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DeFoe Takes Commanding Lead In Bassmaster Elite On Lake Okeechobee

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February 24, 2017

DeFoe Takes Commanding Lead In Bassmaster Elite On Lake Okeechobee

Ott DeFoe of Knoxville, Tenn., takes the lead on the first day of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee, bringing 31 pounds, 3 ounces to the scales on Thursday.

Photo by Seigo Saito/Bassmaster

Feb. 23, 2017

DeFoe Takes Commanding Lead In Bassmaster Elite On Lake Okeechobee

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OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Florida’s famous big-bass factory showed off during the first day of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee, as Tennessee native Ott DeFoe caught a huge five-bass limit that weighed 31 pounds, 3 ounces.

DeFoe’s impressive catch put him more than 4 pounds ahead of Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., who is currently in second place after weighing 26-13.

Anchoring his limit with two giant bass that weighed 8-6 each, the 31-year-old DeFoe knew he had located quality fish during practice on the lake, but he didn’t realize just how good they were.

“I had a lot of bites during practice, but I wasn’t catching very many fish over 2 1/2 to 3 pounds,” DeFoe said. “But, a few of those fish were in one area that seemed to have all the right ingredients to justify a return trip once the tournament began.”

DeFoe caught one of his big bass at his first stop early in the day, but decided to move after only having a few other bites.

“I stayed on that spot until after 9 a.m., and it was after 10 when I caught my next one,” said DeFoe, a six-time qualifier for the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. “At that point, the rest of my limit was small, but I was happy to have them because I had the one big fish.”

He managed to upgrade into the early afternoon on one spot that was also consistent for him during practice. DeFoe also said his pattern developed as the day went on, and he’s confident Friday will produce similar results.

“Today was a special day,” he said. “But it’s Okeechobee, 30-pound-plus limits can happen every day on this lake, and if I play my cards right tomorrow I believe I can hang onto the lead.”

While on stage with emcee Dave Mercer, DeFoe compared his twin 8-pound, 6-ounce bass to his twin children.

“When my twins were born, they both weighed several pounds less than those two big bass today,” he said with a laugh.

Weighing five-bass limits that exceed the 25 or 30 pounds is a rarity in this sport, and Browning agrees with DeFoe that today was indeed special.

“I don’t know if the quality of fish I caught today will still be available tomorrow, but it was sure a lot of fun,” Browning said. “I didn’t have a very good practice, so today I just went fishing and learned a lot. I really want to believe that I can catch another 25 pounds of fish tomorrow, but I won’t know if the pattern will hold until things get started in the morning.”

Many anglers commented on how water temperatures had dropped several degrees in recent days, and while cold fronts typically cause Florida-strain largemouth bass to become sluggish, the cold front that brought significant rain Wednesday afternoon seemed to have invigorated Okeechobee’s bass population.

“I’m going to hunker down and give it my best shot tomorrow — that’s all you can do when you’re learning as you go,” Browning said. “I’m sharing water with several other boats, and the improving weather should improve the bite. I’m doing something a little bit different, and I bet the pattern holds for another couple of days.”

Confidence is a key component to successful tournament angling, and like Browning, Tim Horton of Muscle Shoals, Ala., who weighed 25-15 for third, was surprised by his Day 1 weight.

“At this point, I just can’t be sure tomorrow will be as productive as today,” Horton said. “I got off to a great start, but the fishing was pretty slow as the day went on. I got the right bites, but not that many of them. To have a shot in a tournament on a lake like Okeechobee, you’ve got to have at least one day in the 25-pound range.”

Like DeFoe and Browning, Horton knows what Lake Okeechobee is capable of. Horton has an impressive history on Okeechobee, including a couple of Top 10s and a win.

“If I’m not going to be catching a lot of fish and hope to have a shot at the title, it’s critical that I’m effective and execute on each opportunity,” he said.

Rounding out the Top 10 were Brett Hite (23-3), Bobby Lane (21-15), Cliff Prince (21-11), Paul Mueller (21-9), Andy Montgomery (20-13), Skylar Hamilton (20-3) and Greg Hackney (20-2).

The frontrunner for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award is Tyler Carriere of Youngsville, La., with a 9-pound, 5-ounce largemouth.

Competition will resume Friday with takeoff at 6:45 a.m. at C. Scott Driver Park, and weigh-in will begin at 3:15 p.m. in the same location.

The event is hosted by the Okeechobee County Tourism.

