BENTON, Ky. (July 31, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, and Brunswick Corporation, the global leader in marine recreation, announced today a multiyear sponsorship renewal. The renewal ensures that longtime MLF sponsors Mercury Marine and Lowrance continue as official sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour, General Tire Team Series and Major League Fishing Heavy Hitters all-star event.
Lowrance and Mercury Marine both became sponsors of MLF first in 2011, when they signed on as original sponsors of the very first MLF Challenge Cup on Lake Amistad, which featured only 24 professional anglers.
“Sponsorship renewals with brands that are deep-rooted in our sport, like Lowrance and Mercury Marine, are a testament to the benefits and ROI that our partners receive when aligning with Major League Fishing,” said Jim Wilburn. “Both brands share MLF’s strategic vision and goals – prioritizing innovation and a commitment to their anglers. The teams at both Mercury and Lowrance have been incredible supporters of MLF over the years, and we are excited to continue to build on our relationships with them in the years to come.”
In addition to remaining an official sponsor of all Major League Fishing and MLF5 circuits, Lowrance and Mercury will each be named the presenting sponsor of a yet-to-be-determined Bass Pro Tour Stage in 2025 and receive prominent exposure as premium exhibitors at the REDCREST 2025 and REDCREST 2026 Outdoor Sports Expos.
Also as a part of the renewal, the Lowrance Ghost® trolling motor and C-MAP® – the premium mapping solution for anglers looking for accurate and quality data – will also retain a prominent presence across numerous MLF media platforms, including all Bass Pro Tour and General Tire Team Series television programming and livestreams, MLF’s social media outlets, website, and featured logo placement on angler boats and jerseys in the General Tire Team Series and Heavy Hitters events.
For additional information about MLF, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Lowrance and its tournament-winning fish-finding technology, visit Lowrance.com. For more information on Mercury Marine visit MercuryMarine.com.
About Lowrance Lowrance® is part of Navico Group, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), and has been a leader in marine electronics and sonar technology since first inventing the original consumer fishfinder in 1957. It features a brand portfolio that is dedicated to helping anglers find and catch more fish, and includes the industry-leading HDS PRO® , Elite FS™, HOOK® Reveal™ Chartplotters & Fishfinders, ActiveTarget® 2 and Active Imaging™ HD Sonar and Lowrance Ghost™ and Recon™ Trolling Motors. Lowrance is distributed in more than 100 countries worldwide. More information is available at lowrance.com.
Northland® Fishing Tackle adds colors and sizes to summer’s hottest hit, the Minnesota Mullet
BEMIDJI, Minn. (July 31, 2024) – Hair jigs have been a bass secret for years, with some companies even offering their own commercial versions of what top-finishers secretly tie on when it’s time for a kicker fish.The problem? Most largemouth-intended bass hair jigs are too stiff, with more feathers than fluff. Northland took the opposite approach, creating a jig that has all the best attributes of a tiny marabou jig for rod-whipping giant bronzebacks (which Northland also makes) and combined it with a classic bucktail hair jig design.Yes, the new Northland Minnesota Mullet has loft – and lots of it, for fishing everything from shallow water, over summer weed tops, to open water where largemouths go crazy eating young-of-the-year and even larger panfish. The Minnesota Mullet is a big, flowing, hovering, water pushing machine. The big hair features a synthetic fiber material that creates a breathing, lifelike appearance in the water while also providing flotation to the jig. This will allow you to hover the bait over flats, weed beds, and suspended fish while pulsing the hair, and its tantalizing back feathers tease big bass and other predator fish to absolutely annihilate the bait.
