FARMERSBURG’S WILKINSON WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE HOOSIER DIVISION EVENT ON OHIO RIVER

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August 1, 2016

FARMERSBURG’S WILKINSON WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE HOOSIER DIVISION EVENT ON OHIO RIVER

Jenkins wins co-angler title

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CANNELTON, Ind. (Aug. 1, 2016) – Chris Wilkinson of Farmersburg, Indiana, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 12 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the fourth FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Hoosier Division tournament of 2016 on the Ohio River. For his win, Wilkinson took home $4,309.

“I caught my limit on the main river and in creeks,” said Wilkinson, who earned his second win of 2016 in BFL competition. “No matter where I went, I focused on wood that had current breaks. In the creeks, the calm water behind bigger laydowns held the better fish.

“I caught several keepers on a Pearl Chartreuse-colored Jackall Super Eruption Spinnerbait using a G. Loomis 813C Spinnerbait Series Rod,” Wilkinson continued. “My heaviest bass, the largest of the event, came from a piece of wood on the main river. On that cast, I threw a Jackall Cover Craw with a G. Loomis NRX 853 Casting Rod.”

Wilkinson said he pulled in around 13 keepers throughout the event.

“They all were caught fairly shallow – maybe about 1 to 3 feet down,” said Wilkinson. “I either flipped and popped the craw, or ran the spinnerbait as slow as I could.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 12-9, $4,309

2^nd: Tommy Williams, Shepherdsville, Ky., four bass, 10-5, $1,902

3^rd: Sean Gillenwater, Bloomington, Ind., three bass, 6-2, $1,267

4^th: Frank McClain, Scottsburg, Ind., four bass, 5-14, $888

5^th: Kyle Weisenburger, Ottawa, Ohio, three bass, 5-13, $961

6^th: Eric Moore, Hamilton, Ohio, three bass, 5-6, $797

7^th: Matt McCoy, Indianapolis, Ind., five bass, 5-5, $634

8^th: Damon Tingle, Mooresville, Ind., four bass, 5-4, $571

9^th: George Brown, Camby, Ind., three bass, 5-3, $507

10^th: John Melton, Corydon, Ind., three bass, 5-1, $444

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Wilkinson’s biggest bass – which weighed 4 pounds, 7 ounces – earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $505.

Joshua Jenkins of Indianapolis, Indiana, weighed in two bass totaling 6 pounds even, Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,144.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: Joshua Jenkins, Indianapolis, Ind., two bass, 6-0, $2,144

2^nd: Scott Standafer, Hamilton, Ohio, two bass, 5-8, $949

3^rd: Steve Keller Jr., Bethel, Ohio, two bass, 4-1, $633

4^th: Jeremy New, Yorktown, Ind., two bass, 3-13, $543

5^th: Darron Read, Elizabethtown, Ind., one bass, 3-10, $429

6^th: Charles Hardin, Evansville, Ind., two bass, 3-8, $348

7^th: Brant Gish, Evansville, Ind., one bass, 3-3, $300

7^th: Tom Legear, Richmond, Ind., two bass, 3-3, $300

9^th: Austin LeClere, Cannelton, Ind., two bass, 3-2, $253

10^th: Gary Owens, Columbus, Ind., three bass, 3-0, $210

10^th: Ron Weisenburger, Continental, Ohio, two bass, 3-0, $210

Jenkins also caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 4 pounds, 4 ounces, and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $247.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Sept. 29 – Oct. 1 Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 50 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and 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 winners in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the Walmart 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.

PINCKNEY’S SITKO WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE MICHIGAN DIVISION EVENT ON DETROIT RIVER PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE

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August 1, 2016

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PINCKNEY’S SITKO WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE MICHIGAN DIVISION EVENT ON DETROIT RIVER PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE

Kopczyk wins co-angler title

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TRENTON, Mich. (Aug. 1, 2016) – Michael Sitko of Pinckney, Michigan, weighed a five bass limit totaling 23 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the third FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Michigan Division tournament of 2016 on the Detroit River presented by Power-Pole. Sitko took home $6,463 for his win.

Sitko said he ran to Lake St. Clair and targeted isolated weed patches along a mid-lake stretch that he estimated at 200 yards long by 50 yards wide.

“I dragged minnow baits on a drop-shot rig and then I would snap tubes,” said Sitko, who earned his second win in FLW competition. “The water was rough so I stayed in one area throughout the day.”

Sitko said he used a Yamamoto Baits Shad Shape Worm on the drop-shot rig and a 4-inch green-pumpkin-colored Poor Boys Tube.

“The drop-shot was more of a search-type bait,” said Sitko. “I dragged it through the cover, and when I got hung up on weeds, I flipped the tube in there and snapped it a couple of times.”

The Michigan angler said he was able to wrangle in 15 to 20 keepers throughout his day.

