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Jeff & Clay Ross Win 5 Alive Team Trail/Caswell Glass Heritage Trail Qualifier #6 Kerr Lake – 6/3/2023

Brian Carter
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Jeff & Clay Ross Win 5 Alive Team Trail/Caswell Glass Heritage Trail Qualifier #6 Kerr Lake – 6/3/2023

5 Alive Team Trail/Caswell Glass Heritage Trail Qualifier #6
Kerr Lake – 6/3/2023

It seems like we just had our first Qualifier of the year and just like that we’re done with the Regular season for the 5 Alive Team Trail $5000.00 Trail & the Caswell Glass Heritage Trail.We want to start of by saying THANK YOU to everyone that has fished with us this year. We hope yall enjoyed it as much as we did.
We had 66 teams come and fish Saturday at what has been a very tough Kerr Lake. When it was all said and done it was the team of Jeff & Clay Ross that topped the 66 boat field. They had a 5 fish limit weighing 15.28 pounds. That bag earned them $2070.00 with TWT. They also get the Nitro Contingency money worth $8000.00 bringing their total to $10,070.0

If you keep up with any of the tournaments at Kerr Lake you know this team is very accomplished and Good guys! BIG CONGRATULATIONS! to them. They were followed by our reigning 2022 – 5 Alive Team Trail Points Champions Tony Fox & Patrick Wooten. They had a 5 fish limit weighing 15.12 pounds. Yep !! 1 ounce was the difference between 1st and 2nd place. That bag earned them $975.00 with TWT. GOOD JOB
GUYS!

Onto the Caswell Glass Heritage Trail.
We had 5 teams fish Saturday in the adult / kid division. It was the team of J.D. Talley and Chris Glosson that took home the WIN.  That’s back to back for those boys! They had a 5 fish limit weighing 10.83 pounds earning them winners plaques, two Favorite Fishing rods and two $50.00 gift cards donated by Tarheel Flooring. Good job fellas! They were followed by the team of Ross Oliver & Ethan Larabee with a 5 fish limit weighing 10.77 pounds.  That earned the two $25.00 gift cards Donated by Bobcats Bait and Tackle

We also crowned the new 2023 – 5 Alive Team Trail Points Champions Saturday. This year we had a first in both the 5 Alive Team Trail & the Caswell Glass Heritage Trail. The same team won both Team Trails Points Championships. The team of Ross Oliver & Ethan Larabee ( a father son team) took home the title in both divisions this year and they also won the Jordan Lake Qualifier this year and a couple of the Heritage Trail tournaments also. They are also the reigning 2022 Caswell Glass Heritage Trail Points Champions. Guys this is a very impressive feat that no one has done till now and yall should be very proud of what yall have accomplished!! We are very proud to have yall as the 2023 – 5 Alive Team Trail/Caswell Glass Heritage Trail Points Champions

We know yall will represent the 2 trails well as all of our previous Champions have done. Oh by the way this is what they got for winning both Points Championships.
They got!
-$1200.00 check
-5 Alive Team Trail Points Champions coats
-5 Alive Team Trail Points Champions plaques
-Free Entry fee’s to all of the 2024 Qualifiers
-The #1 starting position in all of the 2024 Qualifiers
-Caswell Glass Heritage Trail Points Champions plaques.
-Caswell Glass Heritage Trail Points Champions coats.
-Caswell Glass Heritage Trail hats
Free Entry fee to the 2023 – $5000.00 Championship at
Gaston Lake in October.
That’s $2625.00 worth of money,prizes and entry fees!!

We had our first year for the Countryside Service Center FAT 5 Division this year.
This was a fun Division to watch unfold through out the year and the weights were close for the top 2 teams at the end. When it was all said and done it was the team of Anthony Frances and Cody Backus that took home the trophy belts and the $1000.00 check. They had a five fish limit for the season weighing 27.2 pounds. They also won the Big Fish for the year in the FAT 5 Division earning them another $250.00 totaling $1250.00. Them guys wanted this bad! They were the first team to sign up for it and they watched the board eagerly at each weigh in. Congrats Guys!! They were followed by the team of Bobby Carter and Craig Hall  with a five fish limit weighing 26.27 pounds for the season. That earned them $500.00. The 3rd place  team and last payout spot for this division went to the team of Barney Compton and Dustin Turner with a five fish limit for the season weighing 21.77 pounds. That earned them $250.00. Great job and congratulations to all 3 teams that took home the money.

Our last Caymas/ NC Marine Sales  top finishing Caymas Money for the season went to Shane Doughtie earning him $300.00 Congrats Shane! It pays to be in a Caymas! If you want to see a new Caymas or purchase one go see my man Brandon Patrick the owner at NC Marine and he will set you up!

When it was all said and done there was a total of $11,185.00 of money and prizes given out Saturday

I also want to give a BIG SHOUT out to what we call our Young Guns team. The team of J.D. Talley and Chris Glosson   (AKA Squirrel).
These 2 fished solid all year and came on strong at the end of the year to finish in  2nd place in both trails. Guys be proud of what yall did because yall beat alot of very good accomplished teams this year and I see nothing but BIG things in yalls future.!! Yall keep them lines wet and that hair fluffed up!!!

They know what I’m talking about. Lol!

We want to say THANK YOU to all of the 2023 Sponsors.  Without them this Trail would not happen. Check them out in the pictures and if there is any of their services you need please contact them and I promise you they will take care of you.

