Veteran angler Russ Lane tops field after Day 1 at Tombigbee River
April 16, 2025
COLUMBUS, Miss. — The last time B.A.S.S. held a tournament on the Tenn-Tom Waterway, many anglers fishing in this week’s St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Tombigbee River presented by SEVIIN weren’t yet in grade school.
That was way back in October 2004 when B.A.S.S. held a Southern Open on this 234-mile man-made waterway connecting the Tennessee River with the confluence of the Black Warrior and Tombigbee rivers.
Longtime pro Russ Lane, of Prattville, Ala., had just turned 32 when that Open was held. He didn’t finish near the money, bowing instead to tournament winner and future Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Paul Elias.
Fast forward 21 years and Lane, now 52-years-old, is the sage old hand in the derby. He’s also in the pole position after Day 1 of this Open tournament with a Day 1 limit of five bass totaling 17 pounds, 10 ounces.
That’s nearly 1 1/2 pounds more than Missouri’s Trey Schroeder, who’s in second place with his 16-9 limit after Day 1 of the three-day event.
Tenn-Tom was stingy Wednesday, with only 43 of 155 competitors weighing double-digit bags. Temperatures stayed in the low 70s throughout the day and bright skies prevailed, with more of the same predicted for the remainder of the tournament. The conditions have Tenn-Tom bass in a variety of stages, from post-spawn cruisers to fatter females still seeking to bed along the banks of the river.
Lane played the conditions best on Wednesday, saying he saw signs in practice that made him think he could put together three solid bags this week.
“Practice was productive,” he said. “I found a place that I liked. It wasn’t fishing great then, but I figured it would get better with this water getting more stable, things warming up. I rolled the dice that some females would move in, and they did today.”
Lane said he covered a lot of water Wednesday, but shared few specifics. He said he’s fishing shallow, though, and feels dialed in.
“It’s a specific deal and it seemed to hold up throughout the day,” he said. “Four or five were pre-spawn fish, I think. My area is fishing small, but there are maybe a dozen key little spots around there that I’m keying on. Other guys are fishing it. I just figured something a tad bit different today.”
Lane bagged his first bass on only his third cast Wednesday morning. It was a 3-pounder, which might seem average in many tournaments, but if multiplied by five, would have been a Top 5 total on Day 1 at Tenn-Tom.
Lane said fishing on “new water” is invigorating. He’s fished Tenn-Tom before, of course, but Bill Clinton was in the Oval Office then. In other words, there’s been some time between this tournament and his last on the waterway.
“Sometimes, you look forward to going someplace you’re not very familiar with,” he said. “It reminds me a lot of the Alabama River and some of the Coosa River lakes I grew up on. So, I feel comfortable here. But there’s other guys who fish the Coosa who are comfortable here, too. I’ll need to keep on (the fish) to stay on top.”
Schroeder, 25, caught 16-9 on Wednesday, with a 6-4 largemouth anchoring his limit. Both were a pleasant surprise, he said, after a particularly tough practice session. Schroeder said he’s running north from East Bank Landing and blind-casting to largemouth bass on the banks in as little as 1 to 2 feet of water.
“I just tried to stay positive today and keep the bait wet,” Schroeder said. “I honestly got super lucky. Late in the day, I pushed into a pond I hadn’t been in yet and caught two of my nicest fish. Hopefully there are a couple more swimming around in there tomorrow. After I caught those two, I just left.”
Schroeder suspects he may have covered too much water during practice, making it a struggle to get bites. He narrowed his focus on Day 1 of competition, and it paid off.
“I was trying to fish for (spotted bass in practice) but didn’t have any luck,” he said. “It was just too blown out, so I just resorted back to fishing shallow again and looking for some heads. There’s definitely fish that are spawning and some that are post-spawn. Some are just now getting up there and starting to make beds, too. The fish seem to be in all stages right now after the big flood we had recently.”
As for tomorrow’s strategy?
“I’m going to run north again and burn everything I’ve got to the ground,” Schroeder said.
Rounding out the Top 5 after Day 1 are third, Pennsylvania’s Grae Buck, 15-6; fourth, South Carolina’s Cole Drummond, 15-3; and fifth, Florida’s Bryson Osteen, 14-15.
Of the 155 competing anglers, only the Top 10 will compete for the tournament title on Friday. The Wednesday start is unique to this Open on Tenn-Tom with B.A.S.S. officials wanting to wrap the three-day event on a Friday, allowing angers time to return home for Easter Sunday.
Day 2 take-off of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Tombigbee River presented by SEVIIN is scheduled to begin at 6:15 a.m. CT, with weigh-in set for 2:15 p.m., both from East Bank Landing.
Visit Columbus, Mississippi is hosting this week’s event.
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Tombigbee River presented by SEVIIN 4/16-4/18
Tombigbee River, Columbus MS.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 17-10 200
Day 1: 5 17-10
2. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 5 16-04 199
Day 1: 5 16-04
3. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 5 15-06 198
Day 1: 5 15-06
4. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 15-03 197
Day 1: 5 15-03
5. Bryson Osteen Live Oak, FL 5 14-15 196
Day 1: 5 14-15
6. Kyle Weisenburger Columbus Grv, OH 5 14-14 195
Day 1: 5 14-14
7. Cody Nichols Fayette, AL 5 14-10 194
Day 1: 5 14-10
8. Tyler Conde Chepachet, RI 5 14-03 193
Day 1: 5 14-03
9. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 5 14-02 192
Day 1: 5 14-02
10. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 14-00 191
Day 1: 5 14-00
11. Byron Kenney Jr Monticello, GA 5 13-10 190
Day 1: 5 13-10
12. John Duvall Madison, GA 5 13-09 189
Day 1: 5 13-09
13. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 3 13-07 188
Day 1: 3 13-07
14. Clint Pegg Caledonia, MS 5 13-05 187
Day 1: 5 13-05
15. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 5 13-04 186
Day 1: 5 13-04
16. Connor Jacob Peoria, IL 5 13-02 185
Day 1: 5 13-02
17. Micheal Stout Gallatin, TN 5 12-06 184
Day 1: 5 12-06
18. Robert Johnson Jr. Maben, MS 5 12-03 183
Day 1: 5 12-03
19. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 4 12-03 182
Day 1: 4 12-03
20. Evan White Roanoke Rapids, NC 5 12-01 181
Day 1: 5 12-01
21. Barrett Saunders Hammond, LA 5 12-00 180
Day 1: 5 12-00
22. Matt Adams Guntersville, AL 5 11-15 179
Day 1: 5 11-15
22. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 11-15 179
Day 1: 5 11-15
24. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 5 11-13 177
Day 1: 5 11-13
25. Duke Nave Oxford, PA 5 11-12 176
Day 1: 5 11-12
26. Tanner Hadden Appling, GA 4 11-12 175
Day 1: 4 11-12
27. Joshua Weaver Macon, GA 5 11-10 174
Day 1: 5 11-10
28. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 5 11-09 173
Day 1: 5 11-09
29. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 11-06 172
Day 1: 5 11-06
30. Cody Ross Livingston, TX 5 11-03 171
Day 1: 5 11-03
30. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 11-03 171
Day 1: 5 11-03
32. Jeffery Davis Steens, MS 5 11-02 169
Day 1: 5 11-02
33. Clay Madison Northport, AL 5 10-11 168
Day 1: 5 10-11
34. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 5 10-10 167
Day 1: 5 10-10
34. Lucas Lindsay Auburn , AL 5 10-10 167
Day 1: 5 10-10
36. Tyler Campbell Martin, GA 5 10-07 165
Day 1: 5 10-07
37. Jeff Oglesby Reform, AL 5 10-06 164
Day 1: 5 10-06
38. Drew Boggs Lebanon, TN 4 10-06 163
Day 1: 4 10-06
39. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 10-05 162
Day 1: 5 10-05
40. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 10-02 161
Day 1: 5 10-02
40. Rich Ortiz Fort Ann, NY 5 10-02 161
Day 1: 5 10-02
40. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 10-02 161
Day 1: 5 10-02
43. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 10-01 158
Day 1: 5 10-01
44. Kyle Shaw Millport, AL 5 09-15 157
Day 1: 5 09-15
45. Tommy Dickerson Orange, TX 3 09-13 156
Day 1: 3 09-13
46. Ryan Lachniet Gum Spring, VA 5 09-12 155
Day 1: 5 09-12
47. Tyler Shawger Zanesville, OH 5 09-11 154
Day 1: 5 09-11
48. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 4 09-09 153
Day 1: 4 09-09
49. Tyler Malone Chunchula, AL 5 09-08 152
Day 1: 5 09-08
50. Aaron Yavorsky Palm Harbor, FL 4 09-08 151
Day 1: 4 09-08
51. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 3 09-08 150
Day 1: 3 09-08
52. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 5 09-06 149
Day 1: 5 09-06
53. Cade Law Elmore, AL 2 09-06 148
Day 1: 2 09-06
54. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 5 09-05 147
Day 1: 5 09-05
55. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 09-02 146
Day 1: 5 09-02
56. Michael Neal Dayton, TN 4 09-02 145
Day 1: 4 09-02
57. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 5 09-01 144
Day 1: 5 09-01
58. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 5 09-00 143
Day 1: 5 09-00
58. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 09-00 143
Day 1: 5 09-00
60. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 4 08-13 141
Day 1: 4 08-13
61. Christian Nash Allons, TN 5 08-12 140
Day 1: 5 08-12
62. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 4 08-12 139
Day 1: 4 08-12
63. Timmy Ming Louisville, MS 4 08-11 138
Day 1: 4 08-11
64. Derrick Sadlowski Monaca, PA 4 08-10 137
Day 1: 4 08-10
65. Donavan Carson Bluff City, TN 3 08-09 136
Day 1: 3 08-09
66. Nicholas Mandes North Stonington, CT 5 08-08 135
Day 1: 5 08-08
67. John Anderson Bay Springs, MS 5 08-05 134
Day 1: 5 08-05
68. Dillon Falardeau Hixson, TN 4 08-03 133
Day 1: 4 08-03
69. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 4 07-15 132
Day 1: 4 07-15
70. Jake Maddux Roswell, GA 4 07-14 131
Day 1: 4 07-14
71. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 4 07-13 130
Day 1: 4 07-13
71. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 4 07-13 130
Day 1: 4 07-13
73. Brooks Anderson Marietta, GA 2 07-13 128
Day 1: 2 07-13
74. Jaden Parrish Liberty, TX 3 07-12 127
Day 1: 3 07-12
75. Alec Morrison Peru, NY 5 07-11 126
Day 1: 5 07-11
76. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 4 07-10 125
Day 1: 4 07-10
77. Hunter Eubanks Landrum , SC 4 07-10 124
Day 1: 4 07-10
78. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 3 07-10 123
Day 1: 3 07-10
79. Tucker Shaw Millport, AL 4 07-03 122
Day 1: 4 07-03
80. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 4 06-15 121
Day 1: 4 06-15
81. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 3 06-11 120
Day 1: 3 06-11
82. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 4 06-10 119
Day 1: 4 06-10
83. Garrett McWilliams Florence, MS 3 06-08 118
Day 1: 3 06-08
84. Ryan Michl Newton, IL 2 06-05 117
Day 1: 2 06-05
85. Blake Bailey Petal, MS 3 06-04 116
Day 1: 3 06-04
86. Casey Smith Victor, NY 3 06-02 115
Day 1: 3 06-02
87. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 3 06-00 114
Day 1: 3 06-00
88. Lance Jackson Starkville, MS 3 05-13 113
Day 1: 3 05-13
89. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 3 05-07 112
Day 1: 3 05-07
90. Hunter Davidson Reform, AL 2 05-06 111
Day 1: 2 05-06
91. Dylan Akins Flowery Branch, GA 4 05-05 110
Day 1: 4 05-05
92. Parker Guy Appling, GA 3 05-02 109
Day 1: 3 05-02
93. River Lee Diboll, TX 3 05-01 108
Day 1: 3 05-01
94. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 3 04-13 107
Day 1: 3 04-13
95. John Pollard Eclectic, AL 3 04-11 106
Day 1: 3 04-11
96. TJ McKenzie Myrtle Beach, SC 2 04-10 105
Day 1: 2 04-10
97. William Kronander Brownsville, PA 2 04-09 104
Day 1: 2 04-09
97. Wyatt Wisian Ardmore, OK 2 04-09 104
Day 1: 2 04-09
99. Hayden Gaddis Dandridge, TN 2 04-07 102
Day 1: 2 04-07
100. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 1 04-06 101
Day 1: 1 04-06
101. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 3 04-05 100
Day 1: 3 04-05
102. David Dove Columbus, MS 2 04-05 99
Day 1: 2 04-05
102. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 2 04-05 99
Day 1: 2 04-05
104. Easton Lindus Woodville, WI 2 04-03 97
Day 1: 2 04-03
105. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 3 04-02 96
Day 1: 3 04-02
106. Dave Miller Stratford, CT 2 04-00 95
Day 1: 2 04-00
107. Lance Owen Greer, SC 2 03-15 94
Day 1: 2 03-15
108. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 2 03-10 93
Day 1: 2 03-10
108. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 2 03-10 93
Day 1: 2 03-10
110. Shannon Abbott Louisville, TN 2 03-09 91
Day 1: 2 03-09
110. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 2 03-09 91
Day 1: 2 03-09
112. Yukihiro Sawamura Harker Heights, TX 3 03-08 89
Day 1: 3 03-08
113. Tommy Wood Peregian Springs AUSTRA 2 03-06 88
Day 1: 2 03-06
114. Mike Penney Cameron, NC 1 03-06 87
Day 1: 1 03-06
115. Michael Spaulding Jr. Dundee, MI 2 03-05 86
Day 1: 2 03-05
116. Mark Guhne Hixson, TN 2 03-04 85
Day 1: 2 03-04
117. Colt Blanton Piketon, OH 2 03-03 84
Day 1: 2 03-03
118. Clint Leonard Jr Saint Cloud, FL 2 03-00 83
Day 1: 2 03-00
119. Chris Lighthizer Zanesville, OH 2 02-15 82
Day 1: 2 02-15
120. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 1 02-14 81
Day 1: 1 02-14
120. Mikey Weems Hull, TX 1 02-14 81
Day 1: 1 02-14
122. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 2 02-13 79
Day 1: 2 02-13
123. James Chandler Liberty, TX 1 02-12 78
Day 1: 1 02-12
124. Kristine Fischer Spring City, TN 1 02-06 77
Day 1: 1 02-06
125. William Gully Linden, AL 1 02-05 76
Day 1: 1 02-05
126. Lucas Toliver Paw Paw, MI 1 02-03 75
Day 1: 1 02-03
127. Tommy Dunaway Havana, FL 1 02-02 74
Day 1: 1 02-02
128. Colden Baker Ridgeway, SC 1 02-01 73
Day 1: 1 02-01
128. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 1 02-01 73
Day 1: 1 02-01
130. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 1 02-00 71
Day 1: 1 02-00
131. Johnathan Crossland Chapin, SC 1 01-11 70
Day 1: 1 01-11
132. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 1 01-10 69
Day 1: 1 01-10
132. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 1 01-10 69
Day 1: 1 01-10
132. Dylan Welton Middleville, MI 1 01-10 69
Day 1: 1 01-10
135. Nate Harden Niles, MI 1 01-09 66
Day 1: 1 01-09
136. Troy Coney Owego, NY 1 01-08 65
Day 1: 1 01-08
137. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 1 01-06 64
Day 1: 1 01-06
137. Anthony Garcia Los Angeles, CA 1 01-06 64
Day 1: 1 01-06
137. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 1 01-06 64
Day 1: 1 01-06
140. Brian Mullaney Ijamsville, MD 1 01-05 61
Day 1: 1 01-05
141. Rick Greene Ocala, FL 1 01-02 60
Day 1: 1 01-02
142. William Baker Ridgeway, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Scott Fowler Ellijay, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Josh Gauthier Petawawa CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Kyle Healey Almonte CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Tim Jaynes Ethelsville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Kristian Johnson Belvidere, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Phillip Kroll Otego, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Ryan Matylewicz Tunkhannock, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. John Polasini Iii Leland, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
142. Collin Smith Honea Path, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 53 480 1073-12
------------------------------
53 480 1073-12
Major League Fishing Cancels Final Day of Invitational Stop 3 at Lewis Smith Lake
CULLMAN, Ala. (April 16, 2025) – Following this morning’s tragic boating accident, Major League Fishing (MLF) announced the cancellation of the final day of competition at Invitational Stop 3 scheduled for Thursday on Lewis Smith Lake.
“This is a heartbreaking moment for our entire organization,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.”
James River set to impress for B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier
April 16, 2025
RICHMOND, Va. — A vast playing field awaits anglers competing in the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at James River presented by Lowrance, but Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Ed Loughran believes plenty of bass will be brought to the scales throughout the three-day event.
“It is a great time of year to fish there,” the 2024 Elite Series champion said. “People are going to catch a ton of bass. But, you are going to have to get those couple of bigger bites to reach the 20-pound mark. I would be surprised if it didn’t take around 60 pounds to win.”
Tournament days are scheduled for April 23-25 with daily takeoffs at 6:30 a.m. ET from Osborne Park and Boat Landing. Competitors will begin weighing in at 2:30 p.m. at the same venue. Anglers will be vying for a spot in the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at the Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance scheduled for Oct. 22-25 in La Crosse, Wis.
The James River has become a regular stop on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, hosting everything from St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, to Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops events as well as Strike King Bassmaster High School Series events. In 2023, James Willoughby and Jacob Pfundt from the University of Montevallo claimed a Bassmaster College Series title at the Virginia fishery with a two-day total of 40 pounds, 9 ounces.
This Nation tournament starts nearly two years to the day as that College Series tournament, and several of the same scenarios will likely play out on the tidal system.
Loughran expects the largemouth in the system to be somewhere in their spawning cycle. Some bass could still be on bed, but the Richmond, Va., native anticipates that most of the largemouth will be postspawn.
“There should be some fish still hanging around spawning,” he said. “A bunch of them will be postspawn and guarding fry. You will be able to do a bunch of different things. The James this time of year will be an all-shallow deal. I don’t think ’Scoping is going to be a big player.”
For the most part, largemouth will be hanging around a variety of shallow cover including cypress trees, laydowns and lily pads. Loughran also anticipates anglers being able to find success in any part of the river, from the gravel pits close to takeoff all the way down to the Chickahominy River.
There is also a variety of forage for the bass in the system, from gizzard and threadfin shad to white and yellow perch. Expect power fishing baits like spinnerbaits, ChatterBaits and Texas rigs to all play a big role in this event.
“You are going to see a lot of 16- to 17-pound bags in this tournament,” he said. “There will be a lot of different things happening. You’ll be able to catch stuff out of brushpiles. You’ll be able to go down the bank. You’ll be able to fish cypress flats.”
While the tide cycle is always a factor in some way, Loughran believes anglers should be able to catch bass at any time, not just during an outgoing tide.
Richmond Region Tourism and Visit Henrico County are hosting the event.
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
Major League Fishing Statement Regarding Boating Accident on Lewis Smith Lake
CULLMAN, Ala. (April 16, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) confirms that a serious boating accident occurred this morning on Lewis Smith Lake during Day 2 of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational. The incident involved one of the event’s competing anglers, Flint Davis of Leesburg, Georgia.
Emergency personnel and local authorities responded immediately and remain on scene managing the situation.
Out of respect for those involved, and to ensure the accuracy of all information, no further details will be released at this time. MLF is working closely with law enforcement and emergency officials. Additional updates will be provided as they are confirmed by the appropriate authorities.
Our thoughts, prayers and deepest concern are with everyone affected by this tragic incident.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Boating Incident at Lake Norman — No Life-Threatening Injuries
For Immediate Release: April 16, 2025
Huntersville, North Carolina—At approximately 7:30 a.m. ET, emergency personnel responded to a boating accident on Lake Norman involving two vessels, including one operated by National Professional Fishing League angler Jessie Ayers of Antlers, Oklahoma. All individuals involved were accounted for and evacuated for medical evaluation. No life-threatening injuries were reported.
The cause and circumstances of the accident will be investigated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and other appropriate authorities.
“We’re extremely grateful that this incident did not result in any severe injuries,” said NPFL President Brad Fuller. “Our primary concern is always for the health and safety of our anglers and anyone else using the water. We take boating safety extremely seriously.”
NPFL Rule 10 requires that competitors wear personal floatation devices whenever the outboard motor is running and in gear, and competition boats must be equipped with emergency ignition shut-off devices designed to stop the outboard if the driver is separated from the driver’s seat. In addition, competitors must comply with all state boating and fishing regulations.
More details of this incident will be forthcoming as they become available.
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League was founded to bring competitive fishing to a broader audience and offer anglers a platform to compete at the highest level. The NPFL is committed to fostering integrity, competition, and innovation in the sport, providing anglers and fans alike with an exciting and unique experience.
For more information, visit our website or contact Ken Duke at (407) 574-1898 or ken@tnpfl.com.
Montevallo Maintains Top Ranking in Bass Pro Shops School of the Year
SAN ANTONIO, TX (April 15, 2025) – The Association of Collegiate Anglers announces the latest points update to the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
The University of Montevallo remains in 1st place with a season total of 26,800 points. McKendree University holds onto 2nd, and Tarleton State University moves up three places to be ranked 3rd.
The end of March through the middle of April is a key stretch in defining who the contenders will be for this season’s chase in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.The ACA contested its final major double points event to count in this cycle, BASS and MLF each hosted a major tournament, and MLF contested a National Championship that will be included in the next points update.
With just over one month remaining until the standings are finalized towards college fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system, the University of Montevallo finds itself in a familiar position. The four-time defending School of the Year title winner is in 1st place, with a lead of 1,055 points over 2nd place. At the ACA double points Pickwick Slam, Montevallo earned 3,310 points. Team members Miller Dowling & Mason Kornegay finished in 8th, and Briggs Alavezos & Brooks Parker to 13th.
Montevallo is seeking to win its fifth straight title this season. One event remains this season for the ACA, the triple points Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops to be contested at Lake Hartwell. Montevallo currently qualifies to send 11 boats. The more boats a team has competing at the historic 20th ACA National Championship, the better chance they have at making the most of the triple points opportunity.
McKendree University maintained its 2nd place ranking in this points update. McKendree anglers earned 2,350 points at the Pickwick Slam, with their top two highest-placing teams in 28th & 89th. Team members also competed at Lake Eufaula, earning points in McKendree’s third and final points eligible BASS event for this season. Two top finishes of 6th & 23rd earned the two-time title winner 2,230 points. From the previous update to now, McKendree was able to close the gap between themselves and 1st place by just over 1,000 points.
Moving up into 3rd place for this points update is Tarleton State University. The Texas based team bumped up three places since the prior update. Team members Tyler Chmelar & Kate Kramer won the Bassmaster College Series event at Lake Eufaula. With the next highest-placing team in 18th, Tarleton State earned 2,330 points at that particular event. At the double points ACA Pickwick Slam, Tarleton State’s two top teams place 9th and 71st. That moved their season points total to 23,505 points.
Here is a look at teams that made significant moves inside of the Top 25 for this points update to the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia:
6) Wabash Valley College – Previously 8th
8) Campbellsville University – Previously 10th
10) Auburn University – Previously 13th
12) Murray State University – Previously 16th
View the complete updated rankings.
Two teams moved up into the Top 25 after previously not being ranked in that position. Murray State College moved from 27 to 23rd, and Stephen F. Austin climbed one place from 26th to 25th.
Alabama Pro David Kilgore Grabs Lead on Day 1 at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 3 at Lewis Smith Lake
Jasper, Alabama angler sacks up 18-11 to take early lead
CULLMAN, Ala. (April 15, 2025) – Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 3 Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lewis Smith Lake went about to plan. Plenty of fish being caught, but top-end size was tough to come by. With most of the field packed tight, ounces will decide who gets checks, points and a chance at a win.
Still, Jasper, Alabama pro David Kilgore separated himself in a big way on Day 1, sacking up 18 pounds, 11 ounces for the lead – which is a lot of weight most times of year at Smith, and especially now with so many postspawn fish in the mix.
In second, pro Lane Olson of Forest Grove, Oregon, scrapped up 15-12, and Joseph Webster and Emil Wagner are tied for third with 15-2. We’ll see what happens on Day 2, but it already looks like a tough road for some of the anglers who caught their fish mostly with forward-facing sonar on Day 1 – Killgore and Webster were not reliant on the tech early and figure to have a great chance to stay steady the rest of the way.
Competitors will conclude the two-day opening round on Wednesday, with only the top 30 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advancing to Championship Thursday. The three-day tournament, hosted by Visit Cullman, Alabama, features pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and valuable points to qualify for the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship in September.
A longtime local on Smith, Kilgore’s start with such a strong weight could set him up very well, though he knows as well as anyone that Smith is a tough place to be consistent. Today, after a slow start, he packed on the pounds in the latter half of the morning.
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“I'm a little disappointed in myself,” Kilgore said. “I thought I had a spot that was a lot better than it was. Then I wasted a couple of hours this morning. Eventually, I said, ‘I gotta move.’
“I moved and it wasn't fast and furious; I could catch little keepers no problem, but every now and then, I would catch a decent fish. It was just a numbers game, pretty much, so I'll try to do it again tomorrow.”
Weighing all largemouth on Day 1, Kilgore plans to run the same program on Day 2, but he’s got an intriguing herring spawn game plan for the final day.
“I’ve got a couple more areas I didn’t need to go to today,” he said. “And I've got a spot, way up – as in, get gas on the water – that's a herring spot that’s loaded. So, hopefully if I can get through tomorrow in good position, I'll abandon ship and go fish for the herring fish the last day.”
“The last few years here, we've done very good this time of year,” he said. “I've kind of got the herring gig figured out, and then I've kind of got the largemouth coming off bed gig figured out. So, it's perfect time of year for me. I’m excited.”
The top 20 pros after Day 1 on Lewis Smith Lake are:
1st: David Kilgore, Jasper, Ala., five bass, 18-11
2nd: Lane Olson, Forest Grove, Ore., five bass, 15-12
3rd: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., five bass, 15-2
3rd: Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala., five bass, 15-12
5th: Britt Myers Jr., Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 14-15
6th: Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., five bass, 14-10
7th: Colby Miller, Elmer, La., five bass, 14-5
8th: Ryan Armstrong, Robinson, Ill., five bass, 14-3
8th: Austin Swindle, Parrish, Ala., five bass, 14-3
10th: Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 14-2
11th: Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., five bass, 14-0
12th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 13-15
13th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 13-13
13th: Keith Poche, Cecil, Ala., five bass, 13-13
15th: Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., five bass, 13-12
16th: Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., five bass, 13-9
16th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., five bass, 13-9
18th: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., five bass, 13-6
19th: Cody Petit, Arundel, Maine, five bass, 13-5
20th: Charles Abshire, Lake Charles, La., five bass, 13-4
20th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 13-4
20th: Dustin Smith, Trussville, Ala., five bass, 13-4
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Keith Poche earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award with a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 6 ounces.
In Tackle Warehouse Invitationals competition, the full field compete in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Thursday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 3 at Lewis Smith Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats is determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight.
Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. CT each day from Smith Lake Park, located at 403 County Road 386 in Cullman, Alabama. Weigh-ins will be held at Smith Lake Park and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. CT. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 3 at Lewis Smith Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 18 on CBS Sports Network.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitationals updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
NPFL and Humminbird Form Strategic Partnership
WILKESVILLE, Ohio—The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) and Johnson Outdoors announce a new partnership with Humminbird, the industry leader in fishing electronics. The partnership will include branding and a program of contingency awards for NPFL anglers using certain Humminbird products.
Brad Fuller, President of the NPFL, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “It’s exciting and an honor to be working with Johnson Outdoors. When we decided to prohibit real-time imaging units [often referred to as “forward-facing sonar”] last September, we hoped that the industry would understand that we were making a decision in favor of our audience rather than a decision against technology. We’re thrilled that Humminbird understood that and saw the opportunity to promote their array of technologies to best match the diverse needs of fishing through the NPFL.”
The partnership includes branding of certain NPFL elements and a contingency program that pays $1,000 to the highest-ranking finisher equipped with Humminbird XPLORE technology in six regular season NPFL tournaments. At NPFL Stop 1 at Santee Cooper Lakes, that angler was Bill Lowen, who finished in fourth place.
Jeff Kolodzinski, Brand Manager of Fishing for Johnson Outdoors, commented on his company’s support of professional fishing: “We sponsor all three of the principal bass leagues, and we’re thrilled to partner with NPFL. The NPFL has staked out a position that differentiates it from the other organizations and we appreciate that it represents an approach that appeals to many fans and anglers. There’s more to fishing—and fishing electronics—than forward-facing sonar.
“Fishing is and has always been a multi-dimensional sport. Successful anglers are required to master a variety of fish-finding skills, which is why the NPFL offers Humminbird a great opportunity to highlight our complete array of fish-finding technologies in the form of the new XPLORE series. And, with Minn Kota being part of the same company as Humminbird, anglers can level-up their experience with a Minn Kota for the best in trolling motors to stay on the fish.
“Our new XPLORE Series is the finest fish finder platform ever offered by Humminbird,” says Kolodzinski. “The interface is fully compatible with our live sonar [MEGA Live 2], XPLORE offers plug-and-play compatibility with Minn Kota trolling motors and Raptor/Talon anchors, works with LakeMaster and CoastMaster charts, syncs up to 10,000 waypoints through our new waypoint management system, and is highly customizable and user-friendly. It’s all part of our commitment to helping pros and enthusiasts catch more fish and have more fun.”
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) was founded to bring competitive fishing to a broader audience and offer anglers a platform to compete at the highest level. The NPFL is committed to fostering integrity, competition, and innovation in the sport, providing anglers and fans alike with an exciting and unique experience.
Media Contact: Ken Duke — (407) 574-1898 or ken@tnpfl.com.
Sunline Pro Kyle Welcher Smashes Records with Century Belt Win at Pasquotank
Torrance, CA- Sunline pro Kyle Welcher delivered a dominant and historic performance at the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound, weighing in a staggering 118 pounds, 12 ounces over four days to secure his first-ever Bassmaster Elite Series victory and his place in the prestigious Century Club.
Welcher showcased his river-fishing roots and confidence in heavy cover by relying on 22-lb Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon throughout the event—a decision that proved pivotal in a tournament where precision, sensitivity, and durability were key.
“Shooter is my go-to line anytime I’m flipping in heavy cover or around big fish,” Welcher said. “This stretch of the Pasquotank had stumps, cypress knees, and everything that can test your gear. With Shooter, I never had to worry about abrasion or line failure. I boat-flipped multiple 6- to 7-pounders without a second thought.”
Welcher’s winning campaign was a wire-to-wire performance: he dropped 30-11 on Day 1, added 30-3 on Day 2, weighed the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament at 34-0 on Day 3, and closed with 23-14 on Championship Sunday. His winning margin of 45 pounds, 7 ounces is the largest in Elite Series history.
Fishing within a couple miles of takeoff, Welcher identified a mile-long stretch of the Pasquotank River that featured the only concentration of stumps and cypress trees in the area—ideal staging and spawning habitat. Using forward-facing sonar, he located precise pieces of cover where fish were positioned, then used a black and blue Rapala CrushCity Bronco Bug rigged on a Gamakatsu G-Power Heavy Cover Worm Flip and Punch Hook with a pegged ¼-ounce tungsten weight.
But it was his choice of line that gave him the confidence to fish with full power and precision.
“Shooter has that perfect combination of sensitivity, strength, and abrasion resistance,” Welcher explained. “When you hook a 6-pounder under a cypress knee and it wraps you around a stump, most lines are done. Shooter eats that up. I never lost a fish all week.”
Welcher spooled the line on an 8:1:1 gear ratio reel paired with a 7’6” heavy-action Khaotic Kustom Rod, a setup he trusted completely in close-quarters combat with trophy-class largemouth.
Yoshi Mitani, Vice President of Sunline America is excited about Welcher’s record breaking victory. “Kyle has accomplished so much in his young career and we are proud to have him be a part of our team at Sunline. We look forward to working with him for years to come and being a part of his outstanding accomplishments.”
Sunline maintains a top share in the line market in Japan, where it was founded, and exports its line to more than 40 countries worldwide. Sunline America is a subsidiary of Sunline Japan and is responsible for distribution and marketing in North American markets. For more information, please visit http://www.sunlineamerica.comTop of Form
Iaconelli on the Pasquotank, Throwback Vests, and Fan Support
Courtesy Dynamic Sponsorships / Photos: Bassmaster
Mike Iaconelli left Elizabeth City, North Carolina with a solid 38th place finish in the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at the Pasquotank River. The Team Toyota pro’s weight averaged out to around twelve-pounds-per-day, of which the Elite Series veteran earned every single ounce.
