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Earning Sainthood in Angling

Brian Carter

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June 14, 2023

Greater Milwaukee Boys & Girls Club youth enjoying their Future Angler Foundation goodies which were a spincast fishing combo and NPAA Future Pro shirt and Shakespeare fishing educational book.

Earning Sainthood in Angling

Captain Greg Karch is arguably the most philanthropic personality in the fishing industry.

Forestville, WI (June 14, 2023) – In Catholicism, the holiest of the holy sometimes achieve sainthood…posthumously, however. In fishing, for angling educator Captain Greg Karch, sainthood has been achieved while sharing the gospel of fishing in living flesh and bone.

Oaklawn 4th grader with his first sunfish. Learn 2 Fish With Us has been hosting fishing clinics for Oaklawn Elementary the last seven years.

“If we could clone his knowledge and passion for angling and desire to pass it along, we would never have to worry about angling recruitment again,” said National Professional Angler Association president (NPAA) and Future Angler Foundation (FAF) founder Pat Neu.Regrettably, for many, angler recruitment is but lip service. Looks good on paper, but no practicing what they preach. For Karch, fostering the next generation of anglers is a passion and a lifestyle.

Partnered with Winneconne High School Fishing Team to teach third graders how to cast safely and accurately.

Karch’s drive to educate developed while he worked in IT at Thrivent Financial. Upper management took notice of how Karch produced “quickly and cheaply,” so they asked him to teach his methods to other employees. As a result, with no formal training or degree on the wall, Karch became a defacto educator. His passion manifested in charitable work, too, Thrivent Financial honoring him with “Volunteer of the Year” accolades for his selfless hours invested in supporting nonprofits.Fishing has been a lifelong pursuit as well. Serious fishing. Passionate fishing. Karch competed professionally from 1999 to 2015. Likewise, the fishing maverick operated a guide service on Wisconsin’s Winnebago and Green Bay for five years. And all this while he hosted youth fishing events and managed a fulltime job. Whew…In 2015, Karch made the decision to sideline professional angling and devote his precious off-work-hours to introducing kids to the lifelong pursuit of fishing. So, along with his wife Karen, the dynamic duo created Learn to Fish with Us,a 501(c)(3).

Captain Greg showing the youth of the Greater Milwaukee Boys & Girls Club a leech. This clinic was held in 2021 during COVID.

Since its inception, Learn to Fish with Us has put more youth events on the board than dare we say anyone. In fact, this past weekend they hosted their 365^th event. Ruminate on that number for a minute. Quite astonishing. They’ll put on over 40 events this year, even eking out 40 dates during the COVID calamity.Geographically, the Karch’s focus on their greater backyard, to include Wisconsin, Michigan, and northern Illinois. Learn to Fish with Us collaborates with schools, park and recreation departments, 4-H Clubs, churches, Scout troops, Big Brothers and Sisters, and more. The Karch’s are masterful organizers, too, bearing out how they’re able to host so many events. Logistically, they first coordinate with the right groups – other doers not posers – and select primo locations with generous shore fishing access and a high probability of catching fish. Next comes manpower. “I have a tight group of friends and anglers to draw from,” said Karch. “Very grateful for my volunteers. Can’t do it without them.”

Winneconne High School Fishing Team teaching students how to tie basic fishing knots.

The events themselves are immersive. “It’s hands-on,” said Karch. “The kids get to handle gear, cast, and tie-knots.” The opposite of a static seminar – it’s experiential. Karch continues: “And we don’t go over their heads,” as Karch considers their tender ages and possibility they’ve never wet a line before. Karch’s relationships with FAF and NPAA are crucial, too. He explained, “FAF and NPAA have been vital in Learn 2 Fish With Us accomplishing our mission by providing fishing combos and Future Pro shirts, so youth can continue their fishing experience.”Karch was asked if there was an example of how learning to fish changed someone’s life. His response was immediate. “There was an unemployed dad who took advantage of our free events to get his kid into the fishing. I heard the kid say he didn’t want to fish. But that first fishing experience stuck. He ended up attending three clinics. And best of all, he came back and won a youth tournament we put on, catching 17 fish.”

On this chilly and windy day, students wait to catch a fish from the Menominee Park mooring piers.