I also want to recognize my team that makes these trails go as smooth as they do!
Krystal Kirby Sheppard ( the wife!)
Shane Brantley 
Jessica Turner Byrd
Chris Byrd 
Carie Brantley
AVA Brantley
Clem Warren
Charlie Franklin
Nathan Talley  ( not sure he knew we were going to put him to work this year)

I sure hope they all Love it because if they leave I’m done!

Results.
1st. Ross & Ross- 15.28 pounds-$2070.00 TWT
2nd. Fox & Wooten- 15.12 pounds- $975.00 TWT
3rd. Stallings & Grant- 14.58 pounds- $770.00 TWT
4th. Butts & Hammock- 14.41 pounds- $375.00
5th. Moore & Bowman- 13.55 pounds- $295.00
6th. Brown & Wimbish- 13.43 pounds- $260.00
7th. Wilson & Ayers- 12.92 pounds- $245.00
8th. Weaver & Edward’s- 12.50 pounds- $160.00
9th. Dalton & West- 12.40 pounds- $ 100.00

Big Fish.
Thomas & Thomas- 4.88 pounds- $660.00

Park & Jeff Beasley Win CATT Old North Falls Lake, June 3, 2023

Brian Carter
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Park & Jeff Beasley Win CATT Old North Falls Lake, June 3, 2023

Next is the 2023 CATT Old North Spring Final June 17, 2023, on Falls Lake! 1st Place is a minimum of $8,000.00!

So far the 2023 Old North CATT Trail has paid back over $53,000.00 with the Old North Final still to come!

Only enter 4 Old North Spring Qualifiers to be eligible to enter the Old North Spring Final
Fishing solo or with a sub counts toward a Teams Final Qualification
Blastoff Position is Determined By Order Of Payment
You can fish the Old North Spring Final with your partner, solo or with a sub your team used in an Old North Spring Qualifier.

NO NEW SUBS AT THE OLD NORTH SPRING FINAL.

You may fish solo and you can Qualify solo for the Old North Spring Final.


2023 Old North Spring Point Winners Fish 2024 Old North Spring Qualifiers Free! That team will be Lucas Lobaugh – Jeremy Moody with a total of 669 points! Congrats guys!

Park Beasley & Jeff Beasley win Falls Lake with 5 bass weighing 24.39 lbs and take home $3,000.00!

Brian Robson & Randy Robson claimed 2nd with 22.42 lbs PLUS brought in the 1st Academy BF at 7.29 lbs! They earned $2,005.00!

David & Bobby Matthews finished 3rd with 21.85 lbs! Add in the 2nd BF at 6.83 lbs and they collected $1,090.00!

Paul Owens & Tyler Faggert 4th with 21.66 lbs!

Larry Godfrey & John McClelland 5th Place with 20.34 lbs!

6th Place with 19.97 lbs! Chad Fara & Stephen Lasher!

Jeremy Moody & Jesse Wise 7th Place 19.96 lbs!

Eric Schell & Todd Smith 8th with 17.75 lbs!

Tyler Goss and Owen Penhallow: 9th with 17.53 lbs!

Chad Craven – Ben Cannon last money spot with 16.93 lbs!

TeamBFWeightWinningsPoints
Jeff Beasley – Park Beasley5.8424.39$3,000.00110
Randy Robson – Brian Robson 7.2922.42$2,005.00109
David Matthews – Bobby Matthews6.8321.85$1,090.00108
Paul Owens – Tyler Faggert0.0021.66$500.00107
John McClelland – Larry Godfrey6.2820.34$375.00106
Chad Fara – Steven Lasher5.2419.97$270.00105
Lucas Lobaugh – Jeremy Moody6.3019.96$220.00104
Eric Schell – Todd Smith5.1717.75$175.00103
Owen Pinhollow – Tyler Goss5.4717.53$140.00102
Chad Craven – Ben Cannon0.0016.93$120.00101
James Wall – Michael Alverson5.3016.69100
Jonathan Holloway – Britton Oquin0.0015.8499
Justin Rhew4.9615.8098
Johnny Wilder – Michael Harris0.0015.7397
DJ MYSLINSKI – DEAN MYSLINKSI0.0015.4996
Bryson Peed – Mike Corbishley0.0015.3895
Larry Hipps – Dean Larison4.6915.0494
Alec Lower – Richard Lower0.0014.2593
Bud Whitt – Spencer Moody0.0013.6392
Jerry Marshburn – Chuck Byrd0.0013.5591
David Bullock – Jimmy Henderson0.0013.5290
Doug Johnson – Rob Payne0.0013.3289
Mike & Jonathan Rhew0.0013.0688
Billy West – Curtis Vaughn0.0013.0187
Josh Hooks – Tyler Trent0.0012.5986
Calton Hall – Jason Riggs0.0012.5485
David Hall – Dustin Hall4.3912.2184
Jerry Dean – Robert Dean0.0012.1883
Mark Williams – Tim Goad0.0012.1582
Travis Watson – Shannon Stewart0.0011.4381
Preston Jacobs – Adam Bessette0.0011.2580
Johnny Howard – William Howard0.0010.9179
Thomas Sheffer – Gavin Sheffer0.0010.5278
Mike Marchant – Bradley McLaurin6.5310.2877
David Walton – Justin Young0.0010.1676
Allen White – Mike Vaughn0.0010.0975
Roby Wyatt – Mike Prytula0.009.1074
John Hutchins – Justin Hutchins0.008.7773
Matthew Jones – Sonny Tindal0.008.5972
David Farmer – Will White0.008.3271
Todd Sumner – Rich Z4.588.1870
Mike Salguero – Jared Hutchins0.007.7769
Joe Osborne – John Piltcher0.000.0059
Derick Wright – Dane Butler0.000.0059
Doug Stallings – Seth Ellis0.000.0059
Matthew Watkins – Avery Watkins0.000.0059
Tony Fofi – Mark Mohler0.000.0059
Justin Ingle – Lee Gay0.000.0059
Bo Adams – Brian Fritts0.000.0059
Billy Bledsoe – Brian McDonald0.000.0059
Total Entrys$7,000.00
BONUS $$1,950.00
Total Paid At Ramp$7,875.00
Old North 2023 Spring Final Fund$880.00
CATT$50.00
2023 CATT Championship Fund$50.00
2023 Old North Spring Final Fund Total$6,400.00

