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Johnny Mitchell & Dale Cook Win BASS Nation of VA Mr Bass Lake Gaston

Brian Carter

April 3, 2023

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.

CLICK HERE TO SEE RESULTS

Bass Pro Tour Rookie Nick LeBrun Paces Group B at Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray Presented by Mercury Lake Murray

Brian Carter

April 3, 2023

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:

1^st:          Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., five bass, 25-10
2^nd:         Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 23-1
3^rd:         Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 21-2
4^th:         Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 19-11
5^th:         Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 19-9
6^th:         Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 19-6
7^th:         Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., five bass, 19-6
8^th:         Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, five bass, 19-2
9^th:         Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 18-15
10^th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 18-5
11^th:       Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 17-15
12^th:       Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., five bass, 17-11
13^th:       Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 17-10
14^th:       Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., five bass, 17-3
15^th:       Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., five bass, 17-2
16^th:       Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., five bass, 17-2
17^th:       Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, five bass, 17-0
18^th:       Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 16-15
19^th:       Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 16-13
20^th:       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

Brian Carter

April 3, 2023

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

Brian Carter

April 3, 2023

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

Brian Carter

April 3, 2023

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.

Suratt’s Kicker Smallmouth Gives Tennessee Angler Third Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Pickwick Lake

Brian Carter

April 3, 2023

Suratt’s Kicker Smallmouth Gives Tennessee Angler Third Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Pickwick Lake

Boater Trent Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee and Strike-King co-angler Jesse Turner of Danville, Alabama.

Jessie Mizell Comes From Behind to Win MLF Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee

Brian Carter

April 3, 2023

Jessie Mizell Comes From Behind to Win MLF Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee

CLEWISTON, Fla. (April 3, 2023) – Pro Jessie Mizell of Myakka City, Florida, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 22 pounds, 7 ounces to win the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Okeechobee and earn the top payout of $51,500. Over the three days of competition Mizell weighed in 15 bass totaling 51-15 to earn the win by a 1-pound, 9-ounce margin over Florida’s Bobby Bakewell of Orlando, who finished second with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 50-6, good for $20,000.

Mizell came into the final day of competition with a 13-pound deficit to Bakewell, but as weather conditions – namely the strong winds – shifted on the final day, he said he knew he still had a chance.

“I’ve been doing this my whole life,” said Mizell. “This is my home lake, but I always fell a little short. So, to finally capitalize and take it, it means a lot.”

While the strong winds made for a stingy bite, Bakewell had found a shell-bed pattern far up the river that was less weather dependent. However, once the area dried up and the fish moved out, Bakewell only brought in four fish on the final day – and that was all the margin that Mizell needed.

According to Mizell, Okeechobee has tides caused by sustained winds that can raise the water levels in an area as much as 6 inches while muddying up the water. Once that wind dies, there’s a “backflush” of clean water coming in from the marshes as the water recedes.

Armed with his knowledge of the Big O, its “tides” and a special frog, Mizell went into the Championship Round primed and ready to make a massive comeback.

“Those mud mats make a cavern underneath, and the bass will sit around the edge of that or around sparse cattails or buggy whips nearby,” said Mizell. “I’d make very specific casts to the edges of those mats with my frog and always working it like there was a fish watching it.”

Mizell said he caught the majority of his fish on a customized SPRO Bronzeye Poppin Frog 70, mixing in a Medlock Jig, and said he could have made a run at a 30-pound bag, if he hadn’t lost a pair of 7-pounders.

“Had it been different, I might care more about those two lost fish, but right now this is a dream come true,” Mizell finished.

The top 10 pros on Lake Okeechobee finished:

1^st:           Jessie Mizell, Myakka City, Fla., 15 bass, 51-15, $51,500
2^nd:          Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., 14 bass, 50-6, $20,000
3^rd:          Brandon Medlock, Lake Placid, Fla., 15 bass, 49-10, $14,250
4^th:           Mike Surman, Boca Raton, Fla., 15 bass, 45-4, $12,250
5^th:           Destin Lesesne, Blue Ridge, Ga., 15 bass, 45-2, $11,250
6^th:           Alex Terescenko, West Palm Beach, Fla., 15 bass, 45-0, $9,125
7^th:           Jared McMillan, Clewiston, Fla., 13 bass, 44-11, $8,900
8^th:           Marlon Crowder, Tampa, Fla., 15 bass, 42-12, $7,400
9^th:           Dillon McMillan, Vero Beach, Fla., 15 bass, 41-14, $5,900
10^th:        Casey Warren, Longs, S.C., 15 bass, 41-5, $4,500

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Crowder won the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday with a bass weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces. On Friday, pro Michael Catt of Jacksonville, Florida earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize after bringing an 8-pound, 1-ounce bass to the scale.

