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Tuesday, December 16, 2025
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Belleville’s Trombly Posts 10th Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River

Brian Carter
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Belleville’s Trombly Posts 10th Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River
Boater Mike Trombly of Belleville, Michigan, and Strike-King co-angler Billy Crider, Jr., of Kettering, Ohio
Ohio’s Crider Jr. Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

TRENTON, Mich. (Aug. 14, 2023) – Boater Mike Trombly of Belleville, Michigan, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Detroit River. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Trombly earned $3,963 for his victory.

“We had heavy winds throughout the day, and I made a long run in heavy waves to get where I needed to fish,” said Trombly, who notched his 10th career win, including eight BFL victories and two Toyota Series titles. “I caught a big fish right off the bat on a drop-shot. I fished around in that area in big waves and was able to finish off my limit with some 2-pounders.”

Trombly said he slowly began making his way toward the weigh-in site, stopping to hit points along the way. Around noon, he stopped at a spot that held a good number of bigger fish in 30 to 32 feet of water and finished off his final weigh bag.

“The last stop I made that had the big fish on it I told my co-angler, “I think I’m starting to become relevant in this tournament,’” Trombly said with a laugh. “I could tell just because of the quality I was catching. I knew there was a chance.”

Trombly said he used a (Berkley PowerBait MaxScent) Flat Worm with the drop-shot rig to catch his smallmouth, rigged on a 1/0 hook with a ½-ounce weight. The setup produced 12 bass for Trombly – all except one were keepers. He said he focused on the north shore, some areas of the river, and open water on Lake Erie.

“It’s awesome to win,” Trombly said. “It never gets old. It’s a blessing to be able to win in this division. We’ve got some tremendous smallmouth fishermen in this division.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

                1st:        Mike Trombly, Belleville, Mich., five bass, 22-3, $3,963
                2nd:       Nolan Mandel, Harrison Township, Mich., five bass, 21-15, $2,481 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
                3rd:       Noah Stauffer, Gowen, Mich., five bass, 20-14, $1,322
                4th:        Chris Hellebuyck, White Lake, Mich., five bass, 20-9, $1,595
                5th:        Evan Eldred, Gaines, Mich., five bass, 19-13, $793
                6th:        Patrick Goodman, Sturgis, Mich., five bass, 19-12, $727
                7th:        Cody Kelley, Plainwell, Mich., five bass, 19-6, $660
                8th:        Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., five bass, 19-4, $594
                9th:        Pat Upthagrove, Monroe, Mich., five bass, 18-14, $495
                9th:        Matthew Kime, Holland, Ohio, five bass, 18-14, $495

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Kyle Malone of Troy, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $535.



Billy Crider, Jr., of Kettering, Ohio, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $1,981 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 19 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

                1st:        Billy Crider, Jr., Kettering, Ohio, five bass, 19-1, $1,981
                2nd:       Ashley Shirto, Novi, Mich., five bass, 18-8, $991
                3rd:       Tyler Land, Coatsville, Ind., five bass, 18-5, $662
                4th:        Edward Huddleston, Monroe, Mich., five bass, 18-2, $462
                5th:        Aaron Stahley, Batavia, Ohio, five bass, 17-13, $379
                5th:        Jeffrey Thomson, Birmingham, Mich., five bass, 17-13, $379
                7th:        Gavin Weted, Adrian, Mich., five bass, 17-4, $330
                8th:        Tom Bauer, Martinsville, Ind., five bass, 17-1, $297
                9th:        Robert Miller, Litchfield, Mich., five bass, 16-8, $264
                10th:     Ryan Kauffman, Ankeny, Iowa, five bass, 15-15, $231

Christopher Majerle of Trenton, Michigan, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $267, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Mike Trombly of Belleville, Michigan, leads the BFL Michigan Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 744 points, while Hunter Ingle of Fort Wayne, Indiana, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 711 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Tennessee Angler Brent Anderson Wins MLF Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River Presented by Rabid Baits

Brian Carter
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Tennessee Angler Brent Anderson Wins MLF Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River Presented by Rabid Baits

MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 13, 2023) – Pro Brent Anderson of Kingston Springs, Tennessee, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 22 pounds, 3 ounces to win the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at St. Lawrence River Presented by Rabid Baits and earn the top payout of $80,500, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF bonus. Over the three days of competition Anderson weighed in 15 bass totaling 66-11 to earn the win by a 10-ounce margin over Stouffville, Ontario’s Gary Miller, who finished second with a three-day total of 66-1, good for $17,500.  

After pulling in a handful of top 10’s on the St. Lawrence River over the years, Anderson said he is thrilled to finally finish at the top of the leaderboard.

“I came to the St. Lawrence River for the first time three years ago, and fell in love with this place,” said Anderson. “I’ve fished hundreds of lakes and there have been two fisheries – Dale Hollow and the St. Lawrence River – that are close to my heart and just have a special mystique about them. It’s been a big goal of mine to take home a win there.”

Anderson said he was feeling pretty good coming into the event – not expecting the win – but very familiar with the river and optimistic that he could pull in consistent weights each day. While many anglers make long runs west on the fishery toward Lake Ontario, Anderson said he prefers the less risky option of staying close to the Massena area.

“I typically stay within 50 miles of Massena because I can guarantee myself pretty consistent weights, but I’ve come up short in the past due to that,” said Anderson. “If the guys that make the run have even two really good days, my consistent weights won’t seal the deal.

“I’ve finished in the top 10 multiple times on the St. Lawrence, but I believed if I just stayed with that game plan and kept betting on consistency, it would work out,” Anderson continued. “I didn’t know this was going to be the week it came to fruition, but I’m glad it was.”

Anderson said he fished in the 10- to 50-foot-range, throwing a custom finesse football jig with a Z-Man Finesse TRD trailer, drifting along stretches of shoals.

“This win feels amazing,” said Anderson. “I’ve won ten Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournaments on various fisheries, but I’d never won a Toyota Series event. I’ve been close several times – mostly here – so to complete the package and take home a win is incredible.”

The top 10 pros on the St. Lawrence River finished:

1st:           Brent Anderson, Kingston Springs, Tenn., 15 bass, 66-11, $80,500
2nd:          Gary Miller, Stouffville, Ontario, 15 bass, 66-1, $17,500
3rd:          Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 65-9, $12,750
4th:           Tommy Dickerson, Orange, Texas, 15 bass, 65-1, $10,750
5th:           Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 15 bass, 65-0, $9,750
6th:           Clay Reece, Lexington, Ky., 15 bass, 63-2, $8,375
7th:           Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., 15 bass, 62-5, $7,300
8th:           Douglas Reed, Bridgeton, N.J., 15 bass, 62-3, $6,300
9th:           Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., 15 bass, 61-15, $5,300
10th:        Jason Gramada, Les Cedres, QC, 15 bass, 61-12, $4,200

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Rod Mackinnon of Middletown III, New York, won the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday with a bass weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces. On Friday, pro Gary Miller of Stouffville, Ontario earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize after bringing a 6-pound, 9-ounce bass to the scale.

Anderson took home an extra $35,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Taylor Wisniewski of Lexington, Kentucky won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 23 pounds, 11 ounces. Wisniewski took home the top prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on the St. Lawrence River finished:

1st:           Taylor Wisniewski, Lexington, Ky., 14 bass, 55-14, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd:          Akira Okuyama, Forest Hills, N.Y., 15 bass, 55-3, $5,375
3rd:          Mason Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., 15 bass, 53-9, $4,300
4th:           Greg McDavid, Blountville, Tenn., 15 bass, 52-10, $3,650
5th:           Christopher Dam, Staatsburgh, N.Y., 14 bass, 52-1, $3,350
6th:           Cooper Jet, Norton Shores, Mich., 15 bass, 50-7, $2,650
7th:           Braxton Clements, Donalsonville, Ga., 15 bass, 50-3, $2,150
8th:           Greg Flippen, Powhatan, Va., 15 bass, 49-1, $1,825
9th:           Tim McGlenn, Welcome, Md., 15 bass, 48-10, $1,530
10th:        Christian Rich, Eufaula, Ala., 13 bass, 47-14, $1,290

Wisniewski was the Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, Thursday, with a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass, while the Day 2 $150 award went to John Kelly Jr. of Old Forge, Pennsylvania with a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass.

With two regular-season events in the Toyota Series Northern Division now complete, pro Brett Carnright of Plattsburgh, New York leads the Northern Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 516 points, while Richard Bleser of Burlington, Wisconsin, leads the Strike King Co-angler Division AOY race with 507 points.

The Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River, hosted by the Town of Massena, was the second of three regular-season events for the Toyota Series Northern Division Presented by Rabid Baits. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series at the Potomac River Presented by Rabid Baits, September 21-23, in Marbury, Maryland. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST V. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, and is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Next Gen Lithium, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Protecting Bass Fish: Rethinking the Controversial Practice of Fizzing in Hot Summer Months

Brian Carter
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Protecting Bass Fish: Rethinking the Controversial Practice of Fizzing in Hot Summer Months

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the recent debate surrounding the practice of fizzing bass fish during the hot summer months. While some may argue that this technique is beneficial for the survival of bass fish in warm waters, I must express my concern and skepticism regarding this practice.

The concept of fizzing bass fish involves puncturing the swim bladder of the fish in order to release trapped air, allowing them to swim back to deeper, cooler waters. Proponents argue that this prevents the fish from experiencing stress and potential death due to the high temperatures. However, I believe that this approach is invasive and potentially harmful to the fish.

As an advocate for ethical and sustainable fishing practices, I firmly believe that we should prioritize the well-being and conservation of the fish we target. Fizzing bass fish raises ethical concerns as it involves puncturing the internal organs of the fish, which can cause damage and lead to infections. It is important to consider the long-term impact on the fish population and their overall health.

Instead of resorting to fizzing, I suggest exploring alternative methods to ensure the survival of bass fish during the hot summer months. This could include promoting catch-and-release practices, implementing fishing restrictions during extreme temperatures, or creating fish sanctuaries in cooler areas.

