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Kentucky-Barkley Lakes on Tap for MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 3 on Kentucky Lake

April 10, 2024

Kentucky-Barkley Lakes on Tap for MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 3 on Kentucky Lake

Field of 150 Professional Anglers to Compete for Top Prize of up to $115,000 and Qualification into REDCREST 2025

CALVERT CITY, Ky. (April 10, 2024) – The third Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitational of the season kicks off next week, April 19-21, with the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 3 at Kentucky Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats. Each Tackle Warehouse Invitational features a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025 – the Bass Pro Tour championship – for the chance to win up to $300,000.

Hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, the three-day tournament also showcases competitors competing for valuable points to win the coveted Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) title – including a $50,000 payout – and to qualify for the 2025 Bass Pro Tour, MLF’s premiere circuit.

“The Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau is thrilled to be hosting Major League Fishing’s Tackle Warehouse Invitational tournament in Marshall County,” said Elena Blevins, Executive Director of the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This event not only signifies a thrilling moment for our local fishery, but also highlights the vital role the fishing industry plays in our community’s economic prosperity.

“The economic benefits stemming from this event are substantial, with increased tourism traffic translating to heightened revenue streams for local businesses, bolstered job opportunities, and amplified community engagement. As we welcome anglers, spectators, and enthusiasts alike to Marshall County, we anticipate a ripple effect of positive economic impact that will resonate throughout our region. We look forward to showcasing the return of Kentucky Lake’s unparalleled fishing experiences to the world.”

Kentucky and Barkley Lakes both have plenty of history with MLF (and FLW), as the fisheries have played host to a whopping total of 253 events since 1994 – the most popular fishery in MLF/FLW history. The last big MLF tournament on the lake was March’s Toyota Series event, in which Invitationals rookie Jake Lawrence of Buchanan, Tennessee, won after leading wire-to-wire on the strength of 20+ pound limits on two of the three days of competition.

That early March event was pretty much entirely prespawn – likely different circumstances from this time around. Lawrence expects to see bass caught in a variety of different phases and tactics, with forecasted rain and changing water levels this week being a big x-factor.

“The lake has been fishing very well – there was a BFL (Phoenix Bass Fishing League) there last weekend that had several 20-plus-pound limits weighed in, and the weights were very good all the way down,” Lawrence said. “But we’ve got some rain coming, and that is going to affect the water levels and 100% determine how the lake is going to fish. The lake is going to fish really big, though. Guys are going to really spread out.

“If water levels are high, above normal summer pool and up in the bushes, I think the largemouth will be the predominant species and we’ll see around 70% largemouth, 30% smallmouth weighed in,” Lawrence explained. “If the water levels stay down and don’t get above summer pool, it’ll be more like 40% largemouth and 60% smallmouth. It all depends on the water levels, and regardless we are still going to see a lot of fish get caught.”

Lawrence said that anglers targeting largemouth would be frogging and flipping – he mentioned he’ll have a Jenko The Bird, a Spro Poppin’ Frog, and a swimjig tied on – and that anglers targeting smallmouth would be throwing drop-shot rigs, swimbaits and jerkbaits.

“Another big factor in this event is where we are in the stage of the spawn,” Lawrence said. “We’re still fairly early in the spawn, but we’ve had an unusually warm spring with no major cold fronts. Looking at recent tournament results, I suspect that there will be some fish spawning as well. And if that’s the case, it’ll be a really interesting tournament. The lake is clean enough to sight fish now, and there are areas where that could really play.

“I think it’ll likely take at least 63 to 64 pounds to win over the three days,” Lawrence went on to say. “Lake Barkley is also going to be a big player – I expect that lake to show its hand next week. It’s a great fishery but usually it has a hard time competing with Kentucky Lake, other than a 3-week window every year later in the spring. And this tournament just happens to fall right in that window. I absolutely think we see a couple of guys that finish in the top 10 fishing in Barkley next week.”

Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. CT each day from the Kentucky Dam Marina, located at 466 Marina Drive in Gilbertsville. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Marina and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals feature a field of 150 professional anglers competing across six invitational tournaments around the country, for a total purse of $3.9 million and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour, the sport’s top level.

In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 3 at Kentucky Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. CT. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 3 at Kentucky Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 19 on CBS Sports Network.

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

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

Kentucky Lake ready to shine again for Bassmaster College Series return

Brian Carter

April 10, 2024

Kentucky Lake ready to shine again for Bassmaster College Series return

Kentucky Lake will host the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops April 17-18.

Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.

