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Warrenville’s Hadden ‘Seals the Deal’ With Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Murray

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September 8, 2025

Warrenville’s Hadden ‘Seals the Deal’ With Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Murray

Boater winner Justin Hadden of Warrenville, South Carolina, and co-angler winner Thomas Pennell III of Boiling Springs, South Carolina.

Oconomowoc’s Steve Lopez Wins Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship on Mississippi River

Brian Carter

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September 8, 2025

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Oconomowoc’s Steve Lopez Wins Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship on Mississippi River

Wisconsin pro earns $100,000 payday with final-day five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces

LA CROSSE, Wis. (Sept. 7, 2025) – Heading into the event, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, pro Steve Lopez was a firm tournament favorite in the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats on the Mississippi River . Sunday, with his third bag over 16 pounds of the event, the Wisconsin pro delivered, winning his first career event with MLF and earning the top prize of $100,000 and qualification into REDCREST 2026 in the process.

Lopez tallied 16 pounds, 2 ounces on Day 1, 16-3 on Day 2 and then 16-10 on the final day for a 48-15 total. It was enough to move him up from fourth place, as leaders Banks Shaw and Alex Davis both faltered on the final day. Lopez finished 1-5 clear of Shaw, who finished his phenomenal season with yet another top five finish.

Link to Morning Photo Gallery from Day 3: Final takeoff of the 2025 Invitationals season begins
Link to Afternoon Photo Gallery from Day 3: Top 10 put ‘em in the boat on Championship Sunday
Link to Video of Fish-Catch Highlights of Day 3 from the Mississippi River

Back in 2023, Lopez finished runner-up in the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals event on the Mississippi River. He ran a remarkably similar game plan then – mostly plying a wacky rig on eelgrass holes and edges (which was also how Matt Stefan won the event). So, what MLFNOW! viewers saw on Day 3 looked pretty familiar, but it was not his original plan.

“In practice, they were really eating the frog. I found some fish that were really special,” said Lopez. “I was looking at the weather, and I prepared for the tournament and the weather. The water was supposed to drop, and I had a feeling with the wind and the weather I had to figure out something other than that.

“I felt 50 pounds would have a shot to win this tournament,” he added. “I had a plan Day 1 to go out and blast 20 pounds, but after that happened, I thought if I could go out and catch all 3-pounders or 3 1/4-pounders, I could have a shot to win this thing. I know how the river gets on Day 2 – the weights tend to compress – and if you’re consistent on this river, you usually win the tournament.”

While Lopez weighed three frog fish on Day 1, he rapidly and successfully transitioned to eelgrass edges.

“I was fishing eelgrass lines and little pockets in them as my second, third, fifth stuff, and that turned into my primary pattern,” he explained. “I had a good six or seven spots I thought I could rotate through and catch a 3-pounder, or a few of them. It’s just an edge where it drops off, and they can ambush. There’s probably thousands of fish inside that you don’t even touch.”

On Day 3, Lopez waylaid bass on topwater and a wacky rig, with some fish schooling on the grass lines as well. It was the kind of final day beatdown every angler dreams about.

“The wind was crazy on Day 1, and partially on Day 2 as well,” he said. “But it gave me a little letdown on Day 2 – for about 45 minutes it slicked off, and I caught a bunch of fish. Today, when I got through the lock and saw it was flat calm, I had a good feeling.”

On the week, Lopez caught his fish on a wacky-rigged Gambler Ace, a Strike King Sexy Dawg and a Gambler Walking Frog. For the wacky rig, he used a 6-foot, 10-inch, medium-heavy Duckett Black Ice spinning stick. For his walking bait, he stuck with a 7-3, medium-heavy Duckett Jacob Wheeler Series model, and he used a 7-7, heavy Duckett Jacob Wheeler Series stick for the frog.

In 51 tournaments with MLF, Lopez has banked eight Top-10 finishes, with two of them being runner-up showings, both in big-time events. This winter, he finished second at Okeechobee in a Toyota Series, and then in ’23 he finished second in the Invitationals event here.

So, the Wisconsin pro has had some very close calls. This week, he finally put a bow on a win.

“It’s really special to win it in Wisconsin, to win it here on my favorite body of water to fish,” he said. “I’ve fished this place like 10 times in my life. I’ve got good fishing back home, but I just jive with it. I really enjoy this place, and it’s special to win. I don’t really think it’s sunk in yet at all.”

The top 10 pros at the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats on the Mississippi River finished:

1st:        Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., 15 bass, 48-15, $100,000 + REDCREST 2026
2nd:       Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 47-10, $50,000
3rd:       Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 15 bass, 46-13, $26,000
4th:        Jimmy Washam, Stantonville, Tenn., 15 bass, 45-15, $20,000
5th:        Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 15 bass, 44-0, $15,000
6th:        Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 43-4, $14,000
7th:        Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 42-10, $13,000
8th:        Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 13 bass, 41-14, $13,000
9th:        Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., 15 bass, 41-6, $11,750
10th:     Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, 11 bass, 31-1, $10,000

Complete results from throughout the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 44 bass weighing 125 pounds, 11 ounces caught by the final 10 pros on Sunday. Eight of the final 10 competitors brought a five-bass limit to the scale.

