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Tuesday, December 16, 2025
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Port Huron on Michigan’s Thumbcoast Set for B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Next Week

Brian Carter
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Port Huron on Michigan’s Thumbcoast Set for B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Next Week

5-hour ENERGY® announced as Presenting Sponsor of First MLF Fishing Clash Team Series event of season

PORT HURON, Mich. (Aug. 14, 2025) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops is set to kickoff the 2025 season next week at Port Huron on Michigan’s Thumbcoast with the season-opening B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by 5-hour ENERGY®.  

5-hour ENERGY® joins Major League Fishing for the first time as the presenting sponsor of the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup, marking the brand’s debut in the professional bass fishing arena. Known for fueling go-getters across the country, 5-hour ENERGY’s entry into the sport underscores the shared values of endurance, focus and high performance – qualities that define both MLF anglers and the brand’s loyal consumers.

“Major League Fishing is a perfect collaboration for us. Their high-energy competitions truly align with our brand and our fans,” said Leah Key, President of Living Essentials, LLC, the maker of 5-hour ENERGY® products. “Anglers know that early mornings and long days on the water require focus and a fast and effective energy boost. That’s where our portable and tasty 5-hour ENERGY shots really deliver.”

Hosted by Discover the Blue Michigan’s Thumbcoast, the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by 5-hour ENERGY® is the first of the four-event Fishing Clash Team series. In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols, Port Huron, Michigan, was not revealed to Team Series competitors until six weeks prior to the start of the tournament. All fishable waters within 60 miles of Port Huron then went off limits to anglers. Fans watching the MLFNOW! livestream will find out the day’s competition waters right along with the anglers each morning.

“We are thrilled to welcome Major League Fishing’s Team Series to Michigan’s Thumbcoast,” said Terra Damchuk, Director of Sports and Groups for Discover the Blue Michigan’s Thumbcoast. “Our beautiful waterways provide the perfect backdrop for this exciting competition. We can’t wait for the anglers to experience the incredible fishing opportunities and our vibrant community that make our region so special. We look forward to welcoming the MLF team and anglers next week.”

On Day 1 in Port Huron, RFD-TV will broadcast the full day of competition live – a special one-time feature to kick off the season and new broadcast partnership. For the rest of the season, RFD-TV will carry the final period of each day’s competition. Every day of every event will still stream in full on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps, RFD-TV Now, Game & Fish TV, and Rumble, with post-produced episodes starting in January 2026 on Outdoor Channel.

The 12 teams that will compete in the Fishing Clash Team Series B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by 5-hour ENERGY® at Port Huron on Michigan’s Thumbcoast are:

Team 7Brew Coffee:
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas

Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas

Team BUBBA:
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.

Team Ferguson:
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.

Team Fishing Clash:
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo.

Team Knighten:
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn.
Colby Miller, Elmer, La.

Team Kubota:
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.

Team Lucas Oil:
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.

Team O’Reilly Auto Parts:
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va.

Team Smokey Mountain:
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.

Team StarTron:
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.

Team YETI:
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.

The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by 5-hour ENERGY® will also air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting January 3, 2026. The complete television schedule for the Fishing Clash Team Series on Outdoor Channel will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.

For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook,  X,  Instagram and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Discovery+, Discovery GO, Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, VICE, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.





Fishing in the Dog Days of Summer!

Brian Carter
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Fishing in the Dog Days of Summer!
The heat of August and increased boat traffic can make bass fishing extremely tough. In these challenging conditions, using 5-8 inch soft plastic worms can excel because of their realistic profile. These baits are small enough to trigger bites from inactive or pressured bass while still offering enough bulk to attract larger fish. Their slim design allows them to be rigged in multiple ways, making them versatile across different water depths and structures. Whether you choose a simple straight design or one with a slight tail for extra movement, these worms provide the natural look that bass respond to during hot weather. Anglers who master finesse presentations with these baits can keep catching fish when power techniques fall short. Finesse worms are also ideal for anglers who prefer a slower, more controlled presentation, allowing for precise placement near cover or suspended fish. They perform well in both clear and slightly stained water, where a natural appearance is critical for success. By using lighter line and subtle rod movements, anglers can make these worms appear lifelike even to heavily pressured bass. Shallow grass edges, docks, and laydowns are all prime spots. Worms are a year-round tool, but their value in tough August conditions makes them an essential bait choice.Try our new 8-Inch MagDingo Worms! These are the ultimate game-changer in bass fishing! Engineered for anglers who know SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a fixation for the larger bait. The MagDingo Worm boasts a solid 8-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. The 10-count packs are now available in a variety of 6 crucial colors including the 10w30 Synthetic, Black & Blue, Zombie Blood, Green Pumpkin, Wild Cherry, and Watermelon Red. Each worm is made in the USA from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for maximum attraction, the 8-inch MagDingo Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing trophy sized smallmouth and largemouth bass.
A drop shot rig is one of the best ways to present a worm to bass holding in deeper water during summer. This setup allows anglers to suspend a worm slightly off the bottom, putting it right in the strike zone of fish that are not actively chasing bait. Target areas such as long points, humps, creek channel swings, and rocky bends where bass often suspend. The key is keeping the weight on the bottom while subtly quivering the bait above it, creating an irresistible, natural-looking presentation. Both 8-inch worms and smaller 5–6 inch worms work well on a drop shot, with nose hooking for maximum action or Texas rigging to avoid snags in light vegetation. This technique is perfect for anglers needing a dependable approach when summer conditions make other presentations fail. The drop shot excels in clear water where a natural presentation is essential to fool wary bass. Because the bait remains slightly above the bottom, it is visible to suspended fish and can entice strikes when other lures go unnoticed. Anglers can adjust leader length to position the worm at different depths, improving success based on how fish are holding. Light line and a sensitive rod help detect subtle bites, which are common in tough summer conditions. With practice, the drop shot becomes a confidence technique that consistently produces fish when the bite is at its slowest.Proper equipment is critical when fishing a drop shot rig. A light line, usually around 6-pound fluorocarbon, helps keep the presentation subtle and improves sensitivity for detecting light bites. A spinning rod between 7’3” and 7’6” with a moderate or fast action provides the right combination of casting distance, lure control, and flexibility during the fight. Weights in the 1/16 to 1/4 ounce range are ideal for most conditions, offering control without overpowering the small worm’s natural action. The combination of a sinking fluorocarbon line and a soft plastic worm creates a natural fall and hover that entices pressured fish. This setup allows anglers to confidently fish deep or clear water while maintaining a lifelike presentation that bass can’t resist. Choosing the right hook is also important, with small finesse-style hooks providing the best balance of strength and minimal impact on bait action. Reels with smooth drag systems help protect light line and allow fish to be played carefully without break offs. Keeping rod movements calm rather than aggressive prevents lifting the weight off the bottom and maintains a natural presentation. Pairing this gear with patience and attention to detail greatly improves hook-up ratios on finicky bass. Overall, a properly balanced drop shot setup gives anglers confidence to fish more efficiently and effectively in challenging conditions.
Rigging soft plastic worms on jig heads like ball heads, shaky heads, or darter-style heads is another productive summer strategy. These rigs let anglers fish along weed lines, humps, and channel edges while keeping the bait in close contact with the bottom. A slow, crawling retrieve works best in tough summer conditions, as it gives bass ample time to find and commit to the bait. Worms with subtle tail action, 8-inch worms excel when slowly dragged or gently lifted to mimic a baitfish or small aquatic creature. For open water or clean bottoms, open-hook jig heads are fine, but when fishing weedy areas, Texas-rigging the worm on the jig head helps prevent snags. This approach allows anglers to thoroughly work an area while presenting a subtle and natural-looking bait. Lightweight jig heads, often between 1/16 and 3/8 ounce, create a slow fall that draws strikes from sluggish fish. Anglers should focus on maintaining bottom contact without overpowering the bait’s natural movement. A medium power rod with a fast tip provides sensitivity to detect light bites while still offering enough backbone for solid hook sets. Using fluorocarbon line enhances sensitivity and it’s less visible to wary bass in clear water. Jig heads expand an angler’s ability to cover water effectively while offering a finesse approach.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! Our popular Watermelon Red Worms have been restocked as well. You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electric Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also released new 6-inch Worms including Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR — all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater.
The Texas rig remains a top choice when fishing around aquatic vegetation and heavy cover in summer. By rigging an 5-8 inch worm weedless with a light weight, anglers can pitch into holes, edges, and pockets within thick vegetation without snagging. Lightweight sinkers, often 1/16 to 1/8 ounce, allow the bait to fall naturally and slowly, which is essential when bass are sluggish. Working the worm slowly through cover is key, small hops and drags are often all it takes to trigger a bite. A medium-heavy rod paired with about 10–12 pound fluorocarbon or braided line provides the strength to pull fish out of dense vegetation. With patience and careful presentation, the Texas rig helps anglers reach bass that stay buried in cover during hot, sunny days. This rig’s weedless design allows anglers to explore heavy vegetation that other setups might struggle to penetrate. Keeping movements subtle ensures the bait looks natural and stays in the strike zone longer. Anglers should focus on targeting shaded areas, isolated clumps of weeds, or holes in the vegetation where bass often ambush prey. Using a pegged weight can further improve control and accuracy when pitching into tight spots. Overall, the Texas rig remains one of the most versatile and effective ways to reach fish in thick summer coverA weightless wacky rig offers a subtle approach for targeting shallow areas with cover like docks, overhangs, or shaded bank edges. By hooking a flat, soft plastic worm in the middle, the bait flutters naturally as it falls, often triggering strikes before it reaches the bottom. This technique shines when skipped under docks or low-hanging trees where bass seek shade during peak summer heat. Lighter line in the 10–12 pound range and a shorter rod around 6’6” to 6’8” make skipping easier and improve accuracy. Smaller hooks, like size 1 or 1/0, keep the worm’s movement natural and prevent tearing. The wacky rig’s simplicity and natural action make it an excellent choice for clear, shallow water where bass are easily spooked. One of the biggest advantages of this rig is its ability to produce a slow, vertical fall without additional weights. This gives bass extra time to inspect and commit to the bait, which is key when fish are inactive or pressured. Anglers can also add slight twitches on slack line to increase the worm’s flutter, creating more strikes from nearby fish. Because the rig lands softly, it’s perfect for sneaking into tight, shaded pockets without spooking fish. When mastered, the wacky rig becomes a reliable way to catch bass that are otherwise reluctant to bite.
 