The question begs, how does a philanthropic angler get involved in youth education? Karch says step one is talking to local fishing organizations, like clubs. They might already have programs in place, and they’re always in need of extra bodies. Talk to local teachers, too, especially ones you know. Better yet, classrooms your kids or grandkids are in. According to Karch, Big Brothers/Big Sisters are also receptive. “There are so many organizations looking for outside activities, especially post-COVID,” said Karch.“You want to make a difference when you’re alive,” Karch concluded. Saint Karch has set a high bar. Getting involved at a lesser level mightn’t yield sainthood, but you’ll certainly be angelic.

Captain Greg teaching students how to identify the different fish.

Want to learn more or offer your time and expertise? Visit www.learn2fishwithus.com. Captain Karch will surely take your call. He can help with planning and hosting, along with recruiting volunteers, product and financial support. Visit Learn to Fish with Us on Facebook.

Montevallo’s Dumke, Fothergill claim Bassmaster College Team of the Year title

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June 14, 2023

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Montevallo’s Dumke, Fothergill claim Bassmaster College Team of the Year title

Minnesota natives Easton Fothergill and Nick Dumke — teammates at Alabama’s University of Montevallo — have won the 2023 Bassmaster College Team of the Year title.

Photos by B.A.S.S.

June 14, 2023

Montevallo’s Dumke, Fothergill claim Bassmaster College Team of the Year title

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Since their sophomore year of high school in Grand Rapids, Minn., Easton Fothergill and Nick Dumke have been tournament partners. Now as juniors at Alabama’s University of Montevallo, they added an impressive accomplishment to their resumes.

Dumke and Fothergill claimed the 2023 Bassmaster College Series Team of the Year title with 937 points.

“It still does not feel real,” Dumke said. “I don’t think it will be that way for a while. It has been something we dreamed of since high school. We talked about it before we even knew what our future was going to be. To get it done, we are very grateful for it.”

They edged out their Montevallo teammates Tyler Cory and Scott Sledge by just six points while Campbellsville University’s Morgan Miracle and Jake Thornbury finished third.

With their Team of the Year title, Fothergill and Dumke automatically qualify for the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, an individual, head-to-head style tournament that sends the winner to the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Tulsa, Okla.

Fothergill, a former member of the Bassmaster All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, has watched the past three College Bracket champions — Louis Monetti, Tristan McCormick and Trevor McKinney — make their mark on the Classic stage and said he is excited about the possibility of being the next college angler to cross the biggest stage in bass fishing.

“Seeing the past winners on stage, I was sitting in the crowd thinking that would be so cool. For us to be the next guys is unbelievable,” he said.

While a top goal for their junior season, Dumke and Fothergill tried not to think about Team of the Year once the season got going.

“The race was so tight all year long. We tried not to even think about it and not let it mess up the way we were fishing. We just wanted to focus on the moment, just go fishing and not let that idea get in our heads,” Dumke said.

The team’s worst finish of the year was at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops. Opening the season with a 17th at the Harris Chain of Lakes in January, Dumke and Fothergill finished 16th at Cherokee Lake before notching their best finish of the season in mid-April, a fifth at the James River.

With four vastly different fisheries at play in 2023, Dumke and Fothergill used different techniques at each stop of the tour to notch their top finishes. Keeping an open mind was key.

“On the drive home from Red River we were talking, and we had a different bait for every single tournament. Keeping an open mind and going with the flow I think was a big thing,” Fothergill said. “We’ve seen so many different things and a light bulb goes off quicker when we see a new fishery.”

Quick adjustments on the water also helped the duo jump up the leaderboard in almost every tournament.

Then on the final day of the regular season, the duo made the decision to totally scrap what they had been doing and head offshore.

“On Day 1, we had a morning buzzbait bite and unfortunately we lost every buzzbait bite we got,” Fothergill said. “The next day, in order to have a shot, we knew we needed big bites. The buzzbait bite didn’t work out either. Late in the day, we ended up going offshore and Nick picked up a shaky head and caught a 4-pounder. That was a turning point for us, and we realized it was still possible.”

With Team of the Year coming down to the last hours of regular-season competition, Dumke and Fothergill didn’t think they finished well enough at the Red River to maintain the top spot, but they were pleasantly surprised when the results became official.

