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Tyler Trent & Josh Hooks Win CATT Old North Fall Lake, NC Spring Final June 17, 2023

Brian Carter
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Tyler Trent & Josh Hooks Win CATT Old North Fall Lake, NC Spring Final June 17, 2023

We had a great Spring on the 2023 Old North CATT Trail! The total payback for the 2023 Old North Spring Trail was $68,055.00! Thanks for fishing with us! We will post the 2024 Old North schedule very soon! Once again, we will guarantee 1st Place $8,000! You will again have 2 chances to win big! The 2024 Old North Spring Final and the 2024 CATT Academy Championship on Kerr Lake!

Tyler Trent & Josh Hooks took 1st Place at the 2023 Old North Final with 5 bass weighing 25.23 lbs! They collected $8,830.00!

Bo Adams & Brian Fritts claimed 2nd Place with a limit weighing 23.58 lbs! Kick in the 2nd BF at 7.20 lbs and they took home $2,262.00!

David & Dustin Hall 3rd Place with 21.53 lbs and they earned $1,290.00!

Chad Fara & Stephen Lasher 4th Place with 19.66 lbs!

Thomas & Gavin Sheffer 5th Place 19.37 lbs! They weighed the Academy BF at 8.38 lbs!

David Walton & Justin Young 6th 18.82 lbs!

Kevin Cheatham & Johnny Wilder 7th Place 18.64 lbs!

8th and last money spot! Justin Ingle & Lee Gay with 17.98 lbs!

TeamBFWeightWinnings
Josh Hooks – Tyler Trent6.4525.23$8,830.00
Bo Adams – Brian Fritts7.2023.58$2,262.00
David Hall – Dustin Hall6.9021.53$1,290.00
Chad Fara – Stephen Lasher0.0019.66$500.00
Thomas Sheffer – Gavin Sheffer 8.3819.37$708.00
David Walton – Justin Young5.8618.82$300.00
Johnny Wilder – Kevin Cheatham0.0018.64$250.00
Justin Ingle – Lee Gay0.0017.98$200.00
James Wall – Michael Alverson6.2717.74
Tony Stanley – Chase Stanley0.0016.81
Mark Williams – Tim Goad5.6616.60
Alec Lower – Richard Lower6.3716.32
Joe Osborne – John Piltcher0.0016.22
Jacob Moore – Austin Woody0.0015.97
Clay Ausely-  Ken McNeil5.6115.75
Toni Fofi – Marl Mohler5.4815.61
Cahd Craven – Ben Cannon0.0015.49
Scott Woodson – Todd Staker6.3815.20
Dennis Allen0.0015.07
Travis Watson – Shannon Stewart0.0014.67
Jason Suggs – Calton Hall0.0014.22
James Richmond – John Richmond0.0013.06
John McClelland – Larry Godfrey0.0013.00
David Farmer – Matt Deese0.0012.84
Jerry Marshburn – Willy Burns0.0012.69
Todd Sumner – Rich Z0.0012.58
Matthew Jones – Sonny Tindal0.0012.09
Larry Hipps – Dean Larison0.0011.92
Roby Wyatt – Mike Prytula0.0011.76
Jerry Dean – Robert Dean3.8710.21
Johnny Howard – William Howard0.0010.15
Lucas Lobaugh – Jeremy Moody0.0010.03
Preston Jacobs – Adam Bessette0.009.52
Dale Delaney Jr – Mike Salguero0.008.80
DJ MYSLINSKI – DEAN MYSLINKSI0.008.42
Jeff Beasley – Park Beasley0.000.00
Doug Stallings – Seth Ellis0.000.00
Billy West – Curtis Vaughn0.000.00
Owen Pinhollow – Tyler Goss0.000.00
Eric Schell – Todd Smith0.000.00
Bradley McLaurin – Mike Marchant0.000.00
Mike Rhew – Jonathan Rhew0.000.00
Justin Rhew0.000.00
Dennis Reedy – Scott Smith0.000.00
Total Entrys$6,160.00
BONUS $$1,750.00
Old North Spring Final Fund$6,400.00
Total Paid At Ramp$14,340.00
Grand Total Paid Spring 2023 Old North$68,055.00

Ray Hogge & Donnie Daniel Win CATT Potomac River, VA Spring Final June 17, 2023

Brian Carter
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Ray Hogge & Donnie Daniel Win CATT Potomac River, VA Spring Final June 17, 2023

We had a Great Spring on the Potomac River! Total payback at the Spring Final was $8,260.00! After the conclusion of the Spring Final the total payback totaled up to $24,830.00! Thanks, for the support and thank you Clayton Payne!

