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College bass fishing is the Future.

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February 18, 2022

When I was in high school competitive college bass fishing was relatively unknown. As far as I was concerned it was nonexistent. However, the record reflects that the first known college bass fishing tournament took place at Lake Monroe, Indiana on April 18, 1992 between Purdue University and Indiana University. Purdue won the tournament by three pounds. It wasn’t until 2006 that Cabala’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series held their first collegiate championship (won by North Carolina State University) and 2010 until FLW held their first(won by the University of Florida). Now college bass fishing is deeply woven in the fabric of competitive bass fishing. Several top tier pros have come from the college ranks. As well as many high schools are starting fishing teams to help pursue college scholarships.

Who’s helping it grow? Well to answer that we obviously must look in many places. From major organizations like Major League Fishing and BASS all the way down to the individual athletes themselves. Many have worked to grow this level of the sport exponentially. One such example is Auburn University bass angler alumnus Logan Parks. You might remember him most recently for winning the Bass Pro Shops US Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championship with partner Tucker Smith. Winning 1 million dollars plus two 2022 Toyota Tundra Crew Max trucks and two brand new Nitro Z21 Bass Boats making it the largest amateur event prize ever. Team Parks/Smith had experience and success at college level bass fishing prior to this unaffiliated win. Logan Parks announced recently that he wanted to take part of his million-dollar earnings and pay it forward towards the future of college bass fishing. By establishing a scholarship at Auburn University to further benefit their bass fishing team. “I wanted to create a scholarship that offered someone an opportunity to come and fish at what I consider the best school in the country,” said Parks. Parks will be embarking on a professional fishing career this year thanks in large part to his college fishing success. “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Auburn, and I wanted to create an opportunity for someone else like me to come here in the future. I’m hoping this will lead to bigger and better things.” said Parks. “Hopefully Auburn will help this scholarship grow as much as possible, and eventually maybe one day other SEC schools will see the value in it and will make the same type of scholarships available at their schools. The more people hear about it and the more we get the word out about it, the better.” said Parks.

With over 600 college bass fishing teams in the United States now is the time. Time for those in school who are ate up with bass fishing to set their sights on college. As well as time for those who are like Logan Parks, MLF, BASS, Bass Pro Shops/Cabelas, and many others behind the scenes that are not in the position to compete but would love to help promote this amazing sport any way they can. Regardless the future looks bright for competitive bass fishing at all levels including especially college. With efforts like these and many others college bass fishing may be a recognized NCAA sport in no time. College bass fishing is here to stay.

Lester Holds Razor-Thin Lead At Bassmaster Elite On Harris Chain Of Lakes

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February 18, 2022

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Lester Holds Razor-Thin Lead At Bassmaster Elite On Harris Chain Of Lakes

Brandon Lester of Fayetteville, Tenn., is leading after Day 1 of the 2022 SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain with 23 pounds.

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

February 17, 2022

Lester Holds Razor-Thin Lead At Bassmaster Elite On Harris Chain Of Lakes

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LEESBURG, Fla. — Building on the momentum of his recent success, Tennessee pro Brandon Lester caught a five-bass limit of 23 pounds Thursday to lead the first round of the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain.

Two weeks after winning the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, about an hour south of Leesburg, Lester holds the top spot in a tight Top 10 with only 2-7 separating first and 10th places. Lester will enter Day 2 with a 1 ounce lead over second-place Pat Schlapper of Eleva, Wis.

“People call it momentum, but I think you get into a good rhythm and a good pace,” Lester said. “In tournament fishing, sometimes it’s like you’re out there and the day just flies by; but right now, I’m out there (during a tournament day) and it’s like I have all the time in the world.

“It’s like I don’t have a care in the world. Part of that is the fact that I’ve already qualified for the (2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, to be held in Knoxville, Tenn., March 24-26). That takes a load off. Good things are happening out there and I’m having fun.”

Dividing his day between three different lakes, Lester focused on shallow flipping with a 7 3/4-inch Bitter’s Mega Wand in the junebug color. He spent most of his time blind bed fishing — targeting unseen fish in likely spawning areas.

“I caught one of them that I was actually looking at on the bed,” Lester said. “I was actually just fishing at that time and I looked down and it was like, ‘Oh my.’ I only caught that one off a bed and the other four came while I was just fishing.”

When he was blind casting the bedding areas, Lester fished his worm unweighted and Texas-rigged. For sight fishing, he added a Humdinger Power Spinner — a screw-in willowleaf blade for added appeal.

“You have to fish this bait slow,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing in Florida — if you go down a bank just cast, cast, cast, cast — you’ll fish right over top of them. You have to pitch it in there and just shake it in place. Most of the time, after you start shaking it, they’ll grab it.”

Lester said his day unfolded mostly as planned. He secured a limit by 10 a.m. and had his weight by 12:30. After that, he committed the rest of his day purely to sight fishing.

Despite Thursday’s promising complexion — a warming trend coinciding with a full moon phase — Lester said he did not find the shallow action he was expecting.

