Armstrong looking unstoppable on the Kissimmee Chain

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February 22, 2025

Armstrong looking unstoppable on the Kissimmee Chain

Ryan Armstrong is lapping the field through two days on the Kissimmee Chain. Photo by Rob Matsuura. Angler: Ryan Armstrong.

February 22, 2025 • Jody White • Invitationals

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Florida tournaments are often up-and-down affairs, with a lot of leaderboard change day to day. Take Joshua Weaver, who sat in 13th with 17 pounds, 7 ounces after Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 Presented by VOSKER on the Kissimmee Chain. Day 2 saw Weaver rocket up into second, hammering out 28-5 for the big move. Pro Alex Bradley moved even more – tallying 25-10, the young pro rolled from 75th to seventh. However, the man who mattered the most didn’t come off the pace at all – on Day 2, Ryan Armstrong put 22-9 on the scale for a 52-5 total, which has him well clear of the competition.

Hunting down Armstrong (or attempting to, at any rate), Weaver sits in second with 45-12, and Drew Gill is in third with 42-8. Banks Shaw, in fourth with 39-3, is more than 13 pounds off the pace set by the red-hot Armstrong.

This was the first day of the Invitationals season with no forward-facing sonar in play, as will be the case for every Day 2 this year. Florida is not an ideal test case, especially when fish are shallow and the weather is significantly more conducive to good fishing on Day 2, so the results are pretty inconclusive. The field as a whole brought less weight to the scales on Day 2, bagging 1,506 pounds on Day 1 and 1,452 pounds today – not much of a drop in the scheme of things. And, while some anglers like Gill had a bit tougher day, other notably young, tech-savvy pros excelled – Hayden Marbut broke down in the canal just south of the Toho lock and caught more weight than he did on Day 1, and Bradley smashed one of the biggest bags of the event.

Chasing down Armstrong tomorrow is going to be a tall task, with or without ‘Scope. Still, with 9-pounders swimming around out there and even better weather in the forecast, you can bet the field is going to give it their best shot.

Slow and steady for Armstrong

Shallow cover has been the name of the game for Ryan Armstrong. Photo by Jody White

Picking apart shallow pads, basically one stem at a time, Armstrong has impressed through two days.

“It was slower, and they definitely bit a little different this morning, but it wound up working out,” he said. “This afternoon it definitely picked up. I could’ve caught more weight. It’s just a matter of trying to make the right decision whether or not you want to keep taking them out.”

Armstrong is notably fishing alone, something of a rarity in Florida, and he’s obviously reaping the benefits. Combing through pads and other shallow cover, he’s fishing very meticulously.

“It’s a combination of me being around the winning fish and maximizing every 5 feet that I go,” he explained. “I mean, whenever you’re around fish, why do you speed up?

“I’m moving 5 feet and fishing for 10 minutes and moving 5 feet and fishing 10 minutes, but the thing about it is there’s so many opportunities within that,” he added. “Every 5 feet I move up, it presents new angles, new holes, new ways I want try to attack that particular spot.”

Still, Armstrong isn’t fishing so slowly because his fish are sluggish.

“I need to be in the ballpark,” he said. “I don’t have to hit them on the head. Sometimes they bite it on the fall. Sometimes they bite it on the first hop, and I’ve even had a couple bite it swimming it out.”

The only remaining question is if Armstrong can do it again, and the odds seem to be in his favor.

“I think I have fish left, no doubt about that,” Armstrong said. “But, it’s not a very big lead on this pond. So I, by no means, feel like it’s over, that’s for sure. But, I think that if I can put the bites in the boat, I won’t lose.”

Weaver is no stranger to Florida comebacks

Josh Weaver is always a force in Florida. Photo by Rob Matsuura

When Weaver won the 2023 Invitationals event on Okeechobee, he ran down Illinois pro Colby Schrumpf, blasting 31-9 on Day 2 and 26-4 on Day 3. Not to say that Armstrong, also an Illinoisan, should be panicking about the similarities, but Weaver is a scary man to have in the rearview in Florida. Raised on Lake Seminole, he’s a wizard with all the techniques that shine in the Sunshine State. On Day 2, he caught a good bag and a 9-pounder, which at least got him in the conversation.

“Today was a great day,” he said. “But, you can’t duplicate a 9-pounder, so I don’t know what tomorrow’s going to hold. But, you know, I’ve been catching probably five to seven between that 3- and 4-pound range. I had 17-10 yesterday, and every fish I weighed in was within a quarter pound of each other. So, if I’d had a big one yesterday that I lost, I would have been sitting really right.”

