What a day for VA angler Alex Watts ah he makes his first visit to Buggs Island a leaves with over $18k and a great looking trophy. Alex finished the two day event with 19.3lbs. Take a listen to how it all went down as well as the winning moment recorded by Danielle.
| NORSK Lithium Joins Forces with Traditions Media |
| Forward-thinking lithium battery designer aligns with communications and content veterans |
| New Hope, Minn. (May 4, 2023) – A growing player in the boating/marine electronics power supply scene, Norsk Lithium, is proud to announce the addition of fishing industry PR company Traditions Media to its team, effective May 1, 2023.“As fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation continues to grow across the nation, we look for every opportunity to communicate our message,” says Norsk Lithium CMO, James Holst. “I’ve been in the fishing industry over the past three decades rubbing elbows with Traditions Media, at times working with many of the same manufacturers like Rapala, Humminbird, and Minn Kota.”Holst continues: “Over the years, I’ve watched how Traditions Media has helped both established and new brands increase and sustain visibility in the marketplace through creative story-telling, leveraging pro staff and end-user testimonials and educational content, as well as disseminating that content widely throughout the digital, print, radio, TV, and ever-changing social media space.”“Joining forces with Traditions Media is a big step in educating anglers about the benefits of utilizing lithium batteries in boats to efficiently provide power to trolling motors and today’s sophisticated fish-finding electronics, including tricked-out fishing kayaks and ice fishing rigs. And that doesn’t even touch on the vast applications for our unique design, chemistry, and technologies outside the fishing and hunting space,” says Holst.“We feel the Norsk Lithium story is unique in the lithium battery market, so we sought out the best agency to craft, deliver, and distribute that narrative. I’ve known Noel Vick and the Traditions Media team for many years and admired their work. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work together.” |
| ABOUT NORSK LITHIUMComposed of a product development team borne of the aerospace industry, the minds behind Norsk Lithium are used to mission-critical design tasks, and having to adapt to ever-changing lithium chemistries, technologies, and constantly-improving power output/charging capabilities. This background and perspective has led Norsk Lithium down the path to offer what the company believes are the best, fail-proof, problem-solving lithium batteries in the marine electronics, boating, and fishing market. “We’ve listened very closely to bass, walleye, and muskie tournament pros, big water anglers, guides, ice anglers, kayak anglers, and average, weekend fishermen. We’ve heard the frustrations end-users have had with lithium batteries over the past few years, which has turned countless anglers in the direction of Norsk Lithium products.”“I can’t divulge too much before ICAST, but we are one of the few lithium battery companies that offers an internally-heated core design that allows cold-water anglers problem-free charging and operation in sub-zero conditions—whether that’s early- and late-season walleye, bass, and muskie tournaments or annual family and buddy trips to destinations like the far northern Canadian hard water destinations; open-water winter walleye fishing on the Mississippi River; springtime Rainy River, Missouri River, Illinois River, and Detroit River walleye runs; and some pretty cold conditions south of the Mason-Dixon line for bass anglers fall through spring, too.” |
| Holst continues: “We also offer the customer the ability to monitor complete battery systems with their smartphone—for example, the battery groupings behind an entire 36-volt trolling motor set-up—via our Norsk Guardian™ smartphone app.” The Norsk guardian app monitors multi-battery setups, in real time, where other apps are limited to monitoring a single battery at a time. This makes the Norsk Guardian™ app comprehensive and useful, whereas other apps fail to provide the angler with the information they need to accurately and confidently monitor their battery systems. |
| Best-In-Class Customer Service & Proprietary Case Beyond the app, the Norsk Lithium customer support team is on standby to notify end-users of potential issues or voltage fluctuations even before the angler ever receives a text message from his/her Norsk Guardian app. In the event of an issue with a Norsk Lithium product, Norsk batteries are designed with a unique, proprietary case design that address three main longevity issues that plague other batteries.First, given that vibrations can kill electronics, Norsk Lithium’s case design addresses how vibrations are handled.Secondly, the case design provides ample spacing between cells to improve the handling of heat build-up that occurs during charging and periods of rapid discharge. Like vibrations, heat can kill electronics.Additionally, proper cell spacing ensures optionally-heated NORSK Lithium batteries can gently and efficiently warm the cells.Most batteries cram their cells into a bundle, and wrap them in tape with little to no airflow around the cells to allow heat to flow between cells to warm them.The proprietary case design also allows a NORSK-certified technician to service, repair, or upgrade a Norsk Lithium battery quickly and easily. |
