If you missed tonight’s captains meeting just click the link & enter the password. FYI everyone must watch
Passcode: t7&^Jvba
The Bass Cast Kayak BASS Series Leesville Lake Captains Meeting
B.A.S.S. Elite Pro, Jay Przekurat, Readies for a Cool Classic
B.A.S.S. Elite Pro, Jay Przekurat, Readies for a Cool Classic" title="B.A.S.S. Elite Pro, Jay Przekurat, Readies for a Cool Classic" />
| B.A.S.S. Elite Pro, Jay Przekurat, Readies for a Cool Classic |
| With varying weather changes projected, Whitewater® pro staffer, Jay Przekurat, is ready for any and all conditions with new-for-2023 Whitewater® Cold-Weather Fishing Apparel |
| MUSKEGON, Mich. (March 13, 2023) – The youngest pro bass angler to ever win a B.A.S.S. Elite event, Wisconsin-based Jay Przekurat, took home the honors last year with the heaviest bag of smallmouths every weighed in a B.A.S.S. event at the age of 23. “My St. Lawrence win last year was pretty crazy,” shares Przekurat. “I probably caught hundreds during the tournament, but over the actual event I ended up weighing in a total of 102-9 of smallmouth for that win. That was the highlight of my season. I had some other top 10 finishes but I also had three top-15 finishes. I ended up 10th in AOY points which fortunately qualified me for the Classic; they take the top 40 for the Bassmaster Classic. Taking 10th in AOY during my first year was beyond anything I could have expected, but here we are,” recalls Przekurat. |
| About the Upcoming Classic (Friday, March 24 – Sunday, March 26)“I’m not expecting the 2023 Bassmaster Classic to be a slam-fest,” says Przekurat. “The weather has been weird this winter. I’m down here in Tennessee now and the weather is projected to change from warm to cold and back to cold again. The fish aren’t going to be ready to spawn so I don’t think they’ll be crazy weights,” notes Przekurat. “But I am expecting both species of bass to play—smallies and largemouths—and I’m going to try a little bit or both. Smallmouths have to be over 18-inches so it’s a little bit of a gamble. Still, if you find them and weigh five 18-inchers or over, you’ll weigh good,” projects Przekurat. “On the other hand, largemouths only have to be 14-inches and it seems like there are more numbers of them In the Tennessee River system. So, I’ll have to play it by ear. I’ve never fished the Tennessee River before. I start pre-fishing on Friday, March 17, through Sunday, March 19th, then we have a break, and our last day of pre-fishing is Wednesday, March 22. The tournament starts the following Friday. We’ll see what I can find during pre-fishing.” |
| Fishing In Cold Conditions Spring fishing weather—whether you’re chasing bass like Jay, river walleyes, steelhead or salmon, or other species—can be completely unpredictable with frequent snow, rain, sleet, and wind—as well as sub-freezing temps.Along those lines, we asked Jay what he’ll be wearing to keep his mind on fishing—and not how to stay warm and dry—at the upcoming Classic on the Tennessee River.“I’m going to have everything on. I’ll be wearing the Whitewater Softshell Tamer Jacket and Bib on when it’s not raining and the heavy-duty, water-repellant Whitewater Buoy Fishing Hoodie on underneath that. I love the Tamer jacket and bib. You can throw it on and it doesn’t even feel like you’re wearing bibs. And it keeps you warm all day,” remarks Przekurat.He continues: “When it’s raining, I’ll have the Whitewater Great Lakes Jacket and Bib on, so it’s going to be a back-and-forth between that and the Tamer. I’ll definitely have the hoodie on 100% of the time because it doesn’t look like it’s going to crack 60-degrees up until tournament day and even then, the morning is projected to be 40-degrees.”NEXUS Outdoors President and product design advisor, Aaron Ambur, remarks: “We are incredibly proud to have B.A.S.S. Elite angler, Jay Przekurat, contributing to the designs and wearing the result of countless on-the-water testing trips last year in the worst conditions. Since Whitewater apparel was designed by anglers, for anglers, they offer balanced wind- and rain-protection and unrivaled warmth with a motion-oriented design to accommodate the athletic movements of an active or professional fisherman. We’re excited to follow Jay as he fishes the Classic and wish him the very best.” |
| Features: Whitewater Tamer Softshell Jacket Windproof breathable softshell polyester stretch fabric DWR treated to repel moisture 3-piece hood adjustable for fit Sleeve, chest & back shoulder reflective tape for visibility Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor and shallow water anchor fobs) Two waist pockets & a welded chest pocket to keep gear dry Sleeve insert with a built-in thumbhole opening for security Jacket comes in Grayish “Shade” w/black accents (270) Item No: 1085410MSRP: $219.99 (SM-3XL) |