McMillan took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Sam Maxwell of Vincennes, Indiana won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 37 pounds, 4 ounces. Maxwell took home the top prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Okeechobee finished:

1^st:           Sam Maxwell, Vincennes, Ind., 15 bass, 37-4, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2^nd:          Tyler Carey, Lake Worth, Fla., 14 bass, 37-0, $6,125
3^rd:          Skip Reed, Coral Springs, Fla., 12 bass, 34-12, $4,900
4^th:           William Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla., 11 bass, 32-3, $4,150
5^th:           Zack Barrera, Morriston, Fla., 15 bass, 30-2, $3,450
6^th:           Kurt Chelminiak, Delafield, Wis., 12 bass, 29-8, $2,950
7^th:           Stephen Draghi, Sparrowbush, N.Y., 14 bass, 29-7, $2,450
8^th:           Jeff Cox, Saline, Mich., 15 bass, 28-6, $1,975
9^th:           Phil Witmer, Huddleston, Va., 14 bass, 27-15, $1,590
10^th:        David DiMauro, Longwood, Fla., 14 bass, 27-11, $1,350

Bill Fox of Lake Worth, Florida was the Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, Thursday, with a 7-pound, 15-ounce bass, while the Day 2 $150 award went to JP Sims of Port St. Lucie, Florida, with a whopping 9-pound, 10-ounce fish.

With two of three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Southern Division now complete, Mizell leads the Southern Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 510 points, while Alan Hults of Gautier, Mississippi leads the Strike King Co-angler Division AOY race with 509 points.

The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Okeechobee, hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council was the second of three regular-season events for the Toyota Series Southern Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Dardanelle, April 4-6, in Russellville, Arkansas. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST V. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, and is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Chad Green & Johnny Martin Win Bass Cast Tourney on SML April 2,2023

Brian Carter

April 2, 2023

We would like to thank the 36 teams that come out & fish the 1st Bass Cast event on Smith Mountain Lake. Congratulations to our winners Chad Green & Johnny Martin this makes there 4th consecutive win in 2023. Will the streak continue? See you all on April 22 for our next event & as always you have to fish 3 to qualify to fish the championship.

CLICK HERE TO SEE RESUL TS

CLICK HERE TO SEE POINTS

JVD Leads Day 1 at MLF Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray

Brian Carter

April 2, 2023

JVD Leads Day 1 at MLF Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray

Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Jonathon VanDam Catches 21-14 To Take Early Lead for Group A

COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 2, 2023) – Favorable conditions greeted the 40 anglers competing in Group A Sunday at Lake Murray on Day 1 at the Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury. As predicted, a variety of tactics and baits were in play as all of the top five anglers on caught the majority of their bass in different ways, and nine of the top-10 finishers of the day had at least one 4-pound kicker bass in their limit.

After a dominant first period, Favorite Fishing pro Jonathon VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, grabbed the early lead with a lipless crankbait, and then held it throughout the day. VanDam boated 15 scorable largemouth, with his best five weighing 21 pounds, 14 ounces – good for a 1-pound, 10-ounce advantage over second-place angler Marty Robinson of Lyman, South Carolina. Robinson had struggled early, ending the second period in 39^th place before going on a third-period rally to vault into second place with 20-4.

Link to Hi-Res Photo of Qualifying Group A Leader Jonathon VanDam
Link to HD Video – Fish-Catch Highlights of Group A Qualifying Round Day 1 on Lake Murray
Link to Photo Gallery of Group A’s Day 1 Qualifying Round Afternoon Highlights

The six-day 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.

Weights are stacked up in the remainder of the top five, as just 1-pound separates second place from fifth. Second-year pro Cole Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, ended the day in third place with five bass totaling 20-3, while rookie Mitch Crane, a practicing dentist from Columbus, Mississippi, ended the day in fourth with five bass weighing 19-4. Toro pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas , continued his red-hot pace with a solid start to the round, catching five bass weighing 19-4 to finish the day in fifth place.

The 40 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition on Monday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Tuesday.

“Well, we’re off to a good start,” VanDam said. “We did what we needed to do today, and we really rode that first period. I caught a lot of fish, today. That first spot that I stopped on, they were really firing.”

VanDam caught 21 pounds in Period 1, upgrading slightly throughout the day. He did most of his damage with a lipless crankbait – a sexy shad-colored Strike King Red Eye Shad, according to MLFNOW! analyst Marty Stone.

“I had a chance to have a really big bag – I lost a great big one,” VanDam continued. “But I did catch a 6½ pounder there, so we’re sitting right where we want to be.”

