag was the heaviest of the tournament to date, and the bulk of it came from the same general area where they staked their Day 1 lead with a limit that weighed 19-11. The bass they’re weighing at Cypress Bend Park have been consistently in the 3- to 4-pound range. “The sun helped our bite a lot today,” Huff said. “We didn’t have to lean on them at all. A lot more fish moved into the area we’ve been fishing. Hopefully that’s the same deal tomorrow.” The Bethel tandem hasn’t said much about its strategy this week, but both Huff and Pierce acknowledge they’re covering a lot of water on the vast 180,000-acre fishery that straddles the Louisiana/Texas border. They said a strong wind would be the only thing that might prevent them from maneuvering as frequently as they have during the first two days. “It’s just a mixture of the right depth, the right bait and the right bottom contours,” Huff said. “It’s kind of a special spot.” Huff has been finding plenty of those recently. He won the Bassmaster College Series Classic Bracket event last fall and qualified for the 2020 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, which is scheduled for March 6-8 on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville with weigh-ins taking place in nearby Birmingham. That is the biggest tournament in professional bass fishing, but Huff is focused on nothing right now but winning this week on Toledo Bend. “I think we can go do the exact same thing (tomorrow) we did today,” he said. Pierce agreed, and said he’s not feeling pressure with a tournament title within reach. “We’re from the same hometown (Ava, Mo.) and have been fishing together our whole lives,” he said. “Tomorrow is just another day.” Behind Huff and Pierce are Brett Clark and Cody Ross of East Texas Baptist University in second place with 35-11. Charles Norris and Braxton Resweber of Louisiana-Lafayette are third with 34-6. Schools from 26 different states were represented this week in the first Bassmaster College Series tournament of the year. Additional College Series tournaments are scheduled for Feb. 27-29 on Smith Lake in Alabama, March 26-28 on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina and May 6-8 on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. The Series championship will follow, with the date and location of that derby yet to be disclosed. The Top 25 teams from this week’s event will qualify for the championship. Stevie Mills and Baylor Howell of Bethel kept the lead for the Carhartt Big Bass Award with the 7-8 largemouth they caught on Thursday. Huff and Pierce lead for the Bass Pro Shops/Nitro Boats Big Bag Award with their limit on Friday. The Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series at Toledo Bend presented by Academy Sports + Outdoorswill take place Sunday, as will the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior Series event. All three events are presented by the Louisiana Office of Tourism, Toledo Bend Lake Country, the Sabine River Authority, Desoto Parish Tourist Commission and the Vernon Parish Tourist Commission. Saturday’s action begins with a 7 a.m. CT takeoff from Cypress Bend Park. Weigh-in will be back at the park at 3 p.m. |
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Sportsmans Warehouse Product Spotlight - Spooling with Thrift
FLW Cup Champ Bryan Thrift clues us into the details of how he spools a bait cast reel with PLine fluorocarbon to get maximum casting distance from his equipment.
Luke Clausen Adds a Trio of New Sponsors
Spokane, Washington - For the 2020 Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour season, professional bass angler Luke Clausen welcomes three new sponsors. This year he has partnered with Seaguar fishing line, Jackall hard baits, and MotorGuide trolling motors.
“I couldn’t be happier to add these three companies. Seaguar is a respected brand that makes excellent fishing line, and Jackall produces some of the best hard baits on the market,” said Clausen. “I’m also excited to be running the new MotorGuide Tour Pro on my Ranger this season. All three are going to greatly help me on the water this year."
Jackall USA Manager Ariel Biley is happy to bring an angler of Clausen’s caliber to the team. “He is one of the few anglers to win both the Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Cup, and that speaks volumes about his fishing abilities. Plus, he has a great understanding of the business and promotional side of the fishing industry,” he said.
The Seaguar team echoed these statements. “Luke is already a very accomplished angler, and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do with Seaguar line spooled on his reels,” said Brian Evans of Seaguar.
For more information about MotorGuide, visit motorguide.com.
For more information about Seaguar, visit seaguar.com.
For more information about Jackall, visit jackall-lures.com.
For more information on Luke Clausen, find him on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
BASS Class of 2020 Featuring Bob Downey and Kyle Welcher
This weeks Rookie Class focuses on the Bassmaster Elite Rookies of Bob Downey and Kyle Welcher. Two highly successful Opens Pro's who made it to the big show in a single season. Check this one out and keep an eye on these two this season!
Humminbird® Introduces YouTube Channel Focused on Fish Finder Technology and Education
RACINE, Wis., January 23, 2020 – Humminbird® recently launched a new YouTube tutorial pagededicated to teaching anglers how to unlock the full capabilities of its popular HELIX® fish finder models, in turn allowing anglers to be more productive in their summer fishing.
With this new YouTube channel, Humminbird is providing step-by-step information to answer some of users’ most frequently asked questions related to fish finders, including: rigging, troubleshooting, menu shortcuts, sonar, chart and navigation tips. With more than 120 easily digestible, straightforward videos, Humminbird is dedicated to making sure HELIX owners master every aspect of their units.
“With new technological innovations, Humminbird fish finders have more capabilities than ever before, which allow to fish more efficiently and create a better, more enjoyable experience on the water,” Matt Cook, Humminbird brand manager, said. “Knowledge is power and with so many features in our fish finders, we wanted to provide a resource for anglers to find the information that will help them get the most out of their fishing.”
Currently, the YouTube page focuses on Humminbird’s HELIX model supplying video tutorials related to the HELIX 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 models. Videos featuring Humminbird’s full suite of products will be added throughout the year including the Humminbird SOLIX® and ICE HELIX®, along with specific playlists related to Down Imaging®, Side Imaging®, LakeMaster® Mapping and AutoChart® Live.