| Features: Whitewater Tamer Fishing Bib Windproof breathable softshell polyester stretch fabric DWR treated to repel moisture Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor and shallow water anchor fobs) Three pockets (2 cargo, 1 chest) to keep gear dry Covered leg zippers for easy dressing over boots Adjustable silicone suspenders with grip Bib comes in black “Charcoal” Item No: 1085424MSRP: $219.99 (SM-3XL) |
| Features: Whitewater Buoy Fishing Hoodie Comfortable, durable cotton/poly blend DWR treated to repel moisture Adjustable shock cord & locks for hood adjustments Front & back shoulder reflective tape for visibility Zip closure kangaroo pouch pocket Rig knit cuff and waist for a secure fit Hoodie comes in black “Charcoal”; Breaker Blue; and Buoy Red Item No: 1085417MSRP: $99.99 (SM-3XL) |
| Features: Whitewater Great Lakes Jacket Waterproof/windproof 20k/20k lamination & heat-taped seams to keep you dry Durable mini-ripstop 4-way stretch nylon with a polyester lining 3-piece hood with multiple adjustment points Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility Sewn-in D-ring for a safety cord Four storage pockets (2 waist, 2 chest) with covered openings Two handwarmer pockets with YKK® AquaGuard® waterproof zippers Hook and loop cuff adjustments for a secure fit Jacket comes in: Buoy Red w/black accents (273); Grayish “Shade” w/black accents (270); and all-black “Charcoal” (099) Item No: 1085610MSRP: $269.99 (SM-3X) |
| Features: Whitewater Great Lakes Bib Waterproof/windproof 20k/20k lamination & heat-taped seams to keep you dry Durable mini-ripstop 4-way stretch nylon with a polyester lining Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor/shallow-water anchor remote fobs) Dual Velcro® waist adjustments Three pockets (2 cargo, 2 chest) to keep gear dry Two handwarmer pockets with YKK® AquaGuard® waterproof zippers Leg zippers with storm flats and snap closures to keep feet ankles/feet dry Adjustable suspenders with silicone grip to stay in place Bib comes in: all-gray “Shade” (270); and all-black “Charcoal” (099) Item No: 1085624MSRP: $269.99 (SM-3X) Apparel will soon be available at dealers but is available online NOW at whitewaterfish.com. |
Tucker Smith’s official statement on his disqualification at the Bassmaster Open on Lake Eufaula.
“As some of you may be aware, an incident occurred at the recent Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula where a friend who was not fishing the event was caught on film attempting to intimidate a fellow competitor who was fishing near me.
“When it happened, I was not really sure how to handle the situation in that moment and by not reporting the incident to B.A.S.S. Officials it resulted in my day two catch being disqualified, removing my 7th place finish in the process.
“There has been some talk that the person in the video was hole sitting, or trying to help save the spot for me, and that is not the case. I was surprised when he arrived and started yelling at the other angler near me. I was not sure how to handle the situation so I just went on fishing. In doing so, I violated the part of the sportsmanship rules that require me to report an incident of that type. I was unaware of that part of that rule but not knowing it doesn’t mean I’m not responsible for following it.
“To be clear, I was disqualified because I did not report the situation to B.A.S.S. Officials, I was not disqualified for cheating in the event, I respect the sport too much to try and gain an edge by crossing lines.
“I was given the opportunity to have my appeal heard and to present my side of the story. The committee members were very open in the meeting and fair in their decision, I want to say that while I’m disappointed with the conclusion, I understand the reasons and will accept and honor the conclusions reached by B.A.S.S. Officials and the appeal committee.
“I want to also repeat publicly that I did not know that the incident was going to happen, nor would I ever want anything like that to be done on my behalf. I respect the sport of bass fishing, Bassmaster and the other fishermen too much to condone that kind of behavior. My relationship with B.A.S.S. and standing in the organization mean the world to me.
“As a young competitor, I have experienced some success and am very grateful for what fishing has brought me, but even with that success, I know that I have a lot to learn to become the pro angler I hope to be, and I will learn from this situation and grow from it. I will take this experience and move on to the next events with a greater respect for the sport of bass fishing and work to become the best angler and ambassador I can become.”