Ray Hogge & Donnie Daniel weighed in 5 bass at 19.66 along with the Academy BF at 6.03 lbs taking 1st Place at the Potomac Spring Final worth $4,225.00! They also received an Academy Gift Card!

2023 CATT Potomac River Spring Point Winners!

BigBig
TeamSnakeFishWeightWinnings
Ray Hogge – Donnie Daniel 0.006.0319.66$4,225.00
Bobby Shetley – John Fair0.004.2816.41$1,500.00
Jarvis Raynor – Perry Stevenson0.004.1515.93$1,000.00
Buck Covington – Jesepth Hughes0.000.0015.69$565.00
Sam Musselman – Ryan Musselman0.000.0015.31$250.00
Donnie Ward – Billy Lewis0.003.9514.78
Steve Schantz – Billy Boyd0.003.6513.94
John Stevens – Jerry Lescallett0.004.6413.76$80.00
Scott Mattern – Derek Edwards0.000.0013.37
Clayton Payne – Thomas Palmer3.960.0012.76
David Hooker – Kenny Henderson0.000.0012.51
Safa Rana0.000.0012.27
Kyle McHenry – Brock Dinch0.000.0012.14
Tyler Burriss – Jeff Stickel0.000.0011.33
Robbie Henderson – Corey Henderson0.000.0010.55
Cody Dent – Bubba Caffie0.000.0010.20
John Ward – John Ward Jr0.000.0010.07
Ben Moon – Mike Thomas0.000.009.95
Nick Sapio0.000.009.95
Josh Payne – Steve Starkey0.000.009.56
Scottie Melton – Shawn Smith5.090.009.21$180.00
Eddie Pegues – Londell Coles0.000.008.99
Karl Sampson – Donnie Caldwell0.000.008.99
Luke Beard – Brian Kline12.710.008.49$460.00
Clifton Cooper – Donald Heflin0.000.000.00
William Gordon – Taylor Gordon0.000.000.00
Desmond K. Allen – Sione Sake0.000.000.00
Nick Lober0.000.000.00
Total Entrys$4,480.00
BONUS $$2,065.00
Potomac Spring Final Fund$1,715.00
Total Paid At Ramp$8,260.00
Grand Total Paid Spring 2023 Potomac$24,830.00

Summer is one of the best times for bass fishing, but

Brian Carter
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Summer is one of the best times for bass fishing, but

Summer is one of the best times for bass fishing, but it can also be one of the most challenging. The warm water temperatures and bright sun can make the fish more elusive, and it can be difficult to find the right bait and technique to entice them. Here are some tips for summer time bass fishing that can help you increase your catch.

First, pay attention to the time of day. Bass are most active during the early morning and late afternoon when the water is cooler. Try to time your fishing trips accordingly, and focus on areas with shade or deeper water during the hottest part of the day.

Second, use the right bait. In the summer, bass tend to be more selective and may ignore certain types of bait. Try using topwater lures early in the morning or late in the evening, when the fish are more likely to be feeding on the surface. During the day, switch to jigs, worms, or other soft plastics that can be fished slowly and steadily.

Third, pay attention to the water conditions. In the summer, bass tend to move to deeper water where the temperature is cooler. Look for areas with structure, such as drop-offs, ledges, or weed beds, where the fish may be hiding. Also, pay attention to the water clarity and adjust your bait and technique accordingly.

Fourth, be patient. Summer bass fishing can be frustrating, as the fish may be more elusive and picky about what they eat. Take your time and experiment with different baits and techniques until you find what works.

In conclusion, summer time bass fishing can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors and catch some big fish. By paying attention to the time of day, using the right bait, focusing on water conditions, and being patient, you can increase your chances of a successful fishing trip.

Salisbury’s Bell Notches Sixth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at High Rock Lake

Brian Carter
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Salisbury’s Bell Notches Sixth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at High Rock Lake
Boater Rodney Bell of Salisbury, North Carolina, and Strike-King co-angler David Deciucis of Chester, Virginia.
Virginia’s Deciucis Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

LEXINGTON, N.C. (June 19, 2023) – Boater Rodney Bell of Salisbury, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Piedmont Division. Bell earned $5,024 for his victory.

“I started early with a buzzbait and caught one doing that,” said Bell. “It was extremely crowded where I was, and I live on High Rock, so I switched creeks to get away from the crowd.”

Three of Bell’s six BFL wins have come on High Rock Lake, and his knowledge of the fishery, especially the mid-lake area where he fished during competition, paid off during the tournament. His relocation quickly produced a 4½-pounder and a 6-15 bass, the Berkley Big Bass of the day.

