Posts | The Bass Cast | Your News Source for Bass Fishing

Key offshore bites carry Dimauro, Berlinsky to Day 2 lead at Cherokee Lake

July 11, 2025

Key offshore bites carry Dimauro, Berlinsky to Day 2 lead at Cherokee Lake

Bryce Dimauro and Tripp Berlinsky of the University of North Alabama have taken the lead on Day 2 of the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a total of 33 pounds, 13 ounces.

Photo by Solomon Glenn/B.A.S.S.

July 11, 2025

Key offshore bites carry Dimauro, Berlinsky to Day 2 lead at Cherokee Lake

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Bryce Dimauro and Tripp Berlinsky dialed in their offshore game plan just enough to take the Day 2 lead at the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 33 pounds, 13 ounces.

The University of North Alabama duo opened the tournament in second place with a five-bass limit of largemouth weighing 18-14. Although the same quality didn’t show up today, the sophomores landed 14-15 and find themselves with a 3-4 advantage over reigning champions Garrett Smith and Andrew Blanton from Lander University heading into the final day.

In 2020, Dimauro watched his brother hoist the College Series trophy at the Harris Chain of Lakes and now could add another trophy to the family trophy case.

“It would really mean the world to me (to win). We had a chance last year and didn’t make it happen,” he said. “Connor made the Bracket twice and won a National Championship. It is kind of in my blood to do it so hopefully we make it happen.”

Not only are they in position to win the National Championship, but Dimauro and Berlinsky could potentially win the overall Team of the Year race. They entered this tournament in sixth-place just 38 points out of first place and are the only team who started this event in the Top 10 in points to qualify for Championship Saturday.

“We finished second in our division,” Berlinsky said. “To win Team of the Year, that would be pretty cool. We didn’t think it would be possible. There was a sliver of hope that we could but haven’t thought about it the past two days. When (tournament director) Glenn Cale said something on stage, it opened my eyes up to it.”

While they fished the bank and offshore areas on Day 1, Berklinsky said the offshore bite was considerably better on Friday and he expects he and his partner will remain offshore for the rest of the tournament. Their best bites have come up the lake in 10 to 20 feet of water using five different baits.

“We dialed in what the bass really wanted yesterday, and we stuck to that today and kept it simple,” Berlinsky said.

By looking at their forward-facing sonar, Dimauro has noticed the majority of the bass in their primary spots are glued to hard bottom and rock. There are plenty of shad around, however, and occasionally those bass will rise off the bottom to chase those shad.

After weighing in only largemouth the first day, the duo brought a smallmouth to the scales on Friday along with four more green fish.

“It was a 19-incher,” Dimauro said. “It was a big help.”

It was a slow start to the morning for the UNA duo, who found boats in two of their best areas to start the morning. With just one bass in the livewell at 11 a.m., Dimauro and Berlinsky were able to pull into one of those spots, a drop off close to the main river current, landed a limit and culled twice before the end of the day.

“It wasn’t necessarily a great day,” Dimauro said. “We just had to put (something) together.”

Smith and Blanton, meanwhile, are looking to win their second-straight National Championship, something that has yet to be done since the inception of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops. The 2024 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s competitors opened the tournament in sixth-place with a 14-13 limit before landing 15-12 on Day 2, the heaviest bag of the day.

The Lander duo has been moving between shallow and offshore areas throughout the tournament. A buzzbait and a jig have produced quality bites up shallow around a specific type of cover with baitfish around it. That same flipping jig has produced key offshore bites on rock in 25 to 35 feet of water, including several in the waning moments of Day 2.

“We’ve kept it really simple,” Smith said. “It has been about finding the bass that are biting. When you get around them and they are biting, especially shallow, it’s insane. They’ll blow up on the bait when it is skipping in if they are there.”

Smith and Blanton have been fishing up the river most of the tournament, and Day 1 the shallow bite lasted until 11 a.m. The Lander team caught an 11-pound limit in the first 45 minutes on Friday, but with so many other boats fishing the same areas, they did not catch anything else until the final 45 minutes when they pulled up on an offshore spot they found in practice.

“We hadn’t even caught a bass there, and we pulled up and I caught a 3-pound smallmouth,” Blanton said. “(At that point) we were hopeful we had done enough to make the Top 12. We didn’t expect to catch much more, but we sat there for 10 more minutes and boated three more, two of which were over 3 pounds. That was huge.”

Catching bags of 16-5 and 12-10, Phillip Herring and Parker O’Bryan from the University of Montevallo are third with a total of 28-15. On Day 1, Herring and O’Bryan did the majority of their damage in the same area as Day 1 leaders Luke Davis and Kaden Raichel. On Day 2, both Montevallo teams returned to the area and struggled most of the morning.

“Where we caught every single fish on Day 1, we didn’t get a bite today. Our teammates only caught one,” O’Bryan said. “We realized everything was dead, so we started running around and found a current hole that was holding some good smallmouth. We caught two 3-pounders there, which gave us some confidence.”

Towards the end of the day, Herring and O’Bryan landed their final two keepers in the same pocket, lifting them into Championship Saturday.

Emmanuel University’s Levi Seagraves and Scooter Ligon Jr. claimed the Big Bass of the Day with a 3-7 bass, but Cole Hadlock and Jackson Kulijof of Murray State University officially hold Big Bass of the Tournament honors with their 4-3 largemouth from Day 1.

The Top 12 anglers will launch from TVA Cherokee Dam beginning at 6 a.m. and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The winning team will earn a spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s. The final Bracket spot will be awarded to the overall Team of the Year, which will be announced during weigh-in on Saturday.

