On Sunday, Major League Fishing (MLF) will host a Celebration Event for MLF fans of all ages, inviting fans to come out and celebrate with the final 10 professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour as they crown the champion of the U.S. Air Force Stage Five on Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters.
WHEN: Sunday, June 9 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – MLF Bass Pro Tour Watch Party & Kids Fishing Derby 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Trophy Ceremony & Champion Celebration
WHERE: Colonial Waterfront Park 510 S. Broad St. Edenton, N.C.
NOTES: The FREE, family-friendly event will be fun for fishing fans of all ages. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Bass Pro Tour anglers will be returning from their competition day on the water and available to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and talk about their day on the Chowan River.
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.
Branden Burrill and Jack Simpson of the Western Michigan University Bass Club won the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Saginaw Bay presented by Bass Pro Shops with 10 bass for a total of 35 pounds, 2 ounces.
Photo by Tommy Sendek/B.A.S.S.
June 7, 2024
Burrill and Simpson brave rough Saginaw Bay for Bassmaster College Series win
BAY CITY, Mich. — There was a moment on Friday, as 6-foot waves tossed their bass boat around Saginaw Bay like a cork in a maelstrom, that Branden Burrill and Jack Simpson stared at one another, silently asking, “What the heck are we doing?”
High winds prevented anglers from venturing into open water on Day 1, but the wind died down just enough on Friday to squelch the small-craft warning for the inner part of Saginaw Bay — a sprawling 1,143-square-mile bass factory in coastal northeast Michigan.
And when tournament officials said the bay was in play on the final day of the derby, nothing was going to keep Burrill and Simpson from chasing bedding smallmouth some 30 miles into the bay in hopes of a tournament title.
The 23-year-old seniors from Western Michigan University did win the final Bassmaster College Series regular-season event of 2024 with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 35 pounds, 2 ounces. That earned the duo a $4,938 cash prize for their school’s bass program — part of a $16,400 total purse up for grabs among the Top 10 teams competing this week.
“It was extremely nasty out there,” Burrill said. “It took us two hours to get out (by the Charity Islands) and it was as rough a ride as I’ve ever had on the water.”
B.A.S.S. officials had to make Saginaw Bay off limits on Thursday, with the chance of consistently high winds and rough seas too great a threat. That forced each of the 196 competing tandems to fish in the sheltered Saginaw River, away from the worst of the wind.
Fishing pressure there was, in a word, tough.
“You saw 10 boats anywhere you looked,” Simpson said.
There was a similar crowd atop the Day 1 leaderboard, with 13 different duos within 2 pounds of Burrill and Simpson’s 16-pound bag.
Mother Nature was a bit more cooperative on Friday, but the waves on Saginaw Bay (which opens into Lake Huron) were anything but tame.
And despite the odyssey, the duo only had four smallmouth in the boat when they had to leave around noon. Granted, their weight was in the 17-pound range, but it was a last-minute largemouth, back in the Saginaw River, that provided the extra weight they needed to win.
“We only had five bites today, and all four of the smallmouth were 4-pounders that came off a bed we marked during practice,” Simpson said. “We had well over 40 fish marked on beds in our area, but we couldn’t see them. The water was dirty. Waves were crashing into the boat. It was crazy out there.”
Burrill and Simpson chose their lures wisely in the gale-force winds — opting for a Beast Coast O.W. Sniper Jig in the green pumpkin color and a series of drop shots. The kicker largemouth on Friday came on the same Beast Coast jig.
“I was using a big casting rod because of the wind,” Simpson said. “It was disheartening at times, all that work, and to only get five bites? We’re fortunate. We almost didn’t make it back in time. We ran in really shallow water, through reeds, and just skipped our way back across the bay to the river.
“But this is an amazing feeling, to battle against these conditions and win the tournament.”
Elliot Wielgopolski and Aaron Jagdfeld of Adrian College, weighed a 19-4 limit on Day 2 and finished second overall with 10 bass for 32-9. They won $2,963 for their bass team, and like the winners, they too went for broke and ventured deep into Saginaw Bay on Friday.
“The waves were really big,” Wielgopolski said. “It was a long run. It probably took us about two hours to get out there to the (Charity) Islands, but it paid off. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
All of the Adrian duo’s Friday fish were bedding smallies caught on drop shots.
Brendin Simich and Benjamin Travis of Auburn University, placed third with 31-15 overall ($2,304). The University of Montevallo’s Easton Fothergill and Nick Dumke, last year’s Bassmaster College Series Team of the Year, caught 20-6 on Day 2, which was the biggest bag of the derby. They finished fourth overall at Saginaw with 31-10 and won $1,975 for Montevallo.
They added an additional $200 to their winnings on Friday after catching a 5-2 smallmouth, the heaviest of the tournament.
The week’s events will conclude Sunday when the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series and Bassmaster Junior Series are scheduled to compete on the Saginaw system. Both events will begin at 5:30 a.m. ET, with the Juniors weighing in at 1:30 p.m. ET and the prep anglers taking the stage at 2:30 p.m. ET.