2017 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee 2/23-2/26
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee, FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$1. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 31-03 110
Day 1: 5 31-03
2. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 26-13 109
Day 1: 5 26-13
3. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 25-15 108
Day 1: 5 25-15
4. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 23-03 107
Day 1: 5 23-03
5. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 21-15 106
Day 1: 5 21-15
6. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 21-11 105
Day 1: 5 21-11
7. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 21-09 104
Day 1: 5 21-09
8. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 20-13 103
Day 1: 5 20-13
9. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 20-03 102
Day 1: 5 20-03
10. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 20-02 101
Day 1: 5 20-02
11. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 5 19-10 100
Day 1: 5 19-10
12. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 5 19-09 99
Day 1: 5 19-09
12. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 19-09 99
Day 1: 5 19-09
14. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 19-08 97
Day 1: 5 19-08
15. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 19-00 96
Day 1: 5 19-00
16. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 5 18-08 95
Day 1: 5 18-08
17. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 18-07 94
Day 1: 5 18-07
18. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 18-03 93
Day 1: 5 18-03
19. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 17-15 92
Day 1: 5 17-15
19. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 17-15 92
Day 1: 5 17-15
21. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 17-13 90
Day 1: 5 17-13
22. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 17-11 89
Day 1: 5 17-11
23. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 17-09 88
Day 1: 5 17-09
24. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 17-03 87
Day 1: 5 17-03
24. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 17-03 87
Day 1: 5 17-03
26. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 5 17-02 85
Day 1: 5 17-02
26. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 17-02 85
Day 1: 5 17-02
28. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 5 17-00 83
Day 1: 5 17-00
29. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 16-14 82
Day 1: 5 16-14
29. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 5 16-14 82
Day 1: 5 16-14
31. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 16-11 80
Day 1: 5 16-11
32. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 5 16-10 79
Day 1: 5 16-10
33. David Fritts Lexington, NC 5 16-06 78
Day 1: 5 16-06
34. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 16-04 77
Day 1: 5 16-04
35. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 16-03 76
Day 1: 5 16-03
36. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 16-00 75
Day 1: 5 16-00
37. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 15-15 74
Day 1: 5 15-15
38. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 15-12 73
Day 1: 5 15-12
39. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 5 15-11 72
Day 1: 5 15-11
40. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 15-10 71
Day 1: 5 15-10
41. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 5 15-03 70
Day 1: 5 15-03
42. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 5 15-02 69
Day 1: 5 15-02
43. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 14-15 68
Day 1: 5 14-15
44. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 14-11 67
Day 1: 5 14-11
45. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 14-08 66
Day 1: 5 14-08
46. John Murray Spring City, TN 5 14-07 65
Day 1: 5 14-07
47. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 14-04 64
Day 1: 5 14-04
47. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 5 14-04 64
Day 1: 5 14-04
49. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 13-13 62
Day 1: 5 13-13
50. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 5 13-10 61
Day 1: 5 13-10
50. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 13-10 61
Day 1: 5 13-10
52. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 13-08 59
Day 1: 5 13-08
52. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 5 13-08 59
Day 1: 5 13-08
54. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 13-04 57
Day 1: 5 13-04
55. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 12-15 56
Day 1: 5 12-15
56. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 12-13 55
Day 1: 5 12-13
56. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 12-13 55
Day 1: 5 12-13
58. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 12-10 53
Day 1: 5 12-10
59. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 12-07 52
Day 1: 5 12-07
60. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 12-06 51
Day 1: 5 12-06
61. David Williams Newton, NC 5 12-03 50
Day 1: 5 12-03
62. Alton Jones Jr. Lorena, TX 5 12-01 49
Day 1: 5 12-01
63. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 11-13 48
Day 1: 5 11-13
64. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 11-12 47
Day 1: 5 11-12
64. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 11-12 47
Day 1: 5 11-12
66. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 11-10 45
Day 1: 5 11-10
66. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 5 11-10 45
Day 1: 5 11-10
68. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 11-07 43
Day 1: 5 11-07
69. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 5 11-04 42
Day 1: 5 11-04
70. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 11-03 41
Day 1: 5 11-03
71. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 11-02 40
Day 1: 5 11-02
72. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 11-00 39
Day 1: 5 11-00
73. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 10-15 38
Day 1: 5 10-15
73. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 10-15 38
Day 1: 5 10-15
75. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 10-14 36
Day 1: 5 10-14
75. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 10-14 36
Day 1: 5 10-14
77. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 10-13 34
Day 1: 5 10-13
78. Jesse Tacoronte Orlando, FL 5 10-12 33
Day 1: 5 10-12
79. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 10-11 32
Day 1: 5 10-11
80. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 10-10 31
Day 1: 5 10-10
81. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 10-05 30
Day 1: 5 10-05
81. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 10-05 30
Day 1: 5 10-05
83. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 10-03 28
Day 1: 5 10-03
83. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 5 10-03 28
Day 1: 5 10-03
85. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 5 09-11 26
Day 1: 5 09-11
86. Fred Roumbanis London, AR 5 09-10 25
Day 1: 5 09-10
87. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 09-09 24
Day 1: 5 09-09
87. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 09-09 24
Day 1: 5 09-09
89. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 5 09-08 22
Day 1: 5 09-08
90. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 09-05 21
Day 1: 5 09-05
90. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 5 09-05 21
Day 1: 5 09-05
92. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 5 09-02 19
Day 1: 5 09-02
92. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 09-02 19
Day 1: 5 09-02
94. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 5 08-12 17
Day 1: 5 08-12
95. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 08-10 16
Day 1: 5 08-10
96. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 5 08-04 15
Day 1: 5 08-04
97. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 5 07-15 14
Day 1: 5 07-15
98. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 07-14 13
Day 1: 5 07-14
98. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 07-14 13
Day 1: 5 07-14
100. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 5 07-07 11
Day 1: 5 07-07
101. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 07-02 10
Day 1: 5 07-02
102. Jacob Wheeler Indianapolis, IN 5 07-00 9
Day 1: 5 07-00
103. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 06-05 8
Day 1: 5 06-05
104. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 3 06-05 7
Day 1: 3 06-05
105. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 3 05-12 6
Day 1: 3 05-12
106. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 3 05-07 5
Day 1: 3 05-07
107. Darrell Ocamica New Plymouth, ID 3 05-02 4
Day 1: 3 05-02
108. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 3 04-06 3
Day 1: 3 04-06
109. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 2 03-14 2
Day 1: 2 03-14
110. Jay Brainard Enid, OK 2 02-15 1
Day 1: 2 02-15
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 103 534 1492-01
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103 534 1492-01

