Search
Subscribe
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Home Blog Page 319

Jordan Lee Jumps to Early Lead at MLF General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles

Brian Carter
-
0
Jordan Lee Jumps to Early Lead at MLF General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles

Alabama Pro Scores a Five-Fish Limit Weighing 22 Pounds, 8 Ounces to Lead After Day 1 for Group A – Group B Begins Competition Sunday

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 24, 2023) – Berkley pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama weighed in 12 scorable smallmouth bass, with his best five totaling 22 pounds, 8 ounces to grab the early lead for Group A after Day 1 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles. Pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas sits 1 ounce behind Lee in second place for Group A with five scorable bass totaling 22-7. 

The six-day event, hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission, Macomb County and Lake St. Clair Metroparks, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

Link to HD Video – Fish-Catch Highlights of Group A Qualifying Round Day 1 on Lake St. Clair
Link to Photo Gallery of Group A’s Day 1 Qualifying Round Highlights

The 40 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition Sunday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Monday.

Lee started the day off with a bang, catching a 5-pound, 14-ounce smallmouth – the biggest fish of the day – in the first 10 minutes of competition to catapult into the early lead.

“I honestly expected to find a lot more schooling fish on this Canada side of Lake St. Clair, but that has not been the case,” said Lee. “I’ve basically just been practicing all day since we couldn’t fish over here during practice. I know it’s all about finding a good area, so I’ve been running around all over, bouncing here and there. The size of fish is just a little bit better over here, though, which is what I was hoping for.

“When you get around them, you catch some smaller ones, but they look healthy – they aren’t paper-thin,” Lee continued. “I also caught a couple bigger fish (today), which is key.”

Lee said his Lowrance ActiveTarget was critical to his success, and he caught his bass on several different baits, including a hair jig and drop-shot rig, a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General on a 3/8-ounce Ned Head and a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Lil’ General.  

“I’m not sure what to expect on Monday with the winds that are being forecast, but maybe the bite will be better,” said Lee. “I thought they would be a lot hungrier than they were because these fish haven’t seen a bait in a long time. The slick calm weather we’ve had today was great for being able to move around on the water, but it’s notorious for making fishing more difficult.  

“If we get a little wind on Monday, I think the bite will pick up,” Lee continued. “They just weren’t firing today, but I’ll definitely take it. Maybe I can learn a little something and just take it day by day. Winning the first day doesn’t really mean a lot in the grand scheme of the tournament, but it feels great to get off to a good start.”

The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Lake St. Clair are:

1st:           Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 22-8
2nd:          Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 22-7
3rd:          Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, five bass, 21-5
4th:           Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 20-12
5th:           Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 20-9
6th:           Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 20-9
7th:           Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 20-5
8th:           Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, five bass, 19-11
9th:           Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 19-6
10th:        David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 19-4
11th:        Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., five bass, 19-4
12th:        Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, five bass, 18-14
13th:        Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 18-12
14th:        Andy Morgan, Dayton Tenn., five bass, 18-12
15th:        Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 18-9
16th:        James Watson, Lampe, Mo., five bass, 18-4
17th:        Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 17-13
18th:        Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe, Fla., five bass, 17-12
19th:        Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 17-10
20th:        Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 17-10

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

Lee’s 5-pound, 14-ounce smallmouth in Period 1 was the biggest fish of the day, earning him the first $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award of the event. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Thursday’s Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers will launch each day at 7:20 a.m. ET from Lake St. Clair Metropark, located at 31300 Metro Parkway in Harrison Township. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Metropark, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

On Championship Thursday, June 29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate the top 10 and crown the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Champion at the Watch Party and Trophy Presentation. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles features anglers competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.  

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com  and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 4 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram and YouTube.

Erick Romero with is great catch

Brian Carter
-
0
Erick Romero with is great catch

Summer Time Frog Fishing for Beginners

Brian Carter
-
0
Summer Time Frog Fishing for Beginners

As an avid fisherman, nothing beats the thrill of reeling in a big bass on a frog lure. It’s the perfect combination of skill, patience and adrenaline that makes fishing such a rewarding hobby. ??

Here are some general tips for frog fishing:

1. Choose the right equipment: Use a medium-heavy to heavy action rod with a fast tip.

A. We recommend the 13 Fishing Muse Black Casting Rods. The 13 Fishing Muse Black Casting Rods are a series of premium, 1-piece baitcasting rods. Built with 36-Ton Japanese Toray blanks with Poly-Vector Graphite Technology (PVGT), the Muse Black has all the power and sensitivity you would expect from a premium bass rod. Each model in the line-up was developed with members of their Elite Series bass angler pro staff to give input on the use of their Zonal Action Technology to create perfectly nuanced and complex rod tapers to match each rod’s length and power.

B. A baitcasting reel, pick up the 13 Fishing Modus C2 Baitcasting Reels in the 6:1 Gear ratio to go along with your 13 Fishing Rod.

C. Last but not least Monofilament lines in the 20-30 pound class are common. We recommend the Sufix Siege Clear Monofilament Line and braided superlines in the 50-80 pound like the Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid Lo-Vis Greenclass have gained immense popularity in the past few years. This will help you cast accurately and set the hook quickly.

