Casey Ashley on His Homemade Spinnerbaits by Allan McGukin

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May 4, 2016

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Casey Ashley on His Homemade Spinnerbaits

Alan McGuckin

Friday at 9:01 AM

2015 Bassmaster Classic champion Casey Ashley has an affinity for homemade bass fishing baits. At the 2016 Lake Wheeler Elite Series event, he’s using a custom-made spinnerbait to start the tournament.

The shad are spawning at Lake Wheeler. So a lot of Bassmaster Elite Series pros have a baitfish-impersonating willow leaf spinnerbait tied on; most of them provided by sponsors.

But no surprise, just like the underspin horsehead lure he used to win the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, the spinnerbait Casey Ashley has tied on is one he and his dad Danny make themselves.

“The art of spinnerbait fishing has gone away,” said Ashley who slapped 19 pounds on the scales to sit in second place on day one at Wheeler, including the biggest bass of the day, a 6-pound, 14-ounce beast.

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B.A.S.S. Announces 2016 High School All-American Team

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May 4, 2016

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Twelve standout high school anglers from across the country have been selected as members of the exclusive 2016 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team. The team will be invited to participate in a special tournament held in conjuction with GEICO Bassmaster BASSfest on Lake Texoma this June.
May 4, 2016

B.A.S.S. Announces 2016 High School All-American Team

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For the second consecutive year, 12 standout high school anglers have been selected as members of the exclusive Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team.

“We launched this program last year to reward the most talented young anglers in the country, and it was a tremendous success,” said Hank Weldon, B.A.S.S. youth tournament manager. “These kids are not only exceptional fishermen, but they also excel as students and in community service.”

More than 220 applications for students grades 10-12 were submitted from 36 states across the nation. Of these, 64 were chosen as Bassmaster All-State anglers. After reviewing tournament résumés, community service activities and recommendations from coaches and school officials, a blue-ribbon panel of judges further narrowed the field to the Top 12 high school anglers in the country.

The team has been invited to participate in a special Bassmaster High School All-American Bass Tournament being held in conjunction with the GEICO Bassmaster BASSfest on Lake Texoma at Durant, Okla., June 8-12. Each All-American angler will be paired with an Elite Series pro for the one-day derby to be held on a nearby fishery.

Congratulations to the following student athletes for being named to the 2016 Bassmaster High School All American Fishing Team.

Here are short biographies of the 2016 Team members. (Judges only considered tournament records for the past 12 months):

Hunter Penney, Boaz, Ala.
A senior at Susan Moore High School, Penney has earned five wins in tournaments on both high school and adult levels, including a 41 boat-field Airport Marine event, where he also took home big bass honors. Penney’s biggest career highlight was winning the 2014 Airport Marine Classic on Lay Lake against a field of 69 boats.

Nathan Cummings, Peoria, Ariz.
Cummings, a senior at Centennial High School, once struggled with severe physical and emotional limitations, according to school officials. He was unable to communicate effectively and seemed to have no academic future. Then, as a freshman, he found bass fishing. Through the sport, Cummings was able to deal with anxiety issues and overcome other challenges.

In the past 12 months, Cummings has won six tournaments, including the Let’s Talk Fishing High School Championship. He has six other Top 20 finishes, and was ranked third in the state for the 2014/2015 season. More importantly, Cummings will be graduating on time and now has superior communication skills, which he employs while volunteering at the kids casting pond at Cabela’s in Glendale, Ariz.

Morgan Fitzgerald, Salida, Colo.
Fitzgerald is a senior at Salida High School and is the reigning SAF State Champion, where he bested 29 other teams for the title. Additionally, he has won two other tournaments this year, and landed in the Top 5 four other times, including a fourth-place showing at the SAF High School regional championship. Fitzgerald’s passion for fishing is perfectly illustrated by the two-hour one-way drive he and his mother endured to attend bass club meetings. His effort paid dividends, as he earned two angler of the year trophies in the Fountain Valley Junior Bass Club. Fitzgerald will graduate with honors (3.8 GPA) and has received a merit scholarship for academics from Fort Lewis College.

