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Tuesday, December 16, 2025
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Perfect Power For Today’s Fishing Electronics 

Brian Carter
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Perfect Power For Today’s Fishing Electronics 
Perfect Power For Today’s Fishing Electronics 
Norsk Lithium® offers solutions for simple to ultra-complex fishing electronics installations   
New Hope, Minn. (September 10, 2025) – Today’s anglers have a wealth of fishing technology available at their fingertips, including forward-facing sonar, which has become a mainstream tool for putting more fish topside. Many avid anglers are outfitting their boats to professional specifications with this available technology, which raises questions of the best way to power all of it for the best, brightest, and cleanest images possible, as well as the longest runtime at optimal voltage.  But Norsk Lithium® also recognizes there are still anglers who haven’t made the leap and they have electronics power needs, too. Some anglers will tell you they don’t need all the bells and whistles to catch fish and essential technologies like sonar and mapping work just fine.   So, whether you’re running numerous large screens on your boat with all the latest and greatest – or a scaled back install with a graph or two – Norsk Lithium has the perfect power solution for you.  First, the benefits of rigging Norsk Lithium are many. They’re half the weight; provide twice the power; last four times longer; and charge five times faster than lead acid batteries. Norsk Lithium also offers a comprehensive 10-year, non-prorated warranty on all marine batteries. Register your battery through the Guardian™ app and receive an extra two years’ coverage.  Norsk Lithium batteries’ extended feature set also includes many industry-only benefits our users have come to know and love – features insisted upon by our designers who are also serious anglers and know the real rigors of hardcore fishing.  
BLUETOOTH®/GUARDIAN™ APP Integrated into every Norsk Lithium Marine Battery is the Norsk Guardian™ Advanced Battery Management System. This advanced BMS provides a Bluetooth® connection to the Norsk Guardian App which is your direct connection to the life, health and the status of your batteries.  
DEEP SLEEP™ Disconnect power to your marine lithium battery terminals using this feature in the Norsk Guardian™ app to eliminate fully discharged batteries caused by phantom draw. You can also wake a battery from Deep Sleep™ mode effortlessly with a quick press of the One-Touch Power Management Button on top or the battery.  Allows the owner to shut down the battery for long or short-term battery storage Eliminates phantom current draw and prevents deeply-discharged batteries Preserves the power in the cells Avoids cell damage caused by accidental over-discharge 
ONE-TOUCH POWER MANAGEMENT BUTTON The Power Management button found on all Norsk Lithium marine batteries allows the user to quickly check State of Charge and manage advanced features such as Deep Sleep™ or Activate Emergency Start Reserve (ESR) on our industry-leading line of starting batteries.  
HEATED OPTIONS Norsk Lithium’s Thermal Core Heating Technology™ changes the game for anglers facing cold weather and charging situations. Charging your LiFePO4 lithium batteries in freezing temperatures might seem like part of your normal trip prep, but it’s detrimental to the battery’s health. Those cold temps can interfere with the cells, causing harm and shortening your battery’s lifespan. That’s why you need a battery that can accept a charge in even the coldest temperatures.  
BCI-COMPLIANT CASES Unlike so many other companies, Norsk Lithium doesn’t play games with the dimensions of its batteries. All Norsk Lithium batteries adhere to BCI specifications, eliminating the need for oversized, proprietary, expensive battery trays and difficult installations.  BATTERIES TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR ELECTRONICS If you’re part of the crowd fishing with forward-facing sonar with a black box module, Norsk Lithium has the perfect solution in the 36+28V 60Ah dual voltage model. Looking for a battery to power the multiple screens in your boat that display your forward-facing sonar and other technologies? Take a closer look at the line of 16V batteries in sizes ranging from 75Ah to 135Ah. Running a less complicated electronics system? Consider Norsk Lithium’s standard 12V deep cycle batteries with sizes ranging from 105Ah to 120Ah. No matter what your electronic set up is Norsk Lithium has a solution for you. Let’s take a closer look at each of these options. 
36V+28V 60Ah Dual Voltage Battery While the 36V 60Ah Dual Voltage is designed to power 36V trolling motor systems, it also has another trick up its sleeve, high voltage for FFS. The secondary 28V terminals on this battery deliver clean, consistent power, perfect for forward-facing sonar modules commonly referred to as the black box. This innovative design helps your sonar modules run cooler and provides longer runtimes compare to a 12V power source, ensuring you’ll maximize the performance of your investment in forward-facing sonar. Best of all, the 36V+28V 60Ah battery eliminates the need for complex wiring, regulators, or cut-off switches. 2 models available in both Heated and Non-Heated options Designed to power 36V trolling motor setups on the Primary Terminals (36V) Provides maximum thrust and power with a consistent voltage output until they are fully discharged, unlike lead-acid batteries which experience a voltage drop as they discharge 3-in-1 battery solution Charging is done on the primary set of terminals. Secondary set of terminals provides 28V for powering the “black box” of forward-facing sonar. Helps your sonar module run cooler and provides longer run-times compared to a 12V power source Two 36V 60Ah batteries can be wired in parallel to increase capacity to 120Ah while staying at 36 volts Batteries feature Bluetooth®, Deep Sleep™ Technology and a One Touch Power Management Button with built-in state of charge meter with 4 bright LEDs. Designed using lithium iron phosphate or LiFePO4 chemistry BCI Compliant Case: Group 31 Batteries come complete with M8 & M5 standard and double-post hardware 
16V 135 Ah / 75Ah MAX RT Batteries Looking to maximize the performance of multiple graph screens on your boat?  Meeting the demand of high-power draw digital units, Norsk Lithium MAX RT users can expect up to a 20% increase in runtime and lower amperage versus 12V batteries. Norsk Lithium 16V MAX RT batteries are a single-battery solution that provide all-day runtimes for large sonar screens displaying forward-facing sonar returns.  6 models available in both Heated and Non Heated options (75Ah, 105Ah & 135Ah) Max RT – Maximum runtime for a 20% increased runtime over 12v batteries Designed for powering marine electronics efficiently with clean, dedicated 16V power Meets the demand of high-power draw digital units Batteries feature Bluetooth, Deep Sleep™ Technology and a One Touch Power Management Button with built-in state of charge meter with 4 bright LEDs. Designed using lithium iron phosphate or LiFePO4 chemistry BCI Compliant Cases: Group 27 (75Ah) Group 31 (105Ah & 135Ah) Batteries come complete with M8 standard and double-post hardware 
12V 105Ah / 120Ah Standard Deep Cycle Batteries Looking to power a simple boat installation with only a couple of sonar units, lights and other boat accessories? This is the battery for you. It has a proven track record and can be used endless ways to provide long-lasting, clean, and reliable power.  4 models available in both Heated and Non Heated options (105Ah & 120Ah) Can be used in a variety of applications including Electronics or Trolling, but not intended for starting 12V Batteries feature Bluetooth, Deep Sleep™ Technology and a One Touch Power Management Button with built-in state of charge meter with 4 bright LEDs Rated for 4,000 charge cycles which translates into about 15 to 20 years of dependable performance! Designed using lithium iron phosphate or LiFePO4 chemistry BCI Compliant Case: Group 27 Batteries come complete with M8 standard and double-post hardware 
Tight on Installation Space? Many boat owners are installing a dedicated 14.8V 50Ah Portable Sonar Battery in the boat to power their electronics. This model is popular with kayak anglers but is also perfect for smaller boat setups.  
Problem-Solving Accessories Of course, a fail-proof charger is also recommended to work with any of the batteries listed above. The solution? Norsk Lithium’s EVO-TEC™ 3 BANK (12-12V/16V-36V) ON-BOARD CHARGER, which offers a ton of features designed specifically around Norsk Lithium battery features and needs. Selectable Chemistry* (First Bank): Lead Acid, AGM, Lithium (perfect for boat owners wanting to keep their lead acid starting battery) Switchable Voltage (12V/16V) (Second Bank) 36V (Third Bank) Norsk also offers DC to DC Chargers in both 12V and 16V, each with 15 Amp operation, which allow you to charge one battery off another and select when to charge with accessory switch or hook up to charge automatically anytime the outboard is running. They are engineered with advanced 2-stage CC/CV charging technology, with operation of the charger controlled via the yellow ACC wire.  





