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

Dean Rojas Earns Group A Qualifying Round Win at Miller Tech Stage Four at Lake Eufaula

-

May 3, 2024

Dean Rojas Earns Group A Qualifying Round Win at Miller Tech Stage Four at Lake Eufaula

Suzuki pro boats two-day total of 44-11 to win Group A Qualifying Round, Top 10 pros advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round

EUFAULA, Okla. (May 2, 2024) – After a week of erratic weather and fluctuating water levels and clarity, conditions are finally stabilizing on Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour MillerTech Stage Four Presented by REDCON1. Judging by the numbers on SCORETRACKER® on Thursday, both the bass and competitors appear to be settling in.

Arizona pro Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, figured out the rapidly changing puzzle the best in Group A and leads the list of 10 anglers from the group who qualified for Saturday’s Knockout Round. Rojas finished with 16 bass for 44 pounds, 11 ounces over two days of qualifying competition.

The 26-year veteran has shown consistency throughout a week of fishing defined by massive swings on SCORETRACKER® from day to day. Rojas found himself in third place after Day 1 with seven bass for 20-8 and added nine more for 24-3 Thursday to clear second-place finisher Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, by more than 5 pounds, eventually spending a good portion of his day on Thursday looking for more areas on Oklahoma’s largest lake.

Link to HD Video – Fish-Catch Highlights of Group A Qualifying Round Day 2 on Lake Eufaula
Link to Photo Gallery of Group A’s Day 2 Qualifying Round Highlights on Lake Eufaula

The top 10 anglers advancing from Group A will now have an off day from competition Friday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 10 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Although he’s never fished Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula, Rojas is relying on his years of tournament experience to combat the changing conditions. In short, he’s seen this movie before and knows how it will end.

“It’s my first time (at Lake Eufaula), but I’ve seen this scenario play out so many times,” Rojas said of the quickly changing water levels. “Going into the event, I had a good practice before the rains came and flooded everything out. That bite was done on the last day of practice, and I couldn’t get a bite. I started the tournament where I had the most bites in practice and had to change my approach based on how the fish were positioned with the changing water levels.”

With water levels now stabilizing, Rojas is confident that he knows what to look for when he returns to action two days from now in the Knockout Round.

“When the water first comes up that fast like it did, the fish are in shock. You don’t know where they’re at because they are spread out everywhere,” he said. “I’ve been checking the water every night, and it’s starting to come down a little. You can see gaps between the leaves with water on them on the first day. Now things are beginning to settle, and I feel like I know what’s going on.”

Rojas has been catching fish “doing a little bit of everything” and simply fishing what the lake gives him.

“I’m catching some in a foot of water and some as deep as 6 feet,” he said. “Some are super shallow, and some are out deeper; you just have to fish everything in front of you. As much as I’ve done this, I recognize when I have to ‘do this here’ and ‘do that there’ based on the cover and structure in front of me.”

Rojas is running the same pattern in several areas around the lake, and it appears to work everywhere he goes. Once he felt safe inside the cut on Thursday, he expanded areas and continued to fish.

“I wanted to make sure I had enough (weight) to get inside the Top 10 and then was able to look for more likely areas,” Rojas said. “I would get a bite and then roll out and try to find more stuff. Then I’d catch another and leave. That told me what to do the rest of the tournament.”

The one benefit of a challenging, changing fishery is that you’re never really out of it. That point was proven loudly Thursday as a handful of pros turned the tables on SCORETRACKER® and will live to fish another day.

Five anglers started competition Thursday in 28th place or lower and rocketed to the Top 10 thanks to banner days. The quintet of Marty Robinson, LeBrun, Brent Chapman, Jacob Wheeler and Luke Clausen managed just six bass between them the first day of fishing and 58 today.

Robinson made one of the most dramatic moves with several clutch catches late in the day. He entered with zero and bagged 27-2 Thursday to leap into ninth place. LeBrun soared from 34th to second, Chapman jumped from 32nd to fifth, Wheeler sprang from 30th to 10th and Clausen rose from 28th to seventh.

The top 10 pros from Group A that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Lake Eufaula are:

1st:          Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 16 bass, 44-11
2nd:        Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 13 bass, 39-7
3rd:        Dave Lefebre, Erie, Penn., 17 bass, 37-12
4th:         Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., 16 bass, 34-11
5th:         Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 15 bass, 33-15
6th:         Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 13 bass, 29-12
7th:         Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 29-4
8th:         Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 12 bass, 28-14
9th:         Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 10 bass, 27-2
10th:      Jacob Wheeler, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-9

Eliminated from competition are:

11th:      Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 11 bass, 25-7
12th:      Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., nine bass, 24-4
13th:      Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 11 bass, 24-3
14th:      Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 11 bass, 24-2
15th:      Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., eight bass, 21-6
16th:      Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., eight bass, 21-3
17th:      Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., eight bass, 20-3
18th:      Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, nine bass, 19-13
19th:      Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., six bass, 19-12
20th:      Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 19-12
21st:      Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., nine bass, 18-12
22nd:     Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., seven bass, 17-12
23rd:     Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., seven bass, 17-4
24th:      Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., eight bass, 16-10
25th:      Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, seven bass, 15-15
26th:      Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., seven bass, 15-10
27th:      Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., eight bass, 15-5
28th:      Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., five bass, 15-0
29th:      Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., six bass, 13-12
30th:      Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., five bass, 12-15
31st:      Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala, six bass, 12-15
32nd:     Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., five bass, 12-14
33rd:     Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., six bass, 12-9
34th:      Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, four bass, 11-3
35th:      Grae Buck, Green Lane, Penn., four bass, 11-0
36th:      Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 9-15
37th:      Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 9-11
38th:      Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., three bass, 8-11
39th:      Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, one bass, 2-7

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 193 scorable bass weighing 457 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 38 pros Thursday, which included two 5-pounders, 14 4-pounders and 23 3-pounders.

Pro Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, earned Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with an 5-pound, 12-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on a jig during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

It appeared that the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year standings would shift significantly after Wheeler’s struggles on the first day of Stage Four, but his rebound put him back up top.

Wheeler holds a 10-point lead over Alton Jones Jr. in the race to claim the $100,000 payout. Both anglers made the Knockout Round and things could get tighter by the end of this event.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Vision Eufaula, showcases 79 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

The 39 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from the Peter’s Point-Nichols Point Boat Ramp, located on Dabbs Road in Eufaula. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the boat ramp, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Peter’s Point-Nichols Point for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The MillerTech Stage Four at Lake Eufaula Presented by REDCON1 features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 79 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.

Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.

Television coverage of the MillerTech Stage Four at Lake Eufaula Presented by REDCON1 Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 12 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Oct. 19. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, WIX Filters and U.S. Air Force.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

Butler’s kicker lifts him to Day 1 lead at Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake

Brian Carter

-

May 2, 2024

0

Butler’s kicker lifts him to Day 1 lead at Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake

Alabama’s Josh Butler takes the lead on Day 1 of the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake presented by SEVIIN with a five-bass total of 19 pounds, 7 ounces.