FLW TOUR ANGLERS EYE HARRIS CHAIN FOR THIRD TOURNAMENT OF SEASON

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February 24, 2017

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FLW TOUR ANGLERS EYE HARRIS CHAIN FOR THIRD TOURNAMENT OF SEASON

Reaction Baits Expected to Be Key Factor in Internationally-Televised Tournament featuring 330 Anglers

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LEESBURG, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2017) – The third tournament of the 22^nd season of the FLW Tour, the most competitive Tour in professional bass-fishing, kicks off March 9-12 with the FLW Tour at the Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Ranger Boats. Hosted by Lake County, Florida, the tournament will feature 330 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals and co-anglers casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the pro division and up to $25,000 cash in the co-angler division.

“We’re going to see anglers catching them a lot of different ways in this tournament,” said local pro Tim Frederick of Leesburg, who is fishing his second season as a professional on the FLW Tour. “There will be a little bit of people offshore in the grass, then you’re going to see people combing through the canals trying to find any more spawning fish. The marshes are going to come into play – there are a lot of shallow spawning areas that you can’t necessarily see them spawning, but they’re in there.

“I do think that the majority of the bass, about 90-percent, will be postspawn,” Frederick continued. “So, I think moving and reaction baits are going to be hot. As warm as the weather has been, recently, I believe topwater baits could come into play as well.”

Frederick said that the FLW Tour anglers should be fairly spread out amongst the 10 lakes and the canals on the Harris Chain that will be in play.

“Where a guy chooses to fish is going to be a big factor,” Frederick said. “I think we’ll see anglers who have a tough practice decide to stay in Big Lake Harris and Little Lake Harris, just to maximize their fishing time. Then, we’ll have a few guys that are the high-risk, high-reward type that make long runs to Lake Griffin, and up the river, and maybe even to Apopka.

“You’d have to be on them pretty good in practice to make those runs,” Frederick continued. “I think that the key is going to be not to spend too much time in any one spot. You’re going to have to run and gun – a fish or two here, then run around and find a few more.

“Everybody in the field will have reaction baits tied on – lipless crankbaits, squarebill crankbaits, ChatterBaits, spinnerbaits. I definitely think we’ll see a 10-pounder or two, and the potential for a 30-pound stringer is always possible on the Harris Chain. It’s going to be a fun tournament.”

Frederick went on to predict that the winner would weigh in a four-day total weight of 65 pounds.

Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. EST each day from the Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Dixie Ave., in Leesburg. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins, March 9-10, will also be held at the Venetian Gardens beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins, March 11-12, will be held at the Venetian Gardens but will begin at 4 p.m.

Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, FLW will host a free Family Fishing Expo at the Venetian Gardens from noon to 4 p.m. each day. The Expo is a chance for fishing fans to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.

Also for youth, the FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby will be held at the Venetian Gardens on Saturday, March 11 from 9-11 a.m. The event is hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, and is free and open to area youth 15 years of age and younger and Special Olympics athletes. Rods and reels are available for use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one.

In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field of 330 anglers competes in the two-day opening round. Co-angler competition concludes following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 20 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.

Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2017 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina Aug. 11-13.

The total purse for the FLW Tour at the Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Ranger Boats is more than $800,000, including $10,000 through 50^th place in the Pro Division.

Television coverage of the FLW Tour at the Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Ranger Boats will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) May 3 from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. EDT. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.

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

FLW AND COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR LAUNCH EXTENSIVE PARTNERSHIP

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February 22, 2017

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FLW AND COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR LAUNCH EXTENSIVE PARTNERSHIP

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MINNEAPOLIS (Feb. 22, 2017) – The world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), announced today a groundbreaking partnership with Columbia Sportswear, a brand known for their innovative apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. Columbia is now the official apparel outfitter of FLW, and anglers will have full access to Columbia’s technical line of Performance Fishing Gear (PFG), including the collection of award-winning OutDry™ Extreme Rainwear.

