We wrapped up the Summer CATT Trail this past weekend! Overall, the fishing hasn’t been too bad with the heat but now that the eater is back up, we should see some good bags coming in!
The next CATT event on Lake Wateree is July 13th at Clearwater Cove and is a $60 Open! We won’t have anything else until Sept 21st! Tap on this link to view the CATT Lake Wateree Fall Trail!
Mastering Summertime Bass Fishing: Techniques to Catch Giant Bass
When the summer sun peaks and temperatures soar, both humans and fish tend to enter a slower pace. Just as we find ourselves craving shade and cold beverages, bass alter their behavior to cope with the heat. While it might be tempting to think that bass completely stop biting during these scorching months, the reality is a bit more nuanced. With some extra effort and the right techniques, you can still reel in some giant bass. Let’s dive into some tips and techniques to make the most out of your summertime bass fishing adventures.
Understanding Summertime Bass Behavior
Before we delve into specific techniques, it’s crucial to understand how bass behave in the summer:
1. Seeking Cooler Waters: As water temperatures rise, bass actively look for cooler, more oxygen-rich environments. These include deeper waters, shaded areas, and places with abundant vegetation or current.
2. Prime Feeding Times: Bass are most active during the cooler parts of the day, particularly early morning and late evening. These windows are ideal for fishing.
3. Adjusted Diet: In warmer temperatures, bass metabolism slows down slightly. They might prefer slower-moving prey or lures that closely mimic their natural diet.
Essential Gear and Setup
To maximize your chances of success, having the right gear is paramount:
1. Rod and Reel: Opt for a medium-heavy rod paired with a high-speed reel. This setup offers the versatility needed for various techniques you’ll employ.
2. Line: A combination of braided line and fluorocarbon leader provides the strength and invisibility you need.
3. Terminal Tackle: Stock up on a variety of hooks, sinkers, and swivels to tailor your setup to different lures and conditions.
Key Techniques for Summertime Bass Fishing
1. Drop Shot Rig
The drop shot rig is a finesse technique perfect for targeting bass in deep waters or around structure. It consists of a small hook tied above a weight, allowing your bait to hover just above the bottom.
– Bait Choice: Use straight-tail worms or small minnows. These mimic natural prey and are effective in enticing sluggish bass.
– Technique: Drop your rig to the bottom, then gently twitch it to make the bait appear as if it’s alive. Maintain slight tension on the line to detect subtle bites.
2. Topwater Frog
Topwater fishing with hollow-body frogs can be incredibly exhilarating. This method is especially effective in the early morning and late evening when bass are feeding near the surface.
– Bait Choice: Use distinct styles like pointed-nose frogs for thick cover and popping frogs for open water.
– Technique: Cast near weed beds, lily pads, or other vegetation. Work your frog with a walk-the-dog action, pausing occasionally to mimic a live frog. Remember to hesitate slightly before setting the hook when a bass strikes.
3. Wobble Head Jig
The wobble head jig, paired with a creature bait, is an excellent alternative to crankbaits and spinnerbaits. This lure’s free-moving head gives it a natural, erratic action that bass find irresistible.
– Bait Choice: Use creature baits that mimic bluegill or crawfish. The Missile Baits D Bomb is a popular choice due to its lifelike action.
– Technique: Cast out and let it sink to the bottom. Employ a slow, steady retrieve, ensuring the jig bumps into rocks, logs, and other underwater structures. Pause occasionally to let the lure settle, tempting bass to strike.
4. Deep-Diving Crankbaits
When bass retreat to deeper waters, deep-diving crankbaits become essential. These lures can cover a lot of water quickly, making them great for locating schools of bass.
– Bait Choice: Use crankbaits like the Strike King 3XD or 5XD that dive to 10-15 feet. Choose natural colors that mimic shad or other local forage.
– Technique: Cast as far as possible and retrieve at a moderate pace, ensuring the crankbait touches the bottom. The goal is to create a commotion that attracts bass lurking in deeper waters.
5. Flutter Spoon
Fishing a flutter spoon is an excellent technique for targeting bass on offshore structure like humps, points, and ledges. This method can produce explosive strikes from large bass.
– Bait Choice: Choose flutter spoons ranging from 3 to 6 inches. Sixth Sense’s Magnum Spoon is a reliable option.
– Technique: Cast the spoon and let it sink to the bottom. Use a popping action to lift the spoon off the bottom and let it flutter back down. This mimics the erratic movements of a dying baitfish, triggering aggressive strikes.
Advanced Tips for Summertime Success
– Follow the Wind: Wind can play a significant role in locating bass. Wind-blown points and pockets often concentrate baitfish, attracting bass. Pay attention to wind direction and fish accordingly.