“After I got a good bag, I just went strictly sight fishing and looking for a great big one,” he said. “I knew I needed a good one to cull. I’m just not seeing the females up there. There are a lot of males all over the place, but the females are not showing up like I thought they would.

“It could be any day. You have to keep checking it, because if you’re the guy who misses out on that and they do show up, you’re going to look like a dummy.”

Capitalizing when opportunity availed, Schlapper is in second place with 22-15. Reporting an active day, he said a midday flurry dramatically changed his outcome.

“I had those two big bites and probably caught another 10 or 11 keepers,” Schlapper said. “My other ones were 2- to 2 1/2-pounders. Those two big fish made my bag.

“In Florida, you just never know when you’re going to get that big bite and I just got two of them and got them in the boat. One was a bed fish and the other one I got just fishing.”

Schlapper said he caught bass on a variety of presentations that included jerkbaits, lipless baits and flipping. He caught both of his big fish by flipping a Texas-rigged Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in a small canal.

Buddy Gross of Chattanooga, Tenn., is in third with 22-12. Initial disappointment ultimately led him to a successful day, as crowded waters forced a change of game plan.

“I just made some really good decisions today,” Gross said. “Everything I wanted to fish got really crowded this morning and there were 15 to 20 boats sitting where I wanted to go, so I just stopped a little sooner, started fishing and picked up one or two.

“I went to another place and picked up one or two and then I just started keying in on them. They were little to start with but about midday I started culling up and it started getting a lot better.”

Gross said the fishing pressure pushed his bass away from where he thought they would be, but he was able to relocate them on isolated places amid offshore grass. He caught his fish on moving baits.

“I can catch them on anything,” Gross said. “When you find them, they’re biting.”

Jamie Hartman of Newport, N.Y., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-10 largemouth. Lester’s Day 1 lead has him atop the VMC Monster Bag standings for the event’s heaviest limit.

David Mullins of Mt. Carmel, Tenn., leads the Angler of the Year standings with 186 points. Scott Canterbury of Odenville, Ala., is second with 183, followed by John Cox of DeBary, Fla., with 183, Hartman with 180 and Jake Whitaker of Fairview, N.C., with 178.

Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., leads the Falcon Rods Rookie of the Year standings with 135 points.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ET at Venetian Gardens (Ski Beach). The weigh-in will be held back at Venetian Gardens (Ski Beach) at 3:30 p.m. Only the Top 47 remaining anglers will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

The tournament is being hosted by Visit Lake, FL.

