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B.A.S.S. Nation Championship to be held on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees

Brian Carter
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B.A.S.S. Nation Championship to be held on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees

Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees will host the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance November 6-8.

Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.

March 13, 2024

B.A.S.S. Nation Championship to be held on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees

GROVE, Okla. — On Wednesday, B.A.S.S. officials announced that Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Grove, Okla., will be the site of this year’s Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance.

The 41,779-acre fishery features excellent populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass and has been the site of many major B.A.S.S. events, including the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors, which is scheduled for March 22-24.

The Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees presented by Lowrance will feature competition on Nov. 6-8, with three spots in the 2025 Classic up for grabs. Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau will be the host for the event, and daily takeoffs and weigh-ins will be held at Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility in Grove.

“Grand Lake is firmly engrained in the history of B.A.S.S. competition,” said B.A.S.S. Tournament Manager GL Compton. “Some of our biggest moments as an organization have happened there, and that makes it the perfect destination for the Nation Championship.”

Grand Lake ranked ninth in the Central Division on Bassmaster Magazine’s annual 100 Best Bass Lakes list, and the lake has appeared on every rendition of the list since Bassmaster first began ranking lakes in 2012. The lake has hosted 11 major B.A.S.S. events, including most recently a St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by SEVIIN in 2021 — an event that was won by Nick LeBrun with a three-day total of 50 pounds, 2 ounces.

Before this year’s Classic even begins, the lake has a long history of hosting the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing. It was the site of the 2013 Classic, which was won by Mississippi pro Cliff Pace, and the 2016 Classic where Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers hoisted the winner’s trophy.

“We have hosted thousands of fishing events at Wolf Creek Park in Grove, Okla., but when the city of Grove had the chance to host another B.A.S.S Nation event we were super-stoked,” said Brent Malone, director of the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau. “Having the Bassmaster Classic in the spring and bookending it with the B.A.S.S Nation event in fall. Can it get any better?

“Many of the amenities (and the love for the sport) that the city of Grove (has) shows at Wolf Creek Park. We take great pride in being able to host anglers from all over the country, and the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship is yet another opportunity to host a championship event in our championship facility on our championship lake!”

A new format in 2024 has created more opportunities to qualify for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship — even for anglers who are not affiliated with a local club. Starting this year, both individual B.A.S.S. Nation anglers and club members from each state are allowed to enter national qualifier events, with the Top 20 finishers advancing to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. Additionally, club anglers can qualify directly from their state tournaments.

“Interest in the B.A.S.S. Nation has risen dramatically, and our goal is to give the everyday angler more chances to make it to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship,” Compton said. “Some working people and college students don’t have time to join a local club, so opening our regional qualifying events to unaffiliated individuals is a way to accommodate more competitors.”

Once anglers qualify for the Nation Championship on Grand they’re just one step away from achieving what most anglers dream of — a berth in the Bassmaster Classic. The top three finishers in the Nation Championship receive berths into the Classic, and the overall winner of the Nation Championship receives an invitation to fish the Bassmaster Elite Series, along with a Nation’s Best package that includes a fully-rigged truck and boat.

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops,Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

