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Shallow bite could be key to success at Bassmaster College National Championship

August 15, 2024

Shallow bite could be key to success at Bassmaster College National Championship

The country’s best college fishing teams will compete in Anderson, S.C., Aug. 22-24 for a national title at the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Lake Hartwell presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.

August 15, 2024

Shallow bite could be key to success at Bassmaster College National Championship

ANDERSON, S.C. — Lake Hartwell is no stranger to big events, and this year the best college anglers from across the country will take center stage for the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. According to Sean Clayton, who fishes the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers division of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, there will be several different bites anglers can chase.

“There’s going to be fish on the bank, offshore and everywhere in between,” the Seneca, S.C., native said. “It is going to be really interesting. It could be anyone’s ball game.”

Tournament dates are scheduled for Aug. 22-24, with daily takeoffs and weigh-ins scheduled to happen at Green Pond Landing each day. The full field will compete the first two days before the Top 12 anglers advance to the championship round.

Teams will not only be competing for the first-place prize, but also a coveted spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, a head-to-head style competition that will send the winner to the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail has seen many different faces of Lake Hartwell over the years, from freezing-cold spring Classics to the late-fall feed. Will Davis Jr. won the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Hartwell last October with a three-day total of 45 pounds, 6 ounces.

Clayton expects the three-day winning weight to be about the same, but he thinks it could be more if a team can unlock a shallow largemouth bite around docks and laydowns. Those largemouth will be feeding on bluegill and will fall for wacky-rigged worms, a variety of topwaters and a frog.

“If someone finds them shallow, they are going to blow them out because a lot of people are going to be offshore and those bass are going to be pressured,” Clayton said. “So, if someone can unlock the code to the shallow bite that will be the team to watch.”

While plenty of big largemouth swim in Hartwell, the growing population and size of the spotted bass get much of the attention. Those spotted bass, along with some largemouth, will chase blueback herring over cane piles, clay points and standing timber.

Topwater baits and Flukes will be some of the best options for the offshore bass.

“Offshore, it is all about the herring,” Clayton said. “We’ve been catching them offshore like that for months now. But they will still bite.”

With either strategy, Hartwell provides a giant playing field and teams should be able to find plenty of real estate to fish.

“Generally speaking, if it is won offshore, it is won below Sadlers Creek toward the dam,” Clayton said. “If it is won shallow, it is won up either the Seneca or the Tugaloo.”

Anglers eagerly eye diverse waters as Bassmaster Opens head to Leech Lake for the first time

Brian Carter

August 15, 2024

Anglers eagerly eye diverse waters as Bassmaster Opens head to Leech Lake for the first time

Minnesota’s Easton Fothergill leads the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers race going into the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN Aug. 22-24 in Walker, Minn.

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

August 15, 2024

Anglers eagerly eye diverse waters as Bassmaster Opens head to Leech Lake for the first time

WALKER, Minn. — Leech Lake might not be the final frontier, but it’s certainly the first time B.A.S.S. has visited the remote fishery in northern Minnesota.

Leech is far from the great unknown, however, at least to bass anglers here on the fringe of America’s Midwest. To hear them talk, it’s been a destination lake of sorts for several decades now, despite the fact that it’s closer to Canada’s southern border than it is to the state capital of St. Paul (sister city of Minneapolis about 3½ hours southeast).

Competitors from around North America and beyond will get an up close and personal look at the place Aug. 22-24 for the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN. It’s the second Division 3 Bassmaster Open of the season, and as many as 225 competitors are expected to battle for some career-defining accolades.

The winner’s bounty includes a berth in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors when it’s held March 21-23 at Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas. There will be as much as $332,550 in prize money split between the top participants at Leech and some, who are fishing each of this year’s nine Bassmaster Opens, will be vying for crucial points in the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers (EQ) standings. The top nine anglers who fish in each of the nine Opens in 2024 will qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series, which opens a world of opportunity to pro anglers.

But before anyone can start focusing on those spoils, they’ll have to conquer Leech, which area pros say provides competitors a buffet of choices to whet a bass angler’s appetite.

“Leech is one of our bigger lakes,” said Minnesota pro Josh Douglas, who is no stranger to the upper echelon of the sport, having fished the Bassmaster Opens since 2012 and two Elite Series seasons in 2022 and 2023. “It’s different from Mille Lacs (which is about an hour south of Leech) in that it’s broken up more. There’s the main basin, and it filters off into backwaters and bog water. It’s filled with wild rice, milfoil – just all the vegetation you could want. And like Mille Lacs, it’s a glacial lake, so there’s plenty of rock ledges and rockpiles to fish.”

Those backwaters, however, might look familiar to a number of anglers whether or not they’re new to the area.

“Leech is a traditional smallmouth lake that looks like (Lake) Okeechobee in some spots,” the 44-year-old Isle, Minn., resident said. “The guys from Florida should feel at home, really,” he added, with a laugh.

Douglas said Leech Lake, which at 112,000 acres is the third-largest lake in a state with some 12,000 of them, was primarily known as a largemouth fishery when he was growing up in the ’80s and ’90s.

“And it was a really good one, too,” he said. “And then somewhat recently, maybe five years or so ago, it started getting a name for smallmouth fishing and people started exploiting that. I’m sure the smallies have been there all along, but only just recently people have started to fish more for them there.”

That duality gives anglers of any persuasion a chance to fish to their strengths, said Douglas, who is entered at the Open on Leech. It’ll be only the third time he’s competed on the lake, however, so he’s not nearly as familiar with this fishery as he is his home waters of Mille Lacs.

