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Post-spawn chaos could await Bassmaster Opens pros at famed Toledo Bend Reservoir

Brian Carter
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Post-spawn chaos could await Bassmaster Opens pros at famed Toledo Bend Reservoir

Toledo Bend Reservoir in Many, La., will host the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series April 13-15. 

Photo by Brenden Kanies/B.A.S.S.

April 6, 2023

Post-spawn chaos could await Bassmaster Opens pros at famed Toledo Bend Reservoir

MANY, La. — Shaine Campbell finished second at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Alabama’s Lake Eufaula back in March, which was enough to put him atop the Elite Qualifiers Division standings.

Now, as if Campbell himself designed the schedule, the Opens will swing right through his wheelhouse, stopping at Toledo Bend Reservoir on April 13-15. Anglers will take off every day at 6:45 a.m. CT from Cypress Bend Park with weigh-ins scheduled back at the park at 2:45 p.m.

It figures to be a wide-open tournament, as many on the 185,000-acre impoundment of the Sabine River tend to be. That’s partly because of the diversity of the fishery, but mostly because of the giant bucket-mouthed bass, some with double-digit weights, that have been hooked at the “The Bend” throughout the year.

Few know this as well as Campbell, who lives in Brookeland, Texas, just a 30-minute drive from the nearest Toledo Bend ramp.

“You can fish anywhere from a foot of water to 30 feet of water at Toledo Bend,” Campbell said. “You can catch bed fish, you can throw a Carolina rig out deep, you can try a crankbait. Really, you can try a little bit of everything, and I think most people will. It’ll be interesting to see what patterns guys get on.”

Campbell, 36, expects bass to be post-spawn for this derby and said he’ll target transitioning fish with hopes of landing a spot in the final round of the three-day tournament. Still, he said April can be “stingy sometimes when the bass get in a little post-spawn funk.”

Campbell suspects the winner will need a three-day total between 60 and 62 pounds. He said the deciding factor almost certainly will be the angler who catches a few lunkers like the ones that made it the top-ranked fishery in the U.S. by Bassmaster Magazine in 2015 and 2016.

“At any time, someone can catch a 9- or 10-pounder that changes everything,” he said.

Campbell said he likes the magnitude of the place, but noted the expansiveness and myriad choices to make can intimidate anglers who are accustomed to smaller bodies of water.

Still, he doesn’t expect the 171 EQ anglers (225 pro anglers total) at Toledo Bend to blink.

“Not one bit,” he said, chuckling. “Somebody had to take the EQ lead after the first Open and I’m really glad it was me. But there are some horses right behind me. I’d love to hold onto the lead in the standings until the end, but it’s a long year.”

Nine Opens tournaments are on the 2023 schedule and the top nine anglers in the Bassmaster Opens EQ points race at the end of the season will qualify for the prestigious Bassmaster Elite Series in 2024.

No matter how he finishes at Toledo Bend, Campbell already has one thing going for him before the first bass is caught.

“There’s a lot to be said for camaraderie, and I may stay over at (Toledo Bend) on tournament days,” he said. “I’m comfortable there. But you can guarantee that on practice days, I’m going home to sleep in my own bed.”

Follow all of the action on Bassmaster.com.

The St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Toledo Bend is being hosted by the Sabine Parish Tourist & Recreation Commission and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.                                                

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

April Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Report by Captain Chad Green

Brian Carter
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April Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Report by Captain Chad Green

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

April can offer some great fishing. All species come to the bank in April to get ready to spawn and feed on other spawning species. Get out on the water when you can and enjoy the sunrises and sunsets. Practice catch and release as much as possible to preserve our great fisheries out there. As always, just make one more Last Cast as it could be the next trophy fish.
Visit Captains Quarters Marina at Hales Ford Bridge for any tackle that you may need and they will fix you up.
Visit https://missilebaits.store/and check out all they have to offer.
Special Thanks to Brian Carter at the https://thebasscast.com/
Check out Smith Mountain Boat and Tackle Penhook for your boating needs https://www.smboats.com

PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE ON CITATION SIZE FISH

Largemouth Bass/Smallmouth Bass
The bass are starting their spawning phase and will last 4-5 weeks. Look for spawning pockets with structure like stumps, rocks, docks and laydowns. Most of the larger fish will not stay shallow long especially with fronts coming in and out. Target pre and post spawn fish that are still out in deeper water near these areas for the larger fish. Most of your bedding fish seen are males and stay there to protect the fry as they hatch. Night fishing will start very soon as well as the shad spawn. Target rocky areas with shad imitating lures early and late in the day. Jerkbaits, crankbaits, Jigs, spinnerbaits, topwater and swimbaits can be productive. Bluegills will become a forage for the bass starting this month as well and some larger fish will feed on them until the fall. We will see a slight decrease in 8 lb fish this month as they tend to go into hiding usually in mid April. There will be plenty of quality 4 plus pound fish go around.
Striped Bass
The stripers have hit the banks in just about all parts of the lake. Try the late evenings and early mornings for feeding and surfacing fish. Use jerkbaits, bucktails, flukes, and jointed baits. Topwater can also be productive on warm evenings. Night time can be very productive as well with the same baits fished very slow and fishing lighted areas as well.
Crappie
Crappie will start to move shallow this month and can produce some trophy size fish as well. Try and release these fish as well if they are citation size to be caught another day. They can be found anywhere in the 5-15 ft range depending on water clarity. Look for brush piles and trees on both river arms of the lake. Use lightweight jigs or minnows and fish slow. Clean your skillet and have that ready as they are excellent meal.

Tournaments March
Fishers Of Men April 8th State Park
FLW BFL April 15th parkway
BassCast Crazy Horse April 22nd
SML CATT April 30th State Park

Special Thanks to Brian Carter at the www.BassCast.com

Minn Kota sponsors Bassmaster Elite showdown on St. Lawrence River

Brian Carter
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Minn Kota sponsors Bassmaster Elite showdown on St. Lawrence River

April 6, 2023

Minn Kota sponsors Bassmaster Elite showdown on St. Lawrence River

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Long-time B.A.S.S. partner Minn Kota is expanding their partnership for 2023 to serve as the title sponsor for a heavy showdown on the St. Lawrence River, which has once more topped Bassmaster’s list as the country’s best bass fishery in 2022. The season-ending Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River will be held August 24-27, and anglers will hope to match the stellar 2022 conditions that produced two historic smallmouth century belts for Jay Przekurat and Cory Johnston.

“Minn Kota is excited to be the title sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series event at the St. Lawrence River this coming August,” said Brad Henry, brand manager for Minn Kota. “After Humminbird and Minn Kota pro Jeff Gustafson’s Bassmaster Classic win in Knoxville, we are looking forward to heading to another great venue where our anglers have had a lot of success in the past. It will be a big year for the Minn Kota brand and we look forward to being front and center at this event.”

Gustafson became the first Canadian to win the Ray Scott Trophy at the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in late March. In the event, “Gussy” used a tactic dating back to his roots to win the coveted title in wire-to-wire fashion. Gustafson’s “moping” technique uses a Z-Man Jerk ShadZ on a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator jighead, fishing straight down for bass he could see on his Humminbird MEGA Live forward-facing sonar. 

In addition to its title sponsorship of the Elite at St. Lawrence, Minn Kota is a premier sponsor of the six-circuit Bassmaster Tournament Trail and will continue garnering prime visibility in B.A.S.S. multimedia platforms, magazines and on Bassmaster LIVE, which airs on FOX, FS1, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

Full coverage from all four days of the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River will be available on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com. 

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

About Johnson Outdoors Fishing
JOHNSON OUTDOORS FISHING is comprised of the Minn Kota®, Humminbird® and Cannon® brands. Minn Kota is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as a complete line of shallow water anchors, battery chargers and marine accessories. Humminbird is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including fish finders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers and premium cartography products. Cannon is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.
Visit Humminbird at www.humminbird.com
Visit Minn Kota at www.minnkotamotors.com
Visit Cannon at www.cannondownriggers.com

Louisiana’s “Cajun Baby” Cliff Crochet Earns Qualifying Round Win for Group B at Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray

Brian Carter
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Louisiana’s “Cajun Baby” Cliff Crochet Earns Qualifying Round Win for Group B at Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray

Louisiana Pro Catches Two-Day Haul of 41-15 to Pace Group B and Advance, Field of 40 Set for Thursday’s Knockout Round

COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 5, 2023) – An incoming full moon on Thursday night, bright and sunny bluebird skies, and a very light wind made for extremely favorable sight-fishing conditions Wednesday to wrap up the Group B Qualifying Round at the MLF Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury in Columbia, South Carolina. Pro Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, Louisiana , had the best Qualifying Round – 10 bass weighing 41 pounds, 15 ounces, to win Group B and advance along with the top 20 finishers into Thursday’s Knockout Round.

