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Greatness Gets Greater DAIWA

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February 27, 2024

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Greatness Gets Greater

DAIWA adds technology, features, and new size to the legendary CERTATE spinning reel series

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (February 27, 2024) – The name CERTATE lives in the lexicon of premium spinning reels like Ford’s Mustang does in muscle cars and Chevrolet’s Corvette in grand prix sports cars. Having a sub-brand earn such name recognition within a category isn’t an easy feat, either. That’s why DAIWA is proud of CERTATE’s synonymousness with elite spinning reels and its rich 20 year history.The CERTATE legacy began in 2004 when DAIWA introduced its REAL FOUR design concept: REAL ENGINE: Overwhelming power and smooth rotation REAL CONTROL: High levels of operability REAL ENDURANCE: Long lasting durability REAL CUSTOM: Create your own style To satisfy these four performance requirements, the first-generation CERTATE was equipped with the most advanced technology of the time and was a true breakthrough in spinning reel design. Since, each new generation of CERTATE continues to capitalize on DAIWA’s newest, most advanced technologies and adheres to the foundational REAL FOUR design concept.

Please welcome DAIWA’s 2024 CERTATE.Not long ago, DAIWA Marketing Manager and admitted ‘reel connoisseur’ Marc Mills was in Japan and had the opportunity to test the new CERTATE before its arrival in North America. “CERTATE reels have always been smooth, but this was noticeably smoother, more refined,” said Mills, impressed that greatness could get even greater. “The new CERTATE stands as the next evolution in spinning reels.”“AIRDRIVE^® DESIGN” is the next generation of DAIWA’s spinning reel design concept. The new CERTATE implements this advanced technology in the front unit, providing anglers with superior operability with maximum power and rigidity.

The new CERTATE is rife with design innovations, features, and technologies, including: MONOCOQUE BODY DESIGNDAIWA’s advanced, single component MONOCOQUE (MQ) Body is constructed of aviation grade aluminum. By removing the traditional screws used to attach sideplates, MQ maximizes internal space for larger diameter gears, while improving rigidity and durability. AIRDRIVE^® SPOOLOverall weight reduction is at the core of DAIWA’s progressive AIRDRIVE Spool. While lessening weight, the AIRDRIVE Spool also reduces friction to support the drag release.

AIRDRIVE^® BAILThe AIRDRIVE BAIL is DAIWA’s next evolution of the original AIRBAIL. Further reducing the inertia of the rotor unit, which has been completely redesigned with the AIRDRIVE DESIGN, reducing bail weight was the next step. To enhance its position for power and strength, and to support the reduced weight of the rotor and maintain the sensitivity, the new CERTATE is equipped with Φ2.4mm bail.AIRDRIVE^® ROTORSmooth winding with precision stopping. Anglers can wind and stop the reel with perfect timing. Low rotation inertia of the spherical rotor brings the feel of lightness when winding. The operability and winding sensitivity have been dramatically improved.AIRDRIVE^® SHAFTThe AIRDRIVE SHAFT creates smooth, quiet rotation and provides anglers with enhanced torque and power. In addition, both ends of pinion gear are supported with bearings to transmit the crank power from the handle to the rotor with enhanced efficiency. By adding high quality collars to the main-shaft, rotational noise has been reduced significantly.

Aluminum DIGIGEAR^®DAIWA’s digitally engineered gear design ensures a perfect mesh between a sizable, ultra-tough drive gear and pinion gears for optimized speed, power, durability, and smoothness.Special Gear TreatmentSpecial surface treatment has been added to increase the hardness of the drive gear, while water resistance is boosted on the handle side. Additionally, the drags and pinions of some of the larger models are reinforced to SALTIGA-equivalent specifications.ATD (Advanced Tournament Drag) TYPE-LThe ATD TYPE-L drag system works in tandem with the pull of a fish. The initial response of the drag has been significantly improved, especially when using lighter lines to reduce the load and enable a quicker catch and minimize stress on the fish.

LONG CAST ABSThe friction caused by line contacting the spool edge during casting has been reduced. The two-stage spool edge shape is engineered for a smooth line release. The spool edge is designed for long casts with the maximum amount of line spooled. Casting distance is increased compared to models without the LONG CAST-ABS.TWISTBUSTER IIITWISTBUSTER III eliminates line twisting – a common problem with spinning reels. The mechanism features a gap in the line roller section to suppress the fluttering of line as it passes through. The line roller section is also MAGSEALED. This special treatment promotes reliable rotation performance and preserves reel integrity, even in saltwater.ALUMINUM HANDLEDAIWA gives you the option to choose an aluminum roller-ball or wide paddle handle. The free-wheeling aluminum handle provides exceptional grip and control even when wet. (“A” models only.)Mills calls the new CERTATE “a premium spinning reel for serious fishing enthusiasts.” You might not have a rod locker or holder chock full of them, but trust that the new CERTATE will be the one you proudly show friends and first to grab for that opening cast.

