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Lake of the Ozarks Readies to Host Toyota Series Event

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OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Feb. 27, 2021) – The Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Plains Division will kick off  its 2021 season with a tournament next week in Osage Beach, Missouri, March 4-6, with the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Lake of the Ozarks presented by Fenwick . Hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.

Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro Casey Scanlon of Eldon, Missouri, guides on Lake of the Ozarks and said he believes we could be headed toward an event with epic weights.

“The first week of March is a little iffy weatherwise – you don’t know if you’re gonna see the lake really show out,” Scanlon said. “But, we’ve had a pretty mild winter, and they’ve been chewing, so I would think we’re gonna see a pretty good tournament.”

With water temps expected to be in the 40’s, Scanlon said he thinks the whole lake will play for a winter or prespawn bite.

“We’ll be in a winter or prespawn mode,” Scanlon said. “Fish will be staging up, but still a month off from really making a hard push. So, you’re talking umbrella rigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. There will be fish caught extremely shallow, and fish deep on the bottom and suspended. The lake has been fishing pretty diverse – better than it has in a while, so I’m thinking it will be a really fun event.”

Historically, in fall events on Lake of the Ozarks, anglers have ranged far and wide over the lake, with winning bags coming from way up the river to right near takeoff. Scanlon said he expects that to be the case this time as well, but anticipates the docks will be less important than they are in the fall.

“The fish are going to be, in general, more bank-related as opposed to dock-related,” Scanlon said. “We’ve been there a lot in the fall, where guys are fishing deep around those boat docks – and I’m not saying it’s not going to play – but normally it’s a more visible cover. Brushpiles and things like that are definitely going to play, but you’re going to see more guys fishing behind docks, targeting laydowns and doing typical prespawn stuff.

Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Public Beach No. 2 in Osage Beach. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.

The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who finish in the top 25 from each division, along with tournament winners and the top 12 from the new Wild Card Division, will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and  YouTube.

March Kerr “Buggs Island” lake March Lake Report by Dennie Gilbert

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March Kerr “Buggs Island” lake March Lake Report by Dennie Gilbert
Kerr “Buggs Island” lake
Dennie Gilbert
Largemouth Bass update:
March is one of the best months for big fish but this has not been a typical month. We’ve had high muddy and cold water 39-43 degrees. We had good bites till the last two weeks but with the cold rain and ice and snow they have slowed down. We need sunlight and warmer temperatures to get them moving. March with the possibility of lower water levels and rising temperatures look for the bass to move shallower. Good baits will be crank baits(10’divers or less) on main lake and secondary points in creeks. Shad and crawfish colors tend to work best. Some areas with jigs, jerk bait and ned rigs fished slowly will also come into play targeting rocks and red clay with deep water close by. Bass will start to move back looking for spawning areas around bushes,rocks, lay downs and stumps. Anyone interested in learning the lake, how to use graphs or just a great day on the water. Contact me @ 434-579-1007 or WWW.KERRLAKEBASS.COM

Dustin Connell Wins REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage on Lake Eufaula

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Dustin Connell Wins REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage on Lake Eufaula
Alabama Pro Catches 12 Fish Weighing 36 Pounds, 15 Ounces to Earn First Career MLF Victory, Win $300,000

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EUFAULA, Ala. (Feb. 26, 2021) – Some days out on the water, it’s like you can do no wrong. Googan Baits pro Dustin Connell had himself one of those days Friday.  Connell, of Clanton, Alabama, caught 12 fish weighing 36 pounds, 15 ounces, to win REDCREST 2021, the Bass Pro Tour championship and earn the top prize of $300,000 at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. Connell grabbed the lead in the second period and never looked back, winning by a 5-pound, 11-ounce margin over second-place pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, who caught 10 bass totaling 31 pounds, 4 ounces, good for $60,000.

“I still can’t believe this, I really can’t,” said an emotional Connell on-stage after being awarded the REDCREST trophy. “This is truly what dreams are made of. I look around and I see guys like Jacob (Wheeler), (Bryan) Thrift, Ott (DeFoe), and I am just so blessed to be fishing against these guys. It’s an honor just to be here and compete. To come out of here with a win, this is a dream come true.”

