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Johnson and Seal lead Day 1 at Junior Championship with 12 pounds 3 ounces

Brian Carter
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Johnson and Seal lead Day 1 at Junior Championship with 12 pounds 3 ounces

Memphis Johnson and Bryson Seal of Alabama’s Good Hope Fishing Team have taken the lead on Day 1 of the Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Clarks Hill Lake with a total of 12 pounds, 3 ounces. 

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

July 25, 2025

Johnson and Seal lead Day 1 at Junior Championship with 12 pounds 3 ounces

EVANS, Ga. — Memphis Johnson and Bryson Seal from Alabama’s Good Hope Fishing Team took the lead at the 2025 Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Clarks Hill Lake by catching a three-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 3 ounces to take the Day 1 lead. Their catch included the big fish of the day, a 7 pound, 13 ounce largemouth that pushed them from middle of the pack to a one-ounce lead over second place.

In a tightly-packed leaderboard, the Florida duo of Cullen Sanders and Trace Sanders of the Liberty County Jr. Anglers are second with 12-2 and Parker Smith and Carson Randan from Tennessee’s Scotts Hill High School Anglers Junior Division are third with 12 pounds even. Four other teams topped the 10-pound mark and a big fish or two on Saturday could allow many other teams to challenge for the victory. On the day, 71 teams – more than half the field – brought limits to the scales, and 103 teams caught at least one keeper bass.

Day 1 leaders Johnson and Seal, both 14 years old, have been fishing as a team for three years, but had not previously visited Clarks Hill. They reported a tough practice, which produced four keepers each day, but found ample clues to put them in position to claim the lead.

In what at first seemed to be a disappointment, their starting spot was taken by other competitors when they arrived in the morning, so they slid over to a nearby point that had also demonstrated potential. After cycling through multiple areas throughout the morning, on the third trip to that point, around noon, the big one bit.

“At first I thought it was a catfish,” said Seals, who caught it. “But then I saw it and didn’t know what to do. It dove back down but eventually we got it into the boat.” He declined to identify what made that point distinctive, or what type of lure the monster bass bit. The fish was, however, a massive difference-maker, culling out a 14-ounce bass and vaulting them into the lead. The pair call Smith Lake, a noted spotted bass factory, their home waters, but their bag today included one spot and two largemouth.

They don’t have much of a cushion, merely a single ounce, but Johnson and Seal said that their goal tomorrow is to bypass the allure of smaller fish and search for the three quality bites that will seal the victory.

Sanders and Nobles likewise had never been to Clarks Hill and struggled through an unproductive practice, but multiple moves today helped them dial in a pattern that produced 20 fish. They believe that they can repeat that success tomorrow, and derive confidence from the quality of their catch.

“I know that (the first place team) had that big fish, but that makes me feel better because that could be luck,” Nobles said.

Sanders added: “We’re going to go back out and do the same thing we did today.”

The second place team of Sanders and Nobles could not be reached in time for publication.

Smith and Randan are 3 ounces out of the lead and rode a multifaceted approach to weigh in three quality cookie cutter largemouths.

“We caught three good keepers off the bat,” Smith reported. Then on our second spot we culled out two 2-pounders with 4-pounders and later we added another 4-pounder. We have an area that’s holding some big fish so we’re going to start there and swing for the fences. Hopefully we’ll seal the deal.”

He reported that they started the day by throwing frogs around docks, but when that didn’t pan out they pivoted and caught the majority of their fish in 20 or so feet of water “with deeper swimbaits and scoping baits, minnows.”

Tomorrow’s weather at Clarks Hill is expected to be similar to what the young anglers experienced today – sunny, with minimal breeze and temperatures pushing into the mid- to upper-90s. The full field of 120 teams will launch from the Wildwood Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 2:30 and the winning team will be crowned at the conclusion of weigh-in.

Visit Columbia County is hosting the events. 

2025 Bassmaster Junior Championship 7/25-7/26
Clarks Hill Lake, Evans  GA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

    Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Memphis Johnson – Bryson Seal                Good Hope Fishing Team – AL           0
  Day 1: 3   12-03   Total:   3  12-03
2.  Cullen Sanders – Trace Nobles                Liberty County Junior Anglers         0
  Day 1: 3   12-02   Total:   3  12-02
3.  Parker Smith – Carson Randan                 Scotts Hill High School Anglers       0
  Day 1: 3   12-00   Total:   3  12-00
4.  Greyson Harper – Garreson Currie             Topeka Jr Hawgs                       0
  Day 1: 3   11-14   Total:   3  11-14
5.  Kendal Ward – Coleton Bradley                New Mexico At Large                   0
  Day 1: 3   11-06   Total:   3  11-06
6.  Hayes Henderson – Caden Harris               Headland Jr High School – AL          0
  Day 1: 3   11-02   Total:   3  11-02
7.  Bennett Bullard – Kei Blaylock               Trader Bills                          0
  Day 1: 3   10-03   Total:   3  10-03
8.  Andrew Ziegler – Henry Freter                Hartley’s Hawgs Piglets               0
  Day 1: 3   09-14   Total:   3  09-14
9.  Brady Williams – Miles Kearney               Pickens County Jr. Dragons Fishi      0
  Day 1: 3   09-08   Total:   3  09-08
10. Kannon Wood – Jackson Randall Jr             Gulf Port High School                 0
  Day 1: 3   09-01   Total:   3  09-01
11. Weston Bouchikas – Luke Hoskinson            Junior Keystone Bassmasters           0
  Day 1: 3   09-00   Total:   3  09-00
12. Kole Wingfield – Kline Wingfield             Arkansas Youth Anglers Junior         0
  Day 1: 3   08-15   Total:   3  08-15
13. Olivia King – Harper Krohn                   D’iberville Hs Warrior Bass Nati      0
  Day 1: 3   08-14   Total:   3  08-14
14. JT Cross – Jake Paradis                      L/A Junior Bassmasters – ME           0
  Day 1: 3   08-08   Total:   3  08-08
14. Sullivan Kraft – Jude Pfeiffer               Port City Junior Bass Masters         0
  Day 1: 3   08-08   Total:   3  08-08
16. Colton Willging – Brody Heacock              Dubuque Bass                          0
  Day 1: 3   08-06   Total:   3  08-06
17. Tommy Richards –                             Denver Jr Bassmasters                 0
  Day 1: 3   08-02   Total:   3  08-02
18. Hayden VanWinkle – Ryan Skiles               Rocky Mtn Bass Anglers                0
  Day 1: 3   08-01   Total:   3  08-01
19. Christopher Cox Jr. – Gage Chlomoudis        Triangle Bass Club                    0
  Day 1: 3   08-00   Total:   3  08-00
20. Owen Stephens – Max Roy                      Russell County Jr Bass Club           0
  Day 1: 3   07-12   Total:   3  07-12
21. Easton Trotter – Cooper Thomas               Rehobeth Jr High School Team          0
  Day 1: 3   07-11   Total:   3  07-11
22. Brady Wells – Zeke Brock                     Bath County Juniors                   0
  Day 1: 3   07-09   Total:   3  07-09
23. Cort Elrod –                                 Riverside Middle School               0
  Day 1: 3   07-07   Total:   3  07-07
24. Will Crisman – Reed Crisman                  Buggs Island Elite Anglers            0
  Day 1: 3   07-05   Total:   3  07-05
25. Piers Picou –                                Central Catholic – LA                 0
  Day 1: 3   07-03   Total:   3  07-03
26. Coop Caldwell – Konnor Macoubrie             Team Fishing 4 Life                   0
  Day 1: 3   06-14   Total:   3  06-14
26. Easton Dickens – Isaiah Crockett             New River Bassmasters                 0
  Day 1: 3   06-14   Total:   3  06-14
28. Layne Shoffiett – Jackson Lee                Notre Dame Junior Bass Team           0
  Day 1: 3   06-13   Total:   3  06-13
28. Easton Gray – Carter Shinn                   Trader Bills Juniors                  0
  Day 1: 3   06-13   Total:   3  06-13
30. Maddox Shaffer – Myles Shaffer               Junior Garrett Bass Slayers           0
  Day 1: 3   06-12   Total:   3  06-12
31. Avery Watkins – Bentley Mchenry              Wilson Christian Academy Juniors      0
  Day 1: 3   06-10   Total:   3  06-10
32. Heston Hoffman – Samuel Holland              Topeka Jr Hawgs                       0
  Day 1: 3   06-09   Total:   3  06-09
32. Jaxon Mcdaniels – Colin Nicholson            Mon Valley Junior Bassmasters         0
  Day 1: 3   06-09   Total:   3  06-09
34. Grayson Tassone – Cole Bryant                Port City Junior Bass Masters         0
  Day 1: 2   06-09   Total:   2  06-09
35. Lem Tate – Baylor Mccuiston                  West Union Bass Fishing Club          0
  Day 1: 3   06-07   Total:   3  06-07
36. Brayen Barnhill – Reed Abrams                757 Bass                              0
  Day 1: 3   06-06   Total:   3  06-06
37. Alden Breland – Jaxon Godbold                Vancleave High School                 0
  Day 1: 1   06-05   Total:   1  06-05
38. Colby Christopher – Hudson Mcclure           Oconee Fishing Club                   0
  Day 1: 3   06-02   Total:   3  06-02
38. Crews Mcferrin – Colin Bourne                Karns Jr High School                  0
  Day 1: 3   06-02   Total:   3  06-02
40. Caleb Gurley – Keegan Smith                  Palmetto Jr Bassmasters               0
  Day 1: 3   06-00   Total:   3  06-00
41. Hunter Beach – Austin Jefferson              Denver Jr Bassmasters                 0
  Day 1: 3   05-15   Total:   3  05-15
42. Truman Duhamell – Drake Wray                 Indian Creek Junior Fishing Club      0
  Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
42. Kort Roberts – Katera Roberts                Junior Keystone Bassmasters           0
  Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
44. Carsen Sands – Dylan Shook                   Michigan A1 Anglers                   0
  Day 1: 3   05-13   Total:   3  05-13
45. Cullen Simon – Easton Stanley                Little Cypress Mauriceville Jr        0
  Day 1: 3   05-12   Total:   3  05-12
46. Bentley Brown – Lawton Rollison              Dixie Junior Bassmasters – FL         0
  Day 1: 3   05-10   Total:   3  05-10
46. Carson Stevens – Wesley Osuna                Franklin County Jr Bass Team – T      0
  Day 1: 3   05-10   Total:   3  05-10
48. Kallen Williams – Caden Wingfield            863 Anglers                           0
  Day 1: 3   05-09   Total:   3  05-09
49. Luke Mcandrew – Brody Witmer                 Sml Junior Anglers                    0
  Day 1: 3   05-08   Total:   3  05-08
50. Gunner Robbins – Drew Smith                  Livingston Academy Junior Bassma      0
  Day 1: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-07
51. Lane Nickles – Kohan Branyon                 Palmetto Jr Bassmasters               0
  Day 1: 3   05-04   Total:   3  05-04
52. Reese Forbes – Mason Grantham                Jr. Southwest Bassmasters-Denham      0
  Day 1: 3   05-03   Total:   3  05-03
53. Camden Baker – Asher Hart                    Hartley’s Hawgs Piglets               0
  Day 1: 3   05-01   Total:   3  05-01
54. Chase Rogers – Rogan Alderman                Bath County Juniors                   0
  Day 1: 3   05-01   Total:   3  05-01
55. Walker Brogdon – Pershing Glenn              Gca Backlashers                       0
  Day 1: 3   05-00   Total:   3  05-00
55. Cody Hails – Aiden Espinoza                  Denver Jr Bassmasters                 0
  Day 1: 3   05-00   Total:   3  05-00
57. Deacon Keefe – Brayden Blair                 Reeths Puffer High School Fishin      0
  Day 1: 3   04-15   Total:   3  04-15
58. Granger Brasuell – Jude Nichols              Aybn Northern Junior                  0
  Day 1: 3   04-14   Total:   3  04-14
58. Bayne Robinson – Kade Stephenson             Brookland Bass Bandits Jr             0
  Day 1: 3   04-14   Total:   3  04-14
60. Kenny Beale Jr – Henry Beale                 Foothills Jr. Anglers                 0
  Day 1: 3   04-13   Total:   3  04-13
60. Gabe Holshouser – Gunner Edwards             Roco Anglers                          0
  Day 1: 3   04-13   Total:   3  04-13
62. Jax Fuhrman – Max Decker                     Hawghead Bassmaster Juniors           0
  Day 1: 3   04-12   Total:   3  04-12
62. Case Thorn – Rodee Owen                      Lone Star Jr Bassmasters              0
  Day 1: 3   04-12   Total:   3  04-12
64. Vegas Iaconelli – Wally Peer Iv              Bass Nation Juniors                   0
  Day 1: 3   04-11   Total:   3  04-11
65. Brady Terry – Graham Hall                    Buggs Island Elite Anglers            0
  Day 1: 3   04-10   Total:   3  04-10
66. Colt Carmean – Gunner Vargeson               Susquehanna Valley Jr Fishing Te      0
  Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
67. Tahlen Thomas-Hamm – Grifinn Thomas-Hamm     Southside Junior Anglers              0
  Day 1: 3   04-06   Total:   3  04-06
68. Drew Oberhoffer – Cale Richman               Dubuque Bass                          0
  Day 1: 3   04-04   Total:   3  04-04
69. Isaac Sprouse – Will Sprouse                 Gaffney Jr High School Fishing T      0
  Day 1: 3   04-03   Total:   3  04-03
70. Cody Aliff – Jon Parker Pope                 Triangle Bass Club                    0
  Day 1: 1   04-03   Total:   1  04-03
71. Bryson Agee – Gage Brasher                   Good Hope Junior Fishing Team         0
  Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
72. Brandon Carter – Cooper Potts                Mt. Zion Fishing                      0
  Day 1: 1   03-14   Total:   1  03-14
73. Colton Miller – Landon Lynch                 Brunswick Academy – VA                0
  Day 1: 3   03-13   Total:   3  03-13
74. John Brown – Blaine Summers                  Indiana Junior Bassmasters            0
  Day 1: 3   03-12   Total:   3  03-12
75. Jacob Murphy – Mason Peeler                  Roco Anglers                          0
  Day 1: 3   03-06   Total:   3  03-06
76. Jake Morgan – Miles Krieger                  Eureka Youth Club                     0
  Day 1: 2   03-03   Total:   2  03-03
77. Burke Sorenson – Braden Royse                Eureka Youth Club                     0
  Day 1: 2   03-02   Total:   2  03-02
78. Jones Thode – Luca Docken                    Hutchinson High School                0
  Day 1: 2   03-00   Total:   2  03-00
78. Bill Young – Andrew Young                    Wolfe River Juniors                   0
  Day 1: 2   03-00   Total:   2  03-00
80. Liam Johnson – Blaine Grassl                 Southern Illinois Future Jr Angl      0
  Day 1: 1   02-08   Total:   1  02-08
81. Deacon Nyland – Isaiah Blattner              Zeeland Fishhawx                      0
  Day 1: 1   02-07   Total:   1  02-07
82. Knox White – Grayson Sanford                 Mt. Juliet Fishing – Juniors          0
  Day 1: 2   02-06   Total:   2  02-06
83. Tj Mcqueen – Brayden Zohner                  Jackson County Homeschool             0
  Day 1: 2   02-05   Total:   2  02-05
83. Bryce Stilen – Brett Nightingale             Scott West Juniors                    0
  Day 1: 2   02-05   Total:   2  02-05
85. Owen Williams – Jase Quattlebaum             Rehobeth Jr High School Team          0
  Day 1: 2   02-02   Total:   2  02-02
86. Kaysen Smith – Jonah Osment                  Crescent High School Jr. Anglers      0
  Day 1: 1   02-01   Total:   1  02-01
86. Conner White – Drake Highsmith               Junior Keystone Bassmasters           0
  Day 1: 1   02-01   Total:   1  02-01
88. Brystol Marsh – Madison Riley                Junior Garrett Bass Slayers           0
  Day 1: 1   01-15   Total:   1  01-15
89. Jack Jaracy – Mason Maat                     Ct Bass Thunder                       0
  Day 1: 2   01-14   Total:   2  01-14
90. Tripp  Jackson – Trig Mchone                 Meigs Middle School Fishing Team      0
  Day 1: 1   01-13   Total:   1  01-13
91. Jackson Feild – Camden Moody                 Mecklenburg Co Junior Bassmaster      0
  Day 1: 1   01-07   Total:   1  01-07
92. Brantley Faulkner – Christian Roche          Piedmont Youth Fishing Team           0
  Day 1: 1   01-06   Total:   1  01-06
93. Carsen Feinberg – Grant Klein                New Hampshire Jr. Bassmasters         0
  Day 1: 1   01-05   Total:   1  01-05
93. Oliver Williams – Corvin Katzban             Eagleton Fishing Team                 0
  Day 1: 1   01-05   Total:   1  01-05
95. Ryan Baas – Kade Baas                        Dubuque Bass                          0
  Day 1: 1   01-04   Total:   1  01-04
95. Troy Cunningham – Austin Shroyer             Mahomet Seymour Hs Bass Fishing       0
  Day 1: 1   01-04   Total:   1  01-04
95. Joseph Eskew – Nathan Banach                 Off The Hook Jr. Bassmasters          0
  Day 1: 1   01-04   Total:   1  01-04
98. Marshall Hyatt – Cooper Orton                Good Hope Junior Fishing Team         0
  Day 1: 1   01-03   Total:   1  01-03
99. Fisher Arnold – Jackson Caudill              Lakeland Junior Hawg Hunters          0
  Day 1: 1   01-00   Total:   1  01-00
99. Dixon Heflin – Toby Potts                    Bedford County Youth Bass Club –      0
  Day 1: 1   01-00   Total:   1  01-00
101. Colt Teague –                                Junior Keystone Bassmasters           0
  Day 1: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-15
102. Carter Kulpa – Elliot Weeks                  Hartley’s Hawgs Piglets               0
  Day 1: 1   00-13   Total:   1  00-13
103. Alexandre Tardif – Lucas Reid                New Hampshire Jr. Bassmasters         0
  Day 1: 1   00-04   Total:   1  00-04
104. Briar Blackwood – Colt Green                 Good Hope Junior Fishing Team         0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Rhett Corley – Cole Cawthon                  Northwest Rankin Jr Bass Fishing      0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Brayden Coussou – James Horne                Buggs Island Elite Anglers            0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Jase Cox – Bentley Oldfield                  Bath County Juniors                   0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Lliam Crisman – Wyatt Trihey                 Buggs Island Elite Anglers            0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Cason Curry – Jaxon Curry                    Rocky Mtn Bass Anglers                0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Blayne Gansner – Mathias Phipps              Festus Fishing Team                   0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Jace Gilliam – Jett Gilliam                  Wayne Pioneers Junior Team            0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Liam Jeddry – Garret Bertuzzi                Team Outcast Juniors                  0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Broghan Kuhns – Rylee Brunson                Junior Wildcats                       0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Micajah Pickette – Brantley Rice             Munford Fishing – Juniors             0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Kaidyn Ruark – Hunter Helton                 Bath County Juniors                   0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Mason Samson – Luke Warbin                   Wmrhs Bass Fishing                    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Kolton Scarlett – Hunter Nugent              Frederick County Bass                 0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Kam Sessions – Jasper Keogh                  Riley’s Catch                         0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Slade Smith – Landon Grigg                   Aybn Northern Junior                  0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
104. Grace Whiting – Mackenzie Vote               Rogers High School                    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        71       255       550-00
———————————-
          71       255       550-00





Chris Johnston Leads Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 6 at the St. Lawrence River

Brian Carter
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0
Chris Johnston Leads Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 6 at the St. Lawrence River

Canada pro catches 25-12 limit to take early lead in three-day event

MASSENA, N.Y. (July 25, 2025) – Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 6 Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches on the St. Lawrence River basically went to plan: Tons of big smallmouth hit the scales and Chris Johnston took the lead – the usual case on the big river. Weighing 25 pounds, 12 ounces, Johnston is only a few ounces ahead, and has many in hot pursuit – but so far, so good for the superlative Canadian pro.

