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CLEWISTON, Fla. (Jan. 16, 2024) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to visit Clewiston, Florida, next week, Jan. 25-27, for the 2024 season-opening event – the Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee.
The three-day tournament is the first event of the year for Southern Division anglers and hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council. The event will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.
“This is going to be a great tournament – there is nowhere better to start the season than in Florida,” said Bass Pro Tour angler Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, the REDCREST 2022 Champion with more than $2.5 million in career earnings. “Lake Okeechobee is a fantastic fishery, and if the weather stays stable, we are going to see a good one.
“The lake is really high – we’ve had a lot of water this year,” Lane continued. “If I was approaching this tournament, I’d be spending time on the south end, the north end and the shoal. I’d also look around the J&S canal to see if anything was going on, and pretty much cover all four sides of the lake. This tournament could be won from one end of the lake to the other.”
Lane said that he expects the tournament competitors to start the event on popular community holes, but top finishers will need to have a backup plan in place.
“The angler that wins is going to catch them in a community hole on the first day, but the amount of pressure on those schools will only hold up for a day or day and a half,” Lane said. “You’ll need a backup plan for the afternoon of the second and then the third day, and whoever has that will win this tournament.
“I think the fish are going to be moving,” Lane added. “Moving baits, and lipless baits will be good. If it’s cold, the (Berkley) Slobberknocker will be hard to beat, especially in the golden shiner color. If it gets really warm and the spawn starts moving around, we’ll see more traditional (Berkley) PowerWorm and (Berkley) MaxScent The General type baits working.”
Lane predicted that with stable weather, fans can expect to see single-day high weights in the 27-to 30-pound range, and he expects the overall winner to weigh in 69 to 70 pounds over three days of competition.
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each day from Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina & Resort, located at 920 E. Del Monte Avenue in Clewiston. Weigh-ins will also be held at the resort and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.
The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
| Team | BF | Weight | Winnings |
| Tab Anderson – Bill Francis | 4.24 | 15.78 | $2,225.00 |
| TJ Souther – Blake Teshaw | 3.48 | 13.98 | $910.00 |
| Landon Stacy – Toby Stacy | 3.20 | 12.12 | |
| Darrin Jeter – Eric Jeter | 0.00 | 11.98 | |
| Justin Reigns – Brian Anthony | 0.00 | 11.60 | |
| John Bloomfield – Brian King | 3.42 | 11.24 | |
| Jimmy Blackwell – Caleb Wyatt | 0.00 | 10.50 | |
| Ryan Lesley | 3.90 | 10.44 | |
| Roger Gosnell – Logan Gosnell | 0.00 | 8.24 | |
| Chance Griffith – Brent Black | 4.00 | 7.24 | $50.00 |
| Will Bryson | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Chad Pitt – Robbie Gwinn | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Caleb Gordon – Burt Gordon | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Blake Burdette – Grayson Brewster | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Introduction:
In the world of tournament bass fishing, social media has become a powerful tool for anglers to promote themselves, connect with fans, and showcase their skills on and off the water. However, the race for “likes” and views can sometimes lead anglers to prioritize the opinions of others, overshadowing their own authenticity. In this article, we will explore the importance of embracing imperfections, highlighting your unique journey, and staying true to yourself on social media. Alongside these insights, we will provide practical tips to help tournament bass anglers effectively promote themselves and engage their audience on popular social media platforms.
Embrace Imperfections and Show Your Scars:
One of the most crucial aspects of building an authentic online presence is being unafraid to highlight your imperfections. Remember, your followers appreciate genuineness over perfection. Share your setbacks and challenges, as well as your triumphs. By revealing your scars, both on and off the water, you present a relatable and inspiring story to your audience.
Tip: Consider sharing personal anecdotes of overcoming obstacles during tournaments or showcasing your growth as an angler. This vulnerability will engage viewers and foster a deeper connection with your audience.
Be the Hardest Working Angler in the Room:
In a highly competitive industry like tournament bass fishing, success often comes to those who put in the most effort. While there will always be anglers more skilled than you, you have control over your work ethic. Make a commitment to be the hardest working angler in the room. Dedicate yourself to honing your craft and continuously improving as an angler and content creator.
