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Hackney Knows He Has to Spin to Win – August 24, 2017 By Alan McGuckin

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Hackney Knows He Has to Spin to Win – August 24, 2017 By Alan McGuckin

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Lake St. Clair is one of America’s all time greatest smallmouth fisheries. But when the Bassmaster Elite Series visited the Detroit area fishery in 2013, Greg Hackney chose to fish for largemouth based on the fact smallmouth looked more like retired Pistons point guard Isaiah Thomas than current Lions left tackle Greg Robinson.

“I don’t know what the deal was on St. Clair four years ago, but the smallmouth looked sickly, like they were starving. You’d catch a fish that should have weighed 4-pounds and he’d only weigh 3-pounds,” remembers Hackney.

“After a couple days of practice, I finally stumbled into some healthy largemouth and decided I had a better chance to do well catching those than skinny smallmouth, so I pitched a Strike King Menace around on a ¾ ounce Texas rig and caught enough largemouth to finish 18th,” he recalls.

 “But that ain’t the case this week – these Smallmouth are healthy right now – and I’ll be fishing for them exclusively with spinning tackle,” confirmed Hackney before Day 1 launch at the Advanced Auto Parts Bassmaster Elite on Lake St. Clair.

While he may be fishing finesse techniques this week, it won’t be with undersized spinning reels. Hackney is religious about his love of larger spinning reels – and for good reason.

“A lot of people buy size 25 and 30 spinning reels for bass fishing, but I use a size 40 Speed Freak from Quantum because it holds more line, and leads to far less twists and tangles than a smaller spinning reel – especially if I’m using straight fluorocarbon line with no braided line,” explains Hackney.

“Like most guys, more times than not, I’ll use braid with a 7 to 8 foot long fluorocarbon leader on my spinning reels, because braid doesn’t twist nearly as bad, especially when you’re fishing a nose-hooked drop shot bait that’s spinning downward with each vertical drop you make,” he explains.

“But no matter what line you use, a bigger spinning reel just offers you better line management, and faster line pick-up. With that 6.2:1 gear ratio, you’re picking up about 39-inches of line with every turn of the handle,” he explains.

Known as a gritty shallow water stick, the Louisiana pro admits his favorite two ways to catch a bass are top water froggin’ and pitching to heavy cover, but what you love, verses what pays the bills are two very different things.

“That’s the life of an Elite Series pro, if you’re not willing and able to be versatile out here, this bunch of anglers will eat you alive. And if you can’t fish all the different techniques, you’ll starve,” concludes the highly accomplished Hackney.

 

Alan McGuckin

Mosley Pulls Ahead At Lake St. Clair; Palaniuk Regains Lead In AOY race

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Mosley Pulls Ahead At Lake St. Clair; Palaniuk Regains Lead In AOY race

Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., takes the lead on the second day of the 2017 Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair out of Macomb County, Mich., with a two-day total weight of 45 pounds, 13 ounces.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

August 25, 2017

Mosley Pulls Ahead At Lake St. Clair; Palaniuk Regains Lead In AOY race

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MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — Brock Mosley caught five bass Friday that weighed 25 pounds, 8 ounces, pushing his two-day total to 45-13 and taking the lead in the Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair.

A near miss earlier this season seems to have been just the motivation he needed.

“I finished second to Kevin VanDam at the St. Lawrence River (in July),” said Mosley, a second-year Elite Series pro from Collinsville, Miss. “When you beat everybody except Kevin, that’s pretty good. But coming so close really did motivate me for the rest of the season.”

After placing second at St. Lawrence, Mosley placed 42nd and earned a $10,000 check in the next Elite Series event on Lake Champlain. During Thursday’s opening round, he caught 20-5 and landed in 13th place at Lake St. Clair.

Then on Friday, everything went right.

“It was a slow day, but every bite I got was a good one,” Mosley said. “Everything just went my way, and I was blessed to have what I have.”

Mosley said he caught a good limit early and then just went “goofing around” to avoid putting too much pressure on fish he knows he’ll need the rest of the week. While goofing around, he got a nice surprise.

“I was still fishing the same way I had been, but I was really out there just wasting time,” he said. “I caught another 5 1/2-pounder while I was doing that. That was a surprise. I really wasn’t expecting to cull a 4-pounder, but that’s the kind of day it was.”

After catching 21-13 in the first round, Alabama angler Matt Lee had another great Friday, landing five bass that weighed 23-3. With a two-day total of 45-0, he’s well within striking distance of his first victory in his 50th career B.A.S.S. event.

Things happened quickly for Lee after takeoff.

“I started in a different place that I didn’t get to fish (Thursday), and I had 20 pounds by 8:30,” Lee said. “I only got one bite on my best spot from (Thursday), and I lost that fish. I never caught a fish there in two hours and 15 minutes.”

Lee finally gave up on his first-round spot and managed to cull a couple of fish in other places. Then he went back to the place where he started Friday morning.

“At 3 o’clock, I caught a 4 3/4-pounder right back in that spot where I started,” Lee said. “That culled out a 3 1/4.”

Opening-round leader Bradley Roy caught 21-9 Friday and fell two spots to third place with 44-12.