2024 Bassmaster Nation Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano



The Apex in Hardcore Fishing Wear

Brian Carter
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The Apex in Hardcore Fishing Wear
The Apex in Hardcore Fishing Wear
Best fabrics and components, intelligent design, and brutal testing lead to Whitewater Fishing’s Great Lakes™ Pro Jacket and Bibs.
MUSKEGON, Mich. (March 13, 2024) – You don’t hear much about the field testing that goes into bringing products to market. It’s either buried as a footnote in a new product release or not mentioned at all. (Shamefully, consumers conduct final testing on some products being rushed to market.) The polar-opposite is true when NEXUS Outdoors and Whitewater Fishing president, Aaron Ambur, was queried about the new Great Lakes Pro Jacket and Bibs. He begins by plugging the field testing.“We tested sample after sample of the Great Lakes Pro with real anglers and our pro staff to get it right. They’d provide feedback and we’d make tweaks. In fact, the final design was tested on the water for 60-days before we were convinced it was perfect. When you are at this level of precision, it is all about the small details.”Even though recent to the scene, Whitewater Fishing represents a 100-year heritage of developing premium apparel for the outdoors, all products rigorously tested in the woods or on the water. 
SHADE
BLACK
“The new Great Lakes Pro is our most technically designed and fabricated rain jacket and bib so far,” says Ambur. “For the angler who wants that one suit that will do it all during midwinter on the river, full-on ice fishing, or spring and fall fishing anywhere for anything, this is the suit.”“In a couple words: it’s clean and streamlined,” says Ambur. “And you get a level of stretch unprecedented in a 3-layer suit, while still being lightweight, durable, and athletic in form and function. The Great Lakes Pro Jacket and Bib is our team’s two-year product development effort designing the ultimate foul-weather fishing suit for hardcore anglers.”The centerpiece of the suit is Whitewater’s durable and proprietary 3-layer design, which consists of an exterior fabric, laminate, and light internal fabric layer. The deluxe 3-layer fabric earned Great Lakes Pro a 20k waterproof rating, meaning the fabric can endure 20,000 mm (ANSI standards) of water before any moisture gets through – that’s extreme waterproofing. (For reference, a 5,000 mm rating is the lowest a garment can have to be considered rainproof.) Moreover, the same 3-layer fabric is windproof, to keep you warm on cold, wind-cutting days. Combined, it’s battle armor for the wickedest weather.
Likewise, the Great Lakes Pro is remarkably breathable. Again, Whitewater being driven by honest numbers, the suit’s breathability rates 30,000g/m² – an exceptional rank. On the water, that means the Great Lakes Pro lets moisture escape while relentlessly keeping wind and water out. By moving body generated moisture out, you will not hold onto your sweat, which can be the starting point for getting cold. “From the first days of spraying Camp Dry on everything to what’s happening today, I’ve been there,” said Ambur, who has 30 years the outdoors soft goods industry, knowing industry guidelines, specifications, and ratings like the back of his hand. “With the Great Lakes Pro, I was beta testing our first production samples in long, cold showers at home. My wife thought I was crazy. But I wanted to find out if we were really getting it right before any of our pros took it out on the ice and water. Not to mention all the on-water days our external group of Whitewater Pros had testing and beating up the suit to ensure we were ready for launch.” Ambur continues: “All I can say is we got it right, and it’s our own special sauce, unlike anything competitors are doing with waterproofing and functional design engineering.”
BLACK
Part of that functional design equation is solving for maximum mobility, yet not sacrificing on durability, which is delivered with the Great Lakes Pro’s poly/spandex 4-way stretch shell. The first generation of extreme weather outerwear entered the fishing scene in the 1990’s. Although many suits were indeed waterproof, they draped over your body like a heavy tarp and constructed like a one-ton truck. Movement was severely restricted. You’d literally get tired fishing in it, your body struggling against the suit’s resistance. Inversely, Whitewater’s 4-way stretch fabric moves with you on every cast, kneel, and across the deck, remaining comfortable all day long. Today, mobility is key and the Great Lakes Pro delivers.Additionally, precision fabric cuts work in concert with the 4-way stretch fabric to advance range of motion, every cut stitched and taped for waterproofness and durability.  
Great Lakes Pro JACKET:Smart and specialized features adorn every inch of the Great Lakes Pro Jacket. Leading the pack is a higher hood collar that extends just below the nose, so when anglers are running full-tilt to spots down lake, the water and wind doesn’t hit their face. Several professional bass and walleye anglers asked for this unique feature.The jacket’s three-piece hood is also equipped with multiple adjustment points and a stiff brim. Critical to keeping wind and water out, anglers can customize the hood’s fit to form a facial fortress.No quality was spared when Whitewater selected zippers, either. The jacket sports an AquaGuard® Waterproof two-way main zipper. A pair of hand pockets, chest pocket, and inside pocket are also sealed and opened with AquaGuard two-way zippers.Other elements include hook and loop cuff adjustments on the sleeves, reflective material for safety, D-Rings thoughtfully positioned for a kill-switch and trolling motor FOB, and cinch at the bottom hem for customizing fit. 
Great Lakes Pro BIB:The Great Lakes Pro Bibs are equally intellectualized for fishing. First, you’ll appreciate the comfortable and easily adjustable shoulder straps. A key detail being the addition of silicon grip to keep the straps on your shoulders, not slipping down your arms.At the waist, a pair of high strength, molded hook and loop adjusters can be tightened above your hips to further personalize fit. Bringing the waist in reduces pull on your shoulders and accentuates range of motion.The same AquaGuard two-way zippers advance performance of the bibs, including the main zipper, six storage pockets, and legs. The function of the leg zippers was well conceived, too, as they open all the way to the waist, offering easy on and off, even with footwear.Further accoutrements include adjustments at the bottom hem to accommodate a range of footwear, D-Rings thoughtfully positioned for a kill-switch and trolling motor FOB, and reflective tape for visibility.Whether you’re climbing the ladder of quality in raingear, or want to start with the best, Whitewater’s new Great Lakes Pro Jacket and Bibs will prove you made a great choice.  
Great Lake Pro JACKET Features: Adjustable 3-piece hood and stiff brim to block rain High collar for extra protection and adjustments AquaGuard® Waterproof two-way main zipper Waterproof/windproof breathable 30k/20k lamination and taped seams Durable 3 layer design, stretch poly/spandex shell and polyester lining 4 AquaGuard® Waterproof zippered external pockets and 1 interior pocket 2 Sewn-in D-rings Adjustable hook and loop cuffs and adjustable waist Reflective logo tape for visibility Colors: Shade and Black Sizes S-3XL MSRP $349.99
Great Lakes Pro BIBS Features: Adjustable suspenders with silicone grip Waterproof/windproof breathable 30k/20k lamination and taped seams Durable 3 layer design, stretch poly/spandex shell and polyester lining AquaGuard® Waterproof two-way main zipper Dual high-strength molded waist adjusters 2 Sewn-in D-rings 6 AquaGuard® Waterproof zippered pockets (2 chest, 2 waist, and 2 thigh) AquaGuard® Waterproof waist-high leg zippers Hook and loop cuff adjustments Reflective tape for visibility Colors: Black Sizes S-3XL MSRP $349.99For more information, or to order, visit whitewaterfish.com.
 
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2024’s Hottest New Color?