2024 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Saginaw Bay presented by Bass Pro Shops 6/6-6/7 Saginaw Bay, Bay City, MI. (BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Branden Burrill – Jack Simpson Western Michigan University Bass 250 Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 19-02 Total: 10 35-02 2. Elliot Wielgopolski – Aaron Jagdfeld Adrian College 249 Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 19-04 Total: 10 32-09 3. Brendin Simich – Benjamin Travis Auburn University 248 Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 17-14 Total: 10 31-15 4. Easton Fothergill – Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 247 Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 20-06 Total: 10 31-10 5. Trevor Young – Maxwell Schweikert Grand Valley State University 246 Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 17-02 Total: 10 31-09 6. Bryson O’ Steen – Seth Jones Florida Gateway College Fishing 245 Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 15-14 Total: 10 30-09 7. Logan Greeno – Matthew Nichols University of Nebraska – Lincoln 244 Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 16-11 Total: 10 30-04 8. Ryan Olsen – Delaney Platt Southwestern Michigan College 243 Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 15-07 Total: 10 30-02 9. Hayden Short – Kentucky Christian University 242 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 16-08 Total: 10 29-06 10. Hank Sturm – Matt Amosby Adrian College 241 Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 14-10 Total: 10 29-05 11. Storm Cline – Gabe Fishlock Carson-Newman University 240 Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 15-15 Total: 10 29-00 12. Blake Bullock – John Mark Berry Blue Mountain Christian Universi 239 Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 14-11 Total: 10 28-15 13. Adrian Urso – Corbin Templon Murray State University 238 Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 13-10 Total: 10 28-09 14. Chase Rogers – Kaleb Butts University of South Carolina – U 237 Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 19-07 Total: 10 28-06 15. Harmon Marien – Maxwell Trotter McKendree University 236 Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 4 16-04 Total: 9 28-04 16. Carter Nutt – Dylan Nutt University of North Alabama 235 Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 16-06 Total: 10 28-02 17. Ty Mundhenke – Matthew Welcher Auburn University 234 Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 16-07 Total: 10 28-01 18. Kai Barnett – Parker Welch McKendree University 233 Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 14-01 Total: 10 28-01 19. Brendan Vinton – Jacob Vanscoik Catawba Valley Community College 232 Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 16-05 Total: 10 27-15 20. Jack Stephens – Jason Qualich McKendree University 231 Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 27-15 21. Brooks Parker – Hudson Choquette University of Montevallo 230 Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 14-08 Total: 10 27-12 22. Chris Baker – Elijah Kelley Kentucky Christian University 229 Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 16-11 Total: 10 27-09 23. Dylan Akins – Chase Carey Emmanuel College 228 Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 13-06 Total: 10 27-07 24. Drake Heath – Evan Ludlow 227 Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 16-09 Total: 10 27-04 25. Logan East – Conner Giles Bryan College 226 Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 15-01 Total: 10 27-01 26. Spencer Grooms – Nathan Preston Auburn University 225 Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 14-13 Total: 10 27-01 27. Blake Milligan – Carson Maddux Auburn University 224 Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 14-09 Total: 10 27-00 28. Hunter Petrovic – Kaiya Ziga Southwestern Michigan College 223 Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 13-04 Total: 10 27-00 29. Michael Witherup – Tucker Cory University of Montevallo 222 Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 16-10 Total: 10 26-13 30. Caden Pearson – Nathan Kallstrand Wabash Valley College 221 Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 10 26-13 31. Braden Cox – Joel Berelsman Ohio State University 220 Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 15-13 Total: 10 26-09 32. Joe Lutz – Jake Monti UNC – Charlotte 219 Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 15-05 Total: 10 26-08 33. Logan Evans – Brock Catlett Campbellsville University 218 Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 14-06 Total: 10 26-08 34. Kobe Thompson – Cole Carr Adrian College 217 Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 15-13 Total: 10 26-06 35. Spencer Knight – Colton Cybulski Ohio State University 216 Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 14-10 Total: 10 26-06 36. Hunter Sandschafer – Blake Beckmann Wabash Valley College 215 Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 14-07 Total: 10 26-06 37. Chandler Pruett – Blue Mountain Christian Universi 214 Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 13-03 Total: 10 26-06 38. Broxson Daigle – Sid Wallace Texas A&M University – Aggie Ang 213 Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 13-00 Total: 10 26-03 39. James Willoughby – Phillip Herring University of Montevallo 212 Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 13-10 Total: 10 26-01 40. Brock Blazier – Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 211 Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 12-13 Total: 10 26-01 41. Brady Metzger – Mason Bohland Purdue University 210 Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 14-07 Total: 10 26-00 42. Reece Keeney – Brantley Anders Kentucky Christian University 209 Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 13-07 Total: 10 26-00 43. Kyle Zainitzer – Brock Vogel University of North Alabama 208 Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 12-07 Total: 10 25-14 44. Luke Rokavec – Evan Waggener Campbellsville University 207 Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 14-05 Total: 10 25-11 45. Turner Hart – Summer Dees Bryan College 206 Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-01 Total: 10 25-11 46. Nicholas Feczko – Nicholas Jones 205 Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 14-02 Total: 10 25-10 47. Luke Davis – Chance Schwartz University of Montevallo 204 Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 13-13 Total: 10 25-10 48. Ty Reynolds – Mark Bixler Murray State University 203 Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 14-05 Total: 10 25-09 49. Dylan May – Carson Palmer Carson-Newman University 202 Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-13 Total: 10 25-05 50. Kyle Knoll – Evan Conn Auburn University 201 Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 13-09 Total: 10 25-02 51. Cameron Dials – Blayner Leeman Kentucky Christian University 200 Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 10 25-02 52. Cameron Smith – Thomas Phillips Ohio State University 199 Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 14-04 Total: 10 25-01 53. Tucker Dottley – Jordan Hampton Bethel University 198 Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 11-10 Total: 10 25-00 54. Christian Turner – Aaron Mcgill Coastal Carolina University 197 Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 15-01 Total: 10 24-14 55. Lane Stephens – Ethan Fields McKendree University 196 Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 13-13 Total: 10 24-14 56. Lucas Thornton – Nathan Reynolds University of North Alabama 195 Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 10 24-14 57. Jarrett Prunty – Chase Fleenor Western Kentucky University 194 Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 13-04 Total: 10 24-13 58. Nate Triplett – Holden Johnson University of North Alabama 193 Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 12-08 Total: 10 24-13 59. Allen Powe – Jonathan Combs Campbellsville University 192 Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-08 Total: 10 24-12 60. Luke Dardeen – Connor Becker Wabash Valley College 191 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-14 Total: 10 24-12 61. Jack Hay – Eli Jaime Southwestern Michigan College 190 Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 12-12 Total: 10 24-12 62. Colby Carrier – Justin Frey Bethel University 189 Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 10 24-10 63. Connor Westerman – Michael Mcnulty West Virginia University 188 Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 12-14 Total: 10 24-10 64. Payton Sodervick – Adam Troyer Indiana University 187 Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 14-05 Total: 10 24-09 65. Jacob Swanson – Zack Cooper University of Montevallo 186 Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 3 11-09 Total: 8 24-09 66. Hunter Palmer – Eli Stevenson Bryan College 185 