2022 SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain of Lakes 2/17-2/20
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 23-00 100
Day 1: 5 23-00
2. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 22-15 99
Day 1: 5 22-15
3. Buddy Gross Chatanooga, TN 5 22-12 98
Day 1: 5 22-12
4. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 22-00 97
Day 1: 5 22-00
5. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 21-13 96
Day 1: 5 21-13
6. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 21-04 95 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-04
7. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 21-00 94
Day 1: 5 21-00
7. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 21-00 94
Day 1: 5 21-00
9. Jay Yelas Turner, OR 5 20-14 92
Day 1: 5 20-14
10. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 20-09 91
Day 1: 5 20-09
11. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 20-02 90
Day 1: 5 20-02
12. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 19-10 89
Day 1: 5 19-10
13. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 19-03 88
Day 1: 5 19-03
14. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 18-15 87
Day 1: 5 18-15
15. John Cox Debary, FL 5 18-07 86
Day 1: 5 18-07
16. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 18-06 85
Day 1: 5 18-06
17. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 17-10 84
Day 1: 5 17-10
18. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 17-07 83
Day 1: 5 17-07
19. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 17-05 82
Day 1: 5 17-05
20. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 17-02 81
Day 1: 5 17-02
21. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 17-01 80
Day 1: 5 17-01
22. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 16-10 79
Day 1: 5 16-10
23. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 16-07 78
Day 1: 5 16-07
24. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 16-03 77
Day 1: 5 16-03
25. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 16-02 76
Day 1: 5 16-02
25. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 16-02 76
Day 1: 5 16-02
27. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 15-15 74
Day 1: 5 15-15
28. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 15-12 73
Day 1: 5 15-12
29. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 15-07 72
Day 1: 5 15-07
30. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 15-05 71
Day 1: 5 15-05
31. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 15-05 70
Day 1: 5 15-05
32. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 15-03 69
Day 1: 5 15-03
32. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 5 15-03 69
Day 1: 5 15-03
34. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 14-14 67
Day 1: 5 14-14
34. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 14-14 67
Day 1: 5 14-14
36. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 14-12 65
Day 1: 5 14-12
37. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 14-10 64
Day 1: 5 14-10
38. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 14-09 63
Day 1: 5 14-09
39. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 5 14-08 62
Day 1: 5 14-08
39. David Williams Newton, NC 5 14-08 62
Day 1: 5 14-08
41. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 14-06 60
Day 1: 5 14-06
41. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 14-06 60
Day 1: 5 14-06
43. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 14-01 58
Day 1: 5 14-01
44. Mike Huff London, KY 5 14-01 57
Day 1: 5 14-01
45. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 14-00 56
Day 1: 5 14-00
46. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 13-13 55
Day 1: 5 13-13
47. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 5 13-11 54
Day 1: 5 13-11
47. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 13-11 54
Day 1: 5 13-11
49. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 13-10 52
Day 1: 5 13-10
49. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 13-10 52
Day 1: 5 13-10
51. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 5 13-09 50
Day 1: 5 13-09
52. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 13-07 49
Day 1: 5 13-07
53. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 13-06 48
Day 1: 5 13-06
54. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 13-05 47
Day 1: 5 13-05
55. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 13-00 46
Day 1: 5 13-00
55. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 13-00 46
Day 1: 5 13-00
55. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 5 13-00 46
Day 1: 5 13-00
58. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 5 12-14 43
Day 1: 5 12-14
59. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 5 12-13 42
Day 1: 5 12-13
59. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 12-13 42
Day 1: 5 12-13
61. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 12-08 40
Day 1: 5 12-08
62. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 12-04 39
Day 1: 5 12-04
62. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 12-04 39
Day 1: 5 12-04
64. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 11-15 37
Day 1: 5 11-15
65. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 11-14 36
Day 1: 5 11-14
66. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 11-13 35
Day 1: 5 11-13
67. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 11-12 34
Day 1: 5 11-12
67. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 11-12 34
Day 1: 5 11-12
69. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 11-05 32
Day 1: 5 11-05
70. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 11-02 31
Day 1: 5 11-02
70. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 11-02 31
Day 1: 5 11-02
72. David Fritts Lexington, NC 3 11-02 29
Day 1: 3 11-02
73. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 11-01 28
Day 1: 5 11-01
74. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 11-00 27
Day 1: 5 11-00
75. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 5 10-14 26
Day 1: 5 10-14
75. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 10-14 26
Day 1: 5 10-14
77. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 10-13 24
Day 1: 5 10-13
78. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 10-12 23
Day 1: 5 10-12
79. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 10-10 22
Day 1: 5 10-10
80. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 10-02 21
Day 1: 5 10-02
81. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 5 10-01 20
Day 1: 5 10-01
82. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 10-00 19
Day 1: 5 10-00
83. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 5 09-15 18
Day 1: 5 09-15
84. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 09-12 17
Day 1: 5 09-12
85. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 09-03 16
Day 1: 5 09-03
86. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 08-13 15
Day 1: 5 08-13
87. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 08-07 14
Day 1: 5 08-07
88. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 08-02 13
Day 1: 5 08-02
89. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 07-14 12
Day 1: 5 07-14
90. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 4 07-05 11
Day 1: 4 07-05
91. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 06-08 10
Day 1: 5 06-08
92. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 3 03-15 9
Day 1: 3 03-15
93. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 1 03-04 8
Day 1: 1 03-04
94. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 1 01-08 7
Day 1: 1 01-08
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 08-10 $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 89 457 1312-14
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89 457 1312-14

My Go-To Baits for March: Prepare to Make Changes by Bruce Callis Jr

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February 17, 2022

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My Go-To Baits for March:
Prepare to Make Changes
by Bruce Callis Jr

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Winter still has a firm hold on us and spring seems such a long ways away. Mother nature keeps teasing us with some beautiful, warm days followed by the bitter cold and even some snow. The Bassmaster Elites have started the new season with a visit to Florida. And with it, we our first winner of the year, Mr. John Crews. But he can’t live it fully, as he headed from the stage to the Harris Chain of Lakes to start practice for the next tournament.

If you got to see any of the live action online or on television, it reaffirms the idea that being prepared for change is a must this time of year. Granted, they were in sunny and warm Florida, but even they had to deal with what mother natures delivers. Rain and cold conditions to start followed by clearing, bright bluebird skies and rising temperatures, followed by overcast and rain for Championship Sunday. Let’s look at what changes happened for the anglers.
On day 1 of the competition, John Crews was throwing a suspending jerkbait and then moved out deeper with a dropshot to where the bass had moved when the colder weather set in. On day 3, under bluebird skies, the weather had warmed enough that bass had moved back up shallow to spawn in John Cox’s area and he had a huge bag sight fishing. And finally, on Championship Sunday, Ol’ Bob Downey hit pay dirt by moving into his area and throwing a lipless crankbait in the deeper water leading into the spawning areas. Changes made each day was the key to these anglers success.

But what can we learn from the anglers and put it to work for us? We aren’t looking at bass moving all the way up to spawn yet in most of the country, but it will get here, just not soon enough. We are having cold days and some warmth settle in for a few days, and when coupled with little to no wind, this can help to warm the shallows by afternoon. And with it, baitfish will seek the warmth and we all know where the baitfish go, bass will follow. We need to be choosing those baits that will help us stay up with those changes and give us the best opportunity to catch bass.

As we end February and head into March, what baits will we need to have tied on and where should we targeting the bass. My first choice of bait is going to be a lipless crankbait. With it I can fish every where, from deep to up shallow. It is one of those baits that can produce numbers of bass along with quality. It does have it’s limits, as it is not one of those baits you want to throw where there are a lot of stumps and brush, as it is prone to getting hung up. It shines over grass beds and along the outside edges of lily pads and laydowns.