| Eco-friendly DesignThe significant investments made by Norsk Lithium into their proprietary case design reflect the company’s commitment to ensure Norsk Lithium batteries provide many years of reliable service and keep as many batteries as possible out of landfills. Currently, when a competitor’s battery has an issue with a small internal component such as a temperature probe, BMS module, or wiring connections, that battery cannot be serviced. That‘s not the case with a NORSK Lithium battery; components can be serviced quickly, thus allowing the battery to be put back into service versus disposed of in a landfill. Anglers and boaters should also know that Norsk Lithium offers a 10-year limited warranty—and the ability to upgrade existing Norsk Lithium batteries as new, more powerful technologies emerge. |
| Looking Forward to FloridaThe Norsk Lithium team couldn’t be more excited for ICAST 2023 in Orlando, Florida, July 11-14. Besides a large booth space staffed with company product experts and pro anglers spanning the U.S., Norsk Lithium will also showcase their products at ICAST’s pre-show “On The Water” event between 10 AM and 2 PM at the OCCC North Building Ponds. “On The Water” attendees will have the opportunity to spend time in Norsk Lithium-powered watercraft and learn more about Norsk’s contemporary battery solutions for starting motors, sophisticated fish-finding rigging layouts (including forward-facing sonar), and trolling motor power.Catering to their growing presence in the kayak fishing market, Norsk Lithium will also provide attendees with the opportunity to operate a decked-out fishing kayak rigged stem-to-stern with Norsk Lithium products. “We’ll be unveiling a host of new products that represent what we think are the best lithium battery designs to date—no-fail power to suit everyone from the touring bass or walleye angler with four 15-inch graphs on the bow and three units at the console, to the father-of-four who just wants his pontoon to power up on weekends away from work and school.”Noel Vick, co-founder of Minnesota- and Texas-based Traditions Media, LLC, says the company was a bit reluctant to seek out partnerships in the lithium arena given the issues Holst mentioned above. “Personally, my gut feeling was that lithium battery technology just isn’t quite there yet when it comes to fishing and boating on a serious level,” states Vick. “Part of our success over the years has been keeping an ear to the ground, and we heard a lot of the same criticisms James Holst mentioned from anglers we trust.” |
| “But after meeting with Norsk Lithium and learning more about their investments, mission, engineering, and upcoming products, I’ve changed my tune. Traditions Media has always been fortunate to work with category leaders whether we’re talking rods, reels, tackle, or soft goods, and we think Norsk Lithium will be no exception in the ever-growing field of lithium power sources for marine applications and beyond.” Vick continues: “2023 marks Traditions Media’s 15th year as an agency and we couldn’t be happier to work with James Holst and the rest of the Norsk Lithium team. We’re anxious to get out on the water with them and help convey their problem-solutions to end-users, retailers, dealers, and the entire industry.”“Although Traditions is especially strong in the Midwest, we also have the ability to help Norsk reach bass and saltwater anglers, industry insiders, and influencers across the globe, ” says Vick. Vick concludes: “The timing couldn’t be more ideal. With fishing industry veteran James Holst taking the Norsk reigns as Chief Marketing Officer, followed by his longtime team of web and video wizards—many of whom helped grow In-Depth Outdoors in both the digital and TV space over the past 30 years—we’re looking forward to some really exciting product launches and content generation. Stay tuned.” |
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 2, 2023) – The University of Missouri duo of Cale McCandless of Wentzville, Missouri, and Mitchell Post of Columbia, Missouri, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Guntersville Presented by Crock-O-Gator on Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 15 ounces. The victory earned the Tiger’s bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2024 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
“What an experience this has been,” a happy McCandless said on-stage after being crowned champions. “We were on the waiting list, and we got a call on Tuesday asking if we wanted to get in. We sent it, drove down here to Alabama, and had no idea that this was going to turn out this way.”