Cody Stahl, Griffin, Ga.
A senior at Crosse Point Christian Academy, Stahl is a founding member of the school’s first fishing team, as well as a varsity football and baseball player and member of the student council. He has earned five wins in the past 12 months, including two state championship titles.

Stahl participated in the water lily project on West Point Lake this past summer. He has also accepted a fishing scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Trevor McKinney, Benton, Ill.
A senior on the Benton High School fishing team, McKinney has tallied an impressive five wins in the past 12 months, including the Bassmaster State qualifier, as well as a 99-team event this past May. McKinney also chalked up five other Top 10 finishes, including a second place showing at The Bass Federation State Championship. Perhaps even more impressive, this senior is his high school’s valedictorian (graduating with a 5.25 GPA) and an active member of the National Honor Society. McKinney has already earned several college scholarships, including a $10,000 Presidential scholarship and $5,000 leadership scholarship.

Dailus Richardson, Benton, Ill.
Richardson, a senior at Benton High School, has five tournament wins and eight Top 5 finishes, including a first-place title at the Illinois High School Tournament on Clinton Lake. He also earned a spot on the B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional team representing the state of Illinois, finishing first-place in the high school division and fourth place overall. Richardson and McKinney were teammates in some events during the year.

Richardson started a monofilament recycling program at four area lakes in Benton and West Frankfort, Ill. He also volunteers at the annual Rend Lake Fishing Derby. He has earned three collegiate scholarships, as well as a presidential academic and fishing scholarship from McKendree University.

Mason Moore, Waynesburg, Ky.
Moore has been incredibly successful as a sophomore at Lincoln County High School. He fished a total of 13 tournaments in the past 12 months and placed in the Top 5 in seven of those events, while winning four, including a 20-boat Madison Central High School Open. Moore maintains a 3.86 GPA and is an active volunteer for the Ephraim McDowell Pediatric Therapy Center, where he is teamed with a special-needs buddy for fun activities.

Wesley Holt, Otis, La.
Holt, a senior at Oak Hill High School, helped to start his school’s first bass fishing team and has served as the club’s president the past two years. He has 10 first-place finishes to his name, including the Association of Louisiana Bass Clubs State event on Toledo Bend. Holt was also an integral part of the 2015 state bass fishing team for Oak Hill High School. Holt’s goal is to be able to fish on the professional level.

Max McQuaide, Tyngsborough, Mass.
A senior at Tyngsborough High School, McQuaide has placed in the Top 5 of nearly every tournament he has entered in the past 12 months. He won six of those events, including a 22-boat Merrimack Valley Bass Anglers Open. He is also a three-time Massachusetts state champion, landing in the runner-up position in 2015. McQuaide showed a passion for the sport at a very early age, starting his own business (Maxed Out Bait Co.) at the age of 13. McQuaide is an honor roll student, the captain of his wrestling and football teams, as well as treasurer for his class. Off the water, he volunteers for the Camp Carefree Casting Kids and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Trey Schroeder, St. Louis, Mo.
Schroeder is the current Missouri High School champion, an impressive feat for a 10th grader. Alongside this hallmark victory, he has notched another three wins in the past 12 months, along with a fifth-place finish at the 46-team Southwest Missouri High School State Championship. When not on the water, Schroeder likes to share his passion with younger anglers, volunteer with local tournament organizations and clean the shorelines of his favorite lake, Bull Shoals.

Bailey Fain, Lenoir City, Tenn.
A junior at Lenoir City High School, Fain founded the high school’s bass fishing team after setting up a meeting with the athletic director. He also approached local businesses about sponsorships and obtains guest speakers for the club’s meetings. Since then, the team has gained 32 members.

Fain has earned nine tournament wins in the past 12 months and a second-place finish at the Costa Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Martin, Ala. Within the past year, he has also earned five big bass honors.