VanDam Cruises to Qualifying Round Win at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake

Brian Carter
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VanDam Cruises to Qualifying Round Win at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake

Michigan Pro Boats Two-Day Total of 52-7 To Pace Group A Field, Top 20 Pros Advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (June 8, 2023) – Bass Pro Tour angler Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, caught eight scorable bass Thursday, with his best five going for 24 pounds, 6 ounces. VanDam’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 52 pounds, 7 ounces was enough to best the 39 other anglers in Group A and win the Qualifying Round for Group A at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler.

Link to HD Video – Fish-Catch Highlights of Group A Qualifying Round Day 2 on Cayuga Lake
Link to Photo Gallery of Group A’s Day 2 Qualifying Round Afternoon Highlights

“So far, the tournament is going real well for me,” VanDam said in his post-game interview. “I feel like today was a productive day. I knew that I’d have to catch a good limit to move on to the Knockout Round, so I was able to do that early and then spend the rest of the day moving around trying to find more fish.”

Like Day 1 on Tuesday, VanDam caught the majority of his weight early sight-fishing with a drop-shot rig.

“When I put 28-1 on the scales, it opened everybody’s eyes that first day and it got a lot of people sight-fishing for smallmouth (today) that didn’t the first day. And some of those guys ended up getting in(to the Knockout Round). I think the majority of the field will likely be fishing for smallmouth, and probably in very similar sections of the lake. So the Knockout Round is going to be the real challenging day.

“I know I’m just going to have to execute,” VanDam continued. “The history that I have fishing for smallmouth this time of year definitely gives me a lot of confidence. I’ve got a lot of fish located, I’ve covered a whole lot of water, and I feel like I’ve got a really good gameplan. It’s going to come down to getting a couple of those bigger bites – it’s going to take a lot of weight just to make the Championship Round. We’ll see what happens, I’m looking forward to it.”

VanDam’s weight was 2 pounds heavier than his nearest competitor, pro Jared Lintner of Covington, Georgia, who finished the round in second place with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 50-7. Googan Baits pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, boated a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 49-5 to end the round in third place, while Hot Springs, Arkansas’ Dylan Hays , finished the day in fourth place with a two-day total of 10 bass for 49-5. Reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, rounded out the top five with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 46-8.

The top 20 anglers from Group A will now have an off day from competition Friday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 20 anglers from each group will advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000. 

The top 20 pros from Group A that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Cayuga Lake are:

1st:        Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 52-7
2nd:       Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 50-7
3rd:       Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 49-5
4th:        Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 47-2
5th:        Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 46-8
6th:        Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 46-6
7th:        Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 10 bass, 45-5
8th:        Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., 10 bass, 44-12
9th:        Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 44-9
10th:     Alton Jones Sr., Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 44-5
11th:     Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 43-2
12th:     Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 42-13
13th:     Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 10 bass, 42-11
14th:     Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 10 bass, 42-8
15th:     Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 41-15
16th:     Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 10 bass, 41-6
17th:     Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 41-2
18th:     Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 41-2
19th:     Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 40-15
20th:     Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 10 bass, 40-12

Eliminated from competition are:

21st:      Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 10 bass, 40-4
22nd:    Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 40-0
23rd:     Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 10 bass, 40-0
24th:     Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., 10 bass, 39-12
25th:     Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 39-1
26th:     John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 37-12
27th:     Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 10 bass, 37-11
28th:     John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 37-1
29th:     Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., 10 bass, 36-11
30th:     Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 36-5
31st:      Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 10 bass, 36-3
32nd:    Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 35-12
33rd:     Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 35-9
34th:     James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 35-4
35th:     Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 33-9
36th:     Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., nine bass, 33-5
37th:     Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 10 bass, 31-3
38th:     Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., eight bass, 23-12
39th:     Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., seven bass, 22-15
40th:     Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., eight bass, 21-10

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

Overall, there were 317 scorable bass weighing 1,122 pounds, 7 ounces caught by the 40 pros Thursday, which included 35 5-pounders, three 6-pounders and one 7-pounder.

Lintner caught the largest five-bass weight on the day – 27 pounds, 4 ounces – and he also earned Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 7-pound, 2-ounce smallmouth bass that he caught on a drop-shot rig – the second-largest smallmouth ever weighed in Bass Pro Tour history. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

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

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

Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

As part of the event, on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Bass Pro Shops, located at 1579 Clark Street Road in Auburn, New York, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors. Fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. On Sunday at 5 p.m., the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand for the trophy celebration and to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.

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

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

Television coverage of the 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.

La Clair captures Day 2 lead at Potomac River

Brian Carter
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La Clair captures Day 2 lead at Potomac River

Written by

B.A.S.S.

CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — Brian La Clair has spent plenty of time over the years fishing the Potomac River but hasn’t found much in the way of tournament success on the massive river system before this week’s TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northeast Regional.