Still, he knows the layout plenty well enough to know what’s likely to transpire on Leech.

“You have this big body of water with some wave activity, and that’s all smallmouth area if that’s your thing,” he said. “But if you get off into the bogs, you’re in more shallow water (and are) flipping jigs (or) throwing a frog. It’s two distinctly different things at Leech.”

The sloughs off the main lake contain thick layers of aquatic reeds, cattails, lily pads and the like — all familiar to the bevy of Southern anglers who frequent most tournaments. The open water at Leech is filled with wild rice, which Douglas says “lays down like Kissimmee grass, thick on the water.

“The fish love it. Ducks love it. The Native Americans in the area will be harvesting it pretty hard while we’re there, so there will be some challenges as to where we can go, what water is navigable. But there’s plenty of space for anyone to find something they like … August would be what we consider the dog days of summer here in Minnesota, and it’s been hot most days, getting around 90 degrees. So, I think it’ll be a challenging tournament, but if you can get 15 (smallmouths over three days) you can expect to do well.”

How well remains to be seen, of course.

“I think a good five-fish limit for smallmouth will be about 22 pounds a day,” Douglas said. “If you’re fishing largemouth, I’d say 20 pounds a day is a good day. There are some 5- and 6-pounders in those backwaters. It could be a grind for some, but at the end of the day, it’s northern Minnesota. The fish are gamers. They want to bite.”

Douglas expects traditional lures (tubes, Ned rigs, drop shots) to be best bets on the main body, while anything from topwater baits to flipping Texas-rigged worms and even buzzbaits could be staples in the backwaters.

“My guess is the majority of checks that week will come from people catching largemouth,” he added.

Daily takeoffs begin at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Walker (MN) Public Dock at 310 5th St. in Walker. Weigh-ins on each of the three days are scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Coverage of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN will air on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all three days.

The Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

Jason Tripp & Eric Roberson Win CATT East Roanoke River, NC Aug 10, 2024

Brian Carter

August 14, 2024

Jason Tripp & Eric Roberson Win CATT East Roanoke River, NC Aug 10, 2024

Next East Fall Qualifier is Sept 7th!

Jason Tripp & Eric Roberson brought in 5 bass weighing 23.62 lbs with a 7.87 lb kicker taking 1st Place & $1,255.00!

Team	BF	Weight	Winnings	Points
Jason Tripp – Eric Roberson	7.87	23.62	$1,255.00	110
Jordan Norris – Harry Johnson	4.53	18.92	$300.00	109
Travis Badgett – Chris Turner	4.81	18.39	$200.00	108
Larry Thomas	5.55	17.11	$120.00	107
Edward Townsend – Dexter Henley	4.72	17.10		106
Jason Pittman – Jeremy Hodge	6.08	15.88		105
Holden Northcott – Austin Hughes	0.00	15.74		104
Kevin Jones – Tyler Jones	4.35	14.94		103
Joseph Eure – Matt Branch	0.00	14.46		102
Dennis Boykin – Jim Hipkiss	4.30	13.74		101
Donald Luther – Mike Kannan	0.00	12.51		100
Josh Brown – Henry Brown	0.00	11.75		99
Wayne Stallings – Zeb West	0.00	10.02		98
Tracey King – Jackson King	2.60	9.98		97
Wayne Harris -Jason Snell	0.00	9.08		96
Brandon Pierce – Stacy Hobson	0.00	8.52		95
Matt Mainhart – Nathan Mainhart	3.28	3.28		94
Kirk Nixon – Trent Nixon	0.00	1.72		93
Phillip Gibson – Walt Goff	0.00	0.00		92
Charles Weathersbee- Mike Henen	0.00	0.00		82
Joe Smith – Raeford Faircloth	0.00	0.00		82
Brandon Johnson – Wilbur Johnson	0.00	0.00		82
Jeff Galloway – Hugo Roman	0.00	0.00		82
Total Entrys			$1,840.00
BONUS $			$500.00
Total Paid At Ramp			$1,875.00
CATT			$50.00
East 2024 Fall Final Fund			$365.00
2025 CATT Championship Fund			$50.00
2024 East Fall Final Fund Total			$365.00

Massena Readies for MLF Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River

Brian Carter

August 14, 2024

Massena Readies for MLF Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River

MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 14, 2024) – After an exciting week on the St. Lawrence River, the Bass Pro Tour has moved out, clearing the way for the next wave of MLF tournament anglers to test their skills on the fishery. The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to visit Massena, New York, next week, Aug. 22-24, for the Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River Presented by FX Custom Rods.

The three-day tournament is the third and final event of the year for Northern Division anglers and is hosted by the Town of Massena. The event will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.

Local angler Ethan Carr of Massena, New York, won a Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on the St. Lawrence River last month, and said he is looking forward to a great tournament.

“The St. Lawrence River is unlike any other fishery in the world,” said Carr. “I had the opportunity to grow up around that body of water and I really enjoy targeting the biggest fish that live in a fishery. Obviously sometimes that burns you, but there’s no better place than the St. Lawrence to do that.

“The amount of 5- and 6-pound fish on the St. Lawrence River is absolutely outstanding,” Carr continued. “It’s been a really good training ground to be able to really learn what those giant fish like to do and where they like to be.”

Carr said the fishery has had a lot of pressure with the recent Bass Pro Tour competition, but he feels like the river can definitely hold up to it.

