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B.A.S.S. announces schedule for enhanced 2025 Bassmaster Opens season

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October 22, 2024

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B.A.S.S. announces schedule for enhanced 2025 Bassmaster Opens season

The 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN schedule features eight events in two divisions.

Photo by Grant Moxley/B.A.S.S.

Oct. 22, 2024

B.A.S.S. announces schedule for enhanced 2025 Bassmaster Opens season

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials have announced the schedule for the revamped 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, and the schedule features eight events — including some vintage tournament stops for the organization — across two divisions.

For 2025, Opens anglers placing in the Top 50 in each division’s Angler of the Year race will advance to the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers series. This stand-alone series will feature three events, spanning from September through November, where anglers will compete to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series. The Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers series schedule will be released at a later date.

“We are proud of the diversity of this schedule,” said Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon. “Each division works its way from south to north as the year goes along and mixes in different kinds of fisheries from highland reservoirs to river systems to tidal fisheries as well. At the end of the Opens, we should have a very diverse and tested group ready to move into the EQs.”

The schedule begins Jan. 23-25 at Clarks Hill Reservoir in Evans, Ga. This event marks the first time an Open event has visited the fishery, which is the third-largest artificial lake east of the Mississippi River. Featuring more than 400 miles of shoreline, Clarks Hill is referred to by Georgians as “Georgia’s Freshwater Coast.”

After a break of more than two months, Division 1 will pick up competition again April 16-18 at Tombigbee River in Columbus, Miss., a stop that hasn’t appeared on a Bassmaster schedule since 2004. Arkansas pro Mark Davis brought 62-4 to the scales to win that event by a massive 15-pound, 1-ounce margin over Kevin VanDam.

“Visit Columbus, partnering with the city of Columbus and Lowndes County, is thrilled to welcome Bassmaster and its anglers,” said Frances Glenn, tourism director for Columbus-Lowndes Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We cannot wait to show off our beautiful town and great fishing on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. A tournament of this size is a huge economic boost not only for our hospitality partners, but our area as well. Columbus is known for its warm Southern hospitality, and we are looking forward to welcoming a national tournament.”

Division 1 then heads to Upper Chesapeake Bay in North East, Md., July 23-25. Elite Series pro Aaron Martens picked up a 2015 victory at Chesapeake Bay with a total of 70 pounds, 2 ounces. The Division then heads over to St. Lawrence River in Waddington, N.Y., July 31-Aug. 2, which claimed the No. 1 spot overall on the 2024 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes list for its deep, clear waters that are famous for chunk smallmouth.

Division 2 kicks off its season Feb. 13-15 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas. The 114,000-acre Sam Rayburn ended up No. 7 in the 2024 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes: Central list for producing giant largemouth consistently. The next stop for Division 2 will be a familiar one, as the Opens return to Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley in Paris, Tenn., March 6-8.

Division 2 then takes a swing to a destination that has not been visited by Opens competitors in nearly a decade — Norfork Lake in Mountain Home, Ark., April 3-5, where anglers will find plentiful bass in more than 22,000 acres of crystal blue water set in the Ozark Mountains.

The final stop of Division 2 will be Aug. 14-16 on Leech Lake in Walker, Minn., where in 2024 22-year-old Easton Fothergill fished his home waters to win an Open event with a weight of 49-13. The 2024 stop was the first visit for the Opens to Leech Lake.

“I absolutely circled this one on the calendar,” Fothergill said after winning the Leech Lake event. “Being 30 minutes away (from home) and the first time B.A.S.S. has come to Leech Lake and Walker, Minnesota — I’ve spent so much time out here through my childhood; it means the world to me to pull off the win on my home lake.”

Also new for the 2025 Opens and EQ Series, the new electronics rule for 2025 that was implemented for the Elite Series will also apply for the Opens. That includes standardization practices that allow for only one live transducer connected to the trolling motor shaft and capping total screen inches at 55. Complete details of the 2025 Opens format can be found at Bassmaster.com.

2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN

Division 1	Date	Location
Clarks Hill Reservoir	Jan. 23-25	Evans, Ga.
Tombigbee River	April 16-18	Columbus, Miss.
Upper Chesapeake Bay	July 23-25	North East, Md.
St. Lawrence River	July 31-Aug. 2	Waddington, N.Y.


