Elite Series welcomes Legendary qualifiers Pace and Howell back

Bruce Callis

September 26, 2024

Elite Series welcomes Legendary qualifiers Pace and Howell back

B.A.S.S. tournament officials today announced former Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic champions Randy Howell and Cliff Pace will rejoin the ranks of Elite anglers in 2025 via Legends invitations.

Posted on September 26, 2024

Written by B.A.S.S.

Photography by Seigo Saito

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. tournament officials today announced former Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic champions Randy Howell and Cliff Pace will rejoin the ranks of Elite anglers in 2025 via Legends invitations. Two Legends spots opened with the retirement of Rick Clunn and the fact that all current Elite anglers with Legends eligibility requalified via Elite Series requalification criteria.

“We are excited to welcome back two legends to the Bassmaster Elites,” said Lisa Talmadge, tournament director for the Elite Series. “We can’t wait to see the incredible moments they’ll bring. Here’s to celebrating their legacy and the excitement of what’s to come.”

Howell’s career has spanned four decades, and he has amassed more than $1.9 million in earnings, four wins including the 2014 Bassmaster Classic and posted 37 Top 10 finishes and 125 Top 30 finishes while finishing in the money 173 times.

“It’s really great to have the opportunity to come back and continue my journey with B.A.S.S. again at 51 years old,” the Guntersville, Ala., angler said. “I fished a lot of years with B.A.S.S., and winning the Classic changed my life and helped make a great career for me. I am definitely looking forward to getting back to weighing in on the Bassmaster stage as well as the Classic stage, hopefully.

“I’ve worked every Classic the past few years I’ve been away and sat and watched every Classic winner and it always makes me emotional,” Howell added. “This past year I sat and watched Justin Hamner win it. I know the difference it makes in an angler’s career and what a big deal it was for him, and I thought, ‘I’ve got to get back and win another Classic.’ And that’s my goal now: to win a second one.”

Howell said his son, Laker, fished the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN to try to earn his way to the 2025 Elite Series.

“For Laker to get to the Elites and for us to have a chance to fish a Classic together … that would be a dream come true,” Howell said.

Pace has totaled more than $1.6 million while recording three wins including the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. The Ovett, Miss., angler has also notched 29 Top 10 finishes and finished in the money 105 times in 155 total tournaments.

Pace fished the 2024 Bassmaster Opens in an attempt to qualify for the 2025 Elite Series. However, he said he is thankful for the opportunity to rejoin the circuit as a Legends qualifier.

“I would have loved to do it on my own merit, but I’m thankful to get in with the exemption,” Pace said. “I’m really happy to be coming back. There are a lot of things about the Elites I missed. B.A.S.S. is the organization I’ve loved fishing with, and growing up all my heroes fished with B.A.S.S., and it’s just where I want to be. There are a lot of trails that offer anglers a chance to compete, but I feel B.A.S.S. has the best platform.

“All my friends on social media said I’m right back where I belong,” Pace added. “I’m excited to be back and I’m ready to get started. I’m looking forward to seeing how the season unfolds.”

Anglers earn one Legends point for each Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic victory and one point for each Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. According to Elite Series rules, up to two Legends qualifiers can be added to the Elite field per season. Although other former Elite Series pros inquired about the Legends exemption, Howell and Pace received their Legends invitations based upon having one Legends point, fishing the Bassmaster Opens and having the most career B.A.S.S. events fished. No spots are being cut from the 2025 Elite field to make room for the Legends qualifiers.

Tricked-Out Bass Boat on Three Batteries

Brian Carter

September 25, 2024

Tricked-Out Bass Boat on Three Batteries

Norsk Lithium^® shows how YOU can power any boat rigged with a big outboard, 36V trolling motor, four graphs and FF sonar on THREE batteries, saving precious space, weight, and runtime worry