CERTATE Features: Monocoque (MQ) Aluminum Frame AIRDRIVE^® System Design AIRDRIVE^® ROTOR AIRDRIVE^® BAIL AIRDRIVE^® SPOOL MAGSEALED^® Aluminum TOUGH DIGIGEAR^® Advanced Tournament Drag System (ATD) TWISTBUSTER III Aluminum Handle (Certain Models) 10 CRBB, 1RB: CRBB = Corrosion Resistant Ball Bearing, RB = Roller Bearing Sizes 2500 to 5000 MSRP $569.99 to $629.99

For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us

Greg Gutierrez Grabs Inaugural BAM Tournament Trail Trophy at Lake Shasta

Brian Carter

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February 27, 2024

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Greg Gutierrez Grabs Inaugural BAM Tournament Trail Trophy at Lake Shasta

REDDING, Calif. – In a come-from-behind victory, Frenzy Baits pro Greg “Double G” Gutierrez, of Red Bluff, Calif. brought in the big bag of Championship day, eclipsing the nearest five-fish limit by more than two-pounds.Over the course of the three-day event, Gutierrez consistently climbed the leaderboard. He trailed by six-pounds from his starting point of 11th on Day One with 12.74. On Day Two, he increased the weight of his bag by little more than a half-pound with 13.35, however it was enough to secure a spot in the top-10 cutline. Blasting off in 8th place on the final day of competition, Double G pushed past the remaining field when he added 14.88, sacking up a tournament total of 40.97, and claiming the crown as the first-ever BAM Tournament Trail Pro/Am Champion on his home waters of Lake Shasta.“This is an accomplishment,” Gutierrez exclaimed. “There will never be another first BAM Tournament and that means a lot. That and the fact that I’m fishing against some real hammers out here and I came back from 11th place to win it; so, it feels awesome.”Gutierrez started the day believing he needed to catch 15 pounds, but wanting to get 16, just to be safe.“The whole (top-10) field was separated by three-pounds, so to make a move like I did is a big deal on Shasta,” he said.

Fishing The Weather Conditions At Shasta
The condition change from rain and cloud cover to bluebird skies challenged many of the anglers; however, Gutierrez banked on it.”“I knew I could catch ‘em in this weather and I figured it would shut everyone else down,” he shared. “And there is another issue right now, the water is dropping. They’re pullin’ the plug on the lake and it’s dropping a foot or a 1 foot and a half per day.”Although the flux in the water hit some anglers hard, Gutierrez had staged for it. The first day, he worked spots up the McCloud arm and back down into the main lake. Day two, he returned on his path up the McCloud after boating a few key fish on bridge pilings and hopping around to cull out his early limit. For Day Three, it was a whole other strategy.“I knew there was a club tournament going out of the other ramp and I knew one of the other anglers would be on the bridge pilings, but I went ahead and fished it,” he said.It was a good stop for Gutierrez as he stuck a Shasta big about four-pounds first thing in the morning. A few casts later and he had another 2 ½ in the box. It started the day off on a good note.“Then, I made a run up to the Sacramento,” he said. “I caught a couple fish that helped; but I came back down.”

The Baits To Catch Shasta BassFrenzy Baits Nail Shakey Head (Green Pumpkin)Double G revealed he had two rods on deck. One was an IROD tied up with a Frenzy Baits Nail on six-pound-test Gamma married to FINS braided line.“The IROD has the tip to really get the worm to work; but still get a good backbone set fishing in brush and deeper water,” he explained. “When I would hit a bridge piling, it was a G2 Ultra-Finesse, with a custom dart head that I make. This is probably what caught the lion’s share of it today.”Credit for both presentations went to five-inch worms.Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm Green Pumpkin“I’m throwin’ Reaction Innovations; but some of the colors that I usually use were just too shiny,” he said. “I used duller worms and kept getting short bit to the point that they got to 3 ½ inches and then, the fish started eating it. The whole day, I was just really blessed.”

Chris Trumbell Tops Shasta Co-Angler FieldCo-angler Chris Trumbull of nearby Shingle Town towered over the non-boater field in the draw event with a three-day cumulative weight of 42.12. He bested the backseater side by more than five pounds over his nearest competitor and more than a pound over the pro side. Trumbull’s take of the prize purse was $4,284.“It’s good to get the first one; no one else can get the first one,” Trumbull said of his win.He noted all three of the pros that he was paired with were throwing reaction baits.“And I was just dragging behind them; nothing special, just doing the exact opposite of what they were doing,” he added. “I stayed on the bottom in the deep channel.”Ironically two of his pro-anglers fished the same small area, which kept Trumbull in a familiar target spot for most of the event.“I was there the first day with Scott (the first day leader) and then again today with Jodie (the leader after Day Two),” he shared. “I think it helped me out quite a bit because I knew what the bottom was. I knew where logs were. I knew where stumps were, and I was purposely not casting into the trees where they were.”Trumbull reported his better weigh fish fell to Z-Man Worms and Bobby D Jigs that he fished on Phenix M1 rods mated to Abu Garcia reels spooled with Seaguar line.Day One ReCap Day Two ReCap Day Three Pro / Co-Angler Pairings

