Search
Subscribe
Monday, December 29, 2025
Home Blog Page 520

Bassmaster Fishing 2022 Video Game Casts Off Today 

wpalert
-
0
Bassmaster Fishing 2022 Video Game Casts Off Today 

October 28, 2021

Bassmaster Fishing 2022 Video Game Casts Off Today 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Today the long-awaited sportfishing simulator Bassmaster Fishing 2022 launched with exciting multiplayer cross-play, Bassmaster Royale mode and even a career path leading players from college competition all the way to the Bassmaster Classic. 

No matter the weather outside, any day is the perfect day to experience the most authentic bass fishing experience possible without being out on the water. Players can jump in a custom-wrapped boat and enjoy the game as either a unique character they create or one of 10 Elite Series anglers, including two-time Bassmaster Classic champion Hank Cherry or ultrapopular Elite Series pro Scott Martin. From the placid, largemouth bass-filled waters of Chickamauga Lake to the St. Johns River, the longest river in Florida, the eight in-game venues have been recreated to mirror their real-world counterparts.

“Working directly with Bassmaster and many of the best anglers in the world has allowed us to take the simulation in Bassmaster Fishing 2022 and deliver the most authentic bass angling experience to date,” said Dovetail Games CEO Jon Rissik. “We hope that we can help foster a new generation of anglers who find a lifelong love of fishing, both in-game and in real life, and look forward to working with our fantastic community as we grow and expand the game after launch.”

Players will begin their careers in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, mirroring where many professional bass anglers got their start, working through the Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens, Elite Series events and eventually earning a coveted spot in the iconic Bassmaster Classic. Throughout Career Mode, players will master the tools of the trade, from different rods, lures and reels, to learning where bass tend to congregate in different waters and practicing their perfect casts as they hook bigger and bigger bass. Players can also unlock and upgrade additional gear and boats as they progress.

Multiplayer modes include Freedom Fishing, perfect for relaxing with friends online, and the competitive Bassmaster Royale mode. The Bassmaster Royale game mode challenges anglers to be the last player fishing, competing together against the clock and challenging anglers to keep the weight of their catches above other competitors. Smart angling, location choices and strategic use of the brand-new underwater camera will be necessary to avoid being eliminated as the competition heats up.

Developed and published by Dovetail Games, Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, is now available on the PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X and Xbox Game Pass, and Windows PC via Steam. 

For regular updates on additional content, please visit Bassmasterthegame.com.

Lake Guntersville Selected to Host 2022 Toyota Series Championship

wpalert
-
0
Lake Guntersville Selected to Host 2022 Toyota Series Championship

Nation’s Best Bass-Fishing Pros and Top International Anglers will Compete in Alabama for up to $235,000 Cash

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Oct. 27, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Guntersville, Alabama has been selected to host the prestigious 2022 Toyota Series Championship, Nov. 3-5, 2022, on Lake Guntersville. The three-day, no-entry-fee event, hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports, will be the culmination of the 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. season, a six-division circuit that offers the best payouts and advancement opportunities for the lowest entry fees available on any national tournament trail, paving a path to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.

Located in Marshall County and spanning 69,000 acres, Lake Guntersville is the state’s largest lake and has played host to some of the biggest events in competitive bass fishing. The fishery previously hosted the Toyota Series Championship in 2018 and showcased numerous Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League, Abu Garcia College Fishing and U.S. Army High School Fishing events over the years.

With lodge accommodations, cottages, chalets and campgrounds, as well as an abundance of attractions, including swimming, boating, recreational fishing, golf and tennis, Lake Guntersville State Park is an outdoor adventure destination that ranges over 6,000 acres of natural woodlands.

“We look forward to hosting the anglers who qualify for the Toyota Series Championship at Lake Guntersville in the fall of 2022, including the international anglers and their families and friends,” said Katy Norton, President of Marshall County Tourism and Sports. “We are honored that Major League Fishing would consider our lake for their Toyota Series Championship and are excited to see the anglers bring in big weights and big bass during the competition.”

The 2022 championship will launch from Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive in Guntersville, Alabama. Home to local concerts and numerous community festivals, the park stretches along the lake’s shoreline and includes a T-dock, amphitheater, walking trails and pavilions, making it the perfect location for hosting fishing tournaments, 5K runs and corporate picnics, as well as enjoying outdoor recreation.