“We thought we had lost it,” Fothergill said. “We loaded the boat on Day 2 and were pretty upset. We went back to weigh in and found out pretty quickly we still had a chance. It ended up being us, and it was a super cool experience. We were happy for them, and they were happy for us no matter how it shook out.”

Coming from the northern part of the country, it has taken a little bit of time for Dumke and Fothergill to dial in the southern fisheries. But the chemistry they have built since joining forces in high school, along with the multispecies nature of their home lakes, has helped break down that learning curve.

“We can give a lot of credit to being from there,” Dumke said. “Some states just have river systems and some just have a couple of lakes. What’s crazy about Minnesota is, we have so many different types of lakes. We have crystal clear smallmouth lakes and then dirty, shallow largemouth lakes. We have been able to carry some of what we did growing up and apply it down here.”

Fothergill said at this point, he and Dumke are on the same page as far as decision-making on the water. A lot of their communication is unspoken, when one picks up the trolling motor, the other knows exactly what it means.

“We know how each other works,” Fothergill said. “It is easy to make decisions on the water because we both are thinking the same thing 90% of the time. That has helped a lot with our success on the water. We are always on the same page.”

Although there is a bit of relief knowing they are already qualified for the College Classic Bracket, details of which will be announced at a later date, Fothergill said he and Dumke will be taking the same approach to the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops as they always do.

“The National Championship is different from any other tournament,” Fothergill said. “The goal stays the same. We aren’t going to hold back at all, and we are going to shoot for the win.”

The Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops is scheduled for Aug. 10-12 in Counce, Tenn. Around 130 teams will be competing for the title as well as the final three berths into the College Classic Bracket.

2023 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2023 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

2023 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2023 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2023 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

2023 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: 13 Fishing, Seaguar, Shimano

Dakota Lithium Celebrates Pro Angler Brock Mosley’s Triumph at the Bassmaster Elite on Lake Sabine

Dakota Lithium

Brian Carter

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June 14, 2023

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Dakota Lithium Celebrates Pro Angler Brock Mosley’s Triumph at the Bassmaster Elite on Lake Sabine

Photos Courtesy of Bassmaster

Reinforcing Dakota Lithium’s Commitment to Powering Champions in the Fishing Community

Seattle, 8th June 2023 – Dakota Lithium, the leading consumer lithium battery brand in the U.S. and Canada, extends its warmest congratulations to Brock Mosley, a Dakota Lithium team member and professional angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series, for his outstanding victory at the Bassmaster Elite tournament on Lake Sabine. As a proud Bassmaster Premier Sponsor and the Official Lithium Battery of Bassmaster, the Dakota Lithium team are thrilled to highlight their unwavering support for Brock Mosley and their commitment to the sport of fishing.

With an impressive career and a reputation for excellence, Brock Mosley demonstrated his skill and determination throughout the tournament. His unwavering dedication and hard work have undoubtedly paid off, leading him to emerge victorious and secure the well-deserved title.

Dakota Lithium recognizes and appreciates the relentless efforts and passion exhibited by athletes like Brock Mosley. As part of the Dakota Lithium family, Brock has consistently relied on three DL+ 12V 135Ah batteries for his trolling motor, which has provided the power and reliability he needs to achieve success on the water.

“We extend our sincerest congratulations to Brock Mosley on his remarkable victory at the Bassmaster Elite on Lake Sabine. This win is a testament to Brock’s exceptional talent, dedication, and unwavering pursuit of excellence. As CEO of Dakota Lithium, I am incredibly proud to support Brock and witness his achievements in the world of professional angling. His success reflects the values we hold dear at Dakota Lithium—reliability, performance, and a commitment to pushing boundaries. We are honored to have Brock as part of the Dakota Lithium family, and we look forward to continuing our support as he continues to make waves in the fishing community. Congratulations, Brock!” Andrew Jay, Dakota Lithium CEO.

Dakota Lithium’s partnership with Bassmaster reflects its deep-rooted support for the fishing community and its dedication to providing high-quality lithium batteries. Founded in 2008 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Dakota Lithium has become the go-to brand for consumers seeking batteries with twice the power, half the weight, and five times the lifespan of traditional batteries. By harnessing Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry and leveraging engineering expertise, Dakota Lithium batteries deliver lasting value, reduce environmental impact, and come backed by an industry-leading 11-year warranty.