Top-10 ProsPLACE PRO DAY 1 WEIGHT DAY 2 WEIGHT DAY 3 WEIGHT TOTAL WEIGHT TOTAL PAYOUT1 Greg Gutierrez 12.74 13.35 14.88 40.97 $9,937.99
2 Jodie White 13.68 14.99 11.75 40.42 $3,123.37
3 Chris Parks 14.60 13.52 12.29 40.41 $2,839.43
4 Scott Stanfield 16.49 10.38 12.57 39.44 $2,555.48
5 Tanner Spohn 15.93 12.44 10.05 38.42 $2,271.54
6 Jordan Kunde 16.32 12.00 08.89 37.21 $2,497.60
7 Randall Doyle 13.38 12.63 10.59 36.60 $1,419.71
8 Zack Thompson 12.73 13.50 10.25 36.48 $1,419.71
9 Asher Haynes 12.13 12.87 11.41 36.41 $1,419.71
10 Wyatt Debusk 12.84 13.58 05.59 32.01 $1,929.71

Top-10 Co-AnglersPLACE CO DAY 1 WEIGHT DAY 2 WEIGHT DAY 3 WEIGHT TOTAL WEIGHT TOTAL PAYOUT1 Chris Trumbull 12.88 13.82 15.42 42.12 $4,284.00
2 Ugene Downing 11.32 12.06 13.13 36.51 $1,346.40
3 Ronnie Orbaker 12.19 11.36 10.01 33.56 $1,224.00
4 Bill Townsend 10.22 11.73 10.67 32.62 $1,101.60
5 Joe Cote 12.95 10.66 08.97 32.58 $1,204.20
6 Andrew Richter 12.23 10.72 09.08 32.03 $856.80
7 Dustin Noffsinger 10.69 11.22 08.50 30.41 $612.00
8 Gasper Busalacchi 13.39 10.55 03.53 27.47 $612.00
9 Scott Farley 12.32 10.39 04.65 27.36 $612.00
10 Rodney Brown 11.70 10.82 00.00 22.52 $612.00-BAM Tournament Trail 2024 Lake Shasta Pro/Am Complete Results and Payout-

The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM TT), offers an unparalleled platform for sponsors, combining vast exposure opportunities with a celebration of the skills of western anglers. The circuit garners extensive coverage across print and online magazines, websites, videos, television, and multiple social media channels.2024 BAM Trail Pro/Am Next StopAfter the debut of the BAM Tournament Trail on Lake Shasta, the next stop for the circuit’s Pro/Am events will be at Lake Oroville on March 15. Registration is underway.BAM Trail Full Event ScheduleBAM Shasta Event Sponsors:The Shasta tournament proudly welcomes a diverse array of sponsors including Bass Boat Technologies, Tackle Warehouse, Strike King, Storquest, Bridge Bay Marina, Huff’s Choose Redding, and our dedicated conservation sponsor, Fisherman’s Warehouse.BAM Lake Shasta Pro / Am Tournament DetailsThe BAM Tournament Trail features the BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am, and Kayak events, each designed to test the determination of western anglers in a competitive and environmentally-conscious format.About BAM Tournament TrailThe Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM TT) is an exclusive west coast pro level tournament circuit. BAM TT delivers multiple opportunities to showcase the talents of western anglers on several professional platforms.As BAM TT continues to provide and refine a platform of elite events for competitive anglers, it creates a logical avenue for sponsors to have direct contact with our west coast anglers. BAM TT is dedicated to creating a complete package of advertising opportunities including on-site activation, internet/social media, and a YouTube and TV series that reaches a large number of viewers each day.Proud sponsors for the BAM Trail: Bass Boat Technologies, Tackle Warehouse, Storquest, Garmin, Dish, Bass Cat Boats, Accel Marketing, Power Pole, Mercury Outboards, Bob’s machine, Wood Bros, Sticky Graphics, City of Oakley, Lake Almanor Chamber, Jean Deleonardi Real Estate, Ford Fairfield, Valley Outdoors, Boardman Chamber, Feather River Tourism Association, Eternal Lithium, Oakley Ace Hardware, Alpha Angler Rods and Fisherman’s Warehouse as our conservation sponsor.Tournament events include BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am and a Kayak Tour with a no entry Championship can be viewed on YouTube. Learn more here: BAM TRAIL, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Media / Advertising Contact Mark Lassagne #bamtrail #bassanglermagazine #bamprotour

C-MAP Updates Cartography for North America with Enhanced Imagery and Detailed Data

Brian Carter

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February 26, 2024

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C-MAP Updates Cartography for North America with Enhanced Imagery and Detailed Data

Viareggio, Italy (February 26, 2024) – C-MAP®, a leader in digital marine cartography and cloud-based mapping, today announced a major update to its North America charts, introducing detailed data for hundreds of lakes, improved satellite imagery, enhanced shaded relief and more.

“We are thrilled to roll out this new update to our C-MAP users in North America, significantly transforming their navigation experience,” said Jakob Svensson, C-MAP Product Manager. “Our product team is dedicated to sourcing new data and continually enhancing and improving our charts.”