New Hope, Minn. (September 25, 2024) – Whether you’re running a bass, walleye, muskie, or other multi-species fishing boat, you’ve undoubtedly discovered that the process of rigging a boat and supplying adequate and reliable battery power has become more complicated given the demands of today’s cutting-edge electronics (i.e. multiple large screens, FF sonar, etc.), trolling motors, and large, consumptive outboard motors.With salient power needs to run all the “bells and whistles” in today’s contemporary fishing boats, there has been much difficulty finding space for as many as five or six typical 12V group 27 and 31 lead acid and/or AGM and deep cycle batteries. But, as Norsk Lithium demonstrates in the video above, those days are over…

Norsk VP of Strategy & Development, James Holst, explains: “Five years ago, 12-volt batteries were an angler’s only choice. Fast-forward to today with lithium batteries starting to take over the battery marketplace, we have the ability to produce batteries for our marine customers in 12-, 16-, 24-, and 36-volts, all in one case. And each voltage serves a very specific function. In this Phoenix 819, with a Yamaha 200 HP V MAX SHO outboard on back, four large sonar screens, LiveScope, and a 36V trolling motor, instead of having to rig five batteries where three of those batteries would be three 12V lead acid batteries wired in series to create 36V for the bow mount trolling motor, we can really simplify everything with one Norsk 12V 180Ah battery in a group 31 case as starting battery and two additional Norsk Lithium batteries to power all electronics and the electric trolling motor.”

“Starting at the bow, we used one of our new dual voltage 60Ah 36V + 28V batteries for the trolling motor and to power the Garmin LiveScope black box module and transducer. That battery literally replaces three old lead acid batteries, which saves a ton of space. With space limited and tight compartments in most bass boats, replacing three batteries with one is a huge benefit from weight and space standpoint.”And to power the four graph screens, Norsk technicians turned to their recently-introduced 16V 135Ah battery.“That’s what we’re using to power all four of our graphs: two Lowrance HDS12 Pro units at the console and two Garmin ECHOMAP 12 units at the bow. These graphs will draw quite a bit of power, but that battery has a high amp hour rating that serves as a dedicated source of clean 16V power that keeps our electronics running at peak efficiency,” adds Holst.

What they have done is very cleverly rigged the final part of the three-battery bass boat set-up—a Norsk Lithium 12V 180Ah lithium starting battery—to provide starting power to the Yamaha 200 SHO outboard and to replenish the 16V graph-dedicated battery by placing a Norsk EVO-TEC™ 16 Volt 15 DC to DC charger in between the starting and 16V battery that allows the angler to turn it on or off manually to pull excess power from the starting battery, run it through the DC to DC charger to convert the voltage from 12V to 16V, and send it to the 16V 135Ah battery to keep it topped off at all times. And the starting battery never gets low because it’s receiving a healthy charge via the outboard alternator any time the outboard fires up to make a run to the next fishing spot.

This three-battery system is a foolproof way to save space, literally hundreds of pounds of weight, and ensure that even when running today’s giant, power-hungry sonar screens you’re never out of power while the 16V power supply keeps the screens running at peak efficiency.“At the higher voltage, the screens are drawing less amps and running more efficiently, providing images that are just beautiful,” notes Holst.

The real linchpin to the three-battery bass boat rig is the Norsk Lithium EVO-TEC™ Multibank Charger which has reduced the need for a charger, or chargers, that can support five batteries down to three.One bank is 15 Amps output at 12 volts for the starting battery; the second bank is providing 10 amps to the 16V battery for the four onboard Lowrance and Garmin graphs; and lastly, the third bank is providing 10 amps to the 36V + 28V battery to power the boats Minn Kota 36V 112 lb. Ultrex.Holst describes: “We’ve got a charger that can produce all three voltages required in a three-battery bass boat, and it’s a nice compact charger. At the end of the day, you’ve saved so much space by reducing the install from 5 to 3 batteries, removed hundreds of pounds of weight—and the charger is even smaller since it’s a three bank versus the typical five bank.”Speaking to boat performance, Holst continues: “I can stay on the 36V Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor all day long and not run that battery dead on a typical day of fishing docks and moving spot to spot from dusk ‘til dawn. Same for my LiveScope and four big, clear, and bright graphs with spot-on image clarity of your bait and fish.”

