Tuesday, September 26, 2023
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Potomac River Set to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament

Potomac River to Host 200 Boaters and Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2024 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000

MARBURY, Md. (Sept. 26, 2023) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s Buckeye, North Carolina, Northeast and Piedmont divisions will wrap up their 2023 season in Marbury, Maryland next week, Oct. 5-7, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event at the Potomac River.

Hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

“The Potomac was fishing a little bit tough for the Toyota Series tournament last weekend, but I expect it will get better,” said pro Grae Buck of Green Lane, Pennsylvania, who finished that tournament in seventh place – his third career top-10 finish on the Potomac River. “The tropical storm will have cleared up, and it should clear up the water as well.

“There was a lot of grass, and it’s going to clear away some of the hydrilla and take away some of the punch bite,” Buck continued. “But, that’ll open up more winding baits – Rat-L-Traps and ChatterBait JackHammers will both be strong players.”

Buck said he expects the fish will be stacked up, and guys are going to have to fish in a crowd to likely do well.

“The whole river will be in play – down south, all the way to D.C.,” Buck continued.  “But the guys that do well are going to find the areas that have a large population of fish, and they’re likely going to have to out-fish the crowd. It’s going to be important to determine what those fish are wanting to eat, before your competitors do.

“I think 50 pounds is going to be really strong,” Buck went on to say. “If you can catch 17 pounds a day average, you should be right there at the end.”

Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each morning from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road, in Marbury. Weigh-ins will also be held at the State Park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals. The 2024 BFL All-American will be held May 29-31 at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee

The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.



Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament Set for Lake Eufaula

Lake Eufaula Set to Host 200 Boaters and Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2024 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000

EUFAULA, Okla. (Sept. 26, 2023) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s Arkie, Cowboy, Mississippi and Ozark divisions will finish out the 2023 season in Eufaula, Oklahoma, Oct. 5-7, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event at Lake Eufaula.

Hosted by the Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

“The water levels on Lake Eufaula are always important to watch leading  up to the event,” said pro Kelly Jordon of Flint, Texas, who won on the Tackle Warehouse Invitational tournament on Lake Eufaula earlier this season. “The water is at full pool right now, which really isn’t high. But watch the weather leading up to the event – if there is any rain or the water comes up, you’ll have to get to town on the bank.

“Water clarity is very important, too,” Jordon continued. “There is plenty of muddy water, but I expect most anglers will likely concentrate on the clear water on the lower end of the lake. It’s fall, so the fish are chasing shad. The main-lake bite could be tough – the fish offshore are scattered. But with forward-facing sonar, someone can find those fish and really pick them apart.”

Jordon said that he expects shallow-water pros to be beating the bank throwing spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater baits, while anglers fishing offshore will be throwing jerkbaits, swimbaits and Alabama rigs.

“The A-rig shines in the fall,” Jordon said. “That could definitely be a big player in this tournament. And it’s Oklahoma – the spinnerbait is going to play. I usually downsize the blades this time of year.

“It’s a great fishery and full of really good fish – 20 pounds a day is always doable there,” Jordon said. “That being said, fall can be really funky and it’s usually a feast or a famine. I think the winner of this one is going to weigh in right around 50 pounds over the three days.”

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each morning from the South Point-Nichols Point landing, located at 400 Lakeshore Drive, in Eufaula. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals. The 2024 BFL All-American will be held May 29-31 at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee

The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.



Catch Bassmaster College Classic Bracket coverage live from Kansas

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Tucker Smith and Hayden Marbut from Auburn University, who won the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, will be among the eight competitors at the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s Sept. 29-Oct. 2 on Lake Milford.                                                                                                                                                     Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
September 26, 2023

Catch Bassmaster College Classic Bracket coverage live from Kansas

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — Fishing fans and college sports enthusiasts alike will have three days to catch live coverage of the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s on Milford Lake from Junction City, Kan., Sept. 29-Oct. 2

The event pits the season’s eight top college anglers against one another for a coveted spot in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota. On Day 1 of the event, all eight anglers will compete individually to determine seeding and set the bracket for head-to-head competition.