2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops 7/10-7/12
Cherokee Lake, Jefferson City TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Bryce Dimauro – Tripp Berlinsky University of North Alabama 250
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 14-15 Total: 10 33-13
2. Garrett Smith – Andrew Blanton Lander University 249
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 15-12 Total: 10 30-09
3. Phillip Herring – Parker O’Bryan University of Montevallo 248
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 12-10 Total: 10 28-15
4. Skyler Stevens – Grant McCraney Faulkner University 247
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 14-04 Total: 10 28-12
5. Jacob Berryhill – Zach Knight Carson-Newman University 246
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 13-09 Total: 10 27-12
6. Andrew Turner – James Sumrell Carson-Newman University 245
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 13-03 Total: 10 27-09
7. Luke Davis – Kaden Raichel University of Montevallo 244
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 4 07-13 Total: 9 27-04
8. Easton Drennon – Chase McCarter Carson-Newman University 243
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 14-11 Total: 10 27-01
9. Luke Wenger – Braxon Hightower Dallas Baptist University 242
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-01 Total: 10 26-05
10. Dayne Kobriger – Camden Kozikoski Drury University 241
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 14-04 Total: 10 25-11
11. Brody Robison – Peyton Sorrow University of Montevallo 240
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 13-15 Total: 10 25-11
12. Zach Wolfe – Brayden Ruckman Carson-Newman University 239
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 25-09
13. Dalton DeFelice – Evan Ludlow University of Montevallo 238
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 12-13 Total: 10 25-09
14. Alex Wood – Joe Williams Missouri State University 237
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-13 Total: 10 25-08
15. Jacob Swanson – Matt Boerboom University of Montevallo 236
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 11-14 Total: 10 25-07
16. Evan Newell – Dylan May Carson-Newman University 235
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 10 25-07
17. Bryson Dotson – Hayden Peck Tennessee Wesleyan University 234
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 13-12 Total: 10 25-06
18. Robert Miller – Levi Bolton Emmanuel College 233
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 25-05
19. Cameron Dials – Ethan Burnette Kentucky Christian University 232
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 10 25-00
20. Brayden Batchelor – Georgia Southern University 231
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 4 10-12 Total: 9 24-15
21. Hunter Keller – Wes Smith II Catawba Valley Community College 230
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 11-12 Total: 10 24-13
22. Brett Mouw – Asa Putnam University of Montevallo 229
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 12-01 Total: 10 24-11
23. Carson Owen – Dylan Reed Murray State College 228
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-00 Total: 10 24-08
24. Elisha Colley – Storm Clark University of Montevallo 227
Day 1: 4 10-01 Day 2: 5 14-01 Total: 9 24-02
25. Brendin Simich – Benjamin Travis Auburn University 226
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 4 07-11 Total: 9 24-01
26. Chase Wodzinski – Kaden Buchmann Lander University 225
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 10 23-13
27. Hunter Hamilton – Tyler Morris LSU – Shreveport 224
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 11-00 Total: 10 23-09
28. Chris Baker – Elijah Kelley Kentucky Christian University 223
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 23-09
29. Peyton Harris – Dalton Head University of Montevallo 222
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-14 Total: 10 23-05
30. Lucas Washburn – Braylon Eggerding Adrian College 221
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 10 22-14
31. Carty Shoen – Tyler Swan Auburn University 220
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 10 22-14
32. Ethan Elliott – Bryce Mcdonald University of Pikeville 219
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 10 22-12
33. Brady Metzger – Mason Bohland Purdue University 218
Day 1: 4 09-14 Day 2: 5 12-12 Total: 9 22-10
34. Harrison Terry – Jordan Hampton Bethel University 217
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 22-10
35. Cameron Yates – Harrison McCall Lander University 216
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 4 09-05 Total: 9 22-07
36. Clayton Ellis – Chandler Howell Blue Mountain Christian Universi 215
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 22-05
37. Angelo Malek – Parker Welch McKendree University 214
Day 1: 4 10-06 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 9 22-05
38. Caleb Bridges – Jonathan Fann Middle Tennessee State Universit 213
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 4 10-10 Total: 9 22-05
39. Gage King – Banks Shaw University of North Alabama 212
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 10 22-05
40. Michael Canonica – Seth Proctor University of Tennessee 211
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 3 07-11 Total: 8 22-02
41. John Michael Ortman – Max Heaton Emmanuel College 210
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 11-05 Total: 10 22-01
42. Riley Faulkner – Szymon Piton Carson-Newman University 209
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 10 21-13
43. TJ Edwards Jr – Sawyer Brady Blue Mountain Christian Universi 208
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 3 07-08 Total: 8 21-10
44. Braden Cox – Cameron Smith Ohio State University 207
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 4 11-00 Total: 8 21-09
45. Jackson Paden – Mason Thompson University of Tennessee 206
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 5 12-06 Total: 9 21-06
46. Nick Dumke – Connor Bell University of Montevallo 205
Day 1: 2 06-15 Day 2: 5 14-05 Total: 7 21-04
47. Dillon Robertshaw – Jake Mantovani Missouri State University 204
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 10-03 Total: 9 21-04
48. Jake Peck – Luke Wyle Auburn University 203
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 5 13-06 Total: 9 21-02
49. Blake Wheat – Zach Helton Carson-Newman University 202
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 3 08-06 Total: 8 21-02
50. Triston Richardson – Johnny Hudson Jr LSU – Shreveport 201
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 8 21-02
51. James Dubose – Daylon Milam University of Montevallo 200
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 3 07-15 Total: 8 21-00
52. Brayden Mercer – Corey Morris East Texas Baptist University 199
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 9 20-15
53. Cole Divin – Grant Gale Tarleton State University 198
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 10 20-14
54. Carter Nutt – Dylan Nutt University of North Alabama 197
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 11-02 Total: 10 20-14
55. Carson Winn – Ethan Tedder University of North Alabama 196
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 09-01 Total: 10 20-13
56. Adrian Urso – Corbin Templon Murray State University 195
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 3 07-05 Total: 8 20-12
57. Paxton Giem – Nick Seitz Adrian College 194
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 3 07-07 Total: 8 20-10
58. Noah Trant – Evan Howe Northwestern State University 193
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 20-10
59. Nathan Reynolds – Jake Brown University of North Alabama 192
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 9 20-07
60. Hunter Brewer – Fisher Heard University of North Alabama 191
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 3 08-08 Total: 8 20-06
61. Brock Blazier – Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 190
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 4 09-08 Total: 9 20-05
62. Jeff Giffen – Cooper Gilroy University of Alabama 189
Day 1: 4 09-07 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 9 20-02
63. Cole Moulton – Jared Hubbard Lander University 188
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 8 19-14
64. Noah Belt – Micah Belt Southeastern Oklahoma University 187
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 5 10-08 Total: 9 19-11
65. Cole McNeely – Cole Martin University of Montevallo 186
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 4 09-15 Total: 9 19-10
66. Dalton Phelps – Peyton Rose Wabash Valley College 185
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 4 10-09 Total: 8 19-09
67. Joe Lutz – Jake Monti UNC – Charlotte 184
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 3 06-06 Total: 8 19-08
68. Trey Marco – Jake Rowlands King University 183
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 3 07-03 Total: 8 19-06
69. Hunter Barrow – Kanton Trull Catawba Valley Community College 182
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 3 07-07 Total: 8 19-06
70. Matthew Qualich – Liam Bonnett McKendree University 181
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 5 12-14 Total: 8 19-02
71. Riley Nuessle – Garrett Cromer University of Montevallo 180
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 4 10-08 Total: 7 18-14
72. Brett Hill – Brayden Hoehn Campbellsville University 179
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 3 07-09 Total: 8 18-12
73. Caleb Dugger – Kolby Gambrel King University 178
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 4 08-14 Total: 9 18-08
74. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. – Quade Lobo Adrian College 177
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 3 06-10 Total: 8 18-05
75. Garrett Sullivan – Hayes Pate Faulkner University 176
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 2 06-15 Total: 7 18-03
76. Carter Doren – Ryan Lachniet Campbellsville University 175
Day 1: 4 09-07 Day 2: 3 08-10 Total: 7 18-01
77. Cole Taylor – Clay Taylor Lander University 174
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 3 07-13 Total: 8 18-00
78. Peyton Bryant – Brezlyn Hightower Murray State College 173
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 8 17-15
79. Cody Abbott – Trenton Carey Lander University 172
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 4 10-02 Total: 7 17-11
80. Michael Gammons – Colby Elliott Emmanuel College 171
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 2 04-14 Total: 7 17-09
81. Levi Seagraves – Scooter Ligon Jr Emmanuel College 170
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 1 03-07 Total: 6 17-08
82. Syler Prince – Parker Stalvey St Johns River State College 169
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 3 08-15 Total: 6 17-08
83. Hunter King – Calup Williams Blue Mountain Christian Universi 168
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 17-05
84. Turner Hart – Bryan College 167
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 5 11-00 Total: 8 17-02
85. Carson Belville – Connor Hall McKendree University 166
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 4 08-14 Total: 7 16-13
86. Tyler Chmelar – Kase Kramer Tarleton State University 165
Day 1: 4 09-08 Day 2: 3 07-03 Total: 7 16-11
87. Brennan Berglund – Colton White University of Montevallo 164
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 5 12-02 Total: 7 16-10
88. Tucker McCoy – Skipper Stallings University of Montevallo 163
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 7 16-07
89. Colton Boelkes – Joshua Hayes University of North Alabama 162
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 2 05-08 Total: 7 16-05
90. Hampton Shull – Landon Surrett Lander University 161
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 4 07-12 Total: 7 16-02
91. Luke Rokavec – Braden Fairbanks Campbellsville University 160
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 3 07-10 Total: 7 15-15
92. Connor Green – Peter West Faulkner University 159
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 7 15-13
93. Joe Vaulton – Clay Bales Carson-Newman University 158
Day 1: 4 08-14 Day 2: 2 06-06 Total: 6 15-04
94. Corban Chenevey – Garrett Christy Catawba Valley Community College 157
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 4 07-14 Total: 7 15-02
95. Allen Powe – Jonathan Combs Campbellsville University 156
Day 1: 4 07-09 Day 2: 4 07-09 Total: 8 15-02
96. Brett Jolley Jr. – Carson Stevens East Texas Baptist University 155
Day 1: 4 07-13 Day 2: 3 06-13 Total: 7 14-10
97. Evan Sutton – Jaxson Freeman McKendree University 154
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 7 13-15
98. Brock Vogel – Kyle Zainitzer University of North Alabama 153
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 5 11-13 Total: 6 13-14
99. Carson Hoots – Dylan Kelly Texas A&M University 152
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 4 10-11 Total: 5 13-14
100. Preston Kolisek – Smith McGregor University of North Alabama 151
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 4 09-03 Total: 6 13-10
101. Kai Barnett – Kyle Hopping McKendree University 150
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 2 04-15 Total: 6 13-08
102. Brooks Parker – Briggs Alavezos University of Montevallo 149
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 2 04-12 Total: 6 13-07
103. Cody Monlezun – Josh Kerr Texas A&M University 148
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 05-05 Total: 6 13-05
104. Trey McMeen – Dylan Armstrong East Texas Baptist University 147
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 1 02-05 Total: 6 13-04
105. Levi Thibodaux – William Tew LSU – Shreveport 146
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 2 04-01 Total: 6 13-00
106. Anderson Jones – Lander University 145
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 2 03-08 Total: 7 12-12
107. Zach Pocos – Tucker Siminak McKendree University 144
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 3 05-03 Total: 6 12-11
108. Trace Antunes III – Garrett Ring University of Montevallo 143
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 4 08-05 Total: 6 12-10
109. Braden Lankford – Murray State College 142
Day 1: 4 10-08 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 5 12-09
110. Kolby Angell – Michael Markham University of Montevallo 141
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 12-07
111. Will Weischwill – Cade Dornburg Texas A&M University 140
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 5 12-05
112. Easton Bouma – Zachary Ward Drury University 139
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 2 05-12 Total: 5 12-04
113. Lane Clark – Tallis Morrison Erskine College 138
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 3 03-09 Total: 7 12-03
114. Delaney Platt – Ryan Olsen Wabash Valley College 137
Day 1: 4 12-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 12-02
115. Ethan Fields – McKendree University 136
Day 1: 4 11-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 11-10
116. Jeremy Monda – Florida Gateway College 135
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 2 04-07 Total: 5 11-05
117. Peyton Matherne – Beau Landry LSU 134
Day 1: 1 03-12 Day 2: 3 07-06 Total: 4 11-02
118. Hunter Russell – Richard Skiff Wabash Valley College 133
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 1 02-00 Total: 5 10-15
119. Owen Wheeler – Bethel University 132
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 1 02-03 Total: 6 10-15
120. Reece Keeney – Brantley Anders Kentucky Christian University 131
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-04
121. Drake Sturgill – Hudson Choquette University of Montevallo 130
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 3 05-09 Total: 5 09-14
122. Justin Latham – Lake Hatfield Campbellsville University 129
Day 1: 4 09-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 09-08
123. Noah Lieberman – Jacob Hiebsch Missouri State University 128
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 2 03-10 Total: 4 09-00
124. Cody Brumfield – Alex Mccarty University of Rio Grande 127
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 3 06-09 Total: 4 08-12
125. Matthew Gunn – Matthew Massey Erskine College 126
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 1 01-15 Total: 4 08-05
126. Karsten Raney – Brayson Claunch Campbellsville University 125
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 2 05-07 Total: 3 08-00
127. Matthew Norton – Ian Schroeder UNC – Charlotte 124
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 2 05-07 Total: 3 07-08
128. Jase Smith Jr. – Zachary Nolan Georgia College 123
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 07-04
129. Cabe Mackey – Jacob Webb Catawba Valley Community College 122
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-03
130. Luke McGuffin – Rylan Green Erskine College 121
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 1 02-02 Total: 3 07-00
131. Sam Ausbrooks – Eli Jaime Wabash Valley College 120
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-15 Total: 3 06-15
132. Carter Teune – Nick Hawkins Southeastern University 119
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
133. Wyatt Pearman – Ridge Rutledge Campbellsville University 118
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 06-00
134. Dom Begier – Erich Thompson SUNY – ESF 117
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 2 03-08 Total: 3 06-00
135. Will Wester – Jackson Thomas Emmanuel College 116
Day 1: 2 05-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-15
136. Josh Richardson – Nathan Vahle University of Nebraska – Lincoln 115
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 3 05-15
137. Caleb Neu – Anthony Cicero IV Bethel University 114
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 1 01-11 Total: 3 05-14
138. Grayson Ball – Sellers Odom University of North Alabama 113
Day 1: 2 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-13
139. Grant Rice – Blake Marcum Morehead State University 112
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-09
140. Harmon Marien – Mason Darling McKendree University 111
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-04
141. Drew Blasi – Noah Amundson Kansas State University 110
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 1 02-00 Total: 3 05-04
142. Owen Januszewski – Brady Pinwar Adrian College 109
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 1 02-07 Total: 2 05-04
143. Blake Bullock – John Mark Berry Blue Mountain Christian Universi 108
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-01
144. Dallas Copeland – Mario Botan Texas A&M University 107
Day 1: 2 00-14 Day 2: 2 03-14 Total: 4 04-12
145. Colten Drawdy – Bethel University 106
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 2 04-11
146. Peyton Dunn – Michael Avery Emmanuel College 105
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-09
147. Will Hammond – Parker Lambert Lander University 104
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
148. Cole Hadlock – Jackson Kulijof Murray State University 103
Day 1: 1 04-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 04-03
149. Michael John Teate – Diego Alea Southeastern University 102
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 1 01-08 Total: 2 03-14
150. Grant Simmons – Missouri State University 101
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-13
151. Lance Denney – Jackson Slaughter University of Nebraska – Lincoln 100
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-08
152. Kenny Price – Wyatt Loving Stephen F Austin State Universit 99
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-04
153. Ben Burns – Grant Pursifull Stephen F Austin State Universit 98
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-03
154. Tanner Wassilchalk – West Virginia University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 70 566 1378-12
2 57 490 1176-12
———————————-
127 1056 2555-08