“Things started earlier for me today,” Roy said. “The first day, it took me a long time to get a bite. Today, right off the bat, I started catching them.”

Then he had what he described as a “bad lull” between 9 a.m. and noon. But he managed to figure the fish out for the afternoon.

“I readjusted, got on some new areas and started catching them again,” he said. “I’m hoping if those fish have left or I’ve caught them all out of that area from the first day that I’ve expanded a little bit. Maybe I can keep pushing on out to some new areas to catch 21 or 22 pounds a day to win this thing.”

Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk caught 22-6 and moved into 20th place with 40-3. That helped him regain the lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 820 points. Oklahoma’s Jason Christie is second with 791, followed by Tennessee’s Jacob Wheeler with 785.

After catching only 17-13 Thursday, Palaniuk said he has no intention of playing it safe to protect his AOY lead.

“If you let up, these guys will pass you in a heartbeat,” he said. “I still don’t even know what the point gap is. I know I’m leading because you guys keep telling me. But I haven’t looked at the standings in three years.”

Palaniuk held the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week after Day 1 with a 6-8 smallmouth. But North Carolina angler Shane Lineberger passed him Friday with a 6-10.

The Top 50 remaining anglers will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round — and after Saturday, only the Top 12 will advance to Championship Sunday.

Daily takeoffs will begin at 6:30 a.m. ET at Lake St. Clair Metropark. Weigh-ins will be held back at the park at 3:15 p.m.

When the tournament is done, the Top 50 anglers in the AOY standings will advance to the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Minnesota’s Mille Lacs Lake next month.

The event is hosted by Macomb County, Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Detroit Sports Commission.