 
August bass fishing requires a slower pace and greater attention to detail than many other times of the year. Fish are often less active due to high water temperatures and heavy fishing pressure, so fast or aggressive retrieves tend to be less productive. Instead, light weights, small soft plastic worms, and subtle presentations keep the bait in the strike zone longer and appear more natural. Anglers must focus on thoroughly working each area and slowing down their movements to trigger bites. This approach often means fishing fewer spots but covering each one more completely. Patience and finesse are the keys to consistent success during the toughest part of the summer. Adjusting mindset is just as important as adjusting technique, as anglers need to expect fewer bites and value quality over quantity. Slowing down allows for better lure control and a more natural appearance that appeals to pressured bass. Taking extra time to pick apart high-potential areas, such as isolated cover or shaded structures, often leads to success when other anglers quickly move on. This approach also helps anglers improve overall precision and awareness, noticing subtle changes in structure or fish behavior. In tough summer conditions, slowing down is often the difference between going home empty-handed and landing a memorable catch.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, but we’ve released new Nako Tungsten Tear Drop Shot Weights, crafted from 97% eco-friendly tungsten for stealth, durability, and vibration, with easy-to-read size stamps and a crimped swivel for quick changes. Owner Mosquito Hooks work for dropshotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The new Haymaker EWG Worm Hooks are also now available, featuring an extra-wide gap for various soft plastics, a Z-lock shoulder bend for secure bait placement, and an angled-up super needle point for fast, powerful hooksets. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you precious time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action that triggers bites. For creature-styled baits, a more popular choice to use is the Stand-Up Jig because it sits the bait up-right in a defensive stance! We also just released Keep’em Fresh Bait Bags! These bags are the ultimate solution for anglers who need their gear to perform. Built like a tank, this bag is 20x stronger than regular zip bags and offers 100% waterproof protection with a rock-solid double zipper seal. Whether it’s for soft plastics, snacks, or your smartphone, this reusable and versatile bag keeps everything safe from water, mud, and grime. It’s lightweight yet spacious, it fits snugly in your tackle box or backpack, making it perfect for your next trip.





Major League Fishing Reveals 2026 Toyota Series Schedule

Brian Carter
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Major League Fishing Reveals 2026 Toyota Series Schedule

BENTON, Ky. (Aug. 12, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the schedule for the 2026 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats , set to kick off in February on Alabama’s famed Lake Guntersville and wrap up in November with the Toyota Series Championship on Pickwick Lake – a Bill Dance Signature Lake – in Counce, Tennessee.

“The 2026 Toyota Series schedule builds on the momentum of an incredible 2025 season,” said MLF Toyota Series Tournament Director Mark McWha. “We’re confident that the 2026 schedule is set to deliver both high-level competition and the chance for grassroots anglers to shine on major stages. From legendary fisheries to exciting new opportunities, the upcoming season is shaping up to be one of the best yet for our anglers and fans.”

As one of the premier tournament trails in the country, the Toyota Series offers the highest payouts at the lowest entry fees available nationally. The series gives anglers the opportunity to compete in familiar regional waters for lucrative awards and advancement to the nationally televised Toyota Series Championship.

For Hardin County and Pickwick Landing State Park, the Toyota Series Championship’s return underscores the strong partnership between MLF, Tennessee State Parks and local tourism leaders – a relationship that continues to spotlight the fishery’s reputation as a premier fishing destination.

“Explore Pickwick Lake/Hardin County Tourism is pleased once again to host Major League Fishing for the Toyota Series Championship out of Pickwick Landing State Park, Tennessee,” said Beth Pippin, Tourism Executive Director. “Our partnership with Tennessee State Parks and MLF is a valuable opportunity in our efforts to continue our reputation as a national fishing destination. This economic impact drives our economy through sales tax, lodging tax, restaurants and other small businesses engagement, making MLF’s time here a boost to our revenue.”

At the championship, professional anglers will compete for a top prize of up to $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, while co-anglers will vie for a Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat powered by a 115-horsepower outboard, valued at $33,500.

The winning pro at the 2026 Toyota Series Championship will also earn a coveted invitation to REDCREST 2027, the Bass Pro Tour championship event, where a top prize of $300,000 is on the line.
                                                          
2026 MLF Toyota Series Schedule:

Central Division

Feb. 18-20*                         Lake Guntersville                          Guntersville, Ala.
Hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports 

March 31 – April 2**        Pickwick Lake                                 Counce, Tenn.
Hosted by Explore Pickwick Lake/Hardin County Tourism

May 13-15*                         Lake Eufaula                                   Eufaula, Ala.
                                             Hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce

Northern Division

June 25-27                           Potomac River                                Marbury, Md.
                                              Hosted by the Charles County Government, Dept. of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism

July 30 – Aug. 1                  St. Lawrence River                         Massena, N.Y.
                                             Hosted by the Town of Massena

Aug. 27-29                           Lake Champlain                             Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Hosted by the City of Plattsburgh & Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau

Plains Division

Mar. 10-12**                       Lake of the Ozarks                         Osage Beach, Mo.
Hosted by the City of Osage Beach

April 9-11                            Kentucky Lake                                Gilbertsville, Ky.
Hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

June 18-20                           Lake Dardanelle                               Russellville, Ark.
Hosted by the Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center

Southern Division

Jan. 29-31                            Lake Okeechobee                             Clewiston, Fla.
Hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council

March 4-6*                          Kissimmee Chain of Lakes              Kissimmee, Fla.
Hosted by Experience Kissimmee

April 30 – May 2                 Lake Seminole                                   Bainbridge, Ga.
Hosted by Visit Bainbridge

Southwestern Division

Feb. 12-14                            Sam Rayburn Reservoir                    Brookeland, Texas
Hosted by the Jasper – Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce

March 26-28                        Grand Lake                                         Grove, Okla.
Hosted by the City of Grove & Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau

June 11-13                            Arkansas River                                   Muskogee, Okla.
Hosted by Visit Muskogee

Toyota Series Championship

Nov. 5-7                                Pickwick Lake                                     Counce, Tenn.
                                              Hosted by Explore Pickwick Lake/Hardin County Tourism

*Wednesday-Friday event
**Tuesday-Thursday event

Full program rules and details for the 2026 MLF Toyota Series will be announced later this year.

