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Dakota Lithium inks multiyear deal to sponsor Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year

  • Kayak Bass News & More
  • Kayak News
Brian Carter
-
March 1, 2023
0
<strong src=Dakota Lithium inks multiyear deal to sponsor Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year" title="Dakota Lithium inks multiyear deal to sponsor Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year" />

March 1, 2023

Dakota Lithium inks multiyear deal to sponsor Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dakota Lithium, a U.S. battery manufacturer founded in 2008 and the Official Lithium Battery of Bassmaster, has expanded its partnership with B.A.S.S. and signed a three-year sponsorship deal for the Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year award.

Every tournament in the 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX has been expanded to two days as anglers compete around the country for the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title, which comes with a $5,000 cash prize.

“Partnering with B.A.S.S. to honor the top Kayak Series angler is a natural fit and extension of our support for the sport and relationship with Bassmaster tournaments,” said Craig Storms, Dakota Lithium national sales representative and pro staff manager. “Many of the Kayak Series’ top anglers already work with Dakota Lithium, and we want to continue the momentum we’re building through our sponsorship of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail and Elite Series pros to keep reaching more people who fish. B.A.S.S. is committed to using its massive reach and membership base to elevate kayak fishing.”

In addition to sponsoring multiple Bassmaster Kayak Series anglers, including past champions Cody Milton and Rus Snyders, Dakota Lithium is a premier sponsor for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota and six-circuit Bassmaster Tournament Trail.

“It was no surprise to see Dakota Lithium, a long-time supporter of the sport, step up in a huge way regarding the Bassmaster Kayak Series,” said angler Kristine Fischer, who won the 2021 Hobie Bass Open Series Tournament of Champions on Lake Eufaula and finished 3rd at the season-ending 2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Pickwick Lake. “I’ve been part of the Dakota team for years, and it makes me proud to be part of a family that continuously invests and pours into growing kayak fishing.”  

Lithium batteries have become an industry standard for competitive fishing, providing twice the usable power at half the weight of traditional batteries. In a quickly growing market, Dakota Lithium has become the brand of choice for professional athletes, primarily due to Dakota Lithium’s performance, reliability, lifespan and best-in-class 11-year warranty.

The 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX season kicks off March 4-5 on legendary Lake Guntersville. Anglers will earn points in every regular-season tournament with their lowest finish dropped to determine the final Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year standings.   

About Dakota Lithium
Founded in 2008 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, by two pilots and a chemical engineer, Dakota Lithium is the leading consumer lithium battery brand in the U.S. and Canada. Built on a culture of relentless improvement and reliability, Dakota Lithium batteries have twice the power, half the weight and five times the lifespan of traditional batteries. Backed up by DL’s best-in-class 11-year warranty. 

Here at Dakota Lithium, we believe that quality makes the difference. And that quality is measured by lifespan — how long a battery lasts. That’s why we focus on building batteries that last a long, long time. By harnessing Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry and our engineering know-how, Dakota Lithium lasts five to 10 times longer than traditional batteries, providing lasting value for our customers and reducing e-waste and the impact on our planet.

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.

Texan Dakota Ebare Smacks 23-Pound Limit to Take Early Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 2 on Clarks Hill Presented by Lowrance

  • Breaking News
  • MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals
Brian Carter
-
March 1, 2023
0
Texan Dakota Ebare Smacks 23-Pound Limit to Take Early Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 2 on Clarks Hill Presented by Lowrance

MLF

Former Rodeo Bullfighter Takes 5-Pound, 2-Ounce Lead into Second Day of Competition Wednesday

APPLING, Ga. (Feb. 28, 2023) – The second Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitational event of the season kicked off this morning at Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia, and the fishery absolutely showed out. More than 30 pros caught a five-bass limit in excess of 14 pounds, and six pros caught limits weighing more than 17 pounds. However, after all of the fish had been weighed and the scales settled, an angler many consider to be the hottest in the country had jumped out to a Texas-sized lead.

Pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, crossed the stage Tuesday with a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 13 ounces, to grab the early lead on Day 1 of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance. Ebare now holds a 5-pound,2-ounce lead over Huntsville, Arkansas’ Travis Harriman, who caught five bass weighing 18-11.

The full field of 150 anglers will conclude the two-day opening round on Wednesday, with only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advancing to Championship Thursday. The three-day tournament, hosted by the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Thomson-McDuffie County Convention & Visitors Bureau, features a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.