In second, pro Banks Shaw basically put a bow on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year and Polaris Rookie of the Year honors, sacking up 25-8 before 11 o’clock in the morning. In third, pro Hayden O’Barr also got over the quarter century mark with 25-3, and pros Clay Reece, Jacob Walker, Marshall Hughes and John Levesque all broke the 24-pound mark. In all, 13 pros weighed in over 23 pounds on Day 1 – a pretty impressive feat considering the runs many are making, and Day 2 could set up a fascinating final day.

Link to Photo Gallery of Day 1 on-the-water: St. Lawrence River delivers on Day 1 of Invitationals Stop 6
Link to Video of Fish-Catch Highlights of Day 1 from the St. Lawrence River

Running through all of Johnston’s accomplishments would take too much space, but he’s won at the top level in Florida and New York, and is coming off an AOY title on the Elite Series in 2024. Johnston won Angler of the Year way back in 2009, in his first season as a pro on the Toyota Series Northern Division – a sign of great things to come.

On Friday, Johnston said he got off to a slow start, well off his usual standard on the river.

“To be honest, it didn’t start out the way I wanted it to,” Johnston said. “I made a big run, and I think in my first four stops, which took me to about 11:00, I had three or four bass for, like, 8 pounds – nothing I wanted to weigh in.”

Then, Johnston turned it on.

“I switched it up, I went to a different area of the river, and I had four or five areas, and every one of those areas had some fish,” he said. “And I’d catch two or three off each spot.”

With forward-facing sonar off the table on Day 2, Johnston isn’t planning on playing for an easy limit – something some of his competition is looking to do.

“I’ll do a couple things different,” he said. “A couple of the areas I caught them, there was no ‘Scope today. But I’ll fish a couple areas I didn’t hit today that hopefully are not so much ‘Scope areas, but they’re big-fish areas. I could probably go to some areas and catch 19 to 22, but I don’t think I’m going to go that route. I’m going to go to areas where there’s 5s and 6s, but I may not get five. But I’m going to try it and see what happens. I’ve got nothing to lose.”

If the plan works out, Johnston could put a big gap between himself and some of the competition.

Pro Banks Shaw also had himself a day on the river. Doubting Shaw this year has been a sure way to sink a Phoenix Fantasy Fishing team. Despite never having been to the St. Lawrence before, the young pro got out to a hot start on Day 1 and basically locked down both points titles.

Suffice to say, he’s going to be a handful next year on the Bass Pro Tour.

After a good practice, Shaw’s day went even better than he thought it would.

“I started on my main place,” he said. “Actually I ended up losing one, I snapped one off right off the bat, it come out of the water, like a 5 or 6-pounder for sure. And that kind of got to me a little bit, but I was like, ‘Oh well, there’s plenty more down there.’ Like an hour and a half later, I had 25 pounds and I just kind of worked my way back toward the ramp and played it safe and looked for some new fish for tomorrow.”

Though Shaw could probably go back to his primary area and fish without LiveScope, he’s strongly considering locking up the points situation with a limit on Day 2 and leaving it at that.

“I think I can catch 15 pounds for sure,” he said. “I think that right there will have me in the cut, I would hope with, like, 40 pounds  for two days, but I’d like to have 21 or 22. I’m going to decide on it. I might run to those fish I had today because they’re there. And I know I could grind out five bites, and they’re going to be five good bites. But it’s one of those deals where I just want to play it safe. Heck, I could go out there and break down tomorrow and not catch a fish and bump out of everything.”

Whatever he decides, the odds are good that Shaw will earn some hardware at weigh-in on Day 2 – his lead is too big. And if he comes in with another big bag, he’s likely to keep the heat on Johnston.

The top 20 pros after Day 1 on the St. Lawrence River are:

1st:        Chris Johnston, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada., five bass, 25-12
2nd:       Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 25-8
3rd:       Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., five bass, 25-3
4th:        Clay Reece, Lexington, Ky., five bass, 24-13
5th:        Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., five bass, 24-10
6th:        Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, five bass, 24-7
7th:        John Levesque, Nashua, N.H., five bass, 24-0
8th:        Bob Behrle, Shelby, Ala., five bass, 23-13
9th:        Lane Olson, Forest Grove, Ore., five bass, 23-12
10th:     Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 23-10
11th:     Nick Hatfield, Chuckey, Tenn., five bass, 23-5
12th:     John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., five bass, 23-3
13th:     Hayden Marbut, Grant, Ala., five bass, 23-2
14th:     Jimmy Washam, Stantonville, Tenn., five bass, 22-14
15th:     Brian Latimer, Belton, S.C., five bass, 22-9
16th:     Brent Anderson, Kingston Springs, Tenn., five bass, 22-8
17th:     Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., five bass, 22-6
18th:     Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 22-4
19th:     Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., five bass, 22-3
20th:     Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., five bass, 21-12

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

Overall, there were 435 bass weighing 1,705 pounds, 12 ounces caught by 88 pros Friday. The catch included 86 five-bass limits.

Pro John Murray of Spring City, Tennessee, brought a bass weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces, to earn the Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award of $1,000.

The three-day MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 6 at the St. Lawrence River Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches is hosted by Richmond Region Tourism and features professional bass anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000.

In Tackle Warehouse Invitationals competition, the full field compete in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 6 at the St. Lawrence River Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches is determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight.

Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET each day from the Massena Intake Boat Launch, located at 1415 State Highway 131 in Massena, New York. Weigh-ins will be held at the boat launch and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 6 at the St. Lawrence River Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 1 on CBS Sports Network.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, WIX Filters and YETI.

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





Falardeau claims wire-to-wire victory at Upper Chesapeake Bay

Brian Carter
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Falardeau claims wire-to-wire victory at Upper Chesapeake Bay

Tennessee’s Dillon Falardeau goes wire-to-wire to win the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by SEVIIN with a three-day total of 62 pounds, 13 ounces.

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

July 25, 2025

Falardeau claims wire-to-wire victory at Upper Chesapeake Bay

Opens_StCroix_Sevin_4C-RASTER.png

NORTH EAST, Md. — For 10 years, Dillon Falardeau served his country as an artillery officer in the Army National Guard. But when the time came to leave the service, the Rhode Island native knew – and has known since he was a toddler – he wanted to be a professional bass angler. 

Using the skills he has built up fishing and guiding the Tennessee River, the 31-year-old put together a dominating performance at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by SEVIIN, catching a three-day total of 62 pounds, 13 ounces to claim his first title in a national level circuit.

“This is a dream come true. I’ve been dreaming about it for 30 years. I always wanted to get it done and now I’ve got the first one,” he said. “My whole plan was to try and go pro, I just needed to figure out how to make some money. I went on deployment and made enough money to give it a try.”

Alabama’s Lucas Lindsay finished second with 53-12, over 9 pounds behind Falardeau, while Florida’s Dave Frost earned third place with a total of 53-6.

Along with the $34,279 first-place prize and a trophy, Falardeau punched his ticket to the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour scheduled for March 13-15 on the aforementioned Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn. 

Falardeau had never fished a tidal river prior to this week, but it didn’t take him long to grasp where he needed to be during the tide cycles. Opening the tournament in the lead with 22-7, the Hixson, Tenn., pro landed 19-6 on Day 2 before catching 21-4 on Championship Friday, the biggest bag of Day 3 by a wide margin. 

“The hardest thing was trying to catch a fish during the slack high tide,” Falardeau explained. “That is when I caught them today. But I felt super comfortable because it was current. I just treated it like the Tennessee River.”

That final day limit wouldn’t have been possible without a critical move. After spending three hours in his primary area on the south side of the Susquehanna Flats during the lower tide, and only one keeper bass to show for it, Falardeau decided it was time to move to an area on the north side of the flat that he had not yet fished during the tournament. 

“On my (best) spot, I knew I had an hour window to catch one or two big ones. I hooked a big one and jumped it off. It took a little while to get that out of my head. After another hour, that window was gone and muddy water moved in. I knew I had to go find something else. 

There, he found much cleaner water as well as a high spot in 2 feet of water that was breaking the momentum of the incoming tide. Keeping the boat in 4 feet of water, Falardeau landed every bass he brought back to Friday’s final weigh-in in a two-hour flurry around that high spot, including two 5-pounders and several 4-pounders.