Tucker Smith
Mo Campbell Talks Why you should throw Yo Zuri 3DB Pencil Topwater Walker
Take a listen as Mo Campbell gives us a look at why the Yo Zuri Pencil is money in the bag & why it should be in your tackle box.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER ONE, or TWO or THREE
Conditions right for exciting Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River
Conditions right for exciting Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River" title="Conditions right for exciting Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River" />
Knoxville, Tenn., will host the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota March 24-26.
Photo by B.A.S.S.
March 17, 2023
Conditions right for exciting Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With guests soon arriving for the grand affair, the Tennessee River’s table is set for peak potential as a field of 55 anglers make their final preparations for the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.
Competition days will be March 24-26 with daily takeoffs from Volunteer Landing in downtown Knoxville at 7:15 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus. Doors open at 3:15 p.m. with weigh-in starting at approximately 4:15 p.m. The winning angler will take home the coveted Ray Scott Bassmaster Classic Trophy and $300,000.
Tournament waters include portions of the Holston and French Broad rivers, the confluence of which forms the Tennessee River headwaters. The dominant waters are Fort Loudoun Lake — the first of nine reservoirs on the Tennessee — and Tellico Lake, which links to Fort Loudoun through a canal passing beneath the U.S. Highway 321 Bridge.
While the long-range forecast shows the potential for rain all three days, Bassmaster Elite Series pro and Tennessee River standout Brandon Lester has a largely optimistic outlook. In his view, seasonal patterns should be ripe for an impressive show.
“I think the fishing is going to be really good; honestly, I think it’s going to be about as good as it can possibly be,” Lester said. “Loudoun has plenty of good fish, but it’s not on par with, say, a Guntersville. But if you were to look at the calendar and pick one week for us to be there, I think the third week of March is the best week of the year.
“We’ve had a warm spring so far and we’ve had some warm rain recently, so I feel like the system is going to be in really good shape for a strong, shallow-water bass tournament.”
With the vernal equinox marking spring’s official start on the Monday of Classic Week, bass should be solidly committed to their prespawn movements. Lester, an eight-time Classic qualifier from Fayetteville, Tenn., said a cold spell the week before the Classic should positively impact the seasonal progression.
“We have had some unseasonably warm weather here lately, but it’s going to get back down into the 20s, and then we’re going to have some highs back into the 60s and lows in the high 30s,” Lester said. “That’s about typical for this time of the year, so I expect that water temperature to be around that mid-50-degree range (for the Classic).
“That’s a really good range to keep those fish in prespawn and in bite mode.”
While Fort Loudoun generally presents stained water with more of the traditional shallow-water targets like shellbars, rocks and laydowns, Tellico’s a clearer lake with more deep-water structure such as long points and channel swing banks. The predictable mix of prespawn tactics will include crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, bladed jigs, football jigs, Carolina rigs and Texas rigs.
A key point of consideration that will no doubt factor in several Classic game plans is the memory of Jeff Gustafson’s 2021 Elite Series victory on these same waters. The Canadian pro found a pile of big smallmouth holding over deep rocks in the canal between Fort Loudoun and Tellico and caught all of his weight with the moping technique, aka Damiki rigging, which vertically presents a small jig with a baitfish body over suspended bass.
Gustafson’s win was about a month earlier than the Classic’s timing; nevertheless, Lester said it shined a spotlight on the region’s smallmouth potential. These waters have long been considered a dual-species bass fishery, but prior to February 2021, largemouth have unquestionably held top billing. That has not necessarily changed, but Lester believes smallmouth must be at least considered.
“Honestly, I’m not ruling anything out,” Lester said. “It wouldn’t surprise me to see somebody weigh in 15 smallmouth (three five-bass daily limits) off of Tellico. Five years ago I would have never believed that but now we all have forward-facing sonar, and that shortens the curve on finding those smallmouth, which are a more nomadic species.”
Realistically, the opportunity or likelihood of catching a kicker largemouth outweighs that of smallmouth. However, when you find smallies, you often find a pile of them, particularly this time of year. Ultimately, daily weigh-ins will see several mixed bags of varying species.
“I definitely think we will see smallmouth play a role in this tournament,” Lester said. “There is a decent population of 6-plus-pound largemouth in Loudoun, and those are the big kickers you’re going to be looking for, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 5-pound smallmouth weighed in either.”