“Lake Guntersville is one of the premier fisheries in the country and has been the site of many successful MLF events through the years, “said Mark McWha, MLF Toyota Series Tournament Director. “We expect to see a lot of big bags that time of year, especially with the caliber of anglers who will be in contention, and are thrilled to be working again with Marshall County Tourism and Sports to bring the championship back to Alabama.”

The 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. will consist of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division.

The 2022 Toyota Series Championship field will feature the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 12 pros and 12 co-anglers from the Wild Card division; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Championships and the Wild Card at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; the High School Fishing National Champions; the TBF National Champions; and up to two pros from each MLF International Country.

Pros will compete for a shot at winning $235,000 cash at the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship will earn a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat (or comparable model) with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The highest-finishing pro from each of the six divisions and the International Division at the championship will also receive a $10,000 bonus.

The 2022 Toyota Series Championship will be televised nationally on CBS Sports and the Sportsman Channel. Air schedules will be announced at a later date.

The complete 2022 Toyota Series schedule can be found online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. via social media outlets at Facebook ,  Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Michael Craven & Justin Craven Win CATT Cooper River, SC Oct 23, 2021

wpalert
-
0
Michael Craven & Justin Craven Win CATT Cooper River, SC Oct 23, 2021
Post aut

Next and Last Fall Cooper River CATT Qualifier is November 6th!

Michael Craven & Justin Craven win again with 5 bass weighing 13.29 lbs!

Bubba Dennis & Randy Gibson took 2nd with 12.35 lbs!

Kyle Welch & James Fender 3rd with 10.69 lbs!

Cody Wilson & John Corriveau 4th with 9.82 lbs!

Team BF Weight Winnings Points
Michael Craven Justin Craven 4.87 13.29 $1,055.00 110
Bubba Dennis Randy Gibson 0.00 12.35 $250.00 109
Kyle Welch James Fender 0.00 10.69 $140.00 108
Cody Wilson – John Corriveau 0.00 9.82 $100.00 107
Justin Harvey – Dawson Harvey 0.00 9.71 $80.00 106
Corey Casey 0.00 8.42 105
Glenn Garner Ervin Garner 0.00 9.41 104
James Skelton 0.00 7.91 103
Chance Powell Lane Powell 0.00 7.83 102
Matt Baker Charlie Baker 0.00 7.74 101
David Driggers – Darell Glenn 0.00 7.52 100
John Campbell 0.00 7.31 99
Casey & Charlene Leach 0.00 6.69 98
Andy Rutledge 0.00 6.30 97
Terry Silliman – Mitchell Bowers 0.00 6.30 96
Billy Brinson Todd Thompson 0.00 6.15 95
Joseph Giampa 0.00 6.05 94
Darrel Knies 0.00 4.39 93
Mitchell Ard 0.00 3.37 92
Willie Weatherford Carlos Canals 0.00 2.08 91
Johnny Watkins Aaron Watkins 0.00 1.86 90
William Gregory James Roy Jr Robison 0.00 0.00 80
Dale Hanna Shawn Hanna 0.00 0.00 80
Brian Crosby 0.00 0.00 80
Dwayne Reine 0.00 0.00 80
Clay Kolb Jeffrey Peralta 0.00 0.00 80
Total Entrys $1,300.00
BONUS $ $425.00
Total Paid At Ramp $1,700.00
Cooper River 2021 Fall Final Fund $100.00
2022 CATT Championship Fund $25.00
Cooper River 2021 Fall Final Fund Total $490.00
2022 CATT Championship Fund $0.00

Perfect Fit for Fishing – DAIWA

wpalert
-
0
Perfect Fit for Fishing – DAIWA

 

Perfect Fit for Fishing

New Performance Camo Sweatshirt and Masked Hoodie are comfortable and water resistant, and the perfect fit for an outdoors adventure.

Cypress, CA (October 27, 2021) – Just in time for the fall and Holiday seasons, Daiwa has added NEW Performance Camo Hooded Sweatshirts and Face Masked Hoodies to its growing apparel line. Ideal for cool weather fishing, boating, camping or simply hanging out with friends and family, both look great, feel terrific and are designed to keep you comfortably warm without overheating.