Making a massive trip of around ninety miles one way (180-mile boat ride per day), Iaconelli characterized the first two days of this event as the “top five worst conditions” he’s faced when making a long run. If your name isn’t Kyle Welcher, the Pasquotank River event was likely defined by long, rugged boat rides.
“The boat rides were horrific,” Iaconelli said. “I run the best equipment in the world, the fact that my Bass Cat and Yamaha got me to my fish and back each day is a testament to that, but man were those runs rough. It’s the unpredictability of the waves on the Albemarle Sound. You couldn’t get into a rhythm with the waves and they simply beat you up.”
As of Monday, following the tournament, Iaconelli confirmed he was still sore everywhere. His ribs, arms, abs, and back all were still feeling the punishment he subjected himself to on the Albemarle Sound, which he was quick to point out is basically an ocean.
With this being Iaconelli’s thirtieth season as a professional fisherman, he has earned the title of grizzled veteran. For him to rank the Pasquotank River boat runs so highly on his list of “most brutal” says a lot. Just the same, Ike emphatically said all the effort was undoubtedly worth it.
“I had a solid tournament and moved up 20 spots in the Angler of the Year standings,” Iaconelli explained. “It was worth it and in hindsight I’m happy with my decisions. I opted to make a long run and fish in a river, focusing on fish relating to current and use traditional river fishing tactics. I can breakdown those types of areas a lot quicker than the marshy, backwater environments, which was important with this being such a massive fishery.”
This was Iaconelli’s first Saturday cut of the 2025 season, allowing him to showcase a cool element of his #Dirty30 celebration which includes a throwback to the old-school vests Ike and his peers used to wear when he started his career.
“Every day three cut I make this season I am going to wear an old-school vest on stage instead of my tournament jersey,” Iaconelli said. “But the coolest part is I made enough of these vests to give one out to a fan after I cross the stage on Saturdays. I love the nostalgia of the vests, and I love connecting with fishing fans. This is a fun way to tip my cap towards both.”
The fans certainly did their part this weekend, showing up en masse for weigh-ins at Waterfront Park in Elizabeth City and Saturday was no exception. After weighing his fish, Iaconelli called on the huge crowd to give their best ‘Iaconelli scream’.
The crowd did their best to ‘Go-Ike’ and ultimately one young fan left the weigh-in with Iaconelli’s throwback tournament vest, while everyone in attendance was witness to something special.
“It was honestly such a cool moment to stand on the Bassmaster stage and hear those screams from a giant, rowdy crowd,” Iaconelli gleamed. “Seeing that energy and passion got me so fired up. I gave the kid a big hug and thanked him, because I probably got just as much out of our interaction as he did. The fan connection and that pure excitement means everything to me.”
The same passion that calls Iaconelli to sometimes scream like a banshee when he catches a fish has help connect the New Jersey native with thousands of fishing fans over the years. The recently inducted Bass Fishing Hall of Famer explained that fishing fans have been a constant positive theme throughout his career and he’s excited to bring them along for the ride on his #Dirty30 season.
“In thirty years I have seen the good, the bad, the ugly, and the best of this sport,” Iaconelli said, reflecting on his career. “When it all boils down, the fans have truly kept me going. This weekend seeing those big crowds and feeling the energy of people excited about fishing… it was a great reminder of that.”
B.A.S.S. announces Marathon as title sponsor of Bassmaster Studio Set and exclusive partner for new content series
April 14, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with Marathon, the retail brand of Ohio-based Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC), naming the brand as the official title sponsor of the Bassmaster Studio Set and the exclusive partner of the Marathon Peak Performance Custom Content Series on the Bassmaster YouTube channel.
As the title sponsor of the Bassmaster Studio Set, Marathon’s branding will be prominently featured in Bassmaster’s in-depth tournament analysis, angler interviews and expert commentary, ensuring fans stay informed and engaged throughout the season.
Additionally, Marathon will power the all-new Marathon Peak Performance Custom Content Series, a dynamic 10-video series on Bassmaster’s YouTube channel that will spotlight the top-performing anglers of the season. This series will celebrate the champions of all nine Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments and the prestigious Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, delivering exclusive insights and behind-the-scenes stories of their winning performances.
“At Marathon, we’re proud to continue fueling the passion of Bassmaster fans and anglers alike,” said Steven Kammeyer, brand marketing manager at Marathon Petroleum. “This partnership is built on shared values, performance, perseverance and delivering at the highest level, and we’re excited to bring fans even closer to the action through the Bassmaster Studio Set and our new Peak Performance content series.”
“We are thrilled that Marathon continues to be a part of the Bassmaster family,” said Phillip Johnson, B.A.S.S. chief operating officer. “Their commitment to performance and endurance aligns perfectly with the dedication and determination of our anglers. Through the Bassmaster Studio Set and the Marathon Peak Performance Custom Content Series, we’ll bring fans even closer to the action while showcasing what it takes to compete at the highest level in professional bass fishing.”
The Marathon Peak Performance Custom Content Series will launch on Bassmaster’s YouTube channel throughout the 2025 season, giving fans exclusive access to in-depth interviews, on-the-water highlights and expert breakdowns of each tournament-winning performance.
For more information on Bassmaster tournaments, content and sponsorships, visit Bassmaster.com.
About Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is a leading, integrated, downstream energy company headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. The company operates the nation’s largest refining system. MPC’s marketing system includes branded locations across the United States, including Marathon brand retail outlets. MPC also owns the general partner and majority limited partner interest in MPLX LP, a midstream company that owns and operates gathering, processing, and fractionation assets, as well as crude oil and light product transportation and logistics infrastructure. More information is available at marathonpetroleum.com.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
White Hall’s Cole Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Ouachita
California’s Kojima Tops Co-Angler Division
ROYAL, Ark. (April 14, 2025) – Boater Brennan Cole of White Hall, Arkansas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Ouachita . The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Arkie Division. Cole earned $6,616, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
Cole went old school on Lake Ouachita, catching his fish on the old “ball and chain” – a Carolina rig.
“I had a tough day of practice yesterday flipping bushes,” he said. “It was a bite here and there. I picked up a Carolina rig late yesterday and pulled up on one main-lake point and caught a couple 3-pounders. I decided that’s what I was going to run today. I ran main-lake points all day, chucking a Carolina rig.”
The best points were steep. If he had his boat parked 30 or so yards off the bank, the bottom beneath him might be 50 feet deep. Cole then lobbed his rig up on the point and dragged it down the sides and off the end.
On his rig, he used a Zoom Brush Hog or Midsize Brush Hog, primarily in watermelon red flake. The most exciting moment came at 11:40 a.m. – Cole verified the time – when he landed an 8-pound, 6-ounce bass that earned him the Berkley Big Bass award and its $475 prize.
“I fired my rig up there and thought it was a bream bite,” he recalled. “I set the hook and told my co-angler this ain’t no bass, but if it is, it’s a head. She came up and jumped three times. With a Carolina rig, that’s kind of a death trap, but I got her in the boat. I went from about 10 pounds with four fish to 18-something.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Brennan Cole, White Hall, Ark., five bass, 20-2 $6,616 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Austin Rose, Mena, Ark., five bass, 15-14, $1,820
3rd: Gerard Johnson, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 15-1, $1,214
4th: Blake Martin, Dardanelle, Ark., five bass, 14-4, $1,014
4th: Justin Bean, Benton, Ark., five bass, 14-4, $889
6th: Danny Brustrom, Cave City, Ark., five bass, 13-13, $668
7th: Matt Wood, Jessieville, Ark., five bass, 13-10, $607
8th: Brian Bean, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 13-3, $546
9th: Keith Green, Arkadelphia, Ark., five bass, 13-2, $485
10th: Larry Nixon, Quitman, Ark., five bass, 13-1, $425
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Cole caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $475.
Takaaki Kojima of Temecula, California, won the co-angler division and $1,820 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Takaaki Kojima, Temecula, Calif., three bass, 11-4, $1,820
2nd: Joseph Aguilar, Bauxite, Ark., three bass, 9-3, $910
3rd: Don Billiot, Hot Springs Village, Ark., three bass, 7-14, $607
4th: Dulin Smith, Little Rock, Ark., three bass, 7-13, $425
5th: Gene Mitchell, Stuart, Okla., three bass, 7-8, $364
6th: Philip James, Benton, Ark., three bass, 7-5, $318
6th: Christian Knight, Alexander, Ark., three bass, 7-5, $318
8th: Eian Odle, Willow Springs, Mo., three bass, 6-11, $273
9th: William Brady Rutledge, Mount Ida, Ark., three bass, 6-8, $243
10th: Jason Phillips, Rison, Ark., three bass, 6-0, $212
Kojima also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $237, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Brady Horton of Clinton, Arkansas, now leads the Fishing Clash Arkie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 485 points, while Joseph Aguilar of Bauxite, Arkansas, leads the Fishing Clash Arkie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 487 points.
The next event for BFL Arkie Division anglers will be held April 26, at Greers Ferry Lake out of Greers Ferry, Arkansas. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 24-25 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Weldon’s Boley Grinds Out the Win in Challenging Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Rend Lake
Crest Hill’s McNeil Tops Co-Angler Division
WHITTINGTON, Ill. (April 14, 2025) – Boater Travis Boley of Weldon, Illinois, caught three bass weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine at Rend Lake . The tournament, hosted by Seasons Lodge at Rend Lake, was the first event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Boley earned $3,103 for his victory.
Rend Lake was stingy for the BFL anglers. A water level rise of some 8 feet, followed by a 2-foot drop over a couple of days, had the fish in a funk. It showed in the weights, with zero limits caught and only 17 boaters bringing fish to weigh-in. But a win’s a win, and getting it done in such challenging conditions is even more impressive.
“I was going to be happy to get a 14-incher,” Boley said. “I found an area yesterday in practice that had good water color and was pushing that 60-degree water temperature. I basically fished moving baits yesterday – a lot of spinnerbaits, crankbaits, stuff like that. I really didn’t get bit, but the area just looked right. I thought today I’m going to go back in that area and I’m going to slow down and just put a jig in my hand and flip every stick I could.”
The plan worked well enough. Boley ground it out on a 300-yard stretch, working down and back a few times over an eight-hour day, picking apart every piece of wood or brush he could find with the jig.
Boley believes the fish just never moved up with the rising water. That’s why he caught his keepers in about 6 or 7 feet on the ends of laydowns. He pitched his jig up shallow and worked it thoroughly down the length of each laydown. It was slow, methodical work.
More important than any win, however, is the fact that Boley was even out there. He was diagnosed with cancer back in December. Being able to fish and compete is as much about proving he can do it as it is about trying to win any trophy. Especially with another special event coming up this season.
“This is actually the very first weekend I’ve been back out on the water to go fishing,” Boley said. “I had my fifth treatment last Tuesday. I wanted to get my stamina back because I’ve got the All-American to go to down on Hamilton.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Travis Boley, Weldon, Ill., three bass, 10-13, $3,103
2nd: Greg Mullins, Mount Vernon, Ill., two bass, 6-10, $1,897 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Scott Neighbors, Makanda, Ill., two bass, 5-14, $1,156
4th: Anthony Balding Jr., Arnold, Mo., one bass, 4-15, $652
5th: Brennon McCord, Thompsonville, Ill., two bass, 4-6, $559
6th: Brad Bailey, St. Louis, Mo., one bass, 4-5, $512
7th: Cecil Downing, Mount Carmel, Ill., one bass, 3-10, $466
8th: Tim Schneider, Saint Louis, Mo., one bass, 3-9, $419
9th: Greg James, Carterville, Ill., one bass, 3-8, $372
10th: Andrew Harper, Shelbyville, Ill., one bass, 3-5, $326
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Boley caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $310.
Bobby McNeil of Crest Hill, Illinois, won the co-angler division and $1,552 Saturday, after bringing one bass to the scale that totaled 4 pounds, 14 ounces. That fish also earned McNeil the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award worth $155.
The top eight co-anglers finished:
1st: Bobby McNeil, Crest Hill, Ill., one bass, 4-14, $1,552
2nd: Charles Dammerman, Taylorville, Ill., one bass, 4-11, $698
3rd: Elmo Rogers, Albion, Ill., one bass, 4-3, $515
4th: David Workman, Harrisburg, Ill., one bass, 3-12, $326
5th: Thomas Duke, Pana, Ill., one bass, 2-13, $379
6th: Mario Rossi Jr., Granite City, Ill., one bass, 2-6, $256
7th: Brian Davis, Bethalto, Ill., one bass, 2-4, $233
8th: Matt Chumbler, Carbondale, Ill., one bass, 2-3, $210
In addition to winning the event, Travis Boley of Weldon, Illinois, has the early lead in the Fishing Clash Illini Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Bobby McNeil of Crest Hill, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash Illini Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 250 points.
The next event for BFL Illini Division anglers will be held May 3, at Lake Shelbyville in Shelbyville, Illinois. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4 BFL Regional tournament on the Mississippi River in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Alabama’s Glasgow Gets First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Pickwick Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine
Tennessee’s Nolen Tops Co-Angler Division
IUKA, Miss. (April 14, 2025) – Boater Luke Glasgow of Guin, Alabama, caught a five-bass limit weighing 26 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine at Pickwick Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Mississippi Division. Glasgow earned $5,528, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“It started out better than I expected,” Glasgow said. “I caught a 5-pound smallmouth first thing this morning, and then after that I ran a whole lot of stuff and just couldn’t get bit. Finally, I landed on them in one area and I culled up to where, at 9:30, I had 24 pounds. And then just throughout the rest of the day I went and junk-fished and happened to catch a 5 1/4-pounder and another one over 4 to cull out my two 3 3/4s I still had in the box.”
Glasgow caught all his fish in about 15 feet of water, targeting areas where he knows “the big ones live this time of year.” For every five spots he pulled up on, maybe one produced fish. And he didn’t catch any between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., making it an all-day-grind kind of day. Because he’s admittedly not as well versed at “scoping” fish on live sonar as his competition, Glasgow stuck to his strengths.
“I was throwing a jig and flipping and throwing a spinnerbait some and ChatterBaiting and shaky heading,” he added. “I was raised fishing the way I fished today. I’ve finished second in a BFL, but I’ve never won one. Actually, I fished in college and fished a couple really big events, and I finished second in one and third in another. I just couldn’t seem to get a win, so this one really means a lot to me, fishing the old-school way, fishing like your grandpa would coming out here. It was really cool.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Luke Glasgow, Guin, Ala., five bass, 26-10, $5,528 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Matteo Turano, Puryear, Tenn., five bass, 23-11, $1,514
3rd: Jeff DeFew, Benton, Ky., five bass, 21-15, $1,008
4th: Jordan Hartman, Benton, Ky., five bass, 21-2, $707
5th: Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 21-1, $606
6th: Nate Latham, Town Creek, Ala., five bass, 21-0, $555
7th: Clayton Ellis, Saltillo, Miss., five bass, 20-11, $1,460
8th: Gary Singleton, Dickson, Tenn., five bass, 19-15, $454
9th: Charles Jones, Beech Bluff, Tenn., five bass, 19-14, $404
10th: Bryan Hunt, Water Valley, Miss., five bass, 19-8, $353
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Clayton Ellis of Saltillo, Mississippi, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $355.
Daniel Nolen of Lexington, Tennessee, won the co-angler division and $1,514 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Daniel Nolen, Lexington, Tenn., three bass, 13-13, $1,514
2nd: Blake Jeffreys, Booneville, Miss., three bass, 12-12, $934
3rd: Terry Bennett, Oxford, Miss., three bass, 11-6, $505
4th: Mike Todd, Summertown, Tenn., three bass, 10-11, $353
5th: Harry Peyton II, Guntersville, Ala., three bass, 10-8, $303
6th: Sank Payton, Bay Springs, Miss., three bass, 9-14, $278
7th: Cy Matlock, Crump, Tenn., two bass, 9-10, $239
7th: Matthew Willis, Europa, Miss., three bass, 9-10, $239
9th: John King Jr., Alligator, Miss., three bass, 8-10, $202
10th: Sims Meredith, Tupelo, Miss., three bass, 8-9, $177
Blake Jeffreys of Booneville, Mississippi, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $177, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Matteo Turano of Puryear, Tennessee, now leads the Fishing Clash Mississippi Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 497 points, while Cy Matlock of Crump, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Mississippi Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 488 points.
The next event for BFL Mississippi Division anglers will be held May 3, at the Columbus Pool of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway out of Columbus, Mississippi. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11BFL Regional tournament on Kentucky-Barkley Lakes out of Paris, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Hodges’ Burroughs Gets Eighth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Hartwell
Georgia’s Lemaster Tops Co-Angler Division
ANDERSON, S.C. (April 14, 2025) – Boater Jason Burroughs of Hodges, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament, hosted by Visit Anderson, was the third event of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division. Burroughs earned $11,318, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
Burroughs spent the day targeting shallow red clay points where bass were feeding on spawning blueback herring.
“It started real slow,” Burroughs said. “I caught a few small ones but didn’t have anything to weigh until about 11. Then it picked up.”
This type of fishing is a total timing deal. You have to get on a rotation of points, run and gun from one to the next, and repeat as often as you can until they fire. That’s exactly how Burroughs approached it. He “just made a ton of stops and kept moving” throughout the day and wound up catching about 15 keepers, with all of them in the 4-pound class.
Burroughs caught his fish on a Sebile Magic Swimmer and a Cabin Creek magnum-sized finesse worm on a Buckeye Lures Magnum Series Spot Remover.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 20-9, $11,318 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Tallis Morrison, Royston, Ga., five bass, 19-5, $1,859
3rd: Tim Watson, Martin, Ga., five bass, 19-0, $1,238
4th: Brian Tidwell, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 18-12, $867
5th: Bradley Day, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 18-5, $744
6th: Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., five bass, 17-1, $651
6th: Furman (Joe) Thompson, Clayton, Ga., five bass, 17-1, $651
8th: Jayme Rampey, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 16-8, $558
9th: Logan Smith, Easley, S.C., five bass, 16-5, $496
10th: Greg Glouse, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 16-4, $434
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Trent Hammock of Villa Rica, Georgia, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $485.
Justin Lemaster of Royston, Georgia, won the co-angler division and $1,840 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 10 ounces.
The top 11 co-anglers finished:
1st: Justin Lemaster, Royston, Ga., three bass, 12-10, $2,080
2nd: Todd Huntley, Inman, S.C., three bass, 10-6, $920
3rd: Corey Veal, Royston, Ga., three bass, 10-4, $612
4th: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., three bass, 10-3, $429
5th: Landen Jordan, Anderson, S.C., three bass, 8-14, $368
6th: Chris Worley, Eastanollee, Ga., three bass, 8-13, $337
7th: Jody Anderson, Chapin, S.C., three bass, 8-11, $307
8th: Chuck Bagwell, Laurens, S.C., three bass, 8-10, $260
8th: Timothy Taylor, Seneca, S.C., three bass, 8-10, $260
10th: Blake Burdette, Anderson, S.C., three bass, 8-8, $204
10th: James Akins, Cumming, Ga., three bass, 8-8, $204
Lemaster also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $240, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Furman (Joe) Thompson of Clayton, Georgia, now leads the Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 724 points, while Rusty Odom of Simpsonville, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 726 points.
The next event for BFL Savannah River Division anglers will be held June 28, at Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Kernersville’s Garland Gets the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at High Rock Lake
Sedalia’s Green Tops Co-Angler Division
LEXINGTON, N.C. (April 14, 2025) – Boater Austin Garland of Kernersville, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 27 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Garland earned $3,545 for his victory.
What a pleasant surprise it was for Garland to see 27-1 pop up on the weigh-in scale. He thought he only had about 20 pounds. But, when you fish like Garland does, you tend to put some impressive weights on the scale.
“I fish to win,” Garland said. “I don’t get a lot of bites – I might get five, six, seven bites a day. But I’m just trying to catch the biggest ones, I guess. I had like seven bites (on Saturday).”
Garland fished a little bit old school, power-fishing in staging areas that he’s discovered over the years on High Rock.
“It’s an area deal,” he added. “It’s not just going down the bank. I’m hitting certain areas, and it may be a dock in the mouth of a pocket kind of on the main lake going in. Just staging areas. I didn’t catch anything in the pockets.”
Garland says that at High Rock, success really comes down to timing. You can fish a stretch of great docks at 8 and not get a bite, then come back at noon and catch 20 pounds. When he lost two fish early, he thought he’d missed the window and lost the tournament, but he kept his head down and kept grinding and it all worked out. He put an impressive stringer in the box then never got another bite after 1 p.m. To him, it was just his day.
“I’m a little shook up,” he added. “It’s not the biggest tournament, but it’s still hard to win in a BFL. There are some good anglers. They’re not slouches by any means. I’m fishing the NPFL this year, too. It’s my first year. My mom (Amy) passed last September. I get upset talking about it, but I more or less did it for her. That’s why I’m fishing the NPFL. She always wanted me to do it. I’m just doing it to make her proud. And I do it because I love doing it. I wanted to win it for her.”
The top 11 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Austin Garland, Kernersville, N.C., five bass, 27-1, $3,545
2nd: Kaden Buchmann, Troutman, N.C., five bass, 24-0, $1,773
3rd: Jason Barnes, Concord, N.C., five bass, 22-4, $1,806 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Travis Donaldson, Cleveland, N.C., five bass, 22-0, $827
5th: Chad Poteat, Mount Airy, N.C., five bass, 18-15, $1,154
6th: Scott Beattie, Sherrills Ford, N.C., five bass, 18-14, $650
7th: Austin Wike, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 18-12, $591
8th: Robert Walser, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 18-11, $532
9th: Chad Sims, Lancaster, S.C., five bass, 18-10, $419
9th: David Bright, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 18-10, $419
9th: Tommy Jones, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 18-10, $419
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Chad Poteat of Mount Airy, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $445.
Robert Green of Sedalia, North Carolina, won the co-angler division and $2,395 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 11 co-anglers finished:
1st: Robert Green, Sedalia, N.C., three bass, 12-6, $2,395
2nd: Jared Jones, Denver, N.C., three bass, 10-12, $886
3rd: Stephen Barr, Wilmington, N.C., three bass, 10-10, $591
4th: Charles Wood, Thomasville, N.C., three bass, 10-1, $414
5th: Sean Tobatto, Greensboro, N.C., three bass, 9-11, $355
6th: Billy Taylor, Newton, N.C., three bass, 9-6, $325
7th: Trevor Lewis, Wake Forest, N.C., three bass, 9-5, $295
8th: Joseph Faile, Dallas, N.C., three bass, 9-1, $266
9th: Felix Snyder, Lexington, N.C., three bass, 8-12, $236
10th: Paul Brittain, Icard, N.C., three bass, 8-10, $196
10th: Benjamin Warner, Laurel Springs, N.C., three bass, 8-10, $196
Robert Green of Sedalia, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $222, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Kaden Buchmann of Troutman, North Carolina, now leads the Fishing Clash North Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 736 points, while Travis Ruff of Connelly Springs, North Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash North Carolina Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 728 points.
The next event for BFL North Carolina Division anglers will be held May 3, at Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Welcher puts finishing touches on dominating victory at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound
April 13, 2025
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Kyle Welcher loves fishing rivers. After the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound, it is easy to see why.
With a stunning four-day total of 118 pounds, 12 ounces, Welcher claimed the first title of his Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series career, earning a coveted blue trophy and the $100,000 first-place prize. The 2023 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year opened the tournament with a bang, landing 30-11 to take the Day 1 lead, which he never relinquished.
He backed it up with 30-3 on Day 2 and 34-0 on Day 3, the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament, and capped off the week with a 23-14 limit, anchored by a 7-3 largemouth.
“I didn’t think I would get a Century Belt, for sure,” Welcher said. “When I heard we were coming here, I was excited. I feel comfortable in rivers and was really excited to go to one without a lot of history. But when I saw the forecast about 10 days away from practice, that kind of took the wind out of my sails. (I didn’t think) it was going to set up for the way I like to fish.
“It ended up falling right into my wheelhouse in a way I’m super comfortable fishing.”
It was a beatdown of historic proportion. Welcher’s winning margin of 45-7 over second-place Brandon Lester is the largest in Elite Series history, shattering the previous mark of 29-10 set by Patrick Walters at Lake Fork in 2020.
His winning weight is also the 13th-largest four-day winning total in Elite Series history while the Pasquotank River becomes the 11th venue in Elite Series history to produce a Century Belt.
“I’m super thankful really. I kind of felt it building like that early on Day 2,” the 32-year-old said. “I’ve been fishing for a long time, and when stuff starts going your way, you have to get out of your own way and let it happen. There were a lot of signs pointing me to fish how I fished.”
Elite Series competitors were dealt a difficult hand this week in eastern North Carolina. A cold front pushed through the area during practice, sending temperatures from the high 70s down to the high 50s and low 60s. Strong winds made for choppy conditions in the Albemarle Sound throughout the week.
While many of his fellow competitors made lengthy one-way runs to the Roanoke, North and Chowan Rivers (to name a few) through those rough waters, Welcher stayed within a couple of miles of takeoff and maximized a mile-long stretch of the Pasquotank River.
After a terrible practice, he felt like it was his best option to salvage points. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.
“For you to catch them like this, you have to have fish coming to you every single day,” Welcher said. “That window is super small. I didn’t find these bass until Day 1 of the tournament. They were fresh and there were more coming. It made all of the difference.”
That stretch was the only area that featured stumps and cypress trees, the types of cover Welcher believes they use to stage and spawn. He opened the tournament catching prespawn females, but as the tournament progressed, those females locked onto their beds to spawn.
Using his forward-facing sonar, Welcher was able to pick out stumps and cypress knees under the surface that the largemouth were using to spawn. Using a 7-foot-6 heavy Khaotic Kustom Rod paired with an 8:1:1 gear ratio reel spooled with 22-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon, he would pitch a black and blue Rapala CrushCity Bronco Bug to the piece of cover.
He rigged the Bronco Bug on a 4/0 Gamakatsu G-Power hook and a ¼-ounce tungsten weight, which he pegged with a bobber stop.
“I pegged my weight,” Welcher explained. “I was around a lot of stumps. When your bait is on top of the stump, a lot of times the weight can get away from the bait. I want my bait and weight to be together so that if I need to pitch into something, my bait is down there with the weight.”
Entering the day with a 33-14 lead on the field, Welcher was able to enjoy Championship Sunday.
“I did really enjoy it today,” Welcher said. “I went a little slower and thought a little more today. I wasn’t quite as intense. But I still moved around pretty good and fished hard.”
Within the first hour of fishing on Championship Sunday, Welcher eclipsed the 100-pound mark, landing a 4-pounder and a 7-pounder. He filled out his limit just after 10 a.m., but it was an overall slower day, as he only culled once in the afternoon hours. As the day wore down, Welcher realized his fourth-straight 30-pound day was becoming unlikely.
“I was disappointed about that about 2 o’clock,” Welcher said. “And then I remembered I had 23 pounds. I was like, ‘I need to chill out.’”
Fayetteville, Tenn., pro Brandon Lester finished in second with a four-day total of 72-1. Lester steadily made his way up the leaderboard with bags of 17-7, 18-14 and 24-11 before catching 10-8 on the final day.
“This has been one of the funnest events I’ve fished in a long time,” Lester said. “I’ve been doing this for 12 years and it's not very often that we get to go to a new place that nobody really knows anything about. It is a clean slate.”
Lester used a two-pronged approach to notch his best finish of 2025. The nine-time Classic qualifier fished a LiveTarget Straight Tail Worm on a ⅛-ounce shaky head on a hard spot next to a bridge outside of takeoff before fishing docks and shallow cover with a Live Target Finesse Worm on a 3/16-ounce drop-shot rig in a creek towards the mouth of the Pasquotank.
Looking at the weather, Lester knew early on that making a long run to any other river would not be in the cards for him.
“Making a run was going to be really risky,” he said. “You are going to tear your boat up and your body up. If I could find something close and maximize my time, maybe it would work out. And it did. It was a blessed week. If someone is going to blow it out, it should be somebody like (Welcher).”
Carbondale, Ill., pro Trey McKinney finished third with a four-day total of 72-1. The 20-year-old opened the tournament in second place with 23-7 and followed that up with bags weighing 15-7, 21-7 and 11-1.
The 2024 Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year spent his tournament in the North River fishing shallow wood. A prototype jig with a twin-tail grub generated the most bites on Day 1, but as the tournament progressed, McKinney switched to a Neko rig with either a 6th Sense Bamboosa worm or a 6th Sense Divine Shaky Head Worm.
“Thank goodness I got a couple bites in that creek the last day of practice,” he said. “I found them as I went. Every day I found find a spot where I could get two or three good bites.”
Not only did Welcher win the $100,000 first-place prize, but he also earned several bonuses as well. He earned $2,000 for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament with the 10-8 he landed on Day 3. That bass earned him another $1,000 for Big Bass of the Day on Day 3. Welcher also landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day on Championship Sunday with a 7-3, which was worth another $1,000.
Keith Combs and Greg Hackney earned $1,000 each for landing the Big Bass of the Day on Thursday and Friday respectively.
Fittingly, Welcher also claimed the $2,000 prize for Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament with his 34-0 Day 3 limit.
Welcher also took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Easton Fothergill earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Fothergill earned an additional $2,500 while Combs claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
Sylacauga, Ala., pro Will Davis Jr leads the 2025 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race through three events with 270 points. Union City, Tenn., sophomore John Garrett is second, also with 270 points, followed by Wisconsin’s Jay Przekurat in third with 268 points, North Carolina’s Jake Whitaker in fourth with 262 points and Texas’s Lee Livesay in fifth with 258 points. Logan Parks, Shane LeHew, David Gaston, Chris Johnston and Bill Lowen round out the Top 10.
Alabama’s Tucker Smith leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year race with 191 points followed by Georgia’s Paul Marks in second with 180 points and Arkansas’s Beau Browning in third with 163 points.
Visit Elizabeth City hosted the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River 4/10-4/13
Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound , Elizabeth City NC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 20 118-12 104 $106,000.00
Day 1: 5 30-11 Day 2: 5 30-03 Day 3: 5 34-00 Day 4: 5 23-14
2. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 20 73-05 103 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 24-11 Day 4: 5 12-05
3. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 20 72-01 102 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-07 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 21-07 Day 4: 5 11-12
4. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 19 68-06 101 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 23-13 Day 2: 4 10-12 Day 3: 5 19-10 Day 4: 5 14-03
5. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 19 67-05 100 $12,750.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 18-15 Day 4: 4 17-04
6. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 20 67-02 99 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 20-10 Day 4: 5 17-04
7. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 19 66-02 98 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 19-11 Day 3: 5 22-09 Day 4: 4 06-00
8. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 20 65-06 97 $10,300.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 21-02 Day 4: 5 11-11
9. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 20 64-14 96 $10,200.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 17-02 Day 3: 5 17-13 Day 4: 5 13-14
10. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 20 62-04 95 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 19-09 Day 3: 5 14-11 Day 4: 5 11-05
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Keith Combs Huntington, TX 08-02 $1,000.00
2 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 08-04 $1,000.00
3 Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10-08 $1,000.00
4 Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 07-03 $1,000.00
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10-08 $2,000.00
RAPALA CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG
Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 34-00 $2,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 71 437 1150-07
2 84 469 1285-00
3 39 223 676-02
4 8 48 139-08
------------------------------
202 1177 3251-01
Welcher continues domination of the Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound on Day 3
April 12, 2025
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Kyle Welcher is utterly dominating the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound.
The Opelika, Ala., pro caught the biggest bag of the tournament on Semifinal Saturday, a 34-pound limit anchored by a whopping 10-8 largemouth. With bags of 30-11 and 30-3 the first two days of the event, Welcher carries a total of 94-14 into the final day of competition.
“I’ve never had one day of fishing like this,” Welcher said. “I hope there are a few more spawning because that’s the fun way to catch them.”
The 2023 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year is on pace to achieve several milestones on Championship Sunday. Not only will he likely claim his first Century Belt, Welcher also could break the record for largest margin of victory in Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series history set by Patrick Walters at Lake Fork in the fall of 2020, a 29-10 difference.
He currently leads second-place Brandon Lester by 33-14.
Welcher achieved several personal bests on Saturday as well, including catching his biggest tournament bag ever in his Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series career. The 10-8 that now leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors is now his personal best, unseating the 10-1 he landed at the St. Johns River in 2020.
All this success comes after experiencing one of the worst practices of his career.
“A week like this is only possible when you have a bad (practice),” he said. “When they are in a migration pattern like they are right now, you need them to be coming to you. The area I have, I fished down it Day 3 of practice and had one bite down that stretch.
“Day 1 I had four big ones down it, yesterday I caught five big ones and today I caught five big ones.”
Welcher has fished a mile stretch of the Pasquotank River each day of the tournament, focusing on bass that are either setting up to spawn or spawning on cypress trees and stumps.
