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Gray Tapped to Oversee MLF Western Events in 2022
Former Walleye and Longtime Bass Fishing League Tournament Director Alan Gray Adds Western Toyota Series, College Fishing and High School Fishing Events to Duties
BENTON, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that veteran Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament Director Alan Gray has been selected to oversee the league’s western events in 2022, including the Toyota Series, Abu Garcia College Fishing and High School Fishing tournaments. Gray will remain the Tournament Director for the BFL Michigan, Mississippi, Music City and Savannah River divisions in 2022. He will work alongside Toyota Series Tournament Director Mark McWha and Senior Director of Tournament Operations for College and High School Kevin Hunt on his new western responsibilities.
Gray brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Western events, as he has directed hundreds of events in his time with Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) and now MLF. Gray started in the Customer Service department in 2008 before being promoted to the operations staff in 2009. Gray assumed head tournament director duties of the FLW Walleye Tour in 2011 and 2012, then became a full-time Bass Fishing League tournament director in 2013, a role he has held since. Working more than 20 events each season has earned Gray the respect of his peers and the anglers he works with across the country.
“Alan is one of the most dependable, friendliest and efficient tournament directors employed at MLF, and he is beloved by our anglers,” said MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “We are fortunate to have him as part of our MLF family, and we are excited for him in this new role, where he will ensure a strong MLF presence in the west.”
Gray will oversee a total of nine events out west, starting in early March with the first Western Division events of the year at Lake Havasu. He will work closely with McWha and Hunt to ensure the events run smoothly.
“I have only been out west once before in my life, but I hear the lakes and the areas that we visit are absolutely gorgeous, and I know the fishing is great, so I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” Gray said.
“I’ve worked dozens of High School tournaments over the years, but this will be the first time I’ve ever worked the College Fishing events,” Gray continued. “I love being around the student anglers – the enthusiasm, the excitement – those events are always extremely rewarding. I’m just excited to get out there and do the job that I’m being put out there to do – run a few great events and get more western anglers out on the water.”
Registration for the western events and all 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E., Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI and High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments is now open. Anglers can register for the online at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling MLF Membership Services at 270.252.1000.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series, Abu Garcia College Fishing and High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
LATEST LOWRANCE® SOFTWARE RELEASE DELIVERS NEW GHOST® 360 SONAR FEATURE AND AUTOPILOT COMPATIBILITY
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Tulsa, Okla. – Lowrance®, a world-leader in fishing electronics since 1957, released a software update this month, which introduces the new Ghost 360 feature and new compatibility for NAC-2 and NAC-3 autopilots.
The latest software update unlocks the exciting new feature of Ghost 360 for users of the Ghost® Trolling Motor with Active Imaging 3-in-1 nosecone, which offers anglers a high resolution 360-degree detailed image around their boats. This new capability utilizes automatic steering rotation of the Ghost Trolling Motor, allowing anglers to pinpoint key structure and targets in a 360-degree view of the bottom and the ability to show both standing structure and structure that is laying on the bottom. This new feature is available on all Ghost compatible multi-function displays (MFD), which includes the Elite FS™, HDS Carbon and HDS LIVE™.
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“This latest Lowrance software release is not only loaded with exciting updates but offers incredible value to consumers,” said Lucas Steward, Executive Vice President of
Lowrance. “Lowrance users who already have Elite FS, HDS LIVE or HDS Carbon, plus a Ghost Trolling Motor with a 3-in-1 nose cone, are receiving the new Ghost 360 sonar feature, which would typically cost more than $1,000 in new-equipment, for free. This update also provides a more seamless experience for users of larger boats and saltwater anglers by offering new autopilot compatibility with HDS LIVE, further enhancing the Lowrance Ultimate Fishing System offering.”
The new autopilot compatibility introduces support for NAC-2 and NAC-3 autopilots on HDS LIVE products anglers can rely on enhanced control and advanced pilot features, making navigation easier with waypoint and route navigation right from their HDS LIVE. Key features include intuitive autopilot interface on the MFD, automated turn patterns, easy setup with auto tuning and calibration, and continuum steering, an autopilot algorithm technology based on decades of development, refining countless hours of real world on- water experience into a system you can trust to take the helm.