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

May 2, 2024

Butler’s kicker lifts him to Day 1 lead at Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake

LINCOLN, Ala. — On a day when quality was hard to come by, Josh Butler’s early bonus quickly put him on course to sacking up a five-bass limit of 19 pounds, 7 ounces and leading Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake presented by SEVIIN.

Anchoring his bag with an absolute Coosa River tank that went 7-13, the pro from Hayden, Ala., heads into Day 2 with a lead of 3-9 over Georgia pro Emil Wagner.

“That’s the biggest one, by far, that I’ve ever caught here,” Butler said of his kicker. “I’ve caught fives and sixes, but never one nearly that big. The Lord blessed me today.”

Capitalizing on the seasonal day-maker known as the shad spawn, Butler started his day with a couple of small keepers. Adding one around 2 1/2, his big fish was No. 4.

Butler said he hit a few different areas for his shad spawn bites and caught all of those early fish on a spinnerbait with a particular design the fish clearly found appealing.

“I just hit random banks,” Butler said. “I had a couple of banks up the river and I was fortunate enough to catch fish.”

After his shad spawn bite fizzled, Butler ventured farther upriver and spent most of his time looking for spawners. He focused on a mile-long stretch and found that current dynamics played a key role in his day.

“They turned the current on at 9 o’clock and, I won’t say I struggled, but it seems like it was tougher,” Butler said.

Normally, any increase in current bodes well for anglers, as it predictably positions baitfish and stimulates bass. However, Butler said the moving water proves challenging for anglers targeting bed fish.

“Once the current really starts rolling, it’s harder to keep your bait still because they are spawning out in the current,” Butler said. “It’s one of those deals where you try to put your bait in front of as many fish as you can and hope you get bit.”

Butler used a mix of flipping baits and finesse baits to target his bed fish.

Thanks to his early start, Butler had his limit by 8 o’clock. From there, he caught bass throughout the day and made his last cull around noon.

“I had a small fish that was about 1 3/4 pounds and around 11-12 o’clock, a little flurry happened and I ended up catching four or five,” Butler said. “I was fortunate to catch one around 3 pounds.”

Looking ahead to the tournament’s second round, Butler said he’ll likely try to repeat his Day 1 game plan. Replicating the diligence of his opening effort will be his primary objective.

“I really just put my head down and ground it out,” Butler said. “I just focused on one fish at a time. It’s really important to get big bites and I was fortunate enough to get three of them.

“There’s a lot of time left, so I gotta go out and catch them tomorrow and see what happens.”

A successful guide on Georgia’s Lake Lanier, Wagner is in second place with 15-14. Noting that he had more quantity than quality, he said his game plan involved working through enough spots to find a big bite.

“I had a rotation of shallow and deep places and I didn’t know when each would fire or what the timing looked like, because when you find ’em in practice, you kinda leave ’em,” said Wagner, who fished a mix of reaction and slow baits. “I had one spot that did a lot of damage for me and then two other spots down the lake where two of my biggest fish came from.”

Wagner said he started his day with a shad spawn limit, but he culled those fish. A late-day transition gave him the surge he needed to reach his total.

“At the end of the day, I pulled up to a spot and caught probably 10 fish between 2 1/2-3/14 pounds and culled up to what I had,” he said. “I was just missing that kicker fish, but it was a really fun day.”

Tucker Smith of Birmingham, Ala., is in third place with 15-12. With a significant amount of local knowledge, he was able to work around the week’s heavy boat traffic by targeting places where he’s previously fished.

“I’ve spent a bunch of time on this lake, so I knew the areas I wanted to focus on,” Smith said. “It’s hard to practice out here, because everybody’s so good they find most everything. So, I didn’t look at the areas I wanted to fish — I tried to look at some new water the whole practice.

“I ended up running some history today and I ended up catching them.”

Smith said he fished multiple habitat features in a range of depths.

“It really was a big grind today,” Smith said. “I’d get a bite every hour or so, but they were good ones.”

Butler is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-13.

Niko Romero of Cold Spring, Texas, leads the co-angler division with 7-12. He also holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 4-1.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. CT from Lincoln’s Landing. The weigh-in will be held at Lincoln’s Landing at 2 p.m., with only the Top 10 anglers advancing to Championship Saturday.

Friday’s weigh-in will be streaming on Bassmaster.com at 2 p.m. The final day of competition will be broadcast live on FS1 Saturday morning from 7 a.m.-noon, with streaming available beginning at noon on Bassmaster.com.

The event is being hosted by The City of Lincoln.