April 10, 2024

Kentucky Lake ready to shine again for Bassmaster College Series return

PARIS, Tenn. — What was once the premier bass fishery in the country is ready to shine once again as the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops makes its return to Kentucky Lake.

Tristan McCormick, a two-time qualifier for the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors, believes impressive numbers will be caught.

“The population of bass we have now is incredible,” McCormick said. “I’m seeing big improvements.”

Tournament dates will be April 17-18, with anglers launching from Paris Landing Marina at 6:30 a.m. CT each day and returning for daily weigh-ins at 2:30 p.m. This is the second of three tournaments on the new Legends Trail, and the top 10% of the field will punch their tickets to the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops scheduled for Aug. 22-24 on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C.

Once a premier destination on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, Kentucky Lake has seen its share of struggles throughout the past 10 years, largely due to the influx of Asian carp. But the last two or three years, the bass fishing has improved dramatically thanks to a couple of good spawning cycles — and this event could mark a big reawakening for the lake on the national tournament scene.

“Last year, we had a pretty mild prespawn. The water didn’t jump up and down too much. So, we had a better spawn than we would normally have,” McCormick said.

The last time the Bassmaster Elite Series competed on the giant reservoir in May 2018, Wesley Strader claimed the blue trophy by flipping shallow wood. The last B.A.S.S. event held there was the 2020 Bassmaster High School National Championship, an event won by Tucker Smith and Hayden Marbut with 47 pounds, 5 ounces of mostly smallmouth over three days.

That high school event was the first glimpse at what Kentucky Lake has become, which is a really good smallmouth fishery. So much so that tournaments are being won strictly with brown fish, which would have been unheard of in the fishery’s heyday.

With that said, McCormick believes two different scenarios could play out, and which one prevails depends on the water level.

“It could be the spawn or it could be prespawn,” he said. “It is kind of that in-between. If the water comes up, it will be won on largemouth. If the water is stable, it is going to be a smallmouth deal and they will blow it out of the water.”

At the beginning of April, the Tennessee Valley Authority began the process of filling the lake to summer pool. As of Monday morning, the lake was 2 feet above normal pool.

McCormick said this sets up well for prespawn and spawning smallmouth. Main-river bars, points and pea gravel will be key areas to target. Smallies can be caught on swimbaits and Damiki rigs with forward-facing sonar as well as Carolina rigs, Ned rigs and tubes.

Largemouth will also pull out to some of these areas.

“If they are pulling a lot of current, that is when the prespawn Rat-L-Trap and ChatterBait bite comes into effect,” McCormick said. “All of those bass are staging to go spawn and are all sitting on the main current break.”

The Pickwick Dam tailrace could also factor.

In normal water conditions, prespawn largemouth will also hang around the mouths of the creeks and channel swings in the creeks.

“They will get as close to their spawning areas as they can without being on their spawning area,” McCormick said. “They will roam on the shallow flats in front of the bushes waiting to go up.”

The tournament is being hosted by the Henry County Tourism Authority.

Colby Pearson Crowned First-Ever BAM ProTour Champion At Lake Martinez

Brian Carter

April 10, 2024

Colby Pearson Crowned First-Ever BAM ProTour Champion At Lake Martinez

Shallow Water Bass Battle Won In A Foot Of Water

By Jody Only

YUMA, Arizona – Following a 1,000-plus mile journey from Klamath Falls, Oregon, Colby Pearson has become the first-ever BAM Pro Tour champion at Lake Martinez sacking up a five-fish limit on the final day that went 16.29 and earned $14,502 in event winnings.

It was an extraordinary win for the Southern Oregon angler, after just squeaking into the Day Three field cut. “I’ve had many top-10’s; I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fished on Championship Sunday,” said Pearson. “To play my cards right and seal the deal is amazing. I’ve waited my whole career for it, and I’ve been fishing tournaments for years. It feels amazing and I just want to keep doing’ it.”

Super-Shallow Water, Three Baits And A No Quit Attitude For The Win

Pearson’s path to the final field cut came from the upper reaches of the Ferguson area.“There were a lot of fry guarders, and I knew I had to make as many presentations as humanly possible,” Pearson stated. “I was casting and burning a spinnerbait all day and I caught a couple on glide bait as well.”

His first day’s 15 scorable bass notched a best five of 18.22 that put Pearson in 8th place, trailing by four-pounds by weight and six fish by keeper count.