FS1 kicks off a day of college sports with morning action from Day 2 of the tournament beginning at 7 a.m. CT. Bassmaster College Classic Bracket LIVE will feature real-time coverage from every boat on Saturday and Sunday as anglers battle to advance. Continuing coverage of the tournament each afternoon and on Monday can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.  

The 2023 Bassmaster College Team of the Year — Easton Fothergill and Nick Dumke from the University of Montevallo — automatically punched their ticket to the College Classic Bracket to compete alongside the Top 3 teams from the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops in this individual, elimination-style tournament.

Fothergill has endured a harrowing few weeks, undergoing emergency surgery to remove a brain abscess just days after finishing fifth at the National Championship. After enduring what he described as the scariest moments of his life, Fothergill was medically cleared to compete in the Bracket last week. 

“When this all happened, my first thought was, ‘Oh my gosh, I put all this work in and finally made it to the Bracket, and I’m not going to be able to fish it,’” Fothergill said. “I was really down in the hospital thinking about it. But, luckily, I came through and all the doctors came together and got me feeling up to it.”

Joining Fothergill and Dumke will be national champions Hayden Marbut and Tucker Smith from Auburn University, Levi Mullins and Matthew Cummings from Bethel University and a second Montevallo team, Brody Robison and Jack Alexander.

This is the second trip to the College Classic Bracket for Smith, who finished second by just 3 ounces in 2021.

The event is being hosted by the Geary County, Kansas Convention and Visitors Bureau.

DateTime (All times Central)Network
Saturday, September 307 a.m. – 11 a.m.FS1; FOX Sports Digital; Bassmaster.com
 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.Bassmaster.com
 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.Bassmaster.com
 
Sunday, October 17 a.m. – 10 a.m.FS1; FOX Sports Digital; Bassmaster.com
 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.Bassmaster.com
 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.Bassmaster.com
 
Monday, October 27 a.m. – 11 a.m.Bassmaster.com
 12 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.Bassmaster.com

2023 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2023 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

2023 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2023 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2023 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

2023 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: 13 Fishing, Seaguar, Shimano



Farmington’s Vaal Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes

Boater Dustin Vaal of Farmington, Kentucky, and Strike-King co-angler Jordan Bowlin of Benton, Illinois.
Illinois’ Bowlin Earns Strike King Co-Angler Division Victory

CALVERT CITY, Ky. (Sept. 25, 2023) – Boater Dustin Vaal of Farmington, Kentucky, caught 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 1 ounce, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes Presented by Country Boy Brewing in Calvert City, Kentucky. The tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Illini Division. Vaal earned $6,137 for the win, his first career BFL victory.

“This feels really good. I’ve been close a lot of times in these September tournaments, and this time around I finally kept enough on to win, so it feels great,” Vaal said.

“The lake is in a hardcore fall transition right now,” Vaal continued. “The shad are anywhere from 22-feet-deep all the way up to 2-feet. So, you can find them deep, you can find them shallow, and they’re all in the mix. We had a little bit of warm weather over the weekend that had them kind of funky. In the morning it was pretty good, but then you’d have to grind to get the remainder of your bites the rest of the day.”

Vaal said that he mainly threw moving baits but was forced to slow things down later in the day.

“It was pretty much like it used to be ledge fishing – you had to alternate through the baits to get them to bite,” Vaal said. “I caught them on topwater, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits – a wide variety of things. Once you got them fired up, you could keep catching them for a little bit, and then you’d have to move spots after you wore them out.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

                1st:        Dustin Vaal, Farmington, Ky., 10 bass, 32-1, $6,137
                2nd:       Garrett McDowell, Windsor, Ill., 10 bass, 29-0, $2,899
                3rd:       Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., 10 bass, 26-6, $1,712
                4th:        Billy Schroeder, Paducah, Ky., nine bass, 26-5, $1,199
                5th:        Jeff Defew, Benton, Ky., 10 bass, 25-11, $1,027
                6th:        Bobby McMullin, Pevely, Mo., eight bass, 23-8, $942
                7th:        Jerry Hall, Ledbetter, Ky., 10 bass, 21-8, $856
                8th:        Brennon McCord, Thompsonville, Ill., eight bass, 20-11, $1,271 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
                9th:        David Carroll, Manitou, Ky., nine bass, 20-7, $685
                10th:     Keith Amerson, Selmer, Tenn., six bass, 19-15, $599

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Kevin Meunier of Lamar, Indiana, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces – the heaviest bass weighed in the boater division – and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $645.



