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Beale & Rigney Win 5 Alive Team Trail Qualifier #1 Gaston Lake 3/19/22

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March 22, 2022

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5 Alive Team Trail
Qualifier #1

Gaston Lake 3/19/22.

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We got our 2022 season started last Saturday on the spotted bass infested Gaston Lake.
With really strong winds by the end of the day and a front pushing in it made tougher than everyone thought. That being said the lake fished fairly well for the conditions. I will tell you this! When the last chip was put on the board at the end of the day I was super relieved to know that everyone got back in safely. The Good Lord definitely watched over everyone in that situation. We had 61 boats show up to try take the first win of the year. At the end of the day it was the team of Beale and Rigney that stood on top of the hill with the win. They had a 5 fish limit weighing 16.78 pounds that earned them $2100.00 with 1st place TWT. But wait! They also won the Triton Gold money pushing them to a payday of $9100.00 for the day. BIG CONGRATULATIONS to those guys!
They were followed by our reigning Points Champions Morton and Riggs.They had a bag weighing 15.77 pounds which earned them a total of $925.00 with 2nd place TWT money. They’re proving to be strong at every tournament. Good job guys! BIG FISH was won by the team of Lobaugh and Moody with a 5.63 pounder. Earning them a extra $610.00 to go along with 5th place overall winnings of $265.00 Giving them a total of $875.00 for the day.
Now! Let’s talk about our new up and coming trail. Caswell Glass Heritage Trail. We had 6 teams show up to fish the new trail and give a kid a chance at a full tournament experience. We’re ecspecting this trail to grow through the year and become something really special. At the end of the day it was the team of Oliver and Larabee that come out on top to take the first ever Caswell Glass Heritage Trail win. They had a bag weighing 14.61 pounds. They got 2 plaques , 2 Favorite fishing rods and 2 Bass Pro Shops gift card for $50.00 a peice donated by Tarheel Flooring. By the way they also finished 6th in the 5 Alive Qualifier earning them another $235.00 Were proud of those 2 rite there! They were followed up by the team of Gray and Garber with a bag weighing 13.02 pounds. That earned them 2 Bobcats Bait and Tackle $25.00 gift cards. That is a team that will be talked about before the year is over for sure.

At the end of the day we had 2 drawings for $50.00 Bass Pro Shops gift cards. The winner of the first drawing was non other than Kenny Beale who was on the winning team for the tournament. I’m starting to think he might be a little greedy! The winner of the 2nd drawing was Chad Martin.

GREAT JOB AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO PLACED SATURDAY!

We will be at Jordan Lake on 4/2/22 for our 2nd Qualifier of the year. We would love to have yall come and join us and get in on the action!
See yall in 2 weeks.

Results
1st. Beale & Rigney – 16.78 pounds- $2100.00
plus $7000.00 Triton Gold money.
2nd.Morton & Riggs – 15.77 pounds-$925.00
3rd.Carter & Hall – 15.16 pounds- $680.00
4th.Ellis & Stallings-15.02 pounds-$ 325.00
5th.Lobaugh & Moody-15.00 pounds-$ 265.00
6th.Oliver & Larabee-14.61 pounds-$ 235.00
7th.Gilbert & Gilbert-14.57 pounds-$220.00
8th.Fox & Wooten -14.33 pounds-$135.00
9th.Slaughter & Cook- 14.12 pounds-$ 100.00

Big fish.
Lobaugh & Moody- 5.63 pounds-$610.00

Caswell Glass Heritage Trail Results.
1st.Oliver & Larabee- 14.61 pounds- Gift cards, plaques and fishing rods.
2nd. Gray & Garber- 13.02 pounds- 2 Gift Cards.
3rd.Galvin & Galvin- 8.34 pounds
4th Talley & Talley- 6.07 pounds
5th.Carver & Carver- 5.71 pounds

Eufaula’s Sweitzer Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Eufaula Presented by Flamingo Fish and Marine

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March 22, 2022

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Eufaula’s Sweitzer Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Eufaula Presented by Flamingo Fish and Marine

Boater Tad Sweitzer of Eufaula, Oklahoma, and Strike-King co-angler Fred Fielder of Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Tahlequah’s Fielder Wins Strike King Co-Angler DivisionEUFAULA, Okla. (March 21, 2022) – Boater Tad Sweitzer of Eufaula, Oklahoma, caught five bass Saturday weighing 23 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Eufaula Lake. The tournament was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League Okie Division. Sweitzer earned $4,905 for his victory.

“I had an awesome co-angler, and I told him we were going to make a run, put the trolling motor down to save fuel and put our heads down and fish,” Sweitzer said. “I told him you can’t win with the big motor and running.”

Sweitzer said he started in 30 feet of water fishing an Alabama-rig to target bait balls and caught two 5-pounders in the first 30 minutes, but then the bass started to shy away from their offerings.

“That’s when the day got long,” Sweitzer said. “I didn’t have another fish until 1:30. Then I pulled up on a stretch, got a jerkbait out and caught three more keepers to put in the boat.”

Sweitzer said his five fish that he weighed in were the only fish he caught during the tournament. In addition to the umbrella-rig, Sweitzer said he used a Berkley deep-diving crankbait as well as a 6^th Sense Jerkbait to target bass on ledges.

“This was the first BFL tournament I’ve ever fished,” Sweitzer said. “I kept telling my wife, ‘I just want one of those trophies someday.’ She said, ‘You can’t do it unless you fish it.’

“This just feels awesome,” Sweitzer added.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:        Tad Sweitzer, Eufaula, Okla., five bass, 23-6, $4,905
2nd:       Shawn Mote, Ardmore, Okla., five bass, 21-1, $2,453
3rd:       Chris M. Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., four bass, 18-6, $2,375
4th:        Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., five bass, 17-8, $1,363
4th:        Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., five bass, 17-8, $1,063
6th:        Curt Warren, Rose, Okla., five bass, 17-2, $899
7th:        Jeff Clark, Van Buren, Ark., five bass, 17-1, $818
8th:        Lane Kindle, Stilwell, Okla., five bass, 16-15, $936
9th:        Orlean Smith, McAlester, Okla., five bass, 16-9, $654
10th:     Blake Capps, Muskogee, Okla., five bass, 16-8, $1,272 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jones had a 9-pound largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $740.