“I put a 5-pounder in the boat at 11 a.m. on the tube,” said Sitko. “Once you find them on Lake St. Clair this time of year, you can work them a bit. That’s what I did out there.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: Michael Sitko, Pinckney, Mich., five bass, 23-9, $4,463 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

2^nd: Todd Schmitz, Goshen, Ind., five bass, 21-0, $1,981

3^rd: Jon Witt, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 20-13, $1,322

4^th: Mike Trombly, Belleville, Mich., five bass, 20-10, $1,460

5^th: Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., five bass, 20-7, $893

6^th: Kyle Greene, Ortonville, Mich., five bass, 20-6, $727

7^th: Matt Elkins, Spencerville, Ohio, five bass, 20-1, $660

8^th: Steve Clapper, Lima, Ohio, five bass, 19-12, $594

9^th: Derrick Soulliere, Belle River, Ontario, five bass, 19-11, $528

10^th: Matthew Malmquist, White Lake, Mich., five bass, 18-12, $439

10^th: Jared Rhode, Port Clinton, Ohio, five bass, 18-12, $439

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Trombly caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 9 ounces – the biggest of the tournament in the pro division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $535.

Jason Kopczyk of Fenton, Michigan, weighed in five bass totaling 20 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,248.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: Jason Kopczyk, Fenton, Mich., five bass, 20-11, $2,248

2^nd: Mark Kemp, Hilliard, Ohio, five bass, 20-3, $826

2^nd: Brad Lyon, Columbus, Ohio, five bass, 20-3, $826

4^th: Harbor Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, five bass, 19-12, $429

4^th: Aaron Wehmeyer, Odell, Ill., five bass, 19-12, $429

6^th: John Murphy, Mooresville, Ind., five bass, 19-9, $563

7^th: Brian Ruetz, Toledo, Ohio, five bass, 18-8, $330

8^th: Kenneth Lesner, Westland, Mich., five bass, 18-6, $297

9^th: Randy Westerfield, Constantine, Mich., five bass, 18-4, $264

10^th: John Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, five bass, 18-1, $231

Kopczyk also caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $267.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 13-15 Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 50 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and 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 winners in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the Walmart 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.

NORTH CAROLINA’S GILLESPIE WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE PIEDMONT DIVISION EVENT ON JAMES RIVER PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS

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August 1, 2016

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NORTH CAROLINA’S GILLESPIE WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE PIEDMONT DIVISION EVENT ON JAMES RIVER PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS

Riveras wins co-angler title

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HENRICO, Va. (Aug. 1, 2016) – Randy Gillespie of Sanford, North Carolina, weighed a five bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the fourth FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Piedmont Division tournament of 2016 on the James River presented by Navionics. For his win, Gillespie earned $4,247.

“I primarily flipped wood, rocks and laydowns in Falling Creek,” said Gillespie, who earned his first win in BFL competition. “We caught the outgoing tide and fished in 2- to 3-foot depths. I had a limit in the boat by 8 a.m.”

Gillespie said he ran south and caught another keeper around 9:30 a.m. before returning to the creek to work the incoming tide.

“I caught six of my eight keepers flipping a drop-shot rig with a green-pumpkin Zoom Finesse Worm,” said Gillespie. “It’s definitely an unusual tactic. In practice, the fish wanted something small and compact. I left only an 8-inch leader between the sinker and the bait.”

With five minutes left in the event, Gillespie said he boated a 4-pounder on a Texas-rigged, green-pumpkin Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver out of some grass near the takeoff ramp.

“It was my final cast, and that fish ended up winning the event for me,” said Gillespie. “I guess it was meant to be.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: Randy Gillespie, Sanford, N.C., five bass, 14-11, $4,247

2^nd: Mike Cherry, Hampton, Va., five bass, 14-7, $1,623

3^rd: Todd Harris, Clemmons, N.C., five bass, 13-14, $1,082

4^th: Josh Wagy, Dewitt, Va., five bass, 13-11, $958

5^th: Rick Hawkins, Roanoke, Va., five bass, 12-5, $649

6^th: Kyle Fisher, Boone, N.C., four bass, 12-0, $568

6^th: Kelly Pratt, Williamsburg, Va., five bass, 12-0, $568

8^th: Joel Eberts, Powhatan, Va., five bass, 11-12, $487

9^th: Kennon Ball, Colonial Heights, Va., five bass, 11-11, $533

10^th: Harrison Baker, Providence Forge, Va., five bass, 11-4, $379

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Michael Martinez of Lanexa, Virginia, caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 15 ounces – the biggest of the tournament in the pro division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $390.

Victor Riveras of Newport News, Virginia, weighed in five bass totaling 18 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,018.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: Victor Riveras, Newport News, Va., five bass, 18-5, $2,018

2^nd: Lavar James, Woodbridge, Va., five bass, 13-12, $812

3^rd: Brent Enos, Bracey, Va., five bass, 11-4, $541

4^th: Conner Davis, Bear Creek, N.C., five bass, 10-11, $429

5^th: Scott Spencer, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 8-12, $325

6^th: Roy Alston, Henrico, N.C., five bass, 8-9, $298

7^th: Greg Fox, Fayetteville, N.C., four bass, 7-12, $271

8^th: Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., four bass, 6-12, $244

9^th: Dexter Andrews, Louisburg, N.C., five bass, 6-9, $216

10^th: Al Berkley, Madison Heights, Va., four bass, 6-6, $189

Riveras also caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $195.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 27-29 Regional Championship on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 50 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and 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 winners in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the Walmart 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.