My second choice is the jerkbait. I prefer a suspending over a floating, as I want the bass to be able to see it hovering above them and just as they get a good look, I twitch it and they just attack it. But I don’t what it to be on the bottom, I want it to hoover at least a foot above it. My chooses range from the SPRO McStick 95 a shallower bait that you can work up in the shallows with as they warm. When I want to work out deeper, I will switch to the McStick 110 as it gets a little deeper in the 3-5 feet range. And if they are out even deeper, I will switch to the McRip 85. The jerkbait shines in the winter through the spawn, so make sure to have one tied on and using it.

Now is the time to be thinking crankbait also, and that is my third choice. Here I want something that has a tighter wobble, I don’t want a wide hunting action yet. And the Little John is my go to for this. I can work it shallow out to 5-7 feet, especially around those areas with stumps, laydowns, and rock. Make sure it makes bottom contact, but don’t be afraid to work it out over the drop off as sometimes it can be deadly. For a little size change, I will switch to the Little John Micro DD45. It gets down into that 8-10 range and with the smaller body gives that small baitfish look. I like to use 10 pound fluorocarbon for maximum depth and if I want to make the bait run shallower, I will switch to 12-15 pound line, but I will not go much higher because it will effect the action of the lure.

My next choice is the jig. Yes, it is a bait that works year-round, but now is a great time to use it. I prefer a smaller jig right now, so a 1/4 to 3/8 ounce are my prime choices. I also prefer a smaller skirt, so I trim it back so it’s just at the back of the hook. I also prefer a small trailer, like a Power Team Lures Craw D’oeuvre. It fits the smaller, compact appearance and it helps give a slower fall rate to the jig. But I will also have a 1/2 ounce tied on with a slightly bigger trailer. Which ever they want, that is what I want to throw. So you have to be ready to change.

But don’t overlook the spinnerbait either. I have had some big days using a spinnerbait this time of year. It can work in clear water, but I prefer it when the water is a little stained to muddy. You need to offer some flash mixed with some vibration, and for that a combination of a single willow leaf blade or an Indiana blade mixed with a Colorado blade is my first choice. Then you can also go with either a single Colorado or single Indiana blade. I like to throw a white or shad colored skirt. If you want a trailer, make sure it is something that is straight, something that will not alter the action of the blades. Just be ready for them to slam it.

Weather conditions is the big unknown in fishing. We can do all the studying with maps we want, but we have to be ready to make changes from the start as the weather changes. When I launch, I pretty much know where I want to start and what should be working this time of year for that area. But I look at the weather conditions and make sure I have plenty of options should my primary area not be working. I have a secondary area that I can move to if the bass have moved. It is all a game of opportunity and chance. You have to be prepared, prepared to do what you didn’t think wouldn’t need to be done. Are you ready to make that change?

Bassmaster Fishing 2022 Video Game Releases New Lake Hartwell Option In Time For The Classic

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February 17, 2022

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Bassmaster Fishing 2022 Video Game Releases New Lake Hartwell Option In Time For The Classic

A new Lake Hartwell Venue update launches today for Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the video game.

February 17, 2022

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Bassmaster Fishing 2022 Video Game Releases New Lake Hartwell Option In Time For The Classic

Birmingham, Ala. — In celebration of the upcoming Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, a new update is now available for Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the video game. With the Lake Hartwell Venue DLC, players can compete on the same waters as 55 of the world’s best anglers as well as try out the Classic three-round final in Career Mode, enjoy new challenges and more.

Bassmaster Fishing 2022 is available in a 2022 Bassmaster Classic update bundle for new players which includes the game and the Lake Hartwell DLC for a discounted price.

Competing in the iconic Bassmaster Classic is a dream of every aspiring angler. While only a select few will compete March 4-6, 2022 on Lake Hartwell, now any player can enjoy the thrill of competition and fight their way to an in-game championship with the new Lake Hartwell DLC, which was built to recreate the experience as closely as possible, including matching water temperatures, depths and fish behavior. The dynamic time of day system sets the perfect mood for a Classic competition, altering lighting and shadows across the lake for a more immersive experience.

“Dovetail Games got off to a great start with Bassmaster Fishing 2022, and their passion for bass fishing is present throughout the game,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments Chris Bowes. “We are excited to see how they bring the Bassmaster Classic to life for gamers and bass fishing fans and help people experience the joys of big bass fishing however they can.”

The update also includes support for the Bassmaster Classic three-round tournament structure and adds new “Legendary” named fish for players to track and catch.

Alongside the Lake Hartwell addition, Dovetail Games, which developed and published Bassmaster Fishing 2022, announced that it has signed a long-term license renewal with B.A.S.S. as the exclusive partner for video games.

“We’re committed to delivering a fantastic sports fishing experience for our players,” said Jon Rissik, CEO of Dovetail Games. “Today’s announcement is a testament to that commitment and we are thrilled to continue working with our fantastic partners at B.A.S.S.”