“By Day Two I had put a pretty good hurting on my area, but I was able to catch seven,” he shared. His best five were 11.79; but the addition of the seven scorables bumped his keeper count to 22, just enough to secure 10th place, and lock in a spot for Championship Sunday.

Bass Catching Strategy Change For Final Day Of Competition

With weights zeroing out for Day Three, Pearson began at a level playing field for the final fishing day and although he wasn’t ultra-confident that his primary location had the fish for the win, it was his intention to start there and find his first limit. Plans changed when the water had dropped out. “My area was significantly lower, and I wasn’t able to get anywhere near it,” he recalled.

With out a single keeper at 10 a.m., the pressure was on. “I was kind of scrambling around, but mentally I just tried to stay in the zone,” he said.

With a strategy adjustment focused around less-pressured water, void of his competitors, Pearson made a critical decision that paid off. “I just wanted to get into back waters, off the beaten path, not necessarily hard to get into but maybe they had a long idle,” he stated.

Late in the day, Pearson’s back water search ended at the mother lode, producing the winning bag as he boated his two biggest in a foot of water after 2 p.m. “There were probably 40 in the three to four-pound range, and one that was probably a double-digit on a bed,” he revealed.

Bass Baits To Win Lake Martinez

Pearson tied a seven-inch KGB Chad Shad on a light swimbait rod for the glide.His spinnerbait was a trailer-less, tandem blade 3/8-ounce War Eagle with a small Colorado and willow leaf. “It was a color like mouse,” he said. “I fished it on a 7’4” heavy-action bait caster rod with 15-pound fluorocarbon on a Shimano Metanium 7.4:1 reel.”

A five-inch Yamamoto Senko on a spinning rod with eight-pound-test was responsible for the rest of his fish. “I had a few different colors; but the best was Green Pumpkin with Green and Purple flake,” he said. “I had to hustle those bigger fish out of some heavy cover, so I was pretty fortunate to get them in.”

Pearson and the rest of the BAM Pro Tour will make their next appearance at Lake Almanor, more info is available here.

BAM Pro Tour Top-10 Rankings And Payout

1 16.29 Colby Pearson $14,502.00 + $500 Garmin Contingency

2 15.93 Karl Okerman $5,525.00 + $500 Bass Boat Technologies Contingency

3 14.97 Nicholas Cloutier $4,604.00

4 14.52 Greg Gutierrez $4,143.00

5 14.20 Cameron Karber $3,683.00

6 11.27 Ish Monroe $3,223.00

7 10.68 Zack Thompson $2,647.00

7 10.68 Mark Pilgrim $2,647.00

9 9.63 Bill O’Shinn $2,532.00

10 8.92 Conrad Demecs $2,532.00

Pro Tour Ranking Method

BAMPro Tour anglers are ranked in the Pro Tour events by both biggest five fish limit and numbers of scorable bass caught. First place is held by the angler with five biggest bass and second place is the highest keeper count. The standings then continue to alternate by weight/numbers. Anglers ranked by weight are denoted with an asterisk. Field is cut to top-10 on final for a final day of fishing. The final 10 represents the five anglers with the heaviest two-day totals and five anglers with he most scorable bass. Rankings are zeroed out for Day Three and all anglers blast off on Championship Sunday on a level playing field. It is anybody’s game!

BAM Trail Full Event Schedule

After the Eclipse

Brian Carter

April 10, 2024

After the Eclipse

Sun back in full posture, Whitewater Fishing proudly rolls out the new Rays Performance Hoodie.

MUSKEGON, Mich. (April 10, 2024) – To make it in the competitive world of dedicated fishing wear, you better have something special. And that’s what Whitewater Fishing has done since producing hits like the Tamer Jacket and Bibs, Torque Heated Vest, new Great Lakes Pro Jacket and Bibs, and others.And now, they’ve upped the ante in performance fishing shirts with the introduction of the new Rays Performance Hoodie.

OPEN WATER GREY

BLUE BELL

Research and diagnoses continue to reveal that the sun is an enemy of the angler. At times, the warmth feels good on the skin, but prolonged exposure – especially when tabulated in years – can lead to skin cancer. Frequent targets are the oft exposed face and hands, as well as the entire torso for those choosing to fish shirtless.Anglers are wising up, however, many wearing long sleeve and hooded shirts with built-in sun protection. To that point, the technologically advanced Rays Performance Hoodie offers UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) 50+ sun defense. That means it blocks 98% of the sun’s harmful rays. That same fabric is lavish, too, extremely comfortable against the skin. Moreover, the premium handpicked fabric offers exceptional stretch to promote range of motion, and its cooling technology wicks away moisture to keep you cool. Lastly, Whitewater added an antimicrobial to the Rays Performance Hoodie to thwart unwanted smells that can accumulate with use.

