Thirty MLF Anglers Compete in Neenah, Wisconsin, over Six Days for Prestigious Challenge Cup
TULSA, Okla. (Dec. 29, 2020) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) 2021 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches is set to premiere with a two-hour episode this Saturday, Jan. 2, at 2 p.m. ET on the Outdoor Channel. The event, shot over six days in mid-September in Neenah, Wisconsin, showcases 30 MLF pro anglers kicking off the 2021 Cup season.
The first episode premiering Saturday will feature the 10 anglers in Group 1 competing in their opening Elimination Round. Episode two will feature the 10 anglers in Group 2; Episode three the 10 anglers in Group 3. The top six finishers from each group’s Elimination Round advance to the two-day Sudden Death Round – episodes four and five – where nine anglers compete each day and try to finish in the top four. The sixth and final episode will feature the final eight anglers competing in the Championship Round to catch the most weight that they can to be crowned the 2021 Challenge Cup Champion.
“The main factor for anglers in this Challenge Cup in Neenah, Wisconsin, is the fall transition,” said Marty Stone, MLF Director of Event Research and Program Analyst. “Throughout this event, the temperatures were dropping. That was a signal for these fish to feed, and in a hurry. And we see it play out throughout this event.
“Every one of the lakes that the anglers competed on in the Fox Cities was so uniquely different,” Stone continued. “From round to round, there was never a specific tactic or pattern that the anglers could carry over as they advanced. There was a lot of wind, a lot of adjustments, and these guys had to fly by the seat of their pants. We get to see it all – anglers in the rivers and canals, shallow-water vegetation, fishing boat docks, offshore stops. This was an extremely fun tournament and will make for some dramatic, must-see television episodes.”
The 10 Anglers in Group 1 that compete this Saturday (Jan. 2) on Day One of the 2021 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup are:
- Zack Birge of Blanchard, Okla.
- David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va.
- Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala.
- Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala.
- Dave Lefebre of Erie, Pa.
- Mike McClelland of Blue Eye, Mo.
- Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, S.C.
- Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan
- Jeff Sprague of Point, Texas
- Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich.
The 10 Anglers in Group 2 that compete next Saturday (Jan. 9) on Day Two of the 2021 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup are:
- Adrian Avena of Vineland, N.J.
- Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark.
- Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan.
- Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn.
- Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla.
- Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C.
- Alton Jones, Jr. of Waco, Texas
- Britt Myers of Lake Wylie, S.C.
- Jacob Powroznik of Prince George, Va.
- Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn.
The 10 Anglers in Group 3 that compete in the final Elimination Round (Jan. 16) on Day Three of the 2021 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup are:
- Josh Bertrand of Queen Creek, Ariz.
- Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala.
- Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La.
- Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn.
- Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn.
- Mark Rose of Wynne, Ark.
- Fletcher Shryock of Newcomerstown, Ohio
- Scott Suggs of Alexander, Ark.
- Randall Tharp of Port Saint Joe, Fla.
- Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn.
The 2021 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches is hosted by the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau. The event will air on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting Jan. 2, 2021, and running through Feb. 6, airing from 2 to 4 p.m. ET. Each episode will be available for viewing on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) streaming app on the Monday morning following each episode’s Saturday premiere.
“Hosting the Major League Fishing Challenge Cup was a unique opportunity that we were honored to be chosen for,” said Matt Ten Haken, Director of Sports Marketing for the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It was extremely exciting for us to have some of the best anglers in the world come to the Fox Cities and be tested by our fisheries. I look forward to this event showcasing our community and our abundance of fishing options here in Eastern Wisconsin.”
The 2021 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches features 30 MLF pro anglers visiting Eastern Wisconsin to compete on four different fisheries across the region, including Lake Poygan and Winneconne, Lake Butte des Morts and Lake Winnebago. The fisheries are unknown to the anglers – they do not learn where they are competing until they arrive to the launch ramp each morning of competition.
The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram , and YouTube.