The three-day Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats was hosted by Explore La Crosse and showcased the top 36 anglers from the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals season as they competed for the prestigious Invitationals Championship and a share of the $417,000 prize pool.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats at the Mississippi River in La Crosse will premiere as two two-hour episodes, with the first episode premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 8 on CBS Sports Network, and the Championship Round premiering on Saturday, Nov. 15. New MLF5 episodes debut each Saturday morning on CBS Sports beginning in October.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitationals updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Faceboo, Instagram and YouTube.

DeFoe/Gill Tandem Shines – Team USA Rallies To Take Gold On Final Day In South Africa

Bass News

Brian Carter

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September 7, 2025

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DeFoe/Gill Tandem Shines – Team USA Rallies To Take Gold On Final Day In South Africa

Double gold-medalists Ott DeFoe and Drew Gill led the way as Team USA overcame a substantial final-day deficit to Italy Saturday en route to winning the 19th edition of the Black Bass World Championships at Arabie Dam in South Africa.

The three U.S. duos finished 1st, 3rd and 9th on the Day-3 standings sheet for a total of just 13 “penalties” (the sum of the duos’ finishes – the lower the number, the better). The Americans trailed Italy by 19 penalties entering the final round, but ended up prevailing as they finished with 80.5 for the event compared to the Italians’ 92.5.

Australia claimed the bronze medal with 138 penalties. Other participating countries (in order of team finish) were South Africa, Spain, Zimbabwe, Germany, Eswatini, Namibia, Portugal, Canada, Mozambique, Croatia, Serbia and Mexico.

Italy led after each of the first two days, with the U.S. in 2nd. The margin after Day 1 was 24.5 penalties, but DeFoe and Gill caught the event’s heaviest five-fish bag (23.88 pounds) on Day 2 to claim the No. 1 position for the day and narrow the gap in the team standings headed into the final round.

The DeFoe/Gill tandem was again the top-performing pair in the 45-boat field on the final day with a 22.07 stringer topped by a 7 1/4-pound specimen. Jacob Wheeler and Kyle Welcher were 3rd with 19.29 (6 1/2-pound kicker) and Logan Parks and Scott Martin were 9th with 13.34.

“Our team got stronger every day,” said Team USA coach Kevin Van Dam, who selected the squad and formulated the pairings. “When you fish for three days, consistency shines and the cream rises to the top, and that’s what happened.

“This is a unique format and all three teams have to do well. Our guys worked really well together as a group and shared everything that was going on; we had really great team camaraderie and that’s something I’m really proud of.”

DeFoe and Gill captured the duos gold medal with 11.5 penalties. The other two medals in that category were claimed by Italian pairings – Leonardo Benassi/Allessio Ticciati took the silver with 14 and Luca Vittorio Della Ciana/Jimmy Ashlock grabbed the bronze with 28.

Wheeler and Welcher were 6th in the final duos standings (34) and Parks and Martin were 8th (35).

DeFoe and Gill were the only tandem to average more than 20 pounds per day on the 3,200-acre Olifants River impoundment (also known as Flag Boshielo Dam) in the province of Limpopo. Their 61.75-pound total for the event was more than eight pounds clear of the 53.42 racked up by Benassi and Ticciati.

September is springtime in South Africa (the equivalent of March in the U.S.) and the bass in Arabie were in one stage or another of the annual spawning rite. Some were on the beds and some had already been there and departed, while the majority seemed on the precipice of selecting a shallow-water locale and locking down.

Gill and DeFoe focused on cruising fish to compile their massive Day-2 haul, which included a 7.21-pound kicker.

The Italians bolted to their big early lead with placements of 2nd, 5th and 7th on Day 1. The American boats were tied for 9th, 13th and 15th as Gill and DeFoe weighed 15.81 pounds, Parks and Martin had 15.41 and Wheeler and Welcher amassed 13.91.

“Even though they were 2nd after Day 1, they were a little disappointed,” VanDam said of his squad. “But that’s just the way fishing is there – you have to out-fish everybody else who’s doing the same thing.”

The mega-haul from Gill and DeFoe shook things up on Day 2, while Parks/Martin and Wheeler/Welcher landed in almost the identical positions they’d staked in the previous round. The former pairing was 13th (13.71) and the latter was 15th (13.23).

The U.S. triumph was a measure of redemption in the wake of last year’s disappointing 4th-place finish in Italy.

“Our guys knew they had to go out and do the job on the final day, and that’s exactly what they did,” VanDam concluded.

The U.S. will host next year’s World Championships at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark.