2017 Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair 8/24-8/27
Lake St. Clair, Macomb County  MI.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS        10  45-13  110     $500.00
Day 1: 5   20-05     Day 2: 5   25-08
2.  Matt Lee               Guntersville, AL        10  45-00  109
Day 1: 5   21-13     Day 2: 5   23-03
3.  Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY           10  44-12  108
Day 1: 5   23-03     Day 2: 5   21-09
4.  Luke Clausen           Otis Orchards, WA       10  44-04  107
Day 1: 5   19-05     Day 2: 5   24-15
5.  Jordan Lee             Grant, AL               10  44-04  106
Day 1: 5   19-09     Day 2: 5   24-11
6.  Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK           10  42-13  105
Day 1: 5   21-12     Day 2: 5   21-01
7.  Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL               10  42-07  104
Day 1: 5   20-12     Day 2: 5   21-11
8.  Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  42-05  103
Day 1: 5   20-11     Day 2: 5   21-10
9.  Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  42-04  102
Day 1: 5   19-11     Day 2: 5   22-09
10. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX               10  42-02  101
Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   22-12
11. Mark Daniels Jr.       Tuskegee, AL            10  42-00  100
Day 1: 5   21-11     Day 2: 5   20-05
12. Brett Preuett          Monroe, LA              10  41-13   99
Day 1: 5   20-04     Day 2: 5   21-09
13. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA              10  41-10   98
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   21-04
14. Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA              10  41-06   97
Day 1: 5   20-14     Day 2: 5   20-08
15. Jacob Wheeler          Harrison, TN            10  41-03   96
Day 1: 5   21-09     Day 2: 5   19-10
16. Brandon Coulter        Knoxville, TN           10  40-10   95
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   22-01
17. Jonathon VanDam        Kalamazoo, MI           10  40-10   94
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   20-11
18. Seth Feider            Isle, MN                10  40-07   93
Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   21-15
19. Randy Howell           Guntersville, AL        10  40-04   92
Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   20-14
20. Brandon Palaniuk       Hayden, ID              10  40-03   91
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   22-06
21. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             10  39-12   90
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   18-12
22. Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL            10  39-12   89
Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 5   20-12
23. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  39-11   88
Day 1: 5   20-02     Day 2: 5   19-09
24. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           10  38-12   87
Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 5   23-11
25. Gerald Spohrer         Gonzales, LA            10  38-12   86
Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   22-15
26. Chad Morgenthaler      Reeds Spring, MO        10  38-08   85
Day 1: 5   22-03     Day 2: 5   16-05
27. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  38-07   84
Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   20-09
28. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL         10  38-04   83
Day 1: 5   19-05     Day 2: 5   18-15
29. John Murray            Spring City, TN         10  38-02   82
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   22-02
30. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  38-01   81
Day 1: 5   20-12     Day 2: 5   17-05
31. Ott DeFoe              Blaine, TN              10  38-00   80
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   20-00
32. Chris Zaldain          Laughlin, NV            10  37-10   79
Day 1: 5   15-07     Day 2: 5   22-03
33. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ         10  37-07   78
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   18-00
34. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC               10  37-05   77
Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   18-08
35. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC          10  37-00   76
Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   18-03
36. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL           10  36-15   75
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   20-04
37. Josh Bertrand          San Tan Valley, AZ      10  36-14   74
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   19-02
38. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  36-13   73
Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   17-07
39. Edwin Evers            Talala, OK              10  36-12   72
Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   17-06
40. Brent Ehrler           Redlands, CA            10  36-07   71
Day 1: 5   18-15     Day 2: 5   17-08
41. John Hunter Jr         Shelbyville, KY         10  36-02   70
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   17-01
42. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS              10  36-02   69
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   17-07
43. Dustin Connell         Clanton, AL             10  36-00   68
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   17-11
44. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 10  35-15   67
Day 1: 5   16-06     Day 2: 5   19-09
45. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              10  35-14   66
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   22-15
46. Chad Pipkens           Lansing, MI             10  35-09   65
Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 5   17-07
47. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  35-06   64
Day 1: 5   18-10     Day 2: 5   16-12
48. Koby Kreiger           Bokeelia, FL            10  35-05   63
Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   15-13
49. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS        10  35-05   62
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   19-02
50. Fred Roumbanis         London, AR              10  35-03   61
Day 1: 5   18-12     Day 2: 5   16-07
51. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA             10  34-15   60
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   18-10
52. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  34-14   59
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   19-09
53. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC             10  34-10   58
Day 1: 5   18-14     Day 2: 5   15-12
54. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO        10  34-10   57
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   16-14
55. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL        10  34-07   56
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   17-12
56. Jesse Wiggins          Cullman, AL             10  34-06   55
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   16-13
57. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR         10  34-05   54
Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   16-15
58. Jesse Tacoronte        Orlando, FL             10  34-04   53
Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 5   16-03
59. Adrian Avena           Vineland, NJ            10  34-04   52
Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 5   18-00
60. David Williams         Newton, NC              10  34-01   51
Day 1: 5   19-03     Day 2: 5   14-14
61. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR         10  34-01   50
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   16-08
62. Mark Davis             Mount Ida, AR           10  34-00   49
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   17-13
63. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  33-13   48
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   18-11
64. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL        10  33-13   47
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   16-00
65. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        10  33-11   46
Day 1: 5   12-03     Day 2: 5   21-08
66. Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL        10  33-08   45
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   18-15
67. Tyler Carriere         Youngsville, LA         10  33-06   44
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   14-11
68. Dave Lefebre           Erie, PA                10  33-04   43
Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 5   17-08
69. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX              10  33-03   42
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   18-13
70. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC             10  33-03   41
Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   15-13
71. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  33-02   40
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   15-02
72. Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI           10  32-15   39
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   18-06
73. Gary Klein             Mingus, TX              10  32-15   38
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   18-05
74. Cliff Pace             Petal, MS               10  32-04   37
Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   17-05
75. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR         10  32-04   36
Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   16-09
76. Britt Myers            Lake Wylie, SC          10  32-03   35
Day 1: 5   14-13     Day 2: 5   17-06
77. Morizo Shimizu         Suita, Osaka JAPAN      10  32-02   34
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   17-13
78. Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC          10  32-01   33
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   13-08
79. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          10  31-13   32
Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 5   18-00
80. Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL        9  31-13   31
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 4   14-01
81. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL            10  31-10   30
Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   18-00
82. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA       10  30-06   29
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   14-01
83. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX              10  30-03   28
Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   14-08
84. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL            9  30-00   27
Day 1: 4   17-05     Day 2: 5   12-11
85. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA         10  30-00   26
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   15-06
86. Alton Jones Jr.        Lorena, TX              10  29-12   25
Day 1: 5   10-12     Day 2: 5   19-00
87. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         10  29-12   24
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   17-06
88. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK             10  29-07   23
Day 1: 5   13-06     Day 2: 5   16-01
89. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK             10  29-06   22
Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   13-04
90. David Walker           Sevierville, TN          8  28-13   21
Day 1: 3   10-13     Day 2: 5   18-00
91. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           8  28-00   20
Day 1: 3   09-04     Day 2: 5   18-12
92. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  8  27-05   19
Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 3   11-03
93. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           7  27-04   18
Day 1: 2   05-04     Day 2: 5   22-00
94. Fletcher Shryock       New Philadelphia, OH     9  27-03   17
Day 1: 4   10-03     Day 2: 5   17-00
95. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             9  27-03   16
Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 4   10-12
96. Brandon Card           Knoxville, TN            9  26-09   15
Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 4   12-07
97. James Elam             Tulsa, OK                7  24-13   14
Day 1: 2   06-06     Day 2: 5   18-07
98. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL         9  23-05   13
Day 1: 4   09-01     Day 2: 5   14-04
99. Darrell Ocamica        New Plymouth, ID         7  21-01   12
Day 1: 5   17-00     Day 2: 2   04-01
100. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL            7  21-01   11
Day 1: 3   09-01     Day 2: 4   12-00
101. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN            9  20-09   10
Day 1: 5   12-04     Day 2: 4   08-05
102. Kelly Jordon           Flint, TX                8  19-05    9
Day 1: 5   12-11     Day 2: 3   06-10
103. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL          7  18-11    8
Day 1: 5   11-10     Day 2: 2   07-01
104. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              7  18-06    7
Day 1: 2   04-00     Day 2: 5   14-06
105. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  15-10    6
Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
106. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ     5  12-14    5
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
107. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            4  12-06    4
Day 1: 3   07-05     Day 2: 1   05-01
108. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA             3  09-12    3
Day 1: 3   09-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        97       518      1781-12
2        95       506      1865-03
———————————-
192      1024      3646-15

FINESSE HEAVY COVER WITH CONFIDENCE WITH THE NEW VMC® WEEDLESS NEKO HOOK – August 22nd

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FINESSE HEAVY COVER WITH CONFIDENCE WITH THE NEW VMC® WEEDLESS NEKO HOOK – August 22nd

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Think finesse baits are for wide open water only? Think again. You needn’t think twice about throwing VMC®’s new Weedless Neko Hooks around the gnarliest of cover, a tactic that put big bass in the boat for Brandon Palaniuk when he won the Bassmaster Elite event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir this spring.