High School Championship And College Series Classic Bracket Head To Tennessee

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August 1, 2016

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High School Championship And College Series Classic Bracket Head To Tennessee

The top high school anglers from across the country will head to Paris, Tenn., to compete in the Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship held on Kentucky and Barkley lakes Aug. 4-6.

Photo by Ronnie Moore/Bassmaster

August 1, 2016

High School Championship And College Series Classic Bracket Head To Tennessee

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Costa Bassmaster High School Championship will bring 170 teams to Paris, Tenn., where 340 anglers will have the chance to fish Kentucky and Barkley lakes in hopes of earning a national championship title.

“We are thrilled to once again host the Costa Bassmaster High School Championship and the Bassmaster College Series Classic Bracket at Paris Landing on beautiful Kentucky Lake,” said David Hamilton, CEO of the Henry County Tourism Authority.

“Kentucky Lake is one of the top lakes for bass fishing, and these high school and college anglers are excited to return to Kentucky Lake to compete for the national championship title.”

The Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship competition begins Thursday, Aug. 4, with anglers taking off from Paris Landing State Park at 5:30 a.m.

The full field of anglers will fish Thursday and Friday. Full-field weigh-ins will be held at Paris Landing State Park at 1:45 p.m. The Top 12 teams will compete Saturday, the final day. Weigh-ins Saturday will be held in downtown Paris, Tenn.

A coach whose role is mentoring the anglers will accompany each pair of anglers in the boat. Each team is required to take a 15-minute half-time break after four hours of fishing. One-minute timeouts are optional.

Competitors in the Bassmaster High School Championship are eligible to win $70,250 in scholarship funds. B.A.S.S. is contributing $21,000 and sponsors are providing $9,250, while the remaining $40,000 will be awarded by Bethel University in McKenzie, Tenn. The prizes are part of a scholarship awards fund totaling more than $100,000 to be paid out this year in the High School B.A.S.S. Nation program.

“These scholarships offered to student anglers are very special,” said Hank Weldon, senior manager of the B.A.S.S. high school and college programs. “It is one of the most important goals and visions of the program — keeping kids in school and helping them pay for it.”

Triton will also provide an additional $500 scholarship to each angler through sixth place.

“The Bassmaster High School program was in the beginning a small segment of the bass fishing world,” Weldon said. “In its short, three-year existence, it has become a program we are proud of and one that’s so important to our sponsors, fans, host communities and, of course the students and their parents.”

Championship week also includes the B.A.S.S. Youth Nation Junior Championship, Aug. 2-3, and the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Classic Bracket, Aug. 4-6, all headquartered in Paris, Tenn.

Junior Championship teams, made up of teams of youngsters ages 7-13, will compete at Carroll County 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake. The B.A.S.S. Youth Nation is designed to feed the high school program.

“We’re excited to again be partnered with B.A.S.S. in this endeavor,” said Brad Hurley, president of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. “We had an 11 pound, 14 ounce bass caught here at the Junior Championship last year, and we’re hoping to see another one.”

With the team portion of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops complete July 30, the Top 4 teams will be split up into an eight-angler individual bracket. Anglers from those four teams will take off from Paris Landing in separate boats and fish Kentucky Lake Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4-6. They will battle head-to-head in single-elimination bracket competition.

The prize at stake is a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Lake Conroe in Houston, Texas. In addition, the winning angler will have a year’s entry into the 2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens and will earn a fully rigged and wrapped truck-and-boat combo.

Local hosts for the events are Paris-Henry County, Carroll County and Bethel University.

PLANO’S Z-SERIES TECHNICAL TACKLE BACKPACK ELIMINATES PROBLEM-PRONE ZIPPERS

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August 1, 2016

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PLANO’S Z-SERIES TECHNICAL TACKLE BACKPACK ELIMINATES PROBLEM-PRONE ZIPPERS

HANDS-FREE, HIGH-TECH TACKLE STORAGE…UNZIPPED

PLANO’S Z-SERIES TECHNICAL TACKLE BACKPACK ELIMINATES PROBLEM-PRONE ZIPPERS

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Plano, IL (August 1, 2016) – Great fishing is where you find it. Sometimes, it’s waiting right at the end of the dock. Other times, it’s the reward at the end of a lengthy journey by foot, bike, kayak or dugout canoe. Regardless of where your angling adventures lead, Plano’s new Z-Series Technical Tackle Backpack will carry all the tackle you’ll need in one hands-free, worry-free package.

Sun, salt and stress take their toll on zippers, which are prone to premature failure in some tackle bag designs. Thankfully, Plano takes your mental health seriously. Their solution? Eliminate the Z-word and eliminate the problems. Like the three other bags in Plano’s new Z-Series, the Z-Series Technical Tackle Backpack utilizes easy-opening HDPE buckles and Velcro in lieu of… well, you know, while additional engineered features eliminate other common tackle pain points.

Outside, a new, high-performance Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) waterproof fabric defies the elements and allows for easy care, while a vivid, light orange finish prevents overheating and delivers a simple yet sizzling aesthetic.

