Favorite Fishing Pro Catches Two-Day Total of 10 Bass Weighing 41-12 to Win Qualifying Round, 20 Anglers Advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round
COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 4, 2023) – Favorite Fishing pro Jonathon VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, caught six scorable bass, with his best five weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces to earn the win Tuesday during the Group A Qualifying Round at the MLF Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury in Columbia, South Carolina.
Link to HD Video – Fish-Catch Highlights of Group B Qualifying Round Day 1 on Lake Murray
Link to Photo Gallery of Group A’s Day 2 Qualifying Round Afternoon Highlights
VanDam’s two-day Qualifying Round catch of 10 bass totaling 41-12 earned him the win by a 2-pound, 8-ounce margin over General Tire pro Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, South Carolina, who caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 39-4 to finish in second place. Pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 38-10 to finish the round in third, while Leesburg, Ohio’s Cole Floyd , ended the round in fourth place with a two-day total of 10 bass for 38-2. Rounding out the top five was rookie Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, who caught 10 bass weighing 36-12 to advance in fifth place.
The six-day bass-fishing tournament, 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.
“Today was overall a great day – we did exactly what we had to do,” VanDam said in his post-game interview. “I didn’t catch very many today, but I really wasn’t trying to. We got our work done early in the first period, and then I spent a lot of time looking.
“I’m doing my best to set myself up for the Knockout Round,” VanDam continued. “I found a couple of more groups of fish, and a couple of them with some really big ones around. Hopefully the weather will help a little bit and they’ll get to chewing.”
VanDam started out the day with a 6-pound, 7-ounce lunker that bit his sexy-shad-colored Strike King Red Eye Shad. He caught four of his six keepers on the lipless crankbait, and his last two fish of the day came on a drop-shot rig.
“The weather was a little bit different – it was sunny, it was calm, and I had to switch it up a little bit,” VanDam said.
“I tried not to lean on them too much. I caught a bunch on a Strike King Red Eye Shad, then had to switch to the drop-shot later as it got slick.
“Knowing where those fish are sitting, it’s important to throw a variety of different baits at them to try to get them to react. Sometimes these fish, especially when they’re sitting there for these herring, get educated pretty quickly. So I tried to mix it up, and today went just as planned. I’m looking forward to the Knockout Round.”
The top 20 advancing anglers from Group A will now have an off day from competition Wednesday, while the 40 anglers competing in Qualifying Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. 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.
The top 20 pros from Group A that now advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round on Lake Murray are:
1st: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 41-12
2nd: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 39-4
3rd: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 38-10
4th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 38-2
5th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-12
6th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 10 bass, 36-9
7th: Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., 10 bass, 35-15
8th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 35-14
9th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 35-4
10th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 34-11
11th: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 10 bass, 33-14
12th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 10 bass, 33-8
13th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 33-5
14th: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 33-1
15th: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-13
16th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 10 bass, 32-11
17th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 32-3
18th: Alton Jones, Sr., Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 32-0
19th: Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., 10 bass, 31-14
20th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 31-13
Eliminated from competition are:
21st: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 31-10
22nd: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 10 bass, 31-10
23rd: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 30-8
24th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 30-3
25th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 29-4
26th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 10 bass, 29-1
27th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., 10 bass, 28-9
28th: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 27-14
29th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 27-14
30th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 27-12
31st: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-11
32nd: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 27-10
33rd: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 10 bass, 26-15
34th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 26-14
35th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 10 bass, 25-14
36th: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-13
37th: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 10 bass, 25-11
38th: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 25-10
39th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-10
40th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., six bass, 14-9
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 351 scorable bass weighing 916 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the 40 pros Tuesday.
Pro Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, South Carolina, earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with an 8-pound, 8-ounce largemouth bass that he caught fishing boat docks with a worm late 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 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. After 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.