“I put my trolling motor down and saw the water was clean and the current was moving. Right away I knew I made the right decision,” he said. “The wind calmed down for 30 minutes and 100 yards towards the middle of the flat I saw a slick coming across that was about 100 yards long. Usually when you see that it is because the current is rolling over. Sure enough, there was a current break, and it was lights out.” 

The Chickamauga Lake guide used plenty of concepts he has learned about current and grass on the famous east Tennessee reservoir this week on the Upper Chesapeake Bay. During practice, he searched for areas with mixtures of aquatic vegetation and found largemouth hiding in holes within that vegetation. Although he didn’t use his forward-facing sonar to catch individual bass, he did use it to locate the voids in the grass as well as baitfish. 

On the south side of the Flats, Falardeau rotated between several different sweet spots in 2 to 5 feet of water within a half-mile circle. All the bass in his Day 1 limit and four of the bass in his Day 2 limit were caught out of this area when the tide rushed out of the Bay in the afternoons. As he waited for the tide to get right, he would visit a separate grass line and fill out an 11 to 13-pound limit. 

A 3/8-ounce black and blue Z-Man JackHammer paired with a 4.5 black and blue Hog Farmer Spunk Shad trailer produced the bulk of his bites. He tossed the Jackhammer on a Dobyns 736 extra-heavy glass rod paired with a Shimano Chronarch spooled with 12-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon. 

Falardeau also caught a couple key largemouth on a chartreuse/black back Yo-Zuri squarebill crankbait and one quality keeper on a 3/8-ounce spinnerbait.

Not only is he Classic bound, Falardeau is eighth in St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN Division I points after three tournaments and almost certainly claimed his spot in the Elite Qualifier Division with the win.

Lindsay also found success on the south side of the Susquehanna Flats, landing the majority of his bass along a one mile stretch of the expansive shallow area. The Auburn, Ala. native opened the tournament in sixth with 19-13 before jumping to second with 19-6. He lost several big bites early on Day 3 and closed out the tournament with a limit weighing 14-9. 

“I think everyone knew it was going to be won on the flats,” the Auburn University alum said. “I found a stretch that was a little over a mile long and I would drift over it with my Power Poles in the water to slow me down.”

Shorter grass, mostly eelgrass and peppergrass, were his most productive pieces of cover. Around those stretches, he rotated between 3/8, 1/2-ounce and 3/4-ounce green pumpkin Jackhammers paired with Yamamoto Zako trailers. 

“When I found vibrant, green grass, that is when you would catch them.”

Frost caught limits weighing 16-14, 19-3 and 17-7 on the Susquehanna Flats to notch the second Top 3 finish of his Bassmaster career. 

The Florida resident fished grass the entire tournament, with his best bait being a ChatterBait. To generate bites in deeper grass, he would yo-yo it almost like a blade bait. On the final day, however, the water color was just right to generate a topwater bite. Frost filled a limit early in the morning on a Heddon Super Spook and two more good largemouth on a Zoom Horny Toad. 

“I was just looking at the water thinking it was right to throw a topwater,” Frost explained. “I hadn’t thrown a Horny Toad all week, I had to search for a hook to build one on. Five casts with it I caught one. Ten casts later I caught another one. 

“This place, you need to adjust constantly,” he added.

Richard LeadBeater of Pitman, N.J., claimed Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors with a 6-5 largemouth he landed on Day 2.

With three of the four tournaments completed, Lindsay leads the Division I points race with 570 points. Alabama’s Matt Adams is second with 563 points followed by Virginia’s Ryan Lachniet in third with 560 points, Georgia’s Cody Stahl in fourth with 553 points and Georgia’s Tyler Campbell in fifth with 547 points. Connor Jacob, Russ Lane, Falardeau, Chris Blanchette and Micheal Stout round out the Top 10.

The Top 50 after the finale on the St. Lawrence River next week will advance to the Elite Qualifier Division, a three-tournament gauntlet that will award 10 invites to the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series roster. New York’s Billy Gilbert is currently on the bubble with 410 points. 

2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by SEVIIN 7/23-7/25
Upper Chesapeake Bay, North East  MD.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1.  Dillon Falardeau       Hixson, TN              15  62-13  200  $34,279.00
  Day 1: 5   22-07     Day 2: 5   19-02     Day 3: 5   21-04   
2.  Lucas Lindsay          Auburn , AL             15  53-12  199  $13,712.00
  Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   19-06     Day 3: 5   14-09   
3.  Dave Frost             Mount Dora, FL          15  53-06  198  $10,284.00
  Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 5   19-03     Day 3: 5   17-05   
4.  Josh Bragg             Fayetteville, GA        15  53-03  197   $9,598.00
  Day 1: 5   22-03     Day 2: 5   14-03     Day 3: 5   16-13   
5.  Duke Nave              Oxford, PA              15  53-01  196   $8,913.00
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   17-08     Day 3: 5   17-04   
6.  Easton Lindus          Woodville, WI           15  51-13  195   $8,227.00
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   17-00     Day 3: 5   16-08   
7.  Matt Messer            Warfield, KY            15  49-02  194   $7,541.00
  Day 1: 5   17-05     Day 2: 5   17-01     Day 3: 5   14-12   
8.  Tyler Campbell         Martin, GA              13  48-12  193   $6,856.00
  Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   21-11     Day 3: 3   09-02   
9.  Trey Richardson III    Gambrills, MD           14  46-13  192   $6,856.00
  Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 4   15-00     Day 3: 5   12-09   
10. Steve Dimatteo         Lancaster, PA           14  46-07  191   $6,856.00
  Day 1: 5   22-05     Day 2: 4   12-10     Day 3: 5   11-08   
———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
     Richard Leadbeater       Pitman, NJ          06-05        $750.00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1       121       682      1900-12
 2       103       613      1653-07
 3         9        48       151-10
———————————-
         233      1343      3705-13





Whitewater Fishing adds Vintage Duck Camo to its popular Lightweight Tech Hoodie collection

Brian Carter
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Whitewater Fishing adds Vintage Duck Camo to its popular Lightweight Tech Hoodie collection
Quack, Quack
Whitewater Fishing adds Vintage Duck Camo to its popular Lightweight Tech Hoodie collection
MUSKEGON, Mich. (July 25, 2025) – They say that most anglers hunt, but all hunters fish. Now there’s ample statistical grey area in that outdoor industry adage, but let’s just say a lot of outdoorsy types both hunt and fish. So, paying homage to the crossover crowd as well as hunting-curious anglers, Whitewater Fishing adds a Vintage Duck Camo pattern to the Lightweight Tech Hoodie assortment.  Generally, lightweight performance fishing shirts provide comfortable protection from the sun while wicking moisture to keep anglers cool during the heat of the day. But many so-called fishing tech shirts have a downside. It’s called permastink. The lightweight polyester that performs so well in warm temperatures has a small pore structure that can trap and tightly grip bacteria and odor molecules. Once entombed, these odors can be difficult or impossible to remove, even with repeated washings. 
Whitewater’s Lightweight Tech Hoodie delivers a triple dose of technology to keep anglers dry, protected from solar radiation, and smelling fresh. Our 100% polyester interlock fabric delivers supreme, next-to-skin comfort, while wicking perspiration to keep anglers comfy and dry. UPF 50 provides both UVA and UVB skin protection that effectively blocks over 96% of ultraviolet radiation. And an antimicrobial treatment controls and prevents odors, including the permastink that can infiltrate untreated polyester garments.Whitewater’s stretchy premium polyester material is like witchcraft, too. Silky smooth to the touch, it also maintains its athletic fit after numberless wearings and washings. It functions like another layer of skin, one that protects you from the sun and draws moisture away. In these economic times when every purchase is under scrutiny, the Lightweight Tech Hoodie passes the performance and practicality tests as well.  
Vintage Duck Camo Lightweight Tech Hoodie FEATURES:100% stretch polyester fabricFlatlock seams for next-to-skin comfortMoisture wicking for comfort and fast dryingUPF 50 solar protectionAntimicrobial treatment controls and prevents odorsTailored fit for comfort and mobility Available in five sizes, men’s SM-3XVintage Duck Camo$44.99





Terry Hedrick & Jonathan East Win Big Mouth Bassmasters Leesville Lake Night Tourney

Brian Carter
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Terry Hedrick & Jonathan East Win Big Mouth Bassmasters Leesville Lake Night Tourney

Friday night at Leesville Lake brought out the brave and the bold for our very first night tournament — and wow, what a fun, different, and slightly challenging experience it was! Thank you to everyone who came out to fish under the stars!

? 1st Place: Terry Hedrick & Jonathan East — 3 fish, 9.75 lbs
? 2nd Place: Ben Burnette & Jacob East — 3 fish, 9.46 lbs
? Biggest Fish: Terry Hedrick & Jonathan East — 6.44 lbs

We’re already looking forward to seeing everyone again next month! ?
Mark your calendars for 8/16 — our Benefit Tournament at Monacan Park is up next!





