BENTON, Ky. (July 26, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced Friday the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals schedule, highlighted by the addition of a no-entry-fee championship featuring a $135,000 top award and a REDCREST 2026 berth for the winner.
The 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will showcase 150 pros competing across six regular-season stops for a season-long purse of more than $4.3 million and valuable points to qualify for the new Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship and ultimately an invitation to compete on the 2026 Bass Pro Tour.
Each Invitational will feature anglers competing over three days in a five-fish, weigh-in format for a top award of up to $115,000. The top pro from the point standings at the end of the season will win the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title and $50,000, while the top five pros qualify for the 2026 Bass Pro Tour and the top 50 pros advance to the new Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship.
“We at Tackle Warehouse are very excited about the addition of a championship event for the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. It’s a great goal and incentive for Invitationals anglers to work towards all year, and really completes the TWI circuit,” said Tackle Warehouse’s Joey Reggio. “We can’t wait to join with MLF in crowning the winner of the very first Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship in 2025.”
The Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship, set for Sept. 5-7, 2025, on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, will feature a $522,000 purse with a top award of $135,000 and every angler guaranteed at least $5,000.
“We’re excited to announce our 2025 schedule and the addition of the Invitationals Championship,” said Kevin Hunt, Senior Director of Tournament Operations of the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. “The Invitationals are the only way into the Bass Pro Tour, and the competitiveness and intensity that comes in the race for those five spots has created some extraordinary moments over the first two years. We look forward to another great season on some incredible fisheries and can’t wait to watch how 2025 shakes out.”
Every day of Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition will be broadcast live on MLFNOW! at MajorLeagueFishing.com and streamed to the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble app. Each tournament will also be televised on CBS Sports.
Invitations for the 2025 season will be sent to qualified anglers following Stop 6 on the Detroit River, which wraps up the 2024 season on Sunday.
2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Schedule:
Feb. 21- 23 Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Kissimmee, Fla. Hosted by Experience Kissimmee
March 14-16 Stop 2 at Lake Hartwell Anderson, S.C. Hosted by Visit Anderson
April 15-17 Stop 3 at Smith Lake Cullman, Ala. Hosted by Visit Cullman, Alabama
May 9-11 Stop 4 at Pickwick Lake Counce, Tenn. Hosted by the Explore Pickwick Lake/Hardin County Tourism
June 20-22 Stop 5 at the James River Richmond, Va. Hosted by Richmond Region Tourism
July 25-27 Stop 6 at the St. Lawrence River Massena, N.Y. Hosted by the Town of Massena
Sept. 5-7 Invitationals Championship at the Mississippi River La Crosse, Wis. Hosted by Explore La Crosse
Payouts:
Qualifiers 1-6 Place Pro Phoenix MLF Bonus 1 $80,000 $35,000 2 30,000 3 20,000 4 18,000 5 17,000 6 16,000 7 15,000 8 14,000 9 13,000 10 12,000 11-20 10,000 21-30 9,000 31-50 8,000 Berkley Big Bass – Day 1 1,000 Berkley Big Bass – Day 2 1,000
Entry Fee: $5,500 per tournament
Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Place Pro Phoenix MLF Bonus 1 $100,000 $35,000 + REDCREST 2026 2 50,000 3 25,000 4 20,000 5 15,000 6 14,000 7 13,000 8 12,000 9 11,000 10 10,000 11-20 6,000 21-30 5,500 31-50 5,000 Berkley Big Bass – Day 1 1,000 Berkley Big Bass – Day 2 1,000
No Entry Fee
Proud sponsors of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak Fishing, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Opening the tournament in third place with a 21-2 limit of mostly smallmouth, Tavilla landed 19-14 on Day 2 to move into the lead. His lead is slim, however, as Delaware’s Craig Morris is just an ounce behind in second place and Day 1 leader Frankie Appaluccio is third with 40-8.
Not only is Tavilla in contention for the victory, he also qualified for his first B.A.S.S. Nation Championship which will be held at Grand Lake in November.
“I thought I was on 18 to 19 (pounds) a day, and that was in optimal conditions. I think the wind has been a little too much this week,” he said. “I caught more 4-pound smallmouth than I thought I would catch yesterday. I wasn’t catching three 4-pound smallmouth in practice. So, if things went well, I thought I would be around 19 pounds a day.”
Changing conditions and wind direction made for a much tougher day of fishing for the field of 138 boats. Only four bags of 20 pounds or better were caught by boaters and only 101 limits crossed the weigh-in stage, down from 126 on Day 1.
While the wind forced many anglers to target largemouth in this tournament, Tavilla has focused much of his attention on several areas within the Inland Sea region of Lake Champlain, catching smallmouth that are keying in on a variety of bait anywhere from 20 to 45 feet of water.
“My best days of practice were on big wind days,” he explained. “I know there is a general consensus that smallmouth like sun, but I don’t mind a little bit of clouds, and I definitely don’t mind a little bit of wind. There is obviously a point where it gets to be too much.”
Along with alewives, Tavilla has seen smallmouth around both yellow and white perch, but the wind positions the bait differently every day. Two baits have caught the bulk of his weight this week.
“When you get a little shallower, there are perch, and when you get a little deeper the alewives show up,” he said. “There’s a little bit of a secret to what is different.”
While smallmouth have been consistent for Tavilla, he has caught one critical largemouth each afternoon of the event.
Tavilla started in the spot that yielded the majority of his Day 1 weight but did not find the same quality Thursday. While he caught several smaller bass, only one 3½-pounder made his final bag on Day 2. A change in wind direction also made fishing more difficult as the morning progressed, so he decided to check several of his backup areas.
“I couldn’t really present the bait properly at that point,” he said.
After landing a 4-pounder in what he called a community area, he moved to an area he found on Sunday of practice and found the area was loaded with bait.
“I’m just going around looking for pods of bait. When there is enough bait, there is always bass,” he said. “The wind positions the bait differently each day, and you have to find where the wind has put the bait.”
Things have gone well for the most part this week, but Tavilla did lose a 5-pounder at the boat that would have given him a little cushion heading into the final day. The wind is set to shift once again on Friday, which has him somewhat concerned about his best areas.
“I’m a little worried about the wind. The two spots I really want to fish are going to be exposed,” he said. “But I will say, I was running to largemouth at the end of the day and I saw a pod of birds going crazy. I stopped for a couple minutes and caught two bass really quick. It is protected from the northwest wind. I’m hopeful that’s a spot I can catch some fish on.”
Morris suffered a disappointing end to his Delaware Nation season just prior to this event. He finished tied for first in the state standings but lost the automatic bid to the Nation Championship via a tiebreaker. This week, he redeemed himself in a big way.
With bags of largemouth weighing 22-4 and 18-11, the Ocean City, Del., native is sitting in second place for the tournament with 40-15, punching his ticket to the Nation Championship in the process.
After catching around 150 bass on Day 1, Morris returned to his primary area on the northern end of Lake Champlain, but the change in wind direction made it more difficult for him to stealthily navigate the area.
“Once the wind started blowing, the bite got a lot tougher. Every time we had lulls in the wind, we would catch four or five,” he explained. “It was challenging to move in that area quietly. We had 2-foot waves coming in there at times today, so I was always on the trolling motor. It’s not super deep, so it’s making a lot of noise.”
Still, Morris landed around 25 total bass on the day using one key moving bait, which he feels is mimicking the forage. He has found the quality largemouth in a specific depth range and relating to one particular type of vegetation. There is still plenty of life in the area. Morris caught several smaller smallmouth, a 30-inch walleye as well as white and yellow perch.
“I probably filled out a limit in the first 20 minutes or so doing the same thing as yesterday,” Morris said. “It was definitely not as good as yesterday as far as the quantity of bites. I feel like they were hitting the bait with their mouth closed, and I caught some with the hook outside of the mouth. It wasn’t as good of a bite. I lost one around 1 o’clock that really cost me because it was a 4½- to 5-pounder.”