The Lake Hartwell Venue DLC is available for purchase on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC via Steam, with a limited-time discount ending March 3 on Steam and March 17 on PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

About Dovetail Games
Dovetail Games was launched in 2013. Previously trading as RailSimulator.com Ltd, the business launched in 2009 initially producing and marketing the PC game Train Simulator. Today, Dovetail Games is responsible for developing train and fishing simulation games for PC and leading consoles. http://www.dovetailgames.com.

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

Lowrance® App Releases a new Update Packed with Features

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February 17, 2022

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Lowrance® App Releases a new Update Packed with Features

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Tulsa, Okla. – Lowrance^®, a world-leader in fishing electronics since 1957, pushed out an update to its Lowrance^®App this month including satellite view capability, weather overlay, track sharing and personalized push notifications, adding even more functionality to the app that connects your smart phone with Lowrance fishfinders and chartplotters.

The Lowrance app now offers satellite overlay view for premium subscribers, enhancing situational awareness with the option to choose between full view or land-only. In addition, users can select the transparency level of the layer.

Another popular update for anglers is the weather overlay on the charts, which includes data such as pressure, precipitation, air temperature, wind and gust. During route planning, users can see what weather is predicted at a specific time and location during the route, opting for the weather overlay both from main charts or during route creation.

“Our weather and satellite overlay add another layer of information for anglers using the Lowrance app,” said Lucas Steward, EVP of Lowrance. “We’ve also added in the ability for notifications, sharing with friends across various apps and particularly useful for saltwater anglers, the new anchor alert feature.”

When anchoring, premium users can set their location using GPS and create a geofence around their boat, which will trigger push notifications and sound an alarm, when the boat moves out of that location, a very reassuring feature for when anglers may be busy or sleeping on their boat.

Other enhancements include the ability to share tracks with friends in other applications (i.e. Facebook, WhatsApp, Text), sending and receiving referral invitations to the app and push notifications for key events like weather-related alerts. Notifications can be easily turned on and off by category in your settings.

The Lowrance App is free to download and offers free up-to-date and detailed nautical charts from C-MAP^®, creation and management of all your personal waypoints, routes and tracks, along with the latest marine weather, important points of interest and much more. It’s available on both the Apple Store for iOS and Google Play for Android.

UPDATES FOR ALL USERS	PREMIUM UPDATES
Personalised Notifications (by category)	Satellite Overlay View
Sharing Tracks	Weather Overlay
Referral & Invitation Capabilities	Anchoring Alert

For more information on Lowrance and its fishfinding technology, please visit www.lowrance.com.

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reenville’s Derrick Bridges Earns Top Honors at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake Hartwell

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February 17, 2022

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reenville’s Derrick Bridges Earns Top Honors at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake Hartwell

Winning boater Derrick Bridges of Greenville, S.C. (left) and winning Strike King co-angler Albert McNair of Watkinsville, Ga.

Georgia’s McNair Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

ANDERSON, S.C. (Feb. 16, 2022) – Greenville, South Carolina angler Derrick Bridges brought five bass to the scale Saturday totaling 16 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell . The event, hosted by the Anderson Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League South Carolina Division. Bridges earned $4,652 for his victory.

“So much of this tournament was just fishing history,” said Bridges, who earned his first career victory in MLF competition. “I’ve got a lot of experience on this lake, but I didn’t get but a couple of hours of practice. And I didn’t get to do anything in the morning, which is critical on Lake Hartwell. So, I ran history.”

Bridges said he fished in the mid-lake area, on both the Georgia and South Carolina sides. He said he caught one early on a Keitech swimbait, then the rest of his eight keepers came on a jig.

“I caught one on a brown mop jig, and the rest on a ½-ounce green-pumpkin-colored War Eagle Heavy Finesse jig,” Bridges said. I used (Zoom) Speed Craws and the Zoom Super Chunk Jr. for trailers, but I don’t think they were real important.”

Bridges credited his forward-facing sonar as being important to his success.

“Could I have won without my forward-facing sonar – sure. I’ve won a lot of tournaments with out it,” Bridges went on to say. “But it just makes you so much more efficient. You could see a fish in a bush 50 to 60 feet away and chunk your jig in there – if you didn’t see the fish come off the structure – you might as well move on.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:        Derrick Bridges, Greenville, S.C., five bass, 16-12, $4,652
2nd:       Randy Childers, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 16-6, $2,326
3rd:       Justin Kimmel, Athens, Ga., five bass, 16-2, $1,551
4th:        Greg Glouse, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 15-15, $1,086
5th:        Brent Story, Atlanta, Ga., five bass, 15-14, $930
6th:        Shannon Poore, Walhalla, S.C., five bass, 15-11, $853
7th:        Alex Cummings, Lyman, S.C., five bass, 15-8, $775
8th:        Justin Raines, Easley, S.C., five bass, 15-0, $698
9th:        Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 14-11, $1,320 (includes $500 MLF Phoenix Bonus)
10th:     Bo Price, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 14-9, $543

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Shane Cantley of Elgin, South Carolina, caught a 6½-pounder – the heaviest bass weighed in the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $685.