Brian Carter
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2024’s Hottest New Color?
2024’s Hottest New Color?
Northland® collaborates with Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson to create brilliant new Smeltinator® and Smeltinator® Underspin pattern.
BEMIDJI, Minn. (March 12, 2024) – If you haven’t heard about Gussy’s 2023 Bassmaster Classic victory, well, quite frankly, you’ve been living under a boat tarp. Nearly as big news was his innovative technique and distinctive money-making bait: the Smeltinator Jig. And now, on the cusp of the 2024 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gussy and his buddies at Northland® Fishing Tackle are introducing a freshly faced Smeltinator Jig in what’s being called Gussy’s Shad – a brother from another mother. “It matches perfectly with Z-Man’s Scented Jerk ShadZ™ in Gussy’s Blue Glimmer,” said Canada’s not-so-secret bass fishing weapon. “It’s my favorite Jerk ShadZ color, so I asked Northland to make a jig to match it.”“Gussy Shad works anytime an angler wants to imitate baitfish with a plastic that looks like a shad,” continued Gussy. “The white/blue hue of the new color Smeltinator and Smeltinator Underspin make it show up well in everything from the tannic waters of Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake to the dirtier waters in the south.”
Smeltinator Jig (Gussy’s Shad)
Smeltinator Underspin (Gussy’s Shad)
Origins of Gussy’s Classic Winning Smeltinator JigThe Smeltinator is hardly new to the fishing scene. The jig and the “moping” technique have been dominating the Canadian tournament scene for over a decade. Gussy, Northland founder John Peterson, Canadian professional angler Jamie Bruce, and Bryan Gustafson of Bass Tactics have won many tournaments and cashed big checks at events like the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship and Kenora Bass Invitational moping the Smeltinator Jig. The Bassmaster Classic winning Smeltinator Jig is the creation of Canadian Angler Bryan Gustafson. It wouldn’t be what it is today without a 20+ year relationship with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jeff Gustafson and Northland Tackle founder John Peterson. The Smeltinator was designed to give anglers a premium minnow head that perfectly imitates slender baitfish across the Northern US and Canada. As Bryan started creating jigs, he consulted with John on the manufacturing process, and the Smeltinator was born. After dominating the Canadian Tournament scene for several years, Jeff Gustafson won more than $400,000 through B.A.S.S including the 2023 Bassmaster Classic. In 2023, Bryan licensed the Smeltinator manufacturing rights to Northland Tackle and reunited the three elements that brought this jig to life and made it famous.
More About the Smeltinator® JigThe premium components of the Smeltinator is really what makes this jig head stand out from others. It features a sticky sharp, strong Gamakatsu hook, which by popular demand is a staple in the bass fishing tournament scene. Lifelike 3D holographic eyes and sculpted gill plates make the Smeltinator a realistic presentation and highly irresistible! Lastly, the universal ribbed baitkeeper holds your favorite plastics on the jig head and doesn’t tear your bait like traditional baitkeepers.  With 14 colors, four sizes (1/8-, ¼-, 3/8-, and ½-ounce), and five hook sizes (1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0) from which to choose, bass anglers are sure to find the right jig for whatever situation they face. Jigs come three per card for $7.99 (MSRP). 
The Smeltinator® UnderspinLike the Smeltinator, the Smeltinator Underspin features an ultra-sharp, ultra-strong Gamakatsu hook and beautifully sculpted baitfish head and plastics-securing hook collar. But what makes the Smeltinator Underspin totally unique is its compact, nickel plated willow blade for added flash and vibration to mimic small baitfish. The lightweight blade spins instantly on contact with the water and continues flickering with minimal jigging action. Aiding and abetting the blade’s ability to spin at super slow speeds is an exceptional SPRO ball-bearing swivel.The Smeltinator Underspin is especially effective on pressured bass and in cold water conditions when bass won’t always commit to traditional lures. Moreover, the Smeltinator Underspin is a big-time player for anglers utilizing forward-facing sonar on suspended bass. The blade adds more body and action for the sonar to detect.The Smeltinator Underspin is deadly on suspended smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and spotted bass. Simply pair it with a 2.5- to 7-inch soft plastic jerkbait or swimbait and let the wondrous pairing go to work. Southern and western bassers can put it to task right now on deep water reservoirs, especially off steep breaking rock structure, over deep flooded timber, or anywhere wintertime bass are schooling offshore. The technique is elementary, too, letting the Smeltinator Underspin just do its thing. Pitch it out, let the bait fall to the fish, and start a slow and steady retrieve. With six colors, three sizes (¼-, 3/8-, and ½-ounce), and three hook sizes (2/0, 3/0 and 4/0) of the Smeltinator Underspin to choose from, bass anglers are sure to find the right jig for whatever situation they face. Jigs come one per card for $7.99 (MSRP).Make this bass season a memorable one with your own selection of Northland Smeltinator and Smeltinator Underspin Jigs! Check them out now! 



Buford’s Edwards Earns First Career MLF Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Lanier

Brian Carter
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Buford’s Edwards Earns First Career MLF Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Lanier
Boater winner Freeman Edwards of Buford, Georgia, and Strike-King co-angler winner Benjie Winkler of Cleveland, Georgia.
Cleveland’s Winkler Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (March 11, 2024) – Boater Freeman Edwards of Buford, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Lanier . The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Bulldog Division. Edwards earned $7,037, including the lucrative $3,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

For Edwards, the tournament was an exercise in using Garmin LiveScope technology to junk-fish his way around the lower end of the lake, mostly checking spots where he’s caught fish during springtime in the past.

“Starting out we had a little east wind,” he said. “A lot of the places that I wanted to fish set up more for a west wind, but I still pulled up on some prespawn-type places early, trying to catch them up shallow.”

Edwards used the LiveScope to spot fish on shallow transition areas. He rigged a Keitech 3.8 Swing Impact FAT on a 1/4-ounce ball-head jig, cast it up shallow and rolled it through the fish.