The new data includes Satellite imagery improvements in over 19 states including North and South Carolina and Washington. The popular Shaded Relief, exclusive to C-MAP REVEAL™ and REVEAL X, has seen improvements across more than 500 Lakes including the Great Lakes and coastal areas including the Bahamas, the Florida Keys and San Francisco. Information for 13,000 bridges with enhanced geometry and positioning, and the addition of vertical and horizontal clearances to more than 6,400 bridges, has been added for safer navigation.

Updates for North America Charts

Satellite imagery improvements for C-MAP REVEAL down to 1-meter resolution across Florida, East Coast and Gulf Coast.
Satellite imagery improvements for CMAP REVEAL X across 19 states including North and South Carolina, Washington, and Rhode Island.
Improved Shaded Relief for C-MAP REVEAL and REVEAL X across more than 500 Lakes including the Great Lakes, and coastal areas including the Bahamas, Florida Keys and San Francisco.
High-Resolution Bathymetry updates for Coastal areas including the Bahamas, Florida Keys and San Francisco, and over 500 lakes for CMAP DISCOVER™, REVEAL and X Charts.
New Raster charts for REVEAL X, providing paper chart experience for a more traditional look.
Over 13,000 improvements for bridges across America including vertical and horizontal clearance information for more than 6,000 bridges.
Over 300 improvements to navigable locks, significantly improving the geometries and positional accuracy.

Available now in DISCOVER and REVEAL as well as DISCOVER X and REVEAL X charts, with Shaded Relief and Satellite Overlay only available in the REVEAL product tiers.
For more information about C-MAP and its latest cartography offerings, please visit c-map.com.

Coucoules claims victory at Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Lake Murray

Brian Carter

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February 26, 2024

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Coucoules claims victory at Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Lake Murray

Jake Coucoules has won the 2024 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Lake Murray scored by TourneyX with a two-day total of 188.75 inches.

Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.

February 26, 2024

Coucoules claims victory at Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Lake Murray

COLUMBIA, S.C. — It wasn’t broken, so Jake Coucoules didn’t fix it.

That decision to stick with his area helped the Maple Shade N.J., pro post a Day 2 score of 89 inches and win the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Lake Murray scored by TourneyX. His two-day total of 188.75 edged Ryan Matylewicz of Tunkhannock, Penn., by 4.75 inches and took home the $13,400 top prize.

“This is pretty surreal, but it’s the best moment of my life,” Coucoules said. “I have to thank God because that’s the only way this weekend was possible. I don’t know how everything worked so perfectly for me.”

After leading Day 1 with 99.75 inches, Coucoules’ Top 5 Day 2 bass measured 19.5, 19, 17.5, 16.5 and 16.5.

Day 1 saw Coucoules make a spontaneous decision to fish an area he had not originally intended to visit. Doing so gave him the lead by a 3.75-inch margin. Coucoules returned to the area for the final round and found what he needed to close the deal.

Fishing from a 12-foot Hobie Outback pedal drive, Coucoules opted to fish Lake Murray’s mid-lake region, as he had developed the most confidence in that area during his three prior visits to this Saluda River reservoir.

Coucoules described his key area as a series of islands, which offered leeward protection from the weekend’s big winds. Coucoules fished the first island on Day 1 and switched to the second for Day 2. Targeting mostly grass and wood, he fished in 7 to 8 feet the first day and 9 to 10 the second.

“That second island was a little steeper and the first one was flatter,” he said. “Also, that second island had stumps [on the perimeter] and that’s mostly what the fish were relating to.”

Coucoules said he caught all of his bass both days with power-fishing techniques. His bait selection included a River2Sea Tactical DD Crank in the bluegill color, a Rapala DT-10 in demon, a 3/4-ounce Dirty Jigs wobblehead with a green pumpkin Strike King Rage Craw and a 3/4-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer with a Hog Farmer Spunk Shad trailer.

Describing a unique presentation style, Coucoules said, “I was mostly yo-yoing that JackHammer like we do for fluke in Barnegat Bay (New Jersey).”

Despite entering the final round with a lead of 3.75 inches, Coucoules said a slower second day proved stressful until the waning hours.

“I caught my biggest fish (19.5) with an hour and a half left to fish,” he said. “That was the first time I thought I had a chance to win.”

Coucoules said his victory was the culmination of commitment and sacrifice inspired over two decades ago by a fellow New Jersey angler who’d become an industry icon.

“This has been my life since I was 5 years old,” he said. “I saw (Bassmaster Elite Series pro) Mike Iaconelli win the (2003) Bassmaster Classic and this is literally all I’ve ever wanted to do.

“I skipped parties and proms for this. I’ve slept in my car and I didn’t eat for days to afford the entry fees. I’ve put my entire life into this, so for it to all work out is amazing. It’s gotta be God watching over me. I’m just so happy.”

Matylewicz finished second with 184 inches. Adding to his first-round total of 89.25, Matylewicz recorded Day 2 catches of 19.5, 19.5, 18.75, 18.5, and 18.5 for a total of 94.75.

Mentioning that the big winds proved challenging for traversing open water and staying on his spots, Matylewicz said his Old Town Auto Pilot, which integrates Minn Kota’s Spot-Lock technology proved invaluable.