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





Healthy Leech Lake will demand diligence for Bassmaster Opens anglers

Brian Carter
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Healthy Leech Lake will demand diligence for Bassmaster Opens anglers

Walker, Minn., will host the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN Aug, 14-16.

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

Aug. 12, 2025

Healthy Leech Lake will demand diligence for Bassmaster Opens anglers

Opens_StCroix_Sevin_4C-RASTER.png

WALKER, Minn. — In the Ojibwe language, the name translates to “lake abundant with blood suckers,” but anglers competing in the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN will find this vast northern Minnesota fishery abounding in rod-bending opportunity.

Competition days will be August 14-16 with daily takeoffs from Walker Public Dock at 6 a.m. CT and weigh-ins each day at the same location at 2 p.m.

Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro and reigning Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour champion Easton Fothergill calls Leech his home lake, and his resounding victory at the 2024 Open at Leech demonstrated not only his local knowledge, but also the lake’s potential. Fothergill, who’s set to defend his title, expects Leech Lake to turn in another impressive performance.

“The lake is full of (forage) right now,” Fothergill said. “As we all know, it’s loaded with crawfish and there’s also a ton of perch in the lake right now.”

Sounds promising, and it is. However, fishing such a well-provisioned lake can, at times, feel like selling hot dogs at a dinner buffet.

“The lake is extremely healthy, top to bottom, in terms of fish populations and bait,” Fothergill said. “The lake is in great shape right now and that can make for tough fishing at times, just because of how much food there is in the system.

“To compete with all the bait in the ecosystem, some anglers like to go big in their profiles, some like to go small. Some go with bright colors. There’s a whole lot of different philosophies on how to combat that.”

With several major rivers and lesser streams feeding its form, Leech Lake benefits from daily freshening. With pollen season in the rearview mirror, Fothergill said the water quality/clarity should remain stable.

Noting that he expects the entire lake to be in play, Fothergill breaks the Leech Lake options into two main categories: the deep, rocky basin with big, isolated boulders and the shallow, muddy bays sprouting with wild rice fields, lily pads and other aquatic plants.

“They’ll be biting in both areas, so just pick your poison,” Fothergill said. “You can go anywhere in the lake right now and catch a bass.”

Expanding the opportunity, Leech offers quality smallmouth and largemouth bass. Last year, Fothergill boated the event’s biggest fish — a smallmouth that went 6-4. For brown or green fish, 5 pounds is considered big.

“Leech Lake is very similar to Lake Champlain (New York/Vermont), because the forward-facing sonar definitely puts the smallmouth a little more in play,” Fothergill explained. “That being said, the size of largemouth is definitely there to compete. If someone could make a perfect game plan, I think they could make a run at it, if they found largemouth.

“With largemouth, milfoil has been introduced in the last couple of years, so that’s going to create another dynamic.”

Last year, extreme winds postponed Day 1 and shortened the tournament to a two-day schedule. Lacking any meteorological limitations, anglers will need to plan on mobility.

During his 2024 winning effort, Fothergill fished nearly the entire lake and hit several dozen waypoints. He’s certain this year will require the same level of diligence.

“The fish will be set up on the summer haunts,” Fothergill said. “If we have wind, you could definitely win on one spot, but if it’s calmer conditions, you’ll need at least a couple spots to be able to pull off a win.

“The bite varies day to day; the fish move more on this lake than any lake I’ve ever seen, so you definitely have to take each day as a new day and break it down. It’s very hard to make a consistent game plan on that lake.”

Anglers targeting the largemouth will likely flip shallow cover, fling frogs across the emergent vegetation and throw ChatterBaits. For smallmouth, the standard mix of drop shots, Ned rigs and jighead minnows will handle much of the work.

Given the lake’s healthy condition and robust fish populations, Fothergill believes a competitor will need 21 pounds a day to make the Championship Saturday cut. For a winning weight, he’s looking for a three-day total of 72 pounds.

Options will be many, but Fothergill said consistency will demand an open-minded approach. Success will hinge on alertness and adaptation.

“You have to be willing to move with the conditions and attack it like a new lake every day.”





What is Power-Pole VISION

Brian Carter
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What is Power-Pole VISION

Power-Pole VISION

The first Google-certified marine infotainment display has arrived.

Tampa, Florida – JL Marine Systems, Inc., makers of Power-Pole®, is excited to announce that Power-Pole VISION®, the industry’s first and only Google-certified Marine Infotainment Display, is now shipping to dealers across the continental U.S. This milestone brings boaters one step closer to smarter, safer, and more connected days on the water.

After making waves earlier this year with its official debut, VISION is now available to customers nationwide, combining Total Boat Control with onboard entertainment and navigation–all in one purpose-built, sunlight-readable touchscreen display.

“This is the display that finally does it all–without compromise,” says Lucas Steward, Director of Business Development at Power-Pole. “With VISION now shipping, customers will finally experience what it’s like to have seamless control of everything on board–anchors, trolling motor, battery management, navigation, music, and more–all from one marine-grade, Google-certified touchscreen display.”

Purpose-Built for the Water

A Smarter Alternative to Smartphones: Say goodbye to overheating phones, dim screens, short battery life, and water damage. VISION is engineered for marine environments, giving you smartphone-level functionality without compromise.

Unlimited Charting Possibilities

Freedom to Choose Your Maps: No more being locked into one mapping system. With access to the Google Play Store, users can download the best navigation apps from trusted providers, ensuring precision and safety anywhere on the water.

Crystal-Clear Navigation: VISION’s high-definition display and access to premium satellite imagery help unlock uncharted fishing spots and reveal enhanced details in even the shallowest water.

Optimal Visibility in Any Condition

Unmatched Sunlight Readability: The exclusive, patented VISION Enhance feature optimizes satellite images for crystal-clear viewing, even in direct sunlight. Critical map details remain visible, improving situational awareness and on-water safety.

Seamless Connectivity Onboard

A Unified Boating Experience: VISION connects Power-Pole anchors, trolling motors, CHARGE battery managers, and more into one streamlined interface–while also delivering entertainment, social media, and real-time safety data from just one device.

Endless App Selection: As the only Google-certified marine display, VISION brings the full power of the Android app ecosystem to your dash. Weather forecasting, streaming music/video, fishing tools, and more–boaters have virtually limitless options to enhance their on-water experience.

Key Features:

  • Available in 7” and 12” high-resolution, sunlight-visible touchscreen display options
  • Built-in cellular connectivity via PureTalk wireless, keeping boaters connected everywhere they go
  • Full integration with Power-Pole anchors, MOVE trolling motors, and CHARGE
  • Access to the Google Play Store for mapping, entertainment, and more
  • Rugged, marine-ready housing with glare-free viewing from any angle
  • Google-certified for seamless, secure app performance and updates

“Being the first Google-certified marine display is a major achievement,” adds Robert Shamblin, Vice President at Power-Pole. “But what makes VISION truly different is how it brings your boat to life–everything you need in one screen, built for anglers and boaters who demand more.”

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Availability:

The Power-Pole VISION system is available now through authorized Power-Pole dealers, please visit www.powerpole. com/FIND-A-DEALER to find your nearest dealer today. For more information about Power-Pole VISION, please visit www.power-pole.com/VISION.

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Joplin’s Kyle Kitts Earns Third Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Arkansas River

Brian Carter
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Joplin’s Kyle Kitts Earns Third Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Arkansas River
Boater winner Kyle Kitts of Joplin, Missouri, and co-angler winners Steven Logan of Hugo, Oklahoma, and James West of Spiro, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma’s Logan and West Top Co-Angler Division

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (Aug. 11, 2025) – Boater Kyle Kitts of Joplin, Missouri, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Arkansas River. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Kitts earned $4,009 for his victory.