“There’s not a lot of spawning habitat in the area, and the stretch (I’m fishing) provides the only habitat,” Welcher said. “I caught them shallower today, but the water was six inches lower.”
A Rapala Crush City Bronco Bug rigged on a ¼-ounce Texas rig has landed all his best bites this week. Welcher has focused his time on only bass he feels will be easy to catch, making his days more efficient. The females he has landed have had a male with them, but most times he can’t see them on his forward-facing sonar.
“(The Bronco Bug) has got big appendages that sit off the bottom,” he said. “It also has a hinge system that moves, so when I’m shaking it, I just visualize those legs flapping back and forth in the bed. For whatever reason the big females really like it.”
In similar fashion to Day 2, Welcher opened the morning by landing a 7-pounder, settling his nerves and ensuring he would likely fish with the lead the rest of the day.
“I knew then someone would have to catch 30 pounds to catch me with just that one fish,” Welcher said. “It got me to settle down and pick apart the area. It took me a little while after that to start generating more big bites, but around 11:30 every day I have caught a couple big ones. That same thing happened today.”
With a limit in the boat, Welcher landed a 5-pounder close to midday before coming across the 10-8. That bass ate his Bronco bug twice before Welcher was able to hook it for good and land it.
“That was unbelievable. I was trolling and I saw it. It spooked off really slow and came right back. The first cast I made to it, it bit. It swam to the boat, and I lost it. I fished for it for 10 more minutes and I hooked it for a long time then. I probably had it hooked for 10 or 15 seconds before it came off. So, I fished for it for 20 to 25 more minutes before eating it again. When I set the hook, it was like it was hooked to the back of a truck. I’ll never forget it.”
Lester, meanwhile, landed 24-11 on Day 3 and increased his three-day total to 61-0. The Tennessee pro opened the tournament in eighth with 17-7 before catching 18-14 on Day 2 to move into fifth.
“It was a really good day. I feel like it could fall apart at any moment,” the 2022 Pickwick Elite Series Champion said. “I’m fishing slow, methodical and confident. The worst I can finish now is 10th. So, it is all good.”
His Tennessee River roots were on full display during the morning hours of Day 3. Lester caught his limit fishing a shallow shellbar next to a bridge in the Pasquotank River. A 6 ½-inch LiveTarget Straight Tail Worm on a ⅛-ounce shaky head caught the majority of those bass while a ⅜-ounce jig produced a 5-pounder.
“That was the best start I’ve had, and it was totally unexpected,” Lester said. “I had a hunch on that spot. You need the north wind, because it gets the current moving out of here. That’s what happened this morning.”
Once the bite slowed on his bridge, he returned to a creek in the Pasquotank he had fished the two previous days. Late in the day, he landed a 6-12 on a 3/16-ounce drop shot with a LiveTarget Finesse Worm.
With bags of 23-7, 15-7 and 21-7, Trey McKinney is third with a three-day total of 60-5. After a disappointing Day 2 performance, McKinney returned to the North River on Day 3. After a slow start, he was able to pick off better quality bass as the day progressed, including some 5-pounders.
“I don’t know about tomorrow. I feel like I’m either going to bomb or catch them (well),” he said. “I’ve seen the most cypress knees I’ve ever seen in my life. There is so much cover there that you can’t physically fish all of it. In 30 minutes you can go down a stretch and not catch anything, and come back 30 minutes later and one will move a little bit and you can catch it.”
McKinney has rotated between a prototype jig paired with a twin-tail grub-style bait and a Neko rig with either a 6th Sense Bamboosa Worm or 6th Sense Divine Shaky Head Worm. The shaky head worm generated more bites on Day 3.
“I think it moves a little more water and they are more aggressive to it,” McKinney said.
With his epic Day 3 performance, Welcher leads both the CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament and Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors. Minnesota’s Austin Felix earned the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award for accurate reporting.
Sylacauga, Ala., pro Will Davis Jr and Union City, Tenn., pro John Garrett lead the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 270 points each. Plover, Wis., pro Jay Przekurat is third with 268 points followed by North Carolina’s Jake Whitaker in fourth with 262 points. Texas pro Lee Livesay is fifth with 258 points.
Alabama’s Tucker Smith leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year race with 191 points followed by Georgia’s Paul Marks in second with 180 points and Arkansas pro Beau Browning in third with 163 points.
The Top 10 anglers will launch from Waterfront Park in Elizabeth City beginning at 7 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in beginning at 3 p.m. Bassmaster LIVE coverage of the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River coverage will be broadcast on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. before moving to Bassmaster.com in the afternoon.
Visit Elizabeth City is hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
-30-
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River 4/10-4/13
Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound , Elizabeth City NC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 15 94-14 104 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 30-11 Day 2: 5 30-03 Day 3: 5 34-00
2. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 61-00 103
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 24-11
3. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 15 60-05 102
Day 1: 5 23-07 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 21-07
4. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 15 60-02 101
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 19-11 Day 3: 5 22-09
5. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 14 54-03 100
Day 1: 5 23-13 Day 2: 4 10-12 Day 3: 5 19-10
6. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 15 53-11 99
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 21-02
7. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 51-00 98
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 17-02 Day 3: 5 17-13
8. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 15 50-15 97
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 19-09 Day 3: 5 14-11
9. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 15 50-01 96 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 18-15
10. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 49-14 95
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 20-10
11. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 15 49-07 94 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 11-01 Day 3: 5 22-09
12. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 47-07 93 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 5 20-03
13. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 46-05 92 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 17-10
14. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 15 45-09 91 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 17-11
15. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 15 45-09 90 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 14-12
16. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 15 45-07 89 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 14-12
17. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 44-12 88 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 16-00
18. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 15 44-06 87 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 14-05
19. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 43-12 86 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 5 14-03
20. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 15 43-08 85 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 19-08 Day 3: 5 11-04
21. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 14 42-11 84 $6,000.00
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 5 24-05 Day 3: 5 11-06
22. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 42-05 83 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 15-15
23. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 13 42-04 82 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 3 11-11
24. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 15 41-13 81 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 20-04 Day 3: 5 09-00
25. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 12 41-13 80 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 19-08 Day 3: 2 03-11
26. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 15 41-09 79 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 09-14
27. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 40-14 78 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 11-10
28. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 15 40-10 77 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 11-12
29. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 40-09 76 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 5 16-00
30. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 14 40-00 75 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 4 08-03 Day 3: 5 15-05
31. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 15 40-00 74 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 14-14
32. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 13 39-14 73 $5,500.00
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 5 17-15 Day 3: 5 16-02
33. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 15 39-11 72 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 09-10 Day 3: 5 13-12
34. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 39-00 71 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 11-12
35. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 14 38-10 70 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 4 08-03
36. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 15 37-03 69 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 08-11
37. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 36-01 68 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 10-08
38. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 13 36-00 67 $5,500.00
Day 1: 4 12-13 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 4 08-10
39. John Garrett Union City, TN 14 35-14 66 $5,500.00
Day 1: 4 09-07 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 10-03
40. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 11 35-12 65 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 1 02-00
41. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 35-12 64 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 5 11-06
42. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 14 35-07 63 $5,500.00
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 5 17-06 Day 3: 5 11-00
43. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 35-06 62 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 5 09-04
44. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 35-04 61 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 10-10
45. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 14 34-13 60 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 4 08-04
46. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 12 33-06 59 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 10-14 Day 3: 2 07-04
47. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 14 33-04 58 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 4 09-02
48. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 13 31-05 57 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 3 07-10
49. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 9 30-12 56 $5,500.00
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 1 01-14
50. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 10 23-11 55 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 0 00-00
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Keith Combs Huntington, TX 08-02 $1,000.00
2 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 08-04 $1,000.00
3 Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10-08 $1,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 71 437 1150-07
2 84 469 1285-00
3 39 223 676-02
------------------------------
194 1129 3111-09
BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME LAUNCHES 25TH ANNIVERSARY AUCTION
Bid on unique items, memorabilia in support of the Hall’s ongoing mission to celebrate, promote and preserve the sport
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 11, 2025) – The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is kicking off the celebration of its 25th anniversary by hosting a silent auction this month in a continuing effort to support its mission of celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing.
The 25th Anniversary Auction is online now and will run through April 29. Up for grabs are an assortment of unique fishing gear packages, one-of-a-kind paintings and autographed memorabilia. Additional items will be added throughout the duration of the auction. Check out the auction here: https://one.bidpal.net/hof25years/browse/all.
“The continuing support we receive from throughout the bass fishing world and those involved in the sport in so many ways shows that they also believe in the Board’s mission and our efforts,” said BFHOF Board president John Mazurkiewicz. “Plus, it’s great to see the support from new and upcoming brands like Bizz Baits, Nomad Design, Reese Fishing and RodBender Fishing Company joining in with the major players like Daiwa, Denali, Gamakatsu, Lew’s/Strike King, Shimano, SPRO, and Sunline who all again never say no when we ask for support. We can’t thank them enough.”
Later this year, the Hall will welcome three new inductees as part of its annual Celebrate Bass Fishing Week. Randy Hopper, Craig Lamb and William Shakespeare Jr. will be inducted on Thursday, Sept. 25 at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Mo. As part of the induction festivities, the Hall will also conduct an online silent auction that week as well as a live auction for those in attendance at the banquet.
Proceeds from the auctions aid the Hall’s initiatives, such as funding grants for fisheries conservation, scholarships for fisheries science students, and backing youth fishing.
For additional information about how to support the Hall or the upcoming induction banquet, please visit bassfishinghof.com.
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The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame exhibit, within Johnny Morris’ Museum and Aquarium Wonders of Wildlife Bass Pro Shops’ flagship store in Springfield, Mo., showcases the more than 100 individuals who helped shape the sport of bass fishing and have been enshrined in the Hall. Information on visiting the 350,000-square-foot Wonders of Wildlife Museum can be found at www.wondersofwildlife.org. For more information about the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and to learn how to support its missions, visit www.bassfishinghof.com.
John Pearl Claims 2025 WON Bass Clear Lake Open with Three-Day Record 102.81 pounds
Nathan Phillips grabs Second Place with 101.33 pounds
LAKEPORT, Calif. – April 11, 2025 –– Records have fallen at Clear Lake.
Pro angler John Pearl from Upper Lake, Calif., one of the most well-known guides on Clear Lake and one of the most dangerous competitive anglers in the region has claimed victory in the 2025 WON Bass Clear Lake Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury, with a WON Bass Record 102.81 pounds for a three-day weight. Pearl took over the lead on day-two of the event with a total weight of 67.31 pounds and added 35.50 pounds on the final day.
In winning, Pearl claims the champion’s prize that includes $17,000 cash, and the keys to the 2025 Ranger Boats Z518 with Mercury 150 ProXS outboard prize boat presented by Bass Pro Shops with Power-Pole Charge and Volta Power Lithium Power Batteries, a package valued at $55,000 – a total purse of more than $72,000.
From the stage in the moments after his victory, Pearl explained that he was full of emotion at having won the biggest event he could imagine on the lake. “I’m absolutely excited about this,” he said. “Today was a long, stressful day. I had 34 pounds in the livewell at about 3:00 and I told my AAA (Sherwin Williams) that we needed one more seven pounder; I caught a 6.85 moments later and culled up to this final weight – then I just took a slow ride to Library Park to protect my fish.”
Pearl reported catching his fish in the 25 to 30-foot depth range in the mid lake area around Konocti using his Forward Facing Sonar to locate the bait balls that the late winter / early prespawn fish were foraging on. To catch those fish He caught them using a Bass Union Jighead with two different Sakamata Shads, Golden Shiner and Reservoir Shad.
Most of his fish came deep, except for his two biggest on the final two days. “I caught my biggest one today blind casting the Sakamata Shad under a dock, and my biggest yesterday came on a GCJ Customs 13-inch glide bait” he said. “Those fish were crucial to my finish obviously, but I caught most of them on my deep stuff. I am thrilled to be standing here in front of my wife, family and friends with this trophy.”
Pearl’s main gear was a 6’10” Douglas Outdoors X Matrix 6103XF spinning rod matched with a 2500 size Shimano Sustain spinning reel filled with white 10-pound-test Power Pro Super Slick 8 braid and matching 8-pound-test Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon as the leader.
No stranger to the podium, Cobb, Calif. pro Nathan Phillips – who won the 2023 WON Bass Clear Lake Open, finished the event in second place with 101.33 pounds. Phillips started the day in second place with 65.12 pounds, then added a 36.21-pound limit to close out his Century Club finish. He earned $13,400 for his efforts.
Phillips attacked long stretches of docks in the Rattlesnake arm casting to fish that were sunning in preparation for the spawn on day one. However, on the final two days, when the cloud cover and wind made that difficult, he used a similar approach to Pearl, targeting deeper fish on bait balls. “I was fishing the Highway 20 side around Kona Tayee for suspended fish in 8 to 15 feet of water,” he said. “I threw a variety of jigheads in different sizes with a 5-inch ZMan Jerk Shad in the Electric Shad color.”
He tossed his offerings on Dobyns Champion XB 703 and 732 spinning rods matched with Shimano Stradic 2500 XH reels spooled with 10-pound-test Flash Green Seaguar Smackdown braid bonded to 8-pound-test Seaguar Tatsu as the leader material.
Mason McAbee from Bakersfield, Calif. finished third for the event with a three-day total of 93.57 pounds, claiming $11,400. He was followed in fourth place by Micah Jones of Kingman, Ariz. - the day-one leader with a total weight of 93.08 pounds, taking home $10,000 and Luke Lipanovich of Napa, Calif. rounded out the top five with a final weight of 83.73 pounds worth a $9,000 payday.
Kevin Gross claimed victory in the AAA Division, the Redding, Calif. angler weighed 86.56 pounds for the event and took home the AAA Champion’s prize of $6,800. Second place AAA went to Zac Ortiz from Kaysville, Utah with 82.07 pounds, claiming $5,500. Tim Skellett of Apache Junction, Ariz. finished the event in third place in the AAA Division with 79.92 pounds, earning $4,500. Todd Tobiasson of Las Vegas, Nev. finished fourth in the AAA field with 79.06 pounds collecting $3,800 and Dennis Saiki from Torrance, Calif. rounded out the top five finishers with 78.75 pounds, worth $2,000.
The Top 10 in each division are below, for complete standings go to: https://wonbassevents.com/pages/clear-lake-2024-pairings-results.
The daily livestream of the weigh-ins aired on the WON Bass Facebook page, located at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments. Daily takeoffs and weigh-ins occurred at Library park in Lakeport, Calif.
2025 WON Bass Clear Lake Open Final Pro Standings
| Name | Hometown | Fish | Penalty | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Total | |
| 1 John Pearl | Upper Lake CA | 15-15 | 35.44 | 31.87 | 35.50 | 102.81 | ||
| 2 Nathan Phillips | Cobb CA | 15-15 | 35.37 | 29.75 | 36.21 | 101.33 | ||
| 3 Mason McAbee | Bakersfield CA | 15-15 | 33.06 | 28.85 | 31.66 | 93.57 | ||
| 4 Micah Jones | Kingman AZ | 15-15 | 38.34 | 23.78 | 30.96 | 93.08 | ||
| 5 Luke Lipanovich | Napa CA | 15-15 | 28.39 | 26.65 | 34.69 | 89.73 | ||
| 6 Ish Monroe | Oakdale CA | 15-15 | 31.27 | 26.40 | 30.96 | 88.63 | ||
| 7 Joe Price | Discovery Bay CA | 15-15 | 27.79 | 31.84 | 25.86 | 85.49 | ||
| 8 Alex Niapas | Altaville CA | 15-14 | 0.50 | 36.42 | 22.73 | 26.07 | 85.22 | |
| 9 Garrett Ellenson | Nine Mile Falls WA | 15-15 | 25.10 | 31.45 | 28.06 | 84.61 | ||
| 10 J D Blackamore | Yorba Linda CA | 15-15 | 25.98 | 28.30 | 29.15 | 83.43 | ||
2025 WON Bass Clear Lake Open Final AAA Standings
| Name | Hometown | Fish | Penalty | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Total | ||
| 1 Kevin Gross | Redding CA | 15-15 | 29.05 | 24.97 | 32.54 | 86.56 | |||
| 2 Zac Ortiz | Kaysville UT | 15-15 | 35.44 | 17.12 | 29.51 | 82.07 | |||
| 3 Tim Skellett | Apache Junction AZ | 15-15 | 35.37 | 24.80 | 19.75 | 79.92 | |||
| 4 Todd Tobiasson | Las Vegas NV | 15-14 | 0.50 | 27.09 | 25.90 | 26.07 | 79.06 | ||
| 5 Dennis Saiki | Torrance CA | 15-15 | 15.77 | 26.77 | 36.21 | 78.75 | |||
| 6 Cheng Xiong | Oroville CA | 15-15 | 36.42 | 17.89 | 23.73 | 78.04 | |||
| 7 Sherwin Williams | Henderson NV | 12-12 | 10.32 | 31.84 | 35.50 | 77.66 | |||
| 8 Chris Arnold | Santa Clarita CA | 15-15 | 23.70 | 27.75 | 25.75 | 77.20 | |||
| 9 Ray Serrano | Pacifica CA | 15-15 | 28.01 | 31.45 | 17.67 | 77.13 | |||
| 10 Greg Sallee | Discovery Bay CA | 15-15 | 38.34 | 19.97 | 18.28 | 76.59 | |||
The 2025 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada, will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October. The five event dates are as follows:
Feb. 5 to 7, 2025 - Lake Shasta – Champion Joe Uribe
April 9 to 11, 2025 - Clear Lake – Champion John Pearl
May 7 to 9, 2025 - Lake Havasu
Sept. 10 to 12, 2025 - Lake Mead
Oct. 6 to 8, 2025 - U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.
The 2025 WON Bass California Open at Clear Lake is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Volta Power Lithium, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Fenwick Rods, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine, Signature Gates, DD26 Fishing, Bad Ass Bearings, Cipher Fishing, Megaware Keelguard and GRatt.
Local presenting sponsors are the City of Lakeport and Clearlake Outdoors.
University of Montevallo Wins Abu Garcia College Fishing 2025 National Championship on Wheeler Lake
DECATUR, Ala. (April 11, 2025) – It’s easy to throw around the word “powerhouse” in college sports, but in the case of the University of Montevallo Fishing Team, the superlative is starting to stick. On a blustery championship day on Wheeler Lake at the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Columbia PFG, Montevallo teammates Brody Robison and Peyton Sorrow methodically worked their way to a five-fish limit of 19 pounds, 14 ounces to lay claim to Montevallo’s second national championship trophy in three years.
Fellow Montevallo angler Nicholas Dumke (fishing solo), brought 19-4 to the scale to skate into second place, giving the Falcons a 1-2 sweep of the top two spots. The Montevallo team of Brent Godwin and Hunter Odom finished seventh for good measure.
Robison and Sorrow finished the three-day event with 64-15, outdistancing Dumke (59-0), the McKendree University duo of Ethan Fields and Jaxson Freeman (56-10) and the Carson-Newman University team of Nicholas Dellaporta and Drew Pitts (55-14)
It was far from easy for the eventual winners, though. Shifting springtime conditions, fluctuating currents and an unproductive practice caused Robison and Sorrow to develop their patterns daily throughout the three-day event. The final day also brought a cold front and west wind that blew against the current, making for even more challenging conditions.
“I stayed pretty optimistic, even when we weren’t catching much,” Robison said. “This is my comfort zone, this TVA-style fishing. I’m familiar with the bite windows, and we’ve been doing a lot of fishing on the TVA lately. Going into the final day with a lead, it wasn’t what I expected right out of the gate, but I had optimism that it was going to happen.”
Sorrow and Robinson entered Championship Friday buoyed by a tournament-best 23-9 on Day 2. They left Ingalls Harbor with a 2-7 lead over John Berry and Blake Bullock of Blue Mountain Christian University, and a 5-5 cushion on Dumke, ready to pick up where they had left off the day before. But, as was the case on Day 2 when they caught their fish late in the day, the Montevallo pair took awhile to warm up.
They went fishless through much of the morning, catching one 12-incher before finally connecting with a keeper around 10:30 a.m.
“If you would’ve asked me at 10 a.m. if we were going to catch a bass all day, I probably would’ve answered ‘No, we’re probably not going to catch a single bass’,” Sorrow joked.
At around 11:30, they caught the fish that clued them in for the rest of the day: a 3-pounder that they plucked off of a stump in deeper water, a discovery that encouraged the Montevallo pair to shift their focus from shell beds in 3 to 5 feet of water to structure in 5 to 12 feet. They spent the rest of their time plinking a 5-inch gizzard shad-style minnow on a Queen Tackle jighead, gradually culling up to their final 19-pound bag while their fellow Falcons followed them around the lake, cheering them on.
“We’ve had some awful practices lately, but we keep pulling something off in the tournaments,” Sorrow said. “We have such a great support system with (their Montevallo teammates), and they challenge us to be better. Iron sharpens iron. We have all of these hammers on this team, and it was so cool today – we were out there in some pretty rough water, and we had five boats on us all day, cheering for us. They stuck it out all day in that rough water, that meant a lot to us.”
The top 10 teams at the Abu Garcia College Fishing 2025 National Championship Presented by Columbia PFG on Wheeler Lake finished:
1st: University of Montevallo – Brody Robison, Dawson, Ala., and Peyton Sorrow, Abbeville, S.C., 15 bass, 64-15, Phoenix 518 Pro boat with 115-hp outboard + $10,000
2nd: University of Montevallo – Nicholas Dumke, Grand Rapids, Minn., 15 bass, 59-0, Phoenix 519 Pro with 115-hp outboard
3rd: McKendree University – Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., and Jaxson Freeman, Loda, Ill., 15 bass, 56-10, $4,000
4th: Carson-Newman University – Szymon Piton, Orland Park, Ill., and Riley Faulkner, Jacksboro, Tenn., 15 bass, 55-14, $3,000
5th: University of North Alabama – Tripp Berlinsky, Florence, Ala., and Bryce DiMauro, Longwood, Fla., 15 bass, 55-6, $2,000
6th: University of Alabama – Cooper Gilroy, Middlebury, Ct., and Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., 15 bass, 53-6, $1,000
7th: University of Montevallo – Brenton Godwin, Stapleton, Ala., and Hunter Odom, Chunchula, Ala., 15 bass, 53-5, $1,000
8th: Northwestern State University – Drake Wadsworth, Frierson, La., and Stone Smith, Shreveport, La., 15 bass, 53-1, $1,000
9th: Blue Mountain Christian University – John Berry, Mount Olive, Miss., and Blake Bullock, Seminary, Miss., 13 bass, 49-11, $1,000
10th: Carson-Newman University – Nicholas Dellaporta, Pequannock, N.J., and Drew Pitts, Lutz, Fla., 14 bass, 46-11, $1,000
Complete results for the entire event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 47 bass weighing 164 pounds, 7 ounces caught by the final 10 teams on Friday. The catch included eight five-bass limits.
In addition to the boat package, both members of the winning Montevallo team and runner-up Nicholas Dumke now advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship, where they’ll compete as pros for a top prize of up to $235,000. In addition, the highest finishing team member between Robison and Sorrow at the Toyota Series Championship will advance to REDCREST 2026 to compete against the world’s best pros for the sport’s top prize of $300,000.
Both members of the third-place McKendree University team now advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for a shot at winning a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism, the 16th annual College Fishing National Championship featured 135 teams of the nation’s best collegiate anglers competing for a $43,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, an additional $10,000 and the opportunity to advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship and REDCREST 2026 – MLF’s most prestigious championship – to fish for top prizes of $235,000 and $300,000, respectively.
The MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI 2024 season featured college teams from across the country competing in nine regular-season tournaments. The top 12 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament qualified to compete in this event, the 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Columbia PFG, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota , WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Welcher breaks away from the field with another ‘Dirty 30’ at the Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound
April 11, 2025
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Kyle Welcher feels like the chosen one at the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at the Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound. Not because he was expecting to do well after practice, but since the warm-up period ended everything has been almost perfect.
Welcher took a commanding lead over the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series field on Day 2 by adding 30 pounds, 3 ounces to his 30-11 limit from Day 1. His 60-14 two-day total is 22 pounds better than second place Trey McKinney.
“I don’t feel like I have any kind of a secret figured out or a special area figured out,” the Opelika, Ala., native said. “For whatever reason, I have caught big ones for the past two days. I feel like I’m getting lucky.”
Day 2 brought waves of rain and storms across the Albemarle Sound, but it was an overall calmer day for anglers making longer runs across the system. The bite seemingly improved as well, with 84 limits and 1,285 pounds of bass caught.
Growing up on the Chattahoochee River in Alabama, Welcher is a river fisherman at heart, and he has been able to show off his roots this week in eastern North Carolina.
“They set up the same places during the same time of year on every single river,” he said. “I love fishing rivers. I fish tons of rivers at home, and I feel really comfortable.”
Welcher returned to the same area he caught the bulk of his weight on Day 1, a mile-long stretch in a river close to takeoff. The 2023 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year winner has been targeting hard cover in 5 feet of water or less. On Day 1, Welcher felt he was catching prespawners, but on Friday he felt the big females he caught were guarding nests. The water also seemed cleaner without as much wind coming through.
A Texas-rigged Rapala CrushCity Bronco Bug with a ¼-ounce weight is the only bait Welcher has thrown thus far.
Forward-facing sonar has been a player for Welcher as well.
“I’m using it to find the areas the bass are using. I’ll throw at the fish I see, but I’m really just using it to see if it is a good area,” he said. “Today all five of them were spawning.
“Yesterday I did a little too much running around early on,” he added.
Welcher started Day 2 off with a bang by landing a 7-pounder within the first hour of fishing. While adrenaline pumped through him, it was exactly the bite he needed to settle down in his area.
“I didn’t feel settled down when I was fishing for it or fighting it,” Welcher explained. “I knew how big it was and how important that bass was going to be. I was shaking and nervous. To catch it and get it in the boat, that was a big momentum swing.”
He proceeded to land three more keeper bass before 9:15 and capped off his initial limit with another 7-pound largemouth.
“I settled down in one of my better areas,” Welcher said. “I picked them off. It wasn’t a flurry or anything, but I was getting consistent bites. I didn’t want to run around a lot because I had one zone that was a little better than the rest. I hunkered down and sort of stair-stepped my way up.”
From there, he added two more quality bass before noon and spent the rest of the afternoon searching for different areas to try the rest of the tournament. He didn’t find much during his practice time, but he feels there are still plenty of bass to be caught in his primary area.
“I am going to keep doing the exact same thing. I gotta finish strong,” he said. “Half of this tournament is left, so we need to catch them just as good for the next half.”
Hailing from Carbondale, Ill., McKinney sits in second with a two-day total of 38-14. After a 23-7 Day 1, he suffered a much tougher Day 2, only landing 15-7. He salvaged his day with a last-minute catch that gave him a 2-pound upgrade.
“That was huge. I pulled in a place I have never fished. I cast my jig to a seawall and caught a bass that culled me up 2 pounds,” McKinney said. “We lost a few big ones today, though.”
The 2024 Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year returned to his primary area in the North River on Day 2, but did not see the same amount of activity as he did on Day 1.
“I really don’t know why it was different,” he said. “I felt like conditions were alright. Maybe the sun makes them bite better? Maybe we are running out of fish.”
The bass he did find were not willing to eat a jig, either, and he had to switch to a Neko-rigged worm. With winds shifting to the northwest, McKinney isn’t sure how he is going to tackle Day 3. In a perfect world, McKinney would run to the Chowan River, but he isn’t sure the weather will allow him to do so.
“Tomorrow, I don’t know what I am going to do. In the grand scheme of things, I didn’t have enough bites today and didn’t see enough fish. I didn’t have a warm fuzzy feeling. It wasn’t a good 15 pounds.”
Meanwhile, Tennessee pro Jacob Foutz climbed into third place with a total of 38-2. The two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier opened the tournament in fifth with 18-10 before landing 19-2 on the second day of the tournament.
Foutz is one of the anglers making the long run to the Roanoke River on the southwest side of the Albemarle Sound. After a slow first two hours, Foutz was able to find a rhythm as the morning wore on.
“I lost a big one, and then after that they started biting,” he said. “I caught 19 pounds in about two hours. I didn’t get a bunch of bites, but they were the right size. I don’t know how many more fish I have in my area.”
Foutz has been fishing a Megabass Magdraft swimbait around shallow cover as well as a ChatterBait.
“When I get a bite on the swimbait, it is a good one,” he said. “I will probably lock it in my hands tomorrow and ride the horse that got me here.”
Gonzales, La., pro Greg Hackney landed an 8-4 largemouth on Day 2, which was the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day and overtook Keith Combs’ 8-2 bass from Day 1 as the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament.
Welcher continues to hold the CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament with his Day 1 catch of 30-11.
North Carolina’s Jake Whitaker and Tennessee’s John Garrett lead the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 270 points each. Wisconsin’s Jay Przekurat is third with 267 points followed by Alabama’s Will Davis Jr in fourth with 261 points and Texas pro Lee Livesay in fifth with 256 points.
Alabama’s Tucker Smith leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 199 points followed by Georgia’s Paul Marks in second with 180 points and Arkansas’ Beau Browning in third with 163 points
The Top 50 anglers will launch from Waterfront Park in Elizabeth City on Semifinal Saturday beginning at 7 a.m. ET and return for weigh at 3 p.m. The Top 10 anglers following the Day 3 weigh-in will compete on Championship Sunday for the top prize of $100,000.
Bassmaster LIVE coverage of the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound will be available on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. before moving to Bassmaster.com in the afternoon. Championship Sunday coverage will be broadcast on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Visit Elizabeth City is hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River 4/10-4/13
Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound , Elizabeth City NC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 60-14 104
Day 1: 5 30-11 Day 2: 5 30-03
2. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 10 38-14 103
Day 1: 5 23-07 Day 2: 5 15-07
3. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 38-02 102
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 19-08
4. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 37-09 101
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 19-11
5. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 36-05 100
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 18-14
6. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 36-04 99
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 19-09
7. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 9 34-09 98
Day 1: 5 23-13 Day 2: 4 10-12
8. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 33-12 97
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 15-07
9. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 33-03 96
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 17-02
10. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 32-13 95
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 20-04
11. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 10 32-09 94
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 17-03
12. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 32-04 93
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 19-08
13. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 31-11 92
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 18-04
14. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 9 31-05 91
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 5 24-05
15. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 31-02 90 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 15-06
16. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 10 30-13 89
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 16-04
17. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 30-11 88
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 15-08
18. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 30-09 87
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 11-13
19. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 30-07 86
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 17-01
20. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 10 30-01 85
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 18-11
21. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 29-09 84
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 12-11
22. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 29-04 83
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 12-01
23. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 29-04 82
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 12-14
24. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 8 28-14 81
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 5 23-14
25. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 28-14 80
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 13-14
26. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 28-12 79
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 17-08
27. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 28-11 78
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 16-05
28. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 10 28-08 77
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12
29. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 27-14 76
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 11-15
30. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 9 27-06 75
Day 1: 4 12-13 Day 2: 5 14-09
31. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 27-04 74
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 13-14
31. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 27-04 74
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 13-06
33. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 26-14 72
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 11-01
34. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 26-09 71
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 14-01
35. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 26-06 70
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 10-03
36. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 26-02 69
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 10-14
37. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 26-02 68
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 12-09
38. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 25-15 67
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 09-10
39. John Garrett Union City, TN 9 25-11 66
Day 1: 4 09-07 Day 2: 5 16-04
40. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 25-09 65
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 14-03
41. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 25-02 64
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 15-05
42. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 9 24-11 63
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 4 08-03
43. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 24-10 62
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 12-07
44. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 24-09 61
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 10-00
45. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 9 24-07 60
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 5 17-06
46. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 24-06 59
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 10-07
47. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 10 24-02 58
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 14-00
48. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 8 23-12 57
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 5 17-15
49. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 10 23-11 56
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 14-09
50. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 10 23-11 55
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 13-02
51. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 10 23-10 54
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-10
52. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 23-02 53
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 11-03
53. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 6 23-00 52
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 1 06-03
54. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 22-12 51
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 10-03
55. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 9 22-08 50
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 14-08
56. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 7 22-04 49
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 5 18-14
57. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 9 22-04 48
Day 1: 4 13-03 Day 2: 5 09-01
58. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 7 22-03 47 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 5 16-10
59. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 8 22-02 46
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 5 15-01
60. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 22-02 45
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 12-11
61. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 7 22-01 44
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 5 19-05
62. John Cox Debary, FL 10 21-13 43
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 09-15
63. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 6 21-10 42
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 5 19-07
64. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 7 21-09 41
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 2 05-10
65. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 21-09 40
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 08-10
66. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 9 21-08 39
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 5 13-01
67. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 21-08 38
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 11-00
68. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 21-05 37
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 08-04
69. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 21-02 36
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 09-07
70. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 7 20-11 35
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 5 16-08
71. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 20-05 34
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 08-13
72. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 9 20-04 33
Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 5 08-13
73. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 6 20-01 32
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 5 18-12
74. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 20-01 31
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 10-02
75. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 19-12 30
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 12-01
76. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 19-12 29
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 09-13
77. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 19-09 28
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 08-14
78. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 7 18-14 27
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 2 08-04
79. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 18-14 26
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 08-15
80. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 6 18-11 25
Day 1: 2 06-06 Day 2: 4 12-05
81. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 18-07 24
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 09-12
82. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 9 17-10 23
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 4 06-15
83. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 8 17-10 22
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 5 10-07
84. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 17-08 21
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 08-10
85. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 9 17-07 20
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 4 06-07
86. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 9 17-00 19
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 07-07
87. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 9 16-07 18
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 08-07
88. Bryan New Leesville, SC 7 16-03 17
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 5 11-13
89. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 16-00 16
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 16-00
90. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 9 15-15 15
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 4 05-09
91. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 15-14 14
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 15-14
92. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 7 15-01 13
Day 1: 2 06-12 Day 2: 5 08-05
93. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 8 14-11 12
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 3 06-02
94. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 8 14-11 11
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 4 07-15
95. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 8 12-13 10
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 5 07-02
96. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 6 12-03 9
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 1 02-00
97. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 11-05 8
Day 1: 4 09-05 Day 2: 1 02-00
98. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 09-11 7
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 09-11
99. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 09-11 6
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 1 01-04
100. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 08-14 5
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
101. Ben Milliken Omaha, NE 6 08-13 4
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 4 05-15
102. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 3 07-01 3
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 2 04-12
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Keith Combs Huntington, TX 08-02 $1,000.00
2 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 08-04 $1,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 71 437 1150-07
2 84 469 1285-00
------------------------------
155 906 2435-07
Browning slows down to win B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula
April 11, 2025
EUFAULA, Okla. — He had to slow down to figure out the deal, but once Paul Browning dialed in his pattern, he turned in a dominant performance to win the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance with a three-day total of 42 pounds, 5 ounces.