2. Select the right frog lure: Look for soft plastic or rubber frog lures that mimic the appearance and movement of real frogs.We recommend the SPRO Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog 65. The SPRO Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog 65 is the award-winning bass fishing frog that is widely regarded as the gold-standard in hollow body topwater frog fishing. This Bronzeye Frog’s 2 1/2 inch, 5/8 ounce body is the perfect size and style to be fished in both heavy cover or in open water. Designed to cast long distances and specially weighted to land on its belly cast after cast – this the frog to have in your topwater box.Choose a color and size that matches the local frog species and the water conditions.

3. Cast accurately: Cast the frog lure close to the cover and wait for a few seconds before starting to retrieve it. This will give the bass a chance to notice the lure and get ready to strike.

4. Retrieve the lure: Use a slow and steady retrieve with occasional pauses and twitches to imitate the movement of a frog. The lure should create a disturbance on the surface of the water to attract the bass.

5. Fish in the right conditions: Frog fishing is most effective in shallow water with vegetation, such as lily pads and weed beds. Look for areas where the water is clear and the sun is shining.

6. Set the hook: When you feel a strike, wait for a second or two before setting the hook. This will allow the bass to take the lure deeper into its mouth, increasing your chances of a successful hook set.

Remember to always practice catch-and-release fishing to protect the environment and preserve the fish populations for future generations.

FIU student wins Females in Fisheries conservation scholarship

Brian Carter
-
0
FIU student wins Females in Fisheries conservation scholarship

Florida International University graduate student Shakira Trabelsi has won the seventh annual Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarship for Females in Fisheries. 

Photo courtesy of Shakira Trabelsi

June 23, 2023

FIU student wins Females in Fisheries conservation scholarship

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The seventh annual Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarship for Females in Fisheries has been awarded to Florida International University grad student Shakira Trabelsi, who began fishing at a young age and considers time spent multispecies fishing throughout Florida “transformative.” 

“Fishing began for me in the canal in my backyard with my dad; we would fish there regularly until his passing when I was 7 years old,” said Trabelsi. “Angling in my free time, though, created and reinforced friendships, served as a mental reset and — in a small way — pays homage to my dad.”

Trabelsi, who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Environmental Science, is investigating the health of the economically important wild redfish throughout Florida’s estuaries to determine if pharmaceuticals are affecting the health of exposed fish. She is evaluating the extent of exposure and assessing fish health through hematological and biochemical analyses.

“Studies in laboratory settings have shown that pharmaceuticals can alter the behavior of fish and negatively impact their health, yet negative impacts to health regarding pharmaceuticals in wild fish has not been assessed,” explained Trabelsi.

After graduating in 2024, Trabelsi hopes to work for a government agency as a biologist on issues regarding water quality and fisheries conservation through an ecotoxicology perspective.

“I can only hope to have even a fraction of Noreen Clough’s tenacity, passion and determination; she truly is an inspiration to women in fisheries like me,” said Trabelsi.

Noreen Clough blazed many trails in the field of fisheries. As the first female regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and later as the B.A.S.S. Conservation Director, her distinguished career was dedicated to the conservation and management of fish and wildlife. Clough passed away in January 2015. As a tribute, friends and colleagues established an endowment to provide a scholarship through the Southern Division American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee for female students working toward a career in fisheries conservation. 

Applicants for the Females in Fisheries scholarship came in from women across the United States and Canada who exemplified what Clough hoped to see in future fishery scientists.

“All of the young women who applied for the Females in Fisheries scholarship have a bright future in fisheries because, in addition to their academic strengths, they are all avid anglers — and that will serve them well as they pursue professional careers,” said Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. Conservation Director.

Gordon Robertson, retired Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Sportfishing Association and a longtime colleague of Clough’s added, “Noreen put a high value on lessons learned from recreational fishing from both a resource understanding and appreciation perspective but also from a perspective of understanding anglers and how they think and react to resource and social issues.”

Trabelsi will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the Southern Division American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee.

Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Chris Goodwin & Joey Randall Win CATT Lake Norman NC Open June 17, 2023

Brian Carter
-
0
Chris Goodwin & Joey Randall Win CATT Lake Norman NC Open June 17, 2023

Next CATT Lake Norman Open is this coming Saturday at Pinnacle! $60 Entry & optional $25 Side Pot!

Here are the results from Saturday’s CATT Open on Lake Norman. We had 22 boats in the field with 13 weighing in resulting in payouts for the TOP 4.

4th place belonged to Ethan Hospedales who brought 5 fish to the scales weighing a total of 11.60 LBS. This won Ethan a payday of $70.00.

3rd place was won by the Pierott family of Michael Pierlott and Max Pierlott weighing in 5 fish for a total weight of 12.05 LBS winning them a check for $115.00. Good job fellas!

2nd place was won by another family tandem. This was the duo of Preston Harris and Stanton Harris who brought us 5 alive for a total weight of 12.49 LBS. This won them a check for $225.00. Congratulations to you both!