– Utilize Electronics: If kayaking or boating, use fish finders and depth finders to locate structure and schools of fish. This information can guide your lure choices and fishing locations.
– Stay Hydrated and Safe: Summertime fishing can expose you to harsh sun and heat for prolonged periods. Wear sunscreen, hats, and polarized sunglasses. Stay hydrated and take breaks as needed to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
In Conclusion
Fishing for bass in the summertime can be challenging, but with the right techniques and a bit of persistence, you can still have a very successful outing. Understanding bass behavior, employing a variety of presentations, and making adjustments based on conditions will significantly increase your chances of catching those giant bass. As always, practice catch and release to ensure that these incredible fish are around for future generations to enjoy.
So, gear up, get out there in the early mornings or late evenings, and use these strategies to your advantage. Summertime bass fishing might take a little more effort, but the reward of catching a giant bass makes it all worthwhile. Tight lines and happy fishing!
BOARDMAN, Ore. – Chris Parks of Eugene, Ore. put a final limit on the scales during Championship Sunday with his third consecutive bag to break the 20-pound mark for a three-day tournament-total of 67.12, locking up a wire-to-wire win at the Columbia River, the 4th stop of the BAM Tournament Trail Pro / Am presented by the Boardman Chamber of Commerce. For the victory, Parks pocketed $8,172, including a $250 contingency from Bass Boat Technologies, and a $400 Big Fish payout.
“I fish the Columbia quite a bit; but only the lower pools; so, this is actually the first event that I have weighed a fish in from Boardman and done an event out here,” Parks said. “To be able to put it all together is awesome!”
After a good practice credited to reaction baits in the wind, Parks launched on Day One to find it flat calm.
“There wasn’t even a ripple,” he said. “And so, I had to think about it. How do I read the water? What do I do? Where is my adjustment?”
Through some trial and error, Parks ended up with a Ned rig.
“My buddy Joe makes a Bass Union weedless shakey head in a 3/16 ounce, so I tied it on a spinning rod,” he shared. “I probably caught 15 keepers that first day and that was my Day One.”
The full setup that Parks used to throw the shakey head that put him in the lead was a St.Croix 7’ medium-heavy rod with a 2500 Shimano Stradic spooled with10-pound braid tied to a 10-pound fluoro leader. His plastic was a Z-Man TRD in the color The Deal.
Over the course of the three days of competition, the majority of all of Parks’ weigh fish fell to that TRD rig, with one notable exception.
“Today, I pulled into a shallow pocket late and threw a frog on a mat – it looked like a good place for a largemouth,” he said. “I got a really good bite, set the hook and it was a 4.1-pound smallmouth in two-feet of water. That was just icing on the cake. It was 2:15 p.m. and I culled out a 3.1 for that four – pulled out a full pound.”
The triumph will push Parks up the leaderboard in the BAM Tournament Trail Angler of the Year (AOY) points standings.
Of the three events that he has fished, with a possible 250 points in each, Parks will add this 250 to the 248 he logged at Shasta and the 246 from the Delta.
“It is my 3rd top-10 in a row,” he said. “I’m excited to see what happens at Clear Lake, which is next. It is going to be a big deal for me, and it can’t come soon enough.”
The BAM Tournament Trail will continue with its next stop at Clear Lake in California. Registration is underway. More insight on the Columbia River event can be found at the BAM TT site.
Harris Hangs on For Co Win at Columbia
Will Harris from Columbia City, Ore. also went wire-to-wire for the co-angler win, putting together a final weight of 50.01, earning the top co-angler prize of $2,478.
“I’ve always been told you can never lead it for three days, but I was really hoping that wasn’t true,” Harris said.
Paired with his Day One pro, Ron Wiseman from Pendelton, Ore., Harris sacked up 17.42, taking the co lead.
“I started with a Hula Grub,” he said. “They were in 8- to 10-feet of water, not super-deep. Later in the day, when there was a little bit of chop on the water,I caught a few on topwater.”
Harris added 15.91 and 16.68 while he was paired with Parks on Days Two and Three.
“It was an incredible place with Chris,” he said. “The water was clear, and they were shallow. We locked up through the dam. The bite was slow, but when you did get one, it was a good one.
“Today, itwas tougher than yesterday. It took me a little time to catch my five; but Iwas lucky enough to get the bites and they didn’t come unpegged.”
Over thethree days of fishing, Harris’ most productive presentation was the 4-inchYamamoto Hula Grub in cinnamon purple / black flake. He fished it on a 7’3medium-heavy Alpha Angler rod with 17-pound Seaguar AbrazX.
“I also threw a 3.3” Keitech swimbait on 8-pound line and a light head,” he added.