THE INSTALLSTARTING BATTERY/HOUSE BILGE, PUMPS, LIGHTS & ACCESSORIES: Norsk Lithium 12V 180AH Group 31 case (part no: B121180GHS) – works with all major outboard manufacturers/ meets or exceeds all Mercury Marine requirements for lithium starting batteries/will not void warranties; also heated for cold weather charging/on-the-water use, and offers Emergency Start Reserve – a built-in jump pack.TROLLING MOTOR/FF SONAR BLACK BOX/TRANSDUCER: Norsk Lithium 36V + 28V 60AH Group 31 case (part no: BDV3628060G (unheated) or BDV363628060GH (thermal core heating technology)FOUR 12-INCH LOWRANCE & GARMIN GRAPHS: Norsk Lithium 16V 135AH Group 31 case (part no: B161135G (unheated) or B16135GH (thermal core heating technology)DC to DC Norsk Lithium EVO-TEC Battery Charger: Advanced 2-stage CC/CV charging technology, with operation of the charger controlled via yellow ACC wire (part no: NCDC16015)3 BANK ON-BOARD CHARGER OPTIONS: Norsk Lithium multibank chargers support multiple chemistries (lead acid, AGM, and Lithium) while providing multiple output voltages to charge 12, 16, 24, and 36V batteries on select models with a single charger. (part no. NCAC33503, NCAC33504, or NCA33505)RIG YOUR BOAT: PRE-ORDER NOW!The most common question the company is receiving is ‘Where can we get additional product information and when will everything be available?’The answer to the first part couldn’t be easier to fulfill. Simply visit www.norsklithium.com and you will experience the most advanced battery lineup yet!FYI, the ground-breaking Norsk Lithium products seen above will be available 4th quarter (fall), but consumers can sign up to ‘The Waitlist’ to receive product updates with additional information, including availability updates.Simply choose the product(s) of interest, click “Waitlist” and enter your e-mail. It’s that easy!If you join the Waitlist, the moment the products become available, you will receive an e-mail directing you to the purchase process to be one of the first boaters or anglers to benefit from Norsk Lithium’s new, problem-solving battery and charger designs.

Catch More Fall Smallmouth on Rivers!

Brian Carter

September 25, 2024

As fall progresses, smallmouth bass begin moving from fast, shallow water to deeper sections of the river. This migration is a natural response to the changing season as bass prepare for colder temperatures and winter conditions. Anglers should focus on targeting areas like the lower half of swift water spots and deeper pockets where bass will stage before winter. These fish may hold in different locations depending on the time of day or week, making it crucial to adapt and explore various sections of the river. Understanding this movement helps anglers plan better by knowing where to find the fish at each stage of the season. As temperatures continue to drop, bass seek areas with more stable water conditions, often near structure such as rocks, ledges, or submerged logs. By positioning themselves in these deeper spots, bass can conserve energy while remaining close to potential food sources. Anglers should also be mindful of water clarity, as cooler water tends to be clearer, making the fish more cautious. Using subtle presentations can improve the chances of catching smallmouth during this transition. Patience is key during this period, as the fish can be far less aggressive.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fact, we just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost and 10w30 Syntheic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater.

In the early morning, smallmouth bass often feed along shallow gravel banks, especially when chasing minnows or other small prey. This feeding behavior is typically brief, so anglers should be ready to take advantage of this window by using soft plastic baits like lizards, beetles, or insect larva imitations to mimic the prey fish. As the day progresses, smallmouth move to deeper areas, but the morning provides excellent opportunities to catch active, feeding fish. By targeting these shallow zones early, anglers can maximize their chances of success before the fish transition to more secure, deeper locations later in the day. Timing and observation are key to anticipating these early morning feeding periods. The low light conditions in the morning often make smallmouth more aggressive and less wary, allowing anglers to use slightly bolder presentations. It’s important to make long, accurate casts, as smallmouth can be skittish in the shallows, especially in clear water. Water temperature also plays a role in warmer fall mornings tend to extend the feeding window, while cooler mornings may shorten it. Anglers should be prepared to switch their tactics quickly.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action-triggering strikes!