Connell’s quest to get to Championship Friday was not easy. On Monday, the first day of competition, Connell caught five bass totaling 15 pounds, 5 ounces to finish the day comfortably in 12th place. Tuesday, Connell only managed two bass and squeaked into the top 20 cut in 19th place to barely advance.

“I threw a swimjig all day long on day two, and it just wasn’t happening,” Connell said. “I caught a 5-pounder on a crankbait and I am so lucky – had that fish not bit, I would not be here today.”

In Wednesday’s Knockout Round, Connell started to put the pieces to his winning pattern together.

“I pulled out a jerkbait at 10:30 (a.m.) in the Knockout Round and fired out my first cast and I watched two fish follow it up and was like, ‘huh’. Then I fired it out again and caught one. Then I caught a 3-pounder on it. I ended up throwing it for the rest of the Knockout Round and caught them pretty good and ended up finishing second.
“Near the end of the Knockout Round, I knew I was and had made the Championship Round,” Connell continued. “So, I spent the last 45 minutes idling in one area and marking every single brush pile that I could. I was going to fish them all on the final day.”

On Friday, Connell returned to the brush piles with his unnamed crystal-shad-colored jerkbait.

“Every fish that I caught today came on the same deep-diving jerkbait,” Connell said. “The key was that it had to be deep-diving – not because it runs deep but because I needed it to get down in the water column quicker.”

Connell threw the jerkbait on a 6-foot, 6-inch Favorite Fishing Rush jerkbait rod, with an unnamed 6:3:1 reel and 12-pound-test Seaguar INVISX fluorocarbon line. He took the lead midway through the second period and never gave it up. At one point in Period 3 he was catching them so well that his hand was cramping up.

“I would have caught some fish, but I would not have won this tournament without my Lowrance ActiveTarget,” Connell said. “I literally watched every single fish that I caught today come out of the brush piles and eat it on it.

“I was shook up the entire third period,” Connell went on to say. “It got real for me when there was 10 minutes left. I was standing on the deck and just praying. All the work, the time that I have spent learning, the sacrifices my family has made… it all came down to that moment. I haven’t been this emotional in a long time. I am so incredibly thankful and blessed. I’ll say it again – this is my dream, come true.”

The top 10 pros at REDCREST 2021 on Lake Eufaula finished:

1st:          Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala., 12 bass, 36-15, $300,000
2nd:         Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-4, $60,000
3rd:         Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn, nine bass, 25-6, $48,000
4th:         Zack Birge of Blanchard, Okla., seven bass, 24-1, $30,000
5th:         David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., six bass, 18-12, $27,000
6th:         Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan, five bass, 11-6, $24,000
7th:         Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn., four bass, 10-15, $23,000
8th:         Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., three bass, 8-1, $18,000
9th:         Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., two bass, 6-15, $16,000
10th:       Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., one bass, 2-15, $15,000

Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 59 bass weighing 176 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the final 10 pros in the Championship Round Friday.

Birge won Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 5-pound, 3-ounce largemouth in Period 1. Thrift won the $7,000 overall Berkley Big Bass award with his 7-pound, 1-ounce bass that he weighed in on Day 1 of competition.

Television coverage of REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship, will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 3 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside the REDCREST will premiere at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 18 on CBS. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.

REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula, was hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce and was the conclusion of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour season.

The 2021 season of the Bass Pro Tour is set to open next month, March 21-26 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas. The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at each event – competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2022 championship.

For complete details and updated information on REDCREST 2021, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, and YouTube.

Gustafson Sticks With Smallmouth, Maintains Lead At Bassmaster Elite On The Tennessee River

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Gustafson Sticks With Smallmouth, Maintains Lead At Bassmaster Elite On The Tennessee River

Jeff Gustafson, of Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, is leading after Day 2 of the 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River with a two-day total of 33 pounds, 8 ounces. 

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

February 26, 2021

Gustafson Sticks With Smallmouth, Maintains Lead At Bassmaster Elite On The Tennessee River

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Despite cool, rainy conditions, Jeff Gustafson maintained the lead during Friday’s second round of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River, catching a limit of smallmouth bass that weighed 15 pounds, 10 ounces.

His two-day total of 33-8 gives him more than a 3-pound advantage of Tennessee pro Brandon Card, who is second with 30-7.