As the leading authority on bass fishing worldwide, Bassmaster and its tournament leagues, events, and media platforms have played a vital role in promoting the sport and fostering a vibrant fishing community. Through its partnership with Bassmaster, Dakota Lithium reaffirms its commitment to supporting the growth and development of fishing while providing anglers with reliable and long-lasting power solutions.

Brandon Chestnut, Marketing Manager at Dakota Lithium, expressed his congratulations and admiration for Brock’s remarkable achievement, saying, “Congratulations to Brock Mosley on an outstanding victory at the tournament! We couldn’t be prouder to have supported him every step of the way to holding up that Blue Trophy. His commitment to excellence is an inspiration to us all, and we are honored to have him as part of the Dakota Lithium family. We are excited to watch him keep pushing the boundaries and achieving greatness, knowing that Dakota Lithium is the Choice of Champions.”

“In a stunning display of angling expertise and unmatched consistency on an extremely difficult body of water. Bassmaster Elite Brock Mosley emerged as the victor of the highly prestigious Bass Master event. Brock has been with Dakota Lithium since almost the beginning of our emergence into the marine battery market, and his consistency over the last 4 years put him in a position to win with 4-second place finishes and now Brock has sealed the deal to take home the coveted blue trophy on Lake Sabine.” Craig Storms, National Sales Rep / Pro Staff Manager

To learn more about Brock Mosley and his exceptional journey as a professional angler, please visit his bio on the Bassmaster website brock-mosley.

Additional coverage of his victory at the Bassmaster Elite tournament can be found in the Bassmaster news article and the Pro Diaries video https://www.bassmaster.com/elite/news/mosley-makes-it-happen-to-win-on-the-sabine-river/

Pro Diaries: Brock Mosley

Information on the battery that powered Brock’s win:

DL+ 36V 135Ah Dual Purpose Trolling Motor Battery Set

https://dakotalithium.com/product/dl-plus-12v-135ah-dual-purpose-1000cca-starter-car-truck-battery-plus-deep-cycle-performance/To connect with Dakota Lithium, visit www.dakotalithium.com, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.

Chad Sims & Steve Phillips Win CATT Lake Wateree, SC June 10, 2023

Brian Carter

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June 13, 2023

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Chad Sims & Steve Phillips Win CATT Lake Wateree, SC June 10, 2023

Next Lake Wateree CATT is June 17th at Clearwater Cove Marina! With the weather heating up we weigh in at 2 pm!

Chad Sims & Steve Phillips take 1st Place with 5 bass weighing 18.02 lbs and took home $1,275.00!

Chad Rabon & Walt Almond 2nd with 17.35 lbs!

Greg & Gage Sigmon weighed in 16.62 lbs good enough for 3rd along with the Academy BF at 5.49 lbs!

Team	BF	Weight	Winnings	Points
Steve Phillips & Chad Sims	4.54	18.02	$1,275.00	110
Walt Almond & Chad Rabon	4.02	17.35	$400.00	109
Greg Sigmon & Gage Sigmon	5.49	16.62	$294.00	108
Butch Williams & Max Price	3.93	16.13		107
Dylan Locklear & Jonathan Daily	3.65	15.30		106
Justin Barfield & Johnny Barfield	4.30	15.09		105
Chad Gainey & Mack Kitchens	3.69	14.81		104
Jeff Norris & Jacob Norris	3.18	14.22		103
Max Terry & Freddie Gibbs	3.93	13.58		102
Jason Ries & Roger McKee	3.77	13.30		101
Ryan Ray & Bryce Kelly	4.28	13.01		100
Jeff Knight & Lane Knight	4.60	12.24	$51.00	99
Jarrod Thompson & Wayne Gainey	3.14	11.86		98
Colden Baker & Jaylin White	2.74	11.63		97
Jess Williams	2.37	9.06		96
Luke Shrader & Quentin Mobley	0.00	0.00		86
Alvin Shaw & Brett White	0.00	0.00		86
Total Entrys			$2,040.00
BONUS $			$375.00
Total Paid At Ramp			$2,020.00
CATT			$70.00
2023 Wateree Summer Final Fund			$275.00
2023 CATT Championship Fund			$50.00
2023 Wateree Summer Fund Total			$910.00