Davis Maintains Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship on Mississippi River

Brian Carter

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September 6, 2025

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Davis Maintains Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship on Mississippi River

Alabama pro catches limit weighing 14-15 to bring 4-ounce lead into final day, Final 10 anglers set for Championship Sunday

LA CROSSE, Wis. (Sept. 6, 2025) – Day 2 of the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats on the Mississippi River was fun in and of itself, and it sets things up for what could be one of the more dramatic final days of the season. Weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces, Albertville, Alabama pro Alex Davis stayed in the lead with a 33-12 total. Meanwhile, Banks Shaw of Harrison, Tennessee, added an even 15 pounds to sneak within 4 ounces of Davis, with a 33-8 total. Behind the top two, pros Jimmy Washam and Steve Lopez are both over 32 pounds, and even Louisiana pro Colby Miller in sixth place is within striking range, with a 30-8 total.

Once again the weather was cool, but the wind relented on Day 2, which allowed some anglers to fish more easily, especially those plying shallow vegetation. With no forward-facing sonar in play, some pros had tougher, less precise days, but the change worked out quite well for others. Though the weights tumbled around a good bit, the fishing was a little better on Day 2 overall – on Day 1, just four pros caught better than 16 pounds, and on Day 2, eight pros accomplished the feat.

Link to Morning Photo Gallery from Day 2: Cut day begins at the Invitationals Championship
Link to Afternoon Photo Gallery from Day 2: Championship Top 10 roster locked after Day 2 weigh-in
Link to Video of Fish-Catch Highlights of Day 2 from the Mississippi River

Davis is on the cusp
Trying to frog his way to a win, Davis whipped up to Pool 7 on Day 1 and caught most of his weight in about 15 minutes. That didn’t quite work out on Day 2.

“I aged about five years today,” said the veteran pro. “I had three that weighed 7 pounds in the first 45 minutes and then fished until 1:40 and never had another bite. Then, I found one little mat about 30 yards by 30 yards, and I ended up filling my limit out and culled three times right there and had one big one hit it and not get it.”

Some might say it was lucky, but Davis’ late rally was very much the result of commitment to a pattern with an expert at the wheel. Raised frogging and flipping on Lake Guntersville, the Alabama pro is deadly with the big stick. If his frog fish work out again – or if he finds more – Shaw and everyone else will have a tough row to hoe.

“I’m thinking of starting there in the morning and then going back into Pool 7,” Davis explained. “I think the water dropping is what has made [the frog bite] worse – practice was better. Now, it’s so shallow, I think the fish have pulled out of a lot of the frog areas. I’ve got a couple places left, and I’m going to hope it works tomorrow.”

One ace Davis still has up his sleeve is the Black River. Though he’ll have company, Davis has made hay in the Black before, and there’s a good chance he’ll slip some into the rotation if the frog fish aren’t paying out as planned.

“I didn’t come to the Black River today because I thought my best option was to frog,” Davis said. “Today, I ran around for two-and-a-half or three hours – I will spend that time in the Black River tomorrow.”

Without a national win to his name, Davis probably has as good a chance now as he’s ever had, but he knows it won’t come easy.

“It would mean everything to win,” Davis said. “We’re going to have to see. I just need to catch 18 or 19 (pounds). Banks is going to catch them better tomorrow. I hope I can catch them better tomorrow too.”

Shaw narrows the gap
Weighing four smallmouth and one largemouth, Shaw weathered the no-‘Scope day with ease, as he usually does. And, given that he may have a few options come back into play on Day 3, he could be a dangerous man.

“It definitely could have been worse,” Shaw said. “I was shooting for the 16- or 17-pound mark. I caught three good smallmouth and then some decent ones, but I couldn’t get a big bite. My largemouth bite wasn’t as good as I was expecting it to be – the cloud cover that moved in right as I started fishing my docks probably hurt it.”

Fishing mostly current-related places for his smallmouth, Shaw is looking forward to getting his electronics back in play on the final day.

“Tomorrow I think it’s going to be better,” he said. “I couldn’t really catch the fish I was fishing for that good today. I knew they were there; they were coming up schooling and stuff like that, but being able to look at them a little better tomorrow will be nice. I’ll be able to line my stuff up better. I fished several places today where I couldn’t get them to bite – I realized these fish are keying on baitfish, not a bottom bait, and I had to throw a bottom bait on some places just to get down to the fish.”

Having weighed nine smallmouth so far, Shaw is executing on his pre-tournament plan to perfection.

“It’s feels like I’m right at home,” he said. “I’ve fished on the Tennessee River my whole life, and it’s the same deal. Reading current seams and seeing where the fish set up. I love this kind of fishing, and I knew I didn’t want to be with everybody else, throwing a frog, punching. I wanted to try to do something a little different.”

Heading out on Championship Sunday, Shaw will have a chance to finish off a nearly perfect season with a massive win, sweeping Fishing Clash Angler of the Year, Polaris Rookie of the Year and making every Top 10.

“I’m super excited to get going tomorrow and try to catch 16 or 17 pounds and make Alex or whoever is with me catch the same bag,” Shaw said. “It’s definitely a good position to be in, but there’s definitely a lot of work ahead.”