Gustafson, a two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier from Canada, said he never expected to catch two limits of smallmouth with the 18-inch minimum size restriction in place for this week’s tournament waters.

“It feels awesome,” he said. “Now with the position I’m in, there’s that stress. It’s been a good week so far. You could have signed me up for 50th place on Wednesday night. One thing I’ve learned doing this, these chances to win don’t come along very often and you just hope you take advantage of it when it happens.”

While the area Gustafson is fishing is still producing quality smallmouth, the bites didn’t come quite as fast Friday as they did on Day 1. The Keewatin, Ontario, native said he had more bass bump his bait instead of eating it.

After catching four fish in the first two hours, it took Gustafson until just before 1 p.m. to secure his final keeper.

“There are still some fish there, but they were harder to catch today and they are getting harder to catch,” he said. “I wasn’t really able to expand a whole lot, and part of that was it took me so long to catch my fifth fish.

“It was important to get that last one.”

With bass setting up in two or three “sweet spots” in his primary area, precision has been important. If he misses his spot by a couple of feet, he feels there is little chance of getting a bite.

The specific technique used to catch his fish on Day 1 has continued to produce, however.

“The way I’m fishing is the primary way we catch smallmouths back home in mid-summer through the fall, and I’ve been dying to utilize it in a tournament down here since I started fishing in 2013,” Gustafson said.

With very few options outside of his current strategy, Gustafson will return to the same area for Saturday’s semifinal round.

“I’m not leaving that area I’m fishing. I’m sure the fish are there, it’s just a matter of if I can wrangle five of them,” he said. “It seems like the morning is better and hopefully I can capitalize on that. Hit the juicy stuff first thing.”

With the big bag of the day at 16-10, Card jumped from fourth to second. The Knoxville native, who recently moved to North Carolina, used a flurry around mid-morning to secure four of his five bass, including a 4-pounder and a 3-pounder on back-to-back casts.

“I’m just grinding it out in an area,” Card said. “I have a section that seems like there is big fish. You can go hours and not even get a sniff. And then, you will catch like two or three or four in a row.

“I went from zero to five fish in literally 20 minutes. I culled and then to catch my seventh fish, it took me hours.”

While dragging an Advantage Baits Wild Card Finesse prototype jig was the key for Card on Day 1, he relied on jerkbaits and a jig on Day 2. Although he’s fishing a reaction bait, Card said he is using a deliberate approach.

“Yesterday with the high sun, they wouldn’t come up on a jerkbait,” Card said. “So yesterday, I had to drag. I’m fishing so slow it is unbelievable. I’m barely even moving.”

On his final cast Friday, Mississippi native Brock Mosley caught a 6-10 largemouth on spinning gear to anchor his limit of 14-10. The fish took Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day and helped move him from fifth to third with a two-day total of 27-10.

“I was stuck on four fish, and I saved enough time to hit two spots on my way back,” Mosley said. “One was the exact same spot I caught a big smallmouth yesterday.

“About 10 casts into it, I leaned into her. I actually thought I had some carpet or something until she shook her head. I got her in the boat to fill my limit and that’s huge on this place.”

With largemouth being the primary target, Mosley said he is trying to change with the conditions.

“It seems like this lake wakes up in a different mood every day,” he said. “I decided not to go to Tellico today about lunch as I was working that way. I figured I would stay up here and grind it out.

“I was really fortunate to get that last bite. Otherwise, I would have only had 8 pounds.”

The Top 50 remaining anglers will take off tomorrow from Volunteer Landing at 7 a.m. ET. Weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. at World’s Fair Park Performance Lawn. After Saturday’s round, only the Top 10 will advance to Championship Sunday.

Live coverage of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast the action live from 8-11:30 a.m. Saturday.

The tournament is being hosted by the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission.