Mark Burgess caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 6-4 largemouth that helped lift him into fifth place for the tournament. It wasn’t enough to unseat Appaluccio’s 6-15 largemouth from Day 1 for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors.
With bags of 10-13 and 11-3, Guiseppe Andreoli moved into the lead in the nonboater division with a two-day total of 22-0. Ernest Weathersby follows in second with a total of 21-12 and Josh Giran is third with 21-9. Massachusetts angler Michael Schrader landed the Big Bass of the Tournament so far amongst nonboaters on Day 2, a 5-5.
The Top 20 boaters and nonboaters after today’s weigh-in will launch from Plattsburgh City Marina beginning at 6 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. Those 40 anglers also punched their tickets to the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance scheduled for Grand Lake Nov. 6-8.
The winner of that event will earn the title of Nation’s Best and will earn an invite to the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series plus a spot in the 2025 Bassmaster Classic. The second and third place finishers at the Nation Championship will also compete in the 2025 Bassmaster Classic.
2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Champlain presented by Lowrance 7/24-7/26 Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh NY. (BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Dan Tavilla Portsmouth, NH 10 41-00 0 Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 19-14 2. Craig Morris Ocean City, DE 10 40-15 0 Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 18-11 3. Frankie Appaluccio Ogdensburg, NJ 10 40-08 0 Day 1: 5 24-05 Day 2: 5 16-03 4. J Judd Saint Albans, VT 10 40-06 0 Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 20-01 5. Robert Williamson II Gorham, ME 10 40-00 0 Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 20-00 6. Jacob Swanson Framingham, MA 10 39-07 0 Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 18-09 7. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 10 39-05 0 Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 21-15 8. Chase Loftus Iowa City, IA 10 38-07 0 Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 20-03 9. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 10 38-00 0 Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 19-02 10. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 10 38-00 0 Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 18-14 11. Cody Peryea Altona, NY 10 37-04 0 Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 16-07 12. Anthony Lorefice Jr Johnson City, NY 10 37-02 0 Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 16-10 13. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 10 36-13 0 Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 16-06 14. Jonathan Carter Portland, ME 10 36-13 0 Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 18-09 15. Jay Walls Milford, DE 10 36-13 0 Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 18-05 16. Jed Worthington Eden Mills, VT 10 35-15 0 Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 17-09 17. David Mathieu Woodstock, CT 10 35-14 0 Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 17-02 18. Joseph Tefft Fort Edward, NY 10 35-13 0 Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 17-15 19. Ty Austin Rush, NY 10 35-09 0 Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 16-02 20. Scott Robert Greene, ME 10 35-08 0 Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 19-06 21. Joshua Smith Coventry, RI 10 35-07 0 $628.00 Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 15-00 22. Mark Hogan Milford, DE 10 35-06 0 $628.00 Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 17-12 23. Brian La Clair Denton, MD 10 35-03 0 $628.00 Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 16-13 24. Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD 10 35-02 0 $628.00 Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 17-00 25. Brandon Mosley Harrah, OK 10 34-15 0 $628.00 Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 18-15 26. Rich Ortiz Fort Ann, NY 10 34-12 0 $628.00 Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 15-05 27. Daniel Gray Butler, PA 10 34-12 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 15-07 28. Mikey Mello Jr Manville, RI 10 34-10 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 17-02 29. Jared Leicht Millville, NJ 10 34-05 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 19-15 30. Matthew Lazor Evans City, PA 10 34-03 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 16-13 31. Cam Sterritt Newfields, NH 10 34-02 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 16-14 32. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 10 34-00 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 19-05 33. Corey Gillis Ayer, MA 10 33-12 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 18-03 34. Travis Lepage Lewiston, ME 10 33-11 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 17-07 35. Colin Gaudette Saint Albans, VT 10 33-06 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 17-08 36. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 10 33-05 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 16-12 37. Casey Baroffio Northfield, VT 10 33-04 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 18-00 38. Brennan Chuprinko Flanders, NJ 10 33-03 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 14-12 39. Max Meister Atco, NJ 10 32-15 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 18-02 40. Jacob Marcantonio Moosup, CT 10 32-14 0 $578.00 Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 18-07 41. Phil Curtis Rosseau ONTARIO CANADA 10 32-13 0 Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 16-10 42. Robert Bordeaux III Williston, VT 10 32-12 0 Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 17-10 43. Steven Griffith Schellsburg, PA 10 32-10 0 Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 17-00 44. Josh Cotier Clinton, MA 10 32-09 0 Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 15-10 45. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, MD 10 32-07 0 Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 15-01 46. Anthony Dulac Harpswell, ME 10 32-06 0 Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 15-00 47. Trevor Topken Hickory, NC 10 32-04 0 Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 16-00 48. John Fitzgerald Salisbury, VT 10 32-02 0 Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 17-13 49. Keith Poulin Lisbon, ME 10 31-09 0 Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 13-15 50. Bradley Baxter Willshire, OH 10 31-07 0 Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 15-07 51. Keith Aucoin Hollis Center, ME 10 31-05 0 Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 17-04 52. Joe McClosky Swanton, MD 10 31-04 0 Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 14-15 53. Tim Dubuc Bowdoinham, ME 10 31-02 0 Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 18-00 54. Martin Osborne Glen Burnie, MD 10 31-00 0 Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 15-11 55. Paul Baker New Fairfield, CT 9 30-15 0 Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 4 12-05 56. Sheron Brown Sr Leominster, MA 10 30-13 0 Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 14-08 57. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 10 30-09 0 Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 19-03 58. David Torres II Fallston, MD 9 30-08 0 Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 4 10-06 59. Thomas Waltz St. Albans, VT 9 30-08 0 Day 1: 4 13-07 Day 2: 5 17-01 60. Steve Wilson East Waterboro, ME 10 30-03 0 Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 15-13 61. Johnathan Sheehan Lynn, MA 10 30-02 0 Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-14 62. Eric Low Buxton, ME 10 30-00 0 Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 16-01 63. Carson Forrester Chambersburg, PA 10 30-00 0 Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 14-12 64. Kevin Clark Westport, MA 10 29-11 0 Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 13-12 65. Jeffrey Patch Rutland, VT 10 29-11 0 Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 15-05 66. Brent Valere Mississauga CANADA 10 29-10 0 Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 14-03 67. Dennis Rocheford Pembroke, NH 10 29-06 0 Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 15-05 68. John Mayo Maiden, NC 10 29-02 0 Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 13-13 69. Ed Powell Sandyville, WV 10 29-01 0 Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 15-06 70. Andrew Sams Easton, MD 10 28-13 0 Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 15-07 71. Matt Mosby Dryden, MI 10 28-13 0 Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 14-10 72. Nausori Osasa Grand Isle, VT 10 28-11 0 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 15-13 73. Randy Kukral Chagrin Falls, OH 10 28-11 0 Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 15-08 74. John Rottman Dudley, MA 10 28-10 0 Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 14-00 75. Ross Bartolo Caesarea CANADA 10 28-07 0 Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 13-10 76. Woody McKechnie Lynn , MA 10 28-06 0 Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 17-11 77. Jason Muir Milford, DE 10 28-06 0 Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 13-10 78. Tony Despot II Monroeville, PA 10 28-01 0 Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 16-03 79. Trevor Poulin Nashua, NH 10 28-01 0 Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 15-00 80. Craig Castro North Attleboro, MA 10 28-00 0 Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 15-04 81. Jeff Jensen Beech Creek, PA 10 28-00 0 Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 14-09 82. RJ Ricci Cranston, RI 10 27-15 0 Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 13-11 83. Scott Rondeau Charlestown, RI 10 27-14 0 Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 13-06 84. Peter Owen Jr Barnstead, NH 10 27-10 0 Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 14-06 85. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 10 27-09 0 Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 15-04 86. Brian Wisniewski Allentown, PA 10 27-09 0 Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 12-12 87. Dylan Dew Valencia , PA 8 27-05 0 Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 3 08-05 88. Chris Guncheon Warwick, RI 8 26-13 0 Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 3 07-08 89. Mason Phillpotts Fenton, MI 10 26-13 0 Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 12-00 90. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 10 26-11 0 Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 12-02 91. Dylan Minch Stevens Point, WI 9 26-11 0 Day 1: 4 12-10 Day 2: 5 14-01 92. TJ McKenzie Andrews, SC 10 26-07 0 Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 09-10 93. Chris Washinger Chambersburg, PA 10 26-06 0 Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 12-01 94. Jeffrey Davis Jr Wendell, NC 10 26-05 0 Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 09-15 95. Austin Littler Camden, NY 9 26-05 0 Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 4 11-08 96. Ryan Smith Galloway, NJ 9 26-01 0 Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 4 10-10 97. John Roth Lawrenceburg, IN 10 26-01 0 Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 12-11 98. Stefan Lillios Loudon, NH 9 26-00 0 Day 1: 4 09-12 Day 2: 5 16-04 99. Mike Morris Dover, DE 10 25-14 0 Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 14-09 100. Clayton Grimm Mechanic Falls, ME 10 25-01 0 Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 15-10 101. Michael Trimarchi Peabody, MA 10 24-11 0 Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 09-10 102. Butch Marietta Jr Hunker, PA 9 24-04 0 Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 4 10-00 103. Steven Kotvas Apollo, PA 10 24-00 0 Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-10 104. Arthur Magurn Lunenburg, MA 8 23-13 0 Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 5 16-01 105. Nick Lepone Fieldsboro, NJ 10 23-09 0 Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-04 106. Ben Hale Rowley, MA 9 23-01 0 Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 4 06-15 107. Robert Batchelder Jr Mechanicville, NY 10 23-01 0 Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 09-06 108. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 9 22-13 0 Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 4 10-02 109. Roger LaFlamme Jr Lyman, ME 10 22-11 0 Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 13-04 110. Tony Kibler Milford, DE 9 20-12 0 Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 09-11 111. Derek Severns Carnegie, PA 8 20-01 0 Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 5 13-00 112. Addison Kelly Queensbury, NY 5 18-10 0 Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 113. Chris Ogan Bixby, OK 8 15-04 0 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 3 03-03 114. Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC 5 14-14 0 Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 115. Michael Adams Portland, ME 5 14-12 0 Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 116. Robert Ramasci Wakefield, MA 5 14-11 0 Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 116. Jeff Salmon Mechanicsville, VA 5 14-11 0 Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 118. Chris Groman Whiting, VT 5 14-07 0 Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 119. Ed Lapierre Lebanon, ME 5 13-09 0 Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 120. David Maiorano Durham, CT 5 13-05 0 Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 121. Evan Poroznik Nestleton Station Ontar 5 12-13 0 Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 122. Kevin Wilkes Ballston Lake,, NY 5 12-07 0 Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 123. Erick Markstaller New Milford, CT 5 12-04 0 Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 124. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 5 12-01 0 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 125. Robert Smith Farmington, ME 5 11-11 0 Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 126. Jeffrey Perron South Berwick, ME 5 11-10 0 Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 127. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 5 11-09 0 Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 128. Kirk Smith Edmond, OK 5 11-02 0 Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 129. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 5 10-00 0 Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 130. William Barrett Bridgewater, MA 5 09-11 0 Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 131. Cameron Creamer Bremen, ME 5 08-09 0 Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 132. Steve Deguzis Bristol, CT 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 132. Henry Fristik Blandford, MA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 132. Josh Giroldi Beachville CANADA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 132. Eric Johnson Kingston, MA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 132. Alex Legg Milford, DE 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 132. Joe Raposo North Dighton, MA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 132. Craig Rexford Grand Isle, VT 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 ———————————————————————– Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 126 648 1993-11 2 101 546 1705-14 ———————————- 227 1194 3699-09
2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Champlain presented by Lowrance 7/24-7/26 Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh NY. (NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Guiseppe Andreoli Foster, RI 6 22-00 0 Day 1: 3 10-13 Day 2: 3 11-03 2. Ernest Weathersby Leominster, MA 6 21-12 0 Day 1: 3 12-03 Day 2: 3 09-09 3. Josh Giran Elizabeth, PA 6 21-09 0 Day 1: 3 12-06 Day 2: 3 09-03 4. Grant Fry Bay City, MI 6 21-06 0 Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 12-02 5. Rob Ross Hopedale, MA 6 20-07 0 Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 3 12-09 6. Conner Petropoulos South Portland, ME 6 20-06 0 Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 3 12-00 7. Sophon Chhoeun Fall River, MA 6 20-02 0 Day 1: 3 10-03 Day 2: 3 09-15 8. Stephen Sanders New Britain, CT 6 19-13 0 Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 3 11-03 9. Dylan Stowe Weybridge, VT 6 19-12 0 Day 1: 3 08-14 Day 2: 3 10-14 10. Jacob Muir Milford, DE 6 19-10 0 Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 3 10-11 11. Brian Marino Vineland, NJ 6 19-06 0 Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 3 11-04 12. Vic Brown II Glen Burnie, MD 6 18-13 0 Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 3 11-07 13. Jake Minch Stevens Point, WI 6 18-09 0 Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 3 10-00 14. Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD 6 18-06 0 Day 1: 3 11-04 Day 2: 3 07-02 15. Dave Reed Westminster, MD 6 18-05 0 Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 3 10-11 16. Robert Rull Jr Coventry, RI 6 18-03 0 Day 1: 3 10-13 Day 2: 3 07-06 17. Travis Rockett Intervale, NH 6 18-00 0 Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 3 08-07 18. JT Fitzgerald Lincoln, DE 6 17-10 0 Day 1: 3 10-02 Day 2: 3 07-08 19. Mike Wotanowski Lake Hopatcong, NJ 6 17-09 0 Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 3 09-00 20. Wes Vyverberg Rochester, NY 6 17-06 0 Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 3 10-10 21. Zachary Catoe Lancaster, SC 6 17-01 0 $250.00 Day 1: 3 10-03 Day 2: 3 06-14 22. Jeff Lin Natick, MA 6 17-01 0 $250.00 Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 3 08-08 23. Joe Sodora Garfield, NJ 6 17-00 0 $250.00 Day 1: 3 09-02 Day 2: 3 07-14 24. Dale Libby Buxton, ME 6 16-12 0 $250.00 Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 3 07-13 25. Jp Harrell Chevy Chase, MD 5 16-09 0 $250.00 Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 3 11-12 26. Matt Belmore Indian Lake, NY 5 16-07 0 $250.00 Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 3 11-02 27. Jacob Nicholson Burlington, MA 6 16-02 0 $250.00 Day 1: 3 09-15 Day 2: 3 06-03 28. Kendry Jerez Paterson, NJ 6 16-00 0 $250.00 Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 08-15 29. Scott Shrewsbury Rocky Mount, NC 5 15-14 0 $250.00 Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 3 11-07 30. Robert Mccoy Mount Airy, MD 6 15-09 0 $250.00 Day 1: 3 09-11 Day 2: 3 05-14 31. Craig Winegardner West River, MD 5 15-06 0 Day 1: 2 06-01 Day 2: 3 09-05 32. Cole Wessner Southgate, KY 6 15-05 0 Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 3 10-04 33. Brad Dekraai Epsom, NH 6 15-03 0 Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 07-12 34. Michael Griffiths Cherry Tree, PA 6 15-03 0 Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 3 07-09 35. Frank Campisi Londonderry, NH 5 14-13 0 Day 1: 3 09-05 Day 2: 2 05-08 36. Zach