Austin Winter, Lenoir City, Tenn.
Winter is a classmate of Fain’s at Lenoir City High School, where he is also treasurer of the Lenoir City High School Bass Club. He has a total of four first-place finishes within the past year, including three wins in the Next Generation High School Bass Series. Each of his wins was earned on a different fishery in Tennessee. He was also awarded the 2014/2015 runner-up angler of the year for his bass club.

A volunteer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, Winter participates in clean-ups on various east Tennessee lakes. He also helps Madisonville Marine setup and clean boats for the East Tennessee Boat and Fishing Show, as well as volunteering for the Kids Fishing Rodeo. Winter plans to continue fishing in college, while studying wildlife, fisheries and biology.

WHEELER LAKE SET TO HOST COSTA FLW SERIES SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION FINALE PRESENTED BY MERCURY

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May 3, 2016

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WHEELER LAKE SET TO HOST COSTA FLW SERIES SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION FINALE PRESENTED BY MERCURY

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ROGERSVILLE, Ala. (May 3, 2016) – The Costa FLW Series is headed to Wheeler Lake May 12-14 for a tournament presented by Mercury when as many as 400 pros and co-anglers will take to the water for the final stop of 2016 in the Southeastern Division.

“There are a couple of different patterns competitors could focus on for this event,” said Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury of Springville, Alabama, who won the second Walmart FLW Tour event of 2016 on Beaver Lake. “Bass are moving out to the shell beds which means there’s going to be an offshore bite, but there’s also a lot of bass up shallow to choose from. Anglers will need to fish to their strengths.

“I think the event will be won offshore on the beds,” continued Canterbury. “That’s where the bigger ones are grouped up. Carolina-rigged worms and medium-diving, shad-colored crankbaits are going to be the deal. It will come down to who finds the right spot.

“If anglers are looking to mix things up, there’s always a good shallow bite on Wheeler,” said Canterbury. “Topwaters will produce in those areas and there should be decent flipping bite as well. I prefer flipping a jig, but we could see competitors flipping a craw. Those fish always seem to love craws. The bites won’t be as big as the offshore fish, but you’ll get more throughout the day.”

Canterbury finished by saying that the winner will need to tally a three-day catch worth 62 to 64 pounds.

“The lake has a lot of potential to produce more,” said Canterbury. “We’ve seen more than 70 pounds come over a three-day stretch recently. It’s going to be an exciting tournament.”

Anglers will take off from Joe Wheeler State Park located at 4601 McLean Drive in Rogersville at 6 a.m. CDT each day. Weigh-ins will be held at the park beginning at 2 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. The event is being hosted by the Florence/Lauderdale Tourism.

Pros will fish for a top award of $40,000 plus a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger Z175 with a 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.

The Costa FLW Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2016 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 3-5 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri.

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

LAKE BARKLEY SET TO HOST FLW COLLEGE FISHING CENTRAL CONFERENCE EVENT

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May 3, 2016

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LAKE BARKLEY SET TO HOST FLW COLLEGE FISHING CENTRAL CONFERENCE EVENT

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KUTTAWA, Ky. (May 3, 2016) – FLW College Fishing is headed to Lake Barkley May 14 for the second of three regular-season stops in the Central Conference. A full field of college teams will be competing for a top award of $2,000 and a berth into the 2017 College Fishing National Championship.

“All things considered, I think this is going to be a great tournament,” said Walmart FLW tour pro Dan Morehead, of Paducah, Kentucky. “Within the next week we’re expecting a full moon which means we should see a massive wave of new fish moving up to spawn.

“The shallow bite will be a big player,” Morehead continued. “If I were fishing this event, I’d spend a lot of time with a flipping rod in my hand. Bass are going to be in or around the buck bushes. That’s where darker soft-plastics and creature baits are going to dominate. If teams choose to work the willow trees where bass are guarding fry, I see a topwater doing well.”

Morehead went on to say that areas on the south end of the lake will likely be more lucrative because the fish there stage shallow for longer periods of time.