Jordan Bowlin of Benton, Illinois, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,891 Sunday after catching a two-day total of six bass weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

                1st:        Jordan Bowlin, Benton, Ill., six bass, 20-2, $2,891
                2nd:       Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., seven bass, 18-8, $1,284
                3rd:       Jason Gosnell, Paris, Ill., six bass, 14-4, $858
                4th:        Bill Kissinger, Obion, Tenn., four bass, 10-6, $599
                5th:        Mike Swetland, Tamaroa, Ill., four bass, 10-3, $864
                6th:        Brady Kendall, Paducah, Ky., four bass, 9-2, $471
                7th:        Brad Thacher, Hardin, Ky., four bass, 8-13, $428
                8th:        Jimmy Null, Bethalto, Ill., four bass, 8-12, $385
                9th:        Joe Andres, Effingham, Ill., four bass, 8-11, $342
                10th:     Brandon Depew, Odin, Ill., three bass, 7-7, $300

Bowlin also caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $322.

With the regular season now complete, boater Garrett McDowell of Windsor, Illinois, won the 2023 Bass Fishing League Illini Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,347 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Aaron Arning of Walnut Hill, Illinois, won the 2023 Strike King Co-Angler Illini Division AOY race with 1,310 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 12-14 Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.

California Transplant Phillip Dutra Earns Victory at Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Lake Guntersville 

Boater Phillip Dutra of Arab, Alabama, and Strike-King co-angler John Davenport of Huntsville, Alabama.
Huntsville’s Davenport Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Sept. 25, 2023) – Boater Phillip Dutra of Arab, Alabama, caught 10 bass weighing 39 pounds, 10 ounces to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Alabama. The tournament, hosted by the Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division. Dutra earned $7,717 for his victory.

“I fished a mixture of baits, mainly topwater and flipping,” said Dutra, who earned his first career victory after eight previous top-10 finishes in MLF competition. “I fished up and down the lake and located a couple of areas that had quality fish. Then I just cycled through those areas.”

A longtime Toyota Series Western division pro, Dutra recently moved to Alabama and was competing in his first ever Phoenix BFL tournament.

“I think that was the key to my win – pretty much just fishing the way I used to fish out west at the California Delta,” Dutra said. “I covered a lot of water and fished all throughout the lake. I didn’t have one spot, or one area.”

Dutra estimated that he had around 15 bites on Day 1, and around nine or 10 on Day 2.

“I threw quite a few different baits, but a Damiki Rambler, Damiki Knockout, a Snag Proof Bobby’s Perfect Frog and a Bobby D Buzzbait all got me some bites,” Dutra said. “I was using the brand new SEVIIN reels from St. Croix and was blown away at how far my casts were going. I paired that with 50-pound P-Line X-Braid for my topwater and flipping, and my equipment, no doubt, made a huge difference in how I ended up.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

                1st:        Phillip Dutra, Arab, Ala., 10 bass, 39-10, $7,717
                2nd:       Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 10 bass, 38-10, $3,709
                3rd:       Terry Fisher, Decatur, Ala., 10 bass, 37-12, $2,674
                4th:        Logan Dyar, Cleveland, Ala., 10 bass, 35-6, $1,731
                5th:        Fisher Anaya, Eva, Ala., 10 bass, 35-2, $1,115, $1,483
                6th:        Scott Wiley, Jr., Bay Minette, Ala., 10 bass, 33-15, $1,360
                7th:        Kent Ware, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 33-7, $1,736 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
                8th:        Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 33-5, $1,113
                9th:        Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 10 bass, 33-2, $989
                10th:     Chandler Brewer, Meridianville, Ala, 10 bass, 32-11, $865

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

John Janick of Adams, Tennessee, caught the heaviest bass in the boater division, a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces to win the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,132.