“It’s been fishing really good and has been kicking out a lot of really big weights,” Carr said. “Despite the recent pressure, I expect it’ll take 22 to 24 pounds per day to be able to win the tournament.”

Carr said he thinks there will be a lot more shallow fish in play this year than has been normal in the past.

“Even at the Bass Pro Tour event last week, a lot of guys caught a boatload of fish up shallow,” Carr said. “I’ve seen more big fish up shallow this year than ever, but you can’t count out the deep fish. There’s probably going to be a mix of both in the top 10. There are a lot of big fish, it’s just a little harder to find them this time of year.”

Carr said he expects to see classic St. Lawrence River baits in play throughout the event – drop-shot rigs, Ned rigs, tubes and Carolina rigs.

Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET each day from the Massena Intake Boat Launch, located at 1415 State Highway 131 in Massena. Weigh-ins will also be held at that location and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.

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/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and 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, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, REDCON1, Simms, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

FISH SHALLOW WATERS FOR SUMMER BASS!

Brian Carter

August 13, 2024

During the hot summer months, many anglers instinctively head to deeper waters in search of cooler temperatures and bass seeking refuge. An effective yet often overlooked strategy is to focus on shallow waters, particularly in creeks and coves. When water currents in the main lake slow down, bass and baitfish tend to scatter, making them harder to catch. Shallow areas in these conditions can become prime feeding grounds for bass, offering anglers a unique chance to target fish that other anglers might miss. By understanding when and why bass move to shallow waters, you can enhance your chances of success during the summer heat. Shallow water bass are often overlooked because of the assumption that they prefer deeper, cooler waters, but many bass remain in the shallows, taking advantage of abundant baitfish and cover. These areas, particularly those with plenty of shade and structure, can hold surprisingly large and active fish. Anglers who adapt to these conditions and learn to master the shallow water strategy can often find less competition from other fishermen on the water, giving them access to fish that are far less pressured and more likely to take a bite. 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.

Despite water temperatures soaring into the upper 80s, bass can still be found in shallow waters if the right conditions are present. Two critical factors that keep bass in the shallows are an abundance of shad or other baitfish and sufficient shade. The presence of baitfish provides a reliable food source, while shade offers cooler, more comfortable conditions for bass. These factors create an environment where bass can thrive even in shallow waters, negating the need for them to move to deeper areas. Recognizing and targeting these conditions can lead to consistent catches, even when the shallows seem inhospitable. Shallow waters with some level of water movement, such as a gentle breeze, can help oxygenate the water, making it even more appealing to bass. Areas with aquatic vegetation can also play a vital role by providing both cover and an additional food source, further enticing bass to stay shallow. Understanding these environmental cues allows anglers to identify high-potential fishing spots that others might overlook. By anglers focusing on these ideal conditions, anglers can optimize their efforts and increase their overall chances of landing quality bass.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!

Bass in shallow water during the summer often seek out specific types of cover for both protection and ambush opportunities. Boat docks and wood structures are particularly attractive to these fish, as they provide ample shade and concealment. When targeting bass in coves and creeks, it’s essential to focus on cover that is less than 10 feet deep. The most productive spots are often the last pieces of cover before the water becomes too shallow, as bass in these areas are typically there to feed. By concentrating your efforts on these high-percentage spots, you can significantly increase your chances of hooking into quality fish. In addition to docks and wood, look for submerged vegetation or isolated stumps, which can also serve as effective ambush points. Bass often position themselves on the shady side of cover, so make sure to approach these areas with stealth to avoid spooking them. Casting accurately and keeping your lure close to the cover will maximize your chances of enticing a strike. It’s also important to revisit these spots throughout the day, as bass may move in and out of cover. By utilizing the bass’s preference, you can effectively target them.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

Water clarity plays a crucial role in determining the success of shallow water bass fishing. In stained or murky water, bass are more likely to remain near the edges of cover, making them easier to target. In contrast, clear water can cause bass to burrow deeper into cover, making them more challenging to reach with your lures. Therefore, when fishing shallow waters, it’s often more productive to focus on areas with off-colored water, particularly in the upper tributary arms of a lake. However, if clear water is present, the key is to identify coves or creeks with a plentiful supply of baitfish, as this can still draw bass to the shallows. In clear water, it may also be necessary to use lighter, more natural-colored lures and make longer casts to avoid spooking the fish. Fishing during low-light conditions, such as early morning or late evening, can help you capitalize on the increased bass activity in clear water. Understanding how water clarity affects bass behavior allows you to adjust your approach and improve your chances of success. By choosing the right areas and tactics based on water clarity, anglers can effectively target bass in a variety of shallow water conditions for a successful day of fishing.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!

Selecting the right lure and mastering the appropriate technique are vital when targeting shallow bass in the summer. A versatile approach involves using a combination of jigs and soft plastics, which can be pitched into shallow cover such as docks or wood structures. After the lure hits the bottom, it’s essential to pay attention to the feel of the line, as bass often strike as the lure descends. If the fish are less aggressive, adjusting your presentation by making the lure jump off the bottom or dragging it through cover can trigger a reaction strike. Understanding these subtle techniques and being adaptable in your approach can make all the difference in catching finicky summer bass. Varying your retrieve speed and experimenting with different lure sizes and colors can help you dial in on what the bass are responding to on any given day. It’s also important to be patient, as fishing shallow cover requires precision and careful observation of how the bass are reacting. Pay close attention to the water conditions, whether it’s switching to a different lure type or altering your casting angles. By anglers fine-tuning their lure selection and techniques, they can significantly increase their success.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.