Furthermore, it is crucial to educate anglers about the importance of responsible fishing practices. By raising awareness and providing information about the potential consequences of fizzing bass fish, we can encourage a more sustainable approach to fishing and protect the delicate ecosystem that these fish inhabit.

In conclusion, I urge the fishing community and authorities to reconsider the practice of fizzing bass fish during the hot summer. Let us focus on implementing ethical, sustainable, and non-invasive methods to protect these valuable species and preserve our aquatic environments for future generations.

Auburn claims wire-to-wire victory in Bassmaster College Championship at Pickwick Lake

Brian Carter
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Auburn claims wire-to-wire victory in Bassmaster College Championship at Pickwick Lake

Hayden Marbut and Tucker Smith of Auburn University have won the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a three-day total of 53 pounds, 12 ounces. 

Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.

August 12, 2023

Auburn claims wire-to-wire victory in Bassmaster College Championship at Pickwick Lake

COUNCE, Tenn. — Thanks to an afternoon rally that produced several largemouth over 3 1/2 pounds, Auburn University’s Tucker Smith and Hayden Marbut caught 18 pounds on Saturday to win the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a three-day total of 53 pounds, 12 ounces. 

Smith and Marbut never trailed in the event, claiming the lead on Day 1 with a 20-8 bag before landing 15-4 on the second day. 

Together, it is the duo’s second victory in a Bassmaster Championship event. Their first win was also in wire-to-wire fashion at the 2020 Bassmaster High School National Championship at Kentucky Lake. 

After winning that tournament, Smith and Marbut had conversations about what it would be like to win the College Championship when they teamed back up at Auburn. They made that hope a reality in their first season reunited as partners.

“The last couple of years we have joked about winning both National Championships. For it to actually happen and our dreams to come true this week, it is unbelievable,” Marbut said. 

This victory only adds to Smith’s already impressive resume. Along with his three High School Championship titles, he won the 2021 Bassmaster College Team of the Year title with partner Logan Parks as well as the Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open on Table Rock Lake. 

The College Series Championship was an event Smith and Parks struggled with in their two attempts together, but Smith felt like this year at Pickwick would be different.

“We fished hard and, in the previous years I fished with Logan, we fished hard too but we didn’t get close,” Smith said. “This one felt different. This one felt special.”

With the victory, the Auburn anglers earned a spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s. Smith finished second to Tristan McCormick at the 2021 Bracket on the Alabama River by 3 ounces and he has been anxious to get back ever since.

“The last time I was there, it really hurt my feelings,” Smith said. “It will be good to be back and get another chance at it.”

History pays off for Auburn on final day

Entering Championship Saturday, Smith and Marbut had a feeling their best two spots were drying up. After catching around 12 pounds between the two areas before midday, they made the decision to scrap their game plan and move to a ledge that has historically produced for them.

“At 12 o’clock we had 12 pounds,” Marbut said. “For it to happen in the last hour and a half, it is crazy.” 

In practice, they scanned this particular spot and found only a couple of bass occupying it, but when they needed it the most, the spot was loaded and Smith and Marbut were able to quickly upgrade their final total. 

“We threw the trolling motor down and there were a ton of fish there. It was magical,” Smith said. “It was a place that got hit by the current really well. It was near the main channel and once the clouds came over, it seemed like the bass grouped up really well and started feeding.”

While the current was almost too strong on Day 2, Marbut and Smith noticed it slowed down on the final day, which helped the bite as well. 

A sneaky, offshore game plan

Smith and Marbut stayed offshore all week, hoping to find less-obvious places other competitors would overlook. They had two areas that produced best, one deep and one shallow. Both were relatively close to takeoff at Pickwick Landing State Park. 

“We had never fished those spots until this tournament,” Smith said. 

The majority of their weight the first two days came from the deeper school of bass, which was located in about 20 feet of water with shells on the bottom.

“We caught almost all of our weight on the first day and a good bit of our weight the second day off of it,” Marbut said. “It was kind of up on a flat, away from where most people would scan. I think only one other boat found it.”

Their secondary, shallow school was in about 12 feet of water.

“It was way off the river,” Marbut said. “And that’s what we looked for. We focused on looking for sneakier stuff that not everyone would find.”

To catch their fish, they used a rotation of baits which included an unnamed 5-inch swimbait, a 3/4-ounce Picasso tungsten football jig with a Yamamoto Yama Craw trailer, a 3/8-ounce drop shot with a morning dawn colored Roboworm FAT straight-tail worm and a Damiki rig.

Mullins, Cummings fish magic docks to finish second

With a three-day total of 50-13, Levi Mullins and Matthew Cummings from Bethel University finished second. It was the duo’s second straight Top 12 in the College Championship — and while they came up just a little short of the win, they earned a spot in the Classic Bracket.

“I’ve watched three of my teammates go and start their careers there. Now we are going to have that opportunity. It is crazy to think about that.” Mullins said. 

“Losing the National Championship is a rough feeling, but knowing you are going to the Bracket makes that a little easier,” Cummings added.

As hard as they tried, Mullins and Cummings could not find a consistent offshore bite during practice. So, on the first day, the Bethel duo ran down to a set of magical docks they have fished in the past and milked the area for three days, catching 18-5, 14-14 and 17-10. 

The final day was tough, but they filled their limit two minutes before running back to weigh in.

Brush was a key piece of cover underneath several of the docks, and bream and shad were plentiful in the area. Mullins skipped a 3/8-ounce Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip Out jig in Bamer craw with a Missile Baits Mini D Chunk trailer most of the week while Cummings threw a Texas-rigged Senko in green pumpkin with a 3/16-ounce weight. 

On the final two days, a ChatterBait also produced important keeper bites.

“Those docks have saved our tails three times now in tournaments,” Cummings said.

One area carries Montevallo to third

With bags of 17-8, 15-4 and 16-7, Brody Robison and Jack Alexander from the University of Montevallo finished third with a total of 49-3. Robison and Alexander spent most of practice scanning offshore areas of Pickwick Lake and found one spot that produced the majority of their bag.

“It was a straight river ledge, but there was a hard spot that stuck out into the current,” Robison said. “It was a great place for shells to group up and it also made a good feeding area for white bass and bass. We hung out there and tried to get five bass and we did it somehow.”

A drop shot, Damiki rig and Strike King 10XD were their three best baits. 

Bracket details

The Top 3 teams punched their ticket to the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, details of which will be announced at a later date. Nick Dumke and Easton Fothergill from the University of Montevallo already claimed their spot by winning the Team of the Year title. Full coverage of the event will be available on Bassmaster.com.

2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake
presented by Bass Pro Shops 8/10-8/12
Pickwick Lake, Counce  TN.

(BOATER) Standings Day 3     Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts 1.  Hayden Marbut – Tucker Smith                 Auburn University                   250
  Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   15-04     Day 3: 5   18-00   Total:  15  53-12
2.  Matthew Cummings – Levi Mullins              Bethel University                   249
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   14-14     Day 3: 5   17-10   Total:  15  50-13
3.  Brody Robison – Jack Alexander               University of Montevallo            248
  Day 1: 5   17-08     Day 2: 5   15-04     Day 3: 5   16-07   Total:  15  49-03
4.  Tyler Campbell – Parker Guy                  Emmanuel University                 247
  Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   16-06     Day 3: 4   14-06   Total:  14  48-09
5.  Easton Fothergill – Nick Dumke               University of Montevallo            246
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   15-12     Day 3: 5   14-00   Total:  15  48-01
6.  Joey Bissing – Jackson Paden                 University of Tennessee             245
  Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   13-15     Day 3: 5   16-00   Total:  15  47-11
7.  Adrian Urso – Cole Hadlock                   Murray State University             244
  Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   17-11     Day 3: 5   15-07   Total:  15  47-08
8.  Blake Bullock – John Mark Berry              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    243
  Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   18-03     Day 3: 5   14-12   Total:  15  47-00
9.  Evan Sutton – Grant Olsen                    McKendree University                242
  Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   19-02     Day 3: 5   15-12   Total:  15  46-09
10. Hunter Suchsland – Cade Ludwig               University of Nebraska-Lincoln      241
  Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   14-04     Day 3: 5   15-13   Total:  15  46-06
11. Tallis Morrison – Jonathan Hanna             Erskine College                     240
  Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   18-05     Day 3: 5   13-04   Total:  15  44-03
12. Kyle Zainitzer – Avery Whitwell              University of North Alabama         239
  Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   12-15     Day 3: 3   09-01   Total:  13  41-08
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        60       459      1290-14
 2        33       352       974-04
 3        10        57       180-08
———————————-
         103       868      2445-10

Auburn’s Smith, Marbut maintain lead on Day 2 of Bassmaster College Championship at Pickwick Lake

Brian Carter
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Auburn’s Smith, Marbut maintain lead on Day 2 of Bassmaster College Championship at Pickwick Lake

Hayden Marbut and Tucker Smith of Auburn University are leading after Day 2 of the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 12 ounces. 

Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.

August 11, 2023

Auburn’s Smith, Marbut maintain lead on Day 2 of Bassmaster College Championship at Pickwick Lake

COUNCE, Tenn. — Tucker Smith and Hayden Marbut find themselves in familiar territory after Day 2 of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.

The Auburn University duo leads the 131-boat field with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 12 ounces, and have a chance to pull off the wire-to-wire win, similar to their 2020 Bassmaster High School Championship victory at Kentucky Lake.

“This tournament is huge,” Smith said. “The High School National Championships were the biggest deal to me ever at the time. This one now is an even bigger deal to me. We want to make the Classic Bracket, and we are going to put our heads down and try.”

It was a much tougher Day 2 for Smith, Marbut and the rest of the teams on the water Friday. After catching 20-8 the first day, the Auburn anglers caught just 15-4. But they still lead Emmanuel University’s Tyler Campbell and Parker Guy by 1-9.

“It was a lot tougher today,” Marbut said. “We had a handful of places we thought we could get bites on, but we only ended up getting bites on one or two places. We expected it to be a lot tougher, but it really was a grind today.”

While many anglers were hoping for more current after practice, they may have received too much as the TVA pulled over 70,000 cubic feet per second out of Pickwick Lake.

