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Upthagrove Goes Old School for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Erie Presented by Lew’s

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August 4, 2025

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Upthagrove Goes Old School for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Erie Presented by Lew’s

Boater winner Pat Upthagrove of Monroe, Michigan, and co-angler winner Gary Michalski of Naperville, Illinois.

Pennsylvania’s Knapp Picks Up Third Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Champlain Presented by Lew’s

Brian Carter

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August 4, 2025

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Pennsylvania’s Knapp Picks Up Third Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Champlain Presented by Lew’s

Boater winner Jason Knapp of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and co-angler winner Randall Given of Laurel, Delaware.

Bill Dance Giant Bass Open expands to offer anglers all over the country chancesat cash and prizes

Bass News

Brian Carter

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August 3, 2025

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Bill Dance Giant Bass Open expands to offer anglers all over the country chancesat cash and prizes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — After the tremendous success of their Bill Dance Giant Bass Open tournament series in Tennessee the past two years, the management team of the Bill Dance Giant Bass Open have unveiled a new event that’s open to anglers of all ages, in all regions of the country.
The Bill Dance Nationwide Giant Bass Open is a year-long tournament with a format that’ll make every big bass you catch a little more important.
Maybe a lot more important.
“Whether you’re fishing out of a boat, a kayak or off the bank, you could be reeling in giant cash and prizes through the Bill Dance Nationwide Giant Bass Open,” said Dance, who’s been a superstar in the fishing industry for more than a half-century. “It’s only $44.99 for an entire year — a full year. Think about that. You’ll spend more than that taking your family out for a movie in one night.”
Here’s how the tournament works:
Anglers can sign up by visiting the website FishingChaos.com, creating a profile, and paying the $44.99 entry fee for the region of their choice and then decide whether to fish in the length division or weight division. When they catch a bass that meets the criteria for their region, they’ll earn membership into the Bill Dance Giant Bass Club.
Members will receive a unique commemorative coin that’s bound to be the envy of trophy cases everywhere, plus a window decal that identifies them as a member of the Bill Dance Giant Bass Club. Winners from each region and division will receive cash prizes and all additional anglers that joined the Bill Dance Giant Bass Club each month will go into that month’s drawing for even more cash and prizes. Monthly prizes and payout will be determined by the number of nationwide entrants and will eventually include a 21-foot fiberglass bass boat and a Ford F-250 truck given away at the end of the year.
Every cast you make — for a solid year from your entry date — will literally be part of its own tournament.
“The beauty of the format is that every big fish counts,” said Shane Frazier, CEO of the Giant Bass Open organization that has grown by leaps and bounds since the first two-day tournament was held in October 2023. “We’ve all been practicing for tournaments and caught a big fish and thought, ‘Man, that one would have really helped me on tournament day.’ Now, it will.
“You can even be fishing a tournament, catch a big fish and get double credit for it. You can win money in the tournament you’re fishing and also enter your catch in the Giant Bass Open. We like to say, it makes every cast count for the next 365 days after you sign up. It is literally a 24/7/365 scenario.”
The tournament is only open to public waters, and the criteria is different for each of the five regions to join the Bill Dance Giant Bass Club:
Central — Length 21 inches; Weight 5 1/2 pounds
Northeast — Length 21 inches; Weight 5 1/2 pounds
Southeast — Length 22 inches; Weight 7 pounds
West — Length 21 inches; Weight 5 1/2 pounds
Nationwide/Big 3 (California, Florida, Texas) — Length 24 inches; Weight 9 pounds.
In each division, all fish entered with a minimum length of 18 inches or minimum weight of 4 pounds gives anglers an additional chance at the year-end drawing, but they will not provide entrance into the Bill Dance Big Bass Club. The year-end prizes will be determined by the number of nationwide entrants and could include a Ford F-250 truck and a 21-foot fiberglass bass boat.
“The length element has become such a big thing, especially with kayak anglers,” Frazier said. “The Fishing Chaos site has always allowed anglers to enter fish based on length, but I think we are the first tournament to accept weight on Fishing Chaos. I think it’s great to be able to offer both.”
Anglers must decide when they enroll which division — weight or length — they’d like to fish. Then they can consult the rules section at Fishing Chaos to learn the acceptable bump boards for measuring fish and the preferred digital scales for weighing. A special code will be provided each month by Fishing Chaos and must be visible in each photo submission.
Entrants must also select the region they want to fish. But if they make a trip out of that region, they have the option of switching their membership to another region temporarily through the Fishing Chaos App.
No live bait is allowed, and participants must possess all required fishing permits and licenses. Top-level pros from the Bassmaster Elite Series, Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour and National Professional Fishing League are eligible to fish, but not eligible for the end-of-the-year grand prizes.
Once the number of nationwide entrants reaches 50,000, a special winner’s-only, no-entry fee Championship tournament will be held on a Bill Dance Signature Lake in Tennessee for the Top 10 anglers from every state who submit the five longest fish and the five heaviest fish for the year. The tournament will have a minimum payout of $100,000 — and like the year-end drawings, top-level pros will not be eligible for the event.
“We wanted to make fishing fun, affordable and accessible, and we believe we have accomplished all of these things with this exciting new format” said Dance, who beams with excitement anytime he talks about the new venture. “Once you join, every cast counts — whether you’re fishing from a boat or from the bank, day or night, you’re entered in a tournament that could lead to a win anytime you have a bait in the water.
“That’s exciting to me — and I truly believe it’ll be exciting to anglers everywhere.”
Frazier believes the addition of the nationwide tournament will also increase angler participation in the Bill Dance Giant Bass Open circuit in Tennessee. Those tournaments, which are held on Bill Dance Signature Lakes, feature hourly weigh-ins with more than 230 cash prizes over the course of each two-day event in the adult and youth divisions.
The tournaments have experienced incredible growth in just one year. 2024 was the inaugural season where they had more than 1,700 anglers from 26 states comes and fish. Through two-thirds of the 2025 season they have seen a 24% growth YoY.
For information about the big-fish tournaments being held on Bill Dance Signature Lakes, visit giantbassopen.com. For more information on the new nationwide format, visit gbonationwide.com.
Five simple steps to win!
Sign up at FishingChaos.com and pay your membership fee of $44.99 (good for 12 months).
Choose the region of the country you’ll be fishing and whether you want to compete in the length or weight division.
Go fishing! A lot!
When you catch a bass that meets the criteria for your region, take a photo following the instructions given by Fishing Chaos.

