PowerStop Brakes Returns as Title Sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage 3 at Lake Murray
BENTON, Ky. (Feb. 24, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that PowerStop Brakes is renewing its sponsorship for the 2025 season, and stepping up as title sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage 3 at Lake Murray next week. This renewed partnership showcases PowerStop’s passion for the sport and its commitment to supporting anglers and fans alike.
“We’re thrilled to extend our relationship with Major League Fishing and Edwin Evers into 2025,” said Jake Walenga, Marketing Manager of PowerStop. “Whether it’s our high-performance brake upgrade kits or our new PowerClear™ windshield wiper kits, we’re dedicated to providing the reliability anglers need when towing their boats. MLF is an incredible platform, and we’re excited to see this year’s competition unfold.”
As PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 approaches, anticipation continues to grow following the wave of excitement and digital engagement seen at Stages 1 and 2. Hundreds of thousands of fishing fans tuned in to MLFNOW!® livestreams, engaged on social media, and visited MLF’s digital platforms, putting the 2025 season on pace to be one of the most-watched seasons in league history. With PowerStop Brakes’ support, and the tremendous fishery known as the Jewel of South Carolina, Lake Murray, serving as the backdrop, Stage 3 is set to deliver more thrilling action and memorable moments for fans worldwide.
“PowerStop Brakes has been a fantastic partner of Major League Fishing,” said Chris Bork, MLF Vice President of Sponsorship and Sales Development. “Their dedication to innovation and reliability resonates with our audience, and their continued support elevates not only the competition but also the overall experience for our fans and anglers. Together, we’re making professional fishing more exciting and accessible than ever before.”
PowerStop Brakes has also renewed its sponsorship of pro angler Edwin Evers, one of the most accomplished and celebrated anglers in MLF history with more than $4 million in career earnings and 79 top-10 finishes – including 13 career victories. During PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray, fans can visit Edwin Evers’ social media channels to enter the PowerStop Brakes giveaway for a complete brake upgrade kit – the perfect addition for anglers hitting the road with a boat in tow.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on each day of competition from PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King will premiere on Discovery as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 4, with the Championship Round premiering Sunday, Oct. 5 at 7 a.m. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
For additional information about MLF, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about PowerStop Brakes and its entire product line of braking systems, visit PowerStop.com.
Records Set at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Santee Cooper
| Boater winner Brent Riley of Cross, South Carolina, and co-angler winner Chuck Bagwell of Laurens, South Carolina. |
| Cross’ Riley Weighs in 12th largest limit in BFL history, Georgetown’s Pope ties all-time biggest bass record with 13-6 behemoth SUMMERTON, S.C. (Feb. 24, 2025) – Boater Brent Riley of Cross, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 35 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine at Santee Cooper Lakes . The tournament, hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, was the third event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Division. Riley earned $2,890 for his victory. Before diving into the incredible 35-plus-pound limit – the 12th largest limit in BFL history – that Riley caught on Santee, take a minute to think about this: His limit could’ve very easily approached 40. Riley, a local who lives on the lower lake, lost a big one at the boat early in the morning. “I just had one of those days,” Riley said. “The first spot, I caught an 8-pounder. Second spot, I caught an 8-pounder and I lost two good ones – one about 7 pounds. Third spot, I caught one about 8. And fourth spot I caught one about 8. I had four right at 8 pounds and another one that was about 3 1/2. Then I culled twice for very little difference. “What was crazy was watching the one that I lost that was right at the boat with my partner trying to get to it with the net. It got into a little bit of grass, and we watched it just spit out the lure and swim away. That was like my second fish, and I thought, ‘Woah, there it goes. There’s no recovering from that.’ And then it just got better and better. I thought, ‘Wow, how good a day am I having here?’” Riley has had some pretty epic experiences in bass tournaments. He and a partner once weighed in a 60-pound 10-bass limit in a tournament. He also won an old Red Man tournament – the precursor to the BFL series – with an impressive mid-30s limit. And while catching 35-3 to kick off the 2025 season doesn’t quite compare to fishing the BFL All-American and the Bassmaster Classic, each of which Riley has done, it’s a pretty awesome milestone in a great grassroots bass fishing career. Especially since, according to Riley, who’s on the verge of turning 64, winning bass tournaments is getting tougher by the season. And last year was a pretty mediocre season by his standards. That all makes this win so much sweeter. “I’m starting this year off with a bang,” Riley said. As for the fishing, Santee Cooper is coming on strong with healthy grass growth, and this is the prime time of the year for catching big fish. Prior to the tournament, the