“We could tell that it was stronger today,” Smith said. “Hopefully they turn it down a little bit so we can catch some fish.”

Using their forward-facing sonar, Marbut said they found the bass more scattered and suspended than they were on Day 1, where they noticed bass more on the bottom.

But Smith and Marbut still filled their limit by 10 a.m. Instead of the “fun” baits, like big crankbaits, Smith said they had to slow down and finesse fish on Day 2 with a drop shot, football jig and a small swimbait.

“It was nice that we caught some early,” Smith said. “We thought we could run a bunch of places and catch a couple more and upgrade, but that did not happen. The fish are diminishing every day it seems like.”

During the first two days, Smith and Marbut bounced around between several areas, but on Championship Saturday, Smith said they will likely be staying in their best areas most of the day.

“Tomorrow we are going to run a couple places we know have fish and pray to God we catch five good ones,” Smith said.

Coming into the day in ninth with 17-13, Guy and Campbell added 16-6 to jump into second with a total of 34-3. This is Guy’s second-straight Top 12 finish in the National Championship after placing fourth last year at Winyah Bay with teammate Brooks Anderson.

The Emmanuel team has also fished primarily offshore this week, mixing in some other patterns when the time is right.

“Today was crazy,” Guy said. “We made a big long run yesterday and today. We caught a big one yesterday but today it didn’t work. We came back here and we pulled in on one place, a typical ledge school, and caught a couple and caught a limit.”

After catching a big one on that spot, they went and fished a couple other areas to add a couple more key fish. On their best ledge, bass are sitting on top in 20 feet of water and then all the way down the drop into 28 feet of water.

The key for Guy and Campbell has been slowing down their presentations.

“Fishing slow is a big, big deal right now. I see a lot of people fishing really fast and throwing big moving baits. We tried to slow way down and get some of those bites that other people aren’t getting,” Guy said.

“We were able to pull in behind people and get bites,” Campbell added. “We were counting rocks.”

The University of Montevallo duo of Nick Dumke and Easton Fothergill moved into third with a two-day total of 34-1. After landing 18-5 on Day 1, the 2023 Bassmaster College Team of the Year added 15-12 on Day 2 to become the first Team of the Year to reach the final day of the National Championship since the award’s inception in 2018.

“We have yet to be in a position to win a big event like this and to be here and have a shot is something we have been dreaming about for a long time,” Dumke said. “It means the world to be here.”

So far this week, Dumke and Fothergill have focused most of their time offshore, hoping to save the shallow bass they found until the final day. The majority of their bass have come on one offshore area where they have a group of around 100 bass located. It isn’t a typical school, however, as these bass are spread out.

They also aren’t easy to catch, and Dumke and Fothergill threw six or seven different baits to land their final limit.

Braydon Kelley and Trey McMeen of East Texas Baptist University landed the Big Bass of the Day, a 7-0 largemouth. Cole and Clay Taylor of Lander University still hold Big Bass of the Tournament honors with a 7-12 largemouth they caught on Day 1.

The Top 12 remaining teams will launch from Pickwick Landing State Park at 6 a.m. CT Saturday and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The Top 3 teams will punch their ticket to the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, details of which will be announced at a later date. Dumke and Fothergill have already claimed their spot by winning Team of the Year. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

The winner of the Bracket will compete in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Tulsa. Okla., and receive paid entry into the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the use of a fully loaded Nitro Boat and Toyota Tundra.

The tournament is being hosted by Tour Hardin County.

2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake
presented by Bass Pro Shops 8/10-8/12
Pickwick Lake, Counce  TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

    Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Hayden Marbut – Tucker Smith                 Auburn University                   250
  Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   15-04   Total:  10  35-12
2.  Tyler Campbell – Parker Guy                  Emmanuel University                 249
  Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   16-06   Total:  10  34-03
3.  Easton Fothergill – Nick Dumke               University of Montevallo            248
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   15-12   Total:  10  34-01
4.  Matthew Cummings – Levi Mullins              Bethel University                   247
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   14-14   Total:  10  33-03
5.  Brody Robison – Jack Alexander               University of Montevallo            246
  Day 1: 5   17-08     Day 2: 5   15-04   Total:  10  32-12
6.  Kyle Zainitzer – Avery Whitwell              University of North Alabama         245
  Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   12-15   Total:  10  32-07
7.  Blake Bullock – John Mark Berry              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    244
  Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   18-03   Total:  10  32-04
8.  Adrian Urso – Cole Hadlock                   Murray State University             243
  Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   17-11   Total:  10  32-01
9.  Joey Bissing – Jackson Paden                 University of Tennessee             242
  Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   13-15   Total:  10  31-11
10. Tallis Morrison – Jonathan Hanna             Erskine College                     241
  Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   18-05   Total:  10  30-15
11. Evan Sutton – Grant Olsen                    McKendree University                240
  Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   19-02   Total:  10  30-13
12. Hunter Suchsland – Cade Ludwig               University of Nebraska-Lincoln      239
  Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   14-04   Total:  10  30-09
13. Mike Pierlott – Max Pierlott                 UNC Charlotte                       238
  Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   14-15   Total:  10  30-09
14. Kaleb Brown – Cole Moulton                   Lander University                   237
  Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   15-03   Total:  10  30-07
15. Austin Parr – Hunter White                   Erskine College                     236
  Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 5   18-01   Total:  10  30-02
16. Dylan May – Carson Palmer                    Carson-Newman University            235
  Day 1: 5   16-15     Day 2: 5   12-10   Total:  10  29-09
17. Henry Mcpherson – Matthew German             University of Alabama               234
  Day 1: 4   11-05     Day 2: 5   17-03   Total:   9  28-08
18. Tim Herrmann – Justin Botts                  Bryan College                       233
  Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   13-04   Total:  10  28-06
19. Hudson Choquette –                           University of Montevallo            232
  Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   13-07   Total:  10  28-01
20. Mason Hoke – Jayce Garrison                  Sam Houston State University        231
  Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   14-08   Total:  10  28-00
21. Dalton DeFelice – Connor Tonkel              Southwestern Michigan College       230
  Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   11-07   Total:  10  27-09
22. Dalton Eury – Zeb Roberts                    Catawba Valley Community College    229
  Day 1: 5   15-03     Day 2: 5   12-02   Total:  10  27-05
23. Aric Szambelan – Tyler Flacke                Missouri State University           228
  Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 3   07-00   Total:   8  26-15
24. Ben Brockwell –                              Kentucky Christian University       227
  Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 4   13-11   Total:   9  26-09
25. Beau Browning – Drake Sturgill               University of Montevallo            226
  Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   11-06   Total:  10  25-10
26. Nathan Reynolds – Banks Shaw                 University of North Alabama         225
  Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 4   10-09   Total:   9  25-05
27. Cole Taylor – Clay Taylor                    Lander University                   224
  Day 1: 4   18-12     Day 2: 2   06-02   Total:   6  24-14
28. Kyle Workman – Evan Barker                   Campbellsville University           223
  Day 1: 4   10-08     Day 2: 5   14-06   Total:   9  24-14
29. James Willoughby – Jacob Pfundt              University of Montevallo            222
  Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 3   09-01   Total:   8  24-10
30. Merrick Diaz – Cade Hayford                  Campbellsville University           221
  Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 4   10-12   Total:   9  24-10
31. Szymon Piton – Gavin Clevenger               Carson-Newman University            220
  Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 4   10-09   Total:   9  24-09
32. Hayden Pirman – Luke Chaddock                West Virginia University            219
  Day 1: 5   19-09     Day 2: 2   04-14   Total:   7  24-07
33. Nate Triplett – Cy Lambert                   University of North Alabama         218
  Day 1: 5   11-04     Day 2: 4   13-00   Total:   9  24-04
34. Dylan Fogarty – Hunter Fillmore              Bethel University                   217
  Day 1: 5   11-10     Day 2: 5   12-10   Total:  10  24-04
35. Dylan Nutt – Carter Nutt                     University of North Alabama         216
  Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 4   11-12   Total:   9  23-13
36. Will Oberman – Wil Rigdon                    Campbellsville University           215
  Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 3   07-05   Total:   8  23-05
37. Anderson Jones – Max Muzones                 Lander University                   214
  Day 1: 4   10-06     Day 2: 4   12-15   Total:   8  23-05
38. William Tew – Brayden Nichols                LSU – Shreveport                    213
  Day 1: 5   10-08     Day 2: 5   12-10   Total:  10  23-02
39. Drake Hemby – Ewing Minor                    Carson-Newman University            212
  Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 4   08-07   Total:   9  23-00
40. Tripp Bowman – Matthew Nesbit                LSU – Shreveport                    211
  Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 3   08-03   Total:   8  22-12
41. Jared Hubbard – Riley Hendricks              Lander University                   210
  Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 4   08-05   Total:   9  22-09
42. TJ McKenzie – Seth Jenkins                   Emmanuel University                 209
  Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 2   04-11   Total:   7  21-00
43. Connor Cartmell – Andrew Vereen              Coastal Carolina University         208
  Day 1: 2   07-02     Day 2: 4   13-10   Total:   6  20-12
44. Tyler Hudson – Evan Mcnaughton               Western Kentucky University         207
  Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   8  20-08
45. Bryant Martin – Luke Batts                   LSU – Shreveport                    206
  Day 1: 4   09-02     Day 2: 3   11-00   Total:   7  20-02
46. Hunter Townsend – Jonathan Wehner Jr         James Madison University            205
  Day 1: 5   10-10     Day 2: 3   09-06   Total:   8  20-00
47. Chris Baker – Elijah Kelley                  Kentucky Christian University       204
  Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  19-07
48. Gus McLarry – Jared West                     Texas A&M Commerce                  203
  Day 1: 2   05-11     Day 2: 5   13-10   Total:   7  19-05
49. Zachary Ward – Easton Bouma                  Drury University                    202
  Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 2   04-09   Total:   7  19-04
50. Corey Morris – Brayden Mercer                East Texas Baptist University       201
  Day 1: 1   01-14     Day 2: 5   17-05   Total:   6  19-03
51. Sam Smith – Connor Jacob                     Auburn University                   200
  Day 1: 4   09-14     Day 2: 3   09-05   Total:   7  19-03
52. Nate Kimberling – Matt Kavanaugh             University of Idaho                 199
  Day 1: 3   05-13     Day 2: 5   13-03   Total:   8  19-00
53. Jeremy Monda – Bryson O’steen                Florida Gateway College             198
  Day 1: 5   10-04     Day 2: 3   08-11   Total:   8  18-15
54. Ryan Lachniet – Clay Oberman                 Campbellsville University           197
  Day 1: 2   05-00     Day 2: 5   13-14   Total:   7  18-14
55. Hayden Gaddis – Ben Cully                    Carson-Newman University            196
  Day 1: 4   09-01     Day 2: 4   09-13   Total:   8  18-14
56. Lane Clark – Adam Seagle                     Erskine College                     195
  Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 2   05-00   Total:   7  18-12
57. Jonah Potts – Drew Fromm                     Wabash Valley College               194
  Day 1: 3   06-01     Day 2: 5   12-10   Total:   8  18-11
58. Turner Hart – Summer Dees                    Bryan College                       193
  Day 1: 4   10-02     Day 2: 3   08-09   Total:   7  18-11
59. Jaxson Freeman – Maxwell Trotter             McKendree University                192
  Day 1: 5   11-03     Day 2: 2   07-02   Total:   7  18-05
60. Dylan Akins – Chase Carey                    Emmanuel University                 191
  Day 1: 4   09-00     Day 2: 4   09-05   Total:   8  18-05
61. Brandon Martin – Cole Holloway               Emmanuel University                 190
  Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 1   01-13   Total:   6  18-04
62. Braylon Eggerding –                          Adrian College                      189
  Day 1: 4   15-00     Day 2: 1   03-00   Total:   5  18-00
63. Trey Schroeder – Lane Stephens               McKendree University                188
  Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 1   03-08   Total:   6  17-15
64. Evan Fields –                                Campbellsville University           187
  Day 1: 3   07-10     Day 2: 3   10-05   Total:   6  17-15
65. Riley Faulkner – Cole Rankin                 Carson-Newman University            186
  Day 1: 3   09-11     Day 2: 4   08-03   Total:   7  17-14
66. Jacob Butts – Mark Kershaw-Klara             USC Union                           185
  Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 1   03-04   Total:   6  17-11
67. Seth Slanker – Jackson Swisher               Florida Gateway College             184
  Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 1   03-00   Total:   6  17-07
68. Noah Vanderwall – Daniel Borrousch           Purdue University                   183
  Day 1: 5   10-14     Day 2: 3   05-15   Total:   8  16-13
69. Noah Trant – Evan Howe                       Northwestern State University       182
  Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 1   02-14   Total:   6  16-10
70. TJ Edwards Jr –                              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    181
  Day 1: 2   09-05     Day 2: 2   07-05   Total:   4  16-10
71. Will Ahnen – Caleb Knoll                     University of Wisconsin-La Cross    180
  Day 1: 5   11-10     Day 2: 2   04-15   Total:   7  16-09
72. Tyson Verkaik – Carson Kamien                University of Florida               179
  Day 1: 1   02-01     Day 2: 5   14-07   Total:   6  16-08
73. Aaron Jagdfeld – Elliot Wielgopolski         Adrian College                      178
  Day 1: 4   12-08     Day 2: 2   03-14   Total:   6  16-06
74. Andrew Ready – Harley Collins                Webber International University     177
  Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 1   02-09   Total:   6  16-02
75. Colby Carrier – Justin Frey                  Bethel University                   176
  Day 1: 3   06-15     Day 2: 4   09-02   Total:   7  16-01
76. Sam Hanggi – Sam Hoesley                     Auburn University                   175
  Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 1   02-13   Total:   6  15-12
77. Nicholas Holtgrave – Colsyn Head             McKendree University                174
  Day 1: 2   06-13     Day 2: 4   08-15   Total:   6  15-12
78. Grant Williams – Nathan MacDonald            Mississippi State University        173
  Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 1   01-12   Total:   6  15-10
79. Jake Thornbury – Morgan Miracle              Campbellsville University           172
  Day 1: 2   06-06     Day 2: 4   09-00   Total:   6  15-06
80. Tommy Dunaway – Seth Jones                   Florida Gateway College             171
  Day 1: 5   09-05     Day 2: 2   05-11   Total:   7  15-00
81. Chase Hubble – Brent May                     University of Florida               170
  Day 1: 3   07-11     Day 2: 2   07-02   Total:   5  14-13
82. Ryan Park – Sam Niemeyer                     Murray State University             169
  Day 1: 4   09-06     Day 2: 2   05-00   Total:   6  14-06
83. Hayden Scott – Jerry Brumbaugh Jr.           Adrian College                      168
  Day 1: 1   03-01     Day 2: 5   11-03   Total:   6  14-04
84. Brenton Godwin – Hunter Odom                 University of Montevallo            167
  Day 1: 2   05-11     Day 2: 3   08-08   Total:   5  14-03
85. Kaden Proffitt – Cason Ragsdale              East Texas Baptist University       166
  Day 1: 4   10-05     Day 2: 2   03-11   Total:   6  14-00
86. Owen Januszewski – Matt Mosby                Adrian College                      165
  Day 1: 2   04-12     Day 2: 3   08-09   Total:   5  13-05
87. Tyler Cory – Scott Sledge                    University of Montevallo            164
  Day 1: 4   07-05     Day 2: 3   05-14   Total:   7  13-03
88. Smith McGregor – Ben Ivey                    University of North Alabama         163
  Day 1: 5   13-01     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  13-01
89. Jordan Brewer – Sam Harvey                   Auburn University                   162
  Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  12-15
90. Reese Walters – Garrett Walters              University of Alabama               161
  Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  12-14
91. James Gillis – Blake Richards                Clarkson University                 160
  Day 1: 4   09-01     Day 2: 2   03-08   Total:   6  12-09
92. Hunter McClaskey – Landon Lawson             King University                     159
  Day 1: 2   05-13     Day 2: 3   06-10   Total:   5  12-07
93. Caleb Dachenhaus – Sam Shoemaker             Adrian College                      158
  Day 1: 3   06-10     Day 2: 2   05-10   Total:   5  12-04
94. Landon Surrett – Hampton Shull               Lander University                   157
  Day 1: 2   04-09     Day 2: 2   07-06   Total:   4  11-15
95. Braden Cox – Joel Berelsman                  Ohio State University               156
  Day 1: 5   10-13     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  10-13
96. Merritt Arnold – Chance Schwartz             University of Montevallo            155
  Day 1: 3   10-10     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  10-10
97. Cole Dodson – Tyler Cain                     University of Montevallo            154
  Day 1: 2   04-01     Day 2: 3   06-04   Total:   5  10-05
98. Levi Thibodaux – Chance Shelby               LSU – Shreveport                    153
  Day 1: 2   05-05     Day 2: 2   04-10   Total:   4  09-15
99. Corey Yaden – Caleb Barrow                   Brewton-Parker College              152
  Day 1: 3   09-12     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  09-12
100. Stevie Mills – Brady Duncan                  Carson-Newman University            151
  Day 1: 4   09-08     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   4  09-08
100. Jackson Smith – Sawyer Williams              Bethel University                   151
  Day 1: 4   09-08     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   4  09-08
102. Andrew Blanton – Jamison Bagwell             Lander University                   149
  Day 1: 4   09-07     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   4  09-07
103. Kyle Simmons – Brett Halstead                Kansas State University             148
  Day 1: 1   02-10     Day 2: 3   06-12   Total:   4  09-06
104. Bennett Slinkard – Carty Shoen               Auburn University                   147
  Day 1: 2   05-12     Day 2: 2   03-08   Total:   4  09-04
105. Cal Culpepper – Ryan Thomas                  University of Montevallo            146
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   09-02   Total:   3  09-02
106. Brooks Anderson – Max Heaton                 Emmanuel University                 145
  Day 1: 1   03-09     Day 2: 3   05-09   Total:   4  09-02
107. Jordan Pennington – Andrew Oswalt            University of Montevallo            144
  Day 1: 1   02-00     Day 2: 2   06-11   Total:   3  08-11
108. Cabe Mackey – William Hammond                Catawba Valley Community College    143
  Day 1: 2   05-11     Day 2: 1   02-01   Total:   3  07-12
109. Luke Glasgow – Logan Barrett                 Mississippi State University        142
  Day 1: 2   05-04     Day 2: 1   02-06   Total:   3  07-10
110. Peyton Harris – Dalton Head                  University of Montevallo            141
  Day 1: 3   07-08     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  07-08
111. Eric Wawrzyniak – Dylan Crystaloski          Penn State University               140
  Day 1: 1   02-06     Day 2: 2   04-15   Total:   3  07-05
112. Clayton Easter – Trevor Easter               Tarleton State University           139
  Day 1: 1   02-02     Day 2: 3   05-02   Total:   4  07-04
113. Colton Hill – Tomas Matual                   McKendree University                138
  Day 1: 2   02-15     Day 2: 2   04-04   Total:   4  07-03
114. Myles Steward – Trey Zagrzebski              University of Wisconsin-Stevens     137
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   07-02   Total:   2  07-02
115. Nick Redlin – Benjamin Redlin                University of Wisonsin-Plattevil    136
  Day 1: 2   04-15     Day 2: 1   02-02   Total:   3  07-01
116. Braydon Kelley – Trey McMeen                 East Texas Baptist University       135
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   07-00   Total:   1  07-00
117. Braden Fairbanks –                           Kentucky Christian University       134
  Day 1: 2   06-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  06-03
118. Seth Elkins – Dale Hansard                   Jacksonville State University       133
  Day 1: 2   04-15     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  04-15
119. Garrett Warren – Jake Peck                   Auburn University                   132
  Day 1: 1   02-05     Day 2: 1   02-04   Total:   2  04-09
120. Nathan Lee – Chase Bolden                    University of Wisconsin-Plattevi    131
  Day 1: 2   04-02     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  04-02
121. Jake Monti – Samuel Dunson                   UNC Charlotte                       130
  Day 1: 1   04-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  04-00
122. Wes Bailey – Lake Norsworthy                 Blue Mountain Christian Universi    129
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   03-12   Total:   2  03-12
122. Blake Milligan – Matthew Parrish             Auburn University                   129
  Day 1: 2   03-12     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  03-12
124. Garrett Thompson – Ethan Perry               West Virginia University            127
  Day 1: 1   03-09     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  03-09
125. Christian Turner – John Gray                 Coastal Carolina University         126
  Day 1: 1   03-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  03-03
126. Fisher Hill – Paris Mccullers                Murray State College                125
  Day 1: 1   02-04     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  02-04
127. Jacob Silver –                               Western Carolina University         124
  Day 1: 1   02-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  02-03
128. Logan Plueger – Charlie Wright               University of Montevallo            123
  Day 1: 1   01-11     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  01-11
129. Mitch Johnson – Gunner Whitaker              Kentucky Christian University         0
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
129. Giancarlo Russo –                            Florida Gateway College               0
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
129. Zachary Verbrugge –                          Mohave Community College              0
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        60       459      1290-14
 2        33       352       974-04
———————————-
          93       811      2265-02