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-11 Total: 10 24-09 67. Casey Cornelius – Zion Dunaway Purdue University 184 Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-03 Total: 10 24-06 68. Dalton Phelps – Gannon Stork Wabash Valley College 183 Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 13-07 Total: 10 24-04 69. Chris Fallon – Hagan Marlin University of Montevallo 182 Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 11-11 Total: 10 24-04 70. Tomas Matual – Colton Hill McKendree University 181 Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 14-06 Total: 10 24-03 71. Mitchell Dean – Zachary Nolan Georgia College 180 Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 10 24-02 72. Owen Januszewski – Mitch Straffon Adrian College 179 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 10 24-01 73. Dustin Weinberg – Sawyer Brady Blue Mountain Christian Universi 178 Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 10 24-00 74. Chase Loftus – University of Iowa 177 Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 12-08 Total: 10 24-00 75. Carson Tucker – Kade MacDonald University of Wisconsin – Whitew 176 Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 12-06 Total: 10 23-15 76. Hunter Barrow – Caleb Dugger King University 175 Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 13-05 Total: 10 23-14 76. Logan Plueger – Charlie Wright University of Montevallo 175 Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 13-05 Total: 10 23-14 78. Tyler Madden – Colton Odom Auburn University 173 Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 13-01 Total: 10 23-14 79. Henry Vincent – Mathias Dahline Adrian College 172 Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-14 Total: 10 23-14 80. Andrew Oswalt – Evan Mabrey University of Montevallo 171 Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 13-08 Total: 10 23-13 81. Alex Strunk – Joshua Morrison Bowling Green State University 170 Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 11-02 Total: 10 23-13 82. Wyatt Pearman – Ridge Rutledge Campbellsville University 169 Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-03 Total: 10 23-13 83. Billy Erdakos – Davis Klimczak Southwestern Michigan College 168 Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 11-11 Total: 10 23-13 84. Jack Alexander – Nick Pemberton University of Montevallo 167 Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 10-02 Total: 10 23-12 85. Andrew Jones – Tyler Malone Southern Union State Community C 166 Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 12-10 Total: 10 23-12 86. Owen Wheeler – Caleb Neu Bethel University 165 Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 13-05 Total: 10 23-11 87. Derek Rodriguez Jr. – Dalton Mollenkopf Adrian College 164 Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 10 23-10 88. Joseph Woods – Anthony Cicero IV Bethel University 163 Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 23-09 89. Kyle Hopping – Colsyn Head McKendree University 162 Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 13-01 Total: 10 23-07 90. Max Pierlott – Mike Pierlott UNC – Charlotte 161 Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-02 Total: 10 23-07 91. Cy Lambert – Austin King University of North Alabama 160 Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 10 23-07 92. Robie Vines Jr – Catawba Valley Community College 159 Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 10 23-05 93. Chris McGregor – Preston Kolisek University of North Alabama 158 Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-08 Total: 10 23-05 94. Dylan Thomson – Trey Marco King University 157 Day 1: 4 09-05 Day 2: 5 13-14 Total: 9 23-03 95. Jordan Bezold – Joe Bezold Nku Bassmasters Club 156 Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 10 23-01 96. Colin Chavers – Preston Barnett Southern Union State Community C 155 Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 4 08-04 Total: 9 22-14 97. Tristen Dubbs – Alan Ter Molen Grace College 154 Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 12-13 Total: 10 22-14 98. Ben Brockwell – Will Rooker Kentucky Christian University 153 Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 10-02 Total: 10 22-14 99. Sam Moll – Will Burch Murray State University 152 Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 10 22-12 100. Evan Sutton – Grant Olsen McKendree University 151 Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 10 22-12 101. Jake Kimbrough – Tyler Hill Blue Mountain Christian Universi 150 Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 09-14 Total: 10 22-10 102. JD Sewell – Joshua Sonnier Lamar State College Orange 149 Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 11-08 Total: 10 22-10 103. Jacob Highley – William Copley Kentucky Christian University 148 Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 10 22-09 104. Hunter Russell – Benny Blank Wabash Valley College 147 Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 22-07 105. Avery Merrow – Mason Stidwill Southwestern Michigan College 146 Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 11-06 Total: 10 22-07 105. Logan Ware – Jack Romatz Southwestern Michigan College 146 Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-01 Total: 10 22-07 107. Nick Shoffner – Drake Page UNC – Charlotte 144 Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 22-06 108. Colin Oldfield – Nick Fashho Southwestern Michigan College 143 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 22-06 109. Andrew Howell – Jordan Pennington University of Montevallo 142 Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-05 Total: 10 22-03 109. Nick Seitz – Paxton Giem Adrian College 142 Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 10-14 Total: 10 22-03 111. Hayden Fry – Vance Roberts McKendree University 140 Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 22-02 112. Harrison Terry – Zachary Bowen Bethel University 139 Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 22-00 113. Will Hart – Logan Fisher Emmanuel College 138 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 10 21-14 114. Brandon Berry – River Eubanks University of Montevallo 137 Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 10 21-14 115. Hunter Kellogg – Jack Moran Ohio State University 136 Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 13-02 Total: 10 21-12 116. Jackson Holbert – Joshua Hayes University of North Alabama 135 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 4 09-11 Total: 9 21-12 117. Jackson Smith – Sawyer Williams Bethel University 134 Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 11-12 Total: 10 21-12 118. Ryan Foster – Will Hornsby McKendree University 133 Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 10-10 Total: 10 21-12 119. TJ McKenzie – Will Wester Emmanuel College 132 Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 10 21-11 120. Gavyn Rapp – Ephraim Cretsinger Adrian College 131 Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 10-01 Total: 10 21-07 121. Jeffrey Jones – Coleman Bingham Bethel University 130 Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 13-00 Total: 10 21-05 122. Dylan Fogarty – Hunter Fillmore Bethel University 129 Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 4 11-15 Total: 9 21-04 123. Braden Thompson – Wabash Valley College 128 Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 11-06 Total: 10 21-03 124. William Henry – David Kaczur Purdue University 127 Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 10-08 Total: 10 21-03 125. John Goffinett – Eric Biesiada Bowling Green State Fishing Club 126 Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 10 21-00 126. Jake Thornbury – Lane Pohlman Campbellsville University 125 Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 11-06 Total: 10 21-00 127. Kyle Smith – Aaron Mills Kentucky Christian University 124 Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 11-11 Total: 10 20-15 128. Camden Lewis – TJ Edwards Jr Blue Mountain Christian Universi 123 Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 12-07 Total: 10 20-13 129. Levi Seagraves – Scooter Ligon Jr Emmanuel College 122 Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 10 20-13 130. Brody Wilson – Cole Bedard NC State University 121 Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 11-05 Total: 10 20-13 131. Luke Caylor – Joe Gollmer Indiana University 120 Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-07 Total: 10 20-12 132. Cole Hadlock – Braiden Koerber Murray State University 119 Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 11-00 Total: 10 20-08 133. Jadon Spencer – Chase Martin Catawba Valley Community College 118 Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 10 20-07 134. Ethan Tedder – Carson Winn University of North Alabama 117 Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 12-03 Total: 10 20-06 135. Campbell Coyle – Tanner Davis University of Kentucky 116 Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 