bass were starting to move up. Then a cold front knocked them back a little bit. Riley and others expected the weather change to shut down the fish, but it was the exact opposite. “They bit, and they bit good,” Riley said. “The fish had pulled back in the ditches, and when I caught that first one, it was a big one, and it was still shallow. They were in that 3 foot to where it dropped into 5 or 6 foot.” Riley spent the tournament hopping around a handful of spots picking off a fish or two here and there, always focusing on areas where the bass are eventually going to spawn. He caught them pretty evenly from both lakes in the system – weighing three from Lake Moultrie and two from Lake Marion. “I caught most of them on a Berkley Slobberknocker,” Riley said. “I had two on a Berkley Frittside, but the Slobberknocker is what the studs were on – all the big ones. They were in eelgrass more than anything. In the ditches, where it drops from 3 to 6, that grass seems to have survived, and it’s thicker there than anywhere else. I was just bumping the top of the grass. It took some touch keeping it out of the grass and in the strike zone.” Reflecting on his remarkable day, Riley offered a special thanks to the team at Berkeley Outdoors, his boat dealer, for keeping him on the water and competing at a high level. And what a level it was on Saturday – one of the most impressive BFL victories in recent seasons. The top 10 boaters finished the tournament: 1st: Brent Riley, Cross, S.C., five bass, 35-3, $2,890 2nd: James Gibbons, Timmonsville, S.C., five bass, 31-3, $1,445 3rd: Lucas Murphy, West Columbia, S.C., five bass, 27-12, $1,464 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus) 4th: Kyle Austin, Ridgeville, S.C., five bass, 27-11, $674 5th: Chad Sims, Lancaster, S.C., five bass, 26-11, $578 6th: Robert Clarke III, Pineville, S.C., five bass, 26-5, $530 7th: Gary Pope, Georgetown, S.C., four bass, 25-10, $812 8th: Wendell Causey Jr., Irmo, S.C., five bass, 24-11, $433 9th: Lane Clark, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 23-6, $385 10th: Sandy Montgomery, Irmo, S.C., five bass, 21-13, $337 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. |
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| Boater Gary Pope of Georgetown, South Carolina, tied the all-time BFL record for largest fish weighed with this 13 pound, 6 ounce behemoth. (Photo submitted by Gary Pope). |
In addition to the huge limit weighed in by the winner, boater Gary Pope of Georgetown, South Carolina, also had an extremely memorable day on Saturday. Pope caught a bass that weighed 13 pounds, 6 ounces – tying the record for largest bass ever weighed in MLF Bass Fishing League history. For his feat, Pope earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $330.  Chuck Bagwell of Laurens, South Carolina, won the co-angler division and $1,445 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 2 ounces. The top 10 co-anglers finished: 1st: Chuck Bagwell, Laurens, S.C., three bass, 11-2, $1,445 2nd: Bobby Smith, Asheville, N.C., three bass, 11-0, $722 3rd: Troy Crippen, Lancaster, S.C., three bass, 10-11, $480 4th: Brendan Yeckley, Monroe, N.C., three bass, 10-8, $337 5th: Nathan Sipes, Laurens, S.C., three bass, 10-4, $289 6th: Davy Goodman, Sumter, S.C., three bass, 9-6, $265 7th: Roger McKee, Columbia, S.C., two bass, 8-10, $406 8th: Tim Chadwick, Mount Pleasant, S.C., two bass, 8-9, $217 9th: Thomas Pennell III, Boiling Springs, S.C., three bass, 8-3, $193 10th: Joshua Brogden, Sumter, S.C., three bass, 8-1, $169 Roger McKee of Columbia, South Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $165, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day. After three events, Lucas Murphy of West Columbia, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 735 points, while Thomas Pennell III of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 724 points. The next event for BFL South Carolina Division anglers will be held June 21, at Clarks Hill Lake out of Appling, Georgia. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000. The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Vosker, WIX Filters and YETI. For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. |
Ryan Armstrong Leads Wire-to-Wire, Wins Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain
Robinson, Illinois pro catches final day limit weighing 16-1 on Championship Sunday to earn $115,000 top prize
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2025) – The 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals opener at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes was a wild ride from start to finish. Up and down the Top 10, young guns and veterans alike caught big ones all kinds of ways, and the results showed off the best of a really talented group.
This Invitationals season appears to have picked up where 2024 left off. One thing remained steady throughout the event, and it was pro Ryan Armstrong of Robinson, Illinois, at the top of the leaderboard. After blasting 29 pounds, 12 ounces to take the lead in Stop 1 Presented by VOSKER on the Kissimmee Chain, Armstrong backed it up again and again, only ever looking shaky late in the mornings before his afternoon bite picked up.
On Day 3, Armstrong weathered the morning, snatched up 16-1 in the afternoon and totaled up 68-6 for the win and an $80,000 paycheck.
Finishing second, pro Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, weighed an even 62 pounds on the week. In third, rookie Banks Shaw of Harrison, Tennessee, got his year started off on the right foot with 61-10, and in fourth, bolstered by 28-5 on Day 2, Macon, Georgia’s Joshua Weaver earned another Florida Top 10 with 61-3.