Albert McNair of Watkinsville, Georgia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,620 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 17 pounds, 7 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:        Albert McNair, Watkinsville, Ga., five bass, 17-7, $2,620
2nd:       Blake Gillispie, Reidsville, N.C., five bass, 14-15, $1,144
3rd:       William Chris Bensel, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 12-2, $762
4th:        Wess Johnson, Covington, Ga., three bass, 11-14, $534
5th:        Darren Ashley, Calhoun Falls, S.C., five bass, 10-13, $658
6th:        Ryan Evans, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 10-3, $419
7th:        Eddie Hall, Inman, S.C., four bass, 10-1, $381
8th:        Casey McQuerns, Appling, Ga., five bass, 9-10, $343
9th:        Arthur Harris, York, S.C., five bass, 8-11, $286
10th:     Zahreed McClinton, Fort Bragg, N.C., five bass, 8-11, $286

McNair also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in 7 pounds even. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $332.

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 Lake Pickwick in Counce, Tennessee. 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.

Eighth-Annual MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Open Returns to Lake Chickamauga

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February 17, 2022

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Eighth-Annual MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Open Returns to Lake Chickamauga

Competition Begins Next Week for Automatic Berth into the 2023 College Fishing National Championship and a $33,500 Prize Package

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DAYTON, Tenn. (Feb. 16, 2022) – Major League Fishing, the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, returns to Lake Chickamauga, Feb. 24-25, for the eighth-annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI Open tournament. Hosted by Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic & Tourism Council, the tournament rewards anglers who finish within the top 20, along with one additional team for every 10 teams over 200 competing, with automatic qualification to the 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship. Event champions will also take home a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard – a $33,500 prize package.

Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler Miles Burghoff of Dayton, Tennessee said he is excited to see collegiate teams from across the country come back to Lake Chickamauga for the competition.

“Guys can expect to see a typical pre-spawn, winter-time bite on Lake Chickamauga this time of year,” Burghoff said. “It seems like it’s all about finding the last remaining grass every year on Lake Chickamauga and fishing a handful of different baits.”

The former University of Central Florida angler said there are other areas to find fish, but he anticipates that many of the teams at the top of the leaderboard are going to be around the last remaining hydrilla.

“I expect lipless crankbaits to be a really big deal, along with ChatterBaits, jerkbaits and the Alabama Rig,” said Burghoff. “Those are definitely going to account for some of the teams making the top spots.

“You’re generally going to see big weight leading the tournament this time of year, but I suspect it will take anywhere from the low 20’s all the way up to the high 20’s this year. Chickamauga has been fishing a little bit tougher and hasn’t quite been the same lake it used to be. Ten years ago, I’d say it would have taken 30 pounds to win, but this year I wouldn’t be surprised if it was in the lower 20’s.”

Burghoff said College Fishing is a great opportunity for collegiate anglers, not only to start building their instincts and skills in competition, but also to get to know people within the industry and to start building the foundation for a potential future career.

“MLF has offered a lot of exposure for these college anglers – exposure that usually is only available in some of the larger professional trails,” continued Burghoff. “This gives college anglers a unique opportunity to really start to understand what it means to be a professional angler earlier on, giving them a lot of good experience, quickly.”

Registration for the Open will be Wednesday, February 23, from 4-6 p.m. CT at the Dayton Boat Dock, located at 185 Chickamauga Drive in Dayton, with a pre-tournament ZOOM meeting following registration at 6:15 p.m.

Anglers will take off from the Dayton Boat Dock at 7 a.m. CT on both days of competition and the entire field of competitors will compete both days of the tournament. Weigh-ins will be held lakeside at the boat dock each day, beginning at 3 p.m. and will be live streamed both days. Fans are welcome to attend the event or tune in to the weigh-in and follow the online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .

Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, 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, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PRO (PART 2) by NPAA

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February 17, 2022

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WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PRO (PART 2)

NPAA helps chart successful course for fishing industry professionals.

Forestville, WI (February 16, 2022) – What does it take to be a professional angler? In Part 1 we discovered that it’s a lot more than big fish, fancy boats, and tournament trophies. In fact, the most highly visible professionals in the fishing industry recognize their success depends not only on fishing prowess, but on the hard work, determination and efforts of many other industry pros who have helped them succeed.

“How do you define a fishing pro?” asks National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) member Capt. Adam Rasmussen of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. “The simple answer is that you make your living in the fishing industry.”

By that definition, this full-time guide and tournament angler surely goes above and beyond. “There’s a lot more to being a professional angler than most people realize,” says Rasmussen. “Everybody thinks you’ve got a great job that allows you to fish every day and make a whole lot of money, but you also have a lot of expenses – and the more gear you have, the more money you need to lay out. If you target multiple species rather than specialize in one like bass, walleye or redfish, for example, you’ll need more setups and extra time on the water to acquire additional knowledge.”

Pro that he is, Rasmussen combines several aspects of the recreational fishing industry into one full-time gig. He’s been putting clients on bass, walleye, salmon, and hard-water action for 18 years now. He owns and maintains five boats and specific gear for every fish he targets. He recruits his own customers and manages a couple of guides whom he also has to keep booked and busy.

Additionally, he spends time promoting sponsors and fishes 12 to 15 tournaments a year. This season, he plans to fish all the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens. “Sure, that’s a lot to manage,” he admits, “but if you do it professionally, you have a much better chance of making money and staying afloat.”