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake presented by SEVIIN 5/2-5/4
Logan Martin Lake, Lincoln AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Josh Butler Hayden, AL 5 19-07 200
Day 1: 5 19-07
2. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 5 15-14 199
Day 1: 5 15-14
3. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 5 15-12 198
Day 1: 5 15-12
4. Andrew Jones Auburn, AL 5 14-13 197
Day 1: 5 14-13
4. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 5 14-13 197
Day 1: 5 14-13
4. Zack Williams Shell Knob, MO 5 14-13 197
Day 1: 5 14-13
7. Jeremiah Kindy Benton, AR 5 14-12 194
Day 1: 5 14-12
7. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 14-12 194
Day 1: 5 14-12
9. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 5 14-10 192
Day 1: 5 14-10
10. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 14-09 191
Day 1: 5 14-09
11. Jack York Emory, TX 5 14-03 190
Day 1: 5 14-03
12. Tai Au Glendale, AZ 5 14-02 189
Day 1: 5 14-02
13. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 14-02 188
Day 1: 5 14-02
14. Yui Aoki Minamitsurugun JAPAN 5 14-00 187
Day 1: 5 14-00
15. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 5 13-15 186
Day 1: 5 13-15
15. John Voyles Petersburg, IN 5 13-15 186
Day 1: 5 13-15
17. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 13-14 184
Day 1: 5 13-14
18. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 13-12 183
Day 1: 5 13-12
19. Keith Brashers Rogers, AR 5 13-06 182
Day 1: 5 13-06
20. Matt Adams Oxford, AL 5 13-05 181
Day 1: 5 13-05
21. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 13-04 180
Day 1: 5 13-04
22. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 5 13-03 179
Day 1: 5 13-03
23. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 13-02 178
Day 1: 5 13-02
23. Tim Tyndell Mineola, TX 5 13-02 178
Day 1: 5 13-02
25. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 5 13-01 176
Day 1: 5 13-01
26. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 5 13-00 175
Day 1: 5 13-00
27. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 5 12-14 174
Day 1: 5 12-14
28. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 5 12-13 173
Day 1: 5 12-13
29. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 5 12-12 172
Day 1: 5 12-12
29. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 5 12-12 172
Day 1: 5 12-12
31. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 5 12-12 170
Day 1: 5 12-12
32. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 12-11 169
Day 1: 5 12-11
33. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 5 12-10 168
Day 1: 5 12-10
33. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 5 12-10 168
Day 1: 5 12-10
33. Kyle Palmer Winchester, TN 5 12-10 168
Day 1: 5 12-10
33. Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI 5 12-10 168
Day 1: 5 12-10
37. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 5 12-09 164
Day 1: 5 12-09
38. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 12-07 163
Day 1: 5 12-07
39. Christopher Thornton Morgan City, LA 5 12-06 162
Day 1: 5 12-06
40. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 5 12-05 161
Day 1: 5 12-05
41. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 5 12-03 160
Day 1: 5 12-03
42. Masayuki Matsushita Porter TX JAPAN 5 12-02 159
Day 1: 5 12-02
43. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 12-00 158
Day 1: 5 12-00
44. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 5 12-00 157
Day 1: 5 12-00
45. Brett Cannon Kiln, MS 5 11-14 156
Day 1: 5 11-14
46. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 5 11-13 155
Day 1: 5 11-13
46. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 5 11-13 155
Day 1: 5 11-13
46. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 11-13 155
Day 1: 5 11-13
49. Tom Lloyd Jr Springfield, MO 5 11-12 152
Day 1: 5 11-12
50. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 5 11-12 151
Day 1: 5 11-12
51. Elijah Benson Dahlonega, GA 5 11-11 150
Day 1: 5 11-11
51. Bailey Bleser Burlington, WI 5 11-11 150
Day 1: 5 11-11
51. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 5 11-11 150
Day 1: 5 11-11
51. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 11-11 150
Day 1: 5 11-11
55. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 5 11-11 146
Day 1: 5 11-11
56. Andrew Loberg Grant, AL 5 11-10 145
Day 1: 5 11-10
56. Mark Watson Victoria, TX 5 11-10 145
Day 1: 5 11-10
58. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 5 11-09 143
Day 1: 5 11-09
59. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 5 11-08 142
Day 1: 5 11-08
60. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 5 11-06 141
Day 1: 5 11-06
61. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 11-06 140
Day 1: 5 11-06
62. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 5 11-05 139
Day 1: 5 11-05
62. Ben Ivey Birmingham, AL 5 11-05 139
Day 1: 5 11-05
62. Thomas Shelton Anniston, AL 5 11-05 139
Day 1: 5 11-05
65. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 5 11-04 136
Day 1: 5 11-04
66. Blake Schroeder Whitehouse, TX 5 11-04 135
Day 1: 5 11-04
67. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 5 11-03 134
Day 1: 5 11-03
68. Evan Ferguson Catlettsburg, KY 5 11-02 133
Day 1: 5 11-02
69. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 5 11-00 132
Day 1: 5 11-00
70. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 10-14 131
Day 1: 5 10-14
71. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 10-13 130
Day 1: 5 10-13
71. Richard Lowitzki Fort Myers, FL 5 10-13 130
Day 1: 5 10-13
73. Tommy Dunaway Havana, FL 5 10-12 128
Day 1: 5 10-12
73. Jay Nyce Rogers, AR 5 10-12 128
Day 1: 5 10-12
75. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 10-10 126
Day 1: 5 10-10
76. Garrett Warren Scottsboro, AL 5 10-10 125
Day 1: 5 10-10
77. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 5 10-09 124
Day 1: 5 10-09
78. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 5 10-08 123
Day 1: 5 10-08
78. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 10-08 123
Day 1: 5 10-08
80. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 10-08 121
Day 1: 5 10-08
81. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 5 10-07 120
Day 1: 5 10-07
82. Sam George Athens, AL 5 10-06 119
Day 1: 5 10-06
83. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV 5 10-06 118
Day 1: 5 10-06
84. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 5 10-05 117
Day 1: 5 10-05
85. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 5 10-04 116
Day 1: 5 10-04
85. Steve Drinnon Wetumpka, AL 5 10-04 116
Day 1: 5 10-04
87. Frank Williams Mountain Home, AR 5 10-04 114
Day 1: 5 10-04
88. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 5 10-03 113
Day 1: 5 10-03
89. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 5 10-02 112
Day 1: 5 10-02
90. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 10-02 111
Day 1: 5 10-02
91. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 5 10-01 110
Day 1: 5 10-01
91. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 10-01 110
Day 1: 5 10-01
93. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 5 10-00 108
Day 1: 5 10-00
93. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 5 10-00 108
Day 1: 5 10-00
95. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 5 10-00 106
Day 1: 5 10-00
96. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 09-13 105
Day 1: 5 09-13
96. Doc Wootton Collierville, TN 5 09-13 105
Day 1: 5 09-13
98. Allen Armour Cumming, GA 5 09-12 103
Day 1: 5 09-12
99. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 5 09-11 102
Day 1: 5 09-11
100. Clint Leonard Jr Saint Cloud, FL 5 09-10 101
Day 1: 5 09-10
101. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 5 09-09 100
Day 1: 5 09-09
101. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 09-09 100
Day 1: 5 09-09
101. Andy Newcomb Camdenton, MO 5 09-09 100
Day 1: 5 09-09
101. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 5 09-09 100
Day 1: 5 09-09
101. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 5 09-09 100
Day 1: 5 09-09
106. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 09-09 95
Day 1: 5 09-09
107. Jeremy Radford Huntly, VA 5 09-07 94
Day 1: 5 09-07
108. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 09-06 93
Day 1: 5 09-06
109. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 5 09-06 92
Day 1: 5 09-06
109. Lance Owen Greer, SC 5 09-06 92
Day 1: 5 09-06
111. Sean Clayton Seneca, SC 5 09-05 90
Day 1: 5 09-05
111. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 5 09-05 90
Day 1: 5 09-05
111. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 5 09-05 90
Day 1: 5 09-05
114. Wade Batey Scottsboro, AL 5 09-04 87
Day 1: 5 09-04
114. Billy Billeaud Lafayette, LA 5 09-04 87
Day 1: 5 09-04
116. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 09-03 85
Day 1: 5 09-03
116. Dalton Smith Taylorsville, KY 5 09-03 85
Day 1: 5 09-03
118. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 5 09-02 83
Day 1: 5 09-02
119. Kevin Short Fairfield Bay, AR 5 09-02 82
Day 1: 5 09-02
120. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 5 09-01 81
Day 1: 5 09-01
121. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 5 09-01 80
Day 1: 5 09-01
122. Scott Hayes Wedowee, AL 5 09-00 79
Day 1: 5 09-00
123. Jim Moynagh Remer, MN 5 08-15 78
Day 1: 5 08-15
124. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 08-14 77
Day 1: 5 08-14
124. Kyle Weisenburger Columbus Grv, OH 5 08-14 77
Day 1: 5 08-14
126. Christian Ostrander Turlock, CA 5 08-14 75
Day 1: 5 08-14
127. Paul Browning Monahans, TX 5 08-13 74
Day 1: 5 08-13
127. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 5 08-13 74
Day 1: 5 08-13
127. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 08-13 74
Day 1: 5 08-13
130. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 5 08-12 71
Day 1: 5 08-12
130. Kevin Dritschler Prosper, TX 5 08-12 71
Day 1: 5 08-12
130. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 5 08-12 71
Day 1: 5 08-12
130. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 5 08-12 71
Day 1: 5 08-12
130. Brent Shores Boise, ID 5 08-12 71
Day 1: 5 08-12
135. Philip Roesener Choctaw, OK 5 08-11 66
Day 1: 5 08-11
136. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 5 08-09 65
Day 1: 5 08-09
137. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 5 08-08 64
Day 1: 5 08-08
138. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 5 08-07 63
Day 1: 5 08-07
138. Lucas Ragusa Gonzales, LA 5 08-07 63
Day 1: 5 08-07
138. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 5 08-07 63
Day 1: 5 08-07
141. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 08-07 60
Day 1: 5 08-07
142. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 5 08-06 59
Day 1: 5 08-06
142. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 08-06 59
Day 1: 5 08-06
144. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 4 08-06 57
Day 1: 4 08-06
145. Nathan Thompson Eagan, MN 5 08-04 56
Day 1: 5 08-04
146. Bart Stanisz Austin, TX 5 08-03 55
Day 1: 5 08-03
147. Trevor McKinney Noble, IL 5 08-02 54
Day 1: 5 08-02
148. Kollin Crawford Broken Bow, OK 5 08-01 53
Day 1: 5 08-01
148. Lance Crawford Broken Bow, OK 5 08-01 53
Day 1: 5 08-01
148. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 08-01 53
Day 1: 5 08-01
151. Jason Abram Piney Flats, TN 5 07-15 50
Day 1: 5 07-15
151. Steven Doolittle Chelsea, OK 5 07-15 50
Day 1: 5 07-15
153. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 07-14 48
Day 1: 5 07-14
154. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 07-13 47
Day 1: 5 07-13
155. Bryan Partak Marseilles, IL 5 07-11 46
Day 1: 5 07-11
156. Sean Anderson Leesville, SC 5 07-10 45
Day 1: 5 07-10
157. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 5 07-10 44
Day 1: 5 07-10
158. Kelvin Wilcox Hazlehurst, GA 5 07-08 43
Day 1: 5 07-08
159. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 5 07-05 42
Day 1: 5 07-05
160. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 5 07-04 41
Day 1: 5 07-04
160. Wardell Motley III Little Rock, AR 5 07-04 41
Day 1: 5 07-04
162. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 5 07-04 39
Day 1: 5 07-04
163. Richard Kaluba Litchfield, OH 5 07-03 38
Day 1: 5 07-03
164. Stan Kaminski Jonestown, TX 5 07-03 37
Day 1: 5 07-03
165. Joe Wieberg Freeburg, MO 5 07-02 36
Day 1: 5 07-02
166. Phillip Kroll Otego, NY 5 07-02 35
Day 1: 5 07-02
167. Stephanie Hemphill – Pellerin Village Mills, TX 5 07-01 34
Day 1: 5 07-01
167. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 5 07-01 34
Day 1: 5 07-01
169. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 5 06-12 32
Day 1: 5 06-12
170. Jackson Swisher Lake City, FL 5 06-12 31
Day 1: 5 06-12
171. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 06-06 30
Day 1: 5 06-06
172. Derrick Sadlowski Monaca, PA 5 06-03 29
Day 1: 5 06-03
172. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 5 06-03 29
Day 1: 5 06-03
174. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 5 06-02 27
Day 1: 5 06-02
175. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 05-15 26
Day 1: 5 05-15
176. Craig Danna West Monroe, LA 5 05-14 25
Day 1: 5 05-14
177. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 05-13 24
Day 1: 5 05-13
178. Mark Hooker Montgomery, TX 3 05-13 23
Day 1: 3 05-13
179. Caden Cowan Stephenville, TX 4 05-06 22
Day 1: 4 05-06
180. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 4 05-03 21
Day 1: 4 05-03
181. Brian Mathis Manchaca, TX 2 04-13 20
Day 1: 2 04-13
182. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 4 04-06 19
Day 1: 4 04-06
182. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 4 04-06 19
Day 1: 4 04-06
184. Mike Rhinehart Pottsville, AR 3 03-10 17
Day 1: 3 03-10
185. Satoshi Egawa Fort Lee, NJ 2 03-06 16
Day 1: 2 03-06
186. Wyatt Wimberley Broaddus, TX 2 03-02 15
Day 1: 2 03-02
187. Kyle Metzger Pearl River, LA 1 02-12 14
Day 1: 1 02-12
188. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 2 02-06 13
Day 1: 2 02-06
189. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 2 02-03 12
Day 1: 2 02-03
190. Billy Smith Montgomery, TX 2 02-02 11
Day 1: 2 02-02
191. Michael Cooper Franklin, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
191. Bryan Finch Belton, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
191. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
191. Wardell Motley Jr Cleburne, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
191. Tucker Veronee Gilbert, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 176 919 1887-02
———————————-
176 919 1887-02