Fred Fielder of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,453 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:        Fred Fielder, Tahlequah, Okla., five bass, 15-13, $2,453
2nd:       Scott Moore, Fort Gibson, Okla., three bass, 15-4, $1,226
3rd:       Jacob Cooper, Leon, Kan., five bass, 13-12, $816
4th:        David Hamilton, Rogers, Ark., four bass, 12-13, $572
5th:        Timothy Cartwright, Sand Springs, Okla., five bass, 12-4, $591
6th:        David Blankinship, Cushing, Okla., five bass, 11-6, $450
7th:        Bryan Schuster, Oklahoma City, Okla., three bass, 11-3, $559
8th:        Leroy Dee Sheperd, Mountain View, Okla., four bass, 10-2, $368
9th:        Brian Brecka, Alma, Wis., three bass, 9-8, $327
10th:     Rick Blosser, Tulsa, Okla., three bass, 9-7, $272
10th:     Bobby Walker, Ponca City, Okla., three bass, 9-7, $272

Andrew Workman of Stilwell, Oklahoma, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $370.

After one event, Tad Sweitzer of Eufaula, Oklahoma, leads the Bass Fishing League Okie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Fred Fielder, Tahlequah, Oklahoma leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 13-15 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, AFTCO, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Revital Outdoors, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X, YETI and Yo-Zuri.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Late-Day Cull Lifts Cook To Wire-To-Wire Win At Bassmaster Elite On Santee Cooper Lakes

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March 22, 2022

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Late-Day Cull Lifts Cook To Wire-To-Wire Win At Bassmaster Elite On Santee Cooper Lakes

Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., has won the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a four-day total of 105 pounds, 5 ounces.

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

March 21, 2022

Late-Day Cull Lifts Cook To Wire-To-Wire Win At Bassmaster Elite On Santee Cooper Lakes

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CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Before the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes began, Drew Cook had never led a single round of an Elite Series event.

Apparently, he was just saving up for the best event of his career.

The Cairo, Ga., pro grabbed the lead on Day 1 of the tournament with an astounding catch of 31-13 and then never relinquished the first-place spot, as bags of 24-12, 24-3 and 24-9 pushed him to a four-day total of 105-5. He earned one of the blue trophies that every pro covets, a $100,000 paycheck and a Century Belt for catching more than 100 pounds.

Cook and second-place pro Caleb Kuphall (103-1) became the 33rd and 34th different anglers to reach Century Club status — and Lakes Marion and Moultrie have now produced eight Century Belts, the second-most in Elite Series history, with only Falcon Lake in Texas producing more (15).

“I completely forgot about the Century Belt. That’s cool,” Cook said. “It was a perfect storm this week. I had a blast. I did really well keeping my composure. There were a couple of times this week the wheels could have fallen off. I acted like I had been there before and it all worked out.”

Cook spent his entire week doing what he loves best, sight fishing for spawning largemouth using a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog.

“That is what is so awesome about it,” he said. “All my friends joked with me and said I was going to win my first tournament either at a place like the Sabine or with a spinning rod smallmouth fishing.

“To be able to win my first one wire-to-wire with my favorite rod doing my absolute favorite things, it is a blessing.”

Spending his time in the Potato Creek region of Lake Marion, Cook caught the majority of his weight in lily pad fields that were located next to deep water.

In practice, the female bass he found had not locked onto beds. But come tournament time, they settled close to the only male he found on bed.

“The area was very special. I didn’t know it was that special,” he said. “Because it had deep water that went all the way to the back of it, it reloaded every day. It really did surprise me. I didn’t know that was going to happen. Having 6 feet of water up against the bank in the back is the reason those fish kept coming in there.”

Cook used two different-sized Fighting Frogs, a 4-inch and a 5-inch. The smaller bait was paired with a 1/4-ounce weight and a 4/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Heavy Cover hook, while the bigger frog was rigged with a 3/8-ounce weight and a 5/0 Gamakatsu G-Power hook.

With 22-pound Sunline Shooter spooled on his reels, Cook used a pair of rods — a Dobyns 754 Xstasy and a Dobyns 744 Champion Extreme. He said the rods were just the right length for keeping bass pinned when they jumped and fought.

When he thought a bass was ready to commit to his tilapia magic-colored Fighting Frog, Cook put slack in his line and repeatedly tapped the butt end of his rod to make the bait’s appendages move in the bed without moving the lure out of the strike zone.

He added that the silver fleck in that particular color creates a reflection that catches the eye of a bass and irritates it.

“The bait isn’t moving toward me,” he said. “The bait is staying where it is.”

Entering the day with over a 4-pound lead, Cook started Championship Monday by catching a 5-pounder he had left the previous day in the first hour. But he was still slow to fill his limit, not doing so until around 1 p.m.

“Not having those fast starts the past two days probably saved me today,” he said. “When it got to be about 1 o’clock, there was a little concern, but I wasn’t too worried.”

Although he had a limit, Cook still did not have his biggest bass until just before 2:30 p.m., a 7-14 that won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day award and an extra $1,000.

“I don’t even remember what happened,” Cook said about landing the big bass. “I think I kissed (cameraman) Jake (Latendresse). It was in slow motion whenever I set the hook until I got it in my hand.

“I knew that was going to be the one that gave me a shot. It was a big sigh of relief and a big weight off my shoulders.”

With a Day 1 bag weighing 29-10 and a 31-4 limit on Day 3, Kuphall reached the 100-pound mark by catching 29-3 on Championship Monday to lift him into second place. The feat was most impressive, considering the Mukwonago, Wis., pro only caught four bass that weighed 13-0 on Day 2.