After a slow Day 1 yielded only two keepers for 7-13, the boater from Monahans, Texas, found himself in 29th place. The second round saw him make considerable headway, and although he fell one fish short of his five-bass limit, Browning’s 15-10 propelled him into seventh place.
On Championship Friday, Browning stepped on the gas and sacked up 18-14 — the tournament’s second-heaviest catch — and raced across the finish line by a margin of 2-9 over Day 2 leader Ian Leybas. Browning won the top prize of $12,899 and earned a spot in the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance, Oct. 22-25.
“It started off slow today and I lost two fish pretty quick,” Browning said. “I lost a 3-pounder and a 2, but then I caught a 7-4 that clued me in on a new stretch.”
Fishing the mid-lake region near the Belle Star Marina, Browning targeted spawning fish in buckbrush in 6 inches to 4 feet of water. He was flipping a 4-inch Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in the tilapia color, rigged on a 4/0 Owner Jungle flipping hook with a 1/2-ounce Kovert Tungsten weight.
“The water was really clean; it had a brownish tint, but it was mostly clear, so the light breeze helped,” Browning said. “My mapping showed a deeper area in the middle, so I knew that would give the fish a place to go during the cooler nights.”
Looking back, Browning realized he started his morning by fishing too fast. The manner in which he caught his big fish caused him to alter his pace, and that helped him complete his winning limit.
“That 7-4 slowed me down, and I think that’s what did it for me,” Browning said. “I was flipping into the brush and slowly dragging the bait out. Some of them would bite it in the brush, but most of them bit when I drug it out.”
Reflecting on his win, Browning said: “It feels good. The last two years have been a struggle fishing the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens. Maybe this will help me get the wheels back on the wagon.”
Leybas, the local pro from McAlester, Okla., placed 13th on Day 1 with two bass that weighed 10-10. In the second round, he added the event’s biggest limit — 19-13 — and moved into the lead. His Day 3 catch of four fish for 9-5 gave him a second-place tournament total of 39-12.
Leybass, who attributed his big Day 2 comeback to more favorable wind conditions, returned to his main area in the mid- to south-lake region, where he targeted prespawn fish. He caught his fish on a 3/8-ounce white/chartreuse spinnerbait with double Colorado blades.
“You gotta keep perspective when you’re fishing,” Leybass said. “It was a tough practice; the fish were not set up right. They were in and out; the water level (was fluctuating).
“I was blessed for the day I had yesterday. Today was a lot tougher, but it’s been a good event and it exceeded my expectations.”
Day 1 leader Kelley Hudson finished third with 39-2. His daily weights were 14-11, 13-10 and 10-13.
Hudson did most of his work in the backs of small creeks where he targeted shallow staging areas. He caught most of his fish on a Texas-rigged green pumpkin Zoom Brush Hog with the tail dipped in chartreuse. He caught his biggest final-round fish on a spinnerbait.
“I had a great week and I’m proud of the way I fished,” Hudson said. “I’ve never been here before, so to come to a 200,000-acre lake and have a chance to win is absolutely fantastic.”
Browning tied Lane Edwards of Paden, Okla., for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award. Both anglers caught bass weighing 7-4 and split the $500 prize.
Zach Oliver of Coal Hill, Ark., won the non-boater division with a three-day total of 29-13. Oliver turned in daily three-fish limits of 5-10, 11-7 and 12-12.
For his achievement, Oliver won $4,593.
Joe Conway of Colorado Springs, Colo., won the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award among non-boaters with an 8-2.
The City of Eufaula hosted the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury
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About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance 4/9-4/11
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Paul Browning Monahans, TX 11 42-05 0 $12,899.00
Day 1: 2 07-13 Day 2: 4 15-10 Day 3: 5 18-14
2. Ian Leybas Mcalester, OK 11 39-12 0 $6,144.00
Day 1: 2 10-10 Day 2: 5 19-13 Day 3: 4 09-05
3. Kelley Hudson Graham, TX 13 39-02 0 $4,337.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 4 13-10 Day 3: 4 10-13
4. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 11 32-09 0 $3,614.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 4 13-04 Day 3: 2 06-02
5. Mick Pageler Tonto Basin, AZ 12 32-08 0 $3,144.00
Day 1: 4 10-01 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 3 08-03
6. Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE 12 31-15 0 $2,891.00
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 4 10-13 Day 3: 4 12-03
7. Jaret Rushing Hampton, AR 11 30-11 0 $2,711.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 2 05-12 Day 3: 4 10-13
8. Lane Edwards Paden, OK 10 30-10 0 $2,780.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 4 13-09 Day 3: 3 10-15
9. Travis Merritt Jr Iowa, LA 10 30-05 0 $1,988.00
Day 1: 2 07-08 Day 2: 3 08-09 Day 3: 5 14-04
10. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 12 29-11 0 $1,626.00
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 4 09-07
11. Robert Degraffenreid Oklahoma Cty, OK 10 27-06 0 $1,446.00
Day 1: 2 08-03 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 3 07-04
12. Wyatt Ryan Ada, OK 8 26-02 0 $994.00
Day 1: 2 07-01 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 1 02-07
13. Brian Jones Magnolia, TX 9 25-14 0 $994.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 4 12-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
14. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 7 25-07 0 $994.00
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 4 16-11 Day 3: 2 06-05
15. Chase Washburn Shawnee, OK 7 24-07 0 $994.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 2 07-05 Day 3: 2 06-10
16. Brandon Mosley Harrah, OK 8 24-02 0 $994.00
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 2 04-03
17. James Mcallister McAlester, OK 9 23-10 0 $994.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 1 01-14 Day 3: 3 07-12
18. Josh Cruse Pocahontas, AR 8 23-05 0 $994.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 1 04-04 Day 3: 2 04-09
19. Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX 8 20-15 0 $994.00
Day 1: 4 10-15 Day 2: 2 06-04 Day 3: 2 03-12
20. Brandon Soliz Robert Lee, TX 6 18-06 0 $994.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 2 09-00 Day 3: 1 02-01
------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Lane Edwards Paden, OK 07-04 $0.00
Paul Browning Monahans, TX 07-04 $0.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 11 266 696-11
2 7 207 588-03
3 2 56 155-14
------------------------------
20 529 1440-12
2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance 4/9-4/11
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula OK.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Zach Oliver Coal Hill, AR 9 29-13 0 $4,593.00
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 3 11-07 Day 3: 3 12-12
2. Joe Conway Colorado Springs, CO 7 25-02 0 $2,875.00
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 3 14-09 Day 3: 3 08-05
3. Randy Benham Sherwood, AR 8 24-11 0 $1,312.00
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 2 07-05 Day 3: 3 11-07
4. Gene Mitchell Stuart, OK 6 20-14 0 $1,215.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 13-03 Day 3: 3 07-11
5. Zack Holt Yukon, OK 7 19-11 0 $899.00
Day 1: 3 09-05 Day 2: 2 03-01 Day 3: 2 07-05
6. Eric Englebretson Chickasha, OK 6 19-00 0 $755.00
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 3 10-11 Day 3: 2 05-12
7. Bryan Schuster Oklahoma City, OK 7 17-01 0 $675.00
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 1 03-03 Day 3: 3 07-10
8. Trey Clement Thibodaux, LA 7 16-08 0 $630.00
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 2 04-02 Day 3: 2 04-11
9. Josh Thalman Saratoga Springs, UT 7 16-04 0 $591.00
Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 3 05-11 Day 3: 2 05-04
10. Colten Hutson Edmond, OK 7 15-04 0 $525.00
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 06-00 Day 3: 1 02-14
11. Jeff Nolte Shawnee, KS 6 15-03 0 $525.00
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 2 07-06 Day 3: 1 02-07
12. Larry Green Splendora, TX 5 14-06 0 $459.00
Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 2 06-06 Day 3: 1 02-04
13. Ernie Villa Midland, TX 5 13-04 0 $394.00
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 1 03-00 Day 3: 1 02-14
14. Aaron Baldridge Moore, OK 5 12-11 0 $394.00
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 1 05-02 Day 3: 1 01-12
15. Timothy Soli Warr Acres, OK 4 12-10 0 $328.00
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 3 09-07 Day 3: 0 00-00
16. Todd Tigar Osage Beach, MO 5 12-05 0 $328.00
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 2 03-07 Day 3: 1 03-11
17. David Zak San Angelo, TX 4 12-04 0 $328.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 1 01-12 Day 3: 0 00-00
18. Greg Dennis Pilot Point, TX 5 12-04 0 $328.00
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 1 01-15 Day 3: 1 02-02
19. Tom Parks Prescott Valley, AZ 3 09-05 0 $328.00
Day 1: 1 03-12 Day 2: 2 05-09 Day 3: 0 00-00
20. Ricky-Ray Martinez Jr Santa Fe, NM 3 09-00 0 $328.00
Day 1: 2 07-01 Day 2: 1 01-15 Day 3: 0 00-00
------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Joe Conway Colorado Springs, CO08-02 $0.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 11 74 180-14
2 8 80 228-01
3 5 30 88-13
------------------------------
24 184 497-12
Fothergill Showcases Versatility at Bassmaster Elite Series on Pasquotank
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
Easton Fothergill isn’t wasting time proving that his Bassmaster Classic win was no fluke. On the opening day of the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite on the Pasquotank River and Albemarle Sound, the 23-year-old phenom from Minnesota put on a show of patience, poise and impressive versatility, bringing a solid limit to the scales while navigating a stingy and temperamental North Carolina fishery.
Fishing tidal systems like this one is a game of timing, risk and adaptability—three qualities young Fothergill has in spades. With a blend of bold decision-making and finesse, he managed to stay in contention on a day when many struggled to put anything together.
“Fishing for me was hit or miss today,” Fothergill said shortly after weigh-in. “The best way to put it is there was a bunch of empty water but when you got around them, you’d get a bunch of bites in a hurry.”
That type of bite is something seasoned anglers understand well on tide-driven fisheries, and it played perfectly into Fothergill’s wide-ranging skill set. While some competitors opted to grind in heavily pressured community holes, Fothergill trusted his instincts—and his Yamaha outboard—to make an aggressive run to an isolated area he’d briefly scouted in practice.
“I chose to make a long run,” Fothergill said. “That’s because I have full confidence in my Yamaha that I can make it there and back and push the limits. This is one of those fisheries where that kind of thing matters a lot. In the afternoon the bite gets better, so I can push it to the absolute limit and leave for weigh-in at the very last second.”
A calculated risk pays off
Fothergill’s key area came from a moment most anglers would overlook. During the final evening of practice, he made a last-minute decision to revisit a zone he’d marked earlier in the week. What he found there turned out to be the spark he needed.
“Where I caught ‘em today, I found the area the first day of practice and I hadn’t gone back until the last evening of practice,” he said. “I rolled into there and had a big one bite right away. I didn’t really know what I found, and I really haven’t had a chance to explore the whole area yet, so I’m very excited to get out there and keep fishing.”
That blend of intuition and patience is something that’s becoming a trademark of Fothergill’s approach. While other anglers might burn through water too quickly or lean too heavily on a single pattern, he’s shown an uncanny ability to adapt and that’s what makes him dangerous in multi-day tournaments like this one.
“I originally found these fish fishing a buzzbait,” Fothergill explained. “But the wind made my area lose water which pushed them off the bank in very certain areas, at least that’s what I saw on day one. I can’t wait to fish the area again. Whether the water is high or low, I’m prepared to catch ‘em. I’m not reliant on one technique and I will continue to keep an open mind.”
That statement alone encapsulates why so many pros and fans alike are taking notice of this young angler. He’s constantly observing, adjusting and optimizing.
Weather on the horizon
Of course, success on Day 1 doesn’t guarantee anything in a tidal river event, especially with an unstable forecast looming over the rest of the tournament.
“There will be a bunch of storms coming in so there’s no telling what it does to my bite,” Fothergill said. “I don’t know if we’ll even be able to fish, to be honest.”
That kind of weather can dramatically alter water levels, clarity and even access to certain areas. But based on what we’ve seen from Fothergill in both this event and his recent Classic performance, he has the mental game and the toolbox to pivot if needed.
Fothergill’s on-the-fly ability to shift from power to finesse, shallow to deep and from moving baits to bottom presentations makes him versatile and always on the hunt for the next clue. On a fishery as complex as the Albemarle Sound and Pasquotank River system where tidal flow, wind direction and water temperature all play critical roles—versatility isn’t a luxury, it’s a requirement.
A rising star, built to last
Since capturing the Bassmaster Classic title, Fothergill has handled the increased attention with humility and focus. He’s not one to boast or rest on his laurels. Instead, he’s continued to approach each event like a student of the game; hungry to learn, willing to take risks and always thinking a few steps ahead.
This event in Elizabeth City is no different. While he’s off to a strong start, it’s clear that Fothergill is playing the long game. His comments after the weigh-in reflected both his excitement and his awareness of the challenge ahead.
You get the sense that he’s just scratching the surface. If he gets another window of opportunity or if the weather plays into his hands, this could be another signature performance from the young champion.
With three days left and the leaderboard tight, Fothergill will need to keep adapting but that’s exactly where he thrives. Whether the wind blows his fish offshore, the tide stalls the bite, or thunderstorms wash out the playbook, he’s shown that he has the tools, the temperament and the tenacity to keep chasing them down.
If Day 1 is any indication, Easton Fothergill isn’t here to defend a title. He’s here to build a legacy.
John Pearl Takes over Day Two Lead at WON Bass California Open at Clear Lake
Nathan Phillips in Second Place Day One Leader Micah Jones Slips to Third
LAKEPORT, Calif. – April 10, 2025 –– John Pearl is known as one of the top anglers on Clear Lake. After nearly a dozen years guiding and competing on the famed Northern California bass factory and too many tournament victories to count, Pearl knows how to adjust and put himself in position.
Pearl started the event in the northern end of the lake and when he only had one small fish in the first hour, made a run to the south end and had 30 pounds in his livewell within 30 minutes under bluebird conditions. When those conditions turned to cloudy and breezy on day two, Pearl made adjustments once again.
The result was his second consecutive “Dirty 30” limit of 31.87 pounds to go with his 35.44 from day one to bring his two-day total to 67.31 pounds, leading second place pro Nathan Phillips by just over two pounds.
Phillips followed his 35.37-pound day one with 29.75 pounds to bring his total to 65.12 pounds heading into the final round. In third place was day one leader Micah Jones, who managed to bring 23.75 pounds on day two, when added to his 38.34-pound limit of day one, totaling 62.12 pounds.
Mason McAbee placed fourth after the second day of competition, after his 33.06-pound performance on the first day, added 28.85 pounds to bring his total to 61.91 pounds, and pro Joe Price posted 31.84 pounds today to go with his 27.79 pounds from day one to round out the top five with 59.63 pounds.
Pearl reported having to make adjustments both days of the 2025 WON Bass California Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury but being able to stay within his basic approach. “I am fishing for deeper, early prespawn fish but they are chasing the bait pretty heavily, so I’m having to move,” he said. “Once I am able to reconnect with the schools I’ve found, I am able to get them to eat fairly quickly – in fact I’ve had a 30-pound limit within 30 minutes of finding them both days.”
The veteran pro said he feels optimistic about his chances but knows the lake is changing. “It’s really a day-to-day thing right now, and it all depends on baitfish movement for me,” he said. “The overnight temperatures cause the bait to move, and it may take me a while to reconnect with the schools, but I feel confident that I will be able to do that tomorrow and have a shot at this thing.”
Phillips is fishing in the deeper sections of the lake but is fishing mid depth ranges looking for fish that have committed to the move to spawn. “I’m finesse fishing because these fish have seen some pressure, and it’s getting tougher,” he said. “I was able to get 8 to 10 quality bites yesterday and only five today, so I’m definitely having to grind for them.”
Jones said he fell to fishing pressure himself on day two. “I had my area all to myself on day one, but had quite a bit of company today,” he said. “There was a lot of interference on my screes from competing boats today, and I know it had an impact on the fish; I just hop I can make it all work tomorrow.”
One additional note of interest is that Pearl, Phillips and Jones all sit within reasonable striking distance of eclipsing the 100-pound mark for the event. Pearl needs to post a 32.60-pound limit, Phillips needs 34.88 pounds and Jones would need 37.88 pounds – all smaller than their heaviest days of the event thus far.
These anglers and the rest of the 176 man pro field are battling for the champion’s prize that includes cash, and the keys to the 2025 Ranger Boats Z518 with Mercury 150 ProXS outboard prize boat presented by Bass Pro Shops with Power-Pole Charge and Volta Power Lithium Power Batteries, a package valued at $55,000.
In the AAA Division, Tim Skellett took the day two lead with 60.17 pounds while Ray Serrano landed in second place with 59.46 pounds. Third place went to Troy Diatte with 59.05 pounds while day one leader Greg Sallee slipped to fourth with 58.31 pounds and William Aden rounded out the top five with 56.47 pounds.
The Top 10 in each division are below, for complete standings go to: https://wonbassevents.com/pages/clear-lake-2024-pairings-results.
The daily livestream of the weigh-ins airs on at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments. Daily weigh-ins from Library park in Lakeport, Calif. begin after the first flight checks in at 3:00 PM Pacific Time.
2025 WON Bass California Open Day Two Pro Standings
| Name | Hometown | Fish | Big | Day 1 | Day 2 | 2 Day Total | |
| 1 | John Pearl | Upper Lake CA | 10-10 | 8.91 | 35.44 | 31.87 | 67.31 |
| 2 | Nathan Phillips | Cobb CA | 10-10 | 9.48 | 35.37 | 29.75 | 65.12 |
| 3 | Micah Jones | Kingman AZ | 10-10 | 12.93 | 38.34 | 23.78 | 62.12 |
| 4 | Mason McAbee | Bakersfield CA | 10-10 | 33.06 | 28.85 | 61.91 | |
| 5 | Joe Price | Chapin EC | 10-10 | 9.19 | 27.79 | 31.84 | 59.63 |
| 6 | Alex Niapas | Altaville CA | 10-10 | 9.26 | 36.42 | 22.73 | 59.15 |
| 7 | Ish Monroe | Oakdale CA | 10-10 | 8.55 | 31.27 | 26.40 | 57.67 |
| 8 | Garrett Ellenson | Nine Mile Falls WA | 10-10 | 25.10 | 31.45 | 56.55 | |
| 9 | Nick Welton | Galt CA | 10-10 | 7.50 | 25.27 | 30.82 | 56.09 |
| 10 | Luke Lipanovich | Napa CA | 10-10 | 28.39 | 26.65 | 55.04 |
2025 WON Bass California Open Day One AAA Standings
| Name | Hometown | Fish | BIG | Day 1 | Day 2 | 2 Day Total | ||
| 1 Tim Skellett | Apache Junction AZ | 10-10 | 35.37 | 24.80 | 60.17 | |||
| 2 Ray Serrano | Pacifica CA | 10-10 | 28.01 | 31.45 | 59.46 | |||
| 3 Troy Diatte | Salinas CA | 10-10 | 6.09 | 28.23 | 30.82 | 59.05 | ||
| 4 Greg Sallee | Discovery Bay CA | 10-10 | 38.34 | 19.97 | 58.31 | |||
| 5 William Aden | Middletown CA | 10-10 | 8.17 | 24.60 | 31.87 | 56.47 | ||
| 6 Charlie Crawford | Peoria AZ | 10-10 | 27.40 | 27.48 | 54.88 | |||
| 7 Derek Andersen | Meadow Vista CA | 10-10 | 5.05 | 26.47 | 28.30 | 54.77 | ||
| 8 Cheng Xiong | Oroville CA | 10-10 | 36.42 | 17.89 | 54.31 | |||
| 9 Kevin Gross | Redding CA | 10-10 | 7.96 | 29.05 | 24.97 | 54.02 | ||
| 10 Geoff Peterson | Huntington Beach CA | 10-10 | 27.23 | 26.40 | 53.63 | |||
The 2025 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada, will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October. The five event dates are as follows:
Feb. 5 to 7, 2025 - Lake Shasta – Champion Joe Uribe
April 9 to 11, 2025 - Clear Lake
May 7 to 9, 2025 - Lake Havasu
Sept. 10 to 12, 2025 - Lake Mead
Oct. 6 to 8, 2025 - U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.
The 2025 WON Bass California Open at Clear Lake is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Volta Power Lithium, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Fenwick Rods, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine, Signature Gates, DD26 Fishing, Bad Ass Bearings, Cipher Fishing, Megaware Keelguard and GRatt.
Local presenting sponsors are the City of Lakeport and Clearlake Outdoors.
Huge day lifts Leybas atop the field in B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula
April 10, 2025
EUFAULA, Okla. — Ian Leybas had the right plan, but forces beyond his control limited his access. Today, when more favorable conditions opened the window of opportunity, the McAlester, Okla., angler rocketed into the lead at the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance with a two-day total of 30 pounds, 7 ounces.
After placing 13th on Day 1 with two fish that went 10-10, Leybas knew he was around the right quality. A day later, he added a 5-bass limit of 19-13 and now holds a 2-2 advantage over Day 1 leader Kelley Hudson as they head into Championship Friday.
The difference? Wind.
“I think the weather change is what made the difference today,” Leybas said. “The lighter winds out of the north versus the strong winds out of the south just let me fish stuff better than I was able to fish it yesterday.
“I couldn’t do what I wanted to do with the way the wind was hitting it yesterday, but today I was able to get where I wanted to go.”
Given the warming spring conditions, Leybas knew those Eufaula bass would be approaching their spawning mode, however, he found that they weren’t quite there yet.
"I think the males are starting to get up there, but I don’t think the females are up yet,” Leybas said.
Spending his day in the mid- to south-lake area, Leybas devoted his time to prospecting what he called standard prespawn staging spots. Such habitat features located en route to the spawning grounds offered the big female bass pit stops with feeding opportunities.
“My boat was in 8 feet of water,” Leybas said. “I was fishing a little shallower than other people. I figured it’s April and they’re coming. They’re wanting to move shallow.
“I caught all my fish on one moving bait.”
Leybas said he developed his game plan after a tough practice compelled him to go with what his experience told him the fish should be doing. He saw the potential and decided his best option was to commit his tournament to the way he was catching fish prior to competition.
“Catching that quality of fish (on Day 1) just told me, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing,’” Leybas said. “That’s what I did. I just kept doing that and changed up the rotation to get to some of the places I couldn’t get to yesterday.”
With a different wind complexion, Day 2 saw Leybas work counterclockwise from his first-round milk run. Where he started on Day 1 was his ending spot today.
Leybas said he had his limit by 10 a.m. and completed his weight by 10:30. He hit 15 to 20 different spots, but never returned to a previous location.
“I caught them early and then I tried to find something new for Day 3,” Leybas said. “I also tried to help my co-angler catch a few fish.”
Leybas’ biggest fish was a 5 1/2-pounder, after Day 1 yielded a 6. He’s optimistic about continuing his pattern for one more day.
“I have to go back and start on the same area,” he said. “I know what stuff I want to fish, and if I can get to it, I should be able to catch them again.”
Hailing from Graham, Texas, Hudson is in second place with 28-5. He caught a limit of 14-11 on Day 1 and added four fish for 13-10 on Day 2.
Dale Hightower of Mannford, Okla., is in third with 26-7. He caught a Day 1 limit of 13-3 and followed with four bass for 13-4.
Lane Edwards of Paden, Okla., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-4.
Zach Oliver of Coal Hill, Ark., leads the co-angler division with 17-1. His daily weights were 5-10 and 11-7.
Joe Conway of Colorado Springs, Colo., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with an 8-2.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. CT at Nichols Point Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 3 p.m.