20-06 136. Caleb Brady – Joseph Catania Grand Valley State University 115 Day 1: 4 07-13 Day 2: 5 12-08 Total: 9 20-05 137. Connor Lynch – Andrew Contat Grand Valley State University 114 Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 10-03 Total: 10 20-04 138. Peyton Rose – Brogan Gregg Wabash Valley College 113 Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 09-14 Total: 10 20-03 139. Chan Barber II – Ben Hutchins NC State University 112 Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 10-09 Total: 10 20-02 140. David Alan Stith – Jase Smith Jr. Georgia College 111 Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 10 20-01 141. Joseph Senn – Bethel University 110 Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 10-12 Total: 10 19-15 142. Hayden O’Barr – Cooper Gilroy University of Alabama 109 Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-03 Total: 10 19-14 143. Conner Pickens – Dalton DeFelice Southwestern Michigan College 108 Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 10-00 Total: 10 19-14 144. Lucas Washburn – Braylon Eggerding Adrian College 107 Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 10-13 Total: 10 19-13 145. Carter Smith – Sam Ausbrooks Wabash Valley College 106 Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 10-09 Total: 10 19-13 146. Karsten Raney – Ben Sadler Campbellsville University 105 Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 09-14 Total: 10 19-12 147. Tyler Eggers – Dustin Swafford Catawba Valley Community College 104 Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 10 19-09 148. Riley Lawson – Joe Bob Burchett Kentucky Christian University 103 Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 09-09 Total: 10 19-07 149. Daniel Schroeder – Jacob Autry Murray State University 102 Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 10 19-06 150. Collin Barnett – Sander Ludeman Minnesota State University – Man 101 Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 09-15 Total: 10 19-06 151. Merrick Diaz – Cade Hayford Campbellsville University 100 Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 09-09 Total: 10 19-05 152. Carter Doren – Brett Hill Campbellsville University 99 Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 5 13-07 Total: 8 18-14 153. Dawson Woerner – Wyatt Cash Purdue University 98 Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-08 Total: 10 18-11 154. William Vickery – Hunter Starling Georgia Southern University 97 Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 5 11-13 Total: 10 18-06 155. Carson Aarup – Matt Peine UNC – Charlotte 96 Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 10 18-05 156. Victor Alford – Tanner Herndon Bryan College 95 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 3 06-03 Total: 8 18-04 157. Cole Berry – Braci Ault Purdue University 94 Day 1: 4 07-13 Day 2: 5 09-14 Total: 9 17-11 158. Gus Dietrich – Jack Wilson University of Alabama 93 Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 5 10-10 Total: 8 16-02 159. Hunter Shelton – Colten Drawdy Bethel University 92 Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 5 13-06 Total: 6 15-13 160. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. – Brady Pinwar Adrian College 91 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 1 03-12 Total: 6 15-13 161. Bryson Hatcher – Matthew Dopp Bryan College 90 Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 3 05-00 Total: 8 15-12 162. Sam Harvey – Jordan Brewer Auburn University 89 Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 1 01-13 Total: 6 15-11 163. Ethan Vue – Christian Vue UNC – Charlotte 88 Day 1: 4 07-11 Day 2: 4 07-10 Total: 8 15-05 164. Robert Richbourg – Cal Austin Catawba Valley Community College 87 Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 2 04-01 Total: 7 14-15 165. Max Phillpotts – GRAHAM SHIFFERD Grand Valley State University 86 Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 5 09-06 Total: 8 14-14 166. Dylan Reid – Jaxson Smoak Georgia Southern University 85 Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 3 06-07 Total: 8 14-12 167. Jacob Newton – Zachary Lubben Grand Valley State University 84 Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 2 04-08 Total: 7 14-08 168. Bryce Dimauro – Tripp Berlinsky Bryan College 83 Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 14-04 169. William Brogan – Cole Bubenzer Indiana University 82 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 13-14 Total: 5 13-14 170. Bennett Slinkard – Matthew Parrish Auburn University 81 Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 2 02-01 Total: 7 13-08 171. Tyler Altizer – Landon Lawson King University 80 Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 13-04 172. Ryan Daugherty – Brantley Barrentine Campbellsville University 79 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-15 Total: 5 12-15 173. Peyton Harris – Dalton Head University of Montevallo 78 Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 12-13 174. Jaxson Freeman – Connor Hall McKendree University 77 Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 12-08 174. Brayden Ruckman – Zachary Helton Carson-Newman University 77 Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 12-08 176. Brody Robison – Colton White University of Montevallo 75 Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 12-05 177. Luke Willis – Brandon Wingo University of South Carolina 74 Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 11-11 178. Easton Lindus – Seth Jenkins Emmanuel College 73 Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 11-10 179. Dawson Burton – Ethan Burnette Kentucky Christian University 72 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 5 11-09 179. Lucas Toliver – Jacob Wilkie Western Michigan University Bass 72 Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 11-09 181. Zachary Wolfe – Carson-Newman University 70 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07 182. Mitch Johnson – Jonathan Fitch Kentucky Christian University 69 Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 11-04 183. Cole Taylor – Clay Taylor Lander University 68 Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-10 184. Sam Hoesley – Malcolm Patton Auburn University 67 Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-05 185. Lucas Bowers – Fisher Rodgers University of South Carolina 66 Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-02 186. Jacob Butts – Mark Kershaw-Klara University of South Carolina – U 65 Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-00 187. Grant Meisenhelter – Levi Kohl Murray State University 64 Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-14 188. Zach Pocos – Tucker Siminak McKendree University 63 Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-09 189. Jake Peck – Carty Shoen Auburn University 62 Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-07 190. Hayden Marbut – Auburn University 61 Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-06 191. Daniel Weber – Mitchell Mccotter Bass Fishing Team At Virginia Te 60 Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-05 192. Kyle Ashe – Bobby Beck JR University at Buffalo 59 Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-02 193. Jake Buzin – Finn Maher University of South Carolina 58 Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-09 194. Nick Staub – Sam Schmitz University of North Alabama 57 Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-09 195. Brennan Berglund – University of Montevallo 56 Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-08 196. William Gully – Chapman Horsley Southern Union State Community C 55 Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-15 ———————————————————————– BIG BASS OF TOURN Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 05-02 $0.00 ———————————————————————– Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 183 943 2130-12 2 158 830 2105-00 ———————————- 341 1773 4235-12
It’s still too early to tell which approach will produce victory, but reigning Fishing Clash Angler of the Year Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, who entered Friday in second place, used the latter to top Group B with a two-day total of 62 pounds, 6 ounces. Alongside Group A winner Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama , Becker will lead the 20-angler field out of Pembroke Creek Park to start tomorrow’s Knockout Round.
Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, the Day 1 leader for Group B, admitted that he planned to use the second day of qualifying to search for more water. He tallied four bass for 7-15, falling to fourth place. But where it counts will be the last two days of this event, and Wheeler is still one of the heavy favorites to win for a third time this season. Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois , (59-3) and Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, (55-14) finished between Becker and Wheeler in second and third, respectively.