Sporting premium polyester fabric on the outside and a soft fleece inner liner, both the Performance Camo Hooded Sweatshirt and Face Masked Hoodie are stain and water resistant, incorporating water-wicking technology to keep you dry and comfortable in fog, mist or when accidently brushing against a wet console. Additionally, the hoodie features a lightweight pull-up style facemask that will not hinder breathing while it keeps the sun off your face and locks out the wind as you buzz across the water. Both the sweatshirt and hoodie also prominently feature Daiwa’s signature D-VEC Logo.

Available in sizes SMALL to XXXL, The NEW Performance Camo Sweatshirt comes in an attractive black with a muted yellow Daiwa D-VEC logo on the chest plus an Army-style camouflage D-VEC logo on the back. Available in November, it retails for $59.95.

The NEW Daiwa Face Masked Hoodie will be available late October and comes in sizes small though XXXL. Black with silver grey Daiwa D-VEC logos on the chest and sleeve, it retails for $69.95.

Designed to fit the Daiwa outdoors lifestyle, both the Performance Camo Hooded Sweatshirt and Face Masked Hoodie provide medium warmth, making them suitable for cooler temperatures in a variety of climates. Whether worn afield, on the water or around the house, they feel comfortable, look sharp and stand up to frequent use. Check them out today, whether for yourself or as gifts for friends and family.

For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa products, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is Daiwa.us                                                    

2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Will Be Crowned On Louisiana’s Ouachita River

wpalert
-
0

Top grass-roots anglers from around the country will compete for a berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk and an invitation to fish the Elite Series at the 2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Ouachita River Nov. 3-5.

Photo by Chris Brown/B.A.S.S.

October 27, 2021

2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Will Be Crowned On Louisiana’s Ouachita River

[print_link]

MONROE, La. — More than 50 boats will compete in the 2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Ouachita River Nov. 3-5, and Bassmaster Elite Series pro and former Monroe, La., resident Lee Livesay says there will be plenty of water for anglers to cover in this shallow-water paradise.

“The fish are going to be biting good everywhere, main rivers and backwaters,” Livesay said. “The water should be cooled down and there should be some fish schooling on the main river.”

Boaters and nonboaters competed in one of five B.A.S.S. Nation regionals held across the country and qualified for the championship by finishing at the top of their state standings. Now, anglers will compete for one of three spots in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk which will go to the event’s Top 3 finishers.

The B.A.S.S. Nation champion will earn the title of “Nation’s Best,” which includes an Elite Series berth and the use of a fully-rigged Nation’s Best tournament boat for a year. If the Nation champion turns down the Elite Series berth, they will instead be awarded paid entry fees to the Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens for all divisions. The second- and third-place finishers and nonboater champion will also each earn paid Bassmaster Opens entry fees for all divisions.

Monroe has played host to several B.A.S.S. tournaments and was the site for the 2014 Nation Championship that current Elite Series angler Paul Mueller won as well as the 2015 championship claimed by Albert Collins.

Livesay lived in Monroe for several years before relocating to Texas and spent many hours on the Ouachita River bass fishing, crappie fishing and hunting. The river stretches for 640 miles and Livesay says there will be plenty of room for the anglers to spread out, whether that is in the numerous backwaters or on the main river.

“It’s a really cool place to go,” he said. “It’s big, and that’s why it’s a really good tournament venue. You can go north, you can go south. There are hundreds of river lakes you can get in and ditches and canals. Then you’ve got Bayou D’Arbonne that connects to Lake D’Arbonne.”

Anglers will have a variety of cover to unlock, including swampy backwaters, multiple types of bushes, cypress trees and current-related structure and cover in the main river. Livesay said in his experience, the biggest population of better-than-average bass live in Bayou D’Arbonne.

“There’s a million different places to catch bass and you have to figure out where to catch the bigger ones,” Livesay said. “It is a target-rich environment. You’ll see guys catching them on spinnerbaits, flipping little creature baits and jigs, shallowing squarebills and crankbaits, and you’ll see some topwater fish.”

The X factor on the river is the rise and fall of water levels from week to week. Big rains and tropic moisture can send the river levels soaring in a hurry.

“There are so many variables on that river because the water level goes up and down,” Livesay said. “The key there is knowing what you can get in and when you can get in and how fast you can get in and out. It might be two feet below normal pool a week before the tournament and that sucker might jump up 10 feet before the tournament and you might be able to get into someone’s pond in the back of their yard.”

Competitors will launch from Forsythe Park each day at 7:15 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in at 3:15 p.m.