Division 2	Date	Location
Sam Rayburn Reservoir	Feb. 13-15	Jasper, Texas
Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley	March 6-8	Paris, Tenn.
Norfork Lake	April 3-5	Mountain Home, Ark.
Leech Lake	Aug. 14-16	Walker, Minn.


	Chronological
Clarks Hill Reservoir	Jan. 23-25	Evans, Ga.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir	Feb. 13-15	Jasper, Texas
Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley	March 6-8	Paris, Tenn.
Norfork Lake	April 3-5	Mountain Home, Ark.
Tombigbee River	April 16-18	Columbus, Miss.
Upper Chesapeake Bay	July 23-25	North East, Md.
St. Lawrence River	July 31-Aug. 2	Waddington, N.Y.
Leech Lake	Aug. 14-16	Walker, Minn.

Registration will open Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. CT at Bassmaster.com for pro angler B.A.S.S. members, Nov. 19 for Single Division – Life and B.A.S.S. Nation members and Nov. 20 for Single Division – B.A.S.S. members who want to participate in the Opens.

For full details of the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN please visit Bassmaster.com.

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

Longview’s Fogle Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Wright Patman Lake

Brian Carter

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October 22, 2024

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Longview’s Fogle Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional on Wright Patman Lake

Boater winner Zack Fogle of Longview, Texas, and Strike-King co-angler winner Mark Sloan of Harrison, Arkansas.

Unpacking the Struggles of This Year’s Fall Big Bass Tour event on SML

Brian Carter

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October 21, 2024

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Unpacking the Struggles of This Year’s Fall Big Bass Tour event on SML

Imagine standing on the shore of your favorite lake, rod in hand, ready for the big tournament. But something’s different this time. The water level is lower than usual, the temperature gauge reads a chilly 60 degrees, and a giant supermoon looms overhead. Welcome to the world of bass fishing under extreme conditions!

Low Lake Levels: A Double-Edged Sword

When lake levels drop, it’s like nature reshuffles the deck for anglers. Fish that once hid in deep water now find themselves in shallower areas. This can be both good and bad news for tournament fishers.

On the plus side, bass may concentrate in smaller areas, making them easier to find. Underwater structures like stumps and rocks that were once submerged might now be exposed, creating new fishing hotspots.

However, low water levels can also make some areas inaccessible. Boat ramps might be unusable, and shallow areas could become too dangerous to navigate. Anglers need to be extra careful and may need to rethink their usual strategies.

Cooler Water Temperatures: Slowing Down the Action

When the water temperature drops to around 60 degrees, bass behavior changes. These cold-blooded creatures become less active, conserving energy and slowing down their metabolism.

For tournament anglers, this means adjusting tactics:

1. Slow down your retrieval speed

2. Use lures that mimic slower-moving prey

3. Focus on deeper water where temperatures might be more stable

Remember, bass still need to eat, but they’re less likely to chase fast-moving lures when the water’s cool.

The Supermoon Effect: Fact or Fish Tale?

A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, appearing larger and brighter than usual. Some anglers swear by fishing during a supermoon, claiming it increases fish activity. But what does science say?

The truth is, there’s no concrete evidence that a supermoon directly affects bass behavior. However, the stronger gravitational pull during a supermoon can cause higher tides in coastal areas, which might indirectly impact fishing conditions.

What’s more relevant is the increased light at night. This extra illumination can extend feeding periods for bass, potentially making early morning or late evening fishing more productive during a tournament.

Putting It All Together: Strategies for Success

Facing these three conditions simultaneously requires adaptability and skill. Here are some tips for tournament success:

1. Scout Ahead: With low water levels, pre-fishing becomes crucial. Identify new structure and deep-water refuges.

2. Downsize and Slow Down: In cooler water, opt for smaller lures and slower presentations.

3. Night Moves: Take advantage of the supermoon’s light by fishing during low-light periods.

4. Stay Safe: Always prioritize safety when navigating lower water levels.

5. Be Patient: These conditions might mean fewer bites, but often bigger fish. Quality over quantity could be the key to tournament success.