Fish Rivers for More Bass in Summer!

Brian Carter

July 11, 2025

During the heat of summer, many bass in lakes retreat to deeper waters, making them harder to reach without specialized gear. River bass often remain in six feet of water or less, where they’re easier to access and more aggressive. The flowing water keeps them energized and actively feeding in shallow zones. This is ideal for anglers who enjoy power fishing or working visible cover near the surface. These shallow-water areas can be rich with ambush spots like laydowns, overhanging vegetation, and shoreline areas. For those who prefer a more visual, hands-on fishing style, river systems offer consistent action and high engagement throughout the summer. Bass in shallow rivers also benefit from better oxygen levels and a steady influx of food, both of which keep them active during otherwise sluggish conditions. This makes soft plastics effective, as they mimic the natural forage washed downstream. When targeting river bass, you can often see strikes happen in real time, adding excitement and immediacy to each cast. Rivers tend to have less recreational boat traffic than lakes, making for a more peaceful fishing experience. Whether you’re new or looking for change of pace, the river is a rewarding place.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Each is scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. We’ve recently dropped a new HellaMite Pro Pack that is loaded with 60 total baits in all six proven colors, plus three Owner Block Head Ned Jigs and a handy storage bag. This kit has everything you need to stay rigged and ready year-round. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. We’ve also recently restocked our popular Smoke Purple HellaMite. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to its superior performance and versatility.

One of the most important elements in summer river fishing is current. It provides a constant supply of oxygen-rich and slightly cooler water, which helps keep bass active even during the hottest months. Rivers that have steady water movement, especially near dams or natural chokepoints, tend to hold more fish. The current also positions prey like baitfish and insects, making it easier for bass to locate and ambush food. As a result, areas with stronger current often support better fishing than stagnant backwaters or main lake flats. Understanding how current shapes bass behavior is critical for consistently locating productive stretches of river. When current is present, bass hold tight to specific current breaks where food flows to them. This allows anglers to focus their efforts on high-percentage areas instead of aimlessly covering water. Soft plastics such as cray-styled baits and beetles are effective when worked slowly along these breaks, mimicking the natural drift of prey. Timing also plays a role, many rivers experience stronger flow in the morning or evening due to dam schedules, which can trigger feeding windows. Knowing how and when current flows through a river can turn a slow day into a highly productive one.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, and the Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action that triggers strikes!

When water flows through a river, bass naturally position themselves behind objects that block or break the current. These could be rocks, logs, root wads, or sections of the bank that deflect flow. Bass face into the current and wait for food to wash past, conserving energy while remaining ready to strike. This predictable setup truly gives anglers a major advantage, as it narrows down where to cast. By focusing efforts on these current breaks, you can effectively target the highest-percentage areas. Once you understand this behavior, the river becomes much easier to read and fish productively. What makes this even more rewarding is the ability to repeat success across similar types of cover all throughout the river. If bass are consistently holding behind logjams or boulders in one stretch, chances are you’ll find them the same way elsewhere. Presenting soft plastics upstream and letting them drift naturally into these ambush zones can trigger fast strikes. Precision casting becomes more important in rivers, as small changes in position can determine whether a bass sees your bait or not. With a little observation and pattern recognition, you can dial in a productive rhythm that leads to steady action.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fast, we’ve recently just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost, and 10w30 Synthetic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater.

The amount of current flowing through a river can dramatically affect the success of your fishing trip. When upstream dams or rainfall generate steady flow, bass are easier to locate and more responsive. On calm days with little movement, fish tend to suspend and become much harder to catch. Visual cues like water swirling around shoreline brush or grass indicate that current is strong and positioning bass properly. It’s always worth checking water conditions before launching, especially on regulated rivers. Paying attention to how much water is moving can help you determine whether to stay in the river or explore other options. Strong current not only activates the fish but also consolidates them into predictable holding spots, reducing guesswork. When the current slows down, bass may scatter or retreat to deeper pools where oxygen and food are harder to come by. This makes timing your trip around water releases or natural inflow events a valuable tactic. Some anglers tend to use river gauges or dam release schedules to plan their outings around optimal flow periods. Understanding the relationship between water movement and bass behavior helps you fish smarter and avoid wasting time on unproductive water.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round!

To take full advantage of river current, proper boat positioning is essential. Anglers should set up downstream from their target and cast upstream, allowing soft plastics like worms, beetles, or cray-styled baits to drift naturally back toward the fish. This approach mirrors the way food moves through the water and presents lures directly in the line of sight of waiting bass. Since river bass face into the current, they’re more likely to strike a lure that approaches from the front. Keeping your presentation aligned with the flow leads to more natural strikes and fewer spooked fish. It’s a subtle adjustment that can significantly increase your hookup rate. Maintaining this position can be challenging, especially in stronger current, so a reliable trolling motor and responsive boat control are key. Staying too close to your target can alert fish, while being too far can make it hard to cast accurately into high-percentage areas. When executed well, this positioning gives you repeated opportunities to present your bait exactly where bass are holding. It also helps you pick apart cover more thoroughly, working each angle as your bait flows past. Mastering boat placement becomes just as important as choosing the right lure.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! Our popular Watermelon Red Worms have been restocked as well. You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electric Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also released new 6-inch Worms including Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR — all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater.