Link to Photo Gallery of Day 1 Afternoon Highlights
Link to Video of Fish-Catch Highlights of Day 1 on Clarks Hill Lake

Although Ebare was predictably mum about a lot of the key details on his big day, he did say that he caught 30 to 40 keepers and that he thinks he can have a similar day tomorrow.

“Today was a little better than I expected,” said Ebare, a former College Fishing angler for Tarleton State University. “I was expecting to go out there and catch some fish and have a good day, but I had a couple of really big bites and it turned out to be a great day. I caught them from every branch (of the lake) that you could possibly catch them in. I did a lot of different stuff and just bounced around. I caught some out, caught some up, and just kept an open mind for the day. I had a lot of fun and just went fishing.

“The deepest I caught one was 30 feet, and the shallowest I caught one was one foot,” Ebare continued. “I was all over, just keeping an open mind. And that’s what we’re going to do tomorrow, just go out and have a good time again, and we’ll see where we end up.”

Ebare has been on an absolute tear on the water over the last 12 months. He finished sixth or better in the final six events of the season on the Bass Pro Tour and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, including 2nd-place finishes at the James River and at the Pro Circuit TITLE Championship on the St. Lawrence River. He carried the momentum into 2023, earning his first career win at a Toyota Series event on Sam Rayburn last month. Now, with a 5-pound lead in this event, Ebare said the key to his success has been giving the glory to God and just having fun.

“That (Toyota Series) win took off a lot of stress,” Ebare said. “It’s a huge relief to not have to worry about if it’s going to happen, and now I just get to go fishing and have fun.

“It’s just been a blessing and I am very thankful. God has blessed me so much, and I just want to keep having fun and glorifying him. I think that is the most important thing and been the biggest attribute to my success – keeping an open mind and having fun.”

The top 20 pros after Day 1 on Clarks Hill Lake are:

1st:          Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 23-13
2nd:         Travis Harriman, Huntsville, Ark., five bass, 18-11
3rd:         Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 18-9
4th:         Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 18-1
5th:         Scotty Villines, Ponca, Ark., five bass, 17-6
6th:         Sean Anderson, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 17-3
7th:         Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., five bass, 17-1
8th:         Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 17-0
9th:         Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., five bass, 16-15
10th:       Tristan McCormick, Burns, Tenn., five bass, 16-11
11th:       Cody Petit, Arundel, Maine, five bass, 16-10
11th:       Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 16-10
11th:       Cal Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 16-10
14th:       Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., five bass, 16-9
15th:       Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, five bass, 16-8
16th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 16-4
17th:       Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 16-3
18th:       Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La., five bass, 16-2
19th:       John Cox, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 16-1
20th:       Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, five bass, 15-12

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Cole Breeden of Lebanon, Missouri, earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award with a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces.

Overall, there were 724 bass weighing 1,733 pounds, 4 ounces caught by 149 pros Tuesday. The catch included 140 five-bass limits.

In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday in a traditional five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight will advance to the final round on Championship Thursday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.

Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. ET, each day, from Wildwood Park, located at 6212 Holloway Road in Appling. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park beginning at 3 p.m. each day. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all three days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all three days of competition from 7:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at Clarks Hill Lake will also feature a two-hour television broadcast that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, Oct. 7.

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

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

Melvin Fulk & Brian Conley Win Fishers of Men VA East on Buggs Island

  • Buggs Island/Kerr Lake Tournament Results
  • Fishers of Men - Virginia East Division
  • Tournament Archives
  • Tournament Results
  • VA Tournament Results
  • Whats New-VA
Brian Carter
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March 1, 2023
0
Melvin Fulk & Brian Conley Win Fishers of Men VA East on Buggs Island

A Great kickoff to our 2023 Virginia East Team season on Buggs Island Lake in Clarksville,Va!

Congratulations to Melvin Fulk/Brian Conley on the win with 17.35lbs

Second was the team of Ray Hogge/Donnie Daniel with 16.82 and 5.92 big fish.

Third place was Brandon Hill/ Kevin King 16.11lbs

Fourth was Travis Lugar/ Ricky Fulk with 16.03lbs.

Rounding out the top 5 was husband wife team of Mike and Allison Williams with 14.72!