Wait to be notified at the end of the month to see if you’ve won.

Reagan and Moody win back-to-back Bassmaster High School National Championships

Brian Carter

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August 2, 2025

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Reagan and Moody win back-to-back Bassmaster High School National Championships

Rex Reagan and Max Moody of Tennessee’s Pickett County Fishing Team have won back-to-back Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championships at Clarks Hill Lake with a three-day total of 36 pounds, 11 ounces.

Photo by Tyler Bridges/B.A.S.S.

August 2, 2025

Reagan and Moody win back-to-back Bassmaster High School National Championships

EVANS, Ga. — The Top 25 high school teams headed out for one more day on Clarks Hill Lake to determine the national champion. Slightly cooler and primarily overcast conditions presented the challenge of adjusting throughout the day.

The Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship is the most coveted high school tournament and anglers across the country came to give it their best shot. Due to high temperatures this week, anglers were limited to a three fish limit which tightened the weights and brought the final weigh-in to a close in dramatic fashion.

When the dust settled at the end of weigh-in, a familiar duo remained on top as Rex Reagan and Max Moody completed back-to-back National Championship victories. A 10 pound, 13 ounce final day limit clinched the title with a total of 36 pounds, 11 ounces.

“It’s unreal, I didn’t think it could happen, but it did,” said Reagan. Moody went on to add, “It’s kind of like last year, it hasn’t really set in on me just yet. I’m happy, but still don’t really realize what we’ve done.”

When comparing it to last year’s National Championship victory on Chickamauga Lake, the duo found this year to be tougher. “The reason was there were 40 or 50 boats fishing the same area,” said Reagan. “At Chickamauga we had everything to ourselves.”

The previous victory did give Reagan and Moody more confidence going into this week. “Last year showed us that we could do it, but this one showed everyone who thought last year could have been a fluke that we can do this on another place too,” said Moody.

This week was the first time the sophomores had seen Clarks Hill Lake and were faced with new conditions heading out on the final day.

“We were catching them suspended in about 150 foot of water,” said Reagan. “The rain, wind and clouds today definitely hurt them, they don’t like to suspend in the lower light conditions.”

“We used a 5-inch Zoom Winged Fluke and a Hog Farmer Smoke Shad on a 1/4-ounce Queen Tackle jig head,” said Reagan. “The main key of the week was to move faster than everyone else.”

When asked about when they thought they had a shot, Moody said. “When we got our limit, we knew we had a good shot, but we knew going into today that we had a good shot being up 4 ounces from the day before. It really hit us when we were standing in the weigh-in line listening to everyone’s weights.”

On par from the rest of the week, the Pickett County team had all solid average fish in their bag. “It’s been that way all week long, it was consistent in practice, and it was consistent in the tournament,” said Moody. “That’s really all you can ask for is consistently, that’s the way you’re going to do good in a tournament.”

The home lake team of Jack Story and Roper Putnam finished a close second with a three-day total of 35 pounds, 7 ounces. The duo remained extremely consistent ending both Days 1 and 2 in third place.

Being from Clarks Hill HS Fishing Team, Story and Putnam have spent a lot of time on the 71,000 acre body of water. “The first day of practice we went to the area that ended up being the best area,” said Putnam. “From there, we kind of knew how the tournament was going to go down.”

Story and Putman said they were fishing in the crowd of many of the top contenders. Even with only 25 boats on the water on the final day the team estimated 15 were still in the prominent area.

“We just couldn’t land the bites,” said Putnam. “We had a big fish everyday come off that would have helped a lot, but that’s a part of it.”

“When it’s your time, it’s your time. When you’re on that, you can’t do anything wrong. When it’s not, you do everything wrong”

Similar to a lot of the top contenders, the duo threw a jig head minnow, specifically a 1/4 and 3/8-ounce Bad Little Shad Head and a 5-inch Winged Fluke.

The cloud cover and boat pressure cause for slight adjustments on the final day. “They were a little higher in the water column, so we mixed a fluke in and that lighter minnow played a little more today,” said Putnam.

Even though it got progressively tougher, Story mentions, “We still probably caught 20 keepers. We never caught a kicker just all solid fish.”

Putnam just graduated high school this year and is headed to Lander University this fall. Story is going into his senior year and has plans to attend Carson Newman University the following year.

Third place went to Caige Bragg who posted three fish weights of 11-1, 13-3 and 10-9. The Springville Anglers junior fished solo the entire season and plans to do the same next year. Bragg did catch some of his key fish in the crowd with many of the other top finishers.

“I would start down there early in the morning around the dam, and I’d catch a few and then I had a different spot where I could run and catch one more better fish up the river.

“Today was a lot tougher, you had to look a lot longer to find them. A couple days ago you could catch a ton of them. Today, I didn’t have a limit until 12:30. The cloud cover along with the fishing pressure spread them out a lot.”

Bragg was concentrating on 25 to 30 foot of water looking for suspended fish both feeding on bait balls and floating by themselves.

Looking down the leaderboard, stacked weights were an understatement to say the least. Besides Reagan and Moody winning by over a pound, 3rd through 14th place were separated by only 15 ounces. All of the top 16 fish averaged over three and a half pounds, while the winners maintained over a four-pound average. Clarks Hill certainly showed out and again proved itself as a solid fishery especially under hot mid-summer conditions.