Jonathon VanDam Wins Group A Qualifying Round at Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray
Jonesboro’s Cloutier Tops Field for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Dale Hollow Lake
| Boater Gavin Cloutier of Jonesboro, Tennessee, and Strike-King co-angler Blake Whittaker of Lenoir City, Tennessee. |
| Lenoir City’s Whittaker Claims Strike King Co-Angler Division BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (April 3, 2023) – Boater Gavin Cloutier of Jonesboro, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 13 ounces, Sunday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Dale Hollow Lake. The tournament, hosted by Star Point Marina, was the second event of the season for the BFL Music City Division. Cloutier earned $4,729 for his victory. “I started out by running up the river, and my starting spot had gotten blown out from all the rain we’ve had,” said Cloutier. “So, I ran back down to fish some shallow stuff and pulled into a creek where I had found some shad in practice. When I put the trolling motor down, it was like the fish just showed up. “In practice my biggest fish was 3½ pounds, and today my smallest fish was 3½ pounds,” Cloutier added. Cloutier said he focused on the shad and targeted larger bass holding away from the baitfish in ambush. Cloutier said he caught most of his bass in 15 to 20 feet of water, on a 2.8-inch electric blue and chartreuse Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait. His technique produced 14 bass, 13 of which were keepers. Cloutier said fishing began rather slow for him then died off from 11 to 1 o’clock. He finished the last two hours of the tournament with two late fish that culled to boost his final weight. “When I had 20 pounds, I felt like I was two fish away from winning,” Cloutier said. “When I caught the two last fish at the very end, something told me I had it. “This is amazing,” Cloutier added. “Dale Hollow has been special to me, even in high school. I qualified for the 2018 High School National Championship on Dale Hollow and had my first top 10 BFL finish on Dale Hollow last month. And now, the win.” The top 10 boaters finished the tournament: 1st: Gavin Cloutier, Jonesboro, Tenn., five bass, 21-13, $4,729 2nd: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 21-1, $2,884 3rd: Christian Nash, Allons, Tenn., five bass, 19-13, $2,076 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus) 4th: Tony Eckler, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 19-10, $1,103 5th: Aaron Bidarian, Lexington, Ky., five bass, 19-7, $946 6th: Grant Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., five bass, 19-5, $867 7th: Chris Gerrein, Villa Hills, Ky., five bass, 18-11, $788 8th: Cole Logsdon, Brownsville, Ky., five bass, 18-1, $709 9th: Michael Morrison, Stamping Ground, Ky., five bass, 17-12, $591 9th: Brandon Maynard, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 17-12, $591 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Eric Ries of Kings Mills, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $705.  Blake Whittaker of Lenoir City, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,540 Sunday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 2 ounces. The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished: 1st: Blake Whittaker, Lenoir City, Tenn., five bass, 16-2, $2,540 2nd: Andrew Rogers, Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 15-0, $1,182 3rd: Christopher Stites Jr., La Vergne, Tenn., five bass, 14-15, $788 4th: Brent Clark, Bowling Green, Ky., five bass, 14-11, $688 4th: Will Prater, McMinnville, Tenn., five bass, 14-11, $512 6th: Craig Lonkard, Walton, Ky., five bass, 14-7, $433 7th: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 14-3, $394 8th: Tim Staples, Shelbyville, Ky., four bass, 14-0, $355 9th: Rocky Williams, Portland, Tenn., five bass, 13-13, $515 10th: Brandon Lake, Berea, Ky., five bass, 13-5, $426 Blake Whittaker of Lenoir City, Tennessee, and Brent Clark of Bowling Green, Kentucky, each caught a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds even to split the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $352. After two events, Gavin Cloutier of Jonesboro, Tennessee, leads the BFL Music City Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 494 points, while Blake Whittaker of Lenoir City, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 493 points. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 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. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. |
Fourth Time’s the Charm for Kentucky’s Sinclair at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Dale Hollow Lake
| Boater Lee Sinclair of Albany, Kentucky, and Strike-King co-angler Sean Zechman of Mount Vernon, Kentucky. |
| Zechman Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (April 3, 2023) – Boater Lee Sinclair of Albany, Kentucky, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Dale Hollow Lake. The tournament, hosted by Star Point Marina & Resort, was the second event of the season for the BFL Mountain Division. Sinclair earned $6,336 for his victory. “I started out in a pocket and caught a couple of fish, but the wind started getting bad in there, so I hit a few more pockets mid-lake,” said Sinclair. “I ended up finding some fish schooled up, and I pretty much lived on them the rest of the day.” Sinclair said he used a Damiki Vault Blade Bait exclusively during the tournament, in 30 feet of water, to catch his bass. The blade bait produced eight keeper largemouth and three or four smallmouth short of the 21-inch keeper restriction during the tournament. “Once I got on the fish, it was pretty steady,” Sinclair said, who had posted three second-place showings at Dale Hollow – one in 2022 and two in March 2023. “But I have seen a lot of big bags weighed in on Dale Hollow, and I didn’t know for sure what I had would win. “After coming in second so much it feels good to finally win one,” Sinclair added. The top 10 boaters finished the tournament: 1st: Lee Sinclair, Albany, Ky., five bass, 23-5, $6,336 2nd: Travis Lloyd, Jamestown, Tenn., five bass, 19-0, $2,868 3rd: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 18-15, $2,300 4th: Pat Eichmann, Nancy, Ky., five bass, 18-8, $2,085 5th: Andrew Haunert, Blue Ash, Ohio, five bass, 18-3, $1,067 6th: Grant Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., five bass, 17-13, $978 7th: Michael Morrison, Stamping Ground, Ky., five bass, 17-6, $844 7th: Paul Speer, Brookville, Ohio, five bass, 17-6, $844 9th: Brandon Maynard, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 16-14, $712 10th: Clifton King, Sweetwater, Tenn., five bass, 16-13, $623 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Pat Eichmann of Nancy, Kentucky, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $840.  