John Davenport of Huntsville, Alabama, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,652 Sunday after catching a two-day total of nine bass weighing 30 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

                1st:        John Davenport, Huntsville, Ala., nine bass, 20-1, $3,652
                2nd:       Cy Matlock, Crump, Tenn., seven bass, 17-15, $1,826
                3rd:       Rich Frey, Guntersville, Ala., seven bass, 16-11, $1,218
                4th:        Scott Mascadri, Southside, Ala., five bass, 14-1, $852
                5th:        Chris Allen, Bremen, Ga., seven bass, 13-7, $730
                6th:        Toby Lawson, Trussville, Ala., five bass, 13-7, $669
                7th:        Tony Pendley, Oakman, Ala., five bass, 13-4, $609
                8th:        Christian Jones, Cadiz, Ky., five bass, 11-13, $548
                9th:        Larry Franks, Jr., Wilsonville, Ala., five bass, 11-0, $487
                10th:     Jamie Bladow, Houston, Ala., four bass, 9-4, $426

Alex Ross of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Brian Carroll of Glencoe, Alabama, tie for the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, as each caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces. They split the $550 Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award and each brought home $275.

With the regular season now complete, boater Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama, won the 2023 Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,305 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Justin Stephenson of Jasper, Alabama, won the 2023 Strike King Co-Angler Choo Choo Division AOY race with 1,328 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 12-14 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.



The Pursuit of Winning: Reflections on the Sport of Tournament Bass Fishing

As I stand on the shore, watching the skilled anglers reel in one trophy bass after another, I can’t help but wonder why I haven’t been able to taste the sweet victory of winning a tournament in the thrilling sport of bass fishing. Despite my passion and dedication, success seems to elude me. But why?

First and foremost, tournament bass fishing is a highly competitive sport that demands not only skill but also an in-depth understanding of the art of angling. It requires patience, strategic thinking, and an ability to adapt to ever-changing conditions on the water. It’s not just about casting a line and waiting for a bite; it’s about reading the water, analyzing the behavior of the fish, and making split-second decisions based on intuition and experience.

Perhaps one reason I’m not winning is that I haven’t invested enough time honing my skills. Tournament bass fishing is not something you can excel at overnight. It requires countless hours of practice, studying the behavior patterns of different fish species, and mastering various fishing techniques. Consistently successful anglers have likely spent countless days on the water, learning from their mistakes, and constantly improving their techniques.

Additionally, fishing tournaments often take place in different locations and under varying conditions. Each body of water presents unique challenges, such as different water temperatures, clarity, and structures. Failing to adapt to these conditions can be a major obstacle to success. Understanding the environment and making the necessary adjustments is crucial for increasing the chances of winning.

Another factor that may contribute to my lack of success is the mental aspect of the sport. Fishing requires focus, concentration, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. However, in the heat of competition, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the desire to win and lose sight of the bigger picture. Keeping a clear mind and staying patient, even in the face of adversity, is essential for achieving success in tournament bass fishing.

Lastly, luck is an undeniable factor in any sport, and bass fishing is no exception. Despite meticulous planning and preparation, there are aspects beyond our control, such as weather conditions and the fish’s behavior on any given day. Sometimes, luck simply isn’t on your side, and that can be frustrating. However, it’s important to remember that luck evens out over time, and consistent effort will eventually pay off.

In conclusion, the sport of tournament bass fishing is a challenging pursuit that requires a unique combination of skill, experience, adaptability, and mental fortitude. While I may not have tasted victory yet, I believe that with continued dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to learn from both successes and failures, I will one day stand on that winner’s podium. Until then, I will keep casting my line, chasing the elusive dream of winning in this thrilling and captivating sport.



Sheridan’s Black Targets Schooling Fish to Win Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Lake Hamilton

Boater Jamey Black of Sheridan, Arkansas, and Strike-King co-angler Leland Nixon of Bee Branch, Arkansas.
Bee Branch’s Leland Nixon Earns Strike King Co-Angler Division Victory

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Sept. 25, 2023) – Boater Jamey Black of Sheridan, Arkansas, caught 10 bass weighing 23 pounds even to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The tournament was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division. Black earned $8,075 for his victory, including a $2,500 Phoenix contingency bonus.