Link to Photo Gallery of Day 3 Championship Sunday Weigh-In
Link to Photo Gallery of Day 3 on-the-water Highlights
Link to Video of Fish-Catch Highlights of Day 3 from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
“Fancy” has not been the way to win tournaments in Florida lately. Last week, Robert Branagh basically did one thing to win at Okeechobee, and Bobby Lane didn’t have to get very creative for his win on the Harris Chain . This week, Armstrong continued the trend, locking big line and a big stick in hand and picking apart one area day after day, flip after flip.
Fishing the pads in the mouth of the creek that flows out of Tiger Lake, Armstrong used one of the lesser-fished sections of the Kissimmee Chain to great effect. On the first day of practice, Armstrong toured Kissimmee and found too many people in a lot of it – and some fish on the south end. On the second day, he went to Tiger.
“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into running that creek,” he said. “But we ran that creek, and when I came around that last bend, I sat the boat down, and I just started pitching around. Once I got up in there, my rod just started just getting annihilated, fish just jarring my rod like crazy. I didn’t set the hook. I just started learning the area, pitching around a little bit, and I just kept getting bites.”
Getting a lot of bites that he thought were big, Armstrong spent some time picking the zone apart, and then he did a lap around Tiger.
“I spent the rest of the day in Tiger going in a circle and I got one bite,” Armstrong said.
After the first couple days of practice, and maybe with the benefit of hindsight, Armstrong realized he’d put together a bit of a pattern.
“Whenever I came in there, I noticed some flow leaving; it was going out from Tiger to Kissimmee, and I knew it was shell bars there. I felt them,” he said. “I had some flow, and I knew it was getting cold. I thought the current was holding them there because of the cold weather. That was my key. And, honestly, I got bites down on the southern end of Kissimmee, and it was it was current-related hard edge, on pads, and they were stacked, so there was a pattern.”
Pattern aside, Armstrong didn’t end up needing his fish in Kissimmee – all that mattered for him was the fish in Tiger. Flipping a variety of beaver-style baits in several colors, he used a 3/4-ounce weight, a 5/0 Owner Jungle Flipping HD hook, 60-pound-test Sunline XPlasma Asegai, an 8.5:1 Shimano Curado DC and an 805 Dobyns Champion XP . With dialed tackle, he combed each patch of pads with an extremely methodical approach.
His slow approach was the product of the size of the area, and it allowed him to attempt to line up his flips to bolster his landing ratio.
“I think it was more circumstantial as far as the way the area is set up,” Armstrong said. “It was a small area, so I could go as slow as I wanted and still work the whole area if I wanted because it was so small. There were fish everywhere.”
From there it was a matter of getting enough bites and converting on enough of them every day. When it was all said and done, Armstrong made a monumental win look pretty breezy.
“It doesn’t seem real, because winning doesn’t happen in fishing at high levels very often,” Armstrong said. “Most of the time [it’s] never for most people. To win is just unbelievably special to me.
“The sport means a lot to me,” he went on. “I literally think about, watch, it’s everything fishing, every single day of my life, regardless of where I’m at or what I’m doing. I love fishing. I love everything about fishing, and to win at such a high level against these guys that are legitimately the best in the world, it’s kind of surreal.”
The top 30 pros at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER finished:
1st: Ryan Armstrong, Robinson, Ill., 15 bass, 68-6, $80,000
2nd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 62-0, $30,000
3rd: Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 61-10, $20,000
4th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 15 bass, 61-3, $18,000
5th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 15 bass, 59-10, $17,000
6th: Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala., 15 bass, 58-12, $16,000
7th: Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 15 bass, 53-6, $15,000
8th: Alex Bradley, Wellford, S.C., 15 bass, 53-5, $14,000
9th: Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., 15 bass, 53-3, $13,000
10th: Jordan Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., 15 bass, 51-15, $12,000
11th: Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala., 15 bass, 51-4, $10,000
12th: Dustin Smith, Trussville, Ala., 15 bass, 51-0, $10,000
13th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 50-8, $10,000
14th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 15 bass, 49-13, $10,000
15th: Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., 15 bass, 48-10, $10,000
16th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 15 bass, 48-3, $10,000
17th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 47-14, $10,000
18th: Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 42-6, $10,000
19th: Cal Lane, Grant, Ala., 15 bass, 42-3, $10,000
20th: Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., 15 bass, 42-0, $10,000
21st: Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, 15 bass, 41-12, $9,000
22nd: Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., 15 bass, 41-5, $9,000
23rd: Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, 15 bass, 40-10, $9,000
24th: Hunter Mills, Mayfield, Ky., 15 bass, 40-8, $9,000
25th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 39-7, $9,000
26th: Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., 15 bass, 38-9, $9,000
27th: Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 13 bass, 37-15, $9,000
28th: Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss., 13 bass, 35-4, $9,000
29th: Matt Baty, Bainbridge, Ga., 14 bass, 34-4, $9,000
30th: Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 13 bass, 32-10, $9,000
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 143 bass weighing 406 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the final 30 pros on Sunday. The catch included 26 five-bass limits.
The three-day tournament, hosted by Experience Kissimmee, featured a field of pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and valuable points to qualify for the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship in September. The full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advanced to the final round on Championship Sunday, where they competed for the grand prize of up to $115,000.