Queeney Atco, NJ 6 14-11 0 Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 07-10 37. Chris Newton Whitesboro, NY 5 14-08 0 Day 1: 2 07-10 Day 2: 3 06-14 38. Michael Schrader North Attleboro, MA 6 14-06 0 Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 10-01 39. Garrett Sicely Albany, VT 4 14-02 0 Day 1: 3 09-12 Day 2: 1 04-06 40. Michael Hunt Watertown, NY 5 14-00 0 Day 1: 3 10-11 Day 2: 2 03-05 41. Jimmy Eney Baltimore, MD 5 14-00 0 Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 3 09-05 42. Michael Stewart Wrentham, MA 6 13-14 0 Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 3 05-11 43. Roger Stahl JR Ogdensburg, NY 6 12-12 0 Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 05-11 44. John Nichols Milford, DE 5 12-11 0 Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 3 08-06 45. Tommy Kopach Gansevoort, NY 6 12-10 0 Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 06-04 46. Andrew Dick Wilmington, DE 6 12-09 0 Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 3 06-08 47. Steven Dorsey Warwick, RI 4 12-07 0 Day 1: 3 09-07 Day 2: 1 03-00 48. Frank Moore Topsham, ME 5 12-07 0 Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 2 05-13 49. David Evans Memphis, NY 6 12-03 0 Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 3 05-07 50. John Hritsko Northern Cambria, PA 4 11-15 0 Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 3 09-00 51. Michael Caudle Taunton, MA 5 11-14 0 Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 3 06-08 52. Kevin Waden Melrose, MA 5 11-09 0 Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 3 08-12 53. Jeffrey Graiff Vineland, NJ 5 11-06 0 Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 3 08-08 54. James Blue Canton, MA 4 11-03 0 Day 1: 1 03-04 Day 2: 3 07-15 55. David Pfeiffer Milton Mills, NH 4 11-02 0 Day 1: 1 03-12 Day 2: 3 07-06 56. Lyn England Danbury, NH 4 10-14 0 Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 1 02-12 57. Ben Hilfrank Falmouth, ME 4 10-11 0 Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 1 02-09 58. Corey Thornton Mcgraw, NY 5 10-07 0 Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 2 03-14 59. Bryce Poulin Lisbon, ME 3 10-05 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 10-05 60. Jesse Manning Athol, MA 5 10-05 0 Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 2 05-10 61. Mike King Lisbon, ME 4 10-02 0 Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 3 08-10 62. Michael Briggs N Providence, RI 3 09-15 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 09-15 63. Evan Young Hancock, ME 4 09-13 0 Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 3 07-11 64. Frank Wisneski North Haven, CT 4 09-13 0 Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 1 03-01 65. Ricardo Cruz New York, NY 5 09-05 0 Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 2 02-07 66. Warren Cooper Utopia CANADA 3 09-01 0 Day 1: 3 09-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 67. Jim Short Ocean Pines, MD 3 09-01 0 Day 1: 2 05-11 Day 2: 1 03-06 68. Frank Daniels Dover, DE 3 09-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 09-00 69. Randy Marshall Sr. Belgrade, ME 3 08-05 0 Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 70. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 4 08-05 0 Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 3 07-07 71. Tim Jensen Phelps, NY 3 08-04 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-04 72. Jim Kline Hagerstown, MD 4 08-04 0 Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 3 07-05 73. Mark Ramquar Dundalk, MD 5 08-04 0 Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 3 05-09 74. Jim D’Ambra Hanover, MA 3 08-01 0 Day 1: 3 08-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 75. David Fletcher Paterson, NJ 4 08-01 0 Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 3 07-04 76. Philip Sheehan Lynn, MA 3 07-15 0 Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 77. Steven Davis Dover, PA 4 07-03 0 Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 05-10 78. Gary Rondeau Charlestown, RI 3 07-00 0 Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 79. Zachary Grose Huntingdon, PA 3 06-11 0 Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 2 04-14 80. Olivia Baroffio Burlington, VT 3 06-05 0 Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 81. Scott Suckman Hudson Falls, NY 2 06-04 0 Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 82. Dwayne Turnage Hollis, ME 2 05-06 0 Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 83. Darryl Hunt Haddonfield, NJ 2 05-02 0 Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 84. Joseph Raguzin Carmel, NY 2 03-15 0 Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 85. Stanley Gshinsky Pittsburgh, PA 1 03-13 0 Day 1: 1 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 86. Scott Himmelfarb Poolesville, MD 2 03-03 0 Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 87. Jerry Brown Jr Hagerstown, MD 2 02-06 0 Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 88. Mark Wisinski Stevenson Point, WI 1 02-05 0 Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 89. Skip Hinkley Richmond, ME 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 89. Devon Kitson Montclair , NJ 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 89. Justin Mccarthy Tiverton, RI 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 89. Lewis Mendall Winthrop, MA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 89. Dave Metivier Gray, ME 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 ———————————————————————– Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 54 210 557-15 2 61 203 581-07 ———————————- 115 413 1139-06
Next up is the Potomac River Final July 21st at Hope Springs Marina! You had to enter 2 Potomac River Qualifiers to be eligible to enter the Final. You can view the points list on the Potomac River Division page by scrolling all the way down! Tap on this link to view points!
Ray Hogge – Donnie Daniel win the Potomac River with 5 bass weighing 18.85 lbs! they also won the Points and will receive $500 plus free entry & Boat #1 at the Final!
Greg Dent – Cody Dent 2nd with 16.65 lbs!
Mike Kruse finished 3rd with 15.11 lbs plus brought in the Big Snakehead at 8.68 lbs!
MASSENA, N.Y. (July 25, 2024) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour is set to wrap the 2024 season of the Bass Pro Tour next, week, Aug. 6-11, in Massena, New York, with the seventh and final event of the year – the Minn Kota Stage Seven at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Humminbird.
The six-day event, hosted by the Town of Massena, will feature a field of 78 professional anglers, including superstars like Ott DeFoe, Jacob Wheeler, REDCREST 2024 Champion Dustin Connell and reigning Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) Matt Becker. They’ll be competing for a season-long purse of $3.9 million – including a top prize of $100,000 at the St. Lawrence River – and valuable AOY points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The tournament will showcase the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app, and Rumble.
“We are pleased to host Major League Fishing again this year for the 2024 Bass Pro Tour,” said Don Meissner, Director of Tourism for the Town of Massena. “This promises to be one of the most exciting events that the town of Massena has had the good fortune to bring to the folks in northern New York. Our partnership with MLF and their key personnel continues to provide great benefit and promise to the community and all of the North Country.”
The St. Lawrence River has hosted hundreds of MLF (and FLW) tournaments over the years, but this event will mark just the second time that the venue has hosted the Bass Pro Tour, MLF’s top circuit. When the Bass Pro Tour last visited Massena in 2021, pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, caught a final-day Championship Round total of 35 bass weighing 129 pounds even to win by an impressive 28-pound, 10-ounce margin over his nearest competitor, pro Jeff Sprague of Wills Point, Texas.
“I was able to spend three days there at the St. Lawrence River before it went off limits, and the fishery is just incredible,” said pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, who won the 2022 Tackle Warehouse TITLE championship event on the St. Lawrence River and will be among the 78 competitors. “That place has so many 4-to 5-pound smallmouth. I expect the weights to be really big – I’ll be interested to see the numbers after we wrap up, but I’m willing to bet the average fish that is weighed in averages 3-12 to 3-15.
“It’s also a really good largemouth fishery, but you just can’t compete against the smallmouth over the multiple days,” Shuffield continued. “I think the (Garmin Live)scope guys will dominate again, but the river is a little bit tricky. With the current, the fish suck down to the rocks so tight it can be really hard to see them on your electronics. So, there will be a lot of fish caught dragging with the current – Carolina rigs, drop-shot rigs and Ned rigs.”
With so many accolades on the line – Fishing Clash Angler of the Year, REDCREST 2025 and Heavy Hitters qualifications, requalification into the 2025 Bass Pro Tour – the final event of the year on the St. Lawrence River is sure to be a nail-biter.
“It’s just an awesome fishery – one of my favorite places in the country, no doubt,” Shuffield went on to say. “I think on the final day, you’re going to need to catch at least 140 to 160 pounds to have a chance. It’s going to be a smallmouth smash fest, and a great event to wrap up the season.”