Our BIG FISH winner for the day did not make out top five but brought in their personal best of 5.22 LBS. This was the team of Lee Whitworth and Isaiah Lane. They will get to split a check for $110.00 for their efforts. Great catch gents!

1st place was won with a 5 fish sack weighing in at 13.77 LBS. The team of Chris Goodwin and Joey Randall were the big winners for today bring home a check for 1st place of $450.00 PLUS their entry into the SIDE POT won them an additional 500.00 for a grand payday of $950.00. Awesome job by you both…BIG CONGRATS!

Next week is the last week of the season. We will be taking off out of Pinnacle Landing / Lake Norman at 6 AM returning at 1 PM for weigh in. It is $60.00 per boat with an optional $25.00 side pot. All are welcome so come on out and let’s make the final spring tourney a good one!

TeamBfWeightWinnings
CHRIS GOODWIN / JOEY RANDALL4.8013.77$950.00
PRESTON HARRIS / STANTON HARRIS4.2812.49$225.00
MICHAEL PIERLOTT / MAX PIERLOTT0.0012.05$115.00
ETHAN HOSPENDALES0.0011.60$70.00
JOEL PORTER5.0010.64
DAVID BEARD / KENNY BEARD0.009.41
GARRETT SMITH / JASON JONES0.009.05
MATT BLANKENSHIP / COREY ROSINSKY0.008.70
LEE WHITWORTH / ISAIAH LANE 5.227.89$110.00
LEE HOYLE / ROBBY MORGAN0.006.45
KEVIN STOWELL SR / DAKOTA HARVEY0.006.28
MICHAEL GROVES0.003.90
CHAD MIDKIFF0.000.00
SAILOR WHITEHEAD / JEFF LOTIERZO0.000.00
JOEL NYSTROM / FONDA SETSER0.000.00
DANIEL RAY0.000.00
BRIAN WHITWORTH0.000.00
ZACH PRINGLE / KEITH WOOD0.000.00
CHUCK DOUTHIT / CHASE DOUTHIT0.000.00
T.J. RUMPF0.000.00
SAM HAYWOOD0.000.00

Second Annual MLF General Tire Team Series Draft Concludes with Exciting Results

Brian Carter
-
0
Second Annual MLF General Tire Team Series Draft Concludes with Exciting Results
Number One Show on the Outdoor Channel Set to Return with Competition in Fall of 2023

BENTON, Ky. (June 22, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today the results of the 2023 General Tire Team Series Draft, which took place Wednesday in Harrison Township, Michigan. During the second annual General Tire Team Series Draft, the top 27 Bass Pro Tour anglers – based on 2022 Angler of the Year (AOY) point standings – selected two additional Bass Pro Tour anglers to create 27 three-man teams that will compete over three qualifying events.

The General Tire Team Series will showcase the 80 anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour, joined by the next available highest-ranking 2022 MLF champion, competing as three-man teams across four events for more than $700,000 in cash payouts.

“After a successful transition from the extremely popular MLF Cup events in 2022, it was exciting to watch our Bass Pro Tour anglers work together again and strategize to create their winning lineups,” said Kathy Fennel, Executive Vice President and General Manager of MLF. “We look forward to another round of exciting programming again this fall.”

2023 General Tire Team Series Draft Results:
CAPTAIN: Josh Bertrand, TEAMMATES: Edwin Evers and Marty Robinson
CAPTAIN: Greg Vinson, TEAMMATES: Bradley Roy and David Dudley
CAPTAIN: Chris Lane, TEAMMATES: Jared Lintner and John Hunter
CAPTAIN: Wesley Strader, TEAMMATES: Scott Suggs and Matt Becker
CAPTAIN: Todd Faircloth, TEAMMATES: Jeff Sprague and Jeff Kriet
CAPTAIN: Ott DeFoe, TEAMMATES: Andy Montgomery and Brandon Coulter
CAPTAIN: Stephen Browning, TEAMMATES: Anthony Gagliardi and Keith Poche
CAPTAIN: Casey Ashley, TEAMMATES: Terry Scroggins and Jacob Wall
CAPTAIN: Jonathon VanDam, TEAMMATES: James Elam and Matt Lee
CAPTAIN: Bryan Thrift, TEAMMATES: Luke Clausen and Josh Butler
CAPTAIN: Brent Ehrler, TEAMMATES: Brett Hite and John Murray
CAPTAIN: Alton Jones Jr., TEAMMATES: Nick LeBrun and Britt Myers
CAPTAIN: Randall Tharp, TEAMMATES: Gerald Spohrer and Russ Lane
CAPTAIN: Jeremy Lawyer, TEAMMATES: Cody Meyer and Shin Fukae
CAPTAIN: Dustin Connell, TEAMMATES: Cole Floyd and Roy Hawk
CAPTAIN: Adrian Avena, TEAMMATES: Spencer Shuffield and Ryan Salzman
CAPTAIN: Andy Morgan, TEAMMATES: Fletcher Shryock and James Watson
CAPTAIN: Michael Neal, TEAMMATES: Takahiro Omori and Dean Rojas
CAPTAIN: Mark Daniels Jr., TEAMMATES: Randy Howell and Cliff Crochet
CAPTAIN: Justin Lucas, TEAMMATES: Skeet Reese and Fred Roumbanis
CAPTAIN: Zack Birge, TEAMMATES: Mark Rose and Cliff Pace
CAPTAIN: Jesse Wiggins, TEAMMATES: Kyle Hall and Gary Klein
CAPTAIN: Kevin VanDam, TEAMMATES: David Walker and Kelly Jordon
CAPTAIN: Dakota Ebare, TEAMMATES: Mitch Crane and Tommy Biffle
CAPTAIN: Alton Jones Sr., TEAMMATES: Brent Chapman and Dave Lefebre
CAPTAIN: Jordan Lee, TEAMMATES: Mark Davis and Timmy HortonCAPTAIN: Jacob Wheeler, TEAMMATES: Dylan Hays and Boyd DuckettFor complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the MLF General Tire Team Series events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram and YouTube.