Humminbird has been a pioneer in fish finding technology with its best-in-class imaging capabilities that allow anglers to see fish more clearly. New MEGA Imaging+™ technology provides the clearest, sharpest imaging returns ever and unlocks more fish and structure, helping anglers find fish and the places fish hide. The benefits of Humminbird’s fish finding innovations extend beyond the Humminbird brand and take on new potency when combined with power of Minn Kota to create the One-Boat Network™. The integrated connectivity provides more boat control solutions for all anglers including hands-free fishing while the boat navigates water automatically.
“The One-Boat Network is designed to make fishing easier for anglers out on the water, and we are taking this a step further with the Humminbird How-To YouTube page by providing anglers with the knowledge to be effective users of their Humminbird electronics.” Cook said.
Humminbird owners can subscribe to the Humminbird newsletter to check out specific tutorial videos each month breaking down frequently asked user questions, tips from Humminbird’s pro team members, as well as new software updates and product promotions.
For more information visit www.humminbird.com or subscribe to the channel at: http://bit.ly/HumminbirdHowTo.
About Humminbird
JOHNSON OUTDOORS FISHING is comprised of the Humminbird®, Minn Kota® and Cannon® brands. Humminbird is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including fish finders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers, and premium cartography products. Minn Kota is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as a complete line of shallow water anchors, battery chargers and marine accessories. Cannon is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.
Visit Humminbird at www.humminbird.com
Bethel University Duo Takes Lead At Bassmaster College Series Event On Toledo Bend
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John Cox Grabs Early Lead at Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Six Pros Top 20 Pounds on Day One of Four-Day Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BROOKELAND, TEXAS (Jan. 23, 2020) – Berkley pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 21 pounds, 7 ounces, Thursday to grab the early lead after Day One of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Veteran FLW pro Greg Bohannan of Bentonville, Arkansas, is in second place, just 3 ounces behind Cox after bringing a 21-4 limit to the scale. The season-opening Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event features a field of 154 bass-fishing professionals from around the world casting for a top award of up to $135,000.
“My morning was pretty slow, but it turned out to be a really awesome day,” said Cox, who has more than $1.3 million in career earnings with FLW. “I didn’t have anything special – only 10 or 11 pounds – until almost noon. I was getting a little down, so I just started whipping my crankbait out into open water. I caught one off of a bush, and that’s what slowed me down. Then I found a little area that had them.”
Cox said he culled out his entire limit and weighed in five keepers all from that one area. He said that his key bait was a Berkley Frittside 5 crankbait.
“They weren’t crazy-stacked up, but they all came on the same kind of throw,” Cox said. “You knew when you were around them because you could feel the bait coming over the fish – it felt like reeling over logs. Then all of a sudden one would eat it.
“What’s crazy is that I caught them flipping there in 2010,” Cox continued. “It was a fall tournament. I had nothing, then went up there and found some hydrilla mats and ended up flipping like 18 pounds. Now I’m just throwing the crankbait in the same spot.”
Cox believed that the fish he caught today were not resident fish.
“I’m pretty sure it was a transition area – they were either coming or going, but they were just passing through there for some reason,” Cox went on to say. “They might not be there tomorrow, but I hope that I can still find them. I’m just going to try to milk it for all its worth.”
The top 10 pros after day one on Sam Rayburn Reservoir are:
1st: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 21-7
2nd: Greg Bohannan, Bentonville, Ark., five bass, 21-4
3rd: Darold Gleason, Many, La., five bass, 21-3
4th: Corey Neece, Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 20-14
5th: Grae Buck, Harleysville, Pa., five bass, 20-9
6th: Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 20-3
7th: Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., five bass, 19-10
8th: Hunter Freeman, Monroe, La., five bass, 18-2
9th: Lane Olson, Tigard, Ore., five bass, 18-0
10th: Mark Fisher, Wauconda, Ill., five bass, 17-15
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Buck won the day's $500 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division after bringing a largemouth weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces to the scale.
Overall there were 619 bass weighing 1,520 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 151 pros Thursday. The catch included 88 five-bass limits.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 154 pro anglers compete in the two-day opening round Thursday and Friday. The top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2020 FLW TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship. The 2020 FLW TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 8-13 and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Anglers will take off at 7:30 a.m. CST each day from the Umphrey Family Pavilion, located at 5438 Sam Rayburn Parkway, in Brookeland. Friday’s weigh-in will be held at the pavilion beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the pavilion, but will begin at 4 p.m.
For youth, the FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby will be held at the pavilion on Saturday from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. The event is hosted by Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit anglers, and is free and open to anyone under the age of 18 and Special Olympics athletes. Rods and reels are available for use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one. The 1st and 2nd place anglers that catch the biggest fish will be recognized Saturday on the FLW Pro Circuit stage, just prior to the pros weighing in.
Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Sam Rayburn Reservoir will premiere in 2020. The 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will have 156 two-hour airings on network television, including 26 consecutive weeks of Friday night primetime airing on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel for a total of 312 hours of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit programming.