“I’ve fished eight or nine tournaments already; but this is my first top-10, and my first win” he said. “I’m just appreciative of all the people that support me and all the people that run this event. I’m just lucky to be here.”
Championship Sunday’s Top-10 Field
Pro Angler
PLACE PRO BIG FISH DAY 1 BIG FISH DAY 2 DAY 1 WEIGHT DAY 2 WEIGHT DAY 3 WEIGHT TOTAL WEIGHT PLACE WINNINGS BIG FISH $ TACKLE WAREHOUSE TOTAL PAYOUT
1 Chris Parks 5.42 22.04 23.73 21.35 67.12 $7,522.00 $400.00 $250.00 $8,172.00 2 Jacob Anderson 19.84 21.73 20.59 62.16 $2,364.00 $2,364.00 3 Ben Hanes 6.7 20.80 18.00 18.29 57.09 $2,149.00 $400.00 $2,549.00 4 Dave Kromm 18.22 19.99 18.24 56.45 $1,934.00 $1,934.00 5 Jake Boomer 18.95 16.96 20.49 56.40 $1,719.00 $1,719.00 6 Gary Posten 17.15 21.92 17.14 56.21 $1,504.00 $1,504.00 7 Donny Biagi 17.04 18.40 17.84 53.28 $1,289.00 $1,289.00 8 Sean Minderman 17.74 18.27 16.64 52.65 $1,075.00 $1,075.00 9 Ron Wiseman 16.43 18.62 15.22 50.27 $1,075.00 $1,075.00 10 Darryl Burkhardt 18.07 16.72 13.20 47.99 $860.00 $860.00
CoAngler PLACE CO BIG FISH DAY 1 BIG FISH DAY 2 DAY 1 WEIGHT DAY 2 WEIGHT DAY 3 WEIGHT TOTAL WEIGHT PLACE WINNINGS BIG FISH $ TACKLE WAREHOUSE TOTAL PAYOUT 1 Will Harris 17.42 15.91 16.68 50.01 $2,478.00 $2,478.00 2 Joe Cote 14.88 15.24 17.30 47.42 $779.00 $779.00 3 Rodney Brown 13.24 13.76 16.02 43.02 $708.00 $708.00 4 Ugene Downing 13.45 13.41 16.08 42.94 $637.00 $637.00 5 Tommy Rice 16.24 13.13 13.27 42.64 $566.00 $566.00 6 Sean Omalley 08.42 18.74 14.45 41.61 $496.00 $496.00 7 Mike Swearngin 12.12 16.16 11.00 39.28 $425.00 $425.00 8 Will Wyman 15.44 11.30 10.27 37.01 $354.00 $354.00 9 Scott Wightman 16.04 10.93 09.65 36.62 $354.00 $354.00 10 Troy Mays 11.75 15.59 00.00 27.34 $283.00 $283.00
General Tire pro catches 23 bass totaling 54-3 on final day to earn top award of $100,000
RICHMOND, Va. (June 30, 2024) – On his 55th birthday, Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, received one of the best presents of his life. The newly-announced Bass Fishing Hall of Famer added his first Bass Pro Tour trophy to his long list of accolades at the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts on the James River, plus the $100,000 top prize that came with it.
Reese totaled 54 pounds, 3 ounces on 23 scorable bass during Sunday’s Championship Round. He would need just about all of it, as pro Jeff Sprague of Wills Point, Texas, put together a furious late-day rally but ultimately fell 3-11 shy of Reese’s total.
The California pro said the 12th victory of his legendary career will go down as one of his most memorable, as each passing season has made him increasingly hungry to join the list of Bass Pro Tour champions.
“This I what I’ve been fishing for the last five years out here, trying to be able to be in a position to hoist one of these Bass Pro Tour trophies,” Reese said. “To beat the group of guys that we compete against – I mean, literally, this is the best group of anglers assembled ever in the history of the sport. So, to beat these guys, that means a lot to me.”
Between his highlighter yellow color scheme and effervescent personality, Reese has never been one to blend in. This week, standing out paid off.
Like just about everyone else in the field, Reese started each day of the Qualifying Round in the Chickahominy River, noting that the tides were perfect for the healthy bass population in the James tributary to feed each morning. Later in the day, he would run back up the James, chasing the low tide. A late flurry on the second day of qualifying near the mouth of the Appomattox River not only assured him a spot in the Knockout Round but showed him the potential of the area.
Assessing the changing tides and the cumulative fishing pressure on the Chickahominy, Reese decided to start both the Knockout and Championship Rounds around the mouth of the Appomattox. Fishing farther upriver than most of his peers gave him a lower tide during the morning – the one time of day bass seemed to feed regardless of tide.