2025 Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship 7/31-8/2
Clarks Hill Lake, Evans GA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Rex Reagan – Max Moody Pickett County High School Fishi 0
Day 1: 3 12-13 Day 2: 3 13-01 Day 3: 3 10-13 Total: 9 36-11
2. Jack Story – Roper Putnam Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 13-03 Day 2: 3 11-11 Day 3: 3 10-09 Total: 9 35-07
3. Caige Bragg – Springville Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 11-01 Day 2: 3 13-08 Day 3: 3 10-06 Total: 9 34-15
4. Carter Cunningham – Landon Glander Dawson County High Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 3 10-05 Day 2: 3 12-06 Day 3: 3 12-03 Total: 9 34-14
5. Hayden Seabolt – Dawson County High School – GA 0
Day 1: 3 12-10 Day 2: 3 11-15 Day 3: 3 10-04 Total: 9 34-13
6. Corbin Bornstein – Thomas James Lipscomb Academy 0
Day 1: 3 12-15 Day 2: 3 12-11 Day 3: 3 09-01 Total: 9 34-11
7. Hoyt Nicely – Connor Bower Hartley’s Hawgs 0
Day 1: 3 12-02 Day 2: 3 11-15 Day 3: 3 10-07 Total: 9 34-08
8. Walker LaRue – Jackie Hatfield Alcoa Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 12-00 Day 2: 3 11-11 Day 3: 3 10-13 Total: 9 34-08
9. Hogan Benson – Jacob Clayton Chesnee High School Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 3 10-03 Day 2: 3 12-13 Day 3: 3 11-07 Total: 9 34-07
10. Elijah Coleman – Will Dombroskas Montgomery County High School 0
Day 1: 3 11-01 Day 2: 3 12-05 Day 3: 3 10-15 Total: 9 34-05
11. Peyton McAndrew – Cutler Wooten SML Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 11-15 Day 2: 3 11-02 Day 3: 3 11-02 Total: 9 34-03
12. Lake Johnson – Alabama Bass Academy 0
Day 1: 3 12-04 Day 2: 3 12-06 Day 3: 3 09-08 Total: 9 34-02
13. Logan Parker – Hudson Howell Cherokee Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 11-14 Day 2: 3 11-07 Day 3: 3 10-12 Total: 9 34-01
14. Wyatt Richards – Colby Goforth Pickens County Bass Club 0
Day 1: 3 11-07 Day 2: 3 10-15 Day 3: 3 11-10 Total: 9 34-00
15. Kieran Stephenson – Grady Stanley Triangle Bass Club 0
Day 1: 3 12-01 Day 2: 3 10-06 Day 3: 3 10-15 Total: 9 33-06
16. Mason Taylor – Wesley Kent Dekalb Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 13-06 Day 2: 3 08-13 Day 3: 3 10-14 Total: 9 33-01
17. Easton Morrow – RJ Sanger IV LCS Viking Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 12-07 Day 2: 3 10-03 Day 3: 3 08-08 Total: 9 31-02
18. Presley Lannom – Trevor Sanford Mt Juliet Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 11-07 Day 2: 3 12-03 Day 3: 3 07-07 Total: 9 31-01
19. Jacob Janning – Ben Wilson Jefferson High School 0
Day 1: 3 11-03 Day 2: 3 11-02 Day 3: 3 08-12 Total: 9 31-01
20. Eli Herring – Hunter Lee Greene County Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 13-06 Day 2: 3 11-06 Day 3: 3 05-11 Total: 9 30-07
21. Carson Falk – Trey Blackmon III Capital City High School Bass Hu 0
Day 1: 3 10-06 Day 2: 3 13-02 Day 3: 3 05-10 Total: 9 29-02
22. Miles Allen – Ethan Roths Saint Xavier High School 0
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 3 11-04 Day 3: 3 07-06 Total: 9 29-02
23. Jase Sparks – Landon Hullum Clarks Hill HS Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 12-00 Day 2: 3 11-02 Day 3: 3 05-15 Total: 9 29-01
24. Ellis Turner – Blalock Eskew Heard County Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 11-15 Day 2: 3 10-13 Day 3: 2 03-13 Total: 8 26-09
25. Connor Crawford – Brody Beam Liberty County Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 12-14 Day 2: 3 09-02 Day 3: 2 03-09 Total: 8 25-09
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 197 646 1558-15
2 181 603 1539-02
3 23 73 228-06
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401 1322 3326-07

Nick Poe & Tony Allgeir Win LU Summer Bass Shoot Out on Smith Mountain Lake

Brian Carter

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August 2, 2025

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Nick Poe & Tony Allgeir Win LU Summer Bass Shoot Out on Smith Mountain Lake

1st and big fish: Nick Poe & Tony Allgeier – 15.30lbs and big fish 7.15lbs
2nd: Maurice & Arvie Oakes- 12.20lbs

Johnston’s big day earns Bassmaster Open win at St. Lawrence

Brian Carter

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August 2, 2025

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Johnston’s big day earns Bassmaster Open win at St. Lawrence

Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cory Johnston has won the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN with a three-day total of 74 pounds, 15 ounces.

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

August 2, 2025

Johnston’s big day earns Bassmaster Open win at St. Lawrence

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Cory Johnston’s high standards kicked in the extra motivation he needed to turn in his best performance of the week and tally a three-day total of 74 pounds, 15 ounces to win the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN.

With three decades of local fishing, the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series star from Otonabee, Canada took seventh place on Day 1 with 24-7 and gained three spots with a second-round limit of 24-1.

For many, that’s pretty good fishing. Not for Johnston.

“It’s crazy to say, but 24 pounds out here really isn’t a good day and anything over 25 is what you need to win,” Johnston said. “This is a special place.”

Taking his own advice, Johnston stepped on the gas and sacked up a final-round limit of 26-7 and came within an ounce of hitting that 25-pound average. He finished with a margin of 2-11 over Day 2 leader Zack Goutremout.

For his efforts, Johnston collected the top prize of $32,276 and earned a berth in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, to be held March 13-15 on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn.

“It’s just knowing the river and knowing what they get on,” Johnston said. “I just hit as many spots as I could until I ran into them.”

A week after his younger brother and fellow Bassmaster Elite Chris won a major event on the St. Lawrence River, Johnston notched his third victory on this renowned fishery. In 2024, he won the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River four months after topping the season-opening MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.

“I always like to beat him, but watching him win (last week) was great,” Johnston said. “Now, I don’t have to hear him complain.”

Tapping into his intimate St. Lawrence knowledge, Johnston caught his fish on a variety of habitat features in what he termed shallow and deep zones.

“I caught them shallow on sand flats, rockpiles, weed edges all the way to 35 to 40 feet on little high spots, rocks and deeper weed edges,” Johnston said. “There’s not one specific thing that I fished.”

After a slow start, Johnston picked up steam late morning and started boating the quality fish he knew he needed.

“I hit about 12 spots today and the last one I stopped on had ’em,” he said. “I wish I had another hour or two to fish. That was my game plan, fish the stuff I had been fishing, catch what I could and then switch it up, do some shallow, and then go fish new stuff and see what happened.

“I caught a 5 1/2 and a 6 3/4, both shallow and a few 4-pounders. Definitely, my bigger ones came shallow.”