The full field will compete the first two days. The nonboater champion will be crowned after Day 2 and the Top 10 boaters, Top 2 boaters from each of the five regions (if not already in the Top 10), the nonboater champion and any nonboaters that have enough weight to be in the Top 10 boaters overall will advance to the championship round

The championship tournament is being hosted by the Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Doug Stallings & Jay Fogleman Win CATT Old North Jordan Lake, NC Oct 16, 2021

wpalert
-
0
Doug Stallings & Jay Fogleman Win CATT Old North Jordan Lake, NC Oct 16, 2021

Next Old North CATT is at Falls Lake Nov 6, 2021!

Doug Stallings & Jay Fogleman win with 5 bas weighing 19.82 lbs!

Michael Minken & Dustin Morgan 2nd with 19.35 lbs!

Team BF Weight Winnings Points
Doug Stallings – Jay Fogleman 6.47 19.82 110
Michael Minken – Dustin Morgan 6.12 19.35 109
Kenneth McNiel – Thomas Sheffer 5.74 16.76 108
Jeff Brown – Trey Hanning 5.89 15.81 107
Ward – Wilburn 0.00 15.44 106
Gurge- Brown 0.00 14.70 105
Bryce McCleney – Johnny Anton 0.00 13.03 104
Clay Ausley 0.00 8.97 103
Jason Gibson – Sydow 0.00 8.68 102
John McClelland 0.00 5.53 101
Steve Michaels – Scott James 0.00 5.44 100
Todd  – ? 0.00 5.40 99
Todd Sumner – Rick Dunstan 2.67 4.89 98
Perry – Johnson 0.00 4.20 97
Zach Huey – Brandon Thornton 0.00 3.82 96
Hatley 0.00 3.21 95
Jeremy Wright – Toimmy Blair 0.00 2.74 94
Wes Brobeck 0.00 0.00 84
James Davis – Delores Davis 0.00 0.00 84
Tony Fofi – James Hastings 0.00 0.00 84
Collins – Hardy 0.00 0.00 84
Total Entrys
BONUS $
Total Paid At Ramp
Old North 2021 Fall Final Fund $320.00
2022 CATT Championship Fund
2021 Old North Fall Final Fund Total $555.00
2022 CATT Championship Fund Total $0.00

Jerry & Shane Lineberger Win CATT Lake Norman, NC Oct 16, 2021

wpalert
-
0
Jerry & Shane Lineberger Win CATT Lake Norman, NC Oct 16, 2021

The 2021 PHANTOM OUTDOORS Invitational Classic will take place on Lake Hartwell Nov 5-6 and we are guaranteeing $10,000.00 to 1st Place!

Green Pond Landing & Event Center – 470 Green Pond Rd, Anderson, SC 29625

A team or solo angler must fish 2 CATT events to Qualify! You may fish the Invitational solo or with your partner or alternate partner your team used in any CATT event.
You can get in your 2 events by fishing any CATT Fall 2020,  CATT Spring 2021, CATT Summer 2021 & CATT Fall 2021!

Go to the Division page and tap on 2021 Phantom Outdoor Invitational Classic!

Jerry & Shane Lineberger took 1st Place with 5 bass weighing 12.99 lbs worth $1,125.00!

2nd Place went to Jeremy & Sam Beatty with 12.78 lbs!

3rd Hank & Christian Cherry 12.14 lbs!

Team BF Weight Winnings Points
Shane and Jerry Lineberger 3.65 12.99   $1,125.00 110
Jeremy Beatty and Sam Beatty 4.76 12.78 $240.00 109
Hank and Christian Cherry 3.47 12.14 $130.00 108
Mark Carpenter/Andy Keener 2.97 12.05 $100.00 107
Billy Wright and Grant McPeters 3.48 11.39 $75.00 106
Rodnery Lambert/Mark Morrison 2.47 9.35 105
Bo Whitaker John Miller 2.47 9.35 104
Brandon Gardner/Mike Keiser 3.59 9.03 103
Scott and Dwight Beattie 2.73 8.88 102
Keith Westrick and Kenny Kanip 0.00 8.65 101
Keith Speece/Travis O’quinn 2.55 8.61 100
Derek Livingston and Brittany Livingston 0.00 8.27 99
Ray and Rye Croft 0.00 6.14 98
Ryan Shoaf 2.19 4.70 97
Doug and Josh Bejornson 2.22 3.51 96
Randell Gardner/Trent Goins 0.00 1.18 95
Tony Nelson 0.00 0.00 85
Jason Land 0.00 0.00 85
Russel Hoyle 0.00 0.00 85
Todd Barber/Zach Scelsi 0.00 0.00 85
Larry Fleeman/Brad Kendrick 0.00 0.00 85
Derek Cummings/Craig Chambers 0.00 0.00 85
Kevin Canipe 0.00 0.00 85
Jonathan Webster and Chase Johnson 0.00 0.00 85
Shawn Crosby 0.00 0.00 85
Total Entrys $1,250.00
BONUS $ $500.00
Total Paid At Ramp $1,670.00
Norman 2021 Fall Final Fund $215.00
2022 CATT Championship/Phantom Fund $25.00
2021 Norman Fall Final Fund Total $0.00
2022 CATT Championship/Phantom Total $0.00