Television coverage of MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on CBS Sports Network.
The next event on the schedule for 2025 is the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 2 at Lake Hartwell Presented by Suzuki Marine, set for March 14-16 in Anderson, South Carolina.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitationals updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Lowen lifts second Elite trophy with narrow St. Johns victory
Indiana’s Bill Lowen wins the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla., with a four-day weight of 73 pounds, 14 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
Feb. 23, 2025
Lowen lifts second Elite trophy with narrow St. Johns victory
PALATKA, Fla. — Twice in three days vegetation threatened to thwart Bill Lowen’s efforts. Both times persistence prevailed, as the Brookville, Ind., pro tallied a four-day total of 73 pounds, 14 ounces to win the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.
Lowen, who won his first Elite title at Pickwick Lake in 2021, placed third on Day 1 with 21-5, then took over the lead with a second-round limit of 24-4. Sacking up 18-1 on Semifinal Saturday, Lowen held the top spot and entered Championship Sunday with a 5-4 lead over his nearest competitor.
Day 4 proved excruciatingly stingy, as Lowen struggled to coax fish that showed increasing sensitivity to the week’s severe cold front. He missed his limit by one keeper, but after anchoring an otherwise slim bag with a 7-pound, 7-ounce bass, Lowen turned in a final bag that went 10-4 and edged Jay Przekurat by 4 ounces.
“Today was weird; I lost my fifth fish three times, and one of them was a good one — maybe 4 or 5 pounds,” Lowen said. “I’ve always said, ‘When it’s your time, it’s your time and you can’t do anything wrong.’
“Even though I lost those fish, the good Lord was looking out for me. To say I’m a two-time Elite winner is unbelievable.”
Lowen caught all of his fish in Deep Creek, north of the tournament site, on the river’s east bank. He chose this artery because its 20-plus-foot depths offered greater stability than shallower areas.
“It was all dependent on the tide, and the tide just never got right today,” Lowen said. “All week, my bigger bites came when the tide got low, but that window got later and later every day.”
Lowen caught his Day 1 fish on a blue craw 3/8-ounce signature series Lure Parts Online flipping jig with a Zoom Super Chunk. From then on, he did most of his work with a 5/16-ounce blue craw signature series Lure Parts Online swim jig with a Zoom Super Speed Craw.
“The key was fishing that swim jig really slow,” Lowen said. “In that cold water, they just wanted that bait moving slowly.”
That tactic, while clearly productive, was not without risk, and a Day 2 entanglement nearly cost Lowen the tournament. When one of his better fish became ensnared in a sunken tree, Lowen tensely tugged and manipulated his rod for a couple of minutes until the main branch miraculously broke and released the fish.
Two days later, Lowen’s painfully slow final round saw Deep Creek taunting him with a random obstruction that blocked one of his key areas. With the cold front dropping his water temperatures, Lowen targeted areas with slightly greater warmth.
“Last night during the high tide, a grass mat moved into one of my best bends in the creek,” Lowen said. “I had caught a 5 and a 6 there in the last three days and that mat was in my way.
“I said, ‘I’m just going to punch through that mat,’ so I dropped right through that mat and caught that 7-7. I’ve been dropping through a lot of mats this week and never got a bite. If that mat hadn’t blown in there and I hadn’t dropped through there, I wouldn’t have caught that key fish.”
Przekurat, who makes his home in Plover, Wis., finished second with 73-10. The 2022 Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year started strong and kept himself in the conversation all week.
After taking the Day 1 lead with 24-15, Przekurat managed only 12-12 in the second round but slipped only one spot to second. Adding 16-10 on Day 3, Przekurat slipped to third before gaining back one notch with his final-round limit of 19-5.
Przekurat caught most of his Day 1 weight by targeting prespawners and bed fish in Salt Springs Run. The next three days saw him focus more on targeting fry guarders (male bass protecting hatchlings) with jerkbaits in canals below Lake George.
On Day 4, Przekurat started in the canals, but later returned to Salt Springs and added a key fish on a dropshot with a Strike King Baby Z-Too.
“I started on the fry guarders just to get my day going, and then I was trying to catch a kicker in the springs,” Przekurat said. “With the fry guarders, it seemed like the quicker the better.
“It would take them a minute to get on it. As soon as they would start coming for the bait, you had to make sure it was in the strike zone, because if it was a little bit too far outside the fry ball, they wouldn’t bite.”
Shane LeHew finished third with 73-9. His daily weights were 18-4, 17-3, 17-14 and 20-4.
Devoting most of his attention to throwing a Berkley Stunna jerkbait at fry guarders, LeHew anchored his biggest bag with a 7-7.
“I had a fantastic day,” LeHew said. “I went to the canal where I caught almost all of my fish in. For whatever reason, it’s been super special.
“I decided to go try and find a big one on bed. I went to a bed that had a 2-pounder in practice and there went that 7-7. It took me about 10 minutes to catch her, and then I caught the male, and it was a 3-pounder.