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

Googan Baits pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, who held the lead early in Period 1 before backing off his fish, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 39-8 to end the Qualifying Round in second place. Day 1 leader, rookie Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, caught 10 bass weighing 39-2 to finish the round in third. Both held the lead for periods of time Wednesday, but both were eventually overtaken by Crochet.

The remaining 40 anglers – the top 20 from each group – now advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round on Friday. Weights will carry over from the Knockout Round into the Championship Round, which will feature the final 10 anglers competing for the heaviest two-day cumulative total and the top prize of $100,000. 

“Man, it feels a lot better being inside the cut then it does being outside the cut, when time runs out,” Crochet said in his post-game interview. “It was a perfect day, today. I started out early and caught a couple of fish, and it went down pretty good. Just chunk after chunk, and I caught the weight that I needed to move onto the Knockout Round.”

Most of Crochet’s fish on Wednesday came on a River2Sea Whopper Plopper, but he also added a keeper to his limit using a NetBait BaitFuel Infused Toad.

“One of the coolest things that happened today was that I was catching them on equipment that I helped design for some of my sponsors,” Crochet said. “The KastKing (Speed Demon Elite) Deadbolt reel, which has the lockdown drag system – that’s been a big key to how I’m catching them this week. And the new (KastKing) Hammer Braid line we got – those two products are really playing a big part for me this week.

“I caught a few more at the end of the day, and I think that may play later this week so I feel like my pattern is trending up and life is good,” Crochet went on to say. “I’m very thankful for today. I’m ready to go home, eat supper, and go to sleep so we can get after it again tomorrow.”

The top 20 pros from Group B that advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round on Lake Murray are:

1st:          Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., 10 bass, 41-15
2nd:         Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 39-8
3rd:         Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 39-2
4th:         Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 38-5
5th:         Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 37-9
6th:         Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 37-5
7th:         Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., 10 bass, 36-3
8th:         Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-3
9th:         Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 35-3
10th:       Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 35-0
11th:       Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 10 bass, 34-7
12th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 34-4
13th:       Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 33-13
14th:       Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 33-12
15th:       Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 33-12
16th:       James Watson, Lampe, Mo, 10 bass, 33-6
17th:       Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 33-3
18th:       Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 10 bass, 33-1
19th:       Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 10 bass, 32-12
20th:       Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 10 bass, 32-5

Eliminated from competition are:

21st:       Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-11
22nd:      Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., 10 bass, 31-2
23rd:      Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-15
24th:       Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 10 bass, 30-15
25th:       Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 10 bass, 30-8
26th:       Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 30-8
27th:       Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., nine bass, 29-9
28th:       Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 29-1
29th:       Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., 10 bass, 27-15
30th:       Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 27-13
31st:       Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 10 bass, 27-11
32nd:      Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., nine bass, 26-10
33rd:      Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., nine bass, 26-7
34th:       Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 26-7
35th:       Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., nine bass, 26-6
36th:       Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., 10 bass, 26-3
37th:       Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, seven bass, 25-9
38th:       Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 25-5
39th:       Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., nine bass, 22-15
40th:       Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., 10 bass, 20-12

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

Overall, there were 342 scorable bass weighing 921 pounds, 13 ounces caught by the 40 pros Wednesday.

Wednesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award was awarded to General Tire pro Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, who weighed in a 6-pound, 4-ounce largemouth which bit his big glide bait in Period 3. 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, hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country, 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 Sunday and Tuesday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Monday and Wednesday. Now that each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Thursday’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 Friday’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 Dreher Island State Park, located at 3677 State Park Road in Prosperity. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch locations, 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 MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

On Championship Friday, April 7, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to visit Dreher Island State Park and celebrate the top 10 and crown the Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Champion at the Watch Party and Trophy Presentation. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.

The Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury will feature 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 MLF NOW!® 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. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 7 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.