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake presented by SEVIIN 5/2-5/4
Logan Martin Lake, Lincoln AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 3 07-12 200
Day 1: 3 07-12
2. Jamie Mckinney Alpine, AL 3 07-03 199
Day 1: 3 07-03
3. Chris Gaudin East Camden, AR 3 07-01 198
Day 1: 3 07-01
3. Mark Guhne Hixson, TN 3 07-01 198
Day 1: 3 07-01
5. Richard Greene Ocala, FL 3 06-14 196
Day 1: 3 06-14
5. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 3 06-14 196
Day 1: 3 06-14
7. Steve Dycus Woodstock, GA 3 06-13 194
Day 1: 3 06-13
7. Stephen Mickle Pell City, AL 3 06-13 194
Day 1: 3 06-13
9. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 3 06-12 192
Day 1: 3 06-12
10. Curtis Gossett Pell City, AL 3 06-11 191
Day 1: 3 06-11
11. Jon Mohon Sr Metairie, LA 3 06-09 190
Day 1: 3 06-09
12. Donald Biggs Murphysboro, IL 3 06-06 189
Day 1: 3 06-06
13. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 3 06-04 188
Day 1: 3 06-04
14. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 3 06-03 187
Day 1: 3 06-03
14. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 3 06-03 187
Day 1: 3 06-03
16. Charles Bowman II Kernersville, NC 3 06-02 185
Day 1: 3 06-02
17. David Waack Cary, NC 3 05-14 184
Day 1: 3 05-14
18. Coltan Morris Cropwell, AL 3 05-14 183
Day 1: 3 05-14
19. Phillip Beavers Dallas, GA 3 05-12 182
Day 1: 3 05-12
19. Dylan Connell Marion, IL 3 05-12 182
Day 1: 3 05-12
21. Larry Beauboeuf Bossier City, LA 3 05-09 180
Day 1: 3 05-09
21. Jerry Gonzalez Rivero Laredo TX Coah MEXICO 3 05-09 180
Day 1: 3 05-09
21. Ross Williams Pell City, AL 3 05-09 180
Day 1: 3 05-09
24. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 3 05-08 177
Day 1: 3 05-08
24. Donney Rorie Rienzi, MS 3 05-08 177
Day 1: 3 05-08
26. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 3 05-07 175
Day 1: 3 05-07
27. Jon Paulovich Benton, AR 3 05-07 174
Day 1: 3 05-07
28. Brandon Clayton Haslet , TX 3 05-06 173
Day 1: 3 05-06
29. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 3 05-05 172
Day 1: 3 05-05
30. Mike Steckel Las Vegas, NV 3 05-03 171
Day 1: 3 05-03
31. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 3 05-02 170
Day 1: 3 05-02
32. Justin Romines Riverside, AL 3 05-01 169
Day 1: 3 05-01
33. Sho Egawa Osaka JAPAN 3 04-13 168
Day 1: 3 04-13
34. Ryan Rodgers Perry, OK 3 04-12 167
Day 1: 3 04-12
34. David Taylor Navarre, FL 3 04-12 167
Day 1: 3 04-12
36. Hayden Spradling Gilbert, AZ 3 04-11 165
Day 1: 3 04-11
37. Danny Hanna Jr Corsicana, TX 3 04-10 164
Day 1: 3 04-10
37. Dale Roesener Las Vegas, NV 3 04-10 164
Day 1: 3 04-10
39. Buddy Elston Jr. Birminghanm, AL 3 04-10 162
Day 1: 3 04-10
40. Lee McClendon Jr Trussville, AL 3 04-06 161
Day 1: 3 04-06
40. Keena Robins Tupelo, MS 3 04-06 161
Day 1: 3 04-06
40. Brian Strickland Yantis, TX 3 04-06 161
Day 1: 3 04-06
43. Jimmy Obrien Southampton, NY 3 04-06 158
Day 1: 3 04-06
44. Michael Doty Weaver, AL 3 04-04 157
Day 1: 3 04-04
44. Will Storey Hoover, AL 3 04-04 157
Day 1: 3 04-04
46. John Connell Marion, IL 3 04-03 155
Day 1: 3 04-03
46. Derek Dixon Pearcy, AR 3 04-03 155
Day 1: 3 04-03
46. Gene Mitchell Stuart, OK 3 04-03 155
Day 1: 3 04-03
49. Billy Johnson Nashville, TN 3 04-02 152
Day 1: 3 04-02
50. William Seabrook Douglasville, GA 3 04-01 151
Day 1: 3 04-01
51. Kristian Johnson Belvidere, NJ 3 04-00 150
Day 1: 3 04-00
52. Randy Woodley Harvest, AL 3 03-15 149
Day 1: 3 03-15
53. Albert Jones Jr Covington, GA 3 03-14 148
Day 1: 3 03-14
53. Zach Lineberry Dothan, AL 3 03-14 148
Day 1: 3 03-14
55. Ricck Seal Lincoln, AL 3 03-12 146
Day 1: 3 03-12
56. Zach Clark Newnan, GA 3 03-10 145
Day 1: 3 03-10
57. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 3 03-10 144
Day 1: 3 03-10
58. Kyle Gates Little Rock, AR 2 03-10 143
Day 1: 2 03-10
59. Cameron Polley Hot Springs, AR 3 03-09 142
Day 1: 3 03-09
60. Tristian Dupuis Shreveport, LA 3 03-07 141
Day 1: 3 03-07
61. Clark Smallwood Paris, TX 1 03-07 140
Day 1: 1 03-07
62. Kara Moss Tyler, TX 2 03-06 139
Day 1: 2 03-06
63. Sheldon Hipps Mooresville, NC 2 03-05 138
Day 1: 2 03-05
64. Karl Voss Sulphur, LA 3 03-01 137
Day 1: 3 03-01
65. Eddie Kidd Fort Moore, GA 2 02-13 136
Day 1: 2 02-13
66. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 2 02-11 135
Day 1: 2 02-11
67. Jason Barber Gun Barrel City, TX 2 02-08 134
Day 1: 2 02-08
68. Sandra Sullivan Duluth, GA 2 02-04 133
Day 1: 2 02-04
69. Trent Layton Warrior, AL 1 02-04 132
Day 1: 1 02-04
70. Nathan Ewing Denver, NC 1 01-14 131
Day 1: 1 01-14
71. Steven Pellerin Lumberton, TX 2 01-13 130
Day 1: 2 01-13
72. Joe Lineberry Jr Ramseaur, NC 1 01-12 129
Day 1: 1 01-12
73. Daniel Vasquez Boynton Beach, FL 1 01-07 128
Day 1: 1 01-07
74. Aj Mays Sherwood, AR 1 01-04 127
Day 1: 1 01-04
75. Adam Tims Royse City, TX 1 01-02 126
Day 1: 1 01-02
76. Mark Winfield Eatonton, GA 1 01-00 125
Day 1: 1 01-00
77. Gary Bates Athens, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
77. Bill Bonner Wetumpka, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
77. Steve Kline Normangee, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
77. Derek Lankford Lanett , AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
77. Greg O’Neal Winchester, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
77. Matt White Valley, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 60 204 348-05
———————————-
60 204 348-05