“It’s what I caught all my big fish on,” says Palaniuk, a VMC pro and seven-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier. “Every fish I caught over 8 pounds came on a Neko Rig.”

The new VMC Weedless Neko Hook is designed with a durable 50-pound-test fluorocarbon weed guard, a feature that enables anglers to fish with confidence in the most challenging of settings without getting hung up.

“When you’re fishing around trees or brush, or docks, or logs, that fluorocarbon weed guard is going to help keep the hook from snagging,” says Mike “Ike” Iaconelli, a fellow VMC pro and fan of Neko Rigging. “It is one of the hottest trends around right now. But Neko Rigging in open water and Neko Rigging around heavy cover is totally different. With this weedless design, VMC’s really outdone itself.”

Another benefit of the 50-pound-test fluorocarbon bristles that comprise the Weedless Neko Hook’s snag guard is that, unlike wire, Iaconelli says, they are “invisible to the fish.”

Weedless Neko Hooks feature a forged black-nickel finish, a wide gap and long shank. “It’s not quite a straight shank, it’s not quite an octopus or drop-shot style,” Iaconelli explains. “It’s an in-between-style hook. And that design of that hook is actually going to, in itself, land a lot more fish.”

Available in four sizes — 2, 1, 1/0 and 2/0 — Weedless Neko Hooks feature a resin-closed eye. “In a lot of hooks, there’s an open-eye design and when you’re using light fluorocarbon – which is great on these finesse tactics – it has a tendency to slip through that eye. With a closed eye, you won’t get that,” says Iaconelli.

According to Iaconelli, another key feature is the Weedless Neko Hook’s 3-degree offset point. “It’s going to catch more meat in the fish’s mouth and you’re going to get a better hookset,” he explains.

Bass usually hit Neko Rigs on the initial fall. A semi-slack line is key. “When you let the Neko Rig fall on a semi-slack line, it falls almost backwards at an angle,” Iaconelli says. “It’s this natural, erratic glide that drives fish nuts.”

Although Neko Rigs are productive year-round, most anglers favor them in the post-spawn and summer. “It really shines once the fish get offshore a little bit and grouped up,” says fellow VMC Pro Seth Feider, who used Neko Hooks to win a Bassmaster tournament last year.

See VMC® Weedless Neko Hook

Roy Takes First-Round Lead, AOY Race Heats Up At Bassmaster Elite At St. Clair

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Roy Takes First-Round Lead, AOY Race Heats Up At Bassmaster Elite At St. Clair

August 24, 2017

Roy Takes First-Round Lead, AOY Race Heats Up At Bassmaster Elite At St. Clair

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MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — On a day when all eyes were on the most experienced anglers in the sport, a 26-year-old pro from Kentucky stole the show.

Bradley Roy, who has never finished higher than third in a Bassmaster Elite Series event, caught five bass that weighed 23 pounds, 3 ounces, during Thursday’s first round. It was good enough to take the lead in the Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair.

Missouri angler Chad Morgenthaler is just 1 pound behind in second with 22-3, and Alabamian Matt Lee is third with 21-13.

“I had a good practice,” said Roy, who finished seventh at this year’s GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. “I was seeing a lot of quality fish in a lot of different areas. But this morning, I don’t know if they just didn’t bite or if they moved out of some of those areas.

“I fished several places and just didn’t get bit.”

Lake St. Clair smallmouth bass have a reputation for roaming — and Roy decided to roam in search of them.

“I just kept moving around, cycling through them, and about 9 o’clock they started to bite pretty good,” he said. “After that, it was just steady. You’d catch some small ones, and then you’d catch a good one.”

Morgenthaler’s day was the opposite of Roy’s, as he put a good limit in his livewell on the first place he stopped.

“It all happened really quick this morning,” Morgenthaler said. “I’m on one spot, and it’s just a place where they can get stacked up on. It’s not a very big spot, and there was another angler in there with me this morning — but we worked really well together.”

Lee followed Roy’s path, landing most of his larger fish beyond the morning hours.

“Later in the day, I just made a decision to go out to this one area where I had gotten bit in practice,” Lee said. “I rolled up out there, and they were all big ones.

“I caught 10 fish there — four were little, one was a 3-pounder and I jumped one off,” Lee said. “Then I weighed in three from there, and they were all hammers.”

Roy, Morgenthaler and Lee generated a lot of buzz as the leaders of the race for the $100,000 first-place tournament prize. But many were also interested in the hotly contested race for Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year — and the competition couldn’t be much tighter.