The City of Eufaula is hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance 4/9-4/11
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Ian Leybas Mcalester, OK 7 30-07 0
Day 1: 2 10-10 Day 2: 5 19-13
2. Kelley Hudson Graham, TX 9 28-05 0
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 4 13-10
3. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 9 26-07 0
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 4 13-04
4. Brian Jones Magnolia, TX 9 25-14 0
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 4 12-13
5. Mick Pageler Tonto Basin, AZ 9 24-05 0
Day 1: 4 10-01 Day 2: 5 14-04
6. Wyatt Ryan Ada, OK 7 23-11 0
Day 1: 2 07-01 Day 2: 5 16-10
7. Paul Browning Monahans, TX 6 23-07 0
Day 1: 2 07-13 Day 2: 4 15-10
8. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 8 20-04 0
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 5 11-14
9. Robert Degraffenreid Oklahoma Cty, OK 7 20-02 0
Day 1: 2 08-03 Day 2: 5 11-15
10. Brandon Mosley Harrah, OK 6 19-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 5 17-03
11. Jaret Rushing Hampton, AR 7 19-14 0
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 2 05-12
12. Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE 8 19-12 0
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 4 10-13
13. Lane Edwards Paden, OK 7 19-11 0
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 4 13-09
14. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 19-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 4 16-11
15. Josh Cruse Pocahontas, AR 6 18-12 0
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 1 04-04
16. Chase Washburn Shawnee, OK 5 17-13 0
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 2 07-05
17. Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX 6 17-03 0
Day 1: 4 10-15 Day 2: 2 06-04
18. Brandon Soliz Robert Lee, TX 5 16-05 0
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 2 09-00
19. Travis Merritt Jr Iowa, LA 5 16-01 0
Day 1: 2 07-08 Day 2: 3 08-09
20. James Mcallister McAlester, OK 6 15-14 0
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 1 01-14
21. Dustin Hartzer Mc Cook, NE 3 15-12 0 $903.00
Day 1: 1 06-06 Day 2: 2 09-06
22. Gary Bowien Benton, AR 6 15-10 0 $903.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 1 02-05
23. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 6 15-07 0 $903.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 1 02-01
24. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 6 14-08 0 $903.00
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 5 12-01
25. Jason Slagstad Cameron, WI 4 13-15 0 $903.00
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 3 11-05
26. Jason Citta Hershey, NE 6 13-15 0 $831.00
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 4 10-07
27. Dillon Roberts Oologah, OK 4 13-11 0 $831.00
Day 1: 2 08-04 Day 2: 2 05-07
28. Zane Ridpath Gretna, NE 6 13-06 0 $831.00
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 3 07-15
29. Robert Brieden Marion, TX 3 13-04 0 $831.00
Day 1: 2 08-15 Day 2: 1 04-05
30. Keltyn Hendrix Washington, OK 5 13-03 0 $831.00
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 2 05-07
31. Albert Earl White Apple Springs, TX 4 13-01 0 $831.00
Day 1: 3 09-13 Day 2: 1 03-04
32. Bradley Sullivan Shawnee, OK 6 13-01 0 $831.00
Day 1: 4 09-01 Day 2: 2 04-00
33. Rich Risewick Norton, KS 3 12-14 0 $831.00
Day 1: 2 08-03 Day 2: 1 04-11
34. Ben Burk Norman, OK 5 12-13 0 $831.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
34. Michael Stranz Edmond, OK 5 12-13 0 $831.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
36. Jason Howland Albert Lea, MN 5 12-10 0 $831.00
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 3 07-14
37. Logan Bullinger Bismarck, ND 7 12-09 0 $831.00
Day 1: 4 07-14 Day 2: 3 04-11
38. Dave Cavell Prairieville, LA 5 12-07 0 $831.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
39. Hunter Stanley Mustang, OK 5 12-06 0 $831.00
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 3 08-14
40. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 4 12-04 0 $831.00
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 1 03-14
41. Grayson Morrow San Angelo, TX 3 11-06 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 11-06
42. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 3 11-02 0
Day 1: 2 06-11 Day 2: 1 04-07
43. Lance Crawford Broken Bow, OK 5 10-15 0
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 1 01-12
44. Shawn Clark Afton, OK 4 10-15 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 2 06-11
45. Keagan Brady Bartlesville, OK 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 4 08-04 Day 2: 1 02-05
46. Drew Porto III Greenbrier, AR 4 10-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 2 05-08
47. Aaron Brewer Clovis, NM 3 10-06 0
Day 1: 3 10-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
48. Nathaniel Melgaard Elk Mound, WI 5 10-03 0
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 2 03-11
49. Matt Jurcin Pueblo, CO 4 10-03 0
Day 1: 2 06-01 Day 2: 2 04-02
50. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 4 10-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 3 07-13
51. Michael Louviere New Iberia, LA 3 09-14 0
Day 1: 2 05-15 Day 2: 1 03-15
52. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 3 09-09 0
Day 1: 1 03-05 Day 2: 2 06-04
53. Jacob Sepeda Paradise, TX 4 09-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 1 02-08
54. Hunter Neuville New Iberia, LA 5 09-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 4 07-05
55. Matthew Lipari Patterson, LA 4 08-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 2 05-09
56. Nathan Pratt Albuquerque, NM 3 08-13 0
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 1 02-09
57. Salvador Garcia Gravette, AR 4 08-10 0
Day 1: 2 05-08 Day 2: 2 03-02
58. Ron Shaw Norman, OK 3 08-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-07
59. Trevor Scott Windsor, CO 3 08-07 0
Day 1: 1 03-01 Day 2: 2 05-06
60. Mark Watson Victoria, TX 3 08-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 1 04-06
61. Greg Cooper Monroe City, MO 2 08-01 0
Day 1: 1 06-01 Day 2: 1 02-00
62. Skyler Koury Phoenix, AZ 2 07-15 0
Day 1: 1 05-13 Day 2: 1 02-02
63. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 4 07-12 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 1 01-13
64. Casey Welch Aurora, CO 2 07-11 0
Day 1: 1 06-01 Day 2: 1 01-10
65. Kazuki Kitajima Corinth, TX 4 07-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 2 03-12
66. Teddy Granier Thibodaux, LA 2 07-10 0
Day 1: 1 03-10 Day 2: 1 04-00
67. Joshua Teply Harrah, OK 4 07-07 0
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
68. Tye Grissom Austin, TX 3 07-07 0
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
69. Eric Ledger Council Bluffs, IA 3 07-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 1 02-12
70. Jesse Parks Goodyear, AZ 4 07-06 0
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
71. Charles Williams Mannford, OK 3 07-04 0
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
72. Neil Raedel Colorado Springs, CO 3 07-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 2 04-11
73. Trevis Unger Benton, KS 3 06-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-15
74. Jeff Clark Van Buren, AR 2 06-13 0
Day 1: 2 06-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Chris Stephenson Broken Arrow, OK 3 06-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 2 04-06
76. Matt Dobson Edmond, OK 2 06-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 1 04-11
77. Eli Brumnett Wagoner, OK 3 06-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 1 02-09
78. Randy Campbell Tijeras, NM 2 06-07 0
Day 1: 2 06-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
79. Jeremy Tibben Stanton, IA 3 06-06 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-06
80. Austin ODell Cushing , OK 3 06-05 0
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
81. Jared Melanson Lake Havasu City, AZ 2 06-05 0
Day 1: 2 06-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
82. Malcolm Smith Saint Amant, LA 3 06-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 1 02-13
83. Austin Monroe Albuquerque, NM 2 06-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-02
84. Heath Watkins Heavener, OK 1 06-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 06-00
85. Michael Furgerson Claremore, OK 3 05-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-15
86. Richard Everest Hobbs, NM 3 05-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 2 03-15
87. Dust'n Overton Moore, OK 3 05-14 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Larry Dugger Pottsville, AR 1 05-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 05-13
89. Andrew Wren Wylie, TX 2 05-12 0
Day 1: 1 03-01 Day 2: 1 02-11
90. Jake Capps Fort Gibson, OK 2 05-11 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-11
91. Chad Nolan Muldrow, OK 2 05-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-04
92. Shane Pickett Rose Hill, KS 4 04-15 0
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 2 00-00
93. Jerry Lovell Harrison, AR 2 04-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-15
94. Dean Roberts Lake Charles, LA 2 04-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 1 03-04
95. Ronnie Duncan Hampton, AR 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 02-10
96. Justin Hallmark Burnet, TX 2 04-10 0
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Paul Tabisz Clarkston, MI 2 04-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 1 02-10
98. Kellen Davis Stigler, OK 2 04-08 0
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
99. Steve Lund Cave Creek, AZ 2 04-06 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-06
100. Marshall Brown Smithville, MO 1 04-05 0
Day 1: 1 04-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
101. Troy Stinson Falcon, CO 2 04-05 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 1 02-03
102. Cade Laufenberg Onalaska, WI 2 04-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Terry Cooper Hamburg, IA 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
104. Ryan Rodgers Perry, OK 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 1 02-06
105. Zachery Fowler Konawa, OK 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Tyler Frahm Kirbyville, MO 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Paul Kremers Clarksville, AR 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-00
108. Scotty Easter Garfield, AR 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
109. Jacob Altman Edgewood, TX 1 03-15 0
Day 1: 1 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
110. Reed Fredrick Mount Horeb, WI 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
110. Mark Sloan Harrison, AR 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
112. Michael Wooten Goodlettsville, TN 1 03-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-14
113. Brian Stangel Albuquerque, NM 1 03-12 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-12
114. Darin Anderson Sand Springs, OK 2 03-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
115. Kollin Crawford Broken Bow, OK 1 03-09 0
Day 1: 1 03-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
115. Josh Giroldi Beachville Ontario CANA 1 03-09 0
Day 1: 1 03-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
115. Michael Henager Harrah, OK 1 03-09 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-09
118. Clifton Duvall Russellville, AR 1 03-07 0
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
119. Pat Klausen Lincoln, NE 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-05
120. Mike Carter Shawnee, OK 1 03-05 0
Day 1: 1 03-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Dewey Larson Fayetteville, AR 1 03-05 0
Day 1: 1 03-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
122. Ricardo Guzman Farmington, MO 1 03-03 0
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Richard Wilson Lubbock, TX 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-02
124. Kelly Burns Avondale, AZ 1 03-00 0
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
125. Charles Coger Robert Lee, TX 1 02-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-15
125. Jeremy Fuentes Carlsbad, NM 1 02-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
127. Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
128. Mason Gillihan Manchester, IA 1 02-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
129. David Chase Las Cruces, NM 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-10
129. Alan Daniels Kansas City, KS 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
129. Happy Johnson Santa Fe, NM 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-10
129. Ronnie Provence Canehill, AR 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
129. Dalton Ross Gravette, AR 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
134. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
135. Bob Glasgow Omaha, NE 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-08
136. Scotty Villines Compton, AR 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
136. Jack Webb Trempealeau, WI 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
136. Wyatt Wisian Ardmore, OK 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-04
139. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Nathan Bourque Prairieville, LA 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Tai Hunt Denver, CO 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. Bryan Hulsey Troy, MO 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. Joel Porter Yates Center, KS 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
144. Jared Miller Norman, OK 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
145. Keith Allen Okemah, OK 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
146. Kris Lee Coweta, OK 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-11
147. Bobby Martin Castle Rock, CO 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
147. Brian Reeves Clarksville, AR 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Michael Hargraves Seguin, TX 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-08
149. Terry Reich Willis, TX 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Tony Baldridge Oklahoma City, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Wes Beck Searcy, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Matt Brown II Broken Arrow, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Nic Conger Fort Smith, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Rodney Copeland Sallisaw, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Clayton Coppin Muskogee, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Hunter Crossland Midland, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Caleb Eaton Branson, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Bates Enmeier Springdale, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Bryan Finch Belton, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Dave Garrett Trinidad, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Ronald Giebel Penrose, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Don Glick Zurich, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Darren Hahne Ottawa, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Michael Hamilton Midwest City, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Ryan Heavener Tulsa, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Mike Hill Carlsbad, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Michael Humm Plattsmouth, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. River Lee Diboll, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Cory Leita Victoria, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Dave McCoy Plattsmouth, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Michael Messall Bismarck, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Chris Miller Spirit Lake, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Richard Minyard Mustang, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Sam Mitchell Kiowa, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Jin Nguyen Kansas City, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Chris Ogan Bixby, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Joshua Palma Surprise, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Brad Ragsdale Fairland, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Royce Scheetz Lubbock, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Chad Schmidt Clearwater, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Justin Shepard Lansing, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Michael Stephens Vian, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Kirk Stickler Eden, UT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Ron Strickland Pueblo West, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Daniel Vigil Trinidad, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Bruce Webb Yorkville, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Marty Whisnant Gainesville, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 11 266 696-11
2 7 207 588-03
------------------------------
18 473 1284-14
2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance 4/9-4/11
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula OK.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Zach Oliver Coal Hill, AR 6 17-01 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 3 11-07
2. Joe Conway Colorado Springs, CO 4 16-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 3 14-09
3. Eric Englebretson Chickasha, OK 4 13-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 3 10-11
4. Randy Benham Sherwood, AR 5 13-04 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 2 07-05
5. Gene Mitchell Stuart, OK 3 13-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 13-03
6. Jeff Nolte Shawnee, KS 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 2 07-06
7. Timothy Soli Warr Acres, OK 4 12-10 0
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 3 09-07
8. Zack Holt Yukon, OK 5 12-06 0
Day 1: 3 09-05 Day 2: 2 03-01
9. Colten Hutson Edmond, OK 6 12-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 06-00
10. David Zak San Angelo, TX 4 12-04 0
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 1 01-12
11. Larry Green Splendora, TX 4 12-02 0
Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 2 06-06
12. Trey Clement Thibodaux, LA 5 11-13 0
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 2 04-02
13. Josh Thalman Saratoga Springs, UT 5 11-00 0
Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 3 05-11
14. Aaron Baldridge Moore, OK 4 10-15 0
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 1 05-02
15. Ernie Villa Midland, TX 4 10-06 0
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 1 03-00
16. Greg Dennis Pilot Point, TX 4 10-02 0
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 1 01-15
17. Bryan Schuster Oklahoma City, OK 4 09-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 1 03-03
18. Tom Parks Prescott Valley, AZ 3 09-05 0
Day 1: 1 03-12 Day 2: 2 05-09
19. Ricky-Ray Martinez Jr Santa Fe, NM 3 09-00 0
Day 1: 2 07-01 Day 2: 1 01-15
20. Todd Tigar Osage Beach, MO 4 08-10 0
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 2 03-07
21. Mike Casanova Frisco, TX 3 08-09 0 $300.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-09
22. Paul Huse Omaha, NE 2 08-03 0 $300.00
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 1 05-05
23. Chris Nettles Hickory Creek, TX 2 06-13 0 $300.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-13
24. Ethan Oubre Saint Amant, LA 3 06-12 0 $300.00
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 2 04-02
25. Jason Campbell Berwick, LA 2 06-03 0 $300.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-03
26. Logan Farrimond Garden City, MO 2 06-00 0 $300.00
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 1 02-09
27. Troy Enmeier Enid, OK 2 05-13 0 $300.00
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 1 03-13
28. Keith Jensen Omaha, NE 2 05-09 0 $300.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-09
29. Wes Ledbetter Coweta, OK 2 05-07 0 $300.00
Day 1: 2 05-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
30. Jason Gillihan Manchester, IA 2 05-04 0 $300.00
Day 1: 2 05-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
31. Daniel Gentle Papillion, NE 1 05-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 05-04
32. Jacob Cooper El Dorado, KS 2 05-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 1 03-00
33. Scott Grissom Goodyear, AZ 2 04-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 1 02-07
34. Glen Shoemaker Cortland, NE 1 04-11 0
Day 1: 1 04-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
35. Eric Baker Oklahoma City, OK 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-07
36. Todd Tobnick Saint Louis, MO 1 04-06 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 04-06
37. Cody Ralph Brighton, CO 1 04-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 04-05
38. Wade Roberts Lake Charles, LA 2 03-13 0
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
39. Chris Jarvis Albuquerque, NM 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 1 01-11
40. Scott Hausman Owasso, OK 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-05
41. Richard Muhl Jr Iola, KS 1 03-03 0
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
42. Macky Bosley III Canyon, TX 1 03-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-02
42. Hieu Nguyen Stillwater, OK 1 03-02 0
Day 1: 1 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
44. John Kozel Leawood, KS 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-01
45. Robin Hessling Quincy, IL 1 03-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-01
46. Angela Messall Bismarck, ND 1 02-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-14
47. Mike Clark Spiro, OK 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
48. Grant Bourque Prairieville, LA 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-05
49. Brian Bottenfield Mound, MN 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
49. Harvey Miller Melvin, IA 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-01
51. Glenn Hahn San Antonio, TX 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-00
51. Rodney Meyer Atkins, AR 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-00
53. Laura Elkins Amarillo, TX 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
53. Adam Gipson Fort Smith, AR 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-15
53. Joseph Lurkins Jefferson City, MO 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
53. Benjamin Saunders Gardner, KS 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
57. Danny Giacomo Mcalester, OK 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
57. Charles Glorioso II Thibodaux, LA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
57. Rickey Monroe Edgewood, NM 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-14
57. Ron Price Canon City, CO 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
61. Johnny Bailey Jr Stephens, AR 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
62. James Edmonds III Hot Springs Village, AR 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
62. Billy Ray Plattsmouth, NE 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-12
62. Mark Shields Rogersville, MO 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-12
65. Matheuw Forbes Fort Collins, CO 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-11
65. Tuan Le Kansas City, MO 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
67. Joseph Sciuto Leander, TX 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-10
68. Kevin Joines Choctaw, OK 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
69. David Peltz Albuquerque, NM 1 01-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Blaine Acosta Bethany, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Bo Ard Junction, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. James Barber Greenville, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Keith Barnes Fort Gibson, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Brayden Bernard Lake Havasu City, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Brandon Brooks Blue Springs, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Scott Bullinger Bismarck, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Joseph Case Mannford, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Roger Coleman Lincoln, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Joe Conway Colorado Springs, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Marion Daniels Kansas City, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Koby Davis Fort Collins, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Shayne Dupree Haslet, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Jeff Dyess Perry, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Chris Escoe Sand Springs, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Tom Garner Lincoln, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Christopher Gilbert Ozark, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Jagar Halbleib Clovis, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Dennis Hamel Plainville, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Douglas Hatcher Clarksville, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Seth Hausman Owasso, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Mike Hill Apache Junction, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Zachary Hutchinson Prairie Grove, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Melissa Jarvis Albuquerque, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Shannon Keiffer-Rose Oakland, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Richard Kiblinger Kansas City, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Dennis Kotas Milligan, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Mark Lachenauer San Antonio, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Toby Lankford Prairie Grove, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. James Mcdonald Killeen, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Maverick Mosiman Andover, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Joseph Palma Goodyear, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. J R Pickett Jr Rose Hill, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Paul Pierce Wylie, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Greg Poetz Winsted, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Dan Radebaugh Plattsmouth, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Fred Reese Colorado Springs, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Amanda Riley Galesville, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Zach Roberts Morris, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Andrew Rutherford Marlin, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Donald Steckline Estes Park, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Gabe Trujillo Platteville, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Mike Turner Berryton, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Steve Weaver Oklahoma City, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 11 74 180-14
2 8 80 228-01
------------------------------
19 154 408-15
University of Montevallo Takes Lead Heading into Final Day at Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship
DECATUR, Ala. (April 10, 2025) – The 135 best college teams in the country were greeted by a very different Wheeler Lake on Day 2 of the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Columbia PFG. After Wednesday saw 18 bags of 19 pounds or more hit the scales, only seven teams reached that mark on Friday. As proof of how challenging the bite was, Day 1 leaders Carter and Dylan Nutt – two of the hottest anglers on the Tennessee River at any level – mustered just 9 pounds, 9 ounces after weighing 22-15 a day prior.
Yet Brody Robison and Peyton Sorrow not only replicated their strong Day 1 but exceeded it. The University of Montevallo tandem sacked up 23-9 on Thursday. The biggest bag of the event so far, it boosted their total to 45-1. That vaulted them from fifth place into the lead and gives them a cushion of 2-7 over John Berry and Blake Bullock of Blue Mountain Christian University entering the final day.
Only the Top 10 teams will take the water Friday. All the action will be streamed live on MLFNOW! starting shortly after takeoff at 7 a.m. CT, culminating with the crowning of a new national champion at 1 p.m.
While their weight might not show it, Robison and Sorrow said the fishing wasn’t easy for them, either, which they attributed to less current flowing through the Tennessee River impoundment on Thursday. They only got seven bites all day. Late in the day, though, they caught a 6-1 smallmouth, the biggest fish in their bag. That gave them a clue that they used to fill out their limit.
“We kind of started putting the pieces together, and we got a very big late-day bite, and it kind of put the train back on the wheels, and we just kind of went from there,” Sorrow said. “We were able to cull twice right at the end of the day.”
Conditions that forced the field to grind for bites suited Robison and Sorrow. Sorrow, a junior, said they had a “horrible practice,” during which they caught only three keepers. They were able to find one productive spot, where they caught a limit to start Day 1, and since then, they’ve continued to explore new water.
“Today and yesterday were Days 3 and 4 of practice for us,” Robison said. “We had a place that we scanned and said, ‘Those are probably bass.’ Went and started there, caught our first five there yesterday, and we spent 5 1/2 hours graphing after that during tournament hours just trying to find something to fish today. So, today, we caught everything on new water.”
Robison, a senior who grew up just south of Lake Guntersville, has a bit of experience on Wheeler. In fact, he won a high school state championship on the fishery before he even enrolled in high school, at age 12. That experience has been helpful – not so much in terms of knowing productive spots but because he’s adept at using his electronics to identify bass and baitfish on the Tennessee River.
While the duo didn’t divulge all the details of their pattern, they did note that the presence of gizzard shad has been key.
“We’re basing a lot of what we’re doing on fishing around gizzard shad, and knowing when you’re around gizzard shad – whether it’s using SideScan or DownScan or forward-facing or whatever – as opposed to threadfin helps you with your efficiency,” Robison explained. “You’re not wasting your time fishing bad areas.”
With thunderstorms rolling through the area Thursday evening and strong northwest winds forecast to blow on Championship Friday, Robison and Sorrow are expecting to face different conditions once again. They know they’ll need to find more new water; but at this point, they’re optimistic they can do so.
“We’re going to kind of do what we did yesterday and today,” Sorrow said. “We had a horrible practice and kind of just went fishing on a whim and trusted our instincts and really put the pieces together as the day went along. So, I think that’s what we’re going to do tomorrow. We’re just going to go fish on a whim and trust God’s timing and process, and just kind of see how everything shakes out.”
If Robison and Sorrow can protect their lead, it would mark the second national championship in the past three years for Montevallo. The powerhouse program also has two other teams in the Top 10. A win would also earn each of them a berth in this fall’s Toyota Series Championship, where the higher finisher will win a trip to REDCREST 2026.
While neither Robison (who has competed in one previous national championship) nor Sorrow (a national championship first-timer) has lifted a trophy of this magnitude before, they have a pretty good idea what it would mean. Robison lives with Peyton Harris and Dalton Head, who won the Falcons’ 2023 national championship on the Kissimmee Chain.
“To bring back another to our house would be really cool,” Robison said, “and to bring back another to the program, it’s an awesome opportunity.”
The top 10 teams advancing to Championship Friday at the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship Presented by Columbia PFG on Wheeler Lake are:
1st: University of Montevallo – Brody Robison, Dawson, Ala., and Peyton Sorrow, Abbeville, S.C., 10 bass, 45-1
2nd: Blue Mountain Christian University – John Berry, Mount Olive, Miss., and Blake Bullock, Seminary, Miss., 10 bass, 42-10
3rd: University of Montevallo – Nicholas Dumke, Grand Rapids, Minn., 10 bass, 39-12
4th: University of North Alabama – Tripp Berlinsky, Florence, Ala., and Bryce DiMauro, Longwood, Fla., 10 bass, 38-12
5th: McKendree University – Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., and Jaxson Freeman, Loda, Ill., 10 bass, 38-0
6th: Carson-Newman University – Szymon Piton, Orland Park, Ill., and Riley Faulkner, Jacksboro, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-13
7th: University of Alabama – Cooper Gilroy, Middlebury, Ct., and Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., 10 bass, 36-3
8th: Northwestern State University – Drake Wadsworth, Frierson, La., and Stone Smith, Shreveport, La., 10 bass, 35-15
9th: University of Montevallo – Brenton Godwin, Stapleton, Ala., and Hunter Odom, Chunchula, Ala., 10 bass, 35-13
10th: Carson-Newman University – Nicholas Dellaporta, Pequannock, N.J., and Drew Pitts, Lutz, Fla., 10 bass, 34-9
For a full list of results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 567 bass weighing 1,588 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 125 teams on Thursday. The catch included 99 five-bass limits.
The top 10 teams will take off from Ingalls Harbor, located at 701 Market St. NW, in Decatur at 7 a.m. CT on Friday. Weigh-ins will be held at the Harbor starting at 3 p.m. and will be livestreamed daily. Fans are welcome to attend the event or tune in to the weigh-in and follow the online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism, the 16th annual College Fishing National Championship features 135 teams of the nation’s best collegiate anglers competing for a $43,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, an additional $10,000 and the chance to advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship and REDCREST 2026 – MLF’s most prestigious championship – to fish for top prizes of $235,000 and $300,000, respectively.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action on Championship Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
The MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI 2024 season featured college teams from across the country competing in nine regular-season tournaments. The top 12 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament qualified to compete in this event, the 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Columbia PFG, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota , WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Welcher whacks them on Day 1 at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound
April 10, 2025
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Bites were hard to come by for Kyle Welcher during practice for the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound. He received only seven keeper bites on Day 1, but they resulted in the best bag of the day.
The 2023 Progressive Angler of the Year caught a limit of largemouth weighing 30 pounds, 11 ounces to take the Day 1 lead in eastern North Carolina. He anchored his impressive performance with three 7-pounders and a 6-pounder.
The Alabama native holds a nearly 7-pound lead over second-place Easton Fothergill.
“It was very fortunate,” he said. “My practice was terrible. I was really struggling with the confidence to catch a limit. The second one I caught was a 7-pounder, and that was the key to the puzzle for today. I’ve got a little clue now.”
After several cold nights to end practice, sunny and windy conditions persisted over the Albemarle Sound on Thursday. Navigating to the many rivers that flow into the Sound proved challenging for anglers, and the colder weather made the bite stingier than anticipated. Even with the tough bite, 71 limits were caught.
Welcher’s best day in practice produced five to six bites, none as big as what he received on Day 1, and on the final day of practice he caught just two keepers.
“I didn’t get a good feel for the place, but something was telling me to go to this one area. That is where I went today,” Welcher said. “I really don’t know what changed.”
When he arrived in that one area today, he found the big ones waiting. Welcher landed two of his bigger bites when he first arrived at his area before suffering a long lull. After trying to adjust with little success, he returned to the same spot he landed his first two bites and caught his third quality keeper.
“I started making adjustments and caught one small keeper,” Welcher said. “I abandoned those adjustments and went back to the area I caught the two big ones and caught another one. After I had those three big ones, I knew I had a good day going and I went looking for new water and caught another big one.”
All of his bites came doing the same thing; flipping a CrushCity Bronco Bug in shallow water. The deepest bass he landed came in around 5 feet of water. Welcher believes he landed mostly prespawn largemouth on Day 1.
“A big chunk of the ones I’m catching are prespawn,” he said. “Just by how they look. They are really fat and really pretty. I had to slow down a lot today.”
In order to win this tournament, Welcher imagines he will have to continue to find new areas to fish. With how few bites he is getting, however, maximizing his area will also be incredibly important.
“I don’t think where I caught them today will reload enough for multiple days, but it is so hard to get a bite here that you have to stay in (the areas you get bites),” Welcher said.
Fothergill, meanwhile, made a key adjustment to catch his 23-13 limit on Thursday. He anchored his bag with a 6 ½-pound largemouth.
Coming off his victory at the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour at Lake Ray Roberts, Fothergill started his tournament in the Pasquotank River and caught one keeper before moving to one of the other rivers later in the day.
“It was an awesome day,” the Grand Rapids, Minn., native said. “I started shallow throwing a buzzbait, plopper and swim jig and completely switched it up. I went finesse on them. I knew they were still there, I just had to switch it up to get them to bite.”
When the power-fishing baits did not produce, he switched to a drop shot, which landed the majority of his keeper bites.
“I had to slow down to get the big ones to bite,” he said.
In practice, Fothergill found plenty of bass on the bed, but when he arrived at those areas today, he found them high and dry. The water temperature also dropped, which he feels moved some of those bass away from the bed.
“I have a mix of prespawn and postspawners. A lot of them I’m catching are beat up and have bloody tails. My 6 ½ was a prespawner. It is kind of all over the board,” Fothergill said. “The water dropped a bunch. I caught a 7 accidentally off of a bed in practice, and that bed is now dry.”
Forward-facing sonar played an important role in his success on Day 1, but when the water was higher, it played very little.
Reigning Dakota Lithium Elite Series Angler of the Year Trey McKinney is in third with 23-7. The Carbondale, Ill., pro started in an area where he received a lot of bites on the final day of practice. On Day 1, he landed 30 keepers and 11 pounds by 11 a.m., but didn’t get his bigger bites until the afternoon.
“Once I started picking it apart, I started getting quality bites,” McKinney said. “I switched the type of bank I was going down. I started fishing a slow, tapering bank in the afternoon instead of a steep drop. Once I did that, I went from 11 pounds to 23 pounds (quickly).”
A prototype jig produced the majority of his bites. His biggest bass of the day was a postspawner, while several others were either prespawners or spawning.
Huntington, Texas, pro Keith Combs landed the Big Bass of the Day, an 8-2 largemouth that anchored his 15-12 Day 1 limit.
Sylacauga, Ala., pro David Gaston leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings currently with 259 points. Brookville, Ind., veteran Bill Lowen and Plover, Wis., pro Jay Przekurat are tied for second with 256 points followed by California’s Bryant Smith in fourth with 250 points and Florida’s John Cox in fifth with 249 points.
The full field of 102 pros will launch from Waterfront Park beginning at 7 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The Top 50 anglers after the Day 2 weigh-in will advance to Semifinal Saturday before the Top 10 anglers compete on Championship Sunday for the top prize of $100,000.
Bassmaster LIVE coverage of the 2025 Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River will be available on Bassmaster.com on Day 2 starting at 8 a.m. ET and ending at 3 p.m. FS1 will carry the morning action on Day 3 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. before moving to Bassmaster.com in the afternoon. Championship Sunday coverage will be broadcast on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Visit Elizabeth City is hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About St. Croix Rod
Headquartered in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has been proudly crafting the “Best Rods on Earth” for over 75 years. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing processes with skilled craftsmanship, St. Croix is the only major American producer to still build rods entirely from design through manufacturing. The company remains family-owned and operates duplicate manufacturing facilities in Park Falls and Fresnillo, Mexico. With popular trademarked series such as Legend®, Legend Xtreme®, Avid®, Premier®, Imperial®, Triumph® and Mojo, St. Croix is revered by all types of anglers from around the world. The St. Croix Family of Brands includes St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly and Rod Geeks.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River 4/10-4/13
Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound , Elizabeth City NC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 5 30-11 104
Day 1: 5 30-11
2. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 5 23-13 103
Day 1: 5 23-13
3. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 23-07 102
Day 1: 5 23-07
4. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 18-12 101
Day 1: 5 18-12
5. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 18-10 100
Day 1: 5 18-10
6. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 18-05 99
Day 1: 5 18-05
7. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 17-14 98
Day 1: 5 17-14
8. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 17-07 97
Day 1: 5 17-07
9. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 17-03 96
Day 1: 5 17-03
10. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 16-14 95
Day 1: 5 16-14
11. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 16-13 94
Day 1: 5 16-13
12. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 16-11 93
Day 1: 5 16-11
13. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 16-08 92
Day 1: 5 16-08
14. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 16-06 91
Day 1: 5 16-06
15. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 5 16-05 90
Day 1: 5 16-05
16. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 16-03 89
Day 1: 5 16-03
17. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 16-01 88
Day 1: 5 16-01
18. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 5 15-15 87
Day 1: 5 15-15
18. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 5 15-15 87
Day 1: 5 15-15
20. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 15-13 85
Day 1: 5 15-13
21. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 15-12 84 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12
21. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 5 15-12 84
Day 1: 5 15-12
23. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 5 15-06 82
Day 1: 5 15-06
24. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 15-04 81
Day 1: 5 15-04
25. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 15-03 80
Day 1: 5 15-03
26. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 15-00 79
Day 1: 5 15-00
27. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 14-09 78
Day 1: 5 14-09
27. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 5 14-09 78
Day 1: 5 14-09
29. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 13-15 76
Day 1: 5 13-15
30. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 13-14 75
Day 1: 5 13-14
31. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 13-09 74
Day 1: 5 13-09
32. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 13-07 73
Day 1: 5 13-07
33. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 5 13-06 72
Day 1: 5 13-06
33. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 13-06 72
Day 1: 5 13-06
35. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 4 13-03 70
Day 1: 4 13-03
36. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 13-01 69
Day 1: 5 13-01
37. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 5 12-15 68
Day 1: 5 12-15
38. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 4 12-13 67
Day 1: 4 12-13
39. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 12-12 66
Day 1: 5 12-12
40. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 12-09 65
Day 1: 5 12-09
40. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 12-09 65
Day 1: 5 12-09
42. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 12-08 63
Day 1: 5 12-08
43. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 12-06 62
Day 1: 5 12-06
44. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 12-03 61
Day 1: 5 12-03
45. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 5 12-00 60
Day 1: 5 12-00
46. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 11-15 59
Day 1: 5 11-15
47. John Cox Debary, FL 5 11-14 58
Day 1: 5 11-14
48. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 11-11 57
Day 1: 5 11-11
49. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 5 11-08 56
Day 1: 5 11-08
50. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 4 11-07 55
Day 1: 4 11-07
51. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 11-06 54
Day 1: 5 11-06
51. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 11-06 54
Day 1: 5 11-06
53. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 11-04 52
Day 1: 5 11-04
54. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 5 11-00 51
Day 1: 5 11-00
55. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 5 10-11 50
Day 1: 5 10-11
55. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 10-11 50
Day 1: 5 10-11
57. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 10-10 48
Day 1: 5 10-10
58. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 5 10-09 47
Day 1: 5 10-09
59. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 10-08 46
Day 1: 5 10-08
60. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 10-06 45
Day 1: 5 10-06
61. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 10-03 44
Day 1: 5 10-03
62. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 10-02 43
Day 1: 5 10-02
63. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 5 09-15 42
Day 1: 5 09-15
63. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 09-15 42
Day 1: 5 09-15
63. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 09-15 42
Day 1: 5 09-15
66. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 09-13 39
Day 1: 5 09-13
67. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 09-09 38
Day 1: 5 09-09
68. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 5 09-07 37
Day 1: 5 09-07
69. John Garrett Union City, TN 4 09-07 36
Day 1: 4 09-07
70. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 4 09-05 35
Day 1: 4 09-05
71. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 5 09-02 34
Day 1: 5 09-02
72. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 08-14 33
Day 1: 5 08-14
72. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 08-14 33
Day 1: 5 08-14
74. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 08-11 31
Day 1: 5 08-11
75. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 5 08-09 30
Day 1: 5 08-09
76. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 4 08-07 29
Day 1: 4 08-07
76. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 4 08-07 29
Day 1: 4 08-07
78. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 4 08-00 27
Day 1: 4 08-00
78. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 4 08-00 27
Day 1: 4 08-00
80. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 07-11 25
Day 1: 5 07-11
81. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 3 07-03 24
Day 1: 3 07-03
82. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 4 07-01 23
Day 1: 4 07-01
83. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 3 07-01 22
Day 1: 3 07-01
84. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 4 07-00 21
Day 1: 4 07-00
85. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 4 06-12 20
Day 1: 4 06-12
86. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 2 06-12 19
Day 1: 2 06-12
87. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 2 06-06 18
Day 1: 2 06-06
88. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 3 05-13 17
Day 1: 3 05-13
89. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 3 05-11 16
Day 1: 3 05-11
90. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 2 05-09 15
Day 1: 2 05-09
91. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 3 05-00 14
Day 1: 3 05-00
92. Bryan New Leesville, SC 2 04-06 13
Day 1: 2 04-06
93. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 2 04-03 12
Day 1: 2 04-03
94. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 2 03-06 11
Day 1: 2 03-06
95. Ben Milliken Omaha, NE 2 02-14 10
Day 1: 2 02-14
96. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 2 02-12 9
Day 1: 2 02-12
97. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 1 02-05 8
Day 1: 1 02-05
98. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 1 02-03 7
Day 1: 1 02-03
99. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 1 01-05 6
Day 1: 1 01-05
100. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
100. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
100. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Keith Combs Huntington, TX 08-02 $1,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 71 437 1150-07
------------------------------
71 437 1150-07
Alabama’s Fisher Anaya Catches 24-8 on Final Day to Win MLF Toyota Series at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (April 10, 2025) – Going into the final day of the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Plains Division event on Kentucky Lake, Camden, Tennessee, pro Sam Lashlee held a pretty solid lead over Fisher Anaya of Eva, Alabama, and the rest of the field. And, running far south yet again, Lashlee didn’t give it way – he rustled up 20 pounds, 3 ounces, more than enough to protect his lead from most charges.
But Anaya’s surge wasn’t typical. Blasting 24 pounds, 8 ounces – the biggest bag of the tournament – the 19-year-old pro slid up one place to earn the trophy. With a 62-14 total, Anaya expertly rolled with a dynamic fishery to pocket $39,545 for his efforts.
After a few close calls, the win is Anaya’s first with MLF. Back-to-back Toyota Series events have now been won by teenagers, as Dylan Quilatan prevailed recently at the Harris Chain. Finishing second, Lashlee totaled an even 62 pounds. Between them, Anaya and Lashlee far outstripped the field, as Blake Schroeder finished third with 51-14.
If you’re going to have an unbelievable day of fishing, there’s hardly a better day for it than the last day of a major tournament. According to Anaya, a mid-afternoon discovery on Day 2 led to an incredible morning on Day 3.
“It was the most insane thing I've ever seen in my life,” said Anaya. “I found them midway through the second day. I was fishing for spawning fish in the back (of a marina), and I just came out and got on a random sand flat out in the mouth. And I found a little sinkhole, and I saw a bunch of blobs sitting there. I was like, ‘There's no way that's all bass.’
“I made three casts on it yesterday and caught three 4 1/2-pounders and left them alone,” he detailed. “And then I went back today and sat the boat down. And for like an hour and a half, I caught 4 1/2-pounder after 4 1/2-pounder.
“I've never seen nothing like it in my life,” he said. “They looked like a school of largemouth on Guntersville stacked up there, but they were in 4 foot of water.”
After blasting them all morning, Anaya earned an emotional win, with tears and rain both falling on stage.
“I don't even know how to explain it,” said the young angler. “I've been a nervous wreck since 8 o’clock this morning, since I had them. I mean, I've been back and forth pacing on the boat. Eating a sandwich, drinking water. I was trying to do anything to keep my mind off what was going to happen.
“To finally have it go my way, it feels great,” he added. “I lost a 7-pounder the first day, and I really thought that was going to be the one that came back to haunt me. That was going to be the reason I didn't win and finished second. I'm just lost for words.”
Recently, Anaya has fished quite a few tournaments on Kentucky Lake, so he went into this one theoretically well prepared for standard spring conditions. Fortunately for him, the high, dirty water boxed him in.
“I had some spawning fish found in [the Paris Landing Marina],” he said. “It's the only clean water I found on the lake, really. So, I just told myself I was going to run there, and if I got five to bite, I'd have a decent bag. And I really thought the weights were going to be really bad.