“The tides weren’t getting right, plus the fish were getting pressured,” Reese explained. “So, I was trying to fish for fish that were not getting hammered as much as what was going on down in the Chick.”
On Championship Sunday, Reese’s decision paid off to the tune of six scorable bass in the first 20 minutes. He wound up totaling nearly 30 pounds during Period 1, taking a lead he would never relinquish.
While just about everyone found the bite best around low tide, the fact that Reese was able to generate bites amid higher water proved key. Sprague caught just one bass during the first three hours of competition. Despite stacking up 31-7 in the final period, he couldn’t quite dig out of that hole.
“I wasn’t expecting to catch as many as I did this morning, and I put the hammer on ‘em and caught almost 30 pounds that first period,” Reese said. “I was like, ‘So, you’re saying I have a chance?’”
Reese’s bait selection also differed from the rest of the field. Fishing “the way I like to fish” – that is, power fishing around shallow cover – Reese targeted docks and bridge pilings, primarily using a Lucky Craft BDS1 crankbait. He put on a close-quarters casting clinic with the Dive model from his newly released Reese Fishing line of rods, which he paired with a KastKing MG12 reel and 15-pound-test Berkley Trilene fluorocarbon.
“I fished a bladed jig a lot the first day, and I caught a decent amount of fish on it, but it just seemed like the Lucky Craft wound up getting bigger bites for me consistently,” Reese said. “Even if I was fishing water that other guys had fished, it’s something that they weren’t throwing. It was a different look and feel, and once I got dialed into it, I was like, alright, they’re eating this thing.”
After his morning flurry, Reese steadily added to his total throughout the day. He never went an hour of competition time without catching at least one scorable bass. A 2-2 and 1-10 caught within a few casts of one another with little more than an hour left proved to be the winning fish, although Reese had to sweat out the final few minutes as Sprague caught six bass for 12-5 in a 22-minute span, pulling within one big bite of the lead.
“I went from being, ‘I got this no problem’ to, ‘oh crap, what’s going to happen?” the ever-colorful Reese said. “Thank goodness I built up a big lead early … It was meant to be. I’m going to hold that trophy, and that means a lot.”
As the time ticked away and Reese got closer and closer to the win, it became evident how bad he wanted it. He punctuated most of his fish catches with a shout or a growl. When his boat official confirmed that he’d finished the day atop SCORETRACKER®, he unleashed his loudest yell yet.
The triumph added another highlight to an unforgettable year. In March, Reese learned that he’d been selected as one of five new members of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. He’ll be formally inducted in September.
“Getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, they kind of tell you you’re old, and so to be able to get inducted into the Hall of Fame and win again the same year, that’s as good as it gets,” Reese said. “So, there’s a little exclamation point on it.”
The victory will also go a long way toward extending Reese’s Hall of Fame career beyond this year. With the Bass Pro Tour set to trim its roster to 65 anglers in 2025, Reese entered the season on the wrong side of the cut line. Two tough tournaments to start the year put him in a dire situation, 78th out of 80 anglers in points.
However, Reese turned it around with a Top 10 at Lake Eufaula, then added a 21st-place finish at the Chowan River and capped the charge with this week’s victory. He now sits 25th in the season-long standings – virtually guaranteed to keep his spot on the Bass Pro Tour roster and well positioned to qualify for REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville, where he’s won twice.
Perhaps most important, he proved to himself that, as his career continues, he still has what it takes to hang with the top anglers on tour.
“I wanted to make sure, for myself, personally, that I was able to compete against the best group of anglers in the world and still win,” Reese said. “It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve got lots of trophies, but I’ve been seeing how many guys have been winning the Bass Pro Tour trophies, and I said, I want one of those.”
The top 10 pros from the General Tire Stage 6 at the James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts finished:
1st: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 23 bass, 54-3, $100,000 2nd: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 25 bass, 50-8, $45,000 3rd: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 16 bass, 37-3, $38,000 4th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 16 bass, 35-9, $32,000 5th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 16 bass, 34-10, $30,000 6th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 14 bass, 32-11, $26,000 7th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 14 bass, 30-4, $23,000 8th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 12 bass, 24-9, $21,000 9th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 18-2, $19,000 10th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., seven bass, 14-6, $16,000
Overall, there were 153 scorable bass weighing 332 pounds, 1 ounce, caught by 10 pros Sunday, which included one 5-pounder, three 4-pounders and 10 3-pounders.
Thrift earned Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 5-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on a speed worm during Period 3, while the $3,000 prize for heaviest bass of the tournament went to Pike Road, Alabama’s Keith Poche, who caught a largemouth weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces on Day 1 of Group A competition.
