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Buchanan’s Lawrence Wins at Home at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes

August 27, 2024

Buchanan’s Lawrence Wins at Home at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes

Boater winner Jake Lawrence of Buchanan, Tennessee, and Strike-King co-angler winner Eric Law of Primm Springs, Tennessee.

Catch Trophy Bass at Night with Local Secrets!

Brian Carter

August 27, 2024

Catch Trophy Bass at Night with Local Secrets!

Bass fishing at night is a thrilling experience that differs significantly from daytime fishing. The heightened sense of hearing plays a crucial role, as anglers must rely on the sounds of their lures moving through the water and the explosive strikes from bass. This sensory shift makes the experience more intense and rewarding, as every subtle sound and sudden splash becomes a significant moment. The darkness adds an element of surprise and excitement, making every strike feel more dramatic and the anticipation more profound. Anglers who haven’t tried night fishing are missing out on one of the most exhilarating ways to connect with nature and target bass, experiencing the thrill of the catch in a completely new light. With the right preparation and mindset, night fishing offers a unique and unforgettable adventure that contrasts sharply with the daytime routine. The calmness of the night, combined with the adrenaline of reeling in a big bass, creates a memorable experience that keeps anglers coming back for more. Each night on the water presents its own set of challenges and exciting rewards.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fact, we just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost and 10w30 Syntheic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater.

Night bass fishing has been practiced for decades, gaining popularity alongside the development of modern fishing gear. Traditional techniques often involved simple lures, and today’s anglers have a variety of options to choose from, particularly soft plastics like worms, lizards, insect larvae, cray-styled baits, and beetles. While many anglers stick to these proven methods, there’s always room to experiment with different types of soft plastics to find what works best under the cover of darkness. The key is to understand that the basic principles of bass fishing remain the same regardless of the time of day. Anglers should feel confident using their daytime gear and techniques while remaining open to trying new approaches that might be even more effective at night. By experimenting with different retrieve speeds, rigging methods, and bait profiles, anglers can adapt to the unique conditions of night fishing and increase their chances of success. The quiet, calm waters at night often provide opportunities to refine these techniques. The absence of visual distractions allows anglers to focus more on the feel of the line and subtle changes in the bait’s movement. We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action-triggering strikes!

Summer is the ideal season for night fishing, offering cooler temperatures and quieter waters compared to the daytime. Bass remain active throughout the night, allowing anglers to target them in both deep and shallow waters. The presence of a full moon can enhance the experience, as it encourages bass to feed more actively and provides natural light to navigate by. Even without a full moon, anglers can still find success by focusing on areas with good structure and cover. The combination of favorable conditions and fewer distractions makes night fishing a highly productive and enjoyable activity during the warmer months. The cooler nighttime temperatures can reduce angler fatigue, allowing for longer and more comfortable fishing sessions. Many seasoned anglers prefer fishing during the nighttime hours to avoid the crowds that often fill the lakes during the day, creating a more peaceful and focused environment. The reduced boat traffic means less disturbance in the water, increasing the chances of a successful catch. By knowing the prime conditions and adjusting strategies accordingly, anglers can maximize their success during summer night fishing.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. Grab our newest Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. Act quickly, these new colors won’t stay in stock for long. We also recently restocked our Ghost, Red Bug, Purple Rain, Brown Bug, Electric Chicken, and Goby Wan colors. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Additionally, its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to the HellaMite’s superior performance and versatility

Choosing the right lures and colors is critical when fishing at night. Dark-colored soft plastics, such as black or blue, are preferred because they stand out against the night sky, making them easier for bass to spot. In clear water, using soft plastics like worms, lizards, insect larvae, cray-styled baits, and beetles can be particularly effective, as these lures mimic the natural prey of bass and can entice strikes even in low visibility. In murkier conditions, these same soft plastics can still be highly effective, especially when paired with rattles or other noise-making features that bass can detect through their lateral lines. Knowing the water conditions and selecting the appropriate gear will greatly increase an angler’s chances of success when fishing after dark. Adjusting your retrieval speed and technique to match the activity level of the bass can also make a significant difference, as slower, more deliberate movements are often more enticing in the dark. Using sensitive rods and reels with a smooth drag system is essential, as it allows anglers to detect subtle bites. Incorporating scent attractants into your soft plastics can also enhance their appeal, especially when visibility is low. Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round!

Safety is paramount when fishing at night, and proper preparation can make all the difference. Before heading out, anglers should ensure that their boat’s running lights are fully functional, as visibility is limited in the dark. Bringing two flashlights is a good practice, providing a backup in case one fails. Carrying essential tools like needle-nose pliers and insect repellent is important for addressing any challenges that may arise during the trip. It’s also wise to inform someone of your plans, including your fishing location and expected return time, to ensure help is available if needed. Wearing a life jacket at all times is crucial, as unexpected situations can occur, and it’s harder to respond quickly in the dark. Keeping your tackle organized and easily accessible will also minimize the need to search for gear. Being aware of your surroundings and using GPS or other navigation tools can help prevent getting lost, especially on unfamiliar waters. Staying calm and focused, even in challenging conditions, will help you make better decisions. Regularly checking weather conditions and preparing for changes can also enhance safety and ensure a more enjoyable experience while bass fishing.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added new MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electic Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also released new 6-inch Worms including Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR are all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater.

Effective lure presentation is key to successful night fishing, particularly in shallow waters where bass often hunt for food. In these areas, soft plastics such as worms, lizards, insect larvae, cray-styled baits, and beetles can be particularly effective. These lures mimic the natural prey of bass and can entice strikes even in low visibility. Adding a rattle or choosing soft plastics that emit subtle vibrations can further increase the chances of drawing a strike, as bass rely heavily on their senses of hearing and vibration detection at night. The goal is to create enough disturbance in the water to capture the attention of bass. It’s also important to vary your retrieval speed and technique, experimenting with slow, steady pulls or more erratic movements to see what triggers a response. Focusing on areas with ample cover, such as weeds or submerged logs, can increase your chances of success, as these are prime spots for bass to ambush prey. By staying patient and adapting to the changing conditions, you can turn a challenging night into a rewarding fishing experience. Consistently fine-tuning your approach based on the bass’s reactions will enhance your overall effectiveness.Our newest FreshBaitz Mandingo Trick Worm is the ultimate game-changer for anglers with a passion! Engineered for the angler who knows SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a penchant for the larger bait. The Mandingo Trick Worm boasts a solid 7-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. Officially available in a vibrant array of 8 colors. Each worm is made from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for total and maximum attraction, the Mandingo Trick Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing the big ones. Proudly made in the USA by real anglers to help elevate your fishing experience and catch more bass year-round!