While the entirety of tournament waters could produce competitive fish, time management will anchor prudent decision making. Reaching Tellico requires a good run from the takeoff site and, from there, the lake’s length can burn up a lot of time.
Lester said the anglers who sample this lake will find plenty of opportunity at the bottom end, closest to Fort Loudoun. This section has the deepest water, with lots of fishable structure. Continuing further could reveal a secluded honey hole with unpressured fish, but success would hinge on the right balance of running time versus fishing time.
“I think the key to success will be finding a place to call home; whether that be Loudoun and Tellico, or just Tellico or just Loudoun,” Lester said. “As a competitor, it’s hard to know what to do, but a guy’s going to have to sample that during practice and figure that out.”
Lester said that, while the potential for a strong performance is scattered throughout Classic waters, consistency often proves elusive. The prespawn brings the biggest fish in the lakes into more accessible positions, but an often-fickle mood can prove perplexing.
“The hardest thing on these two bodies of water is being consistent,” Lester said. “A lot of times, you’ll see a guy come out of the gate with an 18- to 19-pound bag and then he’ll back it up with a 9- or 10-pound bag. It’s really hard to be consistent on these lakes.
“I think that’s really going to be a challenge. I think you’re going to see a decent amount of volatility in the leaderboard, and it should make for a very exciting tournament.”
Bassmaster LIVE kicks off tournament coverage Friday morning at 8 a.m. ET on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Saturday and Sunday mornings before afternoon action from Championship Sunday picks up on FOX. A full viewing schedule can be found at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch.
Festivities start Thursday at 5 p.m. ET with the Visit Knoxville Kickoff Party presented by TNT Fireworks on the Plaza Terrace at the Knoxville Convention Center. This family-friendly event will feature live music, local food trucks, fireworks and even a drone dance.
The annual Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by the U.S. Army will take place across the Knoxville Convention Center and adjacent World’s Fair Exhibition Hall with exhibitors on-site selling a variety of merchandise for fishing, hunting, camping and more. Hours for the Expo will be noon-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
The Bassmaster Classic is being hosted by Visit Knoxville.
RELiON® Battery Ambassador Bryan Thrift Wins MLF REDCREST 2023
® Battery Ambassador Bryan Thrift Wins MLF REDCREST 2023" title="RELiON® Battery Ambassador Bryan Thrift Wins MLF REDCREST 2023" />
Eight out of the 10 finishers were using Navico Group products, seven equipped with Lowrance
Menomonee Falls, Wis. (March 16, 2023) – Navico Group brands RELiON Battery and Lowrance were well represented at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2023 in North Carolina. RELiON Ambassador Bryan Thrift claimed the victory on Lake Norman, and seven of the top 10 finishers used Lowrance electronics – five being exclusive Lowrance Pro team members.
A North Carolina native, Thrift dominated the competition with a three-day total of 46-pounds, 12-ounces to bring home the $300,000 prize. Thrift was equipped with RELiON’s RB100 battery, powering his trolling motor, and RB100-HP starting batteries, providing reliable power through five long days on the water.
“The MLF REDCREST event was a marathon of bass tournaments,” said Thrift. “It was five grueling days on the water with ridiculous weather changes from hot to cold, and mild to windy. That is hard on your equipment. I wouldn’t trust anything but my RELiON RB100 and RB100-HP batteries to power me through it. Plus, one of the best things about the RELiON batteries is after all those long days on the water the recharge time never took longer than 2 hours, that’s impressive!”
In addition to this significant achievement, Thrift becomes the first angler in history to win both a REDCREST and Forrest Wood Cup trophy as well as the fourth different pro to win the Bass Pro Tour championship since its inception.
For more information about RELiON Battery’s portfolio of lithium batteries, visit relionbattery.com.
MLF Adjusts Competition Hours for MLF Bass Pro Tour U.S. Air Force Stage Two Presented by Power-Pole
MLF Adjusts Competition Hours for MLF Bass Pro Tour U.S. Air Force Stage Two Presented by Power-Pole" title="MLF Adjusts Competition Hours for MLF Bass Pro Tour U.S. Air Force Stage Two Presented by Power-Pole" />
Advisory for Thursday, March 16
WHAT:
Major League Fishing (MLF) mofficials have adjusted the start times for the Bass Pro Tour U.S. Air Force Stage Two Presented by Power-Pole on Douglas and Cherokee lakes, March 18-23. Takeoff will now be held at 8:30 a.m. ET, with Period 1 starting at 9 a.m. Anglers will compete until 5 p.m. The shift will provide better light for media crews covering the event.