Jesse Medlin & Scott Golden Win CATT Lake Gaston, NC April 2, 2023

Brian Carter
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Jesse Medlin & Scott Golden Win CATT Lake Gaston, NC April 2, 2023

Next Lake Gaston CATT Spring Qualifier is April 30 at Summit Landing! The Points race is tight! Only have to enter 1 Qualifier to be eligible to enter the Gaston Final!

Jesse Medlin & Scott Golden brought in 5 bass weighing 19.78 lbs to take the win and $1.430.00 at Lake Gaston!

Kevin & Tyler Jones 2nd with 18.78 lbs!

3rd Place Joey Scott with 18.38 lbs and the 2nd BF at 5.14 lbs!

4th Place went to Randy Groves & Steve Thompson 17.86 lbs!

Last money Jay Allen & Scott Griffin 17.28 lbs! PLUS the Academy BF at 5.30 lbs!

TeamBFWeightWinningsPoints
Jesse Medlin Scott Golden4.8819.78$1,430.00110
Kevin Jones Tyler Jones0.0018.78$770.00109
Joey Scott5.1418.38$322.00108
Randy Groves Steve Thompson4.4417.86$190.00107
Scott Griffin Jay Allen5.3017.28$288.00106
Andy Liles Wes House4.7616.30105
Land Weaver John Edwards Jr0.0015.46104
Garrison Vick Abigail Vick0.0013.44103
Jake Murdock John Murdock0.0012.46102
Jay Wright Nick Bell0.0012.36101
Jerry Cullom Bonby Harris0.0012.24100
Anthony Jones John Conner0.0011.9899
Tyler Garner Zeb Mitchell0.0011.4098
Matt Fuhr Jay Fuhr0.0010.5897
Randy Robson Brian Robson0.0010.0096
Geno Mccree Phillip Johnson0.009.9695
Dennis Phillips Craig Phillips0.009.7294
Derrik Wynkoop0.008.4893
Michael Hobbs Alexis Vaughn0.008.4092
Allen Lifsey Caleb Eller0.005.8691
Harold Caldwell John Caldwell0.000.0081
Cody Rogers Cody Allen0.000.0081
Carl Enos David Enos0.000.0081
James Joyner Steven Rowland0.000.0081
Dennis Bradley Allen Mitchell0.000.0081
Total Entries$2,880.00
BONUS $$550.00
Total Paid At Ramp$3,000.00
2023 Gaston Spring Final Total$330.00
CATT$50.00
2023 CATT Championship Fund$50.00
2023 Gaston Spring Final Total$1,020.00

Steve Lucy & Todd Dortan Win CATT Kerr Lake, VA April 2, 2023

Brian Carter
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Steve Lucy & Todd Dortan Win CATT Kerr Lake, VA April 2, 2023

The Kerr Lake Spring Final is April 23 at Occoneechee Park!

We concluded the Kerr Spring Qualifiers this past weekend! Gary Colwell – Brandon Grey won the Kerr Spring Points and will fish the Spring Final Free!

Steve Lucy & Todd Dortan weighed in a limit at 16.47 lbs good enough for 1st Place & $1,550.00!

Jason & Danny Houchins 2nd with 16.20 lbs!

Kenny Wilson – Lycia Niethammer with their catch!