Current breaks and eddies are the most reliable ambush points for river bass in the summer. These areas form wherever something disrupts the flow. Fallen trees, rocks, or small bends in the bank create calm pockets of water. In these eddies, bass can hold comfortably while watching for food drifting past. Some of the best strikes happen in these slack zones just behind the current line. Soft plastics like worms, insect larvae, or lizards can be deadly when slowly worked through these calmer pockets. Whether near the bank or mid-channel, targeting current breaks with intention will dramatically boost your chances of success. It’s important to thoroughly fish each eddy, as bass often sit tight in small pockets and may not strike until a bait enters the exact spot. Casting beyond the break and letting your lure drift naturally into the eddy mimics real forage washing in with the current. Don’t overlook subtle breaks, minor irregularities in current flow can hold aggressive fish, especially in pressured areas. Mid-river structures like sandbars or submerged trees can create overlooked eddies that produce big bites. With some patience and the right presentation, these current disruptions can yield anglers consistent results all summer long.Our newest FreshBaitz Mandingo Trick Worm is the ultimate game-changer for anglers with a passion! Engineered for the angler who knows SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a penchant for the larger bait. The Mandingo Trick Worm boasts a solid 7-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. Officially available in a vibrant array of 8 colors. Each worm is made from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for total and maximum attraction, the Mandingo Trick Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing the big ones. Proudly made in the USA by real anglers to help elevate your fishing experience and catch more bass year-round!

The same techniques that work in lakes can be highly effective in rivers when adapted to the current. Soft plastics like worms, cray-style baits, and beetles excel when fished around cover or in eddies. Instead of waiting out one spot, successful river fishing usually involves covering lots of similar-looking structure. Once you recognize where bass are holding, whether it’s behind rocks, beside logs, or under overhangs, you can begin to pattern those spots and move efficiently. River bass tend to be scattered, so staying mobile is key to building a limit. The more water you cover with the right presentation, the more consistent your results will be. Keep your casts focused and deliberate, working each piece of cover thoroughly before moving on. Even if you catch a fish in one spot, it’s often best to move rather than wait for another bite. River fishing rewards those who fish with purpose and maintain a steady pace. Use your electronics or visual markers to identify promising structure as you go. You’ll develop a rhythm that lets you maximize each stretch of water with minimal downtime. This active approach not only increases your chances of finding bass but also helps you fine-tune your presentation with each new piece of cover.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, but we’ve recently released new Nako Tungsten Tear Drop Shot Weights, crafted from 97% eco-friendly tungsten for stealth, durability, and vibration, with easy-to-read size stamps and a crimped swivel for quick changes. The new Haymaker EWG Worm Hooks are also now available, featuring an extra-wide gap for various soft plastics, a Z-lock shoulder bend for secure bait placement, and an angled-up super needle point for fast, powerful hooksets. For creature-styled baits, a more popular choice to use is the Stand-Up Jig because it sits the bait up-right in a defensive stance! Mosquito Hooks work for dropshotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you precious time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action that triggers bites. We also just released Keep’em Fresh Bait Bags! These bags are the ultimate solution for anglers who need their gear to perform. Built like a tank, this bag is 20x stronger than regular zip bags and offers 100% waterproof protection with a rock-solid double zipper seal. Whether it’s for soft plastics, snacks, or your smartphone, this reusable and versatile bag keeps everything safe from water, mud, and grime. It’s lightweight yet spacious, it fits snugly in your tackle box or backpack, making it perfect for your next adventure.

Power-Pole® to Debut VISION and Stainless Steel TECHFLOW® Propeller at ICAST 2025

Bass News

Brian Carter

July 11, 2025

Power-Pole® to Debut VISION and Stainless Steel TECHFLOW® Propeller at ICAST 2025

JL Marine Systems, the makers of Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchors, announces the official ICAST debut of Power-Pole VISION, a Marine Infotainment Display, and the NEW Stainless Steel TECHFLOW Propeller for Power-Pole MOVE trolling motors.

TAMPA, FL – Both innovations have been entered into ICAST 2025’s prestigious New Product Showcase — in the Electronics and Motorized Boating Accessories categories.

Power-Pole VISION^®
After a year of teasers and exclusive previews, Power-Pole VISION makes its full debut at ICAST 2025. Designed for anglers who demand total boat control, clarity, and connectivity, VISION is more than a screen — it’s a full-featured command center.

Seamlessly control Power-Pole anchors, MOVE trolling motors, and CHARGE
Google-certified with access to all your favorite apps on Google Play™
Built-in HD action camera and microphone
Glare-free high-contrast display for clear visibility in all conditions

VISION is purpose-built for the marine environment and designed to enhance both safety and convenience on the water — all while helping anglers fish smarter.

Stainless Steel TECHFLOW Prop
Making its global debut at ICAST 2025, our new Stainless Steel TECHFLOW Propeller was built to withstand the harshest conditions anglers face. Designed exclusively for Power-Pole MOVE ZR and PV trolling motors, this stainless steel version of our original TECHFLOW^® propeller delivers the same proven performance and quiet operation — now with the added strength and longevity of stainless steel.

Solid stainless steel construction for extended wear resistance
Precision blade geometry maintains consistent water flow and torque
Built for anglers who demand reliability—season after season

“We’ve always said Power-Pole is more than just anchors,” said Robert Shamblin, Vice President of JL Marine Systems. “With VISION and our new Stainless Steel TECHFLOW propeller, we’re continuing to give anglers the tools they need to dominate on the water — from total boat control at the helm to long-lasting performance at the prop.”

Power-Pole can be located at Booth #4822 at ICAST 2025. Attendees can see both products in person, experience hands-on demos, and learn more about the brand’s full collection of premium marine products.

Availability:

Power-Pole VISION & Stainless Steel TECHFLOW Propeller will be available soon through authorized Power-Pole dealers. Check with your local dealer today for availability and pricing. For more information, please visit power-pole.com/VISION and power-pole.com/SS-TECHFLOW.

Interested in bringing Power-Pole to your customers?

We’re always looking to partner with top-tier dealers who are passionate about performance and service. Learn more about how to become a Power-Pole dealer at power-pole.com/contact/become-a-dealer.

About Power-Pole^®

JL Marine Systems, Inc., the makers of the original Power-Pole shallow water anchors, CHARGE^® marine power management, and the full line of MOVE^® brushless trolling motors, has been pioneering innovative boat control solutions for over 25 years. With roots deeply planted in fishing performance and customer-first engineering, Power-Pole products are proudly made in the USA and trusted by the most elite anglers in both freshwater and saltwater.

Blacktusk Outdoors Acquires Lucky Strike Bait Works

Bass News

Brian Carter

July 11, 2025

Blacktusk Outdoors expands its premium outdoor portfolio with the acquisition of legendary Lucky Strike.

TORONTO – Blacktusk Outdoors, a growing leader in the outdoor gear and angling space, is proud to announce its acquisition of Lucky Strike, one of North America’s most storied fishing lure brands. The move marks a significant step in Blacktusk Outdoors’ mission to elevate heritage craftsmanship and advance design excellence across the fishing and outdoor industries.

Founded in 1929, Lucky Strike has built its reputation on producing durable, trusted tackle and landing nets for generations of anglers. From its iconic wooden baits to its tournament-proven spoons, the brand is synonymous with North American fishing culture and global performance. “This isn’t just a brand acquisition—it’s a legacy we’re choosing to protect and evolve,” said Jesse Bleeman, CEO of Blacktusk Outdoors. “Lucky Strike has been in the tackle boxes of serious anglers for nearly a century. We’re excited to bring fresh energy and forward-thinking design to a company that has stood the test of time.”

The acquisition of Lucky Strike Bait Works further strengthens Blacktusk Outdoors’ growing roster of fishing brands, which includes Lunkerhunt, known for its groundbreaking lure designs and pioneering soft plastics and Walleye County, a purpose built brand, focused on specialized anglers, offering curated bait assortments, regional color patterns, and proven profiles tailored to the demands of North American fisheries. With a portfolio that spans both legacy names and modern craftsmanship, Blacktusk is building a collection of brands in the fishing industry rooted in quality, creativity, and authenticity. The acquisition will allow Lucky Strike to retain its identity and manufacturing roots while benefiting from Blacktusk’s growing distribution network, digital capabilities, and product development resources. Plans are already underway to reinvest in product design, expand into new categories, and increase reach across North American and international markets.

“Joining Blacktusk Outdoors opens the door to everything we’ve been working toward,” said Dustin Rhodes, President of Lucky Strike Bait Works. “We’re still the same company that believes in hard work and honest gear—but now we’ve got the tools to reach more anglers than ever.” As part of the acquisition, Lucky Strike’s operations will continue uninterrupted, with its team and factory remaining in Ontario. Customers can expect the same product quality, now paired with improved service, digital access, and future-forward design.

About Blacktusk Outdoors

Blacktusk Outdoors creates authentic, premium-quality gear for people who live and breathe the outdoors.

About Lucky Strike Bait Works

Lucky Strike Bait Works has been manufacturing fishing lures and tackle since 1929. Known for its craftsmanship and iconic designs, the brand is a staple among anglers across North America and beyond.

Cook Expands NPFL Lead at St. Lawrence River, Welcher Maintains Narrow AOY Lead.

Brian Carter

July 10, 2025

Cook Expands NPFL Lead at St. Lawrence River, Welcher Maintains Narrow AOY Lead.

Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

With launch in Massena, New York, the top anglers continue to make the long run toward Lake Ontario, battling big smallmouth cruising the shallow sand flats.

Leading the charge for two consecutive days, Georgia pro Drew Cook has extended his lead at Stop Five of the 2025 NPFL Season at the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York to 3 pounds, 2 ounces.

South Carolina angler Patrick Walters, who started in second place, remains there with 22-8 on a tougher Day Two, keeping him in contention. Alabama pro Kyle Welcher stayed consistent with 24-3 on Day Two, maintaining third place and, more importantly, holding onto his lead in the Progressive Angler of the Year race. All three anglers are making significant runs and have relied on mild weather conditions to catch better-than-average-sized bass.

Robert Wroblewski led the big bass race on Day One with a 6-7 lunker, but Drew Cook took over the big bass honors with a 6-10 smallmouth today.

Cook Cruising in New York

With a two-day total of 52-10, Drew Cook is one day away from earning his first NPFL victory. He started on Day One with a solid 27-2 limit and followed it up on Day Two with 25-8, anchored by a 6-10 big bass. His consistent performance has him 3 pounds, 2 ounces ahead of second-place Patrick Walters.

Like the other top anglers, Cook is focusing his efforts around the mouth of Lake Ontario, and several spots further up the river, rotating through flats where smallmouth are both spawning and roaming. As the tournament goes on and anglers spread out, the pressure is making things tougher.

“I definitely had more anglers around today and it got tougher overall,” he said. “Tomorrow we’re supposed to get a bit of overcast weather, which will change things up, but it’s going to be decent weather in general.”

Cook has kept his game plan close to the vest until the scales close on Finale Friday. His focus has been on specific areas with the presence of rock, where bigger fish tend to hold, using a variety of finesse baits like a dropshot and ned rig. With one more day to fish, Cook is confident in his areas, and has several spots from practice he’s saved for the final day.

“I have several places I haven’t touched yet and I’m confident I can get bit further up the river if needed. We have one more day to get it done and then we can break things down a bit more,” he said.

Walters Remains in Second

A tougher Day Two saw Patrick Walters add 22-8 to his Day One bag of 27-0, putting him in second place going into Finale Friday with a two-day total of 49-8. Like much of the field, Walters is making a long run and using his eyes to cast to cruising smallmouth.

Welcher Maintains AOY

While Kyle Welcher’s two-day total of 49-0 has him currently in the third spot, and still in control of the Progressive Angler of the Year race, there is no time to let up. With almost half the field weighing a bag over 20-pounds on day one, and another 40 anglers on day two, the margin of error is slim.

Coming into the event, Welcher led with 974 points with Hackney and Walters tied 969 points. Leader Drew Cook began in the top ten, but despite his performance this week, he has only narrowly gained any ground in making up points.

With close weights and one more day of competition, a single key miss or lost fish could mean several places in the standings, and angler of the year.

Top Ten:
Drew Cook 52-10
Patrick Walters 49-8
Kyle Welcher 49-0
Jesse Wise 48-10
Justin Adkins 48-7
Andrew Upshaw 47-13
Shane LeHew 47-10
Corey Casey 46-8
Cole Harris 46-8
Dustin Williamson 46-3

day 2 leaderboard

Raichel, Davis take advantage of morning flurry to take Day 1 lead at Cherokee Lake

Brian Carter

July 10, 2025

Raichel, Davis take advantage of morning flurry to take Day 1 lead at Cherokee Lake

Luke Davis and Kaden Raichel of the University of Montevallo have taken the lead on Day 1 of the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a total of 19 pounds, 7 ounces.

Photo by Solomon Glenn/B.A.S.S.

July 10, 2025

Raichel, Davis take advantage of morning flurry to take Day 1 lead at Cherokee Lake

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — A game time adjustment paid off in a big way for Luke Davis and Kaden Raichel on Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.

The University of Montevallo duo caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 7 ounces to take the Day 1 lead at the east Tennessee reservoir, anchoring their bag with a largemouth weighing around 5 pounds.

Davis and Raichel hold a 9-ounce advantage over University of North Alabama’s Bryce Dimauro and Tripp Berlinsky, who caught 18-14 to land in second. Hunter King and Calup Williams from Blue Mountain Christian University are third with 17-5.

“We switched our game plan late last night,” Davis said. “We had been set on doing something different, but we were talking about it and decided to switch it up. I guess it was the perfect little tweak that put us on the right spot at the right time.

“There aren’t words to describe how this morning went.”

The grumblings about how tough Cherokee Lake was fishing weren’t particularly quiet during Wednesday’s registration day, but the 154 teams managed to land a total of 70 limits and only five teams failed to catch a bass during Thursday’s opening round. If the cut had been made today, a team would have needed 14-2 to advance to the final day.

After brutally hot temperatures during practice, a weather system produced overnight showers and clouds lingered for most of the morning. Those conditions helped many teams achieve early limits, including Davis and Raichel.

“We had most of our weight in 10 minutes. It was insane. At 8:30 a.m., we were completely done,” Raichel said. “At the mouth of the river I could definitely tell there was more current, and I think that got them positioned better.”

While they found bass shallow and deep, Davis and Raichel primarily focused on bass suspending under schools of threadfin shad in 20 to 30 feet of water. One presentation was key during the morning madness. As they went along the rest of the day, they found a few more baits that could produce key bites later in the tournament.

They finished Day 1 with four largemouth and one smallmouth that weighed over 3 pounds. Although they can only keep two 18-inch smallmouth a day per Tennessee regulations, Davis said they spent a lot of time looking for areas that could provide that better-than-average smallmouth, but the one they caught on Day 1 was by far their best thus far.

“That one was a healthy one,” Davis said. “We caught some 20- and 21-inch smallmouth in practice, but they were only 3 pounds. A lot of the fish are skinny, but today we pulled up on a place with fat ones.”

A couple of things could make life a little more difficult on Raichel and Davis on Day 2. For one, they will launch in a later flight. Raichel also knows of at least one team who also fished their primary area and believes they might be sharing the spot tomorrow.

Dimauro and Berlinsky, meanwhile, finished the day with all largemouth in their 18-14 limit. Considering the smallmouth regulations, the UNA duo went all in on finding largemouth and found the right quality on Day 1.

“Our practice was very slow,” Dimauro said. “We knew we saw some good ones, but we never thought we would be able to catch almost 19 pounds.”

While the day started slow, Berlinsky said they started seeing big ones as the day progressed. One particular spot produced three key bites, including a 5-pounder and two 4-pounders that anchored their day. Berlinsky estimated using between 15 or 20 rods throughout Day 1.

“We’ve really been junk fishing around structure,” Berlinsky said. “Any can hold them out here it seems like. We haven’t even been looking for big fish, we are just trying to get a bite, and it just so happened that those bass were big.”

King and Williams, meanwhile, didn’t know where they would start Day 1 until they got in the truck Thursday morning. They chose correctly and landed their limit within the first two hours of the day and finished the day with four largies and a brown fish.

“It was pretty surprising. We only caught one keeper in practice,” Williams said. “To then catch five fish by 8 a.m. is crazy.”

The majority of their bites came in 8 feet of water or less with four or five baits generating the best strikes.

Cole Hadlock and Jackson Kulijof of Murray State University currently hold Big Bass of the Tournament honors with their 4-3 largemouth.

The full field of 154 boats will launch from the TVA Cherokee Dam Launch beginning at 6 a.m. and will return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The Top 12 anglers after Friday’s weigh-in will advance to Championship Saturday where the winner will earn a spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s.

The final Bracket spot will be awarded to the overall Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops Team of the Year, which will be announced during weigh-in on Saturday.

2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops 7/10-7/12
Cherokee Lake, Jefferson City TN.