Sean Zechman of Mount Vernon, Kentucky, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,668 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 6 ounces. The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished: 1st: Sean Zechman, Mount Vernon, Ky., five bass, 16-6, $2,668 2nd: Tommy Glass, Union, Ky., five bass, 14-9, $1,544 3rd: Gary Haraguchi, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 14-0, $888 4th: Gilbert Jolly, Livingston, Tenn., four bass, 13-13, $823 5th: Garret Moon, Albany, Ky., five bass, 13-7, $534 6th: Brett Maynard, Lexington, Ky., five bass, 12-12, $489 7th: Mark Wenger, Louisville, Ky., five bass, 12-10, $445 8th: Jeff Johnston, Nashville, Tenn., four bass, 12-7, $550 9th: Larry Elliott, Enoree, S.C., four bass, 12-6, $356 10th: Lucas Devere, Berea, Ky., four bass, 12-3, $295 10th: Todd Isaacs, Carrollton, Ky., four bass, 12-3, $295 Tommy Glass of Union, Kentucky, and Brent Clark of Bowling Green, Kentucky, each caught a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 14 ounces to split the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $420. After two events, Lee Sinclair of Albany, Kentucky, leads the BFL Mountain Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 499 points, while Gilbert Jolly of Livingston, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 490 points. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. 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. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. |
Registration for 2023 Bassmaster High School Combine opens April 18
Students will meet with coaches and showcase their fishing skills at the 2023 Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter Sept. 15-17 in Decatur, Ala.
Photos by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
April 4, 2023
Registration for 2023 Bassmaster High School Combine opens April 18
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter returns to Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., Sept. 15-17 for a weekend combining skills challenges and recruiting visits in hopes of reeling in college fishing scholarship money. The first Combine netted more than $2.6 million in scholarship offers, with tallies for the second event still pouring in as athletes sign with teams from a variety of schools.
“B.A.S.S. is constantly looking for ways to grow the High School and College platforms and give young anglers opportunities to excel not only in the sport, but also in the industry,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager — College, High School and Junior. “The first two Bassmaster High School Combines were a great success, and we’re looking forward to growing this experience for both these high school anglers and the coaches who attend. This has truly become the preeminent event for colleges looking to find and recruit talent from across the country.”
Only schools offering bass fishing scholarships are invited to the High School Combine, and coaches from 25 colleges have already expressed interest in attending. The experience offers young anglers and college coaches a chance to leverage rare face time into finding the best fit for students ready to further both their education and their fishing at the next level.
The Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter will be a three-day event where anglers will perform multiple tasks to showcase their skills not only on the water, but also display their knowledge of the sport as a whole. Each of the disciplines will operate on a point system and will be timed by an official judge. Each angler will accumulate points to determine an overall winner. After the first day, colleges will have the opportunity to select anglers for a “second look” where they can further explore everything that angler has to offer and see if they would be the perfect fit for their fishing program.
New to the 2022 combine was an on-the-water Technical Challenge designed to test a combination of skills. To complete the challenge, each angler had three minutes to navigate a Skeeter FXR20 bass boat around an obstacle and make three pinpoint casts to floating targets.
“There’s a couple of things I am watching,” explained Carson-Newman University fishing coach Hunter Sales while observing the challenge from the banks of Wheeler Lake. “You watch someone running a trolling motor and want to see if they are balanced on the front deck. Do they look comfortable or is it new to them? Even in the way they handle the rod; are they comfortable doing both? Is their casting form good? I want to see those anglers who are confident making longer casts and pitches. It really shows to me that they are just comfortable bass fishing … which is key.”
After three challenges — Casting Distance, Technical and Casting Accuracy — the 2022 combine’s overall points winner was Phillip Herring of Richton, Miss. In three total challenges, Herring finished no worse than 10th place out of 98 anglers and won the Technical Challenge. Herring was surprised to take home the highest honor from the High School Combine.
“It feels pretty amazing,” Herring said. “I came in expecting to have the opportunity to talk to a few colleges and maybe even get a couple of campus visits out of it, but I didn’t really have any expectations for the competition part of this event.”