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from the Massena Intake Boat Launch, located at 1415 State Highway 131 in Massena. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .
In addition to the competition, numerous events held in conjunction with the tournament will be taking place around the North Country during the week. On Friday, Aug. 2, pro Dave Lefebre and his band, The Band 814, in conjunction with Fish Massena, NY presents: The Break Every Chain Live Concert Series, a powerful night of praise, worship and testimony at the Massena Town Beach. Additional Bass Pro Tour anglers scheduled to appear at the concert include Alton Jones, Jr., Alton Jones, Sr., Nick LeBrun and Ott DeFoe. Gates open at 7:30 p.m., and the concert starts at 8 p.m.
On Monday, Aug. 5, the MLF pros will participate in the Johnson Outdoors Clean Earth Challenge, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Massena Intake Boat Launch. The National Wildlife Federation and Johnson Outdoors teamed up to launch the Clean Earth Challenge in 2022 to inspire people to get outdoors and take simple conservation actions to help preserve and restore the outdoor spaces we all love. The pros will spend their time collecting trash and debris from the Massena Intake Boat Launch and surrounding areas, with a post-clean up weigh-in taking place to determine how much trash and debris was collected during the challenge. In addition to the pros, MLF staff in Benton, Kentucky, will also participate in the challenge, collecting trash and debris from the Kentucky Dam Marina.
On Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10-11, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Massena Intake Boat Launch for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. Live music will begin each day at 4 p.m. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The Minn Kota Stage Seven at the St. Lawrence River will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2024 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship, set for April 3-6, 2025 on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.
The 39 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Minn Kota Stage Seven at the St. Lawrence River will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 16 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota, WIX Filters 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.
Bill Dance Signature Lakes signs as sponsor of 2024 Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. has announced a partnership with Bill Dance Signature Lakes to help connect the world’s most-loved angler with some of Tennessee’s greatest natural resources — its lakes.
The Bill Dance Signature Lakes program’s goal is to make Tennessee a best-in-class destination for anglers worldwide — beginners, experts and every skill level in between.
“We’re excited to partner with Bill Dance Signature Lakes for the High School National Championship,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “B.A.S.S. is proud to honor Bill’s legacy, and the partnership with his Signature Lakes program will benefit anglers not just in Tennessee, but anglers worldwide as they discover some of the best bodies of water in the United States.”
“We’re excited about the partnership with B.A.S.S. and couldn’t think of a better partner to join forces with to showcase the Bill Dance Signature Lakes project,” said Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Chief Customer Officer Dennis Tumlin. “And Chickamauga Lake is a great highlight of the amazing fisheries in Tennessee that are part of the project.”
In addition, four “small venue” lakes entice anglers of all ages and experience levels to enjoy the outdoors while experiencing an above-average catch rate.
The Signature Lakes include:
10 large reservoirs – Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Douglas Lake, Kentucky Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Pickwick Lake, Reelfoot Lake, Tims Ford Lake and Watauga Lake.
Four “small venue lakes” – Brown’s Creek Lake, Fall Creek Falls Lake, Herb Parsons Lake and Lake Halford.
About Bill Dance
Bill Dance, professional bass fishing’s first superstar, began competing — and winning — in bass tournaments in the early 1960s. With more than 2,000 shows under his belt since 1968, he has educated millions of fishing enthusiasts as host and producer of Bill Dance Outdoors and Bill Dance Saltwater, airing respectively on the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel. Dance oversees a fishing empire from his production studio in Collierville, Tenn., that includes his TV shows, tackle endorsements, how-to seminars, and a series of popular “blooper” videos. Dance has written seven books and his articles have been published in Sports Afield, Field & Stream, Bassmaster® Magazine, Outdoor Life and more.
Bill Dance’s accomplishments, techniques and fishing savvy have been recognized through countless awards alongside a fishing career that encompasses 23 national B.A.S.S. titles, three Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, 52 Top 10 B.A.S.S. finishes and eight Bassmaster Classic qualifications. Country superstar Luke Bryan celebrated the fishing legend in 2020 with the release of his song titled “Bill Dance.” In 2021, Dance received his honorary doctorate from the University of Tennessee for his outstanding contributions to the sport. For more than five decades, Bill Dance has served as an ambassador to the state of Tennessee, always filmed or photographed wearing his trademark orange and white University of Tennessee cap.
New Jersey’s Frankie Appaluccio takes the Day 1 lead in the B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Champlain with a five-bass limit weighing 24 pounds, 5 ounces.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
July 24, 2024
Largemouth carry Appaluccio to Day 1 lead in B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Champlain
With a 24-pound, 5-ounce limit of largemouth, anchored by a 6-15 Phoenix Boats Big Bass, the New Jersey boater holds a 2-pound, 1-ounce lead over Delaware’s Craig Morris in the final Nation Qualifier of the 2024 season.
The former University of Alabama angler has been visiting Lake Champlain since he was a child. Now 33, Appaluccio’s final tally on Day 1 was his best performance on the famous fishery that straddles the New York/Vermont border.
“This was my best tournament day for sure,” the Ogdensburg, N.J., angler said. “Probably my best day in general, too. I’ve been coming up here since I was 10 years old, and everyone who knows me has been on those vacations and knows all of these spots. They weren’t surprised about the bigger fish, but they were surprised by the amount of big fish on the same day.”
A fishery dominated by smallmouth in recent years, Lake Champlain kicked out many quality bags of largemouth bass on Day 1. That was due in part to the increase in wind speed during the day, which rose to around 20 mph by the afternoon ahead of a cluster of storms. Wind will also play a factor on Day 2 as forecasts call for even gustier breezes.
Despite the tough fishing conditions, 11 bags of 20 pounds or better were brought to the stage by boaters and 28 bags of more than 18 pounds were caught.
What Appaluccio did on Thursday morning was not in his original gameplan. But looking at the forecast with his travel partner the night before, he decided to pivot and make a run to one of his largemouth areas north of takeoff.
“I made a gametime decision and it paid off, clearly,” he said. “My backup plan was largemouth. But I knew I needed to hit them first.”
One bait produced the bulk of his bag by 10 a.m., but Appaluccio was able to make several key culls along the way, including a 5½-pounder he saw chasing rock bass before catching it with a bait he rarely uses.
“My co-angler was like, ‘I can’t believe that just happened,’” he said. “This was the craziest day of fishing ever.”
While there is always the potential to catch big largemouth at Champlain, Appaluccio knows it can also be inconsistent. He isn’t exactly sure what type of quality is left in his primary spot, but he does have smallmouth areas to target if the weather allows.
“I’d love to fish my smallie stuff, but I didn’t need to do that today. I wasn’t going to be catching smallmouth that big.”
Morris, meanwhile, has only been to Lake Champlain once in his life. But the Ocean City, Del., angler applied some of his tidal water skills and overcame motor issues to find success on Day 1.
“I had a late draw this morning and decided to go for green fish just because of my poor draw,” he said. “I ran north and had motor troubles. I decided to not move from one of my primary areas. I probably had 19 pounds at 8 o’clock this morning. I culled little bits here and there and it worked out. I stayed until about 1:30 just so I could try and make it back.”
In total, he estimated he caught more than 120 largemouth, as well as 40 pike, during the day in one large area of the lake. One specific type of vegetation in one specific depth range produced the majority of his quality bass, including a 5-5. All of the bass in his final limit were caught using one bait.
“The depth range is critical to the size of the bass, and the type of vegetation that is there is different than 90 percent of what you find on the lake,” he said. “I sure hope it will happen again tomorrow. It is a big area, and I didn’t have much traffic (around).”
Dan Tavilla of Portsmouth, N.H., is third in the boater standings with 21-2 followed by Jacob Swanson from Massachusetts in fourth with 20-14 and New York’s Cody Peryea in fifth with 20-13.