Remember, the best anglers are those who can adapt to any situation. By understanding how these unique conditions affect bass behavior, you’ll be better prepared to face the challenges and maybe even land that trophy fish!

So next time you’re faced with low lake levels, cool water, and a supermoon, don’t get discouraged. Instead, see it as an opportunity to test your skills and outsmart both the bass and your fellow competitors. After all, that’s what makes tournament fishing so exciting!

Nicholas Turner and Joe Lay win the ABT Championship with 31.43

Brian Carter

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October 21, 2024

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Nicholas Turner and Joe Lay win the ABT Championship with 31.43

By Jason Duran

The 2024 Alabama Bass Trail Championship, was held on October 18-19 at Lay Lake. This highly anticipated event brought fierce competition from the best of the best in team fishing. Teams qualified for this no-entry-fee event with a guaranteed $50,000 first-place prize plus another $50,000 paid out though 25^th place. The top 75 teams from the north and south divisions plus 5 college teams, 5 couple teams, 5 student teams, and the 10 winners from the divisional tournaments make up the 175 teams all converging on Lay Lake for the two-day shootout.

The event featured changing fishing conditions, with the cool October weather scattering the fish out and making locating fish tough for anglers. Each morning anglers were greeted with foggy conditions. Day two began with a 45-minute fog delay. This caused anglers looking for the early morning bite to possibly miss an opportunity to catch them up shallow early. Lay Lake provides an abundant population of spotted and largemouth bass. Teams used a mix of various strategies to target largemouth and spotted bass. Teams reported having to fish shallow and deep to put together a solid limit. Lots of teams said they just went “junk fishing” to locate and catch fish in the changing conditions. As the competition progressed, consistency would play a key role. The anglers that were able to make adjustments and catch fish consistently for two days ended up on top.

During the final day’s weigh-in, the tension in the air grew as the Phoenix Boat Hot Seats took center stage, occupied by Bret Harrel and Tyler Smart, the current leading team with 30.91 pounds. As the weigh-in progressed, each team brought their bags to the state trying to surpass their weight and dethrone them from the hot seats. One by one, teams crossed the stage, but none were able to achieve a significant enough gain on the final day to claim control of the Phoenix Boats Hot Seats. The anticipation built as only two teams remained. The team of Nicholas Turner and Joe Lay were the day one leaders, and they were the last team to cross the state. They needed only 13.51 pounds to win. When they dropped their catch on the scales it totaled 14.03. Enough to take the lead and win the $50,000 as the 2024 Alabama Bass Trail Champions. It was a thrilling and unforgettable conclusion to an intense competition.

The Champs Nicholas Turner and Joe Lay are locals on the lake and beat the local lake curse to take home the win. They spent lots of time fishing their history on the lake. They described their style this weekend as “junk fishing. They used a variety of baits, including soft plastics, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and trick worms, without any specific standout bait. We really mixed it up.” The deck of their boat was covered with rods rigged for every opportunity. They spent lots of time just covering water. Lots of teams reported the fishing was tough and when asked why Joe shared “It just hasn’t got cold enough and the water temp is just not there, there are a few shallow fish they just aren’t all there. There are a few fish offshore, lots of fish are suspended currently floating around and scattered in between. This lake has lots of timber in it the lake is up a little right now and you can not see the timber above the surface and the only way to learn it is to just go fishing. The guys that do that will learn there are sweet spots in the timber and can be very productive. There are several of those places across the lake and you can only find them by taking the time to learn it.” They went out on day two as the tournament leaders after catching 17.4o on day one. They caught a couple fish early but spent lots of time moving around trying to locate fish. The team shared, “we had a special small little area that we were able to get a key spot off every day. We had the plan to pull up the trolling motor at 3:30 and we caught the biggest fish and culled us up at the last minute.” They culled up to the winning weight of 31.43.