“I found a couple of good areas that had schooling fish, and I just tried to stay in those areas following them around,” said Black, who has 18 top-10 finishes in BFL competition. “I mainly fished mid-lake and down. They were following big bait balls around, so I just tried to follow them as best as I could with (Garmin) LiveScope and threw a topwater at them whenever they would come up schooling.”

Black said his schools were deep – anywhere from 20 to 50 feet – but they would surface wherever the bait was. He credited a big fish that he caught on a frog late in the day on Day 1 as being the key to his strong finish.

“I had a decent stringer on Sunday, but I never would have even had the opportunity if it weren’t for that frog fish on Saturday afternoon,” Black went on to say. “I’m just so very happy to win this one. It’s been since 2006 since I last earned one of these winner trophies, so this win, against this level of competition, feels really, really good.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

                1st:        Jamey Black, Sheridan, Ark., 10 bass, 23-0, $8,075 (includes $2,500 Phoenix Bonus)
                2nd:       Larry Selig, Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 22-1, $2,787
                3rd:       Brian Bean, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 21-12, $1,860
                4th:        Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 21-9, $1,301
                5th:        Chris Darby, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 21-5, $1,115
                6th:        James Stricklin, Jr., Fort Smith, Ark., 10 bass, 21-0, $1,022
                7th:        Bryce Boatright, Sheridan, Ark., 10 bass, 19-5, $1,656
                8th:        Ben Blaschke, Roland, Okla., 10 bass, 19-0, $836
                9th:        Austin Johnston, Mena, Ark., 10 bass, 18-13, $743
                10th:     Jeremiah Kindy, Benton, Ark., 10 bass, 18-9, $650

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Bryce Boatright of Sheridan, Arkansas, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds even – the heaviest bass weighed in the boater division – and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $727.



Leland Nixon of Bee Branch, Arkansas, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,694 Sunday after catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 20 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

                1st:        Leland Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 10 bass, 20-1, $2,694
                2nd:       Brock Krohne, Belton, Mo., 10 bass, 17-15, $1,347
                3rd:       Michael Massey, Amity, Ark., nine bass, 16-11, $899
                4th:        Clayton Self, Benton, Ark., eight bass, 14-1, $1,178
                5th:        Jason Baggett, Mansfield, Ark., seven bass, 13-7, $539
                6th:        Aaron Calvert, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 13-7, $494
                7th:        Todd Garner, Spiro, Okla., nine bass, 13-4, $449
                8th:        John McCullar, Benton, Ark., six bass, 11-13, $404
                9th:        Derek Dixon, Hot Springs, Ark., seven bass, 11-0, $359
                10th:     Nathan Hall, Hensley, Ark., seven bass, 9-4, $314

Randy Allen of Russellville, Arkansas, caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing 3 pounds, 3 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $345.

With the regular season now complete, boater Wayne Dixon of Morrilton, Arkansas, won the 2023 Bass Fishing League Arkie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,297 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Blake Defoor of Waldron, Arkansas, won the 2023 Strike King Co-Angler Arkie Division AOY race with 1,303 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 5-7 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.



Burlington’s Ramsey Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Detroit River

Boater Randy Ramsey of Burlington, Michigan and Strike-King co-angler Paul Porento of Lowell, Indiana.
Indiana’s Porento Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

TRENTON, Mich. (Sept. 25, 2023) – Boater Randy Ramsey of Burlington, Michigan, caught 10 bass weighing 44 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Detroit River Presented by FVP in Trenton, Michigan. The tournament was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Michigan Division. Ramsey earned $5,875 for his victory.

Ramsey said he caught the majority of his fish in about 19 feet of water, fairly close to shore, on a drop-shot rig.

“Anything that is made of floating plastic is key, the trick is to have that lure floating up off the bottom,” said Ramsey. “I was also throwing a Ned rig in between rocks and a Texas-rigged creature bait. I could let that creature bait really get down into the rocks, which made a huge difference on Day 2 of the event.

“After some rough rides and big waves, the bite was really slow, so we just had to be patient,” Ramsey continued. “I was working lures along the bottom, and I had to just barely crawl them over the rocks. Most of the time if I popped them off a rock, I’d get bit.”