Weather conditions greatly influence bass behavior, especially in shallow waters. Bright sunshine and a gentle breeze can create ideal fishing conditions by pushing bass into shaded cover while simultaneously moving plankton and baitfish closer to their ambush points. The sunshine encourages bass to seek refuge in shade, making it easier to predict where they’ll be hiding. Meanwhile, the wind can help congregate baitfish around these areas, making them prime targets for bass. By understanding how weather affects the movement of both bass and their prey, you can better position yourself for successful shallow water fishing. On overcast days, bass may spread out and become more active throughout the shallows, requiring a different approach with more widespread casting. Sudden weather changes, such as the onset of a storm, can trigger a feeding frenzy, offering a brief window of heightened bass activity. Monitoring weather patterns and adjusting your tactics accordingly can greatly enhance your ability to locate and catch bass. Being attuned to these environmental factors allows you to make strategic decisions, such as choosing the best times and locations to fish, improving your catch rate.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!

Targeting shallow water bass during the summer can yield impressive results, with catches ranging from smaller, more abundant fish to larger, trophy-sized bass. By focusing on the right conditions and areas, anglers can consistently find and catch bass that others might overlook. The key to success lies in understanding the behavior of bass during the summer and how they interact with their environment. This approach not only increases your catch rate but also opens up new opportunities for finding quality fish, even when other anglers are struggling. With the right strategy, shallow water fishing can become one of the most productive techniques in your summer bass fishing arsenal. Regularly adjusting your tactics based on factors like weather, water clarity, and the presence of baitfish will further enhance your chances of success. Embracing this method allows you to stay ahead of the competition and make the most of the summer fishing season. Gaining experience and refining your skills in shallow water fishing can lead to more consistent results and a deeper understanding of bass behavior. This approach can turn challenging conditions into rewarding opportunities.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.

MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Returns to Wheeler Lake in 2025

Brian Carter

August 13, 2024

MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Returns to Wheeler Lake in 2025

DECATUR, Ala. (Aug. 13, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF), in conjunction with Decatur Morgan County Tourism , announced today that the 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship will take place on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama, April 9-11, 2025.

“The decision to bring the MLF College Fishing National Championship to Decatur underscores our commitment to showcasing our region’s natural resources and fostering partnerships within the sports tourism industry,” said Danielle Gibson, President and CEO of Decatur Morgan County Tourism. “We look forward to a successful event that benefits our local economy and community.“

The 16th annual College Fishing National Championship will mark the second time the three-day tournament has been held on Wheeler Lake and will showcase the nation’s top collegiate bass anglers.

“Major League Fishing is excited to be returning to Wheeler Lake, a legendary bass-fishing destination, for the 2025 College Fishing National Championship,” said Kevin Hunt, MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations . “The lake’s diverse and challenging waters will provide the perfect stage for the nation’s top collegiate anglers to showcase their talents and passion for the sport. We’re looking forward to an exciting event.”

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship will showcase the top teams from the 2024 MLF College Fishing season competing for a top prize of $43,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat powered by a 115-horsepower outboard and $10,000 in cash. The winning team will also advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot at winning as much as $235,000. The highest finishing team member at the Toyota Series Championship will advance to REDCREST 2026 to compete against the top professional anglers in the sport for a top prize of $300,000.

The second-place team at the 2025 College Fishing National Championship will receive a Phoenix 518 Pro boat powered by a 115-horsepower outboard. The team also advances to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros. The third-place finishers at the 2025 College Fishing National Championship will receive $4,000, and the team advances to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship as co-anglers for a shot at winning a new Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115 HP Mercury or Suzuki. Every team in the top 10 at the 2025 College Fishing National Championship will receive at least $1,000.

Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI teams compete in nine regular-season qualifying tournaments across the country to qualify for the championship. The top 12 percent of teams from each qualifying event advance to the following year’s College Fishing National Championship.

The 2025 College Fishing National Championship will air on CBS Sports in the fall of 2025. Weigh-ins from each day of competition will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com along with the final day’s competition at the championship. The complete schedule and rules for the 2025 College Fishing season will be announced this fall.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI 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, 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 College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Back on Top: Wheeler Claims Third MLF Bass Pro Tour Fishing Clash Angler of the Year Title in Past Four Seasons

Brian Carter

August 13, 2024

Back on Top: Wheeler Claims Third MLF Bass Pro Tour Fishing Clash Angler of the Year Title in Past Four Seasons

By: Mitchell Forde

MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 13, 2024) – For a brief moment on Thursday afternoon, the machine that is Jacob Wheeler allowed himself to exhale.

During the break between the second and third periods of the final qualifying day at Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Humminbird, Wheeler sat on the front deck of his bass boat. Situated in ninth place in Group B, just a few pounds clear of the elimination line, with rain from Hurricane Debby falling ever harder, Wheeler knew he would be in for a soggy and stressful final two and a half hours on the St. Lawrence River.

But, at that point, he also knew that he’d achieved his biggest goal for the 2024 season: winning the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title on the Bass Pro Tour. So, while tying a few fresh knots, Wheeler reflected on the achievement.

“I would have never guessed in a million years that I would be sitting in this position right now in the sport,” Wheeler told MLFNOW! viewers. “I’m very thankful to be able to live out my dream as a professional angler. This is what I love to do, this is what I feel like God put me on this earth for, and there’s no rain that can damper our mood today.”