Angling Ethics and Aquatic Exotics

  • Contributes
  • Future Anglers Foundation
  • Product News
Brian Carter
-
February 28, 2023
0
<strong src=Angling Ethics and Aquatic Exotics" title="Angling Ethics and Aquatic Exotics" />
Angling Ethics and Aquatic Exotics
Educational video and companion lesson plan discusses control of aquatic invasive species.
Forestville, WI (February 28, 2023) – The genie is out of the bottle, to some degree. Harmful aquatic invasive species have been with us for decades, and in some cases, well over a century. Certain plants, fish, and invertebrates have hitched rides in the ballasts of transcontinental vessels and been carelessly deposited in North American waters. Subsequently, recreational boaters inadvertently spread the intruders from body of water to body of water, resulting in the introduction of a nonnative species into an aquatic environment, disrupting the long-established balance. (Even exotic fish and plants transferred from aquariums to wild environments are culprits in the introduction and spread.)You can’t wish them away. Fact of the matter is that most invasive aquatic species are here to stay. But that doesn’t mean you can’t help slow the spread. In this educational video from Into the Outdoors Education Network, and sponsored by the Future Angler Foundation (FAF), TakeMeFishing.org, and Discover Boating, our young sleuths get an education about stopping the spread of aquatic invasive plants.  Moreover, the video is one of many that also has FREE comprehensive lesson plans for students, fishing clubs, youth groups, or anyone who wants to educate others about fishing and boating ethics.
Some of Our Most INFAMOUS Aquatic Invasive Plants Zebra Mussel: A menace in the Great Lakes, river systems and some large lakes. First discovered in 1988, the shelled menaces filter and eat phytoplankton (microscopic plants), small zooplankton (microscopic animals), and detritus (pieces of organic debris) that are important to native food webs. Quagga Mussel: The smaller Quagga Mussel is equally as harmful to freshwater environments. It, too, disrupts food webs by foraging on phytoplankton, zooplankton, detritus. They were first found in 1989 and native to Ukraine.Purple Loosestrife: Although the blooms are attractive, they’re destroyers down below. Purple Loosestrife displaces native shoreline plants like cattails. Their invasion dates to the early 1800’s when the destructive plant was brought to North America for its ornamental appeal.Eurasian Milfoil: One of the most pervasive invasives in North America, Eurasian Milfoil is common in Europe and Asia. But in our waters, it quickly smothers native plants and clogs surfaces with a sometimes-impenetrable canopy. Eurasian Milfoil has been here for decades.Water Hyacinth: The floating plant and its flowers are attractive in koi ponds, but let loose, Water Hyacinth spread like wildfire, quickly overtaking surfaces, and snuffing sunlight for native plants. The dastardly Asian plant has been in North America since the late 1800’s.Giant Salvinia: Yet another aggressively growing surface plant that blocks sunlight, crowds out native species, and reduces oxygen levels. Discovered in the 1990’s, the harmful plant is presently making its way across Texas. 

Tulsa and Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees set to host third Bassmaster Classic in 2024

  • Bassmaster Classic
  • Breaking News
Brian Carter
-
February 28, 2023
0
<strong src=Tulsa and Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees set to host third Bassmaster Classic in 2024" title="Tulsa and Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees set to host third Bassmaster Classic in 2024" />

Tulsa, Okla., will host the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota March 22-24. 

Photo by Tyler Layne Photography

February 28, 2023

Tulsa and Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees set to host third Bassmaster Classic in 2024

2022 Classic Winner - Jason Christie.jpg

TULSA, Okla. — When it comes to the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees has more than lived up to its name.

The 46,500-acre fishery provided some of the grandest moments in the history of the event when Classics were held there in 2013 and 2016 — and now, the picturesque reservoir located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains will add to that grand lore when it plays host to the 54th renewal of the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing March 22-24, 2024.

B.A.S.S. officials alongside hosts from the Tulsa Sports Commission and ASM Global made the announcement at a press conference in Tulsa on Tuesday morning, nearly 13 months before the event will take place.

“Planning the Bassmaster Classic, the greatest celebration of the sport of fishing, is a never-ending process,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “The B.A.S.S. team has been working with the people of Tulsa for well over a year to make this a reality.

“Now that it’s official, we couldn’t be more excited to be headed back to a city and fishery that already hold a special place in Classic history and is such an important area to the fishing community.”