Tournament Kayak Anglers Talk Today’s Best Lithium Battery Solutions

Brian Carter
-
0
Tournament Kayak Anglers Talk Today’s Best Lithium Battery Solutions
Tournament Kayak Anglers Talk Today’s Best Lithium Battery Solutions
Tournament sticks Elvis Lee and Amy Hansen rely on NORSK Lithium for full-days on-the-water
New Hope, Minn. (June 22, 2023) – “They’re like a cult,” one grizzled fisherman uttered at a local boat ramp when dozens of kayak anglers flooded in for a tournament weigh-in.Well, maybe not a “cult” but quite literally a new movement…Anglers of all levels are getting onto the water in droves via personal watercraft priced anywhere from $250 at big-box retailers to $5000 for the most tricked out, pedal-drive or motorized models on the market.No doubt, kayaks have had a huge impact on sportfishing—a step between flinging baits from a pier or the bank—and investing in a multi-species boat—a kayak can get you to where the fish are affordably and efficiently. Plus, they don’t take up an entire garage, don’t necessarily require a trailer to transport, and best of all, can get you on fish-filled waters more difficult to reach by anglers in larger boats.Not to mention, kayak fishing is just plain fun…Here at NORSK Lithium we’ve embraced the growing kayak fishing culture and offer power solutions designed specifically for kayak anglers – a group that is at no disadvantage given typical 10- to 14-foot boat lengths, many outfitting their ‘yaks with sophisticated fish-finders, trolling motors, electronic anchoring, third-party lighting, and more.Yes, at the top-end of the kayak fishing spectrum, some kayaks are practically mini-bass boats with all the bells and whistles of boats two to three times their size.Of course, all these accessories require juice—and for tournament kayak anglers like Minnesota-based Elvis Lee, lots of it…
About NORSK Lithium Kayak Pro, Elvis LeeWe chatted with Elvis while he was on his way back from placing 4th at the MinnYak Elite 3 of 6 Tournament on Northern, Minnesota’s Lake Vermilion.“I pre-fished six hours on Friday, but when the tournament morning rolled around, I aimed to fish new water because I wasn’t happy with my pre-fish. I went in trying to find grassy areas to target the lake’s largemouth bass, but since we were on the west end, that just didn’t come together,” says Lee.“I did start in a bay that had some grass—basically my best spot—but quickly decided to head into the main lake, start covering water, try to find a pattern, and roll from there. I fished about 2.5 miles of shoreline. Every fish I caught was right to the bank–primarily smallmouth bass–tucked between shore, tree trunks, rocks and boulders. Once I figured that out I started catching a lot. But I wasted too much time in the morning doing something I shouldn’t have been doing. It was definitely a learning experience.”Despite the time elapsed chasing largemouths, Lee ended up placing 4th in the MinnYak Elite 3 of 6 held on Saturday, June 17th from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. by registering numerous, chunky Vermilion Lake smallmouth bass.Following weigh-in, Lee drove all night home to the Twin Cities and tried to get a few hours of sleep to compete in a kayak tournament the following morning on Prior Lake. Despite the lack of rest, Lee once again pulled off a 4th place finish.
Lee’s Kayak Tournament Background“I started kayak tournament fishing the summer of 2019. At that time, I was still fishing out of a float tube. But I was able to find a local kayak tournament club willing to let me fish without owning an actual kayak. The first tournament I fished was held on the Maple Lake chain between Buffalo and Annandale, Minnesota. Even though I was fishing out of a float tube, I took second place,” recalls Lee.Lee continues: “The next club series tournament offered a top prize of $1000 and a brand-new fishing kayak. Since kayak tournaments are judged by total inches, I tied for first place, but was lowered to second. That stung me a little bit because I really wanted to win the kayak; I needed it. So I fished out of the float tube for a couple more years. I didn’t get a kayak until the beginning of 2021. So this is only my third season fishing out of a kayak.”Lee started his career in kayak tournaments gradually, first competing in club tournaments on Minnesota waters like Lake Minnetonka and a championship on Woman Lake, the latter which he won in 2022.“I’ve been fortunate,” says Lee, “I’ve had some solid finishes—lots in the Top 3.”But once out of his Minnesota backyard, Lee admits competing hasn’t been so easy.“I fished a kayak tournament on Truman Lake in Missouri earlier this year and didn’t do well,” admits Lee. “I had never been there and really had no idea how to approach bass on a reservoir. It was a really big learning experience for me. But I do consider it a success because I was able to scratch out a limit each day.”In 2022, Lee also drove to South Carolina, where he competed in a kayak tournament on Russell Lake.“I had a hard time putting a limit together. Reservoirs just don’t fish like our fisheries in the north. There are a lot of different pieces to put together. Russell was really tough, but again, I learned a lot.”