The popular FLW Live on-the-water broadcast will air on Days Three and Four of the event, featuring live action from the boats of the tournament’s top pros each day. Host Travis Moran is joined by former FLW pro Todd Hollowell to break down the extended action each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. On-the-water broadcasts will be live streamed on FLWFishing.com, the FLW YouTube channel and the FLW Facebook page.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
| 1 | JOHN COX | 21 - 7 (5) | |
| 2 | GREG BOHANNAN | 21 - 4 (5) | |
| 3 | DAROLD GLEASON | 21 - 3 (5) | |
| 4 | COREY NEECE | 20 - 14 (5) | |
| 5 | GRAE BUCK | 20 - 9 (5) | $500 |
| 6 | MITCH CRANE | 20 - 3 (5) | |
| 7 | JONATHAN CANADA | 19 - 10 (5) | |
| 8 | HUNTER FREEMAN | 18 - 2 (5) | |
| 9 | LANE OLSON | 18 - 0 (5) | |
| 10 | MARK FISHER | 17 - 15 (5) | |
| 11 | MIKE SURMAN | 17 - 11 (5) | |
| 12 | TIM FREDERICK | 17 - 10 (5) | |
| 13 | TOMMY DICKERSON | 17 - 3 (5) | |
| 14 | JOEY CIFUENTES | 17 - 1 (5) | |
| 15 | CHRIS MCCALL | 16 - 0 (5) | |
| 16 | RON NELSON | 15 - 11 (5) | |
| 16 | SAM GEORGE | 15 - 11 (5) | |
| 18 | TROY MORROW | 15 - 10 (5) | |
| 19 | JOSEPH WEBSTER | 15 - 4 (5) | |
| 20 | SCOTT DOBSON | 15 - 1 (5) | |
| 21 | TERRY BOLTON | 14 - 13 (5) | |
| 21 | TYLER STEWART | 14 - 13 (5) | |
| 23 | BRADFORD BEAVERS | 14 - 11 (5) | |
| 24 | SCOTT WILEY | 14 - 7 (5) | |
| 25 | JOHNNY MCCOMBS | 14 - 2 (5) | |
| 26 | TYLER WOOLCOTT | 13 - 15 (5) | |
| 26 | KURT MITCHELL | 13 - 15 (5) | |
| 28 | LANCE CRAWFORD | 13 - 13 (5) | |
| 29 | BILL MCDONALD | 13 - 10 (5) | |
| 29 | MATT BECKER | 13 - 10 (5) | |
| 29 | RYAN CHANDLER | 13 - 10 (5) | |
| 32 | MILES BURGHOFF | 13 - 8 (5) | |
| 33 | JASON REYES | 13 - 6 (5) | |
| 34 | CASEY SCANLON | 12 - 15 (5) | |
| 35 | BARRON ADAMS | 12 - 14 (5) | |
| 35 | ALTON WILHOIT | 12 - 14 (5) | |
| 37 | ROB KILBY | 12 - 12 (5) | |
| 38 | SCOTT ASHMORE | 12 - 11 (5) | |
| 39 | DYLAN HAYS | 12 - 8 (5) | |
| 39 | TRAVIS ARCHER | 12 - 8 (5) | |
| 41 | JOSHUA WEAVER | 12 - 6 (5) | |
| 42 | CLARK REEHM | 12 - 4 (5) | |
| 43 | ANDY YOUNG | 11 - 15 (5) | |
| 44 | AJ SLEGONA | 11 - 14 (5) | |
| 45 | PETE PONDS | 11 - 12 (5) | |
| 46 | DICKY NEWBERRY | 11 - 10 (5) | |
| 47 | JAMES NIGGEMEYER | 11 - 8 (4) | |
| 48 | JASON ABRAM | 11 - 7 (5) | |
| 49 | KERRY MILNER | 11 - 6 (5) | |
| 49 | ALEX DAVIS | 11 - 6 (5) | |
| 51 | JEFF DOBSON | 11 - 5 (5) | |
| 51 | COLE FLOYD | 11 - 5 (5) | |
| 53 | TYSON PATRICK | 11 - 4 (5) | |
| 53 | NICK LEBRUN | 11 - 4 (5) | |
| 55 | ERIC JACKSON | 11 - 1 (5) | |
| 56 | CHRIS NEAU | 11 - 0 (5) | |
| 56 | JASON MENINGER | 11 - 0 (5) | |
| 58 | CODY NICHOLS | 10 - 15 (4) | |
| 58 | JEREMY LAWYER | 10 - 15 (5) | |
| 58 | LENDELL MARTIN JR | 10 - 15 (5) | |
| 61 | RUSTY TRANCYGIER | 10 - 14 (5) | |
| 62 | JAKE ORMOND | 10 - 13 (5) | |
| 62 | MATT REED | 10 - 13 (5) | |
| 62 | JACOB WALL | 10 - 13 (5) | |
| 65 | GARY YAMAMOTO | 10 - 12 (5) | |
| 66 | DERRICK SNAVELY | 10 - 11 (5) | |
| 66 | RAMIE COLSON JR | 10 - 11 (4) | |
| 66 | EVAN BARNES | 10 - 11 (5) | |
| 69 | BRAXTON SETZER | 10 - 10 (5) | |
| 70 | KEVIN MEEKS | 10 - 9 (5) | |
| 71 | CHIP HARRINGTON | 10 - 8 (5) | |
| 72 | ZELL ROWLAND | 10 - 6 (5) | |
| 73 | T.R ANDREAS | 10 - 5 (5) | |
| 74 | SPENCER SHUFFIELD | 10 - 4 (5) | |
| 75 | KYLE GELLES | 10 - 3 (5) | |
| 75 | JON ENGLUND | 10 - 3 (5) | |
| 77 | RUSTY SALEWSKE | 10 - 1 (5) | |
| 78 | MATT GREENBLATT | 10 - 0 (5) | |
| 79 | ROGER HUGHES | 9 - 14 (4) | |
| 79 | KYLE WEISENBURGER | 9 - 14 (5) | |
| 81 | DAVID WILLIAMS | 9 - 11 (5) | |
| 81 | JAMES BIGGS | 9 - 11 (5) | |
| 83 | JIMMY WASHAM | 9 - 10 (4) | |
| 83 | SHAWN MURPHY | 9 - 10 (4) | |