Ramsey said the changing weather conditions during the two-day event certainly impacted his game plan.

“The water clarity was a lot better on Day 1 – on the second day of competition I could barely see down to my trolling motor,” said Ramsey. “The southeast winds stirred the shoreline sediment up pretty good, so when the winds shifted to the northeast, it pulled that sediment off the shore and muddied up my area, which changed the bite drastically from day to day.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st:           Randy Ramsey, Burlington, Mich., 10 bass, 44-6, $5,875
2nd:          Michael Sitko, Pinckney, Mich., 10 bass, 42-12, $3,844
3rd:          Patrick Goodman, Sturgis, Mich., 10 bass, 42-11, $1,860
4th:           Nicholas Seitz, Maumee, Ohio, 10 bass, 41-9, $1,301
5th:           Brayden Federer, Adrian, Mich., 10 bass, 41-8, $1,115
6th:           Jeremy Antrup, Fremont, Ind., 10 bass, 41-0, $1,022
7th:           Wilson Burton, Findlay, Ohio, 10 bass, 39-2, $$1,629 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
8th:           Heath Wagner, Angola, Ind., 10 bass, 38-13, $836
9th:           Evan Eldred, Gaines, Mich., 10 bass, 38-7, $993
10th:        Austin Anderson, Ashley, Ind., 10 bass, 36-4, $650Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Michael Sitko of Pinckney, Michigan, caught a bass weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $727.



Paul Porento of Lowell, Indiana, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,788 Sunday after catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 37 pounds, 6 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st:           Paul Porento, Lowell, Ind., 10 bass, 37-6, $2,788
2nd:          Ryan Legg, Parma, Ohio, 10 bass, 34-12, $1,394
3rd:          Jason Hayward, Otsego, Mich., 10 bass, 34-5, $929
4th:           Richard Jarasun, Taylor, Mich., 10 bass, 33-12, $650
5th:           Evan Ellis, Greentown, Ind., 10 bass, 33-9, $558
6th:           Bill Miller, Metamora, Mich., 10 bass, 33-7, $511
7th:           John Wall, Western Springs, Ill., 10 bass, 33-6, $465
8th:           Scott Davis, Morenci, Mich., nine bass, 33-3, $418
9th:           Scott Lutz, Bremen, Ind., 10 bass, 31-15, $522
10th:        Alex Newman, Celina, Ohio, 10 bass, 31-10, $325 Daniel Dumais of Trenton, Michigan, caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 5 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $364.

With the regular season now complete, boater Patrick Goodman of Sturgis, Michigan, won the 2023 Bass Fishing League Michigan Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,345 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Gavin Weted of Muont, Michigan, won the 2023 Strike King Co-Angler Michigan Division AOY race with 1,293 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 12-14 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.



North Carolina’s Hoyle Posts Win at Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Lake Norman

Boater Cody Hoyle of Rutherfordton, North Carolina and Strike-King co-angler David Deciucis of Chester, Virginia.
Virginia’s Deciucis Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 25, 2023) – Boater Cody Hoyle of Rutherfordton, North Carolina, caught 10 bass weighing 29 pounds, 9 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Norman in Mooresville, N.C. The tournament, hosted by the Mooresville Convention and Visitors Bureau, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League North Carolina Division. Hoyle earned $5,446 for his victory.

“This win feels pretty good,” said Hoyle. “I wasn’t really expecting it, but everything just lined up for me today.”

Hoyle said he caught his fish mid-lake on a custom-made green pumpkin and red jig and felt his key to victory was keeping the trolling motor wide open throughout the day.