“It was no joke,” Matylewicz said. “It was Great Lakes-style waves out there. That Autopilot made me feel safe and kept me (on my spots).

“Yesterday was a little more of a struggle. I tried to cover a whole lot of water. Today, I focused on one area and ended up with a bigger bag.”

Matylewicz caught all of his bass by power fishing an Alabama Rig.

“I was just looking for fish that were getting ready to move up and spawn,” he said. “I was just locating them and trying to force feed them. I had a lot of followers today, but I caught enough of them that mattered.”

Bailey Eigbrett of Cheektowaga, N.Y. finished third with 183.5 inches. After scoring 87.5 on Day 1, Eigbrett turned in the best performance of Day 2 with 96 inches, comprising five bass that measured 23.5, 20.75, 19, 16.5 and 16.25.

Describing his big bass as the largest he’s ever measured in a tournament, Eigbrett said, “I caught him on 6-pound test, so when he came up wallowing, my heartbeat was going!”

Chad Walden of Graniteville, S.C., won the $500 Big Bass award for his 23.5-incher. Walden’s 21-incher broke the big-fish tie with Eigbrett.

The Top 5 finishers qualified to fish the 2025 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship.

This week’s event was hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country.

Full results from the 2024 Yamaha Righwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Lake Murray scored by TourneyX can be found here.

Commemorating the Life of Rick Tilley: A Tribute through Bass Fishing

Danielle Englund

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February 26, 2024

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Commemorating the Life of Rick Tilley: A Tribute through Bass Fishing

CLICK HERE TO SEE RESULTS

Written by Danielle Englund

In a close-knit community defined by its passion for fishing, the recent loss of Rick Tilley to cancer reverberated deeply. An avid angler and cherished friend, Rick’s legacy was honored through a charity bass fishing tournament on Sunday that brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds to celebrate his life and support his grieving family.

With 124 boats, the tournament showcased a blend of competitive spirit and heartfelt camaraderie. Anglers, ranging from seasoned competitors to fishing hobbyists, converged to pay homage to Rick’s profound love for the sport. The tournament served as a platform for attendees to reminisce about Rick’s unwavering dedication to angling and the profound impact he had on their lives. Amidst the tranquil backdrop of Smith Mountain Lake, stories of shared experiences and cherished memories underscored the significance of the event.

Following the tournament, participants and supporters gathered for a cookout and raffle with an atmosphere of warmth and unity. Amidst shared laughter and nostalgic anecdotes, the raffle served as a poignant reminder of the collective effort to support Rick’s family during their time of need. Thousands of dollars were raised through this event, which not only attests to the generosity of the community but also provides tangible support to Rick’s family.

As anglers continue to cast their lines in future tournaments, they do so with a renewed sense of purpose: to honor Rick’s memory and perpetuate his legacy of camaraderie, compassion, and dedication to the sport he held dear. In commemorating Rick Tilley’s life through the universal language of angling, the tournament not only provided solace to his loved ones but also underscored the profound impact of community support in times of adversity.

In memory of Rick Tilley, may his spirit forever ripple through the waters he cherished.

Special thanks to the following contributors to the event:

Chris Brummett and family
Charlie Davis and family
TheBassCast.com
304 Lures
Amped Outdoors
Angler’s Choice
Kelly Bonforte
CATT
Chasin’ Fins Guide Service
Cuz’s Custom Cornhole Boards
Dawson Custom Woodworking
Kevin Dawson
Scotty Howard
Jim Jenkins
Just Rig It
Last Cast Guide Service
David & Aimee Lenard
Martin’s Bread
Megabass
Missile Baits
Kevin Patterson
Phoenix Boats
Pro’s Choice Sporting Goods
Rock Outdoors
Ronnie Mitchell & Sons Landscaping
Saunders Fire Department
Scoville Specialties
Donnie Silvertson
Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Guide Service
Smith Mountain Lake State Park
SML Tackle Shack
Stoneman & Sons Lure Company
Tiger Crankbaits
W & W Novelty
Mike & Tamera Waldo
White House Corner Store
Donnie Wyatt

Dexter’s Stone Gets Surprise Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes

Brian Carter

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February 26, 2024

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Dexter’s Stone Gets Surprise Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes

Boater Randy Stone of Dexter, Kentucky, and Strike-King co-angler Greg Warren of Rosiclare, Illinois.

Georgia’s Heaton Notches Second Lake Hartwell Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event

Brian Carter

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February 26, 2024

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Georgia’s Heaton Notches Second Lake Hartwell Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event

Boater Max Heaton of Hartwell, Georgia, and Strike-King co-angler Barry Huffman of Young Harris, Georgia.

Wheeler Earns Seventh Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Victory at Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes

Brian Carter

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February 25, 2024

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Wheeler Earns Seventh Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Victory at Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes

Two-Time Fishing Clash Angler of the Year catches 15 bass totaling 47-4 to earn $100,000 top prize and extend BPT career wins record with seventh career victory

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. (Feb. 25, 2024) – During the final period of the final day of Suzuki Stage Two Presented by Fenwick, the Santee Cooper lakes that had churned out chunky bass all week simply shut down. At one point, the 10 pros duking it out during the Championship Round went 45 minutes without boating a scorable bass. They combined to catch just 18 fish, none breaking the 4-pound mark, during the final frame.