Tip: Create a schedule that balances fishing, content creation, and self-improvement activities such as research or studying tournament techniques. Being disciplined and focused will help you excel both on social media and on the water.
Focus on the Emotional Connection:
When promoting yourself on social media, remember that emotion is the most significant driver for viewership and engagement. Your content should aim to evoke emotions, whether it’s excitement, curiosity, or inspiration. Sharing stories that resonate with your audience on a deeper level will leave a lasting impression.
Tip: Craft narratives that dig beyond the surface and highlight the emotional aspects of your journey as a tournament angler. Share anecdotes about your passion for the sport, the thrill of competition, or the challenges you’ve overcome. Authenticity and emotion will create a memorable connection with your viewers.
Quality Trumps Quantity:
While it’s essential to maintain an active presence on social media, the quality of your content matters significantly more than the number of posts you make. Focus on creating meaningful and engaging content rather than churning out posts for the sake of consistency.
Tip: Take the time to plan and craft thoughtful content that aligns with your values and resonates with your audience. Invest in learning basic video editing techniques or photography skills to enhance the visual appeal of your posts. Quality content will always stand out amidst the noise.
Conclusion:
Tournament bass anglers can harness the power of social media to build their personal brand and connect with fans. By prioritizing authenticity, embracing imperfections, and focusing on the emotional connection with viewers, anglers can create a lasting impact and attract a dedicated following. Remember, success on social media should not solely be measured by views and likes, but by the genuine connection you establish with your audience.
As you navigate the world of social media as a tournament bass angler, always stay true to yourself and never lose sight of your passion for the sport. By embracing who you are and sharing your story, you can build a loyal and engaged community that will support you on your journey to success.
| Artificial Intelligence’s Influence on Fishing |
| A.I. expert Sid Dobrin’s presentation from the NPAA Annual Conference In Fort Myers, FL. |
| Forestville, WI (January 15, 2024) – Elon Musk professes that one of his greatest fears is A.I. being used for nefarious purposes, and ungoverned, it being a threat to humanity. (Think Skynet from Terminator.) Now nobody can say for certain that we’re heading down that path, but what we do know is A.I. can be an incredible tool for technological advancements.A.I. is accelerating the speed of drug discovery and expected to ultimately find cures for illnesses and diseases. A.I. is improving the precision and efficiency of robotics used in manufacturing. The information provided by A.I. can improve general decision-making and accentuate problem-solving. And we’ve all seen the ideas and information that ChatGPT can sling around. (Buyer beware when it comes to misinformation and disinformation.)So, how does, and will, A.I. influence fishing as it relates to professionals in the industry? For that answer, NPAA tapped Sid Dorbin. |
| Dorbin is Professor and Chair of the Department of English, University of Florida and is also one of the country’s foremost experts on artificial intelligence. Dorbin is also the author of numerous books, co-owner of inventivefishing.com, and is a an extremely knowledgeable saltwater and freshwater angler.In Dorbin’s presentation he introduces some fundamental explanations about how A.I and GenAI work and how they might be deployed in various workplace settings in the fishing industry.Pour a cup of coffee or crack a beer and watch Dobin’s presentation from the recent NPAA Annual Conference In Fort Myers, FL. |
| For more information on joining the NPAA and exploring the many benefits membership provides, visit www.npaa.net. |
The Bass on #KerrLake and #LakeGaston are definitely in the winter pattern some bass are chasing Bait in the ditches and Creek channels on the main lake and just inside the major creeks, blade, Baits, spoons and damiki style baits are best for those deeper fish. With all the recent rains, some creeks are a little stained and some are very stained, stained water warms up faster on shallow rock on sunny days so don’t forget small crank baits right up shallow on rocky sunny banks. And of course deeper fishing can be caught on vertical bluffs or clay banks down to 30 foot. On breezy sunny days a few bass still suspend off the points perfect for a jerk bait. Winter is the best time to catch a giant, pick your days and go fishing 🎣Captain Rick. @RickMorrisFishing.com for Instructional bass fishing or multi species group, charters🎣🇺🇸@MercuryMarine.com, #Goboldly, #Power-Pole, #GammaFishing, #Lowrance, #FalconBassBoats, #WarEagleLures, #Costa, #LewsFishing, #RPMCustomRods.