Oxford, Alabama Announced as Venue for Major League Fishing’s Fishing Clash Team Series Patriot Cup 

Brian Carter
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Oxford, Alabama Announced as Venue for Major League Fishing’s Fishing Clash Team Series Patriot Cup 

OXFORD, Ala. (Sept. 10, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Oxford, Alabama, will be the location for the third event of the 2025 Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops season – the Patriot Cup, Wednesday, Oct. 22, through Monday, Oct. 27.

The Fishing Clash Team Series Patriot Cup is hosted by the City of Oxford and will take place over six days. In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols all fishable waters within 60 miles of Oxford, Alabama, are now off limits to competing anglers.  The competition waters for each day are top-secret and only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. The MLFNOW!® live broadcast begins on the water at 9 a.m. CT.

The Fishing Clash Team Series features four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – each showcasing 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money.

All six days of competition will be available to watch live on MLFNOW!®, offering fans a front-row seat to every hookset, decision and adjustment as teams explore new fisheries and adapt in real time. The final period of each day of competition will be broadcast live from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT on RFD-TV, and each event will also be featured in a series of six original, two-hour episodes set to premiere on Outdoor Channel in the first quarter of 2026.

The 12 teams that will compete in the Patriot Cup in Oxford, Alabama, Oct. 22-27 are:

Team 7Brew:
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala.

Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Alton Jones Sr., Lorena, Texas

Team BUBBA:
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.

Team Ferguson:
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Team Fishing Clash:
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.

Team Knighten:
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn.

Team Kubota:
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La.
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.

Team Lucas Oil:
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.

Team O’Reilly Auto Parts:
Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.

Team Smokey Mountain:
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.

Team Star brite:
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas

Team YETI:
Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Fans can follow the action live on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps and Rumble, with hosts Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney breaking down every minute of competition on MLFNOW!®.





B.A.S.S. announces 2026 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens schedule, Live Sonar rule change and EQ qualifications updates

Brian Carter
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B.A.S.S. announces 2026 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens schedule, Live Sonar rule change and EQ qualifications updates

Sept. 10, 2025

B.A.S.S. announces 2026 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens schedule, Live Sonar rule change and EQ qualifications updates

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials today unveiled the schedule for the 2026 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, eight tournaments spread across two divisions that will challenge anglers on some of the country’s most iconic fisheries.

The Opens have long served as a proving ground for aspiring pros, and in 2026, the trail will once again deliver a diverse slate of fisheries, from Florida grass lakes to Northern smallmouth waters. As always, the stakes are high — the Opens offers competitors a pathway to qualify for the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier Series (EQs) presented by Bass Pro Shops and ultimately the upper echelon of tournament bass fishing: the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.

Division 1 Schedule
• Jan. 29-31 — Kissimmee Chain (Kissimmee, Fla.)
• Apr. 1-3 — Lake Eufaula (Eufaula, Ala.)*
• Apr. 30-May 2 — Lake Norman (Charlotte, N.C.)
• Aug. 20-22 — Lake Erie (Buffalo, N.Y.)*

Division 2 Schedule
• Feb. 19-21 — Sam Rayburn Reservoir (Jasper, Texas)*
• Apr. 23-25 — Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees (Grove, Okla.)
• May 20-22 — Pickwick Lake (Counce, Tenn.)*
• June 18-20 — Upper Mississippi River (La Crosse, Wis.)

*Forward-facing live sonar will be permitted at these events.