A healthy main compartment is accessed through the bag’s top, and provides capacity for up to four included 3700-size StowAway tackle boxes. A speedy cinch-cord provides initial closure, while a large flap secured by buckles and Velcro tightly covers the opening to lock out salt and spray.

The face of the Z-Series Technical Tackle Backpack features an additional lower flap that opens to access a tool holder and a drop-down, see-through, wrap-style pocket that’s perfect for housing hot baits, keys, smartphones or other angling essentials.

Three additional large pockets are found on the bag’s exterior – one on each side, and a third beneath the front flap. These generous pockets feature buckle and Velcro closures and provide secure storage for reels, line spools, sunglasses or other tackle and accessories.

A tackle backpack must be comfortable, and the new Z-Series Technical Tackle Backpack is a dream to wear, courtesy of its adjustable and padded shoulder straps. One strap features a readily accessible tool holder, while the other sports a handy mesh slip pocket.

NEW Plano Model No. 119940 Z-Series Technical Tackle Backpack

Failsafe zipperless design
High-performance TPE-coated waterproof fabric
Light-colored exterior avoids overheating
Main compartment easily holds four included 3700-size StowAway boxes
Cinch-cord top provides complete closure of main compartment, further secured by buckles and Velcro
Wrap-style front pocket secured by buckles and Velcro provides quick, see-through access to contents
Two exterior side pockets secure with buckles
One additional tool holder and one additional pocket with Velcro closures beneath front flap
Product size: 17.00” x 9.00” x 15.00”

MSRP $89.99

Perfect for kayak anglers, expedition anglers, or anyone who needs to transport tackle while keeping their hands free, Plano’s new weather-defying Z-Series Technical Tackle Backpack is the ultimate technical angling pack – a standout offering in the company’s all-new Z-Series, a premium and weather-resistant line of advanced, zipperless tackle storage designs that helps anglers leave their worries behind, but bring everything else. In addition to the Tackle Backpack, Plano’s new Z-Series includes 3600- and 3700-size Tackle Bags and an innovative Tackle Wrap, providing a comprehensive system for zipperless, weather endurable, worry-free tackle storage and transportation. Learn more at www.planomolding.com.

#PlanoFishing

5 Ways to Maximize Your Carolina Rig Success Walker Smith

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July 31, 2016

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5 Ways to Maximize Your Carolina Rig Success

Walker Smith

July 26,2016

When the bass fishing gets tough, the Carolina rig will consistently produce plenty of action throughout the entire year. Elite Series pro Mark Menendez shares his tips to help you get more out of this often overlooked technique.

Carolina rigs have a notable reputation as a do-nothing bass fishing technique. They’re not sexy, they’re rarely exciting and they often serve as a last resort for anglers when nothing else works. When you look at all the big bass that fall victim each year to the ol’ ball and chain, however, it’s impossible to deny their effectiveness.

They work—and they work really well.

Elite Series pro Mark Menendez believes that ignoring the rig may result in several missed opportunities throughout the year.

“It’s certainly not my favorite thing to throw, but the Carolina rig can be the most productive tool in your arsenal,” Menendez said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s cold, hot or somewhere in the middle; its ability to catch big bass is simply amazing.”

Before we get into the specifics, it’s important to understand exactly what makes a Carolina rig so potent in the fight against stubborn bass.

Kansas State Wins College Championship On Green River Lake With Consistency

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July 31, 2016

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Kansas State Wins College Championship On Green River Lake With Consistency

Kyle Alsop (left) and Taylor Bivins of Kansas State win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Midwestern Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops on Clinton Lake out of Clinton, Ill., with a three-day total weight of 36 pounds, 4 ounces.

Photo by Ronnie Moore/Bassmaster

July 30, 2016

Kansas State Wins College Championship On Green River Lake With Consistency

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CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Kyle Alsop and Taylor Bivins of Kansas State University are the winners of the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship, thanks to a series of consistent weights. They finished the tournament on Kentucky’s Green River Lake with 36 pounds, 4 ounces.

The Kansas State team was the only one in the field of 89 teams to bring in more than 10 pounds every day.

“It was a grind,” said Bivins, who just graduated from Kansas State in May with a degree in wildlife and outdoor enterprise management. “We had to fish really slow the whole time.”

“Slow is not our preferred way to fish,” added Alsop, a senior majoring in engineering. “I hate it. But it was our only way to be consistent.”

The two had a plan coming in to the tournament — catch 12 to 13 pounds a day. On Day 1, they had 13 pounds, 15 ounces, including the Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament, a 6-pound, 13-ounce bass. They followed it up on Day 2 with 11-1, including a 5-2 bass. On the final day, Alsop and Bivins weighed in 11 pounds, 4 ounces, including the biggest bass of the day, a 5-9.

“The key was definitely the big bite,” Alsop said. “We were blessed to get one big one every day.”

The two were not expecting a win. They were hoping to be able to make the Top 4 to qualify for the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops, Aug. 4-6, on Kentucky Lake in Tennessee. The best angler in that head-to-head competition earns a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.

“It will take a while for this to sink in,” Alsop said, looking at his teammate.

“We’re just living the moment right now,” Bivins added. The two couldn’t stop smiling while toting around their championship trophies.