Herring, who signed with the powerhouse University of Montevallo fishing team — one of the schools that attended the combine, has qualified for three consecutive Strike King High School National Championships presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors tournaments and also finished seventh at the 2019 Bassmaster Junior Series National Championship.
Once more, attendees will use the well-placed Ingalls Harbor and Pavilion on the shores of Wheeler Lake as base for the three-day event.
“Decatur is honored to partner with B.A.S.S. to continue serving as host of the Bassmaster High School Combine,” said Don Dukemineer, director of sports development for the Decatur Morgan County Tourism. “Now in our third year, our joint efforts with B.A.S.S. continue to strengthen this prestigious event in providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these anglers to showcase their talents. Ingalls Harbor and Pavilion offer the perfect set-up for this unique event, and we are thrilled with this beneficial relationship that highlights Decatur and Morgan County as a fishing destination.”
Registration for the Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter will open at 4 p.m. CT on April 18 at Bassmaster.com/high-school and remain open until 100 participants have registered. The $600 registration fee includes accommodations for two nights and four meals.
For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/high-school.
2023 Bassmaster High School Combine Presenting Sponsor: Skeeter
2023 Bassmaster High School Combine Partners: Academy Sports + Outdoors
2023 Bassmaster Youth Sponsors: 13 Fishing, Seaguar, Shimano
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
South Carolina’s Darren Ashley Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Hartwell Presented by Harrison Oil Company
| Boater Darren Ashley of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina and Strike-King co-angler Bobby Young of Hephzibah, Georgia. |
| Hephzibah’s Young Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division LAVONIA, Ga. (April 3, 2023) – Boater Darren Ashley of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 13 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell Presented by Harrison Oil Company. The tournament, hosted by the City of Lavonia, was the third event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division. Ashley earned $5,500 for his victory. Ashley’s day started off with smaller fish, but he adjusted his approach, and the location changes he made helped build up what would turn out to be a final weigh-in bag that ran away with the tournament. “I started off with a 2½-pounder and a couple of other little ones, then told my co-angler I wanted to hit a spot I knew of before the sun got up too high on it,” said Ashley, who now has three career BFL wins and 20 top-10 finishes. “So, I hit it and caught a 5-pounder there.” Two stops later Ashley said he caught another bass that went for 4½ pounds. He relocated to yet another spot, and added a 6-pounder on the second cast there. Ashley said at that point his two smallest fish weighed 2.70 pounds each. “It was getting to be a little after lunch, and I told my co-angler I wanted to head to the opposite side of the lake,” Ashley said. “I don’t usually fish over there much, but I knew if I got bit, it would be a 4-pounder.” Ashley said he ran to the new spot, fished for 10 minutes, and caught a 4-pounder that put him at an estimated weight of 24 pounds. Ashley said all of his bass fell for a white-trash-colored Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper. “I caught tons of fish,” Ashley said. “I jumped around and caught tons of spotted bass. I tried hard to cull that last fish, and I must have caught 15 more fish, but I couldn’t cull that last one. “I caught about 40 fish, but I should have done something different to get rid of that last 2.70 fish,” Ashley added. “I could have had 27 or 28 pounds.” The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:1st: 1st: Darren Ashley, Calhoun Falls, S.C., five bass, 25-13, $5,550 2nd: Greg Rikard, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 17-14, $3,885 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus) 3rd: Bradford Beavers, Summerville, S.C., five bass, 17-4, $1,609 4th: Dan Geurtsen, Asheville, N.C., five bass, 17-1, $1,127 5th: Aaron Digh, Denver, N.C., five bass, 16-10, $966 6th: Christopher Chavis, Guyton, Ga., five bass, 16-8, $845 6th: Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., five bass, 16-8, $845 8th: Michael Richardson, Elgin, S.C., five bass, 16-6, $724 9th: Lucas Murphy, West Columbia, S.C., five bass, 16-5, $644 10th: Troy Morrow, Eastanollee, Ga., five bass, 16-2, $563Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Ashley also caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $720.  Bobby Young of Hephzibah, Georgia, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,381 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 1 ounce. The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished: 1st: Bobby Young, Hephzibah, Ga., five bass, 14-1, $2,381 2nd: Rob Uzzle, Hampton, Va., five bass, 14-0, $1,191 3rd: Arthur Harris, York, S.C., five bass, 12-13, $791 4th: Brandon Hendrix, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 12-12, $556 5th: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 12-9, $476 6th: Adam Seagle, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 11-5, $417 6th: Wesley Mullins, Guyton, Ga., five bass, 11-5, $417 8th: Darvin Cannon, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 11-2, $337 8th: Todd Huntley, Inman, S.C., five bass, 11-2, $337 10th: Brian Ruppe, Irmo, S.C., five bass, 11-1, $264 10th: Harold Addison II, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 11-1, $814Rob Nicholson of Union Mills, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $355, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day. After three events, Greg Rikard of Leesville, South Carolina, leads the BFL South Carolina Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 690 points, while Stephen Sprouse of Pauline, South Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 712 points. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. 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. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. |
Johnny Mitchell & Dale Cook Win BASS Nation of VA Mr Bass Lake Gaston
Photos Take by Bass Nation Photographer Stephanie Blevins
What an amazing turn out for the 1st event of the 2023 season 101 teams fished the Spot infected Lake Gaston.