Fishing in rivers requires a variety of soft plastic baits because smallmouth bass will hold near different types of structures throughout the day. Logs, rocks, and deeper channels each demand a different approach and presentation to be effective. For example, in faster water or over submerged logs, soft plastics like cray-styled baits or worms can stay above or navigate through the cover effectively. In deeper, rockier sections, dragging or bouncing soft plastic lizards or worms along the bottom tends to work well. To increase success, anglers should come prepared with several rod setups, each rigged for specific types of structure, allowing for quick adjustments without retying during active fishing times. It’s important to adjust the weight of the rig to match the current, as heavier weights may be necessary in faster water to keep the bait near the bottom, while lighter setups work better in slow-moving or shallow sections. In addition, matching the color and size of the soft plastic to the surrounding environment and the bass’s prey can significantly increase the likelihood of a strike. Experimenting with different retrieval speeds and actions can also help anglers.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. Act quickly, these new colors won’t stay in stock for long. We also recently restocked our Ghost, Red Bug, Purple Rain, Brown Bug, Electric Chicken, and Goby Wan colors. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Iits unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to its superior performance and versatility.

The passage of a cold front can change the behavior of smallmouth bass dramatically. A front will cause a temporary slowdown in activity, particularly on the back end of the system. However, this doesn’t always mean fishing will be poor, as bass may still feed during certain periods, especially a few days after the front. Anglers who pay attention to weather patterns and are patient during post-front conditions can still catch fish, sometimes even larger ones, as the bass regroup and resume feeding. It’s important to stay flexible and persistent during these conditions rather than abandoning the water too quickly. Cold fronts tend to make smallmouth more lethargic, so slow presentations with soft plastics, like worms or cray-styled baits, can become more effective as bass are less likely to chase fast-moving lures. Finding deeper water or areas with stable temperatures will often improve your chances, as smallmouth may seek out these zones for more consistent conditions. Understanding that smallmouth might hold tighter to structure after a cold front can help in pinpointing their location. Clear skies and high pressure after the front may lead to more cautious bass.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round!

In clear water, especially in river systems, smallmouth bass can be highly sensitive to disturbances. Long, accurate casts are necessary to avoid spooking fish, particularly in ultra-clear environments where they can detect both anglers and lures more easily. By casting from a greater distance, anglers reduce their chances of being detected and increase the likelihood of a successful hookup. Practicing casting accuracy also allows for better lure placement, especially when targeting small pockets of fish or tight cover where smallmouth often hide. Precision and distance go hand in hand when fishing clear, open rivers. When fishing in areas with fast current, making accurate casts upstream and allowing your lure to drift naturally with the current can mimic a more realistic presentation, enticing the bass to strike. Long casts give you more coverage of the water, allowing you to explore a wider range of depths and structures without repositioning the boat or disturbing the area. The ability to land a soft plastic bait exactly where it needs to be—whether near a submerged log or in a deep pockets can make the difference between success and failure.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added new MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electic Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also released new 6-inch Worms including Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR are all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater.

As the water cools and smallmouth bass move into deeper, slower sections of the river, soft plastic baits become an effective tool for reaching these fish. In fall, smallmouth tend to settle into deep holes as they prepare for winter, and soft plastic worms or crayfish-style baits allow anglers to target these areas with precision. The key is to let the soft plastic sink to the bottom and use a slow, methodical retrieve to mimic the movements of prey in colder water. By fishing deep, anglers can continue to catch smallmouth even as the season shifts to colder weather. Adjusting the weight of your rig to match the water depth and current is important for keeping the bait near the bottom, where smallmouth are likely to be holding. Focusing on areas with structure, like submerged rocks or deep ledges, will improve your chances as these spots provide shelter and feeding opportunities for bass. Soft plastics with a slow, lifelike action tend to perform better in colder water since smallmouth are less aggressive and prefer a more subtle approach. Always experiment with different colors, as water clarity can change rapidly during this time, affecting the bass’s ability to detect the bait.Our newest FreshBaitz Mandingo Trick Worm is the ultimate game-changer for anglers with a passion! Engineered for the angler who knows SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a penchant for the larger bait. The Mandingo Trick Worm boasts a solid 7-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. Officially available in a vibrant array of 8 colors. Each worm is made from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for total and maximum attraction, the Mandingo Trick Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing the big ones. Proudly made in the USA by real anglers to help elevate your fishing experience and catch more bass year-round!