Darrell Stephens 6.62 leads Day 1 of the Big Bass Tour on Smith Mountain Lake

Brian Carter

-

May 2, 2024

0

Darrell Stephens 6.62 leads Day 1 of the Big Bass Tour on Smith Mountain Lake

Welcome to Smith Mountain Lake, where the Big Bass Tour just wrapped up an intense first day. The competitors were eager and ready, each with their sights set on reeling in the biggest bass. Early in the morning, the lake was buzzing with anticipation, and the early catches didn’t disappoint. Among these, Darrell Stephens emerged as the day one leader with an impressive 6.62-pound bass, closely followed by Justin Woodrow 6.56 & Timothy Durham who snagged a 6.11-pounder rounding out the top three. It was a promising start, but as the sun rose the day’s challenge became apparent.

As the morning’s excitement gave way to bluebird skies, the promising start seemed like a distant memory. The average weight of the catches started to drop, with most fish weighing in around 3 pounds. It was clear the day was going to be tough. Anglers shared stories of sighting larger bass that, frustratingly, couldn’t be caught. It was a day filled with what-ifs and close calls, a true test of skill, patience, and a bit of luck.

The question now is, what will day two bring? The elusive 9-pound bass still swims free in Smith Mountain Lake, challenging our anglers to step up their game. As we look forward to another day of competition, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top on Sunday evening.

For those of us on the sidelines, the stories from the lake are as compelling as the competition itself. The camaraderie among the anglers, the shared tales of the one that got away, and the photographs capturing the day’s highs and lows paint a vivid picture of the event. It’s a reminder of the allure of fishing – a blend of peaceful nature and fierce competition.

As we gear up for day two, let’s hope for more impressive catches, more stories, and maybe, just maybe, that someone will reel in that 9-pounder. Stay tuned for more updates and stories from Smith Mountain Lake, where the spirit of fishing is alive and thriving.

Whether you’re an angler yourself or just love a good fishing story, the Big Bass Tour at Smith Mountain Lake is a testament to the thrill of the sport. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for our competitors and hope that day two brings even more excitement!

CLICK HERE TO SEE RESULTS

Early bites will be key for Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Murray

Brian Carter

-

May 2, 2024

0

Early bites will be key for Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Murray

Shad, blueback herring spawns could be a major factor for anglers at the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray May 9-12.

Photo by Craig Lamb/B.A.S.S.

May 2, 2024

Early bites will be key for Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Murray

COLUMBIA, S.C. — We often hear that the early bird gets the worm, but morphing this timeless idiom into “the early bass gets the baitfish,” aptly describes Brandon Cobb’s general expectation for the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray.