Congratulations to Johnnie Mitchell and Dale Cook on their first place finish with a total weight of 20.31 pounds and to Eric Frazier for the tournament lunker of 6.49 pounds. We paid 14 places with the last team to get a check weighing 15.02 pounds. Professional photographer Stephanie Blevins took numerous weigh-in photos which will all be posted as soon as they’re available. The tournament wouldn’t have been as successful without all of the great people and sponsors behind the scenes that provided so much support.
Bass Pro Tour Rookie Nick LeBrun Paces Group B at Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray Presented by Mercury Lake Murray
Bossier City, Louisiana Pro Boats 25-10 to Grab Early Group B Lead, Group A to Wrap Qualifying Round Tuesday
COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 3, 2023) – Bass Pro Tour 2023 newcomer Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, caught 13 scorable largemouth bass Monday, with his best five weighing 25 pounds, 10 ounces to take the early lead for the 40 anglers competing in Group B at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury . LeBrun will bring a 2-pound, 9-ounce advantage into Day 2 of competition Wednesday over second-place angler Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, who weighed his best five today totaling 23-1 to end the day in second place.
The six-day bass-fishing tournament, 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.
Link to HD Video – Fish-Catch Highlights of Group B Qualifying Round Day 1 on Lake Murray
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 Tuesday, 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 Wednesday.
“What a day,” said LeBrun, a former Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Champion. “To catch 25 pounds out on Lake Murray on Day 1 for Group B – I couldn’t be more excited. The Lord just blessed me today, above and beyond what I thought I could do. I’m excited to get back out there.”
LeBrun spent the majority of his day targeting largemouth feeding on blueback herring on points and humps.
“It’s not a secret, but you have to find the right areas that are holding the quality largemouth, and not the stripers,” LeBrun said. “The striped bass are everywhere. I probably caught 100 stripers today, but I caught the big bass, too.”
LeBrun said he rotated between a ½-ounce Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap and, “a couple of different swim-style baits.”
“Every fish that I weighed in today was caught on a Hayabusa TBL 930 (NRB Treble) hook,” LeBrun said. “That treble hook has the NRB coat on it, and I’ve won a couple of major events using it. It really helps you get a few more fish to the boat, especially when they’re not aggressive.
“I threw everything on a 7-foot, 3-inch medium-heavy TFO (Tackle Fork Outfitters) Resolve rod, with 16-pound (test) Sunline FC Sniper fluorocarbon, and it’s been a lot of fun. I look forward to getting back out on Wednesday for Day 2.”
The top 20 anglers in Qualifying Group B after Day 1 on Lake Murray are:
1st: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., five bass, 25-10
2nd: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 23-1
3rd: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 21-2
4th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 19-11
5th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 19-9
6th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 19-6
7th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., five bass, 19-6
8th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, five bass, 19-2
9th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 18-15
10th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 18-5
11th: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 17-15
12th: Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., five bass, 17-11
13th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 17-10
14th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., five bass, 17-3
15th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., five bass, 17-2
16th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., five bass, 17-2
17th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, five bass, 17-0
18th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 16-15
19th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 16-13
20th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 16-12
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 405 scorable bass weighing 630 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the 40 pros Monday, which included 10 five-pounders, four six-pounders and one seven-pounder.
LeBrun earned Monday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 7-pound, 1-ounce largemouth bass that bit his swimbait in Period 2. 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 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Sunday and Tuesday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Monday and Wednesday. After 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.
In conjunction with the tournament, on Tuesday, April 4 from 9-10 a.m. at Lake Greenwood State Park, located at 302 State Park Road in Ninety Six, South Carolina, Bass Pro Tour anglers, under the guidance of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and members of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Fisheries Management Division (FMD) in Partnership with Berkley Labs will deploy MossBack Artificial Habitat into Lake Greenwood. The efforts come as part of the Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Program supported by Mercury Marine and MossBack to create habitat for the numerous fish that call Lake Greenwood home. Tuesday’s artificial habitat deployment is the second of three this year for the FMD Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Program at Bass Pro Tour stops across the country.