And shortly after the release of the Minnesota Mullet, Northland comes with four new patterns and sizes. “Calls came quick to add black and sexy shad,” said Northland Marketing Manager, Charlie Peterson. Sexy shad is simply a bass staple, its blue-based rainbow hues blended with white. Black is increasingly popular, too, its natural silhouette intriguing to bass. Moreover, black is a frequent choice for anglers fishing in murky water and during lowlight periods, even nighttime hours. Purple has become one of the hottest hues in bass fishing, spawning Northland’s new Minnesota Mullet in Purple Shad. Finally, Northland added Smelt to the collection. The naturalistic pattern mimics numbers of different baitfish species. New sizes include 3/8- and 5/8-ounce Minnesota Mullets. “The new 3/8-ounce size will be hugely effective in shallow water, depths under 5-feet,” said Peterson. “Likewise, the heavier 5/8-ounce size makes the Minnesota Mullet effective down to 20-feet or more.”Northland lure designer, Sam Larsen, offers: “Most of the best fish-catching baits are simple in design. We took that direction with the Minnesota Mullet, which is made of three materials on a premium Northland Elite Series Mimic Jighead with 60-degree upward hook-bend and heavy wire for solid hooksets. We utilized a unique, synthetic fiber with a lot of loft, buoyancy, and flow; a couple chicken feathers off the back that undulate like a trailer; and just the right amount of tinsel. Then you have the thread tied farther back on the jig hook shank so it’s really streamlined.”“Especially in the upper Midwest, tournament bass anglers are going to town fishing big hair jigs for bigger bass. We knew we could create a better jig to use in the same manner in-the-know anglers have been doing for the past several years. There’s really nothing like it, especially given that we added an entire extra step to the jig production process by applying vertical lines to the material to give it an even greater forage-matching appeal. These baits look like the real thing that big bass eat,” continues Larsen.“There is no other bass hair jig that hangs, pauses, breathes, and sheds water so easily, while remaining easy to fish. It gives the right suspending action while having a lot of material to push water—notify big bass of its presence—and really stimulate their lateral lines.”
Unified Pros Taps Angler, Mark Davis as Tournament Director for The Ultimate Angler World Championship
Scottsboro, AL – Unified Pros, Inc. announced Mark Davis as Tournament Director for their Ultimate Angler World Championship. In this role, Davis will play a critical part in shaping the first true world championship bass fishing tournament. He will oversee tournament operations including rules officiation, organization, preparation and the execution of The Ultimate Angler World Championship.
“Mark Davis is a bass fishing legend,” said Danny Groves, chairman of the board for Unified Pros. “The credibility, knowledge of the sport and integrity he brings to The Ultimate is an invaluable foundation that we will build on for years to come.” Davis is one of only a few professional anglers to win the Bassmaster Classic and the B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year title in the same year (1995). He also took Angler of the Year honors in 1998 and 2001. Davis was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2019.
“The Ultimate World Championship is so unique,” said Davis. “Because it encourages anglers to compete in their respective leagues, at multiple levels, in hopes of qualifying for this one awesome event.”
The Ultimate Angler World Championship will take place October 5-11, 2025 on Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Alabama. Anglers from college to the professional level can qualify through various tournament sanctioned events.
Unified Pros, a nonprofit alliance of professional athletes, through our sanctioned competitions, charity events, and membership, aims to elevate the love for outdoor competition while raising awareness for our fisheries, habitats, and their continued conservation. We envision an inclusive world where athletes collaborate and compete in the outdoor arena to create transformative experiences that make a lasting impact on individuals, communities, professional athletes, and the Sport of Bass Fishing.
BOARDMAN, Ore. – Conrad Demecs of Phoenix, Ariz. brought a five-fish limit of 19.62 to the scales on Champion Sunday to claim his first win at the final regular season stop of the BAM Pro Tour at the Columbia River presented by the Boardman Chamber of Commerce / Boardman Parks and Recreation.
Closing out 2024, the victory earned Demecs a total payback of $12,930 and pushed him up into the 3rd place position in the Pro Tour’s inaugural Angler of the Year (AOY) standings.
“The wind helped today, big time,” said Demecs. “I hadn’t been able to throw the A-rig the last two days because it’s been dead calm, bluebird skies. I had to throw a jig-headed minnow (the first two days) or a walking bait when we had a little ripple. The wind (today) allowed me to pull out some other baits to attract their attention.”
After adding 16.38 for Day Two to his 18.49 on Day One, Demecs went into the final day of fishing with a two-day total of 34.87 and 31 scorable bass. He qualified by weight and ended Day Two in 7th place, prior to the zero-ing out of the top-10 field cut. He was confident that his location could hold for Day Three.