“FLW is excited to partner with an industry leader like Columbia Sportswear and showcase their PFG apparel to our fans and anglers, who share the same passion and enthusiasm that is synonymous with their brand,” said FLW President of Marketing Trish Blake. “We’ve always considered our core FLW audience to be among the most loyal and passionate consumers in the country, and we are proud to partner with Columbia to help advance the sport of bass fishing.”

As an FLW sponsor, Columbia Sportswear will be featured in a variety of media formats, including the “FLW” television program on NBC Sports Network, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network, as well as internationally to more than 564 million households worldwide. Columbia will also appear in prominent advertisements in FLW Bass Fishing Magazine and on FLWFishing.com.

“Columbia’s products are rooted in technology and innovation,” said Joe Boyle, Senior VP of Merchandising and Design at Columbia. “As the original performance fishing apparel brand, we are thrilled about the partnership with the FLW and the opportunity it provides tournament anglers to compete in the best gear for all weather conditions.”

Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Columbia Sportswear has been making technical outdoor gear to help anglers enjoy the outdoors for more than 75 years. The company has grown into a global sportswear brand that is today – still based in Portland and still making no-nonsense apparel and footwear that keeps anglers WARM, DRY, COOL and PROTECTED, no matter what the elements.

For more information about FLW, their tournaments and sponsors, visit FLWFishing.com. To learn more about the Columbia Sportswear company visit Columbia.com.

About FLW

FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat: @FLWFishing.

About Columbia

Columbia, the flagship brand of Portland, Oregon-based Columbia Sportswear Company, has been creating innovative apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment for outdoor enthusiasts since 1938. Columbia has become a leading global brand by channeling the company’s passion for the outdoors into technologies and performance products that keep people warm, dry, cool and protected year-round. To learn more, please visit the company’s website at www.columbia.com.

LAKE SEMINOLE READIES FOR COSTA FLW SERIES SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION EVENT PRESENTED BY MUD HOLE CUSTOM TACKLE

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February 21, 2017

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LAKE SEMINOLE READIES FOR COSTA FLW SERIES SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION EVENT PRESENTED BY MUD HOLE CUSTOM TACKLE

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BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (Feb. 21, 2017) – As many as 450 pros and co-anglers are set to compete in the Costa FLW Series Southeastern Division event on Lake Seminole, March 2-4. The tournament, which is presented by Mud Hole Custom Tackle, is the second of three regular-season events scheduled in the Southeastern Division. Pros will be competing for a top award of up to $54,000 in cash and a new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.

“The weather has been really hot down here so the water is a little warmer and the spawn is ahead of schedule,” said FLW Tour pro Troy Morrow of Eastanollee, Georgia, a five-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “With no cool-down in sight, it’s going to be a great tournament sight-fishing for some big fish up shallow. Spring Creek will be popular because it’s the clearest part on the lake.

“Grass will also be a major player in this event,” continued Morrow. “I don’t think it will be won solely by sight-fishing. There are a lot of productive flats where the Flint River feeds into Spring Creek. I see vibrating jigs cleaning up along the grass edges. There also might be some lipless-crankbait action if anglers can find good grass in cooler water.”

Morrow said that isolated pockets on the Chattahoochee River could also be a strong bet for anglers looking to change up their patterns.

“You can never rule out throwing a frog to lily pads, or flipping soft-plastics to hyacinth and matted grass on Seminole,” said Morrow.

The Georgia pro predicted that a three-day total of 62 pounds should be enough to win the tournament.

“Someone will likely bring in a 24- or 25-pound limit at some point, but they’ll have to average 20 pounds the other two days to win it all,” said Morrow.

Anglers will take off from Bainbridge Earle May Boat Basin, located at 100 Boat Basin Circle in Bainbridge at 7 a.m. EST each day. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at Walmart, located at 500 E. Alice St. in Bainbridge, and will begin at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. The event is hosted by the Bainbridge Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In Costa FLW Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event. At Lake Seminole, pros will fish for as much as $54,000 and a Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard if Ranger Cup qualified. Co-anglers will cast for a Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude outboard, $1,250, and an additional $5,000 if Ranger Cup qualified.

The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 2-4 on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee.

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.

A BURNING ROSE SMELLS SWEETER THAN EVER – PLANO – February 21,2017

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February 21, 2017

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Rose fooled the bulk of his bass at Travis with his proven deep-water prowess, matching multiple presentations to changing conditions while targeting bass holding along ledges 24-50 feet down. Photo courtesy of FLW/Andy Hagedon.

A BURNING ROSE SMELLS SWEETER THAN EVER

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PLANO PRO, MARK ROSE, MATCHES DIVERSE PRESENTATIONS TO EVOLVING PATTERNS EN ROUTE TO LAKE TRAVIS TOURNAMENT TITLE; EARNS UNPRECEDENTED BACK-TO-BACK FLW TOUR WINS

Plano, IL (February 21, 2017) – Mark Rose is on fire. A scant two weeks after his win at the 2017 FLW Tour kickoff event at Lake Guntersville, the West Memphis pro made professional bass fishing history by besting the field at last weekend’s FLW Tour presented by Quaker State event on Lake Travis, Texas. The veteran angler’s back-to-back FLW wins represent a feat that has never before been accomplished in the FLW Tour’s 20-year history.