Josh Giran of Elizabeth, Pa., leads the nonboater division with a three-bass limit weighing 12-6. Ernest Weathersby of Leominster, Mass., is second with 12-3 and Maryland’s Joe Devoe is third with 11-4. New York’s Michael Hunt caught the Big Bass of the Day, a 4-12.
The full field is scheduled to launch from Plattsburgh City Marina beginning at 6 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The field will be cut to the Top 20 boaters and nonboaters after the Day 2 weigh-in, and those anglers will punch their tickets to the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance scheduled for Grand Lake Nov. 6-8.
2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Champlain presented by Lowrance 7/24-7/26 Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh NY. (BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Frankie Appaluccio Ogdensburg, NJ 5 24-05 0 Day 1: 5 24-05 2. Craig Morris Ocean City, DE 5 22-04 0 Day 1: 5 22-04 3. Dan Tavilla Portsmouth, NH 5 21-02 0 Day 1: 5 21-02 4. Jacob Swanson Framingham, MA 5 20-14 0 Day 1: 5 20-14 5. Cody Peryea Altona, NY 5 20-13 0 Day 1: 5 20-13 6. Anthony Lorefice Jr Johnson City, NY 5 20-08 0 Day 1: 5 20-08 7. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 20-07 0 Day 1: 5 20-07 7. Joshua Smith Coventry, RI 5 20-07 0 Day 1: 5 20-07 9. J Judd Saint Albans, VT 5 20-05 0 Day 1: 5 20-05 10. David Torres II Fallston, MD 5 20-02 0 Day 1: 5 20-02 11. Robert Williamson II Gorham, ME 5 20-00 0 Day 1: 5 20-00 12. Rich Ortiz Fort Ann, NY 5 19-07 0 Day 1: 5 19-07 13. Ty Austin Rush, NY 5 19-07 0 Day 1: 5 19-07 14. Daniel Gray Butler, PA 5 19-05 0 Day 1: 5 19-05 15. Chris Guncheon Warwick, RI 5 19-05 0 Day 1: 5 19-05 16. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 5 19-02 0 Day 1: 5 19-02 17. Dylan Dew Valencia , PA 5 19-00 0 Day 1: 5 19-00 18. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 5 18-14 0 Day 1: 5 18-14 19. David Mathieu Woodstock, CT 5 18-12 0 Day 1: 5 18-12 20. Paul Baker New Fairfield, CT 5 18-10 0 Day 1: 5 18-10 21. Addison Kelly Queensbury, NY 5 18-10 0 Day 1: 5 18-10 22. Jay Walls Milford, DE 5 18-08 0 Day 1: 5 18-08 23. Brennan Chuprinko Flanders, NJ 5 18-07 0 Day 1: 5 18-07 24. Brian La Clair Denton, MD 5 18-06 0 Day 1: 5 18-06 25. Jed Worthington Eden Mills, VT 5 18-06 0 Day 1: 5 18-06 26. Jonathan Carter Portland, ME 5 18-04 0 Day 1: 5 18-04 26. Chase Loftus Iowa City, IA 5 18-04 0 Day 1: 5 18-04 28. Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD 5 18-02 0 Day 1: 5 18-02 29. Joseph Tefft Fort Edward, NY 5 17-14 0 Day 1: 5 17-14 30. Mark Hogan Milford, DE 5 17-10 0 Day 1: 5 17-10 30. Keith Poulin Lisbon, ME 5 17-10 0 Day 1: 5 17-10 32. Mikey Mello Jr Manville, RI 5 17-08 0 Day 1: 5 17-08 33. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 5 17-06 0 Day 1: 5 17-06 33. Matthew Lazor Evans City, PA 5 17-06 0 Day 1: 5 17-06 33. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, MD 5 17-06 0 Day 1: 5 17-06 36. Anthony Dulac Harpswell, ME 5 17-06 0 Day 1: 5 17-06 37. Cam Sterritt Newfields, NH 5 17-04 0 Day 1: 5 17-04 38. Josh Cotier Clinton, MA 5 16-15 0 Day 1: 5 16-15 39. TJ McKenzie Andrews, SC 5 16-13 0 Day 1: 5 16-13 40. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 5 16-09 0 Day 1: 5 16-09 41. Jeffrey Davis Jr Wendell, NC 5 16-06 0 Day 1: 5 16-06 42. Joe McClosky Swanton, MD 5 16-05 0 Day 1: 5 16-05 43. Sheron Brown Sr Leominster, MA 5 16-05 0 Day 1: 5 16-05 44. Travis Lepage Lewiston, ME 5 16-04 0 Day 1: 5 16-04 45. Trevor Topken Hickory, NC 5 16-04 0 Day 1: 5 16-04 46. Phil Curtis Rosseau ONTARIO CANADA 5 16-03 0 Day 1: 5 16-03 47. Ben Hale Rowley, MA 5 16-02 0 Day 1: 5 16-02 48. Scott Robert Greene, ME 5 16-02 0 Day 1: 5 16-02 49. Bradley Baxter Willshire, OH 5 16-00 0 Day 1: 5 16-00 50. Brandon Mosley Harrah, OK 5 16-00 0 Day 1: 5 16-00 51. Kevin Clark Westport, MA 5 15-15 0 Day 1: 5 15-15 52. Colin Gaudette Saint Albans, VT 5 15-14 0 Day 1: 5 15-14 53. Steven Griffith Schellsburg, PA 5 15-10 0 Day 1: 5 15-10 54. Corey Gillis Ayer, MA 5 15-09 0 Day 1: 5 15-09 55. Ryan Smith Galloway, NJ 5 15-07 0 Day 1: 5 15-07 55. Brent Valere Mississauga CANADA 5 15-07 0 Day 1: 5 15-07 57. John Mayo Maiden, NC 5 15-05 0 Day 1: 5 15-05 57. Martin Osborne Glen Burnie, MD 5 15-05 0 Day 1: 5 15-05 59. Casey Baroffio Northfield, VT 5 15-04 0 Day 1: 5 15-04 59. Carson Forrester Chambersburg, PA 5 15-04 0 Day 1: 5 15-04 61. Robert Bordeaux III Williston, VT 5 15-02 0 Day 1: 5 15-02 62. Michael Trimarchi Peabody, MA 5 15-01 0 Day 1: 5 15-01 63. Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC 5 14-14 0 Day 1: 5 14-14 64. Ross Bartolo Caesarea CANADA 5 14-13 0 Day 1: 5 14-13 64. Austin Littler Camden, NY 5 14-13 0 Day 1: 5 14-13 64. Max Meister Atco, NJ 5 14-13 0 Day 1: 5 14-13 64. Mason Phillpotts Fenton, MI 5 14-13 0 Day 1: 5 14-13 64. Brian Wisniewski Allentown, PA 5 14-13 0 Day 1: 5 14-13 69. Jason Muir Milford, DE 5 14-12 0 Day 1: 5 14-12 70. Michael Adams Portland, ME 5 14-12 0 Day 1: 5 14-12 71. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 5 14-11 0 Day 1: 5 14-11 71. Robert Ramasci Wakefield, MA 5 14-11 0 Day 1: 5 14-11 71. Jeff Salmon Mechanicsville, VA 5 14-11 0 Day 1: 5 14-11 74. John Rottman Dudley, MA 5 14-10 0 Day 1: 5 14-10 75. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 5 14-09 0 Day 1: 5 14-09 76. Scott Rondeau Charlestown, RI 5 14-08 0 Day 1: 5 14-08 77. Chris Groman Whiting, VT 5 14-07 0 Day 1: 5 14-07 78. Jacob Marcantonio Moosup, CT 5 14-07 0 Day 1: 5 14-07 79. Jared Leicht Millville, NJ 5 14-06 0 Day 1: 5 14-06 79. Jeffrey Patch Rutland, VT 5 14-06 0 Day 1: 5 14-06 79. Steve Wilson East Waterboro, ME 5 14-06 0 Day 1: 5 14-06 82. Chris Washinger Chambersburg, PA 5 14-05 0 Day 1: 5 14-05 83. John Fitzgerald Salisbury, VT 5 14-05 0 Day 1: 5 14-05 84. Butch Marietta Jr Hunker, PA 5 14-04 0 Day 1: 5 14-04 85. Johnathan Sheehan Lynn, MA 5 14-04 0 Day 1: 5 14-04 86. RJ Ricci Cranston, RI 5 14-04 0 Day 1: 5 14-04 87. Matt Mosby Dryden, MI 5 14-03 0 Day 1: 5 14-03 88. Keith Aucoin Hollis Center, ME 5 14-01 0 Day 1: 5 14-01 88. Dennis Rocheford Pembroke, NH 5 14-01 0 Day 1: 5 14-01 90. Eric Low Buxton, ME 5 13-15 0 Day 1: 5 13-15 91. Robert Batchelder Jr Mechanicville, NY 5 13-11 0 Day 1: 5 13-11 92. Ed Powell Sandyville, WV 5 13-11 0 Day 1: 5 13-11 93. Ed Lapierre Lebanon, ME 5 13-09 0 Day 1: 5 13-09 94. Jeff Jensen Beech Creek, PA 5 13-07 0 Day 1: 5 13-07 95. Thomas Waltz St. Albans, VT 4 13-07 0 Day 1: 4 13-07 96. John Roth Lawrenceburg, IN 5 13-06 0 Day 1: 5 13-06 96. Andrew Sams Easton, MD 5 13-06 0 Day 1: 5 13-06 98. David Maiorano Durham, CT 5 13-05 0 Day 1: 5 13-05 99. Peter Owen Jr Barnstead, NH 5 13-04 0 Day 1: 5 13-04 100. Randy Kukral Chagrin Falls, OH 5 13-03 0 Day 1: 5 13-03 101. Tim Dubuc Bowdoinham, ME 5 13-02 0 Day 1: 5 13-02 102. Trevor Poulin Nashua, NH 5 13-01 0 Day 1: 5 13-01 103. Nausori Osasa Grand Isle, VT 5 12-14 0 Day 1: 5 12-14 104. Evan Poroznik Nestleton Station Ontar 5 12-13 0 Day 1: 5 12-13 105. Craig Castro North Attleboro, MA 5 12-12 0 Day 1: 5 12-12 106. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 5 12-11 0 Day 1: 5 12-11 107. Dylan Minch Stevens Point, WI 4 12-10 0 Day 1: 4 12-10 108. Kevin Wilkes Ballston Lake,, NY 5 12-07 0 Day 1: 5 12-07 109. Steven Kotvas Apollo, PA 5 12-06 0 Day 1: 5 12-06 110. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 5 12-05 0 Day 1: 5 12-05 111. Erick Markstaller New Milford, CT 5 12-04 0 Day 1: 5 12-04 112. Chris Ogan Bixby, OK 5 12-01 0 Day 1: 5 12-01 113. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 5 12-01 0 Day 1: 5 12-01 114. Tony Despot II Monroeville, PA 5 11-14 0 Day 1: 5 11-14 115. Robert Smith Farmington, ME 5 11-11 0 Day 1: 5 11-11 116. Jeffrey Perron South Berwick, ME 5 11-10 0 Day 1: 5 11-10 117. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 5 11-09 0 Day 1: 5 11-09 118. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 5 11-06 0 Day 1: 5 11-06 119. Nick Lepone Fieldsboro, NJ 5 11-05 0 Day 1: 5 11-05 119. Mike Morris Dover, DE 5 11-05 0 Day 1: 5 11-05 121. Kirk Smith Edmond, OK 5 11-02 0 Day 1: 5 11-02 122. Tony Kibler Milford, DE 5 11-01 0 Day 1: 5 11-01 123. Woody McKechnie Lynn , MA 5 10-11 0 Day 1: 5 10-11 124. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 5 10-00 0 Day 1: 5 10-00 125. Stefan Lillios Loudon, NH 4 09-12 0 Day 1: 4 09-12 126. William Barrett Bridgewater, MA 5 09-11 0 Day 1: 5 09-11 127. Roger LaFlamme Jr Lyman, ME 5 09-07 0 Day 1: 5 09-07 128. Clayton Grimm Mechanic Falls, ME 5 09-07 0 Day 1: 5 09-07 129. Cameron Creamer Bremen, ME 5 08-09 0 Day 1: 5 08-09 130. Arthur Magurn Lunenburg, MA 3 07-12 0 Day 1: 3 07-12 131. Derek Severns Carnegie, PA 3 07-01 0 Day 1: 3 07-01 132. Steve Deguzis Bristol, CT 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 132. Henry Fristik Blandford, MA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 132. Josh Giroldi Beachville CANADA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 132. Eric Johnson Kingston, MA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 132. Alex Legg Milford, DE 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 132. Joe Raposo North Dighton, MA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 132. Craig Rexford Grand Isle, VT 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 ———————————————————————– Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 126 648 1993-11 ———————————- 126 648 1993-11
DAIWA’s new multispecies KAGE LT engineered to be the lightest spinning reel in its class.
FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 24, 2024) – In Japanese, KAGE means “shadow,” or metaphorically, refers to someone who is “secretive” or “elusive.” Think about that elite, stealthy angler who patrons only independent dealers and has all the insights into local fishing. That’s the guy and gal DAIWA considered when they developed the KAGE series – available only at independent brick and mortar dealers. The new KAGE LT spinning reel sports rich features, beginning with its extremely lightweight and rigid ZAION body. The woven high-density carbon resin ZAION material is also durable and corrosion resistant to extend the life of the reel.The KAGE LT’s AIR ROTOR was engineered to be incredibly rigid and with minimal flex, especially at high drag pressures. Critically designed cut-outs reduce the weight of the rotor itself while adding stability and almost eliminating rotor “wobble”. The lighter the rotor, the less force it takes to spin around the reel, making it easier to turn the handle.
The KAGE LT also features a tubular AIR bail, which further reduces weight and offers more rigidity than standard wire, minimizing concerns over flex, bending, or breaking. The thicker material feels better to the fingers when flipping the tubular air bail as well.A7075 aircraft-grade aluminum TOUGH DIGIGEAR® technology is another hallmark of the KAGE LT. The especially hard and lightweight aluminum is precision machined and digitally cut, making it considerably more resistant to wear than traditional gear materials on the market.Anglers will also appreciate DAIWA’s brilliant Advanced Tournament Drag (ATD™) when setting the hook and fighting fish. The smart system applies an increased, instantaneous and calculated resistance during the hookset. After the hook drives home and the fish starts pulling, ATD automatically returns to the selected drag setting.Where reel meets angler, the KAGE features a machined screw-in handle that connects directly to the main drive gear. The business end of the handle features a premium, compressed cork handle on the smaller 1000-2500 sizes and a larger rubberized T-handle for added grip on the larger 3000-4000 sizes.DAIWA Field Marketing Manager, Chris Martin, said, “We developed the KAGE LT to be incredibly lightweight for its size. This, while maintaining rigidity, bolstering sensitivity, and adding a level of corrosion resistance.”Martin continued, “The KAGE LT is the perfect utility spinning reel for multispecies anglers. Whether you’re chasing bass, walleyes, trout, or panfish, this reel will do it all. And with options down to a 1000-size, it’s tailormade for finesse fishing.”