The fishing continues to be solid, and big bass are still being caught, including a tournament-best 8-3 Berkley Big Bass caught by Alton Jones, Sr., of Lorena, Texas, Friday. That lunker helped push him into Saturday’s Knockout Round, showing how crucial those big bites could be in determining a winner this week.
While there’s been some variance day to day, 30 pounds looks like it could be the key mark to qualify for Sunday’s Championship Round, with a handful of anglers putting that on SCORETRACKER® every day. Becker has now done it two days in a row, adding a day’s best 31-8 to 30-14 from his group’s opening day of fishing.
“Today went well and better than expected because I fished almost all new water,” he said. “I only fished one spot today that I did the first day. I spent most of the day expanding and looking for new water.”
Becker experienced a slow start to the event, boating just one scorable bass during his first morning of competition.
“I only had one fish at 12:30 p.m. the first day, and then I started putting the clues together,” he said. “I had all the puzzle pieces from practice but only started figuring out where they go that afternoon. I got a bite doing it and then ran that the rest of the day and then all day today. It was like a light bulb went off in my head.”
While not willing to disclose the details of his pattern, Becker did share that he was able to duplicate his success in several areas Friday, many of which are holding groups of fish.
“Every spot I caught fish on had multiples there,” he said. “I feel good about that, because I now have a lot of those little spots to hit. It’s hard to tell how many of those will bite, because I would catch one and then leave to look for new areas today.”
After catching 30 pounds or more both days, Becker feels that will be the mark needed to advance after weights zero overnight but cautions that it could be much higher.
“I feel like 30 pounds will be good enough to advance, but they are starting to catch them pretty well,” he said. “The thing is, though, many of these guys haven’t put their foot on the gas yet. I could have pressed a little harder today and caught a few more, but there was no sense in doing that today.”
A Bass Pro Tour rookie, Gill continued his stellar run to begin his career at the top level, showing he can catch them on a variety of fisheries. He opened the week on the Chowan with 28-7 and added 30-12 Friday, which surprised him after his practice.
“I did not expect to catch that because practice was mediocre at best,” he said. “I knew a deal that was working but didn’t know what made it different. The tournament is where I started to refine it. Now, I’ve refined it so much that I don’t know if I have enough water left to fish.”
Gill isn’t looking too far ahead but knows he will need more areas to have a shot to win.
“I’m feeling upbeat — that would be a good word for it,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting even to make it, so I’m ecstatic to get to the Knockout Round.”
Still, while Gill is grateful, he knows he has work to do if he hopes to advance one more time and contend for the win on Sunday.
“I feel like I can catch 25 pounds again; if I do that, I’ll let the chips fall where they may,” he said. “In the best-case scenario, I can do that and then look for more areas if I can advance. It will take at least 45 or 55 to win that last day, and I know I’m not on the fish to do that right now.”
The top 10 pros from Group B that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Chowan River are:
1st: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 23 bass, 62-6 2nd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 28 bass, 59-3 3rd: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 23 bass, 55-14 4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 22 bass, 55-4 5th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 19 bass, 53-11 6th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 22 bass, 52-15 7th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, 16 bass, 51-0 8th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 23 bass, 50-12 9th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 21 bass, 45-2 10th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 18 bass, 39-2
Eliminated from competition are:
11th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 18 bass, 38-3 12th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 16 bass, 37-3 13th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S. C., 16 bass, 35-13 14th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., 12 bass, 34-3 15th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 14 bass, 30-4 16th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 16 bass, 29-14 17th: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 11 bass, 29-9 18th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 14 bass, 29-7 19th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 12 bass, 28-6 20th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., eight bass, 26-7 21st: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., eight bass, 26-1 22nd: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 26-1 23rd: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 14 bass, 25-7 24th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 11 bass, 25-0 25th: David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., nine bass, 24-12 26th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 12 bass, 24-10 27th: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Penn., 10 bass, 23-11 28th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 11 bass, 22-11 29th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., eight bass, 20-15 30th: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, nine bass, 20-5 31st: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, eight bass, 18-4 32nd: Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, seven bass, 15-15 33rd: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., eight bass, 14-15 34th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., six bass, 11-7 35th: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 11-5 36th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., five bass, 9-15 37th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., four bass, 8-0 38th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., three bass, 7-7 39th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., one bass, 2-6
Overall, there were 235 scorable bass weighing 565 pounds, 5 ounces, caught by 37 pros Friday, which included one 8-pounder, one 6-pounder, seven 5-pounders, 13 4-pounders and 20 3-pounders.
Wheeler is still the man to beat for yet another Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title, but he can’t afford to slip at all. Eight of the Top 10 anglers in the points standings coming into this event are fishing in tomorrow’s Knockout Round. And with just two events remaining after this one, every day on the water matters. The action the rest of the week will help shape the race as it rounds into the stretch run.
Alton Jones, Sr., of Lorena, Texas, earned Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with an 8-pound, 3-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on a drop-shot rig during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day tournament, hosted by the Town of Edenton, the Chowan County Tourism Development Authority and Harbor Towns Cruises, showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 39 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. Now that each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finished first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Pembroke Creek Park, located at 716 W. Queen Street in Edenton. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Colonial Waterfront Park, located at 510 S. Broad St. in Edenton, for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 79 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.
Television coverage of the U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 26 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Nov. 2. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, WIX Filters and U.S. Air Force.
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.
Unleashing the Summer Frenzy: Mastering Frog Fishing for Bass in June
As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, June presents a prime opportunity for bass anglers to break out their frog lures and head to the water. With bass moving shallow in search of easy meals, this time of year provides thrilling topwater action that can yield significant rewards. This comprehensive guide will delve into essential strategies, tips from professional anglers, and techniques to help you capitalize on the peak of frog fishing season.
Understanding Bass Behavior in June
During June, bass are particularly active in shallow waters, making it an ideal time to target them with frog lures. The increase in water temperature triggers a feeding frenzy, and bass move into areas with abundant cover to ambush prey. Understanding this behavior is key to maximizing your success.
Key Environments to Target:
1. Shallow Cover: Look for lily pads, reeds, fallen logs, overhanging vegetation, and shallow weed beds. These areas offer protection and are prime ambush points for bass.
2. Shady Spots: Docks, overhanging trees, and bridge supports offer shade and cooler water, making them attractive to bass during the hotter parts of the day.