Smallmouth bass often stage along current breaks and in eddies near fast water, where they can feed with minimal effort. These areas, typically found at the tail end of swift water spots, provide ambush points for bass as they wait for food to drift by. Anglers should focus on casting soft plastic baits like beetles or insect larvae into these areas, allowing them to drift naturally with the current, simulating a wounded or disoriented prey. Eddies also offer calmer waters where smallmouth can gather, making them prime locations to find feeding fish. Fishing these spots strategically can yield consistent catches throughout the fall season. It’s crucial to vary your presentation based on the current’s speed letting the bait drift slowly in slower water while using a slightly faster retrieve in stronger currents. Soft plastics that have natural buoyancy work well in these situations, as they can hover just above the bottom, mimicking prey caught in the flow. Pay attention to water depth and use lighter rigs in eddies to keep the bait in the strike zone longer. Current breaks caused by rocks, logs, or other debris are ideal places, as smallmouth often hide while waiting for food to come by.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose. For creature baits, we love to use the Stand-Up Jig because it sits your bait up-right in a defensive stance! Mosquito Hooks work for drop-shotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you pressure time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action.

New format for Opens, Elite Qualifier Series announced

Brian Carter

September 25, 2024

New format for Opens, Elite Qualifier Series announced

B.A.S.S. has announced format enhancements for the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN and Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers series.

Sept. 25, 2024

New format for Opens, Elite Qualifier Series announced

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The popularity of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN and Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers series has surged over the past two years. Today, B.A.S.S. announced enhancements to both properties that will inspire even more anglers to compete for the opportunity to walk across bass fishing’s biggest stage.

Beginning with the 2025 season, the Opens will evolve into an eight-event season comprised of two divisions, each featuring four tournaments. Anglers placing in the Top 50 in each division’s Angler of the Year race will advance to the newly installed Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers series. This stand-alone series will feature three events, spanning from September through November, to qualify anglers for the Bassmaster Elite Series.

“This is a great step for the Opens and a giant leap for the EQs,” said Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon. “While the existing format fielded well-rounded anglers who were prepared to fish against the best in the world, it also left competitors who found themselves out of the running for Elite Series qualification locked into the remainder of the nine-event season. This modification will allow an angler to commit to just four Opens (or all eight if they want additional opportunities) and then decide to move on to the all-new and separate EQ series if they qualify.”

In addition to the 100 anglers qualifying from both divisions of the Opens, all current Bassmaster Elite Series anglers will be eligible to compete in the Elite Qualifiers, as well as the second- and third-place finishers from the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance.

“From an Elite Series standpoint, the model is extremely attractive. For the guys who failed to requalify, it offers an immediate opportunity to get back to bass fishing’s biggest stage. For those Elites who failed to qualify for the Classic, it offers three more opportunities to earn a ticket to the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing, as well as a place for any Elite pro looking for additional top-tier events to keep sharpening their skills in the fall,” Weldon said.

B.A.S.S. remains committed to the “win and you’re in” concept for the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic. Anglers who fish an entire Division of the Opens will receive a berth to the Classic if they win an event. The same applies to the three-event EQ series, taking the total to 11 berths, which is an increase of two berths from years past.

Also new for 2025, the number of anglers who will qualify for the Elite Series has been increased to 10 (nine qualified in each of the past two years). Co-anglers will continue to have the opportunity to fish the Opens. However, there will be no co-anglers for the EQ series. Additionally, the EQ series rules will mirror those of the Elite Series.

Entry fees for each Opens event will remain at $2,000 for the Opens pros and $475 for the co-anglers. EQ entry fees will be $3,500 per event.

The full season of the Opens will be announced in October, while the EQ series schedule will not be announced until later in the year.

For full details please visit Bassmaster.com.

Onalaska’s Ruh Has Big Second Day to Win Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Mississippi River in La Crosse

Brian Carter

September 24, 2024

Onalaska’s Ruh Has Big Second Day to Win Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Mississippi River in La Crosse

Boater Kevin Ruh of Onalaska, Wisconsin, and Strike-King co-angler Gage Griffin of Lake Forest, Illinois.