The key area for the winners was a giant main lake point with a flat that had a big ledge on it.

“There were 20 boats on scattered brush out there the first couple of days,” Alsop said. “We found a strip off to the side that we had to ourselves.”

They fished the ledge right as it dropped from 20 feet deep to 50 feet deep.

Alsop fished a Carolina rigged Zoom Brush Hog with spike tails dyed chartreuse, while his teammate fished a shaky head setup with a Yamamoto Senko in green pumpkin with black flake or watermelon red flake.

“We knew there were lots of fish on those channel swing points,” Alsop said. “We just had to keep our heads down and keep working until we caught them.”

For their win, Alsop and Bivins earned a check for their Kansas State team for $2,500 from Carhartt and another check for $2,500 from B.A.S.S. The two were also presented with a Humminbird Helix unit.

“We were due for a win,” said Alsop. “We’ve always finished well in tournaments — no worse than 30th place — but we could never get above fourth place. It’s incredible we did it here.”

Right behind the Kansas State team was the Bethel University team of Brian Pahl and John Garrett, who finished second with 35 pounds, 7 ounces.

“We fished brushpiles early in the mornings,” said Pahl. “Then we went to shallower water. When that didn’t work out today, we went to another spot, where we caught five keepers.”

Pahl and Garrett had a really big day on Day 1 with 17 pounds, 4 ounces, one of the biggest bags of the tournament. They will join Alsop and Bivins at the College Classic Bracket on Kentucky Lake next week.

The Day 1 leaders, Sam Stone and Evan Coleman, will also compete at the Classic Bracket, thanks to their third-place finish. The two anglers came in fishless on the final day of the championship, but their Bass Pro Shops Nitro Big Bag on Day 1 of 20 pounds, 13 ounces, kept them in contention.

The final team to qualify for the Classic Bracket was Austin Handley and Caleb Wozniak of Auburn University. They finished in fourth place with 27 pounds, 5 ounces. The Auburn team used a flipping presentation upriver the whole tournament, but the fish had moved out of that area on the final day, accounting for only a 2-pound, 9-ounce weight on Saturday.

The college championship brought together the best college anglers in the country, as determined by their performance in any of five regionals or a single Wild Card event. More than 500 teams from 200-plus colleges competed for a chance to qualify for this tournament.

Trevor Lo, the college angler who advanced from the championship last year and ultimately won the College Classic Bracket, was on stage on the Campbellsville University campus for the final day of competition this year.

“It’s surreal to be back on this stage,” said Lo. “My college win changed my life this year. I can’t wait to see who the next college angler fishing the Classic will be.”

Watch the College Classic Bracket, Aug. 4-6, to see which of the eight qualifiers will earn a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic. Updates for the tournament will be posted at Bassmaster.com.

STANDINGS BOATER DAY 3
Clinton Lake – Clinton Lake Marina – Clinton, IL
6/2/2016 – 6/4/2016
Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Midwest Regional presented by
Bass Pro Shops

Today’s Activity
# Fish Lbs – Oz
Accumulative
Name # Live # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz1 Kyle Alsop – Taylor Bivins Kansas State University 3 3 11- 4 11 11 36- 42 Brian Pahl – John Garrett Bethel University 5 5 12-14 14 14 35- 7

3 Sam Stone – Evan Coleman Texas State University 0 0 0- 0 8 8 29- 2

4 Austin Handley – Caleb Wozniak Auburn University 2 2 2- 9 11 11 27- 5

5 JP Kimbrough – Jared Rascoe LSU Shreveport 5 5 9-10 15 15 26-11

6 Levi Baker – Bayne Miller U. of North Georgia 5 5 10- 5 11 11 26- 5

7 Hunter Louden – Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 6 5 25- 3

8 Tyler Rivet – Jess Robertson Nicholls State University 2 2 6- 4 9 9 24-14

9 Thomas Oltorik III – James Oltorik Daytona State College 2 2 3- 6 10 10 23-8

10 KJ Queen – Evan Owrey Bethel University 1 1 4- 2 6 6 23- 3

11 Luis McMurphy – MJ Vihnanek U. of South Alabama 3 3 4-12 8 5 21-14

12 Maurice Hudson – Sean Cummins Penn State University 1 0 1- 2 6 5 17-10

BIG BASS

Day

1 Kyle Alsop – Taylor Bivins Overland Park, KS 6-13

2 Luis McMurphy – MJ VihnaneMkobile, AL 5-14

2 Mitch Swanson – Thor SwansBolanine, MN 5-14

3 Kyle Alsop – Taylor Bivins Overland Park, KS 5- 9

Day # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits

TOTALS

# Fish

1 219 208 434-10 20

2 138 130 276-14 9

3 29 28 66- 4

Daiwa Zillion Casting Rod Review Walker Smith July 25,2016

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July 30, 2016

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Daiwa Zillion Casting Rod Review

Walker Smith

If you like to flip heavy cover and fish a topwater frog over matted vegetation, this high-end bass fishing rod is sure to turn your head.

