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Tuesday, December 16, 2025
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Unveiling the Legend: Billy O’Berry’s Record-Breaking 17 lbs Largemouth Bass and Florida’s Fishing Paradise

Brian Carter
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Unveiling the Legend: Billy O’Berry’s Record-Breaking 17 lbs Largemouth Bass and Florida’s Fishing Paradise

Curious about one of Florida’s most legendary bass catches? Let me share the story of Billy O’Berry, who made history with his remarkable catch in 1986. This 17 lbs 4 oz largemouth bass, caught in a Polk County lake, remains a testament to Florida’s reputation as a bass fishing paradise.

The Legendary Catch

On July 6, 1986, Billy O’Berry of Seffner, Florida, landed what would become a state record largemouth bass. Fishing in a small, unnamed lake in Polk County, O’Berry initially thought he had hooked a large catfish when the bass took his spinnerbait and dove deep. It wasn’t until he reeled it in that he realized the magnitude of his catch—a massive 17 lbs 4 oz bass that would go down in Florida’s fishing history.

Who is Billy O’Berry?

Billy O’Berry is a passionate angler from Seffner, Florida, whose love for fishing led him to this extraordinary achievement. His record-setting catch was not just a stroke of luck but also a result of his dedication and skill as an angler. O’Berry’s story has inspired countless anglers to pursue their own trophy catches in Florida’s rich waters.

The Significance of the Catch

O’Berry’s catch highlights the incredible potential of Florida’s freshwater fisheries. The state’s warm climate, diverse aquatic habitats, and abundant food sources create ideal conditions for largemouth bass to grow to impressive sizes. This record catch underscores Florida’s status as a top destination for anglers seeking trophy bass.

Fishing in Florida: Tips and Techniques

If you’re inspired by Billy O’Berry’s success and want to try your luck in Florida, consider these tips:

  • Use Effective Lures: Spinnerbaits, like the one O’Berry used, are excellent for attracting largemouth bass. They mimic the movement of prey and can provoke aggressive strikes.
  • Focus on Structure: Bass often hide in submerged structures or vegetation. Target these areas to increase your chances of a successful catch.
  • Fish During Optimal Times: While many anglers prefer dawn or dusk, O’Berry’s catch shows that midday fishing can also yield great results

Conclusion

Billy O’Berry’s 1986 catch of a 17 lbs 4 oz largemouth bass remains a legendary moment in Florida’s fishing history. His achievement not only set a state record but also continues to inspire anglers to explore Florida’s waters in search of their own trophy bass. Happy fishing, and may your next catch be as memorable as Billy O’Berry’s!



Shull single-handedly takes Day 1 lead in Bassmaster College National Championship at Lake Hartwell

Brian Carter
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Shull single-handedly takes Day 1 lead in Bassmaster College National Championship at Lake Hartwell

Hampton Shull of Lander University takes the Day 1 lead at the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Lake Hartwell. 

Photo by Tyler Bridges/B.A.S.S.

August 22, 2024

Shull single-handedly takes Day 1 lead in Bassmaster College National Championship at Lake Hartwell

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ANDERSON, S.C. — It was awfully lonely on the boat for Hampton Shull, but the Lander University junior used solitude to his advantage and sacked up a five-bass limit of 17 pounds that leads Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Lake Hartwell.

Shull, who has fished solo all year, made his mark back in May at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Bass Pro Shops, where he caught the event’s biggest bass — a 9-8. Shull heads into Day 2 with a 10-ounce lead over Parker Guy and Tyler Campbell of Emmanuel College.

Competing against a field mostly comprising two-angler teams was no concern for Shull. In fact, it likely contributed to his overall success.

“Being alone didn’t bother me,” Shull said. “It allowed me to fish freely without having to consider other opinions.”

Shull split his time between shallow fish and offshore fish that were in 10 to 50 feet. Hartwell has a mix of natural and man-made structure and Shull fished some of everything.

“It was about 50/50 between shallow and deep fish, but I think the deep bite is (most promising) for a three-day tournament,” Shull said.

After bagging a limit by 12:30 p.m., Shull finished his weight by about 2 o’clock. His biggest fish, a 4-plus-pounder, bit mid-morning and put Shull through the wringer.

“When I was trying to net my biggest one, the net got tangled up in my Minn Kota Raptor switch and I had to reach down and grab the fish with my hand,” he said. “It got dramatic, and the fight stretched out about 2 minutes.


“I didn’t panic because I really don’t use a net unless I’m tournament fishing, so I just treated it like a practice day.”

Moreover, his big-bass achievement at Sam Rayburn gave Shull the confidence to manage a stressful moment.

“Knowing that I could do that calmed my nerves,” he said.

Shull said he fished throughout much of the lake and found each of his eight keepers on different spots.

“I think it had to do with it being August and fish are tough to catch,” he said. “It was just junk fishing all day.

“I was just fishing by the seat of my pants and trusting my gut to fish what looked good.”

Shull fished a mix of baits and caught two of his limit fish on a worm and three on a topwater. As for Day 2, he’s keeping an open mind and trusting the game plan that got him to the top of the leaderboard.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow,” Shull said. “I’ll be listening to my gut and not getting locked in on any one thing.”

Guy and Campbell are in second place with 16-6.

Blake Milligan and Carson Maddux of Auburn University are in third place with 15-11.

Andrew Oswalt and Evan Mabrey of University of Montevallo are in the lead for Big Bass honors with their 5-15.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET at Green Pond Landing and Event Center. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 2:30 p.m.

2024 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops 8/22-8/24
Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

    Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Hampton Shull –                              Lander University                   250
  Day 1: 5   17-00   Total:   5  17-00
2.  Parker Guy – Tyler Campbell                  Emmanuel College                    249
  Day 1: 5   16-06   Total:   5  16-06
3.  Blake Milligan – Carson Maddux               Auburn University                   248
  Day 1: 5   15-11   Total:   5  15-11
4.  Peyton Sorrow – Garrett Ring                 University of Montevallo            247
  Day 1: 5   15-10   Total:   5  15-10
5.  Merrick Diaz – Cade Hayford                  Campbellsville University           246
  Day 1: 5   15-02   Total:   5  15-02
6.  Drake Hemby – Ewing Minor                    Carson-Newman University            245
  Day 1: 5   14-12   Total:   5  14-12
7.  Dylan Akins – Chase Carey                    Emmanuel College                    244
  Day 1: 5   14-11   Total:   5  14-11
8.  Miles Smith – Levi Thibodaux                 LSU Shreveport                      243
  Day 1: 5   14-07   Total:   5  14-07
9.  Brantley Anders – Reece Keeney               Kentucky Christian University       242
  Day 1: 5   14-05   Total:   5  14-05
10. Nathan Reynolds – Banks Shaw                 University of North Alabama         241
  Day 1: 5   13-14   Total:   5  13-14
11. Lane Clark – Tallis Morrison                 Erskine College                     240
  Day 1: 5   13-11   Total:   5  13-11
12. Andrew Oswalt – Evan Mabrey                  University of Montevallo            239
  Day 1: 5   13-08   Total:   5  13-08
12. Dalton Phelps – Gannon Stork                 Wabash Valley College               239
  Day 1: 5   13-08   Total:   5  13-08
14. Robert Miller – John Michael Ortman          Emmanuel College                    237
  Day 1: 5   13-04   Total:   5  13-04
15. Peyton Harris – Dalton Head                  University of Montevallo            236
  Day 1: 5   13-01   Total:   5  13-01
16. Lane Stephens – Ethan Fields                 Mckendree University                235
  Day 1: 5   13-00   Total:   5  13-00
17. Slade Davis – Trace Antunes III              University Of Montevallo            234
  Day 1: 5   12-12   Total:   5  12-12
17. Anderson Jones –                             Lander University                   234
  Day 1: 5   12-12   Total:   5  12-12
19. Braylon Eggerding – Lucas Washburn           Adrian College                      232
  Day 1: 5   12-09   Total:   5  12-09
20. Dillon Robertshaw – Robert Hunt              Missouri State University           231
  Day 1: 5   12-08   Total:   5  12-08
21. Jared West – Gus McLarry                     Texas A&M Commerce Fishing Club     230
  Day 1: 5   12-07   Total:   5  12-07
22. Garrett Smith – Andrew Blanton               Lander University                   229
  Day 1: 5   12-06   Total:   5  12-06
23. Hunter Odom – Brenton Godwin                 University of Montevallo            228
  Day 1: 5   12-01   Total:   5  12-01
24. Luke Davis – Chance Schwartz                 University of Montevallo            227
  Day 1: 5   12-00   Total:   5  12-00
25. Bryson O’ Steen – Seth Jones                 Florida Gateway College             226
  Day 1: 5   12-00   Total:   5  12-00
26. James Willoughby – Phillip Herring           University of Montevallo            225
  Day 1: 5   11-13   Total:   5  11-13
27. Carter Nutt – Dylan Nutt                     University of North Alabama         224
  Day 1: 5   11-09   Total:   5  11-09
28. Dylan May – Evan Newell                      Carson-Newman University            223
  Day 1: 5   11-08   Total:   5  11-08
28. Andrew Rickman – Ty Manterola                Dallas Baptist University           223
  Day 1: 5   11-08   Total:   5  11-08
30. Caden Pearson – Nathan Kallstrand            Wabash Valley College               221
  Day 1: 5   11-05   Total:   5  11-05
31. Brayden Nichols – William Tew                LSU Shreveport                      220
  Day 1: 5   11-04   Total:   5  11-04
32. Tyler Combes – James Gillis                  Clarkson University                 219
  Day 1: 5   11-03   Total:   5  11-03
33. Brooks Anderson – Max Heaton                 Emmanuel College                    218
  Day 1: 5   11-02   Total:   5  11-02
34. Aiden Clark – Jackson Kulijof                Murray State University             217
  Day 1: 5   11-01   Total:   5  11-01
34. Nicholas Dellaporta – Drew Pitts             Carson-Newman University            217
  Day 1: 5   11-01   Total:   5  11-01
34. Trevor Easter – Clayton Easter               Tarleton State University           217
  Day 1: 5   11-01   Total:   5  11-01
34. Harmon Marien – Maxwell Trotter              Mckendree University                217
  Day 1: 5   11-01   Total:   5  11-01
38. Hunter Keller – Garrett Christy              Catawba Valley Community College    213
  Day 1: 5   10-12   Total:   5  10-12
39. Cole Moulton – Kaleb Brown                   Lander University                   212
  Day 1: 5   10-11   Total:   5  10-11
40. Kai Barnett – Parker Welch                   Mckendree University                211
  Day 1: 5   10-09   Total:   5  10-09
41. Cade Lipham – Caleb Coleman                  Drury University                    210
  Day 1: 5   10-08   Total:   5  10-08
42. Michael Avery – Peyton Dunn                  Emmanuel College                    209
  Day 1: 5   10-07   Total:   5  10-07
43. Wyatt Pearman – Ridge Rutledge               Campbellsville University           208
  Day 1: 5   10-07   Total:   5  10-07
44. Eli Jaime – Jack Hay                         Southwestern Michigan College       207
  Day 1: 5   10-06   Total:   5  10-06
45. Landon Robbins – Will Eriksson               University of Tennessee             206
  Day 1: 5   10-05   Total:   5  10-05
46. Cameron Yates – Harrison McCall              Lander University                   205
  Day 1: 5   10-04   Total:   5  10-04
47. Tanner Hadden – Caleb Hudson                 University of South Carolina – U    204
  Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
47. Will Harris – Cole Rankin                    Carson-Newman University            204
  Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
47. Peyton Rose – Brogan Gregg                   Wabash Valley College               204
  Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
50. Evan Fields – Noah Dabney                    Campbellsville University           201
  Day 1: 5   10-02   Total:   5  10-02
51. Preston Kolisek – Smith McGregor             University of North Alabama         200
  Day 1: 4   10-02   Total:   4  10-02
52. Lawson Blake – Bailey Mckinney               Marshall University                 199
  Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
52. Connor Dunn – Cade Johnson                   Texas A&M University                199
  Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
52. Blair Erickson – Jackson Pontius             University of Montevallo            199
  Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
52. Hunter Hamilton – Tyler Morris               LSU Shreveport                      199
  Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
56. Hunter Barrow – Caleb Dugger                 King University                     195
  Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
57. Brady Metzger – Mason Bohland                Purdue University                   194
  Day 1: 5   10-00   Total:   5  10-00
58. Brendan Vinton – Jacob Vanscoik              Catawba Valley Community College    193
  Day 1: 5   10-00   Total:   5  10-00
59. Hunter Sandschafer – Blake Beckmann          Wabash Valley College               192
  Day 1: 5   09-15   Total:   5  09-15
60. Alex Standerfer – Tyler Gunter               Catawba Valley Community College    191
  Day 1: 5   09-14   Total:   5  09-14
61. Lake Norsworthy – Calup Williams             Blue Mountain Christian Universi    190
  Day 1: 5   09-13   Total:   5  09-13
62. Jason Qualich – Jack Stephens                Mckendree University                189
  Day 1: 5   09-11   Total:   5  09-11
63. Dalton Mollenkopf – Derek Rodriguez Jr.      Adrian College                      188
  Day 1: 5   09-09   Total:   5  09-09
63. Nick Owens – Quade Lobo                      Adrian College                      188
  Day 1: 5   09-09   Total:   5  09-09
65. Adrian Urso – Corbin Templon                 Murray State University             186
  Day 1: 5   09-08   Total:   5  09-08
66. Hayden Marbut –                              Auburn University                   185
  Day 1: 5   09-07   Total:   5  09-07
67. Jackson Paden – Joey Bissing                 University of Tennessee             184
  Day 1: 5   09-07   Total:   5  09-07
68. Logan East – Conner Giles                    Bryan College                       183
  Day 1: 5   09-06   Total:   5  09-06
68. Hunter Fillmore – Dylan Fogarty              Bethel University                   183
  Day 1: 5   09-06   Total:   5  09-06
68. Andrew Ready – Trey Garrett                  Southeastern University             183
  Day 1: 5   09-06   Total:   5  09-06
68. Andrew Turner – Stevie Mills                 Carson-Newman University            183
  Day 1: 5   09-06   Total:   5  09-06
72. Riley Faulkner – Szymon Piton                Carson-Newman University            179
  Day 1: 5   09-04   Total:   5  09-04
72. Luke Wenger – Braxon Hightower               Dallas Baptist University           179
  Day 1: 5   09-04   Total:   5  09-04
74. Grant Dohle – Jake Mantovani                 Missouri State University           177
  Day 1: 5   09-03   Total:   5  09-03
74. Hayden Gaddis – Ben Cully                    Carson-Newman University            177
  Day 1: 5   09-03   Total:   5  09-03
74. Logan Plueger – Charlie Wright               University of Montevallo            177
  Day 1: 5   09-03   Total:   5  09-03
77. Kane Weekley – Connor Koch                   Southeastern University             174
  Day 1: 5   09-02   Total:   5  09-02
78. Bryant Martin – Luke Batts                   LSU Shreveport                      173
  Day 1: 5   09-01   Total:   5  09-01
79. Brayden Stoker – Tucker Kendall              Tarleton State University           172
  Day 1: 4   09-01   Total:   4  09-01
80. Zion Dunaway – Casey Cornelius               Purdue University                   171
  Day 1: 5   09-00   Total:   5  09-00
81. Cy Lambert – Austin King                     University of North Alabama         170
  Day 1: 4   09-00   Total:   4  09-00
81. Avery Padgett – Kasen Pemberton              Troy University                     170
  Day 1: 4   09-00   Total:   4  09-00
83. Bryce Balentine – Giancarlo Russo            Florida Gateway College             168
  Day 1: 5   08-15   Total:   5  08-15
83. Blake Wheat – Zachary Helton                 Carson-Newman University            168
  Day 1: 5   08-15   Total:   5  08-15
85. Hudson Choquette – Brooks Parker             University of Montevallo            166