| 83 | JOSH DOUGLAS | 9 - 10 (5) | |
| 86 | KYLE CORTIANA | 9 - 9 (5) | |
| 87 | NICK GAINEY | 9 - 6 (4) | |
| 88 | RON FARROW | 9 - 3 (5) | |
| 88 | LARAMY STRICKLAND | 9 - 3 (4) | |
| 90 | JASON VANCE | 9 - 0 (4) | |
| 90 | WOODARD CHANCE | 9 - 0 (5) | |
| 92 | RANDY ALLEN | 8 - 14 (4) | |
| 92 | JIM MOYNAGH | 8 - 14 (5) | |
| 94 | CHRISTOPHER BRASHER | 8 - 12 (4) | |
| 95 | TOM REDINGTON | 8 - 11 (4) | |
| 95 | GLENN CHAPPELEAR | 8 - 11 (5) | |
| 97 | BILLY MCCAGHREN | 8 - 10 (4) | |
| 98 | JAMIE HORTON | 8 - 9 (5) | |
| 99 | MILES HOWE | 8 - 8 (4) | |
| 100 | CHAD WARREN | 8 - 7 (2) | |
| 100 | AARON BRITT | 8 - 7 (2) | |
| 102 | DARRELL DAVIS | 8 - 6 (5) | |
| 102 | TERRY LUEDTKE | 8 - 6 (5) | |
| 104 | DAVE PARSONS | 8 - 3 (4) | |
| 105 | MATTHEW STEFAN | 7 - 15 (5) | |
| 105 | JARED MCMILLAN | 7 - 15 (3) | |
| 107 | COLBY MILLER | 7 - 14 (4) | |
| 108 | TROY RODER | 7 - 13 (3) | |
| 109 | CLAYTON BATTS | 7 - 10 (4) | |
| 110 | DAVID PERDUE | 7 - 5 (4) | |
| 111 | DREW RATLEY | 7 - 2 (2) | |
| 111 | JOHN HUNTER | 7 - 2 (4) | |
| 113 | ALVIN SHAW | 7 - 0 (3) | |
| 114 | CHAD GRIGSBY | 6 - 13 (4) | |
| 115 | TOM MONSOOR | 6 - 12 (4) | |
| 115 | CAPT BLAKE SMITH | 6 - 12 (3) | |
| 117 | KYLE HALL | 6 - 10 (3) | |
| 118 | ERIK LUZAK | 6 - 8 (3) | |
| 119 | CHRIS WHITSON | 6 - 7 (3) | |
| 120 | BAILEY BOUTRIES | 6 - 6 (3) | |
| 120 | RANDY DESPINO | 6 - 6 (2) | |
| 122 | BILL HUTCHISON | 6 - 0 (3) | |
| 123 | JIM TUTT | 5 - 15 (3) | |
| 124 | JAKE MORRIS | 5 - 13 (3) | |
| 125 | RYAN SALZMAN | 5 - 12 (4) | |
| 126 | PRESTON CRAIG | 5 - 11 (4) | |
| 127 | JORDAN OSBORNE | 5 - 6 (3) | |
| 127 | JOHN VOYLES | 5 - 6 (2) | |
| 129 | BRANDON MOSLEY | 5 - 4 (3) | |
| 129 | J TODD TUCKER | 5 - 4 (2) | |
| 131 | DAVID GASTON | 4 - 14 (2) | |
| 132 | KEVIN MARTIN | 4 - 12 (3) | |
| 133 | BRADLEY DORTCH | 4 - 4 (2) | |
| 134 | DARYL BIRON | 4 - 3 (2) | |
| 135 | BARRY WILSON | 3 - 15 (2) | |
| 136 | DARREL ROBERTSON | 3 - 14 (2) | |
| 137 | DAVID WOOTTON | 3 - 12 (2) | |
| 138 | JIMMY REESE | 3 - 8 (2) | |
| 138 | ROBERT NAKATOMI | 3 - 8 (2) | |
| 140 | BILLY HINES | 3 - 5 (2) | |
| 141 | WADE STRELIC | 3 - 2 (1) | |
| 142 | BRANDON MCMILLAN | 2 - 14 (2) | |
| 142 | CHUCK STRATTON | 2 - 14 (1) | |
| 144 | CHARLIE EVANS | 2 - 13 (2) | |
| 145 | DENNIS CAMERON | 2 - 4 (1) | |
| 146 | BRAD KNIGHT | 2 - 1 (1) | |
| 147 | JASON CHRISTY | 2 - 0 (1) | |
| 148 | CHARLES SIM | 1 - 12 (1) | |
| 149 | ROBERT BEHRLE | 1 - 11 (1) | |
| 150 | DAKOTA EBARE | 1 - 7 (1) | |
| 151 | KURT DOVE | 1 - 6 (1) | |
| 9999 | TONY DUMITRAS | 0 - 0 (0) | |
| 9999 | MICHAEL MATTHEE | 0 - 0 (2) | |
| 9999 | RICHARD LOWITZKI | 0 - 0 (0) |
Cashion Rods add Kayak Trio to Pro-Staff
Kayak Bass Fishing (KBF) has been a leader in the industry, paving the way and proving the demand for this growing sport for more than 12 years. Hobie has its BOS series and is about to begin its 2nd year with the Hobie Worlds events on a global stage. B.A.S.S Nation has also made a power play in 2020 with the announcement of its inaugural kayak trail, kicking off just before the 50th Anniversary of the Bassmaster classic, on historic waters in Alabama this spring.
The team at Cashion is proud to announce an expansion to our family known as the Cashion Crew. Today we announce the addition of three United States military veterans, family men and some of the biggest sticks in kayak fishing. Kayak fishing is something Cashion has been committed to for years with our kayak specific line of rods. Bringing these hammers in house allows us to grow and maintain a powerful presence in the fastest growing segment of the fishing industry.