“When I caught that big one, I decided I was there for the duration of the day,” Bell said. “I settled down and fished docks and laydowns with an E&L Lures jig and a couple of bass came on a worm. I stayed shallow all day long and caught nine keepers.

“I’ve fished probably 150 of these BFL events, but it’s always special to win at home,” Bell added.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

                1st:        Rodney Bell, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 21-1, $5,024
                2nd:       Travis Donaldson, Cleveland, N.C., five bass, 20-9, $2,197
                3rd:       Ryan Powroznik, Hopewell, Va., five bass, 20-3, $1,464
                4th:        Junior Roberts, Alexandria, Va., five bass, 18-4, $1,025
                5th:        Evan White, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., five bass, 18-2, $879
                6th:        David Wright, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 17-1, $1,775 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
                7th:        Chad Poteat, Mount Airy, N.C., five bass, 16-13, $1,232
                8th:        Ron Wolfarth, Oakboro, N.C., five bass, 16-3, $659
                9th:        Dennis Burdette, Pembroke, Va., five bass, 15-8, $586
                10th:     Ladd Whicker, Winston-Salem, N.C., four bass, 15-1, $513

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Bell also caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $630.



David Deciucis of Chester, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,379 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 12 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

                1st:        David Deciucis, Chester, Va., five bass, 14-12, $2,379
                2nd:       Hank Cooke, Emporia, Va., five bass, 13-10, $907
                2nd:       Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., four bass, 13-10, $907
                4th:        Eric Nelson, Gainesville, Va., five bass, 13-5, $509
                5th:        Ben Dacey, Powhatan, Va., five bass, 12-15, $786
                6th:        Matthew Noraas, Pamplin, Va., five bass, 12-1, $400
                7th:        Vernon Adams, Clayton, N.C., five bass, 11-15, $363
                8th:        Mekye Barnes, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 11-14, $327
                9th:        Bobby Henderson, Charlotte, N.C., two bass, 10-13, $603
                10th:     Tim Privette, Jr., Wendell, N.C., five bass, 10-9, $254

Bobby Henderson of Charlotte, N.C., earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $312, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Evan White of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, leads the BFL Piedmont Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 719 points, while Timothy Kinder of Fairfax, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 720 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 2024 BFL All-American.

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

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

Lebanon’s Mallicoat Dominates Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Old Hickory Lake 

Brian Carter
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Lebanon’s Mallicoat Dominates Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Old Hickory Lake 
Boater Joey Mallicoat of Lebanon, Tennessee, and Strike-King co-angler John Fitzpatrick of Baxter, Tennessee.
Baxter’s Fitzpatrick Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

GALLATIN, Tenn. (June 19, 2023) – Boater Joey Mallicoat of Lebanon, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Old Hickory Lake . The tournament, hosted by Sumner County Tourism, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Music City Division. Mallicoat earned $12,438, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

“I ran down the lake and fished offshore all day,” said Mallicoat. “I caught a 4-pounder on my very first cast of the morning. I had a limit in the first 30 minutes and just culled up throughout the day.”

Mallicoat said he focused his fishing in water from Cedar Creek to the dam and used a football-head jig to target current breaks and hard spots – typical offshore fishing – seven to 15 feet deep.

“Around 12:30 I had a little over 17 pounds, and I thought I would at least have a shot at winning,” Mallicoat said.

Mallicoat said he caught a final 5-pounder with 45 minutes to go in competition to anchor his bag.

“When I caught that one, I thought somebody would really have to catch them in order to beat me,” Mallicoat said. “But there are a lot of good guys fishing out there, and I’ve seen a lot of them catch more than 20 pounds, so I knew it was possible.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

                1st:        Joey Mallicoat, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 20-10, $12,438 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
                2nd:       Daniel Johnson, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 15-13, $1,859
                3rd:       Tim Messer, Hendersonville, Tenn., five bass, 15-12, $1,052
                3rd:       Jase Jackson, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 15-12, $1,052
                5th:        Corey Steakley, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 15-2, $744
                6th:        Josh Womack, Gallatin, Tenn., five bass, 14-3, $1,167
                7th:        Mickey Beck, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 13-15, $589
                7th:        Dillon Massia, Lafayette, Tenn., five bass, 13-15, $589
                9th:        Tony Eckler, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 13-8, $496
                10th:     Nick Uebelhor, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 13-6, $434

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Josh Womack of Gallatin, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $485.