Beyond the fabric itself is intelligent design. Whitewater – applying its 100 years of combined apparel design experience – cut and sewed the material to fit the human form and articulate with movement. Additionally, all fabric panels are double stitched for strength. Drumroll please, as we move onto the Rays Performance Hoodie’s most significant physical features: the custom hood and built-in neck and face gaiter. Unlike your ordinary fishing hoodie, the Rays Performance Hoodie features a three-paneled design, better fitting over your head and staying in place. To that, Whitewater cleverly added a quick snap to the front of the hood to hold it in place under your chin, which is especially pertinent as you’re racing across the water or in heavy wind.

The cleverness continues… The Rays Performance Hoodie includes a breathable neck and face gaiter sewn inside the back of the neck. To deploy, simply slide your head through the gaiter while putting on the hoodie – it’s in place. Pull it all the way over your face, just cover your neck, or tuck it down underneath your chin. The gaiter is that versatile.Behold the anatomy of the finest fishing hoodie and make the Whitewater Rays Performance Hoodie your next don’t-leave-home-without-it piece of fishing gear.

Rays Performance Hoodie FEATURES: Lightweight, breathable polyester for incredible stretch UPF 50+ sun protection Anti-microbial, moisture-wicking, & cooling treated to keep you fresh & cool when your body temp rises Ergonomic 3-panel hood with a snap to keep it in place on the water Built-in neck gaiter for sun protection and laser-cut holes for breathing MSRP $79.99

April Lake Anna Fishing Report by Captain Tyler Heuple

Brian Carter

April 10, 2024

April Lake Anna Fishing Report by Captain Tyler Heuple

Water Temperatures: High 50’s – Low 60’s and rising

Water Clarity: Clear to Clear Stained

Spring fishing is in full swing on Anna and the bass are on the move to their spawning grounds, or already there!

Throughout April the fish are active and moving shallow. Lake Anna is a power plant lake, and fish have been spawning for quite some time in the warmest parts of the lake. A large portion of bass are in the back halves of major creek arms or moving into spawning flats off of the main lake. There is still a decent amount of fish in pre-spawn mode staged on submerged hard structures, and secondary points in the 15-8 foot range. However, these fish are moving shallower by the day. With a large warming trend in the forecast, I expect the rest of April to be really good fishing and another big spawning event to take place very soon in the mid and upper sections of the lake.

Fish have been eating a jackhammer chatter bait and neko rig pretty good. Those are my two go-to baits at Anna in April. Cover water with the jackhammer, and slow down when you find them with the neko rig. If you aren’t looking at them on a bed, most of your big fish this time of year are going to come off of isolated stumps, hard structures, or suspended in the ditches near or adjacent to spawning areas.

Website Link: lakeannabassfishing.com

High Pole Guide Service at Lake Anna

Rookie Drew Gill Grabs Early Lead at Major League Fishing Stage Three Presented by Mercury at Dale Hollow Lake

Brian Carter

April 10, 2024

Rookie Drew Gill Grabs Early Lead at Major League Fishing Stage Three Presented by Mercury at Dale Hollow Lake

Illinois pro weighs in 77 pounds, 15 ounces to lead after Day 1 for Group A – Group B begins competition Wednesday

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (April 9, 2024) – In the months since Major League Fishing announced the Bass Pro Tour would bring its catch-weigh-immediate release model to Dale Hollow Lake for PowerStop Brakes Stage Three Presented by Mercury, anglers have anticipated an epic shootout, with some even predicting record weights. However, a chilly three-day practice period brought a trickier bite than many expected, causing some of that excitement to be replaced with trepidation.

Through one day of competition, at least, the lake is living up to its pre-practice billing.

Pro Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, stacked 26 scorable bass weighing 77 pounds, 15 ounces onto SCORETRACKER® Tuesday, giving him more than 16 pounds of cushion over pro Jeff Sprague of Wills Point, Texas at the top of Group A. In all, 10 anglers eclipsed 40 pounds on the day.

The six-day tournament, hosted by the Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce & Bill Dance Signature Lakes, showcases 79 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 40 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition Wednesday, while the 39 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Thursday.

Gill said he believes most of Dale Hollow’s bass are currently in the midst of their annual transition from the prespawn feed to spawning mode, but the majority haven’t locked onto beds yet. While the Day 1 results might not show it, that’s made it tough to find a consistent bite.