  Day 1: 5   08-15   Total:   5  08-15
86. Tripp Berlinsky – Bryce Dimauro              Bryan College                       165
  Day 1: 5   08-14   Total:   5  08-14
86. Aaron Jagdfeld – Elliot Wielgopolski         Adrian College                      165
  Day 1: 5   08-14   Total:   5  08-14
88. Cody Monlezun – Caden Denny                  Texas A&M University                163
  Day 1: 5   08-13   Total:   5  08-13
89. Parker Lambert – Aaron Shumaker              Lander University                   162
  Day 1: 5   08-12   Total:   5  08-12
90. Hagan Marlin – Chris Fallon                  University of Montevallo            161
  Day 1: 5   08-11   Total:   5  08-11
91. Logan Greeno – Matthew Nichols               University of Nebraska – Lincoln    160
  Day 1: 5   08-09   Total:   5  08-09
91. Clay Henderson – Brant Rowland               Drury University                    160
  Day 1: 5   08-09   Total:   5  08-09
91. Xander Patton – Stephen Brooks               Emmanuel College                    160
  Day 1: 5   08-09   Total:   5  08-09
94. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. – Brady Pinwar           Adrian College                      157
  Day 1: 5   08-08   Total:   5  08-08
95. Tyler Leachman – Mark Bixler                 Murray State University             156
  Day 1: 5   08-07   Total:   5  08-07
95. Mitch Straffon – Owen Januszewski            Adrian College                      156
  Day 1: 5   08-07   Total:   5  08-07
97. Emery Burnett – Drake Axon                   Georgia Southern University         154
  Day 1: 5   08-07   Total:   5  08-07
98. Hunter Russell – Benny Blank                 Wabash Valley College               153
  Day 1: 5   08-06   Total:   5  08-06
99. Hayden Short –                               Kentucky Christian University       152
  Day 1: 5   08-05   Total:   5  08-05
99. Aric Szambelan – Alex Wood                   Missouri State University           152
  Day 1: 5   08-05   Total:   5  08-05
101. TJ Edwards Jr – Sawyer Brady                 Blue Mountain Christian Universi    150
  Day 1: 5   08-04   Total:   5  08-04
101. Elijah Kelley – Chris Baker                  Kentucky Christian University       150
  Day 1: 5   08-04   Total:   5  08-04
103. Trevor Johnston – Ashton Hehr                Texas A&M University                148
  Day 1: 5   08-03   Total:   5  08-03
104. Chase Milholen – Koltyn Harbin               Bethel University                   147
  Day 1: 5   08-02   Total:   5  08-02
104. Corey Morris – Brayden Mercer                East Texas Baptist University       147
  Day 1: 5   08-02   Total:   5  08-02
106. Jared Hubbard – Riley Hendricks              Lander University                   145
  Day 1: 5   08-01   Total:   5  08-01
107. Kobe Thompson – Cole Carr                    Adrian College                      144
  Day 1: 5   08-01   Total:   5  08-01
108. Nick Seitz – Paxton Giem                     Adrian College                      143
  Day 1: 5   08-00   Total:   5  08-00
109. Harrison Heins – Hunter Slone                Tennessee Tech University           142
  Day 1: 5   07-15   Total:   5  07-15
109. Kade Hillestad – John Kyle  Pearce           University of Louisiana Monroe      142
  Day 1: 5   07-15   Total:   5  07-15
111. Clay Taylor –                                Lander University                   140
  Day 1: 4   07-15   Total:   4  07-15
112. Tyler Cory – Nick Dumke                      University of Montevallo            139
  Day 1: 5   07-12   Total:   5  07-12
113. Alec Poland – Jack Grushecky                 West Virginia University            138
  Day 1: 5   07-10   Total:   5  07-10
114. Ben Burns – Riley Aebi                       Stephen F Austin State Universit    137
  Day 1: 5   07-09   Total:   5  07-09
114. Jeffrey Jones – Coleman Bingham              Bethel University                   137
  Day 1: 5   07-09   Total:   5  07-09
116. Storm Cline – Gabe Fishlock                  Carson-Newman University            135
  Day 1: 5   07-08   Total:   5  07-08
116. Trace Loe – Levi Loe                         Southern Arkansas University        135
  Day 1: 5   07-08   Total:   5  07-08
118. Dawson Lynch – Sonny Mann                    Tarleton State University           133
  Day 1: 5   07-07   Total:   5  07-07
119. Branden Burrill – Jack Simpson               Western Michigan University         132
  Day 1: 5   07-06   Total:   5  07-06
120. Kaden Buchmann – Chase Wodzinski             Lander University                   131
  Day 1: 5   07-05   Total:   5  07-05
120. Ryan Thomas – Jack Alexander                 University of Montevallo            131
  Day 1: 5   07-05   Total:   5  07-05
122. Braden Cox – Joel Berelsman                  Ohio State University               129
  Day 1: 5   07-04   Total:   5  07-04
123. Justin Latham – Blaine Mattingly             Campbellsville University           128
  Day 1: 4   07-04   Total:   4  07-04
124. Luke McGuffin – Rylan Green                  Erskine College                     127
  Day 1: 5   07-03   Total:   5  07-03
125. Kolten Goolsby – Landon Oconnor              Stephen F Austin State Universit    126
  Day 1: 5   07-01   Total:   5  07-01
126. Nathan Fideldy – Laindree Richardson         Drury University                    125
  Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
126. Kaiya Ziga – Hunter Petrovic                 Southwestern Michigan College       125
  Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
128. Nathan Preston –                             Auburn University                   123
  Day 1: 5   06-15   Total:   5  06-15
128. Trevor Young – Maxwell Schweikert            Grand Valley State University       123
  Day 1: 5   06-15   Total:   5  06-15
130. Jeremy Monda – Will Boyd Jr                  Florida Gateway College             121
  Day 1: 5   06-12   Total:   5  06-12
131. Blake Bullock – John Mark Berry              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    120
  Day 1: 5   06-11   Total:   5  06-11
132. Cross Campbell – Dylan Armstrong             East Texas Baptist University       119
  Day 1: 5   06-09   Total:   5  06-09
132. Noah Lieberman – Colin Wolinski              Missouri State University           119
  Day 1: 5   06-09   Total:   5  06-09
134. Brayden Ruckman – Cason Price                Carson-Newman University            117
  Day 1: 5   06-09   Total:   5  06-09
135. Ty Mundhenke – Matthew Welcher               Auburn University                   116
  Day 1: 5   06-07   Total:   5  06-07
136. Callaway Robinson – Tucker Pearson           Georgia College                     115
  Day 1: 5   06-05   Total:   5  06-05
137. Caden Canaday –                              Virginia Tech                       114
  Day 1: 4   06-05   Total:   4  06-05
138. Peter Radulski Jr – Lane Gerbers             Clemson University                  113
  Day 1: 5   06-04   Total:   5  06-04
139. Stone Smith – Drake Wadsworth                Northwestern State University       112
  Day 1: 5   06-02   Total:   5  06-02
140. Hunter Jenkins –                             Dallas Baptist University           111
  Day 1: 4   06-00   Total:   4  06-00
141. Tripp Bowman – Matthew Nesbit                LSU Shreveport                      110
  Day 1: 5   05-12   Total:   5  05-12
141. Tyler Chmelar – Kase Kramer                  Tarleton State University           110
  Day 1: 5   05-12   Total:   5  05-12
143. Cameron Smith – Thomas Phillips              Ohio State University               108
  Day 1: 5   05-11   Total:   5  05-11
144. Matthew Echols – Christian Stewart           Virginia Tech                       107
  Day 1: 4   05-11   Total:   4  05-11
145. Easton Lindus – Seth Jenkins                 Emmanuel College                    106
  Day 1: 4   05-07   Total:   4  05-07
146. Stetson Southard – Walker Wilburn            Tarleton State University           105
  Day 1: 5   05-06   Total:   5  05-06
146. Benjamin Travis – Brendin Simich             Auburn University                   105
  Day 1: 5   05-06   Total:   5  05-06
148. Grayson Ball – Sellers Odom                  Calhoun Community College           103
  Day 1: 5   05-05   Total:   5  05-05
149. Colby Carrier – Justin Frey                  Bethel University                   102
  Day 1: 4   05-05   Total:   4  05-05
150. Jonah Barrow – Logan Russell                 University of Nebraska – Lincoln    101
  Day 1: 4   05-05   Total:   4  05-05
151. Billy Erdakos – Davis Klimczak               Southwestern Michigan College       100
  Day 1: 5   05-03   Total:   5  05-03
152. Kaleb Butts – Chase Rogers                   University of South Carolina – U     99
  Day 1: 4   04-15   Total:   4  04-15
153. Trey McMeen – Braydon Kelley                 East Texas Baptist University        98
  Day 1: 4   04-10   Total:   4  04-10
154. Caden Cardoza – Judd Morgan                  University of Tennessee              97
  Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
155. Louis VerBrugge –                            Mohave Community College             96
  Day 1: 2   04-02   Total:   2  04-02
156. Colton  Combs – Corbin Joyner                Northeast State University           95
  Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
157. Scott Sledge –                               University of Montevallo             94
  Day 1: 3   03-15   Total:   3  03-15
158. Alex Gore – Colby Reece                      Carson-Newman University             93
  Day 1: 4   03-14   Total:   4  03-14
158. Carty Shoen – Jake Peck                      Auburn University                    93
  Day 1: 4   03-14   Total:   4  03-14
160. Delaney Platt – Ryan Olsen                   Southwestern Michigan College        91
  Day 1: 4   03-07   Total:   4  03-07
161. Michael Canonica – Seth Proctor              University of Tennessee              90
  Day 1: 3   03-07   Total:   3  03-07
162. Elijah Jackson –                             University Of Alabama                89
  Day 1: 3   03-01   Total:   3  03-01
163. Tucker Cory – Michael Witherup               University of Montevallo             88
  Day 1: 2   03-00   Total:   2  03-00
164. Hank Sturm – Matt Mosby                      Adrian College                       87
  Day 1: 2   02-09   Total:   2  02-09
165. Blair Cox – Zach Adamec                      Missouri State University            86
  Day 1: 2   02-07   Total:   2  02-07
166. Scott Balas – Samuel Gremban                 University of Wisconsin- Madison     85
  Day 1: 2   01-07   Total:   2  01-07
167. Evan Ludlow – Drake Heath                    Southwestern Michigan College        84
  Day 1: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-15
168. Sean Ferguson –                              Kansas State University               0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1       139       789      1479-10
———————————-
         139       789      1479-10