“I pulled in that first day and caught a 5-pound smallmouth and some keepers, but I could never get nothing else rolling,” he said. “I decided to go crank the muddy water late that afternoon, and I ended up catching a 3 1/2-pounder, which got me to whatever I had the first day. And I jumped off a great big largemouth – it was a 6- or 7-pounder. Huge. And that's been in the back of my mind since it jumped off.”
Though he whipped around a firetiger Rapala DT6, the trusty minnow got the bulk of the work done, both for spawning fish and on his winning hole. In that case, he went with a Rapala CrushCity Freeloader on a 1/8-ounce head with a 6-foot, 10-inch, medium-light 13 Fishing Myth spinning stick and 12-pound Suffix Revolve with a 12-pound Suffix Advance leader.
“The second day, I ran and did the same stuff, but I actually ended up catching 19 pounds of spawners in the back of Paris instead,” said Anaya. “I was actually trolling over there to crank the bridge, and I trolled over the top of them, and they all shot up off the bottom. And I was like, ‘Maybe that was bass.’ I spun around. It was meant to be, I guess.”
The final day, Anaya ran straight to the juice, and he had the tournament won in short order.
“I think it took me 47 minutes to get there,” he said. “And when I clicked my camera at 58 minutes, I had 22 pounds. I've never seen nothing like it.”
The top 10 pros at the Toyota Series at Kentucky Lake finished:
1st: Fisher Anaya, Eva, Ala., 15 bass, 62-14, $39,545 (includes $1,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd: Sam Lashlee, Camden, Tenn., 15 bass, 62-0, $14,936
3rd: Blake Schroeder, Whitehouse, Texas, 15 bass, 51-14, $11,563
4th: Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 15 bass, 51-14, $9,636
5th: Roger Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., 15 bass, 51-10, $8,673
6th: Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 13 bass, 51-3, $7,709
7th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 50-4, $6,745
8th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 15 bass, 49-13, $5,782
9th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 15 bass, 48-13, $4,818
10th: Brock Bila, Republic, Mo., 15 bass, 47-10, $3,854
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Joe Lucarelli of Benton, Kentucky, earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass Award on Day 1 Tuesday with a bass weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces, while pro Justin Berger of Murray, Kentucky, earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass on Day 2 Wednesday with a 7-pound, 1-ounce fish to earn the $500 prize.
Dan Bowman of Osage Beach, Missouri, won the co-angler division Thursday with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 42 pounds, 12 ounce. Bowman earned the top co-angler prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 co-anglers at the Toyota Series at Kentucky Lake finished:
1st: Dan Bowman, Osage Beach, Mo., 14 bass, 42-12, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Noah Dickneite, Westphalia, Mo., 13 bass, 36-3, $4,836
3rd: Jeremy Duke, Gautier, Miss., 12 bass, 36-2, $3,868
4th: Alan Bernicky, Dardanelle, Ark., 12 bass, 32-5, $3,485
5th: Chase Johnson, Quincy, Ill., 12 bass, 31-4, $2,901
6th: Douglas Guidorzi, Genton, Mo., 11 bass, 30-8, $2,418
7th: Jeff Moss, Oronogo, Mo., 11 bass, 28-0, $1,934
8th: Dustin Selck, Hixson, Tenn., nine bass, 25-12, $1,692
9th: Josiah Ennes, Billings, Mo., eight bass, 24-11, $1,451
10th: Dennis Young, Olathe, Kan., nine bass, 24-11, $1,209
Co-angler Kristin Hamilton of Mount Washington, Kentucky, earned Tuesday’s Berkley Big Bass co-angler award with a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass to win the $150 prize, while Wednesday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to Clayton Hale of Grove, Oklahoma, who weighed in a 6-pound, 7-ounce largemouth.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Chickamauga was hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. It was the second of three regular-season tournament for the Toyota Series Plains Division. The third and final event for the Toyota Series Plains Division regular season will be Sept. 25-27 – The Toyota Series at Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and the Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the five divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2026. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2025 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 6-8 on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, and is hosted by the City of Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
University of North Alabama’s Nutt Bros. Leads After Day 1 of Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship on Wheeler Lake
DECATUR, Ala. (April 9, 2025) – While University of North Alabama’s Dylan Nutt was off winning back-to-back Toyota Series events in the ultra-competitive Central Division the last two months, twin brother Carter wasn’t exactly just watching in the cheering section – in those two tournaments, he placed 16th and fourth. Now, they’ve teamed up in the 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Columbia PFG to take the Day 1 lead at Wheeler Lake.
“It’s really cool,” Dylan said of sharing the boat with his twin brother in the championship event. “It’s just really cool to be able to share that moment. We may or may not win the tournament, but just to be able to say we’re leading after the first day, it’s an amazing feeling.”
“We were together in the womb, and we’ve been together our entire 21 years of existence,” Carter added. “It’s a blessing.”
A blessing to fish together and a blessing to be catching what they’re catching. With 22 pounds, 15 ounces on Day 1, they lead a trio of University of Montevallo teams in second, third and fourth with just a 2-ounce margin over Trace Antunes and Slade Davis (the other two Montevallo teams right behind them have 21-9 and 21-8).
That tight grouping of weights at the top of the leaderboard is indicative of how Wheeler is fishing with the current conditions and what kind of fish the Tennessee River impoundment has to offer. The entire Top 10 cracked at least 20 pounds, and 19 pounds extends all the way down to 18th on the leaderboard. However, there’s real potential to see some bags that exceed what we saw today if conditions are stable over the next couple days.
After a cold front came through the area – paired with lake levels that have risen more than 2 feet due to torrential rains and storms last weekend – Wheeler’s bass have been in a bit of a funk. Some stability may help break them out of it.
“The fish are pretty funny right now,” Dylan said. “They’re wanting to spawn. There’s some that are postspawn, some that are prespawn. They’re just hung up in transition areas right now.”
As such, the Nutt brothers used their two days of practice on a fishery they’ve never been to prior (despite hailing from Nashville, going to school in Florence, Alabama, and being aces all along the Tennessee River) to identify and collect stretches full of quality offshore bass. Interestingly enough, while they’re fishing offshore, they’re only utilizing forward-facing sonar to locate their fish – neither one watched a bass eat their bait on Day 1.
The hard part, they said, has been figuring out the timing of their rotation from spot to spot (they have about eight in total) and what the bass are in the mood to eat at any given time; though they chose to remain mum about what specifically they’re wielding with a couple days of competition remaining.
“We caught them on a variety of different lures on a baitcaster,” Dylan said. “We caught them on moving baits. We caught them dragging. We kind of had to rotate through different baits.”
The biggest bass either angler has caught between practice and competition was a 5-pounder. Today, the smallest they weighed in was 4 1/4 pounds with the largest being 4 3/4. They know true kickers are swimming around based on what they’ve seen on their graphs and what they’ve seen other anglers catch – namely, a 6 1/2-pounder they watched Nicholas Dumke (third) catch not far from them on Day 1 – but it hasn’t been easy getting those Tennessee River titans to eat.
Still, Dylan and Carter have lived near the TVA their whole lives and fish all along it about as much as anyone can, so it’s only a matter of time before their formula pays off with a big bonus fish.
“We’ve got a lot of experience on the Tennessee River, and we’ve got a lot of experience doing what we’re doing,” Carter said. “It’s confidence and knowing what to throw – and we know what to throw.”
In order to maintain (and widen) their lead on Day 2, the brothers will have to dial in their rotation from spot to spot. That’s the true key to what they’re doing.
“We’ve got eight different stretches that are good,” Dylan said. “It’s going to be all about pulling up on the right place at the right time and catching them.”
Assuming they’re able to keep the momentum train on the tracks on Thursday, that’s when they might start
considering what it would mean to win the National Championship, twin brother and twin brother, on a river they know so well.
“We’re just going to have to put it in God’s hands,” Carter said. “If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
The top 10 teams after Day 1 of the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship Presented by Columbia PFG on Wheeler Lake are:
1st: University of North Alabama – Dylan and Carter Nutt, both of Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 22-15
2nd: University of Montevallo – Trace Antunes, Henderson, Texas, and Slade Davis, Montevallo, Ala., five bass, 22-13
3rd: University of Montevallo – Nicholas Dumke, Grand Rapids, Minn., five bass, 21-9
4th: University of Montevallo – Brody Robison, Dawson, Ala., and Peyton Sorrow, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 21-8
5th: Blue Mountain Christian University – John Berry, Mount Olive, Miss., and Blake Bullock, Seminary, Miss., five bass, 21-7
6th: Bethel University – Tucker Dottley, Little Rock, Ark., and Jordan Hampton, Cadiz, Ky., five bass, 20-9
7th: McKendree University – Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., and Jaxson Freeman, Loda, Ill., five bass, 20-4
8th: Tarleton State University – Clayton and Trevor Easter, both of Morgan, Texas, five bass, 20-1
9th: University of Montevallo – Brenton Godwin, Stapleton, Ala., and Hunter Odom, Chunchula, Ala., five bass, 20-1
10th: University of Montevallo – Brett Mouw, Joliet, Ill., and Asa Putnam, Tunnel Hill, Ga., five bass, 20-0
For a full list of results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 609 bass weighing 1,764 pounds, 11 ounces caught by 129 teams Wednesday. The catch included 114 five-bass limits.
Anglers will take off from Ingalls Harbor, located at 701 Market St. NW, in Decatur at 7 a.m. CT each day of competition. Weigh-ins will be held at the Harbor starting at 3 p.m. and will be livestreamed daily. Fans are welcome to attend the event or tune in to the weigh-in and follow the online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism, the 16th annual College Fishing National Championship features 135 teams of the nation’s best collegiate anglers competing for a $43,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, an additional $10,000 and the chance to advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship and REDCREST 2026 – MLF’s most prestigious championship – to fish for top prizes of $235,000 and $300,000, respectively.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action on Championship Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
The MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI 2024 season featured college teams from across the country competing in nine regular-season tournaments. The top 12 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament qualified to compete in this event, the 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Columbia PFG, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota , WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Micah Jones Smashes 38.34 Pounds to Lead WON Bass California Open at Clear Lake
Alex Niapas in Second Place with 26.42 pounds – Field Posts 66 limits over 20 pounds
LAKEPORT, Calif. – April 9, 2025 –– Clear Lake is once again showing its World Class prowess.
As the 2025 WON Bass California Open presented by Ranger and Mercury approached, conditions appeared favorable for the fishing to be decent. Water temperatures were in the mid 50’s, and despite some rains, the water clarity was largely good, and the fish seemed to be moving nicely into their prespawn phase. Little did we know that historic weights were on the horizon.
By the end of the first day of competition, the field of 176 pros and their AAA partners would produce limits pushing 40 pounds, and not only that, 66 weights above 20 pounds would come to the scales. Pro angler Micah Jones, from Kingman, Ariz. and his AAA partner Greg Salle from Discovery Bay, Calif. would grab the day one lead with 38.34 pounds. Their limit would include a 12.93-pound Clear Lake behemoth that would claim the big fish of the day prize.
Jones said he had the kind of day he couldn’t have even dreamt of having. “I had a good practice period and thought I might be able to catch around 30 pounds, but I never expected this kind of weight,” he said. “I got started off quickly when about 30 minutes into the day I caught the big fish. I thought it was a catfish at first until I started fighting it, and then I saw it; it was amazing.”
Jones said he spent most of his day fishing one area, but he didn’t fish the whole day, he fished not quite half of the day and spent the rest of the day scouting nearby. “I had found that school of fish and wanted to make sure I didn’t pressure it too much, so I laid off it a bit. I caught 10 fish out of it, but it seemed like more fish were coming in as the day went on, so I feel pretty good about what could happen the next two days.”
Following them in second place was pro, Alex Niapas from Altaville, Calif. and his AAA partner Cheng Xiong of Oroville, Calif. claimed second place for the day with 36.42 pounds.
While the leader focused on one general area, Niapas said he ran around the north end of the lake and caught fish on three different lures. “My strategy has been to move around and find fish that are feeding,” said Niapas. “I caught around 30 keepers today and culled for the last time with about five minutes until I had to check in. I really feel like I have a solid pattern and could really make a run at the win; I just have to execute.”
Upper Lake, Calif pro John Pearl and AAA Zac Ortiz of Kaysville, Utah placed third with 35.44 pounds. They were followed in fourth place by pro Nathan Phillips of Cobb, Calif. and his AAA partner Tim Skellett of Apache Junction, Ariz. with 35.37 pounds, and Bakersfield, Calif. pro Mason McAbee and Kingman, Ariz. AAA John Bitting rounded out the top five with 33.04 pounds.
These anglers and the rest of the 176 man pro field are battling for the champion’s prize that includes cash, and the keys to the 2025 Ranger Boats Z518 with Mercury 150 ProXS outboard prize boat presented by Bass Pro Shops with Power-Pole Charge and Volta Power Lithium Power Batteries, a package valued at $55,000
The daily livestream of the weigh-ins airs on at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments. Daily weigh-ins from Library park in Lakeport, Calif. begin after the first flight checks in at 3:00 PM Pacific Time.
The Top 20 in each division are below, for complete standings go to: https://wonbassevents.com/pages/clear-lake-2024-pairings-results.
2025 WON Bass California Open Day One Pro Standings
| Angler | Hometown | Fish | Big Fish | Weight |
| 1 Micah Jones | Kingman AZ | 5-5 | 12.93 | 38.34 |
| 2 Alex Niapas | Altaville CA | 5-5 | 9.26 | 36.42 |
| 3 John Pearl | Upper Lake CA | 5-5 | 8.91 | 35.44 |
| 4 Nathan Phillips | Cobb CA | 5-5 | 35.37 | |
| 5 Mason McAbee | Bakersfield CA | 5-5 | 33.06 | |
| 6 Ish Monroe | Oakdale CA | 5-5 | 8.42 | 31.27 |
| 7 Daniel Shelton | Kelseyville CA | 5-5 | 31.02 | |
| 8 Troy Fernandez | Santa Maria CA | 5-5 | 29.05 | |
| 9 Keith Adams | Redding CA | 5-5 | 8.94 | 28.52 |
| 10 Vincent Bernal | Los Banos CA | 5-5 | 28.40 |
2025 WON Bass California Open Day One AAA Standings
| Name | Hometown | Fish | Big | Weight | |
| 1 Greg Sallee | Discovery Bay CA | 5-5 | 38.34 | ||
| 2 Cheng Xiong | Oroville CA | 5-5 | 36.42 | ||
| 3 Zac Ortiz | Kaysville UT | 5-5 | 35.44 | ||
| 4 Tim Skellett | Apache Junction AZ | 5-5 | 35.37 | ||
| 5 John Bitting | Kingman AZ | 5-5 | 7.13 | 33.06 | |
| 6 Steven Cook | Willow AK | 5-5 | 31.27 | ||
| 7 Terry Peterson | West Jordan UT | 5-5 | 31.02 | ||
| 8 Kevin Gross | Redding CA | 5-5 | 29.05 | ||
| 9 Jose Juarez, Jr. | Fair Oaks CA | 5-5 | 6.22 | 28.52 | |
| 10 Mike McMillan | Burbank CA | 5-5 | 28.40 |
The 2025 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada, will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October. The five event dates are as follows:
Feb. 5 to 7, 2025 - Lake Shasta – Champion Joe Uribe -
April 9 to 11, 2025 - Clear Lake
May 7 to 9, 2025 - Lake Havasu
Sept. 10 to 12, 2025 - Lake Mead
Oct. 6 to 8, 2025 - U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.
The 2025 WON Bass California Open at Clear Lake is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Volta Power Lithium, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Fenwick Rods, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine, Signature Gates, DD26 Fishing, Bad Ass Bearings, Cipher Fishing, Megaware Keelguard and GRatt.
Local presenting sponsors are the City of Lakeport and Clearlake Outdoors.
Hudson’s kicker buoys Day 1 lead in B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier at Lake Eufaula
April 9, 2025
EUFAULA, Okla. — Opportunity knocked twice, and Kelley Hudson made sure he connected on the second offering. Doing so helped him secure a 5-bass limit of 14 pounds, 11 ounces and secure the Day 1 lead at the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance.
Anchoring his bag with a crucial 6-pound, 8-ounce largemouth, the Graham, Texas, pro heads into Day 2 with a 3-ounce lead over Josh Cruse of Pocahontas, Ark. Jaret Rushing of Hampton, Ark., and James McAllister of McAlester, Okla., sit 9 and 11 ounces, respectively, off the lead.
Fishing Eufaula’s mid-lake region, Hudson encountered his day-maker around 10 a.m. He was fishing shallow when he drew the big fish’s attention.
“That was my fourth fish of the morning,” Hudson said. “I threw up shallow in about a foot of water, she hit and missed it.
“I reeled up, fixed my bait, threw back in there and she smacked it.”
Hudson said the water in the creek he was fishing had enough stain to obscure his vision, but he’s pretty certain his big fish was in the spawning mode.
“I think it was trying to set up on a bed,” he said. “I couldn’t see it, but that was my assumption.”
Managing his time well, Hudson committed his day to one main area and worked through its options.
“They all came from one creek,” Hudson said. “It splits into three smaller arms in the back, and I would just rotate through them. I caught the majority out of one little arm.”
The key to his primary creek arm was greater depth. With a little deep channel leading into the back, this artery seemed to set up better for funneling fish into the spawning area.
Also, Hudson said he figured out a few particular details about his baits and technique. He held his cards low, but Hudson said the fish seemed to react best to a particular presentation.
“I have a bait that I have confidence in,” he said. “I switched to a different bait (of the same category) in the same color, and I kept catching them.
“I think the area had fish, but during practice, I got that color that I was throwing, and I caught them pretty quickly.”
Noting that he got most of his bites in the morning, Hudson said he had his limit by 11. Boating his kicker energized his day.
“I thought, ‘Well I have a chance, but now I need to get my limit,’” he said. “I got my fifth keeper about 45 minutes later.
“I thought it was going to take more weight (to lead today), but just getting a limit was important. I was tough today; it was pretty windy.”
Confident with the bait and technique he’s using, Hudson said he’s unsure if his first-round spot will be able to carry him through the tournament.
“I have to go back and try, but I don’t think there’s enough to hold up for another day,” he said. “If I don’t get anything pretty quickly, I’ll have to go look for other spots.”
Cruse is in second place with 14-08.
Rushing is in third with 14-02.
Hudson is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 6-8.
David Zak of San Angelo, Texas, leads the co-angler division with 10-8.
Glen Shoemaker of Cortland, Neb., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 4-11.
Thursday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. CT at Nichols Point Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 3 p.m.
The City of Eufaula will be hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance 4/9-4/11
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kelley Hudson Graham, TX 5 14-11 0
Day 1: 5 14-11
2. Josh Cruse Pocahontas, AR 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-08
3. Jaret Rushing Hampton, AR 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-02
4. James Mcallister McAlester, OK 5 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 14-00
5. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 5 13-06 0
Day 1: 5 13-06
6. Gary Bowien Benton, AR 5 13-05 0
Day 1: 5 13-05
7. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 13-03 0
Day 1: 5 13-03
8. Brian Jones Magnolia, TX 5 13-01 0
Day 1: 5 13-01
9. Ben Burk Norman, OK 5 12-13 0
Day 1: 5 12-13
9. Michael Stranz Edmond, OK 5 12-13 0
Day 1: 5 12-13
11. Dave Cavell Prairieville, LA 5 12-07 0
Day 1: 5 12-07
12. Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX 4 10-15 0
Day 1: 4 10-15
13. Ian Leybas Mcalester, OK 2 10-10 0
Day 1: 2 10-10
14. Chase Washburn Shawnee, OK 3 10-08 0
Day 1: 3 10-08
15. Aaron Brewer Clovis, NM 3 10-06 0
Day 1: 3 10-06
16. Mick Pageler Tonto Basin, AZ 4 10-01 0
Day 1: 4 10-01
17. Albert Earl White Apple Springs, TX 3 09-13 0
Day 1: 3 09-13
18. Lance Crawford Broken Bow, OK 4 09-03 0
Day 1: 4 09-03
19. Bradley Sullivan Shawnee, OK 4 09-01 0
Day 1: 4 09-01
20. Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE 4 08-15 0
Day 1: 4 08-15
21. Robert Brieden Marion, TX 2 08-15 0
Day 1: 2 08-15
22. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 3 08-06 0
Day 1: 3 08-06
22. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 3 08-06 0
Day 1: 3 08-06
24. Keagan Brady Bartlesville, OK 4 08-04 0
Day 1: 4 08-04
25. Dillon Roberts Oologah, OK 2 08-04 0
Day 1: 2 08-04
26. Robert Degraffenreid Oklahoma Cty, OK 2 08-03 0
Day 1: 2 08-03
26. Rich Risewick Norton, KS 2 08-03 0
Day 1: 2 08-03
28. Logan Bullinger Bismarck, ND 4 07-14 0
Day 1: 4 07-14
29. Paul Browning Monahans, TX 2 07-13 0
Day 1: 2 07-13
30. Keltyn Hendrix Washington, OK 3 07-12 0
Day 1: 3 07-12
31. Travis Merritt Jr Iowa, LA 2 07-08 0
Day 1: 2 07-08
32. Joshua Teply Harrah, OK 4 07-07 0
Day 1: 4 07-07
33. Tye Grissom Austin, TX 3 07-07 0
Day 1: 3 07-07
34. Jesse Parks Goodyear, AZ 4 07-06 0
Day 1: 4 07-06
35. Brandon Soliz Robert Lee, TX 3 07-05 0
Day 1: 3 07-05
36. Charles Williams Mannford, OK 3 07-04 0
Day 1: 3 07-04
37. Wyatt Ryan Ada, OK 2 07-01 0
Day 1: 2 07-01
38. Jacob Sepeda Paradise, TX 3 06-14 0
Day 1: 3 06-14
39. Jeff Clark Van Buren, AR 2 06-13 0
Day 1: 2 06-13
40. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 2 06-11 0
Day 1: 2 06-11
41. Nathaniel Melgaard Elk Mound, WI 3 06-08 0
Day 1: 3 06-08
42. Randy Campbell Tijeras, NM 2 06-07 0
Day 1: 2 06-07
43. Dustin Hartzer Mc Cook, NE 1 06-06 0
Day 1: 1 06-06
44. Austin ODell Cushing , OK 3 06-05 0
Day 1: 3 06-05
45. Jared Melanson Lake Havasu City, AZ 2 06-05 0
Day 1: 2 06-05
46. Nathan Pratt Albuquerque, NM 2 06-04 0
Day 1: 2 06-04
47. Lane Edwards Paden, OK 3 06-02 0
Day 1: 3 06-02
48. Matt Jurcin Pueblo, CO 2 06-01 0
Day 1: 2 06-01
49. Greg Cooper Monroe City, MO 1 06-01 0
Day 1: 1 06-01
49. Casey Welch Aurora, CO 1 06-01 0
Day 1: 1 06-01
51. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 3 05-15 0
Day 1: 3 05-15
52. Michael Louviere New Iberia, LA 2 05-15 0
Day 1: 2 05-15
53. Dust'n Overton Moore, OK 3 05-14 0
Day 1: 3 05-14
54. Skyler Koury Phoenix, AZ 1 05-13 0
Day 1: 1 05-13
55. Salvador Garcia Gravette, AR 2 05-08 0
Day 1: 2 05-08
56. Zane Ridpath Gretna, NE 3 05-07 0
Day 1: 3 05-07
57. Shane Pickett Rose Hill, KS 2 04-15 0
Day 1: 2 04-15
57. Drew Porto III Greenbrier, AR 2 04-15 0
Day 1: 2 04-15
59. Jason Howland Albert Lea, MN 2 04-12 0
Day 1: 2 04-12
60. Eric Ledger Council Bluffs, IA 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 2 04-11
61. Justin Hallmark Burnet, TX 2 04-10 0
Day 1: 2 04-10
62. Kellen Davis Stigler, OK 2 04-08 0
Day 1: 2 04-08
63. Marshall Brown Smithville, MO 1 04-05 0
Day 1: 1 04-05
64. Shawn Clark Afton, OK 2 04-04 0
Day 1: 2 04-04
65. Cade Laufenberg Onalaska, WI 2 04-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-02
66. Terry Cooper Hamburg, IA 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-01
67. Zachery Fowler Konawa, OK 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-00
67. Tyler Frahm Kirbyville, MO 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-00
69. Eli Brumnett Wagoner, OK 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15
69. Scotty Easter Garfield, AR 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15
69. Kazuki Kitajima Corinth, TX 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15
72. Jacob Altman Edgewood, TX 1 03-15 0
Day 1: 1 03-15
73. Reed Fredrick Mount Horeb, WI 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14
73. Mark Sloan Harrison, AR 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14
75. Mark Watson Victoria, TX 2 03-13 0
Day 1: 2 03-13
76. Darin Anderson Sand Springs, OK 2 03-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-10
77. Teddy Granier Thibodaux, LA 1 03-10 0
Day 1: 1 03-10
78. Kollin Crawford Broken Bow, OK 1 03-09 0
Day 1: 1 03-09
78. Josh Giroldi Beachville Ontario CANA 1 03-09 0
Day 1: 1 03-09
80. Jason Citta Hershey, NE 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08
80. Hunter Stanley Mustang, OK 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08
82. Clifton Duvall Russellville, AR 1 03-07 0
Day 1: 1 03-07
83. Malcolm Smith Saint Amant, LA 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-06
84. Matthew Lipari Patterson, LA 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-05
85. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 1 03-05 0
Day 1: 1 03-05
85. Mike Carter Shawnee, OK 1 03-05 0
Day 1: 1 03-05
85. Dewey Larson Fayetteville, AR 1 03-05 0
Day 1: 1 03-05
88. Ricardo Guzman Farmington, MO 1 03-03 0
Day 1: 1 03-03
89. Trevor Scott Windsor, CO 1 03-01 0
Day 1: 1 03-01
89. Andrew Wren Wylie, TX 1 03-01 0
Day 1: 1 03-01
91. Kelly Burns Avondale, AZ 1 03-00 0
Day 1: 1 03-00
92. Jeremy Fuentes Carlsbad, NM 1 02-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-15
93. Brandon Mosley Harrah, OK 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12
93. Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12
95. Mason Gillihan Manchester, IA 1 02-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-11
96. Alan Daniels Kansas City, KS 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
96. Ronnie Provence Canehill, AR 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
96. Dalton Ross Gravette, AR 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
96. Jason Slagstad Cameron, WI 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
100. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09
101. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07
101. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07
101. Chris Stephenson Broken Arrow, OK 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07
104. Neil Raedel Colorado Springs, CO 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06
105. Scotty Villines Compton, AR 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-04
105. Jack Webb Trempealeau, WI 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-04
107. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-03
108. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
108. Troy Stinson Falcon, CO 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
110. Ronnie Duncan Hampton, AR 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
111. Nathan Bourque Prairieville, LA 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
111. Richard Everest Hobbs, NM 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
111. Tai Hunt Denver, CO 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
114. Bryan Hulsey Troy, MO 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15
114. Joel Porter Yates Center, KS 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15
114. Paul Tabisz Clarkston, MI 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15
117. Hunter Neuville New Iberia, LA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
118. Matt Dobson Edmond, OK 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13
118. Jared Miller Norman, OK 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13
120. Keith Allen Okemah, OK 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
121. Ryan Rodgers Perry, OK 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
122. Bobby Martin Castle Rock, CO 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
122. Brian Reeves Clarksville, AR 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
124. Terry Reich Willis, TX 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
124. Dean Roberts Lake Charles, LA 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
126. Tony Baldridge Oklahoma City, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Wes Beck Searcy, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Matt Brown II Broken Arrow, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Jake Capps Fort Gibson, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. David Chase Las Cruces, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Charles Coger Robert Lee, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Nic Conger Fort Smith, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Rodney Copeland Sallisaw, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Clayton Coppin Muskogee, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Hunter Crossland Midland, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Larry Dugger Pottsville, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Caleb Eaton Branson, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Bates Enmeier Springdale, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Bryan Finch Belton, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Michael Furgerson Claremore, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Dave Garrett Trinidad, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Ronald Giebel Penrose, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Bob Glasgow Omaha, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Don Glick Zurich, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Darren Hahne Ottawa, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Michael Hamilton Midwest City, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Michael Hargraves Seguin, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Ryan Heavener Tulsa, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Michael Henager Harrah, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Mike Hill Carlsbad, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Michael Humm Plattsmouth, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Happy Johnson Santa Fe, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Pat Klausen Lincoln, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Paul Kremers Clarksville, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Kris Lee Coweta, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. River Lee Diboll, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Cory Leita Victoria, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Jerry Lovell Harrison, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Steve Lund Cave Creek, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Dave McCoy Plattsmouth, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Michael Messall Bismarck, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Chris Miller Spirit Lake, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Richard Minyard Mustang, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Sam Mitchell Kiowa, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Austin Monroe Albuquerque, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Sonny Morrow San Angelo, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Jin Nguyen Kansas City, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Chad Nolan Muldrow, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Chris Ogan Bixby, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Joshua Palma Surprise, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Brad Ragsdale Fairland, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Royce Scheetz Lubbock, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Chad Schmidt Clearwater, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Ron Shaw Norman, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Justin Shepard Lansing, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Brian Stangel Albuquerque, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Michael Stephens Vian, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Kirk Stickler Eden, UT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Ron Strickland Pueblo West, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Jeremy Tibben Stanton, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Trevis Unger Benton, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Daniel Vigil Trinidad, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Heath Watkins Heavener, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Bruce Webb Yorkville, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Marty Whisnant Gainesville, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Richard Wilson Lubbock, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Wyatt Wisian Ardmore, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Michael Wooten Goodlettsville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 11 266 696-11
------------------------------
11 266 696-11
2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance 4/9-4/11
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula OK.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. David Zak San Angelo, TX 3 10-08 0
Day 1: 3 10-08
2. Zack Holt Yukon, OK 3 09-05 0
Day 1: 3 09-05
3. Greg Dennis Pilot Point, TX 3 08-03 0
Day 1: 3 08-03
4. Trey Clement Thibodaux, LA 3 07-11 0
Day 1: 3 07-11
5. Mike Casanova Frisco, TX 2 07-10 0
Day 1: 2 07-10
6. Ernie Villa Midland, TX 3 07-06 0
Day 1: 3 07-06
7. Ricky-Ray Martinez Jr Santa Fe, NM 2 07-01 0
Day 1: 2 07-01
8. Colten Hutson Edmond, OK 3 06-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-06
9. Bryan Schuster Oklahoma City, OK 3 06-04 0
Day 1: 3 06-04
10. Randy Benham Sherwood, AR 3 05-15 0
Day 1: 3 05-15
11. Aaron Baldridge Moore, OK 3 05-13 0
Day 1: 3 05-13
12. Larry Green Splendora, TX 2 05-12 0
Day 1: 2 05-12
13. Zach Oliver Coal Hill, AR 3 05-10 0
Day 1: 3 05-10
14. Wes Ledbetter Coweta, OK 2 05-07 0
Day 1: 2 05-07
15. Jeffrey Nolte Shawnee, KS 3 05-06 0
Day 1: 3 05-06
16. Josh Thalman Saratoga Springs, UT 2 05-05 0
Day 1: 2 05-05
17. Jason Gillihan Manchester, IA 2 05-04 0
Day 1: 2 05-04
18. Todd Tigar Osage Beach, MO 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-03
19. Glen Shoemaker Cortland, NE 1 04-11 0
Day 1: 1 04-11
20. Wade Roberts Lake Charles, LA 2 03-13 0
Day 1: 2 03-13
21. Tom Parks Prescott Valley, AZ 1 03-12 0
Day 1: 1 03-12
22. Logan Farrimond Garden City, MO 1 03-07 0
Day 1: 1 03-07
23. Richard Muhl Jr Iola, KS 1 03-03 0
Day 1: 1 03-03
23. Timothy Soli Warr Acres, OK 1 03-03 0
Day 1: 1 03-03
25. Hieu Nguyen Stillwater, OK 1 03-02 0
Day 1: 1 03-02
26. Paul Huse Omaha, NE 1 02-14 0
Day 1: 1 02-14
27. Mike Clark Spiro, OK 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12
28. Ethan Oubre Saint Amant, LA 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
29. Eric Englebretson Chickasha, OK 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09
30. Scott Grissom Goodyear, AZ 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
31. Joe Conway Colorado Springs, CO 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-04
32. Brian Bottenfield Mound, MN 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
33. Jacob Cooper El Dorado, KS 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
33. Troy Enmeier Enid, OK 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
33. Chris Jarvis Albuquerque, NM 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
36. Laura Elkins Amarillo, TX 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15
36. Joseph Lurkins Jefferson City, MO 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15
36. Benjamin Saunders Gardner, KS 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15
39. Danny Giacomo Mcalester, OK 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
39. Charles Glorioso II Thibodaux, LA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
39. Ron Price Canon City, CO 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
42. Johnny Bailey Jr Stephens, AR 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13
43. James Edmonds III Hot Springs Village, AR 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
44. Tuan Le Kansas City, MO 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
45. Kevin Joines Choctaw, OK 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
46. David Peltz Albuquerque, NM 1 01-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-07
47. Blaine Acosta Bethany, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Bo Ard Junction, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Eric Baker Oklahoma City, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. James Barber Greenville, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Keith Barnes Fort Gibson, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Brayden Bernard Lake Havasu City, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Macky Bosley III Canyon, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Grant Bourque Prairieville, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Brandon Brooks Blue Springs, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Scott Bullinger Bismarck, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Jason Campbell Berwick, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Joseph Case Mannford, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Roger Coleman Lincoln, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Joe Conway Colorado Springs, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Marion Daniels Kansas City, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Koby Davis Fort Collins, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Shayne Dupree Haslet, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Jeff Dyess Perry, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Chris Escoe Sand Springs, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Matheuw Forbes Fort Collins, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Tom Garner Lincoln, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Daniel Gentle Papillion, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Christopher Gilbert Ozark, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Adam Gipson Fort Smith, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Glenn Hahn San Antonio, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Jagar Halbleib Clovis, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Dennis Hamel Plainville, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Douglas Hatcher Clarksville, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Scott Hausman Owasso, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Seth Hausman Owasso, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Robin Hessling Quincy, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Mike Hill Apache Junction, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Zachary Hutchinson Prairie Grove, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Melissa Jarvis Albuquerque, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Keith Jensen Omaha, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Shannon Keiffer-Rose Oakland, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Richard Kiblinger Kansas City, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Dennis Kotas Milligan, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. John Kozel Leawood, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Mark Lachenauer San Antonio, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Toby Lankford Prairie Grove, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. James Mcdonald Killeen, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Angela Messall Bismarck, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Rodney Meyer Atkins, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Harvey Miller Melvin, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Gene Mitchell Stuart, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Rickey Monroe Edgewood, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Maverick Mosiman Andover, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Chris Nettles Hickory Creek, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Joseph Palma Goodyear, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. J R Pickett Jr Rose Hill, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Paul Pierce Wylie, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Greg Poetz Winsted, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Dan Radebaugh Plattsmouth, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Cody Ralph Brighton, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Billy Ray Plattsmouth, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Fred Reese Colorado Springs, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Amanda Riley Galesville, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Zach Roberts Morris, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Andrew Rutherford Marlin, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Joseph Sciuto Leander, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Mark Shields Rogersville, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Donald Steckline Estes Park, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Todd Tobnick Saint Louis, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Gabe Trujillo Platteville, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Mike Turner Berryton, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Steve Weaver Oklahoma City, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 11 76 188-08
------------------------------
11 76 188-08
Bassmaster Open shaping up to be intriguing event in return to Tombigbee River
April 9, 2025
COLUMBUS, Miss. — Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Justin Atkins has competed on some of America’s best bass fisheries in his five years on the world’s top tour, but never on the Tombigbee River, which he considers home water.