WHEN:
*UPDATED SCHEDULE*
- Saturday – Thursday, March 18-23
- 7:45 a.m. Anglers Arrive at Ramp
- 8:30 a.m. Anglers Depart and Ride Through Begins
- 8:45 a.m. MLF NOW! Livestream Starts
- 9 a.m. Period One Begins
- 11:30 a.m. Break One
- 11:45 a.m. Period Two Begins
- 2:15 p.m. Break Two
- 2:30 p.m. Period Three Begins
- 5 p.m. End of Competition
- 5 – 5:30 p.m. Anglers return to Takeout at Ramp
- 5:30 p.m. MLF NOW! Livestream Ends
WHERE:
Saturday, March 18 – Tuesday, March 21
Douglas Lake, Dandridge Ramp, 100 Public Drive in Dandridge, Tennessee
Wednesday, March 22 & Thursday, March 23
Cherokee Lake, TVA Boat Launch, Renfro Road in Jefferson City, Tennessee
Brandon Perkins stays on point with a solid Day Two leading into Finale Friday.
Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
With 17-pounds, 6-ounces on day two, Brandon Perkins take the lead headed into the final day with a total weight of 41-pounds, 15-ounces. A tougher day overall for the entire field, Perkins kept his head down and added a solid bag to his day one leading weight of 24-pounds 9-ounces. He takes a 9-pound lead into the final day.
“I don’t have a clue,” Perkins said. “I caught seven bass on day one and only five today; at 2:37 I broke off a bait and made three casts with the only bait I had left on my deck and caught my final keeper, right before check in.”
With changing conditions, increasing winds and strong current, like the others, Perkins is scratching his head as to what is happening on Pickwick, but will take it thus far. Unsure if he can gamble on making the long run to his home waters, Perkins will wait until the morning to decide whether he will turn left or right from takeoff in the morning.”
“I saved some stuff for today and didn’t get a bite on any of it,” he added. “The best places I have on this lake I have yet to make a cast and I am not sure if I will get there tomorrow, either. My deals are basically dead right now; besides the few bass I have caught. I may sit at the dam tomorrow or I may head to Counce.”
Perkins is fishing for both smallmouth and largemouth, rotating between jigs, swimbaits, traps and jerk baits and fishing key spots on larger areas.
Tim Cales
After catching 18-pounds, 8-ounces on day one, Tim Cales battled both swift current and dead batteries and added 14-pounds, 2-ounces on day two. With a total weight of 32-pounds, 10-ounces, Cales sits in second place going into the final day.
“I lost two hours this afternoon when my batteries quit,” said Cales. “I spent all day up in the tailwater like I did on day one and only caught five keepers today, and I lost one big one too.”
With no other areas to fall back on, Cales plans to figure out his batteries and keep fishing his swim jig up by the dam.
“I know where they are sitting,” he added. “I just have to get my swim jig up in there and work it by them, and of course they have to bite.”
Louis Fernandes
Adding 10-pounds, 14-ounces to his day one weight of 18-pounds, 6-ounces, Louis Fernandes is junk fishing his way to the 3rd place spot going into the final day with a total weight of 29-pounds, 4-ounces. With his water cooling off, Fernandes stuck with his pattern and was able to keep himself in the top five.
“It got colder on me and the lack of sun made it tougher,” said Fernandes. “I stuck with my game, throwing a mix of winding bait and it worked out. I am not on anything special at all, but after my rough practice, I didn’t think I could carry it this far.”
Dustin Wilkey
Dustin Wilkey added 13-pounds, 10-ounces to his opening round bag of 18-pounds, 5-ounces to finish the day in the fourth-place spot with a two-day total of 31-pounds, 15-ounces. When his main area from day one was covered with local and tournament boats this morning, he was able to catch a few keepers on stop number two before “hopping on the struggle bus and not getting off.”
“Those boats on my main deal was tough to see this morning,” said Wilkey. “I got a few keepers shortly after but it turned into a big grind fest. I anticipated the wind and warmer weather may help out the bite for me but it never panned out and that’s fine. Tomorrow, I need to get off to a good start and keep it rolling,” he added.