Rose trailed Bryan Thrift by a pound heading into the final day of competition. Rose broke from his deep-water pattern by late morning on day four and padded his winning total weight of 59-2 by catching and culling around shallow docks. Photo courtesy of FLW/Andy Hagedon.

Rose’s landmark accomplishment came hard earned, via neck-and-neck battles with FLW superstar, Bryan Thrift, in both competitions.

“I’m blown away right now,” Rose said after accepting the trophy on Sunday at the Lake Travis event. “I’m speechless. I consider Bryan to be one of the best anglers on the planet. This kind of competition at the top of the game is what this sport is all about. I don’t even know what to say right now except that God is good.”

A day later, a more relaxed Rose reflected on a few keys that contributed to his success at Lake Travis – a Colorado River impoundment, and the largest of central Texas’ Highland Lakes.

Rose employs meticulous tackle management to maximize his efficiency on the water. Plano’s 3600 and 3700 size On-Board Series tackle bags are self draining, stow easily inside most deck compartments and provide ample storage for multiple StowAway utility boxes.

A known deep ledge specialist, Rose recalls breaking with his fishing forte on day one and, instead, opting to crank the shallow banks up the river where he’d experienced encouraging results while pre-fishing. “I practiced quite a bit off shore, but couldn’t get anything going out there,” Rose explained. “I didn’t want to force it, so I moved into the river and found more consistency.”

After spending most of the first day of competition in the river, Rose was dissatisfied with the results. “I knew I needed to get out of there, so I ran back down late in the day and stopped at one of my offshore spots,” he said. “I caught a four-pounder right away and it became clear where I needed to be for the rest of the tournament.”

Rose returned to the deep water on day two, and probed the broad, main lake points near the dam with a big, ¾-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Football Jig. “I caught a couple on top of those points in about 20 feet of water,” Rose recalls, “but whenever I drifted off, I kept marking big arches on the stair step ledges where the points fell off.” The savvy angler backed off and began targeting the deeper bass holding along those ledges 24-50 feet down. The bigger bass cooperated, and Rose’s day-two bag of 17-3 bumped him into fifth place.

Despite his ongoing angling success and historic accomplishment, nothing is more important to Mark Rose than his faith and his family. Photo courtesy of FLW/Andy Hagedon.

Rose returned to deep suspended bass the morning of day three, betting that the fish would be actively hunting shad. His second cast with a six-inch swimbait attached to a one-ounce Strike King Squadron Jig Head yielded a fat six-pound bass. “It was the only bite I got on it, but I’m glad I threw it,” said Rose, who switched back to the football jig and Strike King 8” KVD Bull Worm to boat a third-day bag of 15-13 and move into second place – less than a pound behind leader, Bran Thrift.

Encouraged by the big fish caught on the swimbait the day before, Rose landed two more deep, suspended bass with it during the morning of day three, before abandoning deep water altogether in search of shallow, bedding and staging bass. He’d been keeping a keen eye on Lake Travis’ plentiful boat docks throughout the tournament, as air and water temperatures were warming rapidly. “The conditions were changing fast and I felt like more fish were definitely moving in to spawn,” reasoned Rose, who caught his fifth fish of the day at around 1:00 while flipping a blue craw-colored Strike King Rage Bug in the shallows. Fishing a carefully selected collection of docks throughout the day, Rose managed to upgrade a few of the fish in his livewell to finish Sunday with 14-9. His four-day tournament total of 59-2 would be enough to best Thrift – who added to his total… and the drama… with a last-minute five-pounder – by a thin 12 ounces.

While Rose fooled the bulk of his bass at Travis with his proven deep-water prowess, the Plano pro credited his ability to make quick switches in presentations – while fishing both deep and shallow – to effective tackle management. “One of the best ways to ensure failure in any tournament situation is to convince yourself that you aren’t going to need something,” said Rose, who was experienced enough to predict the need for highly changeable presentations in response to rapidly evolving conditions and bass in transition. “The most important advice I can give any tournament angler is to put in the time necessary to meticulously organize their tackle… not only so they can refine presentations quickly as conditions change on the water, but also be efficient in how they transfer that tackle from home to the truck and to the boat. Plano’s StowAway organizers and diverse line of tackle storage products give me all the tools I need to fish with maximum efficiency and confidence.”

The 2017 FLW Series Tour continues March 9-12 at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Lake County, Florida, where the history-making red-hot Rose will continue to face fierce competition in his quest for the Forrest Wood Cup.

Plano pro, Mark Rose, became the first angler in history to hoist consecutive FLW Tour event champion trophies last Sunday, when he won the FLW Tour presented by Quaker State event on Lake Travis, Texas. Rose won the 2017 FLW Tour’s season opener at Lake Guntersville two weeks earlier. Photo courtesy of FLW/Andy Hagedon.