Sunday’s action didn’t have much bearing on the battle for the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year crown, with the top four anglers in the points all missing out on the Championship Round. Thus, the situation remains the same: Jacob Wheeler will head to the season finale at the St. Lawrence River with a 19-point lead over Alton Jones Jr. Because Wheeler has won twice this year, even if Jones wins Stage Seven, Wheeler would prevail in a tiebreaker, which means if he makes the Knockout Round, he will claim his third AOY title in the past four years.
While a slip-up seems unlikely, should Wheeler falter, Jones, Dustin Connell and even rookie Drew Gill could be in the mix to win. Connell sits 16 points behind Jones, with Gill 8 points back of him.
Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.
The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts featured the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers caught as much weight as they could each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament featured anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, showcased 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.
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.
Ito, a 38-year-old pro from Chiba, Japan, led a field of 98 Elites with a four-day total of 20 bass totaling 58 pounds. That was 4-1 more than Robert Gee, who finished second with 53-15, and 4-2 more than Jay Przekurat, who placed third with 53-14.
Ito claimed $100,000 for finishing first in the derby, which was the second Bassmaster Elite Series win of his career. He snagged $2,000 more for having the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag (he caught 16-9 on Championship Sunday) and separate $1,000 prizes for the 5-12 spotted bass that anchored the bag. That fish was both the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day and of the tournament.
It was a wild finish to what had been a difficult tournament for many of the Elites. The Alabama heat made Smith’s fabled spotted bass bite go slack at times, and most bass caught ranged from 1 to 2 pounds. The heat index, which climbed into triple digits during the final three days of the tournament, made the sluggish bite that much more grueling.
But Ito had the right mix on Smith. He caught his best bass using a 14-millimeter OSP Saikoro Dice Rubber Magnum bait. The magnum-sized lure, which is not yet in distribution, was the difference maker, he said, with the bigger size sparking Smith’s spots into biting in the broiling heat. Ito said he was drop-shotting the lure rigged with a 3/16-ounce weight.
He also credited a thunderstorm that threatened north-central Alabama Sunday afternoon for changing his fortunes on Day 4.
“The storm coming brought many big fish to me, in 25 feet, 30 feet (of water),” he said. “They were on brush piles. I had some smaller fish in the morning, but it all changed when the storm (threatened). I lost a 3-pounder, but that 5-12 was so awesome.”
Ito had bags of 13-10, 13-11 and 14-2 leading up to his tournament-best bag on Day 4. His three-day total of 41-7 trailed only Gee, who had 41-9 and the pole position to start Sunday.
Ito, Gee and Przekurat battled throughout the morning, with each grabbing the lead at one point. A single ounce separated the trio at one point mid-morning, but Ito bagged a 2-5 bass before noon that gave him a slim five-ounce cushion on his top two rivals at Smith.
He blew the derby open an hour later with his 5-12, easily the biggest bass of the tournament.
“Smith Lake always is 100 percent my favorite lake,” he said. “It’s beautiful for sightseeing and it has beautiful bass. And the spotted bass, I like them. I don’t like so much the largemouth bass and there aren’t that many here. So, Smith Lake is perfect for me.”
Ito said he also threw a 3.6-inch Nories Flip Gill (Neko-rigged) and a Nories Wrapping Minnow Spy Bait for key bites earlier in the tournament.
Gee, of Knoxville, Tenn., was looking for his first B.A.S.S. win. Though he fell short of that goal, he was pleased with his finish. He caught 12-6 on Championship Sunday.
“I was LivesScoping the whole week for bait balls and fish roaming around the lake,” he said. “I was fishing in the middle of the lake for both single fish and wolfpacks. The main baits for me this week were a 4-inch Yamamoto Shad Shape in smoke color – a natural shad color. And what really saved my butt today was a homemade hair jig that a buddy of mine from Oklahoma ties. It’s like a crappie jig that’s sized for bass. It was big for me today.”
Przekurat, of Plover, Wis., caught 12-8 on Sunday.
“I was fishing timber in the middle of the lake that had a lot of bait around it, in anywhere from 40 to 120 feet,” he said. “The Strike King Baby Z-Too, in both Gray Glide and Smokey Shad, was my main bait … It was a big week for me. Taking a Top 3 in an Elite event is huge.”