As with past Classics held in Tulsa, daily weigh-ins will be held at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, with the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo across the street at the Cox Business Convention Center, which boasts 275,000 square feet of event space. Daily takeoffs will be held about 90 miles away at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility on Grand Lake.

“The Tulsa Sports Commission, and Tulsa Regional Tourism as a whole, are beyond excited to welcome the Bassmaster Classic back to Tulsa in 2024 after successful 2013 and 2016 events,” said Renee McKenney, vice president of tourism, Tulsa Regional Chamber and president, Tulsa Regional Tourism. “Tulsa has experienced profound growth since 2016 — welcoming new attractions like the Gathering Place, Discovery Lab, Mother Road Market, Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center and the Bob Dylan Center to name just a few. This is an incredible opportunity to showcase how Tulsa is not only a thriving, vibrant city, but one with convenient access to world-class outdoor splendor.” 

Previous Bassmaster Classics drew phenomenal crowds lakeside and to ­packed venues around the “Capital of Route 66,” and more than 105,000 enthusiastic fans are expected for Classic Week festivities.

“When you saw 3,000 fans standing out in the freezing-cold weather every morning to watch the competitors launch their boats, that pretty much told you everything you needed to know,” said Eric Lopez, director of operations for B.A.S.S. “The people in that area love B.A.S.S. and bass fishing — and for those traveling in from out of town, the area has a fabulous selection of restaurants and hotels to choose from.

“It really is a great place for an event like the Classic, and that’s before you even start discussing the quality of the fishing, which is fantastic.”

During the first Tulsa Classic in 2013, former Elite Series pro Cliff Pace of Mississippi claimed a wire-to-wire victory despite sharing the first-day lead with current Elite Series star Mike Iaconelli during a frigid event when icy precipitation and blistering cold tested the toughness of the 53-angler field. Pace’s closest competition in that Classic came from reigning Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, who finished second by 7 pounds.

That fishing prowess was on display again in 2016 when local favorite Jason Christie led Days 1 and 2 and seemed poised to earn his first Classic trophy until fellow Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers caught a five-bass limit that weighed 29 pounds, 3 ounces to claim a dramatic come-from-behind win.

Christie, who finally earned a Classic victory last year on Lake Hartwell, still calls it one of the most crushing moments of his career.

“When you have a chance to win the biggest title in bass fishing right there at home — that just doesn’t happen very often,” he said. “In a way, I just got beat because Edwin went out and caught that huge bag. But I also only came in with four fish that final day.

“I didn’t do all I could have done to win it — and I love the idea of having another shot at it on that particular fishery.”

“The Grand River Dam Authority is excited to see the Bassmaster Classic make its return to Grand Lake in 2024,” said GRDA President and CEO Dan Sullivan. “Not only will the event provide a tremendous economic benefit to the region but it will once again showcase Grand Lake to interested audiences across the country.

“GRDA places a high priority on caring for the natural resources under its control, and being a three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic reinforces Grand’s reputation as one of the nation’s top fisheries. GRDA is excited to once again support the Bassmaster Classic, which is known as a premier event and competition for anglers.”

On last year’s list of 100 Best Bass Lakes by Bassmaster Magazine, Grand Lake ranked 17th in the Central Division. That marks the 11th straight year — every year the list has been published — that the fishery has ranked in the Top 100.

The field will include 56 anglers who will qualify through the Bassmaster Elite Series, the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, the Strike King College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship. They will all be vying for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million.

“Since its inception, the Classic has been a tournament that changes lives,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments Chris Bowes. “The payday is great, sure. But the opportunity to refer to yourself as ‘Bassmaster Classic champion’ for the rest of your life — there’s no greater clout in our sport.” 

About ASM Global  
ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management—delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners.  The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 325 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers and performing arts venues. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Asmglobal.com  

About the Tulsa Sports Commission  
In 1993, the Tulsa Sports Commission (TSC) was created to attract and develop sporting events and conventions for economic impact on the Tulsa community. Since its inception, the TSC has accounted for more than $500 million in economic impact to the Tulsa region by helping attract, market and host championships and sports-related events and conventions to the region. The TSC is a founding member of the National Association of Sports Commissions and lives within the Tulsa Regional Tourism umbrella organization. Learn more at visittulsa.com/sports.  