TeamBFWeightWinningsPoints
Steve Lucy – Todd Dorlan0.0016.47$1,550.00110
Danny Houchins – Jason Houchins4.3016.20$950.00109
Randy Waterman – Donnie Avant0.0015.95$545.00108
Matthew Little – Derrick Bowden0.0014.78$200.00107
Ryan Clark – Matt Harmon4.7114.60$140.00106
Greg Lahr – Sherry Lahr0.0014.56$110.00105
Johnny Wilder – Kevin Cheatham5.0314.55$380.00104
Bryan Calloway – Marty Warren4.4014.50$90.00103
Eddie Fore4.0213.70102
Monty Alman – Ernie Whitby0.0013.60101
Gary Colwell – Brandon Grey0.0012.94100
Dean Dalton – Ben Dalton0.0012.8399
Jerry Bono – Shane Linberger0.0012.6398
Mark Major – Ben Major4.7412.2397
Eric Christian – Matt Harrison0.0012.0196
David Glenn – Jeff Stanton0.0011.9395
Paul Worthington – Jay Ramsey0.0011.8494
Kenny Wilson – Lycia Niethammer3.9711.5393
Parker Mills – Brock Rouse4.8511.52$120.0092
Lynn Fox – Seth Ballard0.0011.2691
Logan Thornton – Daniel Jenkins0.0011.2490
Dave Farrington – Robbie Kennon0.0011.2089
Derrick Currin0.0011.1188
David Bullock – Jimmy Henderson0.0010.9487
Terry Freeman – Teddy Freeman0.0010.8986
Randy Goss – Ethan Goss0.0010.8285
Charlie Gunter – Dan Jackson0.0010.8084
Mark King – Steve Bowling0.0010.7783
Dyllon Powers3.8810.4782
Joseph Sharpe – Glenn Eskin0.0010.1281
Bobby Crisman – Will Crisman0.009.9980
Sammy Barrow – Scott Combs0.009.8979
David Mathews – Bobby Mathews0.009.6778
Donald Coleman – Brian Cantrell0.009.5177
Lonnie Whitfield – Phillip Smith0.009.4576
Kris Goin – Jason Tinsley0.008.6875
Spencer Barrow0.008.6874
Michael Dikun – Jenny Li0.008.0373
Kevin Kane – Kelli Krane0.000.0063
Clifton Holt0.000.0063
Travis Owens – Mark Hatcher0.000.0063
Total Entrys$3,280.00
BONUS $$1,400.00
Total Paid At Ramp$4,085.00
Kerr 2023 Spring Final Fund$415.00
CATT$50.00
2023 CATT Championship Fund$50.00
2023 Kerr Spring Final Fund Total$1,635.00

2023 Bassmaster Classic features record-breaking numbers, historic firsts

Brian Carter
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2023 Bassmaster Classic features record-breaking numbers, historic firsts

The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota drew record crowds to Knoxville, Tenn., while also reaching millions of viewers during television coverage on FOX and FS1. 

Photo by Breanne Jackson/B.A.S.S.

April 5, 2023

2023 Bassmaster Classic features record-breaking numbers, historic firsts

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — From massive fan attendance and viewership to the first Canadian champion, the 53rd edition of the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing has etched its name in the sportfishing record books.

The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota reached 4.5 million viewers across the two days of FOX and FS1 coverage. The final hours of Championship Sunday’s Bassmaster LIVE coverage on FOX featured high drama as tournament leader Jeff Gustafson struggled with just two fish and scores of fans tuned in to see if the field could catch “Gussy,” leading to the most-watched Bassmaster telecast on any network since 2009 according to Nielsen numbers provided by FOX.

When the confetti cleared on Championship Sunday, Gustafson of Kenora, Ontario, was crowned the first Canadian Classic champion and just the second international champion — Japan’s Takahiro Omori took home the coveted title in 2004.

“I was totally wowed by the crowd inside Thompson-Boling Arena, all of the lights, the music … the whole spectacle. It was the highlight of my fishing career and really my life,” said Gustafson. “We have a lot of people in Canada who love bass fishing and a lot of good anglers who aren’t going to have the same chance that I did.”

Those who missed the live final weigh-in, which streamed on Bassmaster.com, could tune-in just hours later for the first-ever Super Six highlight show on FS1. 

Host city Knoxville, Tenn., welcomed a staggering crowd of 163,914 fans to Classic Week activities, including Thursday’s Visit Knoxville Kickoff Party presented by TNT Fireworks, daily takeoffs, exciting weigh-in festivities and the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by the U.S. Army, which featured the first carbon-neutral venues in Classic history thanks to a partnership with the TVA. 

“Hosting the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota was a huge honor for our destination,” said Chad Culver, senior director of the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission. “We are excited to regain the title of largest Classic ever with a total attendance of 163,914 throughout a weekend of events in Knoxville. All of our local partners enjoy working with the team at B.A.S.S. who continue to do all facets of their events at a very high level.”

Bassmaster.com and the B.A.S.S. social media channels also broke records for engagement as fans devoured content on the web and social channels. During the 2023 Bassmaster Classic, records were set for social media impressions, engagement and video views as well as BassTrakk page views and streams of Bassmaster LIVE coverage — 1.2 million streams for more than 32.7 million minutes across Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

“The record numbers for digital engagement really show the passion of our fans,” said Jim Sexton, B.A.S.S. vice president of digital. “Fans were obsessed, checking BassTrakk more than 4.7 million times while also closely following some of the fun stories of our anglers and the city of Knoxville highlighted on social.”