Winding and punching hyacinth mats, Weaver is running a classic Florida combo pattern, and he’s sticking in Toho, which accounts for a good chunk of the Top 10. As far as chasing down Armstrong, he knows it’s a tall task.

“I thought I needed to catch 30 today to even have a shot,” Weaver said. “I figured the guys that were up there yesterday, Drew Gill in particular, I figured he might struggle today with the no ‘Scope deal. I knew I needed to catch at least what he had yesterday so I would have a shot to go out and catch 25-plus again tomorrow and have a shot at winning.

“It’s Florida. We finally got some decent weather moving in, but that helps everybody,” Weaver said. “I’m just excited to have another day to go crack at them.”

Top 10 pros

1. Ryan Armstrong – 52 – 05 (10)

2. Joshua Weaver – 45 – 12 (10)

3. Drew Gill – 42 – 08 (10)

4. Banks Shaw – 39 – 03 (10)

5. Keith Poche – 36 – 14 (10)

6. Colby Miller – 36 – 13 (10)

7. Alex Bradley – 36 – 11 (10)

8. Jordan Wiggins – 36 – 10 (10)

9. Joseph Webster – 35 – 15 (10)

10. Bobby Lane – 35 – 12 (10)

Complete results

Despite slower third day, Lowen stays on top at St. Johns River

Brian Carter

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February 22, 2025

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Despite slower third day, Lowen stays on top at St. Johns River

Indiana’s Bill Lowen leads the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla., with 15 bass weighing 63 pounds, 10 ounces.

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

Feb. 22, 2025

Despite slower third day, Lowen stays on top at St. Johns River

PALATKA, Fla. — Even the ideal habitat cannot fully hide from a major Florida cold front. Just ask Bill Lowen, who fought through a slower Day 3 to retain his lead at the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.

After placing third on Day 1 with 21-5, the Brookville, Ind., pro moved into the lead with a second-round limit of 24-4. Adding 18-1 on Semifinal Saturday, Lowen heads into Championship Sunday with 63-10 and a 5-4 lead over John Garrett.

“That water where I’m fishing is about 4 degrees colder than it was yesterday,” Lowen said in reference to the sharp cold front that arrived on Thursday. “I had one little zone that was a couple degrees warmer, and that’s where I caught all my fish.

“My primary area where I caught ‘em the last two days, I never caught a fish there today. When the tide got right (around 11 a.m.), I made sure I was there, and I caught my two biggest fish. The tide is so important here and if you miss that window, you’ll miss those big bites.”

Sticking to the game plan that delivered his prior success, Lowen spent most of his day in a creek north of takeoff. He targeted shallow, submerged wood but he noted that the creek’s 27-foot depths proved strategic in giving the bass greater stability than shallower areas throughout the St. Johns system.

“That was kinda my game plan — to find those creeks with deeper water in them for the cold front,” Lowen said. “That would give those fish somewhere to fall back to instead of being in a big, shallow bay. That was my whole game plan and, so far, it’s working. Hopefully, it will work one more day.”

Lowen caught most of his weight on a swim jig. He caught a few smaller fish on a flipping jig, but a slow, winding presentation carried his day.

Lowen’s committed to his shallow water program, but he said he might relocate for part of Championship Sunday.

“I’m going to go run that primary deal that I’ve been fishing and then I have two areas about 8 miles up from there that I haven’t been to yet,” Lowen said. “Maybe I’ll use them tomorrow.

“I might start on one of them tomorrow just to see. I’d hate to not go and say, ‘What if?’ I might check those two other areas tomorrow and get back to my primary area when the tide gets right.”

While Lowen’s making no final-round predictions, he said he’s looking forward to another day of familiar fishing.

“I’m fishing the way I like to fish; I’m fishing in my comfort zone. I feel like you fish to the best of your ability when you do that. I’m fishing that way and for the first time in my career, I’m really not nervous at all.

“God willing, it will happen. If not and I don’t catch a bass tomorrow, the last three days have been amazing.”

Hailing from Union City, Tenn., Garrett wowed the crowd with a Day-3 mega sack that went 31-6 and eclipsed his combined first two days’ weights of 14-12 and 12-4. Tallying a three-day total of 58-6, Garrett rocketed up the standings from 38th to second.

“It was a total surprise,” said Garrett, who anchored his bag with an 8-6. “I went out with zero expectations. I was like, ‘I hope I don’t fall to 50th today,’ because that was how little I was on.

“I just started running new water and I ran across that spot.”

Garrett said he travelled south of takeoff and found his fish on a main-river shellbar in 10-13 feet of water. He wasn’t sure if the fish were prespawners or postspawners, but they were aggressive.