KAGE LT (1000, 2000, and 2500 sizes with premium cork handle)
THE PERFECT MATCHMartin said DAIWA has made matching the new KAGE LT to a spinning rod simple. The recently released KAGE Bass and Walleye Series’ balance and fish ideally with premium, yet reasonably priced rods. Key features in both the bass and walleye versions include an Air Sensor Reel Seat, Fuji guides with Alconite rings, DAIWA’s elite SVF Nanoplus carbon resin, and x45 to eliminate blank twist. SPECIAL NOTE FROM DAIWA: The KAGE series is available exclusively at independent dealers. DAIWA strongly supports its vast network of dealers that are the heartbeat of fishing.
KAGE LT (3000 and 4000 sizes with rubber T handle)
KAGE LTFEATURES:ZAION BodyExtremely strong and lighter than aluminum and magnesium, the woven high-density carbon resin ZAION material is durable and corrosion resistant to extend the life of the reel.AIR RotorThe smart design lessens weight, provides even rotary balance and stress distribution, and reduces vibrations, all while maintaining strength. Delivers a more precisely balanced reel performance than competitors.AIR BailInnovative bail design features a hollow, tubular stainless steel bail that delivers maximum rigidity and strength with minimum weight. The smooth protrusion-free construction lets the line easily flow to the line roller for trouble free line control.TOUGH DIGIGEARA7075 Aircraft Grade aluminum is forged into bigger gears with larger tooth patterns and perfectly meshed between an ultra-tough drive gear and pinion gears for optimized speed, torque, exactness, smoothness, and durability.2BB Supported ATD (Advanced Tournament Drag)The lightweight spool sits atop a pair of BB’s, resulting in a smooth, frictionless payout as the spool engages and rotates. This prevents fish from coming unhooked as drag pressure remains steady.Machined Aluminum Screw in HandlePrecision tooling renders a smooth and secure fit. The ergonomic design delivers the ultimate in control and comfort with a secure grip.
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: CSR@Daiwa.com. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us
Let’s explore some more advanced concepts and strategies for early and late bass fishing:
Understanding Bass Behavior in Detail
Thermoclines and Oxygen Levels:
In summer, lakes often form distinct temperature layers
Bass prefer the thermocline where temperature and oxygen levels are optimal
Early and late in the day, this layer can be closer to the surface
Feeding Patterns:
Bass are opportunistic feeders, but they have peak feeding times
These often coincide with low light conditions at dawn and dusk
Understanding local baitfish patterns can help predict bass activity
Advanced Techniques for Dawn and Dusk Fishing
The “Golden Hour”:
The first and last hour of sunlight are often called the “golden hours”
Use this time to target transitional areas where bass move between deep and shallow water
Night-to-Day Transitions:
Bass that have been active at night may still be shallow at dawn
Focus on structure near deep water that provides easy access to shallows
Weather Impacts:
Cloudy mornings might extend the topwater bite
Wind can create current and oxygenate water, potentially extending active periods
Lure Selection and Presentation
Color Selection:
Early morning: darker colors that create better silhouettes
Late evening: brighter colors that are more visible in low light
Sound and Vibration:
In low light, bass rely more on lateral lines to detect prey
Consider lures that create more vibration or noise
Seasonal Patterns:
Spring: focus on spawning areas and pre-spawn feeding zones
Summer: target deeper structure and use slower presentations
Fall: mimic baitfish schools and be prepared for aggressive feeding
Advanced Equipment Considerations
Line Selection:
Fluorocarbon for clear water and precise presentations
Braided line for heavy cover and long casts in low light
Rod and Reel Combos:
Longer rods for better topwater action and long casts
High-speed reels for quickly taking up slack in topwater presentations
Electronics Usage:
Use side-imaging to locate schools of baitfish or bass
Temperature gauges to find the optimal water temperature zones
Mental Game and Strategy
Patience and Persistence:
The biggest bass often bite when you least expect it
Stay focused during these prime hours, even if action is slow
Location Rotation:
Have a plan to hit multiple prime spots during these short windows
Don’t spend too much time in one place if it’s not producing
Adapting to Pressure:
In heavily fished areas, bass may become wary of common tactics
Be prepared to try unconventional lures or presentations
Conservation and Ethics
Proper Handling:
Use appropriate gear to quickly land fish
Minimize time out of water, especially in warm conditions
Selective Harvest:
Consider catch and release, especially for larger bass
If keeping fish, follow local regulations and consider the impact on the fishery
By mastering these advanced concepts and techniques, anglers can significantly improve their success during early and late fishing hours. Remember, consistent success comes from a combination of knowledge, preparation, and adaptability on the water.
The Bass Cast has picked out four mobile refrigerators that we think will help you save money on ice as well as mushy food that we get from ice on your next overnight trip to the lake or any other outdoor activity.
CLICK MAIN PHOTO TO LEARN MORE
44 Quarts Portable Electric Car Cooler Refrigerator/Freezer Compressor
Dual Zone 12V Car Refrigerator 64QT Portable Compressor Fridge Freezer (-4℉~68℉)
Alpicool Outdoor Car Fridge: Single Door, Single Control, Portable Freezer With Quiet Operation, Built-in Lighting, The Economical Choice For Outdoor Cooling, Ideal For SUV, RV, Camping, Travel, And Storing Food Outdoors, 12/24V DC And 100-240V AC
12 Volt Refrigerator, 53QT(50L) Electric Cooler, Portable Freezer 12V/24V DC 110-240V AC, 12V Fridge -468, 12V Cooler with Wheels & 2 Baskets for Travel, Truck, Boat, Camping
55 Quart Portable Refrigerator Electric Car Cooler Compressor Freezer Camping
Unlocking Summer Bass Fishing: The Thermocline and Oxygen Level Secret
Introduction: Have you ever spent a scorching summer day on the lake, casting line after line with nothing to show for it? As an avid angler, I’ve been there too. But everything changed when I discovered the game-changing secret to summer bass fishing: understanding the thermocline and oxygen levels. In this post, I’ll share how this knowledge transformed my tournament performance and can do the same for you.
The Science Behind the Bite: Let’s dive into the underwater world of a summer lake. Imagine it as a layered cake:
The top layer: warm, oxygen-rich water
The middle layer (thermocline): where temperature drops rapidly
The bottom layer: cold, oxygen-poor water
Bass, like us, need oxygen to survive. They’ll congregate where breathing is easiest, which is key to finding them.
Finding the Bass Sweet Spot: Bass are particular about their environment, preferring:
Water temperature: 65-75°F
Oxygen levels: At least 3 parts per million (ppm)
During summer, these ideal conditions often occur right around the thermocline.
Locating the Thermocline: Here’s my tried-and-true method:
Use your depth finder (set sensitivity to about 90%)
Look for a distinct line with dark streaks below it
No fancy equipment? No worries. Watch for:
Baitfish clusters at a certain depth
Fish bands at the same level
Sudden changes in water clarity or temperature as you lower your lure
Winning Strategies for Thermocline Fishing: Once you’ve found the thermocline, it’s time to adapt your approach:
Above the thermocline:
Use search baits for quick coverage
Try topwater lures in shaded areas
Experiment with swim jigs just below the surface
At the thermocline:
Target structure at this depth
Slow down your presentation
Practice patience – big catches often happen here
Remember, the thermocline can shift as summer progresses. Stay observant and adjust accordingly.
The Oxygen Factor: Understanding oxygen levels is crucial:
Warmer water holds less oxygen
Plants produce oxygen by day, consume it at night
Early mornings can be challenging due to low oxygen levels
Pro Tip: Fish early or late when oxygen levels peak, or focus on areas with good water movement.
Conclusion: Mastering the thermocline and oxygen levels is like having a secret map to bass hotspots. It’s revolutionized my tournament performance, and I’m confident it will elevate your fishing game too. Keep these factors in mind, and you’ll be on your way to more consistent catches, even in the peak of summer heat.
Remember, in summer bass fishing, the thermocline and oxygen levels are your allies. Master this knowledge, and you’ll be the talk of the weigh-in. Now, it’s time to put this information to the test. Tight lines, and happy fishing!