“I don’t fish grass – we don’t even know what grass it,” McCandless continued. “We just fished our strengths and sat on the same spots out deep for 5 to 6 hours.”
The duo said they caught all of their fish on a 6th Sense C20 crankbait and a Cellar Baits swimbait on the deep grassline edges.
“We didn’t have a lot of bites, but they were all big bites,” Post said. “It was an amazing day.”
The 10 teams at the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Guntersville Presented by Crock-O-Gator finished:
1st: University of Missouri – Cale McCandless, Wentzville, Mo., and Mitchell Post, Columbia, Mo., five bass, 21-15, $2,000
2nd: Bethel University – Hunter Fillmore, Waynesville, Ohio, and Dylan Fogarty, Mechanicsburg, Pa., five bass, 21-5, $1,000
3rd: Auburn University – Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., and Tucker Smith, Birmingham, Ala., five bass, 20-15, $700
4th: Carson-Newman University – Caz Anderson, Haysville, N.C., and Will Harris, Athens, Tenn., five bass, 20-15, $600
5th: University of North Alabama – Nathan Reynolds, Nashville, Tenn., and Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 20-2, $500
6th: Louisiana State University-Shreveport – Brayden Nichols, Blanchard, La., and William Tew, Bossier City, La., five bass, 20-0
7th: Auburn University – Jordan Brewer, Roswell, Ga., and Sam Harvey, Auburn, Ala., five bass, 19-13
8th: University of Tennessee – Jackson Paden, Knoxville, Tenn., and Chad Sentell, Cottontown, Tenn., five bass, 19-7
9th: University of Montevallo – Aaron Cherry, Dothan, Ala., and Hudson Choquette, Headland, Ala., five bass, 19-6
10th: King University – Tyler Altizer, Abingdon, Va., and Dylan Thomson, Shady Valley, Tenn., five bass, 19-4
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Guntersville Presented by Crock-O-Gator was hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI on Lake Champlain, June 25 in Plattsburgh, New York.
The 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI features college teams from across the country competing in nine regular-season tournaments. The top 12 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundens, Lawless Lures, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
BENTON, Ky. (May 4, 2023) – The first episode of the Major League Fishing General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, the culmination of the General Tire Team Series that was filmed on the Clermont Chain of Lakes in Lake County, Florida, will premiere nationwide this Saturday, May 6, on the Outdoor Channel from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Episodes will premiere each Saturday, and the series will culminate with the crowning of the General Tire Team Series Champions on Saturday, June 17.
The seven-episode series will showcase the nine three-man teams that won their match in each of the three Qualifying Events competing for a $300,000 top prize. The second-place team will earn $60,000, and the third-place team will win $30,000. Teams fourth through ninth in the championship will each earn $15,000.
“On behalf of our partners, the City of Clermont and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, we are thrilled to have hosted the Major League Fishing General Tire Team Championship in Lake County,” said Ryan Ritchie, Director of Discover Lake County, Florida – Office of Tourism and Sports. “Without the support from the Lake County Board of County Commissioners and Tourist Development Council, opportunities like this would not be possible. Events like this, create national exposure and bring attention to the championship fishing in Lake County, as well as enhancing our economic development and impact with anglers, visitors, production crews and staff visiting our communities.”
Saturday’s airing on the Outdoor Channel will showcase Team Ferguson, Team Star brite and Team Builders First Source competing in Match 1, along with highlights from the competition and behind-the-scenes angler commentary and interviews.
The nine teams that are competing in the inaugural General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches are:
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn.
Team Builders First Source:
Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas
Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe, Fla.
Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La.
Team Crockett Creek:
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark.
Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn.
Team Ferguson:
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Team Fox Rent A Car:
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.
Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala.
Team Knighten Industries:
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark.
Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo.
Team Kubota:
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala.
Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas
Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff:
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
Team Star brite:
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo.
Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla.
The full, updated television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: B&W Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Optima Batteries, Phoenix Boats, Power-Pole, Rapala Baits, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, T-H Marine, Toyota, USAA, and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the MLF General Tire Team Series events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Alabama’s historic Lay Lake will host the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake May 11-14.
Photo by B.A.S.S.