Oldfield’s Marler Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Bull Shoals Lake

Brian Carter

September 24, 2024

Oldfield’s Marler Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Bull Shoals Lake

Boater Wyatt Marler of Oldfield, Missouri, and Strike-King co-angler Wade Guiltner of Salem, Arkansas.

Kerr Lake Set to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament

Brian Carter

September 24, 2024

Kerr Lake Set to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament

North Carolina-Virginia Reservoir Set to Host 200 Boaters and Strike King Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2025 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000

HENDERSON, N.C. (Sept. 24, 2024) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s Buckeye, Northeast, Shenandoah and South Carolina divisions will close out the 2024 season in Henderson, North Carolina, Oct. 3-5, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament at Kerr Lake.

Hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 42nd annual BFL All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

“This Regional tournament is going to be a good one to follow, because I think MLF is hitting is at just the right time,” said local pro Derik Hudson of Concord, Virginia, who has eight top-10 finishes on Kerr Lake – including a victory in last year’s 2023 BFL Super-Tournament. “This past weekend the water temperatures will still very high – 77 to 79 degrees. But we’re at that time of the year where the fall transition is coming soon. I think in this one the fish are going to be spread out – shallow and deep – and guys are going to be able to catch them fishing their strengths.”

Hudson said that he expects forward-facing sonar to play a large role in this tournament, but he does think that an angler can compete to win strictly by fishing shallow.

“There is a ton of shad in the lake right now, and out deep those fish are going to be keyed in on the shad,” Hudson said. “The majority of fish seem to still be out offshore, but lately it seems like the bigger fish are moving shallow and being caught on transition banks, stumpy points and on rock. That’s what makes this one so interesting – they’re going to hit it right in the middle of the fall transition and it’s still really anybody’s ballgame.”

When Hudson won the BFL Super Tournament on Kerr Lake last year, he weighed in limits totaling 16- and 15- pounds and his 31-pound total won by nearly a 5-pound margin. He expects weights to be down a little bit in this Regional tournament due to the fall transition.

“I feel like if you catch if you catch 13 to 14 pounds a day, you’re going to be sitting really good,” Hudson went on to say. “But, like we just saw this last weekend in the Super Tournament, if you get on that right roll offshore or on the bank, the lake has 18 or 19 right around the corner. So, I would say to shoot to stay right in the middle. If you shoot for 15 a day, that’ll be a great day for anybody. But know that 18 to 19 (pounds) is still out there somewhere.”

Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each morning from the Nutbrush Bridge Access at the Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, located at 115 Jack Wade Farm Road, in Henderson, North Carolina. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour. For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Pickwick Lake Set to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament

Brian Carter

September 24, 2024

Pickwick Lake Set to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament

Pickwick Lake to Host 200 Boaters and Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2025 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000

COUNCE, Tenn. (Sept. 24, 2024) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s LBL, Mountain, Ozark and Savannah River divisions will wrap up their 2024 season in Counce, Tennessee, next week, Oct. 3-5, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event at Pickwick Lake.

Hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

Dylan Nutt of Nashville, Tennessee, is a junior at the University of North Alabama and currently fishes in the Abu Garcia College Fishing and Phoenix Bass Fishing League circuits. Nutt won the Phoenix BFL Super Tournament on Pickwick Lake this past Sunday and said anglers are in for a great event.

“The fish are really spread out right now, so fishing’s a bit tougher,” said Nutt. “That’s not what you’re used to seeing on Pickwick in May or June, but I still think we’ll see high weights at the top of the leaderboard this time of year. There are some big ones in the lake and even with it being tough, some people are going to figure it out.”

Nutt said he expects to see a variety of patterns in play throughout the event.

“I think we’ll see guys catching fish on Carolina rigs, football jigs and shaky-head rigs,” said Nutt. “But you’ll see other anglers targeting fish that are chasing shad. We’re early in the fall transition and a lot of the fish are starting to feed on baitfish, so you’re going to see a lot of guys catching them on swimbaits, topwater jigs, lipless crankbaits and stuff like that that are shad imitators.”