Understanding the characteristics of local lakes can greatly enhance night fishing success. Lakes with clear water and abundant aquatic vegetation are often prime spots for nighttime bass fishing, particularly in shallow areas where bass are more likely to be feeding. While deep-water fishing can also be productive, many anglers find that targeting bass in the shallows at night yields better results. The presence of lighted docks or other structures can also be beneficial, as these areas tend to attract baitfish and bass. Anglers who familiarize themselves with conditions and features of their chosen fishing spots can develop more effective strategies for night fishing. Knowing the local weather patterns and moon phases can help predict when bass are most likely to be active. Consulting with local anglers or bait shops can provide valuable insights into what soft plastics or techniques are currently producing the best results in the area. Taking the time to scout the lake during the day can also pay off, as you’ll be better prepared to navigate and identify key fishing spots once the sun goes down. Combining this knowledge with strategies will improve your chances of success at night.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose. For creature baits, we love to use the Stand-Up Jig because it sits your bait up-right in a defensive stance! Mosquito Hooks work for drop-shotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you pressure time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action.

Indiana’s Arnett Gets His First Win at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River Presented by Suzuki Marine

Brian Carter

August 27, 2024

Indiana’s Arnett Gets His First Win at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River Presented by Suzuki Marine

Boater winner Jerry Arnett of Mexico, Indiana, and Strike-King co-angler winner Bryan Kalen of Massillon, Ohio.

Best Braid Ever Now Available – DAIWA

Brian Carter

August 27, 2024

Best Braid Ever Now Available

DAIWA partners with Japan’s XBRAID to bring the world’s finest braided fishing lines to the North American market.

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (August 27, 2024) – A 70 year old company that stands as the world’s largest fishing line manufacturer is impressive, to say the least. Add in that their premium house brand – XBRAID – is now available to the North and South American markets via DAIWA, and serious freshwater and saltwater anglers are in for a real treat.XBRAID states that being the world’s number one fishing line manufacturer requires bringing together skilled employees and fishing’s most advanced manufacturing facility. The brand charter goes on to say they want to create a sustainable society where people, the sea, and the forests coexist in harmony with the morals and spirit of people who love fishing. “We have a gratitude for nature in our hearts and will gain the support of anglers around the world and pave the way for the future.”That’s deep…and meaningful.

PARTNER AND NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTOR“XBRAID is the ideal addition to DAIWA’s already wide spectrum of fishing lines,” said DAIWA Marketing Manager, Marc Mills. “It sits at the top of the food chain amongst all braided fishing line brands in the North American market and is much more technologically advanced. It really caters to the angler that wants to take his or her fishing techniques and performance to another level – a level they’ve never dreamed of achieving.”Developed for elite-level anglers who have fished every option on shelves, XBRAID presents a species and technique-specific fishing line to align with their arsenal of species and technique-specific rods and reels.“XBRAID takes fishing to a performance level anglers have never been, or thought of going in freshwater and saltwater,” said Mills. “Do yourself a favor and fish a spool. Its performance will trump anything you’ve ever cast.”

XBRAID TECHNOLOGYThe company’s proprietary “WX Method” has revolutionized the manufacturing of PE (polyethylene) braided fishing lines. Most competing PE lines are braided using a method called “Kakuuchi.” The raw threads wound around the bobbins, which rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, are pulled out little by little and are braided while crossing each other to form a single line. And like when line is released from a spinning reel, when the raw thread is pulled out from the bobbin, the thread becomes twisted. In the case of XBRAID and its WX Method, the clockwise bobbin is turned clockwise, and the counterclockwise bobbin is turned counterclockwise, so the combined raw threads result in a straight, well-balanced line with high linear strength and no twists.Just like a rubber band returns to its original shape when you let go of it after twisting it, even if XBRAID twists during fishing, one of the threads becomes over-twisted and the other thread is untwisted, so it returns to its original shape. Reducing twist means that when a knot is tied it’s less likely to float, too, reducing any loss of strength. In addition, because the knot is turned, it is firmly solidified, like a tightly wrung rag, so it has the advantage of being highly abrasion-resistant and drains easily.Above all, because XBRAID returns to its original shape by its own force, the structural stretch and strength are maintained to extend the life of the line. Further evolving the technology, in 2019 XBRAID launched a double-structure PE line whereby a sheath thread is braided around a core thread using the WX Method. In addition to the increased structural strength due to the core-sheath structure, the coating is applied with pressurized resin processing, which makes the coating last longer.

XBRAID HISTORYXBRAID’s 70 years history began with the establishment of the Yotsuami Tsuriito Nakanishi Factory in 1949.Company President, Nakanishi Saburo, trained in the days of real and artificial fishing line. In 1949, the company was founded as “Yotsuami Fishing Line Nakanishi Factory”. In 1950, the Four-Strand Fishing Line Research Institute Fishing Line Factory was established behind Fukura Station on Japan’s Awaji Island. In 1953, the company obtained a utility model patent for “Yotsuami Fishing Line”, a fishing line with a twist that does not move and does not slacken.In 1989, the manufacturing department of the Yotsuami Fishing Line Nakanishi Factory was separated and incorporated, and Nakanishi Shigeru established YGK Co., Ltd. During the era when fishing lines were changing from nylon monofilament and polyester braided lines to PE lines, Nakanishi made numerous inventions, and in 2005, he created the string-making method that became the basis of the now WX Method.”Thinner and stronger fishing lines change the tools and fishing methods. If you make a good product, it will surely be accepted. I want to show the world the best line under the brand name XBRAID someday,” said Saburo. Those words became the trigger for launching the new brand.Then, in the first year of the Reiwa Era (232nd era of the official calendar of Japan), the baton was passed to new management. With the words of the previous president in mind, the team combined the inherited technology with new ideas to bring the best lines to the world, and this was the birth of XBRAID.