“It feels great just to be able to adjust,” he said. “Where I caught them on the third day, I didn’t really fish on the first and second day. To adjust and catch them on something totally different and have that kind of weight, I’m really happy with that.”

Catching mostly prespawn bass with a couple of spawners and postspawners mixed in, Kuphall targeted deeper cypress trees in Lake Marion.

“Those deeper trees right on the edge on a dropoff into deeper water were the ones I was keying on,” he said. “There was nothing about the tree itself. There was no real pattern there, just where they were situated (in relation) to deep water.”

Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, finished third with a four-day total of 98-0, falling just shy of the century mark. The 2020 Santee Cooper Lakes Elite Series champion mixed things up in the Potato Creek region, fishing offshore bass with a Rapala OG Slim crankbait, jerkbaits, jigs and an X Zone Lures Blitz Worm before searching for big bedding bass with an X Zone Lures Adrenaline Craw.

“I knew I was going to need four or five big ones if I wanted to make a run at this thing,” Palaniuk said. “I caught a 6 3/4- and a 4-pounder (on my starting spot) and then it died off quickly and I couldn’t get any more big bites there. I felt like I was making good adjustments. I just couldn’t catch enough.”

Pat Schlapper of Wisconsin earned the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament award with the 9-10 largemouth he caught on Day 2, winning $2,000.

Oklahoma pro Luke Palmer, who finished fourth with 95-7, earned the $2,000 VMC Monster Bag Award with his Day 3 catch of 33-5.

South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while John Cox of Florida earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Cook claimed an additional $4,000 and Palaniuk earned an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

Ed Loughran III won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.

Heading into the fourth stop of the season, the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite Series at Chickamauga Lake, Cox leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 285 points. Tennessee pro David Mullins is second with 265, and Arkansan Stetson Blaylock is third with 257.

Wisconsin pro Jay Przekurat leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 232 points. Alabamian Joseph Webster is second with 183 points and Pennsylvania pro Jonathan Kelley is third with 167.

The Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.

2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 3/17-3/20
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

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

1. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 20 105-05 100 $101,000.00
Day 1: 5 31-13 Day 2: 5 24-12 Day 3: 5 24-03 Day 4: 5 24-09
2. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 19 103-01 99 $35,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-10 Day 2: 4 13-00 Day 3: 5 31-04 Day 4: 5 29-03
3. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 20 98-00 98 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-02 Day 2: 5 22-13 Day 3: 5 27-07 Day 4: 5 21-10
4. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 20 95-07 97 $28,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 26-07 Day 3: 5 33-05 Day 4: 5 19-04
5. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 20 88-09 96 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 24-02 Day 3: 5 22-13 Day 4: 5 21-06
6. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 20 85-06 95 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 22-00 Day 3: 5 22-15 Day 4: 5 20-09
7. John Cox DeBary, FL 20 84-06 94 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 26-13 Day 3: 5 20-03 Day 4: 5 18-03
8. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 20 82-01 93 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-14 Day 2: 5 20-03 Day 3: 5 18-09 Day 4: 5 15-07
9. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 19 78-13 92 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 22-01 Day 3: 5 28-13 Day 4: 4 10-12
10. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 19 77-15 91 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 26-04 Day 3: 5 22-01 Day 4: 4 10-14
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 08-15 $1,000.00
2 Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 09-10 $1,000.00
3 Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 09-04 $1,000.00
4 Drew Cook Cairo, GA 07-14 $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 09-10 $1,000.00
VMC MONSTER BAG
Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 33-05 $2,000.00

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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 74 424 1462-06
2 71 420 1557-06
3 38 214 891-10
4 8 48 191-13
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191 1106 4103-03

Mike Caul & Bill Petzold Win CATT Phantom Outdoors Invitational James River, VA March 19, 2022

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March 21, 2022

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Mike Caul & Bill Petzold Win CATT Phantom Outdoors Invitational James River, VA March 19, 2022

Check out the remaining Phantom Outdoor Invitationals for 2022! Tap on the Phantom Logo for more info and to view the 2022 Phantom Outdoors Invitational Schedule!

Also you can visit the Phantom Outdoors website and shop for some great outdoor gear! Use PHANTOMCATT15 at check out and earn 15% off your order! Tap on the Phantom Caps to start shopping!

Check out the 2 HAWGS Mike Caul is holding!

Mike Caul & Bill Petzold took 1st Place with 5 bass weighing 23.00 lbs worth $3,500.00! They weighed in 2 WHOPPERS and the heaviest weighed 9.56 lbs!

Thanks for fishing guys and we plan on making this a yearly event!

Team	BF	Weight	Winnings
Mike Caul – Bill Petzold	9.56	23.00	$3,500.00
Marshall Johnson – Ryan Lachinet	7.58	22.34	$1,900.00
Ray Hogg – Donnie Daniel	0.00	22.25	$1,700.00
Mike Martinez – William Allen	0.00	21.70	$725.00
Jeff Hamelton – Jason Bishop	7.86	21.66	$300.00
Steve Colgin – Sammy Yates	8.84	21.26	$100.00
Paul Martin – Francis Martin	7.53	19.66
Keving Morford – Joshua Wright	7.97	19.07
Rick Rodriguez – Chuck Rackley	0.00	19.02
Clay Lewis – Greg cooper	7.12	18.90
Chris Bryant – Matt Dunnigan	0.00	18.76
Luke Nickert – Jared Bass	0.00	16.92
James Condry – Jimmy Condry	8.47	16.33
Justin Dodson – Jason Dodson	5.77	16.02
Bo Bolts – Mickey Andrews	0.00	15.77
Rob Uzzle – Donnie Harper	0.00	15.34
Mike Rowe – Andy Walker	6.10	15.16
Clyde Baldwin – Jeff Davis	0.00	14.73
Timothy Howard Auston	0.00	14.61
Garrett Geouge – Mike Grogan	0.00	14.37
Tommy Little – Robert Bruguiere	0.00	13.88
Jacob Kupselaitus – Kayla Kupselaitus	0.00	13.04
Kyle Owen – David Owen	0.00	12.81
Brian Brooks	0.00	11.82
Stacy vassar – James Tilley	0.00	10.80
Jeffrey Valentin – Daryl Moody	0.00	10.77
BJ Boothe – Alex Buckhorn	0.00	10.52
Aaron Lucy	0.00	9.79
Matt Kite – Chris Mcdaniel	0.00	9.40
Bryan Keane – Kevin Davis	0.00	8.49
Joey Cooke – Hall Justin	0.00	8.02
Neil Jernigan – Kaiden Little	0.00	7.93
Barry Brandt JR – Zoe Strouse	0.00	0.00
Joseph Krevonick – Andrew Bell	0.00	0.00
Timmy Sheridan – Dash Halloway	0.00	0.00
Mike Hinkely – Bobby Davis	0.00	0.00
Wayne Vaughan – Ryan Proznic	0.00	0.00
Harvey Reece – Travis West	0.00	0.00
Robert Sutton – Mark Adams	0.00	0.00