Scholarship Awarded In Honor Of Former B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Noreen Clough

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February 21, 2017

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Scholarship Awarded In Honor Of Former B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Noreen Clough

Whitney Della Torre (left) of Gainesville, Fla., is the first recipient of the Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarship for Females in Fisheries. Clough (right) was the first female regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and later the B.A.S.S. Conservation Director.

Photos courtesy of Whitney Della Torre/B.A.S.S.

Feb. 21, 2017

Scholarship Awarded In Honor Of Former B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Noreen Clough

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OKLAHOMA CITY — The first annual Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarship for Females in Fisheries was awarded at the Southern Division, American Fisheries Society’s annual meeting to Whitney (Jacobs) Della Torre from Gainesville, Fla.

Noreen Clough blazed many trails in the field of fisheries. As the first female regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and later as the conservation director of B.A.S.S., her long and distinguished career was dedicated to the conservation and management of fish and wildlife. Along the way, she served as a mentor to many and a revered colleague to countless others. Noreen passed away in January 2015 from pancreatic cancer.

As a tribute to Noreen’s impact on careers and lives and for the good of the resources she helped conserve, friends and colleagues established an endowment to provide a scholarship in her memory to a female student working toward a career in fisheries conservation. This year there were 29 applicants representing 19 different colleges and universities from across the United States and Canada.

“Noreen felt that the issues debated in state legislatures and in Congress were where we stood to make the most progress in protecting our natural resources,” said Gene Gilliand, current B.A.S.S. conservation director. “This scholarship continues her legacy by encouraging students to get involved in the policy world where they can make a real difference.”

Whitney (Jacobs) Della Torre worked for U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston’s Washington, D.C., office after she finished her undergraduate studies and became interested in natural resource policy. She returned to school and received a master’s degree from the University of Georgia, studying environmental science.

While completing that degree Whitney worked part-time for B.A.S.S. as Noreen Clough’s intern, assisting in various aspects of the conservation agenda and helping with every facet of Conservation Summits put on at the 2012 and 2014 Bassmaster Classics.

Whitney said of Noreen, “The first time I met her she gave me career advice that I will forever cherish, she told me to make my work relevant.” Noreen’s mentorship inspired Whitney to follow that passion for environmental science and policy and enter law school, where she is currently completing her third year at the University of Florida. Whitney recently accepted a job offer as an associate at an environmental law firm in Birmingham, Ala., where, following graduation, she hopes to be involved with aquatic and natural resource issues while volunteering her service to the B.A.S.S. Nation.

About B.A.S.S. Conservation
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. Conservation has focused on issues related to fisheries and aquatic resource conservation. We work with government agencies to develop sound management policies that protect and enhance aquatic resources. We partner with others to ensure government policies provide for these resources without compromising sportfishing opportunities. And through the B.A.S.S. Nation, we provide volunteer efforts to enhance fisheries resources and protect our sport. B.A.S.S. is world-renowned for state-of-the-art tournament fish care.

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), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

COLUMBUS’ MORGAN WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE BULLDOG DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE LANIER

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February 21, 2017

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COLUMBUS’ MORGAN WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE BULLDOG DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE LANIER

Gainesville’s Grizzle tops co-angler field

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GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 20, 2017) – Tyler Morgan of Columbus, Georgia, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds,15 ounces, Saturday to win the first T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Bulldog Division tournament of 2017 on Lake Lanier. For his win, Morgan took home $5,214.

“I’m not extremely familiar with Lanier, but I was fishing up the river,” said Morgan, who earned his first career victory as a boater after three prior wins as a co-angler in BFL competition. “Most of the other anglers were fishing the main-lake and they would fish around the points, but they weren’t fishing in the pockets. I was going to the very back of pockets and catching fish extremely shallow.”

Morgan said that he caught 16 or 17 keepers throughout the day throwing a Special Red Craw-colored Berkley Pit Bull crankbait and a black and blue-colored Z-Man ChatterBait with a black Keitech FAT Swing Impact 4.3 swimbait.

“I was cranking bluff walls up the river and put together a quick 9-pound limit of spotted bass by 9 a.m.,” Morgan said. “Then I went running the back of pockets looking to upgrade with largemouth. I was upgrading by ounces all day long, and ended up weighing in one spot and four largemouth.

“Coming back to the weigh-in I thought that I had a shot to finish in the top-10, but I never expected to win. It was a pleasant surprise.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: Tyler Morgan, Columbus, Ga., five bass, 16-15, $5,214

2^nd: Johnathan Akins, Lula, Ga., five bass, 16-12, $2,507

3^rd: Rob Jordan, Flowery Branch, Ga., five bass, 16-9, $1,420

3^rd: Steve Foster, Jasper, Ga., five bass, 16-9, $1,420

5^th: Chris Baxter, Winder, Ga., five bass, 16-8, $1,403

6^th: Brock Turner, Jasper, Ga., five bass, 16-6, $919

7^th: Tristan Thomas, Lula, Ga., five bass, 16-0, $836

8^th: Mike Shepard, Dawsonville, Ga., five bass, 15-11, $752

9^th: Kip Carter, Social Circle, Ga., five bass, 15-3, $668

10^th: Jason Densmore, Dawsonville, Ga., five bass, 15-1, $555

10^th: Doug Workman, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 15-1, $555

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Willie McMullen of Oxford, Georgia, caught a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass – the largest of the event – which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $765.