For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: CSR@Daiwa.com. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us

Browning/Gagliardi and Becker/Shuffield Advance after Day 2 Elimination Round at General Tire Team Series B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota

Brian Carter

August 27, 2024

Browning/Gagliardi and Becker/Shuffield Advance after Day 2 Elimination Round at General Tire Team Series B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota

Four new teams compete in Erie’s Presque Isle Bay, Team U.S. Air Force (Browning/Gagliardi) catches 76 largemouth weighing 110 pounds, 11 ounces to finish atop the leaderboard

ERIE, Pa. (Aug. 26, 2024) – Although anglers had to contend with rainy, overcast conditions for the first half of the competition day, even water from the sky couldn’t dampen the second day of competition at the season-opening event of the 2024 General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Teams took off and began their 30 minute ride-around under sunny conditions, with no rain in the forecast. However, a storm rolled in right after takeoff, lingering over the fishery most of the morning as four new teams launched at Erie’s Presque Isle Bay for the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota.

Link to HD Video Clip of Day 2 Elimination Round Highlights
Link to Photo Gallery of Day 2 Elimination Round On-The-Water Highlights

Team U.S. Air Force, made up of pros Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, South Carolina, quickly rose to the top of the leaderboard Monday, catching 76 largemouth bass weighing 110 pounds, 11 ounces, to earn the win after the Day 2 Elimination Round. The duo will now advance to the Knockout Round along with second-place finishing Team B&W Trailer Hitches – pros Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, and Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas – who caught 50 bass weighing 88 pounds even to finish in second.

The entire field spent the day trying to duplicate what Team U.S. Air Force accomplished in the opening period alone. With only 23 scorable bass caught by the entire field during the opening period on the first day of competition, Team U.S. Air Force blew that out of the water, catching 27 scorable bass weighing 40 pounds, 6 ounces, in the opening period on Monday, often weighing them in two at a time throughout the day.

Although Browning and Gagliardi each caught more than 20 pounds in the first period, the duo said they fished a quarter of a mile after Lines In before catching their first fish.

“We had a few bites, and caught one scorable bass, but we were still looking for them” said Browning. “Then we got to an area and caught two back-to-back, so we settled in there. We started off throwing the little Z-Man Chatterbait MiniMax. We had some clouds, some rain and a little bit of wind this morning, and that bait really showed out in those conditions. We pretty much just let the ChatterBait and the weather conditions dictate the first period.

“I think with the clouds and everything this morning, the fish were probably a little bit more active on moving baits,” Browning continued. “We were able to catch quite a few during the rain, and that got us clued in on an area, which was really key for us.”

Gagliardi said when they caught the third bass in the same spot, he knew they were on to something.

“I knew if they were biting that ChatterBait, they’d bite a worm,” said Gagliardi. “So I picked up a worm and started throwing it, hoping I could get bites on the worm while Browning was throwing the ChatterBait, and we’d have two different things going on.”

And it worked, for a bit. As the day went on, the ChatterBait bite died out, so Browning ditched the moving bait and picked up a worm as well.

“We threw that worm every which way – wacky worm, put it on a jighead, shaky style – it really didn’t matter how we rigged it, it was just a matter of getting it around them today,” said Browning. “There are a couple thousand acres out there to try to cover, and thankfully we guessed right in the beginning and got in an area that we felt like might have some water moving through it.”

That area was a big grass mat in about 8 to 12 foot of water, right in the middle of Presque Isle Bay.

“What we found was a giant grass clump, but the water’s deep on either side of it,” Browning said. “It’s got some cover and a little bit of current – evidently it has a ton of bait – and if you can get all three of those in one area, that’s a good indicator that there’s going to be some good fish there.”

And there were. Around 60 scorable largemouth, to be exact.

“We were really just fishing slow around the edges of a big grass mat, not really covering much water,” said Gagliardi. “But it seemed like every 50 to 100 yards, we’d run into another fresh group of fish and get some bites. Those fresh fish helped us maintain the lead that we had over second all day long.”

It’s no secret there’s a lot of grass in Presque Isle Bay, and although there have been fish caught in eel grass over the past two days, the teams that are punching their ticket to the next round seem to have dialed in on the big schools of largemouth camped out in the milfoil.

“The trick for us was to just keep the bait clean,” said Browning. “There’s a lot of milfoil and eel grass in here, so whatever we could throw in this dense grass, and keep it clean, seemed to be the deal. The grass is really the ticket out there right now.

“The rock walls with grass lines are definitely holding some bass, but they must have been hit hard yesterday. Out on these big, expansive areas of grass, there’s a lot of real esate – not only for the bass, but for the bluegill and gobies and other baitfish that these bass are feeding on.”

The U.S. Air force team said they spent the day fishing along those grass lines until they caught one, then hunkered down in that area and waited for more.

“That was the key,” Browning said. “They really came in flurries throughout the day, so once you caught one, you could almost count on catching at least three or four more with it. Sometimes we’d catch seven or eight with it. I found a few with the [Lowrance] Active Target, but the majority of the ones we caught were pretty much just from casting blind.

“The fish seemed like they were high in the water column and aggressive this morning, but once the sun poked out later on in the day, the brighter conditions moved them down to the bottom and that’s where the worm really shone,” Browning continued. “It was just kind of a one-two punch and it worked out for us.”

Team B&W Trailer Hitches pros Matt Becker and Spencer Shuffield settled into the second place spot early Monday morning and were able to maintain that position throughout the competition day. Becker is no stranger to Lake Erie – he grew up fishing on the famed bass factory and is one of the only anglers with extensive experience on the fishery. That experience paid off for him and his teammate.

“We had a lot of bites, a lot of catches and only lost one fish each, so we can’t complain,” said Becker. “We’re moving on to the Knockout Round, so it will be a new day, with possibly a new body of water, and we’re ready.”

Becker spent most of the day pitching a tube around the rock walls and grass, while Shuffield threw a vibrating jig.

“Man, today was fun,” said Shuffield. “Jacking on them with a big line, flipping a tube, flipping a jig, throwing a ChatterBait. We even caught a couple on a dropshot rig. It was a great day of fishing and we’re really looking forward to the Knockout Round.”