But by thinking outside of the box, the 2011 Bassmaster Classic qualifier has taken the lead over the 116-boat field with a two-day total of 34 pounds, 4 ounces.

After catching 16-12 on Day 1 to land in third, the Denton, Md., angler landed 17-8 on the second day, a bag anchored by the Big Bass of the Day, a 4-11 largemouth. He holds a 14-ounce advantage over Rhode Island state team member Matty Szczoczarz, who is second with 33-6. Maine’s Jonathan Carter is third with 33-3.

Fishing for the Delaware state team, La Clair is in position to qualify for his fourth B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, where he would have the opportunity to earn a spot for the second time in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.

Coming into the event, La Clair knew he would have to mostly stay away from the community grass flats in order to have a chance at winning.

“If you can find grass beds out of the way with no one fishing them, it is not hard to catch them,” he said. “I’ve put a lot of thought into how to fish this place the last couple of years and tried to invent something for myself I will have the edge on people with. I knew if I came out here and chucked and winded on these grass beds I wouldn’t have an advantage. I had to do something completely different.

On Day 1, La Clair generated the majority of his bites by tossing a glidebait around docks and hard cover in 3 to 4 feet of water. If they didn’t eat the bait, a lot of times they would show themselves so he could target them again later.

The second day brought hazy conditions and wind, but the bass would not eat the glide. Once he realized it wouldn’t be the day for the big bait to shine, he switched to a swim jig and a Senko and was able to land his entire bag by 9:30 a.m.

“I went to an area where I got several bites in practice and the tide was too low. I had to rush through it so I could get to somewhere that had some tide,” La Clair said. “I went to my Day 1 spot and it reloaded really quickly. We finished our limits, culled a bunch and got out of there. They were coming back in there and I didn’t want to sit there and wear them out. I knew I had a pretty good sack.”

For the most part, La Clair has deciphered where the bass are setting up on the bank in his primary area and has been surprised others haven’t had the same success. He has seen multiple boats on both days of the event so far, including some of his Delaware teammates, but they have fished over what he feels is the juice.

“There are 20 boats in this place and I haven’t really had anyone come over and figure it out yet,” he said. “They aren’t throwing the glide and for some reason they aren’t throwing where I am catching them. It is something people are overlooking.”

During the tournament, La Clair has noticed bream spawning. Anglers have fished an incoming tide each morning and he believes the bass will push up into those bream beds and start feeding.

“These fish are eating bluegill and sunnies,” he said. “(The bream) are bedding, so that is what these largemouth are pulling in to do. Once the tide is up, they go to the bulkheads and the shoreline and are roaming early in the morning between docks and stuff like that. I would parallel the docks with the glidebait and if I didn’t get them there, I would go to the bulkheads. Then I would go straight to the middle of them.”

La Clair has also caught several key bass on a point where the bass stack up when the tide comes rushing back in.

“They set up on the inside of that 60-yard stretch and that has been good,” he said.

In total, he fished through about five spots on Day 2. He hopes his best area reloads again tomorrow, but La Clair knows he can catch a limit just about anywhere he stops. The tide will largely be an incoming one tomorrow as well and when it gets right, La Clair knows it could be game on.

“Hopefully they move back in there and if they don’t, I’ll use plan B and C,” La Clair said. “I’m hoping we get a little bit of foul weather and maybe that will change the glidebait bass.”

Delaware’s Rodney Oberdick leads the Big Bass of the Tournament standings for the boaters with a 5-12 largemouth he caught on Day 1.

James D’Ambra from Hanover, Mass., leads the nonboater division with a two-day total of 18-4. New York’s Jon Metot is second with 18-3 and Zachary Queeney is third with 17-11.

Connecticut’s Robert Serer continues to hold Big Bass of the Tournament honors for nonboaters with a 4-11 largemouth from Day 1.

With a two-day total of 378-5, New Jersey secured an impressive victory in the team competition. Pennsylvania finished second with 345-14 followed by New York in third with 338-6 and Connecticut in fourth with 325-10. Delaware finished fifth with 323-11; Maryland was sixth with 319-6; Rhode Island was seventh with 315-4; Maine was eighth with 312-4; Ontario was ninth with 257-0; Massachusetts was 10th with 248-0; New Hampshire was 11th with 216-8; and Vermont finished 12th with 165-13.

The Top 24 boaters and nonboaters after the Day 2 weigh-in, along with the top two anglers from each state that aren’t already inside the cut, will launch from Smallwood State Park starting at 5:30 a.m. ET on Friday and will return for weigh-in at 1:30 p.m.

The top finishing angler from each state will earn a spot in the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Lake Hartwell scheduled for Oct. 18-20. There, three berths to the 2024 Bassmaster Classic will be awarded and the winner will receive an invite to the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series roster.

Fish On! Charles County Readies for MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals T-H Marine Stop 5 on the Potomac River

Brian Carter
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Fish On! Charles County Readies for MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals T-H Marine Stop 5 on the Potomac River

Field of 150 Professional Anglers to Compete Next Week for Top Prize of up to $115,000 and Qualification into REDCREST 2024

MARBURY, Md. (June 8, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to return to Marbury, Maryland, next week, June 17-19, for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River. The Invitational tournament will feature a roster of 150 professional anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000, and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024 – the Bass Pro Tour championship – for the chance to win up to $300,000.

Hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, the tournament marks the fifth of six Invitational events in 2023, offering competitors a total season purse of more than $3.9 million. In addition to the top payout of $115,000, the field is also competing for valuable points to win the coveted Invitational Angler of the Year (AOY) title. The top eight pros in the Tackle Warehouse Invitational AOY standings at the end of the season will receive an invitation to compete on the Bass Pro Tour in 2024.

“The Potomac River is a world-class fishery, and the Charles County Recreation, Parks and Tourism Department is excited to continue to welcome anglers and their families for fishing tournaments,” said Maggie Boyden, Tourism Marketing Coordinator for Charles County. “These events yield substantial economic impact to our local economy which supports businesses, hotels, restaurants, and future development.”

The tidal fishery is a very familiar destination for MLF and many of the pro anglers competing in this tournament, as the Potomac River has hosted countless major bass-fishing tournaments. Historically, milfoil has always played a huge role on the river, but that hasn’t totally been the case in tournaments as of late. Eelgrass and star grass have become important players. Notably, some of the best eelgrass stretches have been on the main river, which has expanded the playing field a little bit as well.

Green Lane, Pennsylvania pro Grae Buck has quite a bit of experience fishing on the Potomac River, and he believes we’re headed for another good event on the historic fishery.

“The fishing should be pretty strong, and it won’t be too hot,” Buck said. “The majority of fish should be postspawn and getting into their summertime patterns, when they’re eating. My favorite time to fish the Potomac is early May, but the fishing should be fun and this will be a good one.”

“I’ll be interested to see what the weights are this year,” Buck continued. “When we were there in ’21, the average was way higher than I thought it would be. I didn’t see that coming, I knew we would catch fish, but I thought 12 pounds a day would make a Top 50.

“The last few years, it seems like the river is getting stronger and the weights are getting higher,” Buck said. “Overall, the weights have gotten stronger, and I think that has a lot to do with the grass. It’s not necessarily milfoil, there’s other grass, but it lets the fish have more habitat to grow in.”

In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Saturday and Sunday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, will advance to the final round on Championship Monday, where they will compete 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 will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024. In addition, the season-long Invitational AOY will also earn a berth into REDCREST 2024.

Anglers will launch each day at 6:30 a.m. ET, Saturday through Monday, from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury, Maryland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the boat ramp daily beginning at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all three days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

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.

Monster playing field awaits Opens anglers at Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula

Brian Carter
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Monster playing field awaits Opens anglers at Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula

Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula will host the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series June 15-17. 

Photo courtesy of Oklahoma Department of Wildlife 

June 8, 2023

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Monster playing field awaits Opens anglers at Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula

EUFAULA, Okla. — A giant playing field awaits anglers competing in the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula, Okla., and Elite Series pro and local stick Luke Palmer believes every inch of the lake could produce a winning bag of bass.

“It is a neat lake because it can be won out of any section of the lake,” the 2023 Santee Cooper Lakes Elite champion said. “It is just a good fishery. It has a lot of 2 1/2- to 3-pound bass in it. An angler can do what he wants.”

Tournament days are scheduled for June 15-17, with takeoffs beginning daily at 6 a.m. CT from Nichols Point. Anglers will return for weigh-in beginning at 2 p.m. Following the Day 2 weigh-in, the field will be cut to the Top 10 and the winner will punch their ticket to the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Tulsa.

This is the first time the Bassmaster Tournament Trail has visited the more northwest version of Lake Eufaula since 2014. Covering over 105,000 acres with 800 miles of shoreline, Eufaula is Oklahoma’s largest reservoir and is one of the largest playing fields the Opens anglers will fish this season.

Palmer, who lives close by in Coalgate, Okla., has won several big events on Eufaula, including a 400-boat tournament last fall. While he would prefer this tournament to be a couple of weeks earlier, he believes competitors will be able to fish to their strengths.

“It has a little bit of everything,” he said. “We are putting in at the dead center of the lake, so you can run 35 or 40 miles one way or you can stay close. You will have a variety of water colors, too.

“It will be pretty clean toward the dam, and I think the midlake (area) is clearing up as well. You can fish deep if you want to, and then there will be some guys who will be in the dirt the whole time.”

All three species of bass live in Eufaula. Largemouth tend to be the bigger, more consistent player. With several major floods, Palmer has seen smallmouth fishing become less productive in recent years.

For anglers fishing for points or needing a solid keeper to fill out a good bag, spotted bass can also come into play. While they used to be more of a nuisance in tournaments, Palmer has seen the spotted bass size improve, with many of those spots measuring in the 2 to 2 1/2-pound range in recent years.

While Eufaula has a great bass population, it doesn’t necessarily hold groups of quality fish like a Tennessee River reservoir. It also doesn’t reload as quickly. An angler can catch 20 pounds one day and return to the same area the next day and only land 10 pounds. Palmer anticipates the winner will catch over 20 pounds at least one day and back it up with around 15 or 16 pounds the other two days.

“Whoever wins this event is going to have to use multiple areas to do it,” Palmer said. “We have a good population of fish, but there is only so much structure for them to be on. It isn’t like Guntersville where you roll up on a point and catch 25 pounds in six casts. If you catch two off a point in Oklahoma, that is a good spot and you better leave it alone. They are more scattered out.”

Temperatures across the country have been on the rise and full summertime patterns are beginning to emerge. During the tournament days, the forecast calls for high temperatures in the mid-90s with lows only dropping into the 70s. Shad and crawfish will be the main forage, while some anglers may find some hanging around late-spawning bream.