That’s certainly the truth, believes Patrick Neu, NPAA’s president, who points out that whether you pick a single arena in which to specialize or several, you’re going to need support learning the ropes and climbing the ladder to success in this industry. That’s where the NPAA can be a big advantage.

“Our 1,400-member non-profit organization was founded to grow and protect sportfishing while providing our members the tools and association benefits needed to increase their professionalism and meet individualized goals,” Neu states. “We are an inclusive, diversified organization welcoming fishing industry workers of every type to join our ranks. Whether you are already a fishing industry pro or aspire to be one, the NPAA can help you succeed.”

Rasmussen agrees, noting several benefits of NPAA membership including an annual conference, discounts from supporting members, and a wealth of knowledgeable and successful industry pros willing to share their experiences to help shorten your learning curve.

“NPAA is a great place to network,” explains Rasmussen. “This whole industry is about knowing the right people, and you can meet them through participation. I’d highly recommend you join up and attend the annual conference as it can be a life-changing career move. It features seminars from some of the top pros in the industry talking about making fishing a full-time job and what you need to know to make smart decisions and keep succeeding.”

NPAA is focused on improving the level of professionalism within the fishing industry and watching out for anything that could affect the livelihoods of fishing professionals, continues Rasmussen. “Through their newsletter, they keep us informed about what’s going on in our field. Joining up also provides budding pros immediate affiliation with NPAA’s supporting partners, many of which offer substantial discounts on gear ranging from sunglasses to rods, reels and more. So, overall, you save money just by being a member.”

With accomplishments including a $300,000 FLW championship, over $1 million earned on professional walleye trails, and six different Angler of the Year titles from major walleye series, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone that would argue Tom Keenan’s status as a fishing professional. The Hatley, Wisconsin, resident has been on the walleye tour for over 30 years while also excelling at retail management and sales for both large and small outdoors retail establishments.

“Like a lot of NPAA members, I’ve worn a few different hats in the fishing industry,” he chuckles. “Fortunately for me, the combination of being a top walleye tournament fisherman and working my way up into management on the retail end gave me solid insights to our industry. That made me especially attractive to sponsors and helped me realize that not all professionals in the fishing industry actually work on the water.”

“Whether you’re representing sponsors or your own business, you need to show a good attitude every single day, no matter your results.”

Keenan has been with the NPAA for nearly 20 years and highly recommends other anglers and fishing industry stakeholders who want to increase their level of professionalism, build their business and shorten their learning curve become members, too. One tip he offers prospective fishing industry pros is that your reputation really does matter.

“I’ve won a bunch of titles on the walleye trails,” he explains, “but I worry more about presenting a positive, professional image than my daily fish scores. Whether you’re representing sponsors or your own business, you need to show a good attitude every single day, no matter your results. That will go a long way to improving your catches, your reputation as a professional, and attracting and keeping sponsors over the years – and it’s the type of solid advice you’ll be reminded of frequently with an NPAA membership.”

Keenan believes being a pro also requires those making money in fishing give back to the industry and help grow the sport. That’s another reason, he says, to consider joining NPAA.

“I love all the knowledge, the friendships, the member discounts, business advice and professionalism of being part of NPAA,” states Keenan, “but the biggest attraction for me is that this organization is always fighting for our industry – not just the professional anglers but everyone involved in fishing. They work to protect and grow our sport through promoting and fighting for clean water, getting more kids involved in fishing, lobbying hard behind the scenes, and keeping members informed about new laws or actions that could adversely affect our livelihoods. I think of my membership as an investment in our fishing future.”

That, says Neu, is spoken like a true professional, and it’s right on point with the mission of the NPAA. “We want to be the voice of the recreational fishing industry, calling out the issues that affect the angling public and providing a voice for anyone in this country who has made angling their chosen profession, whether full-time or part-time, on the water or behind the scenes.”

For information on joining the NPAA and exploring the many benefits membership provides, visit www.npaa.net.

Hot Springs’ Brian Bean Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake Hamilton

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February 16, 2022

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Hot Springs’ Brian Bean Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake Hamilton

Winning boater Brian Bean of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and winning co-angler Lance Freeman of Eddyville, Kentucky.

Kentucky’s Freeman Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Feb. 16, 2022) – Local Hot Springs angler Brian Bean brought five bass to the stage Saturday weighing 17 pounds, 15 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hamilton. The event was the season-opening tournament for the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division. For his win, Bean earned $6,139.

According to post-tournament reports, Bean caught his fish in the mid-to-upper-lake area of Lake Hamilton, targeting deep brush in 15 to 30 feet of water with an umbrella rig, rigged with Tennessee Shad-colored Berkley Power Swimmer swimbaits.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:        Brian Bean, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 17-15, $6,139
2nd:       Josh Ray, Alexander, Ark., five bass, 14-13, $3,152 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
3rd:       Kevin Brown, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 13-9, $2,168
4th:        Scott Hardin, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 13-6, $1,238
5th:        Brayden Nichols, Blanchard, La., five bass, 12-15, $1,061
6th:        Chris Huselton, Conway, Ark., five bass, 12-8, $972
7th:        Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 12-0, $884
8th:        Ethan Sutton, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 11-7, $796
9th:        Robert Jacuzzi, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 11-6, $707
10th:     Matt Baker, Glenwood, Ark., five bass, 11-5, $619

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Bean’s 6-pound, 1-ounce bass earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $835.