Jody Queen is a household name in the kayak community. Queen is the Hobie BOS Grand Champion and will be representing the USA at the Hobie Worlds event later this year. He is a KBF open champion, a 3 time KBF Dee Zee the TEN qualifier and he has over 90 top 10 finishes in his career to date. He plans to fish over 30 events in 2020. Queen is one of the best people in the fishing community both on and off the water and we are proud to have him join the Cashion crew.
“Having the right tools on the water is paramount to my success. My search for an American-made, handcrafted, high performance and technique-specific spinning and casting rods has guided me to this amazing home-grown company. Thank you, Cashion Rods for believing in me. 2020 is gonna be a lot of fun.” - Queen
Scott Beutjer has come into the kayak industry with a relentless work ethic and passion for the community. His talent around the camera has set a pace for his success that most can’t keep up with. He has built two successful kayak centered live broadcast podcast with his Westbrook Wednesday and Scott Beutjer’s Weigh-In, both gaining in audience reach each week. The amount of time on the water he puts in while storytelling with some of the best anglers in the world is impressive. It’s also afforded him opportunities to set the hook on trophy fish across the country. We are excited to have Scott be a part of the team here to grow and learn with him moving forward.
“I have been a fan of Cashion rods for years now and the commitment they have to high performance rods built in the US is second to none. Becoming a better angler will always be my goal and understanding what a true performance rod is and how it impacts the quality and quantity of my fish is important to me. I’m excited to be working with the Cashion Crew.” - Beutjer
Cory Dreyer is an “OG” in the kayak fishing world. He has been a pillar for more than a decade, growing clubs and helping to educate and improve the local and national trails. This North Carolina native is no stranger to success. He is a Dee Zee The TEN champion and has over 30 top 10 finishes in CPR tournaments across the country. Cory works for one of the leading kayak manufactures in the industry and keeps his hand on the pulse of the community, he is a true professional and a family man. The Cashion Crew is proud to bring him into the family.
"Having the opportunity to represent an American made brand of rods is a great honor. Joining the Cashion Rods family will allow me to further my success on the water while supporting a like minded, family owned company.” -Dreyer, US Marine Corps veteran.
“Adding these three guys to the Cashion Crew is a big win for our company, these men and the kayak community. We look forward to evolving in the Kayak Industry with these innovative anglers on board to help us grow. We are just getting started in 2020” - Paul Benson, Vice President of Cashion Fishing Rods
“Having the opportunity to work with Men of High Morales and Ethical Values is what we pride ourselves on at Cashion Fishing Rods. These three gentlemen hold themselves to this high standard both on the water and off the water. We are excited for them and their families to join the Cashion Family” - Dr. Matthew Cashion President Cashion Fishing Rods
For further questions or info email Paul@cashionrods.com
DANIEL FENNEL TO DIRECT PRO CIRCUIT
January 22, 2020 by Curtis Niedermier
To say that Daniel Fennel has been part of the FLW family all his life is not an understatement. It’s absolutely true.
Daniel, the son of FLW Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel, attended his first FLW event before the age of 1. In the intermittent years, he developed a passion for fishing before formally joining the FLW crew in 2005 and eventually taking the helm of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine in 2011. Now 38, Daniel is an avid angler with the opportunity to apply all his years of tournament management experience toward a new and bigger task: directing the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit.
At the registration meeting for this week’s Pro Circuit season opener at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, FLW announced that Daniel had been promoted to senior director of tournament operations for the Pro Circuit, FLW Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League, with responsibilities to include directing the Pro Circuit. Bill Taylor, who served as tournament director for the FLW Tour from 2001 through 2019, has been promoted to senior director of operations, where he’ll lend his expertise acquired through more than two decades as a tournament director toward logistics, angler relations and event planning for all FLW circuits.
“We’re extremely lucky at FLW to have a dedicated staff of people like Daniel and Bill who’ve committed so many years to running the best bass tournaments in the industry,” says Kathy Fennel. “Bill has been an instrumental part of the success of FLW over the years, and nobody knows more about running pro-level tournaments than him. We’re lucky that he’ll continue to support Pro Circuit operations, and that he’ll now be bringing all his knowledge to all of FLW’s tournament circuits. Bill is a fantastic recruiter and a master of the details that make a successful tournament.
“Obviously, I’m also very proud of Daniel for all he’s accomplished as the director of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League, helping it to remain the premier league for weekend anglers and aspiring pros. I know that with his leadership and a great crew in place supporting him that the new Pro Circuit will live up to the 24-year legacy of the former FLW Tour.”
FENNEL READY FOR BIG SEASON ON PRO CIRCUIT
While Daniel Fennel spent much of his youth bopping around tournament weigh-ins and attending FLW events, his full-time career with the organization began in the customer service department in 2005. He quickly advanced through the ranks, becoming an in-house tournament director and then a Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament director. In 2011, he became the head of Bass Fishing League operations. He also spent more than a decade on the FLW Tour event staff and emceed FLW Tour qualifying round weigh-ins starting in 2015.
In his new role, Fennel will oversee tournament operations for some of FLW’s most popular circuits, while continuing to direct the Bass Fishing League LBL and Music City divisions. But his most visible role within the angling community will be as the head of the organization’s highest-level tournament series as it transitions from the FLW Tour to the Pro Circuit in 2020.
“This is a whole new chapter for FLW,” he says about the launch of the new Pro Circuit. “We have an opportunity to show the world what FLW pros can do thanks to the expanded media coverage the Pro Circuit will enjoy this season. The pros are going to see that immediately, and they’re really going to enjoy the ride. I’m expecting an unbelievable year.”
The job of tournament director is sort of like being a sheriff – equal parts rule enforcement and coordinating staff and logistics. In Fennel’s case, he’s inherited a seasoned crew of “deputies.”