With the water level close to full pool and out of the bushes that line the banks, Palmer said the reservoir mostly consists of rock. Midlake down, standing timber starts to factor in, and that is where Palmer believes newbies will have the most opportunity to do something unique.

“I think that will play more than it does in local derbies. I think guys will really look at it differently,” he said. “They are going to do stuff differently than the local anglers. This tournament will probably be won out of something none of us (locals) would ever fish. Something off the wall.”

While something off the wall may win, Palmer anticipates a few Oklahoma staples will catch bass as well, including a jig, spinnerbait, squarebill and some type of topwater walking bait. A shaky head is also a popular choice on Eufaula.

John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., leads the Opens Elite Qualifiers points race after four events with 755 points. Japanese angler Kenta Kimura is second with 725 points, followed by Illinois youngster Trey McKinney in third with 722, Georgia’s Matt Henry in fourth with 706 and South Carolina’s JT Thompkins in fifth with 706.

At the conclusion of the season, the top nine anglers from the EQ field will receive invitations to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series. Full standings for the EQ division can be found at Bassmaster.com.

You can follow all the action from the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula on Bassmaster.com.

The tournament is being hosted by the Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce.

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

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

June Kerr Lake Fishing Report by Captain Rick Morris

Brian Carter
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June Kerr Lake Fishing Report by Captain Rick Morris

It’s June and the dog days of summer are almost here. Water temps on Kerr are still reasonable but rising quickly, get out early and work some shallow points in front of good spawning grounds. Use walking Baits like a Zara Spoke and others. if you have good water clarity, don’t forget the large Swim Baits up in 5 to 7 foot you might get or catch a Kerr lake Lunker. Also, don’t forget the shad spawn on deep, red clay, banks, or Main channel, like deep points hit or miss with a war eagle spinner bait. Current lake conditions are notorious for shutting down after 9 AM so after that its time to drop back to the old, faithful Carolina rig lizard and I drop shot or shake head, slow and easy as she goes.

For instructional fishing trips, on Kerr Lake or Lake Gaston please contact me through www.RickMorrisfishing.com. @MercuryMarine #goboldly #PowerPole @RPMCUSTOMRODS

Consistent Cody Meyer Leads Early for Group B at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake

Brian Carter
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Consistent Cody Meyer Leads Early for Group B at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake

Idaho Pro Catches Five Cookie-Cutter 5-Pound Smallmouth to Pace Group B, Group A Anglers to Wrap Qualifying Round Thursday

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (June 7, 2023) – Cayuga Lake is on fire. Literally, and figuratively.

The smoke blowing through upstate New York from the Canadian wildfires has created a very unique environment for the 80 pros on the Bass Pro Tour competing on Cayuga Lake this week, as many of the anglers fished Wednesday in an orange-tinted haze, with low visibility conditions. The good news is it had zero effect on the fishing, however, as Cayuga Lake showed out again and demonstrated why it is one of the premiere fisheries in the country.

Pro Cody Meyer of Star, Idaho, caught seven scorable bass Wednesday, with his best five weighing 26 pounds, 11 ounces, to lead Day 1 for Qualifying Group B of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler. Pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas , sits just 10 ounces behind Meyer in second place with five bass weighing 26-1.


Link to HD Video – Fish-Catch Highlights of Group B Qualifying Round Day 1 on Cayuga Lake
Link to Photo Gallery of Group B’s Day 1 Qualifying Round Afternoon Highlights

The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day on Thursday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group A will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition. Group B will conclude their Qualifying Round on Friday.

Meyer came into the day with a couple of patterns in mind, but it turned out he only needed one — fishing for spawning smallmouth.

“I had a couple of smallmouth marked on beds from practice, but I really didn’t plan to focus on smallmouth all day,” Meyer said. “I thought I would catch a few spawning then move to the grass for largemouth, but the smallmouth I found were just too big to pass up.”

Meyer caught all of his scorable bass Wednesday on a drop-shot rig, using a Yamamoto Shad Shape worm on the southern end of the lake. While he was focused on spawners, it turned out that the smallmouth didn’t necessarily care about the bottom composition of where they built their beds. It was more about the general area, according to Meyer.

“I caught one on a bluff and one on a boat dock, but it was more about this 5-mile stretch of water,” Meyer said. “These fish were all massive and anchored down hard in that area. If you could find them, there was a good chance you could get them to bite.”

Meyer plans to head back out on Friday with a similar plan to make the cut.

“I want to get down south again and keep trying to look for smallmouth,” Meyer went on to say. “It was just so windy and rough today that it was really hard to go looking for them after the second period. Everyone is catching them so well right now I’m going to need another really good day just to make the cut.”

The standings for the 40 pros in Group B after Day 1 on Cayuga Lake are:

1st:        Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, five bass, 26-11
2nd:       Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 26-1
3rd:       Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 25-10
4th:        Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, five bass, 24-12
5th:        Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 24-10
6th:        Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 24-2
7th:        Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 23-4
8th:        David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 23-2
9th:        Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 22-14
10th:     Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., five bass, 22-13
11th:     Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 21-14
12th:     Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 21-9
13th:     Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., five bass, 21-6
14th:     Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., five bass, 21-6
15th:     Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 21-4
16th:     Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 21-3
17th:     Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass, 21-2
18th:     Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 21-1
19th:     Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 20-1
20th:     Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., five bass, 19-11
21st:      Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 19-11
22nd:    James Watson, Lampe, Mo., five bass, 19-10
23rd:     Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., five bass, 19-5
24th:     Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 19-2
25th:     Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 18-8
26th:     Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 18-4
27th:     Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 18-4
28th:     Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 18-0
29th:     Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 17-11
30th:     Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, five bass, 17-10
31st:      Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., five bass, 17-7
32nd:    Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., five bass, 17-2
33rd:     Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 17-2
34th:     Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., five bass, 17-1
35th:     Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 15-13
36th:     Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, five bass, 15-0
37th:     Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., five bass, 14-4
38th:     Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., five bass, 13-13
39th:     Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., three bass, 12-1
40th:     David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., five bass, 11-15

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

Overall, there were 346 scorable bass weighing 1,203 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the 40 pros Wednesday, which included 30 5-pounders and three 6-pounders.