Bassing at Summer’s End

Brian Carter
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Bassing at Summer’s End
Late Summer Bass
Whitewater Fishing pro shares his Insights for more largemouths & smallmouths now.
MUSKEGON, Mich. (August 22, 2024) – August can be a challenging month for bass anglers. In some regions of the country, the heat index can still ride high, while in the Upper Midwest and East, weather patterns begin to change, especially toward the end of the month with cooler pre-autumn weather emerging and anglers watching significantly decreasing and increasing surface water temps changes day-to-day. It’s not uncommon to experience anything from the high 80s to the low 70s within days and the movement of cold and heat fronts in and out.Northeast U.S.-based Whitewater staffer and professional MLF and NPFL tournament bass angler, Cole Harris, has dialed in systems allowing him to pivot quickly when one pattern falls apart, for both green fish and brownies right now that we should all consider.“During August, largies stay pretty much positioned where there’s food and cover, so I’m rarely fishing more than 15 feet deep—and fishing shallow most of the time,” offers Harris.“But smallmouths are all over the board. You could find them on a 25 foot hump one day and go out to your tournament the next day and they’re completely gone. They could be in four feet of water or 60 feet of water. They’re just moody, and I feel like it has a lot to do with night temperatures. Recently, for us the nights have been in the mid 50s and it’s like someone flipped the light switch, so the smallies have been on the move.”He points out that while smallmouth bass have reigned supreme on his home waters of Lake Champlain, at the recent B.A.S.S. Elite tournament largemouths won the event, which was surprising. But it just goes to show that the lake has not only solid populations and year classes of smallmouths, but some excellent largemouth opportunities, too.  
Largemouth Bass #1: Flip A JigAs such, in lakes from North Carolina to Lake Champlain in Vermont, Harris has been chasing largemouths, targeting milfoil and hydrilla with a jig.“I’m a huge jig fisherman, I really love to flip,” says Harris. “Right now, I’m fishing anything from 8 inches of water to 15 feet. It really depends how they’re set up, but lately the largemouth bite has been great flipping a jig. Really, until we get into fall, these fish aren’t really in transition yet. Right now, you can find largemouths around weeds, docks, structure, and they’re not moving too far.”When it comes to specific baits for this bite, Harris is fond of Team Ark Randall Tharp Flippin’ Jigs, 9 times out of 10 using a perch pattern to mimic predominant forage on a lot of his favorite lakes. Largemouth Bass #2: Topwaters“This time of year, the other thing I throw are topwaters, either a spook-style bait or buzzbait as fish are feeding up, whether that’s baitfish or panfish in a lot of these central or northeastern waters.”Other baits that should be considered are Whopper Ploppers and any pencil- or cigar-shaped topwater, even old-school baits like Jitter Bugs and prop- or wake-style baits. Anybody who has fished these baits with confidence knows the bites are often spectacular.Harris on Late-Summer Smallmouth BassFor Harris, smallies can be a bit tougher to pattern, sending him searching everything from 3- or 4-feet to depths reaching 60 feet, depending on the day—as the fish can migrate back and forth daily, even hour-to-hour, given weather, temperature, sun, barometric pressure, all on the chase for their preferred forage. “When it’s sunny out, I’m targeting August smallies in six feet or less. They get shallow in the sun and hunt,” notes Harris. “Cloudy days I’ll be working anything from 15 to 60 feet.”
Smallmouth Baits #1: Drag A Jig DeepTypically associated with deep largemouths situated over hard bottom or on ledges, one of Harris’ favorite smallmouth baits is a football jig, typically dressed with a creature/craw trailer trimmed down a bit to eliminate tail-biters and poor hooksets.Plus, he says, fish on Lake Champlain are conditioned given tournament fishing pressure and are hip to a lot of the commonly-used trailers, shying from overly long and bulky baits this time of year.“You can use pretty much any football jig, but I use the same Ark Flippin’ Jig I use for largemouths. With its head design, it’s good for flipping, dock skipping, even dragging. The big thing is getting the right size for the depth; I’ll throw anything from a 1/2- to 5/8-ounce most of the time,” notes Harris.In terms of location, Harris says while most anglers—especially on Lake Champlain—will concentrate their smallmouth efforts on rock, he fishes “everything.”“I like to find the boulders, the hard bottom, and then I like the grassy and harder-sand bottoms in between. When it comes to bottom type, I try to cover all the bases and don’t overlook grassy transition areas, either.”Smallmouth Baits #2: TopwatersLike largies, Harris says the August smallie bite can be epic on topwaters.“Especially when it’s cloudy, I fish them in 40 feet, sometimes deeper. On forward-facing sonar, watching fish come up from 40 feet at full speed to hit a topwater bait is incredible. It’s the best thing in the world.”On sunny days, Harris probes skinny water when smallies are on the hunt, just tail-walking topwater baits and covering water. 
Whitewater Torque Heated Vest
Dress For The Cool & HeatHarris is quick to point out that lately the nights have been cool—and the mornings, too, when he cranks up his motor to begin the bass chase—temps around 50 degrees.“The Whitewater Torque Heated Vest lives in my boat year ‘round. I might not wear it all day, but it keeps my core warm with nothing more than a Whitewater Rays Performance Hoodie or Lightweight Tech Hoodie underneath.”As the sun climbs higher and the day heats up into the 70s, Harris puts the Whitewater vest back in a boat storage compartment and fishes in the same hoodies, which provide UV sun protection and are breathable/moisture-wicking.And, he says, even when it gets hot, he’s still wearing Whitewater Prevail Pants, which he recently wore on the water in North Carolina in the high 90s and “didn’t get hot in the least bit”. Designed as the ultimate in fishing pants with UPF 50+ sun protection rating, their comfortable, cool, and have an athletic design. “They keep you just as cool as if you were wearing shorts with the side seam vent zippers but with no leg sunburn and fly/mosquito protection.” 
Whitewater Rays Performance Hoodie
 