The world’s best anglers will take center stage again April 20-23 for the Marathon Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray, with full coverage each day on Bassmaster.com.

Poche not fishing Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray

Brian Carter
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Poche not fishing Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray

April 5, 2023

Poche not fishing Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Elite Series pro Keith Poche of Cecil, Ala., will not be fishing the upcoming Marathon Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray April 20-23. B.A.S.S. officials have ruled him ineligible for the third stop of the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series season because he violated the 28-day off-limits rule that all competitors must follow.

Poche fished in a tournament on South Carolina’s Lake Murray April 2-5, placing him in violation of the off-limits period for the Elite Series tournament at Murray.

Bassmaster Elite Rule C3. I, for Practice and Competition states: “Off-limits for Elite events begins on the Monday closest to 28 days prior to the first practice day.”

According to B.A.S.S. officials, “Keith Poche violated the 28-day off-limits rule which has deemed him ineligible to compete in the Lake Murray Elite event.”

Poche knew going into the season that he had a scheduling conflict between the two tournaments. He told B.A.S.S. tournament officials about the conflict early in the year, knowing that he would need to take a DQ for the Elite on Lake Murray.

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Eufaula, Oklahoma Set to Host MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Epic Baits Stop 3 on Lake Eufaula

Brian Carter
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Eufaula, Oklahoma Set to Host MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Epic Baits Stop 3 on Lake Eufaula

Full Field of 150 Professional Anglers to Compete for Top Prize of up to $115,000 and Total Season Purse of More Than $3.9 Million

EUFAULA, Okla. (April 4, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to visit Eufaula, Oklahoma next week, April 14-16, for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Epic Baits Stop 3 at Lake Eufaula Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches. The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational features a roster of 150 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 Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce, the tournament marks the third of six Tackle Warehouse Invitational events in 2023, offering competitors a total season purse of more than $3.9 million. 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.

“We appreciate Major League Fishing bringing a significant tournament back to Eufaula, Oklahoma,” said Serina Kleveter, Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. “We are excited to welcome all the anglers and look forward to showing them a slice of our hometown charm.”

This is the first major tournament MLF has held at Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma’s largest lake, however it is a fairly regular stop for the Okie Division of the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League, where local Tad Sweitzer of Eufaula racked up a winning weight of 23 pounds, 6 ounces in late March 2022. That same March event featured 23 bags over 15 pounds and a 9-pound big bass from Chris Jones of Bokoshe, Oklahoma, who is competing in this event.

The east-central Oklahoma lake has had two of the largest smallmouth bass in state history pulled from its waters, an 8-pound, 3-ounce smallmouth back in March 2006 holds the state record, while an 8-pound, 1½-ounce smallmouth caught in April 2007 is right behind it.

In late April of 2019, back-to-back events saw winning weights of 21-2 and 18-8, so historically speaking, the tournament will be hitting this fishery at a great time of the year.

B&W Trailer Hitches pro Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma has history on Lake Eufaula and said he believes the tournament will hit the spawn window dead on, which should make for a great event.

“It’s really warm right now, and it’s going to continue to warm up fast,” said Cortiana. “There will still be plenty of fish in prespawn next week, but most will be right in the middle of their spawn.

“The lake was really low a few months ago, then rose fast, so there has been a 6- to 7-foot change in water surface elevation over the past few months,” continued Cortiana. “It’s coming back down and should be more stable at a normal level by next week if we don’t have any heavy rains, which will set the fishery up even more for a stable bite. I think the fishing is going to be really good.”

Covering 105,500 surface acres with 800 miles of shoreline, Lake Eufaula is an enormous body of water, which according to Cortiana will play well during the event.

“You can run 10 to 40 miles in every direction from our takeoff and there are literally fish in every square inch of this lake,” said Cortiana. “The field should be able to spread out, which is something I’m looking forward to as well, because a lot of the places we visit, anglers end up on top of each other, all hitting the same locations. This fishery is unique in that it can be won in all kinds of places on the lake. There’s really no one spot you have to be on to win it, so it should be a lot of fun.