Hayden Hammond
In the fifth-place spot with a two-day total of 31—pounds, 14-ounces, 17-year-old Hayden Hammond relied on an 18-pound, 3-ounce start on day one, and a 13-pound, 11-ounce bag on day two to sit in the fifth place going into the final day. Hammond has started both days with a big bite and hopes to continue that fortune on day three.
“Getting a big bite early has been key,” said Hammond. “I have been catching most of my fish in one little area, and after struggling in practice for the first two days, I was able to locate these fish late on day three,” he added.
Hammond is throwing a mix of bladed jigs and traps around grass to catch his fish.
Rest of the Rest
Michael Brewer 29-7
Jesse Wise 28-10
Timothy Reams 27-12
Jason Wilson 27-10
Mike Corbishley 27-9
Advantage Bait Company Launches Brandon Card Signature Series Jigs
Bassmaster Elite Series Angler Brandon Card and Advantage Bait Company launch Wild Card Jig Series at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic.
CHARLOTTE, NC (Mar 16, 2023) — Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Brandon Card and Advantage Bait Company announce the Brandon Card Wild Card Series of jigs. Designed from the ground up, using high quality components, the Wild Card Series focuses on nailing every detail. Brandon’s years of professional bass fishing and knowledge make it a truly unique series.
“Designing and building the Wild Card series of jigs with Advantage Bait has been many years in the making,” said Brandon Card. “Being hyper focused on every detail, I feel like we have produced the ultimate jigs – the craftsmanship and detail in these jigs will put more fish in the boat for anyone who fishes them.”
The Wild Card Series of jigs are purposefully designed with custom head shapes for specific applications. Each jig is built around a Gamakatsu hook and features a two-tone fiber weed guard. The jigs are available in eight proven skirt color patterns specifically chosen by Brandon for fishing a variety of water conditions. With exception of the finesse jig (available in hybrid only), all jigs are available in two skirt options: Hybrid – silicone skirt infused with Andy’s “Old School” flat rubber or 100% Silicone. Additionally, most jigs are available in both compact and standard sizes.
Wild Card Flippin’ Jig
Key Features
• 30-degree heavy wire Gamakatsu Hook
• Custom flippin’ style head designed to easily come through vegetation
• Two-tone fiber weed guard
• Hybrid skirt or 100% silicone skirt
• Compact Sizes: 1/2 oz – 4/0 hook
• Standard Sizes: 5/8 oz – 5/0 hook & 3/4 oz – 5/0 hook
• 8 proven colors
Hybrid Skirts: • Card Craw • Dark Craw • PB&J • Bama Bug • Black/Blue,
100% Silicone Skirts: • Green Pumpkin/Watermelon • Mid-Night • Norris Craw
Wild Card Pitchin’ Jig
Key Features
• 60-degree heavy wire Gamakatsu Hook
• Custom head designed to skip in and around cover
• Two-tone fiber weed guard
• Hybrid skirt or 100% silicone skirt
• Compact Sizes: 1/2 oz – 4/0 hook
• Standard Sizes: 1/2 oz – 5/0 hook & 5/8 oz – 5/0 hook
• 8 proven colors
Hybrid Skirts: • Card Craw • Dark Craw • PB&J • Bama Bug • Black/Blue,
100% Silicone Skirts: • Green Pumpkin/Watermelon • Mid-Night • Norris Craw
Key Features
• 60-degree medium wire Gamakatsu Hook
• Custom head designed to easily come through hard, rocky bottom snag free
• Two-tone fiber weed guard
• Hybrid skirt or 100% silicone skirt
• Standard Sizes: 1/2 oz – 5/0 hook, 5/8 oz – 5/0 hook & 3/4 oz – 5/0 hook
• 8 proven colors
Hybrid Skirts: • Card Craw • Dark Craw • PB&J • Bama Bug • Black/Blue
100% Silicone Skirts: • Green Pumpkin/Watermelon • Mid-Night • Norris Craw
Wild Card Finesse Jig
Key Features
• 60-degree medium wire Gamakatsu Hook
• Custom round ball style head designed to easily come through variety of cover
• Two-tone fiber weed guard
• Hybrid skirt
• Compact Sizes: 5/16 oz – 3/0 hook & 3/8 oz – 3/0 hook
• Standard Sizes: 5/16 oz – 4/0 hook & 3/8 oz – 4/0 hook
• 5 proven colors
Hybrid Skirts: • Card Craw • Dark Craw • PB&J • Bama Bug • Black/Blue
MSRP: $6.99
Available Spring 2023
Stop by Booth #4028 at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee from March 24 – 26.