Jay Wright & Jody Wright Win CATT Lake Murray, SC June 10, 2023

Brian Carter

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June 13, 2023

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Jay Wright & Jody Wright Win CATT Lake Murray, SC June 10, 2023

We had a another great crowd Saturday at Dreher Island with 23 teams entering the 2nd CATT Summer Open on Lake Murray! We’ll do it again this coming Saturday at Dreher Island June 17! You can pay on line or at the ramp! $100 entry or $110 at the ramp! We offer 2 side pot at the Opens! $25 & $50. Your choice to enter on or both or none! Blast off will be at 6 am and we will determine weigh in at the ramp! As the weather heats up we will bring the teams in earlier than usual!

Jay Wright & Jody Wright weighed in 5 bass at 21.87 lbs talking the win at Lake Murray! They also weighed the Academy BF at 6.97 lbs and took home a total of $1,801.00!

Team	BF	Weight	Winnings
Jody Wright – Jay Wright	6.97	21.87	$1,801.00
Justin Hadden – Sterling Banks	6.37	21.65	$919.00
Scott Farmer – Jamie Rogers	5.37	21.11	$300.00
Steve Wicker – Andy Wicker	0.00	19.27	$100.00
Carson Krell – JT Frick	4.58	18.69
Chad Hastings	0.00	18.34
Bobby White – Chris Hereford	5.33	17.69
Brad Smith – Ronnie Scott	4.36	17.10
Ben Lee	0.00	16.22
Brad Rutherford – Matthew Peeler	0.00	16.20
Aaron Weed – Brandon Shealy	3.81	15.55
John Ray – Hank Ray	0.00	15.44
Winston Husband	4.35	14.55
Chris Gramling – Landon Gramling	3.50	14.39
Jonah Bickley – Bernie Dreher	0.00	11.07
Dave Franklin – Gunner Franklin	0.00	0.00
Jeremy Medlock	0.00	0.00
Josh Renebaum – Wade Amick	0.00	0.00
Sandy Montgomery – Derrick McBride	0.00	0.00
David White – Josh Pender	0.00	0.00
Andrew R – Carson M	0.00	0.00
Tyson Alvanos – Justin Collett	0.00	0.00
James Durham – Tony Durham	0.00	0.00

Steven Felder & Cameron Watford Win CATT Sparkleberry Swamp Quest Lake Marion, SC June 10, 2023

Brian Carter

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June 13, 2023

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Steven Felder & Cameron Watford Win CATT Sparkleberry Swamp Quest Lake Marion, SC June 10, 2023

Next Swamp Quest is June 24 at Packs $60 per team entry & optional $25 Side Pot!

Steven Felder – Cameron Watford win the Swamp with 5 bass weighing 13.70 lbs!

Hunter Vincent & Carter Leggett 2nd with 11.86 lbs!

Zack Hayes & Dalton Hughes 3rd with 11.82 lbs!

Blake Winans & Mike King with the BF at 6.25 lbs!

Team	BF	Weight	Winnings
Steven Felder – Cameron Watford	5.45	13.70	$725.00
Hunter Vincent – Carter Legget	4.92	11.86	$185.00
Zack Hayes – Dalton Hughes	0.00	11.82	$95.00
Mike Walters – Jake Hodge	4.03	10.54
Cody Parks – Jody Parks	2.65	10.20
Dstevcen Cribb – Bradley Shaw	4.13	9.66
Chad Ardis – Bud Bowman	0.00	9.03
Ryan Humphries – Alex Davis	0.00	8.86
Blake Winans – Mike King	6.25	7.80	$85.00
Casey Brwon – Jason Barbare	0.00	7.46
Tim Horvath – Darryl Fenton	0.00	6.03
Dean Benfield – Donnie Maiers	0.00	0.00
Alan Lovelace – Blakely Lovelace	0.00	0.00
Richard Minton	0.00	0.00
Andrew Bull – Dillon Norton	0.00	0.00
Wayne Moore	0.00	0.00
Chase Gibbs – Bobby Gibbs	0.00	0.00

Tennessee’s Peavyhouse Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Barren River

Brian Carter

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June 12, 2023

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Tennessee’s Peavyhouse Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Barren River

Boater Isaac Peavyhouse of Jamestown, Tennessee and Strike-King co-angler Earl Ross, Jr. of Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee.