“I said, ‘I just went from (stinking) really bad to doing really well really quick.’ I caught both of those bed fish on the new Berkley MaxScent Stank-Bug.”
John Cox of Debary, Fla., won the $2,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for his 8-13. Cox also won the $1,000 Day 1 daily award.
Austin Felix of Eden Prairie, Minn., won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award. Lowen won the $1,000 award for leading the Progressive Angler of the Year standings.
John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., won the $2,000 Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag award for his Day 3 limit of 31-6.
Brock Mosley took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Cox earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Lowen earned an additional $4,000 while LeHew claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant. Garrett and Patrick Walters both earned $1,000 for being the third- and fourth-highest placing entrant, respectively.
Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.
2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite Series St. Johns River 2/20-2/23
St. Johns River, Palakta FL.
Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 19 73-14 104 $101,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 24-04 Day 3: 5 18-01 Day 4: 4 10-04
2. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 20 73-10 103 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-15 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 16-10 Day 4: 5 19-05
3. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 20 73-09 102 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 17-14 Day 4: 5 20-04
4. John Garrett Union City, TN 18 71-00 101 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 31-06 Day 4: 3 12-10
5. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 20 68-06 100 $11,750.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 22-07 Day 4: 5 18-13
6. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 20 68-06 99 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 18-03 Day 4: 5 16-00
7. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 20 63-00 98 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 17-05 Day 4: 5 14-06
8. John Cox Debary, FL 20 59-04 97 $13,300.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 14-12 Day 4: 5 09-06
9. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 20 58-12 96 $10,200.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 16-15 Day 4: 5 09-06
10. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 20 57-14 95 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 20-09 Day 4: 5 08-13
———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $1,000.00
2 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA08-12 $1,000.00
3 John Garrett Union City, TN 08-06 $1,000.00
4 Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 07-07 $1,000.00
———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $2,000.00
RAPALA CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG
John Garrett Union City, TN 31-06 $2,000.00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 494 1317-03
2 81 456 1205-06
3 38 228 628-11
4 8 47 139-03
———————————-
220 1225 3290-07
Mastering the Slow Roll: How to Catch Giant Bass in Tidal Waters
CLICK TO SEE St.Johns River Tide Chart
Mastering the Slow Roll: How to Catch Giant Bass in Tidal Waters
As I sit here watching Bill Lowen win the Bassmaster Elite Series on the St. Johns River, one thing is clear: his mastery of slow-rolling a jig in tidal waters is a game-changer. If you’ve ever wondered how to catch those same giant bass lurking in rivers, lakes, or estuaries with moving water, this technique might be your answer. Let’s break down the art of slow-rolling a jig and why it’s so deadly in tidal zones.
What Is Slow-Rolling?
Slow-rolling is a simple but effective way to fish a jig. Instead of hopping, popping, or dragging the bait along the bottom, you reel it in just fast enough to keep it gliding near the floor. This steady, slow retrieve mimics a crawfish or baitfish moving naturally in the current—a snack too tempting for big bass to ignore.
In tidal waters, where currents shift with the rise and fall of the tide, bass often position themselves near structures like rocks, submerged logs, or grass lines. They wait to ambush prey swept their way. A slow-rolled jig slides right into their strike zone.
Why Tidal Waters?
Tidal areas, like Florida’s St. Johns River, are unique. The moving water pushes baitfish and crawfish around, creating feeding opportunities for bass. But the key is timing:
- High Tide: Bass move shallow, hugging cover like docks or vegetation.
- Low Tide: They retreat to deeper holes or channels.
Bill Lowen’s success comes from reading these patterns. He slow-rolls his jig along transitions between deep and shallow water, especially near drop-offs or submerged grass. The slow retrieve keeps the bait in the strike zone longer, even as tides shift.
Gear Up for Success
- The Jig: Use a compact football head jig (3/8–1/2 oz). The wider head design prevents snags and kicks up sediment, imitating a foraging crawfish.
- Trailer: Pair it with a bulky plastic trailer (e.g., a craw or creature bait). This adds movement and makes the bait look “meaty.”
- Line: 15–20 lb fluorocarbon or braid. Fluorocarbon sinks and is less visible; braid helps feel subtle bites.
- Rod/Reel: A 7’–7’6” medium-heavy rod with a fast tip for sensitivity, paired with a smooth 6.3:1 gear ratio reel.
The Technique: Slow & Steady Wins
- Cast Beyond Structure: Aim for areas where bass might hide—edges of grass, rock piles, or ledges.
- Let It Sink: Allow the jig to hit bottom. Patience is key.
- Start the Roll: Reel slowly, keeping the jig just above the bottom. Imagine you’re “trolling” at a snail’s pace.
- Feel the Bite: Tidal bass often strike with a soft thump or sudden weight. Set the hook hard!
Pro Tip: If you’re not getting bites, slow down even more. Bill Lowen often says, “When you think you’re fishing too slow, go slower.”