The one angler who managed to manufacture consistent action – Rapala pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee. Wheeler accounted for five of those bass, which combined to weigh 14 pounds, 2 ounces. That boosted his final-day total to 47-4, lifting him past Suzuki pro Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, by 5 pounds for his seventh career Bass Pro Tour victory.

Link to HD Video – Fish-Catch Highlights of Championship Round on Santee Cooper
Link to Photo Gallery of Jacob Wheeler Trophy Presentation
Link to Photo Gallery of Championship Round On-The-Water Highlights on Santee Cooper

Bucking conventional Santee Cooper tactics by fishing offshore with a jighead minnow, Wheeler did what he’s done for the past six years, seemingly willing bites into existence. He started the third period 2-8 back of Rojas but promptly took the lead with a 3-12 largemouth. A little more than an hour later, with everyone else at a standstill, he boated three fish over 2-pounds in about 10 minutes. After Rojas closed within 2-6 in the final 30 minutes, Wheeler ran across Lake Marion to hit one more spot, where he added a 2-10 to all but seal the victory.

“I stuck to my game plan this whole week, and I stayed out offshore and I tried to fish isolated stuff,” Wheeler said. “It really came down to just keeping my head down and keeping my rotation going. I tried to make other tactics work, but those last two periods really came down to throwing that Freeloader, locking it in my hand. I’ve got so much confidence in it; I know it’s going to generate the bites if they are going to bite at all.”

Both Wheeler and Rojas, who pulled away from the rest of the pack Sunday, largely ignored the fishery’s innumerable cypress trees, with Wheeler fishing offshore and Rojas skipping boat docks.

Wheeler said he had 30 to 40 spots that he cycled through during the event, mostly located in the middle and lower sections of Lake Marion. He primarily targeted brushpiles but also found a few productive locations that featured stumps or hard spots on the bottom.

“I didn’t feel like it was the winning pattern,” Wheeler said. “But I basically was able to find enough stuff that I could keep to myself and rotate on myself and really manage that it ended up being that way. And it was a combination of the right bait, the right area, the right stuff.”

While most of the field focused on cypress trees or submerged vegetation, Wheeler wasn’t the only angler in the Championship Round fishing offshore. Justin Lucas stacked up 42-6 on six bass doing virtually the same thing during the Knockout Round.

What separated Wheeler was his ability to generate strikes amid the tough, postfrontal conditions that greeted the field on Sunday.

His final-period flurry will likely be remembered as the winning moment, but surviving the first period might have been more important for Wheeler. The morning brought chilly, windy conditions that made fishing offshore difficult. Seeing that fish were tucked tighter to the bottom, Wheeler pulled out a jig and used it to catch his first bass of the day, a 5-10. Without that fish, his biggest of the day, he would’ve fallen 10 ounces shy of Rojas’ total.

“I just felt like the fish were on the bottom,” he said. “When the wind blows, a lot of times, those fish will suck down to the bottom. Basically, all I was using ActiveTarget for then was just making the right casts.”

As the wind died down and the water warmed, Wheeler turned to the Rapala CrushCity Freeloader, a soft-plastic, pintail minnow of his own design. The Freeloader has become a confidence bait for Wheeler — no surprise considering he’d already won one Bass Pro Tour event, 2023 Stage Four on Lake Guntersville, with it.
He came into the week unsure whether it would be effective in Santee Cooper’s shallow, off-color water. But as the event progressed, he found that bass that would eat a jerkbait earlier in the week could still be enticed by a Freeloader — even Sunday afternoon, when no one else in the field could get bit consistently.

“The water’s starting to clean up a little bit, the fish were definitely really fickle,” he said. “When the water was a little bit dirtier, you could catch ‘em on a spinnerbait, you could catch ‘em on a jerkbait; it was a lot better. And then as the water slowly cleared, it became a deal where I had to change up. And that was the key.”

Wheeler’s latest triumph adds to an already sterling Bass Pro Tour resume. He’s now amassed seven wins and 29 Top-10 finishes in his first 43 BPT events — both easily the most among his peers on tour. He’s already claimed two Fishing Clash Angler of the Year titles and is back in the driver’s seat to add a third.

So, has all that success gotten old yet? Not a chance.

“My little girl, she’s sort of like me, she always likes to win,” Wheeler said with a laugh. “And she told me, ‘Daddy, you don’t let (roommates) DC and Adrian win this week. You’ve got to bring home the trophy.’ So, we’re bringing home the trophy, darling.”

The top 10 pros from the Suzuki Stage Two Presented by Fenwick at Santee Cooper Lakes finished:

1st:        Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 47-4, $100,000
2nd:      Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 17 bass, 42-4, $45,000
3rd:       Jesse Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., nine bass, 29-14, $38,000
4th:        Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., four bass, 19-10, $32,000
5th:        Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 18-12, $30,000
6th:        Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., six bass, 16-8, $26,000
7th:        Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., five bass, 15-5, $23,000
8th:        Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 11-5, $21,000
9th:        James Watson, Lampe, Mo., three bass, 7-13, $19,000
10th:     Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala, one bass, 4-8, $16,000

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

Overall, there were 70 bass weighing 213 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the final 10 pros Sunday. The catch included four 5-pounders, one 6-pounder, and one 8-pounder.