“This tournament will feature junk-fishing at its finest,” said Morehead. “They’ll need to keep the trolling motor down and cover a lot of water.”

Morehead said he expects the winning team to weigh in a five-bass limit nearing 22 pounds.

Anglers will take off from Kuttawa/Lyon County Boat Ramp, located at 1052 Lake Barkley Drive in Kuttawa, at 6:30 a.m. CDT Saturday. Weigh-in will be held at the boat ramp beginning at 2:30 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.

Schools are allowed to register up until the morning of the tournament. Entries may be made either by phone or at CollegeFishing.com. Schools currently registered to compete in the Lake Barkley tournament, which is hosted by the Lake Barkley Tourist Commission, include:

Bellarmine University – James Kuhns, Louisville, Ky., and Joseph Allgeier, Bardstown, Ky.

Bellarmine University – Matthew Smith, Bardstown, Ky., and Kathleen Guice, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Bellarmine University – Patrick Clark and Trevor Hulsey, both of Louisville, Ky.

Eastern Illinois University – Nicole Stevens and John Whalen, both of Champaign, Ill.

Eastern Kentucky University – Shaw Owens and Corey Owens, both of Barbourville, Ky.

Eastern Kentucky University – Tate Clements, Brodhead, Ky., and Gavin Draper, Stanford, Ky.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College – Natalie Reichmuth and Ryan Dowell, both of Brandenburg, Ky.

Indiana University – Hayden Holmes, Bloomington, Ind., and Chase Banister, Columbus, Ind.

McKendree University – Curtis Lilly, Saint Rose, Ill., and Taylor Schmitt, Belknap, Ill.

McKendree University – Shane Campbell, Summerfield, Ill., and Phillip Germagliotti, Highland, Ill.

McKendree University – Trent Robinson and Jordan Ledbetter, both of Carlyle, Ill.

Murray State University – Chandler Christian, Owensboro, Ky., and Lance Freeman, Eddyville, Ky.

Purdue University – Tyler Smith, Hillsdale, Ind., and Brendan Christ, Louisville, Ky.

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Alex Mosella, Fort Myers, Fla., and Sean Clarkson, Edwardsville, Ill.

University of Evansville – Blake Knies and Lee Knies, both of Jasper, Ind.

FLW College Fishing teams compete in regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 15 teams from the annual FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2017 FLW College Fishing National Championship.

College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow College Fishing on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing. Visit FLWFishing.com to sign up or to start a club at your school.

BOSSIER CITY’S LEBRUN WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE COWBOY DIVISION EVENT ON TOLEDO BEND LAKE PRESENTED BY MINN KOTA

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May 2, 2016

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BOSSIER CITY’S LEBRUN WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE COWBOY DIVISION EVENT ON TOLEDO BEND LAKE PRESENTED BY MINN KOTA

Beckley wins co-angler title

ZWOLLE, La. (May 2, 2016) – Nick Lebrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 22 pounds, 13 ounces, Saturday to win the FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Cowboy Division tournament on Toledo Bend Lake presented by Minn Kota. For his victory, Lebrun took home $4,866.

Lebrun said he spent his day targeting shallow hay grass on the south end of the lake.

“I ended up making my way through two areas that I knew had fish in them,” said Lebrun, who earned his second win in BFL competition this season. “I originally had four, but due to the severe weather, two of my main-lake stops were blown out. I had to make do with what I had.”

Lebrun said he used one bait to catch his limit – a black and blue-colored V&M Wild Craw Jr.

“When I pitch and flip in shallow water, I commit to a lure that I’m confident with,” said Lebrun. “I caught an 8-pounder at 8:30 a.m. and a 3- and a 4-pounder from my second area – all before 10:30 a.m. After that, bites were hard to come by. For me, it was recognizing the productivity of the cover I was fishing, and knowing when to move on.”