Competition days will be May 9-12 with daily takeoffs from Dreher Island State Park

at 7 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day back at the park at 3 p.m.

Like all of his Elite competitors, Cobb understands the basic premise that bass typically feed best during daybreak’s lowlight conditions. However, he stresses the seasonal specifics of a Lake Murray favorite.

“I think you’ll see a lot of shad spawn and blueback herring spawn fishing,” Cobb said of this 48,000-acre Saluda River reservoir. “That’s where the majority of the weight will come from. There are very few other ways to compete when that happens, so 100%, the predominant pattern will be the shad and herring spawn.”

Complementing naturally occurring threadfin shad, bluebacks are a diadromous species which migrates between fresh and saltwater in its native range. Following accidental introductions, the species has thrived in Murray.

Typically a nomadic species that favors deep offshore waters, the herring become more easily targeted during their spring spawns. For herring and threadfin shad, the early morning hours see the tail end of what was largely an overnight spawn.

For this reason, many of the Elite anglers will rush to their best shorelines with docks, seawalls and other hard cover to capitalize on a rapidly closing window of daybreak opportunity. Intense sunlight pushes the baitfish low, but cloudy mornings may extend the shad/blueback spawns a little longer.

“Murray is one of the most prevalent blueback lakes in our area,” Cobb noted. “A lot of times, the shad and the herring will spawn in the same areas, so you may not know if you’re fishing for bass that are eating shad or herring.”

While spinnerbaits, bladed jigs and swim jigs see a lot of pure shad spawn action, herring lakes tend to find topwaters delivering the best results. Herring are fast movers, so bass respond best to a peppy cadence.

Cobb, who hails from Greenwood, S.C., about an hour west of Murray, calls Lake Greenwood (the next lake upstream) his home waters. While he hasn’t fished Murray since last year’s Elite, seasonal weather patterns provide relevant insight.

“We’ve had the muddiest winter and spring on Lake Greenwood that I can ever remember,” Cobb said. “We had a winter where we got so much rain that it pushed the mud all the way to the (Buzzard’s Roost Dam) and from there, it goes to Murray.

“As soon as Greenwood would try to clear, we’d have another rain, so it basically stayed muddy all winter.”

The Elite tournament will be significantly removed from the muddiest period, but Cobb said there could be some level of remnant turbidity lingering in the main-river section. Elsewhere, he’s looking for typical spring clarity.

A week prior to the tournament, Murray’s water level stood about 2 feet below full pool. The 2023 Elite event at Lake Murray saw the lake rising from a scheduled drawdown, but this year will offer stability.

“Unless they’re working on the dam or something, Murray stays pretty stable,” Cobb said. “When they drew it down (in the fall of 2022 through the winter of 2023), that was because they were trying to eliminate the pondweed that was growing in Murray.”

In terms of bass life cycle, this year’s event will likely see a different complexion. Taking place in the fourth week of April, the 2023 Elite saw a significant amount of bed fishing — including that of Florida’s Drew Benton, who won with a four-day total of 87 pounds.

This time around Cobb’s not completely counting out the bed fishing game, but his local experience tells him it’s unlikely to be the main deal. This, he said, will probably pull the overall weights down a little from the 2023 levels.

“I’m not going to say it’s going to be tough, but last time, it was pretty crazy,” he said. “I think this year, you’ll need about 18 pounds a day to make the Top 10, and I would say 21 to 22 a day to win.”

Noting that he expects all of Murray to be in play, Cobb said he believes the field will spread out to search for those early shad/herring spawns. After the early-morning activity subsides, many will transition to dock fishing as the bass that had been capitalizing on shad spawns move to the nearest cover.

Stressing what he considers a key mindset, Cobb concludes: “The way the fish are this time of year, you might get some big groups of fish, but it’s hard to get them to bite all day. You’re going to have to keep moving.”

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday at 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. ET and Sunday at 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.

The event is being hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country.

Spring conditions await B.A.S.S. Nation anglers on the Upper Mississippi River

Brian Carter

-

May 2, 2024

0

Spring conditions await B.A.S.S. Nation anglers on the Upper Mississippi River

Wisconsin’s Mississippi River will host the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance May 8-10.

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

May 2, 2024

Spring conditions await B.A.S.S. Nation anglers on the Upper Mississippi River

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Spring will be in full swing when anglers arrive for the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance, which means the bass fishing will be phenomenal, according to Galesville, Wis., angler Nick Trim.

“It will be a really good tournament. Everyone will be pretty spread out,” said Trim, who fishes the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN. “We are hitting this thing perfectly. It is going to be a slugfest.”

Tournament days are scheduled for May 8-10, with daily takeoffs scheduled for 7 a.m. CT at Copeland Park. Competitors will return to the park for weigh-ins each day at 3 p.m. The Top 40 competitors after Day 2 will advance to the final day, and the top 10% will qualify for the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance, scheduled for Nov. 6-8 on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.

Pools 7, 8 and 9 of the Upper Mississippi River have been a staple on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail for many years now, but those events have usually happened in the mid- to late summer months. This time, anglers will enjoy spring fever, and the bass will likely be in a prespawn or spawning mode.

“Those first weeks of May can be a really good spawning time if you can hit the moon phase right, which we are going to hit perfectly,” said Trim, who holds multiple BFL titles on the river. “The last day of practice is a new moon. The smallmouth for sure will be pushing up, and there will be certain backwaters where the largemouth will push up.”

Grass is usually a large part of the equation, but Trim said most of the new grass for the year will not be growing up yet.

“Some of the backwaters where there isn’t a lot of current and places like Lake Onalaska will have a lot of grass,” he said. “A lot of the coontail and milfoil will still be around from last year in the bays and backwater areas unless we get extremely high water. But as far as new growth, the eelgrass and things like that, I don’t expect any of that to come into play.”

Trim believes any section of the river could produce the winning bag of bass. In his mind, the smallmouth will be close to their spawning grounds, if not spawning already, when anglers get there.

“I think it will be won fishing beds for spawning smallmouth, but I wouldn’t rule out the prespawn and staging bite either,” Trim said. “There have only been one or two years where I have been able to visually see the fish without some sort of electronics. I’m using Humminbird 360 to find the beds and then Garmin LiveScope to watch the reaction to my bait.”

Anglers will be able to target main-river wing dams, points, points of islands, current breaks and eddies for smallmouth still in the prespawn.

“When you find them, it is a lot of fun. You can catch them every single cast for hours,” Trim said. “They get into these huge schools and gorge themselves before the spawn.”

The largemouth, meanwhile, tend to spawn later than the smallmouth and will be in a prespawn mode and will be found in backwater areas.

“They will be one or two stops away from their spawning areas,” Trim said. “The Black River will probably be a big player for largemouth. There’s not a lot of flow there. No matter how high the water gets, that will have the same flow. They will sit in the current breaks on the backside of the points and island heads close to where they will spawn.

“If it gets warm, as shallow as you can get your boat is where you can catch them.”

Expect Senkos, jerkbaits, swim jigs and Carolina rigs all to play in this event, as well as drop shots and Ned rigs.