Bubba Whitehurst & Brandon Coffey Win CATT James River, VA Aug 17, 2024

Brian Carter
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Bubba Whitehurst & Brandon Coffey Win CATT James River, VA Aug 17, 2024

Next James River CATT Qualifier is September 14 at Hopewell! This the last Qualifier of 2024 and we have several teams who need to get 1 more qualifier in to be eligible to enter the James River Final October 5th & 6th! You only need to enter 3 Qualifiers to be eligible! Check out the James River points by going to the James River Division page and scrolling all the way down!

Woodel Roof System sponsors our James River Points payout! Tap on the logo to visit their website! They offer several services!

Trey Goodman & Tim Chaffin are leading the James River points with 1 Qualifier left! Can they hold on!

Bubba Whitehurst & Brandon Coffey win the James River with 5 bass weighing 18.54 lbs! Great job guys!

Curtis & CJ Combs weighed in the BF at 6.85 lbs!

TeamBFWeightWinningsPoints
Bubba Whitehurst–Brandon Coffey0.0018.54$1,860.00110
Kelley Robinette–David Barlow0.0017.93$930.00109
Trey Goodman–Tim Chaffin0.0017.68$1,410.00108
Dave Carney–John Dunn4.1817.33$520.00107
Curtis–Cj Combs6.8516.40$930.00106
Tripp Mistr–Morgan Mistr6.2416.24$280.00105
Brian Brooks–Avery Powelson0.0016.03$830.00104
Jamie Nealy–Greg Ball0.0015.55$460.00103
Ryan–Wayne Drewery0.0015.38$155.00102
Audie Murphy Monte0.0015.13$135.00101
Greg Cooper–Clay Lewis0.0015.09100
Joseph Carr–Bob Timberlake0.0014.7899
Michael McCrickard–Paul Harris6.3614.7598
Jake Lewis–Roger Rhodes6.0614.4897
Jordan–Jordan0.0014.3896
John Koren–Joe Westfall0.0014.1595
Richard Rodriguez–Charles Rackley0.0013.8394
Averly Neely0.0013.3593
Scottie Melton–Shawn Smith0.0013.2292
Howard Austin–Mark Austin0.0013.1191
Jeffery Valentin–Daryl Moody0.0013.0690
Donnie Meade–Travis Daniels0.0013.0189
Wes Farmer–Noah Adkins0.0013.0088
Stacy Vasser–Kevin Davis0.0012.9687
Joey Cooke–Justin Hall0.0012.9486
Billy Allen–Craig Cheek0.0012.8285
Brian Bersik–Bobby Kennedy0.0012.2384
Chuck Comer–Warren0.0012.0983
Wes Zabdyr–Paul Kirby0.0012.0082
Micah Mitten–Eric Picucci0.0011.7281
Blake Miles–Daniel Jenkins0.0011.0480
Richard Mistr–Tom Owens0.0011.0179
Kyle McCann–Aaron Kurz0.0010.9578
B Stewart–M Curley0.0010.5977
Brandon–Cody Casey0.0010.2376
Harvey Reese–Kenny Fiddler0.009.5375
Francis Martin–William Clements0.009.4474
Randy Waterman–Eddie Fore0.008.5773
Joey– Chris DeLuke0.007.8372
Ben Knapp–Jeff Reed0.007.7571
Sam Pollock0.002.2170
James Byrd0.001.8369
Cory Dunnavant–Kennon Ball0.000.0068
Mike Hicks–Keith Lupo0.000.0068
Walter Woodel–Rodney Allen0.000.0068
Jacob–Garland Reid0.000.0068
Donnie Harper–Randy Johnson0.000.0068
Steven McCabe–Duane Shelton0.000.0068
Jake– Jesse Kidd0.000.0068
Micah Lynn– Kevin Greenawalt0.000.0068
Chaz Carrington–Scott Scheil0.000.0068
Tri Nguyen–Ben Jacobi0.000.0068
Rodney Mason0.000.0068
Mike Oley–Derrick Moore0.000.0068
Duane Hodge–Brad Colgin0.000.0068
Total Entrys$6,480.00
BONUS $$1,700.00
Total Paid At Ramp$7,510.00
CATT$50.00
2024 James River Spring Final Fund$485.00
2025 CATT Championship Fund$50.00
2024 James River Spring Final Fund Total$3,120.00