“I had one area that had some big ones and if I could figure out how to catch ‘em, I knew I could potentially have that 18 – 20-pound bag,” he explained.
“My big kicker was on a walking bait that would get them to come up and explode,” he shared. “I fished it on an Alpha Angler Top Hammer with 40-pound braid on a Daiwa Tatula SV.
Overall Day Three on the water was perfect for Demecs. He had all his weight within 45 minutes.
“It was just one after the other,” he recalled. “My execution was 100 percent which was huge and on crazy smallmouth that is hard to do.”
The event boosted Demecs 288 points in the AOY placement, with Martinez earning 91, Almanor 92, and 105 at Columbia River. His total put him four points behind Ish Monroe’s 292 for the runner-up position and Colby Pearson’s 306 points for the 2024 AOY honor.
Conrad Demecs also won the $500 Bass Boat Technologies as the highest placing anger running BBT mounts.Jason Hickey won both Garmin contingencies as the highest placing angler running exclusive Garmin electronics and the Garmin Force trolling motor.By Jody OnlyBAM Pro Tour Columbia River Day One Full ResultsBAM Pro Tour Columbia River Day Two Full ResultsNote: BAM Pro 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 will be cut at end of Day Two. All weights are zeroed to start the final day on Championship Sunday.BAM Tournament Trail Weigh-In LinksBAM Website: www.bamtrail.comBAM YouTube https://www.youtube.com/bassanglermagBAM Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BassAnglerMagazineBAM Live Updates from The LakeGet real-time insights and stay in the loop with all the tournament action by following along each day with live updates anglers on TourneyX Media is welcome to attend. Filming is allowed, angler interviews are allowed and encouraged, interviews with the BAM staff are also encouraged.
Top-10 BAM Pro Tour Columbia River Final Place Angler Big Fish Day 3 Weight Place Winnings Big Fish $ BBT Garmin Total Payout 1 Conrad Demecs 19.62 $12,430 $500.00 BBT $12,930.00 2 Jason Hickey 19.22 $5,525 $500.00 Garmin $6,025.00 3 Jake Boomer 19.21 $5,064 $5,064.00 4 Karl Okerman 18.94 $4,604 $4,604.00 5 Colby Pearson 17.94 $4,143 $4,143.00 6 Ish Monroe 16.35 $3,683 $3,683.00 7 Bill O’Shinn 15.59 $2,762 $2,762.00 8 Greg Gutierrez 15.44 $2,762 $2,762.00 9 Hayden Lee 15.26 $2,532 $2,532.00 10 Nicholas Cloutier 5.69 11.55 $2,532 $725.00 Big Bass $3,257.00
We would like to thank all anglers that participated in the Lynn Hoeffer Benefit Tournament on the Chickahominy River this past Saturday, July 27th. The funds raised will support Lynn’s on-going care and recovery efforts from the hemorrhagic stroke he suffered this past December. Lynn has been a long-time member of the NASA-Langley Bassmasters and the Virginia Bass Chapter Federation. He is well known as an accomplished angler who has competed in many local tournament trails. The event drew anglers from throughout Virginia and was a great example of the Bass Fishing Community coming together to support a fellow angler. 75 Boats competed in the tournament which was followed by some fellowship with food, a 50/50 drawing, a raffle table and tournament awards. 5-Rivers Bassmasters provided a hot dog cookout and Chick-fil-A provided sandwiches for the hungry crowd. In addition to the many volunteers, several businesses also supported the event through their donations of funds or products: Fishing Pro Tech of Toano; JLJ Handyman of Standardsville, VA; Chick-fil-A Mooretown, Williamsburg, VA; Bass Pro Shops of Hampton; Teriyaki Madness of Virginia Beach, Hampton, & Lightfoot; the Virginia Bass Chapter Federation; and Bill Haire Custom Handcrafted Lures. Tournament Results: Turner Hart won the tournament with a limit of bass weighing 19.39 lbs. Turner also had the Big Bass for the tournament a 6.83 lb. largemouth. Chris Craft and Scott Taylor finished in 2nd Place with a 5 fish limit weighing 17.43 lbs. Ryan and Wayne Drewery weighed 17.26 lbs for 3rd Place. In 4th Place was the team of Jason Swindle and Alex Swindle with 16.63 lbs. Alex was also the Top Finishing Youth for the tournament taking to $100 Youth Award. In 5th Place was the team of Guy Fairweather and Chris Brill with a limit of bass weighing in at 16.63 lbs. Tournament results are posted on the Region 8 web site: vabassregion8.com. Select “Current Standings” on the home page to view.