Decorated Reel Notches Another Victory

Brian Carter
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Decorated Reel Notches Another Victory
Decorated Reel Notches Another Victory
DAIWA’s enriched freshwater/saltwater crossover Ballistic MQ LT voted Best Freshwater Reel at ICAST 2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 24, 2025) – Earlier iterations of DAIWA’s Ballistic spinning reel have earned editor’s pick accolades, even selected as Outdoor Life’s “Best Overall Reel” for 2024. And just last week, the further improved Ballistic MQ LT collected the most votes for ICAST’s “Best Freshwater Reel” in Orlando, Florida.The cosmetically striking Ballistic MQ LT is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. “MQ and AIRDRIVE designs combine with TOUGH DIGIGEAR to produce immaculate innerworkings,” said DAIWA Senior Marketing Manager, Marc Mills. “The end result is impressive power, torque, and a smoothness not found in other similarly priced reels.” And, by annointing the Ballistic MQ LT with DAIWA’s proprietary MAGSEAL, the real is sanctioned for both freshwater and saltwater use.Sales already soaring, the Ballistic MQ LT will be a winner in your collection as well. 
DAIWA team with “Best Freshwater Reel” and “Best Freshwater Rod” awards.
ABOUT DAIWA’s Ballistic MQ LT“This is the reel that’ll have you demanding more DAIWA in your boat and back of your truck,” exclaimed Mills. “It’s that first step into fishing a true premium class reel, yet the Ballistic MQ LT is priced like a midrange model.”Performance-wise, Mills first recognized the Ballistic MQ LT’s smooth and effortless reeling. “It’s all about DAIWA’s exclusive AIRDRIVE system. “The combination of the AIRDRIVE Rotor, Shaft, Spool, and Bail deliver an exceptionally lightweight, efficient, frictionless, and airy performance you’ll feel from the moment you draw back the bail for a cast, to retrieving a lure, and ultimately, fighting a fish.”Another standout feature of the freshwater/saltwater crossover Ballistic MQ LT is its monocoque (MQ) frame. “The single piece, MQ chassis offers several benefits,” said Mills. “The Ballistic MQ LT sports our ZAION V monocoque body, which is constructed of carbon fiber, making the reel remarkably lightweight, rigid, durable, and corrosion resistant. MQ also delivers 360-degrees of stability and improved waterproofing over reels with conventional, screw-in sideplates.”
The LT in Ballistic MQ LT stands for “Light Tough”. The abbreviation represents DAIWA’s minimalist technology that allows them to engineer a physically smaller reel but with increased strength. Despite the lesser overall size, when paired with MQ technology, the reel actually houses larger and more robust gearing, DAIWA’s TOUGH DIGIGEAR, to be accurate – more on that below.  “You have to hold the reel in your hand to really appreciate the comfortable compactness,” said Mills. “For example, a 3000-size Ballistic MQ LT feels better fitted and more manageable than a reel said to be the same size from other manufacturers. Then, open the bail and start spinning and you’ll be sold on the total technological package that goes into this special reel.”Cosmetically, the refreshed Ballistic MQ LT flashes a regal metallic blue and red blend. This, while a compressed EVA handle proffers a confident grip and natural feel. DAIWA’s Ballistic MQ LT is available in sizes 1000, 2000, 2500, 3000 and 4000, spanning the gamut from stream trout to panfish, to walleyes and bass, and inshore casting for snook and spotted seatrout…and everything in between.
Ballistic MQ LT FEATURES:ZAION V MONOCOQUE BODYDAIWA’s advanced, single component, carbon fiber ZAION V MONOCOQUE (MQ) Body is extremely lightweight, rigid, durable, and corrosion resistant. By removing the traditional screws used to attach sideplates, MQ maximizes internal space for larger diameter gears. These larger gears – DAIWA’s TOUGH DIGIGEAR – yield improved power, torque, and leverage.AIRDRIVE® RotorThe smart design lessens weight, provides even rotary balance and stress distribution, and reduces vibrations, all while maintaining strength. Delivers a more precisely balanced reel performance than competitors.AIRDRIVE® BailInnovative bail design features a hollow, tubular stainless steel bail that delivers maximum rigidity and strength with minimum weight. The smooth protrusion-free construction lets the line easily flow to the line roller for trouble free line control.AIRDRIVE® SPOOLOverall weight reduction is at the core of DAIWA’s progressive AIRDRIVE Spool. While lessening weight, the AIRDRIVE Spool also reduces friction to support the drag release.  AIRDRIVE® SHAFTThe AIRDRIVE SHAFT creates smooth, quiet rotation and provides anglers with enhanced torque and power. In addition, both ends of pinion gear are supported with bearings to transmit the crank power from the handle to the rotor with enhanced efficiency. By adding high quality collars to the main-shaft, rotational noise has been reduced significantly.
TOUGH DIGIGEARA7075 Aircraft Grade aluminum is forged into bigger gears with larger tooth patterns and perfectly meshed between an ultra-tough drive gear and pinion gears for optimized speed, torque, exactness, smoothness, and durability.ATD (Advanced Tournament Drag) TYPE-LThe ATD TYPE-L drag system works in tandem with the pull of a fish. The initial response of the drag has been significantly improved, especially when using lighter lines to reduce the load and enable a quicker catch and minimize stress on the fish.LONG CAST ABSThe friction caused by line contacting the spool edge during casting has been reduced. The two-stage spool edge shape is engineered for a smooth line release. The spool edge is designed for long casts with the maximum amount of line spooled. Casting distance is increased compared to models without the LONG CAST-ABS.MAGSEALED® ShaftUtilizes DAIWA’s patented treatment for keeping water, dust, and grit from encountering the reel’s inner components. MAGSEALED is a membrane of magnetic oil that creates a low-friction seal that delivers a smooth rotation and long lasting performance.BALL BEARING SYSTEMThe Ballistic MQ LT features a 2 CRBB (corrosion resistant ball bearings) 6BB (ball bearings) + 1 roller bearing system for supreme performance and protection. Unlike ordinary “corrosion resistant” bearings with an unprotected open race, DAIWA’s CRBB ball bearings are shielded to seal out sand, fine grit, salt crystals and other abrasives for even longer life. DAIWA’s CRBB ball bearings feature 12 times the corrosion resistance of traditionsal ball bearings.MSRP $239.99*
*MSRP subject to change
For DAIWA’s latest color catalog and/or information on DAIWA dealers in your area, call DAIWA’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for DAIWA’s web site is daiwa.us





Pro-Guide Batteries named title sponsor of Bassmaster Elite Series finale and Screen of Knowledge for 2025 season

Brian Carter
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Pro-Guide Batteries named title sponsor of Bassmaster Elite Series finale and Screen of Knowledge for 2025 season

July 24, 2025

Pro-Guide Batteries named title sponsor of Bassmaster Elite Series finale and Screen of Knowledge for 2025 season

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. announced today that Pro-Guide Batteries has been named the title sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River, set for August 21-24 in La Crosse, Wis. In addition, Pro-Guide will serve as the official sponsor of the Screen of Knowledge, powering live broadcasts and in-depth tournament analysis for the remainder of the 2025 Bassmaster season.

The Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River, the final regular-season event of the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series season, is expected to be a thrilling finale with high stakes for anglers battling to qualify for the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour and cement their place in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.

“Pro-Guide was founded with anglers in mind, and for 45 years we’ve been powering their pursuit of greatness,” said Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Pate Shumaker. “To be the title sponsor of the final Bassmaster Elite event in La Crosse is an incredible honor. It’s our way of celebrating the grit, determination and passion that defines the sport — and giving back to the community that has helped build our brand from the ground up.”

In addition to title sponsorship of the Mississippi River event, Pro-Guide’s support of the Screen of Knowledge will bring fans closer to the action. This key feature of the Bassmaster LIVE broadcast delivers expert insights, real-time statistics and educational content throughout tournament coverage.

“Partnering with Pro-Guide Batteries — a brand built by and for anglers — is a perfect fit for B.A.S.S.,” said Phillip Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of B.A.S.S. “Their commitment to powering performance on the water and enhancing the fan experience off the water makes them a tremendous partner as we close out the Elite season and deliver world-class coverage to bass fishing fans everywhere.”

“We are thrilled to announce Pro-Guide Batteries as the title sponsor of the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series at Upper Mississippi River,” said Marketing Manager for Pro-Guide Batteries, Craig Storms. “This partnership reflects our commitment to powering the passions of outdoor enthusiasts and aligns perfectly with the energy and dedication of the Bassmaster community. We look forward to being a part of the excitement on the water and supporting the sport’s top anglers in their pursuit of excellence.”

The Mississippi River event marks the first time Pro-Guide has served as a title sponsor for a Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series event, and it comes at a time when the company continues to expand its footprint among competitive and recreational anglers nationwide.





Falardeau increases lead at Chesapeake Bay despite unfavorable winds

Brian Carter
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Falardeau increases lead at Chesapeake Bay despite unfavorable winds

Dillon Falardeau maintains the lead on Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by SEVIIN with a total of 41 pounds, 9 ounces.

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

July 24, 2025

Falardeau increases lead at Chesapeake Bay despite unfavorable winds

Opens_StCroix_Sevin_4C-RASTER.png

NORTH EAST, Md. — Since he was a little kid, Dillon Falardeau has dreamed of crossing the Bassmaster Classic stage. He’s now five quality bass away from making that dream a reality.

The Hixson, Tenn., pro caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 2 ounces on Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by SEVIIN, increasing his two-day total to 41-9 after landing a tournament-best 22-7 on the first day of competition. 

“It has always been a dream,” Falardeau said. “I wouldn’t even know what to do (if I win). It will be an emotional event if I do walk away with it. I knew today if I hunkered down and got three or four bites they would be good ones, and that is what happened.”

Falardeau will open Championship Friday with a 1-15 lead over Georgia’s Tyler Campbell, who climbed to second-place with a total of 39-10. Alabama’s Lucas Lindsay is third with 39-3.  