CATCH BASS IN THE HOT SUMMER WATER! by Fresh Baits

Brian Carter
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0
CATCH BASS IN THE HOT SUMMER WATER! by Fresh Baits
The quest for catching bass during hot summer months hinges on a proper understanding of water temperatures. Bass are cold-blooded creatures, meaning their body temps and metabolism are directly tied to the temperature of the water they inhabit. This factor affects their feeding habits, movements, and overall behavior, which is essential for fishermen to understand. In warmer temperatures, the metabolism of bass speeds up, making them more active and often hungry. Recognizing this helps anglers focus on where the bass might be hunting for food. However, extremely hot water might lead to a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels, making the bass more lethargic. Recognizing these nuances requires a keen understanding of water temperature fluctuations. During hot summer months, the water temperature may vary throughout the day, leading bass to change locations in a body of water. Knowing where the bass might be at different times and temperatures is a critical skill that can result in more successful fishing trips.In the summertime, lakes often develop a thermocline, a layer of water where temperature changes more rapidly with depth than it does in the layers above or below. Bass are more likely to be found either above or below this layer, depending on the overall temperature of the water. Recognizing and fishing around the thermocline can be key to success.  Not only does understanding water temperature affect success in fishing, but it’s also a matter of safety. Extreme water temperatures might influence the behavior of not only bass but other marine life, potentially creating hazardous situations for anglers if not approached with caution. Spawning is a critical aspect of bass behavior that is deeply influenced by water temperature. Understanding how water temperature affects the spawning period, usually when the water is warm but not too hot, can significantly enhance the chances of locating and catching bass. During the summer, water temperatures will fluctuate through the day. 
 
 
Recognizing how these temperature changes drive bass behavior will help in planning fishing trips at the most opportune times, such as early morning or late evening when it’s cooler. As summer progresses, water temperatures will go through a transition that will influence bass behavior. Being attuned to these transitions and knowing how to adapt to them can provide a significant advantage in catching bass. Utilizing an Owner 4x Jungle Flipping Hook paired with a soft plastic Lizard for flipping and pitching can be an incredibly effective strategy to catch bass in the summer, especially around dense cover and vegetation. Start by rigging the lizard with the Jungle Flipping Hook using a Texas rig, ensuring that the bait is weedless and that the hook’s point is just concealed to maximize its flipping potential. When flipping or pitching, aim for precise casts into pockets, gaps, or edges of heavy cover where bass are likely to be hiding from the summer heat. The strength and sharpness of the Jungle Flipping Hook will allow you to penetrate thick cover without getting caught or compromising the hooking power. Work the bait slowly, and focus on the bottom contours, where bass might be lurking. Utilize a sensitive rod to feel the bite, and don’t be afraid to set the hook firmly, as the 4x Jungle Flipping Hook is designed to handle it. Experiment with different retrieve speeds and subtle jigging motions to make the soft plastic lizard appear lifelike and to entice bites from opportunistic bass. By mastering these techniques, you can turn the hot summer months into a prime opportunity for targeting bass in heavy cover. The Fresh Lizard delivers a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait in any condition. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from durable high-grade Non-Salted plastic for maximum attention-grabbing action.
Fishing in various water temperatures requires the use of suitable equipment. Lines, reels, and rods might behave differently in varying temperatures. Selecting the right gear for hot summer months, considering the water temperature, ensures a smoother fishing experience. Using an Owner Stand-Up Jig paired with a soft plastic Scorpion can be a game-changer for targeting big bass in the summer. This combination works wonders in presenting an appealing and lifelike prey image, especially on the bottom where big bass often lurk during the hot months. Begin by carefully rigging the Scorpion onto the Stand-Up Jig, ensuring that the lure stands up off the bottom, resembling a defensive posture that many natural prey adopt. Fish this combo around rocky structures, ledges, or submerged objects where bass tend to congregate. The stand-up design of the jig will present the Scorpion in an upright position, creating an irresistible target for predatory bass. Use a slow and methodical retrieve, allowing the Scorpion to flutter and mimic a real creature.Be patient and allow the lure to rest on the bottom at times; the stand-up jig will keep the Scorpion in an attractive pose even when still. Remember to use a rod with enough sensitivity to detect subtle bites, as big bass might approach this lure cautiously before striking. By employing these tactics with the Owner Stand-Up Jig and soft plastic Scorpion, you can unlock a productive method for tempting big bass in summer, especially in those challenging deeper and structure-rich areas. We like to use bait that bass simply can’t resist. We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait up-right in a defensive stance that urges big predatorial bass to take a bite. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Made from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action triggering strikes!
Understanding how water temperatures affect bass populations during the summer is also crucial for sustainable fishing practices. Overfishing in sensitive temperature zones might harm the bass population, leading to a less successful future fishing season. The perfect Ned Rig for catching big bass in summer can be crafted using an Owner Block Head Jig Head paired with a soft plastic HellaMite. The compact design of the Block Head Jig Head complements the subtle, natural movement of the HellaMite, creating a tempting bottom-oriented presentation. Begin by threading the HellaMite onto the jig head, ensuring that it’s straight for the most natural appearance. Fish this rig around areas with a hard bottom, like gravel beds, rocky points, or submerged roadbeds where bass are likely to be feeding. The key to success with this Ned Rig is to employ a slow and deliberate retrieve, often referred to as “dead sticking.” Allow the bait to settle on the bottom, then twitch it gently with minimal rod movement. The Owner Block Head Jig Head’s design will cause the HellaMite to stand up off the bottom, offering an appealing target that opportunistic bass can’t resist. Use a light or medium-light rod with a sensitive tip to detect those subtle bites that big bass are known for, especially during summer when their metabolism might be affected by water temperatures. The combination of the Owner Block Head Jig Head and HellaMite provides a finesse approach perfect for summer bass fishing, offering a realistic and subtle presentation that can fool even the wariest of big bass. Each Fresh HellaMite is scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Additionally, its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition. Our newest Invisible HellaMite is transparent, which makes it look like a natural prey item in the water. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait more clearly and is more likely to look like real food, which increases the likelihood of getting a strike.  
Bass prey also reacts to temperature changes. Knowing where these prey are likely to be found during hot weather can give a clue about bass locations. By understanding this, anglers can more strategically plan their fishing approach. Texas Rigging with an Owner Bullet-Type Rig paired with a soft plastic worm is a time-tested and versatile method for catching big bass in summer, particularly in weedy or structure-laden environments. Start by sliding the bullet weight onto your line, with the pointed end facing towards the end of the line, followed by your chosen hook. Then, rig the soft plastic worm onto the hook, ensuring that the hook’s point is buried just below the surface of the worm to create a weedless presentation. This rig is ideal for probing dense cover, like lily pads, submerged timber, or brush piles, where big bass often hide during hot summer days. Cast to these areas and let the bait sink slowly, allowing the bullet weight to guide the worm through the cover. A slow, dragging retrieve works best, interspersed with occasional pauses and gentle twitches to make the worm dance enticingly. Be alert to subtle changes in pressure or line movement, as big bass might inhale the worm softly. A firm but controlled hook set will ensure the hook penetrates the fish’s mouth without tearing the worm. The Owner Bullet-Type Rig and soft plastic worm offer a tantalizing combination that can outwit big bass in summer, even in the most challenging fishing environments. The simplicity and effectiveness of this rig make it a go-to option for anglers targeting elusive summer bass. Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a wide variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from and we just re-stocked our 10w30 Synthetic Worm, so you better grab some now. We also just recently released new 6-inch Worms that catch some trophy bass. Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR are all available in 5 and 6-inch. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Each Worm is scented for complete and total attraction underwater.
Sudden weather changes can influence water temperatures drastically. Being aware of how these quick changes in weather can affect the water temperature, and subsequently the bass behavior, provides an edge in adapting strategies on the fly. Water temperatures often influence water clarity, especially during the hot summer months. Understanding how this interaction works helps in selecting the most effective fishing spots where the bass are likely to be lurking. Modern technology, like fish finders, can help in determining water temperature at various depths. Familiarity with water temperature patterns and how they relate to bass behavior ensures that this technology can be used most effectively. Understanding of water temperatures isn’t just a singular aspect of summer bass fishing; it’s part of a holistic approach that integrates knowledge of biology, weather patterns, equipment, and environmental stewardship. By paying close attention to water temperatures and how they influence bass behavior, anglers can enjoy a more successful, responsible, and rewarding fishing experience during the hot summer.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from. For Scorpions we love to use the Stand-Up Jig because it sits your bait up-right in a defensive stance! The Owner All Purpose Hook is built with an extra-wide gap and is made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. Mosquito Hooks work for drop-shotting and are designed to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics such as lizards and worms. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you pressure time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. Covering a wide range of soft plastics including worms and other types of creatures.

? 10 great tips for night time ? tournament Bass Fishing For Beginners ?

Brian Carter
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0
? 10 great tips for night time ? tournament Bass Fishing For Beginners ?