Boost Your Power and Casting Distance

Brian Carter
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0
Boost Your Power and Casting Distance
Boost Your Power and Casting Distance
DAIWA’s new TATULA SV TW 150 features HYPERDRIVE DESIGN and SV technology to power your bass fishing while extending casting control and distance. 
FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (August 21, 2024) – “The bigger brother of the new TATULA SV100, the new TATULA SV TW 150 is geared for the power-fishing crowd, introducing them to SV spool technology and HYPERDRIVE DESIGN in a mid-priced baitcaster,” said DAIWA Field Marketing Manager, Chris Martin. “They will appreciate how the upsized reel casts and controls bigger baits like swimbaits, deep crankbaits, bladebaits, and smaller A-rigs. The TATULA SV TW 150 is stud when the battle is on, too.”Energized by SV (Stress-Free, Versatile), the TATULA SV TW 150 yields the ultimate castability with a heavier line. “Bassers who spool 50- and 60-pound braid will notice the improved casting distance compared to their current reels,” said Martin. “The spool is sized to accommodate more and heavier line, too.” Users of monofilament and fluorocarbon will notice the significant line capacity as well.  
Beyond providing a jolt to casting distance, SV technology virtually eliminates backlash. By design, spool speed is managed at the onset of a cast – where backlash is most common – and then allows the spool to accelerate as the bait continues its launch sequence. The precision combination of control and increased velocity yields longer casts that don’t start as a bird’s nest. The performance lends confidence to baitcaster-beginners and will knock the socks off veteran bassers.    The TATULA SV TW 150’s second significant feature-set is HYPERDRIVE DESIGN. Once limited to more expensive models, DAIWA employed “trickle down technology,” bringing HYPERDRIVE DESIGN to the TATULA SV 150. HYPERDRIVE DESIGN consists of the HYPERDRIVE ARMED HOUSING, HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR, HYPERDRICE DOUBLE SUPPORT, and HYPERDRIVE TOUGH CLUTCH. Read more about each element below. In summary, DAIWA’s new TATULA SV TW 150 is a powerhouse baitcasting reel that minimizes backlash, casts for distance with control, and will be welcomed by new and experienced anglers alike. 
TATULA SV TW 150 KEY FEATURES AND TECHNOLOGIES:SV TECHNOLOGYThe SV (Stress-free, Versatile) Spool was developed with one thing in mind: casting control. The design of the spool, as well as how the spool interacts with the braking system, gives maximum control on the cast while improving casting distance. No backlashes. Longer casts.HYPERDRIVE ARMED HOUSINGA distortion-proof aluminum frame steadfastly houses the gear unit within the reel body. The concept comprises a combination of different manufacturing techniques, which considerably improve the functioning and lifespan of the reel.HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEARA technology that makes gear teeth more efficient at transferring power, resulting in a smoother, more powerful gear set that also reduces gear noise. The gears are also strengthened by larger teeth in the traction wheel. And, the gearing has three points of contact – most gearing has only two – which keeps contact between the gear teeth, creating smoothness and longer gear life.HYPERDRIVE DOUBLE SUPPORT The pinion gear is mounted via a ball bearing at both sides, leading to a better and more even powered transmission from the handle. Also, the surface of the pinion gear is specially treated to prevent electrostatic corrosion.HYPERDRIVE TOUGH CLUTCH The clutch mechanics have been optimized to remain safely in position even on hard casts.
T-WING SYSTEM (TWS)An innovative “T” shaped mechanical aperture that the line passes through when casting and retrieving baits, which allows the line to flow freely, reducing friction and sharp angles that slow line flow. TWS is unique to DAIWA baitcasting reels.ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT DRAG (UTD)The sophisticated drag system uses carbon washers, alloy, stainless steel drag plates, and special lubricant to provide smooth performance. UTD prevents sticking when dragging starts and stable drag for the duration of fighting a fish.ZERO ADJUSTERThe spool tension knob comes ideally preset at the factory to match the model and reduce backlash when casting into the wind, skipping baits, or with lighter lures. However, anglers can fine tune the spool tension to their personal preferences.90mm SWEPT HANDLEThe handle is kept tight to the frame for added power and making it easy to quickly locate.MSRP $219.99
THE PERFECT PAIRINGThe new TATULA SV150 matches ideally with the TATULA Elite and TATULA Elite AGS rod series’, particularly Medium and Medium-Heavy baitcasting models. 
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: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us



Top Techniques for Targeting Bass in Warm, Shallow Waters This August

Brian Carter
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Top Techniques for Targeting Bass in Warm, Shallow Waters This August

Top Techniques for Targeting Bass in Warm, Shallow Waters This August

Wondering how to catch bass in warm, shallow waters this August? You’re in luck! August is a prime time for targeting bass in these conditions, and I’ve got some top techniques to help you land those big catches.

1. Understand Bass Behavior in August

In August, bass often stay in shallow waters due to better oxygen levels and abundant food sources like bluegill and crawfish. These shallow areas, often less than three feet deep, provide the perfect environment for bass during the hot summer months. Understanding this behavior is crucial for successful fishing.

2. Choose the Right Lures

Selecting the right lures is essential for targeting bass in warm, shallow waters:

  • Buzzbaits: A 1/4-ounce buzzbait, like the War Eagle Buzzbait, can be effective. Choose black for dirty water or low-light conditions and white for clear water

. Swim Jigs: Use a 1/2-ounce swim jig with a green pumpkin trailer. This setup mimics bluegill and is subtle enough for skittish bass. Crankbaits: A Megabass S Crank 1.5, especially in colors like Secret Gill or Biwako See Through Chart, works well in shallow waters without creating too much disturbance

  • .Crankbaits: A Megabass S Crank 1.5, especially in colors like Secret Gill or Biwako See Through Chart, works well in shallow waters without creating too much disturbance

3. Focus on Isolated Cover

Bass love isolated cover in shallow waters. Look for areas with stumps, grass, boat docks, or overhanging trees. These spots provide shade and shelter, making them ideal for bass. When you find isolated cover, you can often predict where the bites will come from, leading to more successful fishing trips.

4. Adjust Your Approach for Weather Conditions

Weather plays a significant role in bass behavior. A little wind or cloud cover can make bass more active and less wary of your line. On sunny days, bass may be tightly positioned in shaded areas, making them easier to catch. Adjust your approach based on the weather to increase your chances of success.

5. Be Quiet and Stealthy

Bass in shallow waters can be easily spooked. To avoid this, cut off your outboard motor well before reaching your fishing spot, use your trolling motor on a lower speed, and make extra-long casts. Keeping noise to a minimum will help you get closer to the fish without scaring them away.

6. Cover Water Efficiently

In shallow waters, it’s essential to cover as much ground as possible. Use lures that allow you to fish quickly and efficiently, and don’t be afraid to explore different areas. This approach helps you find where the bass are concentrated, especially in August when they might be scattered

.

Conclusion

Targeting bass in warm, shallow waters this August can be incredibly rewarding if you use the right techniques. By understanding bass behavior, choosing the appropriate lures, focusing on isolated cover, and adjusting for weather conditions, you’ll be well on your way to a successful fishing trip. Happy fishing, and may you land the bass of your dreams this August!