Johnston caught most of his fish on a drop shot with a tungsten weight and a 6th Sense Party Minnow on a BKK drop-shot hook that he designed. He also caught fish on a Ned rig.

Comparing this week’s river-only format to that 2024 Elite event, which allowed anglers to run from Waddington to Lake Ontario, Johnston said he put his preferences aside and fished the moment.

“You gotta fish what you can fish,” he said. “I’d prefer to run to the lake every single time, even if I only had 2 hours to fish. This river’s special, Waddington’s always been incredible. We’ve had some awesome tournaments here.”

Hailing from Chaumont, N.Y., Goutremout finished second with 72-4. He opened strong with a sixth-place Day 1 limit of 24-10, then took over the second day lead by adding 25-0. Championship Saturday yielded a final limit of 22-10.

“I have no regrets; I feel like I made all the right decisions, but today, I just didn’t get any big bites,” Goutremout said. “My big fish kinda left on me, so I went scrambling. I went to an area that didn’t have them on Day 1, but I had a gut feeling to go there today and I scraped up what I had.”

The first two days, Goutremout ran nearly to the tournament’s western limit and caught a solid limit on a deeper spot in about 45 feet on the U.S. side. He’d then move to the Canadian side of Wolfe Island to pick off a couple of his largest fish.

When that plan fizzled on Day 3, he shifted his focus to a different area, farther west. In 20 to 25 feet, he drug a 3/4-ounce finesse football jig with a 3-inch Berkley MaxScent Lil’ General. He also caught one keeper on a drop shot with the OSP dice bait in green pumpkin.

Erik Luzak of Fenelon Falls, Canada finished a close third with 72-3. Ending just an ounce behind Goutremout, Luzak posted an impressive comeback.

On Day 1, his limit of 20-13 put him in a three-way tie for 36th place. Day 2 saw Luzak catch 26-8 and rise to seventh. He closed out his campaign with a final day catch of 24-14.

Luzak caught his fish on a drop shot with a Lunkerhunt Twitch Witch minnow. He also caught keepers on a jig.

Ryan Lachniet of Gum Spring, Va., won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the tournament for his Day 1 7 pound, 5 ounce lunker.

Lucas Lindsay of Auburn, Ala., leads the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN Division 1 points standings with 757. Lachniet is in second with 756, followed by Matt Adams of Guntersville, Ala., with 747, Tyler Campbell of Martin, Ga., with 737, and Connor Jacob of Guntersville, Ala., with 716.

The Top 50 anglers from the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN have qualified for the three-event Nitro Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers presented by Bass Pro Shops Series. With one event each in September, October and November, this Series will determine the 10 anglers that receive invitations to the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series. Read more about the 50 Elite Qualifiers here.

This event was hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.

2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN 7/31-8/2
St. Lawrence River, Waddington NY.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 74-15 200 $32,276.00
Day 1: 5 24-07 Day 2: 5 24-01 Day 3: 5 26-07
2. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 15 72-04 199 $12,910.00
Day 1: 5 24-10 Day 2: 5 25-00 Day 3: 5 22-10
3. Erik Luzak Fenelon Falls CANADA 15 72-03 198 $9,683.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 26-08 Day 3: 5 24-14
4. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 15 71-10 197 $9,037.00
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 26-12 Day 3: 5 24-05
5. Ryan Lachniet Gum Spring, VA 15 70-14 196 $9,142.00
Day 1: 5 26-05 Day 2: 5 23-03 Day 3: 5 21-06
6. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 15 70-03 195 $7,746.00
Day 1: 5 25-03 Day 2: 5 23-02 Day 3: 5 21-14
7. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 15 69-10 194 $7,101.00
Day 1: 5 24-13 Day 2: 5 21-14 Day 3: 5 22-15
8. Michael Neal Dayton, TN 15 69-02 193 $6,455.00
Day 1: 5 23-14 Day 2: 5 23-07 Day 3: 5 21-13
9. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 15 63-14 192 $6,455.00
Day 1: 5 25-00 Day 2: 5 22-04 Day 3: 5 16-10
10. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 14 57-11 191 $6,455.00
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 26-00 Day 3: 4 08-11
———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Ryan Lachniet Gum Spring, VA 07-05 $750.00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 133 673 2491-15
2 122 639 2413-01
3 9 49 211-09
———————————-
264 1361 5116-09

Reigning High School champs take the Day 2 lead at Clarks Hill Lake

Brian Carter

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August 1, 2025

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Reigning High School champs take the Day 2 lead at Clarks Hill Lake

Rex Reagan and Max Moody of Tennessee’s Picket County High School Fishing Team have taken the lead on Day 2 of the Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship at Clarks Hill Lake with a two-day total of 25 pounds, 14 ounces.

Photo by Tyler Bridges/B.A.S.S.

August 1, 2025

Reigning High School champs take the Day 2 lead at Clarks Hill Lake

EVANS, Ga. — Hot and sunny conditions once again greeted 248 of the nation’s best high school anglers on Clarks Hill Lake as they battle it out for the Top 25 spots. Today being the notorious “moving day” anglers will be looking to back up a solid start or adjust for a comeback. The Top 25 will go out on Championship Saturday to determine who will take home top honors at the Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship at Clarks Hill Lake.

The conclusion of Day 2 weigh-in showed weights stacking up with only a slight decrease in average weights from Day 1. A 13 pound, 1 ounce Day 2 bag brought a familiar duo of Rex Reagan and Max Moody from Picket County High School Fishing Team to the top of the leaderboard. Reagan and Moody are the reigning 2024 Bassmaster High School National Champions who are looking to go back to back just as college anglers Andrew Blanton and Garrett Smith did just a few short weeks ago.

Reagan and Moody won last year prestigious title as freshman and are setting themselves up to have another shot very early in their careers. Consequently enough the duo also took the lead on Day 2 on Chickamauga Lake and never looked back.

“It’s a pretty awesome feeling, you don’t really expect to do it especially being lower classmen and with all the crazy stuff that’s happened to us that’s tried to hinder us from being here,” said Moody, “But it’s a pretty great feeling to be leading again”

The duo faced some adversity the morning of Day 2 when they realized their trolling batteries didn’t charge after a solid Day 1. Thankfully with the help of some buddies they were able to fish a full day.

“Last year showed us that we can compete with anybody and showed us what we are capable of and gave us more confidence that we can make it,” said Reagan. “I know Tucker Smith (now a Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series angler) won it three times and I’ve always thought, why can’t I do it?”