Heavy cover is a perfect place to find big, unmolested bass. Not only does it offer them the security they crave, but it also serves as strategic ambush points from which they can attack unsuspecting prey. Targeting such areas, however, requires specialized equipment that’s made to overpower the bass both quickly and efficiently.

I’ve been able to spend some time testing the 7-foot, 4-inch heavy-action Daiwa Zillion Casting Rod lately. Although it’s originally designed for fishing frogs over matted vegetation, I’ve also found it to be an excellent pitching and flipping rod as well.

Texas State Holds On To College Championship Lead On Green River

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July 30, 2016

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Texas State Holds On To College Championship Lead On Green River

Evan Coleman (left) and Sam Stone of Texas State maintain their lead on Day 2 of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Green River Lake out of Campbellsville, Ky., after catching a two-day total weight of 29 pounds, 2 ounces.

Photo by Ronnie Moore/Bassmaster

July 29, 2016

Texas State Holds On To College Championship Lead On Green River

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CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Sam Stone and Evan Coleman of Texas State University managed only 8 pounds, 5 ounces on Day 2 of the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship, but they maintained their lead on Kentucky’s Green River Lake.

“It was definitely tougher today,” Stone said, after the pair caught an impressive 20 pounds, 13 ounces on Thursday. “And we only caught three today.”

Still, no one else in the 89-team field could catch up to them.

“The pressure ruined everything,” Coleman said. “There are so many boats on this lake right now and have been for days. We’re looking forward to tomorrow when there are fewer boats to worry about.”

Coleman is referring to Day 3 of the championship, when only the Top 12 boats in the competition will take to the water.

The anglers’ performance on the final day is extremely important. The Top 4 teams at the end of Saturday’s weigh-in advance to the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops, Aug. 4-6, on Kentucky Lake in Tennessee. The best angler in that head-to-head competition earns a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.

Just mentioning the potential of a spot in the Classic brings a big smile to Coleman’s face.
“That would be a dream,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to fish it my whole life. That’s the reason we’re here is to have a shot at that.”

To remain in the Top 4, the pair will have to reassess their game plan.

“We spent a lot more time moving around today,” Stone said. “We’ve got to adjust a little bit tomorrow to have another really good day.”

However, a penalty for fishing in an off-limits area will shorten their fishing time on Saturday.

“The Texas State team crossed into an area that is designated for handicap fishing and no boats are allowed,” said Hank Weldon, manager of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series. “They called me as soon as they realized their error. They did not catch any fish in the off-limits area.”

Stone and Coleman will start Day 3 two hours later than the rest of the Top 12.

Right behind the Texas State team on the leaderboard is Hunter Louden who, like them, had a 20-pound-plus bag on Day 1 followed by a much smaller catch on Day 2. Louden, who fishes for Bethel University, brought in only one bass on Friday for 4 pounds, 13 ounces. He’s holding down second place with 25 pounds, 3 ounces.

In third place is the Kansas State University team of Kyle Alsop and Taylor Bivins with 25 pounds even. They remain in the lead for the Carhartt Big Bass prize of $500 for their Day 1 big bass that weighed 6-13.

The biggest bass caught on Friday weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and there were two of them. Mitch Swanson and Thor Swanson, brothers who fish for Bemidji State University, and Luis McMurphy and MJ Vihnanek of University of South Alabama caught the same-size big bass.

The hot, muggy weather and overcast skies made for another tough day for much of the field. Of the 89 teams who are competing, 35 of them posted zeroes, compared to 14 for Day 1. The quality of fish was the same, averaging 2 pounds per bass, but the numbers were way down from Day 1, with half as many teams posting limits as the first day.

Many competitors in the field were planning to overhaul their game plan after a poor showing on Day 1. Some were able to make major jumps up the leaderboard, while others couldn’t make the progress they needed.

“On this lake, you can be the bug or the windshield,” said Justin Cooper of Northwestern State University. “We were the bug.” He and his partner, Johnny Ledet, finished in 38th place with 7 pounds, 11 ounces.

Those words reflected how several other competitors felt. For Maurice Hudson and Sean Cummins of Penn State, they were the ‘bug’ on Day 2 following a ‘windshield’ performance on Day 1. The pair zeroed on Day 2, but their Day 1 catch of 16-8 held their position in the Top 12, and they will advance to the final day of fishing on Saturday.

On the other hand, a couple of teams had big bags on Day 2 that moved them much farther up in the standings. Austin Handley and Caleb Wozniak of Auburn University moved into fourth place from 17th on Day 1 with a 17-pound, 2-ounce bag on Day 2. That’s the same weight brought in by Luis McMurphy and MJ Vihnanek of University of South Alabama — a team that zeroed on Day 1 but moved into ninth place going into the final day.

The college championship brings together the best college anglers in the country, as determined by their performance in any of five regionals or a single Wild Card event. More than 500 teams from 200-plus colleges competed for a chance to qualify for this tournament.

Campbellsville University is hosting the tournament on its campus in Campbellsville, Ky.
“The staff and volunteers here have been so amazing,” said Weldon. “If we need it, they make it happen. Campbellsville has really showed out.”