Although the bite may be tough, Nutt said he expects to see all three species in play.

“There will definitely be a lot of largemouth and smallmouth weighed in, but there’s also the opportunity for guys to catch some big spotted bass,” said Nutt. “I think it will take a 15- to 20-pound bag all three days to be in the top 10 and probably will take 67 to 75 pounds to win.”

Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each morning from Pickwick Landing State Park, located at 120 Playground Loop, in Counce. Weigh-ins will also be held at the State Park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals. The 2025 BFL All-American will be held May 29-31 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Ken Mah Blows Out BAM Pro Tour, Winning by More Than 12 Pounds at Thermalito

Brian Carter

September 24, 2024

Ken Mah Blows Out BAM Pro Tour, Winning by More Than 12 Pounds at Thermalito

Colby Pearson Prevails as Inaugural Angler of the Year

by Jody Only

OROVILLE, Calif. – The final day of the season-ending bass battle of the BAM Pro Tour concluded today as Ken Mah of Elk Grove, Calif. cruised to a blowout win at the Thermalito Afterbay with a five-fish limit that tipped the scales at 29.82 pounds, outpacing the runner-up by more than 12 pounds. Mah’s effort earned him a $12,073 payday.

“Today was crazy,” said Mah, reflecting on his second major victory at the Oroville fishery. “I’m humbled, I’m blessed, and I’m thankful. It’s so hard to win even one of these multi-day events. It’s crazy to win anywhere, even once, but to win here again – I’m speechless.”

Mah qualified for Championship Sunday with the second-heaviest weight of 32.69 pounds, accumulated over the first two days of fishing. Blasting off with a leaderboard reset to zero, the top 10 anglers launched for their final limit to determine the winner. Fish management was a key part of Mah’s strategy.

“The first day I fished a ChatterBait with a Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon trailer,” he said. “It wasn’t easy, but I caught them fairly early, and once I reached my target weight, I was able to fish more freely.”

A finicky bite on Day Three forced Mah to adjust for his Clear Lake-sized bag. He credited the River2Sea Phat Mat Daddy frog and a flippin’ stick for the big bites.

“I glued a 1-ounce weight and 80-pound Sunline braid to a 7’11” Loomis flippin’ stick and went to work,” he said.

His flippin’ plastics included both a YoMama and College Craw from Big Bite Baits, along with a Missile Baits Craw Father. A specific, slow retrieve with a subtle shake after bottom contact was essential for Mah’s success.

O’Shinn Flips for Five

Auburn, Calif. pro Bill O’Shinn qualified for the final day with 12 scorable bass, placing him in 8th with a two-day total of 20.56 pounds, averaging 10 pounds per day. On Championship Sunday, he upped that to five fish for 17.10 pounds, securing 2nd place and pocketing $5,644.

“Today was slow,” O’Shinn shared. “I was getting one fish every hour or two. I only got five or six bites all day, but mid-day, I figured out something else about where they were positioning, and I was able to get a few key bites that catapulted me into 2nd.”

Every fish for O’Shinn came on a flippin’ stick.

“I flipped a Pro Point Lures The Bug,” he revealed. “It has little tentacles like a Twin Tail Grub, but it’s compact enough to get into the thick stuff. It has good action, and with a 1¼-ounce weight, I was getting way back in there, and that seemed to work.”

O’Shinn mentioned his biggest challenge was finding fish that hadn’t been pressured over the course of the tournament.

“Staying mentally sound through that was important,” he concluded.

Monroe’s Water Turned Cold

Fishing shallow, Ish Monroe from Oakdale, Calif., led the event for each of the first two days of competition by both weight and keepers. His two-day total of 41.00 pounds left him more than five pounds ahead of his nearest competitor. With no leaderboard carryover to Championship Sunday, Monroe’s final standing locked him in 3rd place with 16.79 pounds, earning $4,715.

“It was a good tournament, leading the first two days with 20 pounds,” Monroe said. “Anytime you have a tournament like that, it’s a great event. The best thing was being able to catch ‘em froggin’ and flippin’ – especially when you’re catching good ones doing it.”