NAC-2 autopilots are perfect for boats up to 35-feet and are suitable for low-current hydraulic steering pumps, mechanical drive units, or solenoid valves, while NAC-3 autopilots are ideal for boats 35-feet or greater and are rated to operate high-current pumps, mechanical drive units, and solenoid valves. Industry-standard NMEA 2000® networking and NMEA 0183® input allow for simple connectivity to heading sensors, rudder feedback units, autopilot controllers, and multi-function displays located anywhere on the boat.
To download the software, please visit downloads.lowrance.com. For more information on Lowrance and its award-winning fishing technology, please visit www.lowrance.com.
Nominations Open For C.A.S.T. For Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award
Allen Nation, Founder and Executive Director of Adaptive Sports for Kids, was honored with the 2021 C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award for his decade of work creating sports programs for special needs adults and children.
Photo courtesy of Adaptive Sports for Kids
January 12, 2022
Nominations Open For C.A.S.T. For Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. and the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation are accepting nominations for their annual humanitarian award recognizing the important work being done by many anglers to support fragile populations. The C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award
“We are proud to collaborate with the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation to honor the many volunteers in both of our organizations who make such a positive impact in their communities,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “While only one person will receive this award, we hope it will spotlight the incredible work being done by so many of our members across the country.”
The 2021 C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award
“Having a daughter with special needs and enjoying playing a sport, it was only natural to do what was needed to make that happen,” said Nation. “There isn’t a better feeling than watching a child smile after playing a sport they never thought they could or would. They feel a sense of belonging. We get the pleasure to see these athletes grow in size, age, maturity and their abilities through the years.”
Adaptive Sports for Kids is a nonprofit founded in 2011 that gives children and adults with special needs the opportunity to play sports they may not otherwise be able to play, all at no cost to them. Each athlete is partnered with a “buddy” volunteer who will help their athlete with whatever they need; whether it’s batting, running, pushing their wheelchair or just playing alongside them.
To be considered for the award, a B.A.S.S. member must be nominated by February 4, 2022. Any member doing exemplary community service will be considered. The nomination form can be found at Bassmaster.com/award.
The Executive Director of the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation is Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jay Yelas, who is one of the most decorated anglers in the sport. After serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors for 10 years, Yelas took over as Executive Director in 2015.
“The sport of bass fishing is full of folks with big hearts who enjoy serving others; we meet them all the time at C.A.S.T. for Kids events,” said Yelas. “I think it’s significant that the C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award
Judges from both B.A.S.S. and the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation will review all nominations as well as verify the humanitarian work of the honoree. It is important to note that, while C.A.S.T. for Kids focuses on giving special needs kids fishing opportunities, the nominations are open to B.A.S.S. members doing any form of good work to help a fragile population. The winner will be announced as part of the festivities surrounding March’s Bassmaster Classic in Greenville, S.C.
About C.A.S.T. for Kids
The C.A.S.T. for Kids program has been proven to enrich the lives of children with special needs by hosting events that prove children with disabilities can accomplish anything. These events allow them to enjoy a unique fishing and boating event, one where they can leave their cares on shore and feel “normal” for a day. The events have many lasting benefits. The kids feel genuinely loved, valued and accepted by their community, and are celebrated as winners at an awards ceremony. The Foundation has seen tremendous positive improvements in growing their social skills and overcoming behavioral issues through their interactions at events with community volunteers and children of similar disabilities. Encouraging the kids with a team-oriented approach, the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation has enhanced the lives of over 120,000 kids over the last three decades. To learn more, visit castforkids.org.
Cale Hired As New Bassmaster Youth Series Tournament Manager
January 12, 2021
Cale Hired As New Bassmaster Youth Series Tournament Manager
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Veteran youth tournament manager Glenn Cale has been hired as the B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Manager-College, High School and Junior, officials announced today. In this role, Cale will report to B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart and will be responsible for both managing and helping to grow the popular Bassmaster youth circuits.
“We are excited to welcome Glenn to the home office as the new youth Tournament Manager,” said Stewart. “He has already been a part of the B.A.S.S. family as the Florida Youth Director and has done many great things with that program on the state level.
“I am confident his experience on the state level, as well as his passion and love for youth fishing, will serve all of the B.A.S.S. youth programs well!”
Prior to accepting the Tournament Manager position, Cale served as the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation Youth and College Director beginning in 2018 and as the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation State Tournament Director from 2015-2018. Under Cale’s leadership, participation in the youth tournaments tripled.
According to Cale, that growth can be attributed to ideas borrowed from the Elite Series: “We wanted to change the mindset of what a youth tournament looks like and more closely mirror the Elite Series stage and integrate a jumbotron for weigh-ins; really make Florida events more of a show for the kids.