Frog Selection and Presentation
Choosing the right frog lure and mastering its presentation are critical to convincing wary bass to strike. Here are some tips to refine your approach:
1. Matching the Hatch: Aim to mimic the natural prey in your fishing location. Green frogs, brown bullfrogs, and dark silhouettes work well in various conditions. While bass aren’t always picky about color in June, matching the local frog population can enhance your success rate.
2. Action is Key: Opt for frogs with realistic kicking motions or popping and splashing sounds. These features imitate the erratic movement of a struggling frog, triggering a predatory response from bass.
3. Slow and Steady: One of the keys to successful frog fishing is a slow, erratic retrieve with frequent pauses. Allow the frog to sit motionless for a few seconds—often, this is when a bass will strike.
4. Work the Edges: Cast your lure parallel to the cover. This technique increases the chances of your frog running along the best ambush points, making it more enticing to lurking bass.
Professional Angler Tips
Angler Insights:
*Gerald Swindle, Elite Series Angler*: “Don’t rush! Patience is everything with frog fishing. When you make that cast, let the frog sit for a moment before you start your retrieve. It builds anticipation, and bass have a better shot at finding and hitting it.”
June-Specific Strategies
1. Early Morning and Late Afternoon: Bass activity tends to peak during cooler parts of the day. Focus your fishing efforts on early morning and late afternoon to maximize your chances of success.
2. Weedless Wonders: Heavy cover requires a weedless hook design. Use a frog lure with a weed guard to navigate through vegetation without getting snagged, ensuring you can present your bait effectively.
3. Topwater Explosion: Be prepared for explosive strikes. Hold your rod securely and be ready for a powerful response when a bass attacks your frog.
Professional Angler Tips
Dean Rojas, Topwater Expert: “Selecting the right gear is crucial for frog fishing. A heavy-duty rod paired with braided line gives you better control and ensures you can set the hook firmly when a bass strikes. The last thing you want is to lose a fish because your setup couldn’t handle the fight.”
Gear Recommendations
1. Rods: Opt for a medium-heavy to heavy rod, around 7′ to 7’6″ in length. This will provide the necessary strength to maneuver big fish out of heavy cover.
2. Reels: Use a high-speed baitcasting reel to quickly pick up slack and keep pressure on the fish during the battle.
3. Line: Braided line is a must for frog fishing, offering superior strength, sensitivity, and abrasion resistance. 50-65 lb test braid is a common choice.
Professional Angler Tips
Ish Monroe, Pro Angler: “Using the right line can make a big difference. I stick to braided line around 50-65 lbs because it’s strong and cuts through vegetation like butter. This way, you can haul those big bass out without worrying about your line snapping.”
Advanced Techniques
1. Skip Casting: Improve your ability to cast under docks and overhanging vegetation. Skip casting allows you to reach bass hiding in hard-to-access spots.
2. Walk the Frog: Perfect the “walk-the-dog” retrieve. By twitching your rod tip, you can make your frog zigzag across the surface, imitating a fleeing frog and enticing more strikes.
3. Color Adjustment: Experiment with different colors and sizes to match the conditions. Sometimes a subtle change in lure color or size can make a significant difference in how bass react.
Professional Angler Tips
Chris Lane, Elite Series Angler: “Practice makes perfect, especially with techniques like skip casting and walking the frog. Spend some time honing these skills, and you’ll be able to reach and entice bass that others might miss.”
Conclusion
Frog fishing in June can be one of the most exhilarating experiences in bass angling. By targeting the right environments, choosing the appropriate gear, and employing effective techniques, you can significantly increase your chances of landing trophy bass. Remember, patience and practice are key – both qualities that seasoned pros like Gerald Swindle, Dean Rojas, and Ish Monroe emphasize.
So grab your favorite frog lure, hit the water early, and get ready for some heart-pounding topwater action. With these tips and strategies, you’re well-equipped to make the most of June’s prime bass fishing season.
By incorporating these strategies and expert tips into your fishing routine, you’ll be well on your way to mastering frog fishing for bass in June. Happy fishing, and may your next outing be filled with explosive topwater strikes and the thrill of landing trophy bass!
Mercury Marine Introduces 8 and 9.9hp EFI FourStroke and 9.9hp EFI ProKicker™ Outboards – Launching Endless Summer Boating and Fishing Adventures
FOND DU LAC, Wis., (June 7, 2024) – Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), today introduced 8 and 9.9hp EFI FourStroke and 9.9hp EFI ProKicker™ outboard engines. These new outboards feature an advanced Mercury electronic fuel injection system designed to provide boaters, fishing enthusiasts and pro anglers with easy starts and efficient performance.
“In recent years, Mercury Marine has pushed the envelope at the top of the outboard performance range with our 350-400 and 600hp Verado engines, but at the same time, we have focused on developing the next generation of outboards in our lower portable range,” said John Buelow, Mercury Marine president. “Redesigning the 8 and 9.9hp family to include EFI delivers a host of consumer benefits such as faster starting and better fuel economy, which builds on our commitment to continuous improvement and delivering high quality products.”
Lightweight and efficient
Thanks to EFI technology and other enhancements, these engines deliver up to 27% better fuel economy than earlier carbureted models in the same horsepower range. They are light enough to be portable, making them ideal for powering spontaneous adventures on the water in trailerable fishing boats and other small craft, including inflatable tenders. Pound for pound, these outboards produce more top-end horsepower than prior-generation carbureted engines, at a substantial weight savings compared to most EFI outboards in their class.
Easy to maintain
EFI technology also makes these engines easy to maintain and there is no oil filter to change. In addition, their maintenance-free camshaft requires no regular service and no valve lash adjustments for the life of the engine. The new engines also come with a quick-connect fresh-water flush attachment that connects to a regular garden hose.
8 & 9.9hp EFI FourStroke
EFI technology takes the hassle out of starting in all weather conditions. While both the 8 and 9.9hp EFI models are offered with a choice of manual or electric start, the manual-start models do not require a cranking battery, adding to their convenience.
“When you pull the rope to start the motor manually, it automatically charges the entire electrical system to enable ignition,” said Jim Hergert, Mercury Marine senior category manager for 30 horsepower and below outboards.
The 9.9hp EFI is available with remote or tiller controls, manual or power trim. The 8hp EFI comes with an easy-to-use tiller control – Shifting, throttle, steering, manual tilt and the engine stop button all can be operated with just one hand.
Mercury’s engineering team balanced the powerhead on the new 8 and 9.9hp EFI outboards, and incorporated vibration and sound-dampening materials including soft-rubber mounts to deliver a smooth and quiet driving experience.