Ito also took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Huff earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Ito earned an additional $4,000 while Gee claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake 6/27-6/30 Smith Lake, Cullman AL. (PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 20 58-00 103 $105,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 14-02 Day 4: 5 16-09 2. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 20 53-15 102 $35,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 14-02 Day 4: 5 12-06 3. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 20 53-14 101 $30,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 13-03 Day 4: 5 12-08 4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 20 53-01 100 $25,000.00 Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 13-05 Day 4: 5 12-06 5. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 20 52-08 99 $20,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 13-12 Day 4: 5 14-10 6. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 20 51-15 98 $19,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 12-13 Day 4: 5 13-01 7. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 20 51-09 97 $18,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 13-07 Day 4: 5 11-07 8. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 20 50-07 96 $17,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 11-14 Day 4: 5 12-00 9. Cody Huff Ava, MO 20 49-13 95 $16,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 11-04 Day 4: 5 09-08 10. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 20 49-10 94 $16,000.00 Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 11-10 Day 4: 5 11-05 ———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS Day 1 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 04-07 $1,000.00 2 Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 04-07 $1,000.00 3 Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 04-09 $1,000.00 4 Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 05-12 $1,000.00
———————————————————————– PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 05-12 $2,000.00 CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG
It was a tough as well as hot day on Kerr lake for the Anglers Choice final regular season event before the championship on Smith Mountain Lake. Before the weigh in began almost half the field rolled out. Congratulations to everyone that cashed a check & see you all in October. CLICK TO SEE RESULTS
Hot Springs, Arkansas pro catches 22 bass weighing 53-13 to lead Saturday’s Knockout Round, field of 20 set for Sunday’s Final Day Championship Round
RICHMOND, Va. (June 29, 2024) – The James River has produced bass in bunches during General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, with anglers routinely catching 20-plus fish in a day. While the rate at which bass hit the scales flagged a bit during Saturday’s Knockout Round, pro Dylan Hays of Hot Springs, Arkansas, made up for it with some serious quality on his way to topping SCORETRACKER.
Hays totaled 53-13 on 22 scorable bass, which put him 3-6 ahead of Andy Montgomery. Four of the Arkansas pro’s fish weighed at least 4 pounds, including the Berkley Big Bass — a 5-12 that earned him an extra $1,000. His five biggest catches combined to weigh nearly 22 pounds.
Hays’ total marked the third-best day for any angler during Stage Six, and he said it could have been even better, noting that he lost another big one that likely would have topped 5 pounds at the boat. Still, after weights zero overnight, he predicted the Championship Round will be “anyone’s game.”
The tidal nature of the James has made for some pronounced bite windows this week. While that remained the case for Hays Saturday, with most of his weight coming during three distinct flurries, he didn’t only capitalize on low tide, when the bite has been best.
Even though high tide had just passed, Hays started the morning strong, boating five scorable bass in the first hour. He wound up totaling 13-1 during the first period. That marked a welcome change after he struggled during each of his first two mornings on the water. Hays knows finding a way to add to his total outside of the low-tide bite will be pivotal to his chances of earning his first Bass Pro Tour win.
“The biggest factor for me is trying to not have big slow periods on high tide,” he said. “That’s been so hard all week long, in practice and everything. I feel like I could have had a lot more weight today if I wanted to, but a big key to that was I caught like 13 pounds in the first couple hours.”
While his pair of 50-pound days might not suggest it, Hays said the James has tested his patience. Forcing himself not to run back to his low-tide juice when the tide is high and the bite is tough has been important. He’ll need to maintain that discipline Sunday, with low tide not forecast to arrive at the mouth of the Chickahominy River until around 3 p.m.
“One big key is not getting in a hurry and fishing the tide when it’s wrong, not fishing a good spot when the tide’s not right,” he said. “Because I haven’t caught a big one on a high-tide situation yet. Zero all week.”
Once low tide arrived, Hays took advantage. In a span of a little more than 30 minutes during the second period, he caught six fish for 15-12. That included a pair of 4-pounders one minute apart.
Running a pattern on a roughly 10-mile stretch of the Chickahominy Rover, Hays would continue to pick up a scorable bass here and there throughout the afternoon. With about 1 hour, 20 minutes left in the competition day, he knew his spot in the Championship Round field had been secured, so he decided to check on a spot he hadn’t visited since practice. There, he surprised himself by catching the aforementioned 5-12. He then ran to a brand new spot and promptly caught a 4-14. He’s hopeful those spots can produce for him again during the Championship Round.
“I was like, you know what, I need to go just check some stuff, and I pulled up there and I caught the 5-12 like third cast,” Hays said. “I’m like, dang, I need to get off this. So, I was like, how about those over there? So, went over there, and something just looked good. Just trying to fish free — that’s something I’ve done a lot this week. And like third cast, catch another almost-5-pounder.”