The results from the Day 2 Elimination Round at the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota are:

1st:          Team U.S. Air Force, 76 bass, 110-11
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 40 bass, 60-3
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, N.C., 36 bass, 50-8
2nd:        Team B&W Trailer Hitches, 50 bass, 88-0
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 27 bass, 48-10
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 23 bass, 39-6
3rd:        Team Builders FirstSource, 38 bass, 58-1
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 21 bass, 30-4
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 17 bass, 27-13
4th:         Team 7 Brew Coffee, 27 bass, 42-6
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 12 bass, 18-10
Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 15 bass, 23-12

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 191 bass weighing 299 pounds, 2 ounces caught by the four teams during the Day 2 Elimination Round on Presque Isle Bay. Team B&W Trailer Hitches pro Matt Becker caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a largemouth weighing 3 pounds, 11 ounces.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota is hosted by VisitErie and takes place over six days in Erie, Pennsylvania. The competition water for each day is top-secret and is only revealed to the anglers after they arrive at the host hotel each morning.

Anglers depart the host hotel in Erie each morning at 4:30 a.m. ET. They are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 7:45 a.m.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

The Challenge Cup features 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they enter the one-day Elimination Rounds. Each of the three Elimination Rounds will feature four new teams, with the top two teams from each of the Elimination Rounds advancing to the Knockout Rounds on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams will compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2024 B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota.

The 2024 General Tire Team Series is comprised of four events – Challenge Cup, Heritage Cup, Patriot Cup and Summit Cup – featuring two-man teams of MLF Bass Pro Tour pros competing from the same boat. Each event features a roster of 24 anglers, teamed up and working together to claim part of a season purse of more than $720,000. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2024.

Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota will premiere on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour episodes starting in January 2025. New MLF General Tire Team Series episodes will premiere each Saturday morning on Outdoor Channel and posted to MOTV.

Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Coign, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Nitro Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala Baits, REDCON1, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, Toyota, USAA, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook , X, Instagram and YouTube.

Chad Green Wins Basskings event on Smith Mountain Lake with 20.94lbs

Brian Carter

August 25, 2024

Chad Green Wins Basskings event on Smith Mountain Lake with 20.94lbs

What a start to the CATT Basskings season on Smith Mountain Lake. Thirty one anglers fished the 1st stop of the 2024 season. Congratulations to everyone that cashed a check & we hope you enjoy the photos & videos bellow.

CLICK TO SEE RESULTS

Nick Penson & Barry Palmer Win LU Bass Summer Shootout on Smith Mountain Lake

Brian Carter

August 25, 2024

Nick Penson & Barry Palmer Win LU Bass Summer Shootout on Smith Mountain Lake

Floyd/Morgan and Gill/Stefan Advance after Day 1 Elimination Round at General Tire Team Series B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota

Brian Carter

August 25, 2024

Floyd/Morgan and Gill/Stefan Advance after Day 1 Elimination Round at General Tire Team Series B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota

Four teams compete in Erie’s Presque Isle Bay, Team REDCON1 (Floyd/Morgan) catches 34 largemouth weighing 49 pounds, 6 ounces to pace field

ERIE, Pa. (Aug. 25, 2024) – It was an exciting first day of competition on Erie’s Presque Isle Bay for both the anglers competing on the water and the fans watching a professional fishing team event live for the first time ever at the season-opening event for the 2024 General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops.

When Erie, Pennsylvania, was announced to the anglers as the host destination for the first event of the year, many expected smallmouth bass to be a prominent factor throughout the tournament. If Sunday’s first day of competition at the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota is any indicator, the largemouth are going to reign supreme this week.

Link to HD Video Clip of Day 1 Elimination Round Highlights
Link to Photo Gallery of Day 1 Elimination Round Morning On-The-Water Highlights

Team REDCON1, made up of pros Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tennessee, and Cole Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, led the way, Sunday, catching 34 largemouth bass weighing 49 pounds, 6 ounces, to earn the win after the Day 1 Elimination Round. For the win, Team REDCON1 will now advance to the Elimination Round, along with second-place finishing Team Coign – pros Matthew Stefan of Junction City, Wisconsin, and Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois – who caught 32 bass weighing 43-15 to finish in second.

The REDCON1 team caught the majority of their weight on the west side of Presque Isle Bay, flipping grass with a variety of soft plastics. The duo started shallow with their flipping sticks, but after a slow start to the day they moved out deeper – about 8 to 9 feet deep – and found some fish holding on clean milfoil that had a hard edge. Knowing what to look for, the REDCON1 team covered water and vaulted into the lead midway through the second period and never looked back.

“We had a freaking blast, today,” said Morgan, who caught the most bass and the most weight on the day. “This is how we got started and what I love about bass fishing – team tournaments. And when you have a good fisherman in the boat with you like Cole, that just makes it all the much better. I was so happy when Cole picked me as his teammate. He and his dad Steven used to kick butt in team tournaments back in the day, so I knew he’d be a great team partner.”

“This was a whole different concept for me,” Floyd said. “It was so much fun. And we got to catch them Andy Morgan-style – on big line, with a big rod. Man, that bite is so addicting.”

They fished the way Morgan is known for – flipping and pitching various soft plastics in all sorts of colors. And they used Floyd’s old team tournament partner’s secret stash.

“We used a dozen different baits today – everything from a Zoom Z Craw to a Strike King Rage Bug,” Morgan said. “Cole actually got his dad’s big bulk bag of soft plastics and brought them for the Team Series. We dipped into Steve’s free baits today and used every color in the bag. Color really didn’t matter though – if you got it around bass, they bit it.”

Morgan’s flipping setup was a 7-foot, 11-inch flipping stick with a Lew’s Pro SP Skipping & Pitching Baitcast Reel, spooled with 65-pound braided line, a 4/0 Hayabusa hook and a ¾ ounce Strike King tungsten weight.

“We didn’t need but two rods, today,” Floyd went on to say.

With just over an hour remaining in the final period of the day, Team Coign pros Matt Stefan and Drew Gill rallied from fourth place into second after finding an area that held a decent population of largemouth. They caught 24 of their 32 bass total in the third period to overtake Team Wix and Team Ferguson and advance in the final spot.

“The Great Lakes are known for having very spot-specific largemouth, and we happened to fall into an area and caught a pile of fish,” said Stefan, who caught 13 keepers.

Despite only catching three bass in the first two periods, Gill added 16 scorable largemouth in the third period alone.