To balance traditional techniques with technology innovation, B.A.S.S. announced several competition updates for 2026. Forward-facing live sonar (FFS) will be limited to two tournaments in each division. B.A.S.S. elected to rotate usage by starting one division with FFS and the other without, alternating each event from there. FFS will be allowed on Lake Eufaula and Lake Erie in Division 1 and Sam Rayburn Reservoir and Pickwick Lake in Division 2.

“Year after year, the Bassmaster Opens provide some of the most exciting and diverse competition in bass fishing,” said Chase Anderson, B.A.S.S. CEO. “With legendary stops like Sam Rayburn and Lake Erie alongside other diverse venues, this schedule ensures our anglers — and fans — will see a mix of techniques and fisheries in 2026.”

In recent years, Opens champions have gone on to make their mark on the Elite Series and the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. Easton Fothergill is the ultimate example. The young Minnesota pro won two Opens events in 2024, qualified for the Elite Series and then won the 2025 Bassmaster Classic. The 2026 slate offers anglers the same opportunity to prove their skills and take the next step in their careers.

Entries and payouts will remain consistent with 2025. However, new incentives raise the stakes: the Anglers of the Year (AOY) from each division’s St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN Divisional Angler of the Year standings and the overall Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year will earn berths into the EQs at no cost. In addition to qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic, if an angler enters all four tournaments in a division and wins one, they will also earn a guaranteed berth into the EQs.

Another important change: anglers who enter only a single event will not receive any AOY points. Only full-division participants will earn points toward the 2026 Bassmaster Opens Divisional Angler of the Year races.

There are also updates to the qualifications to the EQs. Anglers who fish all eight Opens will earn overall AOY points, with the Top 35 in those rankings receiving automatic bids to the EQs. Beyond that, the Top 50 by AOY points in each division (not including anglers who qualified through overall AOY points) will also advance, creating more paths for aspiring pros to chase Elite Series dreams.

Registration for the 2026 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN will open November 4. Details will be available on Bassmaster.com.

The Opens are covered across all B.A.S.S. digital, print and social platforms, and six events will be broadcast live on Bassmaster.com, the Bassmaster Channel on Roku and Roku Sports Channel reaching millions of fans worldwide.





Jimmy Roughton & Wilber Westbeck Win CATT SENC Spring Final Aug 16-17, 2026 Cape Fear River, NC 29.06 lbs

Brian Carter
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Jimmy Roughton & Wilber Westbeck Win CATT SENC Spring Final Aug 16-17, 2026 Cape Fear River, NC 29.06 lbs

2026 CATT SENC Spring Schedule is Posted! Come join us and win BIG! Thanks for fishing with us in 2025!

Tap on the camo t-shirt and begin shopping at Phantom Outdoor for top-notch apparel! Use PHANTOMCATT15 at checkout and earn 15% off your order!

Jimmy Roughton- Wilber Westbeck won the SEWCN Final with a 2-day total of 29.06 lbs worth $1,825.00!

Tremain Newton & Jeremy Ives 2nd with 28.82 lbs!

Michael McDonald 3rd with 26.61 lbs!

Mitch Garner & Jody Sykes were the 2025 SENC Spring Point Winners!

Day 1Day 2
TeamBFWeightWeightTotalWinnings
Jimmy Roughton- Wilber Westbeck3.8615.5313.5329.06$1,825.00
Jeremy Ives – Tremain Newton6.0120.028.8128.82$1,180.00
Michael McDonald4.0911.8014.8126.61$300.00
Kris Rabon – Nate Nobles2.9314.2711.6225.89
Chris Prosser – Seth Smith0.0016.169.4025.56
Mitch Garner – Jody Sykes3.5211.7911.5223.31
Jessie Strickland –  Jack Mady0.0012.5610.5723.13
Norman Mullinax – Robby Norvill0.0013.357.2720.62
Chris Hall – Jeremy Byrd0.005.229.4914.71
Mark Lamb – Rob Griswold0.0011.030.0011.03
Kristofer R Corbett – Jason Clark0.008.070.008.07
Larry Thomas – Dennis King0.000.000.000.00
Jerry Taylor – James Gibbons0.000.000.000.00
Joe Sholer – Ray Hunter0.000.000.000.00





Flipping Thick Grass for Bass!