Wheeler, who has held the points lead since the second event of the season, will earn $100,000 from Fishing Clash for his triumph. After winning AOY in both 2021 and 2022 before finishing second to Matt Becker a season ago, he made it his mission to reclaim the title, which he regards as the true measure of the best angler on tour.

“Angler of the Year, to me, is so special because it’s a year-long battle,” Wheeler said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a great shallow-water fisherman or a great deep-water fisherman, you have to catch them every single place; you have to understand largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, depending on where we go in the year; grass, rock. It’s always changing. I’ve always tried to be a versatile angler, and I think Angler of the Year really sets up for that.”

Wheeler’s third AOY triumph in the past four years illustrated the traits that have made him the most dominant competitor on the Bass Pro Tour: his aforementioned versatility, his decision making, his drive. It also put him in elite historical company, bolstering his fast-growing case to be considered among the greatest tournament anglers of all time.

Learning from last year
For most pros, finishing second in an Angler of the Year race would represent a career milestone. But after Wheeler wound up four points shy of Becker in 2023, he admitted it left a bad taste in his mouth.

“To be honest with you, it stung,” he said. “It stung really bad. I was pretty irritated in the offseason, because I knew I messed up. It was on me.”

That mess-up was Wheeler’s 75th-place finish at Lake Murray — by far the worst event of his Bass Pro Tour career. As a result, his focus for the 2024 campaign was to win events, sure, but also to avoid a similar bomb.

Check and check. Wheeler’s season got off to a dream start. He finished fourth at Stage One on Toledo Bend, then followed it up with a victory on Santee Cooper, which gave him an early AOY lead. He poured on a second straight win on Dale Hollow.

Yet Wheeler doesn’t point to either of those victories as the moment that stands out most from his season, but the following event, Stage Four on Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula. After the lake level rose dramatically between practice and the start of competition, Wheeler boated just two scorable bass for 3 pounds, 14 ounces on Day 1, which had him in 30th place in his group. On Day 2, he made an adjustment and fought his way inside the cut line with eight bass for 21-11.

“A lot of times, Angler of the Year is not [about] your best event; it’s your worst event that kills you,” Wheeler said. “I was way down there, and to come back after the adversity of not catching them Day 1, to build up and get a little confidence, there was a lot of things that happened in that event that made me appreciate that I could make it work. Those grinder events are always the toughest ones, too.”

Transitioning from rocky, Midwestern reservoirs to East Coast tidal rivers didn’t slow Wheeler down. He cruised to a fourth-place finish on the Chowan River, then finished 11th at the James River. Through six events, his average finish was an absurd 6.3.

Dustin Connell, who travels with Wheeler and pushed him in this year’s AOY chase, attributed Wheeler’s ability to succeed on all types of fisheries not only to his knack for understanding and finding fish but his strategic acumen. Wheeler has mastered the Bass Pro Tour format, understanding how to catch enough weight early during the qualifying rounds to allow himself to keep up with changes in a fishery, all the while saving enough fish for the Championship Round.

“He’s always one step ahead,” Connell said. “He isn’t just thinking about that one day, he’s trying to formulate a plan how to win. He knows how to play this format very well, and he’s always thinking the end goal is the Championship Round.”

Clutch calls on the St. Lawrence
Wheeler arrived at the St. Lawrence with a 19-point lead that, given his track record, felt insurmountable. As long as he made the Knockout Round — something he’d done in 10 straight regular-season events and never failed to accomplish on northern smallmouth waters — Wheeler would clinch the AOY crown.

However, Wheeler’s smallmouth bite didn’t fire as well as he expected on Day 1. So, he swapped his spinning rods for flipping sticks and headed to the shallows to target largemouth. The decision paid off to the tune of 45 pounds during the second half of the day.

When he returned to the water Thursday, Wheeler once again found his smallmouth bite slow. He pivoted to largemouth and caught five bass for more than 16 pounds, which moved him from the wrong side of the cut line into the Top 10. This time, sensing that he needed to stack weight at a higher rate to make the Knockout Round, he returned to offshore smallmouth habitat during the third period and cemented his spot with seven smallmouth for 22-10.

Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Shaw Grigsby pointed to that on-the-water decision making as the aspect of Wheeler’s game that impresses him the most.

“The real key that I see in watching him live on the Bass Pro Tour is how he adjusts on the day,” Grigsby said of Wheeler. “Like, okay, this isn’t happening; let’s go here and do this. I’ve always called it fearlessness.”

Connell said the bold decisiveness fans see from Wheeler during tournaments stems from the work he puts in when nobody is watching. For instance, after Stage Five on the Chowan River, Wheeler drove an extra 12 hours and devoted five days to pre-practice the St. Lawrence. He used that time to familiarize himself with both bass species so that, if one bite wasn’t working, he had a backup plan in place.

“I would consider him a workaholic,” Connell said. “He works, eats, sleeps, breathes bass fishing. He’s always been wired that way, and that’s all he ever thinks about. He’s always working hard, putting in the time. You’ve got to have that devotion and dedication to do that.”

The driving force behind Wheeler’s work ethic? Connell says he’s crazy competitive — no matter if it’s fishing a top-level tournament or playing a board game at the house, he can’t stand not winning. He’s also incapable of sitting still.

“I wouldn’t say he’s ADHD, but I kind of think he is, because he’s just wide open all the time,” Connell said.

Wheeler acknowledged his competitiveness but said the primary source of his motivation is trying to live up to the high expectations he’s established among his fans.