“I’ve never been out here before, so it took us a bit to find our groove. We were chasing something that I don’t think ever developed,” Gill added. “We found a spot that had sand, rock, a little bit of grass, adjacent to a backwater – everything we needed to make a comeback that we did. What a great final period.”

The results from the Day 1 Elimination Round at the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota are:

1st:        Team REDCON1, 36 bass, 52-0
                Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 23 bass, 34-6
                Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 13 bass, 17-10
2nd:       Team Coign, 32 bass, 43-15
                Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 19 bass, 26-1
                Matt Stefan, Junction City, Wis, 13 bass, 17-14
3rd:       Team Ferguson, 15 bass, 26-6
                Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., nine bass, 15-13
                Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., six bass, 10-9
4th:        Team WIX Filters, 15 bass, 23-15
                Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 11 bass, 16-11
                Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., four bass, 7-4

Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 98 bass weighing 146 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the four teams during the Day 1 Elimination Round on Presque Isle Bay. Team Ferguson pro Nick LeBrun caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a largemouth weighing 3 pounds, 3 ounces.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota is hosted by VisitErie and takes place over six days in Erie, Pennsylvania. The competition water for each day is top-secret and is only revealed to the anglers after they arrive at the host hotel each morning.

Anglers depart the host hotel in Erie each morning at 4:30 a.m. ET. They are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 7:45 a.m.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

The Challenge Cup features 12 two-man teams, divided into three groups as they enter the one-day Elimination Rounds. Each of the three Elimination Rounds will feature four new teams, with the top two teams from each of the Elimination Rounds advancing to the Knockout Rounds on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams will compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2024 B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota.

The 2024 General Tire Team Series is comprised of four events – Challenge Cup, Heritage Cup, Patriot Cup and Summit Cup – featuring two-man teams of MLF Bass Pro Tour pros competing from the same boat. Each event features a roster of 24 anglers, teamed up and working together to claim part of a season purse of more than $720,000. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2024.

Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota will premiere on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour episodes starting in January 2025. New MLF General Tire Team Series episodes will premiere each Saturday morning on Outdoor Channel and posted to MOTV.

Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Coign, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Nitro Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala Baits, REDCON1, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, Toyota, USAA, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

Victor Angler Casey Smith Wins MLF Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River Presented by FX Custom Rods

Brian Carter

August 25, 2024

Victor Angler Casey Smith Wins MLF Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River Presented by FX Custom Rods

MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 24, 2024) – Pro Casey Smith of Victor, New York, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 26 pounds, 4 ounces to win the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at St. Lawrence River Presented by FX Custom Rods and earn the top payout of $39,750.

Taking off from Massena Intake Boat Launch on Championship Saturday within reach of both a win on the St. Lawrence River and the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title for the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Northern Division, Smith admitted he felt a bit jittery. He had plenty of time to stew on the ramifications of his performance, too, making a 70-plus mile run upriver to his fishing spot.

But once he arrived, it didn’t take long to settle his nerves.

Within 5 minutes, Smith boated a smallmouth bass that weighed 5 3/4 pounds. That started an epic flurry that saw the New York native put more than 25 pounds in his livewell during his first hour of fishing. He went on to make one afternoon cull, bringing his limit to 26-4 — easily the biggest bag of the final day.

That boosted Smith’s three-day total to 72-1, vaulting him from seventh place to the winner’s circle. Smith topped Oklahoma’s Kyle Cortiana by 1 pound, 2 ounces. While Cortiana still edged him by a single point at the top of the AOY standings, a second Toyota Series trophy and the $39,750 payday more than made up for it.

“Today was unbelievable,” Smith said. “Within 5 minutes, I had a 5 3/4, and I had the bulk of that weight within an hour. So, that settled me down and put me in a groove, and I just built it from there.”

In the weeks prior to the event, Smith grappled with the decision of where to fish on the massive St. Lawrence. While Lake Ontario was off-limits to competitors, the waters near the lake have typically produced a better class of bass than the rest of the river in recent years. The catch is, with the field launching from Massena, the runs to and from that area could eat up nearly half the competition day, and Smith had typically struggled in the past when making a long run and fishing in a hurry.

However, when he watched the broadcast of one of the recent national-level events contested on the St. Lawrence, Smith heard a comment about how anglers needed to commit to the long run if they wanted to have a chance to win. That stuck with him as he took a win-or-bust mindset into this event, running between 140 and 180 miles round-trip each day.

“It’s a long way, man,” Smith said with a chuckle. “I’m tired, I’m exhausted, I’m out of gas money.

“Running a long distance like that for me has always been an Achilles (heel),” he added. “I’ve never managed time well. So, that’s where this one is special, I overcame that weakness. I mean, I was running 3 hours a day — an hour and a half down and an hour and a half back — so I was only fishing 5 hours. To overcome that Achilles of the time management, that’s where this one is special.”

After making the long run each morning, Smith targeted his fish a bit differently than most in the field. He found three offshore shoals where, particularly early in the day, schools of smallmouth were suspended chasing bait. Smith targeted them with a Deps Sakamata Shad on a jighead.

“There was a ton of bait in the area, and I was using a minnow, a Sakamata Shad,” he said. “As the day went on, that bite would go away, and then I would resort to drifting with a Ned rig or a football jig. But the bulk of it came early every morning from fish that were up in the bait.”

While the jighead minnow has dominated events across the country in the past couple years, the strong current on the St. Lawrence typically forces fish to remain bottom-oriented, making drop-shots, Ned rigs, jigs and the like more popular. The 39-year-old Smith said he was proud of his ability to not only find the unique bite but target the schoolers with forward-facing sonar, noting he spotted every fish he caught with Garmin LiveScope.

“You don’t need to be 18 years old to do that,” he said. “I don’t know how I got to be an older dude, but I’m representing the experienced group here with this win and showing that we can hang with the electronics, too.”

During practice, Smith knew he’d found an area loaded with bass. But he underestimated just how good it could be.

Prior to the start of the event, Smith predicted that it would take “22 and change” per day to win. So, when he hit the 22-pound mark on Day 1, he left his main area, hoping to save those fish for later in the event. When 18 pros weighed in 23 pounds or more that afternoon, he thought he might have blown his chances at hoisting the trophy.