A stronger than expected south wind blew through the Chesapeake Bay on Thursday, adding another challenging layer to a less than ideal tide cycle. Areas dirtied up and water levels rose during the high tide cycle in the morning before holding the low tide back in the afternoon. 

Combine that with the fishing pressure in the Susquehanna Flats, Day 2 turned out to be a much tougher day for much of the field. Only three bags over 19 pounds crossed the stage and 18 fewer limits were caught by the 154 boat field today than yesterday.

Throughout the first two days of the tournament, Falardeau has focused on two main areas. His primary region is a half-mile circle located on the massive Susquehanna Flats. Within that circle, he has located three or four sweet spots with mixtures of vegetation in 4 to 6 feet of water and baitfish which have produced his best bites of the tournament, including a nearly 6-pound largemouth on Day 1. 

The outgoing tide, which started late in the morning and lasted until after official tournament hours both days, has been Falardeau’s best bite window so far.

A Z-Man JackHammer paired with a 4.5 Hog Farmer Spunk Shad has triggered many of his better largemouth as well as an unnamed squarebill crankbait. 

He has thrown those same two baits around his secondary area, a grassline in 2 to 4 feet of water he feels isn’t influenced nearly as much by the tide cycle. 

“It is protected and has three types of grasses,” Falardeau explained. “I focused my whole practice on finding areas with three or four different types of grass.”

While he has landed close to 10 bass in that area, including his initial limit on Day 2, Falardeau’s bigger largemouth have all come from the flat.

Falardeau started Day 2 on the flat, but with the incoming tide and the wind blowing over his best spots, he quickly realized he needed to move to his secondary area. Once there, the Chickamauga Lake guide proceeded to fill out a limit within an hour and made one cull before moving back out to the flats. 

“I had to at least try where I caught my big bag yesterday, but I could tell right away it wasn’t happening,” he said. “I went to my limit spot, caught a limit and a good one, and then bounced around waiting on the tide. Once the tide was right, I showed back up and hunkered down.”

When he returned to his best spots around 1 p.m., Falardeau found the bass biting and landed four 4-pounders to cull up to his final tally for the day. Still, he feels like his day could have been even better if the conditions were different.

“Just quality bass, and that’s what lives on that spot,” he said. “The wind was pushing so much water into that area. You want it as low as possible. It makes them easier to find and catch. Even though the tide is going out, the wind got stronger and stronger and kept pushing more and more water in.”

After landing 17-15 on Day 1, Campbell jumped from 20th to second on Day 2 with a 21-11 limit of largemouth, the biggest stringer of the day. The Emmanuel University angler now finds himself in contention to qualify for his second-straight Bassmaster Classic after earning a spot in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic at Ray Roberts presented by Under Armour after winning the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship.

Mixtures of grasses, star grass and hydrilla, have also been the key to success for Campbell this week. On Day 1, he caught his limit in deeper grass. Due to the wind, that spot was even deeper on Day 2, and Campbell was forced to move shallower into a more crowded area. That move paid off in a big way.

“I woke up this morning and thought I was going to be in trouble. Where I caught them yesterday was in 12 feet of water all day today. I knew I had to make some adjustments today. I slid up into a little area where I had some bites in practice. Once I settled in I got my first bite, and it was hot and heavy for the next hour.”

Without touching his trolling motor, Campbell caught the bulk of his weight between 8 and 9 a.m. using one specific technique he feels no one else is using. His area consists of three sweet spots, all within a cast of each other. 

“I caught seven, and six of them were over 4 pounds. They were all cookie-cutter-butterballs,” he said. “I caught my last keeper almost at the crest of high tide.”

Lindsay has been the most consistent angler thus far, landing limits of 19-13 and 19-6 to finish Day 2 in third place with 39-3. The former Auburn University angler has also spent the majority of his time in the flats, finding success around shorter grass. Several baits helped him achieve his Day 1 limit, but a bladed jig was by far his most productive today. 

Lindsay enjoyed a short flurry early in the day, landing three largemouth before 9 a.m., including a 5-pounder. After a long lull, he finished out his limit. Unfortunately, he was forced to head back to weigh-in early to preserve the health of his bass. He did suffer an 8-ounce dead-fish penalty, keeping him out of second-place.  

Pitman, N.J.’s Richard Leadbeater claimed Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors with a 6-5 largemouth he landed on Day 2, unseating Christian Nash’s 5-13 largemouth from Day 1 for Big Bass of the Tournament honors. 

Through eight competition days, Lindsay leads the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN Division I points race with 569 points followed by Alabama’s Matt Adams in second with 563 points. Virginia’s Ryan Lachniet is third with 560 points, Campbell is fourth with 553 points and Georgia’s Cody Stahl is fifth with 553 points. The Top 50 in points after next week’s St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN event will advance to the Elite Qualifier Division, where 10 anglers will receive an invite to the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series roster.

The Top 10 anglers will launch from North East Community Park at 6 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The winner will punch their ticket to the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, given they have fished all four events in Division I.