As the wind died down, Edwards went on the hunt. He checked points, brush, deep humps, deep timber – all prespawn staging areas. He caught his biggest bass of the day on standing timber in 45 feet of water using a Neko-rigged Daiwa Yamamoto Neko Worm.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on right now,” Edwards added. “You can pretty much do whatever you want. I caught another 5-pounder kind of on an edge, and it was just sitting right under the surface on some herring. I picked up my Sebile (Magic Swimmer, now made by Berkley), tossed it out there about 60 feet, and I saw him come up and he just crushed it.

“I caught a lot of fish. I probably caught 30, 35 fish. I probably culled out another 18 (pound) sack. It was just a good day – one of those days where the fish just bit.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Freeman Edwards, Buford, Ga., five bass, 23-2, $7,037 (includes $3,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Spencer Sato, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 22-14, $2,319
3rd:       Ty Overmyer, Dawsonville, Ga., five bass, 22-11, $1,345
4th:        Cole Cloud, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 22-2, $942
5th:        Maddux Walters, Canton, Ga., five bass, 21-5, $1,352
6th:        Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., five bass, 21-0, $740
7th:        Brooks Anderson, Marietta, Ga., five bass, 20-15, $673
8th:        Brad Wiley, Alto, Ga., five bass, 20-14, $606
9th:        Carter Cunningham, Dawsonville, Ga., five bass, 18-14, $538
10th:     Joe Eubanks, Marieta, Ga., five bass, 18-12, $471

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Maddux Walthers of Canton, Georgia, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $545.



Benjie Winkler of Cleveland, Georgia, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,005 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 17 pounds.

The top 11 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 17-0, $2,005
2nd:       Harold Grizzle, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 16-7, $1,002
3rd:       Daniel Truitt, Dawsonville, Ga., five bass, 14-15, $568
3rd:       Cameron Sampson, Jackson, Ga., five bass, 14-15, $568
5th:        Jared Kutil, Beaufort, S.C., five bass, 14-10, $551
6th:        Elijah Moon, Talmo, Ga., five bass, 14-9, $368
7th:        Gerald Bennett, Dallas, Ga., four bass, 14-8, $334
8th:        Ariska Savior, Atlanta, Ga., four bass, 13-11, $301
9th:        Jamie Thompson, Lakemont, Ga., five bass, 13-2, $237
9th:        Nick Kight, Gray, Ga., five bass, 13-2, $237
9th:        Jaquas Dobbs, Conyers, Ga., five bass, 13-2, $237

John Kennedy of Statham, Georgia, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $2,675, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Brooks Anderson of Marietta, Georgia, leads the Fishing Clash Bulldog Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 494 points, while Joshua Green of Cartersville, Georgia, leads the Fishing Clash Bulldog Division Strike King Co-Angler of the Year race with 484 points.

The next event for BFL Bulldog Division anglers will be held April 6, at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Santee Cooper Lakes in Clarendon County, South Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments 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 BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

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



Georgia’s Hart Earns First Career MLF Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Hartwell

Brian Carter
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Georgia’s Hart Earns First Career MLF Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Hartwell
Boater winner Will Hart of Danielsville, Georgia, and Strike-King co-angler winner Mark Yarborough of Salem, South Carolina.
Salem’s Yarborough Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

ANDERSON, S.C. (March 11, 2024) – Boater Will Hart of Danielsville, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 8 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell . Hosted by Visit Anderson, the tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Division. Hart earned $11,266, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

Hart caught all of his fish on deep points using his Garmin LiveScope and a Damiki rig. The rig consisted of a Damiki Armor Shad with a Greenfish Bryan New Bad Little Shad Swimbait Head.

“They were out a little bit deeper in 30 to 35 feet,” he said, “just staged up getting ready to start moving up (to spawn) with the water temp rising like it is.

“It started off slow,” Hart added. “I had two fish at like 9 or 10 o’clock, and then I caught the 7-10 (Berkley Big Bass for the day) at like 10:30. Then I knew I had to just slow down. It was a grind. I caught a bunch of little fish, but it was a grind to get a decent bite.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Will Hart, Danielsville, Ga., five bass, 21-8, $11,266 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Kevin Chandler, New London, N.C., five bass, 20-13, $1,883
3rd:       Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., five bass, 19-12, $1,256
4th:        Dylan Akins, Flowery Branch, Ga., five bass, 18-13, $879
5th:        Cole Wilson, Hartwell, Ga., five bass, 18-9, $753
6th:        Bradley Day, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 17-6, $690
7th:        Brendan Smith, Lavonia, Ga., five bass, 17-4, $628
8th:        Justin Raines, Easley, S.C., five bass, 17-2, $865
9th:        Lane Clark, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 17-0, $502
10th:     Tallis Morrison, Royston, Ga., five bass, 16-14, $439

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Hart caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $500.



Mark Yarborough of Salem, South Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,878 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 5 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Mark Yarborough, Salem, S.C., five bass, 16-5, $1,878
2nd:       Kodell Keels, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 14-12, $1,184
3rd:       Moldon Jordan, Andrews, S.C., five bass, 14-1, $627
4th:        Michael Gauldin, Stokesdale, N.C., five bass, 14-0, $438
5th:        Mark Lee, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 13-0, $360
5th:        David Cooper, Rushville, N.Y., five bass, 13-0, $360
7th:        Todd Huntley, Inman, S.C., five bass, 12-13, $313
8th:        Rodney Tapp, Inman, S.C., five bass, 11-10, $382
9th:        Danny Bickley, Chapin, S.C., five bass, 11-6, $250
10th:     Ross Doolittle, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 11-5, $219

Kodell Keels of Columbia, South Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $245, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 8 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

The next event for BFL South Carolina Division anglers will be held April 6, at Santee Cooper Lakes in Summerton, South Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments 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 BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

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



Weather and water trends have Grand Lake teed up for Bassmaster Classic fireworks

Brian Carter
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Weather and water trends have Grand Lake teed up for Bassmaster Classic fireworks

Jason Christie will be one of 56 anglers vying for the title of 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors champion, which will be held at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees March 22-24.