Why It Works
Big bass in tidal zones are opportunistic. They conserve energy and strike easy targets. A slow-rolled jig doesn’t spook them—it looks like a lazy meal drifting with the current. Plus, the steady motion helps the bait bump into rocks or wood, triggering reaction strikes.
Final Thoughts
Next time you’re fishing tidal waters, channel your inner Bill Lowen. Slow down, focus on structure, and let the jig do the work. It might feel boring at first, but when a 5-pounder slams your bait, you’ll see why patience pays off. Giant bass aren’t caught by accident—they’re earned with smart, steady techniques. Now go get ‘em! ?
Armstrong looking unstoppable on the Kissimmee Chain
Ryan Armstrong is lapping the field through two days on the Kissimmee Chain. Photo by Rob Matsuura. Angler: Ryan Armstrong.
February 22, 2025 • Jody White • Invitationals
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Florida tournaments are often up-and-down affairs, with a lot of leaderboard change day to day. Take Joshua Weaver, who sat in 13th with 17 pounds, 7 ounces after Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 Presented by VOSKER on the Kissimmee Chain. Day 2 saw Weaver rocket up into second, hammering out 28-5 for the big move. Pro Alex Bradley moved even more – tallying 25-10, the young pro rolled from 75th to seventh. However, the man who mattered the most didn’t come off the pace at all – on Day 2, Ryan Armstrong put 22-9 on the scale for a 52-5 total, which has him well clear of the competition.
Hunting down Armstrong (or attempting to, at any rate), Weaver sits in second with 45-12, and Drew Gill is in third with 42-8. Banks Shaw, in fourth with 39-3, is more than 13 pounds off the pace set by the red-hot Armstrong.
This was the first day of the Invitationals season with no forward-facing sonar in play, as will be the case for every Day 2 this year. Florida is not an ideal test case, especially when fish are shallow and the weather is significantly more conducive to good fishing on Day 2, so the results are pretty inconclusive. The field as a whole brought less weight to the scales on Day 2, bagging 1,506 pounds on Day 1 and 1,452 pounds today – not much of a drop in the scheme of things. And, while some anglers like Gill had a bit tougher day, other notably young, tech-savvy pros excelled – Hayden Marbut broke down in the canal just south of the Toho lock and caught more weight than he did on Day 1, and Bradley smashed one of the biggest bags of the event.
Chasing down Armstrong tomorrow is going to be a tall task, with or without ‘Scope. Still, with 9-pounders swimming around out there and even better weather in the forecast, you can bet the field is going to give it their best shot.
Slow and steady for Armstrong
Picking apart shallow pads, basically one stem at a time, Armstrong has impressed through two days.
“It was slower, and they definitely bit a little different this morning, but it wound up working out,” he said. “This afternoon it definitely picked up. I could’ve caught more weight. It’s just a matter of trying to make the right decision whether or not you want to keep taking them out.”
Armstrong is notably fishing alone, something of a rarity in Florida, and he’s obviously reaping the benefits. Combing through pads and other shallow cover, he’s fishing very meticulously.
“It’s a combination of me being around the winning fish and maximizing every 5 feet that I go,” he explained. “I mean, whenever you’re around fish, why do you speed up?
“I’m moving 5 feet and fishing for 10 minutes and moving 5 feet and fishing 10 minutes, but the thing about it is there’s so many opportunities within that,” he added. “Every 5 feet I move up, it presents new angles, new holes, new ways I want try to attack that particular spot.”
Still, Armstrong isn’t fishing so slowly because his fish are sluggish.
“I need to be in the ballpark,” he said. “I don’t have to hit them on the head. Sometimes they bite it on the fall. Sometimes they bite it on the first hop, and I’ve even had a couple bite it swimming it out.”
The only remaining question is if Armstrong can do it again, and the odds seem to be in his favor.
“I think I have fish left, no doubt about that,” Armstrong said. “But, it’s not a very big lead on this pond. So I, by no means, feel like it’s over, that’s for sure. But, I think that if I can put the bites in the boat, I won’t lose.”
Weaver is no stranger to Florida comebacks
When Weaver won the 2023 Invitationals event on Okeechobee, he ran down Illinois pro Colby Schrumpf, blasting 31-9 on Day 2 and 26-4 on Day 3. Not to say that Armstrong, also an Illinoisan, should be panicking about the similarities, but Weaver is a scary man to have in the rearview in Florida. Raised on Lake Seminole, he’s a wizard with all the techniques that shine in the Sunshine State. On Day 2, he caught a good bag and a 9-pounder, which at least got him in the conversation.
“Today was a great day,” he said. “But, you can’t duplicate a 9-pounder, so I don’t know what tomorrow’s going to hold. But, you know, I’ve been catching probably five to seven between that 3- and 4-pound range. I had 17-10 yesterday, and every fish I weighed in was within a quarter pound of each other. So, if I’d had a big one yesterday that I lost, I would have been sitting really right.”