Learn more about Brandon Card’s Signature Wild Card Series, here!
About Advantage Bait Company
Advantage Bait Company is a United States manufacturer of custom fishing lures and components for serious anglers looking to gain an advantage over their competition. Established in 2010 as a small family business in Illinois, Advantage Bait has recently moved to a larger facility in North Carolina. Our mission is to provide top of the line lures and components to all anglers who love fishing. Advantage Bait’s extensive product line features: spinnerbaits and bladed jigs (both featuring our patented Extreme Flash Technology blades), buzz baits, swim jigs, heavy mat jigs, and Brandon Card’s signature series of jigs – The Wild Card Series. For more information, visit www.advantagebait.com
Counce, Tennessee angler Brandon Perkins take the day one NPFL lead at Pickwick.
Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
With 24-pounds, 9-ounces on day one, Counce, TN angler Brandon Perkins takes the day one lead at the NPFL on Pickwick Lake. Perkins had a mixed bag that included a 6-pound, 5-ounce smallmouth to anchor his day one weight.
Perkins went into the day unsure of his game plan for the day. With a late boat draw, he debated starting close by the take off before making the run to the other end of the lake where he is most comfortable.
“I only caught seven fish today and that is tough. The water is cooling off and after catching a couple fish early, I was able to run around a fill out a limit with some quality fish.,” said Perkins.
Michael Brewer
Another local angler who regularly fishes the Florence side of Pickwick, Michael Brewer got to work early and brought 21-pounds, 13-ounces to the scales to sit in second place. Brewer was done fishing by 10:30 am and hopes to return to his starting spot for day two.
“From the first cast this morning, it was on,” said Brewer. “I was late putting my fish into the tracker; I had ice in my boat, it was cold, and all my fish were identical in size – it was the most fun I have had being cold in a while.”
His starting spot was something special, a place he has fished for over 30 years. However, due to some medical issues, Brewer has not been fishing as much as he typically would and therefore has never fished his area with forward facing sonar, until today.
“I did not catch one on my first cast, but I got slack lined, and I knew they were there. I could see some fish below me and it turned out those were spotted bass,” he added. “I want to finish out tomorrow with a shot on Friday.”
Brewer noted he beat up his area pretty good this morning and had some local pressure after he left. Knowing the likelihood of the risk of being seen, he made sure to save some other key spots for later in the week if needed.
Tim Cales
Tim Cales had an up and down practice period and was unsure of how his day would go on day one. With a limit of 18-pounds, 8-ounces, he finished the day in the fourth-place spot with a lot of hope for the rest of the week.
“I honestly was not sure if I was going to get a bite this morning,” said Cales. I found a few spots in practice that I had gotten a bite and planned to just run those today. I was able to get some quality off one spot before moving around.
Louis Fernandes
Louis Fernandes followed up a tough practice with a junk fishing 101 type of day. He sits in the fourth-place spot after day one with a limit of 18-pounds, 6-ounces. Fernandes relied on changes in weather and covered water to get his bites.
“It was garbage for me, man,” said Fernandes. “I knew we had good weather coming in so I stuck with the shallow bite and hoped it would turn on. I caught fish in several places I have never seen before and just hoped to run into fresh fish.”
Dustin Wilkey
With a limit of 18-pounds, 5-ounces, Dustin Wilkey finished the day in the fifth-place spot with an almost two-pound cushion over the next angler. Wilkey was able to take advantage of his main area early and used the rest of his day to practice for the rest of the tournament.
“I never found much after I left, but by 10:30 am I had my weight and left it alone,” said Wilkey. “It was a key spot from practice and I had a little milk run. I made my rotation and culled twice. My plan for day two is to lean on them hard and try to move up a little bit, I am shooting for 20-pounds.”
TVA Lock Survey Affects NPFL Anglers
With almost a dozen anglers reportedly locking to Wilson, the TVA had a “survey or unscheduled maintenance” problem this afternoon, therefore affecting the angler’s ability to return to weigh-in.
“The NPFL, and the anglers were in communication with the lockmaster this week and unfortunately, they had some problems which will affect the tournament,” said Brad Fuller, President of the NPFL. “We briefed the anglers on the risk, and those anglers decided to go to Wilson and were successful in their fishing. This is part of professional fishing tournaments and a factor that can come into play.”
The NPFL anglers will fish all three days of the event and hopefully have a chance to salvage points on Thursday and Friday.