A good bass fishing pond should have clear water, ample aquatic vegetation, and plenty of brush piles. These features provide necessary cover and suitable habitat for bass, allowing them to thrive. Ponds should have more shallow water than deep water to support bass activities during the summer. In warm weather, bass tend to stay in water that is no deeper than 5 or 6 feet. Ensuring these characteristics will create an environment conducive to both the growth and health of bass populations. Clear water allows sunlight to penetrate, promoting the growth of aquatic plants that provide food and shelter for various organisms. Aquatic vegetation, such as water willows and lily pads, offers bass hiding spots to ambush prey and escape predators. Brush piles add structure to the pond, creating additional habitats for smaller fish and insects that serve as food for bass. Shallow areas warm up more quickly, making them ideal feeding grounds during cooler mornings and evenings. Properly designed ponds with these elements can support a diverse and abundant fish community, enhancing the overall fishing experience with a more productive environment.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!
Fishing in ponds offers several advantages over large reservoirs. Ponds typically have less water to cover, making it easier to locate bass. Fishing from the bank can be just as successful as fishing from a boat, offering convenience and accessibility. Private ponds often experience less fishing pressure, meaning bass are less wary of lures. This can result in more frequent and successful catches. Pond fishing can provide a more relaxed and productive experience for anglers. Another benefit of pond fishing is the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions, as the smaller environment allows for easier observation of bass behavior. The smaller size of ponds also means less time spent traveling to different fishing spots, maximizing actual fishing time. Ponds often have more predictable fishing patterns, making it easier for anglers to develop effective strategies. The intimate setting of pond fishing fosters a deeper connection with nature and a more personal fishing experience that offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Ponds provide an ideal learning environment due to their manageable size and populations.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fact, we just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost and 10w30 Syntheic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater.
Effective summertime lures for pond bass fishing include soft plastic baits such as worms, lizards, insect larvae, and other creature-styled baits. Downsizing these baits can help manage the bass population by catching smaller fish. Soft plastic worms and lizards are particularly effective for mimicking natural prey and navigating through vegetation without getting snagged. These baits can entice strikes from both small and large bass, making them versatile choices for pond fishing. Utilizing these techniques can lead to more successful and enjoyable fishing outings. When fishing with soft plastics, it’s important to match the color and size of the bait to the local forage to increase effectiveness. Rigging techniques such as Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, and wacky rigs can be employed to present these baits in different ways, each suitable for various conditions and cover types. Slow, steady retrieves or subtle twitches can often provoke strikes from hesitant bass. Adding scent attractants to the soft plastics can enhance their appeal, especially in murky waters. Experimenting with different styles and presentations of soft plastic baits will help anglers determine your approach.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!
Selecting the right fishing gear is essential for maximizing success in pond fishing. A baitcast reel with a 15-pound test line provides the strength needed to handle bass. A 7 1/2–foot flipping stick is ideal for using plastic lizards, offering the necessary reach and leverage. Medium-heavy casting rods are suitable for other types of lures, ensuring versatility in different fishing situations. Using the appropriate gear can enhance the overall fishing experience and increase the chances of landing bass. The sensitivity of the rod is crucial for detecting subtle bites, especially when using soft plastic baits. High-quality lines, such as fluorocarbon or braided lines, offer low visibility and increased durability, which are beneficial in clear water and heavy cover. A reliable drag system on the reel helps manage hard-fighting bass, preventing line breakage. Ergonomically designed rods and reels can reduce fatigue during long fishing sessions, allowing anglers to fish more comfortably and effectively. Proper maintenance of fishing gear, including regular cleaning and lubrication, ensures optimal performance. Investing in high-quality gear helps avoid the need for frequent replacements.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. Grab our newest Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. Act quickly, these new colors won’t stay in stock for long. We also recently restocked our Ghost, Red Bug, Purple Rain, Brown Bug, Electric Chicken, and Goby Wan colors. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Additionally, its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to the HellaMite’s superior performance and versatility.