Once upon a time, ?? there was a group of passionate anglers preparing for a night-time bass fishing tournament. They gathered around a campfire ??️, sharing their best tips and tricks to conquer the dark waters. Here are the 10 great tips they shared, accompanied by emojis:

1️⃣ Choose the right bait: ?? Select lures that create vibrations and imitate the movement of prey in low-light conditions.

2️⃣ Have a flashlight handy: ?? A reliable light source is essential for navigating the waters, tying knots, and finding your way back to the boat.

3️⃣ Experiment with different retrieval speeds: ⏩⏪ Adjust your reel speed to find the sweet spot that entices bass lurking in the shadows.

4️⃣ Focus on structure: ?️? Bass love to hide in submerged structures during the night, so target areas like fallen trees, docks, and weed beds.

5️⃣ Make noise: ?? Rattles and noise-making lures attract bass by creating vibrations that travel through the water.

6️⃣ Use scented baits: ?? Adding scent to your bait helps bass locate it in the darkness, increasing your chances of a successful catch.

7️⃣ Fish near the surface: ?? Bass often rise closer to the surface at night, so try topwater lures or shallow-running crankbaits.

8️⃣ Opt for darker colors: ?? Dark-colored lures provide better contrast and visibility in low-light conditions, attracting bass more effectively.

9️⃣ Stay patient: ⌛️?‍♂️ Night fishing requires extra patience, as bass may not be as active as during the day. Take your time and maintain a steady focus.

? Safety first: ⚠️?‍?‍?‍? Prioritize safety when fishing at night. Wear life jackets, carry a fully charged phone, and inform someone about your fishing plans.

Armed with these 10 great tips and their passion for bass fishing, the anglers set out into the moonlit waters, ready to conquer the tournament and create unforgettable memories under the starry night sky. ??

Auburn duo maximizes offshore bites to take Day 1 lead at Bassmaster College Series Championship on Pickwick Lake

Brian Carter
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0
Auburn duo maximizes offshore bites to take Day 1 lead at Bassmaster College Series Championship on Pickwick Lake

Hayden Marbut and Tucker Smith of Auburn University are leading after Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with 20 pounds, 8 ounces. 

Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.

August 10, 2023

Auburn duo maximizes offshore bites to take Day 1 lead at Bassmaster College Series Championship on Pickwick Lake

COUNCE, Tenn. — Taking advantage of the increase in current generation, the Auburn University duo of Tucker Smith and Hayden Marbut claimed the Day 1 lead at the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops by catching a limit of largemouth weighing 20 pounds, 8 ounces.

They hold a 9-ounce lead over Missouri State’s Aric Szambelan and Tyler Flacke, who fell just an ounce shy of breaking the 20-pound mark. Hayden Pirman and Luke Chaddock of West Virginia University are third with 19-9.

In 2020, Smith and Marbut were crowned Bassmaster High School National Champions on Kentucky Lake, leading that event from start to finish. Now, they have teamed up again at Auburn and continue to show they are a winning combination.

“It would be really cool to win both,” Marbut said. “We still have a lot of fishing left to do. We have two more days.”

So far, Pickwick has fished better than many teams had expected. Five bags over 19 pounds hit the scales on the opening day, and if the Top 12 cut was made today, Carson-Newman’s Dylan May and Carson Palmer would be the final team in with 16-15.

The improved numbers likely have a lot to do with the influx of rain from heavy thunderstorms that have moved through the area the last few days.

“(The Tennessee Valley Authority) was pulling about 30,000 (cubic feet per second) all week and they are pulling 50,000 today and are supposed to pull 55,000 tomorrow,” Marbut commented.

While it looked good on paper, there were plenty of lulls throughout the day for the Auburn team. Of the 30 areas they fished, only three produced bites. Still, Smith said the duo landed the majority of their weight by 9 a.m.

“We bounced around and hit a bunch of places, but it was tough during the midday,” Smith said. “We made one stop at the end of the day and caught a big one.”

Fishing mainly offshore ledges, the duo has found schools in about 12 feet of water all the way out to 20 feet of water. Of those schools, they said three are better than the rest, one in shallow water and the other two deep.

To catch their bass, they have been rotating through the standard ledge-fishing arsenal, baits like deeper-diving crankbaits, swimbaits and jigs.

“We have some that not everyone found,” Marbut said. “We scanned the whole practice and looked for some sneakier stuff that not everyone would be on.”

Using forward-facing sonar, Marbut and Smith have noticed most of their bass have been relating to the bottom of the ledge. Many of their spots don’t have baitfish around — and when a ball of shad does show up, it scatters the bass.

“We’ll see some bait come over the top of them and the bass will start chasing them. It kind of pulls them off the place, so it’s not really the best,” Smith said.

It was a slow start for Szambelan and Flacke. But when showers moved out of the area around midday, the bass began to bite and the Missouri State duo was able to take advantage.

“We stayed calm, kept our heads up and kept fishing,” Flacke said. “We had our final bag around 1.”

Similar to Smith and Marbut, Szambelan and Flacke are focusing on offshore ledges, finding more bass in the 12- to 15-foot range. A couple of baits, including a drop shot and small swimbait, produced most of their weight.

“We have a handful of spots, but they are all getting pressured by a bunch of different guys,” Szambelan said. “We found seven schools in practice. They were pretty good when we found them, but we were only able to hit one or two today.”

Forward-facing sonar has helped them pick off some of the bass that are suspended or roaming. Szambelan said it has been about 50/50 as to whether the bass were set up on the bottom or suspended.

While it didn’t go exactly as they planned, Pirman and Chaddock caught their 19-9 Day 1 limit in areas where they found success during practice.

After a lull, the West Virginia duo discovered a new pattern and was able to make a couple of key culls. They switched between deep and shallow areas and power fished with a couple of baits.

With more sun in the forecast Friday, they hope the secondary pattern will hold up.

Cole and Clay Taylor from Lander University in South Carolina caught a 7-12 largemouth to take Big Bass of the Day honors.

The full field will take off from Pickwick Landing State Park at 6 a.m. CT and return at 2 p.m. for weigh-in. The field will be cut to the Top 12 after the Day 2 weigh-in. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

The tournament is being hosted by Tour Hardin County.

2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake
presented by Bass Pro Shops 8/10-8/12
Pickwick Lake, Counce  TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

    Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Hayden Marbut – Tucker Smith                 Auburn University                   250
  Day 1: 5   20-08   Total:   5  20-08
2.  Aric Szambelan – Tyler Flacke                Missouri State University           249
  Day 1: 5   19-15   Total:   5  19-15
3.  Hayden Pirman – Luke Chaddock                West Virginia University            248
  Day 1: 5   19-09   Total:   5  19-09
4.  Kyle Zainitzer – Avery Whitwell              University of North Alabama         247
  Day 1: 5   19-08   Total:   5  19-08
5.  Chris Baker – Elijah Kelley                  Kentucky Christian University       246
  Day 1: 5   19-07   Total:   5  19-07
6.  Cole Taylor – Clay Taylor                    Lander University                   245
  Day 1: 4   18-12   Total:   4  18-12
7.  Matthew Cummings – Levi Mullins              Bethel University                   244
  Day 1: 5   18-05   Total:   5  18-05
7.  Easton Fothergill – Nick Dumke               University of Montevallo            244
  Day 1: 5   18-05   Total:   5  18-05
9.  Tyler Campbell – Parker Guy                  Emmanuel University                 242
  Day 1: 5   17-13   Total:   5  17-13
10. Joey Bissing – Jackson Paden                 University of Tennessee             241
  Day 1: 5   17-12   Total:   5  17-12
11. Brody Robison – Jack Alexander               University of Montevallo            240
  Day 1: 5   17-08   Total:   5  17-08
12. Dylan May – Carson Palmer                    Carson-Newman University            239
  Day 1: 5   16-15   Total:   5  16-15
13. Brandon Martin – Cole Holloway               Emmanuel University                 238
  Day 1: 5   16-07   Total:   5  16-07
14. TJ McKenzie – Seth Jenkins                   Emmanuel University                 237
  Day 1: 5   16-05   Total:   5  16-05
14. Hunter Suchsland – Cade Ludwig               University of Nebraska-Lincoln      237
  Day 1: 5   16-05   Total:   5  16-05
16. Dalton DeFelice – Connor Tonkel              Southwestern Michigan College       235
  Day 1: 5   16-02   Total:   5  16-02
17. Will Oberman – Wil Rigdon                    Campbellsville University           234
  Day 1: 5   16-00   Total:   5  16-00
18. Mike Pierlott – Max Pierlott                 UNC Charlotte                       233
  Day 1: 5   15-10   Total:   5  15-10
19. James Willoughby – Jacob Pfundt              University of Montevallo            232
  Day 1: 5   15-09   Total:   5  15-09
20. Kaleb Brown – Cole Moulton                   Lander University                   231
  Day 1: 5   15-04   Total:   5  15-04
21. Dalton Eury – Zeb Roberts                    Catawba Valley Community College    230
  Day 1: 5   15-03   Total:   5  15-03
22. Tim Herrmann – Justin Botts                  Bryan College                       229
  Day 1: 5   15-02   Total:   5  15-02
23. Tyler Hudson – Evan Mcnaughton               Western Kentucky University         228
  Day 1: 5   15-01   Total:   5  15-01
24. Braylon Eggerding –                          Adrian College                      227
  Day 1: 4   15-00   Total:   4  15-00
25. Nathan Reynolds – Banks Shaw                 University of North Alabama         226
  Day 1: 5   14-12   Total:   5  14-12
26. Zachary Ward – Easton Bouma                  Drury University                    225
  Day 1: 5   14-11   Total:   5  14-11
27. Hudson Choquette –                           University of Montevallo            224
  Day 1: 5   14-10   Total:   5  14-10
28. Tripp Bowman – Matthew Nesbit                LSU – Shreveport                    223
  Day 1: 5   14-09   Total:   5  14-09
29. Drake Hemby – Ewing Minor                    Carson-Newman University            222
  Day 1: 5   14-09   Total:   5  14-09
30. Jacob Butts – Mark Kershaw-Klara             USC Union                           221
  Day 1: 5   14-07   Total:   5  14-07
30. Trey Schroeder – Lane Stephens               McKendree University                221
  Day 1: 5   14-07   Total:   5  14-07
32. Seth Slanker – Jackson Swisher               Florida Gateway College             219
  Day 1: 5   14-07   Total:   5  14-07
33. Adrian Urso – Cole Hadlock                   Murray State University             218
  Day 1: 5   14-06   Total:   5  14-06
34. Beau Browning – Drake Sturgill               University of Montevallo            217
  Day 1: 5   14-04   Total:   5  14-04
35. Jared Hubbard – Riley Hendricks              Lander University                   216
  Day 1: 5   14-04   Total:   5  14-04
36. Blake Bullock – John Mark Berry              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    215
  Day 1: 5   14-01   Total:   5  14-01
37. Szymon Piton – Gavin Clevenger               Carson-Newman University            214
  Day 1: 5   14-00   Total:   5  14-00
38. Merrick Diaz – Cade Hayford                  Campbellsville University           213
  Day 1: 5   13-14   Total:   5  13-14
38. Grant Williams – Nathan MacDonald            Mississippi State University        213
  Day 1: 5   13-14   Total:   5  13-14
40. Lane Clark – Adam Seagle                     Erskine College                     211
  Day 1: 5   13-12   Total:   5  13-12
40. Noah Trant – Evan Howe                       Northwestern State University       211
  Day 1: 5   13-12   Total:   5  13-12
42. Andrew Ready – Harley Collins                Webber International University     209
  Day 1: 5   13-09   Total:   5  13-09
43. Mason Hoke – Jayce Garrison                  Sam Houston State University        208
  Day 1: 5   13-08   Total:   5  13-08
44. Smith McGregor – Ben Ivey                    University of North Alabama         207
  Day 1: 5   13-01   Total:   5  13-01
45. Jordan Brewer – Sam Harvey                   Auburn University                   206
  Day 1: 5   12-15   Total:   5  12-15
45. Sam Hanggi – Sam Hoesley                     Auburn University                   206
  Day 1: 5   12-15   Total:   5  12-15
47. Ben Brockwell –                              Kentucky Christian University       204
  Day 1: 5   12-14   Total:   5  12-14
47. Reese Walters – Garrett Walters              University of Alabama               204
  Day 1: 5   12-14   Total:   5  12-14
49. Tallis Morrison – Jonathan Hanna             Erskine College                     202
  Day 1: 5   12-10   Total:   5  12-10
50. Aaron Jagdfeld – Elliot Wielgopolski         Adrian College                      201
  Day 1: 4   12-08   Total:   4  12-08
51. Dylan Nutt – Carter Nutt                     University of North Alabama         200
  Day 1: 5   12-01   Total:   5  12-01
51. Austin Parr – Hunter White                   Erskine College                     200
  Day 1: 5   12-01   Total:   5  12-01
53. Evan Sutton – Grant Olsen                    McKendree University                198
  Day 1: 5   11-11   Total:   5  11-11
54. Will Ahnen – Caleb Knoll                     University of Wisconsin-La Cross    197
  Day 1: 5   11-10   Total:   5  11-10
54. Dylan Fogarty – Hunter Fillmore              Bethel University                   197
  Day 1: 5   11-10   Total:   5  11-10
56. Henry Mcpherson – Matthew German             University of Alabama               195
  Day 1: 4   11-05   Total:   4  11-05
57. Nate Triplett – Cy Lambert                   University of North Alabama         194
  Day 1: 5   11-04   Total:   5  11-04
58. Jaxson Freeman – Maxwell Trotter             McKendree University                193
  Day 1: 5   11-03   Total:   5  11-03
59. Noah Vanderwall – Daniel Borrousch           Purdue University                   192
  Day 1: 5   10-14   Total:   5  10-14
60. Braden Cox – Joel Berelsman                  Ohio State University               191
  Day 1: 5   10-13   Total:   5  10-13
61. Hunter Townsend – Jonathan Wehner Jr         James Madison University            190
  Day 1: 5   10-10   Total:   5  10-10
62. Merritt Arnold – Chance Schwartz             University of Montevallo            189
  Day 1: 3   10-10   Total:   3  10-10
63. William Tew – Brayden Nichols                LSU – Shreveport                    188
  Day 1: 5   10-08   Total:   5  10-08
64. Kyle Workman – Evan Barker                   Campbellsville University           187
  Day 1: 4   10-08   Total:   4  10-08
65. Anderson Jones – Max Muzones                 Lander University                   186
  Day 1: 4   10-06   Total:   4  10-06
66. Kaden Proffitt – Cason Ragsdale              East Texas Baptist University       185
  Day 1: 4   10-05   Total:   4  10-05
67. Jeremy Monda – Bryson O’steen                Florida Gateway College             184
  Day 1: 5   10-04   Total:   5  10-04
68. Turner Hart – Summer Dees                    Bryan College                       183
  Day 1: 4   10-02   Total:   4  10-02
69. Sam Smith – Connor Jacob                     Auburn University                   182
  Day 1: 4   09-14   Total:   4  09-14
70. Corey Yaden – Caleb Barrow                   Brewton-Parker College              181
  Day 1: 3   09-12   Total:   3  09-12
71. Riley Faulkner – Cole Rankin                 Carson-Newman University            180
  Day 1: 3   09-11   Total:   3  09-11
72. Stevie Mills – Brady Duncan                  Carson-Newman University            179
  Day 1: 4   09-08   Total:   4  09-08
72. Jackson Smith – Sawyer Williams              Bethel University                   179
  Day 1: 4   09-08   Total:   4  09-08
74. Andrew Blanton – Jamison Bagwell             Lander University                   177
  Day 1: 4   09-07   Total:   4  09-07
75. Ryan Park – Sam Niemeyer                     Murray State University             176
  Day 1: 4   09-06   Total:   4  09-06
76. Tommy Dunaway – Seth Jones                   Florida Gateway College             175
  Day 1: 5   09-05   Total:   5  09-05
77. TJ Edwards Jr –                              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    174
  Day 1: 2   09-05   Total:   2  09-05
78. Bryant Martin – Luke Batts                   LSU – Shreveport                    173
  Day 1: 4   09-02   Total:   4  09-02
79. Hayden Gaddis – Ben Cully                    Carson-Newman University            172
  Day 1: 4   09-01   Total:   4  09-01
79. James Gillis – Blake Richards                Clarkson University                 172
  Day 1: 4   09-01   Total:   4  09-01
81. Dylan Akins – Chase Carey                    Emmanuel University                 170
  Day 1: 4   09-00   Total:   4  09-00
82. Chase Hubble – Brent May                     University of Florida               169
  Day 1: 3   07-11   Total:   3  07-11
83. Evan Fields –                                Campbellsville University           168
  Day 1: 3   07-10   Total:   3  07-10
84. Peyton Harris – Dalton Head                  University of Montevallo            167
  Day 1: 3   07-08   Total:   3  07-08
85. Tyler Cory – Scott Sledge                    University of Montevallo            166
  Day 1: 4   07-05   Total:   4  07-05
86. Connor Cartmell – Andrew Vereen              Coastal Carolina University         165
  Day 1: 2   07-02   Total:   2  07-02
87. Colby Carrier – Justin Frey                  Bethel University                   164
  Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
88. Nicholas Holtgrave – Colsyn Head             McKendree University                163
  Day 1: 2   06-13   Total:   2  06-13
89. Caleb Dachenhaus – Sam Shoemaker             Adrian College                      162
  Day 1: 3   06-10   Total:   3  06-10
90. Jake Thornbury – Morgan Miracle              Campbellsville University           161
  Day 1: 2   06-06   Total:   2  06-06
91. Braden Fairbanks –                           Kentucky Christian University       160
  Day 1: 2   06-03   Total:   2  06-03
92. Jonah Potts – Drew Fromm                     Wabash Valley College               159
  Day 1: 3   06-01   Total:   3  06-01
93. Nate Kimberling – Matt Kavanaugh             University of Idaho                 158
  Day 1: 3   05-13   Total:   3  05-13
94. Hunter McClaskey – Landon Lawson             King University                     157
  Day 1: 2   05-13   Total:   2  05-13
95. Bennett Slinkard – Carty Shoen               Auburn University                   156
  Day 1: 2   05-12   Total:   2  05-12
96. Brenton Godwin – Hunter Odom                 University of Montevallo            155
  Day 1: 2   05-11   Total:   2  05-11
96. Cabe Mackey – William Hammond                Catawba Valley Community College    155
  Day 1: 2   05-11   Total:   2  05-11
96. Gus McLarry – Jared West                     Texas A&M Commerce                  155
  Day 1: 2   05-11   Total:   2  05-11
99. Levi Thibodaux – Chance Shelby               LSU – Shreveport                    152
  Day 1: 2   05-05   Total:   2  05-05
100. Luke Glasgow – Logan Barrett                 Mississippi State University        151
  Day 1: 2   05-04   Total:   2  05-04
101. Ryan Lachniet – Clay Oberman                 Campbellsville University           150
  Day 1: 2   05-00   Total:   2  05-00
102. Seth Elkins – Dale Hansard                   Jacksonville State University       149
  Day 1: 2   04-15   Total:   2  04-15
102. Nick Redlin – Benjamin Redlin                University of Wisconsin-Plattevil   149
  Day 1: 2   04-15   Total:   2  04-15
104. Owen Januszewski – Matt Mosby                Adrian College                      147
  Day 1: 2   04-12   Total:   2  04-12
105. Landon Surrett – Hampton Shull               Lander University                   146
  Day 1: 2   04-09   Total:   2  04-09
106. Nathan Lee – Chase Bolden                    University of Wisconsin-Plattevi    145
  Day 1: 2   04-02   Total:   2  04-02
107. Cole Dodson – Tyler Cain                     University of Montevallo            144
  Day 1: 2   04-01   Total:   2  04-01
108. Jake Monti – Samuel Dunson                   UNC Charlotte                       143
  Day 1: 1   04-00   Total:   1  04-00
109. Blake Milligan – Matthew Parrish             Auburn University                   142
  Day 1: 2   03-12   Total:   2  03-12
110. Brooks Anderson – Max Heaton                 Emmanuel University                 141
  Day 1: 1   03-09   Total:   1  03-09
110. Garrett Thompson – Ethan Perry               West Virginia University            141
  Day 1: 1   03-09   Total:   1  03-09
112. Christian Turner – John Gray                 Coastal Carolina University         139
  Day 1: 1   03-03   Total:   1  03-03
113. Hayden Scott – Jerry Brumbaugh Jr.           Adrian College                      138
  Day 1: 1   03-01   Total:   1  03-01
114. Colton Hill – Tomas Matual                   McKendree University                137
  Day 1: 2   02-15   Total:   2  02-15
115. Kyle Simmons – Brett Halstead                Kansas State University             136
  Day 1: 1   02-10   Total:   1  02-10
116. Eric Wawrzyniak – Dylan Crystaloski          Penn State University               135
  Day 1: 1   02-06   Total:   1  02-06
117. Garrett Warren – Jake Peck                   Auburn University                   134
  Day 1: 1   02-05   Total:   1  02-05
118. Fisher Hill – Paris Mccullers                Murray State College                133
  Day 1: 1   02-04   Total:   1  02-04
119. Jacob Silver –                               Western Carolina University         132
  Day 1: 1   02-03   Total:   1  02-03
120. Clayton Easter – Trevor Easter               Tarleton State University           131
  Day 1: 1   02-02   Total:   1  02-02
121. Tyson Verkaik – Carson Kamien                University of Florida               130
  Day 1: 1   02-01   Total:   1  02-01
122. Jordan Pennington – Andrew Oswalt            University of Montevallo            129
  Day 1: 1   02-00   Total:   1  02-00
123. Corey Morris – Brayden Mercer                East Texas Baptist University       128
  Day 1: 1   01-14   Total:   1  01-14
124. Logan Plueger – Charlie Wright               University of Montevallo            127
  Day 1: 1   01-11   Total:   1  01-11
125. Wes Bailey – Lake Norsworthy                 Blue Mountain Christian Universi      0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Cal Culpepper – Ryan Thomas                  University of Montevallo              0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Mitch Johnson – Gunner Whitaker              Kentucky Christian University         0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Braydon Kelley – Trey McMeen                 East Texas Baptist University         0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Giancarlo Russo –                            Florida Gateway College               0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Myles Steward – Trey Zagrzebski              University of Wisconsin-Stevens       0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Zachary Verbrugge –                          Mohave Community College              0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        60       459      1290-14
———————————-
          60       459      1290-14