9.9hp EFI ProKicker
The Mercury 9.9hp EFI ProKicker offers all these benefits and doubles down with additional features designed with the pro angler in mind. The ProKicker’s high-thrust, four-blade propeller provides superior control, allowing anglers to dial in precise trolling speeds. The new EFI model also comes with Mercury’s heavy-duty Command Thrust gearcase for greater durability, as well as standard power tilt.
“You just push the button and it effortlessly raises the motor when you’re ready to run on your standard main power,” Hergert said.
Whether you are chasing big fish or big adventures, the new Mercury 8 and 9.9hp and 9.9hp ProKicker outboards, equipped with next-gen EFI, ensure surefire starts and quiet, efficient performance for days of hassle-free fun on the water.
More information about the 8 and 9.9hp EFI FourStroke and 9.9hp EFI ProKicker™ outboards can be found here.
Up next is the 2024 Old Spring Final on Jordan Lake launching from Farrington Point June 15th!
There are 48 teams qualified to fish the Final. The teams are highlighted in Blue on the Old North Points list! Go to the Old North Division page and scroll all the way down to view the points!
Final – $140 Entry $150 at Ramp Spring Final $8,000 1st Place GUARANTEED! A Team had to enter 4 Old North Spring Qualifiers to be eligible to enter the Old North Spring Final! You can fish the Old North Spring Final with your partner, solo or with a sub your team used in an Old North Spring Qualifier. NO NEW SUBS AT THE OLD NORTH SPRING FINAL.
Lucas Lobaugh & Jeremy Moody are the 2024 Old North Point Champs and will receive free entry to all 2025 Old North Spring Qualifiers Plus Blast off position #1!
Bryson Peed & Mike Corbishley win Falls Lake with 5 bass weighing 29.11 lbs Plus they brought in the BF at 8.97 lbs and took home $3,310.00!
Bo Adams & Brian Fritts took 2dn with 27.17 lbs!
Mark Herndon & Bobby Hauser earned 3rd with 26.23 lbs!
Summertime ledge fishing could be a major factor for anglers at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake June 13-16.
Photo by Grant Moxley/B.A.S.S.
June 7, 2024
Bassmaster Elite Series event at Wheeler Lake could offer perfect ledge-fishing opportunities
DECATUR, Ala. — The Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake will mark the first time the top-level pros from B.A.S.S. have visited the fishery in seven years, and conditions are setting up for classic early-summer patterns on the Tennessee River.
Sam George, who fishes the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers Division of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, says the event might reveal the true potential of a lake that has improved significantly over the past several years.
“I think they are going to hit it at a good time. We’ve had quite a bit of rain and storms, so the water has a good color to it and we have a lot of current right now,” said the veteran Alabama pro, who considers Wheeler his home lake. “Our quality right now is really good. When you swing the bat on this lake, it is a good one. There are a lot of 3- and 4-pound bass. It has been cool to see the lake come back.”
Tournament days are scheduled for June 13-16, with anglers launching at 6 a.m. CT each day from Ingalls Harbor and returning to the Harbor for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The field will be cut to the Top 50 anglers after the Day 2 weigh-in, while only the Top 10 anglers after Day 3 will advance to Championship Sunday for a shot at the $100,000 prize.
The Elite Series last visited this Tennessee River impoundment in 2016. Takahiro Omori claimed the title that week with a four-day total weighing 81 pounds, 6 ounces fishing specific offshore spots in the Decatur area. Wisconsin’s Adam Rasmussen claimed an Opens title on the fishery last year by maximizing an early-morning shad spawn and then focusing on offshore areas to weigh in a three-day bag of 54-15.
George believes next week’s Elite event could mirror those past tournaments.
“I would expect it to be pretty similar to the Open, but I think the weights will be a lot better. We had pretty clean water and hardly any current at all,” said George, who finished fourth in the 2023 Open. “Weight-wise, through and through, it will be quite a bit better.”
With a colder winter and fluctuating water conditions, the bass on Wheeler only recently spawned, according to George, and many are just now starting to move to their summertime haunts on ledges.
“For some reason, they are some of the last bass to go to the bank,” he said. “A lot of them even spawn off the bank on stumps and bars. A lot of the fish are really just now, in the last week or two, starting to show up offshore (and are) really good as far as numbers and schools of fish.
“For the last few weeks, there has been a lot of shad spawn stuff going on with no bass on it.”
In recent years, the Decatur area of Wheeler has gotten much of the attention from anglers wanting to fish ledges and other offshore elements. Those areas will be fished hard by the Elite anglers as well, George said. But with fewer boats on the water, those spots will likely be much more productive.
“Somebody will probably do something similar to what Takahiro did a few years ago where you find a magic cast and have one or two really specific lineups in one little bitty area that has a pile of them,” George said. “This place, to me, is one of the more unique areas out of anywhere in the country I have been.
“You find a lot of it by just fishing.”
Compared to other TVA lakes like Guntersville and Kentucky Lake, Wheeler’s ledges are in much shallower water. They often start in 2 or 3 feet and drop into 25, while other ledge fisheries start in 10 or 12 feet and fall into 25. This makes scanning difficult, but anglers who fish around these areas can find productive sweet spots.
Those spots could be anything from a shellbed, a hard spot or a high spot. While inconsistent, there are also patches of offshore hydrilla and eelgrass.
Largemouth get much of the attention on Wheeler, but big smallmouth roam these areas as well. Often, the key to these offshore areas is the presence of gizzard shad.
“I like it more this time of year because the gizzards start to show up really well on those bars as the threadfin start to clear out,” George said. “When you find (a bar) that has gizzards on it, you take a 17-pound bag up to 24 pounds. It is hard to find and hard to stay on it, but when you do, it is unbelievable what happens.”
Bigger squarebill crankbaits, topwaters, Carolina rigs and drop shots will be popular selections for anglers fishing offshore, as well as swimbaits and jigs. While George believes bags over 25 pounds can be caught on the offshore ledges, he says replicating it from day to day will be a challenge.
“You could make a spot last for four days, but I doubt it,” he said. “I think you’ll have to have several little places and (have a) milk run. The bait roams a lot out there and it is typical to pull up on a place and blast them and show back up the next day and not get a bite.”
With the water high, the shallows may also become a factor. George said plenty of postspawners are still making their way back out to the offshore areas, and bushes, bank grass and lily pads will all hold bass in certain areas. Flipping baits, swim jigs and frogs will come into play in those spots.
“I expect a lot of fish to get caught in the dirt,” George said. “When you get up there it’s pads, willow grass and bushes. The lily pads are a lot further ahead this year than where they were last year.”