Back in the Midwest, Lee’s tournament track record is a different story.“I took 2nd at the Fox/Wolf River for the Lake Fishing Series. Then I fished Iowa’s Lake Okoboji for the All American Series and took 5th place. I came back to Minnesota and fished a club tournament called the ‘Road Runner’ event on Madison and took 10th place,” recalls Lee.What’s even more amazing than his string of top finishes for the kayak tournament newbie is he didn’t pre-fish any of the Midwest events.“I just went and fished. Northern tournaments are a little more relaxed: I show up, hang out with the other anglers, then go out, fish, and have some fun. At least in the Midwest, it seems like everything changes so much from day-to-day, that I feel like pre-fishing doesn’t really tell you much. I used to pre-fish really hard and I’d burn up my spots or the weather would change right before the tournament.”Lee says he performs his absolute best when fishing under pressure, another reason he’s been avoiding pre-fishing as of late.“It might sound weird, but I prefer to just show up and go out and fish. It’s fun for me to be under the pressure to place high on the leaderboard. I kind of thrive on that.”
Elvis Lee’s Tournament Kayak RigLee fishes out of a FeelFree Moken 12.5 v2, a paddle-only boat without foot-pedal propulsion drive.
Lee’s solution for covering water?The addition of a Minn Kota PowerDrive i-Pilot 12v 55 lb. thrust bow-mount trolling motor. With its 54-inch shaft, 55 pounds of thrust, Deploy-Assist Lever, AutoPilot™, Universal Sonar 2, and i-Pilot® GPS featuring Spot-Lock electronic anchoring, Lee has everything he needs to get to areas quickly and pinpoint his rig on fish-holding spots, near- or offshore.“I decided  early on that I needed a motor to compete in kayak tournaments, especially when you consider the amount of water you need to cover to find bites. I do plan to add a pedal drive version of the same kayak to my arsenal but won’t be getting that for another month or two. I will need that boat for the National Trail Series events that don’t allow electric motors. I’ve competed in them in the past with a paddle, but it’s inefficient. You just can’t cover the water you need to. Plus, if I’m fishing offshore and it’s windy, orienting on small spots by traditional rope and weight anchoring in 30-feet plus gets difficult. That’s why I love the Minn Kota PowerDrive so much. It allows me to be very efficient, especially with Spot-Lock electronic anchoring for offshore bites,” says Lee.To power his 12V 55 lb. thrust Minn-Kota PowerDrive 55, Lee has used two different NORSK Lithium batteries: the 12.8V 80AH NORSK and 12V 100AH NORSK.“I tested both batteries in actual tournament situations. I was able to get about 13.5 hours of run time operating my trolling motor at maximum speed all day using the 12.8V 80AH NORSK. I went down to Lake Pickwick for a two-day tournament and each day I would max out the battery and have to paddle back to the weigh-in. After talking with NORSK, they suggested I lay-off the speed just a little bit on the Minn Kota – from maximum down to 9, and I haven’t had to paddle back to the boat ramp since. Thing is, I’m on the motor 99% of the time. I’m either slow trolling to look for structure and fish or I’m running miles from the boat ramp. If I really think I’m going to travel far, I use the 12V 100AH NORSK,” shares Lee.
Lee on ElectronicsAn early adopter of forward-facing sonar, Lee has his kayak rigged with a Garmin UHD 93sv and LiveScope/Panoptix LVS32 transducer.“To power my Garmin system all day, I started with the NORSK Lithium 14.8V 20 AH battery and then I upgraded to the 14.8V 32AH battery a couple months back. Then I flipped my boat on the boulder- and log-filled Rum River and lost my fish-finder and battery which hadn’t been permanently installed on the boat. So I’m back to using the NORSK 14.8V 20 AH battery but still get a really good runtime with it.”Lee says a lot of kayak anglers run their graph screen brightness on a lower setting to conserve battery power, something he’s never had to do with a NORSK 20AH or 32AH battery, even turned on to full brightness for 12 hours or more of fishing.“I’ll occasionally shut off LiveScope when I’m not using it, but for the most part, it’s on 100% of the time. There are definitely days when I use it the whole day, and I don’t have to worry about having enough juice to use it from sun up ‘til sun down,” notes Lee.In addition to separate batteries for his Minn Kota PowerDrive 55 and Garmin LiveScope set-up, Lee also runs a NORSK 7.5AH lithium battery specifically for his navigation lights and a GoPro mounted to his kayak stern.Lee’s Favorite Ways To FishIf he could choose a favorite way to catch bass, Lee opts for power fishing: throwing bladed jigs, swim jigs, and spinnerbaits, all made by a high-school friend who launched a bait company called GotM Baits.