When fishing in private ponds, it’s important to respect the property and the owner’s guidelines. Avoid making ruts in fields when driving to the pond and always clean up any trash. Following the owner’s requests, such as removing certain bass, helps maintain the pond’s ecological balance. Showing respect and consideration can lead to more opportunities to fish on private properties. Responsible behavior ensures that anglers are welcomed back and can continue to enjoy the fishing experience. Building a good rapport with the pond owner can open doors to additional fishing spots and recommendations. Always ask for permission before fishing and inquire about any specific rules or regulations. Practicing catch and release when appropriate can help sustain fish populations and keep the ecosystem healthy. Sharing your catch results with the owner can provide valuable feedback for pond management. Respecting property boundaries and being mindful of other wildlife in the area further demonstrates responsible angling practices. Ultimately, fostering a positive relationship with the pond owner benefits both the angler and the health of the pond.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!
Proper pond management is crucial for maintaining a balanced ecosystem that supports both bass and bluegill populations. By ensuring there are enough bluegill, which serve as prey for bass, the food chain remains healthy. It’s also important to periodically remove smaller bass to prevent overcrowding and stunting. This practice helps support the growth of larger bass by reducing competition for food. A well-managed pond can sustain a thriving population of both predator and prey species. Regular monitoring of fish populations and water quality is essential for effective pond management. Stocking the pond with the appropriate ratio of predator to prey fish helps maintain ecological balance. Implementing a feeding program for bluegill can enhance their growth and reproductive success, providing a steady food source for bass. Controlling aquatic vegetation prevents overgrowth that can deplete oxygen levels and harm fish. Utilizing these management techniques ensures a healthy, productive pond that offers excellent fishing opportunities and supports long-term ecological sustainability. Educating pond owners and anglers can further enhance the success.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added new MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electic Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also released new 6-inch Worms including Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR are all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater.
Fertilizing a pond can significantly increase its fertility, enhancing the entire food chain from the bottom up. This practice starts with boosting the growth of algae, which serves as the foundation of the aquatic food web. Feeding bluegill can further improve their health and reproductive success, providing better forage for bass. Healthier bluegill populations mean more food and larger prey items for bass, supporting their growth. Regular feeding and fertilization create a more productive and balanced pond ecosystem. Applying fertilizers at the correct times and in appropriate amounts ensures optimal nutrient levels for algae growth. Over-fertilization, however, can lead to algal blooms that deplete oxygen and harm fish. It is important to monitor water quality to prevent such issues. Supplemental feeding of bluegill with high-protein fish food can accelerate their growth and increase their spawning rates. This targeted approach to feeding and fertilization helps maintain a stable and productive pond environment, benefiting all species within the ecosystem. Consistent evaluation and adjustment of these practices are essential to adapting to the changes.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose. For creature baits, we love to use the Stand-Up Jig because it sits your bait up-right in a defensive stance! Mosquito Hooks work for drop-shotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you pressure time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action.
Connect-Ease® YAK-EASE™ Power Pak Pro Takes “Best of Category” in Non-Motorized Boating Accessories
Setting a new precedent, the portable, plug & play power system for kayak anglers proves a big hit with the voting masses at ICAST 2024 in Orlando, Florida
PRIOR LAKE, MN (July 30, 2024) – Rigging a fishing kayak with today’s sophisticated fishing electronics, lighting, and various accessories can take days, what with having to source and run wire and fuses, match leads for graphs and FF sonar, position batteries, etc.Wish there was a better way? Connect-Ease® has been providing the quickest, easiest, and cleanest power boat rigging possible for years. Now—with the recent introduction of YAK-EASE®—the company has extended their expertise into the realms of kayak angling with numerous new, problem-solving rigging and power distribution products.