May 4, 2023
Postspawners await field for Bassmaster Elite Series event at Alabama’s Lay Lake
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Temperatures are warming up around central Alabama just in time for the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake, and for Sylacauga, Ala., rookie Will Davis Jr., that means the bass on the Coosa River impoundment should be feeding up after a tough spawning season.
“It is setting up to be a catch fest I believe,” Davis said.
Although it has hosted four Bassmaster Classics in the past, this will be the first Elite Series tournament ever on Lay Lake. Since 2010, the last time Lay Lake hosted the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, there have been several Bassmaster events here, including a St. Croix Bassmaster Open won by Keith Carson in 2020 and a Strike King College Series Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops tournament in 2021.
Tournament days are scheduled for May 11-14. The full field of 104 anglers will compete the first two days before the field is cut to 50 for Semifinal Saturday. The Top 10 anglers will compete on Championship Sunday for the top prize of $100,000 and a blue trophy. Anglers will launch from Beeswax Creek Park starting at 6:30 a.m. CT every day and return to the park for weigh-in at 3 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
Lay Lake isn’t the biggest fishery, covering just 12,000 acres, but Davis believes anglers will be able to spread out and find spotted and largemouth bass throughout the system. While there may be some lingering spawners, Davis anticipates most of the bass will be postspawn and moving toward their summer feeding areas.
“The fish down the lake usually do their deal quicker. They spawn in late February and March,” he said. “(The spawn) works its way up the lake. Around midlake, (the bass) are more in a funk this time of year. But any part of the lake can play a factor. It won’t be just one section.”
The threadfin shad and the bream spawn, meanwhile, will likely be in full swing, with the full moon arriving a few days ahead of official practice. The gizzard shad spawn will also be in play, and anglers who are able to dial in on that bite will be one step ahead of the game.
“The shad will be spawning for sure and there will be bream beds,” he said. “In the morning, you really have to capitalize on that, because after that, it can be a grinder.”
The top end of the lake features a little dirtier water, and current will be a dominant factor. On the bottom end, anglers will find clearer water, standing timber and brushpiles. Forward-facing sonar will be an important tool for fishing those pieces of cover, and jerkbaits and crankbaits will be key baits.
Much of the shallow bite revolves around the willow and bank grass, Davis said. There is a little bit of milfoil growing in the lake too. Swim jigs, frogs, buzzbaits and soft plastics are some of the more productive presentations for anglers fishing around vegetation.
Davis said the key to the grass bite will be finding areas that have not been sprayed by lake management.
“If they go in an area and spray, you can hang it up for a long time,” Davis said. “They don’t live in that dead stuff.”
Along with the shallow grass, docks will come into play, especially if sunny skies and high pressure prevail. But looking ahead at the forecast, for what it’s worth, there is a chance of showers and storms each day leading up to and during the tournament.
“If it muddies it up, that will make it a little tougher,” Davis said. “But current always helps on the Coosa River.”
While Davis believes there will be several 20-pound bags caught, he thinks it will take around 17 pounds per day to have a chance at taking home the blue trophy. He added that the winner will almost certainly have to catch both spotted bass and largemouth.
“I don’t think you will be able to win on all largemouth,” he said. “I think you will have to weigh in one or two spots a day. Or, maybe catch 20 pounds of largemouth one day and 17 pounds of a mixed bag the rest of the tournament. I don’t think a guy can weigh in strictly largemouth for four days and win. That’s just me, but they might surprise me.”
After a stellar swing in his home state, Greenwood, S.C., pro Brandon Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 387 points. Georgia pro Drew Cook is second with 369 points, followed by Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet with 349. Australia’s Carl Jocumsen sits in fourth with 335, and Alabama’s Kyle Welcher is fifth with 333.
California pro Bryant Smith vaulted to the top of the Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year standings with 300 points after back-to-back Top 15 finishes at Lake Murray and Santee Cooper Lakes. He is followed by Alabama’s David Gaston in second with 299 points, with Davis sitting in third with 279.
New for 2023, fans can enjoy predictions, conditions and live hits from the lake as part of the LIVE Preview show streaming on Bassmaster.com Wednesday, May 10 at 8 a.m. CT. Bassmaster LIVE kicks off tournament coverage Thursday and Friday mornings at 7 a.m. on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports platforms while FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Saturday and Sunday.