The Louisiana angler said he ended up catching 10 keepers.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: Nick Lebrun, Bossier City, La., five bass, 22-13, $4,866

2^nd: Glen Freeman, Converse, La., five bass, 20-1, $2,136

3^rd: Terry Cole, Houston, Texas, four bass, 19-13, $1,424

4^th: Darold Gleason, Leesville, La., five bass, 18-10, $997

5^th: Zack Gagnard, Pineville, La., five bass, 17-10, $854

6^th: Jarred Williams, Bunkie, La., five bass, 16-6, $783

7^th: Dean Lee, Longview, Texas, five bass, 14-11, $712

8^th: Dicky Newberry, Houston, Texas, five bass, 14-7, $641

9^th: Eason Dowden, Many, La., four bass, 14-3, $569

10^th: Jeff Bridges, Lumberton, Texas, five bass, 14-1, $498

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Lebrun also caught an 8-pound, 12-ounce brute – the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $595.

Hogan Beckley of Grayson, Louisiana, weighed in five bass totaling 14 pounds even Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,136.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: Hogan Beckley, Grayson, La., five bass, 14-0, $2,136

2^nd: Jason Chance, Houston, Texas, three bass, 10-3, $1,365

3^rd: David Cox, Silsbee, Texas, five bass, 8-13, $712

4^th: Garry Fisher, Wylie, Texas, four bass, 8-12, $462

4^th: Jacob Harrison, Nash, Texas, four bass, 8-12, $462

6^th: Joe Marino, Bryan, Texas, four bass, 8-11, $392

7^th: Bobby Liles, Texarkana, Ark., three bass, 8-6, $356

8^th: Michael Cotter, Arlington, Texas, four bass, 7-12, $320

9^th: Zachary Burns, Prairieville, La., three bass, 7-7, $285

10^th: Chris LaBorde, Bossier City, La., four bass, 7-6, $249

Chance caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $297.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 27-29 Regional Championship on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Arkansas. 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.

CHAPEL HILL’S JOYCE WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE CHOO CHOO DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE GUNTERSVILLE PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS

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May 2, 2016

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CHAPEL HILL’S JOYCE WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE CHOO CHOO DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE GUNTERSVILLE PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS

Hand wins co-angler title

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SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (May 2, 2016) – Clayton Joyce of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 29 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Choo Choo Division tournament on Lake Guntersville presented by Navionics. For his victory, Joyce took home $4,359.

“I’ve never caught that kind of weight on this lake,” said Joyce, who earned his first win in BFL competition. “I’ve had several 20-pound limits out there, but nothing like this.

“I caught 6-pounder within the first 15 minutes,” continued Joyce. “I caught a 4-pounder and three smaller ones before the bite died. I really needed the wind to blow, but it was a calm day.”

Joyce said he targeted two stumps on the end of a creek point between Waterfront Bay and Goose Pond. He said he caught his fish throwing a Carolina-rigged, pumpkin-colored stick bait.

“After three hours, the wind picked up and I was able to catch more bass and cull,” said Joyce. “I worked the stumps from all angles to try and dial in on where they were setting up. If I could get the bait hung up under the stump, I’d yank it out, stop it and that would trigger a bite.”

Joyce finished by saying that he caught his largest fish with only minutes to spare.

“It was one of those special days of fishing that I’ll remember for a long time,” said Joyce.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: Clayton Joyce, Chapel Hill, Tenn., five bass, 29-2, $4,359

2^nd: Freddy Palmer, Estill Springs, Tenn., five bass, 23-8, $2,179

3^rd: Jim Leary, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 21-15, $1,452

4^th: Cameron Gautney, Muscle Shoals, Ala., five bass, 20-6, $1,017

5^th: Blake Hall, Hartselle, Ala., five bass, 19-3, $872

6^th: Josh Butler, Athens, Ala., five bass, 18-15, $1,099

7^th: Wayne Christopher, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 18-11, $726

8^th: Eric Foister, Clarksville, Tenn., five bass, 18-10, $1,242

8^th: Brad Harmon, Ringgold, Ga., five bass, 18-10, $617

10^th: Tim Hurst, Oxford, Ala., five bass, 17-0, $483

10^th: Joe Thompson, Grant, Ala., five bass, 17-0, $483

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Foister caught a 9-pound, 1-ounce bass – the biggest of the tournament in the pro division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $625.