“We really hit it just about as perfect as we could have hit it between what I’d call prespawn and the spawn,” Gill said. “If we’d been here just a hair earlier or a hair later, it would have been a lot more consistent.”

However, in the final hour of the three-day practice period, Gill found a more stable, and totally separate, population of bass to target.

Gill firmly believes that not every bass spawns every year. He’s chasing those fish on Dale Hollow, targeting them suspended in 20 to 30 feet of water. While they’re not necessarily relating to schools of baitfish, having shad or other forage nearby seems to help.

“I’m fishing 20 to 30 feet deep – like, the fish are that deep,” he explained. “And I’m trying to stay around the forage if I can. I’m not directly fishing bait, but I’m trying to stay around it. It makes the fish a little bit more agreeable.”

Gill, whose fishing mind belies his 21 years of age, explained that those fish are more willing to bite because they’re solely focused on feeding, not spawning. As a result, even though there might be greater numbers of bass around the banks, he’s able to catch more offshore.

“The issue on this lake is I’m fishing for the easiest-to-catch population,” Gill said. “Here, it’s not like I’m trying to get around fish. You’re around fish everywhere on this place. What I’m trying to do is get around the population that’s the easiest to catch.”

The one thing that surprised Gill Tuesday was that, after he caught mostly smallmouth in practice, 22 of his 26 scorable bass were largemouth. That proportion more or less mirrored the rest of the field, as smallmouth accounted for about 22% of the 406 scorable bass that hit the scales Tuesday.

However, the quality of those brown bass – which normally wouldn’t be reflected in tournament weights due to Dale Hollow’s strict slot limit that prohibits anglers from possessing smallmouth between 16 and 21 inches – made up for the lack of quantity. The highlight of Gill’s day was a 5-12 smallmouth that earned him $1,000 as the Berkley Big Bass, and the three heaviest fish caught on the day were all smallmouth.

Gill hopes to continue targeting both species.

“Today, the largemouth showed up, and they showed up in droves,” he said. “And I’m super cool with it. Largemouth here are a little bit less fickle, they’re a little bit less condition prone – the offshore largemouth, anyways – those largemouth are a little bit more consistent than the smallmouth are. So, I’m tickled that the largemouth showed up. Because my plan was to fish for smallmouth, but if you can fish for both on a lake that has good ones, both smallmouth and largemouth, by all means, fish for both.”

Gill caught his fish Tuesday using forward-facing sonar and finesse tactics. That’s no surprise; his Garmin LiveScope mastery is a major reason he’s launched himself into the national spotlight this year, racking up a Tackle Warehouse Invitationals win at Sam Rayburn, a third-place finish at Toledo Bend in his Bass Pro Tour debut and three other top-11 finishes in 2024 alone.

Gill has no plans to change techniques, saying what he’s doing is going to win the event. The key over the coming days will be keeping track of the fish as they move and finding new, unpressured schools. Gill plans to take advantage of his 36-plus-pound cushion over the cut line by using the second day of qualifying to prepare for the Knockout and Championship Rounds.

“It will be really important for me to look around a lot,” he said. “But it’s not quite what I’d call true – like truly practicing for a tournament, in my opinion, is trying to like reinvent your wheel. I’m not going to be practicing a new ‘what,’ I’m just going to be fishing some new ‘wheres.’ Generally speaking, on this lake, if you’re fishing the right type of stuff, if it’s a deal and not just a spot – like, you’re going to run all over and you’re going to catch them everywhere that sets up that way.

“It’s going to be really important to me to be able to fish free on Thursday and have an opportunity the whole day to just play the conditions and see what happens. Really, it’s not as much a day of trying to collect spots as much as it is a day for me to try and understand what’s going on a little better.”

The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Dale Hollow Lake are:

1st:          Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 26 bass, 77-15
2nd:        Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 22 bass, 61-11
3rd:        Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 19 bass, 60-10
4th:         Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 20 bass, 60-7
5th:         Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 21 bass, 54-7
6th:         Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 16 bass, 53-2
7th:         David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 17 bass, 45-15
8th:         Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 15 bass, 42-4
9th:         Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 41-13
10th:      Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 15 bass, 41-2
11th:      Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 16 bass, 39-6
12th:      Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 12 bass, 36-3
13th:      Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 13 bass, 36-3
14th:      Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 12 bass, 35-15
15th:      Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 34-5
16th:      John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 11 bass, 31-15
17th:      Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 12 bass, 31-11
18th:      Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 11 bass, 30-13
19th:      Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 25-13
20th:      Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., nine bass, 24-13

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Gill also earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award after a 5-pound, 12-ounce smallmouth bit his jig in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Sunset Marina and Resort, located at 2040 Sunset Dock Road in Monroe. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, 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 SCORETRACKER® leaderboard and event coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

On Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Sunset Marina and Resort 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 each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. 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 PowerStop Brakes Stage Three at Dale Hollow Lake Presented by Mercury 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 2-pound 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 79 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.