Discover Shelby is hosting the tournament
Leading Boat Manufacturer to Remain Exclusive Bass Boat Sponsor of MLF5
BENTON, Ky. (May 3, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, and Phoenix Boats, a leading boat manufacturer known for innovation and performance, announced today a renewed and expanded multi-year partnership.
Per terms of the agreement, Phoenix Boats will remain the exclusive bass boat sponsor of MLF5, including the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League, Abu Garcia College Fishing and MLF High School Fishing circuits. Phoenix Boats will continue as the title sponsor of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League and the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship. Additionally, Phoenix Boats has become the presenting sponsor of the Toyota Series.
“We, at Phoenix Boats, are proud to continue our relationship with Major League Fishing with this multi-year agreement,” said Teresa Johnson, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Phoenix Boats. “With both of our organizations focused on customer relationships, industry innovation and a steadfast commitment to the sport of bass fishing, this partnership will allow our sport to continue expanding from the grassroots level and allow us to continue to invest in the sport of tournament bass fishing and its growth.”
Gary Clouse, Co-Founder and President/CEO of Phoenix Boats added, “When I fished my first BFL in 1981, I realized Major League Fishing’s investment in the sport of tournament bass fishing and its anglers. Since then, I have fished numerous MLF5 events and their dedication has only become more apparent as they continue to grow the organization and platform. We are excited to continue our long-term commitment with Major League Fishing by remaining the exclusive bass boat sponsor of the MLF5.”
The lucrative Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program will continue to offer additional tournament rewards of up to $35,000 for qualified Phoenix Boat owners that win an MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational or a Toyota Series event and up to $7,000 for qualified Phoenix Boat owners that win a Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event. The highest-finishing Phoenix Boat owner in Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League events will receive a bonus if a qualified Phoenix Boat owner does not win the event. Phoenix Boat owners must be registered and qualified in the Phoenix MLF Bonus program prior to the start of the event.
“We are proud to extend our partnership with Phoenix Boats and are excited to continue working with their outstanding team in the coming years,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “Together we have seen incredible growth in the sport of bass-fishing and a deepening passion for MLF competition and are looking forward to building on this mutually beneficial partnership to continue expanding the sport.”
Phoenix Boats began their partnership with MLF in 2020. The brand will continue to receive increased exposure through multiple MLF outlets, including television and livestream broadcasts, the MLF website and social media outlets and onsite activation opportunities and signage at all MLF5 events.
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Phoenix Boats, their performance, quality and design, visit PhoenixBassBoats.com.
About Phoenix Boats
Phoenix Boats is a Tennessee corporation founded in 2007 by bass anglers for bass anglers. It has risen to become known as one of the industry leaders in quality and innovation. Headquartered in Winchester, Tennessee, in a modern 210,000 square foot facility located on 70 acres, Phoenix Boats is a combination of the best parts, the best people and the best processes, and it takes all these components to deliver high-quality product to Phoenix Boats customers.