John Fitzpatrick of Baxter, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,101 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 2 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

                1st:        John Fitzpatrick, Baxter, Tenn., five bass, 13-2, $2,101
                2nd:       Blake Whittaker, Lenoir City, Tenn., five bass, 12-4, $929
                3rd:       Gilbert Jolley, Livingston, Tenn., five bass, 10-15, $819
                4th:        Mekiah Jack, Mount Juliet, Tenn., five bass, 10-10, $434
                5th:        Rocky Williams, Portland, Tenn., five bass, 10-8, $372
                6th:        Shane Overly, Brentwood, Tenn., five bass, 10-6, $341
                7th:        John Morrison, McMinnville, Tenn., four bass, 9-15, $310
                8th:        Jacob Frawley, Spring Hill, Tenn., five bass, 9-13, $279
                9th:        Mark Manley, Bowling Green, Ky., four bass, 9-6, $248
                10th:     Ricky England, Sparta, Tenn., four bass, 9-1, $ 217

Fitzpatrick also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $242, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Dillon Massia of Lafayette, Tennessee, leads the BFL Music City Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 939 points, while Rocky Williams of Portland, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 976 points.

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

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 2024 BFL All-American.

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

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

Bloomington’s Funkhouser Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on the Ohio River at Tanners Creek

Brian Carter
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Bloomington’s Funkhouser Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on the Ohio River at Tanners Creek
Boater Brian Funkhouser of Bloomington, Indiana, and Strike-King co-angler Martin Bryant of North Vernon, Indiana.
North Vernon’s Bryant Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

LAWRENCEBERG, Ind. (June 19, 2023) – Boater Brian Funkhouser of Bloomington, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Ohio River-Tanners Creek. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Hoosier Division. Funkhouser earned $4,315 for his victory.

“I spent a couple of days practicing for the event and found some fry guarders,” said Funkhouser. “I found them in a couple of creeks, so I had a plan.”

Funkhouser said he caught all five of his keeper fish, in Craig’s Creek, on shallow spinnerbaits. He said he thought his hopes for a win had disappeared after he lost a quality bass.

“I lost a good one and thought I’d end up maybe in the top five,” Funkhouser said. “I didn’t think I had a chance to win after I lost that fish. It’s the river; you can’t afford to lose any of them.

“To lose that one and end up winning is awesome,” Funkhouser added. “I’ve done this for a while now, and it’s always nice to beat the caliber of guys that fish in this league.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

                1st:        Brian Funkhouser, Bloomington, Ind., five bass, 8-1, $4,315
                2nd:       Doug Ruster, New Palestine, Ind., four bass, 6-4, $2,707
                3rd:       Travis Spivey, Union, Ky., five bass, 6-1, $1,439
                4th:        Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 5-12, $1,007
                5th:        Scott Bateman, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 5-11, $1,063
                6th:        Jeramiah Sifers, Sellersburg, Ind., two bass, 5-9, $1,011
                7th:        David Spivey, Hamilton, Ohio, three bass, 5-7, $719
                8th:        Erik Sanders, Bedford, Ind., one bass, 5-6, $1,757 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
                9th:        Brandon Barrett, Bloomington, Ind., four bass, 5-5, $575
                10th:     Kenneth Pincombe, Hamilton, Ohio, four bass, 5-4, $503

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Erik Sanders of Bedford, Indiana, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $610.



Martin Bryant of North Vernon, Indiana, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,140 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 7 pounds, 4 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

                1st:        Martin Bryant, North Vernon, Ind., three bass, 7-4, $2,140
                2nd:       Eric Moore, Hamilton, Ohio, four bass, 6-5, $1,070
                3rd:       Dan Pardue, Morgantown, Ind., four bass, 5-0, $605
                3rd:       Russell Vandiver, Greenfield, Ind., four bass, 5-0, $605
                5th:        Derek Jackson, New Albany, Ind., one bass, 4-15, $730
                6th:        Brandon Houston, Lakeside Park, Ky., three bass, 4-6, $392
                7th:        John Thomas, Quincy, Ind., one bass, 4-1, $357
                8th:        Greg Marshall, Paris, Ky., two bass, 3-14, $321
                9th:        Ryan Sykes, Fairfield, Ohio, two bass, 3-12, $685
                10th:     Collin Hillen, Evansville, Ind., three bass, 3-8, $237
                10th:     Rob Earickson, Camby, Ind., two bass, 3-8, $237

Derek Jackson of New Albany, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $302, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Mike Quinlin of Mooresville, Indiana, leads the BFL Hoosier Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 730 points, while Jacob Parks of Noblesville, Indiana, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 710 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 2024 BFL All-American.