Reigning Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, won Championship Sunday’s Berkley Big Bass Award, with a largemouth totaling 8 pounds even in the first period. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament. Pro David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia, earned the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass award for the overall largest bass of the event with his 9-pound, 11-ounce largemouth that was weighed on Day 4 of competition.

The Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick featured the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers caught as much weight as they could each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament featured anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The six-day tournament, hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, showcased 80 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 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 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.

Bass Pro Tour anglers also compete throughout the 2024 season for the prestigious Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) award and its $100,000 payday. After two events in the 2024 season, Jacob Wheeler leads the AOY race with 157 points. Jesse Wiggins of Addison, Alabama, moved into second place with 150 points, while defending AOY Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, sits in third, two points back of Wiggins with 148 points.

Television coverage of the Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 21 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering the following Saturday on Sept. 28. 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.

Fujita’s furious comeback leads to Bassmaster Elite Series victory at Toledo Bend

Brian Carter

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February 25, 2024

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Fujita’s furious comeback leads to Bassmaster Elite Series victory at Toledo Bend

Japan’s Kyoya Fujita has won the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend with a four-day total of 100 pounds, 13 ounces.

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

February 25, 2024

Fujita’s furious comeback leads to Bassmaster Elite Series victory at Toledo Bend

MANY, La. — Kyoya Fujita’s ultimate goal for 2024 is to win the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year award.

Winning the first tournament of the season is certainly an impressive way to start that campaign.

With 100 pounds, 13 ounces, Fujita claimed the victory at the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend. Along with the coveted century belt — an exclusive award given only to those who catch at least 100 pounds of bass in a four-day event — the Elite Series sophomore earned the $100,000 top prize and a blue trophy.

“I was surprised,” Fujita said with the assistance of a translator. “I am looking to make every Championship Sunday this season. But winning tournaments are really hard things to do. I have been champion in Japan, but I know how hard it is to do. I’m happy with how it worked out. It’s a very good start.”

Entering the day 6 pounds behind Wisconsin pro Pat Schlapper, Fujita made a furious comeback in the final round by catching 28-13 — a bag almost entirely made up of 6-pounders and a total he wasn’t expecting after struggling the previous day.

“I thought there was a chance for me to win if Pat caught only 16 or 17 pounds and I could catch 22 or 23 pounds,” Fujita said. “If I can locate the bass, I am confident I can catch those bass. In my brain, my tactics, my fishing and my heart, I believe in myself.”

This win only adds reinforces his hard-earned nickname “Prince of Japanese Angling.” This is Fujita’s second Elite Series title in 10 events, with the first coming at Lake Champlain last August. Before coming to America, he won four Angler of the Year titles in Japan as well as six major tournaments.

Most of the week, Fujita stayed in one offshore spot in the mouth of Housen Bay and targeted prespawn bass suspended in deep standing timber. As the fishing pressure from Elite anglers and locals began to build, the bite began to suffer.

When that spot began to fizzle on Day 3, he moved to the creek right above Housen and caught suspended bass in 10 feet of water using his forward-facing sonar in the mouth of that creek. That spot produced multiple 6-pounders the final two days, several of which he believed to be postspawners.

“I practiced there and found some 3-pounders, but nothing special,” he said. “I think because of the wind situation (on Day 4), the bass came up there.”

In both areas, Fujita used a Jackall Drift Fry and a Deps Sakamata Shad and rigged them on either a 1/8-ounce or 3/16-ounce Keitech Super Round Jighead. When he located a bass on Garmin LiveScope, he would cast to it and then lightly shake the bait in front of the bass until it bit.

He rigged both baits on a 6-foot, 5-inch medium-light Daiwa Steez Real Control spinning rod paired with a Daiwa Exist reel which he spooled with 30-pound Daiwa braid main line and 16-pound fluorocarbon leader.

Fujita took the lead on Day 1 by catching 31-3 — a five-bass limit that earned him $2,000 for as the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament. He fell to second after a Day 2 bag of 24-3 and then to third after catching 16-10 on Day 3.

During his Day 3 struggles, however, Fujita caught a late 6-pounder that pointed him in the right direction for Championship Sunday.

Fujita returned to his primary spot to open the final round — and while there weren’t many bass left in the area, he started the morning by landing a 6- and 5-pounder in the first two hours. He caught two more keepers in that area, but he could not manufacture another bite.

“I caught four nice ones at the first main area,” Fujita said. “There weren’t many bass this morning either, but there were less boats. Nobody was fishing around me. So, I was able to see them. When I saw the four big fish, I caught all of them. I didn’t fish for the smaller ones. After I caught those four, I didn’t see anything.”

After mid-morning, Fujita made a move to his secondary spot and landed another 6-pounder to fill his limit. His day only got better from there as he landed several more 6-pounders in the last three hours to seal his victory.