(BOATER) Standings Day 1 Angler Club/School Pts 1. Luke Davis – Kaden Raichel University of Montevallo 250
Day 1: 5 19-07 Total: 5 19-07
2. Bryce Dimauro – Tripp Berlinsky University of North Alabama 249
Day 1: 5 18-14 Total: 5 18-14
3. Hunter King – Calup Williams Blue Mountain Christian Universi 248
Day 1: 5 17-05 Total: 5 17-05
4. Brendin Simich – Benjamin Travis Auburn University 247
Day 1: 5 16-06 Total: 5 16-06
5. Phillip Herring – Parker O’Bryan University of Montevallo 246
Day 1: 5 16-05 Total: 5 16-05
6. Garrett Smith – Andrew Blanton Lander University 245
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
7. Skyler Stevens – Grant McCraney Faulkner University 244
Day 1: 5 14-08 Total: 5 14-08
8. Michael Canonica – Seth Proctor University of Tennessee 243
Day 1: 5 14-07 Total: 5 14-07
9. Andrew Turner – James Sumrell Carson-Newman University 242
Day 1: 5 14-06 Total: 5 14-06
10. Brayden Batchelor – Georgia Southern University 241
Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03
10. Jacob Berryhill – Zach Knight Carson-Newman University 241
Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03
12. TJ Edwards Jr – Sawyer Brady Blue Mountain Christian Universi 239
Day 1: 5 14-02 Total: 5 14-02
13. Levi Seagraves – Scooter Ligon Jr Emmanuel College 238
Day 1: 5 14-01 Total: 5 14-01
14. Cameron Dials – Ethan Burnette Kentucky Christian University 237
Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09
15. Jacob Swanson – Matt Boerboom University of Montevallo 236
Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09
16. Adrian Urso – Corbin Templon Murray State University 235
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
17. Zach Wolfe – Brayden Ruckman Carson-Newman University 234
Day 1: 5 13-05 Total: 5 13-05
18. Luke Wenger – Braxon Hightower Dallas Baptist University 233
Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04
19. Paxton Giem – Nick Seitz Adrian College 232
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
20. Joe Lutz – Jake Monti UNC – Charlotte 231
Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02
20. Evan Newell – Dylan May Carson-Newman University 231
Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02
22. Cameron Yates – Harrison McCall Lander University 229
Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02
23. James Dubose – Daylon Milam University of Montevallo 228
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
23. Hunter Keller – Wes Smith II Catawba Valley Community College 228
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
23. Robert Miller – Levi Bolton Emmanuel College 228
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
26. Chase Wodzinski – Kaden Buchmann Lander University 225
Day 1: 5 12-14 Total: 5 12-14
27. Dalton DeFelice – Evan Ludlow University of Montevallo 224
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
27. Blake Wheat – Zach Helton Carson-Newman University 224
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
29. Michael Gammons – Colby Elliott Emmanuel College 222
Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11
30. Brett Mouw – Asa Putnam University of Montevallo 221
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
31. Hunter Hamilton – Tyler Morris LSU – Shreveport 220
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
32. Carson Owen – Dylan Reed Murray State College 219
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
33. Kolby Angell – Michael Markham University of Montevallo 218
Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07
34. Easton Drennon – Chase McCarter Carson-Newman University 217
Day 1: 5 12-06 Total: 5 12-06
35. Trey Marco – Jake Rowlands King University 216
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
36. Lucas Washburn – Braylon Eggerding Adrian College 215
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
37. Delaney Platt – Ryan Olsen Wabash Valley College 214
Day 1: 4 12-02 Total: 4 12-02
38. Hunter Barrow – Kanton Trull Catawba Valley Community College 213
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
39. Hunter Brewer – Fisher Heard University of North Alabama 212
Day 1: 5 11-14 Total: 5 11-14
40. Carson Winn – Ethan Tedder University of North Alabama 211
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
41. Brody Robison – Peyton Sorrow University of Montevallo 210
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
42. Caleb Bridges – Jonathan Fann Middle Tennessee State Universit 209
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
42. Alex Wood – Joe Williams Missouri State University 209
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
44. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. – Quade Lobo Adrian College 207
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
45. Bryson Dotson – Hayden Peck Tennessee Wesleyan University 206
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
46. Ethan Fields – McKendree University 205
Day 1: 4 11-10 Total: 4 11-10
47. Ethan Elliott – Bryce Mcdonald University of Pikeville 204
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
48. Peyton Harris – Dalton Head University of Montevallo 203
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
49. Dayne Kobriger – Camden Kozikoski Drury University 202
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
50. Gage King – Banks Shaw University of North Alabama 201
Day 1: 5 11-06 Total: 5 11-06
51. Cole Divin – Grant Gale Tarleton State University 200
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
51. Garrett Sullivan – Hayes Pate Faulkner University 200
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
53. Brett Hill – Brayden Hoehn Campbellsville University 198
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
54. Dillon Robertshaw – Jake Mantovani Missouri State University 197
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
55. Chris Baker – Elijah Kelley Kentucky Christian University 196
Day 1: 5 11-00 Total: 5 11-00
56. Carty Shoen – Tyler Swan Auburn University 195
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
57. Trey McMeen – Dylan Armstrong East Texas Baptist University 194
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
58. Brock Blazier – Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 193
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
58. Colton Boelkes – Joshua Hayes University of North Alabama 193
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
60. John Michael Ortman – Max Heaton Emmanuel College 191
Day 1: 5 10-12 Total: 5 10-12
61. Riley Faulkner – Szymon Piton Carson-Newman University 190
Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09
62. Braden Cox – Cameron Smith Ohio State University 189
Day 1: 4 10-09 Total: 4 10-09
63. Braden Lankford – Murray State College 188
Day 1: 4 10-08 Total: 4 10-08
64. Harrison Terry – Jordan Hampton Bethel University 187
Day 1: 5 10-06 Total: 5 10-06
65. Angelo Malek – Parker Welch McKendree University 186
Day 1: 4 10-06 Total: 4 10-06
66. Noah Trant – Evan Howe Northwestern State University 185
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
67. Reece Keeney – Brantley Anders Kentucky Christian University 184
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
68. Cole Taylor – Clay Taylor Lander University 183
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
69. Elisha Colley – Storm Clark University of Montevallo 182
Day 1: 4 10-01 Total: 4 10-01
70. Evan Sutton – Jaxson Freeman McKendree University 181
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
71. Brady Metzger – Mason Bohland Purdue University 180
Day 1: 4 09-14 Total: 4 09-14
72. Clayton Ellis – Chandler Howell Blue Mountain Christian Universi 179
Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12
72. Carter Nutt – Dylan Nutt University of North Alabama 179
Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12
74. Cole McNeely – Cole Martin University of Montevallo 177
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
75. Caleb Dugger – Kolby Gambrel King University 176
Day 1: 5 09-10 Total: 5 09-10
76. Tyler Chmelar – Kase Kramer Tarleton State University 175
Day 1: 4 09-08 Total: 4 09-08
76. Justin Latham – Lake Hatfield Campbellsville University 175
Day 1: 4 09-08 Total: 4 09-08
78. Carter Doren – Ryan Lachniet Campbellsville University 173
Day 1: 4 09-07 Total: 4 09-07
79. Jeff Giffen – Cooper Gilroy University of Alabama 172
Day 1: 4 09-07 Total: 4 09-07
80. Anderson Jones – Lander University 171
Day 1: 5 09-04 Total: 5 09-04
81. Nathan Reynolds – Jake Brown University of North Alabama 170
Day 1: 4 09-03 Total: 4 09-03
82. Noah Belt – Micah Belt Southeastern Oklahoma University 169
Day 1: 4 09-03 Total: 4 09-03
83. Brayden Mercer – Corey Morris East Texas Baptist University 168
Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00
83. Jackson Paden – Mason Thompson University of Tennessee 168
Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00
83. Dalton Phelps – Peyton Rose Wabash Valley College 168
Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00
86. Levi Thibodaux – William Tew LSU – Shreveport 165
Day 1: 4 08-15 Total: 4 08-15
87. Hunter Russell – Richard Skiff Wabash Valley College 164
Day 1: 4 08-15 Total: 4 08-15
88. Joe Vaulton – Clay Bales Carson-Newman University 163
Day 1: 4 08-14 Total: 4 08-14
89. Owen Wheeler – Bethel University 162
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
90. Brooks Parker – Briggs Alavezos University of Montevallo 161
Day 1: 4 08-11 Total: 4 08-11
91. Cole Moulton – Jared Hubbard Lander University 160
Day 1: 3 08-11 Total: 3 08-11
92. Lane Clark – Tallis Morrison Erskine College 159
Day 1: 4 08-10 Total: 4 08-10
93. Kai Barnett – Kyle Hopping McKendree University 158
Day 1: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
94. Syler Prince – Parker Stalvey St Johns River State College 157
Day 1: 3 08-09 Total: 3 08-09
94. Triston Richardson – Johnny Hudson Jr LSU – Shreveport 157
Day 1: 3 08-09 Total: 3 08-09
96. Riley Nuessle – Garrett Cromer University of Montevallo 155
Day 1: 3 08-06 Total: 3 08-06
96. Hampton Shull – Landon Surrett Lander University 155
Day 1: 3 08-06 Total: 3 08-06
98. Luke Rokavec – Braden Fairbanks Campbellsville University 153
Day 1: 4 08-05 Total: 4 08-05
99. Cody Monlezun – Josh Kerr Texas A&M University 152
Day 1: 3 08-00 Total: 3 08-00
100. Carson Belville – Connor Hall McKendree University 151
Day 1: 3 07-15 Total: 3 07-15
101. Brett Jolley Jr. – Carson Stevens East Texas Baptist University 150
Day 1: 4 07-13 Total: 4 07-13
102. Jake Peck – Luke Wyle Auburn University 149
Day 1: 4 07-12 Total: 4 07-12
103. Allen Powe – Jonathan Combs Campbellsville University 148
Day 1: 4 07-09 Total: 4 07-09
104. Cody Abbott – Trenton Carey Lander University 147
Day 1: 3 07-09 Total: 3 07-09
105. Zach Pocos – Tucker Siminak McKendree University 146
Day 1: 3 07-08 Total: 3 07-08
106. Corban Chenevey – Garrett Christy Catawba Valley Community College 145
Day 1: 3 07-04 Total: 3 07-04
107. Jase Smith Jr. – Zachary Nolan Georgia College 144
Day 1: 3 07-04 Total: 3 07-04
108. Cabe Mackey – Jacob Webb Catawba Valley Community College 143
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
109. Peyton Bryant – Brezlyn Hightower Murray State College 142
Day 1: 3 07-00 Total: 3 07-00
110. Nick Dumke – Connor Bell University of Montevallo 141
Day 1: 2 06-15 Total: 2 06-15
111. Jeremy Monda – Florida Gateway College 140
Day 1: 3 06-14 Total: 3 06-14
112. Easton Bouma – Zachary Ward Drury University 139
Day 1: 3 06-08 Total: 3 06-08
113. Matthew Gunn – Matthew Massey Erskine College 138
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
114. Matthew Qualich – Liam Bonnett McKendree University 137
Day 1: 3 06-04 Total: 3 06-04
115. Turner Hart – Bryan College 136
Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
116. Wyatt Pearman – Ridge Rutledge Campbellsville University 135
Day 1: 3 06-00 Total: 3 06-00
117. Will Wester – Jackson Thomas Emmanuel College 134
Day 1: 2 05-15 Total: 2 05-15
118. Grayson Ball – Sellers Odom University of North Alabama 133
Day 1: 2 05-13 Total: 2 05-13
119. Grant Rice – Blake Marcum Morehead State University 132
Day 1: 2 05-09 Total: 2 05-09
120. Noah Lieberman – Jacob Hiebsch Missouri State University 131
Day 1: 2 05-06 Total: 2 05-06
121. Harmon Marien – Mason Darling McKendree University 130
Day 1: 3 05-04 Total: 3 05-04
122. Blake Bullock – John Mark Berry Blue Mountain Christian Universi 129
Day 1: 2 05-01 Total: 2 05-01
123. Tucker McCoy – Skipper Stallings University of Montevallo 128
Day 1: 2 04-14 Total: 2 04-14
123. Luke McGuffin – Rylan Green Erskine College 128
Day 1: 2 04-14 Total: 2 04-14
125. Peyton Dunn – Michael Avery Emmanuel College 126
Day 1: 2 04-09 Total: 2 04-09
126. Brennan Berglund – Colton White University of Montevallo 125
Day 1: 2 04-08 Total: 2 04-08
127. Preston Kolisek – Smith McGregor University of North Alabama 124
Day 1: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07
128. Trace Antunes III – Garrett Ring University of Montevallo 123
Day 1: 2 04-05 Total: 2 04-05
128. Drake Sturgill – Hudson Choquette University of Montevallo 123
Day 1: 2 04-05 Total: 2 04-05
130. Caleb Neu – Anthony Cicero IV Bethel University 121
Day 1: 2 04-03 Total: 2 04-03
131. Cole Hadlock – Jackson Kulijof Murray State University 120
Day 1: 1 04-03 Total: 1 04-03
132. Connor Green – Peter West Faulkner University 119
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
132. Josh Richardson – Nathan Vahle University of Nebraska – Lincoln 119
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
134. Peyton Matherne – Beau Landry LSU 117
Day 1: 1 03-12 Total: 1 03-12
135. Drew Blasi – Noah Amundson Kansas State University 116
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
136. Carson Hoots – Dylan Kelly Texas A&M University 115
Day 1: 1 03-03 Total: 1 03-03
137. Owen Januszewski – Brady Pinwar Adrian College 114
Day 1: 1 02-13 Total: 1 02-13
137. Grant Simmons – Missouri State University 114
Day 1: 1 02-13 Total: 1 02-13
139. Colten Drawdy – Bethel University 112
Day 1: 1 02-10 Total: 1 02-10
140. Karsten Raney – Brayson Claunch Campbellsville University 111
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
141. Dom Begier – Erich Thompson SUNY – ESF 110
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
141. Lance Denney – Jackson Slaughter University of Nebraska – Lincoln 110
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
143. Michael John Teate – Diego Alea Southeastern University 108
Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06
144. Kenny Price – Wyatt Loving Stephen F Austin State Universit 107
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
145. Cody Brumfield – Alex Mccarty University of Rio Grande 106
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
145. Ben Burns – Grant Pursifull Stephen F Austin State Universit 106
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
147. Matthew Norton – Ian Schroeder UNC – Charlotte 104
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
147. Brock Vogel – Kyle Zainitzer University of North Alabama 104
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
149. Dallas Copeland – Mario Botan Texas A&M University 102
Day 1: 2 00-14 Total: 2 00-14
150. Sam Ausbrooks – Eli Jaime Wabash Valley College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
150. Will Hammond – Parker Lambert Lander University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
150. Carter Teune – Nick Hawkins Southeastern University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
150. Tanner Wassilchalk – West Virginia University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
150. Will Weischwill – Cade Dornburg Texas A&M University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 70 566 1378-12
———————————-
70 566 1378-12