The top 10 anglers advancing to Championship Sunday on the Mississippi River are:

1st:        Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 10 bass, 33-12
2nd:       Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 33-8
3rd:       Jimmy Washam, Stantonville, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-10
4th:        Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., 10 bass, 32-5
5th:        Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 31-2
6th:        Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 10 bass, 30-8
7th:        Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, 10 bass, 28-15
8th:        Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 28-6
9th:        Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 28-6
10th:     Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., 10 bass, 28-5

Eliminated from competition in 11th through 36th place are:

11th:     Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 28-4
12th:     Keith Poche, Cecil, Ala., 10 bass, 28-0
13th:     Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 27-13
14th:     Jordan Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 27-6
15th:     Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., 10 bass, 27-4
16th:     Hayden Marbut, Grant, Ala., 10 bass, 26-2
17th:     Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., 10 bass, 25-12
18th:     Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., nine bass, 25-5
19th:     Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 10 bass, 24-13
20th:     Dustin Smith, Trussville, Ala., nine bass, 23-13
21st:      Christian Greico, New Bern, N.C., 10 bass, 23-5
22nd:    Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala., 10 bass, 23-4
23rd:     Cal Lane, Grant, Ala., 10 bass, 22-15
24th:     Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., eight bass, 22-3
25th:     Terry Fisher, Decatur, Ala., 10 bass, 22-2
26th:     Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala., eight bass, 20-9
27th:     Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., seven bass, 18-14
28th:     Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich., seven bass, 18-6
29th:     Brian Latimer, Belton, S.C., eight bass, 18-3
30th:     Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., seven bass, 16-8
31st:      Ken Thompson, Roaring Springs, Pa., five bass, 15-14
32nd:    Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., six bass, 14-7
33rd:     Lane Olson, Forest Grove, Ore., five bass, 12-1
34th:     Britt Myers Jr., Clover, S.C., six bass, 11-8
35th:     Alex Bradley, Wellford, S.C., five bass, 8-13
36th:     Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., three bass, 6-14

Complete results from throughout the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 150 bass weighing 411 pounds, 7 ounces caught by 33 pros on Saturday. The catch included 26 five-bass limits.

Pro Colby Miller of Elmer, Louisiana, brought a 5-pound, 6-ounce largemouth to the scale that was the biggest of the day to earn the Berkley Big Bass award of $1,000.

The three-day Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats is hosted by Explore La Crosse and showcases the top 36 anglers from the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitations season as they compete for a share of the $417,000 prize pool.

The full field of 36 anglers competed in Days 1 & 2 on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 10 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, now advance to the final round on Championship Sunday. The angler with the heaviest three-day total will win the grand prize of up to $135,000 and qualification into REDCREST 2026 where they will compete against the sport’s best for $300,000.

The final 10 anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT Sunday from Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton St. in La Crosse. The Championship weigh-in will be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live on Championship Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats at the Mississippi River in La Crosse will premiere as two two-hour episodes, with the first episode premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 8 on CBS Sports Network, and the Championship Round premiering on Saturday, Nov. 15. New MLF5 episodes premiere each Saturday morning on CBS Sports beginning in October.

Alex Davis Leads Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship on Mississippi River

Brian Carter

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September 5, 2025

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Alex Davis Leads Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship on Mississippi River

Alabama pro catches limit weighing 18-13 to take early 5-ounce lead, Angler of the Year Banks Shaw looms in second

LA CROSSE, Wis. (Sept. 5, 2025) – Breezy to the max and far from warm, Day 1 of the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats on the Mississippi River was a struggle for many. While more than half the field caught more than 12 pounds, a limit wasn’t a given, and nobody got over the 19-pound mark. Still, two high fliers emerged early, as both pro Alex Davis of Guntersville, Alabama, and reigning Angler of the Year and Rookie of the Year Banks Shaw of Harrison, Tennessee, caught over 18 pounds to start things off.

Davis sacked up 18-13 for the lead while Shaw wrangled 18-8 for second. Pro Jimmy Washam of Stantonville, Tennessee, who won the Tackle Warehouse TITLE championship in La Crosse in 2021, caught 16-9 and local favorite Steve Lopez of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, rounded up 16-2 for third and fourth, respectively.

Day 1 saw a variety of patterns in play, with pros making hay in the remaining mats, some running main-river current breaks, and plenty doing damage in the Black River. Tomorrow, with no forward-facing sonar, many pros will be able to keep plugging without a hitch, but some will certainly need to make some adjustments.

Link to Morning Photo Gallery from Day 1: Invitationals Championship on the Mississippi River gets underway
Link to Afternoon Photo Gallery from Day 1: A windy day of Mississippi River bass fishing
Link to Video of Fish-Catch Highlights of Day 1 from the Mississippi River

Magical mat boosts Davis
Typically in the hunt on the Upper Mississippi, Davis came into the event off a solid practice and happy to be fishing a championship again. After a fairly slow start to the day, he blitzed up the leaderboard with big largemouth.