“Fishing so many places around the country, I’ve realized that customizing tackle can get you some extra bites. GotM is able to make me custom colors, skirts, you-name-it. While I do like Z-Man soft plastics, I use GotM swim, grass, and football jigs, spinnerbaits, and bladed jigs almost exclusively,” offers Lee.The other thing Lee looks forward to? The mid- to late-summer smallmouth buzzbait bite on Minnesota’s rivers. “There’s not much that compares to big brown bass blowing up on buzzbaits! I look forward to it every year. And there are a lot of places I fish you can only only reach by kayak so I’ve usually got the spots all to myself.”
About NORSK Lithium Kayak Pro, Amy Hansen37-year-old, Eastern Iowa-based tournament angler, Amy Hansen, is another satisfied NORSK Lithium user.Hansen started fishing as a kid with her dad, which instilled a love of the sport early, and when she met her husband 12 years ago, the two started fishing tournaments together across the nation.“At first, I just joined in and got bait and helped with prep work, but that didn’t last long. We became full-on tournament partners, traveling all over for a decade or more,” says Hansen.Most tournaments Hansen and her husband fish out of either a river jon boat or larger, multi-species deep-V boat. Hansen’s also an enthusiastic and well-traveled ice angler.“I only started fishing out of a kayak five years ago,” says Hansen, “So I’m still learning about the kayak tournament side of things but plan to compete down-the-road.”
To do so, she’s been slowly upgrading her kayak rig—an affordable Ascend FS10—with third-party add-ons to make kayak fishing easier and more efficient. For starters, Hansen has a couple Scotty rod holders and a trolley anchor system with clips for attaching to brush piles or trees, as well as a non-electronic anchor pole to keep her boat in fish-holding position.In terms of electronics, Hansen simply lifted the Garmin Striker 4 out of the case that she runs on hardwater and installed it on her ‘yak. Given the low amp draw of this particular fish-finder, Hansen has had no problem using the diminutive (yet powerful) 1.4-pound NORSK Lithium 7.5AH Lithium Ion battery.“I was amazed by how long that battery would power my graph. I got a whole weekend out of one charge,” offers Hansen.Recently, Hansen worked as a facilitator/angling mentor at a women’s fishing event in Wisconsin where she utilized the same NORSK Lithium battery—but for different purposes. “I kept that battery with me all day just to charge my phone so I could create content from take-off until dark. Since it was shallow-water fishing, I didn’t need my graph. So I just used the USB outlets on the NORSK battery to charge my phone all day. That really helped out,” concludes Hansen.  
Hansen’s Tournament SuccessesAmy and her husband have won several tournaments over the past few years—traveling from Iowa to Alabama, out to the western states, as well as up into Canada. And they’re open to species, fishing catfish, sturgeon, and trout tourneys—in addition to a handful of bass tournaments along the way. Hansen says their thing is “chasing trophy fish” – and they have the photos to prove it.“I’ve actually had to fish against my husband before, and I’ve beat him with big fish and first place. I’ve had several big fish tournament finishes over the years. I also won a Jack and Jill tournament by catching the biggest fish of the tournament.”The duo is currently prepping for a tournament on the Mississippi River June 22-25.“We absolutely love fishing the Mississippi River. It’s a great multispecies fishery. We usually camp out on the sandbars whenever we fish the river for fun or competition. We make a whole weekend out of it.”
ICAST TEASE Along the lines of lithium batteries designed specifically for kayak anglers, NORSK is proud to introduce a new 12.8V 50AH Heated Core Lithium Kayak Battery w/carrying case at ICAST Booth #833, July 11-14. You can also experience a host of different NORSK Lithium kayak-specific battery problem-solvers at ICAST’s “On The Water” event, where Old Town Canoes & Kayaks will be using NORSK Lithium products to power their fully-rigged demo watercraft on ICAST convention center waters, Monday, July 10th. Also visit Johnson Outdoors Watercraft, Inc. at ICAST booth #337 to see NORSK batteries rigged in display Old Town kayaks as the power source for Humminbird fishing electronics and Minn Kota trolling motors/accessories. To book a time to meet with NORSK Lithium factory representatives and pro staffers at ICAST 2023, please e-mail Leslie Vick at [email protected]. We’d love to talk with you for a few minutes and show you the developments we’ve made in lithium battery technology! 