The Second Place Team of Bret Harrell and Tyler Smart are no strangers to the top of the leaderboard in the ABT Championship. They have fished the ABT Championship 4 times, and this is their 3^rd top five. They have some heartbreaking finishes but have proven they are included in the best of the best in team fishing. The team shared “We both have been working a lot and we came down the previous two Sundays and found some shallow grass that had some fish. We basically found a creek up here close and a couple of pockets on the lower end. The plan was to fish one day in each area. The cold front moved in this week and the water dropped 12 degrees and the fish were still in the same places but seemed really lethargic. We just went junk fishing in those areas and we caught two or three solid fish in each area. The down-the-river area was a pocket in a creek with docks and grass mixed in. We primaly used a Spro Frog and Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. The area was really close to deep water. We were sitting in 10 feet of water and casting up to 3 feet. The second area was a little shallower in the back of the creek. The area had a little bit of grass and rock. We went with these plans but every time we tried to build on the plan, it just wouldn’t pan out and we had to try something else.” They ended day one in 15^th place with 13.76 and sat in the hot seats for a long time. The team shared “we hoped if we do lose it is more than by a half of a pound because yesterday we lost a fish that would have given us that and maybe more” They end up with another top five finish in second place and collcted a $10,000 payday.

The third-place team of Walker Brown and Sloan Pennington shared that practice for them “was not good” Walker shared “I grew up here and now live in North Alabama, but I still consider Lay Lake as my home lake. I thought the two days we spent practicing were going to be better. We practiced all the stuff we used to catch them on and both days we ended up not catching them. Normally this time of year, I would expect to throw a spook all day and you can catch 18 pounds plus a day.” The team shared, “On tournament day we abandoned the practice plan and just went fishing today. On day one we didn’t fish a single thing we fished in practice and on day two we didn’t fish a single thing from day one. We caught everything we weighed in on a Green Pumpkin on a Davis shaky head and flipped the grass with a Green Pumpkin NetBait B-Bug on a 1oz weight. Yesterday we lost a couple of fish that should have had us close to 18-pounds we lost a 4-pounder at the boat and a 3.5 right at the net. Going out today we were excited and planned on flipping all day long we didn’t catch anything early so the fog delay didn’t hurt us. We felt we were in a position that if we did catch two of those that we lost yesterday we would be in a good place and knocking on the door to win. Today we only ended up catching only one of those but at the end of the day in the last 15 minutes, we culled with a 3-pound spot and another 2.5 spot.” Their total weight for two days was 30.21 pounds. With their third-place finish, they collected $5,000 payday.

The event marked another successful chapter in Alabama Bass Trail history, solidifying Lay Lake’s reputation as a premier fishing destination. Visit the www.alabamabasstrail.or for more coverage and highlights from this unforgettable day on the Alabama Bass Trail!

The Top 8 places are below for a complete list of standings visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/lay-lake/results/

Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The podcast is released each week on Tuesday. The 2024 Alabama Bass Trail Sponsors Include: Phoenix Boats, AMFirst, Landers – McLarty Chevrolet, McGraw – Webb Chevrolet, Rapala, VMC, Crush City, Buffalo Rock, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Jack’s, Garmin, Alabama State Parks, Halo Fishing, Snag proof, NetBait, Bait Fuel, TH Marine Supplies, Power-Pole, Pro Guide Batteries, American Trailer Rental, Yamaha, Anheuser-Busch, Big Bite Baits, American Baitworks, E3 Sports Apparel and FishAlabama.org

University of North Alabama Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake Chickamauga Presented by Suzuki Marine

Brian Carter

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October 21, 2024

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University of North Alabama Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake Chickamauga Presented by Suzuki Marine

DAYTON, Tenn. (Oct. 21, 2024) – The University of North Alabama (UNA) duo of Gage King of Birchwood, Tennessee, and Banks Shaw of Harrison, Tennessee, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Chickamauga Presented by Suzuki Marine Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 28 pounds, 9 ounces. The victory earned the Lions’ bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2025 MLF College Fishing National Championship.

A heavy influx of runoff from the recent hurricanes was still making its way into Lake Chickamauga when the collegiate anglers arrived. The resulting current and muddy waters were the biggest factors in the outcome.

“We had a really good pattern going – a main-lake pattern – and I think everybody else kind of missed it just because the water was really muddy out there,” said Shaw. “It didn’t look good. We were just running main-lake current breaks, and we were also fishing some submerged grass.”