Kitts did all of his damage with a 5/8-ounce chartreuse-and-white spinnerbait fitted with Indiana and Colorado blades, targeting wood in the dirtier water.

“I was just fishing laydowns, stumps, and wood targets,” Kitts said. “The stuff I practiced last week muddied up, so I went to where I had the most confidence and just locked that big blade in my hand all day.”

Although he covered a lot of water, Kitts said nearly all of his fish came from just two key areas.

“I fished more than that, but really only caught them out of those two spots,” he said. “I probably caught eight to 10 fish all day, and the bigger ones all came on that spinnerbait.”

Kitts’ day wasn’t without adversity – his trolling motor broke down around noon, forcing him to end his day early.

“I wasn’t confident at all coming in,” he admitted. “I figured some guys would be locking down and bringing back some bigger weights, and I thought I only had around 16 pounds. I really felt like I was one or two bites short.”

Instead, the weight was enough to secure the win and add another trophy to his resume – his third career BFL victory.

“It feels great to get the win, especially here, because I don’t normally do well on the Arkansas River,” Kitts said. “The key was just committing to that spinnerbait and not putting it down.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Kyle Kitts, Joplin, Mo., five bass, 17-8, $4,009
2nd:      Nick Kincaid, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 16-8, $2,005
3rd:       Ronnie Allen, Chouteau, Okla., five bass, 16-6, $1,336
4th:        Kevin Slate, Eufaula, Okla., five bass, 16-5, $935
5th:        William Gaddis, Afton, Okla., five bass, 15-4, $802
6th:        Jeff Clark, Van Buren, Ark., five bass, 14-11, $735
7th:        Wyatt Ryan, Ada, Okla., five bass, 14-7, $668
8th:        Mick Fenn, Grove, Okla., five bass, 13-11, $601
9th:        Dillon Roberts, Oologah, Okla., five bass, 13-9, $535
10th:     Lane Stephens Owasso, Okla., five bass, 12-13, $445
10th:     Devin Freeman, Coweta, Okla., five bass, 12-13, $445

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Dakotah Edwards of Talala, Oklahoma, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $550.



James West of Spiro, Oklahoma, and Steven Logan of Hugo, Oklahoma, both brought three bass to the scale totaling 8 pounds, 6 ounces, to tie for the win in the co-angler division Saturday. The duo split the first and second place payouts, each earning $1,504 for their share of the victory.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        James West, Spiro, Okla., three bass, 8-6, $1,504
1st:        Steven Logan, Hugo, Okla., three bass, 8-6, $1,504
3rd:       Markus Mills, Norman, Okla., three bass, 8-4, $668
4th:        Mason Eudy, Muskogee, Okla., three bass, 8-2, $468
5th:        Bryan Schuster, Oklahoma City, Okla., three bass, 7-14, $401
6th:        Mark Johnson, Weleetka, Okla., three bass, 7-12, $351
6th:        Ryan Doel, Springfield, Mo., three bass, 7-12, $351
8th:        Fred Fielder, Afton, Okla., three bass, 7-11, $284
8th:        Robert Shedrick, Blanchard, Okla., three bass, 7-11, $284
10th:     Berton Pritchett, Gentry, Ark., three bass, 7-10, $234

Porky Roberts of Morris, Oklahoma, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $275, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Nick Kincaid of Brookeland, Texas, still leads the Fishing Clash Okie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 985 points, while James West of Spiro, Oklahoma, leads the Fishing Clash Okie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 958 points.

The next event for BFL Okie Division anglers will the two-day Super Tournament Presented by Suzuki Marine, held Sept. 6-7, at Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11 BFL Regional tournament on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters 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.

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HOOKED ON THE EDGE: Chasing Monster Bass Where the Weeds Meet the Water

Brian Carter
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HOOKED ON THE EDGE: Chasing Monster Bass Where the Weeds Meet the Water

HOOKED ON THE EDGE: Chasing Monster Bass Where the Weeds Meet the Water

The sun wasn’t just hot; it was a physical weight pressing down on the aluminum deck of the bass boat. Sweat stung my eyes, but I barely blinked. My focus was laser-locked on the ragged, unmistakable line slicing across the lake’s surface. To the left: a dense, almost impenetrable mat of hydrilla, coontail, and milfoil, a floating jungle radiating heat. To the right: open, sun-blasted water shimmering like broken glass. And right where they met? The Grass Line. That’s where giants live in the furnace of summer.

Why Here? Why Now?
Think of it like a bass superhighway with built-in air conditioning and a drive-thru. The thick weeds offer crucial shade from the brutal sun and hold dissolved oxygen produced by the plants themselves – a lifesaver when other parts of the lake feel like warm bathwater. This dense cover is a sanctuary for baitfish, crayfish, frogs, and insects – an all-you-can-eat buffet. But the giants, the truly smart old lunkers, don’t always burrow deep into the jungle. They set up shop right on the edge. From this prime ambush point, they can explode into the open water to nail unsuspecting prey venturing out, or instantly vanish into the tangled safety of the weeds if danger approaches. It’s the perfect predatory real estate.

Gearing Up for the Green War
Fishing the Grass Line isn’t for the faint of heart or light tackle. This is brute force meets finesse territory.

  • Rod & Reel: A stout 7’6″ to 8′ Heavy or Extra-Heavy baitcasting rod is non-negotiable. You need the backbone to rip a 5-pounder out of thick slop and horse it away from its weedy fortress. Pair it with a high-speed baitcaster (7.3:1 gear ratio or higher) spooled with 50-65 lb braided line. Forget fluorocarbon here; braid cuts through weeds, has zero stretch for solid hooksets in cover, and lets you winch fish out.
  • Weapons of Choice: Your lures need to be heavy, weedless, and create a reaction.
    • Weighted Soft Plastics (Texas or Punch Rigged): A 1.5 to 2 oz tungsten sinker pegged tight above a stout 5/0 or 6/0 EWG hook is essential for “punching” through thick mats. Pair it with a bulky, durable plastic like a craw, creature bait, or beaver-style bait. Let it fall through the canopy to the bass hiding below.
    • Heavy Jigs: A 1 oz or heavier flipping jig with a stout weedguard and a bulky trailer (craw or chunk) is perfect for working the vertical edge of the line, hopping it down or swimming it just above the weeds.
    • Topwater Frogs: Early morning or late evening, a hollow-body frog walked or popped right over the thickest mats and along the open edge can trigger explosive, heart-stopping strikes. Patience is key – wait until you feel the fish before setting the hook hard!

The Hunt: Patience, Precision, Power
We eased the trolling motor down, its hum barely audible over the cicadas. Positioning was everything – staying just off the line, casting parallel or slightly into the weeds. My buddy, Jake, worked a black/blue jig along the deep weed edge. I focused on the thicker mats near a point, rigged with a 1.75 oz punch weight and a green pumpkin menace craw.

Cast. Watch the line. Let it sink. The braid sliced through the surface film, disappearing into the jungle. I counted down… one… two… THUD! Not the mushy feel of weeds hitting bottom. This was a distinct, heavy tap. Instinct took over. I reared back with every ounce of strength in the heavy rod, driving the hook home. “FISH ON!” I yelled, the rod buckling double.

The water erupted not where my lure sank, but three feet away as a massive, dark shadow surged out of the weeds. It wasn’t a jump; it was a full-body thrash, shaking its head violently, trying to throw the hook. The braid sang as it cut through green stems. This was no average bass. My drag screamed briefly as it made a powerful run parallel to the grass line, seeking the safety of deeper cover. The heavy rod strained, but the braid held. I kept constant pressure, steering her away from the thickest patches. Jake grabbed the net, ready.

After a tense, muscle-burning minute, the brute began to tire. Slowly, steadily, I worked her towards open water beside the boat. One last surge towards the grass… stopped. She surfaced, mouth gaping, gills flaring. Jake slid the net deep and lifted. Victory.

In the net lay a true summer giant – thick across the back, deep green flanks, easily pushing 7 pounds. Her belly was full, a testament to the bounty of the Grass Line. We snapped a quick, respectful trophy shot, admired her power, and gently lowered her back into the cool water by the weeds. She kicked once and vanished back into her emerald kingdom.