Winding and punching hyacinth mats, Weaver is running a classic Florida combo pattern, and he’s sticking in Toho, which accounts for a good chunk of the Top 10. As far as chasing down Armstrong, he knows it’s a tall task.
“I thought I needed to catch 30 today to even have a shot,” Weaver said. “I figured the guys that were up there yesterday, Drew Gill in particular, I figured he might struggle today with the no ‘Scope deal. I knew I needed to catch at least what he had yesterday so I would have a shot to go out and catch 25-plus again tomorrow and have a shot at winning.
“It’s Florida. We finally got some decent weather moving in, but that helps everybody,” Weaver said. “I’m just excited to have another day to go crack at them.”
Top 10 pros
1. Ryan Armstrong – 52 – 05 (10)
2. Joshua Weaver – 45 – 12 (10)
3. Drew Gill – 42 – 08 (10)
4. Banks Shaw – 39 – 03 (10)
5. Keith Poche – 36 – 14 (10)
6. Colby Miller – 36 – 13 (10)
7. Alex Bradley – 36 – 11 (10)
8. Jordan Wiggins – 36 – 10 (10)
9. Joseph Webster – 35 – 15 (10)
10. Bobby Lane – 35 – 12 (10)
Despite slower third day, Lowen stays on top at St. Johns River
Indiana’s Bill Lowen leads the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla., with 15 bass weighing 63 pounds, 10 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
Feb. 22, 2025
Despite slower third day, Lowen stays on top at St. Johns River
PALATKA, Fla. — Even the ideal habitat cannot fully hide from a major Florida cold front. Just ask Bill Lowen, who fought through a slower Day 3 to retain his lead at the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.
After placing third on Day 1 with 21-5, the Brookville, Ind., pro moved into the lead with a second-round limit of 24-4. Adding 18-1 on Semifinal Saturday, Lowen heads into Championship Sunday with 63-10 and a 5-4 lead over John Garrett.
“That water where I’m fishing is about 4 degrees colder than it was yesterday,” Lowen said in reference to the sharp cold front that arrived on Thursday. “I had one little zone that was a couple degrees warmer, and that’s where I caught all my fish.
“My primary area where I caught ‘em the last two days, I never caught a fish there today. When the tide got right (around 11 a.m.), I made sure I was there, and I caught my two biggest fish. The tide is so important here and if you miss that window, you’ll miss those big bites.”
Sticking to the game plan that delivered his prior success, Lowen spent most of his day in a creek north of takeoff. He targeted shallow, submerged wood but he noted that the creek’s 27-foot depths proved strategic in giving the bass greater stability than shallower areas throughout the St. Johns system.
“That was kinda my game plan — to find those creeks with deeper water in them for the cold front,” Lowen said. “That would give those fish somewhere to fall back to instead of being in a big, shallow bay. That was my whole game plan and, so far, it’s working. Hopefully, it will work one more day.”
Lowen caught most of his weight on a swim jig. He caught a few smaller fish on a flipping jig, but a slow, winding presentation carried his day.
Lowen’s committed to his shallow water program, but he said he might relocate for part of Championship Sunday.
“I’m going to go run that primary deal that I’ve been fishing and then I have two areas about 8 miles up from there that I haven’t been to yet,” Lowen said. “Maybe I’ll use them tomorrow.
“I might start on one of them tomorrow just to see. I’d hate to not go and say, ‘What if?’ I might check those two other areas tomorrow and get back to my primary area when the tide gets right.”
While Lowen’s making no final-round predictions, he said he’s looking forward to another day of familiar fishing.
“I’m fishing the way I like to fish; I’m fishing in my comfort zone. I feel like you fish to the best of your ability when you do that. I’m fishing that way and for the first time in my career, I’m really not nervous at all.
“God willing, it will happen. If not and I don’t catch a bass tomorrow, the last three days have been amazing.”
Hailing from Union City, Tenn., Garrett wowed the crowd with a Day-3 mega sack that went 31-6 and eclipsed his combined first two days’ weights of 14-12 and 12-4. Tallying a three-day total of 58-6, Garrett rocketed up the standings from 38th to second.
“It was a total surprise,” said Garrett, who anchored his bag with an 8-6. “I went out with zero expectations. I was like, ‘I hope I don’t fall to 50th today,’ because that was how little I was on.
“I just started running new water and I ran across that spot.”
Garrett said he travelled south of takeoff and found his fish on a main-river shellbar in 10-13 feet of water. He wasn’t sure if the fish were prespawners or postspawners, but they were aggressive.
“I caught a lot of bass today,” Garrett said. “I caught six fish on that spot and left them alone. Today was special.
“We had a lot of hard north wind the past two days, and we had a lot of water moving out. I’m not sure how hard that water will be moving tomorrow, or if those fish will be there, but I’m excited to get back and see if they’re there.”
During an hour-long tear, Garrett lit up the BassTrakk standings with an amazing run of big bass smackdown that erased all but an ounce of Lowen’s advantage. Lowen’s late-morning efforts would rebuild his lead, but Garrett’s heroics yielded the event’s heaviest bag and his personal best.