Tennessee angler Jacob Wheeler came into the day tied for second place in the AOY race, but moved into the lead with 794 points after landing 21-9 and finishing the first day of the St. Clair event in sixth place. Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk, who came into the tournament as the AOY leader, caught just 17-13 and finished in 47th place on Day 1.

“Moving forward, this is a three-day deal,” Wheeler said. “I could go out there tomorrow and catch 17 pounds, or 16 pounds or even 12 pounds. You’ve got to catch them every day. Day 1 just doesn’t matter.

“At the end of the tournament, where you finish is what matters.”

Palaniuk is now in second place in the AOY race with 793 points, tied with Oklahoma pro Jason Christie. South Carolina pro Casey Ashley is also well within striking distance in fourth with 769 points.

“My biggest fish (a 6-8 smallmouth) was my second fish of the morning, and after that I thought I was going to smash them,” said Palaniuk, who took the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week with his lunker. “But after that, I just caught small ones. I also lost one 4-pounder.”

Christie said he thinks he’s on the fish to win the tournament.

“It could happen if everything goes right,” he said. “But how often does everything go right?”

After Friday’s weigh-in, only the Top 50 remaining anglers will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round. Daily takeoffs will begin at 6:30 a.m. ET at Lake St. Clair Metropark. Weigh-ins will be held back at the park at 3:15 p.m.

When the tournament is done, the Top 50 anglers in the AOY standings will advance to the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Minnesota’s Mille Lacs Lake next month.

The event is hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission, Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce and Macomb County.