WHAT:
Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that Jacopo Gallelli of Florence, Italy, has accepted an invitation to fish the 2024 Bass Pro Tour. Gallelli fills a roster spot vacated by Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, who declined his 2024 Bass Pro Tour invitation.
NOTES:
The sixth season of the MLF Bass Pro Tour kicks off Jan. 30-Feb. 4 at Toledo Bend Reservoir in Many, Louisiana. The Bass Pro Tour features 80 of the world’s top bass fishing professionals, competing across nine states for a total purse of more than $6.7 million and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship. REDCREST 2025 will be held April 2-6, 2025, on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
There’s a certain romance to fishing, where the tug of the line is a call of victory, the splash of the rising fish a proclamation of your triumph. On the back of this exquisite pursuit, adding to the aroma of the open water is the pride and joy of anglers—their bass boats. These powerful, high-dollar machines play a significant role in the angling odyssey, but they are investments that require detailed and diligent upkeep, especially during the transformative season from balmy fall to frosty winter.
Here in our region, the allure of the chase keeps many anglers on the water throughout the year, weathering the bitter cold on their sturdy boats. It’s a testament to their passion, undeterred by the cooler climate, a love affair nurtured with a substantial financial commitment. These boats ride out the ruthless winter waves and endure the demanding cold, year on year, inevitably facing gradual wear and tear.
Even minor neglect can manifest as significant failures on the water, marring an otherwise exciting day with unwelcome interruptions. Picture this: you’re amidst a thrilling face-off on an icy winter day, your heart poised to celebrate the impending triumph, and suddenly, your bass boat decides to call it a day. The cause of such an untimely heartbreak could simply be a forgotten maintenance step.
One cannot emphasize enough the importance of meticulously preparing your boat for winter. So, let’s delve deeper into the steps and reasons for taking such measures:
View winterizing your boat as a strategic pause rather than a temporary halt, a period for caring for that which propels your passion. It’s about ensuring your boat stays with you ride after ride, fish after fish, rewarding you with the joy of countless captures. Here’s to you, anglers! Stay warm, stay safe, and keep the spirit alive! 🚤🎣🌊❄️.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Jan. 11, 2024) – The Adrian College duo of Braylon Eggerding and Lucas Washburn, both of Grand Rapids, Michigan, weighed a five-bass limit Thursday totaling 23 pounds, 9 ounces to win the 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship at Lake Toho . Eggerding and Washburn totaled 10 bass for 42-4 over two days of competition, edging out runners up Carter Doren and Ryan Lachniet of Campbellsville University (42-3) by just 1 ounce.
This is the first College Fishing National Championship win for the Bulldogs, who came from behind in the weather-shortened event to take home their first national championship title. The win earns the team a $43,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard and an additional $10,000, as well as automatic entry into the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot to win up to $235,000 and the chance to compete in REDCREST 2025 – MLF’s most prestigious championship.
Although strong winds and inclement weather forced the cancelation of the first day of competition on Tuesday, the next two days proved lucrative on the water, with multiple 20-pound bags crossing the stage both days. After finishing Day 1 in 10th place (8-9 behind leaders Nick Dumke and Easton Fothergill of University of Montevallo) the Bulldog duo’s 23-9 on the final day propelled them to the biggest final-day comeback at the National Championship since at least 2016.
When Eggerding and Washburn launched their boat Thursday morning, they believed they still had a chance to take home the trophy. Although they’d entered the second and final day of the weather-shortened event tied for 10th place and more than 8 pounds back of the leaders, they knew the Kissimmee Chain held enough giant bass to make up the deficit.
By the time they returned to Big Toho Marina for weigh-in, however, the Adrian College duo thought the opportunity had slipped away. It wasn’t that Eggerding and Washburn had struggled. They sacked up 23 pounds, 9 ounces — nearly 5 pounds more than the day prior — including a massive, 11-7 kicker. But with seven teams having topped 20 pounds on Day 1, including a 27-3 bag from Montevallo’s Dumke and Fothergill, they didn’t think it would be enough. Eggerding kicked himself over a big one that broke off late in the day.