South Carolina pro Patrick Walters caught 29-0, the biggest bag of the final day, to jump into second place with a four-day total of 95-15. He anchored his big Sunday bag with an 8-4 largemouth that claimed Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors.

Walters opened the tournament with 19-11 before bringing 30-5 and 16-5 to the scales on Days 2 and 3. While a good start to his season, he had mixed feelings about the way the final day unfolded.

“It started out slow,” he said. “It took all day long. I caught my biggest one on my last cast. It was one here and one there and it took forever. But I had the bites to crack the biggest bag I’ve ever had in my life. I lost two hammers — two absolute giants — and a 4-pounder. I’m happy with the start, though.”

Using forward-facing sonar, Walters focused on a major creek channel and searched for bass in a wide area. The key was keeping the trolling motor down and covering water until he saw something he liked. A 3/16-ounce Damiki rig with a Fluke-style bait and a Neko-rigged Zoom Magnum Swamp Crawler were his key baits.

“I wouldn’t pick my trolling motor up for 5 miles,” Walters said. “I would follow the creek channel and then move to the flat. I would move to wherever I thought they were going.”

Entering the final day with the lead, Schlapper fell to third with a four-day total of 93-8 after landing just 14-14 on Sunday. The Wisconsin pro had three great days, landing 27-4 on Day 1 before adding 28-5 and 22-7 the next two days.

“I knew I was in trouble when I didn’t catch a couple good ones early,” he said. “It is what it is. I ran out of bass and didn’t adjust.”

Schlapper spent most of his time this week fishing the deep edge of a grass flat in Housen Bay. The majority of the bass he caught this week were roaming between 10 and 30 feet of water. While he combed a large area, Schlapper keyed on one particular sweet spot that produced multiple big bites each of the first three days.

“There was a drain that went in, a little gap they were funneling into,” he said. “The majority of the big ones I caught were within a 100 yards of the mouth of that drain. I think those bass were either in the grass or timber and would come out to that edge and sun themselves. All of the big ones I caught were up high in the water column, like 10 feet down.”

He caught almost every bass this week using a Damiki rig with a Queen Tackle tungsten jighead and a minnow-style bait. Garmin LiveScope was an important contributor as well.

Schlapper said he did not see nearly as many bass as he’d seen the previous three days. The quality bass he did see on his forward-facing sonar did not bite. With a small limit and time running out, he punted and moved to a shallow grass flat and caught several nice bass with a bladed jig to salvage the day.

Fujita took the early lead in the Angler of the Year standings with 103 points, followed by Walters in second with 102. Schlapper is third with 101 points, followed by Tennessee rookie Robert Gee in fourth with 100 and Texas rookie Ben Milliken in fifth with 99.

Gee and Milliken sit atop the Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year standings, followed by Alabama’s Wesley Gore in third with 93 points, Trey McKinney of Illinois in fourth with 92 and Maine’s Tyler Williams in fifth with 85.

South Carolina’s Bryan New earned a total of $3,000 for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament, a 9-8 largemouth he landed on Day 1.

Virginia pro Ed Loughran III took home the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency bonus for most accurate weight recording this week.

Fujita earned an extra $4,000 for the Yamaha Power Pay contingency award while Walters earned a $2,500 bonus.

Oklahoma pro Luke Palmer earned $3,000 in Toyota Bonus Bucks, while rookie McKinney earned $2,000 in Bonus Bucks.

The event was hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.

2024 Elite #1 Toledo Bend Reservoir 2/22-2/25
Toledo Bend Reservoir, Many LA.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

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

1. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 20 100-13 103 $103,000.00
Day 1: 5 31-03 Day 2: 5 24-03 Day 3: 5 16-10 Day 4: 5 28-13
2. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 20 95-15 102 $36,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 30-05 Day 3: 5 16-15 Day 4: 5 29-00
3. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 20 93-08 101 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-04 Day 2: 5 28-05 Day 3: 5 22-07 Day 4: 5 15-08
4. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 20 90-05 100 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-00 Day 2: 5 22-10 Day 3: 5 17-13 Day 4: 5 20-14
5. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 20 89-11 99 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-09 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 5 26-13 Day 4: 5 22-05
6. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 20 86-04 98 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-01 Day 2: 5 20-02 Day 3: 5 22-15 Day 4: 5 18-02
7. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 20 79-14 97 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 26-08 Day 3: 5 18-01 Day 4: 5 16-06
8. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 20 76-14 96 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 5 24-09 Day 4: 5 16-00
9. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 20 75-08 95 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-12 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 5 14-02 Day 4: 5 14-12
10. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 20 73-08 94 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 19-13 Day 3: 5 19-10 Day 4: 5 12-03
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Bryan New Leesville, SC 09-08 $1,000.00
2 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA09-03 $1,000.00
3 Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 07-15 $1,000.00
4 Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 08-04 $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Bryan New Leesville, SC 09-08 $2,000.00
CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

Kyoya Fujita Lake Forest, CA 31-03 $2,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 96 501 1726-01
2 88 484 1602-02
3 48 248 833-06
4 10 50 193-15
———————————-
242 1283 4355-08