CJ Dawson Fishes Solo & Wins Lake Anna Sunday Morning Bass Series

Brian Carter
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CJ Dawson Fishes Solo & Wins Lake Anna Sunday Morning Bass Series

Results

8-18-2024 28 Boats 10 Places Paid

1st- 5 fish 16.22 pounds CJ Dawson

2nd- 5 fish 14.71 pounds Clayton Gatewood/Darrin Parrish

3rd- 5 fish 13.73 pounds Timmy Garner/Eric Johnson

4th- 5 fish 12.93 pounds Bill Deeds

5th- 5 fish 12.90 pounds Chris McCotter/Mitch McCotter

6th- 5 fish 12.88 pounds Nate Keller/John Doyle

7th- 5 fish 11.54 pounds Lewis Williams

8th (tie)- 5 fish 10.31 pounds Joe Semones/Wayne HOLDER

8th (tie)- 5 fish 10.31 pounds Sam Taylor/Bryson Taylor

10th- 5 fish 9.83 pounds Chris Stanley/Chris Stanley Jr

Big Fish 5.69 pounds Clayton Gatewood/Darrin Parrish



West Rutland’s Lavictoire Posts Fourth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Champlain

Brian Carter
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0
West Rutland’s Lavictoire Posts Fourth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Champlain
Boater winner Thomas Lavictoire, Jr., of West Rutland, Vermont, and Strike-King co-angler winner Randall Given of Laurel, Delaware.
Delaware’s Given Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Aug. 19, 2024) – Boater Thomas Lavictoire Jr. of West Rutland, Vermont, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Champlain . Hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, the tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Northeast Division. Lavictoire earned $3,377 for his victory.

Lake Champlain is a legendary smallmouth fishery, and in this era of forward-facing sonar technology, it would not be surprising to hear that the Champlain BFL event was won scoping smallmouths with a jighead-minnow.

Of course, with all the focus on that approach, it leaves other opportunities open. And that’s exactly what Lavictoire exploited to get the W.

He said he “went solely for largemouth.”

“Largemouth have been ignored and have replenished, and if you get five of those you’re in good shape,” he said.

High winds challenged the field on Saturday, with 6- to 8-foot waves in some areas. Thankfully for Lavictoire, he had plenty of big-fish spots pegged up north. Though he had to run through some gnarly waves, he was mostly protected once he got to his areas.

“I fished from the ramp in Plattsburgh to Missisquoi Bay and back,” he said. “I mainly fished a jig all day. I fished a lot of rock and grass and a lot of boat docks, pilings, drop-offs, ledges – anything that I’ve fished in the past and caught big ones off of.”

Lavictoire ran a milk run of about 25 spots, mostly tossing a homemade jig (made by a buddy) that resembles a perch or bluegill. He thinks the biggest key was sticking to his game plan of avoiding chasing numbers of fish and targeting big bites.
 
“I think (the key was) mostly just putting myself in productive areas, ignoring the wind, ignoring the forward-facing sonar thing that everybody does and sticking with my game plan – the idea that if I get five big largemouth I can beat those smallmouth,” he said.

And, in case you were wondering, as exciting as it is to watch fish chase your lure on sonar, it’s also a pretty darn good time catching them by dragging or pitching a jig.

“It’s so much fun,” Lavictoire added. “So much fun.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Thomas Lavictoire Jr., West Rutland, Vt., five bass, 22-3, $3,377
2nd:       Jason Stoddard, St. Albans, Vt., five bass, 22-0, $1,689
3rd:       Jim Sweeney, West Dover, Vt., five bass, 19-4, $1,128
4th:        Ed Casey, Whiteford, Md., five bass, 19-0, $731
4th:        Jason Shipton, Muncy, Pa., five bass, 19-0, $731
6th:        Josh Kauffman, Marysville, Pa., five bass, 18-14, $1,091 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th:        Jared Phillips, Addison, N.Y., five bass, 18-14, $591
8th:        Stephen Draghi, Sparrow Bush, N.Y., five bass, 18-12, $507
9th:        Preston Vargo, Port Henry, N.Y., five bass, 18-10, $450
10th:     Christopher Sanno, Landisburg, Pa., five bass, 18-7, $809

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Christopher Sanno of Landisburg, Pennsylvania, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $415.



Randall Given of Laurel, Delaware, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,648 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 17 pounds, 5 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Randall Given, Laurel, Del., five bass, 17-5, $1,648
2nd:       Eric Reynolds, Bloomingburg, N.Y., five bass, 16-8, $824
3rd:       Scott Minch, Feasterville, Pa., five bass, 16-4, $549
4th:        Matthew Belmore, Indian Lake, N.Y., five bass, 15-15, $385
5th:        Michael Bell, Ogdensburg, N.Y., five bass, 15-13, $480
6th:        Michael Bahnweg, Union Dale, Pa., 15 – 11 (5)  $302
7th:        Shawn Minch, Feasterville, Pa., five bass, 15-3, $477
8th:        Melvin Smitson, Baltimore, Md., five bass, 15-2, $247
9th:        Brent Navari, Colchester, Vt., five bass, 15-1, $220
10th:     Hunter Navari, Colchester, Vt., five bass, 14-5, $192

Shawn Minch of Feasterville, Pennsylvania, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $202, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Christopher Sanno of Landisburg, Pennsylvania, leads the Fishing Clash Northeast Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 712 points, while Lenny Baird of Stafford, Virginia, leads the Fishing Clash Northeast Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 722 points.

The next event for BFL Northeast Division anglers was planned for Aug. 18 on Lake Champlain. That event was a makeup tournament for a previous event that was postponed. However, forecasts for high winds and unsafe conditions forced the Aug. 18 event to also be postponed. It will now be held Sept. 14 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. The next day, on Sept. 15, the BFL Northeast Division Super Tournament will also held on the Potomac River in Marbury. This will now be a one-day Super Tournament event. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. 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 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, 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.



Georgia’s O’Connell Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Lake Hartwell

Brian Carter
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Georgia’s O’Connell Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Lake Hartwell
Boater winner Matt O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, and Strike-King co-angler winner Chris Wilson of Easley, South Carolina.
Easley’s Wilson Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

ANDERSON, S.C. (Aug. 19, 2024) – Boater Matt O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, won the MLF Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine two-day Super Tournament on Lake Hartwell Presented by Suzuki Marine on Sunday with a cumulative total of 10 bass weighing 30 pounds, 7 ounces. His daily weights were 14 pounds, 6 ounces on Saturday and 16 pounds, 1 ounce on Sunday. Hosted by the Anderson Convention & Visitors Bureau, the tournament was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division. O’Connell earned $7,776, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

Though O’Connell said Hartwell is fishing a little weird right now, his winning pattern involved a mix of pretty typical summertime baits and tactics for a blueback herring lake.

“There is a typical blueback pattern going on where the fish are out on bait or on shoals and humps,” he said. “And there’s some schooling going on kind of intermittently throughout the day. I actually probably saw more schooling in the afternoon both days, but it was super tough to catch the schoolers.

“I essentially just got big bites both afternoons. I had 9 pounds at about noon each day and managed to catch about a 4-pounder yesterday (Saturday) out deep over timber. And that pretty much kicked my bag up with a bunch of 2 1/2-pounders. And then today (Sunday) I had probably 9 pounds at noon, and from probably 12:30 ’til 2:30, in about a two-hour period, I caught a 4-pound spot and 5-pound largemouth on the CAST The OG (Floater). It’s a big topwater.”

A couple factors flipped the switch in the afternoons. Part of it was the wind picking up, especially on day two, which made the fish more active. The other factor was timing. O’Connell located some fish during afternoon hours in practice and noticed they just weren’t on those spots in the mornings during the tournament. But come afternoon, they repositioned on brush or on areas where he could be target them more easily, versus roaming like they were in the mornings.

“Day two, I just started running more of the shallow stuff because it was windy,” he said. “Shallow being relative –25 feet or less. The conditions and the fish just combined to give me an opportunity. The fish were being much more aggressive in the afternoon at least.”