The Reward of the Edge
That heart-pounding fight, the strategic hunt, the connection with a powerful fish in its chosen stronghold – that’s the magic of the Grass Line in summer. It demands specific gear, focused tactics, and the patience to work likely spots thoroughly. The bites might be fewer than in spring, but the average size? It skyrockets. When you feel that thump through the braid, see the water explode, and finally boat a bass that spent the summer gorging on the edge, you understand why anglers brave the heat. The Grass Line isn’t just a spot; it’s a battleground where giants rule, and landing one is a triumph earned in the green heart of summer. So, find that edge, make the cast, and get ready for the pull of a lifetime.





Wheeler Earns 10th Career Bass Pro Tour Win at Toyota Stage 7 at Saginaw Bay

Brian Carter
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Wheeler Earns 10th Career Bass Pro Tour Win at Toyota Stage 7 at Saginaw Bay

Tennessee pro clinches AOY title for $100,000, then catches 42 bass weighing 110 pounds to win tournament and take home top prize of $150,000

BAY CITY, Mich. (Aug. 10, 2025) – Jacob Wheeler couldn’t help himself.

Time had already run out in Toyota Stage 7 Presented by Ranger Boats on Saginaw Bay with Wheeler atop SCORETRACKER®, his 10th career Bass Pro Tour win secured. Yet after Wheeler addressed the MLFNOW! viewers and offered some thank yous to those who had helped him get his tournament fishing start growing up in Indiana, he picked his rod back up and pitched a topwater frog back to the clump of reeds and lily pads in front of his boat, trying to elicit one more blowup.

That summed up Wheeler’s week on Saginaw Bay. Needing only to finish 27th or better to secure his fourth Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title in the past five seasons, he could have played it safe, then celebrated and gone through the motions after he secured the hardware on Friday. Instead, he not only made Sunday’s Championship Round but overcame an early 22-pound deficit to Todd Faircloth and willed his way to a win in a three-way battle with Faircloth and Edwin Evers . His total of 110 pounds even on 42 scorable bass ultimately topped Faircloth by 7-6.

For the win, Wheeler earned $150,000 – he’ll leave Saginaw Bay with $250,000 and two trophies thanks to his AOY victory. The dream end to yet another dominant season left even Wheeler, who is no stranger to recapping victories, short for words.

“I still don’t know what to say, to be honest with you,” he said with a chuckle. “I don’t even believe it half the time. I just go fishing and things happen. I’m just speechless. It’s crazy, it really is.” 

Link to Day 4 On-the-Water Photo Gallery: Stage 7 Championship Round kicks off on Saginaw Bay
Link to Day 4 On-the-Water Photo Gallery: Bass Pro Tour anglers finish 2025 season on a high note at Saginaw Bay
Link to HD Video of Highlights from Day 4 Championship Round Competition

Wheeler took his first lead of the Championship Round with about 10 minutes left in Period 2. From there, he and Faircloth traded blows, the top spot on SCORETRACKER® changing hands six times during the final period. Wheeler finally took the lead for good by catching a 2-11 with 40 minutes left, then added five more scorable bass to pull away.

In typical Wheeler fashion, he pointed not to those bites that earned him win No. 10 but a series of decisions that started on the opening day of the event.

Wheeler spent the first period of Day 1 fishing for smallmouth on the outer edges of the competition boundary. Using a drop-shot and forward-facing sonar, he stacked up nearly 52 pounds, then spent the rest of the day largemouth fishing amid the shallow vegetation that lines Saginaw Bay. In the third period, he hit a key area that yielded more than 30 pounds in about 90 minutes.

On the second day of qualifying, he once again sampled both shallow largemouth and offshore smallmouth, this time starting on the green fish. Like the rest of the field, he found the smallmouth bite to be getting tougher, making it difficult to justify the hour or so it would take to travel from largemouth habitat to smallmouth waters (or vice versa).

So, Wheeler committed to frogging for largemouth during the Knockout Round. While he finished third, easily advancing to Championship Sunday, he knew the area he’d fished, which he shared with Brent Ehrler, wasn’t likely to hold up for another day.

“After basically sharing one stretch with Ehrler, I’m like, I’m not going to win this tournament sharing fish, especially after we beat on them this bad,” Wheeler said. “It was just not going to happen. I knew we’d probably catch some fish there in the morning, and then after that, it was going to be all about making the right decisions, and I’m going to have to have some stuff that I can get away from.”

Sunday morning, Wheeler (and just about everyone else in the Top 10) found the bite slower than a day prior. Faircloth, on the other hand, landed on an offshore school of largemouth and piled on 17 scorable bass for 44-3 in the opening hour and a half. At that point, he’d more than doubled every other angler on the water. He finished the first period with 50 pounds exactly, 17-4 ahead of Wheeler.

Wheeler knew he needed to find a fresh spot. He considered loading his boat on the trailer and heading for smallmouth waters. But first, he figured he’d check the area that had produced for him on Thursday afternoon. He hadn’t been back since, figuring no other angler would find it since it was only accessible with a long idle.

At first, Wheeler couldn’t relocate his fish. A couple times in the second period, he wondered aloud whether to stay or go. Eventually, a few hundred yards away from where he’d caught them on Day 1, he started to get bites in bunches. In the span of 1 hour, 22 minutes, he boated 13 scorable bass for 33-12 and climbed all the way to the top of SCORETRACKER®.

“When I found them, it was pretty apparent that they all decided to show up right there,” he said. “And I knew when that sort of happened and we caught them like that, there’s a good chance we can win this tournament.”

Wheeler targeted a mixture of reeds and lily pads in about a foot of water, catching almost all his bass with a frog but mixing in a Rapala CrushCity Bronco Bug. The key to his area, he believes, was that it wasn’t full of submerged vegetation.

“You had a lot of reeds and pads there that were really clean, meaning there wasn’t a lot of grass that was choking them out,” he explained. “Even though it was super, super shallow, it was a deal where they could swim around and they could live in there; they had room to swim around. Where if you have choked out pads or reeds, they’re not as good. A little bit of grass is good, but not a whole lot of grass.”

As the third period ticked by and he and Faircloth remained neck-and-neck, Wheeler leaned on his ample experience in tight Bass Pro Tour finishes. Not only had he hoisted nine red trophies entering this event, he’s fallen just short a few times, too, including a pair of runner-up finishes this season.

Instead of skewing his decision-making, the pressure sharpened it. Wheeler, the ultimate competitor, entered “kill mode.”

“I know what it takes to win,” Wheeler said. “When I get in those positions, I get in kill mode. You do everything to push you mentally to keep your mind sharp and make the right cast, and every cast matters and every fish matters. You get it to where you’re just like locked and trained to focus on that.”

The last key decision he made was leaving the spot where he’d relocated his fish from Day 1. Perceiving that the bass had noticed his presence and scattered, Wheeler trolled out toward his starting spot and then back again, picking off a few bass on the way. He arrived at the juice with about an hour left and promptly caught eight more scorable bass.

“I didn’t stay in there,” he said. “I went back out and I was able to catch a few and sort of settle back down and come back in the last hour basically and close it out.”

While Wheeler is no stranger to the winner’s circle, this victory carries significance for a few reasons. For one, it’s his first national win on a frog, one of his favorite techniques and something he said he “cut my teeth doing.”

It also represented the perfect ending to a season-long redemption tour. Earlier this year, he finished in the top six at Lake Conroe, the Harris Chain of Lakes and Lake Murray – all fisheries where he’d failed to make the Knockout Round during previous BPT visits. While he’d fared better in his first event on Saginaw Bay, finishing eighth in the 2023 regular-season finale, Wheeler had to watch another angler, Matt Becker, hoist both the Stage 7 and AOY trophies after that event. Finishing second to Becker by 4 points, that’s the only time in the past five years Wheeler’s campaign hasn’t ended with AOY hardware in hand.

He admitted that was on his mind this week. This time, Wheeler made sure it was him who gets to ride off into the offseason as a double winner.