Explore La Crosse is hosting the event.

John Proctor & Johnny Duarte Win CATT Waccamaw River, SC April 27, 2024

Uncategorized

Brian Carter

-

May 2, 2024

0

John Proctor & Johnny Duarte Win CATT Waccamaw River, SC April 27, 2024

Next Waccamaw River Summer Qualifier is May 18the at Bucksport!

July 27th is the Phantom Outdoors Open on the Waccamaw River! Tap on the link for info!

John Proctor & Johnny Duarte win the Waccamaw River with 5 bass weighing 17.38 lbs! Total winnings $1,880.00!

River & Timmy Squires 2nd Place with 17.17 lbs and the BF at 5.48 lbs!

Britt Brown & Danny Marton 3rd Place 12.38 lbs!

Team	BF	Weight	Winnings	Points
John Proctor & Johnny Duarte	5.09	17.38	$1,880.00	110
Timmy & River Squires	5.48	17.17	$810.00	109
Britt Brown & Danny Martin	3.88	12.38	$325.00	108
Trey Cribb & Dylan McConnel	4.15	11.57	$220.00	107
Tommy & Thomas Collins	4.59	11.21	$160.00	106
Brandon Porter & Brantley Todd	3.25	11.17		105
Chase Marshall & Brian Howard	3.22	11.01		104
Charlton Hanna	2.48	10.93		103
Noah Jones & John Parker	4.11	10.21		102
Matthew Mitchell & Gabe Lawshe	3.40	10.10		101
Dana Rabon & Donnie Register	2.61	9.77		100
Trapper Cannon & Smithy Smith	2.00	8.53		99
Timmy Williamson & Jacob Barfield	2.15	7.98		98
Chris Jones Ed Owens	1.93	7.42		97
Steve & Jacob Martin	1.75	7.39		96
Keith & Rex Coker	1.80	7.23		95
Jason Carroll & David Wilder	1.78	6.89		94
Nick Gant & Patrick Cook	4.91	6.81		93
Robby Bynum & Eric Cox	0.00	6.55		92
Ron Cannon & Andrew Vereen	0.00	6.49		91
Garrett Howard & Cal Marsh	0.00	5.32		90
John Miller	0.00	4.98		89
Jordan Manning & Houston Manning	0.00	2.09		88
Jason Smith	0.00	0.00		78
Robbie Boyd & Hannah Bratcher	0.00	0.00		78
Logan & Greg Benton	0.00	0.00		78
Braedon Clay & Skyler DeBruhl	0.00	0.00		78
Charles Fryer & Travis Spivey	0.00	0.00		78
Total Entrys			$3,360.00
BONUS $			$520.00
Total Paid At Ramp			$3,395.00
CATT			$50.00
2024 Waccamaw Summer Final Fund			$385.00
2024 CATT Championship Fund			$50.00
2024 Waccamaw Summer Fund Total			$385.00

Anthony Kiker & Truett Hill Win CATT Lake Greenwood, SC April 27,2024

Brian Carter

-

May 2, 2024

0

Anthony Kiker & Truett Hill Win CATT Lake Greenwood, SC April 27,2024

Next up is the Lake Greenwood Spring Final May 11th! If you entered juts 1 Greenwood Spring Qualifier, then you’re eligible to enter!

Cade Blackwell and Mitchell Robinson win the Points and will fish the Final Free!

Anthony Kiker & Truett Hill win Greenwood with 5 bass weighing 18.60 lbs!

Chase Stewart & Andrew Allen 2nd Place with 16.62 lbs!

TJ Eubanks & Derek Hutchins with the BF at 5.39 lbs!

Team	BF	Weight	Winnings	Points
Anthony Kiker – Truett Hill	5.34	18.60	$500.00	110
Chase Stewart – Andrew Allen	4.25	16.62	$140.00	109
TJ Eubanks – Derek Hutchins	5.39	16.61	$100.00	108
Cade Blackwell – Chris Blackwell	4.31	13.51		107
Brian Ruppe – Darryl Deaton	0.00	9.39		106
Allen Nelson – Chris Teachy	0.00	8.49		105
Manning Gregory – Mylen Gregory	0.00	7.73		104
Wayne Gerould – Chad Gerould	3.50	6.99		103
Chris Benson – Tommie Henry	0.00	4.81		102
Total Entrys			$720.00
BONUS $			$200.00
Total Paid At Ramp			$740.00
CATT			$50.00
2024 Greenwood Spring Final Fund			$130.00
2024 CATT Championship Fund			$50.00
2024 Greenwood Spring Final Total			$1,045.00

May Outlook: Warmer-Than-Average For Much Of US

Other

Brian Carter

-

May 2, 2024

0

May Outlook: Warmer-Than-Average For Much Of US

Our updated May outlook calls for warmer-than-average conditions across much of the northern tier and Eastern U.S.

South Texas could see temperatures most above average. Areas from Washington state to Florida and Maine also have a chance of seeing above-average temperatures, according to the latest outlook released Wednesday by The Weather Company and Atmospheric G2.

Parts of the West, meanwhile, could see below-average temperatures. Locations from southern Oregon into Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico could see near-average or slightly below-average temperatures.

Read the whole report here.

Rookie Martin Villa Cruises to Group B Lead at MLF Bass Pro Tour Stage Four Presented at Lake Eufaula

Brian Carter

-

May 1, 2024

0

Rookie Martin Villa Cruises to Group B Lead at MLF Bass Pro Tour Stage Four Presented at Lake Eufaula

Virginia pro leads Group B by 3 pounds, 9 ounces after Day 1, Group A to wrap up two-day Qualifying Round Thursday

EUFAULA, Okla. (May 1, 2024) – A Lake Eufaula that had been stingy on Day 1 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour MillerTech Stage Four Presented by REDCON1 proved a bit more fruitful when Group B took to the water Wednesday for its opening day Qualifying Round. Rookie pro Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Virginia, led the charge, stacking 13 scorable bass for 34 pounds, 15 ounces on SCORETRACKER®.

After spring thunderstorms caused the lake level to spike nearly 4 feet between the start of practice and the start of the event, it stabilized overnight, and the fish became more cooperative. Villa was one of three pros to top 30 pounds after no one hit that mark in Group A. He leads Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan, by 3-9, with Randy Howell of Guntersville, Alabama, just 5 ounces back of Omori.

Link to Photo Gallery of Group B’s Day 1 Qualifying Round Highlights

The six-day tournament, hosted by Vision Eufaula , showcases 79 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

Villa’s near-35-pound outing didn’t unfold nearly as smoothly as it might seem. The Bass Pro Tour rookie arrived at his starting spot to find current roaring through the area, which made it difficult to fish.

He then made an adjustment and caught the bulk of his weight — nine scorable bass for 25-0 — in about a two-hour span before an equipment issue prevented him from running any new water. He spent the entirety of the third period only using his trolling motor.

“When I got to my first stop, there was a pile of current ripping through there,” Villa said. “Combine that with a little bit of wind, it kind of made it difficult for me. But it ended up being a blessing in disguise, because I knew that something had changed. I completely opened my mind up, because going into that, I thought I had one thing I was looking for, and it was completely not what I was looking for. And so, I was grateful that I was able to make the adjustment.”