Mike Stephens Wins CATT Lake Wylie, SC March 19, 2022

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March 21, 2022

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Mike Stephens Wins CATT Lake Wylie, SC March 19, 2022

Next Lake Wylie Spring CATT is April 2 at Buster Boyd Bridge Access! The fishing seems to be a little better and the fish look a lot fatter! Come on out an join us at the next one!

The Lake Wylie Phantom Outdoors Invitation will be April 16 at Buster Boyd! $5,000 1st Place with a minimum of 50 Boats entered! Tap on the Phantom Logo for more info!

Mike Stephens weighed in 5 bass at 18.90 lbs and the Academy BF at 5.43 lbs! Mike earned $955.00!

Steve Addington & Mike Seawright 2nd with 18.65 lbs!

Josh Warren 3rd with 16.08 lbs!

Team	BF	Weight	Winnings	Points
Mike Stephens	5.43	18.90	$955.00	110
Mike Seawright/Steve Addington	4.51	18.65	$210.00	109
Josh Warren	4.88	16.08	$140.00	108
Ron & Roger Farrow	4.63	15.37		107
Rob Digh/Todd Sosebee	3.63	14.96		106
Jason Rhodes/Jody Black	0.00	14.45		105
Clay and Randy Williams	3.32	12.02		104
Joe Hansil/Jason Hansil	3.07	11.84		103
Hunter Denton/Daniel Moore	2.80	11.18		102
Glenn Sparrow/Chris B.	0.00	10.29		101
Jason Tannenbum/Matthew McDonalds	2.89	9.85		100
Dave Calbert/Bill Carothers	2.15	9.30		99
Paul McNeilly/Lucas Russell	2.19	7.90		98
Thomas Vicks/Brian Huskins	0.00	0.00		88
Tony Talford/James Dunham	0.00	0.00		88
Brad Zeigler/John Walker	0.00	0.00		88
Total Entrys			$1,280.00
BONUS $			$350.00
Total Paid At Ramp			$1,305.00
Wylie 2022 Spring Final Fund			$225.00
2022 CATT Championship Fund			$50.00
2022 Wylie Spring Final Fund Total			$655.00

Kentucky’s Abbott Earns Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Dale Hollow Lake

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March 21, 2022

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Kentucky’s Abbott Earns Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Dale Hollow Lake

Boater Tristan Abbott of Somerset, Kentucky, and Strike-King co-angler Jason Henson of Rome, Georgia.

Georgia’s Henson Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (March 21, 2022) – Boater Tristan Abbott of Somerset, Kentucky, caught five bass Saturday weighing 20 pounds, 1 ounce, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Dale Hollow Lake. The tournament, hosted by Star Point Marina and Resort, was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League Mountain Division. Abbott earned $7,200 for his victory.

“We took off in the morning and made a run down the lake,” Abbott said. “I’d been on some fish and been catching them for the majority of the winter, and was very blessed they had stayed in the same area.

“I had one of the fish I weighed in the first hour or so,” Abbott added. “And it went from there. I was pleased with my day. I fished clean throughout the day and didn’t lose any fish.”

Abbott said he spent the majority of his day trying to boost his bag of 4-pounders by targeting staging fish, mid-lake around chunk rock and channel swings that were holding baitfish. Abbott said his baits of choice were an Alabama-rig and a Berkley Stunna Jerkbait.

“It was a good day of fishing all the way around,” Abbott said. “This win is long overdue. I’ve finished second a couple of times, and I won Angler of the Year last year in the Mountain Division, and I’d like to repeat that.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:        Tristan Abbott, Somerset, Ky., five bass, 20-1, $7,200
2nd:       Dalton Smith, Taylorsville, Ky., five bass, 19-13, $3,000
3rd:       Christian Nash, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 19-10, $2,500 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:        Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., five bass, 18-14, $1,400
5th:        Brad Atkins, West Liberty, Ky., five bass, 18-2, $1,400
6th:        Ryan Davidson, Branchland, W.V., five bass, 17-12, $1,100
7th:        Cori White, Celina, Tenn., five bass, 17-9, $1,000
8th:        Clay Peters, Butler, Ky., five bass, 17-2, $900
9th:        Zach Crider, Tunnel Hill, Ga., five bass, 17-0, $800
10th:     David Steadman Jr., Tullahoma, Tenn., five bass, 16-15, $700

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jonathan Green of East Bernstadt, Kentucky, had a 5-pound, 7-ounce largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000.