Builders FirstSource Signs Sponsorship Agreement with Major League Fishing Through 2022

wpalert
-
0
Builders FirstSource Signs Sponsorship Agreement with Major League Fishing Through 2022

[print_link]

TULSA, Okla. (Oct. 26, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s premier tournament-fishing organization, and Builders FirstSource, the nation’s largest supplier of structural building products, value-added components, and services for new residential construction, repair and remodeling, announced today a new sponsorship agreement designating Builders FirstSource as the Exclusive Building Materials Retailer of the 2022 MLF Cups and the title sponsor of the MLF Builders FirstSource Patriot Cup Presented by Berkley, scheduled to begin production next month. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Major League Fishing welcomes Builders FirstSource to our sponsorship family, a brand that is synonymous with high-quality products and amazing customer service – a perfect fit with MLF,” said Jim Wilburn President and CEO of MLF. “Just as our MLF Cup events showcase many of the finest anglers in the world, we’re excited to integrate and promote Builders FirstSource as the premier building supply company to our loyal and passionate fanbase and television audience.”

Per terms of the agreement, Builders FirstSource will be prominently featured at all MLF Cup events in 2022, including commercials, in-show billboards and graphic elements, as well as on all competition jerseys and boats. The Dallas, Texas-based company will also be the title sponsor of the Builders FirstSource Patriot Cup Presented by Berkley. All told, the brand will receive exposure across 156 two-hour telecasts on the Outdoor Channel network and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV.

We’re thrilled to join the Major League Fishing family of sponsors,” said Builders FirstSource President of Commercial Operations Mike Farmer. “Our partnership with MLF grants us additional exposure to our shared audience – including its talented anglers and passionate fans – and connects BFS with builders, contractors, and professional remodelers across the nation.”

Formed in 1998 and publicly traded on the NYSE, Builders FirstSource is the nation’s premier supplier of building materials and services for professional home builders and remodelers. In January 2021, the company merged with BMC Stock Holdings, Inc. The combined company is a powerhouse in the building products, prefabricated components, and value-added service industry, serving customers both large and small. With approximately 550 locations in 39 states, a market presence in 84 of the top 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and LTM December 31, 2020 sales of $12.8 billion, the resulting company has significant geographic diversity and a balanced end market exposure. Builders FirstSource has a strong track record of investing in innovation, process improvement and growth over more than two decades.

For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Builders FirstSource, visit BLDR.com.

Bowes Promoted To New Bassmaster Vice President Of Tournaments Role

wpalert
-
0

Longtime Bassmaster Opens Series Senior Tournament Manager Chris Bowes has been promoted to Vice President of Tournaments. 

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

October 26, 2021

Bowes Promoted To New Bassmaster Vice President Of Tournaments Role

[print_link]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Longtime Bassmaster Opens Series Senior Tournament Manager Chris Bowes has been promoted to Vice President of Tournaments, B.A.S.S. announced today. In this newly created role, Bowes will not only manage the Tournaments Department but also collaborate across departments as part of the B.A.S.S. Executive Leadership Team.

“We’re excited for Chris to step into this larger role representing the long-tenured, knowledgeable associates in our Tournaments Department,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “Our tournaments — from the Elite Series to the Kayak trail — are foundational to B.A.S.S., and having a seat at the table as part of our Executive Leadership Team will make an industry-leading team even stronger. They are true ambassadors of our shield.