The submerged grass was hydrilla in 5 to 10 feet of water. For the current-related pattern, the UNA anglers targeted anything that formed an eddy along the main-lake bank, including some shallow points where the fish could forage in the flows. Their best areas were near the mouths of large creeks.

King and Shaw fished a milk run of about 30 to 40 spots, cycling back through any that produced good fish. Their primary lures were a Picasso Bait Ball Jr. umbrella rig and a 5-inch Zoom Swimmer.

“It was just really hard to catch them just because the water was dirty,” added Shaw. “You just had to put it right on their head to catch them.”

The top 10 teams finished:

1st:        University of North Alabama – Gage King, Birchwood, Tenn., and Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 28-9, $2,000
2nd:       University of Montevallo – Connor Bell, Lisbon, N.Y., and Nicholas Dumke, Grand Rapids, Minn., five bass, 19-13, $1,000
3rd:       University of Montevallo – Miller Dowling, Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Mason Kornegay, Buhl, Ala., five bass, 19-8, $700
4th:        Kentucky Christian University – Ethan Burnette, Monticello, Ky., and Cameron Dials, Lovely, Ky., five bass, 19-4, $600
5th:        University of Montevallo – Brody Robison, Dawson, Ala., and Peyton Sorrow, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 18-10, $500
6th:        Florida Gateway College – Seth Jones, Havana, Fla., and Bryson O’Steen, Live Oak, Fla., five bass, 18-10
7th:        University of North Alabama – Samuel Schmitz and Nick Staub, both of Germantown, Tenn., five bass, 18-6
8th:        University of Montevallo – Luke Davis, Bishop, Ga., and Kaden Raichel, Scottsburg, Ind., five bass, 18-2
9th:        University of Montevallo – Mathias Boerboom, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., and Jacob Swanson, Farmingham, Mass., five bass, 18-1
10th:     Adrian College – Mathias Dahline, Howell, Mich., and Henry Vincent, Richmond, Ind., five bass, 17-15

The top 12% of teams qualified for the 2025 National Championship. A full list of qualifiers and complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Chickamauga Presented by Suzuki Marine was hosted by Fish Dayton – Rhea Economic & Tourism Council. It was the final event of the 2024 College Fishing season. The 2025 season kicks off at Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia, on February 14.

The 2024 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI season features college teams from across the country competing in nine regular-season tournaments. The top 12 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Tyler Trent wins the CATT BassKings on Kerr Lake with 5 bass weighing 15.75 lbs

Brian Carter

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October 21, 2024

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Tyler Trent wins the CATT BassKings on Kerr Lake with 5 bass weighing 15.75 lbs

Next and last 2024 BassKings Fall SML/Kerr Qualifier will be November 10 at Smith Mtn Lake State Park! We will drop your lowest finish when November 10th is completed and crown the Points Champ!

Tyler Trent wins the BassKings on Kerr Lake with 5 bass weighing 15.75 lbs and weighed the BF at 4.37 lbs! Tyler took home $2,980.00!

Gary Colwell took 2nd with 13.24 lbs and earned $1,345.00!

Charlie Davis took 3rd with 12.54 lbs worth $630.00!

Marty Warren finished 4th with 12.22 lbs!

TEAM	BF	WEIGHT	WINNINGS	POINTS
Tyler Trent	4.37	15.75	$2,980.00	100
Gary Colwell	3.33	13.24	$1,345.00	99
Charlie Davis	4.14	12.54	$630.00	98
Marty Warren	2.81	12.22	$200.00	97
Tyler Hughes	3.18	11.60		96
Eddie Glascock	2.83	11.06		95
Bryant Copley	3.08	10.20		94
Brian Calloway	2.81	9.65		93
Russ Nixon	0.00	9.26		92
Ryan Mace	0.00	9.01		91
Jeff Beasley	3.67	8.74		90
Robert Barton	3.58	7.87		89
Brendan Kent	0.00	7.72		88
Jason Houchins	2.79	6.67		87
Joseph Sharpe	0.00	5.01		86
Nelson Troyer	3.13	4.87		85
Jeremy Kent	0.00	3.68		84
Aaron Falwell	0.00	0.00		74
David Owen	0.00	0.00		74
Jay Fogleman	0.00	0.00		74
Steven Coleman	0.00	0.00		74
Scott Moser	0.00	0.00		74
Tyler Purcell	0.00	0.00		74
Chris McDaniel	0.00	0.00		74
Total Entry’s			$4,600.00
Side Pot Total			$950.00
Total Paid			$5,155.00
SML Kerr Points Fund			$1,040.00
SML Kerr Final Fund			$1,030.00