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

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

Tennessee’s Hatfield Hammers 20-Pound, 11-Ounce Final-Day Limit to Win MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River

Brian Carter
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Tennessee’s Hatfield Hammers 20-Pound, 11-Ounce Final-Day Limit to Win MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River

Second-Year Pro Catches Biggest Limit of the Tournament on Final Day to Vault to Top of Leaderboard and Earn Top Payout of $117,500

MARBURY, Md. (June 19, 2023) – Pro Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit Monday weighing 20 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest limit weighed throughout the three-day tournament – to win the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River . Hatfield’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 53 pounds, 12 ounces, earned him the win by a 5-pound, 3-ounce margin over Bass Pro Tour angler Cody Meyer of Star, Idaho, who finished second with a three day total of 15 bass weighing 48-9, good for the $50,000 runner-up payout.

Link to Video of T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River Final Day Weigh-in
Link to Photo Gallery of Stop 5 at the Potomac River Day 3 Afternoon Highlights

After a Polaris Rookie of the Year win in 2021 on the Pro Circuit, Hatfield signed on to the new-look Invitationals for another go-round. After finishing 101st at Lake of the Ozarks in May, it looked like his Bass Pro Tour dreams may have gone by the wayside; but winning the Potomac vaulted him back into the Top 10 in points and may prove to be a key moment in a long career.

Starting the day in second behind Martin Villa, Hatfield knew he was close to a win. Still, the Top 10 was about as stacked as can be on the Potomac, and he also knew he needed to do more than just hold serve.

“Today I decided to scrap where I’ve been starting because it sucked yesterday,” Hatfield said. “I didn’t want to try to go in there and scrap out 14 or 15 pounds, I wanted to go for the win.”

So, he rolled into Chicamuxen Creek and started fishing in a recently opened spawning sanctuary.

“I knew it hadn’t had the pressure; I didn’t know if I could catch them in there, but I figured it hadn’t had the pressure like everywhere else,” Hatfield said. “So, I went in there and started catching them pretty quick. I got in a few areas there and caught them on a bunch of different things, but there was one little area in there that was a bream bed, and most of the big ones I caught, I caught off of it. When it went down it was pretty crazy.”

After catching a few swimming a jig and frogging in a marshy creek, Hatfield pulled out a popper as he roamed around. Things happened in a hurry after that.

“I stumbled into it as I was fishing, just going down the bank,” he said. “I threw a popper up close to the point, and one engulfed it. I kept throwing over there, and upon further inspection, after I caught some, I saw it was a bream bed. So, I actually went back to it later in the day and caught another 4-pounder off of it.”

Running bream beds has gotten a bit trendy recently, and the Top 10 definitely added them into the mix with the usual Potomac staples. For Hatfield, a big patch of spawning bluegill in Quantico Creek did a lot of the heavy lifting.
“I saw the one in Quantico the second day of practice and I saw there were a bunch of big ones swimming on it and it was easy to get bites,” Hatfield said. “I never found another one until today.

“I’d say out of 15 bass I weighed, maybe four or five came off something else,” he said. “Swimming a jig, a frog, ChatterBait, something like that. It was all on bream beds, basically.”

For his bream beds, Hatfield’s primary weapon was a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko with a No. 1 Hayabusa WRM929. He also mixed in a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait JackHammer, a 3/8-ounce  Hayabusa Lil’ Schmitty Swim Jig , a popping frog and a bone Lobina Rio Rico. He used Doomsday rods for all of his techniques, opting for a 7-foot, medium-heavy model for the wacky rig.

“I’ve wanted to win one of these, I’ve tried hard,” Hatfield went on to say. “I knew that I could do it, and today just shows that I can. I can’t wait for the next one, I’m ready to go right now.”

The top 50 pros at the T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River finished:

1st:        Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 15 bass, 53-12, $117,500 (includes $35,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd:       Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 15 bass, 48-9, $50,000
3rd:       Eric Panzironi, Longwood, Fla., 15 bass, 48-8, $20,000
4th:        Wyatt Frankens, Corrigan, Texas, 15 bass, 46-9, $18,000
5th:        Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 15 bass, 46-8, $17,000
6th:        Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala., 15 bass, 46-1, $17,000
7th:        Andrew Loberg, Rocklin, Calif., 15 bass, 46-0, $15,000
8th:        Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 45-13, $14,000
9th:        Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., 15 bass, 45-12, $13,000
10th:     Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus Grove, Ohio, 15 bass, 44-11, $12,000
11th:     Pete Ponds, Madison, Miss., 15 bass, 44-8, $10,000
12th:     Jim Moynagh, Shakopee, Minn., 15 bass, 44-5, $10,000
13th:     Jordan Collom, Canyon Lake, Calif., 15 bass, 44-4, $10,000
14th:     Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., 15 bass, 44-1, $10,000
15th:     Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 43-13, $10,000
16th:     Cody Spetz, Hollister, Mo., 15 bass, 43-12, $10,000
17th:     Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 15 bass, 43-11, $10,000
18th:     Hunter Eubanks, Inman, S.C., 15 bass, 43-11, $10,000
19th:     Cole Hewett, Orange Park, Fla., 15 bass, 43-10, $10,000
20th:     Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 43-9, $10,000
21st:      David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 15 bass, 43-7, $10,000
22nd:    Jeremy Southerly, Fulks Run, Va., 15 bass, 43-6, $10,000
23rd:     Robert Nakatomi, Sacramento, Calif., 15 bass, 42-14, $10,000
24th:     Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., 15 bass, 42-13, $10,000
25th:     Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 42-11, $10,000
26th:     Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-7, $10,000
27th:     Charlie Reed Jr., Gloucester, Va., 15 bass, 42-5, $10,000
28th:     Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 15 bass, 42-4, $10,000
29th:     Wayne Vaughan, Chester, Va., 15 bass, 42-3, $10,000
30th:     Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 15 bass, 42-2, $10,000
31st:      Blake Felix, Warsaw, Mo., 15 bass, 42-1, $8,000
32nd:    Cody Pike, Powhatan, Va., 15 bass, 42-1, $8,000
33rd:     Michael Catt, Jacksonville, Fla., 15 bass, 41-14, $8,000
34th:     Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La., 15 bass, 41-14, $8,000
35th:     Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., 15 bass, 41-13, $8,000
36th:     Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 15 bass, 41-11, $8,000
37th:     Joe Wieberg, Freeburg, Mo., 15 bass, 41-9, $8,000
38th:     Matt Greenblatt, Port Saint Lucie, Fla., 15 bass, 41-4, $8,000
39th:     John Duarte, Middle River, Md., 15 bass, 41-2, $8,000
40th:     Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 40-15, $8,000
41st:      Braxton Setzer, Wetumpka, Ala., 15 bass, 40-15, $8,000
42nd:    Ramie Colson Jr., Cadiz, Ky., 15 bass, 40-10, $8,000
43rd:     Terry Olinger, Louisa, Va., 15 bass, 40-9, $8,000
44th:     Eddie Carper, Valliant, Okla., 14 bass, 39-11, $8,000
45th:     Travis Harriman, Huntsville, Ark., 15 bass, 39-4, $8,000
46th:     Austin Culbertson, Moberly, Mo., 14 bass, 39-2, $8,000
47th:     Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 15 bass, 38-4, $8,000
48th:     Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 37-7, $8,000
49th:     Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 15 bass, 36-15, $8,000
50th:     Kyle Minke, Lindstrom, Minn., 14 bass, 36-12, $8,000

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 247 bass weighing 663 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the 50 pros Monday. The catch included 47 five-bass limits.

The three-day tournament was hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners and featured a roster of 150 pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024. The next Tackle Warehouse Invitational event will take place July 25-27 at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational at the Mississippi River Presented by Mercury in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Saturday and Sunday in a traditional five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to the final round on Championship Monday, where they competed for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River was determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will now receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.

The season-long Invitational Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) will also earn a berth into REDCREST and the Top 8 anglers in the season-long Invitational AOY point standings will qualify for the 2024 Bass Pro Tour. After four events in the six-event Qualifying Circuit, pro Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan, leads the AOY race with 953 points. Charlottesville, Virginia, pro Martin Villa sits in second place with 929 points, while Keith Carson of DeBary, Florida, is in third with 911 points. Pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, is in fourth place with 905 points, while Junction City, Wisconsin’s Matthew Stefan rounds out the top five with 874 points.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, October 28.

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

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

Minnesota’s Meyer Bags Big Bass to Secure Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event Victory at Wolf River Chain of Lakes 

Brian Carter
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0
Minnesota’s Meyer Bags Big Bass to Secure Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event Victory at Wolf River Chain of Lakes 
Boater Kyle Meyer of Blaine, Minnesota, and Strike-King co-angler Gage Griffin of Lake Forest, Illinois.
Illinois’ Griffin Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

WINNECONNE, Wis. (June 19, 2023) – Boater Kyle Meyer of Blaine, Minnesota, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Wolf River Chain of Lakes. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Great Lakes Division. Meyer earned $5,204 for his victory.

“I ran up to Lake Winnebago, and once I was there, I got three fish for 10 pounds,” said Meyer. “It was a good start to the day.”

Meyer said his first bass was a 3¼-pound bass that fell for a swimjig in lily pads, and a 4-pounder followed soon after. A couple of minutes later a 2¾-pounder took the jig. Meyer said his weight held with those three fish until 11 o’clock, then he relocated in search of bass to fill his limit.

“I caught two more keepers, but they were just small ones, so I knew I had to cull them,” Meyer said. “I ran back to my starting spot about noon, caught one, then ended up catching the big one, a 4-15. There was nothing special about today – just throwing a swimjig at the same stuff.