“This tournament team is tasked with ensuring our rules are enforced consistently, maintaining the integrity of our tournaments and managing tournaments which have set the standard for all of sportfishing, and I can’t thank them enough for the incredible way they’ve represented our organization.”

Bowes joined B.A.S.S. in 2004 after being part of the New York B.A.S.S. Nation for many years. He has served as Tournament Manager for the Elite Series and B.A.S.S. Nation and took over as Senior Tournament Manager for the Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens in 2006. In addition to his department leadership role as Vice President of Tournaments, Bowes will be serving as the Tournament Director for the iconic Bassmaster Classic as well as attending Elite tournaments and other events on the Bassmaster circuit.

“I’m extremely excited about this new role and opportunity to work with the Tournament Directors, the anglers competing in all the various B.A.S.S. tournament platforms and the senior leadership and associates at B.A.S.S.,” said Bowes.

As Tournament Director-B.A.S.S. Nation, Team, Kayak and Youth, Jon Stewart will continue leading efforts to grow participation in these important grass-roots events. Veteran High School and College Series Tournament Manager Hank Weldon will move into the Tournament Director-Bassmaster Opens position while Lisa Talmadge will serve as Tournament Director-Bassmaster Elite Series.

“The entire tournament team brings so much knowledge, passion and professionalism to our tournaments and I’m proud to represent this group,” said Bowes.

About B.A.S.S.

The 2021 Alabama Bass Trail Champs Matthew Hurst and Roy Hurst Jr. #TeamHurst By Jason Duran

wpalert
-
0
The 2021 Alabama Bass Trail Champs Matthew Hurst and Roy Hurst Jr. #TeamHurst By Jason Duran

The 2021 Alabama Bass Trail Champs Matthew Hurst and Roy Hurst Jr. #TeamHurst

By Jason Duran

[print_link]

October 24, 2021 – Jasper, Ala, Walker County and Lewis Smith Lake was the host for the 2021 Alabama Bass Trail Championship.  The top teams from the North and South divisions qualified through five regular season divisional events to fish the two-day, no entry fee event. The purse for the ABT Championship totaled $100,000 with a grand prize of $50,000 in cash going to first place team. First place also claims full bragging rights as the best of the best bass fishing team in the southeast.

After two days of official practice, teams were ready to get to work on day one of the event on Friday. Anglers found the lake conditions to be abnormal for this time of year. Typically, in late October, the water temps have really cooled off which normally pushes fish to the shallows chasing bait. The fall pattern at Smith Lake is also known for schooling spotted bass that can be found in a blueback herring feeding frenzy. Smith Lake is much different than other lakes on the ABT with most of the lake being very clear and very deep. Anglers often break the lake down into three sections: Ryan Creek, Rock Creek and the Sipsey Creek. Teams can spend the whole day just fishing one of these areas and often have little or no fishing pressure around them providing teams the opportunity to fish their strengths. Smith Lake does have a slot limit that requires all bass between 13-15 inches be released. Teams have to learn to navigate the slot limit and do their best to catch as many as they can over the slot limit to really have a solid weight.

The day one leaders were Jason Cannon and Trent Surat. Although they caught a limit quickly, their day started really slow. With only one fish over the slot limit, they pulled up on a point about 1pm and were able to cull out that early limit to get them the 13.77 pounds giving them the lead on day one. Most of their fish were caught using a Green Pumpkin Baby Brush Hog on a Carolina rig mixed in with a shad-colored fluke and a green pumpkin shaky head. They mixed up the deep and shallow water patterns focusing mainly in Ryan creek. Working through about 50-60 spots, they caught roughly 50 fish on day one and started day tow as the leaders. The team shared, “we went out with the expectation of having another afternoon bite, pulled up on our first spot and went to catching them. We caught several and quickly got our limit. After about 9 in the morning, the bite was gone, and we didn’t really get an afternoon bite. We needed the wind on day two, but we didn’t really get any like we did the first day. We were mainly fishing wind-blown points up close to the park in Ryan creek.” Overall, they felt they had a really good event coming up just a little short in the end. “We exceeded our expectations in this event. We really only caught a couple overs in practice and just put our heads down and went fishing both days.” Finishing in 2nd place overall with 23.65 pounds and a $10,000 check and a regular season 4th place in points allows them the chance to represent the ABT in the B.A.S.S. Team Championship at Lake Eufaula and fish for the opportunity to go to the Bassmaster Classic.