“I caught a lot of bass today,” Garrett said. “I caught six fish on that spot and left them alone. Today was special.

“We had a lot of hard north wind the past two days, and we had a lot of water moving out. I’m not sure how hard that water will be moving tomorrow, or if those fish will be there, but I’m excited to get back and see if they’re there.”

During an hour-long tear, Garrett lit up the BassTrakk standings with an amazing run of big bass smackdown that erased all but an ounce of Lowen’s advantage. Lowen’s late-morning efforts would rebuild his lead, but Garrett’s heroics yielded the event’s heaviest bag and his personal best.

Garrett’s third-round limit is the seventh-largest single-day bag caught during a Bassmaster event on the St. Johns River.

Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., is in third place with 54-5. A Day 1 limit of 24-15 put him atop the standings and buoyed him to second when Day 2 yielded only 12-12. Przekurat fared a little better on Day 3 with 16-10, but slipped to third.

“I’m just happy that I was able get that big bag the first day and I was able to ride it into a top 10,” Przekurat said. “That was my goal for today — just ride it out. I wasn’t sure after I had that struggle yesterday with (a smaller bag).

“I bounced back a little bit today and put a nice 5-pounder in the boat. I think I just hit a little stretch of fish that were active, compared to the ones I was fishing.”

Przekurat spent most of his time in canals near the lower end of Lake George. Fishing around docks and kickouts, he caught his fish on a shallow-running jerkbait.

John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-13.

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Sunday from 8-11 a.m. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.

Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite Series St. Johns River 2/20-2/23
St. Johns River, Palakta FL.
Standings Day 3

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

1. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 63-10 104
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 24-04 Day 3: 5 18-01
2. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 58-06 103 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 31-06
3. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 15 54-05 102
Day 1: 5 24-15 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 16-10
4. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 53-05 101
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 17-14
5. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 52-06 100
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 18-03
6. John Cox Debary, FL 15 49-14 99 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 14-12
7. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 49-09 98
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 22-07
8. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 15 49-06 97
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 16-15
9. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 15 49-01 96
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 20-09
10. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 48-10 95
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 17-05
11. Wes Logan Springville, AL 13 48-04 94 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 3 08-03 Day 3: 5 20-05
12. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 15 48-02 93 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 16-04
13. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 14 46-12 92 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 4 09-05
14. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 46-09 91 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 15-05
15. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15 46-08 90 $8,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 16-15
16. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 15 46-01 89 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 10-11
17. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 12 45-15 88 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 2 05-09 Day 3: 5 17-09
18. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 45-07 87 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 13-09
19. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 15 44-15 86 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 20-02 Day 3: 5 09-11
20. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 44-10 85 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 14-07
21. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 44-06 84 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 16-03 Day 3: 5 18-07
22. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 15 43-11 83 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 08-14 Day 3: 5 18-09
23. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 15 43-07 82 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 21-15 Day 3: 5 09-00
24. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 43-06 81 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 14-11
25. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 15 43-03 80 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 12-09
26. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 12 41-15 79 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 2 09-13
27. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 13 41-08 78 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 3 07-15
28. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 15 41-07 77 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 12-03
29. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 14 41-04 76 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 19-10 Day 3: 4 08-03
30. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 41-01 75 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 5 14-08
31. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 40-12 74 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 14-11
32. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 40-03 73 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 5 09-15
33. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 15 40-03 72 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 09-10
34. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 39-11 71 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 09-02
35. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 37-12 70 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 10-13
36. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 14 37-12 69 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 4 05-14
37. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 15 37-11 68 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 10-11
38. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 15 37-09 67 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 07-09
39. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 13 37-07 66 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 3 12-02 Day 3: 5 09-00
40. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 15 37-02 65 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 10-09
41. Bryan New Leesville, SC 12 37-00 64 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 2 03-11
42. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 37-00 63 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 08-13
43. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 14 36-15 62 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 4 10-02
44. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 14 36-06 61 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 08-03 Day 3: 4 07-01
45. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 12 36-03 60 $5,500.00
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 3 07-13
46. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 14 35-05 59 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 4 08-06
47. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 35-04 58 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 09-00 Day 3: 5 07-03
48. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 33-04 57 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 06-07
49. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 13 32-07 56 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 3 06-01
50. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 11 27-09 55 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 1 01-03
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $1,000.00
2 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA08-12 $1,000.00
3 John Garrett Union City, TN 08-06 $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 494 1317-03
2 81 456 1205-06
3 38 228 628-11
———————————-
212 1178 3151-04

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Bass News

Brian Carter

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February 22, 2025

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Berkley Krej Evolution

Bass News

Brian Carter

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February 22, 2025

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Berkley Krej Evolution

By FTR Industry Wire

February 21, 2025

Berkley expands with new Krej sizes and colors, for the ultimate FFS-optimized fishing experience.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Berkley Krej redefined freshwater hard baits when it earned the prestigious Best of Category award at ICAST 2024. After listening to angler feedback, the Berkley team has upgraded the Krej, now officially available in five new colors and two new sizes, giving anglers even more options to adapt to any fishing scenario.