Jason Henson of Rome, Georgia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,300 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 16 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:        Jason Henson, Rome, Ga., five bass, 16-8, $3,300
2nd:       Timothy Jolley, Monroe, Tenn., five bass, 16-5, $1,500
3rd:       Billy Gardner, Livingston, Tenn., five bass, 15-1, $1,000
4th:        Lee Sinclair, Albany, Ky., five bass, 15-0, $700
5th:        Robert Jones, Whitley City, Ky., five bass, 14-8, $600
6th:        Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 14-7, $550
7th:        Nicole Foor, Greenfork, Ind., five bass, 14-4, $500
8th:        Justin Brandenburg, Richmond, Ky., five bass, 14-3, $450
9th:        Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 14-1, $400
10th:     Lance Souders, Somerset, Ky., four bass, 13-10, $350

Christopher Logsdon of Brownsville, Kentucky, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $500.

After one event, Tristan Abbott of Somerset, Kentucky leads the Bass Fishing League Mountain Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Jason Henson of Rome, Georgia leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 20-22 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Smith Lake in Cullman, Alabama. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, AFTCO, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Revital Outdoors, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X, YETI and Yo-Zuri.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Wade Amick & Zach Huffstetler Win CATT Lake Murray, March 19, 2022

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March 21, 2022

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Wade Amick & Zach Huffstetler Win CATT Lake Murray, March 19, 2022

his coming weekend March 26th is the Phantom Outdoors Invitational on Lake Murray at Dreher Island State Park! $5,000 1st Place with a minimum of 50 Boats entered! You can pay at the ramp or on line! Tap on the Phantom Logo below to view more info!

Also guys we are planning on boosting the Lake Murray Fall trail and make it HUGE! Stay tuned for details!

Wade Amick & Zach Huffstetler besting the 40 boat field with 5 bass weighing 22.22 lbs! They also weighed in the Academy BF at 5.74 lbs and took home $1,530.00! PLUS a $25 Academy Gift Card!

Ben Lee took 2nd with 19.88 lbs!

Ryan Raley & Brandon Jeffcoat claimed 3rd with a limit weighing 18.06 lbs!

Daniel Howell took the 4th spot with 17.70 lbs!

5th went to Kevin Banks & Wayne Jeffcoat with 16.71 lbs!

Jennings Green & Wesley Sandifer finished 6th with 16.57 lbs!

Team	BF	Weight	Winnings	Points
Wade Amick – Zach Huffstetler	5.74	22.22	$1,530.00	110
Ben Lee	4.67	19.88	$440.00	109
Ryan Raley – Brandon Jeffcoat	4.64	18.06	$325.00	108
Johnny Mayer – Chris Epting	5.32	17.75	$200.00	107
Daniel Howell	5.27	17.70	$140.00	106
Wayne Jeffcoat – Kevin Banks	5.64	16.71	$110.00	105
Wesley Sandifer – Jennings Green	4.10	16.57	$100.00	104
Scott Farmer – CJ Freeman	3.20	15.05	$90.00	103
Neil Huffstetler – Tim Huffstetler	4.18	14.81		102
Russ Padgett – Britton Padgett	3.93	14.76		101
Chad Hastings – Chris Neal	3.42	13.99		100
Dave Franklin – Gunnar Franklin	3.65	13.84		99
Matt Bickley – Delain Wooodward	3.56	13.60		98
Tanner Schultz – Trey Shultz	3.41	13.36	$280.00	97
CB Dreher – Jonah Bickley	3.11	12.82	$120.00	96
Winston Husband	2.91	10.22		95
Hunter Jeffcoat – Carson Krell	3.44	10.21		94
Bobby Edwards -Phillip Stutts	2.80	6.86		93
Trey Locklear – Jackson Locklear	0.00	5.49		92
Jason Ries – Roger McKee	0.00	5.29		91
Dalton Dowdy – Dylan Edenfield	0.00	0.00		81
Thomas MacWhinnie – Tyler Rathbun	0.00	0.00		81
Rusty Bullard	0.00	0.00		81
Sean Hall – Abigail Askew	0.00	0.00		81
Zachary Elliott – Jim Elliott	0.00	0.00		81
Donald Miller	0.00	0.00		81
Ronnie Mueller -Wayne Frierson	0.00	0.00		81
Brandon Stacey – Denny Stacey	0.00	0.00		81
Mark Richardson – Rhett Richardson	0.00	0.00		81
Josh Rennebaum	0.00	0.00		81
Trey Grantham – Jonathan Stokes	0.00	0.00		81
Joe Quinn – Justen Dunn	0.00	0.00		81
Andy Lake – Phillip Anderson	0.00	0.00		81
Jeremiah Jensen – Gage Spagnola	0.00	0.00		81
Jody Jones	0.00	0.00		81
Steve Pizzino – Curtis Jones	0.00	0.00		81
Josh Johnson – Jeff Massey	0.00	0.00		81
Sean Anderson – George Berry	0.00	0.00		81
Bernie Dreher – Reese Turner	0.00	0.00		81
Matt Mollohan	0.00	0.00		81
Total Entrys			$3,200.00
BONUS $			$650.00
Total Paid At Ramp			$3,335.00
Murray 2022 Spring Final Fund			$415.00
2022 CATT Championship Fund			$50.00
2022 Murray Spring Final Total			$1,505.00

Ranger’s Millsaps Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Keowee

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March 21, 2022

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Boater David Millsaps of Ranger, Georgia, and Strike-King co-angler Jason Goldman of Commerce, Georgia

Georgia’s Goldman Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

SENECA, S.C. (March 21, 2022) – Boater David Millsaps of Ranger, Georgia, caught five bass Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Keowee. The tournament, hosted by Visit Oconee, was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division. Millsaps earned $4,830 for his victory.

“I started out and caught four or five spotted bass on a homemade jig,” Millsaps said. “As the day went on, the wind picked up, and I fished rocky points where the wind was blowing bait and just kept upgrading all day.”

Millsaps said he caught 15 to 20 keepers during the course of the day by keeping the boat in 20 feet of water and casting to rocky points and banks and working the jig slowly.