Brian Carter
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Flipping Thick Grass for Bass!
As summer progresses and water levels drop, many lakes develop vast fields of matted vegetation. Sunlight and heat encourage hydrilla, milfoil, and other aquatic plants to grow thick and dense, creating floating mats on the surface. Beneath these mats lies a labyrinth of tunnels and shaded pockets where baitfish and bluegill often take cover. Bass are drawn into these areas to hunt, using the heavy grass as both ambush cover and protection from the sun. For anglers, this means some of the best late summer shallow-water opportunities can be found right in the thick of the weeds. Learning to approach these mats can consistently put you on bigger fish during an otherwise tough season. The unique canopy formed by grass creates a cooler microenvironment, giving bass a comfortable place to wait out the hottest parts of the day. These mats of grass also concentrate their food sources, which means hungry fish don’t have to travel far to feed. Anglers who overlook these key areas often miss out, assuming the thick cover is simply too intimidating to fish effectively. Once you understand how bass use these mats, they transform from an obstacle into a reliable fishing target. Embracing this seasonal pattern can turn late summer into one of the most rewarding times to be on the water.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility when flipping matted grass. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures the beetle remains enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection, but year-round action you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as our Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or the 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting, durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction underwater! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect year-round in any weather condition!
Fishing in matted grass isn’t the right place for light tackle. It’s all about strength and control. Using a stronger heavy-power rod with a fast tip gives you the backbone to drive hooks home and the leverage to pull bass out of the dense vegetation. Strong braided line is equally important, as it cuts through stalks and stems where other lines would fail. The combination of a powerful rod and line ensures that once a bass bites, you can bring it out of cover without the risk of breaking off. Anglers who try to finesse their way through heavy mats often lose fish or waste time freeing snagged gear. Proper equipment is the foundation of success when targeting bass buried in shallow grass beds. Heavy gear also helps you maintain accuracy when flipping or pitching into small openings in the grass. The additional power allows anglers to set the hook quickly before the fish buries itself deeper into cover. Without the right setup, even a big bite can end in frustration as the fish tangles you in weeds. Using strong equipment not only increases landing percentages but also gives you confidence to fish these areas aggressively. Having confidence in your gear translates directly into better decision-making and more productive time on the water.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, and the Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action that triggers strikes!
Breaking through the mats requires a compact yet heavy presentation. Oversized soft plastics such as beetles, cray-styled baits, lizards, insect larva, and worms can be rigged with weights from three-quarters to over one ounce to punch through dense grass. A Texas-style rig with a streamlined sinker often slips into tight spots more easily, while a heavier jig setup can be effective for triggering aggressive bites. The key is to use enough weight to consistently penetrate the mat and reach the strike zone below. Once the bait is in the water column under the grass, its natural fall and those smaller movements can draw immediate strikes. Choosing the right rig style and weight makes all the difference when fishing in these demanding conditions. Another factor is the profile because more compact baits slide through vegetation more cleanly, while bulkier ones can create extra commotion that draws attention. Anglers should also experiment with color, as darker shades often stand out in the low-light conditions beneath the mats. Smaller movements like shaking or yanking the bait can trigger strikes from less aggressive fish. A well-presented soft plastic can mimic natural prey such as bluegill or crawfish, making it irresistible to bass hiding below. By fine-tuning weight, bait profile, and action, anglers can maximize their success in even the thickest cover.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fast, we’ve recently just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost, and 10w30 Synthetic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater.
Not all sections of a grass flat hold bass, so anglers should focus on areas with subtle differences. Points, inside turns, ditches, and changes in depth often attract fish because they funnel bait or provide ambush positions. Grass that grows taller or has gaps between different patches is also worth extra attention. These irregularities may look minor on the surface but often signal prime feeding areas beneath. Once a bass is caught in one of these spots, it’s really common to find several more close by. Fishing with precision around irregular features greatly improves your chances compared to randomly punching mats. Bass often use these smaller types of transitions like highways, moving along them to feed or shift with changing conditions. Paying close attention to wind direction can also help, since it pushes bait into specific edges or corners of the grass. Even slight depth changes of just a foot or two can concentrate fish in otherwise uniform flats. Anglers who learn to slow down and thoroughly work these spots often uncover schools that others pass by. Treat every little irregular feature as a high-percentage zone, and you’ll quickly turn scattered cover into reliable fishing opportunities.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Each is scented for complete and total attraction underwater, along with being made in the USA by real fishermen. We recently restocked the HellaMite Pro Pack, which is loaded with 60 baits in all six proven colors, plus three Owner Block Head Ned Jigs and a handy storage bag. This kit has everything you need to stay rigged and ready year-round. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. We’ve also restocked our Green Pumpkin and Smoke Purple HellaMite. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to its superior performance and versatility.
Of the common aquatic plants, hydrilla tends to be the most productive for late summer flipping. Its pyramid-like growth creates large canopies with open water beneath, making it ideal for bass to hide and hunt. Even a few strands visible on the surface may indicate a much larger bed extending below. Hydrilla also supports strong ecosystems, holding baitfish and bluegill that bass feed on throughout the season. Anglers who can locate tall, healthy hydrilla often find consistent action compared to other vegetation types. Targeting this plant specifically can maximize results when fishing shallow mats. Because hydrilla grows so densely, it creates shaded areas where bass feel secure even in bright sunlight. These thick mats also offer consistent oxygen levels, which is especially important in hot weather when other vegetation may decline. The structure of hydrilla can funnel baitfish into pockets and edges, giving bass perfect ambush points. Recognizing the hydrilla patches and learning how to work through them is a major advantage for anglers. Once it’s mastered, the hydrilla becomes one of the most reliable types of vegetation for consistently producing quality bass in late summer months.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! Our popular Watermelon Red Worms have been restocked as well. You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electric Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also Restocked 6-inch Worms, including Watermelon Red, Green Pumpkin, Black & Blue, Fire TGR, Wild Berries, Bone, 10w30 Synthetic, Zombie Blood, and Chocolate MNT! — all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater.
Bass behavior shifts with the time of day, even within the same grass bed. During bright daylight hours, the fish often burrow deeper into the thick mats to stay cool and shaded, making these punching presentations most effective. Early mornings and evenings, however, see bass move toward the edges or over submerged grass in search of easier prey. Recognizing these shifts allows anglers to adapt and cover water more effectively. You might flip heavy mats under the sun, then switch to working the outer edges with a lighter presentation at low light. Matching your approach to these daily patterns can double or even triple your success. Anglers should also consider seasonal changes, since cooler fall weather can extend the edge bite later into the day. Wind plays a role as well, pushing bait toward certain sections of grass and concentrating fish activity. On calmer, sunny days, bass are more likely to bury in the cover, while cloud cover often keeps them roaming closer to the edges. Varying your lure selection between heavy-weighted rigs and smaller soft plastics helps match these shifts. By paying close attention to both time of day and conditions, anglers can stay one step ahead of the fish and maximize their catches in September.Introducing the Newest 8-Inch MagDingo Worms! These are the ultimate game-changer in bass fishing! Engineered for anglers who know SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a fixation for the larger bait. The MagDingo Worm boasts a solid 8-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. The 10-count packs are now available in a variety of 6 crucial colors, including the 10w30 Synthetic, Black & Blue, Zombie Blood, Green Pumpkin, Wild Cherry, and Watermelon Red. Each worm is made in the USA from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for maximum attraction, the 8-inch MagDingo Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing trophy-sized smallmouth and largemouth bass.
Getting the bait through the mat is just the first step. It’s how you present it that makes all the difference. Many strikes occur as the lure drops straight down, so always let it fall freely on slack line. If fish are less aggressive, working the bait in the open pockets or shaking it along the bottom can trigger reaction bites. When bass are feeding on bluegill or shad higher in the column, lifting the bait up to the underside of the mat and gently jiggling it in place can be deadly. Bites are often small, felt only as the bait becomes slightly lighter or heavier than expected. Training yourself to recognize these small signals ensures you don’t miss opportunities hidden beneath the grass. Patience is critical because bass in heavy cover often need repeated presentations before committing to strike. Making small adjustments in cadence, such as pausing longer on the bottom or shaking the bait more aggressively, can make a big difference. Changing angles by pitching to the same spot from a slightly different direction may also trigger inactive fish. The more precisely you can control the bait’s fall and movement, the more natural it appears to bass watching from below. Developing more confidence in these types of techniques separates average mat fishermen from those who consistently land bigger fish.We just restocked a wide variety of terminal tackle, but when it comes to flipping in matted grass, the 4x Jungle Flippin Hook works perfectly, and it’s actually designed for big fish held in the toughest conditions. The Haymaker EWG Worm Hooks are also a really solid match for flipping matted grass. Featuring an extra-wide gap for various soft plastics, a Z-lock shoulder bend for secure bait placement, and an angled-up super needle point for fast, powerful hooksets. We also offer popular All Purpose Hooks that are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The WEEDLESS Block Head Jig features high-quality construction that helps increase your hook-up ratios and keep your bait clean from snagging rocks or vegetation. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig, which has an attached weight that saves you precious time when fishing cover. The Mosquito Hooks are a favorite when it comes to dropshotting, and they perfectly accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. We also recently released Nako Tungsten Tear Drop Shot Weights, crafted from 97% eco-friendly tungsten for stealth, durability, and vibration, with easy-to-read size stamps and a crimped swivel for quick changes. For creature-styled baits, a more popular choice to use is the Stand-Up Jig because it holds the bait upright in a defensive stance! The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward-facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action that triggers bites. We also just released Keep’em Fresh Bait Bags! These bags are the ultimate solution for anglers who need their gear to perform. Built like a tank, this bag is 20x stronger than regular zip bags and offers 100% waterproof protection with a rock-solid double zipper seal. Whether it’s for soft plastics, snacks, or your smartphone, this reusable and versatile bag keeps everything safe from water, mud, and grime. It’s lightweight yet spacious, it fits snugly in your tackle box or backpack, making it perfect for your next trip. 