“There’s a lot of fans and people out there that expect me to catch them,” he said. “They almost put you on a pedestal, like, you’re supposed to (win), so if you don’t, you’re not living up to their expectations. … I try to live up to a lot of people’s expectations of who I am.”

An all-time great run
Wheeler has been a consistent force since the inception of the Bass Pro Tour in 2019, but across the past four years, he’s hit a new gear. There’s no shortage of stats that illustrate his dominance. In 35 events (not counting Stage Seven), he has six wins and 25 Top 10s. That’s a win rate of 17.1% and a Top-10 percentage of 71.4%. He’s earned more than $1.63 million in BPT competition. He’s been ranked by BassFan.com as the No. 1 angler in the world for five years straight. Of course, he’s won the AOY title three times and finished second the one season he didn’t prevail.

Those numbers are in a class of their own compared to Wheeler’s peers on the Bass Pro Tour. It’s time to start looking at how he stacks up against the greatest pros of all time. Grigsby, who started touring nationally in 1984 and competed on the Bass Pro Tour through 2022, wasn’t afraid to mention Wheeler’s name alongside the consensus greatest ever, Kevin VanDam.

“I see Kevin as of course one of the greatest of all time, and I still have him as the GOAT,” Grigsby said. “But I think as Wheeler goes on, depending on what he does in the next five to 10 years, we’ll see.”

Wheeler is now one of 10 anglers to win at least three Angler of the Year titles on national tours. Roland Martin leads the way with nine such wins. VanDam won eight. David Dudley and Clark Wendlandt each won four. Bill Dance, Mark Davis, Aaron Martens, Andy Morgan, Jay Yelas and Wheeler represent the three-time winners.

While the 34-year-old Wheeler may have a ways to go to match the career accolades of Martin and VanDam, his current tear deserves to be in the conversation for the best four-year run in history. Only three other anglers have won three AOY titles in four years. Martin did it twice in the early days of Bassmaster. Morgan won the FLW Tour points crown in 2013, 2014 and 2016. VanDam won four straight AOYs on the Bassmaster Elite Series from 2008-2011.

As impressive as Morgan’s run was, he didn’t win any events during that span, and his Top-10 rate (41.67%) pales in comparison to Wheeler’s. Martin’s numbers stack up better, but it’s difficult to draw comparisons between that era, when there were very few full-time pros, and the modern landscape. Skeet Reese went on a blistering stretch from 2007-2010 during which he won four events (including the 2009 Bassmaster Classic) and finished in the Top 10 25 times. He also won AOY in 2007 and finished second two other seasons. As eye-popping as those marks are, however, he still falls well short of Wheeler’s current stretch in win percentage (8.16%), Top 10 percentage (51.0%) and number of AOY titles (largely because he had the misfortune of competing against peak VanDam).

Ultimately, the only four-year streak in the past 40 years that surpasses Wheeler’s current run is VanDam’s reign of terror — and even that is debatable. Wheeler has won at a comparable rate (VanDam won 18.2% of his events over that span) and finished in the Top 10 more often (VanDam was at 54.5%). Plus, when considering that two of VanDam’s wins and five Top 10s came in postseason events with 12-boat fields, you could justifiably add Wheeler’s 2022 Summit Cup and 2023 Team Series victories to his tallies. Ultimately, though, VanDam’s two Bassmaster Classic wins and four straight AOY titles make his 2008-11 run tough to surpass.

Wheeler doesn’t spend much time worrying about his place in the pantheon of bass fishing greats. That mindset is one reason he’s won three AOYs — he’s always locked in on the next thing. Before he’d even made it back to Massena on Thursday afternoon, he was less focused on his AOY triumph than what he needs to do to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round.

“I feel like I’m having a crazy run right now, and I recognize that, but I don’t really spend much time thinking about it,” Wheeler explained. “I realize that things are clicking, and things are happening right now that don’t happen every year. So, I’m grateful for it. But I really don’t want to think about it, to be honest with you.

“I can’t even appreciate Angler of the Year right now because I’m still in the middle of a tournament. I’m still wanting to win. That was always the biggest box for me this season, my mindset is still like, alright, accomplished, go to the next deal.”

Once the offseason officially arrives, Wheeler will take some more time to reflect on his season (but probably not much; he’s competing alongside Connell in the General Tire Team Series later this month after all). He also understands that, between the wave of young stars flooding into the sport and an increasing desire to spend more time at home with his two young children, his dominance has an expiration date. Ultimately, his goal is not to match the accomplishments of Martin or VanDam but to be remembered as “the best of my era.”

He’s well on his way.

“Michael Jordan was the best of his era; LeBron James was the best of his,” Wheeler said. “There’s an era in time of like, you were the best player for some duration of time, you were the best fisherman for some duration of time. And so, for me, that’s my focus, because you can’t really compare – in a different era of time, it was completely different. So, obviously, I have the utmost respect and look up to Roland and Kevin and some of the great anglers, but it’s not necessarily a competition with any of them. That’s not necessarily my goal to try to be called the greatest of all time, because you’ll never get that. You can only be the best of your own time.”

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

Long & Witfield Win 5 Alive/Caswell Glass Mayo Trail Tournament #3

Brian Carter

August 13, 2024

5 Alive/Caswell Glass Mayo Trail
Tournament #3

We had the 3rd tournament of the Caswell Glass Mayo Trail Saturday.
We had 42 boats show up to give us another solid showing for the trail. We want to say THANK YOU to everyone that came out and fished with us Saturday.