“These events are hard to win,” said Millsaps, who now has four career BFL wins. “A win this early in the season always boosts you for the rest of the season.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:        David Millsaps, Ranger, Ga., five bass, 19-5, $4,830
2nd:       Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 18-3, $4,235 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd:       Bo Price, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 17-15, $1,609
4th:        Scott Browning, Franklin, N.C., five bass, 16-4, $1,127
5th:        Shannon Poore, Walhalla, S.C., five bass, 15-7, $925
5th:        Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., five bass, 15-7, $925
7th:        Derek Lehtonen, Woodruff, S.C., five bass, 15-4, $805
8th:        Derek Freeman, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 14-12, $724
9th:        Greg Glouse, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 14-10, $644
10th:     Kevin Whitmore, Easley, S.C., five bass, 14-7, $563

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Burroughs had a 7-pound, 15-ounce largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $720.

Jason Goldman of Commerce, Georgia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,415 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:        Jason Goldman, Commerce, Ga., five bass, 13-10, $2,415
2nd:       Alan Poston, Travelers Rest, S.C., five bass, 13-5, $1,207
3rd:       Chris Wilson, Easley, S.C., five bass, 11-13, $806
4th:        Jody Hughes, Baldwin, Ga., five bass, 11-9, $523
4th:        Corey Veal, Royston, Ga., five bass, 11-9, $523
6th:        Harold Grizzle, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 11-3, $443
7th:        Scott Gardner, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 11-0, $402
8th:        Gerald Glouse, Easley, S.C., five bass, 10-13, $362
9th:        Gavin Ballew, Travelers Rest, S.C., five bass, 10-11, $322
10th:     Jacob Yaden, Evans, Ga., five bass, 10-7, $582

Nicholas Gurkin of Simpsonville, S.C, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 5 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $360.

After one event, David Millsaps of Ranger, Georgia, leads the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Jason Goldman of Commerce, Georgia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 20-22 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Smith Lake in Cullman, Alabama. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, AFTCO, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Revital Outdoors, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X, YETI and Yo-Zuri.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Andy Montgomery Wins 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Heritage Cup in Knoxville on Outdoor Channel

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March 21, 2022

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Andy Montgomery Wins 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Heritage Cup in Knoxville on Outdoor Channel

South Carolina Pro Throws Strike King Thunder Cricket to Catch 16 Pounds, 10 Ounces and Win First MLF Cup Title of Career

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (March 21, 2022) – Blacksburg, South Carolina pro Andy Montgomery has been the model of consistency. In 17 career Major League Fishing Cup events, Montgomery made it to the Championship Round nine times, finishing second and third numerous times, but still searching for that elusive first win. Finally, on Tennessee’s Fort Loudoun Lake, Montgomery got it done.

In an episode that premiered Saturday on the Outdoor Channel and Monday on the MyOutdoorTV app, Montgomery caught nine bass weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Heritage Cup Presented by Magellan Outdoors in Knoxville, Tennessee, and earn the first MLF Cup Championship of his career.

“We put so much into this, and I’ve been close so many times,” an emotional Montgomery said in his post-game interview. “I knew it was going to happen eventually, I just wanted it to happen a couple of years ago.

“I don’t know what it is about Fort Loudoun Lake, but I just jive with it,” the South Carolina pro continued. “I love fishing here, and I knew I was going to have a chance. I hate to get emotional, but I’m so happy that I finally won one.”

Montgomery landed a couple of bass in the first period that had him near the top of the leaderboard, then pulled away in the Period 2 with five bass to take a commanding lead. He caught the majority of his fish fishing docks with a ½-ounce blue craw-colored Strike King Thunder Cricket with a Strike King Rage Bug trailer.

“I used the Rage Bug because I was skipping so much – that bait skips really good – and I was also fishing wood, and it keeps it from hanging up,” Montgomery said. “One of the keys for me this week, though, was my line. I threw Strike King Contra fluorocarbon, and it was critical. I have confidence in that line, and I knew that it was not going to break off.”

The final eight anglers at the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Heritage Cup Presented by Magellan Outdoors in Knoxville, Tennessee finished:

1^st:          Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., nine bass, 16-10
2^nd:         Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., seven bass, 13-8
3^rd:         Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 8-12
4^th:         Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., six bass, 7-4
5^th:         Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., four bass, 7-4
6^th:         Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., four bass, 6-9
7^th:         Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., three bass, 3-12
8^th:         Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., zero bass, 0-0

Complete results along with photos from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Montgomery caught the Championship Round Berkley Big Bass – a chunky 3-pound, 4-ounce largemouth that bit a bladed swimjig.

Overall, there were 40 bass weighing 63 pounds, 11 ounces caught by the final eight pros during the Championship Round of competition on the upper reaches of Fort Loudoun Lake.

The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Heritage Cup Presented by Magellan Outdoors was hosted by the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission and Jefferson County, Tennessee and premiered on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon debuting on Feb. 12, 2022, and running through March 19, 2022.

The event was shot over six days in October in Knoxville and featured 24 MLF pro anglers visiting the Knoxville area to compete on Douglas Lake and different zones of Fort Loudoun Lake on each day of competition. The locations were unknown to the anglers – they did not learn where they were competing until they arrived to the launch ramp each morning of competition.

All six episodes of the event are now available for viewing on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) streaming app. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the MLF Cup events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Cook Holds Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On Santee Cooper As Big Bags Roll In

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March 21, 2022

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Cook Holds Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On Santee Cooper As Big Bags Roll In

Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., is leading after Day 3 of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite on Santee Cooper Lakes with a three-day total of 80 pounds, 12 ounces.

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

March 20, 2022

Cook Holds Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On Santee Cooper As Big Bags Roll In

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CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — When the threat of strong winds and storms postponed the third day of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes, Drew Cook watched from his rental house as boat after boat entered the area where he has dominated the event.

But despite the local boat traffic and a day off with no idea what happened to his area, Cook sacked a limit weighing 24 pounds, 3 ounces to maintain his lead with a three-day total of 80-12. With previous bags of 31-13 and 24-12, Cook holds more than a 4-pound lead over Idaho’s Brandon Palaniuk (76-6) and Oklahoma pro Luke Palmer (76-3).