Monroe felt his biggest challenge was adjusting to the venue’s fluctuating water temperature.

“Today I had water coming in that was a little bit colder, and I knew I should run a little further away, but I didn’t because I felt like the area I had didn’t get as much pressure as the warmer water,” he said.

Over the course of the three days, Monroe relied on two main presentations.

“I threw my (River2Sea) Phat Mat Daddy frog on the first day, and then mixed in Missile Baits the next day,” he said. “Today, it was all Missile, except for one frog fish that didn’t weigh.”

Monroe tied his frog to Daiwa’s 70-pound Samurai braided line spooled to a 7.1:1 Daiwa Zillion reel, paired with a Daiwa Tatula Elite Series 7’4” frog rod. He flipped with a Daiwa Tatula Elite Series Ish Monroe 8’ Punching/Flippin’ rod and a Daiwa 7.1:1 Pitch/Flip reel with the same Daiwa Samurai braid.

His flip rig featured a 5/0 River2Sea New Jack Flippin’ Hook, a punch stop, and a 1-ounce Angler’s King tungsten weight. “The weight is exclusively available at Fisherman’s Warehouse,” added Monroe.

Pearson Claims Angler of the Year Title

Heading into the final BAM Pro Tour event of 2024, Colby Pearson of Central Point, Ore., was leading the Angler of the Year (AOY) points race. Monroe was hot on his heels, with only seven points separating them. The title remained up for grabs until the final day of the Thermalito competition.

“If Ish would’ve won (Thermalito), we would’ve tied for AOY, unless I got 9th or better,” said Pearson. “I had four top-10s, and the fact that there even was an Angler of the Year race after four top-10s is amazing in itself. So, props to Ish. We’ve been duking it out all year, and I couldn’t have gone against a better guy.”

With Thermalito as the bookend to the BAM Pro Tour 2024 schedule, Pearson was thankful to finish the year strong.

“This place was a thorn in my side,” he said. “Coming from Oregon, we don’t punch for bass, and I knew I was far out of my element. So, I was a little nervous coming in.

I figured I would be holding on for dear life; but I knew if I got another top-10, it would put a little bit of pressure on Ish.”

Pearson’s four top-10 finishes included back-to-back wins at Lake Martinez and Lake Almanor to kick off BAM’s season.

“Martinez was my first major win,” exclaimed Pearson. “This year has been amazing, and I can’t wait for next year and the BAM Super 60.”

Note: BAM Pro Tour anglers are ranked in Pro Tour events by both the heaviest five-fish limit (Weight) and the number of scorable bass caught (Keepers).

First place is awarded to the angler with the five heaviest bass, and second place goes to the highest keeper count. The standings then continue to alternate by weight/keepers.

Anglers ranked by weight on the leaderboard are denoted with an asterisk.

Anglers add to both of their Day One rankings on Day Two, as an accumulated two-day total. Once both days are tallied, the field is cut to the top-10. All results are zeroed out, and the final 10 anglers fish for the five heaviest bass on Day Three to determine the champion.

Place/Angler/Big Fish/Day 3 Weight/Place Winnings/Contingency or BigFish Dollars/Total Payout

1 Ken Mah 29.82 $11,573 $500 $12,073

2 Bill O’Shinn 17.10 $5,144 $500 $5,644

3 Ish Monroe 16.79 $4,715 $4,715

4 Nicholas Cloutier 15.84 $4,286 $4,286

5 Luke Johns 15.45 $3,858 $3,858

6 Jake Boomer 13.73 $3,429 $3,429

7 Jason Bradshaw 7.19 12.57 $2,572 $675 $3,247

8 Hayden Lee 11.84 $2,572 $2,572

9 Colby Pearson 8.64 $2,357 $2,357

10 Greg Gutierrez 4.27 $2,357 $2,357

FullResults 2024 BAM Pro Tour Thermalito Afterbay Day One

FullResults 2024 BAM Pro Tour Thermalito Afterbay Day Two

FullFinal Results

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Ken Mah Blows Out BAM Pro Tour, Winning by More Than 12 Pounds at Thermalito

Pearson Claims Angler of the Year Title

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