Lance Freeman of Eddyville, Kentucky, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,652 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 14 pounds, 3 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:        Lance Freeman, Eddyville, Ky., five bass, 14-3, $2,652
2nd:       Caden Fuller, Waldron, Ark., two bass, 8-12, $1,743
3rd:       Jonathan Simms, Hot Springs, Ark., three bass, 8-2, $887
4th:        Perry Dawson, Rockwood, Tenn., three bass, 7-9, $619
5th:        Darrin Franklin, Hot Springs, Ark., three bass, 7-6, $530
6th:        Kevin Keown, Lonoke, Ark., five bass, 6-13, $486
7th:        Stephen Tyson, Sr., Camden, Ark., two bass, 6-12, $442
8th:        Brooks Robertson, Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 6-8, $398
9th:        Todd Garner, Pocola, Okla., five bass, 6-7, $331
9th:        Travis McKee, Fayetteville, Ark., three bass, 6-7, $331

Fuller caught a bass weighing 7 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – to earn him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $417.

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 Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. 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.

Lithia’s Rocamora Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake Toho

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February 16, 2022

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Lithia’s Rocamora Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake Toho

Winning Boater Garrett Rocamora of Lithia, Florida, and winning co-angler Gary Schild of Mundelein, Illinois.

Illinois’ Schild Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

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KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb 16, 2022) – Boater Garrett Rocamora of Lithia, Florida, caught a five-bass limit Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Toho . The event, hosted by Experience Kissimmee and the Kissimmee Sports Commission, was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League Gator Division Presented by Revital Outdoors. Rocamora earned $7,000 for his victory.

“Last week I fished another big event and did decent. Then I worked all week and didn’t have any practice but wanted to go at it again with the same strategy,” said Rocamora, who earned his first career victory in MLF competition. “I spend a lot of time fishing here – these are my home waters, and this is my favorite place in the world to fish.

“I went straight to the lock and locked through to Lake Kissimmee,” Rocamora continued. “I fished the north end, targeting a couple of shallow hydrilla flats that are normal prespawn staging areas. I threw a black-and-blue 3/8-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer with a Gambler Little EZ and a 13 Fishing Loco Special jerkbait.”

Rocamora said he had a “milk run” of hydrilla flats that he targeted, making seven or eight different stops before noon. He spent the afternoon casting pads with a Gambler Fat Ace, and said he also boated two solid 3¾-pound keepers on a 3/8-ounce Outkast Tackle RTX Flipping Jig with a Gambler Little EZ.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:        Garrett Rocamora, Lithia, Fla., five bass, 18-8, $7,000
2nd:       Cody Bertrand, Dyer, Ind., five bass, 18-6, $3,000
3rd:       Arnie Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 18-2, $2,000
4th:        Robert Pigue, Sorrento, Fla., five bass, 17-11, $2,400
5th:        Chris Neau, Gretna, La., five bass, 17-5, $1,200
6th:        Max Moneuse, Longboat Key, Fla., five bass, 17-3, $1,100
7th:        Raymond Trudeau, Saint Cloud, Fla., five bass, 16-12, $1,000
8th:        Austin Schroeder, Zephyrhills, Fla., five bass, 15-13, $900
9th:        Karlis Dipaul, Okeechobee, Fla, five bass, 15-10, $800
10th:     Jonathan Semento, Okahumpka, Fla., five bass, 15-5, $1,200 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Bonus)

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pigue boated an 11-pound, 9-ounce giant that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000.

Gary Schild of Mundelein, Illinois, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:        Gary Schild, Mundelein, Ill., five bass, 16-1, $3,000
2nd:       Giovanni Pena, Davenport, Fla., five bass, 15-3, $1,500
3rd:       Ernie Thompson, Anthony, Fla., five bass, 15-1, $1,000
4th:        James Staton, Sorrento, Fla., five bass, 14-14, $700
5th:        Luis Lindstedt, Melbourne, Fla., five bass, 12-13, $600
6th:        Mack Traynor, Hanover, Minn., four bass, 12-3, $550
7th:        David Dimauro, Longwood, Fla., five bass, 12-1, $500
8th:        Chris Westhelle, Sanford, Fla., five bass, 11-0, $450
9th:        Adam Sangster, Sanford, Fla., four bass, 10-12, $400
10th:     Bobby McMullin, Pevely, Mo., four bass, 10-11, $350

Anthony Cruz of Mount Dora, Florida, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 8 pounds even. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $250.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each Gator Division Presented by Revital Outdoors qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 6-8 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina. 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.

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Eighth-Annual MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Open Returns to Lake Chickamauga

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PRO (PART 2) by NPAA

Hot Springs’ Brian Bean Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake Hamilton

Lithia’s Rocamora Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake Toho

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