After the scales closed Saturday it was the team of Dustin Long & Byron Whitfield that topped the 42 boat field. They had a 3 fish limit weighing 13.11 pounds to take the WIN

That limit was anchored by a 7.13 pound stud to also give them the WIN for Big Fish for the tournament.
They took home $1370.00 for the day. That was a GREAT JOB by the 2 most local fisherman in the field for Mayo Lake and 2 Good Ol boys to go with it.

They were followed by the team of Wolfe & Wolfe with a 3 fish limit weighing 13.05 pounds. That bag earned them a total of $1050.00 with 2nd place earnings and the 1st place TWT.
As always a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who placed in the money!!!

Once again tournament director Rodney Bowen did a great job with the tournament!!

Our next tournament will be on 8/24/2024

If you want to pre register contact me Kevin Sheppard at 336-264-8416

Thanks again!

Results.
1st. Long & Whitfield- 13.11 pounds- $1370.00
2nd. Wolfe & Wolfe- 13.05 pounds- $1050.00 TWT
3rd. J. Mullins & C. Mullins- 13.03 pounds- $750.00 TWT
4th. Glosson & Talley- 12.03 pounds- $500.00 TWT
5th. Gee& Gunter- 11.11 pounds- $270.00
6th. Fox & Oakley- 11.07 pounds- $200.00
7th. Brogden & Dunn- 11.03 pounds- $120.00
8th. Moore & Moore- 10.12 pounds
9th. Poole & C. Moser- 10.11 pounds
10th. Porterfield & Bohannon- 10.08 pounds

Big Fish.
Long & Whitfield- 7.13 pounds- $420.00

Late-day rally lifts Loughran to victory at Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain

Brian Carter

August 12, 2024

Late-day rally lifts Loughran to victory at Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain

Virginia’s Ed Loughran III wins the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain with a four-day total of 80 pounds, 12 ounces.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

Aug. 12, 2024

Late-day rally lifts Loughran to victory at Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Entering Championship Monday at the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain, Day 3 leader Ed Loughran III thought he needed another 20-pound bag to win his first blue trophy. So, when he finished with a 16-pound, 14-ounce limit of smallmouth, he was just hoping he would still finish in the Top 5.

It turned out he had the exact weight he needed.

With a four-day total of 80-12, the veteran angler from Richmond, Va., notched his first Elite Series title, edging out Canada’s Chris Johnston by 1 ounce to earn the $100,000 check and a blue trophy.

The 2011 Toledo Bend Elite Series event has been the only other Elite Series event settled by a 1-ounce difference in total weight.

“I had zero thought that I had won. I was hoping to just stay in the Top 5,” Loughran said. “It’s unbelievable. I’ve never won a big tournament. I’ve had Top 5s in big tournaments … but I’m always a little short. I didn’t have any realistic expectation of winning one, but after yesterday I thought I might have a chance.

“The money will come and go, but that trophy will not go anywhere.”

Opening the tournament in 38th with 19-1, Loughran landed bags of largemouth weighing 22-15 and 21-14 to jump into the lead on Semi-Final Sunday. But if he didn’t make a critical move on Day 4, Loughran feels he wouldn’t have won.

Toward the end of the day, Loughran left his primary area and moved uplake to a spot he had not yet fished in the tournament. Just before he reached the spot he was intending to fish, he noticed a group of smallmouth on his forward-facing sonar that were piled up around several rocks.

“I sat there and caught a dozen fish,” Loughran said. “One was a 3-10 and I caught two other 3-pounders. Had that not happened, I would not have won. It is nuts. I hadn’t even fished it yet this week.”

A tidal river aficionado, Loughran started fishing Lake Champlain in 1991 and has grown to love the lake. This week, after missing the last two Elites due to medical issues, he traveled south to an area he had never fished before in an attempt to stay away from competitors fishing for Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.

Loughran described his best area as a rock ridge in 5 to 10 feet of water with milfoil beds in the vicinity. Using his Garmin LiveScope, he identified three high spots on the ridge that were holding the majority of the bass. The best part: he had the area all to himself.

“There was a lot going on. You had some creeks coming in and some milfoil beds around. You’ve got several high spots with chunk rock and grass mixed in,” he explained. “It was pretty protected, too. All of that offers really good habitat.

“If there was another angler in there, I wouldn’t have won and I wouldn’t have gotten a check.”

Smallmouth and largemouth inhabited the area, but the smallmouth stayed on one side of the ridge while the largemouth hunkered down on the other side. Loughran landed a mixed bag on Day 1, but on the second and third days he brought all largemouth to the scales, including a 5-12 on Day 3.

To generate most of his bites, Loughran dragged either a ½-ounce green pumpkin Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip or a ⅜-ounce homemade jig paired with either a Missile Baits Craw Father or Missile Baits Chunky D. He trimmed down the Chunky D to match the profile he felt the bass were eating.

He pitched those jigs using a 7-foot-6 heavy Shimano Expride rod paired with a Shimano Chronarch MGL 8:1:1 baitcasting reel and 20-pound Berkley fluorocarbon.

“I think these fish are eating on small crayfish,” Loughran said.

He also landed several key bass on a ½-ounce green pumpkin Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait JackHammer with a Missile Baits Spunk Shad trailer in the goby bite color.

Once Loughran reached his primary area on the final day, the Virginia pro landed three smallmouth on consecutive casts around 8:45 a.m. After a short lull, he picked up a topwater walking bait and filled out his limit with two more smallmouth.