Put an end to confusing and time-intensive power, electronics, & accessories rigging with the turnkey, plug & play YAK-EASE™ Power Pak Pro
Like the YAK-EASE™ Power Pak Pro, a self-contained, portable, plug & play power system that provides the quickest, easiest, and cleanest power kayak rigging possible—while saving hours and hours of sketchy rigging in the process. Whether you’re setting up a basic fishing kayak to a deluxe, tournament-ready fishing kayak—YAK-EASE Power Pak Pro is the best solution available today. Regarding the company’s “Best of Category” win in Non-Motorized Boating Accessories at ICAST 2024 as part of the New Products Showcase, Connect-Ease founder, Cal Munkvold, offers:“While we have vast background in providing plug & play bass and walleye boat, RV, and other clean power backbone rigging systems, we noticed a void in the kayak fishing market for something similar. So, our staff took to the drawing board to provide the ultimate in fast, reliable, and clean power rigging for the multiple graphs, forward-facing sonar, trolling motors, lighting, and accessories today’s sophisticated kayak anglers are using. The result quickly became the YAK-EASE Power Pak Pro.”Munkvold continues: “But we couldn’t have done this without the input from serious kayak anglers who’ve contacted us looking for solutions, as well as kayak experts within other fishing industry brands who’ve worked with us on providing products for testing—companies like Old Town Canoe & Kayak, YOLOtek, Sniper Marine, Norsk Lithium, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Garmin, and Minn Kota.”Aidan Hren, Connect-Ease, Service & Operations Manager, concludes: “This felt like a great hookset, now we have to land the fish.”
Wish there was a better way? YAK-EASE™ Plug & Play color-coded connections for ease of installing correctly.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS *Includes (4) Independent, Positive/Negative Lighting Leads; and YAK-EASE™ GRAPH POWER for multiple graphs/FF Sonar transducers/black boxes Premium Pelican® Waterproof Case (16.5” x 13” x 7”) – MADE IN THE U.S.A. IP65 Water-Resistant Panel Lock Point 12V Cigarette-style Female Plug Receptacle Illuminated Voltage Meter/Battery Runtime Indicator 2-Port USB receptacle for GoPro/POV cameras/cell phones/powered speakers Lighted Power Switch (blue illumination) Includes (4) B Mini Connector pigtail for YAK-EASE™ LIGHTNIN’ Harness – (2) each (+/-) leads for four independent lighting kayak lighting systems: (1) Navigation Lighting (port and bow); (1) Anchor Lighting; (2) Interior/Exterior Lighting Female Quick-Connect SB50-R Receptacle for included YAK-EASE™ GRAPH POWER® Accommodates any 12V Lithium Battery (50-60Ah, typically), with maximum battery dimensions of (8” x 7.5” x 5.5”); includes foam inserts and battery strap
Plug & play, clean power system for your fishing kayak’s advanced electronics and accessories.
YAK-EASE™ POWER PAK PRO INCLUDES YAK-EASE™ GRAPH POWER®YAK EASE GRAPH POWER® is a permanent power solution for up to four powered kayak fishing accessories, all with a convenient and easy pack-in/pack-out battery connection.From the get-go, GRAPH POWER was designed to solve the connections and power issues associated with running today’s sophisticated fishing electronics common on modern kayaks, providing clear, clean power and direct connections. Now that extends into the realms of kayak angling with numerous new, problem-solving rigging and power distribution products.GRAPH POWER is designed to work with all manufacturers of fresh- and saltwater marine electronics. GRAPH POWER features marine-grade sheathed wire with multiple fused connections for your electronics. Works with Humminbird, Lowrance, Garmin, all forward-facing, side-, and down-imaging systems. Power multiple electronics, GoPRO cameras, cell phones, powered speakers, and other accessories with four fused connections.ABOUT: THE YAK-EASE™ LIGHTNIN’ HARNESS (DIY) Only Plug & Play Self-Contained, Complete Kayak Lighting System On The Market Complete Navigation, Interior, Exterior, Accessories Rigging Designed for All Fishing/Recreational Kayaks up to 13.5” 14 Gauge Sheathed Marine-Grade Wire Heat-Shrinked Connections
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“I ended up fishing the slow side (part of the lake restricted to idle speed only) today and ended up catching them on a jig,” Uebelhor said. “The key to my win was definitely my big fish. I had one that was 5 pounds, 6 ounces, I think. And that really put me over the top.”