“I left my area after 2 and a half hours because I was trying to conserve, and when I came in and saw that, I thought I made a major mistake,” he said. “I had to absolutely put the gas on down there the last two days, and I wasn’t sure how much was left after I burned on it yesterday. I did not have any clue it was going to take this average to win this tournament.”

Luckily for Smith, his area produced more weight each day. He followed up his 22-1 total on Day 1 with 23-12 on Day 2. His 26-4 bag on Saturday represented the second-heaviest limit of the week.

“Today, I started on one (shoal), and it just went nuts,” he said. “I thought it was the best one numbers wise. I didn’t realize it was the best one size wise too.”

Smith’s three-day weight puts him in rare company. Since the Toyota Series went to three days of competition in 2009, only once during the 11 events held on the St. Lawrence River has the winner totaled more than his 72-1. That was Chris Johnston with 77-15 in 2021, and he amassed almost all that weight in Lake Ontario. Even without the lake in play, this marked the first Toyota Series event ever on the fishery that three anglers have hit the 70-pound mark in three days.

The win also cements Smith as one of the most accomplished tournament anglers in the Northeast — and maybe the best not to fish for a living. Smith has now won three multi-day events on three different fisheries, adding his St. Lawrence triumph to a resume that includes a 2016 Toyota Series win on the Potomac River and a 2022 Bassmaster Open victory on Oneida Lake.

In the moments after lifting the trophy alongside his son Travis, Smith’s voice caught as he reflected on the hard work that went into his latest triumph.

“I don’t even know how to describe it,” he said. “I’m not sure why I’ve been lucky enough or blessed enough to have that happen to me. I work hard, I love fishing, but I’ve got a job. I have to go to work every Monday. And I show up and I fish as hard as I can, I do as much research as I can, and I guess it’s just a function of that mentality, how much I love it and how much I work for it. It feels unbelievably rewarding.”

The top 10 pros on the St. Lawrence River finished:

1st: Casey Smith, Victor, N.Y., 15 bass, 72-1, $39,750
2nd:        Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., 15 bass, 70-15, $15,403
3rd: Dante Piraino, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 15 bass, 70-0, $11,925
4th:         Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 15 bass, 68-7, $10,938
5th:         Brent Anderson, Kingston Springs, Tenn., 15 bass, 68-1, $8,944
6th:         Adam Howell, Embrun, Ontario, 15 bass, 67-10, $7,950
7th:         Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 67-4, $6,956
8th:         Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 66-8, $5,963
9th:         Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 15 bass, 66-3, $4,969
10th: Lane Olson, Forest Grove, Ore., 15 bass, 66-0, $3,975

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Juan Darte of Middle River, Maryland, won the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday with a bass weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces. On Friday, pro Rich Nelson of Smithville, Ontario, earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize after bringing a 7-pound, 3-ounce bass to the scale.

Miller took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Lenny Baird of Stafford, Virginia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 58 pounds, 10 ounces. Baird took home the top prize package worth $33,900, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on the St. Lawrence River finished:

1st:          Lenny Baird, Stafford, Virginia, 15 bass, 58-10, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd:        Ken Golub, Pittsford, N.Y., 15 bass, 54-11, $4,969
3rd: Sakae Ushio, Tonawanda, N.Y., 15 bass, 52-14, $3,975
4th:         Steven Schantz, Alexandria, Va., 13 bass, 50-10, $3,478
5th:         Gary Marean, Manassas, Va., 15 bass, 49-14, $2,981
6th:         Jimmy Schaffer, Oak Ridge, N.J., 13 bass, 49-12, $2,484
7th:         Hunter Navari, Colchester, Vt., 15 bass, 49-11, $1,987
8th:         Barry Hooper, Monticello, Ga., 13 bass, 48-14, $1,739
9th:         Taylor Wisniewski, Lexington, Ky., 15 bass, 47-5, $1,491
10th: Chris Hurley, Carlisle, Penn., 14 bass, 45-15, $1,242

David Paszkiewicz of Kearny, New Jersey, was the Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, Thursday, with a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass, while the Day 2 $150 award was split between Neil Keilen of Frederick, Maryland, and Cornell Badra of Clarksburg, Maryland, who each caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 14 ounces to tie for the Berkley Big Bass.

With all three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Northern Division now complete, pro Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was crowned the Fishing Clash Northern Division Angler of the Year (AOY), earning the AOY payout of $5,000 with 506 points, while Tim McGlenn of Welcome, Maryland, was named the Strike King Co-angler of the year with 500 points, taking home the $2,000 prize.

The Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River Presented by FX Custom Rods was hosted by the Town of Massena, and was the third and final of three regular-season events for the Toyota Series Northern Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Suzuki Marine, Sept. 12-14 in Summerton, South Carolina. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville Sports Commission.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak Fishing, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, REDCON1, Simms, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Toyota Series, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitational updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook , Instagram and YouTube.

Fothergill chases home-water smallmouth for win at St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake

Brian Carter

August 25, 2024

Fothergill chases home-water smallmouth for win at St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake

Minnesota’s Easton Fothergill wins the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN with 49 pounds, 13 ounces.

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

August 24, 2024

Fothergill chases home-water smallmouth for win at St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake

WALKER, Minn. — The major storyline heading into the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN was that the global bass-fishing community would get its first look at what’s heralded as one of the sport’s best, yet relatively unknown, fisheries.

Everyone watching, meanwhile, already knew that Easton Fothergill is one of the best young anglers on the water today.

The two forces collided during a spectacular two-day derby in northern Minnesota this week, and both shined under pressure — Leech as host of its first B.A.S.S. tournament and Fothergill as the young prodigy looking to make hay on home water.

The 22-year-old Fothergill, a Grand Rapids, Minn., native who grew up 30 minutes from Leech Lake, bagged a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 49 pounds, 13 ounces and clinched the tournament championship Saturday at Walker Public Dock. He collected $45,936 cash with the win, part of a $300,034 purse split among the Top 45 of 203 pros competing at Leech this week.

The victory at Leech continued a hot streak not often seen at any level of professional fishing. In the past 10 months and change, Fothergill won the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s on Kansas’ Milford Lake last October, finished 16^th of 56 anglers in the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in March, and followed with his first St. Croix Bassmaster Opens win of the year in June on Lake Eufaula, also in the Sooner State.