2017 Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair 8/24-8/27
Lake St. Clair, Macomb County  MI.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY            5  23-03  110
Day 1: 5   23-03
2.  Chad Morgenthaler      Reeds Spring, MO         5  22-03  109
Day 1: 5   22-03
3.  Matt Lee               Guntersville, AL         5  21-13  108
Day 1: 5   21-13
4.  Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK            5  21-12  107
Day 1: 5   21-12
5.  Mark Daniels Jr.       Tuskegee, AL             5  21-11  106
Day 1: 5   21-11
6.  Jacob Wheeler          Harrison, TN             5  21-09  105
Day 1: 5   21-09
7.  Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  21-00  104
Day 1: 5   21-00
8.  Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA               5  20-14  103
Day 1: 5   20-14
9.  John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  20-12  102
Day 1: 5   20-12
9.  Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL                5  20-12  102
Day 1: 5   20-12
11. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  20-11  100
Day 1: 5   20-11
12. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               5  20-06   99
Day 1: 5   20-06
13. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  20-05   98
Day 1: 5   20-05
14. Brett Preuett          Monroe, LA               5  20-04   97
Day 1: 5   20-04
15. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  20-02   96
Day 1: 5   20-02
16. Jonathon VanDam        Kalamazoo, MI            5  19-15   95
Day 1: 5   19-15
17. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              5  19-11   94
Day 1: 5   19-11
18. Jordan Lee             Grant, AL                5  19-09   93
Day 1: 5   19-09
19. Koby Kreiger           Bokeelia, FL             5  19-08   92
Day 1: 5   19-08
20. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          5  19-07   91
Day 1: 5   19-07
21. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  19-06   90
Day 1: 5   19-06
21. Edwin Evers            Talala, OK               5  19-06   90
Day 1: 5   19-06
21. Randy Howell           Guntersville, AL         5  19-06   90
Day 1: 5   19-06
21. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX                5  19-06   90
Day 1: 5   19-06
25. Luke Clausen           Otis Orchards, WA        5  19-05   86
Day 1: 5   19-05
25. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          5  19-05   86
Day 1: 5   19-05
27. David Williams         Newton, NC               5  19-03   84
Day 1: 5   19-03
28. John Hunter Jr         Shelbyville, KY          5  19-01   83
Day 1: 5   19-01
29. Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL             5  19-00   82
Day 1: 5   19-00
30. Brent Ehrler           Redlands, CA             5  18-15   81
Day 1: 5   18-15
31. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC              5  18-14   80
Day 1: 5   18-14
32. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC           5  18-13   79
Day 1: 5   18-13
32. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC                5  18-13   79
Day 1: 5   18-13
34. Fred Roumbanis         London, AR               5  18-12   77
Day 1: 5   18-12
35. Tyler Carriere         Youngsville, LA          5  18-11   76
Day 1: 5   18-11
35. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS               5  18-11   76
Day 1: 5   18-11
37. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  18-10   74
Day 1: 5   18-10
38. Brandon Coulter        Knoxville, TN            5  18-09   73
Day 1: 5   18-09
38. Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC           5  18-09   73
Day 1: 5   18-09
40. Seth Feider            Isle, MN                 5  18-08   71
Day 1: 5   18-08
41. Dustin Connell         Clanton, AL              5  18-05   70
Day 1: 5   18-05
42. Chad Pipkens           Lansing, MI              5  18-02   69
Day 1: 5   18-02
43. Jesse Tacoronte        Orlando, FL              5  18-01   68
Day 1: 5   18-01
44. Ott DeFoe              Blaine, TN               5  18-00   67
Day 1: 5   18-00
45. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  18-00   66
Day 1: 5   18-00
46. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  17-14   65
Day 1: 5   17-14
47. Brandon Palaniuk       Hayden, ID               5  17-13   64
Day 1: 5   17-13
47. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL         5  17-13   64
Day 1: 5   17-13
49. Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL        5  17-12   62
Day 1: 5   17-12
49. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO         5  17-12   62
Day 1: 5   17-12
51. Josh Bertrand          San Tan Valley, AZ       5  17-12   60
Day 1: 5   17-12
52. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR          5  17-09   59
Day 1: 5   17-09
52. Jesse Wiggins          Cullman, AL              5  17-09   59
Day 1: 5   17-09
54. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR          5  17-06   57
Day 1: 5   17-06
54. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              5  17-06   57
Day 1: 5   17-06
56. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL            4  17-05   55
Day 1: 4   17-05
57. Darrell Ocamica        New Plymouth, ID         5  17-00   54
Day 1: 5   17-00
58. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            5  16-11   53
Day 1: 5   16-11
58. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL         5  16-11   53
Day 1: 5   16-11
60. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  16-07   51
Day 1: 5   16-07
61. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  16-06   50
Day 1: 5   16-06
62. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA        5  16-05   49
Day 1: 5   16-05
62. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA              5  16-05   49
Day 1: 5   16-05
64. Adrian Avena           Vineland, NJ             5  16-04   47
Day 1: 5   16-04
65. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS         5  16-03   46
Day 1: 5   16-03
65. Mark Davis             Mount Ida, AR            5  16-03   46
Day 1: 5   16-03
67. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK              5  16-02   44
Day 1: 5   16-02
67. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  5  16-02   44
Day 1: 5   16-02
69. John Murray            Spring City, TN          5  16-00   42
Day 1: 5   16-00
70. Gerald Spohrer         Gonzales, LA             5  15-13   41
Day 1: 5   15-13
71. Dave Lefebre           Erie, PA                 5  15-12   40
Day 1: 5   15-12
72. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX               5  15-11   39
Day 1: 5   15-11
72. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR          5  15-11   39
Day 1: 5   15-11
74. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  15-10   37
Day 1: 5   15-10
75. Chris Zaldain          Laughlin, NV             5  15-07   36
Day 1: 5   15-07
76. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  15-05   35
Day 1: 5   15-05
77. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  15-02   34
Day 1: 5   15-02
78. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  15-01   33
Day 1: 5   15-01
79. Cliff Pace             Petal, MS                5  14-15   32
Day 1: 5   14-15
80. Britt Myers            Lake Wylie, SC           5  14-13   31
Day 1: 5   14-13
81. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA          5  14-10   30
Day 1: 5   14-10
81. Gary Klein             Mingus, TX               5  14-10   30
Day 1: 5   14-10
83. Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI            5  14-09   28
Day 1: 5   14-09
84. Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL         5  14-09   27
Day 1: 5   14-09
85. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX               5  14-06   26
Day 1: 5   14-06
86. Morizo Shimizu         Suita, Osaka JAPAN       5  14-05   25
Day 1: 5   14-05
87. Brandon Card           Knoxville, TN            5  14-02   24
Day 1: 5   14-02
88. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           5  13-13   23
Day 1: 5   13-13
89. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL             5  13-10   22
Day 1: 5   13-10
90. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK              5  13-06   21
Day 1: 5   13-06
91. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  12-15   20
Day 1: 5   12-15
92. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ     5  12-14   19
Day 1: 5   12-14
93. Kelly Jordon           Flint, TX                5  12-11   18
Day 1: 5   12-11
94. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          5  12-06   17
Day 1: 5   12-06
95. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN            5  12-04   16
Day 1: 5   12-04
96. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  12-03   15
Day 1: 5   12-03
97. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL          5  11-10   14
Day 1: 5   11-10
98. David Walker           Sevierville, TN          3  10-13   13
Day 1: 3   10-13
99. Alton Jones Jr.        Lorena, TX               5  10-12   12
Day 1: 5   10-12
100. Fletcher Shryock       New Philadelphia, OH     4  10-03   11
Day 1: 4   10-03
101. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA             3  09-12   10
Day 1: 3   09-12
102. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           3  09-04    9
Day 1: 3   09-04
103. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL         4  09-01    8
Day 1: 4   09-01
104. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL            3  09-01    7
Day 1: 3   09-01
105. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            3  07-05    6
Day 1: 3   07-05
106. James Elam             Tulsa, OK                2  06-06    5
Day 1: 2   06-06
107. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           2  05-04    4
Day 1: 2   05-04
108. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              2  04-00    3
Day 1: 2   04-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        97       518      1781-12
———————————-
97       518      1781-12

Set The Hook! With Pat Rose – Aug 05,2017 Featuring FLW Pro Zack Birge & wrestling legend Ron Fuller

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Set The Hook! With Pat Rose – Aug 05,2017 Featuring FLW Pro Zack Birge & wrestling legend Ron Fuller

Set the Hook! with Pat Rose – Aug 05, 2017

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Our guests this week were FLW Touring Pro Zack Birge and wrestling legend Ron Fuller “The Tennessee Stud”, with co-host Darren Gallaher in studio.

podcastIf you missed the show, you can listen to the podcast here.