Z-Man’s unrigged PrawnStarZ™ LB elevates rigging options, realism, and strike response

Brian Carter

July 10, 2025

A StarZ Is Reborn

Z-Man’s unrigged PrawnStarZ™ LB elevates rigging options, realism, and strike response

Ladson, SC (July 10, 2026) – In a world where saltwater predators are getting smarter and more selective, only the true stars shine beneath the surface. After the blockbuster 2024 debut of the original pre-rigged PrawnStarZ™, which claimed the coveted Best in Category Award for Saltwater Soft Lures, Z-Man returns to the spotlight with the next chapter in the saga. The all-new Z-Man® PrawnStarZ LB (loose body) is primed to turn heads when it hits the spotlight at ICAST 2025. This year’s release offers a versatile 3.5-inch unrigged version of the shrimp that stole the show. Built on the same hyper-realistic PrawnStarZ profile, the loose body version offers anglers rigging flexibility to match cover, current and water depth, making it ideally suited for every application from shallow water sight fishing to probing deep passes and drop-offs. With a segmented body that delivers fluid motion, legs that quiver on the fall, an upswept tail that flaps and pulses on every twitch, and ultra-detailed hand-painted color schemes, it’s designed to look and move like the real thing—and maybe even better.

According to Jose Chavez, Z-Man’s Director of Product Development and diehard inshore angler, “We wanted to give anglers the freedom to rig this bait however they fish—from exposed-hook jigheads in open water to weedless presentations in thick grass. That’s why we sculpted the nose to be streamlined and rounded—it slides cleanly through vegetation without fouling, which is crucial when you’re targeting fish on shallow grass flats.”Engineered for quick and intuitive rigging versatility, the PrawnStarZ LB incorporates a molded channel in the nose for precise, straight hook alignment and a recessed dorsal pocket to conceal the hook point when conditions dictate a snag-free presentation. Whether it’s pinned to a Z-Man Trout Eye™ or HeadlockZ™ jighead, or rigged weedless using a Weighted ZWG™ Swimbait Hook or Texas Eye™ Jighead, this crustacean imitation is a natural wherever redfish, seatrout, flounder, snook, tripletail, and juvenile tarpon patrol.

Constructed from 10X Tough ElaZtech®, the PrawnStarZ LB is built to withstand relentless strikes and harsh saltwater conditions. This proprietary material is not only incredibly durable—resisting nicks, tears, and bite-offs—but also is naturally buoyant, enhancing the bait’s lifelike posture and affording precise depth control throughout the water column. Anglers can fish the PrawnstarZ LB longer, harder, and with more confidence, knowing it won’t quit before the bite does.

Chavez adds, “The PrawnStarZ LB is all about durability and adaptability, but its realism is what really makes it shine. We spent a lot of time dialing in the tail mechanics and leg placement to make sure it looks alive even when it’s just falling through the water column. Just watch those legs vibrate, and you’ll understand why this bait outfishes any other shrimp on the market.”Lowcountry guide and accomplished tournament angler Capt. Stephen Flook has already put the bait to work on his home waters with outstanding results. “This thing’s a trout and redfish magnet,” he said. “I’ve been throwing it around oyster bars and grass edges, and the way it falls and flutters—it’s like ringing the dinner bell. I love that I can rig it weedless and still get that natural action. It’s perfect for clients who want to fish confidently without hanging up every cast.”

Offered in twelve meticulously hand-painted colors designed to match the subtle shades of real shrimp as well as proven patterns preferred by saltwater guides working Gulf and Atlantic coastlines, the PrawnstarZ LB checks in at a $9.99 MSRP per 3-pack.

MLF Announces 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Schedule

Brian Carter

July 10, 2025

MLF Announces 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Schedule

BENTON, Ky. (July 10, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals schedule, which features six high-stakes regular-season events with a top award of up to $115,000 each and the no-entry-fee Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship, where anglers compete for a top prize of $135,000 and a coveted berth to REDCREST 2027.

The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will once again spotlight professional anglers battling across six stops for a share of some of the sport’s best payouts and qualification into the prestigious Bass Pro Tour, where every stage features a top award of $150,000. The Bass Pro Tour’s live catch, weigh and immediate-release scoring that has produced some of the sport’s most memorable moments, including Tackle Warehouse Invitationals alum Jake Lawrence’s buzzer beater win over Jacob Wheeler at Stage 4 on Nickajack Lake this season.