From there, however, the bite slowed down tremendously before Loughran executed his last-minute heroics with a drop shot rigged with a Missile Baits Bomb Shot in goby bite.

“The lake was off today for whatever reason,” he said. “I had one largemouth bite all day. It was terrible. Before, I was catching 20. Smallmouth had come in and taken over.”

Johnston, meanwhile, was just an ounce away from claiming his second career Elite Series trophy with bags of 20-0, 21-14, 19-8 and 19-5, totaling 80-11. There were several bass that came unglued this week that would have carried him past Loughran.

“I’m regretting a couple of the fish I lost the last two days,” the five-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier said. “Any of them would have done it for me. Being that close, it sucks. I’d rather lose by 5 pounds, to be honest. It is what it is. That’s fishing, and I’ll try to catch them next week.”

Most of the week, Johnston targeted smallmouth on deeper breaks in the northern section of Lake Champlain. Using his forward-facing sonar, he would comb large areas searching for quality smallmouth with a 4-inch minnow rigged on either a ⅜-ounce or ½-ounce head.

Johnston’s bass were feeding on perch and would move between 15 and 50 feet of water.

The smallmouth bite did not produce first thing on Day 4, so Johnston decided to fish for largemouth and lost two, one of which he believed would have helped his bag. He returned to his smallmouth waters and wrangled up an 18-pound limit before returning to a stretch of shallow reeds in an attempt to catch a kicker largemouth.

“(The smallmouth deal) wasn’t working. I probably gave it too long in hindsight,” he said. “The last hour I went back largemouth fishing and caught a 4-pounder that was pretty damn close, but not enough. One perch it spit up would have done it for me.”

Tennessee’s Robert Gee finished third with a total of 80-9, his third Top 5 of the season. Targeting smallmouth in the Inland Sea and Malletts Bay, the Knoxville rookie never left the Top 10 with bags of 21-1, 19-15, 19-13 and 19-12.

Ridges dropping from 35 feet to 50 feet with perch or alewives were the key areas for Gee. The bigger bass, Gee said, were eating the perch close to the bottom of the lake. He mid-strolled a 5-inch Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm on a ¼-ounce jighead to catch the majority of his smallies. A Juices Jig crappie/bass hair jig in the Tennessee shad color landed a couple of key bass as well.

Gee experienced his best day of smallmouth fishing on Monday morning. He has no idea how many bass he caught, but he quickly reached the 18-pound mark and was able to make several more key culls. Unfortunately, he could not find a 5-pound bass on the final day that would have lifted him to victory.

“It was probably the best day of smallmouth fishing I’ve ever had, numbers wise,” Gee said.

Canada’s Cory Johnston landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of Day 4, a 5-5 largemouth. New York rookie Kyle Patrick claimed Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors with a 6-2 largemouth he caught on Day 1, earning a total of 3,000 in bonuses. Patrick also claimed the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency bonus for accurate weight recording.

Day 1 leader Seth Feider claimed the $2,000 bonus for the CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament with his 23-11 limit of largemouth from the first day.

Alabama’s Will Davis Jr took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Texas’ Chris Zaldain earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Gee earned an additional $4,000 while South Carolina’s Patrick Walters claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

With one event remaining on the Elite Series schedule, 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors champion Justin Hamner still holds the lead in the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 671 points while Johnston is second with 658 points. Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz is third with 652 points, South Carolina rookie JT Thompkins is fourth with 634 points and Illinois rookie Trey McKinney is fifth with 633 points.

Thompkins leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year race followed by McKinney in second. Tennessee’s John Garrett is third with 622 points, Alabama’s Wesley Gore is fourth with 621 points and Tyler Williams is fifth with 594 points.

The Adirondack Coast and City of Plattsburgh hosted the tournament.

2024 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain 8/8-8/12
Lake Champlain, Plattsburg NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

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

1. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 20 80-12 0 $100,333.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 22-15 Day 3: 5 21-14 Day 4: 5 16-14
2. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 20 80-11 102 $35,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 21-14 Day 3: 5 19-08 Day 4: 5 19-05
3. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 20 80-09 101 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-01 Day 2: 5 19-15 Day 3: 5 19-13 Day 4: 5 19-12
4. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 20 79-03 100 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 20-13 Day 3: 5 20-02 Day 4: 5 17-07
5. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 20 78-09 99 $21,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 20-01 Day 3: 5 19-15 Day 4: 5 18-13
6. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 20 78-03 98 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 20-06 Day 4: 5 18-00
7. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 20 77-08 97 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 20-09 Day 3: 5 18-05 Day 4: 5 17-11
8. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 20 77-03 96 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-04 Day 2: 5 20-11 Day 3: 5 18-07 Day 4: 5 16-13
9. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 20 75-00 95 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-01 Day 2: 5 21-07 Day 3: 5 18-12 Day 4: 5 13-12
10. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 20 74-02 94 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-11 Day 2: 5 18-15 Day 3: 5 17-09 Day 4: 5 14-15
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 06-02 $1,000.00
2 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 05-07 $333.33
2 Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 05-07 $333.33
2 Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 05-07 $333.33
3 Matt Herren Ashville, AL 05-15 $1,000.00
4 Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 05-05 $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 06-02 $2,000.00
CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

Seth Feider New Market, MN 23-11 $2,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 100 503 1865-09
2 100 504 1789-03
3 50 250 906-12
4 10 50 173-06
———————————-
260 1307 4734-14

1...167168169...1,533 Page 168 of 1,533

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FISH SHALLOW WATERS FOR SUMMER BASS!

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