About Tulsa Regional Tourism  
Tulsa Regional Tourism is northeast Oklahoma’s premier accredited destination marketing organization. Housed at the Tulsa Regional Chamber, it includes Visit Tulsa for leisure travel, Tulsa Convention & Visitors Bureau for meetings & conventions, Tulsa Sports Commission for amateur & pro sports and the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture (FMAC) for creative industries and accredited film commission. Tulsa Regional Tourism leads the community’s bidding for and hosting of signature events like the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the Big 12 Wrestling Championship, USA BMX Grand Nationals, the Arabian Horse Association’s U.S. Nationals and more. For more information, visit visittulsa.com.   

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.

Dardanelle’s Martin Warms Up to Earn Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Ouachita

  • Breaking News
  • MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing
Brian Carter
-
February 28, 2023
0
<strong src=Dardanelle’s Martin Warms Up to Earn Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Ouachita" title="Dardanelle’s Martin Warms Up to Earn Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Ouachita" />
Boater Blake Martin of Dardanelle, Arkansas and Strike-King co-angler John Clark of Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Pine Bluff’s Clark Dominates Strike King Co-Angler Division

MOUNT IDA, Ark. (Feb. 27, 2023) – Boater Blake Martin of Dardanelle, Arkansas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 13 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Ouachita . The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Arkie Division. Martin earned $4,507 for his victory.

“I thought this tournament would be won in clear water, so I tried fishing deep grass, but I couldn’t figure it out,” said Martin. “So, I went up into mud into the river like I’m used to.

“I wasn’t catching much; the wind was blowing and I was cold,” Martin added. “And it’s funny – that’s the reason I found the fish I did. I was just trying to get out of the wind in the back of a pocket and was just fishing while I was trying to warm up. It turns out they were way more shallow than I thought they would be.”

Martin said most of his fish came in 1 to 2 feet of water on a Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, and the bait provided enough weight to post his first BFL win in three tries.

“I thought I could compete in them, but never thought I would win a BFL,” Martin said. “I’ve been fishing my whole life, but I didn’t expect this.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:1st:          Blake Martin, Dardanelle, Ark., five bass, 17-13, $4,507
2nd:        Samuel Hutson, Benton, Ark., five bass, 17-4, $2,908
3rd:        Braxton Shifflett, Jessieville, Ark., five bass, 14-15, $1,502
4th:         Chris Huselton, Conway, Ark., five bass, 14-14, $1,052
5th:         Matt Wood, Jessieville, Ark., five bass, 14-12, $901
6th:         Teddy Bogard, White Hall, Ark., five bass, 14-11, $1,326 Includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th:         Damian Roberts, Dumas, Ark., five bass, 14-9, $751
8th:         Austin Johnston, Mena, Ark., five bass, 14-8, $676
9th:         Justin Bean, Benton, Ark., five bass, 14-6, $601
10th:      Jordan Haas, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 13-15, $526Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.



Hutson caught a largemouth that weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $655.

John Clark of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,232 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 17 pounds, 6 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished: 1st:          John Clark, Pine Bluff, Ark., five bass, 17-6, $2,232
2nd:        Taylor Nichols, Stephens, Ark., five bass, 12-3, $1,116
3rd:        Steven Logan, Hugo, Okla., three bass, 11-14, $1,063
4th:         Lance Fowler, Dardanelle, Ark., five bass, 11-9, $521
5th:         Steve Meredith, Jessieville, Ark., five bass, 11-5, $446
6th:         John Hankins, Atkins, Ark., three bass, 11-2, $390
6th:         Mike Toska, Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 11-2, $390
8th:         Dave Tull, Waldron, Ark., five bass, 10-10, $335
9th:         Derek Dixon, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 10-8, $498
10th:      Jody Jones, Harvey, Ark., five bass, 10-5, $260Logan earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $320, catching a largemouth that weighed in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, 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.

2025 Bass Cast Tourney Schedule Smith Mountain Lake State Park

  • The Bass Cast Tournament Trail
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Brian Carter
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February 27, 2023
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We’re thrilled to kick off another exciting bass fishing season with The Bass Cast at Smith Mountain Lake State Park! ?? Get ready for an action-packed year filled with intense competition and big catches!

? Important Tournament Details:

? Entry Fee: $105 per event

? One-Time Registration Fee: $25 per person

? NEW for 2025: All anglers will pay online for registration & entry fees.