Designed to excel with forward-facing sonar, the Berkley Krej features an innovative upturned bill that mimics the natural upward fleeing motion of a baitfish. Unlike traditional jerkbaits, it moves upwards in the water column before falling back toward pursuing fish, creating a unique action that triggers reaction strikes. It can be worked just below the surface as described or fished as a topwater on a straight retrieve, adding even more versatility. Perfectly crafted in Berkley Labs, the Krej delivers unmatched performance, innovation, and variety for anglers ready to dominate their next fishing trip.

CLICK LINK TO FINISH READING

Todd Olds Wins CATT BassKings Santee Cooper, SC Feb 15, 2025

Brian Carter

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February 22, 2025

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Todd Olds Wins CATT BassKings Santee Cooper, SC Feb 15, 2025

The next BassKings qualifier is this Saturday at Lake Murray! Lake Murray is on fire! Come on out and win some BIG MONEY!

Lake Murray, Lake Wateree and Santee Cooper are combined!
The Final will be May 3, 2025, at Lake Murray!
$5,000 1st Place GUARANTEED at the Final!! FOR THIS SERIES ONLY – Must enter 3 BassKings Qualifiers to be eligible for the Lake Murray Final!
FOR THIS SERIES ONLY – You may pay for 1 event and not be present and it will count toward Final Qualification!

Todd Olds weighed in a FAT SACK at Santee Cooper Saturday to take the win! 5 bass weighing up at 26.53 lbs!

Robert Clarke claimed 2nd Place with 5 bass weighing 24.11 lbs! Robert also weighed in the BF at 7.26 lbs!

BassKings	BF	Weight	Winnings	Points
Todd Olds	0.00	26.53	$1,000.00	110
Robert Clarke	7.26	24.11	$830.00	109
Michael Craven	5.53	23.42		108
Sean Anderson	7.12	22.68		107
Larry Wood	2.66	4.89		106
Lonnie Jones	0.00	0.00		96
Mario Colangelo	0.00	0.00		96
JW Smith	0.00	0.00		96
Jeffrey Bourne	0.00	0.00		96

Championship			$530.00
Points			$530.00

Magical day lifts Lowen to St. Johns lead

Brian Carter

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February 21, 2025

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Magical day lifts Lowen to St. Johns lead

Indiana’s Bill Lowen leads the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla., with 10 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces.

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

Feb. 21, 2025

Magical day lifts Lowen to St. Johns lead

PALATKA, Fla. — When the necessary became the nemesis, Bill Lowen’s patient persistence delivered a clutch catch that typified his amazing day.

Bolstering a Day 1 limit of 21 pounds, 5 ounces with a second-round bag that went 24-4, the seasoned pro from Brookville, Ind., leads the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River with a two-day total of 45-9. Lowen heads into Semifinal Saturday with a 7-14 margin over Day 1 leader Jay Przekurat.

“It was an amazing day; you just can’t explain it when it happens,” Lowen said. “You look for those days all the time, and I had one of those days today.”

Lowen has been targeting shallow wood with a flipping jig and swim jig. When he hooked a solid bass around noon, the fish became entangled in a pile of limbs. After a couple of minutes of Lowen tugging and carefully poking his rod tip toward the snare, the fish suddenly found its way free.

“I saw the fish run a bream up against the bank, so I threw my jig over there, and as soon as the jig hit the water, she ate it,” Lowen said. “I was going to the back of the boat to land her and she just got stuck in a (submerged tree). I could feel her pulling, so I knew she was still there, but I couldn’t gain on her.

“After what felt like an eternity, I just put a lot of pressure on her. I was thinking the line was gonna break, but actually, the branch broke, and she just floated to the top. Usually, when that happens, it doesn’t end well. I got really lucky.”

Not long after that miracle catch, Lowen culled his smallest fish — a 1 1/2-pounder — with a 5 1/2. Another late-day cull gave him the confidence to pack up and head to weigh-in.

Lowen has been fishing a creek north of Palatka where deep, protected water has suffered less impact from the cold front that arrived on Day 1. While high, bright skies and significantly lower air and water temperatures challenged other competitors, Lowen found his fish generally cooperative.