“Honestly, we didn’t think we’d have enough to win,” Eggerding said. “We thought we’d get beat by at least a few pounds. I had lost a key fish that I broke off – a 6-,7-pounder – so we were kind of down.”
The feeling wouldn’t last long. Eggerding and Washburn watched from the hot seat on stage as each of the final 10 teams brought their fish to the scales. Each came up short. Their two-day total of 42-4 ultimately edged the Campbellsville University team of Doren and Lachniet by a single ounce.
“Utter disbelief,” Washburn said of his reaction. “I had no words. I mean, I had a million thoughts racing through my mind, but just nothing came out.”
Eggerding and Washburn pulled off the victory by bucking the trend set by the other contenders.
Most of the top finishers on Day 1 used forward-facing sonar to target bass with jerkbaits, glide baits and other reaction baits — generally doing so in Lake Toho. However, that bite fizzled under Thursday’s chilly, overcast conditions. Doren and Lachniet were the only team who caught more than 20 pounds Wednesday to replicate the feat. Dumke and Fothergill mustered just 11-6 Thursday, opening the door for the rest of the field.
Eggerding and Washburn, meanwhile, ran to Lake Kissimmee and employed more traditional Florida methods. They plied lily pads and submerged hydrilla around the mouth of a pocket, targeting fish that were moving up to spawn with lipless crankbaits, vibrating jigs and swimming worms.
“I think with the area that we were in, the clouds and wind actually helped our bite,” Washburn said. “The wind, especially, helped to position those fish on the lily pad points and those hydrilla points and made it a lot easier for us to target them.”
Eggerding said the tandem made the run to Kissimmee because of its history of producing tournament wins. As the event progressed, they figured out the bigger bass weren’t interested in slow presentations, so they had to make the fish react.
Their starting spot Thursday didn’t yield a keeper. But on his first cast in their second area, Eggerding caught a 4-pounder. A few minutes later, he said it felt like his lipless crankbait “just ran into some standing timber.” After a nerve-wracking fight, Washburn scooped the 11-7 brute into the net. It would take home Berkley Big Bass honors with ease, weighing 2 ½ pounds more than the second-largest fish of the event.
“She grabbed it and pulled straight backwards, and it went really wherever it wanted,” Eggerding said. “It got into some lily pads, and obviously that’s really scary with treble hooks. So, we kind of just let it play itself out. We were going crazy when we finally caught it.”
In the moments after weigh-in, their future opportunities hadn’t really sunk in yet. But both Eggerding and Washburn noted their pride in bringing a championship back to Adrian College, which had a second team finish among the Top 10.
“It’s huge,” Washburn said. “Hopefully it’s the start of some momentum that we can keep rolling throughout the season. It’s going to be huge for our points. It’s going to be a huge morale boost for the team overall. And we’re excited that we were able to pull it off.”
The top 10 teams on Lake Toho finished:
1st: Adrian College – Braylon Eggerding and Lucas Washburn, both of Grand Rapids, Mich., 10 bass, 42-4, $43,500
2nd: Campbellsville University – Carter Doren of Las Vegas, Nev., and Ryan Lachniet of Gum Spring, Va., 10 bass, 42-3, $33,500
3rd: University of Montevallo – Brandon Berry and Hunter Bright, both of Helena, Ala., 10 bass, 38-13, $4,000
4th: University of Montevallo – Nicholas Dumke and Easton Fothergill, both of Grand Rapids, Minn., 10 bass, 38-9, $3,000
5th: Emmanuel University – Robert Miller of Savannah, Ga., and John Micheal Ortman of Douglas, Ga., 10 bass, 38-4, $2,000
6th: Florida Gateway College – Bryson O’Steen of Live Oak, Fla., 10 bass, 37-3, $1,000
7th: University of Montevallo – Neal Braddy of Ailey, Ga., and Merritt Arnold of Watkinsville, Ga., 10 bass, 37-0, $1,000
8th: Carson-Newman University – Ben Cully of Rockwall, Texas, and Hayden Gaddis of Seymour, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-8, $1,000
9th: Tarleton State-Stephenville – Garett Cadenhead of Fort Worth, Texas, and Jared Mizell of Pearland, Texas, 10 bass, 36-3, $1,000
10th: Adrian College – Gerald Brumbaugh of Martinsburgh, Penn., and Mitchell Straffon of Fenton, Mich., 10 bass, 35-0, $1,00
For a full list of results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 598 bass weighing 1,375 pounds, 10 ounces caught by 125 teams Thursday. The catch included 104 five-bass limits.