“Eufaula is kind of known to be a flat, muddy lake and I’d say probably 80% of the lake is relatively stained water, so there are a lot of flat, shallow, flooded bushes that come into play when the water isn’t really low,” Cortiana went on to say. “All the typical muddy-water baits are going to be players here – dark-colored flipping baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, ChatterBaits and shallow square bills – anything that’s going to put off vibration and displace water.”

The Oklahoma pro said there’s also a small portion of the lake that has cleaner water where other tactics may come into play.

“There are a few big smallmouth in Eufaula as well, but it’s really hard to target them, so I don’t expect anyone to make that their game plan. However, reeling one in would just be a bonus fish,” Cortiana said. “We’ve got 150 anglers fishing this tournament and everyone in the group is solid, plus we have a handful of really good jackpotters in this event, guys from Oklahoma. I think to win the tournament, guys are going to have to be pushing the 20-pound mark per day, for sure, if not more. There will be multiple people catch over 20 pounds on one day, so if they can back that up with multiple bags that size, or close to it, I think they’ll have a shot to win.”

Cortiana also said he believes it will be fairly easy to catch 14 to 15½ pounds per day, and the guys who can bring in around 30 pounds the first two days will make the top 50 cut to move on to the final day.

“I’m really excited about the event being here in Oklahoma and on Lake Eufaula,” said Cortiana. “I don’t really fish the BFL’s, so I’m excited to compete in a tournament on this lake in home water on a place that I have a little history with.

“I’m also a little nervous, because I’ve had the home field advantage bite me before on Grand Lake,” Cortiana continued. “So, the whole curse of ‘knowing too much’ and running around too much is definitely a factor, but I suspect that we are going to crush them next week.”

In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a traditional 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 Sunday, 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 Epic Baits Stop 3 at Lake Eufaula Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches 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 take off at 7 a.m. CT, Friday through Sunday, from the Peter’s Point South Point Dock Boat Ramp, located on Dabbs Road in Eufaula. Weigh-ins will also be held at the boat ramp daily beginning at 3 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 7:30 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Epic Baits Stop 3 at Lake Eufaula Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches 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 14th.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 4WP, 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, 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.

Premium Fishing Outerwear Now Available

Brian Carter
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Premium Fishing Outerwear Now Available
Premium Fishing Outerwear Now Available
Now available, Tamer™ Softshell Jacket & Bib fishing suit is built for multispecies fishing in cooler temperatures 
MUSKEGON, Mich. (April 4, 2023) – Designed specifically to deliver discerning multispecies anglers with a functional and affordable weather-resistant fishing apparel option for cooler to cold days, the 2023 Whitewater® Tamer™ Softshell Jacket & Bibis unmatched when it comes to staying dry, warm, mobile, and flexible. Whether you’re chasing early- or late-season bass, walleyes, steelhead/salmon, muskies, saltwater species or anything that bites, the Whitewater Tamer is built for the task. 
Features:Whitewater Tamer Softshell Jacket Windproof breathable highly water-resistant softshell polyester stretch fabric Grid fleece lining for thermal regulation DWR treated for repel moisture 3-piece hood adjustable for fit Sleeve, chest & back shoulder reflective tape for visibility Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor fobs) Two waist pockets & a welded chest pocket to keep gear dry Sleeve insert with a built-in thumbhole opening for security Jacket comes inGrayish “Shade” w/black accents (270) Item No: 1085410MSRP: $219.99 (SM-3X)  
Features:Whitewater Tamer Softshell Bib Windproof breathable highly water-resistant softshell polyester stretch fabric Grid fleece lining for thermal regulation DWR treated to repel moisture Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor fob) Three pockets (2 cargo, 1 chest) to keep gear dry Covered leg zippers for easy dressing over boots Adjustable silicone suspenders with grip Bib comes in all-black “Charcoal” (099) Item No: 1085424MSRP: $219.99 (SM-3X) 
No matter what species you chase, the goal is to quickly locate and catch fish no matter the conditions. Designed and engineered by pro anglers with an elite combination of materials and technologies, the all-new Whitewater® Tamer™ Softshell Jacket & Bib gives serious anglers every possible advantage during the common challenges of foul, cold, cool, wet, and windy conditions.Apparel will soon be available at select dealers but is available online NOW at whitewaterfish.com. 
 
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