Kimball’s Mandel Tops off ‘Amazing’ Week with Fourth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River

Brian Carter
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Kimball’s Mandel Tops off ‘Amazing’ Week with Fourth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River
Boater winner Nolan Mandel of Kimball, Michigan, and co-angler winner Scott Lutz of Bremen, Indiana.
Indiana’s Lutz Takes Co-Angler Division

TRENTON, Mich. (Sept. 8, 2025) – Boater Nolan Mandel of Kimball, Michigan, caught a total of 10 bass weighing 47 pounds, 5 ounces, over two days to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Detroit River Presented by Lew’s . The tournament was the fifth and final regular-season event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Mandel earned $12,370, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix Bonus for his victory.

Mandel’s win came just a few short days after his wife gave birth Tuesday, and his priorities quickly changed from fishing to family.

“I only got about two hours of practice for this tournament because my wife just had a baby, and we’ve been at the hospital,” Mandel said. “I didn’t even know if I could catch 15 pounds. When I left the boat ramp, I had no idea where I was even going to fish. I just ran to St. Clair and decided to cover a lot of water and try to find fish.”

Mandel said grass on Lake St. Clair at this time of year begins to die off, and schools of perch will stay in the grass that is still alive, and smallmouth follow the perch. So, Mandel searched for big schools of perch in thick, healthy grass in 15 to 17 feet of water.

“The first day was amazing.” Mandel said. “I checked some spots they were on this time last year, and every spot I checked held a 5-pounder.”

The wind was a factor during the opening day of the tournament, so Mandel chose to fish the side of the lake that was protected by the wind. A drop-shot rig with a 3/8-ounce weight and a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Hit Worm proved to be effective Saturday.

Saturday’s successful spots for Mandel muddied up on Sunday, so he switched tactics to a small, 3/8-ounce Keitech jig with a Z-Man Finesse TRD trailer as well as a jighead minnow to provoke strikes. Although Mandel had a 3-pound lead heading into the final day of competition, Sunday did provide some tension for him.

“I broke two fish off and kept losing fish, and I started to kind of spiral out,” Mandel said. “I had a really good co-angler who had a good attitude and brought me back down, and I ended up catching enough fish to still win.”

Mandel also wrapped up the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with the win.

“This week was just sweet because of the circumstances,” Mandel added. “This is my favorite win I’ve had. It is just amazing.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Nolan Mandel, Kimball, Mich., 10 bass, 47-5, $12,370 (includes $7,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd:      Cody Kelley, Plainwell, Mich., 10 bass, 47-1, $2,635
3rd:       Noah Stauffer, Gowen, Mich., 10 bass, 43-3, $1,758
4th:        Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., 10 bass, 42-11, $1,230
5th:        Joshua Kolodzaike, Ypsilanti, Mich., 10 bass, 40-9, $1,054
6th:        Jesse Richardson, Ligonier, Ind., 10 bass, 40-4, $966
7th:        Ty Fain, Springfield, Ohio, 10 bass, 40-0, $878
8th:        Wilson Burton, Findlay, Ohio, 10 bass, 39-11, $790
9th:        Mike Trombley, Belleville, Mich., 10 bass, 38-5, $703
10th:     Julian Sweet, Flint, Mich., 10 bass, 37-14, $615

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Ralph Blasey of Pinckney, Michigan, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $675.