“Working with Bassmaster is all about providing a platform for the best kids in the country to show off their fishing skills,” said Cale. “It’s an honor to share the stage with the future of the sport, and I am looking forward to bringing new ideas to the college, high school and junior ranks at all levels while representing the B.A.S.S. shield.”
In his professional life, Cale spent eight years as an umpire for Major League Baseball and 16 years as a District Sales Manager for the Southeast Toyota Service Rite Program.
The Strike King Bassmaster College Series kicks off next weekend with a two-day college tournament Jan. 21-22 on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, with the Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Junior Series taking the stage in Leesburg on Sunday, Jan. 23.
Back to Basics: Fishing the Neko Rig By Fresh Baitz
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Ken Walters and Dallas Weldon take the win on Lake Jordan with 19.64 By Jason Duran
Ken Walters and Dallas Weldon take the win on Lake Jordan with 19.64
By Jason Duran
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Wetumpka Ala, January 9 -The Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series started the 2022 season in Wetumpka, AL on Lake Jordan. Lake Jordan is a 6,800-acre lake on the Coosa River. 100 of the best teams spent the day targeting largemouth and spotted bass inside the 188 miles of shoreline Lake Jordan provides. The team of Ken Walers and Dallas Weldon caught 19.64 pounds for the win and a $33,250 in winnings and bonuses.
In the inaugural season of the ABT 100 Ken and Dallas were at the top of the leader board in all three events with a 15th place finish at Lay Lake and 2nd place finishes at both Lake Eufaula and Lake Guntersville. They also finished second in AOY points for the 2021 Season making them one of the teams to watch this year. They brought experience and knowledge with them to give them an advantage. Dallas shared, “this lake is full of threadfin shad, so when it is cold and there is current, bass don’t like to go too far to feed. They like to set up on little depressions or areas where the current would flow over them. We spent Friday using our electronics to scan and find these places. We were looking for the depressions that also had the fish on them. We found about three or four of these spots after spending the day looking for them.”
On tournament day the plan was to fish those spots to see what they would produce. They started on the first marked spot where they caught about 30 fish and had a limit of about 10 pounds before 9:30. Their primary bait for this spot was a Strike King Rage Swimmer in Sexy Shad color. They didn’t get a bite for about 20 minutes, so Dallas suggested they move to the second spot looking for a 3-pounder that would help upgrade their weight some.
They made the move to their second location in search of that 3-pound bite, and when they idled by the spot, they saw a ball of fish on the electronics. They marked the fish, set up on the spot, picked up a ¾ oz Strike King Red Eye Shad, made a couple of casts and caught much bigger fish cast after cast. They quickly upgraded that 10-pound limit to the 19.64 pounds they weighed in. The bite window was really short on both of the spots they fished. Ken said, “the key for them was making long casts to the spot, letting the bait sink down to the bottom and then work it back slow.” With this win they are in first place in AOY points and have gotten over the hump of all those second-place finishes.
Clent Davis and Lance Poe claimed second place and $12,500. Clent and Lance “spent their day targeting fish on ledges and drop-offs in the 10–12-feet range with a key bait of a homemade swimbait in shad color.” Lance said, “after a tough practice earlier in the week, we found one area that was productive for us.” They described this area as a 200-yard stretch on the main river with a few key spots where rocks would provide breaks in the current. The fish were setting up in this area based on the current and the bait fish. Lance said, “we only caught 6-7 fish all day and after 10:00 the bite just seemed to go away possibly due to the wind and the boat pressure. We weighed in 4 spotted bass and 1 largemouth” for a total of 17.37-pounds.
The team of Brian Adamson and Ryan Lloyd said, “$11,000 isn’t so bad for 3rd place, and we’re ecstatic to pull it out on a tough day like this.” They had a good practice and believed they had a really good largemouth pattern that was working for them. They headed upriver to see if practice proved to be true on tournament day. However, they found a much different pattern. According to Ryan, the largemouth were really biting good in practice, but when they figured out the largemouth weren’t going to cooperate, they made the move back down to “target areas on the main lake.” They used a 1.5 oz Jack Hammer Chatterbait casting it out and yo-yoing it back to the boat slowly. They caught 1 largemouth and 4 spots for a total of 15.93 with a big fish of 5.86. From what they found in practice, Ryan predicted they would have caught an all-largemouth bag, but he was thankful it worked out.”