“We were able to retain all of our Pro Circuit crew, and those people are as experienced at setting up and executing quality fishing tournaments as anybody in the world,” he says. “Not only that, but they’ve got a synergy among themselves where every person knows what their course of action is. Everybody knows what the objective is, and that is for us to operate the best fishing tournaments in the world. You can’t ask for a better crew.
“And there’s nobody in the world better than Bill Taylor. Nobody has the fishing knowledge of the entire country that that guy does. I’m glad we’ll be able to lean on him and his expertise on the Pro Circuit and at all levels.”
TAYLOR TAKING ON A BROADER ROLE
Though his title hasn’t changed much, Taylor will fill a new and expanded role at FLW starting this season. As senior director of operations, he’ll work with all of FLW’s tournament directors to help with planning logistics, venue selection, angler recruitment and just about anything else that needs to be done to make sure tournaments are successful. He’ll also work with the FLW media staff to coordinate its needs for live on-the-water coverage.
Most importantly, he plans to spend a lot more time interacting with the anglers to make sure the FLW experience is the best in fishing, no matter what level an angler chooses to participate. Considering all that Taylor has experienced in his career, from fishing the first-ever Operation Bass (precursor to FLW) event in 1979, to joining the Bass Fishing League staff a decade later, helping to launch the FLW Tour in 1996, moving to full-time FLW Tour director in 2001 and ushering the FLW tournament department through every era from wrapped boats to the internet age, there’s no one better for that job.
“I’m excited about this new opportunity,” says Taylor. “I always get motivated when I get a chance to do something a little bit different. I’m looking forward to going to more Bass Fishing League tournaments. I’ll be able to talk to the grassroots anglers and get their thoughts about scheduling and the programs FLW offers. And I always love talking to our pros and helping them with whatever they need. Going forward, I’ll have the opportunity to apply more than 20 years of experience toward helping to grow all of FLW’s tournament circuits and to be involved with recruiting new anglers.”
Opinion Piece - Glass House
Vance McCullough
“Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at another.” - George Herbert, 1651
I like the folks at Major League Fishing. I enjoy the creative wrinkles they add to our sport. I have known many of the anglers to be great fishermen, even better people. I hope everyone will read with an open mind the thing I am about express, an observation about the sport I love.
When a tournament angler, let alone an organization, says something about tournament fishing it sticks to tournament fishing as a whole. None of us live in a vacuum. Praise and condemnation alike, when spat out into the whirlwind of public opinion, come back around and stick especially hard in the minds of the uninitiated, those who watch casually - you know - the general television audience our sport has long sought and has now found itself in front of.
Major League Fishing has done much to bring a mass of eyeballs to our sport. Veteran anglers share anecdotes about personal friends who have never watched fishing as a spectator sport but who now do, thanks to the format that includes a scoreboard, ticking clock and referees – things the casual observer relates to when watching sports.
And to be clear, the anglers, those who founded MLF and those who left other organizations more recently to fish the Bass Pro Tour, are still friends with their counterparts on the Bassmaster Elite Series and elsewhere in the industry. By no means do I think they mean any harm to their friends or to the reputation of anybody in the industry. The anglers, for the most part, continue to get along well and promote the sport of bass fishing in the most exemplary manner.
That’s the anglers. But in the zeal to differentiate itself from ‘traditional’ tournament organizations, MLF has thrown a rock. In a fragile house.
I was watching some MLF action on television. A short, silent clip played across my screen during a commercial break. The captioned scene showed ‘conventional’ treatment of tournament bass under the 5-fish-limit system, a system developed and refined over decades and often in concert with fish and game agencies and other resource managers of various states in which events are held. The law would allow anglers to keep and eat every one of those fish that cross the stage but instead they return the fish to their home waters with a live release rate often in excess of 99%.
But this televised clip showed bass being imprisoned for hours (presumably, the angler in this propaganda piece caught all of his fish in the first 10 minutes of the day and never culled) in a dark box and finally, dragged to the scales in a bag crowded with other fish. It brings to mind something that might have been produced by animal rights activists - the hypocritical, agenda-driven kind; not hunters and fishermen.
A major part of Ray Scott’s legacy is the development of aerated livewells and other measures designed to comply with his revolutionary ‘Don’t Kill Your Catch’ campaign.
But the average viewer of a modern BPT event likely has no idea who Ray Scott is. They don’t know the difference between B.A.S.S. and MLF or that B.A.S.S. has been the biggest influence since Teddy Roosevelt in the modern resource conservation movement.
They don’t fully grasp the difference between MLF and Bassmaster. And they, frankly, don’t care.
They just see ‘those tournament fishing guys’ on TV. So, when MLF presents itself as superior in terms of conservation, it presents every other tournament organization, including its newly acquired FLW Pro Circuit, as inferior in terms of conserving a valued public resource. This gives tournament fishing, in general, a perception problem in a day when the anti’s have shut down circuses and shuttered Shamu’s shows at Sea World. There are those who do not want you to fish. They don’t care about the rules. They hate the game altogether.
The anti-fishing movement is real and we, as sportsmen, need to stand united against it; not divided against one another, casting stones of perceived superiority. Perceived.
We should recognize and respect the efforts of those who have come before and worked for decades in imperfect pursuit of often unattainable yet strived-for conservation goals and ideals. We all have an impact on the environment every time we interact with it. But can you imagine not interacting with fish? It’s hard to love someone you never meet.
On the subject of meeting: thousands of fans show up at live weigh in shows to see fish and meet the pros who caught them. Most of these fans develop their own passion for the conservation of bass and aquatic resources as a result of their experiences at these live weigh ins.
Furthermore, MLF would be hard pressed to prove that its catch-all-you-can format is friendlier to the lakes they visit than is the 5-fish plan. Under the 5-fish format an angler who has caught a solid limit will likely move to other spots in search of bigger bass, unintentionally resting a spot that just produced 5 keepers of similar size. Advancements in sight fishing techniques as well as modern electronics help anglers to be more selective than ever when looking for only the 5 biggest fish.