Of the 14 bass of 4-plus pounds caught by the 20-angler Knockout Round field, Hays accounted for four of them. He admitted he’s not sure what, exactly, was the key to generating such big bites, but he attributed some credit to his bait choice. All of Hays’ fish ate a white 1/2-ounce bladed jig from Brazalo Custom Lures with a Zoom Z-Craw as the trailer. He tossed it on a 7-foot-3 Kistler Helium rod with a 7.3:1 Kistler Chromium reel spooled with 15-pound TUF-LINE fluorocarbon.
Between the fluctuating tide and fishing pressure, the bite has been different each day on the James. Add in the fact that just about every angler in the Top 10 has already experienced at least one day in which he’s topped 45 pounds, and Hays knows the competition will be wide open. Predicting it will take upwards of 60 pounds to win, he’s optimistic about his chances of lifting his first trophy on a national tour.
“Man, it’s anybody’s game,” he said. “There’s a lot of guys that have caught a lot of weight this week. We’ll see what’s going on tomorrow, but I’m pumped to be able to go back.”
The top 10 pros from Saturday’s Knockout Round that now advance to the final day of competition on the James River are:
1st: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 22 bass, 53-13 2nd: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 23 bass, 50-7 3rd: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 23 bass, 48-13 4th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 18 bass, 44-12 5th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 19 bass, 44-8 6th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 18 bass, 39-14 7th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 13 bass, 34-12 8th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 16 bass, 34-8 9th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 16 bass, 34-1 10th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 14 bass, 32-15
Overall, there were 271 bass weighing 620 pounds even caught by the 20 pros Saturday. The catch included five 5-pounders, nine 4-pounders and 25 3-pounders.
Pro Dylan Hays earned Saturday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a largemouth weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 39 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Round was complete, the anglers that finished first through 10th from both groups advanced to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights were zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers competed to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. Sunday, in the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The final 10 anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. MLF has enacted the Trailering Policy for the entirety of the event, meaning pros can trailer their boats and drive them to any ramp on the fishery closer to where they plan to start fishing. Pros taking advantage of the trailering policy will leave Osborne Landing at 6:45 a.m. ET daily and will begin fishing at 8 a.m. ET (Lines In) with the full field.
Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the landing, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on Championship Sunday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Sunday, June 30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Osborne Landing for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.
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.
Tennessee’s Robert Gee leads Day 3 of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake with a 15-bass limit weighing 41 pounds, 9 ounces .
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
June 29, 2024
Gee squeaks into Day 3 lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake
CULLMAN, Ala. — With the leaderboard as tight as it’s been at the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake, the door was open for any of the 50 remaining anglers in the tournament to move up the standings.
After lurking near the lead for the first half of the tournament, the 25-year-old Knoxville, Tenn., resident grabbed the pole position on Saturday with a 14-pound, 2-ounce bag that gave him a three-day total of 41-9.
It’s the slimmest of cushions, though, with every one of the remaining 10 anglers in the field less than four pounds from Gee’s lead. And that’s perfectly fitting for what could be one of the most competitive Championship Sundays in recent memory.
Taku Ito, the 38-year-old veteran from Chiba, Japan, is just behind Gee with a three-day weight of 41-7. Jay Przekurat, a 25-year-old Elite pro from Stevens Point, Wis., is third with 41-6.
Gee’s lead might be bigger, but he had three fish expire on Day 2 of the tournament, which resulted in a 12-ounce deduction to his daily total. In a difficult derby, when every ounce is precious, he’s hoping that unfortunate situation doesn’t come back to haunt him.
“It’s going to be a game of ounces,” Gee said. “And I might be up by a pound without that penalty. It was the heat. I guess I didn’t buy enough ice. It was just stress on the fish from being so hot.”
Better fish care on Saturday helped Gee count every ounce. He bagged 14-2 on Day 3, following 13-7 and 14-0 totals in the first half of the derby.
While many of the 98 anglers who started the tournament struggled for consistency, Gee’s steady hand has impressed. He’s fishing in the middle of the main channel within a mile or two of the Smith Lake Dam, LiveScoping for larger spotted bass chasing pods of threadfin shad and herring into 15 to 40 feet of water. He saw a 5-pound spotted bass on his electronics earlier in the week, and he’s hoping to catch that big one before the tournament ends.
“I lost a really fat one on the first day, a 4- or 5-pounder,” he said. “I’ve been using a smokey Yamamoto jighead minnow, and it’s worked so far. I don’t see myself fishing anywhere else.”
Gee said he’s confident he can catch another good bag to clinch what would be his first Bassmaster win.
“I’m only up a couple of ounces, and I usually like going into the final day being a little bit behind,” Gee said. “But I’ll be OK with the lead, too. It’s not much of one, anyway.”