Garrett’s third-round limit is the seventh-largest single-day bag caught during a Bassmaster event on the St. Johns River.
Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., is in third place with 54-5. A Day 1 limit of 24-15 put him atop the standings and buoyed him to second when Day 2 yielded only 12-12. Przekurat fared a little better on Day 3 with 16-10, but slipped to third.
“I’m just happy that I was able get that big bag the first day and I was able to ride it into a top 10,” Przekurat said. “That was my goal for today — just ride it out. I wasn’t sure after I had that struggle yesterday with (a smaller bag).
“I bounced back a little bit today and put a nice 5-pounder in the boat. I think I just hit a little stretch of fish that were active, compared to the ones I was fishing.”
Przekurat spent most of his time in canals near the lower end of Lake George. Fishing around docks and kickouts, he caught his fish on a shallow-running jerkbait.
John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-13.
Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.
Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Sunday from 8-11 a.m. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.
Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.
2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite Series St. Johns River 2/20-2/23
St. Johns River, Palakta FL.
Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 63-10 104
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 24-04 Day 3: 5 18-01
2. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 58-06 103 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 31-06
3. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 15 54-05 102
Day 1: 5 24-15 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 16-10
4. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 53-05 101
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 17-14
5. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 52-06 100
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 18-03
6. John Cox Debary, FL 15 49-14 99 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 14-12
7. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 49-09 98
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 22-07
8. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 15 49-06 97
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 16-15
9. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 15 49-01 96
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 20-09
10. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 48-10 95
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 17-05
11. Wes Logan Springville, AL 13 48-04 94 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 3 08-03 Day 3: 5 20-05
12. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 15 48-02 93 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 16-04
13. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 14 46-12 92 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 4 09-05
14. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 46-09 91 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 15-05
15. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15 46-08 90 $8,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 16-15
16. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 15 46-01 89 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 10-11
17. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 12 45-15 88 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 2 05-09 Day 3: 5 17-09
18. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 45-07 87 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 13-09
19. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 15 44-15 86 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 20-02 Day 3: 5 09-11
20. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 44-10 85 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 14-07
21. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 44-06 84 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 16-03 Day 3: 5 18-07
22. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 15 43-11 83 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 08-14 Day 3: 5 18-09
23. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 15 43-07 82 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 21-15 Day 3: 5 09-00
24. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 43-06 81 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 14-11
25. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 15 43-03 80 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 12-09
26. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 12 41-15 79 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 2 09-13
27. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 13 41-08 78 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 3 07-15
28. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 15 41-07 77 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 12-03
29. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 14 41-04 76 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 19-10 Day 3: 4 08-03
30. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 41-01 75 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 5 14-08
31. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 40-12 74 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 14-11
32. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 40-03 73 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 5 09-15
33. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 15 40-03 72 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 09-10
34. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 39-11 71 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 09-02
35. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 37-12 70 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 10-13
36. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 14 37-12 69 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 4 05-14
37. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 15 37-11 68 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 10-11
38. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 15 37-09 67 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 07-09
39. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 13 37-07 66 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 3 12-02 Day 3: 5 09-00
40. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 15 37-02 65 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 10-09
41. Bryan New Leesville, SC 12 37-00 64 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 2 03-11
42. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 37-00 63 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 08-13
43. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 14 36-15 62 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 4 10-02
44. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 14 36-06 61 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 08-03 Day 3: 4 07-01
45. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 12 36-03 60 $5,500.00
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 3 07-13
46. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 14 35-05 59 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 4 08-06
47. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 35-04 58 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 09-00 Day 3: 5 07-03
48. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 33-04 57 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 06-07
49. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 13 32-07 56 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 3 06-01
50. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 11 27-09 55 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 1 01-03
———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $1,000.00
2 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA08-12 $1,000.00
3 John Garrett Union City, TN 08-06 $1,000.00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 494 1317-03
2 81 456 1205-06
3 38 228 628-11
———————————-
212 1178 3151-04
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Berkley Krej Evolution
Berkley Krej Evolution
- By FTR Industry Wire
- February 21, 2025
Berkley expands with new Krej sizes and colors, for the ultimate FFS-optimized fishing experience.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Berkley Krej redefined freshwater hard baits when it earned the prestigious Best of Category award at ICAST 2024. After listening to angler feedback, the Berkley team has upgraded the Krej, now officially available in five new colors and two new sizes, giving anglers even more options to adapt to any fishing scenario.
Designed to excel with forward-facing sonar, the Berkley Krej features an innovative upturned bill that mimics the natural upward fleeing motion of a baitfish. Unlike traditional jerkbaits, it moves upwards in the water column before falling back toward pursuing fish, creating a unique action that triggers reaction strikes. It can be worked just below the surface as described or fished as a topwater on a straight retrieve, adding even more versatility. Perfectly crafted in Berkley Labs, the Krej delivers unmatched performance, innovation, and variety for anglers ready to dominate their next fishing trip.
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