By contrast, we all watched MLF pros last year as they hammered up to 80 fish from a single small area or big school. No upgrades, just cookie cutter, one-pound-and-a-few-ounces fish. Hooked and handled. Over and over. No need to move to a different area in search of a different class of fish and therefore give rest to the spot currently being strip-mined for every single little fish it can give up. Given the day off an MLF pro enjoys between rounds and that many MLF events place competitors on different bodies of water throughout the week, pros are further incentivized to exploit this scorched earth tactic.
Good luck to the recreational angler who shows up on that spot Saturday morning. He would be better served if the MLF pro had just kept and killed his legal limit and left the area otherwise unmolested.
The following represents the views of the author. It does not reflect the views and opinions of this station or its sponsors
Gemini Full Custom Dye Sublimated Jersey Sale!!!
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AC Insider Podcast Featuring Opens Winner Bryan New and OPEN MIC NIGHT!!!!
This week the boys welcome in Bassmaster Opens Winner Bryan New to the show to talk about his recent win on Kissimmee and being the first guy to punch his ticket to the Classic. The boys also welcome in Georgia Bass Trail Director Ron Bradley to talk about his new trail in the great state of GA! In the second half of the show we open the phone lines up to our monthly Open Mic night! Check it out!
Part 2 of this weeks podcast featuring the Open Mic Night Segment and the Costa Countdown to Blastoff.
Major League Fishing Revises Rules for the 2020 Bass Pro Tour
January 21, 2020 (Tulsa, Okla.) Major League Fishing (MLF) recently announced notable rule changes for the Bass Pro Tour 2020 season including a variable weight minimum for each fishery and automatic championship berths for Qualifying Round winners. Under rules approved earlier this month by the Major League Fishing Angler Association (MLFAA) and drafted into the official rulebook, MLF will introduce a variable minimum weight system for the Bass Pro Tour competition waters in 2020. In addition, the winners of the Qualifying Round (formerly the Shotgun and Elimination Rounds) will automatically advance to the Championship Round, which guarantees them paycheck of $12,000 to $100,000.
Championship Berth
The six-day competition for the Bass Pro Tour begins with four days of Qualifying Rounds between two groups -A and B- of 40 anglers. Each group competes for two days (Group A on days one and three, Group B on days two and four) in a catch, weigh, and immediately release format in which every fish over that lake’s variable minimum weight counts toward each Round’s total. Under the 2020 rule changes, the winners of each group in the Qualifying Round automatically advance to the Championship Round (day six), while places 2 through 20 from each group (40 anglers total) advance to the Knockout Round on day five. The eight anglers with the highest weight totals from the Knockout Round join the winners of the Qualifying Round to compete in the Championship Round and the chance to win $100,000.
Initial 2020 Angler Groups are based on the final standings from the 2019 season points. A random drawing placed MLF Rookies Bryan Thrift and David Dudley. The Bass Pro Tour opens February 7th on Lake Eufaula (Ala.) with the following groups:
| Group A | Group B |
| Jeff Sprague (2nd) | Edwin Evers (1st) |
| Brent Ehrler (3rd) | Jacob Wheeler (4th) |
| Todd Faircloth (6th) | Michael Neal (5th) |
| Jordan Lee (7th) | Dustin Connell (8th) |
| Mark Rose (10th) | Bobby Lane (9th) |
| Andy Morgan (11th) | Mike Iaconelli (12th) |
| Aaron Martens (14th) | Casey Ashley (13th) |
| Andy Montgomery (15th) | Ott DeFoe (16th) |
| Jared Lintner (18th) | Wesley Strader (17th) |
| Greg Hackney (19th) | Fred Roumbanis (20th) |
| Stephen Browning (22nd) | Bradley Roy (21st) |
| Jacob Powroznik (23rd) | Zack Birge (24th) |
| Greg Vinson (26th) | Takahiro Omori (25th) |
| Mark Daniels Jr. (28th) | Cody Meyer (29th) |
| Randy Howell (31st) | Randall Tharp (30th) |
| Anthony Gagliardi (32nd) | Jason Christie (33rd) |
| Alton Jones Jr. (35th) | Fletcher Shryock (34th) |
| Gary Klein (36th) | Adrian Avena (37th) |
| Alton Jones (39th) | Dave Lefebre (38th) |
| Cliff Pace (40th) | Luke Clausen (41st) |
| Marty Robinson (44th) | Gerald Spohrer (43rd) |
| Brent Chapman (45th) | Justin Lucas (46th) |
| Josh Bertrand (48th) | Mark Davis (47th) |
| Terry Scroggins (49th) | Kevin VanDam (50th) |
| Chris Lane (52nd) | Jesse Wiggins (51st) |
| Matt Lee (53rd) | Jonathon VanDam (54th) |
| Scott Suggs (56th) | Russ Lane (55th) |
| Jeff Kriet (57th) | Keith Poche (58th) |
| John Murray (60th) | Justin Atkins (59th) |
| James Elam (61st) | Skeet Reese (62nd) |
| Shin Fukae (64th) | James Watson (63rd) |
| Boyd Duckett (65th) | Ish Monroe (66th) |
| Timmy Horton (68th) | David Walker (67th) |
| Dean Rojas (69th) | Brett Hite (70th) |
| Tommy Biffle (72nd) | Cliff Crochet (71st) |
| Brandon Coulter (73rd) | Kelly Jordan (74th) |
| Roy Hawk (76th) | Shaw Grigsby (75th) |
| Britt Myers (77th) | Mike McClelland (78th) |
| Paul Elias (80th) | Jason Lambert (79th) |
| Bryan Thrift (N/A) | David Dudley (N/A) |
According to Major League Fishing rules, Group A becomes B and vice versa for Stage Two. New angler groups will be established after each two Stages based on the standings from the previous two Stages.