Nathan Hand of Madison, Alabama, weighed in five bass totaling 16 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,179.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: Nathan Hand, Madison, Ala., five bass, 16-1, $2,179

2^nd: Michael Corbett, Oxford, Ala., five bass, 16-0, $1,090

3^rd: Jacob Feltman, Birmingham, Ala., five bass, 15-2, $725

4^th: Rodney Bolte, Oxford, Ala., five bass, 15-0, $509

5^th: Daniel Crockett, Old Hickory, Tenn., five bass, 13-9, $436

6^th: Ron Lee, Lilburn, Ga., five bass, 13-6, $400

7^th: Trent Wright, Scottsboro, Ala., five bass, 12-15, $363

8^th: Tom Pearson, Scottsboro, Ala., five bass, 12-7, $327

9^th: Wayne Kilgore, Attalla, Ala., five bass, 12-2, $291

10^th: Robert Barnett, Flintstone, Ga., four bass, 11-15, $254

Daniel Davis of Albertville, Alabama, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $312.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 13-15 Regional Championship on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. 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.

FAYETTEVILLE’S MOONEYHAM WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE PIEDMONT DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE GASTON PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE

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May 2, 2016

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FAYETTEVILLE’S MOONEYHAM WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE PIEDMONT DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE GASTON PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE

Freeman wins co-angler title

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BRACEY, Va. (May 2, 2016) – Scott Mooneyham of Fayetteville, North Carolina, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Piedmont Division tournament on Lake Gaston presented by Power-Pole. For his victory, Mooneyham took home $2,977.

Mooneyham said he concentrated on stumps and small patches of grass on the upper end of the lake.

“I grinded through three different areas to catch my limit,” said Mooneyham, who earned the first win of his FLW career. “There were hard stems on the grass and the fish were right on the edge of them. At the first stop, I boated around ten keepers before 11 a.m.

“Every fish I caught was on a green-pumpkin Yamamoto Senko,” said Mooneyham. “I’d cast it out there, let it fall straight down on the slackline and pull it in after a few seconds. I tried throwing a few other things but the Senko is what they wanted.”

Mooneyham said he finished his day navigating two areas, which included a nearby stump field and a spawning pocket.

“I caught a 3-pounder in the field and upgraded with one more in the pocket,” said Mooneyham. “I actually lost a 6-pounder in the pocket right at the end of the day. Luckily it didn’t cost me the tournament.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: Scott Mooneyham, Fayetteville, N.C., five bass, 16-2, $2,977

2^nd: Danny Moss Jr., Norlina, N.C., five bass, 16-1, $1,489

3^rd: Michael Law, Arab, Ala., five bass, 15-2, $992

4^th: Ryan Reynolds, Danville, Va., five bass, 14-6, $695

5^th: Sean Lewis, Baskerville, Va., five bass, 13-14, $595

6^th: Shawn Hammack, Gasburg, Va., five bass, 13-11, $546

7^th: D. Keith Joyce, Apex, N.C., five bass, 13-6, $471

7^th: Flash Butts, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., five bass, 13-6, $471

9^th: Wally Szuba, Cary, N.C., five bass, 12-14, $397

10^th: Raymond Jones III, Statesville, N.C., five bass, 12-7, $347

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Chris Baldwin of Lexington, North Carolina, caught a 6-pound, 7-ounce bass – the biggest of the tournament in the pro division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $340.