“It’s all about the tide on the St. Johns, and when it finally got right around 11, I went to my main area and my first bite was a 6-pounder,” Lowen said. “From there on out, every decision I made was the right decision.

“I’m very comfortable doing what I’m doing. Obviously, I was worried about the cold front, but I don’t think it’s bothering them at all.”

Lowen knows he still has a lot of ground to cover, but the potential for adding a blue trophy to the one he claimed at Pickwick Lake in 2021 is well within his sights.

“Typically, on the St. Johns, I catch them good the first day and then I stub my toe,” Lowen said. “I didn’t want to do that this time. Obviously, I didn’t, but I was blessed.

“Everything just went right, and I’m looking forward to getting the XPress boat and Yamaha back out there, throwing my little cricket around and making a run at this thing. After last year, coming off my worst season ever, it feels good to start out like this. I definitely needed this to get my confidence back up.”

Hailing from Plover, Wis., Przekurat set the Day 1 high mark with 24-15, the event’s heaviest bag. Day 2’s shivering, windy weather halved his productivity with a limit of 12-12 and dropped him to second with 37-11.

“It was a tough day for me; I kinda knew that going into the day,” Przekurat said. “I had to scramble around a little bit and caught what I caught. Hopefully, tomorrow, I can step it up a little bit and stay in the Top 10.”

Calling his day a junk-fishing exhibition, Przekurat said the day’s weather complexion made consistency nonexistent.

“I caught a couple off the bed on a dropshot, I caught a couple just (blind casting) a wacky-rigged Strike King Ocho, and I caught one on a jerkbait on a little channel-swing place,” Przekurat said. “I didn’t catch many fish at all.”

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., is in third place with 37-7. Turning in a consistent performance, he backed up his Day 1 score of 18-15 with 18-8 and gained seven spots from 10th.

“It was the same bait as yesterday; I caught every one on a Texas-rigged black/blue Z-Man Bang StickZ with a 3/16-ounce weight,” Feider said. “I fished some different areas today and moved around a little more. It seems like I can’t keep beating on the same areas over and over again.

“I’m trying to pick one or two areas each day and try to catch everything I can out of it and then move on down the road. I caught some of my fish on docks and seawalls, but mostly on pads.”

Despite the conventional wisdom of expecting sunny afternoons to excel in post-frontal conditions, Feider said the morning hours produced his best bites — including an estimated 6-pounder.

John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-13.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon and Sunday from 8-11 a.m. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.

Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite Series St. Johns River 2/20-2/23
St. Johns River, Palakta FL.
Standings Day 2