“I caught two on a drop-shot, and then I fished for three hours and didn’t really catch anything,” he said. “Then I pulled up to one mat and caught those three and a 4-pounder in like 10 minutes. Then I left, fished the rest of the day and culled one more time on a (Megabass) Magdraft.”

Though it’s hard to anticipate leading an event, Davis knew he was on to something after practice.

“I was hoping it was going to go like that,” he said. “There’s one place, and it’s kind of special. I only sampled it for about 10 minutes today – it was pretty awesome.”

With a much calmer forecast for Day 2, Davis could have a great opportunity to do some more damage, or, he could also arrive at his juice to find it gone.

“The wind was terrible, you can’t cast,” Davis said. “Where I’m at, most of the mat is gone, but there was a little bit left and it was terrible to try to cast. I hope it’ll l be there tomorrow.”

Regardless, Davis is in the hunt, and though he’s won at the Toyota Series and BFL levels, he’s never got it done over more than 10 years fishing the FLW Tour, Pro Circuit and Invitationals.

“It usually haunts me, usually I’m leading or second after the first day and then I nosebomb the second day,” he said. “We’re going to try to correct that this time. It’d be everything to win, especially the championship – it would be awesome.”

Spectacular Shaw does it again
The winner of the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year award and Polaris Rookie of the Year, Shaw has been a revelation this season. So, despite never having fished the Mississippi River before, it was no surprise to observers when he started putting meat on deck.

“I knew the places I found in practice had potential, and I caught plenty of solid smallmouth,” Shaw said. “But I never caught a 4-pounder, and I had two 4s today and a 3 ¾ (on Day 1). It definitely went a little better than expected, but it didn’t completely blow my mind. I knew I was around some pretty big smallmouth.”

Weighing all brown fish on Day 1, it sounds like Shaw is planning on a more diverse gameplan for Day 2.

“I’m going to mix it up tomorrow. I saved a lot of largemouth today that I think didn’t get fished,” he said. “I know I can catch some of the smallmouth again, but I don’t think I’m going to go up to Pool 7 again, I’m probably going to stick around here and shoot for that 16-pound mark and then go up the last day.”

Though turning the electronics off on Day 2 has proved to be no issue for Shaw all year, he’s certainly using his LiveScope more than Davis is. According to the young Tennessee pro, his forward-facing sonar isn’t critical in this one.

“Whenever I’m looking for new areas, it is, it’s lining up the cast,” he explained. “I caught one 4-pounder today on an area I need it, but most of the places it isn’t too bad without it. It could honestly be better.”

If Shaw can win, he’ll complete one of the best seasons of all-time with a title, which would be a pretty incredible way to jumpstart a career.

“In practice I didn’t really think I was around the fish to do it,” said Shaw. “Slowly I started to piece it together, and today I really started to think about it, it would be crazy to get the clean sweep. I lost a 4-pounder at the end of the day today, and something like that could get in your head a little bit, but it makes me want to go out tomorrow and catch them even better.”

The standings after Day 1 on the Mississippi River are:

1st:        Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., five bass, 18-13
2nd:       Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 18-8
3rd:       Jimmy Washam, Stantonville, Tenn., five bass, 16-9
4th:        Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., five bass, 16-2
5th:        Ken Thompson, Roaring Springs, Pa., five bass, 15-14
6th:        Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 15-10
7th:        Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 15-2
8th:        Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., five bass, 15-0
9th:        Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 14-13
10th:     Christopher Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 14-11
11th:     Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 14-6
12th:     Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 13-13
13th:     Hayden Marbut, Grant, Ala., five bass, 13-7
14th:     Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., five bass, 13-2
15th:     Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., five bass, 12-15
16th:     Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 12-14
17th:     Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 12-13
18th:     Cal Lane, Grant, Ala., five bass, 12-9
19th:     Christian Greico, New Bern, N.C., five bass, 12-5
20th:     Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala., four bass, 12-2
20th:     Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, five bass, 12-2
22nd:    Lane Olson, Forest Grove, Ore., five bass, 12-1
23rd:     Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala., five bass, 11-15
24th:     Keith Poche, Cecil, Ala., five bass, 11-7
25th:     Terry Fisher, Decatur, Ala., five bass, 11-5
26th:     Jordan Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 11-0
27th:     Colby Miller, Elmer, La., five bass, 10-14
28th:     Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich., three bass, 10-9
29th:     Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., four bass, 8-15
30th:     Alex Bradley, Wellford, S.C., five bass, 8-13
30th:     Dustin Smith, Trussville, Ala., four bass, 8-13
32nd:    Britt Myers Jr., Clover, S.C., four bass, 7-8
33rd:     Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., three bass, 7-2
34th:     Brian Latimer, Belton, S.C., three bass, 6-9
35th:     Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., two bass, 3-8
36th:     Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., one bass, 2-10

Complete results from throughout the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 163 bass weighing 436 pounds, 11 ounces caught by the 36 pros on Friday. The catch included 27 five-bass limits.

Davis’ 5-pound, 9-ounce largemouth was also the Berkley Big Bass of the day and he was awarded Friday’s payout of $1,000.