Hoyle said he is planning to fish the three-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional at Lake Norman Oct. 19-21 and opted not to reveal further information about his success on the fishery in this event.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st:          Cody Hoyle, Rutherfordton, N.C., 10 bass, 29-9, $5,446
2nd:          Scott Hamrick, Denver, N.C., 10 bass, 28-6, $2,723
3rd:          Chad Poteat, Mount Airy, N.C., 10 bass, 26-10, $3,396 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:           David Cooke, Mooresville, N.C., 10 bass, 26-7, $1,271
5th:           Michael Stephens, Gastonia, N.C., 10 bass, 25-8, $1,089
6th:           Dalton Eury, Oakboro, N.C., 10 bass, 25-8, $998
7th:           Isaac Ledford, Dallas, N.C., 10 bass, 24-14, $908
8th:           Aaron Digh, Denver, N.C., 10 bass, 24-12, $1,514
9th:           Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., 10 bass, 23-12, $726
10th:        Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., nine bass, 23-4, $635Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Aaron Digh of Denver, North Carolina, caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 11 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $697.



of Chester, Virginia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,272 Sunday after catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 23 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st:           David Deciucis, Chester, Va., 10 bass, 23-1, $3,272
2nd:          Jonathan Strickland, Graham, N.C., 10 bass, 19-0, $1,361
3rd:          Samuel Dunson, Chapel Hill, N.C., nine bass, 18-15, $908
4th:           Eric Tressel, Cornelius, N.C., eight bass, 18-2, $635
5th:           George Hirapetian, Charlotte, N.C., nine bass, 17-14, $545
6th:           Wayne Smelser, Wytheville, Va., eight bass, 16-11, $499
7th:           Bobby Henderson, Charlotee, N.C., nine bass, 16-5, $654
8th:           Wes House, Knightdale, N.C., nine bass, 15-13, $408
9th:           Hunter Carpenter, Lincolnton, N.C., eight bass, 15-9, $363
10th:        Greg Fox, Hudson, N.C., eight bass, 15-0, $318Deciucis caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $349.

With the regular season now complete, boater Jason Barnes of Concord, North Carolina, won the 2023 Bass Fishing League North Carolina Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,310 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Wes House of Knightdale, North Carolina, won the 2023 Strike King Co-Angler North Carolina Division AOY race with 1,337 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 5-7 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.



Country Music Superstar Cody Johnson Announces Concert in Birmingham during REDCREST 2024; MLF To Give Away Pair of Front-Row Tickets

Win Tickets Before They Go On Sale! Register now at MajorLeagueFishing.com/Promos to Win a Pair of Front-Row Tickets!

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sept. 25, 2023) –Country music superstar Cody Johnson, with special guests Justin Moore and Dillon Carmichael, today announced a concert in Birmingham on Saturday, March 16, 2024, and Major League Fishing is offering a sweepstakes to win two front row tickets to the show before they go on sale to the public. Both the concert, at the Legacy Arena, and the REDCREST Outdoor Sports Expo, will be held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

“REDCREST is a massive celebration and has quickly become one of the biggest parties in the outdoor industry,” said Michael Mulone, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at MLF.  “The three-day Outdoor Sports Expo is going to be jam packed with fun, and the Saturday evening concert will be a wonderful addition to the weekend’s festivities.”

Starting today, MLF fans can enter a sweepstakes at MajorLeagueFishing.com to win a pair of front-row seats to the show on Saturday night, before they go on sale to the public. Fans can enter the contest daily, through Wednesday, Oct. 4. Tickets for the show go on-sale to the general public beginning Friday, Oct. 6.

Known for his explosive live shows and electrifying stage presence, Cody Johnson has established a following of passionately loyal fans who regularly sell out shows across the country. The Tennessean claimed, “Cody Johnson showcases rising mastery of his country craft. When decent will no longer cut the mustard, and excellence makes you an award-winner, then ‘burgeoning mastery of the craft’ becomes the standard that defines why and how you achieve your following accomplishments.” That performance is included among the 40 concerts Johnson sold-out in 2022.

Johnson’s new studio album, Leather, is the follow up to his 2019 Ain’t Nothin’ To It studioalbum and 2021’s Human The Double Album. His major label catalog also includes Cody Johnson & The Rockin’ CJB Live and A Cody Johnson Christmas.

REDCREST, the world championship of professional bass fishing, showcases the top Major League Fishing anglers competing for the REDCREST Championship trophy and a top prize of $300,000. Anglers compete using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release live-scoring format, with on-the-water tournament action livestreamed to create the biggest watch party in bass fishing. The MLF Outdoor Sports Expo will be held March 15-17, 2024, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham.

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, TwitterInstagram, and  YouTube.