Leech was Fothergill’s second victory in an Open tournament this year, making him only the third angler to accomplish the feat (Terry Scroggins did it in 2007 as did Randall Tharp in 2008).

The young angler had to search for the right words to describe what he was feeling.

“It’s crazy to be in the company of those two great names,” Fothergill said. “I had no idea.”

What Fothergill did know is that he was anticipating this tournament as much as any other this year.

“I absolutely circled this one on the calendar,” he said. “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.”

Fothergill and the rest of the field would have to wait an extra day to start the tournament as high winds canceled Thursday’s competition. That made this a two-day derby, which despite a full field fishing both days, likely favored Fothergill, whose deep knowledge of Leech belies his young age.

This week, Fothergill favored the chunky smallmouth bass that stay near rockpiles in the main lake each summer. He amassed some 60 waypoints across this 112,000-acre gem and crisscrossed what felt like every inch of it both days of the tournament. He used his electronics to locate sizable smallies and threw soft plastics to spark bites.

“My main bait is called a Dice (a smoky soft plastic bait made in Japan),” he said. “It’s a super finesse-style bait, and with the wind really being calm the last two days it allowed me to really fish to my strength.”

Fothergill said the Dice’s color resembled one type of crawfish Leech’s smallmouth bass love to eat. But because there are so many crawfish in the lake, the fish are well fed and sparking bites can be tricky.

“You get one cast on these fish and then they’re screwed up,” he continued. “They come to the boat and they’re not on their structure anymore. The reason I was running around so much was because I wanted to throw at a fresh fish every time.”

The frenetic pace paid dividends.

Fothergill jumped to the top of Friday’s leaderboard with a 26-10 limit, including a 6-4 monster smallmouth that was the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament. He was just as smooth on Saturday, closing with a 23-3 limit that sealed the victory.

The past year has been a full-circle turn of events for Fothergill. He underwent emergency brain surgery last year and rebounded remarkably, if not unfathomably, well.

“There was a while there where I didn’t know if I would see another sunrise,” he said. “Every tournament takeoff is really meaningful to me now, whether I catch a fish or not. I really think that’s why I’m having so much success. I just appreciate everything so much more.”

The winner of each of the nine 2024 Bassmaster Opens earns a spot in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors, which is scheduled for March 21-23 at Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas. But because Fothergill already qualified for the Classic with his win at Eufaula, the berth from the Leech Lake Open falls to the Elite angler on the bubble of the 2024 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. That lucky pro is Australia’s Carl Jocumsen, who finished 44^th in the Elite points race this year.

Others in the Top 5 at Leech Lake are second, Wisconsin’s Jay Przekurat, 43-8, $18,074; third, Virginia’s Chase Clarke, 42-12, $13,556; fourth, Idaho’s Cody Meyer, 42-0, $13,152; and fifth, Mississippi’s Brett Cannon, 41-8, $11,748.

Anglers who compete in each of the nine Opens and finish among the Top 9 in the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers (EQ) standings, will qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2025.

Also, on Saturday at Leech Lake, Tennessee’s Gary Haraguchi won the non-boater division with a two-day total of six bass weighing 17-9. He won $11,560, as well, part of a $39,923 cash purse divvied among the Top 40 of the 102 competing non-boaters. Minnesota’s Jim Nordlund also caught 17-9 at Leech, but Haraguchi won the tiebreaker (having the biggest bag on Day 1). Nordlund won $2,720. Fellow Minnesotan Curt Blomquist placed third with 17-2, good for $2,040.

Jeff Somers, of Crystal, Minn., won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award among non-boaters with a 4-11 on Saturday.

The Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN 8/23-8/24
Leech Lake, Walker MN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 10 49-13 200 $45,936.00
Day 1: 5 26-10 Day 2: 5 23-03
2. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 10 43-08 199 $18,074.00
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 23-15
3. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 10 42-12 198 $13,556.00
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 5 19-15
4. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 42-00 197 $13,152.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 24-01
5. Brett Cannon Kiln, MS 9 41-08 196 $11,748.00
Day 1: 5 25-01 Day 2: 4 16-07
6. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 10 41-02 195 $10,845.00
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 20-11
7. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 40-15 194 $9,941.00
Day 1: 5 22-02 Day 2: 5 18-13
8. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 10 40-06 193 $9,037.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 22-13
9. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 9 40-01 192 $9,037.00
Day 1: 4 16-07 Day 2: 5 23-10
10. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 10 39-06 191 $9,037.00
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 20-04
———————————————————————–
BIG BASS OF TOURNAMENT
Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 06-04 $0.00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 102 748 2455-15
2 65 595 1946-00