Variable Weight Minimums
The 2020 season will open on Lake Eufaula (Feb. 7-12) where a two-pound minimum will be in effect for scorable bass. Minimum weights are determined for each competition water based on the productivity, bass population, and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery. The 2-pound minimum for Eufaula significantly raises the average scoring requirement above the 12- to 15-inch minimums mandated by most state fisheries managers (and used for traditional tournament scoring). According to extensive nationwide research compiled by bass biologist Steven Bardin, an average 12-inch largemouth in good health weighs 0.9 pounds (14 ounces); an average 15-inch largemouth weighs 1 pound, 13 ounces.
The Lake Eufaula 14-inch minimum mandated by Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries – the standard used by tournament organizations as the minimum size allowed in a tournament weigh-in on the Alabama/Georgia border lake – translates to a 1-pound, 8-ounce bass (25 percent smaller on average than the 2-pound Bass Pro Tour minimum).
“We’re going to show up at one of the best fisheries in the country at Eufaula and ask these guys to fish for a minimum weight standard that’s the highest in the history of our sport. We know they’re going to catch big ones,” said Marty Stone, MLFNOW! Analyst, “but raising the bar to a 2-pound minimum resets the playing field. I’ll be interested to see how that affects the game.”
The Major League Fishing will announce the weight minimum to the anglers 30 days in advance of each Stage of the Bass Pro Tour. The variable minimum weight will not be incorporated into MLF Cup competitions or the World Championship.
The 2020 Bass Pro Tour
The Bass Pro Tour features 80 of the best professional anglers in the world competing head-to-head in a fast-paced, catch, weigh, and immediately release format. The previously announced 2020 schedule includes:
| Stage | Date | Lake | City | Community Host |
| One | Feb. 7-12 | Lake Eufaula | Eufaula, Ala. | Eufaula Barbour Chamber of Commerce |
| Two | Feb. 21-26 | Lake Okeechobee | Okeechobee, Fla. | Okeechobee County Tourism Development Council |
| Three | Mar. 13-18 | Lake Fork | Emory, Texas | Lake Fork Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Four | Apr. 3-8 | Jordan Lake, Falls Lake, and Shearon Harris Reservoir | Raleigh, N.C. | Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance |
| Five | Apr. 24-29 | Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees | Grove, Okla. | City of Grove |
| Special Event | May 16-20 | Kissimmee Chain | Kissimmee, Fla. | Experience Kissimmee |
| Six | Jun. 5-10 | Lake Winnebago, Lake Butte des Morts, and Green Lake | Neenah, Wis. | Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau |
| Seven | Jun. 26-Jul. 1 | St. Lawrence River | Ogdensburg, N.Y. | St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Ogdensburg |
| Eight | Jul. 21-26 | Lake Champlain | Burlington, Vt. | Experience Vermont |
The Bass Pro Tour began in 2019 and features 80 of the best professional anglers in the world, including Kevin VanDam, Edwin Evers, Aaron Martens, Mike Iaconelli, Jordan Lee, and Skeet Reese. Each stage includes six days of competition using the Major League Fishing, catch-weigh-and-immediately-release format.
Major League Fishing showcases each fishery through their award-winning, live and linear programming. Each Stage of the Bass Pro Tour is broadcast live on the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), and MajorLeagueFishing.com, totaling more than 325 hours of original programming. Fans can follow the fast-paced nature of the MLF format as it unfolds on the live leaderboard through “SCORETRACKER® updates.” Highlights from each Stage of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour will air on Discovery Network beginning in July 2020 and Sportsman Channel in early 2021.
“MLF offers the strongest broadcast presence in the industry to fans and sponsors,” said Jim Wilburn, President and CEO of Major League Fishing. “And with these lakes planned for this coming Bass Pro Tour, we know 2020 will be our best year yet as we continue to capture a broad audience of both longtime fishing fans and those new to the sport, thanks to our fast-paced, fan-friendly format,”
Littleton & Nuemann win Anglers Quest Lake Houston Team Event
| Place # | TEAM/NAMES | # FISH | B.B. | TOTAL WT | $$$ PAID |
| 1 | JOHN LITTLETON & TIM NEUMANN | 5 | 4.97 | 13.11 | $1,285.00 |
| 2 | CURTIS JORDAN & BRANDON FLOWERS | 5 | 0.00 | 9.19 | $650.00 |
| 3 | EDWARD YAO & CADEN FUENTES | 5 | 0.00 | 8.36 | $430.00 |
| 4 | DENNIS WILSON & SHANE DAVIS | 5 | 0.00 | 7.94 | |
| 5 | CRAIG MORRIS & CODY SWANN | 4 | 0.00 | 6.35 | |
| 6 | LEE LACOUR & GREG CRAWFORD | 3 | 0.00 | 6.18 | |
| 7 | ADAMBOYD & LUKE BOYD | 3 | 0.00 | 6.03 | |
| 8 | BRAD DEAL & STEVE UBERNOSKY | 3 | 0.00 | 5.21 | |
| 9 | SANDRO ALFARO & GLENN BLANCHARD | 3 | 0.00 | 4.84 | |
| 10 | DAVID WHEATON & TANSLEY BYNOG SR. | 3 | 0.00 | 4.83 | |
| 11 | DANIEL JOHNSON | 2 | 0.00 | 3.47 | |
| 12 | MIKE DORCZ & JEFF JACKOWSKI | 1 | 1.58 | 1.58 | |
| 13 | BRUCE STROUD & BLAKE STROUD | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 14 | CHARLES TOLLESON II & JEFFERSON MURRAY | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 15 | MICHAEL STREETER & DANIEL STREETER | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