Throwing a spinnerbait, Greg Vinson caught a 6-pound, 14-ounce largemouth in Period 3 to earn Wednesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

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

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

Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Also, as part of the event, on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Bass Pro Shops, located at 1579 Clark Street Road in Auburn, New York, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors. Fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. On Sunday at 5 p.m., the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand for the trophy celebration and to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.

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

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

Television coverage of the 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.

Cruz cruises into Day 1 lead at Potomac River

Brian Carter
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Cruz cruises into Day 1 lead at Potomac River

Manuel Cruz of New Jersey takes the Day 1 lead at the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northeast Regional at Potomac River with 17 pounds, 9 ounces. More details to come!

Posted on June 7, 2023

Written by

Christopher Decker

Photography by

Grant Moxley

CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — After the first day of practice, Manuel Cruz knew exactly where he was going to fish during the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northeast Regional at Potomac River.

When he reached that spot, it was better than he could have expected. The New Jersey boater caught 17 pounds, 9 ounces to take the lead after Day 1 on the tidal fishery. He anchored his bag with a 4-7 largemouth.

Cruz holds a 5-ounce lead over Nathan Quince from Pennsylvania, who landed 17-4. Delaware’s Brian La Clair is in third place with 16-12.

“We all hope to be leading, but for me I wanted to get a decent bag and upgrade throughout the day to put myself in position,” said Cruz, who is fishing his first Nation Regional. “I was able to get a good bag early to where I didn’t need to run around and look for bigger ones. It was a great day and I’m glad it panned out the way it did. I capitalized on everything that bit. I didn’t miss anything.”

Hailing from Clifton, N.J., Cruz calls Lake Hopatcong home, but has been to the Potomac River several times for different events. While Lake Hopatcong has grass and docks, similar to the Potomac, the tide is the X-factor.

“I know a few areas that tend to hold fish,” he said. “There are community holes that everyone fishes and I was trying to stay away from those. That helped out.”

On Day 1, the tide worked in his favor.

With low tide occurring at 4 a.m. ET, anglers fished an incoming tide for the majority of the morning and when Cruz reached his starting spot, he found a much better quality of bass were biting than what he had caught during his practice.

Within the first hour, Cruz said he had over 16 pounds and upgraded to the 17-pound mark about a half an hour later. After a quick move, he made another key cull and was able to let his best areas rest during the later morning and early afternoon.

“I figured out on the first day of practice this is where I wanted to fish,” he said. “They just got a little bit bigger today. I left most of my fish biting all day so I can go back to them tomorrow hopefully. I ran out of there quickly once I got a decent limit.

“At one point, I had four bass that were the same size and I kept thinking I needed a 5-pounder to cull one of those out.”

Cruz is targeting one specific type of cover in his two primary areas and used two different baits. One of those baits caught the majority of his bass while the other coaxed a couple of his better fish into biting.

A couple of things will work in Cruz’s favor the rest of the way. The tide cycle will move back about an hour each day, leaving a better window for when he feels the big bass will bite. He is also getting bites throughout the day and feels he can weed through smaller bass to get to the quality he needs.

“I feel like it will probably improve for me,” he said.

Delaware’s Rodney Oberdick caught a 5-12 largemouth and leads the Big Bass of the Tournament standings after Day 1.

New Jersey’s Zachary Queeney leads the nonboater standings with a three-bass limit weighing 10-5. Connecticut’s Robert Serer is second with a three-bass limit of 10-0 that was anchored with the Big Bass of the Day on the nonboater side, a 4-12 largemouth.

With two anglers on top of their respective divisions, the New Jersey state team leads the state competition with a total of 187-10. Connecticut is a close second with 187-4 and New York is third with 181-14. Maryland is fourth with 179-7; Pennsylvania is fifth with 166-12; Delaware is sixth with 158-15; Maine is seventh with 152-15; Rhode Island is eighth with 141-9; Massachusetts is ninth with 115-9; New Hampshire is 10th with 108-0; Ontario is 11th with 107-12; and Vermont is 12th with 94-12.

The full field of 116 anglers will launch from Smallwood State Park at 5:30 a.m. ET Thursday and will return for weigh-in at 1:30 p.m. The top 24 boaters and nonboaters after the Day 2 weigh-in, along with the top two anglers from each state who aren’t already inside the cut, will advance to the final day.

The top-finishing boater and co-angler from each state represented in this tournament will earn a spot in the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on legendary Lake Hartwell Oct. 18-20.

The tournament is being hosted by the Charles County Commissioners.