? Also New in 2025: We will mail out 1099 tax forms at the end of the year.

?Also new in 2025: $25.00 Cash-only side pot paid to the top 3.?

⚠️ Tournament Regulations:

? Catch Limit: 5 fish, minimum size of 14”

? Safety First: Life jackets are required whenever the big motor runs.

?️ Fair Play: The Bass Cast reserves the right to administer a lie detector test at any event.

Click to read the complete RULES

Thank you for reviewing these important details! We can’t wait to see you on the water! ?? Tight lines!

Fish 3 Events to Qualify for the Championship

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                        Gastonia’s Stephens Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Norman

                        • Breaking News
                        • MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing
                        Brian Carter
                        -
                        February 27, 2023
                        0
                        Gastonia’s Stephens Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Norman
                        Boater Michael Stephens of Gastonia, North Carolina and Strike-King co-angler Gregory Haverlock of Indian Trail, North Carolina.
                        Indian Trail’s Haverlock Claims Victory in Strike King Co-Angler Division

                        MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 27, 2023) – Boater Michael Stephens of Gastonia, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Norman . The tournament, hosted­ by the Mooresville Convention and Visitors Bureau, was the first event of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Stephens earned $4,884 for his victory.

                        “We started out on some rock points and caught three fish,” said Stephens. “I fished deep with a Rapala DT6 for a while, but the deep fish I had found had moved. So, I started skipping docks that held brush with a jig. I caught two of my key fish doing that. The rest of the day I sight-fished in pockets.

                        “It was really slow … just a fish an hour,” Stephens added. “It was really tough. I had to work for them.”

                        Stephens said his two biggest fish came in the backs of pockets. He said earlier in the week the bass had been staging to spawn, but a cold front moved through, and the fish moved away and were keying on baitfish in the backs of the pockets.

                        “This win is kind of a big deal for me,” Stephens said. “I’ve fished a lot and come in second and third and had quite a few top-10s, but I’ve never won. So, it was nice to nail that down finally.”

                        The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:1st:          Michael Stephens, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 18-5, $4,884
                        2nd:        Rob Johnson, Schuylkill Haven, Pa., five bass, 17-2, $2,140
                        3rd:        Spencer Taylor, Sherrills Ford, N.C., five bass, 13-11, $1,426
                        4th:         Ben Hudson, Forest, Va., five bass, 13-9, $998
                        5th:         David Cooke, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 12-11, $856
                        6th:         Jason Wilson, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 12-9, $785
                        7th:         Cody Hoyle, Rutherfordton, N.C., five bass, 12-4, $713
                        8th:         George Lambeth, Thomasville, N.C., five bass, 12-1, $642
                        9th:         Michael Webster, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 11-15, $535
                        9th:         Josh Gowan, Moravian Falls, N.C., five bass, 11-15, $535Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

                        Stephens also caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $605.



                        Gregory Haverlock of Indian Trail, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,140 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 10 ounces.

                        The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished: 1st:          Gregory Haverlock, Indian Trail, N. C., five bass, 16-10, $2,140
                        2nd:        Hunter Alexander, China Grove, N.C., five bass, 13-0, $1,070
                        3rd:        Keith Wood, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 12-7, $712
                        4th:         Cody Barnes, Zebulon, N.C., five bass, 11-8, $499
                        5th:         Johnathan Strickland, Graham, N.C., five bass, 11-6, $428
                        6th:         Hayden Foster, Moravian Falls, N.C., five bass, 11-3, $392
                        7th:         Zachary Stroupe, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 11-0, $357
                        8th:         Timothy Pass, Belmont, N.C., five bass, 9-6, $321
                        9th:         David Bright, Mooresville, N.C., three bass, 9-3, $587
                        10th:      William Vaughn, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 9-1, $237
                        10th:      Jay Kleinfeld, Winston Salem, N.C., five bass, 9-1, $237Bright earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $302, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

                        The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. 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, 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.

                        Grant’s Patterson Finds Feeding Fish, Tops Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Guntersville

                        • Breaking News
                        • MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing
                        Brian Carter
                        -
                        February 27, 2023
                        0
                        <strong src=Grant’s Patterson Finds Feeding Fish, Tops Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Guntersville" title="Grant’s Patterson Finds Feeding Fish, Tops Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Guntersville" />
                        Boater Johnny Patterson of Grant, Alabama and Strike-King co-angler Richard Frey of Guntersville, Alabama.
                        Guntersville’s Frey Claims Strike King Co-Angler Division

                        SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Feb. 27, 2023) – Boater Johnny Patterson of Grant, Alabama, caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Guntersville . The tournament, hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, was the second event of the season for the BFL Choo Choo Division. Patterson earned $6,300 for his victory.