“It definitely gave me a sour taste in my mouth,” he said. “I caught them and Top 10’d, but I just didn’t perform that week. I had a bad Championship Day… So, I was focused and determined that this one wouldn’t get me. I controlled my own destiny that day, and I lost, which is what it’s about. Thankfully, I didn’t have the Angler of the Year pressure on me (today), but I was able to focus and just call it good.”

The top 10 pros at the Toyota Stage 7 at Saginaw Bay Presented by Ranger Boats finished:

1st:        Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 42 bass, 110-0, $150,000
2nd:       Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 40 bass, 102-10, $45,000
3rd:       Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 36 bass, 86-10, $35,000
4th:        Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 26 bass, 66-2, $30,000
5th:        Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 25 bass, 61-2, $25,000
6th:        Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 23 bass, 58-0, $23,000
7th:        Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 23 bass, 54-12, $22,000
8th:        Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 21 bass, 49-15, $21,000
9th:        Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 18 bass, 45-7, $20,500
10th:     James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 18 bass, 43-6, $20,000

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

Overall, there were 272 scorable bass caught weighing 678 pounds even by the final 10 pros on Sunday.
 
Pro Cole Floyd won Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 4-pound, 6-ounce largemouth that he caught on a Strike King Rage Tail Cut-R-Worm in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day.

The four-day Toyota Stage 7 at Saginaw Bay Presented by Ranger Boats was hosted by Go Great Lake Bay and the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and featured 66 of the top professional anglers in the world competing for a $150,000 top prize, a share of the $6.49 million season purse, and valuable AOY points in hopes of qualifying for the Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2026, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

Television coverage of the Toyota Stage 7 at Saginaw Bay Presented by Ranger Boats will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 15 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing Co., Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine, Toyota and Zenni.

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, X,  Instagram and YouTube.

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McKinney puts finishing touches on wire-to-wire victory at Lake St. Clair

Brian Carter
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McKinney puts finishing touches on wire-to-wire victory at Lake St. Clair

Illinois pro Trey McKinney goes wire-to-wire to win his second Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series trophy at the Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair with a total of 96 pounds, 1 ounce.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

Aug. 10, 2025

McKinney puts finishing touches on wire-to-wire victory at Lake St. Clair

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — The Yokohama Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair certainly hasn’t been difficult for Trey McKinney, but after three days of competition the second-year pro didn’t know how many big smallmouth were left in his best area.

His questions were quickly answered on Championship Sunday as McKinney caught a 6 pound, 2-ounce smallmouth within the first several minutes of fishing, putting the exclamation point on a dominating performance.

The 20-year-old from Carbondale, Ill., claimed his second Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series trophy in wire-to-wire fashion, catching 96 pounds, 1 ounce over four days at Lake St. Clair. It is the heaviest winning weight in Bassmaster competition at Lake St. Clair and the fifth heaviest winning weight in a smallmouth event in B.A.S.S. history. 

“It was an incredible week,” McKinney said. “Once I caught those fish this morning, I was so excited. It was a pretty awesome day. When I got to my spot, I made three casts and that 6-2 came up and smoked it.” 

The victory just adds to an already stunning resume. In just two years at the highest level, McKinney has two titles (2024 Lake Fork, 2025 St. Clair), nine Top 10s in 17 events and a runner-up finish at the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. That doesn’t include the four Top 10s he racked up in the 2023 Bassmaster Opens. 

Opening the tournament third in Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year, McKinney is now in a tie with Canadian pro Chris Johnston with 690 points heading into the final event at the Upper Mississippi River.  

McKinney was in control from the jump at St. Clair, landing 24-11 on Day 1 before adding limits weighing 23-10, 23-15 and 23-13 to his tally the next three days to beat second-place Logan Parks by over 5 1/2 pounds.  

“The cool thing about it was, I didn’t really have them found. And we fished around everybody. The thing I’m proud of this week is putting my head down and being able to out-fish everyone. It was a really good area if no one else was fishing it, but with everyone out there, you saw a quarter of the fish and they were hard to get to bite. So it was a pretty big achievement to (do that).”

Spending most of his tournament on the outer edges of Anchor Bay, targeting patches of short sand grass that mixed with a type of taller vegetation in 15 to 18 feet of water. In the expansive area, the 2024 Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year caught most of his 4 1/2 to 5-pound smallmouth in a 100-yard stretch of his half mile to mile long drift.

Most of the bass he saw were either single smallmouth or small groups of smallmouth. As the day progressed, those bass would rise in the water column and roam. 

“There is a river that dumps into the lake that carries cold water from the lake above it (Huron). You can’t see the current, but I figured it moved through this area,” McKinney explained. “I was about a mile from the mouth of the river. It is set up just right with the hard sand and then a (mixture) of sand grass and tall grass. 

“I had one waypoint where I would always see a good one.”  

In practice, McKinney generated bites with a perch-colored 6th Sense Saltwater Shindo Shad, but as the tournament pressure ramped up in Anchor Bay, he needed to adjust his bait selection. A 6th Sense prototype dice bait paired with a No. 4 Gamakatsu G Finesse hook with a 1/32-ounce nail weight was his best finesse presentation. 

He tossed that bait on a 7-foot-1 medium-fast action St. Croix Legend Tournament X2 with a Lew’s Custom Speed Spool spinning reel. He connected his light braid to either a 10-pound Seaguar Tatsu leader or a 10-pound Seaguar Gold fluorocarbon leader. 

“They haven’t seen it before,” he said. “When they see it, they don’t really know what it is. It is weird. As the tournament went on, they got more wise to it.”

A smaller jighead minnow setup and a spybait also caught key bass. A St. Croix Legend Tournament was his choice of rod for the minnow. 

His early morning 6-2 on Championship Sunday was by far the biggest smallmouth he landed this week, and it gave McKinney a tremendous boost of confidence for the rest of the day. 

“When I hooked into it, I didn’t know it was that big until it fully jumped out of the water,” McKinney said. “That fish was unbelievable. When I got my hands on it and in the boat, I about done a backflip.”

He wasted no time filling out the rest of his limit, landing close to 20 pounds by 9 a.m. From there, he added several more 4-pounders to his team before noon to reach his final tally. Unfortunately, boat pressure from a local derby scattered the smallmouth in his best area, making for a tough afternoon. 

“Thank goodness we took off early enough to beat those guys there,” he said.  

Parks claimed his best finish of his Elite Series career, finishing second with a four-day total of 90-6. The Auburn, Ala., pro opened the tournament just above the cutline with 19-12, Parks rocketed up the leaderboard on Day 2 with 25-9 and backed it up with limits weighing 22-5 and 22-12.

“Obviously I would love to be holding the big trophy,” Parks said. “I had one of the most unbelievable days of fishing ever on Day 2. I just went from there and stayed in that area.”

On Day 1, Parks spent most of his time towards the main lake but moved into the shallows of Anchor Bay on Day 2 and stayed in the area the rest of the tournament. While other places had grass fully covering the bottom, the area Parks found was mostly a hard sand bottom with isolated clumps of grass.

A 1/4-ounce or 3/8-ounce drop shot with a 5-inch Berkley MaxScent Flatnose Minnow in watermelon magic was his best presentation while a 1/4-ounce jighead minnow and a Berkley Stunna also came into play.

On Championship Sunday, Parks saw as many big fish as he had all week but couldn’t get them to bite nearly as well as he did on the second day. 

“Yesterday was tough, and I feel like my day was a lot better today,” Parks said. “I caught big ones to start out and thought it was going to go down. It was so frustrating because I knew they were there, but they would just follow the bait to the trolling motor but not bite. 

“I saw the biggest smallmouth of my life, and it was 5 feet from me. It nipped the tail of my bait and swam off.”

With bags of 22-13, 23-1, 21-2 and 21-1, Kyoya Fujita finished third with a total of 88-1. Fishing pressure took a toll on Fujita’s best area, making it harder for him to trick finicky smallmouth into biting. 

“The waves were big today,” Fujita said. 

The two-time Elite Series champion primarily used a Jackall King Jimmy Henge, a new dice style bait on a 1/4-ounce drop-shop weight. To winch the smallmouth to the boat, Fujita connected a 16-pound Daiwa fluorocarbon leader to a 30-pound main-line braid. 

McKinney and Rathdrum, Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk both caught 6-2 smallmouth on Championship Sunday, splitting the daily Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day and Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament awards, each earning a $1,500 bonus. 