The three-day Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats is hosted by Explore La Crosse and showcases the top 36 anglers from the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitations season as they compete for a share of the $417,000 prize pool.

The full field of 36 anglers will compete in Days 1 & 2 on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 10 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday. The angler with the heaviest three-day total will win the grand prize of up to $135,000 and qualification into REDCREST 2026 where they will compete against the sport’s best for $300,000.

Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each day from Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton St. in La Crosse. Weigh-ins will be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live on each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats at the Mississippi River in La Crosse will premiere as two two-hour episodes, with the first episode premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 8 on CBS Sports Network, and the Championship Round premiering on Saturday, Nov. 15. New MLF5 episodes premiere each Saturday morning on CBS Sports beginning in October.

September Smith Mouuntain Lake Fishing Report by Chad Green

Brian Carter

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September 5, 2025

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September Smith Mouuntain Lake Fishing Report by Chad Green

            SMITH MOUNTIAN LAKE FISHING REPORT
                          By: Captain Chad Green
                   www.lastcastguideservicesml.com

September is here and the fall fishing is coming quickly. Get out on the water when you can and enjoy the sunrises and sunsets. Practice catch and release as much as possible to preserve our great fisheries out there. As always, just make one more Last Cast, as it could be the next trophy fish.
Visit Indian Point Marina at Hales Ford Bridge for any tackle that you may need, and they will fix you up.
Visit https://missilebaits.store/and check out all they have to offer.
Special Thanks to Brian Carter at the https://thebasscast.com/
Check out Smith Mountain Boat and Tackle Penhook for your boating needs https ://www.smboats.com

PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE ON CITATION SIZE FISH

Largemouth Bass/Smallmouth Bass

The bass have started their transition this month in to their fall patterns. Look for fish to be in many depth ranges and a variety of lures will be needed with changing weather. Target rocky areas, flat points shallow drop offs and deeper docks. Topwater in the mornings can be productive this month and will produce some quality fish. Primary baits in the Fall are usually crawfish imitating lures and will produce the most bites. Shakey Heads, Plastic worms, Drop shots, and Jigs will produce fish anywhere from 5 to 15ft in the fall. Topwater and Crankbaits will also be a players in September as well. This is a great opportunity to catch some trophy fish. Smallmouth will still be found near humps, shoals and rocky areas using the same lures. Make sure you take care of your fish in the early fall as they can have Barotrauma and may need air released to survive. Some larger trophy fish show up in Sept/Oct to feed as the water cools and several fish in 8-10lb range have been caught in the last 2 weeks.

Striped Bass
Striper fishing will be good this month and look for them in larger schools as they start to group up for fall. They will travel in smaller schools searching for feeding opportunities. This jigging in the 30-50ft range will produce fish throughout the day as well and larger fish will show up this month as well at times and may be in smaller schools. The lower end of the lake to mid lake is where most of the action will be this month. Some fish have been found on the surface feeding early mornings and late evenings and can be fast and furious action. Look for fish in the mouths of the larger tributaries and large bays this month. Larger topwater plugs can be productive. Swing by Indian Point Marina they provide you with a great selection of what you need.

Crappie
Most of the Crappie have been in the 15-25 foot range.

Is Profesional Bass Fishing at a Crossroads?

Brian Carter

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September 5, 2025

0

Is Profesional Bass Fishing at a Crossroads?

Professional Bass Fishing at a Crossroads: Can New Rules Restore the Soul?

Professional Bass Fishing at a Crossroads: Can New Rules Restore the Soul?

The world of professional bass fishing has faced a reckoning. The sport that built its foundation on blue-collar grit and relatability found itself mired in debates over technology, scandals, and a growing disconnect from its fanbase. But from this crisis emerges a season of profound change and unexpected optimism, suggesting that the soul of the sport might not be lost, but rediscovered.

A New Dawn: Embracing Change for 2026

The numbers were a wake-up call. Major League Fishing’s consolidation of its Bass Pro Tour for 2025 sparked necessary conversations about sustainability and opportunity. Rather than a sign of pure decline, it can be seen as a strategic recalibration, forcing the entire industry to think differently about the future. This period of contraction is giving way to a 2026 season focused on innovation and fan engagement, with tours making bold moves to address the core issues head-on.

Rebuilding Trust: A Zero-Tolerance Standard

The integrity crisis of 2025, with high-profile disqualifications, was a painful but necessary purge. The stringent enforcement of rules and the use of polygraph tests, while controversial, demonstrate a new, non-negotiable standard. The message for 2026 is clear: cheating will be caught, and consequences will be severe. This tough love is the essential first step in rebuilding the trust that fans must have to believe in the competition they’re watching.

The Forward-Facing Sonar Solution: Drama & Compromise

The endless debate over forward-facing sonar (FFS) has finally moved past mere complaining and into the realm of creative solutions. While the NPFL’s outright ban for 2025 was a bold statement, other tours are experimenting with more nuanced approaches.