Villa didn’t want to divulge too many details about his tactics, but said he used finesse techniques to catch most of his bass. He fished both shallow and offshore, with a few of his fish coming from a shad spawn bite.

The biggest key, he said, was simply finding areas “where there’s some life.” He compared the current state of Eufaula, with swaths of muddy water making portions of the 100,000-plus-acre reservoir unfishable, to Lake Okeechobee in that regard — except this week, those lifeless zones are constantly moving.

“They’re letting water loose now, and so that red mud is moving miles each day,” Villa said. “And when the wind blows with the current, it seems like it just flies out of there. I felt like I was on a tidal river when you got to certain areas.”

Once he made his adjustment, Villa generated bites in bunches. He supplemented his quantity with quality, boating a pair of 4-pounders. With catch numbers still fairly low across the field Wednesday — only 15 of 40 competitors caught at least five scorable bass — it looks like fooling fish of that caliber will be key. Eight of the Top 10 anglers in Group B landed at least one 4-pounder, and Villa caught two.

“It’s huge, because one quality female right now is worth three males,” he said. “And it’s not like we’re catching 30 scorables a day.”

While Villa felt good about making a successful adjustment, he’s concerned he’ll need to do so again when Group B returns to the water on Friday. In his words, “the one constant is change” on Eufaula this week.

Given his cushion of more than 18 pounds over the cut line, his hope is to catch five scorable bass early Friday, then use the rest of the day to explore new areas of the reservoir in preparation for the Knockout Round.

“I hope that I can do my job as a professional angler and put five fish in the boat,” Villa said. “I do feel like if I’m able to put some weight in the boat early, I owe it to myself to try some different stuff.”

The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day from competition Thursday, while the 39 anglers competing in Group A will wrap up their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B will finish their Qualifying Round on Friday.

The top 20 pros in Group B after Day 1 on Lake Eufaula are:

1st:          Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 13 bass, 34-15
2nd:        Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 12 bass, 31-6
3rd:        Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 13 bass, 31-1
4th:         Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 26-9
5th:         Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 23-3
6th:         Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., eight bass, 19-13
7th:         Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, seven bass, 19-2
8th:         Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., seven bass, 18-11
9th:         Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 16-14
10th:      Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, six bass, 16-4
11th:      Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., eight bass, 15-0
12th:      John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., six bass, 13-11
13th:      Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 13-9
14th:      Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 12-7
15th:      Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 11-3
16th:      Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., four bass, 10-0
17th:      Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., two bass, 9-3
18th:      Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., four bass, 9-2
19th:      Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., three bass, 8-12
20th:      Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., four bass, 8-7

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Bass Pro Shops pro Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award after a 5-pound,9-ounce largemouth bit his wacky rig in Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 39 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from the Peter’s Point-Nichols Point Boat Ramp, located on Dabbs Road in Eufaula. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the boat ramp, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Peter’s Point-Nichols Point for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The MillerTech Stage Four at Lake Eufaula Presented by REDCON1 features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 79 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.

It’s early, but Stage Four continues to look like it might shake up the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race in a major way. A day after points leader Jacob Wheeler got off to a slow start in Group A, both Jesse Wiggins and Michael Neal — who entered the event in the top five in the season-long standings — find themselves well outside the Top 10 in Group B. The battle to claim the $100,000 prize might look very different once competition concludes on Eufaula.

Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.

Television coverage of the MillerTech Stage Four at Lake Eufaula Presented by REDCON1 Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 12 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Oct. 19. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, WIX Filters and U.S. Air Force.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

Winning or Stinking It Up:Tournament Fishing Failures by Bruce Callis Jr

Brian Carter

-

May 1, 2024

0

Winning or Stinking It Up:
Tournament Fishing Failures
by Bruce Callis Jr

For 3 days we are out on the whacking those big bass, prefishing for an upcoming tournament. We have them dialed in and ready to win. We launch for the tournament and then stink up the place! What did we learn?

For some, nothing! But for those looking to get further and be the big stick in the tournament field, sometimes, it’s still nothing. Why is that? Sometimes its because we are determined it wasn’t us, it was the fish. We just weren’t in the right location. But let’s be real about the whole thing. It was us.
We killed them in practice and we are determined to make it happen, doing exactly what we were doing. We didn’t take into account the weather, that bass move to follow baitfish or that we caught them on the exact same bait for 3 days in a row. We fished from the memory of what happened in practice and not in the moment of the new day.

So many times it happens and by the time we figure out what has happened, the day is over and we come in with a small bag. I’ve been there and it stinks. I’ve fished the what did not the what does work because we as anglers can be so stubborn!

We become determined to catch them on a certain type of bait or a certain style of fishing. I love to fish certain ways, which isn’t bad. That is my comfort zone. I love to pitch a Missile Baits Chunky D, a D Bomb or even a Baby Destroyer around cover. I also have come to love fishing a Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip with a Baby D Bomb or Mini Chunk around everything. And when the bite is off, I look to them for help. But switching gears while on the water is a hard decision.

What makes the difference between those who live in the top 10 every tournament and those who are either winning or at the bottom of the leader board? It is the ability to make those changes on the water in a timely manner. Most of the time its switching up quicker, not being stubborn to do what we want, but change to find what the bass want. Sometimes it can be a simple color change that triggers the bass into biting or changing from a flipping jig to a swimbait jig. Other times, its changing our mental approach.

Our mental approach is the biggest change we can make. Stop thinking they always do this or that, but as Forward Facing Sonar has shown us, the bass may be there, but just don’t react to our lure as presented. We can be around 5 pound bass, but because they aren’t biting our bait, we think they may have moved. In reality, they just don’t want what we are offering.

They won’t hit a bladed jig, but they will smash a 3/8 ounce double willow blade spinnerbait with a blue head and a white skirt. They won’t hit a SPRO Little John, but they crush a Fat John 60. They won’t hit my SPRO McStick hard jerkbait, but they are killing the soft plastic jerkbait. Decisions that are difficult to make, when to switch what we may love to do so we can do what we must do!

But that is one of the things that keeps us from becoming the next KVD or Rick Clunn. Knowing when to follow that little bird that says change. Change the color, the action, the size, or to a totally different bait. Remember to fish in the moment, not in the past. Fish what the fish are telling you. Listen carefully. Remember to have fun out there, that is why we got into bass fishing in the first place!

basscastPRO

basscastPRO

The Bass CastYour Tourney News Headquarters

The Bass CastPRO

Butler’s kicker lifts him to Day 1 lead at Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake

Early bites will be key for Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Murray

Spring conditions await B.A.S.S. Nation anglers on the Upper Mississippi River

Rookie Martin Villa Cruises to Group B Lead at MLF Bass Pro Tour Stage Four Presented at Lake Eufaula

Winning or Stinking It Up:Tournament Fishing Failures by Bruce Callis Jr

The Bass CastPRO

Follow Us

The latest

Mark Winn & Mike Nichols win Bass Cast Tourney on SML with 17.64lbs

Sophisticated Swimbait From Ever Green International & DAIWA

See you in the morning at 7am Smith Mountain Lake