The 79 anglers taking on Dale Hollow this week aren’t just battling for a first-place trophy and $100,000 payday. Valuable points in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race are also up for grabs. The winner of the season-long competition will take home an additional $100,000 check.

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 PowerStop Brakes Stage Three at Dale Hollow Lake Presented by Mercury Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 5 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Oct. 6. 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, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.

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.

Fishing New Lakes in Spring to Catch Bass!

Uncategorized

Brian Carter

April 9, 2024

Fishing New Lakes in Spring to Catch Bass!

The spawning cycle is a pivotal aspect of spring bass fishing, acting as the natural calendar that dictates bass behavior. In the spring, the magic number is when water temperatures hover around the low 60s (Fahrenheit). This period is not uniform but it consists of pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn phases, each with distinct bass behaviors and habitat preferences. Anglers must recognize these phases to anticipate bass movements accurately. During the pre-spawn, bass begins to move from their winter deep-water haunts towards shallower spawning areas, making stops along the way to feed and prepare for the rigors of spawning. The actual spawn sees bass in the shallowest waters they’ll inhabit all year, often in visible nests or beds. Following the spawn, bass enter the post-spawn phase, recovering from the exertion of spawning and gradually transitioning to their summer patterns. This transitional period is critical as it sets the stage for summer fishing, influencing bass location and feeding habits. Successful anglers adjust their strategies to align with these phases, recognizing that the behavior of bass is deeply intertwined with the cyclical nature of their spawning activities. Understanding and leveraging this cycle can lead to more fruitful fishing expeditions, offering a deeper connection with the rhythms of the natural world.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!

As water temperatures rise in spring, bass relocate to different areas of a lake, guided primarily by their spawning needs. Initially, in the early pre-spawn phase when waters are still cool, bass are found in deeper areas adjacent to spawning grounds. These locations often include main lake and secondary points, as well as deeper creek channels that offer a pathway to shallower spawning flats. As temperatures warm into the mid to upper 50s, bass move onto these flats to feed much more aggressively in preparation for spawning. Understanding these temperature-based movements is key for anglers looking to find bass consistently during the spring. This shift not only signals a change in the bass’s physical location but also indicates a significant alteration in their behavior, as they become more aggressive and focused on feeding. Anglers who can accurately interpret and react to these temperature cues will find themselves at a distinct advantage, able to target bass more effectively as they transition through their pre-spawn activities. Additionally, this understanding allows for a more strategic selection of fishing spots and techniques, optimizing the chances of a successful catch as the season progresses and the behavior changes.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fact, we just released a new 10w30 Syntheic Lizard color! 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.

A strategic starting point for fishing a new lake in spring is near points close to boat launches or marinas. These areas are often hotspots for bass, especially in lakes that host fishing tournaments. Released fish tend to congregate around the nearest structure, which is often a point extending into the lake. These bass, already accustomed to being caught and released, are more likely to bite again. Starting your fishing day at these points can not only offer immediate action but also provide clues about the depth and type of lure bass might be favoring that day. This tactic is particularly effective in spring when bass are becoming more active and are in various stages of the spawn cycle. Targeting these areas allows anglers to quickly gauge the lake’s productivity and adjust their strategies accordingly. These particular points often serve as transitional zones where bass move between deep and shallow waters, making them ideal for testing different fishing methods. Anglers can capitalize on the unique behaviors of bass during this time, employing a mix of techniques to discover what is most effective. By focusing on these strategic spots early, anglers can maximize their fishing time, enjoying both the thrill of the catch.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!