O’Connell relied on forward-facing sonar throughout the tournament to “scope” a mix of structure and cover, including brush piles, the ends of points and deep timber.  In addition to the OG topwater, he fished a CAST Fishing Co. Echo soft jerkbait on an under-spin as well as a soft jerkbait without the jighead.

“I probably fished 60 spots today,” he added. “That’s pretty normal for the blueback herring deal. There was one area I spent probably an hour fishing that was over timber around bait, but that was the only time I settled in anywhere.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Matt O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., 10 bass, 30-7, $7,776 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Brandon Martin, Lula, Ga., 10 bass, 29-3, $2,238
3rd:       Justin Tingen, Moore, S.C., 10 bass, 27-13, $1,492
4th:        Spencer Sato, Gainesville, Ga., 10 bass, 25-13, $1,045
5th:        Wesley Sandifer, Chapin, S.C., 10 bass, 23-11, $895
6th:        Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., 10 bass, 23-5, $821
7th:        Scooter Ligon, Dahlonega, Ga., 10 bass, 22-1, $746
8th:        Alex Prince, Blue Ridge, Ga., 10 bass, 21-5, $671
9th:        Daulton Smith, Martin, Ga., 10 bass, 21-0, $597
10th:     Hayden Seabolt, Dawsonville, Ga., 10 bass, 19-12, $522

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Lucas Black of Saint Simons Island, Georgia, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $525.



Chris Wilson of Easley, South Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,500 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of eight bass to the scale for 13 pounds, 3 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Chris Wilson, Easley, S.C., eight bass, 13-3, $2,500
2nd:       Corey Veal, Royston, Ga., seven bass, 12-11, $1,119
3rd:       Colby Elliott, Blairsville, Ga., seven bass, 12-1, $748
4th:        Mark Garrett, Walhalla, S.C., eight bass, 9-14, $622
5th:        Mark Yarborough, Salem, S.C., eight bass, 9-10, $448
6th:        Russell Woodson, Jonesville, S.C., six bass, 8-14, $410
7th:        Chris Worley, Eastanollee, Ga., five bass, 7-13, $373
8th:        Scott Gerbers, Blackstock, S.C., four bass, 7-9, $336
9th:        Brian Heredos, Simpsonville, S.C., five bass, 6-15, $298
10th:     David Allen, Mableton, Ga., four bass, 6-3, $261

Wilson also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $262, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

With the qualifying season now concluded, Joe Anders of Easley, South Carolina, is the 2024 Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Angler of the Year (AOY) with 1,325 points and earned the $1,000 prize, while Todd Huntley of Inman, South Carolina, won the 2024 Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Co-angler of the Year title with 1,285 points and the $500 prize.

Next up for the Savannah River Division, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers based on season point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will compete in the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. 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 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, 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.



Prairie du Chien’s Ritter Posts Sixth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Mississippi River

Brian Carter
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Prairie du Chien’s Ritter Posts Sixth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Mississippi River
Boater winner Jeff Ritter of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and Strike-King co-angler winner Kenneth McLemore of Antioch, Illinois.
Illinois’ McLemore Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (Aug. 19, 2024) – Boater Jeff Ritter of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 14 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Mississippi River in Prairie du Chien. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Great Lakes Division. Ritter earned $4,247 for his victory.

According to Ritter, heavy rains and prolonged high water on the Mississippi River earlier this summer led to some serious changes in the shallow-water cover that bass anglers are used to fishing.

“It happened right when our grass and pads should’ve been growing,” he said about the flood. “It was muddy, high water that lasted about a month, and it didn’t allow anything to grow well. It kinda stunk, but I like it now.”

As a result of the change, Ritter and others have had to scramble to either find grass and pads that did make it through, or adjust to fish other types of structure and cover. In the BFL, Ritter ran to a couple of large, shallow mud flats along the main slough in Pool 10. These were areas he fished the prior weekend in a team tournament without much luck. Things certainly turned around in the BFL, which Ritter credits to a couple variables.

First, the water had started dropping compared to last week’s tournament, when it had shot up about 8 inches due to storms. Second, the wind and overcast skies had the fish more active. Ritter also thinks the conditions prevented carp from sliding up to sun themselves in the shallow mud, which kept the carp from muddying the waters.

“They’re flats that normally would’ve had grass on them,” Ritter added. “But there’s not much grass. I caught a lot of fish on mud flats without much eye appeal. I don’t think many people got on it at all. I had everything I wanted to fish pretty much to myself.

“In all honesty, I was shocked to find the fish where I found them because of lack of cover. But as long as they eat, I don’t care.”

Ritter’s fish were scattered out and mostly relating to the edge of the flats, where there was a small drop. These areas were loaded with baitfish and swept with “pretty heavy current,” Ritter said.

“I was fishing anywhere from the boat being stuck to the bottom of the mud out to maybe in 2 feet of water,” he added. “They were really shallow.”

Covering water was key for Ritter, who used “a little bit of everything” to get bit, including a buzz bait, frog and Heddon Super Spook topwater.

The top 12 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Jeff Ritter, Prairie du Chien, Wis., five bass, 17-14, $4,247
2nd:       Rob Leidholdt, Milton, Wis., five bass, 17-4, $1,668
3rd:       Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 16-12, $1,112
4th:        James Keller, Cuba City, Wis., five bass, 16-10, $779
5th:        Joseph Johnson, Maquoketa, Iowa, five bass, 16-8, $639
5th:        Marcus Livingston, Augusta, Wis., five bass, 16-8, $639
7th:        Tony Puelz, Garnavillo, Iowa, five bass, 16-7, $556
8th:        Justin Shepard, Lansing, Iowa, five bass, 16-6, $501
9th:        Mark Myers, Cedar Falls, Iowa, five bass, 16-3, $445
10th:     Tyler Fitch, Fall River, Wis., five bass, 15-15, $354
10th:     Austin Brimeyer, Dubuque, Iowa, five bass, 15-15, $354
10th:     Devon Dvorak, Keystone, Iowa, five bass, 15-15, $354

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Ritter caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $410.



Kenneth McLemore of Antioch, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,668 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Kenneth McLemore, Antioch, Ill., five bass, 15-15, $1,668
2nd:       Christopher Morgan, Greendale, Wis., five bass, 14-15, $696
2nd:       Lance Olson, Necedah, Wis., five bass, 14-15, $696
4th:        Tim Himsl, Moline, Ill., five bass, 14-9, $389
5th:        Terry Williams, Cedar Falls, Iowa, five bass, 14-1, $320
5th:        Jason Swanson, Waterloo, Iowa, five bass, 14-1, $320
7th:        Will Ahnen, Fennimore, Wis., five bass, 14-0, $428
8th:        Brian Brecka, Alma, Wis., five bass, 13-13, $455
9th:        Ma Xiong, Menomonee Falls, Wis., five bass, 13-6, $222
10th:     Matthew Vang, Milwaukee, Wis., five bass, 13-4, $195

Brian Brecka of Alma, Wisconsin, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $205, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

In addition to getting the tournament win, Jeff Ritter also leads the Fishing Clash Great Lakes Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 948 points after four events, while Jason Olson of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, leads the Fishing Clash Great Lakes Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 953 points.

The next event for BFL Great Lakes Division anglers will be held Sept. 21-22, at the Mississippi River out of La Crosse, Wisconsin. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Pools 13-17 of the Mississippi River in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. 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 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, 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.



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