                        Patterson said he chose to stay close to takeoff on the upper end of Guntersville after fishing the Toyota Series event the previous weekend.

                        “It was a typical Guntersville pre-spawn bite with really no place being any better than another,” said Patterson. “I fished grass pretty shallow, probably four to five feet of water, with red- and shad-colored (Bill Lewis) Rat-L-Traps. We didn’t catch a whole lot of fish – maybe 12 to 15 keepers all day long.”

                        Patterson said there seemed to be definite feeding times where he would get a flurry of bites. At 1:30, Patterson landed a 5-pounder and a 7-pounder on back-to-back casts. Patterson said he found a gizzard shad in the 7-pounder’s throat – an obvious sign of an actively feeding fish.

                        “It never occurred to me that I might win this tournament after my disappointing showing at the Toyota Series event,” Patterson said. “I would just catch them and put them in the livewell and keep on digging. I didn’t really think I had that much weight until I started pulling them out of the livewell.”

                        “The Choo Choo division is just stacked with great fishermen, so it’s a real honor to pull one of these off,” Patterson added.

                        The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:1st:          Johnny Patterson, Grant, Ala., five bass, 25-1, $6,300
                        2nd:        Gil Summerlin, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 24-3, $3,000
                        3rd:        Lamar Patterson, Fyffe, Ala., five bass, 23-7, $2,000
                        4th:         Jeff Kitchens, Auburn, Ala., five bass, 23-0, $2,100 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
                        5th:         David Land, Owens Cross Roads, Ala., five bass, 22-3, $1,200
                        6th:         Creig Kimbro, Monteagle, Tenn., five bass, 21-13, $1,100
                        7th:         Michael Morrison, Stamping Ground, Ky., five bass, 21-8, $1,470
                        8th:         Thomas White, Iron City, Tenn., five bass, 21-5, $900
                        9th:         Jim Murray Jr., Parrott, Ga., five bass, 20-15, $800
                        10th:      Cam Busby, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 20-14, $700Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

                        Fisher Anaya of Eva, Ala., caught a largemouth that weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000.



                        Rich Frey of Guntersville, Alabama, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $3,000 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 22 pounds, 7 ounces.

                        The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished: 1st:          Rich Frey, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 22-7, $3,000
                        2nd:        Clint Haley, Franklin, Ky., five bass, 22-1, $1,500
                        3rd:        T.J. Blakely, Kingsport, Tenn., five bass, 19-15, $1,000
                        4th:         Matt Cameron, Southside, Ala., five bass, 19-10, $700
                        5th:         Ethan Shaw, Raymond, Miss., five bass, 19-9, $600
                        6th:         Josh Hale, Roanoke, Va., five bass, 19-8, $550
                        7th:         Sam Lemons, Vonore, Tenn., five bass, 18-4, $700
                        8th:         Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., five bass, 18-2, $450
                        9th:         Daniel Swartz, Winfield, Ala., five bass, 17-8, $400
                        10th:      Alex Roberts, Franklin, Tenn., five bass, 17-6, $350Cobey Wagoner of McDermott, Ohio, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $500, catching a largemouth that weighed in at 8 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

                        After two events, pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama, leads the BFL Choo Choo Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 483 points, while Rex Henry of Hixson, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 481 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, 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.

                        Rob Lee and Steve Winslett win ABT Lake Martin with 16.06 

                        • Alabama Bass Trail
                        • Breaking News
                        Brian Carter
                        -
                        February 27, 2023
                        0
                        Rob Lee and Steve Winslett win ABT Lake Martin with 16.06 

                        By Jason Duran

                        The 10th season of the Alabama Bass Trail began for the South Division on Lake Martin hosted by Lake Martin Tourism Association.  Launch and weigh-in for this event was held at Wind Creek State Park.  Lake Martin is well known as a lake where you can catch a lot of fish. This lake has an abundance of largemouth and spotted bass. In this event, 221 teams weighed in a limit.  Rob Lee and Steve Winslett rose above the pack and caught 16.06 of Lake Martin bass to finish first and win $10,000.