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

March 12, 2024

Weather and water trends have Grand Lake teed up for Bassmaster Classic fireworks

TULSA, Okla. — Jason Christie does not yet have a clear picture of how the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors will be won, but the Bassmaster Elite Series veteran from Dry Creek, Okla., is certain that Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees’ water clarity will be a major factor.

Competition days will be March 22-24 with daily takeoffs from Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility at 7:15 a.m. CT and weigh-ins each day at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Christie spent a few days pre-practicing in December, and since then, the Grand Lake area has seen minimal rainfall. This, he said, means unusually clear water.

“The water clarity is probably better than in years past because we usually have a couple of flush-outs in fall and early spring, but we just haven’t had those,” said Christie, who won the 2022 Classic on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell. “We have had (little) rain and the weather has been really mild.”

Making his 10th appearance in the sport’s most prestigious event, Christie placed seventh at the 2013 Classic at Grand and second when the event returned three years later. With the 2022 Classic trophy on his mantel, Christie is no doubt motivated to notch his second Classic win on his home waters.

Doing so, he said, could occur just about anywhere on the 46,500-acre Grand River (lower Neosho River) impoundment. Like most reservoirs, Grand’s lower end traditionally holds the most consistent clarity, but Christie said anglers can expect that to extend farther up the lake.

“The area where river water meets the lake water can move based on (minimal river current),” he said. “I would guess that seam is going to be a lot farther up the river than where it normally is. 

“That’s going to open up the lake to guys that like that kind of water. It’s not going to be limited to the bottom half of the lake. I think the lake almost doubles in water clarity. I think the tournament could be won end to end.”

Addressing Oklahoma’s pre-Classic weather makeup, Christie said it’s almost like winter forgot to visit the area.

“It’s not what I was expecting,” he said. “It’s not what I would want. On an average year, the first of March or the middle or even late March can be really cold. It’s almost like we’ve just had a long spring.

“We’ve already mowed the grass at my house (60 miles from Grand) and we normally don’t until mid-April.”

Having fished Grand Lake for more than 30 years, Christie has seen practically every complexion imaginable — including an unusually mild spring that found bass bedding in mid-March. That being said, he believes technology has nullified any advantage a local once held.

“With what we now have in electronics — mapping, the TV shows and (all media platforms), there are no secrets anymore,” he said. “A guy has to win by fishing and probably changing a lot throughout the tournament.”

Christie’s a formidable force when flipping jigs and throwing spinnerbaits is on the table. But while such techniques remain viable options, a couple weeks prior to the Classic, he was leaning more toward an offshore/nearshore program with jerkbaits, finesse worms and the jighead minnow technique with a Yum FF Sonar Minnow that played a big role in his 2022 Classic win at Hartwell.

“That’s what I love about Grand — you can win from one end of that lake to the other,” he said. “It’s a big lake, and guys are not going to be able to cover it in three days of practice. You have to pick your poison and figure out what you want to do.

“It seems like we’re always thrown a curveball during the Classic, but with the water getting warm, I won’t be surprised to see the water temperature creeping up there in the high 50s by the time we get there. Everything’s setting up for it to be a wide-open event.”

With prognosticators pondering the possibility of modern live sonar techniques dominating Classic strategies, third-year Bassmaster Elite Cody Huff said he’s not fully onboard with that premise. Well regarded for his forward-facing sonar prowess, the Missouri pro said this transformative technology could play a big role in the Classic’s unfolding, but the specifics may be unexpected.

“It’s definitely possible for forward-facing sonar to play a big role, but if it does, I think it’s going to be in different circumstances than what people are used to seeing,” Huff said. “It’s going to be up shallower.

“On that lake, the fish love to live shallow and it’s going to be that time of year when they’re going to be moving to the bank. I don’t think you’re going to see the whole Top 10 using forward-facing sonar offshore — maybe one guy, but not the whole Top 10.”

Moreover, Huff said he believes Classic fans will enjoy seeing a diverse array of techniques. If the weather remains relatively stable and Grand dodges any significant rainfall through Classic week, the stage could be set for a wide-open springtime slugfest.

“I’m sure a lot of guys are gonna catch them on spinnerbaits, ChatterBaits and probably flipping,” Huff said. “If the water stays really clean, I could see a lot of guys wacky worming. A lot of stuff could change between now and the tournament, so it could go a lot of different ways, but it has a good shot at lining up to be a power-fishing beatdown.

“It should line up to be a really good tournament — probably the best one we’ve had on Grand. They’ve always been a touch early, but I think this one’s gonna hit it right on the head.”

Past Classics have seen chilly to downright frigid conditions unable to deter fishing fans from launching early and following competitors. With the strong potential for moderate to possibly downright pleasant conditions, Christie knows crowd control will become one of his biggest challenges.

“If the weather is nice, imagine how many spectator boats we’ll have on the water,” Christie surmised. “The lake might be clear when we get there, but it’s going to be dirty when we leave from all the boat traffic.”