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

1. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 45-09 104
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 24-04
2. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 10 37-11 103
Day 1: 5 24-15 Day 2: 5 12-12
3. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 10 37-07 102
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 18-08
4. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 35-07 101
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 17-03
5. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 35-06 100
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 16-01
6. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 35-04 99
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 20-02
7. John Cox Debary, FL 10 35-02 98 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-13
8. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 34-07 97
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 21-15
9. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 34-03 96
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-08
10. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 33-09 95
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 13-09
11. Bryan New Leesville, SC 10 33-05 94
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 12-11
12. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 33-01 93
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 19-10
13. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 32-07 92
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-04
14. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 32-02 91
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-11
15. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 31-14 90
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 13-04
16. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 31-14 89
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 17-05
17. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 31-14 88
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 15-05
18. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 31-05 87
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 17-05
19. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 31-04 86
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 18-08
20. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 10 30-10 85
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 12-07
21. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 30-09 84
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 18-12
22. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 30-09 83
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 17-00
23. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 30-04 82
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 11-13
24. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 30-03 81
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-11
25. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 30-00 80
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-15
26. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 29-09 79 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 18-12
27. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 29-05 78
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 08-03
28. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 29-04 77
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 18-14
29. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 28-11 76
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-15
30. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 28-08 75
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12
31. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 8 28-07 74
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 3 12-02
32. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 7 28-06 73
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 2 05-09
33. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 9 28-06 72
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 5 17-13
34. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 28-03 71
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 12-08
35. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 28-01 70
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 09-00
36. Wes Logan Springville, AL 8 27-15 69
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 3 08-03
37. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 27-02 68
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-04
38. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 27-00 67
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-04
39. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 27-00 66
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 13-07
40. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 26-15 65
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 17-08
41. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 26-15 64
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-07
42. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 26-13 63
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 19-01
43. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 26-13 62
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-15
44. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 26-09 61
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 15-11
45. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 26-09 60
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 11-02
46. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 26-06 59
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 17-08
47. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 26-06 58
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-14
48. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 26-01 57
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-05
49. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 25-15 56
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 16-03
50. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 25-02 55
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 08-14
51. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 24-15 54
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 08-08
52. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 24-13 53
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-09
53. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 7 24-09 52
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 2 10-02
54. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 24-07 51
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 16-04
55. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 7 24-06 50
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 2 06-14
56. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 24-05 49
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 14-04
57. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 24-02 48
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 08-13
58. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 24-02 47
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 14-13
59. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 8 24-01 46
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 5 14-08
60. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 10 24-01 45
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 14-06
61. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 10 23-12 44
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 10-13
62. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 23-03 43
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 08-06
63. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 23-01 42
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 09-13
64. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 9 22-15 41
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 4 08-04
65. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 22-13 40
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-07
66. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 10 22-11 39
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 11-11
67. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 22-09 38
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 14-10
68. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 8 21-09 37
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 5 15-06
69. Ben Milliken Omaha, NE 10 21-08 36
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 10-01
70. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 21-05 35
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 09-15
71. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 10 21-03 34
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 08-15
72. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 21-00 33
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 11-15
73. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 20-15 32
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 08-14
74. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 20-09 31
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 08-01
75. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 10 20-08 30
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 07-09
76. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 19-13 29
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 08-14
77. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 19-06 28
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 11-10
78. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 7 19-05 27
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 5 15-13
79. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 18-13 26
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 09-00
80. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 18-11 25
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 09-11
81. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 6 18-04 24
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 1 02-10
82. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 17-04 23
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 06-10
83. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 17-02 22
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 09-02
84. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 17-00 21
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 06-09
85. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 16-15 20
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-13
86. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 10 16-10 19
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-08
87. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 10 16-07 18
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 07-06
88. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 8 16-03 17
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 3 07-01
89. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 7 16-02 16
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 2 02-08
90. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 8 15-05 15
Day 1: 3 02-13 Day 2: 5 12-08
91. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 9 14-07 14
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 04-14
92. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 8 14-04 13
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 3 03-07
93. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 13-13 12
Day 1: 3 10-01 Day 2: 2 03-12
94. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 9 13-09 11
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 4 07-15
95. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 6 13-07 10
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 1 01-15
96. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 4 13-06 9
Day 1: 4 13-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 13-00 8
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 8 12-05 7
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 3 06-11
99. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 6 12-00 6
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 1 03-02
100. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 3 11-10 5
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 11-10
101. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 7 11-07 4
Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 4 08-00
102. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 8 10-12 3
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 3 04-14
103. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 4 07-09 2
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 1 01-04
104. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 1 02-11 1
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $1,000.00
2 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA08-12 $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 494 1317-03
2 81 456 1205-06
———————————-
174 950 2522-09

Illinois Pro Ryan Armstrong takes Day 1 Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain

Brian Carter

-

February 21, 2025

0

Illinois Pro Ryan Armstrong takes Day 1 Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain

Third year Invitationals pro battles through wind and sets the bar high with 29-12

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2025) – Though Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 Presented by VOSKER on the Kissimmee Chain was far from balmy, which can often make for a tough bite in Florida, the fishing proved solid. A strong north wind made large swaths of Kissimmee barely fishable, and the going was slow in the morning. But by weigh-in, the quality of the field shone through.

Leading the way, pro Ryan Armstrong of Robinson, Illinois, blasted 29 pounds, 12 ounces to claim a solid lead of nearly 4 pounds. In second, pro Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, snatched up 25-13, and Berrien Springs, Michigan’s Ron Nelson caught 23-1 for third place. Three more anglers brought in 20-pound bags, and a bunch of pros got into the mid-teens, putting themselves within striking distance if they can land a couple of the big bass Florida is known for.

Competitors will conclude the two-day opening round on Saturday, with only the top 30 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advancing to Championship Sunday. The three-day tournament, hosted by Experience Kissimmee, features pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and valuable points to qualify for the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship in September.

Link to Photo Gallery of Day 1 on-the-water Highlights
Link to Video of Fish-Catch Highlights of Day 1 from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes

“I practiced hard, like everybody else, from sunrise to sunset and kept the trolling motor down and fished a lot of water,” Armstrong said. “A couple times, I got around a lot of bites. I think I have two or three areas that I have a whole lot of faith in. I shook the fish off for the most part in practice, and so I just went to where I thought I had the best bites. I started there this morning, and I never left.”

Fishing away from most of the field, Armstrong caught fish early and often.

“I had a limit pretty quick, and I left around noon,” he said. “I just took my time getting back in and making sure I was in safe.”

While leading an Invitationals event isn’t a familiar position for Armstrong, he’s feeling good.