“No other circuit prepares professional anglers for the next step in their career like the Invitationals,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “That makes the Invitationals popular among veteran and up-and-coming pros alike, and this season fans responded to our format, which restricts the use of forward facing and 360-degree sonar to half the qualifying days, with record MLFNOW! viewership at every stop. We’re looking forward to carrying that momentum into the 2026 season as we visit some outstanding fisheries.”

The regular season kicks off in early February at Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes before traveling to South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma and New York. The top angler in the season-long point standings will be crowned the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year and receive a $50,000 bonus, and the top five anglers in points will secure invitations to compete on the 2027 Bass Pro Tour. A third of the field fishing all six qualifying events will also advance to the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship, Sept. 18-20, 2026, on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida.

Every day of competition will stream live on MLFNOW! at MajorLeagueFishing.com and through the MLF app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble. All six Invitationals and the championship will also be televised nationally.

Invitations for the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will be issued to qualifying anglers this fall.

2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Schedule:

Feb. 6-8 Stop 1 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Leesburg, Fla.
Hosted by Discover Lake County Florida

Feb. 26-28 Stop 2 at Santee Cooper Lakes Clarendon County, S.C.
*Thurs – Fri Hosted by Destination Clarendon

March 19-21 Stop 3 at Wheeler Lake Decatur, Ala.
*Thurs – Fri Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism

May 8-10 Stop 4 at Douglas Lake Jefferson County, Tenn.
Hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN

June 5-7 Stop 5 at Lake Eufaula Eufaula, Okla.
Hosted by Vision Eufaula

July 24-26 Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau

Sept. 18-20 Invitationals Championship at Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Kissimmee, Fla.
Hosted by Experience Kissimmee

Full program details and rules for the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will be announced later this year. For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook , Instagram and YouTube.

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

Expect smallmouth slugfest for Nation Qualifier at Lake Erie

Brian Carter

July 10, 2025

Expect smallmouth slugfest for Nation Qualifier at Lake Erie

Michigan’s Lake Erie will host the final regular-season Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance July 16-18.

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

July 10, 2025

Expect smallmouth slugfest for Nation Qualifier at Lake Erie

MONROE, Mich. — Plenty of options will be available to anglers competing in the final regular-season Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance of the year at Lake Erie, many of which will revolve around postspawn smallmouth, according to St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN angler Michael Spaulding Jr.

“There’s tons of water to fish and a ton of different ways you can fish,” the Dundee, Mich., angler said. “There are so many different options. I think it will be a super-fun tournament. It will take at least 22 or 23 pounds a day to win. Even if the wind blows, the fish still eat on Erie when it blows.”

Tournament days are scheduled for July 16-18 with daily takeoffs scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET. Anglers will return for weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. At the conclusion of the event, the top 10% of the field will punch tickets to the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance scheduled for Oct. 22-25 at the Upper Mississippi River.

This is the first major Bassmaster tournament to launch out of Lake Erie’s western shore. In recent years for Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Opens competition, anglers launched in Lake St. Clair and had the option to run to Lake Erie. With anglers starting in Erie, and a decent run to the mouth of the Detroit River that connects Erie with St. Clair, some new strategies and water will likely come into play.

“It will play to an angler’s fishing style,” Spaulding said. “Erie is structure driven, while St. Clair is going to be more of a ’Scoping deal. You will follow the perch and bait around. From where we are taking off, St. Clair is about 40 miles. You’ll have a shorter day if you go up there. There is also 26 miles of the Detroit River to fish. It will be interesting, and the wind will be a huge factor in all of it.”

For good reason, much of the attention in this tournament will be focused on postspawn smallmouth feeding up after the spawn. On Lake Erie, those smallmouth will hold on the offshore rockpiles and reefs in 15 to 30 feet of water, as well as structure in the shipping channel. On St. Clair, meanwhile, the smallmouth gravitate to hard sand and grass in shallower water.

Spaulding also anticipates the Detroit River will garner attention from anglers who are comfortable in heavy current.

“Drop shots, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and a minnow will all play,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if someone got on a sneaky crankbait or spybait deal either. Sometimes in the summer, that will happen somewhere on the lake. Something out of the ordinary could be a big factor.”

There is also a healthy population of largemouth in the fishery, and someone could potentially catch a 20-pound bag targeting green fish.

“Lake Erie is my home lake, and we fish a lot on bad-weather days. There is at least 20 miles on this western shore with really good largemouth fishing in some of the backwaters. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone has a really good tournament on just largemouth.”

Explore Monroe Michigan is hosting the tournament.

Drew Cook jumps out on top after day one on the St. Lawrence River.

Brian Carter

July 9, 2025

Drew Cook jumps out on top after day one on the St. Lawrence River.

Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

Long runs and giant smallmouth – that’s the story of Day One and, frankly, the entire event. Launching in Massena, New York, about 95 miles from Lake Ontario, the early summer conditions are perfect for catching big bass. Drew Cook leads the pack with a 27-2 bag, anchored by a 6-pound smallmouth.

In second place by just 2 ounces, South Carolina angler Patrick Walters weighed in 27-0 and capitalized on a strong start this morning. Kyle Welcher sits in third place with 24-13, while Andrew Ready and Andrew Upshaw are tied for fourth with 24-8.

Robert Wroblewski leads big bass with a 6-7 lunker. Progressive AOY leader Kyle Welcher is in third place with 24-13 on Day One. Greg Hackney, who started the event in second place for AOY, is in 13th, keeping the top anglers tight in contention. Coming into the event, Cook was in 8th place and is now looking to climb the leaderboard with a strong performance this week.

Cook Crushes Day One

Fully committed to fishing “near the mouth” of Lake Ontario, Drew Cook decent run and bounced between several spots, catching better-than-average smallmouth at each. With no forward-facing sonar in the NPFL, he kept things simple—targeting hard structure and keeping a bait around fish.

“It took me a little while to get to my fish, but I stopped and hit a couple of places on the way,” he said. “I’m not doing anything special—just fishing typical smallmouth stuff and targeting areas where they’re setting up.”

He caught his leading limit in about three hours and feels confident heading into Day Two, with similar conditions in the forecast.

“The hardest part is getting there, getting back, and being efficient with my time,” he said. “Yesterday, the forecast showed clouds and rain, but now it looks like tomorrow might be similar to today—and I’m good with that.”

Walters Off to Strong Start

Making a strong start, South Carolina angler Patrick Walters kicked off his day in the river, quickly putting a couple of keepers in the well. Staying true to his style, he bounced between multiple spots around the river mouth, landing big smallmouth along the way.

“It took me about 15 minutes to get dialed in, but the fish are doing exactly what I wanted,” he said. “This afternoon, on my way back, I hit a spot and caught some bigger fish than I expected. I might start there tomorrow.”

With a couple of upgrades at the end of the day, Walters is considering a change in strategy for Day Two. He may skip the long run and stick to fishing the river, where he feels he can make the most of his time.

“I’m doing what I always do—this is the St. Lawrence, there are fish everywhere. I’m fishing a bunch of different finesse baits, including a Hatch Match Goby-style bait and several Zoom plastics,” he explained. “Just bouncing around and catching big old smallies.”

Top Ten After Day One – St. Lawrence River:
Drew Cook 27-2
Patrick Walters 27-0
Kyle Welcher 24-13
Andrew Ready 24-8
Andrew Upshaw 24-8
Jesse Wise 24-4
Cole Harris 24-0
Justin Adkins 23-13
Shane Lehew 23-12
Jason Christie 23-7

DAY ONE LEADERBOARD

1...495051...1,533 Page 50 of 1,533

basscastPRO

basscastPRO

The Bass CastYour Tourney News Headquarters

The Bass CastPRO

Key offshore bites carry Dimauro, Berlinsky to Day 2 lead at Cherokee Lake

Fish Rivers for More Bass in Summer!

Power-Pole® to Debut VISION and Stainless Steel TECHFLOW® Propeller at ICAST 2025

About Power-Pole^®

Blacktusk Outdoors Acquires Lucky Strike Bait Works

About Blacktusk Outdoors

About Lucky Strike Bait Works

Cook Expands NPFL Lead at St. Lawrence River, Welcher Maintains Narrow AOY Lead.

Raichel, Davis take advantage of morning flurry to take Day 1 lead at Cherokee Lake

Z-Man’s unrigged PrawnStarZ™ LB elevates rigging options, realism, and strike response

MLF Announces 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Schedule

Expect smallmouth slugfest for Nation Qualifier at Lake Erie

Drew Cook jumps out on top after day one on the St. Lawrence River.

The Bass CastPRO

Follow Us

The latest

Mark Cannon & David Wright Win CATT Yadkin on High Rock Lake! 27.86 lbs with a BF at 6.50 lbs!

Britt Myers Win the CATT Lake Wylie Fall Final! 17.85 lbs & BF at 4.65 lbs!

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

basscastPRO

basscastPRO

The Bass CastYour Tourney News Headquarters

The Bass CastPRO

About Power-Pole®

About Blacktusk Outdoors

About Lucky Strike Bait Works

The Bass CastPRO

Follow Us

The latest

About Power-Pole^®