Water level could shuffle the deck during Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Champlain

Brian Carter
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0
Water level could shuffle the deck during Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Champlain

Plattsburgh, N.Y., will host the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain August 17-20.

Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.

August 10, 2023

Water level could shuffle the deck during Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Champlain

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The formula is usually pretty clear, but Elite Series pro Bryan Schmitt believes recent meteorological events could play a role in at least influencing, if not determining, the outcome of the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain.

Competition days will be Aug. 17-20 with daily takeoffs from Plattsburgh City Marina at 7 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day back at the marina at 3 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

One of the most picturesque fisheries the Elites visit, this 435-square-mile natural lake straddling the New York/Vermont border delights anglers with the bass fishing trifecta — diversity, quantity and quality. In a sentence, Lake Champlain abounds with big numbers of largemouth and smallmouth bass, many of which bulge with day-making dimensions.

“That’s what I think is so cool about Champlain,” said Schmitt, the Maryland native who won the last Elite event on Champlain in 2021, as well as a 2016 Bassmaster Open there. “There are some lakes you go to that have both species, but the history is that, if you want to win, you gotta target (one or the other).

“I feel certain there is winning potential with both species. You could win with just one.”

As Schmitt notes, summer events tend to favor the smallies, and with the rapid developments in forward-facing sonar technology, the search has become increasingly time efficient. While largemouth like to park, smallmouth can be more mobile. So, casting to specific fish with drop shots, Ned rigs, jerkbaits, etc., watching their reactions in real time and then making the appropriate adjustments sharpens the game.

“Offshore areas with a grass and rock mix will play for smallmouth,” Schmitt said. “Also, I think your traditional points and isolated boulders are usually the deal.”

Along with the smallmouth parade, just about every Champlain tournament sees largemouth make a strong showing. This year, Schmitt believes the lake’s water level could open the door for even greater green-fish impact.

In early July, a slow-moving rain event dropped a massive volume of water on the Champlain Valley and had the lake flirting with flood stage. Two weeks before the tournament’s start date, Champlain stood about 3 feet above its normal summertime level.

“That’s a humongous amount of water for that lake and, typically, that helps out the largemouth dramatically,” Schmitt said. “You get all of this shoreline cover that now has plenty of water under it. Like cattails, reeds, pads — anything on the bank that normally doesn’t have any (significant amount of) water during the summertime.

“Champlain (previously) had a long streak of lower water, and I believe a lot of vegetation has grown up and it now has water on it.”

Schmitt said flipping cover with jigs and Texas-rigged worms and creature baits, frogging, skipping docks and throwing topwater walkers and buzzbaits will put largemouth in the boat. Mornings, he said, usually produce the better reaction bites, as largemouth like to tuck into and under cover during the heat of the day.

One specific variable the water level could influence involves the area colloquially known as “Ti” — the narrowing lower lake region near Fort Ticonderoga. With vast fields of shallow vegetation and shoreline cover, Ti fishes more like a Southern largemouth fishery, where frogs, flipping and swim jigs can introduce you to a real Champlain lake monster (look up the legend of “Champ”).

“So, that’s going to be the wild card,” Schmitt said of the Ti factor. “With all this higher water, it’s going to be like a cup of fresh life for Ticonderoga fishing. There are giant bags to be caught there, and it can be tricky when the water’s low. But with the water up, it could get interesting.”

Ultimately, Schmitt’s leaning more toward a smallmouth-heavy show. With popular areas in the midlake region and the Inland Sea sure to deliver brown-bass bonanzas, we’ll likely see the majority of the field resisting the lower lake’s siren song.

Moreover, even if Ti ignites, this potential gold mine carries significant liabilities. For one thing, this area is notoriously fickle, and once you commit to the nearly 70-mile run from Plattsburgh, that’s pretty much your day.

The other very real consideration involves the potential for rough water. Given Champlain’s north-south orientation, a wind blowing right down the pipe can turn this place into a washing machine.

“It’s a huge time gamble (in calm weather),” Schmitt said. “If it’s calm, you can make the run in about an hour, but you’ll usually have to stop for gas. If it gets snotty, it can end your day because you can’t get back.

“I’m kind of intrigued to see what could be down in Ti. Can it be won there? Yes and no — it’s a lot to ask for four days. A guy could do two or three days down there and be willing to leave it and do something else for a day or two.”

Whatever course anglers take, Schmitt said Champlain holds enough smallmouth to last four days, but a winning game plan will almost certainly comprise multiple spots. There will be many mixedbags of smallmouth and largemouth, and the daily big fish will likely be of the green variety.

Based on past events and current conditions, Schmitt’s looking for daily weights of 19 1/4 to 19 1/2 pounds to make the Top 10 cut for Championship Sunday. He expects a four-day total of 81 to 82 pounds to earn the blue trophy and the $100,000 top prize.

The Champlain event will be followed by the season finale for the Elite Series on the St. Lawrence River in Clayton, N.Y., Aug. 24-27. The final two events of the season will decide the winner of the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year title and the $100,000 first-place prize that goes with it.

Going into the Champlain event, South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb leads the race with 573 points. He is followed closely by Alabama pro Kyle Welcher with 572 points, Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet with 532, Florida’s John Cox with 532 and Georgia’s Drew Cook with 529.

The final two events will also decide the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year, which offers a $10,000 bonus to the winner. With two victories so far this season, Arkansas pro Joey Cifuentes III leads the race with 516 points, followed by Japan’s Kyoya Fujita with 491 and Alabama pro Will Davis Jr. with 460.

Bassmaster LIVE kicks off tournament coverage Thursday and Friday mornings at 8 a.m. ET on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports platforms, while FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament is being hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau. 

New Bassmaster College Series format creates opportunities for more anglers

Brian Carter
-
0
New Bassmaster College Series format creates opportunities for more anglers

August 10, 2023

New Bassmaster College Series format creates opportunities for more anglers

CollegeSeries_logo.png

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Officials have unveiled a new format for the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops beginning with the 2024 season. Under the new format, which helps meet the booming demand for college teams to compete, there is more priority placed on the Bassmaster College Team of the Year standings to qualify for both the National Championship and the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s.

“Over the past few years, college fishing has surged in popularity, and, even with expanding our field size, B.A.S.S. had a massive waiting list of more than 460 teams that wanted to compete in our 2023 College Series events,” said Glenn Cale, tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior Series. “This new format opens avenues for more teams to compete while also prioritizing a team’s overall body of work throughout the season and rewarding a strong National Championship showing.”

Beginning in 2024, the Bassmaster College Series will have two divisions, each with three tournaments, rather than the current four-tournament series. Each tournament will be capped at 250 teams, with the Top 25 teams from each event qualifying for the College Series National Championship.

Teams may only register for one division and will be competing against other teams in their division for valuable Team of the Year points. The Top 20 from each division’s TOY standings will qualify for the National Championship.

Unlike in years past, National Championship results will now factor into crowning a Bassmaster College Team of the Year, with each division’s Top 20 teams vying for the title.

Alongside the Top 20 anglers in each division and tournament qualifiers, the National Championship event will also include up to two qualifiers from each state’s B.A.S.S. Nation College circuit.

The Top 3 teams in the overall Bassmaster College Team of the Year standings — regardless of division — and the National Champions will advance to the College Classic Bracket to compete head-to-head in bracket-style competition for a berth in the iconic Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota. The 2022 College Classic Bracket champion Louis Monetti, part of the UNC Charlotte Team of the Year, became just the third college qualifier in history to make the Championship Sunday cut at the Bassmaster Classic earlier this year, finishing 23rd.

The tournament schedule and registration dates for the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops are set to be released later this summer.

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