2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by SEVIIN 7/23-7/25
Upper Chesapeake Bay, North East  MD.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Dillon Falardeau       Hixson, TN              10  41-09  200
  Day 1: 5   22-07     Day 2: 5   19-02   
2.  Tyler Campbell         Martin, GA              10  39-10  199
  Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   21-11   
3.  Lucas Lindsay          Auburn , AL             10  39-03  198
  Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   19-06   
4.  Josh Bragg             Fayetteville, GA        10  36-06  197
  Day 1: 5   22-03     Day 2: 5   14-03   
5.  Dave Frost             Mount Dora, FL          10  36-01  196
  Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 5   19-03   
6.  Duke Nave              Oxford, PA              10  35-13  195
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   17-08   
7.  Easton Lindus          Woodville, WI           10  35-05  194
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   17-00   
8.  Steve Dimatteo         Lancaster, PA            9  34-15  193
  Day 1: 5   22-05     Day 2: 4   12-10   
9.  Matt Messer            Warfield, KY            10  34-06  192
  Day 1: 5   17-05     Day 2: 5   17-01   
10. Trey Richardson III    Gambrills, MD            9  34-04  191
  Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 4   15-00   
11. Trey Swindle           Cleveland, AL           10  34-01  190   $6,170.00
  Day 1: 5   19-02     Day 2: 5   14-15   
12. Cody Stahl             Barnsville, GA          10  33-13  189   $4,799.00
  Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   14-06   
13. Chris Blanchette       Edisto Island, SC       10  33-13  188   $4,113.00
  Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 5   17-12   
14. Ryan Lachniet          Gum Spring, VA          10  33-12  187   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   20-02     Day 2: 5   13-10   
15. Matt Adams             Guntersville, AL         9  33-09  186   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 4   15-09   
16. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               10  32-10  185   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   13-09   
17. Micheal Stout          Gallatin, TN            10  32-07  184   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   14-11   
18. John Hauserman         Ellicott City, MD       10  32-01  183   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   15-08     Day 2: 5   16-09   
19. Jack Rinkers           Swarthmore, PA           9  31-14  182   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 4   10-10     Day 2: 5   21-04   
20. Brady Vernon           Sterrett, AL            10  31-10  181   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   17-01   
21. James Chandler         Liberty, TX             10  31-10  180   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   16-04   
22. Brian Mullaney         Ijamsville, MD          10  31-09  179   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   14-14   
23. Brandon McMillan       Clewiston, FL           10  31-08  178   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   13-15   
24. Hayden Gaddis          Dandridge, TN           10  31-02  177   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   13-05   
25. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL              10  31-01  176   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   15-00     Day 2: 5   16-01   
26. Connor Jacob           Peoria, IL              10  31-00  175   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   14-14   
27. Thomas Bavaro III      Fallston, MD            10  30-13  174   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   18-12     Day 2: 5   12-01   
28. Tyler Conde            Chepachet, RI           10  30-13  173   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 5   12-12   
29. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           10  30-13  172   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   13-11   
30. Billy Gilbert          Hamburg, NY             10  30-13  171   $3,428.00
  Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   15-00   
31. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL          10  30-09  170   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   14-01   
32. Parker Guy             Appling, GA             10  30-06  169   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   15-01   
33. Pete Gluszek           Mount Laurel, NJ        10  30-04  168   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   16-04   
34. Erik Brztowski         Lemont, IL              10  30-01  167   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   15-14   
35. Cody Ross              Livingston, TX          10  30-00  166   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 5   13-12   
36. Colden Baker           Ridgeway, SC            10  29-10  165   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 5   12-07   
37. Kyle Austin            Ridgeville, SC          10  29-10  164   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 5   14-09   
38. Bryson Osteen          Live Oak, FL            10  29-09  163   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   13-15   
39. Blaine Bunney          Claremore, OK           10  29-09  162   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   14-10   
40. Sam Hanggi             Knoxville, TN           10  29-08  161   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   15-05   
41. Bobby Bakewell         Orlando, FL             10  29-07  160   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   15-13   
42. Grae Buck              Green Lane, PA          10  29-06  159   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   17-01   
43. John Pollard           Eclectic, AL            10  29-05  158   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 5   15-14   
44. Brandon Coulter        Knoxville, TN           10  29-04  157   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 5   12-13   
45. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ             10  28-15  156   $2,742.00
  Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   13-04   
46. River Lee              Diboll, TX              10  28-14  155
  Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   14-02   
47. John Duarte            Conway, SC              10  28-13  154
  Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 5   10-11   
48. Lucas Toliver          Paw Paw, MI             10  28-07  153
  Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   16-02   
49. John Duvall            Madison, GA             10  28-07  152
  Day 1: 5   15-00     Day 2: 5   13-07   
50. Dylan Welton           Middleville, MI         10  28-05  151
  Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   14-01   
51. Ryan Salzman           Huntsville, AL          10  28-04  150
  Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   16-11   
52. Caleb Hudson           Lincolnton, GA          10  28-04  149
  Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   12-09   
53. Jeremy Sadowski        Voluntown, CT           10  28-04  148
  Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   14-06   
54. Christian Nash         Allons, TN               8  28-02  147
  Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 3   08-01   
55. Chris Lighthizer       Zanesville, OH          10  28-00  146
  Day 1: 5   14-08     Day 2: 5   13-08   
56. Aaron Yavorsky         Palm Harbor, FL         10  27-13  145
  Day 1: 5   11-14     Day 2: 5   15-15   
57. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR         10  27-11  144
  Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 5   17-00   
58. Cody Detweiler         Guntersville, AL        10  27-11  143
  Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 5   16-03   
59. Wyatt Wisian           Ardmore, OK             10  27-07  142
  Day 1: 5   12-04     Day 2: 5   15-03   
60. Richard Leadbeater     Pitman, NJ              10  27-07  141
  Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 5   15-00   
61. Tristan McCormick      Bon Aqua, TN            10  27-06  140
  Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   11-12   
62. Bo Thomas              Edwardsburg, MI         10  27-04  139
  Day 1: 5   16-09     Day 2: 5   10-11   
63. Michael Neal           Dayton, TN              10  27-00  138
  Day 1: 5   15-15     Day 2: 5   11-01   
64. Evan White             Roanoke Rapids, NC      10  26-13  137
  Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   12-06   
65. Brooks Anderson        Marietta, GA            10  26-12  136
  Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 5   15-10   
66. Adam Rasmussen         Sturgeon Bay, WI        10  26-11  135
  Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   10-11   
67. Dave Miller            Stratford, CT           10  26-10  134
  Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 5   16-09   
68. Shayne Berlo           Mclean, VA              10  25-14  133
  Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   12-06   
69. Mike McClelland        Blue Eye, MO            10  25-10  132
  Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 5   13-03   
70. Donavan Carson         Bluff City, TN          10  25-10  131
  Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   12-10   
70. Lucas Murphy           West Columbia, MI       10  25-10  131
  Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   13-00   
72. Jacob Thompkins        Myrtle Beach, SC        10  25-07  129
  Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   11-15   
73. Teb Jones              Yalaha, MS               9  25-06  128
  Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 4   06-05   
74. John Hunter Jr         Shelbyville, KY         10  25-05  127
  Day 1: 5   08-15     Day 2: 5   16-06   
75. John Vanore            Mullica Hill, NJ        10  25-02  126
  Day 1: 5   11-05     Day 2: 5   13-13   
76. Nick Mandes            North Stonington, CT    10  24-15  125
  Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   10-05   
77. Luke Plunkett          Pinson, AL               9  24-09  124
  Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 4   09-13   
78. Casey Smith            Victor, NY              10  24-09  123
  Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   11-09   
79. Chris McCarthy         Woonsocket, RI          10  24-09  122
  Day 1: 5   11-10     Day 2: 5   12-15   
80. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               8  24-07  121
  Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 3   08-03   
81. Tyler Malone           Chunchula, AL            7  24-06  120
  Day 1: 5   20-10     Day 2: 2   03-12   
82. Darold Gleason         Leesville, LA           10  24-01  119
  Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   12-06   
83. TJ McKenzie            Georgetown, SC          10  24-01  118
  Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   12-06   
84. Dylan Akins            Flowery Branch, GA      10  24-00  117
  Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   08-14   
85. Alec Morrison          Peru, NY                10  23-15  116
  Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   12-04   
86. Chase Clarke           Virginia Beach, VA      10  23-10  115
  Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 5   11-03   
87. Michael Duarte         Middle River, MD        10  23-06  114
  Day 1: 5   14-14     Day 2: 5   08-08   
88. Kristine Fischer       Spring City, TN          9  23-06  113
  Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 4   12-05   
89. Byron Kenney Jr        Monticello, GA          10  23-04  112
  Day 1: 5   11-07     Day 2: 5   11-13   
90. Tommy Dunaway          Havana, FL              10  23-02  111
  Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   10-10   
91. Trey Schroeder         Theodosia, MO            9  23-01  110
  Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 4   10-02   
92. Joshua Kauffman        Marysville, PA          10  22-15  109
  Day 1: 5   10-08     Day 2: 5   12-07   
93. Tommy Wood             Peregian Springs AUSTRA  9  22-14  108
  Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 4   07-03   
94. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  22-14  107
  Day 1: 5   07-15     Day 2: 5   14-15   
95. Tommy Dickerson        Orange, TX              10  22-10  106
  Day 1: 5   10-04     Day 2: 5   12-06   
96. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA         10  22-07  105
  Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 5   10-11   
97. Michael King           Bunnlevel, NC            7  22-05  104
  Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 2   04-09   
98. Cole Drummond          Effingham, SC            8  22-05  103
  Day 1: 3   07-03     Day 2: 5   15-02   
99. Johnathan Crossland    Chapin, SC               9  22-04  102
  Day 1: 4   06-05     Day 2: 5   15-15   
100. Tyler Shawger          Zanesville, OH          10  22-04  101
  Day 1: 5   12-09     Day 2: 5   09-11   
101. Anthony Cicero IV      Wrightsville, PA        10  21-11  100
  Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   07-08   
102. Chris Kingree          Inverness, FL           10  21-00   99
  Day 1: 5   09-10     Day 2: 5   11-06   
103. Zach Goutremout        Chaumont, NY            10  20-12   98
  Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   08-15   
104. Laker Howell           Guntersville, AL        10  20-11   97
  Day 1: 5   09-13     Day 2: 5   10-14   
105. Tanner Hadden          Appling, GA              6  20-10   96
  Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 1   02-08   
106. Ryan Broughman         Corapeake, NC           10  20-09   95
  Day 1: 5   09-01     Day 2: 5   11-08   
107. Michael Sentore        Gloucester City, NJ      8  20-07   94
  Day 1: 5   13-01     Day 2: 3   07-06   
108. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           9  20-06   93
  Day 1: 4   06-10     Day 2: 5   13-12   
109. Freddy  Palmer         Estill Springs, TN      10  20-01   92
  Day 1: 5   10-05     Day 2: 5   09-12   
110. Brayden Rakes          Winston Salem, NC       10  19-06   91
  Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 5   08-11   
111. Joshua Weaver          Macon, GA               10  19-05   90
  Day 1: 5   09-08     Day 2: 5   09-13   
112. Johnny Fishbum Gundle  Pennsville, NJ           8  19-02   89
  Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 3   06-00   
113. Hunter Eubanks         Landrum , SC             8  18-11   88
  Day 1: 3   04-06     Day 2: 5   14-05   
114. Phil Kroll             Otego, NY                8  18-09   87
  Day 1: 4   07-01     Day 2: 4   11-08   
115. Kyle Weisenburger      Columbus Grv, OH        10  18-03   86
  Day 1: 5   09-09     Day 2: 5   08-10   
116. Parker Mott            Winter Garden, FL        8  17-06   85
  Day 1: 3   05-11     Day 2: 5   11-11   
117. Tanner Visco           Antioch, IL              8  16-11   84
  Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 3   04-14   
118. Matt Goudie            Conestoga, PA            7  16-07   83
  Day 1: 5   12-09     Day 2: 2   03-14   
119. Woo Daves              Spring Grove, VA         7  16-01   82
  Day 1: 5   10-08     Day 2: 2   05-09   
120. Clint Leonard Jr       Saint Cloud, FL          8  15-15   81
  Day 1: 5   10-02     Day 2: 3   05-13   
121. Troy Bowings Jr        Gainsville, FL           5  15-13   80
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   15-13   
122. Mikey Weems            Hull, TX                 7  15-07   79
  Day 1: 3   06-10     Day 2: 4   08-13   
123. Anthony Garcia         Los Angeles, CA          8  15-06   78
  Day 1: 5   10-02     Day 2: 3   05-04   
124. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH           7  15-06   77
  Day 1: 5   09-00     Day 2: 2   06-06   
125. Josh Gauthier          Petawawa CANADA          8  13-14   76
  Day 1: 4   06-10     Day 2: 4   07-04   
126. Danny Rodriguez        Monkton, MD              5  13-12   75
  Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 0   00-00   
127. Joe Morgan             Newfield, NJ             5  13-08   74
  Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 0   00-00   
128. Bridget Allen          Manheim, PA              6  12-15   73
  Day 1: 5   10-14     Day 2: 1   02-01   
129. Andrew Sams            Easton, MD               5  12-13   72
  Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 0   00-00   
130. Michael Spaulding Jr.  Dundee, MI               5  12-12   71
  Day 1: 2   04-03     Day 2: 3   08-09   
131. Colt Blanton           Piketon, OH              5  12-11   70
  Day 1: 1   01-03     Day 2: 4   11-08   
132. Troy Coney             Owego, NY                5  12-07   69
  Day 1: 4   10-06     Day 2: 1   02-01   
133. Trent Cole             Mullica Hill, NJ         4  12-04   68
  Day 1: 4   12-04     Day 2: 0   00-00   
134. Kristian Johnson       Belvidere, NJ            7  12-04   67
  Day 1: 2   04-08     Day 2: 5   07-12   
135. Clemente Gutierrez     Woodbridge, VA           5  11-09   66
  Day 1: 3   06-03     Day 2: 2   05-06   
136. Josh Ferrell           Big Springs, WV          4  10-15   65
  Day 1: 4   10-15     Day 2: 0   00-00   
137. Joseph DellaValle      Doylestown, PA           4  10-12   64
  Day 1: 4   10-12     Day 2: 0   00-00   
138. Derrick Sadlowski      Monaca, PA               5  10-06   63
  Day 1: 5   10-06     Day 2: 0   00-00   
139. Craig Townsend         Westampton, NJ           4  10-04   62
  Day 1: 4   10-04     Day 2: 0   00-00   
140. Mark Guhne             Hixson, TN               5  10-03   61
  Day 1: 5   10-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   
141. Jason Carpenter        Castle Pines, CO         5  10-01   60
  Day 1: 3   04-11     Day 2: 2   05-06   
142. Ryan Michl             Newton, IL               6  09-01   59
  Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 5   07-08   
143. Jim Shinn              Conowingo, MD            4  07-14   58
  Day 1: 1   01-08     Day 2: 3   06-06   
144. Dylan Fogarty          Mechanicsburg, PA        3  07-10   57
  Day 1: 2   05-10     Day 2: 1   02-00   
145. Rick Greene            Ocala, FL                4  07-04   56
  Day 1: 1   01-10     Day 2: 3   05-10   
146. Mark Lacey             Perryville, MD           3  06-06   55
  Day 1: 3   06-06     Day 2: 0   00-00   
147. Anastasia Patterson    Sumter, SC               3  06-04   54
  Day 1: 1   01-11     Day 2: 2   04-09   
148. Pavlo Fenik            Drexel Hill, PA          3  04-10   53
  Day 1: 3   04-10     Day 2: 0   00-00   
149. Kyle Healey            Almonte CANADA           2  03-10   52
  Day 1: 2   03-10     Day 2: 0   00-00   
150. Allen Brooks           Canton, GA               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   
150. William Kronander      Brownsville, PA          0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   
150. Rich Ortiz             Fort Ann, NY             0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   
150. Lance Owen             Greer, SC                0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   
150. Joe Shastay            Chester, NJ              0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1       121       682      1900-12
 2       103       613      1653-07
———————————-
         224      1295      3554-03