“I feel very, very comfortable fishing grass,” he explained. “I feel very, very comfortable in the area that I’m in. I know what’s going on. And what I’ve seen today, I learned a lot about my area that I wasn’t able to learn in practice, because I didn’t want to expose the fish anymore.

“So, today was a really good learning day for me about my area, which really is probably more important than what my weight was. Because I think I’m going to be more efficient, and I have a better idea of how many fish are around me to manage it.”

Armstrong hasn’t declared victory yet, and he’d be a little premature to call game, especially with last week’s Bass Pro Tour winner on the Harris Chain, Bobby Lane, lurking in the Top 10 along with a bevy of high-level talent within striking distance. But he couldn’t ask for a better way to open the season.

“It feels great, man,” said Armstrong. “But it’s far from over. I’m nowhere near what we want. This is a long road, and it was a good Day 1. But we want to win, and we’re going to try to do everything in order to make it happen.”

Despite the new rules limiting forward-facing sonar this year, second-place angler Drew Gill was likely a fixture in most Phoenix Fantasy Fishing rosters, and he rewarded his faithful on Day 1. Knocking their lights out as he is known to do, the young Illinois pro is in striking position again.

“I went out there and executed the game plan,” said Gill. “It was a pretty high-risk approach, fishing isolated targets for isolated big ones. I caught eight or nine bass today and caught them all on the spinning rod – a pretty unique deal for here.”

With his echolocation machines turned off on Day 2, Gill is planning on making some pretty big changes.

“I’m going to fish mostly new water,” he said. “A little bit of the same stuff less precisely, but most of my stretches just don’t have enough of a population to catch them blind. I mean, you would throw for four hours before ever hitting a single bass.

“We’re going to try and hold serve for the last day and see if we can’t pull off something crazy,” he said. “I know 30 is doable doing what I’m doing, and I want to get another shot at it on Day 3. So, we’ve got to make it through tomorrow.”

The top 20 pros after Day 1 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes are:

1st:        Ryan Armstrong, Robinson, Ill., five bass, 29-12
2nd:       Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., five bass, 25-13
3rd:       Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 23-1
4th:        Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, five bass, 21-14
5th:        Troy Stokes, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 21-12
6th:        Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., five bass, 20-3
7th:        Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., five bass, 19-4
8th:        Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 18-14
9th:        Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 18-14
10th:     Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala., five bass, 18-13
11th:     Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 18-10
12th:     Bryson O’Steen, Live Oak, Fla., five bass, 18-8
13th:     Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., five bass, 17-7
14th:     Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., five bass, 17-7
15th:     John Brown, Wedowee, Ala., five bass, 17-0
16th:     Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, five bass, 16-12
17th:     Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 16-10
18th:     Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., five bass, 16-10
19th:     Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., five bass, 16-6
20th:     Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., five bass, 16-4

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Matt Reed earned the first $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award of the year, Friday, with a largemouth bass that weighed in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces.

In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field compete in the two-day opening round on Days 1 and 2 in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight.

Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each morning from the Big Toho Marina, located at 69 Lakeview Drive in Kissimmee, Florida. Weigh-ins will be held at the marina and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on CBS Sports Network.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitationals updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Can Elite Anglers Overcome Mother Nature’s Fury at St. Johns River?

Brian Carter

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February 21, 2025

0

Can Elite Anglers Overcome Mother Nature’s Fury at St. Johns River?

Photo Courtesy of Bassmaster

The 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series kicked off this week at Florida’s St. Johns River, but Mother Nature had other plans for the season’s inaugural event. Instead of the Sunshine State’s typically balmy weather, anglers faced near-freezing temperatures and relentless winds that transformed the normally productive fishery into a serious test of skill and determination.

As competitors wrap up today’s session, many are rethinking their strategies for tomorrow’s crucial round. The harsh cold front has forced these professional anglers to abandon their pre-tournament game plans and adapt to conditions more reminiscent of a northern winter than a Florida spring.

Veteran anglers know the St. Johns River as “the land of the giants” – a reference to the trophy-sized largemouth bass that have made this waterway famous. Historical tournament data shows that winning bags often exceed 20 pounds per day, with some memorable events producing multiple bass over 10 pounds each. However, this year’s challenging conditions have made those impressive weights seem like a distant dream.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, competitors are preparing for long runs to protected areas where they hope the big female bass are staging for their annual spawning ritual. Despite the adverse weather, the river’s reputation for producing heavyweight catches keeps hope alive among the field. Past tournaments have shown that the St. Johns can turn around quickly when conditions improve, sometimes producing dramatic final-day comebacks.