All fans can attend the weekend’s Outdoors Expo at Ingalls Park beginning at 11 a.m. CT on June 15-16, which will feature many Bassmaster sponsors. There will also be a BassmastHER workshop on June 15 designed for women interested in learning about bass fishing. Registration for this event is already full, but interested participants can register for the next BassmastHER workshop which will be held August 17 in conjunction with the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at the St. Lawrence River. More information can be found on Bassmaster.com.
Reigning REDCREST Champion boats two-day total of 74-5 to win Group A Qualifying Round, Top 10 pros advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round
EDENTON, N.C. (June 6, 2024) – Windy conditions on the Chowan River enabled the trailering policy Thursday at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour U.S. Air Force Stage Five at the Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters, but the blustery weather couldn’t stop the anglers from catching piles of bass. It certainly didn’t slow down Mercury pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, (who had every intention of spending his second day on the water “practicing”), as he sacked up another 14 bass for 26 pounds, 13 ounces on the day. His two-day total was 74-5, over 20 pounds ahead of General Tire pro Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas, with 53-06 for the Qualifying Round.
As with all elimination days on the Bass Pro Tour, there was plenty of drama on SCORETRACKER® as anglers made clutch catches while jockeying for position. The improved fishing also helped, as many anglers posted big numbers and made runs toward the top. Two anglers with more than 30 pounds, Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Alabama, and Gary Klein of Mingus, Texas , jumped into the Top 10 and will advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round.
The fishing appears to be improving on the Chowan River and connected waters or the anglers are just putting the puzzle pieces together better. Either way, things are looking good for a stellar finish to this event.
The top 10 anglers advancing from Group A will now have an off day from competition Friday, while the 39 anglers competing in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 10 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Dustin Connell’s Day 3 total was the fifth best on the day, made even more impressive by the fact that he was actively searching for new areas. Nothing he had previously fished was part of his plan on Thursday.
“I really like this place,” he said. “I went practicing all day and didn’t intend to reel them in like that. The Chowan River has a lot of fish, and I feel like I’m figuring this place out. I ran new stuff all day and maybe added 25 percent more to what I’d already found.”
Even catching a solid weight, Connell doesn’t regret leaning on them the way he did.
“I didn’t catch a lot of big ones – a few 2s and only one over 3 pounds,” he said.
Connell surmised that this fishery is about being in the right areas and that there are big congregations of fish in small areas, mixed in between voids of any activity.
“You can fish for a mile and not catch a fish and then get into one little stretch and it’s like ‘Oh, here they are,’” he said. “This place is area-based and finding those key little areas with the groups of fish is important. I feel really good about what I’ve found and how it will hold up for the rest of the tournament.”
Both Klein and Lucas were safely within the cut to get paid, but each wanted more. They both got it done and will advance to the Knockout Round, with Klein jumping from 16th to eighth and Lucas vaulting from 13th to fourth to end the day.
They were the only two anglers to eclipse the 30-pound mark. Lucas did it with a strong final frame and Klein did most of his damage during Period 2.
“The day started off good and then I went through a long dead period where I basically learned a lot of bad stretches,” Lucas said. “This afternoon, the bite was on fire, and I hope to build off of that. The whole key here is getting on the right rotation because so many of us are fishing the same stretches. Not every area has fish, but if you hit a good one, you can get right quickly.”
Klein’s 30-pound total exceeded his expectations, and while he felt safe at the end of Period 2, the cutline got a little too close for comfort.
“I thought based on my practice and first day that 18 pounds would be a very good day for me,” he said. “I was surprised catching 30 today, but also encouraged. I was 10 pounds ahead of the cut at the end of the second period and thought there was no way I wouldn’t make it, and I was sort of lollygagging. Then, it got to within 4 pounds of me and I lost two nice ones before I finally got another one. That’s the intensity of this format; you have to fish clean with flawless execution to compete against these guys.”
The top 10 pros from Group A that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Chowan River are:
1st: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 33 bass, 74-5 2nd: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 22 bass, 53-6 3rd: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 18 bass, 51-7 4th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 19 bass, 47-14 5th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 21 bass, 47-2 6th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 20 bass, 44-15 7th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 20 bass, 44-14 8th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 17 bass, 44-1 9th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 18 bass, 43-12 10th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 19 bass, 42-3
Eliminated from competition are:
11th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 16 bass, 38-4 12th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 16 bass, 36-6 13th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier, La., 15 bass, 36-5 14th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 19 bass, 36-2 15th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 18 bass, 35-10 16th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 16 bass, 35-9 17th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 35-0 18th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 13 bass, 34-0 19th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 13 bass, 33-5 20th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 13 bass, 31-9 21st: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 31-0 22nd: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 11 bass, 29-4 23rd: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 15 bass, 27-11 24th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., nine bass, 24-11 25th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 24-11 26th: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 11 bass, 23-6 27th: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., nine bass, 20-8 28th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., eight bass, 17-11 29th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., seven bass, 17-9 30th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., six bass, 17-0 31st: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., six bass, 16-11 32nd: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., seven bass, 16-5 33rd: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, seven bass, 15-13 34th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 13-9 35th: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., seven bass, 13-6 36th: Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., five bass, 9-11 37th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., two bass, 4-4 38th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., two bass, 3-12 39th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Penn., two bass, 3-3
Overall, there were 264 scorable bass weighing 627 pounds even, caught by 37 pros Thursday, which included one 7-pounder, one 6-pounder, seven 5-pounders, eight 4-pounders and 35 3-pounders.
Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, is still in the driver’s seat for another Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title, but the anglers right behind him won’t make it easy. Alton Jones, Jr. finished the day in second place and punched his ticket to the Knockout Round along with Connell, who came into the event in third place in the points race.
Toyota pro Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Florida, earned Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 7-pound, 2-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on a shaky head during Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day tournament, hosted by the Town of Edenton, the Chowan County Tourism Development Authority and Harbor Towns Cruises, showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Pembroke Creek Park, located at 716 W. Queen Street in Edenton. Due to forecasted high winds, MLF has enacted the MLF Trailering Policy for Friday, June 7, meaning pros can trailer their boats and drive them to any ramp on the fishery closer to where they plan to start fishing. Pros taking advantage of the MLF Trailering Policy will leave Pembroke Creek Park at 7 a.m. ET and will begin fishing at 8 a.m. ET (Lines In) with the full field.
Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Colonial Waterfront Park, located at 510 S. Broad St. in Edenton, for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 79 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.
Television coverage of the U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 26 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Nov. 2. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, WIX Filters and U.S. Air Force.
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.