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.
Wisdom and Winning Techniques
| NPAA members Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson and Jay Przekurat. |
| Winning Techniques and the Significance of NPAA |
| National Professional Anglers Association Members, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson and Jay Przekurat Shine at 2023 Bassmaster Classic |
| Forestville, WI (April 3, 2023) – There’s a new King on the throne of the bass fishing world and his name is Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson. The 40-year-old from Kenora, Ontario, making his fifth Bassmaster Classic appearance, tallied 42-pounds, 7 ounces of Tennessee River smallmouth bass over the three-day tournament held in Knoxville and sponsored by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Leading wire-to-wire to best the field by nearly a two-pound margin he became the first Canadian to win the sport’s most prestigious title.A member of the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA), Gustafson earned $307,000 in prize and bonus money for his winning performance. He was joined in the Top Ten finishers by fellow NPAA member Jay Przekurat, who placed seventh with a 34-pound, 9-ounce total and took home a $21,500 check. At age 23, Przekurat, from Stevens Point, WI, was the youngest angler in the 2023 Classic field. |
| “We couldn’t be more proud or happy for these two super competitors,” says NPAA’s president, Patrick Neu. “These were great performances under challenging conditions and the tremendous pressure of the most prestigious bass fishing competition in the world. To excel as they did, out-pace the best of the best, and come away with the title and a top-ten finish speaks to the quality of their knowledge, skills and ability to perform when it’s all on the line. Both Gussy and Jay are terrific anglers, wonderful people and consummate professionals. We’re thrilled to count them among our membership at NPAA, which had six additional anglers in the 55-entrant field.”Gussy got off to a great start, taking the lead he would never relinquish on the first day of competition. Continuing on a hot streak, his tally at the end of Saturday pushed up to 35 pounds, 11 ounces for a six-pound lead on the field heading into the home stretch on Sunday. The last day of the tourney, however, proved a tough one for the would-be champion who managed only two keepers. Fortunately for him, most of the field experienced similar frustrations as the wind died out and the water laid glass flat.“It’s all still surreal at this point,” said Gustafson following the competition. “What an amazing tournament it turned out to be. I’m glad I caught a little luck and things ended up going my way. I thought I might have blown my lead on Sunday as I headed to the final weigh-in,” he continued, a slight chuckle and noticeable hint of relief in his voice. |
| What’s a Canadian basser do in the dead of winter? |
| “I went into this tourney with the mindset I was going to concentrate on chunky smallmouths,” continued the winner. “After all, this is ‘The Classic,’ and nobody is fishing for Angler of the Year points. Everyone is gunning for the win so you have to target lunkers to stay in the mix. It may have looked easy, but I can tell you that wasn’t the case – especially on the hour-long drive back to the Sunday weigh-in. The key for me was sticking to my game plan. For the entire contest I threw a smelt-colored 4-inch Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ™ on a 3/8-ounce jighead, moping fish I found with my Humminbird MEGA Live electronics in 20-foot depths.”“Moping,” for those unfamiliar with the term, is a creative technique where anglers focus on finding suspended fish in open or offshore waters and work their lure gently just above their target’s heads hoping to draw them up for a strike. It’s the same technique with which Gustafson won an Elite Series event here in 2021. The key, he reveals, is to move your offering as little as possible, holding it just above the fish until they can’t resist any longer. While the jighead he used is built by a close friend, Northland Fishing Tackle’s UV Mimic Minnow is a close match if you’d like to give the technique a try.While Gustafson was thrilled with his win, Przekurat had no complaints with his seventh-place finish. “I was happy with my day-to-day consistency, especially considering I had only a handful of keepers in practice,” he stated. “I couldn’t get a good read on the fish, so I just went back to what I knew. I flipped a green pumpkin jig all three days while hunting largemouths in two- to four-foot depths.” |
| Jay and his dad Jason Przekurat, a veteran professional walleye angler. |