After his first period flurry, VanDam spent much of the remainder of his day scouting new water and practicing for the remainder of the week.

“We did a lot of practicing today, and I was able to run around and do some looking,” VanDam went on to say. “I found three or four other places that have a lot of fish on them, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the week and hopefully we can keep this up.”

The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Lake Murray are:

1^st:          Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 21-14
2^nd:         Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., five bass, 20-4
3^rd:         Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 20-3
4^th:         Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 19-13
5^th:         Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 19-4
6^th:         Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., five bass, 18-7
7^th:         Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 18-5
8^th:         Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., five bass, 18-2
9^th:         Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 18-0
10^th:       Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 17-15
11^th:       Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., five bass, 17-13
12^th:       Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., five bass, 17-13
13^th:       Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 17-12
14^th:       David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 17-4
15^th:       Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 17-2
16^th:       Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, five bass, 16-14
17^th:       Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 16-3
18^th:       Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 16-2
19^th:       Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., five bass, 15-15
20^th:       Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 15-13

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

Lyman, South Carolina’s Marty Robinson earned the first $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award of the event with a 6-pound, 12-ounce largemouth bass that bit his wacky-rigged worm 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 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.

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.

2023 Bassmaster Classic: Behind Crowning a New Champion by Bruce Callis

Bruce Callis

April 2, 2023

2023 Bassmaster Classic:

Behind Crowning a New Champion

by Bruce Callis Jr.

The Bassmaster Classic is the pinnacle of bass fishing. It sets the standard for which all anglers strive to be and claim. Few have been able to claim it, few even get to fish it. And still, some of the greatest have never won it. But we dream of lifting that trophy high and forever being known as the champion! And 2023 was no different!

When championship Sunday came, there were 25 anglers who idled out from launch and put their boat on plane. The race was on to the first fishing spot and hopefully to making history. The day wasn’t perfect, but when you have $300,000 on the line, it’s all about making the most of every opportunity and a lot of luck at time!

Jeff Gustafson took the lead on day one, held it after day 2 was complete and was hoping to hold on to it when he took the stage on the hot seat for the top 6 weigh-in. Finally Jeff was knocked off the hot seat and sent him to his boat to await his turn in line. Bryan Schmitt came in and weighed in a bag weighing 11 pounds 1 ounce and took over the lead. And then it came down to just Bryan and Jeff, looking to see who would win and lift the trophy high. And history was made as Jeff became the first Canadian to be crowned as the best bass angler in the world. Forever Jeff Gustafson, or Gussy as we know him, will be able to say he won it!

But what does it take to put on the show that we watch live on the website? What about the show we see live on television. It takes a team to set it up and put it together. Let’s take a look at just the weigh-in at the Classic and what it takes.

Usually, they get the arena on Tuesday morning so they can start getting everything straight. But for this Classic, the University of Tennessee held an NCAA held a Women’s basketball March Madness tournament there, so they could not get the arena until a day late on Wednesday. It takes a huge crew to get everything on stage set up. For 2+ days a team of at least 50 labor to set up all the led electronics that you see on the screen up on stage. No easy task at all. And when you cut the time down, it puts everyone in a rush!

And then there is the TV crew. It is a team of 10-12 individuals who work to secure the lighting correctly, stretch out cables, and connect all of it to the command center that sits behind the scenes. It takes 2+ days for this to come together. And for 3 days, they work hard to provide just the right shots so we get the feel of being there in person. The crowd gets to see up on stage, but they also get to see what we see on our television or online on the big screen above where the court would be.

And then there is the command center, the mobile studio where technicians work there magic, switching to different cameras, led screens, and such to provide us with the best views. Standing there watching the show happen is amazing. So many screens that show every camera shot live, whether it is on our screen or not, plus one screen that shows what is currently being fed to us. Everyone in the command center has a job, including one person that sets in a separate room controlling the audio feed. One day I would love to get there early enough to get to document all of it so you can see what it takes.

And then the champion is crowned. What you see online ends and then it gets crazy. There is the press conference where all the media get to ask the top 6 all their questions. Usually it’s a question for all 6 to answer. And once that ends, it’s off to the media room for individual interviews and we get an opportunity to get a picture with the winner. They we get busy telling you what we learned.

And while this is happening, the real work of tearing everything down starts. All the hours spent running cables now only takes hours to remove. But everything is labeled and put into special boxes, ready to be set up at the next event. The stage is removed and taken back to B.A.S.S. headquarters to be stored for the next Classic, whether at the same venue or at a new facility. It takes a couple of different teams working together to bring everything we see to light. So the next time you tune in, there are a lot of people working behind the scenes we need to thank!

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