Larry Freeman, Jr., of La Crosse, Virginia, weighed in four bass totaling 9 pounds, 14 ounces, Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $1,489.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: Larry Freeman Jr., La Crosse, Va., four bass, 9-14, $1,489

2^nd: Dekle Taylor, Monroe, N.C., five bass, 9-10, $744

3^rd: Dexter Andrews, Louisburg, N.C., five bass, 9-9, $497

4^th: Conner Davis, Bear Creek, N.C., five bass, 8-11, $347

5^th: Bill Naron, Beaverdam, Va., four bass, 8-10, $298

6^th: Frank White, Marion, N.C., three bass, 8-9, $443

7^th: Jerry Taylor, N. Prince George, Va., three bass, 8-2, $248

8^th: Jerry Neuner, Rutherfordton, N.C., three bass, 7-12, $223

9^th: Mark Davis, Bear Creek, N.C., three bass, 7-1, $198

10^th: Douglas Washburn, Bracey, Va., two bass, 6-14, $174

White caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 4 pounds, 5 ounces and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $170.

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.

GREENSBORO’S LOWE WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE BULLDOG DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE OCONEE

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May 2, 2016

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GREENSBORO’S LOWE WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE BULLDOG DIVISION EVENT ON LAKE OCONEE

Hyde wins co-angler title

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BUCKHEAD, Ga. (May 2, 2016) – Todd Lowe of Greensboro, Georgia, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 17 pounds even Saturday to win the fourth FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Bulldog Division tournament of 2016 on Lake Oconee. For his victory, Lowe took home $6,825.

“I spent my day fishing main-lake seawalls that were filled with riprap and had small, secondary pockets in them,” said Lowe, who earned his first win in FLW competition. “All of the areas I hit were within a mile of one another. The shad have been spawning there for about two weeks, so they were holding a lot of fish.”

Lowe said he used one bait to entice his winning limit – a natural shad-colored Rebel Pop-R Topwater.

“I’d throw it out there, pop it twice and then let it sit,” said Lowe. “The bites weren’t very aggressive at all. The bass weren’t blowing up on it, but rather, they were sucking it down. I caught my biggest fish – a 6-pounder – at 10:45 a.m. out of a sand-filled pocket near a boat dock. That really helped me out.”

Lowe went on to say that he caught nine keepers fairly consistently throughout his day.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: Todd Lowe, Greensboro, Ga., five bass, 17-0, $4,825 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

2^nd: Grant Kelly, Milledgeville, Ga., five bass, 16-8, $2,118

3^rd: Terry Jordan, Fayetteville, Ga., five bass, 16-5, $1,413

4^th: Wayne Garner, Locust Grove, Ga., five bass, 15-12, $988

5^th: Justin Lanier, Macon, Ga., five bass, 15-10, $847

6^th: John Christopher, Watkinsville, Ga., five bass, 14-5, $776

7^th: Blake Yarter, Monroe, Ga., four bass, 13-6, $706

8^th: Lee Nunnally, Monroe, Ga., five bass, 13-3, $635

9^th: Butch Whiteaker, Alpharetta, Ga., five bass, 12-14, $565

10^th: David Sansbury, Hapeville, Ga., five bass, 12-9, $469

10^th: John Duvall, Madison, Ga., four bass, 12-9, $469

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Lowe also caught a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass – the biggest of the tournament in the pro division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $590.

Bobby Hyde of Loganville, Georgia, weighed in five bass totaling 14 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,118.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: Bobby Hyde, Loganville, Ga., five bass, 14-9, $2,118

2^nd: Herschel Edge, Buckhead, Ga., five bass, 13-2, $1,059

3^rd: George Goodman Jr., Monticello, Ga., five bass, 11-5, $706

4^th: Harold Grizzle, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 11-1, $494

5^th: Billy Duvall, Madison, Ga., three bass, 10-7, $424

6^th: Ronny Cantrell, Fitzgerald, Ga., four bass, 10-3, $388

7^th: Coulby Lewis, Macon, Ga., three bass, 9-14, $353

8^th: Don Griffin, Roswell, Ga., five bass, 9-13, $318

9^th: Emory Walden, Newnan, Ga., five bass, 9-8, $282

10^th: Adam Beckum, Martinez, Ga., five bass, 9-7, $247

Zeke Cronley of Roswell, Georgia, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $295.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 13-15 Regional Championship on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. 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.