The 15th annual College Fishing National Championship is a three-day event – hosted by Experience Kissimmee – featuring the top 135 college bass fishing teams from across the nation competing in an internationally televised, no-entry-fee tournament for a $43,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard and an additional $10,000.
For the first time ever at the College Fishing National Championship, teams only fished two days, with the full field of 135 teams competing on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Champions were crowned on Championship Thursday based on the cumulative two-day weight total.
In addition to the boat package, both members of the winning Adrian College team and the runners-up from Campbellsville University now advance to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship, where they’ll compete as pros for a top prize of up to $235,000. In addition, the winning Adrian College team’s highest finishing team member at the Toyota Series Championship will advance to REDCREST 2025 to compete against the world’s best pros for the sport’s top prize of $300,000.
Both members of the third-place University of Montevallo team from the College Fishing National Championship will advance to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for a shot at winning a $33,500 Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower outboard.
Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI teams compete in nine regular-season qualifying tournaments around the country. The top 12% of teams from each qualifying event advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2024) – After strong winds and inclement weather forced the cancelation of the first day of competition on Tuesday, the University of Montevallo duo of Nicholas Dumke and Easton Fothergill – both of Grand Rapids, Minnesota – grabbed the early lead Wednesday after Day 1 of the 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship at Lake Toho . The Falcons team brought a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 27 pounds, 3 ounces, giving them a 3-pound, 15-ounce lead over the second-place Adrian College team of Gerald Brumbaugh of Martinsburgh, Pennsylvania and Mitchell Straffon of Fenton, Michigan.
Dumke and Fothergill said when they pulled up to their first spot on Wednesday morning — the best area they’d discovered during practice on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes — they found nothing. No keepers, no bites, no activity on forward-facing sonar. While that’s not an ideal start to the College Fishing National Championship, it didn’t take long for the University of Montevallo team to relocate some of Lake Toho’s big bass.
The high winds and storms the previous day had moved their fish, but Dumke and Fothergill located another school of baitfish and bass Wednesday on what Fothergill called “a wind-blown corner.” They stayed in the area for the rest of the day, which paid off in the form of a massive 27-pound, 3-ounce limit.
“It was a pretty wild day, definitely something I won’t ever forget,” Dumke said. “There were some key times throughout the day and we just were fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.”
Fothergill and Dumke discovered during practice that the biggest bass on the Kissimmee Chain could be finicky, only willing to eat during a few key “bite windows” each day. So, once they found some quality fish, the duo hunkered down, targeting the bass using forward-facing sonar.
Dumke said they caught all their weight within three 30-minute periods. A 7-inch glide bait provoked the biggest bites, including a 7-11 brute caught by Fothergill that anchored the team’s limit and took home Berkley Big Bass honors.
“Our main deal is LiveScoping, so we’re throwing at fish every single cast we make,” Fothergill said. “We can tell how the fish are reacting to our baits and what we’ve seen from practice is they’ll just kind of react a few times and then all of a sudden, they’ll explode on your baits. It was like that for about a half hour, and then things would die off again. We found that we really had to capitalize on it when the bite windows opened up. When we noticed that happening today, we just made sure we were around where the big ones were, and it worked out.”
Dumke and Fothergill also competed in the 2023 College Fishing National Championship on the Kissimmee Chain last February, finishing 22nd. While Dumke said that experience helped them get a feel for how the lakes in the chain set up and which areas to focus on, they’ve found the fishing to be quite a bit different this time around, largely due to the amount of aquatic vegetation they’ve had to work through.
“Last year, there wasn’t much grass and any grass you did find was pretty good,” Dumke said. “But this year, there’s grass absolutely everywhere.”
Dumke and Fothergill hope to replicate their Day 1 pattern on Thursday. But they also said if there’s one place where things can shift overnight, it’s Florida. Wednesday’s results illustrated the boom-or-bust nature of the Kissimmee Chain in early January. While seven teams topped 20 pounds, more than half the field failed to reach double digits. Especially with the full field of 135 boats taking the water again in the weather-shortened event, no lead is safe.