The team of Matthew Hurst and Roy Hurst Jr., known by their friends and family as #TeamHurst, weighed in 11.56 on day one landing them in 13th place. They spent the first day fishing bluff walls in Ryan Creek primarily targeting walls with chunk rock and deep water. They also fished shallow boat docks near deeper water in the afternoons. With the day one weights being really close, #TeamHurst was only 2.21 pounds out of the lead, so they approached day two expecting some of the teams ahead of them to slip up some. Going into day 2 with the mindset to “fish big,” they started in the same spot as day one where they caught a very nice size keeper over 3 lbs. When they put it in the box, they said to each other, “with this fish, we know we caught the day one leaders. Oh man! We might have something special here.” They spent about two more hours working on getting the five bass limit. About 10:30, they had their limit and felt they were on the right path. They continued to rotate between their four spots two of which seemed to hold the fish for them. The bluff wall was in 50 feet of water, and they used a Zoom green Pumpkin Trick worm with a 3/16 oz Picasso Shaky head on 12lb Seaguar Invizx on a med-heavy rod 3/8 oz Predator live rubber football jig with a Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed C raw trailer in watermelon candy on 17lb Seaguar Abrazx. After casting, they let these baits sink down slowly. The bite was really slow and most of the time the bites came on the fall. On day two they caught around 20 keepers allowing them to cull up to 13.56 pounds giving them a two-day total of 25.12- more than enough to capture the lead all the way from 13th place.

Day one top ten leaders were held back to weigh last on day 2 leaving  #TeamHurst as the last team to weigh in before the leaders came across the stage. After they weighed-in they were seated in the Phoenix Boats hot seat while the other teams crossed the stage with the hopes to knock them off the hot seat. As team after team continued to fall short, #TeamHurst began to feel the reality sink in. When the final team to weigh-in was unsuccessful at beating their total #TeamHurst was all smiles expressing thankfulness for their family support and how honored they were to have done so well against such a great field of anglers. This was the first year for #TeamHurst to fish the ABT, and they took home over $50,200 in cash and bonuses and the title of ABT 2021 Champs. They said the key to winning this event was “consistency.” They were the only team that was able to have a good weight on both days.

The 3rd place team of Tyler Smart and Bret Harrell had a two-day total of 23.60 and took home $5,000. They were in 6th place after day one with 12.16 pounds and spent their time in Rock Creek targeting fish in pockets early in the morning using a buzzbait, a River2Sea Rover in a shad color and a Whopper Plopper. In the afternoons, they would work their way back out towards the main creek channel using a homemade shaky head with a green pumpkin Zoom Trick Worm. They felt the key for them was targeting fish in the shade using the topwater. On day two they ran the same pattern but found the shaky head bite really went away, so they went back to the pockets and caught a few more fish using the River2Sea Rover. “The wind really changed today and blew from a direction that hurt us. When you are throwing a 3/8 oz weight, it’s hard to feel the bite in the wind.”

This concludes the 2021 Alabama Bass Trail North and South Division. 19 Teams are headed to the B.A.S.S Team Championship on Lake Eufaula, with the hope to hold onto the trophy one more year and send another angler to the Bassmaster Classic.

The top ten standings are below for a complete list see: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/lsl-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 and will feature the winners #TeamHurst this week.

The sponsors of the 2021 Alabama Bass Trail include: Phoenix Boats, Academy Sports, Alabama Power, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Berkley, Big Bite Baits, Bill Penny Automotive, Black Rife Coffee Company, Buck N’ Bass, Anheuser – Bush, Inc., E3 Sports Apparel, Fish Neely Henry Lake.com, Garmin, Hydrowave, Jack’s, Lew’s, Mtn Dew, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, Power-Pole, Strike King, Sweet Home Alabama, T-H Marine, Wedowee Marine, YETI Coolers.

1...519520521...1,534Page 520 of 1,534

Follow Us

The latest

Phillip Anderson wins Lake Murray with 5 bass weighing 22.71 lbs!

BassKings 0
We are off to a good start after today’s...

Charlie Davis Wins SML Sunday Moormans Tourney with 19.74 lbs

Bass News 0
https://youtu.be/qpOJqc0oOV4 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle ||...

How to Fish Winter Cold Fronts!

Fresh Baitz 0
Winter cold fronts often feel brutal to anglers, but...

© 2023 The Bass Cast. All Rights Reserved.