“When I caught that big one, I said, ‘Game over,’” Meyer continued. “There’s not that many 5-pounders out there. That was an absolute unicorn on this body of water.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

                1st:        Kyle Meyer, Blaine, Minn., five bass, 18-5, $5,204
                2nd:       Joe Pollak, Lake Geneva, Wis., five bass, 14-4, $2,629
                3rd:       Randy Oppermann, Redgranite, Wis., five bass, 14-0, $1,452
                4th:        Kevin Ruh, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 13-15, $1,517 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
                5th:        Jeff Ritter, Prairie du Chien, Wis., five bass, 13-9, $872
                6th:        Brad Wessling, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 13-5, $799
                7th:        Christopher Smith, North Branch, Minn., five bass, 13-3, $726
                8th:        Travis Seitzinger, Lakefield, Minn., five bass, 13-2, $654
                9th:        Curtis Samo, Rochelle, Ill., five bass, 13-1, $581
                10th:     Tanner Bock, Davenport, Iowa, five bass, 12-11, $509

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Meyer also caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $625.



Gage Griffin of Lake Forest, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,442 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 6 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

                1st:        Gage Griffin, Lake Forest, Ill., five bass, 15-6, $2,442
                2nd:       Troy Jutting, Savage, Minn., five bass, 12-6, $1,070
                3rd:       Kenny Nachtman, Bellevue, Iowa, five bass, 11-8, $712
                4th:        Will Ahnen, Fennimore, Wis., five bass, 10-15, $499
                5th:        Michael White, Waupun, Wis., five bass, 10-12, $428
                6th:        Mike Marr, Oxford, Wis., five bass, 10-10, $392
                7th:        Jason von Bargen, Prior Lake, Minn., four bass, 9-13, $357
                8th:        Frank Miller, Barrington, Ill., four bass, 9-0, $303
                8th:        Jill Kerzisnik, Plainfield, Ill., four bass, 9-0, $303
                10th:     Clifton Williams, Wood Dale, Ill., four bass, 8-15, $250

Griffin also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $302, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Jeff Ritter of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, leads the BFL Great Lakes Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 730 points, while Hertz Skaer of Holmen, Wisconsin, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 725 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 2024 BFL All-American.

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

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

Team Crockett Creek Beef Jerky Wins Inaugural General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship

Brian Carter
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0
Team Crockett Creek Beef Jerky Wins Inaugural General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship

Captain Jacob Wheeler Dominates Championship Round with 56 Bass Weighing 101-6 To Lead Team to Commanding Victory and Earn $300,000 Top Prize

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (June 19, 2023) – The final episode of the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches premiered Saturday, and Team Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, led by a 56-fish day from captain Jacob Wheeler, dominated the final day of competition to win the inaugural championship event and earn the $300,000 top prize.

Wheeler, along with teammates Jason Lambert and Dylan Hays, caught 68 scorable bass weighing 133 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the event by a huge 72-pound, 8-ounce margin. Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches (Bryan Thrift, Terry Scroggins and Anthony Gagliardi) finished the event in second place with 23 scorable bass weighing 60-12, while Team Builders FirstSource (Jeff Sprague, Randall Tharp and Cliff Crochet) finished third with 24 bass weighing 49-15.

“This is unreal,” Wheeler said in his post-game interview. “I was just sitting in one spot, and when you know that you just fired up a school of bass and it is a feeding frenzy – there is nothing like it.

“This event has been so unique, and so much fun,” Wheeler continued. “The teamwork that we’ve had – Jason (Lambert) carried us in Minnesota.”

“Dylan (Hays) has been ‘Steady Eddy’ this whole time, and the last two days Wheeler has just been Wheeler,” Lambert added. “You can’t take any of these for granted. You never know if you’re going to get an opportunity to do something like this again.”

Wheeler’s unbelievable 56-fish day came via a not-yet-released prototype Rapala jerkbait called The Maverick.

“They have been working on this jerkbait for several years now, and the one thing that separates this bait from any other out there on the market is the realistic colors and its unbelievable action,” Wheeler said. “Action is everything in a jerkbait. When the fish were grouped up, I could throw this bait in there and literally make them bite. It was the reaction strike – that’s what it was all about, today. That was the juice, and that is the bait that made our team $300,000 richer.”

“I’m the only rookie in this field, today, and I definitely count this victory as the first big win of my career,” said Hays on his $100,000 payday.

“We compete all the time on the water by ourselves, but when you do click like Dylan, Jason and I have, we go out on the water and battle not individually, but as a team. And I think that is what separated us this week,” Wheeler went on to say.