The sophomore team had a consistent practice leading up to the tournament catching bags of 11 to 13 pounds each day. While weights are good, the duo says they are only catching three big ones a day. “The first day we actually caught quite a few fish, but today it slacked off a bit,” said Moody. “We think that’s why there’s been so many boats,” added Reagan. “We counted 42 boats fishing around us.”

The duo is very optimistic about tomorrow mentioning that there’s still a bunch of fish in the area, however the fishing pressure if making it tougher to get bites.

Their main key to success has been to move extremely fast and cover as much water as possible. “We’re putting the Garmin trolling motor on fast and literally draining the trolling batteries every single day,” said Reagan.

Trailing just 4 ounces behind is Lipscomb Academy anglers Cordin Bornstein and Thomas James who posted weights on 12-15 and 12-11 on Days 1 and 2 respectively.

“We caught about what we had each day of the tournament in practice and thought we could maybe do it one day of the tournament,” said Bornstein. “We didn’t expect it to hold for two but hopefully it will hold one more day.”

The duo from Nashville, Tenn., has also been fishing around a lot of other competitors. While only 25 teams will be on the water tomorrow, weekend boating traffic will pose another challenge.

“We are fishing strictly for three bites. We have not caught numbers each day, we’ve focused on throwing a bigger bait around the bigger bass in the groups,” said Bornstein.

Being tough for numbers seems to be relative as James mentions, “We’ve been catching 10 to 15 keepers a day, it’s been pretty tough, but the ones we’ve been catching have been good ones.”

Thomas James graduated high school this past spring while Corbin Bornstein is going into his senior year. The team would love nothing more than to take home the prodigious title.

“We’ve got a shot, but so does everyone else, it’s anybody’s ball game in the Top 15,” said Bornstein. “The weights are so tight its crazy”

James added, “Someone in 15^th could easily catch a bag tomorrow and win the tournament.”

While some teams have posted a 5-plus pound kicker over the two days of competition Bornstein and James have had all very solid fish. “It’s mostly been good average for us over one big bite.”

Several big Clarks Hill fish did hit the scales today from the field including a 8 pound, 8 ounce giant caught by George Jenkins Bassmasters angler Trent Allen who fished the tournament solo.

The Top 25 teams will launch tomorrow from Wildwood Park beginning at 6 a.m. ET and will return for weigh-in starting at 2 p.m. where a High School National Champion will be crowned. Stay tuned to Bassmaster.com for all the action.

Goutremout takes slim Bassmaster Open lead at St. Lawrence

Brian Carter

-

August 1, 2025

0

Goutremout takes slim Bassmaster Open lead at St. Lawrence

New York’s Zach Goutremout has taken the lead on Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN with a total of 49 pounds, 10 ounces.

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

August 1, 2025

Goutremout takes slim Bassmaster Open lead at St. Lawrence

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Zach Goutremout knew he needed a bigger quality bite and following that hunch yielded just what he needed to claim a whisper-thin lead on Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN.

After placing sixth on Day 1 with 24 pounds, 10 ounces, the pro from Chaumont, N.Y., added a second-round limit of 25 pounds for a two-day total of 49-10.

Goutremout heads into Championship Saturday with a 2-ounce lead over Day 1 leader Ryan Lachniet.

“I had four of the five I weighed in by 11 o’clock and then I caught my last kicker about 12:30,” Goutremout said. “I have one area where I feel confident in that 22- to 23-pound range and then I have another area where there’s a lot less fish, but when you get bit, it’s a good one.

“The last two days, I started in that first area and then I went to that big-fish area just to get a couple of kickers.”

Goutremout made a long run to the tournament’s western boundary and started his morning on the U.S. side of Wolfe Island. When he felt it was time to transition to his big-fish strategy, he moved to the island’s Canadian (northern) side.

The latter area, Goutremout said, has benefitted from this year’s weather patterns.

“I’m targeting main spawning areas,” he said. “We had a late spawn this year, so I’m just picking off those fish that are still up there roaming around. We had a really cold spring; it really didn’t warm up until sometime about mid-June. It just stayed cold this spring and kept those fish back.

“Normally, they’re a lot farther along and there are more fish schooled up out deep. They’re kind of scattered this time around. I’d rather be fishing them out deep, but you gotta do what you gotta do to catch those big ones.”

Goutremout’s starting spot actually plays more to his preference. He’s spending the first few hours of his day in a deep spot with depths of 40 to 45 feet.

“I’m catching those deep fish mostly on a drop shot and then going to those shallow flats around 11 to 11:30,” Goutremout said. “I’ve caught a couple of those shallow fish on a drop shot, but most of them have been on a jig.”

Goutremout has been throwing a 1/2-ounce finesse football jig. Rather than using a craw or creature bait trailer, he fits his jig with a 2 3/4-inch Berkley MaxScent Lil General.

“I think it has a lot to do with how much pressure these fish get,” he said. “I’ve tried mixing it up, but I think you get a lot more bites with something simple.

“With the drop shot, I learned pretty quickly that you can’t move it. I’m dropping on these fish and if I move it at all, they run away from it. I’m pretty much just slack lining it and holding it there until I feel a tick.”

Eyeing the potential for his first Bassmaster victory, Goutremout said he’s eager for one more shot at the St. Lawrence.

“I’ve been looking forward to this event for a while now,” he said. “Hopefully, I can get five more bites tomorrow and pull this thing off.”

Hailing from Gum Spring, Va., Lachniet set the early mark with a limit of 26-5. Adding a second-day’s limit of 23-3, he slipped to second with 49-8.

Lachniet said he actually caught more fish on Day 2, but he was missing the two kickers that buoyed his first-round effort.

“Today, my smallest fish was a 4.40-pounder and my biggest one was a 4.58,” Lachniet said. “They were all the same size. I caught three or four other 4-pounders.

“I caught more quality fish today, but yesterday I had a 7-5 (the event’s biggest) and a 5 1/2. There are so many 4-pounders in this place, everyone’s catching 22 pounds, so if you can get that big bite, you’re getting an extra pound or two and that puts you above a lot of people.”

Lachniet again ran about 3/4 of the way to the tournament’s western boundary and returned to the same shallow flat he fished on Day 1. Yesterday, that spot delivered all of his weight, but today, he expanded to another spot with similar makeup within 1 to 2 miles.