Uebelhor got his start competing with MLF at the Abu Garcia College Fishing level in 2012. Since 2016, he’s been a consistent angler at the BFL level, logging seven top-20 AOY finishes in various divisions, competing in nine BFL regionals and making the All-American twice. But this is his first BFL win since 2018, when he took home the trophy on Patoka Lake.
“It feels pretty good,” Uebelhor said. “It’s been six years since I’ve won one of these, and I’m glad to end up winning another one.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Nick Uebelhor, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 15-12, $6,294 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus) 2nd: John Melton, Trafalgar, Ind., five bass, 11-15, $1,897 3rd: Jamil Abdullah, Indianapolis, Ind., five bass, 11-9, $1,265 4th: Mike Quinlin, Mooresville, Ind., four bass, 11-4, $1,185 5th: Chris Abrell, Terre Haute, Ind., five bass, 11-00, $759 6th: John Webb, Martinsville, Ind., four bass, 10-11, $696 7th: Blake Knies, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 10-6, $632 8th: Jordan Nauert, Fillmore, Ind., three bass, 9-6, $569 9th: Dick Shaffer, Rockford, Ohio, two bass, 8-15, $1,001 10th: Levi Mullins, Nineveh, Ind., four bass, 8-14, $443
Dick Shaffer of Rockford, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $495.
Mason Bohland of Noblesville, Indiana, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,878 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 8 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Mason Bohland, Noblesville, Ind., three bass, 8-6, $1,878 2nd: Trey Gault, Trafalgar, Ind., three bass, 7-9, $939 3rd: Tommy Pritchard, Bargersville, Ind., two bass, 7-1, $1,022 4th: Zion Dunaway, Campbellsburg, Ind., three bass, 6-15, $438 5th: Ryan Cannon, Indianapolis, Ind., three bass, 6-14, $376 6th: Allen Dozier, Aurora, Ill., two bass, 6-6, $344 7th: Conner McClellan, Coatsville, Ind., three bass, 5-15, $313 8th: Jarrod Pickel, Indianapolis, Ind., two bass, 5-10, $266 8th: Austin Beckman, Terre Haute, Ind., three bass, 5-10, $266 10th: Carl Bowser, Indianapolis, Ind., three bass, 5-4, $219
Tommy Pritchard of Bargersville, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $245, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 6 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, John Melton of Corydon, Indiana, leads the Fishing Clash Hoosier Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 926 points, while Ryan Cannon of Indianapolis, Indiana, leads the Fishing Clash Hoosier Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 955 points.
The next event for BFL Hoosier Division anglers will be held Sept. 28-29, on the Ohio River at Tanners Creek in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Pools 13-17 of the Mississippi River in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
With a two-day total of 187.75 inches, the Virginia angler secured his first Kayak Series victory and earned the top prize of $11,694. Just a quarter of an inch separated Minor from second-place Kristine Fischer, who landed a two-day total of 187.50 inches.
“I think this is the largest kayak tournament I’ve ever fished, so that is really cool. The blue trophy is one that I didn’t have, and I just wanted to have one of the top three. So, this will be a really nice addition to the collection.”
While this is Minor’s first victory in a Bassmaster event, it adds to a long list of accomplishments he’s accrued in the kayak fishing world. Prior to this event, the Carson-Newman University angler had won several Hobie Bass Open Series events and nearly won Angler of the Year in 2021. He will also compete in the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Lake Hartwell next month.
Minor believes the Susquehanna River is the best river in the country, and there’s certainly a strong case to be made after this weekend. In total, 2,463 bass were caught in the two-day event and 52 bags over 90 inches were submitted to TourneyX.
Since his first trip to the Susquehanna in 2021, which resulted in a second-place finish at a Hobie BOS event, Minor has made a point to fish the river every year. When he arrived for practice, conditions of the river matched up almost perfectly with what he experienced the previous summer.
“That week was very close to the water clarity and water level it is right now,” he said. “I feel like that trip last summer really helped me out.”