DAIWA’s new system recycles plastic into premium utility tackle trays 

Brian Carter
-
0
DAIWA’s new system recycles plastic into premium utility tackle trays 
D-BOX Earns an “A”
DAIWA’s new system recycles plastic into premium utility tackle trays 
Cypress, CA (June 21, 2023) – When the technological leader in rod and reel manufacturing introduces a commodity product, you can safely wager it’s better than the others. Such is the case with DAIWA’s new D-BOX Tackle System. 
Being a DAIWA groupie, it’s time to renew your tackle utility boxes with the brand’s new premium and affordable collection. Available in two sizes (3600 and 3700) and six total configurations, DAIWA’s new D-Boxes features clear weathertight lids with four robust, tight-snapping latches to keep everything in check. Internal tabs are cut clean for instant organizing of each slot, with a total of 12 compartments in the 3600-size and 20 compartments in the 3700-size. Available in shallow, regular, and deep models. And doing its part for the environment, DAIWA’s new D-BOX Tackle System boxes are made from 100% recycled plastic. 
SHALLOW
MEDIUM
DEEP
SIZES: DAIWA D-BOX MS-MEDIUM SHALLOW (12C/3600 Shallow Equivalent) DAIWA D-BOX MR-MEDIUM REGULAR (12C/3600 Regular Equivalent) DAIWA D-BOX MD-MEDIUM DEEP (12C/3600 Deep Equivalent) DAIWA D-BOX LS-LARGE SHALLOW (20C/3700 Shallow Equivalent) DAIWA D-BOX LR-LARGE REGULAR (20C/3700 Regular Equivalent) DAIWA D-BOX LD-LARGE DEEP (20C/3700 Deep Equivalent) MSRP $11.99 to $18.99
For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us

B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Regional heading to Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago

Brian Carter
-
0
B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Regional heading to Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago

Grass-roots anglers representing 10 states will compete in the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Regional at Lake Winnebago June 28-30.

Photo by Grant Moxley/B.A.S.S.

June 21, 2023

B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Regional heading to Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago

Nation_TNT_4C.png

APPLETON, Wis. —Anglers fishing the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Regional at Lake Winnebago June 28-30 will likely find both smallmouth and largemouth in a mostly post-spawn stage and 2022 Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., believes finding some bigger bites will be the key to success.

The Northern Regional will feature teams from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Anglers will take off starting at 6 a.m. CT from the Jefferson Park Boat Ramp and weigh-in will be back at the park beginning at 2 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.  

At the end of the tournament, the top boater and top nonboater from each state will qualify for the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on legendary Lake Hartwell Oct. 18-20. The winner of the Nation Championship will be crowned “Nation’s Best” and will earn a spot in the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series field along with the use of a fully-rigged Toyota Tundra and Nitro boat.

The Top 3 anglers from the Nation Championship will also punch their ticket to the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Tulsa, Okla.   

To unlock Winnebago, anglers will need to decipher how each section of the system sets up, Przekurat said.

“That particular system, you have a lot of options,” he said. “You can fish Winnebago, which is more lake-based and wind-driven. Especially with the way the dirty water moves and the wind pushes it. There are smallmouth that get offshore on Winnebago on some of the rock structures. You kind of have to play your cards right there because they aren’t always where they are supposed to be.”

The largemouth will be up close to shore and in the canals on Winnebago and Lake Butte des Morts, as well as in some of the milfoil patches off the bank. Moving west, Lake Poygan has less rock structure but has more opportunities for largemouth with plenty of canals and shallow cover.

For Przekurat, the Wolf River provides some of the better opportunities to win.

“This time of the year, the fish up the river should be getting to their summertime areas,” he said. “They like to run up the tributaries and start to find cooler water. Especially when they get done spawning, they like to feed up on the baitfish that live up those rivers. On the lake, they start to group up and find the right wind areas. I would say the river is more consistent than Winnebago.”

The Winnebago system is also one of the only Northern fisheries with shad.

For largemouth, there will be plenty of opportunities to flip, frog and throw moving baits like a bladed jig and a swim jig around grassy areas. The system has milfoil, eelgrass and duckweed. They will also hang around docks.

The smallmouth love to eat a tube and a Ned rig around rocks, current breaks with wood, cut banks and even docks. Wind will be a major player when targeting the brown fish.

This will be the first visit to Lake Winnebago for the B.A.S.S. Nation since the 2008 season.

The tournament is being hosted by the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.

2023 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: TNT Fireworks

2023 B.A.S.S. Nation Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2023 B.A.S.S. Nation Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2023 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC


Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Zack & Kenny Porterfield Win 3rd Annual Lloyd Kirby Fathers Day Tournament on Mayo Lake

Brian Carter
-
0
Zack & Kenny Porterfield Win 3rd Annual Lloyd Kirby Fathers Day Tournament on Mayo Lake

3rd Annual Lloyd Kirby Father’s Day Tournament
Mayo Lake- 6/17/2023

We had the 3rd Annual Fathers Day tournament last Saturday and boy was it a good one!! We were blessed with a 55 boat field ranging from Father/Son, Father/ Daughter to Grandfathers/ Grandkids teams. This tournament has grown every year and I get the same response every year from everyone that fishes it. They always come to me at the end of the tournament and tell me that they enjoy this tournament more than any tournament they fish all year. This tournament is not about winning but spending time with family and friends with a little side of competition. When me and Jeff Brann come up with this tournament 3 years ago that was exactly what we wanted and were so happy that everyone shares our ambition to make this tournament grow.

Before we get into the tournament me and Jeff want to Thank everyone that came out to fish on Saturday!

We especially want to THANK all of the Bussineses and individuals that donated prizes for the drawings at the end of the tournament.  We had over $5000.00 worth of prizes ranging from gift cards to fish cookers and everything in between. Everyone that stayed after the tournament ended up with a door prize. That alone to me just blows my mind that there are so many people willing to step up and help out for such a good cause.