“Both of these spots are big grass flats with a couple of sandy spots,” Lachniet said. “This is just a section of the river that sets up well for what I’m doing, so I’m just focusing on this area.”

John Hunter Jr. of Shelbyville, Ky., backed up a solid Day 1 limit of 23 pounds with a second-round limit of 26-0 and rose from 15th to third with a total of 49 pounds.

Hunter has committed both days to the western end of the tournament waters where he targeted a current-breaking rock shoal. He attributes his Day 2 improvement to observation and adaptation.

“Really, I learned a lot more about the place I’m fishing,” he said. “I learned where they set up when there’s less current, when there’s more current, how they move around on it.

“I know everyone loses smallmouth, but I had every bit of 28 to 28 1/2 pounds hooked today. But it was still a special day and I’m excited to go back out there tomorrow, because I feel like I have a chance at another 25-plus pounds if I can get them to bite.”

Hunter caught his fish on a drop shot, a jerkbait and a jighead minnow.

Lachniet is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-5.

Lachniet leads the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN Division 1 points standings with 759. Lucas Lindsay of Auburn, Ala., is in second with 757, followed by Matt Adams of Guntersville, Ala., with 747, Tyler Campbell of Martin, Ga., with 737, and Connor Jacob of Guntersville, Ala., with 716.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. ET at Whitaker Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 2 p.m.