The question on everyone’s mind is whether the weather will moderate enough to allow these elite anglers to showcase the river’s true potential. To make it to Championship Sunday, competitors will need to combine their experience with careful observation of changing conditions. Those who can identify areas where the water temperatures remain most stable may find the key to unlocking the river’s big-bass potential.

Success this weekend will likely come down to versatility. While sight fishing is typically a dominant pattern on the St. Johns this time of year, the cold front has pushed many bass off their beds. Anglers who can effectively mix offshore structure fishing with targeted approaches in protected spawning areas may have the best chance at making the final-day cut.

As these professional anglers prepare for another day on the water, they know that the St. Johns River, despite its current mood, remains capable of producing the tournament of a lifetime. Tomorrow could be the day when the giants decide to feed, turning this challenging event into another legendary chapter in Bassmaster Elite Series history.

Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Crud Craw & Stank-Bug

Bass News

Brian Carter

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February 21, 2025

0

Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Crud Craw & Stank-Bug

By FTR Industry Wire

February 21, 2025

The Berkley PowerBait MaxScent lineup expands with two new scent-exuding soft plastic shapes.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Berkley, the leader in fishing innovation, expands its tournament-proven PowerBait MaxScent lineup with the all-new Stank-Bug and Crud Craw. Berkley’s exclusive MaxScent formula adds the technology of scent release to soft plastic baits, expanding the strike zone and attracting more fish. Based on decades of scientific research, Berkley PowerBait MaxScent has been designed, tested in the lab, and proven on the water to deliver bites other baits won’t.

The Stank-Bug offers a compact profile with moderate action perfect for flipping and punching applications, while the Crud Craw presents a large profile with high action claws suitable for when anglers want a more aggressive presence amidst a variety of applications. Designed to become a staple in all anglers’ arsenal who demand performance and an edge against the competition.

Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Stank-Bug
The PowerBait MaxScent Stank-Bug makes a powerful entry into the soft plastic market with its versatile mid-sized craw profile, ideal for punching or flipping in heavy cover and a variety of other techniques. Featuring a moderate action and a streamlined body profile, it delivers reliable performance year-round. Powered by MaxScent’s proven taste and scent technology, it maximizes fish response. The innovative Stank-Bug design offers anglers a go-to bait, whether used as a jig trailer or on a Texas or Carolina rig.

CLICK LINK TO FINISH READING

Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Pickwick Lake relocates to Wheeler Lake

Brian Carter

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February 21, 2025

0

Feb. 21, 2025

Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Pickwick Lake relocates to Wheeler Lake

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —After confirming a tournament scheduling conflict with the Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Pickwick Lake Oct. 2-4, B.A.S.S. tournament officials have announced the event will relocate to Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala. Tournament dates will remain the same.

The Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Wheeler Lake will be hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.

“Moving a tournament is never easy,” said Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon. “Ultimately, we needed to keep our anglers in mind as well as anglers who are planning on fishing the other events. We are thankful for our friends in Tennessee and Pickwick Landing State Park for understanding as well as Decatur Morgan County Tourism committing to host the second stop of the EQs. Wheeler fishes great in October. It will be exciting to see the EQs start to take shape at this second stop.”

The first EQ event is scheduled for Sept. 18-20 at Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The series will then head to Wheeler Lake Oct. 2-4 before heading to the third and final EQ stop of the season Nov. 13-15 at Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla.

In addition to the 100 anglers qualifying from both divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, all current Bassmaster Elite Series anglers will be eligible to compete in the Elite Qualifiers, as well as the second- and third-place finishers from the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance.

B.A.S.S. remains committed to the “win and you’re in” concept for the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. Anglers who fish every event in a division of the Opens will receive a berth to the Classic if they win an event. The same applies to the three-event EQ series, taking the total to 11 berths to the Classic, which is an increase of two berths from years past.

Also new for 2025, the number of anglers who will qualify for the Elite Series has been increased to 10 (nine qualified in each of the past two years). Additionally, the EQ series rules will mirror those of the Elite Series, meaning the “no-info rule” is currently in effect and soliciting information for these bodies of waters is now prohibited.

EQ entry fees will be $3,500 per event. For full details please visit Bassmaster.com.

2025 Elite Qualifiers

Sept. 18-20, Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Oct 2-4, Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala.

Nov. 13-15, Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.

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Armstrong looking unstoppable on the Kissimmee Chain

Slow and steady for Armstrong

Weaver is no stranger to Florida comebacks

Top 10 pros

Despite slower third day, Lowen stays on top at St. Johns River

Berkley Krej Evolution

Berkley Krej Evolution

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Magical day lifts Lowen to St. Johns lead

Illinois Pro Ryan Armstrong takes Day 1 Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain

Can Elite Anglers Overcome Mother Nature’s Fury at St. Johns River?

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