As the leaders on Day 2, Stone and Coleman of Texas State win the Livingston Lures Day 2 Leader Award worth $250. They are also in the lead for the Bass Pro Shops Nitro Big Bag for $250, for their 20-13 bag on Day 1.

Schools represented in the Top 12 competing on the final day are Texas State, Bethel University, Kansas State, Auburn, Daytona State, Nicholls State, University of South Alabama, LSU Shreveport, Penn State and University of North Georgia. Bethel has three teams vying for the top spot on Day 3.

The tournament resumes Saturday at 6:30 a.m. ET when the Top 12 take off from Green River Marina, located at 289 Lone Valley Road, in Campbellsville. The weigh-in will be held at 3:30 p.m. ET on Stapp Lawn on the Campbellsville University campus. A fan expo will open at 1 p.m. and will continue through the weigh-in. All events are free and open to the public.

The weigh-in will be streamed live at Bassmaster.com.

STANDINGS BOATER DAY 2
Green River Lake – Green River Marina – Campbellsville, KY
7/28/2016 – 7/30/2016
Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops

Today’s Activity
# Fish Lbs – Oz
Accumulative
Name # Live # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz
1 Sam Stone – Evan Coleman Texas State University 3 3 8- 5 8 8 29- 2
2 Hunter Louden – Bethel University 1 1 4-13 6 5 25- 3
3 Kyle Alsop – Taylor Bivins Kansas State University 3 3 11- 1 8 8 25- 0
4 Austin Handley – Caleb Wozniak Auburn University 5 5 17- 2 9 9 24-12
5 Brian Pahl – John Garrett Bethel University 4 4 5- 5 9 9 22- 9
6 Thomas Oltorik III – James Oltorik Daytona State College 3 3 4-12 8 8 20- 2
7 KJ Queen – Evan Owrey Bethel University 2 2 7- 9 5 5 19- 1
8 Tyler Rivet – Jess Robertson Nicholls State University 2 2 10-12 7 7 18-10
9 Luis McMurphy – MJ Vihnanek U. of South Alabama 5 2 17- 2 5 2 17- 2
10 JP Kimbrough – Jared Rascoe LSU Shreveport 5 5 7-12 10 10 17- 1
11 Maurice Hudson – Sean Cummins Penn State University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 16- 8
12 Levi Baker – Bayne Miller U. of North Georgia 2 2 4- 8 6 6 16- 0
13 Brandon Simoneaux – Colby Ogden Lamar University 5 3 8-10 9 7 15- 7
14 Josh Cannon – Alex Frazier Western Carolina University 5 5 9- 4 8 8 14-15
15 Andrew Mlotek – Calvin Vang U. of Wisconsin Whitewater 3 3 5-13 7 6 14- 8
16 Zeke Gossett – Hayden Bartee Faulkner University 5 5 8- 5 6 6 14- 7
17 Chayse Freeman – Ryan Shields Wallace State Comm College 3 3 7-12 8 8 13-12
18 Phillip Germagliotti – Shane Campbell McKendree University 1 1 1- 1 5 3 13- 7
19 Brandon Koon – Kenneth Parks UT Martin 0 0 0- 0 5 5 13- 6
20 Mitch Swanson – Thor Swanson Bemidji State University 3 3 10-11 4 4 13- 4
21 Patrick Walters – Brian Sweeney University of South Carolina 4 3 5-15 9 8 12-13
22 Trent Newman – Nathan Wood Dallas Baptist University 5 5 7- 3 10 10 12-11
23 Lance Freeman – Chandler Christian Murray State University 2 1 7-13 4 3 11-13
24 Bradley Fleming – Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 5 5 6-10 10 10 11-13
25 Sam Glenn – Cameron Baker UNC Charlotte 4 3 7-15 6 5 11- 8
26 Justin Singleton – Ryan Stewart Georgia College 5 5 5-12 8 8 11- 5
27 Cole Burdeshaw – Travis Culbreth Auburn University 2 2 2-13 7 7 10-13
28 Reed Foster – Zackery Hines Dallas Baptist University 2 2 4- 8 5 5 10-13
29 Jacob Miller – Kyle Waller Ohio State University 1 1 2- 4 5 5 10-10
30 Jordan Wise – Chris Phinney East Carolina University 2 2 4- 8 6 6 10- 7
31 Ronnie Gray – Ladd Owens Arkansas Tech University 1 1 4- 7 3 3 10- 3
32 Ryan Hayse – Jake Staley U. of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0 5 4 9- 5
33 Zach Ziober – Dakota Ebare Tarleton State University 3 3 3- 4 6 6 8-11
34 Austin Chapman – Curtis Lilly McKendree University 3 3 2-13 8 8 8- 7
35 Travis Harriman – Chaz Miller University of Arkansas 2 2 4-13 5 4 8- 3
36 Sheldon Rogge – Parker Davis Kansas State University 1 1 4- 5 4 4 8- 2
37 Brennan Fertig – Evan Cook Texas A&M University 3 3 6- 7 4 4 7-13
38 John Ledet – Justin Cooper Northwestern State University 2 2 2- 8 7 7 7-11
39 Carson Orellana – Strayer University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 7- 8
40 Justin St Onge – Ryan McLaughlin Haywood Community College 3 3 4-14 5 5 7- 6
41 Josh Bensema – Tyler Anderson Texas A&M University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 7- 3
42 Caiden Sinclair – Hunter Gibson University of Alabama 1 1 0-13 6 6 7- 3
43 Josh Oliver – Chase Chastain Jacksonville State University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 6-12
44 Austin Niggli – Derrik Starrett McKendree University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 6-11