With the water rising from recent rains, Minor struggled to find consistency in practice and was not dialed in until about the first hour of Day 1.
“The water was rising, and I was a step behind the bass the whole time. I never really caught up to them until Day 1. They pushed up a lot further than I expected. But on Day 1, I just kept pushing up into shallower water, and I eventually found them in inches of water. But it was kind of tough to figure out what stage they were in each day.”
Minor decided to fish the section of the river he was most familiar with, which features a diverse selection of grass, wood, rock, shade and different speeds of current. Slower-to-moderate current proved to be the most productive, but not one type of cover was more productive than another.
While the first hour of fishing was a struggle on Day 1, he moved into shallower water as the morning progressed and began catching quality smallies on a ¼-ounce buzzbait with a Strike King Rage Menace trailer. An unnamed wake bait was also a key presentation.
“I had a buzzbait tied on that I bought at the tackle store the night before. I hadn’t thrown it in practice, and I started throwing it inside of the grass islands and started catching a bunch. I lost a bunch of fish yesterday, too. But once I started getting on that I kept running it. Once the sun came out, they stopped biting on the islands, and I stuck to the shade lines.”
Entering the final day in 14th place with 93.5 inches, Minor found the buzzbait bite was not as productive to open Day 2. With an increase in fishing pressure around the islands, he decided to motor up the river in search of fresh real estate. On his way, he landed a 19.5-inch smallmouth — his biggest bass of the tournament — on a Berkley Choppo 120.
“I was just fan casting. It was completely random. I wasn’t targeting anything,” he said.
Once he reached an area without any other competitors, Minor targeted rock, wood, shade and grass to fill out the rest of his bag, which included another 19-incher as well as three smallmouth over 18 inches.
“I didn’t have much of a pattern today. I was just fishing what looked good and cleaning up the leftovers,” he said.
Fischer opened the tournament in fifth place with 94.75 inches before moving into the runner-up position on the final day with a 92.75-inch limit of smallmouth.
“This river has always clicked for me. It has always made sense. I think I’ve fished six tournaments here now and cut checks in all of them,” Fischer said. “I practiced for two days and had great days.”
Knowing some of her better areas would likely receive a lot of fishing pressure, the BassmastHER ambassador fished the southern section of eligible water. While she planned to fish around 15 different spots, trolling motor issues both days of the tournament limited her range.
Fischer made the most of it, however, landing a smallmouth 20 inches or better each day of the event. She landed the majority of her bass using an unnamed glide bait as well as a 6-inch Berkley Cull Shad.
“What I figured out was, the majority of the competitors wouldn’t make a cast at the water I was fishing,” she said. “Shade is big. The fish really utilize the shade, a lot of times shallower than people realize. I was working everything pretty fast. I was fishing the Cull Shad in slower flats deeper than 3 feet. Anything shallower than that, I was fishing the wake bait.”
With bags of 93.5 inches and 93.75 inches, Mickey Pfortsch finished third with a two-day total of 187.25 inches.
“I did not expect to get third place,” Pfortsch said. “Day 2 was definitely a lot tougher. I looked at some of the scores from the past and saw that you are never out of it if you did well on Day 1 because Day 2 is always a struggle no matter what the conditions are.”
Pfortsch’s best day of practice was Wednesday, but when the water rose, he had to make several adjustments to his gameplan. Throughout the tournament, the Pennsylvania angler threw a Boogerman buzzbait and a black Berkley Choppo around shade lines and whitewater areas.
“I must have fished 75 (whitewater areas) and caught two fish. But those two fish are 20.75 inches and 20 inches. Each day was really tough. Day 1 I think I had 91 inches by 7 a.m. and didn’t upgrade again until 1:25 p.m. Day 2 was pretty much the same way. All 10 of my fish were caught on topwater.”
Brandon Palmer of Loveland, Ohio, claimed Big Bass of the Tournament honors with the 21-inch smallmouth he landed on Day 1.
A full list of results from the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Susquehanna River scored by TourneyX can be found here.
2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Title Sponsor: Yamaha Rightwaters 2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Partner: MotorGuide, YakGear 2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Dakota Lithium