Ito also has been consistent at Smith, despite the difficult bite and scorching temperatures (the heat index climbed into triple digits again on Saturday). He caught 14-2 on Day 3, the same weight posted by Gee, to compliment limits of 13-10 and 13-11 earlier in the week.
A trio of 3-pounders boosted Ito’s efforts Saturday. Though that might not stand out in a typical tournament, 3-pounders have been something of a brass ring on Smith this week when a $100,000 first prize is on the line.
“I got bites the whole day,” Ito said. “I found many schooling fish, and I used many different baits to get bites. I’m fishing about 25 feet deep on rocks and timber. There haven’t been very many big fish, but I found some this morning. I had a 3-2 and a couple of nice 2-pounders before I caught two more 3-pounders later in the day.”
Ito previously listed Smith Lake as one of his two favorite fisheries, though his best finish here was an eighth-place showing at a Southern Open in 2019. He expressed the same affection for Smith on Saturday.
“I love it here,” he said. “It’s very deep and there aren’t many largemouth, which is fine. I’m a spotted bass fan.”
Kyoya Fujita, of Lake Forest, Calif., won $1,000 for the 4-9 he caught Saturday, which was the Phoenix Big Bass of the Day. The catch also put him in the lead for the $2,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament. Todd Auten, of Clover, S.C., caught a 16-pound limit on Friday, giving him the lead for the $2,000 Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag prize.
The fourth and final day of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake will begin with a 6 am. CT take-off from Smith Lake Park. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Alabama’s Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 596 points. Missouri’s Huff is second with 573 points, followed by Illinois’ Trey McKinney in third with 571, Canada’s Chris Johnston in fourth with 556 and Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in fifth with 556.
Sunday’s tournament coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 1 p.m. Sunday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 1 p.m. All coverage times are ET.
2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake 6/27-6/30 Smith Lake, Cullman AL. (PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 41-09 103 Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 14-02 2. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 15 41-07 102 Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 14-02 3. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 15 41-06 101 Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 13-03 4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 40-11 100 Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 13-05 5. Cody Huff Ava, MO 15 40-05 99 Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 11-04 6. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 15 40-02 98 Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 13-07 7. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15 38-14 97 Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 12-13 8. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 15 38-07 96 Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 11-14 9. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 38-05 95 Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 11-10 10. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 15 37-14 94 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 13-12 11. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 37-13 93 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 11-14 12. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 15 37-11 92 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 12-13 13. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 15 37-10 91 $11,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 14-10 14. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 37-10 90 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 12-13 15. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 15 37-09 89 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 11-11 16. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 15 37-09 88 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 12-11 17. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 37-08 87 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 11-15 18. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15 37-04 86 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 12-09 19. Bryan New Leesville, SC 15 37-02 85 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 10-14 20. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 15 36-14 84 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 13-13 21. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 15 36-07 83 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 11-13 22. Wes Logan Springville, AL 15 36-03 82 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 11-07 23. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 36-03 81 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 11-13 24. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 15 36-02 80 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 13-00 25. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 15 36-02 79 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 11-15 26. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 36-01 78 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 10-03 27. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 15 35-15 77 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 12-13 28. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 15 35-09 76 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 11-14 29. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 15 35-07 75 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 08-07 30. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 14 35-06 74 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 4 08-14 31. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 35-03 73 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 12-00 32. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 15 35-02 72 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-14 Day 3: 5 11-13 33. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 15 35-01 71 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 11-02 34. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 15 35-00 70 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 10-13 35. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 34-10 69 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 11-11 36. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 34-10 68 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 5 11-00 37. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 15 34-08 67 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 10-10 38. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 34-07 66 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 11-07 39. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 14 34-06 65 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 4 11-02 40. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 15 33-14 64 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 10-09 41. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 15 33-13 63 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 09-13 42. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 15 33-11 62 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 5 10-09 43. Seth Feider New Market, MN 14 32-14 61 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 4 09-02 44. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 14 32-12 60 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 4 07-03 45. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 13 32-06 59 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 3 04-12 46. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 14 32-01 58 $11,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 4 07-12 47. Todd Auten Clover, SC 12 29-13 57 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 2 03-03 48. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 12 28-13 56 $11,000.00 Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 2 02-10 49. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 12 27-12 55 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 2 04-00 50. Mike Huff London, KY 10 23-01 54 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 0 00-00 ———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS Day 1 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 04-07 $1,000.00 2 Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 04-07 $1,000.00 3 Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 04-09 $1,000.00
The one that got away is the them for today’s event. Even with the premature reaching over 90 today on Kerr lake we saw a few nice bags weighed in out of the 91 teams that fish today’s event. But the over all theme was tough really tough. Congratulations to those that we able to put together a limit and cash a check. CLICK TO SEE RESULTS