Scott Lutz of Bremen, Indiana, won the co-angler division and $2,635 Sunday, after bringing six bass to the scale that totaled 24 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Scott Lutz, Bremen, Ind., six bass, 24-1, $2,635
2nd:      Dennis Blakely, Norwalk, Ohio, six bass, 23-8, $1,367
3rd:       Terry Bucciarelli, Ypsilanti, Mich., six bass, 23-7, $980
4th:        J.D. Marcum, Catlettsburg, Ky., six bass, 22-9, $615
5th:        Daniel Dumais, Trenton, Mich., six bass, 22-3, $527
6th:        Justen Fain, Springfield, Ohio, six bass, 21-14, $483
7th:        Steve Ward, Trenton, Mich., six bass, 21-4, $439
8th:        Jacob Alltop, Lewistown, Ohio, six bass, 21-2, $395
9th:        Adam Suliman, Solon, Ohio, six bass, 20-12, $351
10th:     Caleb Edgerton, Dayton, Ohio, six bass, 20-1, $307

Scott Sims of Morgantown, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $337, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 7 ounces.

With all five events in the division now complete, boater Nolan Mandel of Kimball, Michigan, won the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 1,367 points and earned the $1,000 prize, while Brian Ruetz of Toledo, Ohio, won the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 1,299 points and earned the $500 payout.

The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.


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.





Digital Sportsman Launches Innovative Business Software for Guided Outdoor Adventure Companies

Brian Carter
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Digital Sportsman Launches Innovative Business Software for Guided Outdoor Adventure Companies

Platform Features Streamlined Booking Solutions, AI-Powered Business Tools and New Partner Program to Help Outdoor Professionals Build Their Business

Panama City, Fla. – (September 9, 2025) – Digital Sportsman has officially launched its powerful new online platform designed to help charter captains, fishing and hunting guides, and outdoor businesses in and around the water and  woods grow and operate more efficiently. Built in direct collaboration with guides themselves, the industry-first platform empowers outdoor adventure businesses of all sizes to maximize bookings, increase revenue and save valuable time while being supported by a veteran-owned, U.S.-based team.

“Our guides are the driving force behind our commitment to innovation, inspiring us to develop technology that helps them succeed in a competitive industry,” said Anthony Hamilton, CEO and founder of Digital Sportsman. “They told us they needed better tools to simplify bookings, cut down on back-office tasks and most importantly, keep more money in their pocket. We’re proud to provide a solution that meets those needs.”

The newly launched Digital Sportsman platform features:

·       Seamless Web Services: Digital Sportsman provides guides with website design and hosting services. Guides can also embed booking functionality directly into their existing websites in minutes and fully customize it to match their brand.

·       Business Management: Available on desktop or mobile, Digital Sportsman offers full functionality, such as a proprietary customizable booking calendar, unlike many competitors with limited mobile features.

·       AI-Powered Automations: Digital Sportsman leverages AI to reduce manual work by automating booking confirmations, reminders, receipts, and post-trip follow-ups, saving guides hours every month. Its AI-powered virtual assistant provides real-time business insights and enables guides to book clients through simple chat commands, instantly handling all details and scheduling. As a result, Digital Sportsman delivers one of the fastest and most efficient booking experiences in the industry.

·       GuideWaiver: A proprietary technology that revolutionizes the way businesses manage waivers, allowing them to create, send and track digital waivers seamlessly in real-time.

·       MarketingNav Tools: A suite of personalized marketing content, email campaigns, social media posts and automated messages designed to help guides engage with clients effectively and drive repeat bookings.

“I used to run everything the old-school way with paper notes, phone calls and a calendar on the wall,” said Captain Greg DeVault, a fourth-generation Florida fisherman and charter guide on Digital Sportsman. “Many guides, me included, are learning that technology doesn’t have to be complicated or impersonal. When designed right, it can take care of the busywork and free us up to focus on the experience we provide.”

In tandem with the launch of its new online platform, Digital Sportsman introduced its Partner Program to provide outfitters, retailers, property managers and other outdoor influencers the opportunity to monetize their networks. Those who join the free Partner Program receive a personalized brand page on the Digital Sportsman Marketplace to showcase their own curated selection of outdoor adventure experiences and earn commissions on net revenue through their referrals. Partners can also choose to donate proceeds back to guides or participating charities.

Building on its commitment to serve the guiding community, Digital Sportsman has established key partnerships with respected figures in fishing and outdoor adventure, including Danny Pruitt, host of The Livewell podcast and owner of Fish North Georgia Outfitters, who is also part of Digital Sportsman’s Partner Program. Captain Danny Allen, host of Beyond the Surface TV, is a featured guide on the platform and co-hosts “Local Waters,” a networking event designed to connect guides and introduce them to Digital Sportsman’s tools. Additionally, Leiza Fitzgerald, a seasoned angler and retired tournament professional, works with Digital Sportsman to expand its reach among women in the guiding community.

To celebrate the launch, Digital Sportsman is providing new guides with free web hosting on all paid plans, a complimentary website makeover, and automatic entry into a monthly drawing for free bait and ice for a year. Guides can request a demo or sign up at www.dspro.guide.





Murray’s Berger Claims Long-Awaited Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kentucky Lake

Brian Carter
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Murray’s Berger Claims Long-Awaited Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kentucky Lake
Boater winner Justin Berger of Murray, Kentucky, and co-angler winner Jeff Anderson of St. Louis, Missouri.
Missouri’s Anderson Takes Co-Angler Division

GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 8, 2025) – Boater Justin Berger of Murray, Kentucky, caught a total of 10 bass weighing 34 pounds, 9 ounces, over two days to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky Lake . The tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the fifth and final regular-season event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Berger earned $4,668 for his victory.

“I didn’t get to pre-fish for this event very much,” Berger said. “Work got in the way, and I only got to go out a few hours one morning and a few hours one evening. So really, I was going into the weekend just going on my past knowledge and experience.”