Weather and water conditions play a significant role in determining bass activity and their feeding patterns. Anglers must consider whether the weather has been stable, if a front has recently passed, or if conditions are in flux. Bass behavior can change dramatically with weather conditions; for example, stable weather tends to make bass more active and predictable, while the passage of a front can make them lethargic and less responsive. Adapting fishing techniques to these conditions, such as slowing down presentations or choosing lures that can provoke a reaction strike, can be key to success. The overall impact of barometric pressure changes is often overlooked and can affect bass feeding habits, with falling pressure typically signaling an upcoming feeding frenzy. Thus, astute anglers will monitor these environmental cues closely, aligning their fishing strategies to be in the right place when conditions prime bass appetites. Changes in water clarity and temperature resulting from weather conditions can dictate lure color and type, making versatility in tackle selection crucial. By understanding these intricate relationships between weather, water conditions, and bass behavior, anglers can significantly enhance their fishing. Our Fresh HellaMite is scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic HellaMite color is a must-have. We also just released new eye-catching colors including the Slimer Green and Barbie Pink HellaMite. Act fast, these colors won’t stay in stock for long. If you’re fast enough you can also grab our seasonal limited-release Pumpkin Spice HellaMite along with the Money HellaMite. 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. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes.

Success in spring bass fishing on new waters hinges on an angler’s versatility and adaptability. Recognizing that bass may occupy various depths and exhibit different levels of activity throughout the spring, anglers should be prepared to adjust their tactics accordingly. This might mean changing lure types, altering retrieval speeds, or fishing different structures as conditions dictate. The ability to read the water and interpret signs of bass behavior is a valuable skill that can lead to more productive outings. Mastery of these skills enables anglers to quickly respond to the dynamic spring environment, where a day can begin with cold, inactive fish and transition to aggressive feeders as the water warms. By anglers understanding the influence of spawning phases on bass location and behavior enriches an angler’s strategy, allowing for targeted approaches that yield better catches. This adaptability extends to choosing the right gear for the prevailing conditions, be it light lines for clear water or heavier tackle for areas dense with cover. Successful anglers also maintain a wide array of baits and techniques at their disposal, ready to switch from power to finesse 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!

Conservation and ethical fishing practices are paramount, especially during the sensitive spawning season. Anglers are encouraged to practice catch and release, particularly with bass that are spawning or guarding fry. This ensures that bass populations remain healthy and can continue their life cycle undisturbed. Quick, careful handling and minimal time out of water can help ensure that released fish survive to contribute to the ecosystem and future angling opportunities. Beyond these practices, using barbless hooks or crimping the barbs on hooks can further reduce injury to the fish, making the release process less harmful. Educating fellow anglers on the importance of these conservation practices can amplify the positive impact on local fish populations and habitats. Supporting habitat conservation efforts and participating in local clean-up events can aid in preserving the aquatic environments that bass and other species call their home. Engaging in these ethical practices not only benefits the immediate fishing experience but also secures the legacy of fishing for future generations to enjoy. The responsibility lies with each angler to adopt a conservation-minded approach.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a wide variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but released NEW Ghost Worms which are a must-have! 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.

Spring bass fishing in new lakes unfolds as a dynamic challenge that rewards knowledge, adaptability, and respect for nature. By mastering the nuances of the spawn cycle, aligning fishing strategies with water temperature and weather conditions, and starting in proven hotspots, anglers can significantly improve their chances of success. The key lies in versatility and being ready to switch tactics as conditions change and bass move through their patterns. Above all, ethical fishing practices and conservation remain at the heart of sustainable angling, ensuring that these thrilling spring bass adventures can be enjoyed by future generations. Embracing these principles, anglers can look forward to enriching experiences on the water, filled with the anticipation and excitement that spring bass fishing brings. This journey not only deepens an angler’s connection with the natural world but also fosters a profound sense of stewardship for our aquatic ecosystems. As such, the pursuit of bass in the spring becomes more than just a sport. It evolves into a meaningful interaction with nature that shows the balance.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from. For Scorpions, we love to use the Stand-Up Jig because it sits your bait up-right in a defensive stance! The popular Owner All Purpose Hook is built with an extra-wide gap and is made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Owner Mosquito Hooks work for drop-shotting and are perfectly designed to better 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 such as lizards and worms. 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 genius Owner 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. Covering a wide range of soft plastics including worms and other types of creature-styled lures.

The Life of a Co Angler: The Death of a Way of Life by Bruce Callis Jr

Brian Carter

April 9, 2024

The Life of a CoAngler:
The Death of a Way of Life
by Bruce Callis Jr

And the winner is? Right now, it is tough to get enough CoAnglers for tournaments. It has always been a great way to see how being a boater works. But it has always been hit or miss. I have had some great boaters in the BFLs I have fished. Summer on the James River in the heat. Call me a sucker, but it has been fun. But why are so many deciding not to do it?