The most intriguing innovation comes from B.A.S.S., which conducted a pre-season coin flip on September 4, 2025, to determine the forward-facing sonar (FFS) status for each 2026 Elite Series event well before the season begins. This move directly addresses the “have and have-not FFS” elitism concern by introducing an element of chance that levels the playing field, but does so well in advance, allowing anglers to strategically prepare for the entire season. Anglers now know exactly which tournaments will require traditional techniques and which will allow modern technology, transforming the season into a test of versatility and preparation.

Bridging the Gap: A Return to Authenticity

The issues of gear flexing, sponsor oversell, and spot hypocrisy are being heard. A new wave of anglers and content creators is leading a charge toward authenticity. The focus is slowly shifting from the price tag of the boat to the skill of the angler inside it. Fans are increasingly rewarding pros who offer genuine interaction, practical education, and a relatable passion for fishing over manufactured content and obvious sales pitches. The community is holding its heroes to a higher standard, and the pros who will thrive in 2026 and beyond are those listening and adapting.

NPFL: The Catalyst for Change

The National Professional Fishing League should be commended for its courage. Its radical stance on FFS forced every other organization to critically examine their own policies. Rather than being “behind the times,” the NPFL proved to be a catalyst, sparking the essential debate that led to innovative compromises like the coin flip. It demonstrated that tours are willing to make tough, fan-friendly decisions to protect the integrity of the sport.

2026: The Season of the Angler

The 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most fascinating in years. We hope we are moving beyond the stagnant debates and into an era of experimentation.

· MLF is streamlining for a more focused product.
· B.A.S.S. is introducing the game-of-chance coin flip, making every lake a must-see TV.
· NPFL is providing a pure, FFS alternative for purists.

This variety offers something for every fan and creates a diverse ecosystem where different styles of angling can be celebrated.

The exodus of the casual fan doesn’t have to be permanent. The path to winning them back is through authenticity, competitive integrity, and innovative formats that prioritize skill over technology. The conversations have started, the changes are being implemented, and the future of professional bass fishing is suddenly looking brighter, we hope. Will 2026 be a year of incredible redemption?

B.A.S.S. announces results of coin flip determining 2026 Forward-Facing Sonar Events

Brian Carter

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September 5, 2025

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Sept. 5, 2025

B.A.S.S. announces results of coin flip determining 2026 Forward-Facing Sonar Events

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — More than 50,000 fans tuned in live on Bassmaster.com to watch a first-of-its-kind show where the venues for the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series were paired and a coin flip determined which events will allow forward-facing sonar (FFS). The new format, announced earlier this week, limits the use of FFS to a maximum of five regular-season Elite tournaments.

On the live show, hosted by Tommy Sanders, Mark Zona and Davy Hite, the results of the random coin flips created a mix of technology-driven and traditional fishing events:

Lake Guntersville — Non-FFS
Lake Martin — FFS
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway — Non-FFS
Arkansas River — FFS
Lake Murray — FFS
Santee Cooper Lakes — Non-FFS
Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound — FFS
Lake Champlain — Non-FFS
St. Lawrence River — FFS

The 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour will remain an “all-tech” event, allowing forward-facing sonar since all qualifiers earned their berths under the existing rules.

Elite Series pros Gerald Swindle, Drew Benton, John Crews and Bryan Schmitt joined the live show and applauded the move. Swindle emphasized that the hybrid approach “keeps the sport grounded in tradition while still letting technology shine.” Benton added that the new format “will test versatility like never before,” while Crews noted that “fans are going to love the diversity of tactics showcased from one event to the next.” Schmitt may have summed it up best: “There’s gonna be something to love for every fan out there.”

“Forward-facing sonar has been a game-changer for the sport, but our anglers, members and fans asked us to find the right balance,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson earlier this week when announcing the rule. “The coin-flip format was designed to create transparency in choosing the venues, parity in fishing styles, and to highlight a wide range of skills to keep Bassmaster competition exciting for everyone.”

With nearly half the schedule prohibiting live sonar, the 2026 Elite Series promises a Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race where competitors must prove themselves both with and without technology — a season-long storyline that fans can follow from the first cast on Lake Guntersville to the final weigh-in on the St. Lawrence River.

2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops,Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama

Team USA Will Lean On Diversity – Kickers Will Be Critical At World Championship In South Africa

Bass News

Brian Carter

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September 4, 2025

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Team USA Will Lean On Diversity – Kickers Will Be Critical At World Championship In South Africa

Catching a five-fish limit shouldn’t be much of a problem for the 45 two-angler teams that will participate in the 19th Black Bass World Championship this week at Arabie Dam in South Africa. The competition will come down to which duos can connect with a couple of 5-pound-plus bag-boosters on each of the three days.

Arabie, also known as Flag Boshielo Dam, is teeming with largemouth in the 1- to 2 1/2-pound class that can be caught virtually at will by the highly skilled anglers from 15 nations who’ll be on the water Thursday through Saturday. Fish weighing 3 to 4 pounds are extremely scarce, but there’s a fair number of 5- to 6-pounders.