He had a chance this year as the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Tombigbee River presented by SEVIIN will be held April 16-18. But Atkins couldn’t fit this particular tournament into his schedule and, truth be told, he’s not happy about it.
“I’m really sick I'm not fishing it,” Atkins said. “I fished a lot of bass tournaments there when I was a kid. I mean, a lot. I saw my first wrapped boat running down that river. So, the nostalgia of it, and a tournament finally being back there, I really want to be there. But I would have to leave the (2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound in North Carolina) then hurry down to Columbus just to turn around and go back to the Elite at Hartwell (in South Carolina) the next week. I just couldn’t make it make sense.”
A full field of some of the sport’s best anglers will be in Columbus, though, fighting for a Bassmaster Open victory on the 234-mile man-made waterway connecting the Tennessee River with the confluence of the Black Warrior and Tombigbee rivers. It’ll be the first major B.A.S.S. event held on the Tombigbee River since 2004 when Paul Elias weighed in a 34-pound, 3-ounce total to win, with his final-day bag anchored by an 8-9 largemouth.
This year’s three-day tournament on the Tombigbee River is the second of the four Opens events comprising the Division 1 schedule. The first was held in January on Georgia’s Clarks Hill Reservoir and two additional derbies are scheduled July 23-25 on Upper Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and July 31-August 2 on the St. Lawrence River in Upstate New York.
The Top 50 anglers from both the Division 1 and Division 2 series of the Bassmaster Opens will qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers (EQ), which consists of three tournaments scheduled for this fall. The Top 10 anglers in the EQ standings will earn invitations into the vaunted Bassmaster Elite Series in 2026 where they’ll fish against veteran pros like Atkins and 100 or so world-class bass anglers.
Besides more than $300,000 in cash going to top competitors on the Tombigbee River, including more than $50,000 to the winner, the champ also will clinch a berth in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour to be held March 13-15 on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn.
Atkins said the anglers who best manage the Tombigbee River lock system could have an advantage in the tournament.
“There's a game to it, and it’s a really awesome part of it all really, the strategy that goes into it,” he said. “When you lock and run a long way, you could have water to yourself. But it’s a major risk with barge traffic. You might (miss) a lock. A guy can do two locks, maybe, but if you lock three times, that would only leave you with about 45 minutes of fishing. And like I said, the timing is a thing because the locks open every other hour depending on if you’re going north or south.”
Atkins said, much like the event held there 21 years ago, 13 to 15 pounds per day could be enough to win now.
“I could be wrong, but what I usually see is someone catches 17 or 18 (pounds) but then catches 10,” Atkins said. “So, the person who has 40 to 45 pounds in the end will be really strong.”
Atkins said largemouth bass are typically caught on the southern pools of the Tombigbee River. There’s a mix of largemouth and spotted bass in the 25-mile stretch between Columbus and Aberdeen, with the number of spots increasing the farther an angler wends northward. As for lures, Atkins said he anticipates the best bites will come on spinnerbaits, frogs, wacky-style worms, shaky head worms and the like.
“It’ll be an old-school fishing tournament,” he said. “In mid-April, you’ll have some fish still spawning and you’ll have a shad spawn going. It’s a good river for junk fishing. I learned so much on that river living 10 minutes from it for 25 years of my life. Honestly, ever since I moved to Pickwick Lake, I don’t think I’m as good an angler as I was when I was having to figure out the different things happening (on the Tombigbee River).”
“Whatever happens, it’s gonna be an intriguing tournament,” he added. “And I really hope B.A.S.S. comes back. I won’t miss it again.”
Daily takeoffs in the St Croix Bassmaster Open at Tombigbee River presented by SEVIIN are scheduled to begin at 6:15 a.m. CT, with weigh-ins set for 3:15 p.m., all from Columbus Marina. Only the Top 10 anglers will advance to fish on Day 3 of the tournament.
Visit Columbus Mississippi is hosting the event.
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
B.A.S.S. announces St. Croix as title sponsor of North Carolina Elite Series event
April 9, 2025
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — B.A.S.S. announced today that St. Croix Rod — the American manufacturer of the “Best Rods on Earth” for 77 years — has expanded their partnership to include the title sponsorship of the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound in Elizabeth City, N.C., April 10-13.
The tournament pits the top bass anglers in the world — including North Carolina pros Matt Arey, Brandon Card, Hank Cherry, Shane LeHew, KJ Queen and Jake Whitaker — against big bass and one another as they battle for the coveted championship trophy, $100,000 first-place prize and a total purse of more than $455,000.
The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series field will launch from Waterfront Park each day at 7 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in starting at 3 p.m. The field will be cut to the Top 50 on Day 3 before the Top 10 duke it out on Championship Sunday for the first-place prize of $100,000 and a coveted blue trophy.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail has only visited the northeastern area of North Carolina three times — once for the 1975 Bassmaster Classic at the Currituck Sound won by Jack Hains and twice for North Carolina Invitationals in 1980 and 1981 in the Albemarle Sound.
“The St. Croix family is excited to extend our support and partnership beyond the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series to this unique, Elite Series event. It’s a new venue for Bassmaster, and the tournament will be incredibly exciting for anglers to watch when competition kicks off this Thursday,” says Jesse Simpkins, St. Croix vice president of marketing.
All anglers love new water, and for many Bassmaster fans, this weekend’s Elite Series event will be their first exposure to the extensive bass-fishing opportunities found at the Pasquotank River and other fertile tributaries of the Albemarle Sound, which is full of cypress trees, stumps, sandbars, vegetation, shad, herring and other diverse forage along with big populations of largemouth bass with spawning on their minds.
“I don’t know if it will surprise people, but there are some really big bass there,” says Simpkins, who expects St. Croix’s Elite Series team members Bob Downey, Caleb Kuphall, Trey McKinney and Pat Schlapper, as well as SEVIIN Reels pro John Crews, to lean on a variety of techniques and presentations from jigs, ChatterBaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits to minnows, Neko rigs, topwaters and glidebaits. “Don’t be surprised if you see at least one 10-pounder caught,” predicts Simpkins, “especially if it warms up a bit and competitors find fish hitting the beds during the full moon on Saturday.”
Diverse presentations call for diverse rods, something that St. Croix has covered with hundreds of USA- and North American-made technique-specific models over seven bass-specific series. “You’ll see our guys throwing everything from Bass X and Mojo Bass to Legend Xtreme models, but Legend Tournament Bass, Physyx and Victory seem to be the popular staples on almost all of their decks,” says Simpkins. “We’re also incredibly excited at how anglers have gravitated to our new Black Bass series, which starts at just $145 and includes 36 models covering everything from drop shotting to 8-ounce swimbaits. Black Bass blanks are similar to those of our previous generation Avid series, which Bob Downey is a huge fan of. Observant bass fans will notice a bunch of different Black Bass models in Bob’s hands and on his decks throughout this tournament and the remainder of the Elite season.”
Bassmaster LIVE coverage of the 2025 Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound will be available on Bassmaster.com on Days 1 and 2 starting at 8 a.m. ET and ending at 3 p.m. Roku will have coverage of Days 1 and 2 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m. FS1 will carry the morning action on Day 3 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. before moving to Bassmaster.com in the afternoon. Championship Sunday coverage will be broadcast on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Visit Elizabeth City is hosting the tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About St. Croix Rod
Headquartered in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has been proudly crafting the “Best Rods on Earth” for over 75 years. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing processes with skilled craftsmanship, St. Croix is the only major American producer to still build rods entirely from design through manufacturing. The company remains family-owned and operates duplicate manufacturing facilities in Park Falls and Fresnillo, Mexico. With popular trademarked series such as Legend®, Legend Xtreme®, Avid®, Premier®, Imperial®, Triumph® and Mojo, St. Croix is revered by all types of anglers from around the world. The St. Croix Family of Brands includes St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly and Rod Geeks.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
-30-
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
Top 15 Teams at Pickwick Slam Earn Automatic Qualification into Historic 20th Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship
 |
SAN ANTONIO, TX (April 8, 2025) – This past weekend, the Association of Collegiate Anglers contested the third event of its historic 20th season on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. Over 270 teams were on hand in Florence, AL at Pickwick Lake to compete in the Pickwick Slam. Anglers competing in the no-entry-fee, nationally televised major event were vying for over $20,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. In addition to those payouts and bonuses, the Top 15 teams in the final tournament standings earned automatic qualification into the 2025 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Here are the 15 teams that earned automatic qualification to compete in the 20th edition of college fishing’s longest-running National Championship next month:
- Chandler Howell & Clayton Ellis – Blue Mountain Christian University
- Paxton Giem & Jerry Brumbaugh – Adrian College
- Zion Dunaway & Brady Metzger – Purdue University
- Blake Bullock & John Berry – Blue Mountain Christian University
- Derek Rodriguez & Owen Januszewski – Adrian College
- Bryce DiMauro & Tripp Berlinsky – University of North Alabama
- Coleman Stewart & Keenan Stewart – Campbellsville University
- Miller Dowling & Mason Kornegay – University of Montevallo
- Clayton Easter – Tarleton State University
- Carty Shoen & Jake Peck – Auburn University
- Jake Krauth & Jack McIllwain – University of North Alabama
- Nick Dellaporta & Drew Pitts – Carson-Newman University
- Briggs Alavezos & Brooks Parker – University of Montevallo
- Elijah McDonald & Zane Roberts – University of North Alabama
- Hunter Sandschafer & Connor Becker – Wabash Valley College
A total of 10 schools earned automatic qualifications via Top 15 finishes at Pickwick Lake. Four of those schools earned multiple qualifications: University of North Alabama (3), Blue Mountain Christian University (2), Adrian College (2), University of Montevallo (2).
14 of the 15 boats that finished in the Top 15 at the Pickwick Slam are from a school ranked in the Top 20 for the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
1st ranked Montevallo had two teams finish in the Top 15 at the Pickwick Slam. Combined with multiple other top finishes at ACA events this season, the four-time defending title winner currently qualifies to send a total of 11 boats to the 2025 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops via top finishes.
3rd ranked UNA also qualifies to currently send 11 teams to the ACA’s historic 20thNational Championship at Lake Hartwell. The team from Florence, AL has earned six additional qualifications via top finishes, and receives a spot for being a recent winner of the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. UNA’s three Top 15 finishes at the Pickwick Slam were the most of any school last weekend.
View the complete Championship Qualification Criteria.
Autism Awareness Goes Local
Salem, Va. – April 9, 2025 – John Crews and the bass fishing world are ready to show support for Autism Awareness month this April. This year will be highlighted by showcasing autism focused organizations that are based in the two towns hosting the two Bassmaster Elite Series events this month. Autism Awareness Month represents an excellent opportunity to promote autism awareness, autism acceptance, and to draw attention to the tens of thousands that deal autism every day. In addition, the BASS pros will have the opportunity to display autism puzzle decals on their boats and John Crews will auction off some special items later in April.
Pro bass angler, John Crews, explains, “Each year we try to show a different angle of autism. This year is about where the work is done, locally. We contacted local organizations in Elizabeth City, NC and Anderson, SC. Each group will have a display in our weekend expo so people can learn about them and help support them through direct donations. Many people have no idea these places are right in their backyard, wherever you live!”
In Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Grassroots 252 is the nonprofit group that will display and educate people on how they help improve the lives of the special needs community. In Anderson, South Carolina, the Rainbow Gang is a nonprofit group that operates a free day program for adults with intellectual disabilities. That program is run by Anderson County, and they focus on evidence based recreational based therapy.
Like in previous years, the BASS Elite anglers will have the opportunity to show their support for autism awareness by putting autism puzzle themed fish decals on their boats. Also, there will be numerous auction items on eBay later this month with all proceeds going to various autism charities. Lastly, anyone can get the autism puzzle themed fish decals with autism bracelets for $10 plus shipping at https://missilebaits.store/products/autism-awarness with all the proceeds going to Virginia Institute of Autism.
# # #
Contact: John Crews
PO Box 1045
Salem, VA 24153
Phone: (855-466-5738)
“Reely” Great Idea
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Protect your spinning reel investments with DAIWA’s new NEO Reel Covers |
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FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (April 8, 2025) – For anglers, opening a freshly purchased reel from the box is hard to beat. There’s the new reel smell and all that virgin polished metal, and then screwing in the handle for the first time…ahhh. You next slide it into the chosen rod’s reel seat and twist it tight. In a symbolic gesture you shake the rod a few times, because everyone does. Sadly, the newness ends there. Or does it? DAIWA doesn’t think so. Enter DAIWA’s new spinning NEO Reel Covers. Developed to protect a reel while mounted on a rod, the durable and fitted neoprene cover comforts and protects your reel from everyday hazards. Go ahead and stuff them in the back of the truck or crowd your combos in a rod locker. The NEO Reel Cover doesn’t care. |
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Besides protection, NEO Reel Covers also prevent your spinning reels from mysteriously interlacing into some metallic modern art. Ever had a spinning handle wedge under the bail of another? Feels like they’re never coming apart. And speaking of handles, NEO Reel Covers also feature a side pocket for storing the handle. Forget to rinse your reels before pouching them? No problem. The reel cover’s mesh sides let you spray water right through, rinsing the reel, and afterwards offering ventilation so they dry out. Cloaking and cloning your reels in lookalike covers will make them unidentifiable, right? No so, because DAIWA cleverly included an exterior ID pocket for naming each reel. Maybe something like, “My Lucky 3000 EXIST” or “6000 SALTIGA Slayer”. Available in three sizes, accommodating reels from 2500- to 20000-size, prices range from $20.99 to $26.99 |
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2500-5000 SIZE REELS (SMALL) |
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6000-10000 SIZE REELS (MEDIUM) |
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14000-20000 SIZE REELS (LARGE) |
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NEO Reel Cover FEATURES:
2500-5000 SIZE REELS MSRP $20.99 6000-10000 SIZE REELS MSRP $22.99 14000-20000 SIZE REELS MSRP $26.99 |
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For DAIWA’s latest color catalog and/or information on DAIWA dealers in your area, call DAIWA’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: CSR@DAIWA.com. The URL for DAIWA’s web site is daiwa.us |
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About DAIWA Corporation DAIWA's first spinning reel rolled off the assembly line in 1955. Since then, the company has grown into one of the largest and most influential tackle companies in the world today. To handle sales and distribution in the United States, DAIWA Corporation first opened its doors on September 26, 1966, operating from a small facility in Culver City, California. Today, based in Foothill Ranch, California, DAIWA Corporation sells tackle throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America. From the very beginning, DAIWA's emphasis has been upon innovation and quality. The result is a long list of product features, design and materials that have become standards for the fishing tackle industry. DAIWA’s long-standing record of innovation has left a visible mark on the majority of tackle manufactured today and continues to advance the sport of fishing. Learn more at daiwa.us |
MN-FISH Launches Landmark Leech Lake Muskie Study
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Post-Spawn Movement and Hooking Survival Need Greater Understanding |
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Grand Rapids, Minn. (April 9, 2025) — A critical Leech Lake Muskie Movement and Survival Study is set to begin this spring funded by MN-FISH, a state fishing organization. MN-FISH president, Ron Schara, said the information provided by the 3-year study will be a significant step forward in muskie conservation and address growing concerns among some anglers about sustaining muskie populations in the face of advancing fishing technologies and angler skill. Leech Lake was selected by the DNR for the study because of its vital role as the primary source of stocked muskie fisheries across the state. Each year during the first week of May, adult muskies-captured by the DNR on Leech Lake - serve as the origin for eggs and brood stock used in Minnesota’s Mississippi-strain muskie stocking programs. The study is designed to help the DNR effectively management muskie fishing in Leech Lake as well as muskie waters throughout the state. In addition to MN-FISH and the Minnesota DNR, the Leech Lake Muskie Movement and Survival Study will be conducted by researchers from Bemidji State University, led by Dr. Andrew Hafs.
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B.A.S.S. taps Tennessee’s Cherokee Lake as site of 2025 Bassmaster College National Championship
April 8, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops will take place on Cherokee Lake July 10-12 in Jefferson City, Tenn. Visit Jefferson County TN will host the prestigious event, which will showcase the country’s best up-and-coming student anglers.
“Jefferson County is beyond excited to host the Bassmaster College Series National Championship in 2025 on the beautiful Cherokee Lake,” said Lauren Hurdle, director of tourism for Visit Jefferson County TN. “This event not only highlights the incredible fishing opportunities our area has to offer, but also brings together a community passionate about the sport and the great outdoors. We're proud to welcome anglers, families and visitors from all over, and we look forward to showcasing the natural beauty and hospitality that make our region truly special.”
B.A.S.S. last visited Cherokee Lake in a College Series event held there in 2023. The picturesque lake located in east Tennessee is a reservoir of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and features 28,000 acres of largemouth water surrounded by 400 miles of shoreline. Takeoffs and weigh-ins will be at Cherokee Dam Boat Ramp on Renfro Road in Jefferson City.
As many as 160 teams of anglers representing universities across the nation will compete for the title of national champions. Teams qualify through two divisions — Legends and Lunkers — with each division offering three tournaments throughout the season. The divisions were created in 2024 to allow more teams to qualify for the National Championship and Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s.
For 2025, the Legends Division features stops at Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida, Smith Lake in Alabama and Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula. The Lunkers Division schedule visits Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, Buggs Island Reservoir in Virginia and Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee.
“I'm super-excited about this event,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior Series. “Not only is the national title on the line, but the championship will fill the remaining four spots in the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s and determine an overall Team of the Year.
“We are truly watching the best anglers in the country in the Bassmaster College Series grow into future pros. Sharing the stage with these young men and women has truly blessed me and our brand.”
For more information about the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, please visit Bassmaster.com.
2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
Cullman Set to Host Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 3 at Lewis Smith Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats
CULLMAN, Ala. (April 8, 2025) – The third Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitational event of the season is set to take place next week, April 15-17, at Lewis Smith Lake – the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 3 Presented by Phoenix Boats.
The three-day tournament, hosted by Visit Cullman, Alabama, will feature a field of professional bass anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000. Anglers will take to the water to catch their five biggest bass each day, and the winner will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative total.
"We are thrilled to welcome Major League Fishing and the Tackle Warehouse Invitational to Cullman County,” said Harmony Heard, Executive Director for the Cullman County Tourism Bureau. “Our lakes and outdoor spaces provide the perfect backdrop for a world-class tournament, and we look forward to showcasing our hospitality to anglers and fans from across the country. This event not only highlights our incredible fishing resources but also brings a positive economic impact to our community. We can’t wait to see some of the best anglers in the sport compete right here next week in Cullman."
Local standout pro Jordan Wiggins of Cullman, who has three top-10 finishes on Smith Lake in MLF competition – including two victories – knows this lake better than most, but he says even anglers who are extremely familiar with the lake will have to stay on their toes.
“Right now, the lake is five feet flooded. If the tournament was this week, it’d be unreal. But the water’s going to be falling, which could make things a little tougher,” Wiggins explained. “Still, I believe it’s going to be a really good event and we are going to catch a ton of fish.”
Wiggins said that right now Smith Lake has fish in all stages of the spawn.
“We’re probably going see a little bit of everything – pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn,” Wiggins said. “You’ll be able to catch plenty of spawning spotted bass, even if you can’t actually see them. There are key stretches they use every year, and that’s where you’ll find ‘em.”
While numbers shouldn’t be a problem, Wiggins noted that size will be the difference-maker.
“You usually have to cull through a lot of little ones to get a decent bag. The key will be finding those sections where the bigger ones have pulled up.”
When it comes to baits, Wiggins is keeping it simple.
“I’ll have a shaky head with a green pumpkin Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm—that five-inch finesse worm is my go-to,” he said. “I might also throw a Neko rig with the seven-inch, but more than likely, it’s gonna be that shaky head doing the work.”
As for weights, Wiggins predicts consistency will be crucial.
“You’re gonna see a lot of 13-pound bags, but I think it’ll take around 16 pounds a day to win. I predict the winner is going to have right around 48 pounds total over three days.”
Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. CT each day from Smith Lake Park, located at 403 County Road 386 in Cullman, Alabama. Weigh-ins will be held at Smith Lake Park and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals feature a field of professional anglers competing across six invitational tournaments around the country, for a total purse of $4.3 million and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for the Invitationals Championship, set for Sept. 5-7 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, and a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the sport’s premier circuit.
In Tackle Warehouse Invitationals competition, the full field compete in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Thursday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 3 at Lewis Smith Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats is determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight.
Forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar is limited to only days 1 and 3 of competition. No forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar will be allowed on day 2 of competition.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. CT. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 3 at Lewis Smith Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 18 on CBS Sports Network.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitationals updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Gill Launches New Infinity Tops: Performance Meets Sustainability
Jacksonville, FL – Gill, a leading provider of high-performance apparel, is proud to announce the launch of its new Infinity Long Sleeve and Hoodie, a versatile garment that seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology with environmental consciousness.
The Infinity Long Sleeve and Hoodie are crafted from 90% recycled polyester, demonstrating Gill's commitment to sustainable practices. This eco-friendly material doesn't compromise on performance, offering exceptional comfort and a reduced environmental footprint.
Designed for the demands of active anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, the Infinity Long Sleeve and Hoodie incorporates advanced features to enhance functioning:
- UPF 50+ Protection: Provides superior defense against harmful ultraviolet rays, allowing for extended hours outdoors.
- Quick-Drying Technology: Ensures rapid moisture evaporation, keeping you comfortable during intense activity.
- Moisture-Wicking Technology: Effectively draws sweat away from the skin, promoting a cool and dry feel.
The Infinity Long Sleeve and Hoodie are also designed for practicality and ease of care. Its machine-washable fabric simplifies cleaning, making it suitable for both rugged outdoor adventures and everyday wear.
"The Infinity represents Gill's dedication to innovation and sustainability," says Jane Scott, Design Manager "We're excited to offer our customers a high-performance garment that not only meets their needs but also aligns with their values and adventures."
Whether you're casting a line, hiking a trail, or simply enjoying the outdoors, the Gill Infinity Hoodie offers the perfect combination of style, function, and environmental responsibility.
About Gill
Trusted on the water for 50 years Gill did not start as a brand or business, it started as a solution to find better more capable sailing clothing using the best fabrics possible. Combined with innovative design to increase performance and tested on elite athletes in the most challenging of conditions it means you can rely on Gill on or off the water – only you limit how you use our products.
Our collection of fishing apparel and gear is specially designed to cover all bases, with fishing clothing and accessories that can truly help you focus on the task at hand, rather than worrying about protecting your body and staying comfortable. Our fishing apparel comes with the best design features and fabrics to allow you to stay warm, dry, and able to concentrate fully on your fishing. Engineered for all elements.
Contact:
Michele Eichstead
Fishing Marketing Manager
1Standard Fishing Launches Premium Tackle Brand Focused on Innovation and Performance
BAY CITY, MI – April 7, 2025 – Today marks the official launch of 1Standard Fishing, a new premium tackle brand founded by industry veterans with over 20 years of experience designing high-performance fishing products. The company debuts with a focused collection of meticulously engineered crappie fishing tackle that combines innovative design with precision manufacturing.
1Standard's inaugural product line features five signature offerings designed to meet the highest standards:
- Minnow1: Available in 2" and 2.75" lengths, this soft plastic lure boasts a revolutionary vertical tail design with a unique Action Hinge and precision Motion Slots, creating lifelike movement with minimal rod action.
- Minnow4 Hair Jig: Hand-tied, premium hair jigs featuring a realistic dorsal fin head design, molded eyes, and high-quality components built to withstand multiple catches.
- Stacker Head: An innovative jighead with dual line ties, allowing anglers to fish two lures simultaneously, effectively doubling their chances of success.
- Bait Head: A versatile jighead with a tapered bullet shape that runs true with any plastic combination, ideal for casting, vertical jigging, or forward-facing sonar techniques.
- Dock Shooter Head: Features a revolutionary spring wire keeper that holds plastics firmly in place during dock shooting, paired with a strong O'Shaughnessy hook for pulling big slabs from tight spaces.
“Our products are designed and built to one standard – helping anglers catch more fish,” said Jeremy Lawyer, pro angler for 1Standard Fishing. “We’ve created tackle with unrivaled designs, the best components, and precision manufacturing to deliver products of the highest standard for crappie anglers.”
The company also offers a selection of apparel and accessories featuring unique designs that reflect the crappie fishing lifestyle. 1Standard Fishing products are available now at select retailers and directly through the company’s website at 1standardfishing.com.
About 1Standard Fishing
We’re new, but we aren’t newbies. 1Standard Fishing is a premium fishing tackle brand backed by a team with over 20 years of experience designing high-performance tackle proven to catch fish. Our products are crafted to one standard: helping you catch more fish. Through unrivaled designs, top-tier components, and precision manufacturing, we deliver products of the highest quality.
Media Contact:
Scotty Petersen
spetersen@obteam.net
Rasmussen favors the skirted baits
Watching Wisconsin pro Adam Rasmussen drop a jig head minnow on a bass’ head 70-feet from the front deck of his Vexus is as impressive as the days of watching Brett Favre drop dimes on Packer’s all pro Donald Driver, but when it’s time to score in tournaments you’re more likely to find Rasmussen slinging any lure with a skirt on it.
“I’m totally comfortable playing the forward-facing sonar game with my Humminbirds, but if you look at my recent wins and high finishes the past couple of seasons, there’s a jig, spinnerbait or ChatterBait involved in every one of them,” says Rasmussen.
His recent success is indeed impressive. He won the 2023 Bassmaster Open on Wheeler largely with a ChatterBait, won the B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier at Eufaula, AL dragging a jig, and dang near won the 2024 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake, with a spinnerbait and jig combo around shallow brushpiles.
Bigs Like Jigs
“We all know big bass like to eat a big meal, and jigs offer that profile, but they also offer us a ton of versatility. Whether you’re dragging it on a hard bottom, skipping it around a dock, or pitching it to visible habitat, a jig gives you the chance to get better than average bites,” says the Vexus pro.
He says there’s never been a time when fishing throughout the south on largemouth dominated fisheries that he didn’t have a jig on the front deck. He also emphasizes simplicity, noting that only two colors are necessary: black-blue or brown, and that a 1/2-ounce version is his pick 80% of the time.
Get a little erratic with the ‘Chatter Chicken’
“Whether you’re casting it around the shad spawn, or reeling it a little slower over rock piles or vegetation, make sure you ‘pop’ the rod tip or alter your retrieve a little erratically from time-to-time to generate more bites with a ChatterBait,” he emphasizes.
He chooses a 1/2-ounce ChatterBait JackHammer most days and trims it with a slender-tailed CrushCity FreeLoader trailer.
Can’t count out the Crescent Wrench
If ever there was an all-seasons versatile tool like a mechanic’s crescent wrench for bass fishing, it’s the time-proven spinnerbait, and in early spring and mid-spring, prior to the shad spawn, Rasmussen loves to throw one with a single thumper blade.
“This spinnerbait with a single #5 Colorado blade is really the lure that nearly won me the 2024 Classic on Grand. I caught one that weighed nearly 6-pounds on it Day 1, and that set the tone for the event. I used it all three days around brushpiles in 6 to 12-feet of water,” reflects Rasmussen.
“We all know the greatest tool we have as anglers is confidence, and these three lures provide me with plenty of confidence. It just seems like any time I do really well on a largemouth fishery, there’s a skirt involved,” concludes the straight-shooting pro from Packer land.
Kingwood’s Parker Smashes 30 Pounds to Win Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Sam Rayburn
California’s Kojima Tops Co-Angler Division
BROOKELAND, Texas. (April 7, 2025) – Boater Zane Parker of Kingwood, Texas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 30 pounds, 12 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Strike King . The tournament, hosted by the Jasper County Development District, was the third event of the season for the BFL Cowboy Division. Parker earned $3,426 for his victory.
The weather was pretty nasty at Sam Rayburn on Saturday. But for the 19-year-old Parker, catching 30 pounds easily overshadows any hardships brought on by the wind and rain. He leaned on forward-facing sonar to overcome conditions, using his electronics to relocate spawning bass that he found in practice using both his eyes and his sonar. Parker spent most of the tournament in about 5 feet of water and relied on reaction baits primarily. He said the fish wouldn’t touch soft plastics.
“I had some bed fish marked and just kind of stayed in one area where a lot of big fish were,” he said. “I just threw a little bit of everything. I threw some big baits at them. I threw a Provoke 106DD (jerkbait) by 6th Sense. I threw a glide bait around a little bit. That’s kind of what I did my damage on. They were just on beds, and you’d throw over there and they’d come out eating it.”
Parker ran from bed to bed, assembling a limit worth about 20 pounds by 10 a.m. Then he gradually culled up.
“I caught a 7-pounder, then like 15 minutes later I found another one and caught another one,” he said. “And that was the end of the day. Honestly, after I had 30-something, I just kind of stopped fishing. My smallest was basically a 5-pounder. I was like, man, if I’ve got to throw back a 5-pounder that’s just sick. If someone beats me, hats off to them.”
Second-place finisher Kaden Mueck took at shot, but even with 28 pounds, 2 ounces, Mueck still came up more than 2 1/2 pounds shy of Parker’s impressive winning weight.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Zane Parker, Kingwood, Texas, five bass, 30-12, $3,426
2nd: Kaden Mueck, Livingston, Texas, five bass, 28-2, $2,143
3rd: Wyatt Frankens, Corrigan, Texas, five bass, 22-3, $1,141
4th: Cody Ross, Livingston, Texas, five bass, 19-15, $899
5th: Phil Hennigan, Center, Texas, five bass, 19-8, $685
6th: Clayton Boulware, Zavalla, Texas, five bass, 19-6, $628
7th: Cole Moore, Anacoco, La., five bass, 18-14, $1,071 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
8th: John Maddox, Lufkin, Texas, five bass, 15-10, $514
9th: Melvin Dunn, Orange, Texas, five bass, 15-4, $457
10th: Joel Baker, Talala, Okla., five bass, 15-0, $400
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Kaden Mueck of Livingston, Texas, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $430.