Visit our sponsors page and tell them Pat sent you! If you would like to advertise on Set the Hook! with Pat Rose, give us a call at (423) 314-4541. Put Set the Hook! with Pat Rose to work for you.

Please follow Set the Hook! with Pat Rose on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SetTheHookWithPatRose.

FLW ANNOUNCES NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING

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FLW ANNOUNCES NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING

FLW ANNOUNCES NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING

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MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 23, 2017) – FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Kelly (Flinn) Oettinger has returned to the company as the Vice President of Marketing. Oettinger will be responsible for providing strategic direction and engagement for all of FLW’s marketing initiatives.

Oettinger, who has nearly 20 years of brand and marketing experience, including 8 seasons with FLW, will be based at FLW’s corporate office in Hopkins, Minnesota. Oettinger previously held the position of Marketing and Account Director at FLW from 2005 to mid-2013. In the intervening years, Oettinger continued to work in the marketing industry, specializing in brand integration, sponsorships, sports marketing and retail merchandising. Most recently, she was a Management Supervisor at Catapult Marketing, an award-winning Conversion Marketing agency with an integrated approach that delivers brand strategy, insights, shopper marketing, consumer promotions and more. Oettinger will report directly to FLW President of Marketing Trish Blake.

“The FLW family is very excited to welcome Kelly back. She has the industry knowledge, relationships, and skill sets to help lead FLW’s marketing initiatives along with the rest of the teams in our organization,” said Blake.

Oettinger will be replacing Patterson Leeth, who has accepted a position with Simms Fishing Products.

“It has been an honor and privilege to work with Patterson these past three years,” Blake said. “We wish him the very best in his new position at Simms.”

“The past few years at FLW have been an extremely fulfilling and rewarding experience,” Leeth said. “I’m thankful for every partnership, friendship and relationship that I’ve been able to forge here in my time with the company. The FLW and bass-fishing community is a wonderful family and I’m looking forward to still being a very big part of it.”

For the latest FLW news and information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow FLW on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

Shawn Wills & Ron (Bubba) Tooth Win Augusta County Bass Johns Rappahannock River August 12,2017

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Shawn Wills & Ron (Bubba) Tooth Win Augusta County Bass Johns Rappahannock River August 12,2017

Click Here To See Full Results

 

B.A.S.S., Alabama Power To Award Scholarships To Students Attending Technical College

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B.A.S.S., Alabama Power To Award Scholarships To Students Attending Technical College

August 22, 2017

B.A.S.S., Alabama Power To Award Scholarships To Students Attending Technical College

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. and Alabama Power are partnering to award two $5,000 scholarships this year for students currently attending, or planning to attend, a technical school in the state of Alabama.

The applicant must be a member of a B.A.S.S. High School Club or the B.A.S.S. Nation, a worldwide network of affiliated B.A.S.S. clubs whose members are active in conservation initiatives and youth programs.

“We are proud to partner with Alabama Power in an effort to encourage young B.A.S.S. members who want to pursue careers in technical fields to attend schools in Alabama,” B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin said. “Our companies recognize the importance of a highly skilled and dedicated workforce in our state, and we are working together to achieve that goal.”

The award can be used to cover tuition, textbooks or living expenses.

Applications can be found on Bassmaster.com/nation-application. An official academic transcript, a letter of introduction and two letters of recommendation are required to apply. The deadline to apply is Friday, Sept. 15.

“Our partnership with B.A.S.S. is a great opportunity to teach students how to be good stewards of the environment, but it also provides resources for students involved with the organization that are interested in pursuing a trade, who could become valuable additions to our workforce here in Alabama,” said Zeke Smith, Alabama Power Executive Vice President of External Affairs.

Recipients will be notified by Sept. 29 and will be featured on Bassmaster.com.

For more information, contact B.A.S.S. College and High School Manager Hank Weldon at [email protected].

About Alabama Power Company
Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), provides affordable, reliable electricity to more than 1.4 million customers across the state. Learn more at www.alabamapower.com.

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. 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 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 45 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 Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan Outdoors, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

FLW ANNOUNCES 2018 COSTA FLW SERIES SCHEDULE

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FLW ANNOUNCES 2018 COSTA FLW SERIES SCHEDULE

FLW ANNOUNCES 2018 COSTA FLW SERIES SCHEDULE

 Lake Guntersville to host 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship in November

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MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 22, 2017) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today the 2018 Costa FLW Series schedule, which will consist of three events in each of the five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western – along with the no-entry-fee Costa FLW Series Championship to be held on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama.

The top 40 pros and co-anglers in the final point standings in each division after three qualifying tournaments will advance to the 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship, provided they fished all three qualifiers in a division.

The highest finishing pro from each of the five Costa FLW Series divisions based on final results at the 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup, along with the highest finishing pro from the championship’s international division. A total of six Costa FLW Series pros will advance to the 2019 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing.

Complete rules and entry dates will be announced soon.