Claremore’s Martin Notches Second Win of the Year at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Fort Gibson Lake

Brian Carter

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June 12, 2023

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Claremore’s Martin Notches Second Win of the Year at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Fort Gibson Lake

Boater T.J. Martin of Claremore, Oklahoma and Strike-King co-angler Austin Hornbuckle of Wagoner, Oklahoma.

Saint Jacob’s Diveley Cranks Out Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Rend Lake

Brian Carter

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June 12, 2023

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Saint Jacob’s Diveley Cranks Out Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Rend Lake

Boater Larry Diveley of Saint Jacob, Illinois and Strike-King co-angler Charles Dammerman of Taylorville, Illinois.

Taylorville’s Dammerman Tops Strike King Co-Angler DivisionRend lake

SESSER, Ill. (June 12, 2023) – Boater Larry Diveley of Saint Jacob, Illinois, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Rend Lake . The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Diveley earned $3,832 for his victory.

“I struggled in the morning,” said Diveley. “I caught one fish pretty early and then lost one, and then I did a lot of running. I pretty much ran the whole lake and then ended up where I started out.”

Diveley said he keyed on mid-lake laydowns in 1 to 3 feet of water for most of the day, and covered them with a Bandit Lures Crankbait Series 100. Diveley said he caught 30 keepers during the course of the day, but the five fish he weighed were the only keepers he caught.

“My fifth fish I caught was a 4½-pounder, and I thought, ‘I might have a shot at this,’” Diveley said. “When I weighed in, I really thought somebody would beat me.

“This is just overwhelming,” Diveley went on to say. “It’s my first BFL win, and I just thank God I had the chance to do it.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st:          Larry Diveley, Saint Jacob, Ill., five bass, 14-1, $3,832
2nd:        Scott Neighbors, Makanda, Ill., five bass, 13-9, $2,286
3rd:        Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., five bass, 13-8, $2,010 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:         Brennon McCord, Thompsonville, Ill., five bass, 13-5, $847
5th:         Todd Blakeman, Chatham, Ill., five bass, 11-4, $726
6th:         Garrett McDowell, Windsor, Ill., five bass, 9-14, $666
7th:         Adam Brookman, Bonnie, Ill., four bass, 9-12, $605
8th:         William Walker, Mulkeytown, Ill., four bass, 9-4, $545
9th:         Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., four bass, 9-2, $484
10th:      Patrick Odell, Windsor, Ill., four bass, 8-15, $424Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jake Hurst of New Athens, Illinois, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $465.

Charles Dammerman of Taylorville, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $1,816 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds even.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:          Charles Dammerman, Taylorville, Ill., five bass, 10-0, $1,816
2nd:        Bloomington, Ill., four bass, 9-13, $1,140
3rd:        Kim Sapetti, Chatham, Ill., four bass, 9-8, $606
4th:         Caleb Peck, Charleston, Ill., four bass, 8-15, $424
5th:         Josh Watkins, Fort Knox, Ky., four bass, 7-5, $363
6th:         Andrew Williams, Homer, Ill., four bass, 7-3, $483
7th:         Ryan Murphy, Paris, Ill., two bass, 6-6, $303
8th:         Drake Marshall, Smithton, Ill., three bass, 5-8, $272
9th:         Jason Korando, Chester, Ill., two bass, 5-6, $242
10th:      Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., three bass, 5-1, $212Aaron Wehmeyer of Bloomington, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $232, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 1 ounce – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Todd Blakeman of Chatham, Illinois, leads the BFL Illini Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 492 points, while Andrew Williams of Homer, Illinois, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 493 points.

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

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.

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.

Avena Dominates to Earn First Career Win at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake

Brian Carter

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June 11, 2023

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Avena Dominates to Earn First Career Win at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake

New Jersey Pro Catches Five Smallmouth Weighing 28 Pounds, 10 Ounces to Top Win by 2-Pound Margin and Earn Top Payout of $100,000

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (June 11, 2023) – It was an emotional afternoon for Vineland, New Jersey pro Adrian Avena. After numerous seasons of watching his roommates and travel partners earn multiple wins and championship victories, the 12-year veteran finally earned his own red trophy. Avena caught eight scorable smallmouth bass Sunday, with his best five weighing 28 pounds, 10 ounces to win the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler and earn the top payout of $100,000.