Berger said Saturday proved to be a grind, as he only had five bites all day.

“It was as tough of a day as you could get,” Berger said. “Luckily, I landed them all and there were a couple of decent ones.”

Berger said his gameplan for Sunday was “to go out and just have fun.” He stopped at a spot he had fished only a couple of times previously and ended up catching a limit on it first thing in the morning on a topwater bite.

“After that, I just started running and fishing whatever looked good and ended up culling up three times on a spinnerbait,” Berger said.

Berger said he caught 11 keepers Sunday, and only two weighed less than 3 pounds. Berger said when he caught his second 4 ½-pounder, his scale showed his limit weighed right at 20 pounds at 10:30 a.m.

“I looked at my co-angler and said, ‘We have a chance now,’” Berger said. “I thought I was going to have to catch one more 4-pounder to win it. I really didn’t think I had it won.”

After two previous second-place finishes on his home waters of Kentucky Lake in MLF competition, as well as other runner-up finishes in a few other large tournaments on the body of water, Berger said the win was a welcome relief.

“It’s one of those things where you don’t want to think you have it won, because you’ll get your heart broken,” Berger said. “I’ve lost the winning fish multiple times. I’ve been close quite a few times, and to finally win one is a monkey off my back. I am just completely pumped.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Justin Berger, Murray, Ky., 10 bass, 34-9, $4,668
2nd:      Brad Kell, Benton, Ky., 10 bass, 33-13, $2,334
3rd:       Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., 10 bass, 32-6, $1,557
4th:        Clint Knight, Russellville, Ky., 10 bass, 29-14, $1,189
5th:        Noah Morgan, Russellville, Ky., 10 bass, 28-4, $934
6th:        Grant Meisenhelter, Decatur, Ill., 10 bass, 27-2, $856
7th:        Matteo Turano, Puryear, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-12, $1,278 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
8th:        Gary Singleton, Dickson, Tenn., eight bass, 24-13, $700
9th:        Dustin Vaal, Farmington, Ky., eight bass, 24-1, $622
10th:     Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., nine bass, 21-13, $695

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Joshua Bradley of Buchanan, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $547.



Jeff Anderson of St. Louis, Missouri, won the co-angler division and $2,334 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of five bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Jeff Anderson, St. Louis, Mo., five bass, 13-1, $2,334
2nd:      Gary Huber II, St. Charles, Mo., five bass, 11-13, $1,167
3rd:       Anthony Tatroe, Braidwood, Ill., three bass, 9-14, $779
4th:        Brian Davis, Bethalto, Ill., four bass, 9-14, $545
5th:        Brady Kendall, Paducah, Ky., four bass, 9-13, $467
6th:        Brad Thacher, Murray, Ky., four bass, 9-7, $428
7th:        Matt Chumbler, Carbondale, Ill., four bass, 9-0, $439
8th:        Kenneth Heckel, Santa Claus, Ind., three bass, 7-3, $350
9th:        Luke Browning, Greenville, Ky., two bass, 6-0, $311
10th:     Ross Davis, St. Elmo, Ill., three bass, 5-5, $272

Thomas Duke of Pana, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $274, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 15 ounces.

With all five events in the division now complete, boater Riley Walk of Neoga, Illinois, won the Fishing Clash Illini Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 1,330 points and earned the $1,000 prize, while Bobby McNeil of Crest Hill, Illinois, won the Fishing Clash Illini Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 1,266 points and earned the $500 payout.

The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4 BFL Regional tournament on the Mississippi River in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.





Virginia’s Hawkins Slows Down for Big-Bite Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Potomac River

Brian Carter
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Virginia’s Hawkins Slows Down for Big-Bite Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Potomac River
Boater winner Rick Hawkins of Roanoke, Virginia, and co-angler winner James Roten of West Jefferson, North Carolina.
North Carolina’s Roten Claims Co-Angler Division

MARBURY, Md. (Sept. 8, 2025) – Boater Rick Hawkins of Roanoke, Virginia, caught a total of 10 bass weighing 33 pounds, 5 ounces, over two days to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Potomac River . The tournament, hosted by Charles County Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, was the fifth and final regular-season event of the season for the BFL Shenandoah Division. Hawkins earned $6,230 for his victory.

“I had decided I was going to slow down and jig fish and drop-shot fish and really pick the cover apart,” Hawkins said. “I did that and only got five bites Saturday and seven bites on Sunday. Most of the guys who were fishing grass were catching tons of fish, just not large fish. That was the difference. I was fishing for the large bite.”

Hawkins said his baits of choice were a Missile Baits jig in green pumpkin or black and blue, and an oxblood-colored Missile Baits Magic Worm. He focused his efforts on deeper banks and drop-offs north of Mattawoman Creek that featured wood, rock or grass or a combination of the three.

Hawkins said he didn’t have a bite until 10 o’clock on Sunday morning, but his first bass checked in at 5 pounds.

“I thought, ‘Well, that’s a good start,’” Hawkins said. “And about every hour I would get another bite. And each fish I caught was fairly large. I didn’t catch them on the same spot; I just pounded away and kept switching banks. When I caught my fourth fish, I knew I had a chance to win. I needed just one more bite.”

Hawkins said he managed two more bites, resulting in a cull and the win.

“The Potomac River has been somewhat of a thorn in my side for quite some time,” Hawkins said. “When I was younger, I won a lot of tournaments on the Potomac, and now I’m getting a little further along in age. I wondered when (the Potomac) was going to give me a little bit of something again, and it finally did.