CREATE A PATTERN WHEN FISHING! by Fresh Baitz

Brian Carter
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CREATE A PATTERN WHEN FISHING! by Fresh Baitz
Developing a pattern allows you to unlock the mysteries of bass behavior. By observing and analyzing factors like water temperature, time of year, weather conditions, and structure, you can identify patterns in bass movement and feeding habits. For example, during the summer, bass may seek shade and cooler water, while in the spring, they may move shallow to spawn. Soft plastic baits ushc as Scorpions, Lizards, HellaMites, and Worms are versatile and effective tools for fishing bass. These baits mimic natural prey, and by understanding the patterns of bass behavior, you can present them in a way that triggers their predatory instincts. One effective technique when developing a pattern with soft plastic baits is to start with a variety of colors and sizes. By experimenting with different combinations, you can quickly determine the preferences of the bass in a particular area. For instance, if bass are consistently hitting a black and blue Scorpion, it indicates a pattern of attraction to that color combination. Paying attention to the structure is crucial when developing a pattern. Bass often relate to specific underwater features like rocks, submerged logs, weed beds, or drop-offs. By targeting these areas with soft plastic baits, you can increase your chances of encountering actively feeding bass.Scorpions are a versatile type of lure that can be used to target a variety of fish species, including bass. We like to use bait that bass simply can’t resist. We use our FreshBaitz Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our Fresh Scorpion paired with a Stand-up jig is deadly… This bait will actually sit upright in a defensive stance! The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Made from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action that triggers MORE strikes! Scented for complete and total attraction! Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting out, the Fresh Scorpion is a must-have bait in your tackle box. Use it to target bass all year round and watch as it outperforms other baits.
Another essential aspect of developing a pattern is understanding the seasonal movements of bass. During the pre-spawn period, bass tend to gather in deeper water near spawning areas. A technique like dragging a Texas-rigged Worm slowly along the bottom can be effective in triggering strikes from these pre-spawn bass. In the post-spawn period, bass may move to deeper water or cover, but they remain hungry after the energy-intensive spawning process. Using a soft plastic bait like a Lizard or HellaMite around brush piles or submerged vegetation can entice post-spawn bass into biting. Water temperature plays a crucial role in bass behavior, and developing a pattern based on temperature changes can be highly effective. For example, during the fall, bass often feed heavily to prepare for winter. Targeting shallow areas with soft plastic baits like Scorpions and Lizards can yield some excellent results during this time.The new Fresh Baitz Lizard delivers a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait in any condition. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches! Perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. The Fresh Baitz Lizard is made from durable high-grade Non-Salted plastic for maximum attention-grabbing action.
Developing a pattern also involves paying attention to weather conditions. Bass may become more active or inactive depending on factors such as sunlight, cloud cover, wind, or rain. Adjusting your presentation and bait selection accordingly can make a significant difference in your catch rate. When fishing with soft plastic baits, it’s important to understand how different retrieves and presentations can trigger bass strikes. For example, a Carolina-rigged Worm dragged slowly across the bottom can mimic a natural prey item and entice a bite from a finicky bass. Varying the speed and action of your soft plastic bait can be crucial in developing a pattern. Sometimes, bass may prefer a slow, subtle presentation, while other times, a more aggressive and erratic retrieve may be necessary to trigger a reaction strike. Experimenting with different speeds and actions can help you identify the most effective approach.Each Fresh HellaMite is scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. Our newest Invisible HellaMite is an effective bait for various reasons, starting with its transparency, which makes it look like a natural prey item in the water. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait more clearly, and a clear HellaMite is more likely to look like real food, increasing the likelihood of a strike.  There’s a limited supply of our clear HellaMites so you better act fast! If you’re fast enough then you’ll be able to grab some Perch HellaMites before they end up selling out again! The supply won’t last long so don’t wait for another second. 
One effective technique for developing a pattern is to cover water systematically. By casting your soft plastic bait to different areas and observing the response, you can determine the most productive spots. This can be particularly useful when fishing large bodies of water like lakes or reservoirs. Depth plays a vital role in bass behavior, and understanding their preferred depth range can help you develop a successful pattern. Soft plastic baits can be fished at various depths using techniques like weightless Texas rigging, Carolina rigging, or adding weights to achieve the desired depth. Analyzing the natural forage available to bass in a particular body of water can assist in pattern development. If the area is abundant with crawfish, using soft plastic baits like Scorpions or Craw Worms can be effective. On the other hand, if shad or other baitfish.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a wide variety of 5-inch Fresh Worms to choose from, but we’ve recently released new 6-inch Worms that catch some trophies. Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR are all available in 5 and 6-inch. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another under different lighting conditions. Each Worm is scented for complete and total attraction and made in the USA by anglers just like you!
When developing a pattern, it’s crucial to be observant and adaptable. Conditions on the water can change rapidly, and what worked yesterday may not work today. By constantly analyzing the environment, experimenting with different soft plastic baits, and adjusting your approach, you can stay one step ahead of the fish. Developing a pattern takes time and patience. It requires gathering data over multiple fishing trips, keeping detailed notes, and analyzing the information. Over time, patterns will emerge, and you will become more proficient at consistently locating and catching bass. Soft plastic baits offer a wide range of customization options, allowing you to match the prevailing conditions and the preferences of the bass. You can experiment with different colors, sizes, scents, and even add rattles or attractants to enhance their appeal. This versatility makes them invaluable tools in developing and capitalizing on patterns.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from. For Scorpions we love to use the Stand-Up Jig because it sits your bait up-right in a defensive stance! When using a lizard we like using an All Purpose Hook which is built with an extra-wide gap and is made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. This hook has a z-lock shoulder bend feature that holds baits firmly in place working through and covering. Also has a super needle point technology that ensures its sharp penetrating power performs. Mosquito Hooks work for drop-shotting and are designed to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics such as lizards and worms. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations.
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