Harold Grizzle of Gainesville, Georgia, weighed in five bass totaling 16 pounds, 3 ounces Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,707.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: Harold Grizzle, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 16-3, $2,707

2^nd: Chris Davies, Griffin, Ga., five bass, 14-15, $1,635

3^rd: Stanley Smith, Greensboro, Ga., five bass, 14-6, $837

4^th: Brent Thomas, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 13-8, $585

5^th: Ronald Harris, Jefferson, Ga., five bass, 13-5, $501

6^th: Chance Hebert, Norcross, Ga., five bass, 12-11, $460

7^th: Adam Thomas, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 12-2, $468

8^th: Matthew O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., four bass, 12-1, $376

9^th: Brian Benedit, Canton, Ga., five bass, 11-11, $334

10^th: Robert Barker, Monticello, Ga., five bass, 11-10, $292

Davies caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 6 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $382.

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. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama. 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 T-H Marine BFL event at Lake Lanier was hosted by the Gainesville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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.

JESSIEVILLE’S WOOD WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE ARKIE DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE DARDANELLE PRESENTED BY GEARED

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February 21, 2017

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JESSIEVILLE’S WOOD WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE ARKIE DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE DARDANELLE PRESENTED BY GEARED

Fulton’s Crider tops co-angler field

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RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (Feb. 20, 2017) – Matt Wood of Jessieville, Arkansas, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 21 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the first T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Arkie Division tournament of 2017 on Lake Dardanelle. For his win, Wood took home $4,046.

“I was entered in this event as a co-angler, and I decided to switch over and compete as a boater on Friday morning, the day before the event,” said Wood, who had previously fished one season as a co-angler in BFL competition. “I knew that there were more co-anglers on the waiting list, and I had a pretty good practice so I figured I’d take a shot. I still can’t believe I won.”

Wood said that he fished the entire day at just one spot – a dock which had some brush and cover nearby.

“The bass were after baitfish, and the wind was blowing perfectly to pin the bait against the dock and brush,” Wood said. “There were a ton of bass – I must have caught around 20 to 25 keepers.”

Wood said he caught his fish on just two baits – a Strike King Red Eye Shad crankbait and a white Strike King Pure Poison swimjig with a white Yum Swim’n Dinger.

“The Red Eye Shad was what I caught my bigger fish on,” Wood went on to say. “The key was fishing it super-fast and triggering a reaction bite.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: Matt Wood, Jessieville, Ark., five bass, 21-2, $4,046

2^nd: Cody Burke, Bryant, Ark., five bass, 20-4, $2,023

3^rd: Zach King, Clarksville, Ark., five bass, 18-15, $1,348

4^th: Steve Howard, Conway, Ark., five bass, 18-4, $944

5^th: Zack Freeman, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 17-7, $1,009

6^th: Rick Ellis, Cabot, Ark., five bass, 16-1, $842

7^th: Jeremiah Jordan, Dover, Ark., five bass, 15-14, $674

8^th: Israel Mills, Donaldson, Ark., five bass, 15-9, $607

9^th: Jonathan Dotson, Dover, Ark., four bass, 14-12, $539

10^th: Daniel Standridge, Sheridan, Ark., five bass, 14-4, $472

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Randall Clark of Little Rock, Arkansas, caught a 7-pound, 1-ounce bass – the largest of the event – which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $555.

Johnny Crider of Fulton, Arkansas, weighed in four bass totaling 16 pounds, 10 ounces Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,300.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: Johnny Crider, Fulton, Ark., four bass, 16-10, $2,300

2^nd: Jason Wedel, Lowell, Ark., five bass, 11-9, $1,011

3^rd: Brian Choat, Conway, Ark., five bass, 11-0, $874

4^th: Kevin Clark, Malvern, Ark., five bass, 10-9, $488

4^th: Jim Cummings, Murfreesboro, Ark., three bass, 10-9, $438

6^th: Herbert Kimbrough, North Little Rock, Ark., four bass, 10-5, $371

7^th: Steve Standridge, Conway, Ark., three bass, 10-4, $337

8^th: Michael Lucas, Forrest City, Ark., four bass, 9-8, $303

9^th: Buddy Rudolph, Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 8-9, $253

9^th: Bryan Branson, Hensley, Ark., three bass, 8-9, $253

Crider also caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $277.

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. 19-21 BFL Regional Championship on the Red River in Bossier City, Louisiana. 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 T-H Marine BFL event at Lake Dardanelle presented by Geared was hosted by Russellville Advertising & Promotions.