Now on to the tournament. 
Which the perfect weather that the Good Lord gave us on Saturday the lake fished kind of tough. Well atleast it did for me!

?‍♂️

As for any tournament somebody’s going to figure them out and bring in some good bags. At the end of the day it was the team of Zack Porterfield & his Dad Kenny Porterfield that topped the field with a 3 fish limit weighing 14.55 pounds. Earning them a very nice two basket fish cooker donated by Thomas Brothers Oil & Propane valued at $500.00 and $350.00 cash and Plaques. They wasn’t done either! They also won the Ernest Dixon Big Fish for the tournament earning them another $720.00 cash and 2 more Plaques. The original $520.00 big fish money was pushed to $720.00 through a $200.00 donation from Kenneth Dixon and his Mother in honer of thier Dad & Husband Mr. Ernest Dixon. That brought their total to $1550.00 worth of cash prizes for the day. Awesome job guys!!!!. Yall beat some Mayo Lake Hammers to do that. They were followed by the team of Zeb Barnette & his son Zeb Barnette Jr. with a 3 fish limit weighing 13.56 pounds. That earned them $350.00
We had a extra $300.00 donated to the tournament so we decided to do mystery weights. We put 6 different weights wrote on paper in a hat after the weigh in and drew 3 of them out. Each weight was worth $100.00. If your team was the closest to that weight without going over you won the money.
Mystery weight!
4 pounds- Ross Oliver & Emily Larabee-$100.00
5 pounds- Boswell & Hamlett- $100.00
6 pounds- Staton &  Logan Staton Staton – $100.00

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone that placed!

We had 4 different companies that really stepped up in donations and we want to make sure they’re recognized for their efforts.

Thomas Brothers Oil &Propane
R&S Race Cars
Catch The Fever
Frank Dalton

That dosent take anything away from anyone that donated. Every donation given was awesome and is what got everyone there a prize.

Thank you again for all of the donations from everyone that donated!!

Me & Jeff definitely want to give a BIG SHOUT out to the ones that took their time to come and help do this tournament. Without them me and Jeff wouldn’t get the opportunity to fish with our Dad & Son in this tournament.  Thank yall!
Krystal Kirby Sheppard
Shane Brantley
Carie Brantley
Ava Brantley

List of Donators.

1. Caleb Page & Catch the Fever
2. R&S Race Cars
3. Thomas Bros Propane of Yanceyville
4. Grissom & Holloman Attorneys at Law
5. Huff’s Insurance & Reality
6. Double R Landfill
7. Altec
8. Powertech Electric
9. Countyline Auto
10. Skeets Concealed Carry
11. Thomas Pro Wash
12. Roberts Service Mart
13. J. Brann’s Original BBQ Sauce
14. Aunt Millies Pizza & Subs
15. Torero’s Mexican Restaurant
16. Golden Corral of ROXBORO
17. Buoys Bar & Grill
18. New Entrant Consulting
19. 5 Alive Team Trail
20. W.F. Cox
21. Jeff Abbott
22. Jeff & Sylvia Wagner
23. Frank Dalton
24. Shane Perkins
25. Meranda Long Wolfe in Memory of Steve Long
26. Kenneth & Mable Dixon
27. Tim Chandler
28. Wendy & Carolyn Chambers
29. Jason Holt
30. Bryan Perry
31. Shane Brantley
32. Carie Brantley
33. Ava Brantley
34. Kristy Sheppard
35. Robin Gentry

Results.
1st. Porterfield & Porterfield- 14.55 pounds-$850.00
2nd. Barnette & Barnette- 13.56 pounds-$350.00
3rd. Compton & Compton- 12.13 pounds-$250.00
4th. Morris & Morris- 11.45 pounds-$190.00
5th. Edward’s & Edward’s- 11.42 pounds-$155.00
6th. Patterson & Patterson- 10.91 pounds-$140.00
7th. Brown & Brown- 10.84 pounds-$130.00
8th. Dalton & Bean- 10.54 pounds-$120.00
9th. Moser & Moser- 10.03 pounds-$100.00
10th. Rice & Rice- 9.94 pounds -$100.00
11th.Tuck & Tuck- 9.34 pounds -$100.00 tie breaker
12th. Bowen & Bowen- 9.34 pounds- Free Entry

Big Fish.
Porterfield & Porterfield- 5.66

1...318319320...1,532Page 319 of 1,532

Follow Us

The latest

Zack LeMaster & Josh Whalen Win 2025 Bass Cast Championship with 20.33 lbs

Smith Mountain Lake Tournament Results 0
CLICK TO SEE RESULTS We would like to thank everyone...

Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Locks in Full Field of 150 pros for 2026

Breaking News 0
With every spot claimed, Pro Circuit momentum reaches a...

B.A.S.S. announces 2026 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers schedule

Bassmasters 0
Dec. 12, 2025 B.A.S.S. announces 2026 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers schedule BIRMINGHAM,...

© 2023 The Bass Cast. All Rights Reserved.