The top five standings are below for a complete list of standings please visit:
https://www.alabamabasstrail100.org/lake-jordan-results/
Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The Podcast is released each week on Tuesday.
The sponsors of the 2022 Alabama Bass Trail 100 include; Phoenix Bass Boats, Bill Penney Automotive Group, Banjio Sunglasses, Garmin, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Sweet Home Alabama, Alabama Tourism Department, Buck n’ Bass, TH Marine Supplies, Wedowee Marine, Big Bite Bait Company, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Anheuser – Busch, Inc., fishalabama.org, and American Baitworks, Lew’s Fishing and Strike King.
Marion County Bassmasters Wins First MLF High School Fishing Open of 2022 on Harris Chain of Lakes
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LEESBURG, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2022) – The Marion County Bassmasters High School team of Claude Loftin of St. Augustine, Florida, and Tyson Verkaik of Eustis, Florida, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the season-opening MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at the Harris Chain of Lakes.
A field of 28 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from the Venetian Gardens in Leesburg. In MLF and The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top two teams that advanced to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Marion County Bass Masters – Claude Loftin, St. Augustine, Fla., and Tyson Verkaik, Eustis, Fla., five bass, 19-14
2nd: Central Florida Youth Anglers – Logan Cardwell, Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., and Kaden Snavely, Grand Island, Fla., five bass, 18-6
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
3rd: Hidden Lake Big Bass – Dalton Defilice, Howe, Ind., and Elijah Meyers, Fort Wayne, Ind., five bass, 17-1
4th: Gainesville High School, Gainesville, Fla. – Julian Mendoza and Reginald Moore, five bass, 16-13
5th: Bass Tactix HS Fishing – Chance Shelby, Denim Springs, La., and Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., five bass, 16-9
6th: TSA Teen Sport Fishing Association – Patrick Bartolotta, Lake Mary, Fla., and Brady Biles, Sanford, Fla., five bass, 13-8
7th: Fishing Buddies – Isaac Dorland, Dunnellon, Fla., and Jason Haynes, Fruitland Park, Fla., five bass, 13-6
8th: Salt Homeschool Group – Drew Bradstreet and Kamden Bradstreet, both of Lutz, Fla., five bass, 13-3
9th: Rhea County High School, Evensville, Tenn. – Andon Goins and Blake Wheat, five bass, 12-14
10th: West Morgan High School, Trinity, Ala. – Ty Carruth and Lake Johnson, five bass, 12-12
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at the Harris Chain of Lakes was hosted by Lake County, Florida. The next event for High School Fishing anglers will be the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open on Toledo Bend, Jan. 22, in Many, Louisiana.
MLF High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, will advance to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship. The 2022 MLF High School Fishing National Championship will be held on Pickwick and Wilson Lakes in Florence, Alabama, June 22-25, and is hosted by the Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The High School Fishing National Champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2022 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Louisiana’s Casteel Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Season Opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
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Boater Austin Casteel of Sulphur, Louisiana, and Strike-King co-angler J.J. Matzke of League City, Texas
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| League City’s Matzke Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
[print_link] BROOKELAND, TEXAS (Jan. 10, 2022) – Boater Austin Casteel of Sulphur, Louisiana, caught five bass Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine season opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Casteel earned $6,000 for his victory. “The lake is fishing tough right now, and I knew the wind was going to be kicking, so I just tried to make the right decisions,” Casteel said. “It was tough.” The win was Casteel’s first entry as a boater – his only previous Major League Fishing BFL event was as a Strike King co-angler. Casteel said he relied on a drop-shot rig tipped with a watermelon red Zoom Finesse Worm during the tournament to bag his limit. “I caught my kicker fish on my fourth or fifth cast of the day,” Casteel said. “The only pressure I felt after that was that I didn’t want to catch just one big fish.” Casteel said he boated 30 to 40 fish during the course of the day. “The only time it kind of slowed up was when a storm blew through and it was tough to get bit,” Casteel said. “But as soon as that started calming down, they started biting again.” The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in: 1st: Austin Casteel, Sulphur, La., five bass, 19-3, $6,000 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Elliott caught 7-pound, 12-ounce largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000. J.J. Matzke of League City, Texas, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 21 pounds, 4 ounces. The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were: 1st: J.J. Matzke, League City, Texas, five bass, 21-4, $3,000 Singleton caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 8 pounds, 14 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $500. 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. 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. |