Link to HD Video – Fish-Catch Highlights of Championship Round on Cayuga Lake
Link to Photo Gallery of Adrian Avena’s Championship Round Afternoon Highlights

Avena’s two-day Knockout and Championship Round total of 10 bass weighing 58 pounds even earned him the victory by a 2-pound margin over second-place finisher Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, who finished with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 56 pounds even, good for $45,000.

Over his four days of competition, Avena weighed in 20 smallmouth bass totaling 105 pounds even. Also breaking the 100-pound mark over four days were five other pros – Shuffield (106-10), Jacob Wheeler (100-8), Alton Jones Jr. (102-4), Matt Becker (102-0) and Kevin VanDam (102-2).

It was an incredible week of fishing that will likely be looked back on as the greatest smallmouth event in Bass Pro Tour history.

“You have no idea what this win means to me,” Avena said on stage in his post-game interview. “I travel and room with three of the best guys in the world, and I ain’t going to say that I got tired of them winning all the time, but man, it was starting to take a toll on me.

“I love them guys, and when you surround yourself with a house full of guys that are straight hammers it rubs off a little bit. But watching them boys win trophy after trophy… I’m just so glad that now I’ve got mine.”

Throughout the week Avena targeted bedding smallmouth, using a flogger to locate the bass and then drop-shotting a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm or a 4-inch Berkley Gulp! Alive Minnow. He threw the setup on an Abu Garcia Fantasista rod with a Abu Garcia Revo Rocket spinning reel.

“The Gulp minnow was the deal, but the key was the chartreuse top,” Avena said. “The chartreuse color was a big player this week. Also, I used a very small leader – getting my bait close to the bottom really mimicked those perch that were getting into their beds.

“Another big key was fishing deeper than everyone else,” Avena continued. “After you’d hook a smallmouth they’d shoot straight up, so I had to have a spinning reel setup with a very fast gear ratio. I used the Revos all week.”

Despite starting the day with a lead, Avena said that he was never comfortable throughout the final day of competition.

“I told myself this morning that I was not stopping on a fish that was under 5½ pounds, as I knew they wouldn’t win this tournament,” Avena said. “This lake is chock full of 4-pounders, and I passed up on so many of them todaybecause I knew they wouldn’t help. I didn’t catch a whole lot of bass today, but I caught the right ones that I needed.

“I have so many people to thank, that have believed in me from the start, and this just feels really good to be able to do this for them,” Avena went on to say. “My dad has a weak heart, and he’s always telling me, ‘Adrian, I want to see you win a tournament before I pass away.’ Well, pop, we got it done this week. I’m still shaking, and I am freaking stoked!”

The final 10 pros from the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler finished:

1st:        Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 58-0, $100,000
2nd:       Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 56-0, $45,000
3rd:       Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 55-2, $38,000
4th:        Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 54-0, $32,000
5th:        Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 53-8, $30,000
6th:        Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 52-4, $26,000
7th:        Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 52-0, $23,000
8th:        David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 51-15, $21,000
9th:        Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 51-4, $19,000
10th:     Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 49-11, $16,000

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

Overall, there were 97 scorable bass totaling 459 pounds even weighed by the 10 pros on Sunday.

Dakota Ebare earned Sunday’s Championship Round $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award with a 6-pound, 7-ounce smallmouth that bit in Period 1. Wheeler earned the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass award for the overall largest bass of the event with his 7-pound, 5-ounce smallmouth that he weighed during Saturday’s Knockout Round of competition.

After five events in the Bass Pro Tour regular season, Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, remains the leader in the 2023 Bass Pro Tour Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) standings with 360 points. Pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, sits in second place with 332 points, while Bass Pro Tour Rookie Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, rounds out the top three with 316.5 points. Bally Bet will award $100,000 to the 2023 Bass Pro Tour Bally Bet Angler of the Year winner.

The next regular season Bass Pro Tour event will take place later this month – the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles, June 24-29, at Lake St. Clair in Harrison Township, Michigan.

The Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler featured pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The six-day bass-fishing event showcased 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

Television coverage of the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 28 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.

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

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

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