“I’m staying across the creek from the cove I’ve fished every day, and it was pretty brutal to sit there and watch it happen,” Cook said. “I can’t complain. I still have a 4-pound lead and we are one day away.

“Having that lead is nice, but a 4-pound lead here really isn’t much. I could go catch 20 pounds tomorrow and Luke (Palmer) could catch 24 pounds and there goes my lead. That is one bass here and there is a pile of 4-pounders.”

The Georgia resident continued sight fishing for bedding bass on Day 3, catching eight total fish with his biggest weighing approximately 7 pounds on BassTrakk. Throughout the week, Cook has struggled during the morning hours and one big bass he saw on Friday was gone when he went back Sunday.

While there are new fish, both males and females, Cook was surprised he didn’t see more.

“If you would have said there was going to be a day off, you would think there would be more bass pulling up than there was,” he said. “A lot of that could have been from the local pressure. There were still new ones up there, and I’m sure there will be new ones tomorrow too.”

Cook plans to start Championship Monday in the same area on a big bass he saw Sunday and give the rest of the area a look. But he will likely be fishing new water much of the day.

“I still have some stuff on the other side of the lake I haven’t been to yet,” he said. “I won’t be going to any fish I have marked anymore after my first one in the morning. I marked some males, but they were only 3-pounders, and we are going to need more than 3-pounders.”

With multiple 25-pound-plus bags weighed Sunday, Cook knows he will need to catch a big bag Monday to claim his first Elite Series victory.

“To win one would be a dream come true,” he said. “I have really busted my butt my whole career and been close a couple of times but haven’t had that event where everything goes right.

“I have had opportunities to win tournaments, but it has always been from behind. To finally not dig myself a hole on Day 1 and come out swinging has helped tremendously.”

While a tough morning on Day 2 left him scrambling to find bedding bass, Palaniuk started Day 3 strong and weighed in 27-7, increasing his three-day total to 76-6. He did most of his damage during the first two hours with a crankbait and a jerkbait.

After filling his limit, he made a crucial cull around 12:30 p.m. to fill out his bag.

“I changed it up today,” Palaniuk said. “Hopefully that plays out tomorrow. I could catch 30-plus in 15 or 20 minutes if the right ones would just bite. Or, I could go there and catch nothing.

“I thought I wasn’t going to catch anything and then I caught a 4-pounder. I made a change and caught a 6-pounder and a 5 1/2-pounder on back-to-back casts.”

The higher winds Saturday resulted in a cooler night, which Palaniuk believes helped his bite on Day 3. He is hoping an even cooler night Sunday will keep those bass in place.

“The nastier the better for me because I’m doing something different than most of the guys,” Palaniuk said. “I feel like that will give me the best chance. I hope we have a freeze warning tonight. That would be the best thing for me.”

Palaniuk also fished more than two hours Sunday for a bass that he believes could be bigger than the 8-12 he caught Saturday. But the smaller male bass bit instead, and he was unable to catch the lunker he wanted.

“I promise you I will go check it again tomorrow,” he said. “We are within striking distance. I mean someone is going to win with a 30-pound bag tomorrow.”

Palmer landed the current VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament on Day 3 with 33-5 — the biggest bag of his career and one that launched him into third place with a three-day total of 76-3. He also landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with a 9-4 largemouth.

With a Falcon Cara Amistad flipping stick in hand and Sunline spooled on his reel, Palmer said he finally got to fish to his strengths.

“It is almost like dreaming,” he said. “We don’t have that type of sack in Oklahoma. To do it with stuff I have used my whole life, it was fun. I have never gotten to do it (on tour) the way I really want to catch them.”

After ending Day 1 in 43rd place, Palmer recovered with 26-7 on Day 2. He tried to make the upper end of Lake Marion work on the first and second days. But with much dirtier water moving through that area, he found a home down lake and pitched a Yum Bad Mamma and Wooly Bug to catch the majority of his bass.

He added that many of the bass he is catching are spawning and while he can’t see them with his eyes, he can see them on his fish finder.

“It was my time today,” he said. “I have one more stretch where I caught a three, broke one off and then went to ‘Scoping trees and didn’t even flip for them because I could see how big they were.

“I thought if I could get to 75 pounds, I would have a chance at a Century Belt. I would love to have a trophy over the belt. Everything today was a big blessing.”

By making the Top 10, John Cox leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 283 points. David Mullins is second with 265 points and Stetson Blaylock is third with 257.

Jay Przekurat leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 232 points. Joseph Webster is second with 183 points and Jonathan Kelley is 167 points.

The Top 10 will launch from John C Land III Sport Fishing Facility starting at 7:30 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3:30 p.m., with the winner earning a coveted blue trophy and a $100,000 first-place prize. Live coverage can be streamed on Bassmaster.com.

The Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 3/17-3/20
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