2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN 7/31-8/2
St. Lawrence River, Waddington NY.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 10 49-10 200
Day 1: 5 24-10 Day 2: 5 25-00
2. Ryan Lachniet Gum Spring, VA 10 49-08 199
Day 1: 5 26-05 Day 2: 5 23-03
3. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 10 49-00 198
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 26-00
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 48-08 197
Day 1: 5 24-07 Day 2: 5 24-01
5. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 10 48-05 196
Day 1: 5 25-03 Day 2: 5 23-02
6. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 10 47-05 195
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 26-12
7. Erik Luzak Fenelon Falls CANADA 10 47-05 194
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 26-08
8. Michael Neal Dayton, TN 10 47-05 193
Day 1: 5 23-14 Day 2: 5 23-07
9. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 47-04 192
Day 1: 5 25-00 Day 2: 5 22-04
10. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 10 46-11 191
Day 1: 5 24-13 Day 2: 5 21-14
11. Tyler Campbell Martin, GA 10 46-04 190 $5,810.00
Day 1: 5 22-07 Day 2: 5 23-13
12. Alec Morrison Peru, NY 10 46-02 189 $4,519.00
Day 1: 5 24-13 Day 2: 5 21-05
13. Cody Pike Powhatan, VA 10 46-00 188 $3,873.00
Day 1: 5 24-01 Day 2: 5 21-15
14. Lucas Lindsay Auburn , AL 10 45-13 187 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 24-03
15. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 10 45-02 186 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 22-13
16. Tommy Wood Peregian Springs AUSTRA 10 44-15 185 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 23-09 Day 2: 5 21-06
17. Matt Adams Guntersville, AL 10 44-11 184 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 24-04
18. Liam Blake East Syracuse, NY 10 44-04 183 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 24-03
18. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 44-04 183 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 24-03 Day 2: 5 20-01
20. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 10 43-12 181 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 25-07
21. Adam Howell Embrun CANADA 10 43-10 180 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 21-09
22. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 10 43-02 179 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 24-01
23. Aaron Yavorsky Palm Harbor, FL 10 43-02 178 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 22-05
24. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 10 42-13 177 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 22-10 Day 2: 5 20-03
25. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 10 42-07 176 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 22-14
26. Connor Jacob Peoria, IL 10 42-03 175 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 22-04
27. Tommy Dickerson Orange, TX 10 42-01 174 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 5 19-04
28. Hayden Gaddis Dandridge, TN 10 42-01 173 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 22-10
29. Jonathon VanDam Gobles, MI 10 41-14 172 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 21-07
30. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 10 41-14 171 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 21-05
31. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 10 41-10 170 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 22-12
32. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 41-09 169 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 23-02
33. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 10 41-06 168 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 19-09
34. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 41-05 167 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 23-08
35. Connor Bell Lisbon, NY 10 41-05 166 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 20-11
36. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 10 41-04 165 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 23-00
37. Rich Ortiz Fort Ann, NY 10 41-03 164 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 22-07
38. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 10 41-01 163 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 18-12
39. Parker Guy Appling, GA 10 41-00 162 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 17-00
40. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 10 41-00 161 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 19-09
41. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 10 41-00 160 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 21-05
42. James Chandler Liberty, TX 10 40-15 159 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 21-15
43. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 10 40-15 158 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 19-08
44. Lance Owen Greer, SC 10 40-13 157 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 20-08
45. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 10 40-11 156 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 22-08 Day 2: 5 18-03
46. John Duvall Madison, GA 10 40-09 155
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 20-05
47. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 10 40-04 154
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 23-02
48. Joshua Weaver Macon, GA 10 40-01 153
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 22-12
49. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 10 39-15 152
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 21-07
50. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 39-15 151
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 20-11
51. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 39-10 150
Day 1: 5 22-02 Day 2: 5 17-08
52. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 10 39-08 149
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 19-00
53. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 10 39-08 148
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 19-06
54. River Lee Diboll, TX 10 39-05 147
Day 1: 5 23-01 Day 2: 5 16-04
55. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 10 39-02 146
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 24-01
56. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 39-01 145
Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 16-11
57. Tanner Hadden Appling, GA 10 39-00 144
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 21-05
58. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 10 38-14 143
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 21-02
59. Casey Smith Victor, NY 10 38-12 142
Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 17-01
60. Christian Nash Allons, TN 10 38-09 141
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 19-04
61. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 38-07 140
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 17-00
62. Byron Hill Clermont, FL 10 38-06 139
Day 1: 5 22-11 Day 2: 5 15-11
63. Jesse Hilliard Delhi CANADA 10 38-05 138
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 18-07
64. Micheal Stout Gallatin, TN 10 38-05 137
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 19-11
65. Brennan Berglund Zimmerman, MN 10 38-04 136
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 17-11
66. Colden Baker Ridgeway, SC 10 38-04 135
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 17-12
67. Eric Stecker Quakertown, PA 10 38-02 134
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 19-10
68. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 37-15 133
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 19-13
69. Mikey Weems Hull, TX 10 37-11 132
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 19-06
70. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 10 37-08 131
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 20-12
71. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 10 37-07 130
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 16-10
72. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 10 37-03 129
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 17-00
73. Brooks Anderson Marietta, GA 10 36-14 128
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 21-02
74. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 10 36-13 127
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 21-14
75. Evan White Roanoke Rapids, NC 10 36-11 126
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 14-06
76. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 10 36-11 125
Day 1: 5 21-12 Day 2: 5 14-15
77. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 10 36-11 124
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 21-06
78. Dylan Akins Flowery Branch, GA 10 35-14 123
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 15-11
79. Wyatt Wisian Ardmore, OK 10 35-11 122
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 19-01
80. Dillon Falardeau Hixson, TN 10 35-10 121
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 19-01
81. Donavan Carson Bluff City, TN 10 35-05 120
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 18-10
82. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 10 35-03 119
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 16-05
83. Kyle Weisenburger Columbus Grv, OH 10 35-02 118
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 20-01
84. Colin Deridder Freeport, MI 10 35-00 117
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 16-04
85. Colt Blanton Piketon, OH 10 34-15 116
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 15-10
86. Buddy Benson Dahlonega, GA 10 34-14 115
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 17-00
87. Johnathan Crossland Chapin, SC 10 34-08 114
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 21-13
88. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 34-05 113
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 15-01
89. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 10 34-02 112
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 16-05
90. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 10 33-13 111
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 19-03
91. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 33-12 110
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 20-08
92. Ryan Michl Newton, IL 10 33-05 109
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 19-07
93. Yukihiro Sawamura Harker Heights, TX 10 33-05 108
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 15-07
94. Kristine Fischer Spring City, TN 10 33-02 107
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 16-05
95. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 10 33-00 106
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 18-07
96. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 9 32-12 105
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 4 12-06
97. Josh Gauthier Petawawa CANADA 10 32-10 104
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 14-00
98. Michael Spaulding Jr. Dundee, MI 10 32-05 103
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 14-13
99. Derrick Sadlowski Monaca, PA 10 31-11 102
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 13-07
100. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 10 31-08 101
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 19-05
101. Troy Coney Owego, NY 10 31-04 100
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 15-09
102. Hunter Eubanks Landrum , SC 10 30-12 99
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 19-04
103. Tyler Shawger Zanesville, OH 10 30-12 98
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 12-07
104. Bryson Osteen Live Oak, FL 9 30-06 97
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 4 08-05
105. Tyler Malone Chunchula, AL 10 30-03 96
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 14-14
106. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 10 29-15 95
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 16-10
107. Duke Nave Oxford, PA 9 29-14 94
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 4 15-06
108. Lucas Toliver Paw Paw, MI 9 29-03 93
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 4 12-09
109. Nick Mandes North Stonington, CT 10 28-14 92
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 15-15
110. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 10 28-12 91
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 13-00
111. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 27-03 90
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 12-09
112. Tyler Conde Chepachet, RI 10 26-08 89
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 10-04
113. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 10 26-06 88
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 12-13
114. Dylan Welton Middleville, MI 10 26-05 87
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 11-02
115. Tommy Dunaway Havana, FL 10 26-03 86
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-03
116. Kristian Johnson Belvidere, NJ 9 26-00 85
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 4 11-01
117. Anthony Garcia Los Angeles, CA 9 24-03 84
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 5 15-03
118. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 7 24-02 83
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 2 06-00
119. Dante Piraino Baldwinsville, NY 5 23-05 82
Day 1: 5 23-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 10 23-05 81
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 10-11
121. TJ McKenzie Georgetown, SC 5 23-04 80
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 23-04
122. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 10 23-04 79
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 14-03
123. Cody Ross Livingston, TX 7 22-15 78
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 2 07-01
124. Easton Lindus Woodville, WI 10 22-11 77
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 10-13
125. Chris Lighthizer Zanesville, OH 10 21-14 76
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 11-13
126. Dave Miller Stratford, CT 10 21-07 75
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 14-07
127. Clint Leonard Jr Saint Cloud, FL 8 21-05 74
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 3 09-03
128. Bardia Kamali Toronto CANADA 5 20-14 73
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
129. Mark Guhne Hixson, TN 10 20-11 72
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 10-13
130. Matt Kelly Cambridge Ontario CANAD 5 20-02 71
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
131. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 5 19-08 70
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 19-08
132. Cass Terrance Akwewsane, NY 5 18-09 69
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
133. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 7 17-12 68
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 2 07-02
134. Kyle Healey Almonte CANADA 5 17-08 67
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 17-08
135. William Kronander Brownsville, PA 5 17-03 66
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
136. Byron Kenney Jr Monticello, GA 5 16-08 65
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. Phil Kroll Otego, NY 5 15-03 64
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
138. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 5 12-02 63
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-02
139. Rick Greene Ocala, FL 4 11-03 62
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Mike Penney Cameron, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. John Pollard Eclectic, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Angel Rosario Kalamazoo, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Manny Sciberras Liberty Twp, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 133 673 2491-15
2 122 639 2413-01
———————————-
255 1312 4905-00

Country Star Lauren Alaina to Headline Concert at The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament

Bass News

Brian Carter

-

August 1, 2025

0

Country Star Lauren Alaina to Headline Concert at The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament

Family-Friendly Event Sponsored by the State of Alabama to Take Place October 11 at Goose Pond Colony on Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, AL

Scottsboro, AL [August 1, 2025] Country music powerhouse Lauren Alaina will bring her unmistakable voice and high-energy performance to the banks of Lake Guntersville this fall as the headline act for the inaugural concert at The Ultimate Angler World Championship Bass Fishing Tournament sponsored by The State of Alabama. The concert will take place on Friday, October 11th at the scenic Goose Pond Colony in Scottsboro, Alabama.

The concert is the culmination of a week-long celebration of competitive bass fishing, outdoor recreation, conservation, and Southern culture, all culminating in the first-ever Ultimate Angler World Championship. Lauren Alaina, a Grand Ole Opry member and platinum-selling recording artist known for hits like “Road Less Traveled”, “Getting Over Him”, and “Ladies in the ’90s”, will take the stage lakeside, bringing national spotlight and undeniable star power to this can’t-miss Alabama event.