Takaaki Kojima of Temecula, California, won the co-angler division and $1,713 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Takaaki Kojima, Temecula, Calif., three bass, 11-4, $1,713
2nd: Brad Poole, Roanoke, Texas, three bass, 11-0, $1,071
3rd: Neill Beckham, Jacksonville, Texas, three bass, 10-9, $571
4th: Darrell Denton, Georgetown, Texas, three bass, 10-8, $450
5th: Ben Faucheaux, Natchitoches, La., three bass, 9-13, $343
6th: Jay Childs, Houston, Texas, three bass, 9-0, $299
6th: Velin (Lin) Sims, Spring, Texas, three bass, 9-0, $299
8th: Brandon Begnaud, Dickinson, Texas, three bass, 8-10, $257
9th: James Grizzle, Many, La., three bass, 8-8, $228
10th: Leavitt Hamilton, Gonzales, La., three bass, 8-3, $200
Brad Poole of Roanoke, Texas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $215, catching a bass that weighed in at 7 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Cole Moore of Anacoco, Louisiana, now leads the Fishing Clash Cowboy Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 741 points, while Logan Slaughter of Lewisville, Texas, leads the Fishing Clash Cowboy Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 719 points.
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 24-25 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
D.C. for Three! Alabama’s Dustin Connell Claims Third Championship Title at Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy
Clanton, Alabama pro goes back-to-back, wins second consecutive REDCREST title with 27 bass weighing 87 pounds, 11 ounces to earn another $300,000 payday
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (April 6, 2025) – The 2025 iteration of Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Presented by MillerTech on Lake Guntersville marked the third time Major League Fishing’s championship event has been held in the bass-fishing mecca of Alabama.
For the third time, pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, is keeping the trophy in his home state.
Connell ran away from the field on Championship Sunday, both figuratively and literally. After making a roughly 70-mile trek away from the history- and largemouth-rich waters of lower Lake Guntersville to the tailrace below the Nickajack Dam, Connell stacked up 87 pounds, 11 ounces on 27 scorable bass. The best single-day total of any angler at the event (despite a 65-minute delay due to weather), that was enough to hold off a late charge from Wesley Strader by 8-5.
Connell earned $300,000 for the win and further cemented himself as the best big-event performer going. The only angler to win REDCREST multiple times, he’s claimed the title in back-to-back years and three times total – he previously won on Lake Eufaula in 2021 and Lay Lake in 2024. He’s now just the third angler ever with three tour championship titles. Only Bass Fishing Hall of Famers Kevin VanDam and Rick Clunn have won more with four apiece.
This also marked his seventh total win on the Bass Pro Tour. Shortly after it became official, an emotional Connell said that, in some ways, it’s the most special one yet.
“I think just me winning the tournament doing my own deal, winning it with my style of fishing that I love, and then coming off of a couple tough tournaments and just a lot of adversity, I was very, very, very shook up,” Connell said.
Ironically, to keep his REDCREST track record perfect in his home state, Connell ventured all the way to Tennessee. Connell grew up fishing current on the Coosa River, and he said he’s been thinking for months about venturing to the Nickajack Dam so he could fish in his comfort zone.
That flew in the face of conventional Guntersville wisdom, which Connell admits gave him pause.
“I had this in my mind literally six months ago,” he said. “I was like, I want to go up that river, I want to go up that river. But Guntersville is such a badass lake, and on the way, I just didn’t think that I could compete up there. I was like, I feel dumb even going up here.”
So, Connell started Day 1 trying to target spawning largemouth at the lower end of the fishery. Pre-tournament chatter suggested that would be the dominant pattern, but Connell caught just one scorable bass during the opening period of the event. He ran to Nickajack in Period 2, but strong winds made for a long trip. He only added one more fish during that period, and at the end of it, he sat in 47th place out of 50 anglers.
“I just wasn’t catching them,” Connell said. “The wind was blowing again, and there was pollen everywhere. It just was not the deal.
“I get to the dam, and I caught 20-something pounds at the dam late in the day. So, I said, screw this; I’m fishing the whole tournament up there, good, bad or ugly.”
Connell, who caught all three species of bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted) in the tailrace, steadily climbed SCORETRACKER® throughout Day 2. Still, he needed a last-minute flurry to earn a spot in the Top 20 and advance to the Knockout Round. He caught four bass totaling 12-6 in the last 13 minutes before lines out to jump from the wrong side of the elimination line into 17th.
Connell attributed that rally to a bait change. After spending most of the day throwing a 2.5-inch CrushCity The Mayor swimbait, he switched to a CrushCity Mooch Minnow. Even without the aid of forward-facing sonar (he didn’t catch a bass all week that he first saw on his screen), he was able to shake it in the current breaks along the dam’s concrete walls and trigger bites.
“The sun was out, and they kind of quit biting,” Connell said. “I was initially catching them on a Mayor, and I was winding it down the walls. … Well, late in the day, I picked that rod up with a Mooch Minnow on there. And I made like three casts with it, and I caught two back-to-back. And I figured out the bait that they were really wanting, and the action of it.”
It’s not just the REDCREST champion that will be familiar to MLF fans but the baits that won him the trophy. While Connell said he caught a few fish on both a CrushCity Janitor worm and a Rapala Mavrik jerkbait, the two tools that did most of his damage were a Mooch Minnow and a CrushCity Freeloader – the same baits he used most often in his win on Lay Lake last year. He rigged the Freeloader on a scrounger head and threw it on baitcast gear with 17-pound Seaguar Invizx fluorocarbon. The Mooch Minnow he affixed to a 3/16-ounce VMC Redline tungsten jighead.
Even after his strong finish to the Qualifying Round, Connell wasn’t sure he’d found the winning pattern. However, during Saturday’s Knockout Round, he noticed how well the bass were biting during early-morning, low-light conditions. Knowing the forecast for Sunday called for storms all day, he started to get excited.
“Yesterday morning, I was like, dude, this tournament just got real interesting,” he said. “I was like, there is a chance this could go down.”
Thunderstorms delayed takeoff, giving Connell less time to catch up after his long run, and made for a rough ride. But once he arrived, it didn’t take long to see that his hopes were well-founded. The storms both ignited a feeding frenzy below the dam and killed the sight-fishing pattern much of the Top 10 had relied on to get to the Championship Round.
Connell arrived at his starting spot around 9:35 a.m., 45 minutes after lines in. On his second cast, he landed his first scorable bass. By 9:50, he’d caught three more and brought his total to 14-15, taking a lead he would never relinquish. In all, Connell caught 31-0 in the span of 36 minutes before the period break.
While Connell consistently added to his total, Strader – who also made a long run up the river, albeit not all the way to the dam – stayed on his heels. It seemed like every time Connell had pulled away, Strader would cut his lead to 10 pounds or so. Connell didn’t catch a scorable bass during the final 47 minutes before lines out, and Strader trimmed his deficit from more than 20 pounds at the start of Period 3 to less than 9. However, he could never quite get over the hump.
Connell called the final period “the most stressful period of bass fishing I’ve had in my life.”
“I know how big it is of an event, and I knew it was mine to lose,” he said. “I was like, dude, if I could just add on a few more fish – don't light it on fire, just catch some. And I did my job.”
Key for Connell was the caliber of fish he found during the Championship Round. Strader actually caught two more scorable bass on the day, but Connell boated six weighing 4 pounds or more, including three over 5. His average scorable bass weighed about 3.25 pounds compared to 2.72 for the rest of the field – more than half a pound per fish.
“I knew there were some big ones up there,” Connell said. “But I did not expect to catch the quality I caught today. I mean, it was unreal.”
Connell didn’t have an explanation for why he’s become so dominant on the biggest stage. He said he prepares for REDCREST like any other event. But he did note that, once he makes it to the Championship Round, he’s not easy to beat. Indeed, nearly half the time he’s made the Top 10, he’s wound up in the winner’s circle (seven out of 16).
Connell attributed that to his fish-to-win approach. He’s always looking for the winning bite rather than settling for a pattern that can earn him a check.
“When I make the Championship Round, I’m normally really dialed in,” he explained. “That’s the thing about me. If I don’t feel like I’m on a winning pattern, I typically don’t do well at all, because I’m always trying to win.”
Even though he’s been there plenty of times before, Connell called this win extra special. In the moments after lines out, he sat on his front deck, and tears began to flow. He said he was “more shook up with this one” than any of his previous wins.
Connell admitted the start to his 2025 season on the Bass Pro Tour hadn’t been up to his standards. He finished 55th at the Harris Chain of Lakes and 36th at Lake Murray, and that wore on him. To not only bounce back but do so with his wife, Victoria, and nearly-one-year-old son, Trent, on hand to celebrate with him for the first time after one of his victories made this one particularly sweet. A dozen or so family members joined him on stage as he lifted the trophy.
“Lately, it ain’t been easy on me,” Connell said. “The last three tournaments, two tournaments I’ve had have been absolutely brutal. I go to Lake Murray, and it’s just a brutal tournament. Florida was brutal. And you’ve got all these people just hating on you and saying, ‘Oh, you can’t catch them without this and that,’ and it just weighs on you.
“I try to surround myself with positive people, and my family, my wife, my little boy – he was here last year, but he wasn’t where I could hold him. And to win this tournament with him and my family here, oh my gosh. I can’t believe it.”
The top 10 pros at REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy at Lake Guntersville finished:
1st: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 27 bass, 87-11, $300,000
2nd: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 29 bass, 79-6, $50,000
3rd: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 17 bass, 44-12, $40,000
4th: Paul Marks Jr., Cumming, Ga., 15 bass, 43-5, $28,000
5th: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., 15 bass, 38-10, $25,000
6th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 16 bass, 38-10, $20,000
7th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 14 bass, 37-12, $18,000
8th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 33-8, $16,000
9th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., six bass, 15-2, $14,500
10th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., three bass, 8-5, $12,500
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 152 scorable bass weighing 427 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the final 10 pros on Sunday. Throughout the entire four-day event, the 50 competitors in REDCREST 2025 caught a total of 1,614 scorable bass weighing 4,456 pounds, 4 ounces.
Pro Brent Ehrler earned Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 5-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass that he caught in Period 1. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy at Lake Guntersville was hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, and the Madison County Commission and showcased the top 50 MLF anglers from 2024 – including the top 40 anglers from the Bass Pro Tour – competing for the prestigious REDCREST Championship and a total prize pool for more than ¾ of a million dollars.
Television coverage of MLF’s Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy at Lake Guntersville will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 5 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Saturday, July 19. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel and Vice TV.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour and REDCREST 2025 include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sports Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech Energy, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine and Toyota.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Michigan’s Ron Nelson Paces Knockout Round at Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy at Lake Guntersville
Final 10 anglers now set for Championship Sunday and One-day Shootout for $300,000
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (April 5, 2025) – The final 10 anglers who will battle for the title at Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville Presented by MillerTech Energy have been set. After a Knockout Round that saw four anglers hold the top spot on SCORETRACKER® at various points in the second and third periods, pro Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan, ended the day atop the standings with 70 pounds, 14 ounces on 23 Lake Guntersville bass. Nelson edged pro Bobby Lane, the REDCREST 2022 champion, by 2-9.
Holding the lead wasn’t nearly as important as the battle to finish among the top nine and earn a spot in Sunday’s Championship Round. Nelson and the rest of those nine anglers will join Qualifying Round winner, Guntersville, Alabama’s Chris Lane, with $300,000 on the line for the angler who has the best day. Not only will weights zero overnight, but a significant storm system that’s forecast to bring 2-plus inches of rain could change the complexion of the fishery, so the race to claim the trophy should be anyone’s to win.
Between volatile weather, fluctuating water conditions and the typical springtime migration of bass to their spawning areas, a lot has changed since anglers first took to Guntersville for official practice a week ago. Nelson said he’s had to adapt his approach every day, both in terms of what baits he’s throwing and where.
“I’ve had to adjust every day of the tournament, every day of practice,” Nelson said. “There’s been no just go out and do the same thing every day. I went from catching them on a crankbait really, really good to not catching them at all on a crankbait to having to switch to a ChatterBait and having to switch to a jig – just everything has been different. And locations are different, too.”
Nelson cycled between a few different spots on Saturday morning, picking off a few fish here and there, before returning to an area where he’d caught a single 3-pounder the day prior. This time, he found it teeming with bass on spawning beds. Not only was he able to catch males off the beds, but he found some bigger females, too. On the day, Nelson boated five bass over 4 pounds, including a 5-14.
“I had a flurry of nice, big females and catching the pairs, catching the male and the female,” Nelson explained.
“Then I was like, OK, I can add up weight pretty quick to solidify my day and get a cushion. And then the day became fun, because at that point, it was like, oh, I’ll just fish for big fish and have fun.”
Nelson found the day enjoyable in large part because he’s fishing in his comfort zone. The Michigan native has typically performed well on Tennessee River fisheries, which he attributes to his upbringing fishing small rivers and streams. He’s also one of the best in the world when bass are on beds – not just because of his ability to spot submerged beds but, he joked, because of his birthday.
“May 1 is my birthday, so I’m a spring baby,” Nelson said. “So, I guess it’s just my time of year. I just love spring.”
Nelson knows Championship Sunday will necessitate more adjustments. If the forecast proves correct, it could make sight-fishing impossible. Once again, his plan is to “just fish the conditions.”
“A lot is going to change if we actually get severe weather like they’re talking about and the amount of rain they’re talking about,” he said. “Really, a ton is going to change.”
The winner of Angler of the Year titles on both the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit (2020) and Tackle Warehouse Invitationals (2023), Nelson has enjoyed consistent success throughout his career. But he’s never won a tour-level event. To have his first national win come at a championship the caliber of REDCREST would be a dream.
“Anytime you fish a championship, it’s special,” Nelson said. “So, just to be here is special. To win it would be kind of a culmination of my career. … You never want to get ahead of yourself, but it would be special.”
The top 10 pros that made it through the Knockout Round and now advance to Sunday’s Championship Round at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville are:
1st: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 23 bass, 70-14
2nd: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 25 bass, 68-6
3rd: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 21 bass, 60-8
4th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 17 bass, 51-4
5th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 20 bass, 51-1
6th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 18 bass, 50-7
7th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 18 bass, 50-6
8th: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., 15 bass, 41-14
9th: Paul Marks Jr., Cumming, Ga., 15 bass, 40-13
*Qualifying Round WINNER: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala.
Eliminated from competition in 11th through 20th place were:
11th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 14 bass, 40-0, $10,000
12th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 14 bass, 37-5, $10,000
13th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 13 bass, 31-14, $10,000
14th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 30-2, $10,000
15th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 11 bass, 29-10, $10,000
16th: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 28-9, $10,000
17th: Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., nine bass, 26-8, $10,000
18th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., eight bass, 22-1, $10,000
19th: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., seven bass, 18-10, $10,000
20th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., seven bass, 16-13, $10,000
Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 275 scorable bass weighing 767 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the 19 pros competing on Saturday.
Pro Zack Birge earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award Saturday with a 6-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass that he caught in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
The full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Round was complete, leader Chris Lane advanced directly to Sunday’s Championship Round. The anglers that finished 2nd through 20th competed in Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights were zeroed, and the top nine finishers now join Lane in Sunday’s Championship Round. In the Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the sport’s top prize of $300,000.
The final 10 anglers will launch Sunday morning from Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive, in Guntersville, Alabama, at 7:15 a.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The free, family-friendly MLF Outdoor Sports Expo will also take place throughout the weekend at the Von Braun Center, located at 700 Monroe St. SW, in Huntsville. Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to explore an array of booths and vendors, featuring the newest innovations and gear in fishing, boating, and outdoors. Meet some of the biggest names in the industry, including professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour and legendary Bass Fishing Hall of Famers like Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin and Kevin VanDam.
The four-day event, hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, and the Madison County Commission , showcases the top 50 MLF anglers from 2024 – including the top 40 anglers from the Bass Pro Tour – competing for the prestigious REDCREST Championship and a total prize pool for more than ¾ of a million dollars.
The 2024 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of MLF’s Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy at Lake Guntersville will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 5 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Saturday, July 19. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel and Vice TV.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour and REDCREST 2025 include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sports Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech Energy, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine and Toyota.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Hometown Favorite Chris Lane Takes Lead at Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy at Lake Guntersville
Guntersville, Alabama pro lands two-day total of 44 scorable bass weighing 127 pounds to advance straight to Sunday’s Championship Round, Knockout Round field set for Saturday
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (April 4, 2025) – The race for the top spot in the Qualifying Round at Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Presented by MillerTech – and the automatic Championship Round berth that comes with it – started out wide open on the second day of competition on Lake Guntersville. Five different anglers topped SCORETRACKER® at various points during Friday’s opening period.
By the second period, it turned into a two-man race between a pair of Alabamians in Chris Lane of Guntersville and Jacob Walker of Springville. Eventually, Lane used his Guntersville knowledge and aptitude catching shallow spawners to pull away. He added 24 scorable bass for 72 pounds, 9 ounces (the best day any competitor has put together so far) to bring his two-day total to 127 pounds even, 17-7 clear of Walker.
That will earn Lane a day off as he prepares to chase his first REDCREST trophy and the $300,000 paycheck that comes with it on Championship Sunday. The rest of the Top 20 will take to the water Saturday for the Knockout Round.
Lane has found his comfort zone on Guntersville, and not just because he’s lived on the shores of the lake for the past 15 years.
Prior to REDCREST, Lane took the forward-facing sonar transducers off his Nitro. He figured he could find plenty of fish flocking to shallow water – his area of expertise – so he planned to go all-in on targeting them. He didn’t even want to be tempted by the technology.
“I took that thing off my boat, and the reason I did is because it was a distraction to me and what I do and the way that I do it,” Lane said. “Taking it off coming into REDCREST before the first day of the tournament allowed me to focus on what I do, and that was reassuring and beneficial to have success without it.”
Lane’s instinct that he’d be able to find success targeting shallow spawners proved correct. He noted that the lake level has risen about a foot since the start of practice. While that might not seem like a lot, when combined with the time of year and steadily climbing water temperatures, it triggered a wave of fish to move into their spawning grounds. He found even more fish on Day 2 than Day 1 – an hour into Period 2, he had nearly surpassed his opening-day total with 47-15.
“I think it’s just the water coming up a half a foot,” Lane explained. “It may not even be that much, but it’s come up over a foot since practice started. And the water is warming, so that’s why the fish got bigger and more plentiful.”
Lane targeted his fish with a Texas-rigged Bass Pro Shops XPS Log Father. That produced both quantity and quality. He landed four bass over 4 pounds on the day, including a 5-15 and a 7-5, the latter of which earned Berkley Big Bass honors.
While Lane is at his best pitching for bedding bass, he doesn’t expect to replicate that pattern on Sunday. Thunderstorms are in the forecast with the potential to dump 1-2 inches of rain. Knowing that made Lane more eager to fish for the Qualifying Round win, since he doesn’t think the conditions will allow him to catch the same fish he targeted Friday.
“I think it’ll be different; I think you’re going to have to fish different,” Lane said. “I’ll play that by ear come Sunday, to see how much sun there is – if there’s any – and if they drop the water. Because they could pull that water in 2 seconds, and they probably will. So, I’m going to have to pay attention to all of that.”
Lane knows he’ll need to adjust if he’s going to contend for the championship trophy. His knowledge of the fishery gives him confidence he’ll be able to figure out the right moves based on the conditions.
“I think that’s probably the reassuring thing is knowing, okay, I’ve got 978 other spots where they like to get this time of year,” he said. “I think it’ll be a big adjustment for everybody, so it’ll be nice having the day off to get re-geared and re-focused, pay attention to the weather, not be tired, not get in a hurry and go from there.”
Lane has won both a Bass Pro Tour event (2023 on the Kissimmee Chain) and a tour-level championship (the 2012 Bassmaster Classic). But he said a victory at REDCREST on Guntersville would be extra sweet because of all the family, friends and sponsors who will be on hand Sunday.
“It would mean the world to me to win, not only for another victory and a check for $300,000, but for your support system, for your sponsors,” Lane said. “For the whole support team and for my family, it would just be awesome. And for the hometown. Geez, that doesn’t usually work out like that at big tournaments.”
The top 20 pros that made the cut and will advance in competition at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville are:
1st: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 44 bass, 127-0
2nd: Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., 38 bass, 109-9
3rd: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 33 bass, 102-14
4th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 39 bass, 99-13
5th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 34 bass, 99-1
6th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 34 bass, 92-3
7th: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., 32 bass, 91-1
8th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 34 bass, 90-8
9th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 28 bass, 89-6
10th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 30 bass, 87-7
11th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 29 bass, 87-1
12th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 31 bass, 85-5
13th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 33 bass, 83-4
14th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 27 bass, 80-8
15th: Paul Marks Jr., Cumming, Ga., 29 bass, 80-6
16th: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 26 bass, 79-4
17th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 26 bass, 78-9
18th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 24 bass, 76-13
19th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 28 bass, 76-13
20th: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 28 bass, 73-13
Finishing in 21st through 50th place are:
21st: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 27 bass, 72-13
22nd: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 24 bass, 69-1
23rd: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 24 bass, 68-4
24th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 24 bass, 66-11
25th: Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La., 25 bass, 66-7
26th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 22 bass, 65-5
27th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 24 bass, 64-15
28th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 24 bass, 64-8
29th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 23 bass, 63-11
30th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 21 bass, 61-7
31st: Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 24 bass, 60-6
32nd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 23 bass, 58-1
33rd: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 18 bass, 55-14
34th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 19 bass, 55-13
35th: Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., 19 bass, 55-7
36th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 19 bass, 53-6
37th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 21 bass, 51-11
38th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 17 bass, 50-15
39th: Braylon Eggerding, Grand Rapids, Mich., 17 bass, 50-3
40th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 16 bass, 48-2
41st: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 16 bass, 44-9
42nd: Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., 14 bass, 42-6
43rd: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 16 bass, 41-14
44th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 16 bass, 41-2
45th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 13 bass, 40-10
46th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 14 bass, 40-1
47th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 13 bass, 37-2
48th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 12 bass,32-15
49th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., eight bass, 23-0
50th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., eight bass, 17-8
Overall, there were 607 scorable bass weighing 1,706 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the 50 pros Friday.
For the second consecutive year, Chris Lane also earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award on Day 2 of REDCREST with a 7-pound, 5-ounce largemouth bass that he in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.
The full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. Now, with the two-day Qualifying Round complete, Lane advances directly to Sunday’s Championship Round. The anglers that finished in 2nd through 20th advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining anglers compete to finish in the top nine to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins professional bass fishing’s top prize of $300,000.
Anglers will launch each morning from Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive, in Guntersville, Alabama, at 7:15 a.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The free, family-friendly MLF Outdoor Sports Expo will also take place throughout the weekend at the Von Braun Center, located at 700 Monroe St. SW, in Huntsville. Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to explore an array of booths and vendors, featuring the newest innovations and gear in fishing, boating, and outdoors. Meet some of the biggest names in the industry, including professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour and legendary Bass Fishing Hall of Famers like Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin and Kevin VanDam.
The four-day event, hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, and the Madison County Commission , showcases the top 50 MLF anglers from 2024 – including the top 40 anglers from the Bass Pro Tour – competing for the prestigious REDCREST Championship and a total prize pool for more than ¾ of a million dollars.
The 2024 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of MLF’s Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy at Lake Guntersville will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 5 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Saturday, July 19. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel and Vice TV.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour and REDCREST 2025 include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sports Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech Energy, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine and Toyota.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Scanlon wins weather-shortened Bassmaster Open at Norfork Lake
April 5, 2025
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. — The water was murky, but Casey Scanlon’s clear understanding of bass behavior led him to victory in the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Norfork Lake presented by SEVIIN.
Due to forecasts for severe weather including heavy thunderstorms, hail and possible tornadoes, B.A.S.S. officials cancelled the event’s scheduled second and third days. Scanlon, an Ozarks veteran from Eldon, Mo., who led Day 1 with 18 pounds, 5 ounces was declared the winner.
Finishing with a margin of 1-8 over Doug Chapin, Scanlon took home the top prize of $52,086 and earned a berth in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, March 13-15 at the Tennessee River.
“It feels great to win,” Scanlon said. “Obviously, I would have loved to go three days, but I’ve been doing this a long time and you take these wins anyway you can get them.
“The Bassmaster Opens have become more competitive than ever before, so any time you can beat this caliber of competition, it’s an accomplishment.”
Heavy rains prior to the tournament sent muddy plumes into Norfork. Scanlon said he saw the lake rise only a foot and a half to 2 feet from the level he fished during practice, but turbidity levels were drastically different.
“The water level didn’t rise too badly, but it brought some current into the lake,” Scanlon said. “I think it helped me; it really positioned the fish a little better for me.”
Fishing the mid-lake region, Scanlon focused on the backs of major creeks where he knew the bigger fish would follow the rising water. With lots of floating debris he called “sawdust,” Scanlon located a key spot where current dynamics kept a prime habitat feature clear of the clutter.
“I ended up catching all but one of the fish I weighed on a 50-yard stretch,” Scanlon said. “During practice, on one of the last channel banks in the back of a major creek, I noticed some boulders under the water, just slightly off the bank. I figured during the tournament, when the current was flowing, this would be a good spot for the fish to sit and ambush (prey).
“Around 10:30 on Day 1, I decided to slow down and focus on those boulders. There was lots of sawdust in the area, but where the boulders were, a turn created an unseen eddy and kept the sawdust and debris away.”
Scanlon caught one of his limit fish on a 1/2-ounce Trophy Bass Company spinnerbait in the Ozark Flash color. He caught most of his fish on those boulders with a 4-inch Bass Pro Shops flipping tube rigged on a 4/0 Hyabusa heavy-duty hook with an unpegged 5/16-ounce Bass Pro Shops weight.
Scanlon believes that coating his tube with Capt. Dave’s Hawg Jam fish attractant helped, but his longtime belief in that bait cemented his commitment.
“I hadn’t thrown that tube very much in practice,” he said. “I had thrown the spinnerbait enough to know if it would work. I tied on that tube because it’s my confidence bait. I know I can go behind people and catch fish.”
Scanlon gave his stretch of boulders periodic breaks and returned multiple times throughout the day. One of those breaks took him to a set of current-washed logs he had been considering for much of the day.
Scanlon lost a big fish that jumped off boatside but caught one of his better fish there on the spinnerbait.
“The key moment was going back to the well one more time in the last hour of the day,” he said. “I returned to those boulders and caught my second biggest fish and another good one. Without those two, I wouldn’t have won it.”
Chapin, who hails from Tigerton, Wis., finished in second place with 16-13. Ultimately basing his day on how he expected the fish to respond to the rising water, Chapin got his momentum going with an early shot of spontaneity.
“My plan was to start on fish I’d found under bait in a pocket, but that didn’t pan out,” Chapin said. "I was running down the lake and something told me to pull into this transition area with a flat near a bluff bank.
“I cast at a blob on my forward facing sonar and it was a 4.75-pound largemouth. It was a God thing.”
From there, Chapin turned his attention to creek bends and shallow bluff walls in the backs of pockets.
Knowing that the turbidity would prompt the fish to pull tighter to the bank where they could leverage a smaller strike zone, Chapin did most of his work with a 1/2-ounce 6th Sense Divine spinnerbait in the Lavender Shad color with tandem willow-leaf blades.
He also caught a nice smallmouth on a 6th Sense Strobe Minnow on a 1/8-ounce 6th Sense Finesse Swimbait jig head.
Bailey Gay of Union, Ky., finished third with 16-11. Fishing around bait schools in 15 to 45 feet of water, he looked for concentrations of fish and then focused on those populated zones.
“It was a lot of picking up the trolling motor, running and gunning around the lake and finding hot stretches where the fish were biting,” Gay said. “As soon as you’d hit a stretch, you’d put the trolling motor down and if it’s not happening right away, pick the trolling motor back up and keep going.”
Looking for what he called staging spots, Gay fished about 35 different locations. He caught his fish on a crankbait, a spinnerbait and a jig.
Jace Lindsay of Beckville, Texas, won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors for his 6-3.
The City of Mountain Home, Arkansas hosted the event.
MEDIA CONTACT: Chad Gay, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, c: 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
2025 Div 2 Open 3 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Norfork Lake presented by SEVIIN 4/3-4/5
Lake Norfork, Mountain Home AR.
Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 18-05 200 $52,086.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
2. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 5 16-13 199 $20,834.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
3. Bailey Gay Union, KY 5 16-11 198 $15,626.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
4. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 5 16-07 197 $14,584.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
5. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 15-12 196 $13,542.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
6. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 5 15-09 195 $12,501.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
7. Riley Nielsen Salt Lake City, UT 5 15-04 194 $11,459.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
8. Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 5 15-00 193 $11,167.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
9. Michael Corbishley Raleigh, NC 5 14-15 192 $10,417.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
10. Chase Carey Hoschton, GA 5 14-14 191 $10,417.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 06-03 $750.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 183 1029 2373-08
2 0 0 00-00
------------------------------
183 1029 2373-08
BFL Tournament on Rough River Scheduled for Saturday Postponed Due to Extreme Flooding
WHAT:
The Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine tournament on Rough River, scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, April 12 has been postponed due to the extreme flooding and dangerous conditions.
The event, set to be the first event in the BFL Hoosier Division, has been rescheduled to Sunday, June 29, and will piggyback on the next BFL Hoosier event at Lake Monroe on Saturday, June 28.
WHEN:
Saturday-Sunday, June 28-29
Takeoff: 6:30 a.m. ET
Weigh-in: 2:30 p.m. ET
WHERE:
Cutright Ramp, 4850 South State Rd. 446, Bloomington, Ind.
NOTES:
The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11 BFL Regional tournament on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Buchanan, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.
The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
MLF Pros and Volunteers Team Up with Suzuki Marine for a Fun-Filled Day of Cleanup and Community Engagement at REDCREST 2025
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (April 4, 2025) – In a rewarding display of community involvement and environmental stewardship, Major League Fishing (MLF) pros joined forces with Suzuki Marine and Madison Academy to make a meaningful impact in Northern Alabama. On Wednesday, April 2, professional anglers used their “off day” before the kickoff of Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy – the Bass Pro Tour Championship – for two significant initiatives: a visit from the pros to Madison Academy and cleaning up the shores of Lake Guntersville with the Suzuki Marine Lake Cleanup project.
LINK TO PHOTO GALLERY FROM EVENTS
The day kicked off with a visit to Madison Academy, just west of Huntsville, where MLF pros Drew Gill and Nick LeBrun, along with MLF Competition Official Brian Poppe, met with the entire second and third-grade classes, reading fish stories and discussing the importance of protecting natural waterways. Students were captivated by the anglers' stories and had the chance to ask questions, learn valuable fishing tips and hear about the pros’ experiences on the water.
"It’s incredible to see the students' enthusiasm for fishing and the environment," said Gill, who was thrilled to be part of the event. "I remember being their age not very long ago and dreaming of becoming a professional angler. It’s great to be able to inspire them and talk about conservation efforts that help keep our waters clean for future generations."
The visit wasn’t limited to the younger grades – members of the Madison Academy High School Bass Fishing Team also met with the pros, sharing their own experiences in the world of competitive fishing and gleaning valuable insight from the professional anglers. As part of the event, students excitedly gathered autographs and snapped photos with their bass fishing heroes, creating memories that would last a lifetime.
While one set of pros was engaging the youth of the sport, another group made their way to Civitan Park in Guntersville, Alabama, for the Suzuki Marine Lake Cleanup project, a two-hour event packed with enthusiasm, teamwork and even a little competition.
As part of Suzuki Marine’s CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, over 40 participants – including more than 20 anglers from both the MLF Bass Pro Tour and the Elite Series – scoured the shoreline, collecting more than 242 pounds of trash. In true MLF fashion, a bit of friendly competition was added to the mix, with a “mini weigh-in” to guess how much trash was collected. The pro with the closest guess took home a Suzuki Marine gift pack, but every pro was rewarded with a much cleaner Lake Guntersville shoreline as the prize.
The event was not only a great success in terms of environmental impact, but also a fantastic example of the fishing community uniting for a good cause. The partnership between MLF and Suzuki Marine has proven to be a powerful force for good, expanding the CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT’s efforts beyond the oceans to include lakes and rivers across the country.
“It’s amazing to see everyone come together to make a difference,” said REDCREST 2025 competitor and Suzuki Marine pro Matt Becker. “We compete hard on the water, but it’s important to work together to ensure our lakes, rivers and oceans stay clean and sustainable for generations to come.”
The event was hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association and the Madison County Commission.
“We’re so grateful to our partners at Suzuki Marine and our local hosts for making the lake cleanup such a success,” said Joe Opager, Sr. Director of Communications for MLF. “It was a fun event that not only made a positive impact on the environment but also helped foster a sense of community in our sport.”
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Day 2 of Bassmaster Open at Norfork Lake postponed, full field fishes Saturday
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