Ontario pro Evan Kung, Kentucky’s Matt Robertson and Parks also earned $1,000 bonuses for their daily Phoenix Boat Big Bass of the Day.

Alabama’s Tucker Smith earned the $2,000 Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament bonus for his 26-2 limit of smallmouth from Day 2. 

Carl Jocumsen earned the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency award for accurate reporting.  

Parks was also the highest place entrant to the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, earning the $3,000 bonus while Paul Mueller earned the $2,000 bonus as the second-highest entrant. 

Fujita earned the $2,500 Yamaha PowerPay bonus for the highest finishing entrant running a Yamaha Outboard while Palaniuk earned a $1,500 PowerPay bonus. 

McKinney and Johnston are tied for the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year lead with 690 points with one tournament remaining in the Elite Series season. Fujita is third with 650 points, Wisconsin’s Jay Przekurat is fourth with 648 points and Patrick Walters in fifth with 638 points. Taku Ito, Will Davis Jr., Tyler Williams, Parks and Paul Marks round out the Top 10.

The Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair was hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission.

2025 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair 8/7-8/10
Lake St. Clair, Macomb County  MI.

(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4    Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$ 1.  Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          20  96-01  104 $102,500.00
  Day 1: 5   24-11     Day 2: 5   23-10     Day 3: 5   23-15     Day 4: 5   23-13   
2.  Logan Parks            Auburn, AL              20  90-06  103  $21,000.00
  Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   25-09     Day 3: 5   22-05     Day 4: 5   22-12   
3.  Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN      20  88-01  102  $15,000.00
  Day 1: 5   22-13     Day 2: 5   23-01     Day 3: 5   21-02     Day 4: 5   21-01   
4.  Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             20  87-02  101  $13,500.00
  Day 1: 5   24-00     Day 2: 5   20-00     Day 3: 5   20-05     Day 4: 5   22-13   
5.  Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            20  86-14  100  $13,250.00
  Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   21-04     Day 3: 5   22-08     Day 4: 5   23-01   
6.  Evan Kung              Pickering Ontario CANAD 20  85-00   99  $12,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-06     Day 2: 5   21-03     Day 3: 5   21-10     Day 4: 5   20-13   
7.  Cole Sands             Johnson City, TN        20  84-06   98  $10,500.00
  Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   22-09     Day 3: 5   20-04     Day 4: 5   20-08   
8.  Tucker Smith           Birmingham, AL          20  82-12   97  $12,300.00
  Day 1: 5   21-15     Day 2: 5   26-02     Day 3: 5   18-13     Day 4: 5   15-14   
9.  Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           20  81-06   96  $10,200.00
  Day 1: 5   22-07     Day 2: 5   21-00     Day 3: 5   20-10     Day 4: 5   17-05   
10. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            20  80-15   95  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 5   20-02     Day 2: 5   22-09     Day 3: 5   21-04     Day 4: 5   17-00   
———————————————————————– PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS 
Day
 1   Matt Robertson           Kuttawa, KY         05-14      $1,000.00
 2   Logan Parks              Auburn, AL          05-13      $1,000.00
 3   Evan Kung                Pickering Ontario CANADA05-11      $1,000.00
 4   Brandon Palaniuk         Rathdrum, ID        06-02        $500.00
 4   Trey McKinney            Carbondale, IL      06-02        $500.00 ———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
     Brandon Palaniuk         Rathdrum, ID        06-02      $1,000.00
     Trey McKinney            Carbondale, IL      06-02      $1,000.00
RAPALA CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG      Tucker Smith             Birmingham, AL      26-02      $2,000.00 ———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        99       499      1949-07
 2       100       500      1945-09
 3        50       250       979-07
 4        10        50       205-00
———————————-
         259      1299      5079-07

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McKinney continues smallmouth master class, increases lead on Day 3 at Lake St. Clair

Brian Carter
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0
McKinney continues smallmouth master class, increases lead on Day 3 at Lake St. Clair

Illinois pro Trey McKinney maintains the lead on Day 3 of the Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair with a total of 72 pounds, 4 ounces.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

Aug. 9, 2025

McKinney continues smallmouth master class, increases lead on Day 3 at Lake St. Clair

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — When Trey McKinney is at his best, the 20-year-old can dissect one big area of a body of water and find where the bigger bass are within that location. 

That strategy has worked to perfection through three days of the Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair as McKinney has combed through one area to catch a three-day total of 72 pounds, 4 ounces.

“I do like this style of fishing,” he said. “I know I’m going to see fish, and if I do my thing right, they are going to be pretty nice ones. I’m an area guy. I find an area and find where they go within that area. (This lake) is fitting my style pretty well.”

The second-year pro from Carbondale, Ill., has never trailed in this tournament, opening the tournament with 24-11 before catching 23-10 on Day 2. His leads were just ounces over the second-place angler the first two days, but with a 23-15 limit of smallmouth on Semifinal Saturday, he increased his lead to 4-10 over Logan Parks.

In total, McKinney now has nine Top 10 finishes in Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series competition and is five quality smallies away from winning his second blue trophy in as many years. The 2024 Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year also finds himself in an unofficial tie for first in the 2025 Progressive Angler of the Year race with five days left of competition. 

“We’ve done good for three days,” McKinney said. “We’ve got one more day to go. It hasn’t been terribly hard, but it hasn’t been easy either. I keep thinking, ‘Do I have enough to still catch 21 or 22 pounds?’ I don’t really know. There is a lot of stuff going on. You can stumble really bad here, and that is the scary part. We’ve been on top of them the last few days, but tomorrow is a scary animal.”

McKinney has spent all his time weaving between other competitors in a large section of Anchor Bay where short sand grass mixes with taller vegetation. While he has landed keepers elsewhere, one half mile to a mile long drift has produced the bulk of his weight and the majority of his 4 1/2-pound to 5-pound smallies have come around a 100-yard stretch within that drift.

“I caught my three big ones today in the same 100-yard stretch and saw quite a few more big ones,” McKinney said. “Every time I go through there, I see a good one.” 

In several instances, McKinney has had to chase a 5-pounder with his forward-facing sonar, making multiple casts to the bass before it decided to commit to his presentation. He chased one particular bass for 300 yards before it bit.

Three baits have come into play, including a 5-inch jighead minnow and an unnamed finesse bait with a 1/32-ounce nail weight. 

That unmanned bait was key to his Day 3 success. 

“I threw it out there and the first one shot up and ate it. That was a 4 1/2,” McKinney said. “I threw it back out there and a 4 1/4 eats it. Then another 4 1/4 ate it. I went back to my big fish hole, threw it out there, and caught a 4-13. I don’t think a lot of people are throwing it and it is something I like.”

The first two days, McKinney was able to find success early in the day. While Day 3 wasn’t painfully slow by any stretch, it did take McKinney most of the day to catch every bass that made his team. In fact, with a half-hour to go before check-in, he landed his biggest bass of the day, a smallmouth that registered 5-0 on BassTrakk. 

“I caught one big one in the morning, one big one around 9 or 10, and my last one (late),” he explained. “I caught fish all day, but I didn’t catch the big ones all day.”

McKinney’s best area has also produced big bags for several of his competitors, and he has noticed the smallmouth have become less willing to bite with each passing day.

“I’ve never seen fish that are as educated as these,” he remarked. “We are going to do the same thing tomorrow though. I’m probably going to hunker down more tomorrow. I know that area has them, and if I land on them, I can catch 5-pounders.”

Parks jumped into second on Semifinal Saturday, adding 22-5 to his 19-12 and 25-9 limits to increase his total to 67-10. Although consistently in the Top 50 all year, this is the Auburn, Ala., pro’s first Top 10 of the year. 

After spending much of the first day out in deeper water, Parks moved shallow on Day 2 and caught 20 of his 25 pounds in one main area. That same area produced the bulk of his weight again today, although the smallmouth were a bit more finicky on Semifinal Saturday.

“I was worried going into today that they may not reload and they really didn’t. There are still some there, but they are really wise. They didn’t like my drop shot nearly as much today and I had to break out the Berkley Stunna, which is terrifying. Smallmouth and treble hooks don’t mix well. Luckily, I caught one big one that ate it headfirst and then jumped off a nice one.”