Whether you like it or not, unless something changes, FFS (forward-facing sonar) is having a big impact on fishing. For good or bad, it is a tool that a lot of anglers are being forced to use. And this is creating a huge problem.

As a CoAngler, we take a huge chance when we enter. Will we be paired with an angler who has them dialed in? And will he put the boat in a position for us to be able to fish? Will they be fishing bedding bass where we can only watch them fish? It gets difficult to just sit in the back throwing at nothing all day.
But FFS is far worse. If the boater is using it to pick off a single fish, where does that leave the CoAngler? Watching the screen to see what they are doing? Making blind casts to open water in hopes of getting lucky and catching one? Or sitting there getting mad?

No, the CoAngler, the position that so many anglers have used to get into tournament fishing is going to the birds. No one wants to pay to go out and watch someone fish without getting something in return. You may as well become a marshal for B.A.S.S. Elite Anglers. At least you will get something in return.
Unless a change is made, things like the BFL and the B.A.S.S. Opens are going to become CoAnglerless not because of a lack of interest, but because of a lack of fishing time. I had a friend fish an Open and his boater was using FFS all day. He was stuck in a no-win situation. And that is where we are headed. We are about to lose one more fishing opportunity.

I will not be entering any more tournaments as a co-angler. I can catch bass but when you are sitting there in 20 feet of water and the boater is fishing the only brush pile he can find on FFS, what are you to do?
We can’t do what we want if it’s a jet ski flying around us! We can’t pick up a jig and hit them with it. We can’t call the tournament director and complain. In other words, we just have to “suck it up buttercup!”
Look for some big changes to come in 2025, whether we want them or not. B.A.S.S. has not decided on FFS, and if they do, we have no clue what it will be. I look for some limitations to be put in place as to how many transducers and graphs. MLF has not said much either. And they have the most to lose if the CoAnglers walk! Are we seeing the death of the CoAngler?

Joey Moore Wins Tournament #1- 5 Alive/Foundations Xperts Kerr Trail – 4/7/2024

Brian Carter

April 8, 2024

Joey Moore Wins Tournament #1- 5 Alive/Foundations Xperts Kerr Trail – 4/7/2024

We had the 1st Tournament of the 5 tournament series in the Foundations Xperts Kerr Trail on Sunday.
Once again a Cold Front plagues us on tournament day

We had 28 teams show up Sunday. At the end of what was a tough day for most Joey Moore who fished alone pretty much smoked the rest of the feild.
He had a 5 fish limit weighing16.60 pounds to take the WIN

That bag earned him a total of $1150.00

GREAT JOB on a tough day Mr. Moore!!
He was followed by the team of Reece & Kendrick who had a 5 fish limit weighing 12.90 pounds.That bag earned them $625.00. Good Job Guys!!
Big fish was won by the team of Gunter & Owen with a 4.80 pound fish earning them $280.00
BIG CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who placed in the money!!

Tournament #2 of the Foundations Xperts Kerr Trail is this Sunday 4/14/2024 at Ivy Hill. We will blast off at 7:00 am and weigh in at 3:00pm
If anyone wants to pre register contact me Kevin Sheppard at 336-264-8416 and I will get you the information you need to make it happen.

Thanks and hope to see yall on Sunday!!

Results
1st. Joey Moore – 16.60 pounds- $1150.00 TWT
2nd. Reece & Kendrick- 12.90 pounds- $625.00 TWT
3rd. Hodges & Fox – 12.80 pounds- $300.00
4th. Welch & Stanbury – 12.65 pounds- $185.00
5th. Gray & Garber – 12.20 pounds- $110.00
6th.West & Owen – 12.15 pounds
7th. Minor & Faust – 12.00 pounds
8th. Ellis & Fara – 11.80 pounds
9th. Gunter & Owen – 11.75 pounds
10th. Guill & Nash – 11.65 pounds

Big fish
Gunter & Owen – 4.80 pounds- $ 280.00

Liberty’s Parrish Posts Second Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir

Brian Carter

April 8, 2024

Liberty’s Parrish Posts Second Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir

Boater winner Jaden Parrish of Liberty, Texas, and Strike-King co-angler winner Neill Beckham of Jacksonville, Texas.

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Rookie Drew Gill Grabs Early Lead at Major League Fishing Stage Three Presented by Mercury at Dale Hollow Lake

Fishing New Lakes in Spring to Catch Bass!

The Life of a Co Angler: The Death of a Way of Life by Bruce Callis Jr

Liberty’s Parrish Posts Second Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir

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