| Przekurat, who Gustafson called “The real deal,” found his confidence and hit full stride by the end of Friday’s opening session as he weighed-in with 14 pounds even, good for sixth-place. After that, he just kept grinding. “A lot of that confidence came from a seminar I did with my father, Jason Przekurat, at the NPAA Annual Conference back in January,” he explained. “We talked a lot about how having a good attitude and believing in yourself are two of the most important keys for success in any fishing situation. Even if you don’t have the most experience on a particular piece of water, you can still do well if you stay focused. Thinking back to that seminar helped me stay solidly in the top ten for all three days. I’ve also learned a lot from the organization and its members about running my business more professionally and even dealing with the media, which suddenly seems more important than ever,” he said with a laugh.Przekurat added that he was happy to see additional NPAA anglers in the tournament, as well as several other “northerners” making the grade. He thanked his family, friends, sponsors and everyone who cheered him on during The Classic. |
| Gustafson, too, thanked his supporters, and mentioned his ties to NPAA as a definite plus. “I’ve known Pat Neu for a long time. He was first to approach me about joining, and helped me get started by adding a letter to my work visa to prove I was fishing for a living at a professional level. I’m proud to be an NPAA member. I like the advocacy work we do for tournament anglers and everyone in the fishing industry. The quality of the membership really stands out to me, as anyone who has ever attended the NPAA Annual Conference will attest. Congratulations to my fellow members who also competed on this incredible stage.”As to that letter of support Neu penned for Gussy years ago, the NPAA president says wryly that he doubts anyone will ever again ask if the 2023 Bassmaster Classic winner really earns a living with rod and reel. |
| Proof that Jay Przekurat was the youngest 2023 Bassmaster Classic qualifier…a 2017 high school graduation photo. |
| NPAA represents all who make a living in the sportfishing industry. Membership includes everyone from guides and captains to tournament anglers, fishing department associates/management/shop owners, manufacturing personnel, engine mechanics, and professional rep groups. In addition to superior networking opportunities, sportfishing advocacy and promoting entry into the sport, the organization offers a monthly member newsletter, a weekly industry NewsBLAST, and access to significant discounts on gear and services provided by many of its nearly 80 supporting partners.For more information on joining the NPAA and exploring the many benefits membership provides, visit npaa.net. |
Frogg Toggs Launches New Wade Packs for 2023
| [Arab, Ala., April 3, 2023] Wade fishing is a different game for a different breed. It’s a stealth approach, close combat, environment-immersion challenge that not everyone is built to meet. It takes a special angler to accept and excel in the pursuit of trophy fish in their own environment. Whether fresh or saltwater, wet wading or incorporating your favorite waders, it’s the ultimate fishing challenge. Wade fishermen do not have the luxury of spot hopping, or simply moving until they find fish willing to bite. They are isolated, endure limited mobility, cope with restricted tackle options and rod selection and must utilize their own knowledge of the prey to create success in their pursuit. This is no place for equipment that leaves you wanting, and there is no room for inefficiency or wasted space in the gear chosen. The all-new wading pack selection from Frogg Toggs fits every need the wading angler will ever have. With input from guides, professional anglers, and hardcore enthusiasts, we compiled a line of gear that offers a broad selection of styles, provides numerous “rigging” options and vast customizable storage and incorporates comfort features to ensure you the best user experience available. From simple single box sling packs to customizable tackle-toting wading belts to chest and sling pack options, Frogg Toggs’ bags and packs are the gear needed to enhance your experience and provide you with the best chance of success. It doesn’t matter if it’s the light “sip” of a native brookie in the Appalachians, the frantic explosion of a 30-inch speck in Baffin Bay or the drag-melting run of a 40-pound striper from the Jersey shore – wade fishermen everywhere understand the glory of success in the pursuit. And this new line of bags and packs designed especially for those anglers will be a welcome addition to their wade fishing gear. Flats Sling Pack – $79.99 – offered in Black and Solid Elements• Durable, lightweight, water-resistant CORDURA® fabric• EVA Cooling System on all materials that contact the body• Quick Access tool placement• Buoy Clip and Stringer Cinch• Built-in Rod Support• Includes Lure Box Image link: https://cloud.froggtoggs.com/s/JF9Df3b2xBFQ9xC Catchall Chest Pack – $64.99 – offered in Black and Solid Elements• Durable, lightweight, water resistant CORDURA® fabric• EVA Cooling System on all materials that contact the body• Quick Access tool placement• Doubles as Fly Fishing PackImage link: https://cloud.froggtoggs.com/s/8bTNKjzYXq7Qy4j Hightide Chest Pouch – $69.99 – offered in Black and Solid Elements• Durable, lightweight, water resistant CORDURA® fabric• EVA Cooling System on all materials that contact the body• Quick Access tool placement• Buoy Clip