 

2018 Costa FLW Series Season Schedule:

 

Central Division                  Fishery                                  City                                         Local Host

  • April 19-21            Table Rock Lake                  Branson, Mo.                        ExploreBranson.com
  • June 7-9                Lake Barkley                        Cadiz, Ky.                              Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism
  • Oct. 11-13             Lake of the Ozarks              Osage Beach, Mo.               Tri-County Lodging Association

 

Northern Division

  • June 21-23           Lake Champlain                  Plattsburgh, N.Y.                  City of Plattsburgh
  • July 26-28             Lake Erie                               Buffalo, N.Y.                         Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission
  • Sept. 6-8               1000 Islands                         Clayton, N.Y.                         Clayton Chamber of Commerce

 

Southeastern Division

  • Jan. 4-6                 Lake Okeechobee               Okeechobee, Fla.             Okeechobee County Tourism Development Council
  • March 1-3              Lake Seminole                    Bainbridge, Ga.                    Bainbridge Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • April 5-7                 Santee Cooper                    Summerton, S.C.                 Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce

 

Southwestern Division

  • Feb. 15-17            Sam Rayburn Reservoir     Jasper, Texas                  Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce
  • March 22-24         Grand Lake                           Grove, Okla.                          City of Grove
  • Oct. 4-6                  Fort Gibson Lake                 Wagoner, Okla.                    Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce

 

Western Division

  • Feb. 8-10               Lake Havasu       Lake Havasu City, Ariz.                       Lake Havasu City Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • May 10-12             Clear Lake                            Lakeport, Calif.                    Konocti Vista Casino Resort and Marina
  • Sept. 27-29           California Delta                   Bethel Island, Calif.             Russo’s Marina

 

Costa FLW Series Championship

  • Nov. 1-3                 Lake Guntersville                 Guntersville, Ala.                 Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau

The full schedule and details for each fishery can be found at FLWFishing.com.

For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Costa FLW Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

CHATHAM’S MULL WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE ILLINI DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE SHELBYVILLE PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS

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CHATHAM’S MULL WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE ILLINI DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE SHELBYVILLE PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS

CHATHAM’S MULL WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE ILLINI DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE SHELBYVILLE PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS

Walnut Hill’s Arning Claims Co-angler Title

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SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (Aug. 21, 2017) – Jeremy Mull of Chatham, Illinois, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Illini Division tournament on Lake Shelbyville presented by Navionics. Mull took home $5,745 for his victory.

Mull said he began his day flipping isolated trees and stumps on the main lake and in coves using a green-pumpkin-colored Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver with a 3/8-ounce weight.

“I caught a 5-pounder first thing in the morning from an isolated tree,” said Mull, who logged his second career-win – both on Lake Shelbyville – in BFL competition. “After that I kept moving and came across a stump that produced six to eight keepers. I flipped to it, headed down the bank and then would return. I did that several times and ended up weighing two bass off of it.”

At 10 a.m. Mull said he moved out deep to a brush pile, in 16 to 18 feet of water, on a small main-lake point. He said he switched to a Red Bug-colored Zoom Trick Worm with a 5/16-ounce Spot Remover jig head.

“I caught the last two that I weighed within a few minutes of each other and then the bite died off,” said Mull.  “I didn’t really do anything special out there – I got the bites needed and I was able to get them in the boat. It was one of those days you dream about having.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Jeremy Mull, Chatham, Ill., five bass, 22-1, $3,745 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

2nd:         Brad Porter, Bluford, Ill., five bass, 16-10, $1,873

3rd:          Marion Cordes, Sullivan, Ill., five bass, 16-4, $1,181

4th:          Robert Neff, Roodhouse, Ill., five bass, 14-4, $827

5th:          Patrick O’Dell, Windsor, Ill., five bass, 14-0, $709

6th:          Paul Leonard, Chatham, Ill., five bass, 13-6, $1,095

7th:          Haldon Burgener, Moweaqua, Ill., five bass, 13-2, $591

8th:          Mike Barnes, Mackinaw, Ill., five bass, 12-15, $832

9th:          Chris Johnson, Griggsville, Ill., three bass, 12-12, $443

9th:          Greg Mullins, Mount Vernon, Ill., five bass, 12-12, $443

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Leonard caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $445.

Aaron Arning of Walnut Hill, Illinois, caught five bass weighing 13 pounds, 2 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $1,793.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1st:          Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., five bass, 13-2, $1,793

2nd:         Archie Eslinger, Paris, Ill., four bass, 10-11, $846

3rd:          Brandon Depew, Odin, Ill., five bass, 9-5, $564

4th:          Anthony Macon, Greenville, Ill., four bass, 8-4, $367

4th:          Jimmy Null, Bethalto, Ill., three bass, 8-4, $367

6th:          Edward Helf, Alto Pass, Ill., four bass, 8-0, $310

7th:          Ryan Fancher, Olney, Ill., four bass, 7-7, $332

8th:          Steven Yeun, Elgin, Ill., four bass, 6-13, $254

9th:          Dillon Saffle, Ballwin, Mo., three bass, 6-10, $226

10th:        Richard Snodgrass, Bluffs, Ill., two bass, 6-6, $198

Lyle Lehman of Blue Mound, Illinois, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 5 pounds, 6 ounces – and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $212.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.

The 2017 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

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