Jensen uses drawdown to his advantage to win Bassmaster Kayak Series at Lake Bistineau

Brian Carter

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October 21, 2024

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Jensen uses drawdown to his advantage to win Bassmaster Kayak Series at Lake Bistineau

Georgia’s Gene Jensen has won the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau scored by TourneyX.

Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.

Oct. 20, 2024

Jensen uses drawdown to his advantage to win Bassmaster Kayak Series at Lake Bistineau

SHREVEPORT, La. — When Gene Jensen signed up for the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau scored by TourneyX, he had every intention of fishing Caddo Lake on the Texas/Louisiana border, so much so that he booked an Airbnb as close to the lake as he could.

Right after he booked the house, Jensen realized he had overlooked something. He thought initially only Caddo Lake was legal fishing waters, but soon discovered Bistineau was fishable water for the tournament as well.

“Honestly, it didn’t click that Bistineau was even one of the places we could fish. I read it, but it never registered in my brain,” Jensen explained.

So, when tournament week rolled around, Jensen found himself making an 80-mile one-way trek to Lake Bistineau every day, which turned out to be the winning move for the YouTuber known as “Flukemaster.”

With a total of 198.5 inches, Jensen claimed the top spot at the final Kayak Series event of the season, earned $11,000 in prize money and a trip to the 2025 Yamaha Rightwater Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship scored by TourneyX. The Georgia angler caught 98.25 inches on Day 1 before landing 100.25 inches on the final day to edge out Texas angler Matthew Scotch by 1/2 inch and Day 1 leader Abby Abbondanza by 1.5 inches.

“This wasn’t even my goal,” Jensen said. “My goal was a Top 5 because I knew I didn’t want to fish Lake Hartwell for the Georgia B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship. Hartwell and I never get along. But I told my travel partner before the tournament started that I knew what was going on on the lake. When I know what is going on all over the lake, I am deadly. That doesn’t happen very often. I can think of two other times that has happened, and I won both of those tournaments. It was pretty neat to feel that again.”

While he has fished the lakes several times, the shallow-water nature of the fisheries does not set up for his offshore style of fishing. But when Jensen realized he could go to Lake Bistineau, he was excited for one main reason: Each year, the lake is drawn down several feet in an attempt to combat the invasive Giant Salvinia that have infiltrated the lake.

The drawdown concentrates the bass in more predictable places, Jensen said, which helped him find his primary area.

Jensen spent six days of practice on Bistineau, only spending one day on Caddo to check some of the areas he fished during an August scouting trip. Each day on Bistineau, he landed over 90 inches while his lone day at the latter produced only 70 inches.

“I was catching 90 inches just searching. I went to Caddo and hit what I knew and caught 70 inches and said, ‘Nope.’ I made the decision that night to commit to Bistineau no matter what,” he said.

His best area was at the back of a long drain where the bass were funneling in and out. The middle of the drain was as deep as 4 feet, but many of the bass were up in 2 to 3 feet of water around cypress trees, laydowns and stumps. He also saw what looked like bluegill beds on his Lowrance SideScan, but those turned out to be little depressions he believes the bass were making to find hard bottom to find relief from the current.

“I’m guessing 5,000-plus acres of that lake drains down into this (area) when they draw it down,” he said. “So, all of the bass in those acres pulled down into this deeper ditch. I found it on Monday, and when I went to check it again on Wednesday, they had moved a little deeper because the lake had dropped about an inch.”

A Nichols Lures Pulsator spinnerbait with white willowleaf blades caught all of his bass. Jensen only had one in his kayak during practice, but luckily a friend was traveling to the tournament a few days later and was able to pick a couple up on his way into town.

“I caught 40 or 50 on one of those spinnerbaits before it broke,” he said. “White on white in dirty water just shows up a lot better whether it is sunny or cloudy.”