With three bass in the livewell, Parks made several moves to achieve a limit, losing several key smallmouth in the process. After several trying hours, the former College Series champion returned to his best area with an hour to go and landed a 5-pounder and a 4 1/2-pounder.

“We made some major upgrades there. They definitely seem to bite there in the afternoon,” Parks said. “I’m going to learn from what I did today and not waste as much time tomorrow.”

With bags of 22-13, 23-1 and 21-2, Japanese pro Kyoya Fujita remained in third place with a total of 67-0. It is Fujita’s fifth Top 10 of the season. 

Fujita noted the fishing pressure in his area has made it tougher and tougher to get a bite. While he saw several 5-pounders on his forward-facing sonar, he could not get them to bite and only brought 4-pounders back to weigh-in. 

“Very, very tough today,” the two-time Elite Series champion said. “They chase but not bite.” 

One bait has done much of his damage: a drop shot rigged with a new bait from Jackall.  

Ontario pro Evan Kung caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of Day 3, a 5-11 smallmouth. Kentucky’s Matt Robertson holds Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors with his 5-14 from Day 1. 

Carl Jocumsen earned the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency award for accurate reporting.  

McKinney and Johnston are tied for the Progressive Angler of the Year lead with 690 points followed by Fujita in third with 650 points. Wisconsin’s Jay Przekurat is fourth with 648 points and Patrick Walters in fifth with 638 points. Taku Ito, Will Davis Jr., Tyler Williams, Parks and Paul Marks round out the Top 10.

The Top 10 anglers will launch from Brandenburg Park at 7 a.m. ET Sunday and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The winner will claim the $100,000 first-place prize as well as a coveted blue trophy. Bassmaster LIVE coverage on Sunday will be available on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. before moving to Bassmaster.com from Noon to 3 p.m.

The Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair is being hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission.

2025 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair 8/7-8/10
Lake St. Clair, Macomb County  MI.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          15  72-04  104
  Day 1: 5   24-11     Day 2: 5   23-10     Day 3: 5   23-15   
2.  Logan Parks            Auburn, AL              15  67-10  103   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   25-09     Day 3: 5   22-05   
3.  Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN      15  67-00  102
  Day 1: 5   22-13     Day 2: 5   23-01     Day 3: 5   21-02   
4.  Tucker Smith           Birmingham, AL          15  66-14  101
  Day 1: 5   21-15     Day 2: 5   26-02     Day 3: 5   18-13   
5.  Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             15  64-05  100   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   24-00     Day 2: 5   20-00     Day 3: 5   20-05   
6.  Evan Kung              Pickering Ontario CANAD 15  64-03   99   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-06     Day 2: 5   21-03     Day 3: 5   21-10   
7.  Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           15  64-01   98
  Day 1: 5   22-07     Day 2: 5   21-00     Day 3: 5   20-10   
8.  Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            15  63-15   97
  Day 1: 5   20-02     Day 2: 5   22-09     Day 3: 5   21-04   
9.  Cole Sands             Johnson City, TN        15  63-14   96
  Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   22-09     Day 3: 5   20-04   
10. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            15  63-13   95
  Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   21-04     Day 3: 5   22-08   
11. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15  63-11   94   $7,000.00
  Day 1: 5   20-02     Day 2: 5   21-02     Day 3: 5   22-07   
12. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL            15  63-10   93   $7,000.00
  Day 1: 5   20-10     Day 2: 5   23-07     Day 3: 5   19-09   
13. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC             15  63-00   92   $7,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-14     Day 2: 5   20-13     Day 3: 5   20-05   
14. Easton Fothergill      Grand Rapids , MN       15  62-15   91   $7,000.00
  Day 1: 5   22-14     Day 2: 5   21-12     Day 3: 5   18-05   
15. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI       15  62-11   90   $7,000.00
  Day 1: 5   22-06     Day 2: 5   18-11     Day 3: 5   21-10   
16. Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL             15  62-11   89   $6,500.00
  Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   21-05     Day 3: 5   20-05   
17. Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN         15  62-09   88   $6,500.00
  Day 1: 5   22-02     Day 2: 5   21-02     Day 3: 5   19-05   
18. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC           15  62-02   87   $6,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   23-09     Day 3: 5   20-06   
19. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             15  62-02   86   $6,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-10     Day 2: 5   20-01     Day 3: 5   21-07   
20. Timothy Dube           Nashua , NH             15  61-15   85   $6,500.00
  Day 1: 5   21-03     Day 2: 5   18-13     Day 3: 5   21-15   
21. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          15  61-15   84   $6,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-05     Day 2: 5   20-03     Day 3: 5   20-07   
22. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL           15  61-05   83   $6,000.00
  Day 1: 5   23-03     Day 2: 5   19-12     Day 3: 5   18-06   
23. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI               15  61-04   82   $6,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-11     Day 2: 5   19-08     Day 3: 5   20-01   
24. JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC        15  61-02   81   $6,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   21-12     Day 3: 5   18-05   
25. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        15  60-15   80   $6,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   19-12     Day 3: 5   19-11   
26. Dakota Ebare           Brookeland, TX          15  60-11   79   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   23-01     Day 2: 5   19-06     Day 3: 5   18-04   
27. Emil Wagner            Marietta, GA            15  60-11   78   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   21-03     Day 2: 5   18-12     Day 3: 5   20-12   
28. Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA         15  60-09   77   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-15     Day 2: 5   21-05     Day 3: 5   18-05   
29. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               15  60-05   76   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   20-04     Day 3: 5   20-07   
30. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          15  59-15   75   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   22-14     Day 2: 5   17-07     Day 3: 5   19-10   
31. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME            15  59-15   74   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   20-02     Day 3: 5   20-07   
32. Andrew Loberg          Guntersville, AL        15  59-13   73   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   22-00     Day 3: 5   17-07   
33. Cody Meyer             Eagle, ID               15  59-11   72   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-11     Day 2: 5   20-00     Day 3: 5   19-00   
34. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15  59-10   71   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   21-07     Day 3: 5   20-00   
35. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                 15  59-10   70   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   20-03     Day 3: 5   19-09   
36. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL             15  59-07   69   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   20-11     Day 3: 5   18-05   
37. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI            15  59-06   68   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   20-14     Day 3: 5   18-09   
38. John Cox               Debary, FL              15  59-00   67   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-02     Day 2: 5   19-08     Day 3: 5   19-06   
39. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN        15  58-14   66   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-02     Day 2: 5   21-11     Day 3: 5   18-01   
40. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA           15  58-12   65   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   21-06     Day 2: 5   19-01     Day 3: 5   18-05   
41. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               15  58-11   64   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   22-13     Day 2: 5   16-10     Day 3: 5   19-04   
42. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               15  58-10   63   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   22-04     Day 2: 5   18-08     Day 3: 5   17-14   
43. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK           15  58-07   62   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   21-09     Day 3: 5   18-01   
44. Seth Feider            Elko New Market, MN     15  58-05   61   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   21-12     Day 2: 5   18-09     Day 3: 5   18-00   
45. Kyle Welcher           Valley, AL              15  58-02   60   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-00     Day 2: 5   19-14     Day 3: 5   18-04   
46. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR             15  57-15   59   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   21-14     Day 3: 5   17-11   
47. Chris Zaldain          Boyd, TX                15  57-13   58   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   21-07     Day 2: 5   18-10     Day 3: 5   17-12   
48. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT          15  57-13   57   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   21-05     Day 2: 5   18-15     Day 3: 5   17-09   
49. John Garrett           Union City, TN          15  56-14   56   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-12     Day 2: 5   18-15     Day 3: 5   17-03   
50. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 15  55-14   55   $5,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-11     Day 2: 5   19-01     Day 3: 5   16-02   
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS 
Day
 1   Matt Robertson           Kuttawa, KY         05-14      $1,000.00
 2   Logan Parks              Auburn, AL          05-13      $1,000.00
 3   Evan Kung                Pickering Ontario CANADA05-11      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        99       499      1949-07
 2       100       500      1945-09
 3        50       250       979-07
———————————-
         249      1249      4874-07

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