Christie points out that the mild weather trend has him expecting a mostly prespawn event. He considers some early spawning action a possibility, but however the event shakes out, he’s looking for solid limits — a two-day total of 28 to 30 pounds to make the final-round cut and approximately 60 pounds to win.

“Someone’s going to catch a 24- to 25-pound bag one day,” Christie said. “We’re gonna hit it about as good as you can hit it.

“I’d say the weights would be higher if the water stayed colder, but we’ll be in that time when the fish are scattered. The fish will be doing a lot of things, but not many of them will be doing one thing.”

As always, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors will be a weeklong celebration of the sport, with the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing as the main attraction.

Don’t miss a second of the action throughout the week. Click here for a full list of how to watch the event.

Click here for a full list of Classic events.



Harris Chain of Lakes Readies for MLF Toyota Series

Brian Carter
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Harris Chain of Lakes Readies for MLF Toyota Series

LEESBURG, Fla. (March 12, 2024) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to return to Leesburg, Florida, next week, March 19-21, for the Toyota Series at Harris Chain of Lakes .

The three-day tournament is the second event of the year for Southern Division anglers and is hosted by Discover Lake County Florida. The event will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.

Local pro Christian Greico of Tampa, Florida, said the fishing on the Harris Chain has been more difficult than usual recently, but he’s looking forward to a great event.

“It’s been tougher than usual – there have even been a few recent tournaments that were won with less than 20 pounds – which is pretty unusual for the Harris Chain,” said Greico. “I’m sure we’ll still see some really good weights – you typically do on all of the Florida fisheries – but I think it’s going to be a lot tougher overall than a lot of guys expect.”

The Florida pro said because the Harris Chain of Lakes has been fishing so good for a number of years, anglers just expect it to always yield really high weights, but that hasn’t been the case over the past few months.

“Right now, we’re just not seeing those really high weights as much,” explained Greico. “I’m not sure if it’s due to pressure on the fishery, time of year or if it’s just fluctuating currently. Sometimes lakes will be really good for a couple years, then it evens out, then surges again, and it just feels like it’s currently transitioning.”

As for strategy during the event, Greico said it’s really going to be dependent on which lake anglers choose to fish.   

“Dora, Beauclair and Apopka have been the popular lakes on that chain recently,” said Greico. “Lake Apopka has been really popular, which has created some issues, as only three boats can go through the lock at a time.  There were a bunch of guys at the last Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament that were late back to the weigh-in due to the lock, so if guys choose to go that direction, getting back for the weigh-in could definitely be a factor.”

Greico said the timing of the event on the Florida fishery opens it up for various types of fishing, and that anglers should be able to fish to their strengths. 

“Although there will still be some fish spawning, I think most of the bigger fish have probably already spawned, so you’ll see a lot of post-spawn fish being targeted and caught,” said Greico. “There will probably be a couple guys who are still catching them off beds, but this time of year you can really get on all three transitions.

“I like fishing for postspawn fish,” Greico continued. “If you can get on a group of them, you can come in with a big bag. That’s probably what I’ll focus on during most of my practice, locating groups of postspawn fish, or even groups of fish heading out from the spawn trying to feed up. I expect to see guys flipping and throwing Carolina rigs, crankbaits and ChatterBaits throughout the event.”

Greico said he anticipates the three-day winning weight to be in the mid to high 60’s and believes a three-day bag in the low 50’s will make it into the top 10.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from the Ski Beach at the Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg. Weigh-ins will also be held at the same location and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.

The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission and the Huntsville Sports Commission.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

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



Joseph Silva Triumphs At Tulloch For First-Ever BAM Tournament Trail Kayak Series

Brian Carter
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Joseph Silva Triumphs At Tulloch For First-Ever BAM Tournament Trail Kayak Series

Joseph Silva Triumphs At Tulloch For First-Ever BAM Tournament Trail Kayak Series

James Croco Claims Runner-Up Ranking

Copperopolis, Calif. – With a total of 91.75 inches, Joseph Silva of Windsor, Calif. claims the first-ever BAM Tournament Trail (BAM TT) Kayak Series win at Lake Tulloch.

Tucked into the heart of the Gold Country, Lake Tulloch welcomed 51 kayak anglers to its 1,200 plus acres for the single-day, season-opening kayak competition. As the last day prior to time change, lines in was announced for 6 a.m. on Saturday, following a fishery off-limits for the week prior.

Under partly cloudy skies, within an air temp spread of the 65-degree high and 43-degree nighttime low, Silva made history becoming the first victor of the new Kayak Series by a margin of four-inches over his nearest competitor, netting the top payout of $1,371.52.

Silva sacked up five (+ one) for the day, with his biggest coming in at 19.25 inches. The bulk of his remaining fish stretched over the 18-inch mark, with his smallest at 17.50 inches. The TourneyX estimated weight was17.50 pounds.

“I did it mid-strolling a five-inch Fluke-style bait,” he revealed.“I call it power strolling.”

He differentiated his power strolling technique as a variation on mid-strolling by the use of “heavy line and heavy braid and a 3/0hook.”

“It’s hanging a bait on a ball head jig and working it through the middle of the water column,” he explained. “It’s almost like a level baitfish.”

The Fluke-style bait that Silva tied on was the Sakamata Shad from Deps. He noted that he rotated three different colors, without any marking a difference in the bass bite. He threw the setup on a G. Loomis NRX 742S paired with a Daiwa Exist 2500.

Fishing from an Old Town AutoPilot kayak, electronics were an integral part of Silva’s arsenal. “Four of my fish came on Garmin Live Scope,” he added.”