“I’m shocked, really, that it actually happened,” Hawkins added. “I thought when I was getting the quality bites I could have a chance. That’s the difference on the Potomac – the bigger bite. You either need a kicker fish or a good average. Well, I kind of had two kickers, and everything else was kind of large, too.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Rick Hawkins, Roanoke, Va., 10 bass, 33-5, $6,230
2nd:      Broderick Luckey, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 30-3, $3,215
3rd:       Tom Bateman, Welcome, Md., 10 bass, 29-13, $2,577
4th:        Andrew George, Poplar Branch, N.C., 10 bass, 29-9, $1,954 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
5th:        Richard Hodges Jr, Camden, N.C., 10 bass, 29-1, $1,246
6th:        Jackson Pleasant, Four Oaks, N.C., 10 bass, 28-8, $1,142
7th:        Brandon Miskell, Vienna, Va., 10 bass, 27-14, $1,038
8th:        Aaron Dixon, Bel Alton, Md., 10 bass, 27-0, $934
9th:        Thomas Milton, Chester, Va., 10 bass, 26-14, $831
10th:     Lenny Baird, Stafford, Va., 10 bass, 26-7, $727

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

James Maupin of Stanardsville, Virginia, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $855.



James Roten of West Jefferson, North Carolina, won the co-angler division and $3,115 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of six bass to the scale that totaled 18 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        James Roten, West Jefferson, N.C., six bass, 18-8, $3,115
2nd:      John Lambert, Fredericksburg, Va, six bass, 16-7, $1,557
3rd:       Nathan Routzahn, Myersville, Md., six bass, 16-4, $1,040
4th:        Akira Okuyama, Rego Park, N.Y., six bass, 15-14, $727
5th:        Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., six bass, 15-1, $623
6th:        Jeff Bender, Glenshaw, Pa., six bass, 14-8, $571
7th:        Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., six bass, 14-2, $519
8th:        Hampton Robinson, Bealeton, Va., six bass, 14-2, $467
9th:        Eric Nelson, Gainesville, Va., six bass, 14-2, $415
10th:     Zhengrong Tang, Berwyn, Pa., six bass, 14-1, $790

Zhengrong Tang of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $427, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 2 ounces.

With all five events in the division now complete, boater Broderick Luckey of Lynchburg, Virginia, won the Fishing Clash Shenandoah Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 1,309 points and earned the $1,000 prize, while Hampton Robinson of Bealeton, Virginia, won the Fishing Clash Shenandoah Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 1,251 points and earned the $500 payout.

The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-4 BFL Regional tournament on James River in Richmond, Virginia. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.





Miami’s Cook Picks Apart Banks for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Grand Lake

Brian Carter
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Miami’s Cook Picks Apart Banks for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Grand Lake
Boater winner Preston Cook of Miami, Oklahoma, and co-angler winner Thad Hewitt of Delaware, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma’s Hewitt Claims Co-Angler Division

GROVE, Okla. (Sept. 8, 2025) – Boater Preston Cook of Miami, Oklahoma, caught a total of 10 bass weighing 36 pounds, 3 ounces, over two days to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Grand Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament, hosted by the City of Grove, was the fifth and final regular-season event of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Cook earned $13,188 plus a $7,000 Phoenix Bonus for his victory.

“It was super slow,” said Cook, who has fished Grand Lake for the past 35 years. “It was tough to even get a limit. I was mixing in flipping docks with a Strike King Rage Bug, a Heddon Zara Spook or a small (River2Sea) Whopper Plopper.”

Cook said he also caught a big fish each day on a glidebait. His approach was to cruise down banks and target isolated brush piles and docks. The strategy provided five keepers Saturday and eight on Sunday.

“Sunday, between 1 and 1:45, I culled three times,” Cook said, adding the midday Spook bite was the key to his victory. “They finally started biting when the sun was high.

“This win is amazing,” Cook added. “I can’t even describe what I’m feeling. It hasn’t even really sunk in yet.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Preston Cook, Miami, Okla., 10 bass, 36-3, $13,188 (includes $7,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd:      Micah Littlejohn, Grove, Okla., 10 bass, 33-13, $3,094
3rd:       Lane Stephens, Owasso, Okla., 10 bass, 32-1, $2,062
4th:        Darrin Thomas, Kiefer, Okla., 10 bass, 31-13, $1,444
5th:        Curt Warren, Rose, Okla., 10 bass, 29-13, $1,238
6th:        Dillon Roberts, Oologah, Okla., 10 bass, 29-2, $1,134
7th:        Kyle Kitts, Joplin, Mo., 10 bass, 29-0, $1,031
8th:        Justin Barbour, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 28-15, $928
9th:        Doug Johnson, Grove, Okla., 10 bass, 28-10, $825
10th:     Jason Thompson, Galena, Kan., 10 bass, 28-2, $722

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Vance Montgomery of Claremore, Oklahoma, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $862.



Thad Hewitt of Delaware, Oklahoma, won the co-angler division and $3,344 Sunday, after bringing six bass to the scale that totaled 19 pounds, 6 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Thad Hewitt, Delaware, Okla., six bass, 19-6, $3,344
2nd:      Mitch Baskett, Yukon, Okla., six bass, 16-12, $1,547
3rd:       James West, Spiro, Okla., six bass, 14-15, $1,029
4th:        J.R. Foster, Miami, Okla., five bass, 14-12, $722
5th:        Jordan Clayton, Wichita Falls, Texas, six bass, 13-8, $619
6th:        Mark Taylor, Oklahoma City, Okla., six bass, 13-5, $567
7th:        Fred Fielder, Afton, Okla., four bass, 13-4, $566
8th:        Tad Harp, Cave Springs, Ark., five bass, 12-9, $464
9th:        Brian Radford, Bixby, Okla., six bass, 12-6, $413
10th:     Dalton Brake, Mountain View, Mo., five bass, 12-5, $361

Travis McKee of Fayetteville, Arkansas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $431, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 10 ounces.

With all five events in the division now complete, boater Nick Kincaid of Brookeland, Texas, won the Fishing Clash Okie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 1,336 points and earned the $1,000 prize, while James West of Spiro, Oklahoma, won the Fishing Clash Okie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 1,331 points and earned the $500 payout.

The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11 BFL Regional tournament on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, 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 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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





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