2023 CATT Academy Championship – Carolina Anglers Team Trail (cattteamtrail.com)
2023 CATT Academy Championship – Carolina Anglers Team Trail (cattteamtrail.com)
| Team | BF | Weight | Winnings | Points |
| Land Weaver John Edwards Jr | 6.04 | 17.40 | $1,411.00 | 110 |
| Jay Wright Mikey Anderson | 3.66 | 15.16 | $690.00 | 109 |
| Kevin Jones Tyler Jones | 0.00 | 14.62 | $190.00 | 108 |
| Powell Kemp Michael Chlomoudis | 3.44 | 13.76 | 107 | |
| Joey Scott Dylan Lynch | 3.28 | 13.64 | 106 | |
| Jesse Medlin Scott Golden | 3.90 | 13.40 | 105 | |
| Walt Goff Brian Stalls | 0.00 | 12.34 | 104 | |
| Andy Liles Cason Price | 0.00 | 12.06 | 103 | |
| Shane Doughtie Evan White | 3.08 | 12.04 | 102 | |
| Jake Murdock John Murdock | 3.92 | 11.73 | $54.00 | 101 |
| Chris Bishop Tim Byers | 0.00 | 11.06 | 100 | |
| Randy Robson Brian Robson | 0.00 | 10.71 | 99 | |
| Scott Griffin Jay Allen | 0.00 | 10.58 | 98 | |
| Ryan Hobbs Steven Smith | 0.00 | 9.58 | 97 | |
| Lee Allred Cameron Laxton | 0.00 | 8.16 | 96 | |
| Allen Lifsey Caleb Eller | 0.00 | 5.42 | 95 | |
| Kevin Young Harold Foster | 0.00 | 0.00 | 85 | |
| Scooter Lilly Eric Galasso | 0.00 | 0.00 | 85 | |
| Rick Morris Dave Waack | 0.00 | 0.00 | 85 | |
| Total Entries | $2,160.00 | |||
| BONUS $ | $600.00 | |||
| Total Paid At Ramp | $2,345.00 | |||
| 2023 Gaston Spring Final Total | $315.00 | |||
| CATT | $50.00 | |||
| 2023 CATT Championship Fund | $50.00 | |||
| 2023 Gaston Spring Final Total | $1,335.00 |
| Boater Joel Barber of Brandon, Mississippi, and Strike-King co-angler Anthony Rasberry of New Albany, Mississippi. |
| New Albany’s Rasberry Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division Title EUFAULA, Okla. (May 2, 2023) – Boater Joel Barber of Brandon, Mississippi, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 13 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Ross Barnett Reservoir. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Mississippi Division. Barber earned $3,426 for his victory. “I caught one probably 5 (pounds) and one 4 – both spawned out and skinny as a rail,” Barber said. “I caught them on a frog, fishing extremely slow. I didn’t catch a lot of fish, I only culled twice. But overall, it was a very good day and I really enjoyed it.” Barber said that his two big fish came on the frog, but he also added a couple of keepers on a ChatterBait. He fished offshore, in just 3 to 4 feet of water targeting points in an area that had a couple of creeks flowing into it. “I was throwing a (Heddon Zara) Spook and a big buzzbait, trying to get the big bite,” Barber said. “My co-angler probably caught 10 or 12 and he had a good shot at winning, but he couldn’t keep them on. They were jumping on him and he just missed them. I’m grateful that I was able to get the right ones in the boat.” The top 10 boaters finished the tournament: 1st: Joel Barber, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 16-13, $3,426 2nd: Taurian Parks, Clinton, Miss., five bass, 16-3, $1,713 3rd: Alfred Williams, Jackson, Miss., five bass, 16-1, $1,141 4th: Jared Smith, Petal, Miss., five bass, 14-14, $799 5th: Doug Taylor, Booneville, Miss., five bass, 13-13, $685 6th: Christian Rushing, Wiggins, Miss., five bass, 13-9, $628 7th: Mike Jones, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 13-4, $542 7th: Todd Reed, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 13-4, $542 9th: Clint Pegg, Caledonia, Miss., five bass, 13-3, $1,927 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus) 10th: Mark Gwin, Tupelo, Miss., five bass, 12-15, $400 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Anthony Reid of Kenner, Louisiana, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces, to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $430.  Anthony Rasberry of New Albany, Mississippi, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,909 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that weighed 13 pounds, 6 ounces. The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished: 1st: Anthony Rasberry, New Albany, Miss., five bass, 13-6, $1,909 2nd: Louis Stevens, Grenada, Miss., five bass, 13-1, $855 3rd: Troy Ladner, Bay Saint Louis, Miss., five bass, 11-14, $770 4th: Mitchell Bond, Collins, Miss., five bass, 11-11, $399 5th: Corey Carson, Blue Mountain, Miss., five bass, 11-3, $342 6th: Hunter Averett, Carriere, Miss., three bass, 11-1, $523 7th: Ryan Lecompte, Picayune, Miss., three bass, 9-12, $285 8th: Shawn Gaar, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 9-11, $256 9th: Shane Long, Pontotoc, Miss., three bass, 8-10, $228 10th: Buddy French, Monticello, Miss., four bass, 8-8, $199 Averett earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $210, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day. After three events, Taurian Parks of Clinton, Mississippi, leads the BFL Mississippi Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 729 points, while Hunter Averett of Carriere, Mississippi, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 724 points. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 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: 4WP, 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. 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