The biggest bass of the day at 20.50 inches was caught by James Croco of Wilton, Calif.

Croco came in second overall at BAM’s Tulloch stop with 87.75.He sent in five total with a TourneyX estimated weight of 16.09. Croco earned $1041.91 for the effort, including $510 Big Fish money.

Elk Grove, Calif. angler, Jesse Hoover hoisted in five (+ four) for 85.5 to round out third place and bank $442.43. His TourneyX estimated weight was14.06.

BAM Kayak Series Tulloch Top-10

1 Joseph Silva 91.75 $1,371.52
2 James Croco 87.75 $1,040.91
3 Jesse Hoover 85.5 $442.43
4 AJ Ramirez 84 $398.18
5 Damian Thao 83.25 $353.94
6 John Myers 82.75 $309.70
7 Dang Xiong 82.75 $287.58
8 Ivan Lee 81.75 $265.46
9 Nathaniel Ferrand 80.25 $243.33
10 Matthew Brannon 79.5 $221.21

Full Results Here

The next of the three remaining regular season trail stops include Rollins Lake, Trinity, and the California Delta. The BAM Kayak Series championship will be held on Lake Berryessa.

More information is available at the BAM Tournament Trail site.

About BAM Tournament Trail

The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM TT) is an exclusive westcoast pro level tournament circuit. BAM TT delivers multiple opportunities toshowcase the talents of western anglers on several professional platforms.

As BAM TT continues to provide and refine a platform of elite events forcompetitive anglers, it creates a logical avenue for sponsors to have direct contact with our west coast anglers. BAM TT is dedicated to creating a complete package of advertising opportunities including on-site activation, internet/social media, and a YouTube and TV series that reaches a large number of viewers each day.

Proud sponsors for the BAM Trail: Bass Boat Technologies, Tackle Warehouse, Storquest, Garmin, Dish, Bass Cat Boats, Accel Marketing, Power Pole, MercuryOutboards, Bob’s machine, Wood Bros, Sticky Graphics, City of Oakley, LakeAlmanor Chamber, Jean Deleonardi Real Estate, Ford Fairfield, Valley Outdoors,Boardman Chamber, Feather River Tourism Association, Eternal Lithium, OakleyAce Hardware, Alpha Angler Rods and Fisherman’s Warehouse as our conservation sponsor.

Tournament events include BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am and a Kayak Tour with a no entry Championship can be viewed on YouTube. Learn more here: BAM TRAIL, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media / Advertising Contact MarkLassagne



Florien’s Reynolds Posts Third Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Toledo Bend Lake

Brian Carter
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Florien’s Reynolds Posts Third Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Toledo Bend Lake
Boater winner Tater Reynolds of Florien, Louisiana, and Strike-King co-angler winner Logan Slaughter of Dallas, Texas.
Slaughter, of Dallas, Texas, Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

ZWOLLE, La. (March 11, 2024) – Boater Tater Reynolds of Florien, Louisiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Toledo Bend Lake. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Cowboy Division. Reynolds earned $3,845 for his victory.

In classic spring fashion, anglers fishing the Toledo Bend event saw borderline easy fishing evaporate on tournament day in the wake of an end-of-the-week cold front. Reynolds said that during the week prior to the tournament, consistently warm weather had pushed many bass to the banks to spawn, and it was possible to catch 20 to 30 pounds by sight-fishing. Just going down the bank throwing a vibrating jig, wacky worm or just about anything could produce 15 to 18 pounds.

“But this cold front finished them up on the bed or they just got finished in general during the week, and they were gone (from up shallow),” Reynolds said. “Four of my fish I weighed were postspawn.”

The tournament champ adjusted to the change by backing out of the shallows and targeting fish in 8 to 12 feet of water.

Despite high winds that roiled the lake and forced many competitors to stay closer to takeoff, Reynolds made the call to make a 44-minute run to the south end of Toledo Bend. He lives on the lake down south and said that’s where he feels most confident.

Throughout the day, Reynolds relied on forward-facing sonar to catch roaming bass or bass around standing timber, but it wasn’t the usual cat-and-mouse “digital sight-fishing” approach. Prior to the rain, there was heavy pine pollen on the water’s surface. Reynolds said the rain spread the pollen throughout the water, which clouded up his sonar imaging. 

“It clutters the screen so bad that you can’t see your bait,” he said. “I don’t think I saw my bait all day long. What I would do is I would kind of see a glob – just a little speck (a bass) – out there, and I would throw my bait in that direction. And when I’d get the bite, I’d catch the fish, but I never did see my bait on the scope all day.”

Reynolds caught his fish on two presentations: a 6th Sense Juggle Minnow on a 1/8-ounce 6th Sense Finesse Swimbait Jig Head and a 6th Sense Provoke 97DD Jerkbait.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Tater Reynolds, Florien, La., five bass, 20-3, $3,845
2nd:       Lane Haeger, Flint, Texas, five bass, 18-4, $1,773
3rd:       Bill Cook, Houston, Texas, five bass, 17-8, $1,626
4th:        Daniel Bryant, Scott, La., five bass, 16-13, $827
5th:        Randy Brewer, Bedford, Texas, five bass, 15-10, $709
6th:        Brad Smith, Longview, Texas, five bass, 15-8, $650
7th:        Reese Ray, Glenmore, La., four bass, 13-15, $591
8th:        Charles Dubroc, Hessmer, La., five bass, 13-13, $532
9th:        Zack Fogle, Longview, Texas, five bass, 13-7, $973 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
10th:     Ricky Guy, Humble, Texas, five bass, 13-3, $414

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Bill Cook of Houston, Texas, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $445.