On Day 1, Jensen landed six bass in six casts to open Day 1 and left the area alone after that. Late in the day, he landed a key 20-incher, a bass that broke his spinnerbait as Jensen was netting it.

He returned to his primary on Day 2 and caught around 20 bass, but his tournament-defining catch came with 15 minutes to go before lines in. As he made his way out of the ditch, Jensen pitched his spinnerbait to a nearby stump and hooked up with a 20.5-inch largemouth that lifted him to the 100-inch mark.

“They weren’t biting right today,” Jensen said. “You had to bump what they were on, and you couldn’t kill the bait right at the log. You had to reel it two or three more times and then kill it, and then the bass would hit it on the way down.”

Scotch, meanwhile, landed 96 inches on Day 1 before landing 102 inches on Day 2, the biggest bag of the final day. He also used a spinnerbait, which he paired with an XCite Baits ShadNasty Swimbait trailer. In the afternoons, he would switch to a bluegill-colored spinnerbait when the bass buried themselves in the shade.

He opened the tournament fishing the same area as Jensen, but with not nearly the same amount of success. With one bass at 12:30 p.m., Scotch made a long run to an area he has fished in the past and filled out a limit.

“I went 9 miles. I just had to get down to that area,” he said. “As soon as I got down there, I started putting them in the boat. It was an awesome three hours of fishing.”

On Day 2, Scotch started in that same area and caught better quality bass. Each bass in his limit measured over 20 inches.

“Today I didn’t mess around. I went straight there and started hammering on them,” he said.

After leading Day 1 with a staggering 102.75 inches, Abbondanza caught 94.25 inches on Day 2 to finish in third place. The Pennsylvania angler lost two key bass in the morning hours of the final day but finished the day with two key culls to jump back into the Top 3.

Abbondanza caught all of his bass in one main area of Caddo Lake using a Bama craw-colored Z-Man Tungsten ChatterBait Elite EVO.

“It was one of those areas that just kept reloading,” he said. “It is a great lake.”

Along with a fourth-place finish, West Virginia’s Jody Queen caught the $500 Big Bass of the Tournament, a 22.75-inch largemouth he caught on Day 1.

The Shreveport/Bossier City Sports Commission is hosting the tournament.

A full list of results from the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau scored by TourneyX can be found here.

Photo Dump From The Final Day of the 2024 Big Bass Tour event on SML

Brian Carter

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October 20, 2024

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Photo Dump From The Final Day of the 2024 Big Bass Tour event on SML

Nineteen Year old Cooper Aaron Wins Fall 2024 Big Bass tour event on SML with a 7.17

Brian Carter

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October 20, 2024

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Nineteen Year old Cooper Aaron Wins Fall 2024 Big Bass tour event on SML with a 7.17

The Fall 2024 Big bass tour event is in the books & what a finish this years even ended up being. When nineteen year old Cooper Aaron coming to the scales Sunday between the 10-11 o-clock hour with hands shaking & nerves at an all time high to the scales. This is one of them moments we will never forget & the second youngest to ever win the event ever. As he walked to the scales we all held our breath as this giant knocked out day one leader Craig Eason that weigh in a 7.08 another good looking fish. As always he had to take a polygraph test & then sit four more hours waiting as other anglers weight in & praying he would get the opportunity to win as well as get his first ever bass boat. Now he can return the one he was using back to his father. What ending to a beautiful weekend. We hope you enjoy the videos & photos below.

CLICK HERE TO SEE FINAL RESULTS

Curtis Fink proudly weighed in the second-largest bass of the Big Bass Tour, a stunning 6.70 pounds, at SML.

Brian Carter

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October 19, 2024

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Curtis Fink proudly weighed in the second-largest bass of the Big Bass Tour, a stunning 6.70 pounds, at SML.

It was another tough day on Smith Mountain lake for the anglers fishing the Big Bass Tour event. There were a mix of baits that were used today from Jigs, to Crainkbaits & Drop-Shots. Craig Eason 7.08 still holds on to the lead but there is another day left & the weather will be a repeat from today. Let’s hope we see an 8lb weigh in on the final day. See you all tomorrow at Mariners Landing Resort someone will be taking home a new Nitro at 3pm.