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

1. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 80-12 100
Day 1: 5 31-13 Day 2: 5 24-12 Day 3: 5 24-03
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 76-06 99
Day 1: 5 26-02 Day 2: 5 22-13 Day 3: 5 27-07
3. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 76-03 98 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 26-07 Day 3: 5 33-05
4. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 14 73-14 97
Day 1: 5 29-10 Day 2: 4 13-00 Day 3: 5 31-04
5. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 15 68-01 96
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 22-01 Day 3: 5 28-13
6. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 15 67-03 95
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 24-02 Day 3: 5 22-13
7. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 15 67-01 94 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 26-04 Day 3: 5 22-01
8. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 66-10 93
Day 1: 5 27-14 Day 2: 5 20-03 Day 3: 5 18-09
9. John Cox DeBary, FL 15 66-03 92
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 26-13 Day 3: 5 20-03
10. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 64-13 91
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 22-00 Day 3: 5 22-15
11. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 64-11 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 26-13 Day 3: 5 21-01
12. Bryan New Saluda, SC 13 64-03 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 3 15-14 Day 3: 5 29-02
13. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 15 63-04 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 20-08 Day 3: 5 25-14
14. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 62-03 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 22-00 Day 3: 5 20-11
15. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 15 61-04 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 22-10 Day 3: 5 24-13
16. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 15 60-12 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 22-10
17. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 60-07 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 21-04 Day 3: 5 18-03
18. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 15 60-01 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 20-10 Day 3: 5 22-05
19. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 15 59-11 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 22-00
20. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 13 58-06 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 11-10 Day 2: 5 24-12 Day 3: 5 22-00
21. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 58-02 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 17-06 Day 3: 5 24-03
22. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 14 57-15 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 19-08 Day 3: 4 16-06
23. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 15 57-11 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 20-08 Day 3: 5 21-04
24. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 57-02 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 24-08 Day 3: 5 17-02
25. Mike Huff London, KY 15 56-12 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 20-08 Day 3: 5 19-10
26. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 14 56-04 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 5 25-10 Day 3: 5 21-11
27. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 15 55-12 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 18-05
28. David Williams Newton, NC 15 55-09 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 20-15 Day 3: 5 21-13
29. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 55-03 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 21-05 Day 3: 5 15-04
30. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 54-14 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 5 19-08
31. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 15 54-05 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 18-01
32. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 15 54-03 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 24-04 Day 3: 5 14-05
33. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 15 53-05 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 17-15
34. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 15 52-15 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 19-14
35. Seth Feider New Market, MN 15 52-14 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 5 16-10
36. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 52-03 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 16-01
37. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 51-08 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 16-03 Day 3: 5 18-01
38. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 13 51-05 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 28-02 Day 3: 3 07-11
39. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 13 50-15 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-14 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 3 11-08
40. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 49-02 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 13-03
41. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 14 48-07 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 13-14 Day 2: 5 21-04 Day 3: 5 13-05
42. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 14 48-07 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 20-11 Day 3: 4 14-05
43. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 11 47-15 58 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-02 Day 2: 4 10-14 Day 3: 2 09-15
44. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 14 45-10 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 20-09 Day 3: 4 12-00
45. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 42-02 56 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 12-11 Day 2: 5 23-10 Day 3: 1 05-13
46. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 11 41-02 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 4 15-15 Day 3: 2 06-03
47. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 11 35-09 54 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 19-08 Day 3: 1 01-06
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 08-15 $1,000.00
2 Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 09-10 $1,000.00
3 Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 09-04 $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 74 424 1462-06
2 71 420 1557-06
3 38 214 891-10
———————————-
183 1058 3911-06

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Beale & Rigney Win 5 Alive Team Trail Qualifier #1 Gaston Lake 3/19/22

Eufaula’s Sweitzer Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Eufaula Presented by Flamingo Fish and Marine

Late-Day Cull Lifts Cook To Wire-To-Wire Win At Bassmaster Elite On Santee Cooper Lakes

Mike Caul & Bill Petzold Win CATT Phantom Outdoors Invitational James River, VA March 19, 2022

Check out the remaining Phantom Outdoor Invitationals for 2022! Tap on the Phantom Logo for more info and to view the 2022 Phantom Outdoors Invitational Schedule!

Also you can visit the Phantom Outdoors website and shop for some great outdoor gear! Use PHANTOMCATT15 at check out and earn 15% off your order! Tap on the Phantom Caps to start shopping!

Check out the 2 HAWGS Mike Caul is holding!

Mike Caul & Bill Petzold took 1st Place with 5 bass weighing 23.00 lbs worth $3,500.00! They weighed in 2 WHOPPERS and the heaviest weighed 9.56 lbs!

Thanks for fishing guys and we plan on making this a yearly event!

Mike Stephens Wins CATT Lake Wylie, SC March 19, 2022

Next Lake Wylie Spring CATT is April 2 at Buster Boyd Bridge Access! The fishing seems to be a little better and the fish look a lot fatter! Come on out an join us at the next one!

The Lake Wylie Phantom Outdoors Invitation will be April 16 at Buster Boyd! $5,000 1st Place with a minimum of 50 Boats entered! Tap on the Phantom Logo for more info!

Mike Stephens weighed in 5 bass at 18.90 lbs and the Academy BF at 5.43 lbs! Mike earned $955.00!

Steve Addington & Mike Seawright 2nd with 18.65 lbs!

Josh Warren 3rd with 16.08 lbs!

Kentucky’s Abbott Earns Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Dale Hollow Lake

Wade Amick & Zach Huffstetler Win CATT Lake Murray, March 19, 2022

his coming weekend March 26th is the Phantom Outdoors Invitational on Lake Murray at Dreher Island State Park! $5,000 1st Place with a minimum of 50 Boats entered! You can pay at the ramp or on line! Tap on the Phantom Logo below to view more info!

Also guys we are planning on boosting the Lake Murray Fall trail and make it HUGE! Stay tuned for details!

Wade Amick & Zach Huffstetler besting the 40 boat field with 5 bass weighing 22.22 lbs! They also weighed in the Academy BF at 5.74 lbs and took home $1,530.00! PLUS a $25 Academy Gift Card!

Ben Lee took 2nd with 19.88 lbs!

Ryan Raley & Brandon Jeffcoat claimed 3rd with a limit weighing 18.06 lbs!

Daniel Howell took the 4th spot with 17.70 lbs!

5th went to Kevin Banks & Wayne Jeffcoat with 16.71 lbs!

Jennings Green & Wesley Sandifer finished 6th with 16.57 lbs!

Ranger’s Millsaps Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Keowee

Andy Montgomery Wins 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Heritage Cup in Knoxville on Outdoor Channel

Cook Holds Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On Santee Cooper As Big Bags Roll In

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Mike Stephens Wins CATT Lake Wylie! 5 Bass weighing gup at 16.05 lbs!

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