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.

About FLW

INDIANA’S WILSON WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE CHOO CHOO DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE GUNTERSVILLE

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February 20, 2017

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INDIANA’S WILSON WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE CHOO CHOO DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE GUNTERSVILLE

Virginia’s Bryant tops co-angler field

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SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Feb. 20, 2017) – Tim Wilson of Gas City, Indiana, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 23 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the first T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Choo Choo Division tournament of 2017 on Lake Guntersville. For his win, Wilson took home $5,133.

“Although I live in Indiana, I also own a small house in Scottsboro just minutes from the ramp,” said Wilson, who earned his second career win in BFL competition – both on Lake Guntersville. “Most of the time I rent it out to other fisherman, but every now and then I get to sneak down and fish on Guntersville. I hadn’t been on the lake since my last win in 2015. I fish the Costa FLW Series, and I was on my way down for the Seminole event, so I figured I’d stop in and check on the house and fish the BFL event.

“I’m an off-the-wall guy,” Wilson continued. “I like to fish where other people aren’t fishing. So, I ended up fishing a mile-and-a-half stretch of bluff down the lake, towards Guntersville. I was sitting in 40 feet of water and throwing up to 12.”

Wilson said that he only had two rods on the deck of his boat the entire day, and both were rigged with downsized umbrella rigs.

“I figured that I would have to catch 13 to 14 pounds to get a check,” Wilson said. “On my first pass down the bluff, I had 12 pounds of Kentucky bass. I ended up catching a nice 7-pound kicker largemouth and weighed in three largemouth and two Kentucky bass.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: Tim WIlson, Gas City, Ind., five bass, 23-10, $5,133

2^nd: Nathan Hand, Madison, Ala., five bass, 21-7, $2,766

3^rd: Jerry Perkins, Cullman, Ala.., five bass, 19-11, $1,710

4^th: Chris Webb, Decatur, Ala.., five bass, 18-14, $1,198

5^th: Daniel Whitaker, Phil Campbell, Ala., five bass, 17-11, $1,027

6^th: Freddy Palmer, Estill Springs, Tenn., five bass, 17-9, $941

7^th: Zach Lemmond, Hillsboro, Ala., five bass, 17-1, $855

8^th: Jacob Gibbs, Baileyton, Ala., five bass, 16-9, $770

9^th: Bryan Gregory, Fort Payne, Ala., five bass, 16-8, $684

10^th: J.K. Guin, Carbon Hill, Ala., five bass, 16-7, $599

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Currey Holley of Pulaski, Tennessee, caught an 8-pound, 5-ounce bass – the largest of the event – which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $800.

David Bryant of Covington, Virginia, weighed in three bass totaling 17 pounds, 1 ounce Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,566.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: David Bryant, Covington, Va., three bass, 17-1, $2,566

2^nd: Zach Britton, Hazel Green, Ala., five bass, 15-14, $1,383

3^rd: John Cook, Scottsboro, Ala., five bass, 14-9, $855

4^th: Dan Basham, Taylorsville, Ky., four bass, 14-1, $606

4^th: Heath Frizzell, Dunlap, Tenn., four bass, 14-1, $556

6^th: Frelon Moore, Albertville, Ala., four bass, 14-0, $471

7^th: Alex Spires, Chickamauga, Ga., three bass, 12-10, $428

8^th: Matthew Blackwood, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 12-3, $385

9^th: Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., five bass, 11-15, $342

10^th: Donald Groves, Rocky Face, Ga., five bass, 11-0, $299

Jacob Coil of Huntsville, Alabama caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $400.

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. 12-14 BFL Regional Championship on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama. 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.

A conversation with Dustin Connell & Jacob Wheeler Bass Cast Radio February 19,2017

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February 20, 2017

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A conversation with Dustin Connell & Jacob Wheeler Bass Cast Radio February 19,2017

We had the opportunity to speak with Dustin & Jacob this week on Bass Cast Radio. Dustin & Jacob gave us a look back at their performances at Bassmaster Elite event on Lake Cherokee. Plus some great conversation about Bass fishing you do not want to miss.

Listen to “A conversation with Dustin Connell & Jacob Wheeler” on Spreaker.

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A BURNING ROSE SMELLS SWEETER THAN EVER – PLANO – February 21,2017

Scholarship Awarded In Honor Of Former B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Noreen Clough

COLUMBUS’ MORGAN WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE BULLDOG DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE LANIER

JESSIEVILLE’S WOOD WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE ARKIE DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE DARDANELLE PRESENTED BY GEARED

INDIANA’S WILSON WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE CHOO CHOO DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE GUNTERSVILLE

A conversation with Dustin Connell & Jacob Wheeler Bass Cast Radio February 19,2017

We had the opportunity to speak with Dustin & Jacob this week on Bass Cast Radio. Dustin & Jacob gave us a look back at their performances at Bassmaster Elite event on Lake Cherokee. Plus some great conversation about Bass fishing you do not want to miss.

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