and Stringer Cinch• Built In Rod Support• Includes Lure BoxImage link: https://cloud.froggtoggs.com/s/q5QsbYFw2KZJwHy Pursuit Wade Belt – $69.99 – offered in Black and Solid Elements • Durable, lightweight, water resistant CORDURA® fabric• EVA Cooling System on all materials that contact the body• Quick Access Pouch with mesh drainage system• Quick Access tool placement• Buoy Clip and Stringer Cinch• Includes Lure BoxImage link: https://cloud.froggtoggs.com/s/CpmjyTp65CE3CP3 Tidal Sling with Waterproof Utility Box – $49.99 – offered in Black and Solid Elements• Durable, lightweight, water resistant CORDURA® fabric• EVA Cooling System on all materials that contact the body• Quick Access tool placement• Buoy Clip and Stringer Cinch• Waterproof Utility Box• 3-latch system to ensure a tight seal• Fully customizable and removable divider system. 1 to 20 compartments• Box dimensions – 10.5”x7”x2”• Can also be used as a dry box for any water-related activitiesImage link: https://cloud.froggtoggs.com/s/LAPWH9jkbjPSWGQ |
Missouri’s Govreau Gets “Skinny” for Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Arkansas River
| Boater Brett Govreau of House Springs, Missouri, and Strike-King co-angler Wes Ledbetter of Coweta, Oklahoma. |
| Coweta’s Ledbetter Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division MUSKOGEE, Okla. (April 3, 2023) – Boater Brett Govreau of House Springs, Missouri, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds even Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Arkansas River. The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Govreau earned $6,046 for his victory. “I had a terrible practice,” said Govreau. “I caught five keeper bites in 2½ days.” Govreau knew he had to change up his approach to the river if he wanted to have any success on tournament day. He decided not to lock through, stayed within eight miles of takeoff and relied on prior experience on the river to pursue his limit. “I had a spot I had fished back in 2015, and I could have won an Okie Division tournament then, but I lost three big ones off the bank,” Govreau said. “So, this morning I decided to start there because of my history on the spot. I ended up catching every fish off of that bank with a spinnerbait.” Govreau said he caught only five keepers during the competition – and those by 9 a.m. – as he shared “skinny” water with 11 other tournament boats. Govreau credits his spinnerbait approach to being his competitive edge. “They were on cover,” Govreau said. “Not just around it. They were in it. I threw it like a soft plastic – under limbs with precise casts. I would roll cast it under limbs of laydowns where the laydown met the bank. As soon as it hit the water, I turned the handle twice and they were on it. I would say every fish came out of eight to 12 inches of water. When they bit it, it would wake the surface like a topwater bite.” The top 10 boaters finished the tournament: 1st: Brett Govreau, House Springs, Mo., five bass, 19-0, $6,046 2nd: Dale Hightower, Mannford, Okla., five bass, 18-8, $2,523 3rd: Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., five bass, 17-0, $1,902 4th: Chris Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., five bass, 16-14, $1,177 5th: Nic Conger, Fort Smith, Ark., five bass, 16-0, $1,009 6th: Cameron Dahlem, Gans, Okla., five bass, 15-15, $925 7th: Chad Morrow, Weatherford, Okla., five bass, 15-11, $841 8th: Brett King, Kinta, Okla., five bass, 15-9, $757 9th: Rodney Copeland, Sallisaw, Okla., five bass, 15-8, $673 10th: Kirk Smith, Edmond, Okla., four bass, 14-8, $789 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Caleb Black of McAlester, Oklahoma, caught a largemouth that weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $770.  Wes Ledbetter of Coweta, Oklahoma, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,523 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 2 ounces. The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished: 1st: Wes Ledbetter, Coweta, Okla., five bass, 14-2, $2,523 2nd: Adam O’Connell, Conway, Ark., five bass, 13-15, $1,262 3rd: Cody Holcomb, Owasso, Okla., four bass, 13-0, $715 3rd: Cody Torkleson, Sand Springs, Okla., five bass, 13-0, $715 5th: Porky Roberts, Morris, Okla., five bass, 11-10, $705 6th: Jered Grooms, Ada, Okla., four bass, 10-15, $613 7th: Cole Findley, Forsyth, Mo., four bass, 10-12, $399 7th: Justin Newell, Muskogee, Okla., two bass, 10-12, $399 9th: Shane McGlothlin, Anadarko, Okla., four bass, 9-6, $336 10th: Leroy Dee Sheperd, Mountain View, Okla., three bass, 9-1, $294 Rick Blosser of Tulsa, Oklahoma, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $385, catching a largemouth that weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day. After two events, Justin Barbour of Tulsa, Oklahoma, leads the BFL Okie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 487 points, while Wes Ledbetter of Coweta, Oklahoma, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 486 points. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 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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