                        Rob Lee and Steve Winslett are no strangers to the ABT leaderboard. They won the first event in 2022 on Logan Martin Lake and spent the rest of the year in the top of the AOY standings. They have had 3 wins including a win at Lake Martin. They started practice on Wednesday in separate boats wanting to “fish for the bigger fish, and on our first stop, Rob caught a 3 pounder that dictated what we needed to do the rest of the day. We both talked about it and decided we were not going to go spotted bass fishing. Instead we were going to stay shallow to try and get a big bag today. It worked out today. The fish are changing so much right now; they weren’t everywhere, just certain places. They bit one way yesterday and totally different today. You have to keep a fresh mind, stay confident, and trust your partner. That’s why we really work well together because we trust each other. Today we caught fish that each of us found separately in practice. We fished from Hwy 280 to the back of Blue Creek and every pocket in between. We targeted fish running irregularities on the bank. We used a a Jig with Zoom chuck we Steve used a black and blue with a brown chunk and Rob used a brown jig with a green Pumpkin chunk. The key was imitating crawfish and skipping the jig. We are pretty hard headed to how we fish and sometimes it pays off.”

                        Gentry Gordy and Hunter Farish caught 14.21 pounds and won $5,000 to take second place. “We spent half a day in practice. Gentry just picked up his new boat on Thursday and came to practice on Friday. After the fog lifted, we broke the boat in and spent some time looking around a little. We came here over the winter and found where the fish were setting up, so we knew where they should be headed. The game plan this morning was to head to the Blue Creek area and to throw a brim-colored Dirty Jigs Swim jig with a Big Bite Pro Swimmer trailer in tilapia magic. We fished around rocks drops. We knew with the weather warming up and the sun coming out we needed to go check the back of some of these pockets. The swim Jig played out ok, but we mixed it up with holding a YUM Dinger in green pumpkin and a 1/32 oz weight.  We fished it off shallow banks around docks, blow downs or some other shallow structure. We cast it out and held it in the structure- if you aren’t getting hung up, you aren’t fishing is slow enough. The big fish of the tournament weighted 5.78 pounds came on a black Spro Poppin Frog. It takes a kicker fish here to do well in a tournament, and we kept them honest all day by throwing the Spro Frog around the shallow areas. This is our best finish ever in the ABT and a goal for us is AOY.”

                        The third-place team of Jacob George and Ryan Sweeney shared, “practice was rough for us. I don’t know if we had any good days in practice. We had one good day back in January over a month and a half ago, but there has been big change since January. The plan this morning was to start on a ditch we found in practice. The ditch was in the back of a pocket, and we figured maybe some fish would be sitting in them. We only caught one small keeper there on a Strike King Red Eye Shad Crankbait. We then made the move to the Kowaliga area where we spent the rest of the day.  In this area, we targeted fish in shallow water, less than five feet. The fish were around laydowns and docks. Here we slow rolled a War Eagle ½ oz spinnerbait in white or white and chartreuse and a modified Strike King ½ oz spinnerbait with #5 Colorado. We caught 12-15 fish throughout the day.” They weighed in 12.83 pounds and earned a $4,000 pay day.

                        The top five standings are below for a complete list of standings please visit:

                        Results

                        Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.”  The Podcast is released each week on Tuesday. 

                        For Live coverage from this event and others visit https://www.youtube.com/@alabamabasstrailtv

                        The sponsors of the 2023 Alabama Bass Trail include: Phoenix Boats, Academy Sports, Alabama Power, America’s First Federal Credit Union, American Trailer Rental Group, BAJIO, Big Bite Baits, Bill Penney Automotive, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Anheuser – Bush, Inc., E3 Sports Apparel, Fish Neely Henry Lake.com, Garmin, Jack’s, Lew’s, Mtn Dew, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, Power-Pole, Strike King, Sweet Home Alabama, T-H Marine,  Yamaha, YETI Coolers.

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                        • Winter Is Prime for Trophy Bass
                        • Bassmaster Elite Angler and St. Croix Rod Pro, Bob Downey, Joins SEVIIN Reels Team
                        • Tyler & Ricky Trent win the Kerr Lake Fall Final with 18.83 lbs
                        • Battery Tender named Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens
                        • FISHING: Kit for a King

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