Current dynamics key for Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River

Brian Carter
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0
Current dynamics key for Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River

Waddington, N.Y., will host the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN July 31-Aug. 2.

Photo by Craig Lamb/B.A.S.S.

July 24, 2025

Current dynamics key for Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River

Opens_StCroix_Sevin_4C-RASTER.png

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — It all comes down to hydrology, really, and when anglers launch for the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN, those that best manage the rules of current flow will reap the rewards.

Competition days will be July 31-Aug. 2 with daily takeoffs from Whitaker Park at 6 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day back at the park at 2 p.m.

Stephen Browning, who has fished the St. Lawrence for over 15 years, has seen this premier smallmouth fishery take on many different looks. This time, he’s expecting business as usual.

“I think we’re going to be fishing a postspawn situation,” Browning said. “I think water clarity will be typical. Looking at the results of other recent events, water level and current looked to be normal. I expect it to be the same place we’ve been to for all these years.

“We’ll be past the full moon, so by the time we get there, the fish should all be done with their spawn. There could be smallmouth guarding fry, and if you get a bait anywhere near them, they will light it up.”

Clearly the most consequential detail of this event is the playing field. Competitors may fish U.S. or Canadian waters, with tournament boundaries extending from the Moses-Saunders Power Dam at Massena, N.Y., (no locking allowed) west to Kingston, Ontario on the north side and the town of Cape Vincent, N.Y., to the south. This will exclude the river mouth and Lake Ontario, but Browning knows the river offers plenty of opportunity.

“History tells us the bigger fish live in and near the lake, so anglers that run to the end of the cutoff will find some of the best quality,” Browning said. “It is a risky run (70-plus miles from takeoff), especially if the weather gets rough. Also, fishing pressure will take its toll after anglers have been fishing it for a few days.”

Browning went on to say that he does not believe the tournament will be won in a single area. Rather, he expects the most successful anglers to dial in the right depth and then run the many rock shoals up and down the river.

Current defines the major difference between lake fishing and river fishing — a point that impacts fish and fishermen. To frame this, consider the Great Lake region’s connectivity.

Water moves from Lake Superior, through the St. Marys River and into Lake Huron. Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay (west side of Huron) send their water through the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair (not officially a Great Lake) and the Detroit River to eventually reach Lake Erie.

Erie sends its water into Lake Ontario, either through the Welland Canal or the Niagara River and over the iconic falls. From there, a tremendous volume of Great Lakes water squeezes through the St. Lawrence River’s relatively narrow confines. The result — ripping current.

Wind and general water flow create lake current as well, but while anglers typically sit over or near specific targets and make repetitive presentations, stationary fishing is harder to execute throughout much of the river. Major land masses in the famous Thousand Islands region provide strategic breaks, but controlled drifts with trolling motors and, sometimes, drift socks account for most of the river efforts.

“The smallmouth love current and they like to let the water bring food to them, so they’ll leverage the contour (of rock shoals) as current breaks,” Browning said. “It’s all about food delivery and them not having to work too hard for it.”

Browning expects to see a lot of anglers using drop shots and jighead minnow presentations. For bottom dragging tactics, Carolina rigs and football jigs historically produce.

Furthermore, we can’t overlook the respectable number of sizable largemouth that roam the docks, seawalls and shallow vegetation. During the 2020 Bassmaster Elite run out of Clayton, N.Y., Brock Mosley committed to a green fish program and made a serious run at the title. He’d end up third, but in doing so, he spotlighted the fishery’s diversity.

“The largemouth guys will be frogging and flipping, but I don’t think 15 largemouth (three daily, five-fish limits) will win,” Browning said. “You better be targeting the big smallmouth.

“Usually the guys that catch them don’t have 20 rods on their deck; they have five,” Browning said. “You don’t need to overcomplicate it.”

Browning expects it will take 40 pounds to make the Day 3 cut. For a three-day winning weight, he’s looking for 64 to 68 pounds.

“I think it’s going to be a tight finish,” Browning said. “I really think 10th to first will be separated by no more than 3 pounds.”

Coverage of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN will be available on Bassmaster.com each day of the tournament. Roku will carry Bassmaster LIVE on Championship Saturday.

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





DAIWA goes all out with new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods and wins coveted Best Freshwater Rod at ICAST 2025

Brian Carter
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0
DAIWA goes all out with new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods and wins coveted Best Freshwater Rod at ICAST 2025
TATULA is Tops
DAIWA goes all out with new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods and wins coveted Best Freshwater Rod at ICAST 2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 23, 2025) – Trophies sure do look good on the mantle. But you know what looks even better? An emptied rod rack getting refilled to satisfy the next wave of hungry DAIWA customers. This is especially true for the buyers, distributors, sales folks, and shop owners who stock the gear that keeps anglers on the water.While DAIWA’s 2025 TATULA Bass Rods was voted Best Freshwater Rod by the fishing industry last week at ICAST, what’s even more significant to retailers nationwide is how the perfectly-priced, technique-specific rods are already flying off the racks.“Since the TATULA Bass Rod series was introduced in late spring, sales have been incredibly strong,” said DAIWA Senior Marketing Manager, Marc Mills. “The price is perfect, especially for a rod that brandishes the TATULA name – anglers have long associated TATULA with premium quality.”Mills also mentioned the juxtaposition between technology and kickin’ old school. “We really loaded the TATULA Bass Rods with fundamental DAIWA rod technology like SVF and Braiding X, but at the same time outfitted the entire series with classic cork handles.”“Ultimately, it’s a lot of fishing rod for under $200. That’s why it was voted best and is selling so well.”
ABOUT: TATULA Bass Rod SeriesFrom skipping docks with the utmost accuracy, to bombing lures long-distances to cover more water, anglers can rely on DAIWA’s new 23 model 2025 TATULA bass rod series, each designed for specific fishing situations and techniques.All featuring cork handles, the new TATULA rods are as much as 15% lighter than the previous TATULA series. DAIWA employs its exclusive SVF (Super High Volume Fiber) Nanoplus Technology to lighten and strength the blank. They are also reinforced with DAIWA’s X45 bias carbon technology and Braiding X construction process to resist twisting, provide needed hook-setting power, and maintain rod integrity during high-stress situations. 
The TATULA series includes two specialized casting models for cranking – the TATULA 701MHRB-G and 721HRB-G, where DAIWA uses its advanced GLATECH construction process with the fiberglass blanks.Anglers will also see DAIWA’s new TATULA custom rod seats on all models, along with Fuji Concept ‘O’ guides with aluminum oxide. All the rods are backed by DAIWA’s 5-year limited warranty.“Going back now a decade with our TATULA branded rod and reels, we keep bringing advancements to show anglers that our slogan – We’ve Got Your Bass Covered – holds true to this day,” said Mills. “These next generation TATULA bass rods continue DAIWA’s intense focus on bass fishing, as we bring new models that reflect the right rod lengths, actions, and powers to keep up with new trends in the sport.”
Within the casting models, there are TATULA rods in 6’8”, 6’10”, 7’, 7’2”, 7’3”, 7’4” lengths to cover a wide range of applications, and even a 7’9” heavy action for casting big swimbaits and A-rigs. In the spinning versions, anglers will find rods ranging from 6’8” up to 7’6”, designed for everything from finesse and forward facing sonar situations, to the right actions for Ned rigs, shakey heads, and dropshots, and even smaller swimbaits.
CASTING Models
SPINNING Models
For DAIWA’s latest color catalog and/or information on DAIWA dealers in your area, call DAIWA’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for DAIWA’s web site is daiwa.us





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