Located on the shores of Lake Guntersville, Goose Pond Colony offers a picture-perfect backdrop for both the tournament and the concert, with family-friendly activities, an outdoor expo, food vendors, and interactive experiences planned throughout the week-long event. The championship tournament itself will feature elite anglers from around the country battling it out for the Ultimate Angler title on one of the most legendary bass lakes in the country.

Event tickets are $15 and are available at www.theultimateangler.org. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the concert under the stars. The concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. with opening act Worth the Wait. Other tournament festivities begin earlier in the afternoon.

For more information on the Ultimate Angler Championship and concert details, visit www.theultimateangler.org

About Lauren Alaina:
Georgia native Lauren Alaina captured America’s hearts as a finalist on American Idol and has since become one of country music’s most celebrated female voices. With multiple No. 1 hits, award nominations, and a dynamic stage presence, Alaina continues to shine as a role model and entertainer across the nation.

About The Ultimate Angler:
The Ultimate Angler World Championship is a premier bass fishing event bringing together top-tier anglers for a high-stakes showdown on Lake Guntersville. Sponsored by the State of Alabama and Unified Pros, the tournament celebrates the state’s rich outdoor traditions, conservation efforts and unmatched freshwater fishing.

Contact: Susan Carothers

Director of Communications

Unified Pros, Inc.

[email protected]

www.theultimateangler.org

Zackery Shaff Shines At Columbia River, Winning BAM Pro/Am By 6 Pounds

Brian Carter

-

August 1, 2025

0

Zackery Shaff Shines At Columbia River, Winning BAM Pro/Am By 6 Pounds

BOARDMAN, Ore – Zackery Shaff from Richland, Wash. weighed 21.35, bolstered by a 7.74 Big

Bass to add to his Day One 22.08, putting together a winning weight of 43.43 at the Columbia River for the BAM Trail’s final regular season stop of the 2025 Pacific Northwest Pro/Am Circuit presented by the Boardman Chamber of Commerce and Boardman Community Development .

Shaff credits his victory to being stubborn. “Believing the fish were there and I was going to catch ‘em,” was the reason he felt he was able to claim the W. “I had to adapt today and really slow down but be stubborn and really fish my areas.”

A two-prong approach was the basis of Shaff’s strategy. “Big reaction baits on Day One, followed up with slow, weightless soft plastic Senkos to try and trick ‘em today,” he elaborated.

River2Sea S Waver Gluide Bait — River2Sea S Waver Glide Bait

A mid-sized River2Sea S-Waver in bone was his first day’s go-to and a wacky-rigged, six-inch Green Pumpkin Yamamoto Senko was the predominate lure on his Day Two.

“For the swimbait, a Dobyns 736CB Glass is a freakin’ awesome rod,” he commented. “It’s a glass/hybrid ChatterBait rod. It’s fantastic for ChatterBaits; but it throws that S-Waver and other glide baits, really, really well, up to an ounce and ¾ or so. It has a good moderate action; so, once you hook ‘em, they stayed hooked pretty well.”

“The other was a Dobyns Champion Extreme 764 spinning rod. It’s sort of unusual to use a spinning rod for a six-inch Senko; but I was going between five- and six-inch Senkos and that rod has some backbone to it, even for a spinning rod.”

Shaff focused on open areas in 10-feet or less. “Particularly in the morning, you had to know where they were, without being able to see ‘em,” he shared.

Shaff’s accomplishment netted a total payout of $10,900 which included the $10,000 grand prize, $325 for Big Fish, $325 for Day Two Big Stringer and the Bass Boat Technologies contingency of $250.

Posten Slipped To Second

After leading Day One with 24.46, Gary Posten of Pendleton, Ore found his second day of fishing a challenge. Coming to the scales with 12.91, nearly half of his first day’s limit, which held the tournament’s biggest bass at 7.74. Posten totaled out at 37.37, just over six-pounds behind Shaff.

River2Sea Phat Mat Datty Frog - Yellow Head — River2Sea Phat Mat Datty Frog Yellow Head

Posten attributed his fish to a River2Sea Ish Monroe Phat Mat Daddy Frog fished on his home-built, 7’3” heavy-action rod with 80-pound braid.

“I prefer to build my own,” he said about his fishing rod. “I think you can do a couple things that you can’t really find on the market, so I like to build ‘em.”

Posten pocketed $3,827 for his efforts. His payday contained $325 for the Day One Big Bass, and another $325 for the Day One Big Stringer.

Burkhardt Brakes For The Grass Edge

Darryl Burkhardt of Boring, Ore rounded out the trop trio hoisting daily five-fish limits of 18.73 and 16.32. His tournament total of 35.05, included a Day One 5.54 big bass.

Burkhardt fished edges in depths of 6- to 10-foot.

“The water was really clear, and I had to make real long casts to give the fish enough time to try to commit to it,” he said. “A lot of them would follow it right until they could see the boat and then they would peel off to the left or the right.”

He also threw a Powder and Bone River2Sea S-Waver and a Super Spook in White and Bone as well.

“I throw all my reactions baits on a Lews fiberglass rod and the new gold Lews reel,” he said. “I did make a great purchase from Tackle Warehouse right before the event. I got a set of the Power Pole Paddles that you hook to the Power Poles and allow you to drop them into the water and they act like brakes. Man, did they work well. You drop those down into the wind when you’re fishing a grass edge and it almost brings the boat to a complete stop.”

Marshall Makes His Move

California co Randy Marshall made his way from Folsom to Boardman to bring the backseater win back to the Golden State. His event-total was made up of a Day One sack of 14.32 that claimed 5^th place and a Day Two limit of 12.61 for the winning weight of 27.93.

As his first trip to the fishery, Marshall could only describe it as “unbelievable”.

“I have to give a lot of credit to my pros,” he explained.

Marshall was throwing a spinnerbait and topwater in zero to six-feet.

“If I was in six to maybe 15 or 18-feet, I was throwing a swimbait and sometimes I might throw a Keitech on a lead head – 3/8 ounce,” he said. “If I was deeper than 18, pretty much I was throwing a dropshot or a tube. I rotated through colors.”

Marshall employed NRX rods, Shimano reels, and Sunline fishing line with a Tatsu leader to present his lures.

Earning the co-angler trophy as well as cash payout of $2,500, Marshall was very appreciative of BAM for their continued efforts to host the tournament trail.

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