Logan Slaughter of Dallas, Texas, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,773 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 7 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
               
1st:        Logan Slaughter, Dallas, Texas, five bass, 15-7, $1,773
2nd:       Daryl Powell, Leesville, La., three bass, 12-14, $1,108
3rd:       Allen Musser, Ada, Okla., four bass, 12-11, $502
3rd:       Colton Hatzold, Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 12-11, $502
5th:        Michael Glynn, Boerne, Texas, five bass, 12-3, $355
6th:        Jeffrey Higgs, San Antonio, Texas, five bass, 11-10, $325
7th:        Justin Overstreet, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 11-9, $295
8th:        Clay Carpenter, Joyce, Texas, five bass, 11-3, $266
9th:        Todd Brown, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 11-2, $236
10th:     Al Longoria, Pottsboro, Texas, five bass, 10-14, $207

Powell earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $222, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Tater Reynolds of Florien, Louisiana, leads the Fishing Clash Cowboy Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 744 points, while Allen Musser of Ada, Oklahoma, leads the Fishing Clash Cowboy Division Strike King Co-Angler of the Year race with 715 points.

The next event for BFL Cowboy Division anglers will be held April 6, at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Wright Patman Lake in Texarkana, Texas. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments 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 BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

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



Bristol’s Neece Sews Up Second Career MLF Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Norris Lake

Brian Carter
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Bristol’s Neece Sews Up Second Career MLF Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Norris Lake
Boater winner Jimmy Neece, Jr., of Bristol, Tennessee, and Strike-King co-angler winner Steve Farris of Lily, Kentucky.
Farris, of Lily, Kentucky, Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

ANDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (March 11, 2024) – Boater Jimmy Neece, Jr., of Bristol, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Norris Lake. The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Volunteer Division. Neece earned $4,720 for his victory.

Early spring in East Tennessee is Damiki rig season. It’s the perfect time to finesse big prespawn smallmouth bass with a small minnow-shaped soft plastic in deep, clear water. And that’s exactly how Neece caught his winning limit of smallmouths.

“The fish that I was catching are prespawn and suspended out at the mouths of pockets and spawning areas,” said Neece, who owns a construction company.
 
“I really looked for the shad and looked for the stripers,” he added. “There’s a ton of stripers in that lake. And if I found the stripers, the smallmouth were somewhere close by. You’d into some areas and there wouldn’t be anything – no trash fish and nothing swimming around. If you got into an area with a lot of stripers congregated around, the smallmouth would be somewhere close.” 

Neece said the fish on his best spot had actually slid out a few hundred yards from where he found them on Friday. He was able to relocate them with Garmin LiveScope, which he used to catch all of the fish he weighed in.

“(It was) one at a time casting a Damiki at them,” he said. “That’s basically it. You have to spend a lot of time on the trolling motor.”

Neece used a Damiki Armor Shad on a homemade jighead. He fished the rig with a 6-foot, 8-inch, medium-action G. Loomis IMX Pro spinning rod, a 2500-size Shimano Vanford spinning reel, 10-pound-test braided line and a 7-pound-test Sunline Super FC Sniper Fluorocarbon leader. He kept three identical combos on his deck, each rigged with a different color soft plastic.

“I varied between lighter and darker colors, and my fish were anywhere from the surface down to 20 feet of water,” Need said. “If you got it near one, he was coming for it.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Jimmy Neece, Jr., Bristol Tenn., five bass, 17-2, $4,720
2nd:       Joseph Tallent, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 16-2, $2,360
3rd:       Seth Barton, Middlesboro, Ky., five bass, 15-13, $1,574
4th:        Trent Adkins, East Bernstadt, Ky., five bass, 15-10, $1,101
5th:        Hunter McClaskey, Elizabethton, Tenn., five bass, 15-7, $944
6th:        Zack Long, Clinton, Tenn., five bass, 15-6, $865
7th:        John Napier, Middlesboro, Ky., five bass, 15-0, $747
7th:        Riley Faulkner, Jacksboro, Tenn., five bass, 15-0, $747
9th:        Seth Fricke, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 14-12, $629
10th:     Tim Saylor, Johnson City, Tenn., five bass, 14-11, $551

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Dalton Noble of Hazard, Kentucky, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $695.



Steve Farris of Lily, Kentucky, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,088 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 2 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Steve Farris, Lily, Ky., five bass, 15-1, $2,175
2nd:       Scott Pittman, Powell, Tenn., five bass, 14-2, $1,088
3rd:       Travis Malone, Wartburg, Tenn., five bass, 13-10, $976
4th:        Cody Stokes, Ooltewah, Tenn., five bass, 12-14, $507
5th:        Josh Smith, Siler, Ky., five bass, 11-13, $435
6th:        Konnor Sweet, Abingdon, Va., five bass, 11-10, $399
7th:        John Henley, Kingston, Tenn., five bass, 11-8, $344
7th:        Ransom Boone, Marshall, N.C., five bass, 11-8, $344
9th:        T.J. Blakely, Kingsport, Tenn., five bass, 11-5, $290
10th:     Shane Bowman, Caryville, Tenn., five bass, 11-2, $254

Rob Welsh of Berea, Kentucky, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $307, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

The next event for BFL Volunteer Division anglers will be held April 20, at South Holston Lake in Bristol, Tennessee. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments 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 BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

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