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN 8/23-8/24
Leech Lake, Walker MN.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 6 17-09 200 $11,560.00
Day 1: 3 10-12 Day 2: 3 06-13
2. Jim Nordlund Stacy, MN 6 17-09 199 $2,720.00
Day 1: 3 09-05 Day 2: 3 08-04
3. Curt Blomquist Wright, MN 6 17-02 198 $2,040.00
Day 1: 3 09-11 Day 2: 3 07-07
4. Ty Kenyon Dodgeville, WI 5 16-02 197 $1,530.00
Day 1: 2 06-00 Day 2: 3 10-02
5. Wilfred Raeker-Rebek St.Paul, MN 5 14-04 196 $1,428.00
Day 1: 3 09-01 Day 2: 2 05-03
6. Brian Brecka Alma, WI 5 14-02 195 $1,360.00
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 2 04-14
7. Robert Vander Kooi Mesa, AZ 5 13-11 194 $1,292.00
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 2 06-02
8. Willie Meyer North Mankato, MN 4 13-05 193 $1,224.00
Day 1: 2 06-00 Day 2: 2 07-05
9. Maggie Carsello Stoughton, WI 5 13-04 192 $1,122.00
Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 3 07-08
10. Troy Jutting Savage, MN 5 13-01 191 $1,020.00
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 3 08-12
11. Eric Naig Bemidji, MN 4 12-15 190 $952.00
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 1 03-06
12. Chase Traeger Lino Lakes, MN 4 12-08 189 $884.00
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 1 03-15
13. Wyatt Peterson Excelsior, MN 4 12-01 188 $748.00
Day 1: 2 06-05 Day 2: 2 05-12
14. Justin Oppegard Eagan, MN 4 11-15 187 $680.00
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 1 03-13
15. Greg Poetz Winsted, MN 4 11-10 186 $612.00
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 1 03-11
16. Richard Conrad Arcadia, WI 4 11-07 185 $544.00
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 3 08-08
17. Asher Schmidt Saint Paul, MN 4 11-05 184 $510.00
Day 1: 2 05-04 Day 2: 2 06-01
18. Cason Hiers St. Paul, MN 3 11-02 183 $510.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 11-02
19. Brad Goetz Waunakee, WI 3 11-00 182 $510.00
Day 1: 2 08-06 Day 2: 1 02-10
20. Kevin Yeska Madison, WI 4 10-10 181 $510.00
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 1 02-10
21. Jason Barber Gun Barrel City, TX 3 10-00 180 $476.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 10-00
22. Jeff Somers Crystal, MN 2 09-10 179 $726.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 09-10
23. Scott Dondlinger Scottsboro, AL 3 09-05 178 $476.00
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 2 06-12
24. Troy Simpson Moline, IL 3 08-14 177 $476.00
Day 1: 3 08-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
25. Alex Grimbos Innisfil CANADA 3 08-11 176 $476.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-11
26. Sean Ruegemer Bloomington, MN 3 08-11 175 $408.00
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 2 06-03
27. Andrew Tweten Fargo, ND 3 08-07 174 $408.00
Day 1: 2 06-09 Day 2: 1 01-14
28. Erik Gaffron Hanover, MN 3 07-15 173 $408.00
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 2 04-09
29. Greg Spaid Brainerd, MN 3 07-14 172 $408.00
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 2 04-11
30. Matt Kelley Detroit, MI 3 07-12 171 $408.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-12
31. Jimmy Obrien Southampton, NY 3 07-02 170 $374.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-02
32. Hoser Melgaard Elk Mound, WI 3 07-00 169 $374.00
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 1 02-07
33. Belle Kusske Carver, MN 2 06-13 168 $374.00
Day 1: 2 06-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
34. Jason Anakkala Brainerd, MN 2 06-09 167 $374.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-09
34. Roy Biwer Shakopee, MN 2 06-09 167 $374.00
Day 1: 2 06-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
36. Daniel Vasquez Boynton Beach, FL 2 06-08 165 $374.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-08
37. Bob Harper Lombard, IL 2 06-04 164 $374.00
Day 1: 1 03-04 Day 2: 1 03-00
38. Chris Stelter Chisago City, MN 2 06-00 163 $374.00
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 1 03-06
39. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 2 05-08 162 $374.00
Day 1: 2 05-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
40. Towa Yoshikawa Kitakatsuragi-Gun JAPAN 2 05-07 161 $374.00
Day 1: 2 05-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
41. Jimmy Fellegy Mustang, OK 2 05-01 160
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
42. Darren Gates Macon, IL 2 05-01 159
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 1 02-12
43. Joel Erickson Alexandria, MN 2 04-14 158
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-14
43. Paul Schlotfeldt Saint Paul, MN 2 04-14 158
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Brent Peterson Excelsior, MN 2 04-13 156
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 1 02-11
46. Mike Fischer Stacy, MN 2 04-12 155
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-12
47. Mark Cowart Kearney, MO 1 04-10 154
Day 1: 1 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
47. Mack Traynor Hanover, MN 1 04-10 154
Day 1: 1 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
49. Harrison Barton Sun Prairie, WI 2 04-09 152
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-09
49. David Waack Cary, NC 2 04-09 152
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
51. Tom Lyskawka Arlington Heights , IL 2 04-08 150
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
52. Kristine Fischer Weeping Water, NE 1 04-08 149
Day 1: 1 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
52. Bradley Pierce Gretna, NE 1 04-08 149
Day 1: 1 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
54. Tanner Johnson Bemidji, MN 1 03-13 147
Day 1: 1 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
55. Steven Hiemenz Clear Lake, MN 1 03-12 146
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-12
56. Richard Greene Ocala, FL 1 03-09 145
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-09
57. Brian Forcier Akron, IA 1 03-07 144
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-07
58. Don Kimmel Fishers, IN 1 03-06 143
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
59. Patrick Bartley Waconia, MN 1 03-01 142
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-01
60. Rich Bleser Burlington, WI 1 03-00 141
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-00
61. David Slonaker Howard, OH 1 02-15 140
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-15
62. Brett Brandstrom Shoreview, MN 1 02-14 139
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
62. Shane Kuehn Bennington, NE 1 02-14 139
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
64. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 1 02-13 137
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
65. Ryan Hastie Selkirk CANADA 1 02-12 136
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
66. Dennis Duffy Westmont, IL 1 02-11 135
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
67. Mike Steckel Las Vegas, NV 1 02-08 134
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
68. David Riggs Highland, IL 1 02-07 133
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
69. Matt Commerford Wendell, MN 1 02-06 132
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
69. Adam Omlid Grand Forks, ND 1 02-06 132
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-06
71. Evan Cady St.Paul, MN 1 02-05 130
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-05
71. Kevin Deering Isanti, MN 1 02-05 130
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
73. Brian Bottenfield Mound, MN 1 01-09 128
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Kent Booth Hackensack, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Andrew Brandstrom Shoreview, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Eric Breitkreutz Sheboygan, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Dan Brown Groveland , FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Kurt Chelminiak Delafield, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Jacob Collins Hillsboro, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Bobby Cowan Stephenville, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Gabie Dandurand Detroit Lakes, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Dale Dobbins Maiden, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Mat Eichinger Chippewa Fls, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Scott Gobeil Fort Frances CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Tanner Horton Pine Island, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Albert Jones Jr Covington, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Klaus Kuester Forest Park, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Sean Lofgren Forest Lake, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Christopher Majerle Trenton, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Danny Mancini Necedah, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Art Monteil Shawnee, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Eddie Payne Tomball, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Jesse Piontek Elk Mound, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Mark Schill Plymouth, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Dalon Schmidt White Bear Lake, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Jeffrey Shaw Anoka, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Hayden Spradling Gilbert, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Kenny Stelter Forest Lake, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Martin Terveer Otsego, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Brad Thieman Sioux City, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Levi Warner Hilbert, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 12 95 278-10
2 12 88 257-01
———————————-
24 183 535-11

———————————-
167 1343 4401-15

1...141516...1,383 Page 15 of 1,383

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