45 Tyler Stewart – Nick Joiner La Monroe 0 0 0- 0 5 5 6- 5
46 Zachary Castano – Aaron Sollenberger UNC Charlotte 0 0 0- 0 2 2 6- 4
47 Charlie Sterrett – Nicholas Schneider University of Illinois 3 3 3-13 4 4 6- 1
48 John Davis – Payton McGinnis University of Alabama 2 2 3- 2 4 3 6- 0
49 Tyler Woolcott – Cody Wilson Emby-Riddle Aeronoautical University 1 1 1- 7 2 2 5-10
50 Jesse Hill – Cody Whisenhunt Jefferson State Community College 3 3 5- 9 3 3 5- 9
51 Garrett Paquette – Zak Fadden Schoolcraft College 0 0 0- 0 3 3 5- 1
52 Matthew Benoits – Matthew Leblanc Nicholls State 1 1 1- 2 2 1 5- 1
53 Chris Blanchette – Dylan Allison University of South Carolina 0 0 0- 0 4 4 4-14
54 Aaron Belgard – Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 1 1 1- 3 3 3 4- 9
55 Hunter Whitman – Alec Lower NC State University 3 3 3- 6 4 4 4- 6
56 Gunner Durrett – Austin Watkins LA Tech 2 2 3- 5 3 3 4- 4
57 Tanner Mort – Austin Turpin University of Idaho 0 0 0- 0 3 3 4- 3
58 Josh Worth – Kennedy Kinkade Colorado Mesa University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 3
59 Zach Hurst – Austyn Fowler Tarleton State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 4- 1
60 Shawn Callahan – Tom Brewbaker University of South Carolina 1 1 2-10 2 2 3-14
61 Steve Nebel – Jared Mataczynski U. of Wisconsin Whitewater 2 2 2-13 3 2 3-13
62 Anderson Aldag – Lee Mattox University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0 3 3 3-12
63 Nicholas Kirkton – Seth Becker Illinois State University 0 0 0- 0 4 3 3-10
64 John Authement – Cameron Naquin Nicholls State 1 1 0-15 4 3 3- 4
65 Ty Cox – Jake Houston Itawamba Community College 2 2 1-14 3 3 3- 1
66 Michael Chambliss – Turner Carlisle Columbus State University 1 1 1- 0 2 2 2-15
67 Shane Haas – Reid Hammil University of Florida 0 0 0- 0 2 2 2- 8
68 Tanner Malone – Kyle Alford Mississippi State University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 2- 0
69 Austin Butler – Ryan Kirkpatrick Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-14
70 Travis Bounds – Andrew Loberg Chico State 0 0 0- 0 2 2 1-12
71 Chase Johnson – Eric Leifheit East Carolina University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 9
72 Jacob Wall – University of Oregon 1 1 1- 8 1 1 1- 8
73 Zach Clisch – Adam Neu U. of Wisconsin Platteville 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 6
74 Russ Johnson – Hunter Schrock Itawamba Community College 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 3
75 Rudy Directo – Humboldt State 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 1
75 Ben Stone – Collin Smith Lander University 1 1 1- 1 1 1 1- 1
77 Hunter McKamey – Kyle Oliver U. of Central Florida 1 1 1- 0 1 1 1- 0
77 Zander Monk – Kolton Hawks UNC Charlotte 1 1 1- 0 1 1 1- 0
77 Stetson Overton – Justin Seeton Tarleton State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 0
80 JC Adams – Darius Williams University of West Georgia 0 0 0- 0 1 1 0-15
80 Chad Matthews – Austin Wingard Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 0-15
82 Dylan Brown – Hunter Franklin U. of South Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Garrett Cates – Tyler Nekolny Kansas State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Adam Deakin – Alex Stuart Colorado State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Adam Forester – Scott McClellan LA Tech 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Marcus Kliebert – Francis Robichaux Nicholls State 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Travis McGuire – Layne Bynum Texas Tech University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Dan Scott – U. of Wisconsin Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Gunnar Stanton – Northern Arizona University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
Name City,State Lbs-Oz
BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Alsop – Taylor Bivins Overland Park, KS 6-13
2 Luis McMurphy – MJ VihnanekMobile, AL 5-14
2 Mitch Swanson – Thor Swanson Blaine, MN 5-14
Day # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
TOTALS
# Fish
1 219 208 434-10 20
2 138 130 276-14 9

Daniel Moon Benefit Tournament August 21,2016 Parkway Marina

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July 29, 2016

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July 26,2016

Kansas State Wins College Championship On Green River Lake With Consistency

Daiwa Zillion Casting Rod Review Walker Smith July 25,2016

Daiwa Zillion Casting Rod Review

Texas State Holds On To College Championship Lead On Green River

Daniel Moon Benefit Tournament August 21,2016 Parkway Marina

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