The final results from the Championship Round of the General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches were:

1st:          Team Crockett Creek, 68 bass, 133-4
                *Jacob Wheeler, 56 bass, 101-6
                Jason Lambert, eight bass, 21-15
                Dylan Hays, four bass, 9-15
2nd:         Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches, 23 bass, 60-12
                *Bryan Thrift, 10 bass, 28-8
                Terry Scroggins, 10 bass, 23-1
                Anthony Gagliardi, three bass, 9-3
3rd:         Team Builders First Source, 24 bass, 49-15
                *Jeff Sprague, 16 bass, 32-3
                Cliff Crochet, four bass, 11-10
                Randall Tharp, four bass, 6-2

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 115 bass weighing 243 pounds, 15 ounces caught by the nine teams during the Championship Round on Lake Apopka.

The General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches was shot over nine days in December and featured nine teams of three anglers visiting Lake County, Florida, to compete on different lakes on the Clermont Chain on each day of competition. Each day the fisheries were unknown to the anglers – they did not learn where they were competing until they arrived at the launch ramp each morning of competition.

The 2023 MLF General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches aired on the Outdoor Channel as seven, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon, debuting on May 6, 2023, and running through June 17, 2023.

All seven episodes of the General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches from Lake County, Florida, are now available for viewing on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) streaming app. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: B&W Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Optima Batteries, Phoenix Boats, Power-Pole, Rapala Baits, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, T-H Marine, Toyota, USAA, and YETI.

For 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.

Russellville’s Gordon Wins by Three Pounds at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Dardanelle 

Brian Carter
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0
Russellville’s Gordon Wins by Three Pounds at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Dardanelle 
Boater Shawn Gordon of Russellville, Arkansas, and Strike-King co-angler Koby Gooden of North Little Rock, Arkansas.
North Little Rock’s Gooden Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (June 19, 2023) – Boater Shawn Gordon of Russellville, Arkansas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Dardanelle. The tournament, hosted by Russellville Tourism, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Arkie Division. Gordon earned $5,683 for his victory.

“I didn’t catch any fish until 9 o’clock,” said Gordon, who has seven top-10 finishes on Lake Dardanelle in BFL competition. “I finally caught a couple and then hopped around and fished ledges with a (unnamed) Strike King crankbait and a red worm.”

Gordon said he focused his efforts on the lower third of Dardanelle, in water ranging from eight to 15 feet deep. His efforts produced a total of nine keepers during the day.

“Later on in the day I thought I had a pretty good shot, but I really thought I had to cull one more time,” Gordon said. “So, this win feels pretty good.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

                1st:        Shawn Gordon, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 20-3, $5,683
                2nd:       Sawyer Grace, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 17-3, $2,432
                3rd:       Kevin Brown, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 16-14, $1,989 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
                4th:        Jeremiah Kindy, Benton, Ark., five bass, 16-8, $1,041
                5th:        Jeff Clark, Van Buren, Ark., five bass, 16-7, $1,193
                6th:        Ben Burk, Norman, Okla., five bass, 15-3, $818
                7th:        Brent Haggard, Sallisaw, Okla., five bass, 15-0, $994
                8th:        Quincy Houchin, Mabelvale, Ark., five bass, 14-13, $669
                9th:        Chris Huselton, Conway, Ark., five bass, 13-9, $595
                10th:     Mike Webster, Pottsville, Ark., five bass, 13-0, $521

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Brandon Gabe of England, Arkansas, caught a largemouth that weighed 5 pounds, 2 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $640.



Koby Gooden of North Little Rock, Arkansas, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,214 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 9 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

                1st:        Koby Gooden, North Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 15-9, $2,214
                2nd:       Ron Knight, Hot Springs Village, Ark., three bass, 7-11, $1,107
                3rd:       Remington Lawrence, Russellville, Ark., three bass, 6-15, $738
                4th:        Caden Fuller, Waldron, Ark., five bass, 6-14, $517
                5th:        Blake Defoor, Waldron, Ark., four bass, 6-13, $443
                6th:        Demetric Johnson, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 6-12, $406
                7th:        Troy Speers, Malvern, Ark., two bass, 6-10, $667
                7th:        Tim Bowers, Thayer, Mo., three bass, 6-10, $350
                9th:        Zach Oliver, Coal Hill, Ark., three bass, 6-7, $295
                10th:     Blake Smith, Benton, Ark., three bass, 6-5, $258

Troy Speers of Malvern, Arkansas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $317, catching a largemouth that weighed in at 5 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Wayne Dixon of Morrilton, Arkansas, leads the BFL Arkie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 962 points, while John Hankins of Atkins, Arkansas, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 962 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 2024 BFL All-American.

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

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