Specimens in the latter class will determine which teams stand atop the medals podium after Day 3.

“It’s a really cool reservoir that’s got quite a few things to offer, but the fish population is a little bit wonky,” said Drew Gill, one of the six anglers who’ll fish for Team USA. “There’s a blue million of the smaller-class fish, but bites over 2 3/4 pounds are really difficult.

“It seems like there’s a window of 3- and 4-pounders that simply doesn’t exist, but we’ve caught a few over 5 and a couple 6s – it’s just hard to generate those bites.”

Arabie, a 3,200-acre impoundment on the Olifants River, is in Limpopo, the northernmost of South Africa’s nine provinces. It’s springtime in the Southern Hemisphere and the air and water temperatures are warming. WeatherChannel.com predicts mostly sunny skies for the competition days, with temps in the high 80s to low 90s and moderate winds rarely exceeding 10 mph.

In addition to Team USA and the host South Africans, other participating nations are Canada, Mexico, Australia, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Serbia, Croatia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini.

The hammer-laden Team USA squad, coached by Kevin VanDam, will feature pairings of Gill/Ott DeFoe, Jacob Wheeler/Kyle Welcher and Scott Martin/Logan Parks.

Wheeler, who recently wrapped up his fourth Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year title in the past five campaigns with his 10th career BPT victory at Saginaw Bay in Michigan, said Arabie reminds him of some lakes in Texas, but with a bit more steepness to its shoreline. With some fish still in the prespawn phase, some on the beds and others having completed the annual reproduction ritual, he says adjustments will be required throughout the event.

“Fish can be caught from 1 foot (of water depth) down to 20,” he said. “There’s a major warming trend going on and you don’t know what the next day’s going to bring. There’s a full moon on the way and you could have the ultimate wave of spawners move up.

“We’ll see how it plays out, but I think 16 to 20 pounds will be a solid bag. It could be super volatile, though, because guys could do good one day and then struggle the next just because they don’t catch the big ones. A lot will change before the end of the tournament.”

Martin, a veteran of numerous international competitions, said the three American boats could each be employing different tactics at any given time during the event.

“I don’t know if it’s just because things are different in the Southern Hemisphere, but it seems like the (bigger) fish should be doing certain things that they’re not and it’s been a little more challenging than I’d expected,” he said. “Drew’s ability to find the offshore fish and Wheeler finding the sneaky stuff like he always does will be important, so I think it’s great that our team is really diverse.”

Added Gill: “Our confidence level at this place right now is kind of hard to quantify, but our commitment level is high. We’ve got a good grasp of what we need to do as a whole, but knowing it and going out and doing it are two different things.

“Each boat will get between zero and six opportunities a day to catch a fish that’ll make a difference. If you get six, you could catch a mega-bag, but zero or one will make it look like you have no idea what you’re doing at all.”

Minocqua Readies for MLF’s Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Next Week

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Brian Carter

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September 4, 2025

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Minocqua Readies for MLF’s Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Next Week

Second event of MLF Fishing Clash Team Series to take place over six days next week at mystery fisheries

MINOCQUA, Wis. (Sept. 4, 2025) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops is set to continue the 2025 season next week, Sept. 14-19, with the second event of the year, taking place in Minocqua, Wisconsin – the Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Bass Boat Technologies.

Hosted by the Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau, the Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Bass Boat Technologies is the second of four Fishing Clash Team series events in 2025. In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols, Minocqua, Wisconsin, was not revealed to Team Series competitors until six weeks prior to the start of the tournament. All fishable waters within 60 miles of Minocqua then went off limits to anglers. Fans watching the MLFNOW! livestream will find out the day’s competition waters right along with the anglers each morning.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Major League Fishing Team Series to Minocqua for the very first time,” said Sherry Hulett, Sports & Group Travel Director at the Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau. “Hosting this professional team-based event not only highlights our beautiful fisheries but also will also bring significant economic impact to our local businesses. It’s a tremendous opportunity to showcase Minocqua as a premier destination for competitive fishing and outdoor recreation.”

Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream. Every minute of every event will still stream in full on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV, and Rumble, with the final period each day being broadcast live nationwide on RFD-TV. Post-produced episodes of the Fishing Clash Team Series will start in January 2026 on Outdoor Channel.

The 12 teams of professional anglers that will compete in the Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Bass Boat Technologies in Minocqua, Wisconsin, are:

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

Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga.

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

Team Ferguson:
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La.
Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C.

Team Fishing Clash:
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.

Team Knighten:
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn.
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark.

Team Kubota:
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn.

Team Lucas Oil:
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La.

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

Team Smokey Mountain:
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.

Team StarTron:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C.

Team YETI:
Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.

The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Bass Boat Technologies will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting Feb. 14, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.

For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

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Davis Maintains Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship on Mississippi River

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B.A.S.S. announces results of coin flip determining 2026 Forward-Facing Sonar Events

Team USA Will Lean On Diversity – Kickers Will Be Critical At World Championship In South Africa

Minocqua Readies for MLF’s Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Next Week

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