“I’m guessing things are going to change,” Dumke said. “It’s that time of the year, plus it’s Florida. That’s the magic recipe for things completely flipping on you. A cloud goes in front of the sun, and all of a sudden things are really good or really bad.”
If Dumke and Fothergill can hold on, it would mark the second straight title for Montevallo. Peyton Harris and Dalton Head took home the trophy at the 2023 College Fishing National Championship and the Falcons had 11 teams qualify for this year’s championship, more than any other school.
Fothergill admitted that adding a trip to Wheeler Lake for the Toyota Series Championship — where he and Dumke would duke it out for a berth to REDCREST 2025 — to his 2024 schedule has crossed his mind. But he’s learned by now not to get ahead of himself. He said his focus Thursday will be “catching the fish that’s in front of us” and enjoying the moment.
“I’m super excited,” Fothergill said. “I had a blast today. It was actually some of the best glide bait fishing I’ve had. I’m not expecting them to hit it as good tomorrow with less sun, but we’ll just keep an open mind, and hopefully we can run into a couple more.”
The 15th annual College Fishing National Championship is a three-day event – hosted by Experience Kissimmee – featuring the top 135 college bass fishing teams from across the nation competing in an internationally televised, no-entry-fee tournament for a $43,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard and an additional $10,000.
For the first time ever at the College Fishing National Championship, teams will only fish two days, with the full field of 135 teams competing on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Champions will be crowned on Championship Thursday based on the cumulative two-day weight total.
In addition to the boat package, both members of the winning team and the runners-up at the 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship will advance to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship, where they’ll compete as pros for a top prize of up to $235,000. In addition, the winning team’s highest finishing team member at the Toyota Series Championship will advance to REDCREST 2025 to compete against the world’s best pros for the sport’s top prize of $300,000.
Both members of the third-place team at the College Fishing National Championship will advance to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for a shot at winning a $33,500 Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower outboard.
The top 10 teams after Day 1 on Lake Toho are:
1st: University of Montevallo – Nicholas Dumke and Easton Fothergill, both of Grand Rapids, Minn., five bass, 27-3
2nd: Adrian College – Gerald Brumbaugh of Martinsburgh, Penn., and Mitchell Straffon of Fenton, Mich., five bass, 23-4
3rd: Tarleton State-Stephenville – Garett Cadenhead of Fort Worth, Texas, and Jared Mizell of Pearland, Texas, five bass, 22-15
4th: Campbellsville University – Carter Doren of Las Vegas, Nev., and Ryan Lachniet of Gum Spring, Va., five bass, 21-15
5th: Emmanuel University – Robert Miller of Savannah, Ga., and John Micheal Ortman of Douglas, Ga., five bass, 21-11
6th: University of North Alabama – Dylan and Carter Nutt, both of Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 21-7
7th: Northeastern State University-Tahlequah – Levi Juby and Cooper Park of Sperry, Okla., five bass, 20-7
8th: Lander University – Kaleb Brown of Northfield, Mass., and Cole Moulton of Enfield, N.H., five bass, 19-7
9th: Erskine College – Lane Clark of Anderson, S.C., and Adam Seagle of Lincolnton, S.C., five bass, 18-12
10th: Carson-Newman University – Ben Cully of Rockwall, Texas, and Hayden Gaddis of Seymour, Tenn., five bass, 18-11
10th: Adrian College – Braylon Eggerding and Lucas Washburn of Grand Rapids, Mich., five bass, 18-11
For a full list of results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 598 bass weighing 1,412 pounds, 2 ounces caught by 132 teams Wednesday. The catch included 104 five-bass limits.
Anglers will take off from Big Toho Marina (located at 69 Lakeview Dr. in Kissimmee) at 7:30 a.m. ET on Thursday. Championship weigh-in will be held at the marina starting at 3:30 p.m. and will be livestreamed. Fans are welcome to attend the event or tune in to the weigh-in and follow the online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action on Championship Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI teams compete in nine regular-season qualifying tournaments around the country. The top 12% of teams from each qualifying event advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