2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River 2/25-2/28
Tennessee River, Knoxville  TN.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Jeff Gustafson         Keewatin Ontario CANADA 10  33-08  100
Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   15-10
2.  Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC           10  30-07   99   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 5   16-10
3.  Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS        10  27-10   98   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   14-10
4.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  25-05   97
Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 5   13-04
5.  John Cox               Debary, FL              10  23-14   96
Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   14-00
6.  Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           10  23-14   95
Day 1: 5   10-07     Day 2: 5   13-07
7.  Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           10  22-15   94
Day 1: 5   10-14     Day 2: 5   12-01
8.  Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           10  22-09   93
Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   11-00
9.  Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             10  22-05   92
Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   10-10
10. Taku Ito               Chiba JAPAN             10  22-04   91
Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   12-06
11. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            7  22-02   90
Day 1: 4   08-11     Day 2: 3   13-07
12. Jake Whitaker          Fairview, NC             9  22-01   89
Day 1: 4   10-15     Day 2: 5   11-02
13. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  21-15   88
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   08-01
14. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK           10  21-13   87
Day 1: 5   09-10     Day 2: 5   12-03
15. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             10  21-12   86
Day 1: 5   12-00     Day 2: 5   09-12
16. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            10  21-10   85
Day 1: 5   08-15     Day 2: 5   12-11
17. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              9  21-08   84
Day 1: 4   06-14     Day 2: 5   14-10
18. Bob Downey             Hudson, WI              10  20-15   83
Day 1: 5   10-12     Day 2: 5   10-03
19. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               7  20-01   82
Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 2   06-01
20. Chad Morgenthaler      Reeds Spring, MO         8  20-00   81
Day 1: 4   07-09     Day 2: 4   12-07
21. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            10  19-07   80
Day 1: 5   09-03     Day 2: 5   10-04
22. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               8  19-06   79
Day 1: 3   05-07     Day 2: 5   13-15
23. Frank Talley           Temple, TX               9  18-10   78
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 4   07-08
24. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           9  18-09   77
Day 1: 4   09-10     Day 2: 5   08-15
25. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           7  18-06   76
Day 1: 2   04-08     Day 2: 5   13-14
26. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           8  17-13   75
Day 1: 5   11-00     Day 2: 3   06-13
27. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          7  17-05   74
Day 1: 4   10-03     Day 2: 3   07-02
28. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              9  17-03   73
Day 1: 4   07-03     Day 2: 5   10-00
29. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            9  17-01   72
Day 1: 5   09-13     Day 2: 4   07-04
30. Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL              8  16-15   71
Day 1: 3   04-07     Day 2: 5   12-08
31. Patrick Walters        Summerville, SC         10  16-14   70
Day 1: 5   08-01     Day 2: 5   08-13
32. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                8  16-14   69
Day 1: 3   08-02     Day 2: 5   08-12
33. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA             7  16-07   68
Day 1: 4   11-03     Day 2: 3   05-04
34. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               7  16-05   67
Day 1: 2   04-10     Day 2: 5   11-11
35. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            8  16-05   66
Day 1: 4   06-10     Day 2: 4   09-11
36. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             8  16-05   65
Day 1: 5   08-03     Day 2: 3   08-02
37. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             8  16-03   64
Day 1: 5   11-06     Day 2: 3   04-13
38. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC           7  16-02   63
Day 1: 4   08-08     Day 2: 3   07-10
39. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                7  16-00   62
Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 2   05-15
40. Derek Hudnall          Denham Springs, LA       8  15-15   61
Day 1: 3   04-13     Day 2: 5   11-02
41. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 8  15-14   60
Day 1: 3   05-10     Day 2: 5   10-04
42. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN            6  15-07   59
Day 1: 1   01-13     Day 2: 5   13-10
43. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           8  14-10   58
Day 1: 3   05-09     Day 2: 5   09-01
44. Bryan New              Belmont, NC              6  14-02   57
Day 1: 1   02-01     Day 2: 5   12-01
45. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         6  13-15   56
Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 1   02-14
46. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  7  13-12   55
Day 1: 2   04-01     Day 2: 5   09-11
47. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            8  13-11   54
Day 1: 5   09-04     Day 2: 3   04-07
48. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                7  13-10   53
Day 1: 2   03-07     Day 2: 5   10-03
49. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         8  13-04   52
Day 1: 3   04-05     Day 2: 5   08-15
50. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              8  13-02   51
Day 1: 3   04-11     Day 2: 5   08-07
51. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             7  12-15   50   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   02-15     Day 2: 5   10-00
52. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              7  12-13   49   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   09-15     Day 2: 2   02-14
53. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               7  12-10   48   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   03-03     Day 2: 5   09-07
54. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               8  12-10   47   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   04-03     Day 2: 5   08-07
55. Drew Benton            Blakely, GA              6  12-06   46   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   03-07     Day 2: 4   08-15
56. Chris Groh             Spring Grove, IL         5  11-06   45   $2,500.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   11-06
57. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           7  11-06   44   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   07-02     Day 2: 2   04-04
58. Joshua Stracner        Vandiver, AL             6  11-04   43   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   09-00     Day 2: 1   02-04
59. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          6  11-03   42   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   04-08     Day 2: 3   06-11
60. Buddy Gross            Chickamauga, GA          4  11-02   41   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   04-15     Day 2: 2   06-03
61. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  10-13   40   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   04-08     Day 2: 3   06-05
62. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO         5  10-07   39   $2,500.00
Day 1: 4   08-13     Day 2: 1   01-10
63. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            6  10-07   38   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   03-07     Day 2: 4   07-00
64. Dale Hightower         Mannford, OK             6  10-07   37   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   05-11     Day 2: 3   04-12
65. Randy Pierson          Oakdale, CA              5  10-01   36   $2,500.00
Day 1: 1   01-10     Day 2: 4   08-07
66. Mike Huff              Corbin, KY               4  09-08   35   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   02-15     Day 2: 2   06-09
67. Bill Weidler           Helena, AL               6  09-08   34   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   04-15     Day 2: 3   04-09
68. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN              4  09-03   33   $2,500.00
Day 1: 4   09-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
69. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            5  09-02   32   $2,500.00
Day 1: 4   07-01     Day 2: 1   02-01
70. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               5  09-00   31   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   05-00     Day 2: 2   04-00
71. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             5  08-11   30   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   04-00     Day 2: 3   04-11
72. Destin DeMarion        Grove City, PA           5  08-09   29   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   04-00     Day 2: 3   04-09
73. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC              4  08-00   28   $2,500.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 4   08-00
74. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI               4  07-15   27   $2,500.00
Day 1: 1   01-12     Day 2: 3   06-03
75. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              3  07-11   26   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   07-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
76. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA             3  07-09   25
Day 1: 2   05-10     Day 2: 1   01-15
77. Tyler Carriere         Youngsville, LA          3  07-04   24
Day 1: 1   03-10     Day 2: 2   03-10
78. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           4  07-02   23
Day 1: 3   05-10     Day 2: 1   01-08
79. Kyle Monti             Okeechobee, FL           3  07-01   22
Day 1: 1   02-13     Day 2: 2   04-04
80. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               4  06-13   21
Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 3   05-04
81. Cody Hollen            Beaverton, OR            4  06-11   20
Day 1: 1   01-12     Day 2: 3   04-15
82. Brett Preuett          Monroe, LA               4  06-10   19
Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 3   05-01
83. Jay Yelas              Lincoln City, OR         3  06-09   18
Day 1: 2   04-06     Day 2: 1   02-03
84. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX               4  06-08   17
Day 1: 2   02-15     Day 2: 2   03-09
85. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC           3  06-08   16
Day 1: 1   03-03     Day 2: 2   03-05
86. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                 4  06-07   15
Day 1: 3   04-05     Day 2: 1   02-02
87. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA     2  06-06   14
Day 1: 1   02-11     Day 2: 1   03-11
88. Rob Digh               Denver, NC               4  06-04   13
Day 1: 2   03-03     Day 2: 2   03-01
89. Harvey Horne           Bella Vista, AR          2  06-02   12
Day 1: 1   02-02     Day 2: 1   04-00
90. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               3  05-07   11
Day 1: 1   01-13     Day 2: 2   03-10
91. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            3  05-05   10
Day 1: 2   03-12     Day 2: 1   01-09
92. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  2  05-01    9
Day 1: 1   01-13     Day 2: 1   03-04
93. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN           1  04-11    8
Day 1: 1   04-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
94. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           2  04-06    7
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   04-06
95. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             2  04-01    6
Day 1: 1   03-00     Day 2: 1   01-01
96. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              2  04-00    5
Day 1: 2   04-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
97. Randy Sullivan         Breckenridge, TX         2  03-13    4
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   03-13
98. Rick Morris            Lake Gaston, VA          2  03-13    3
Day 1: 1   01-12     Day 2: 1   02-01
99. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             1  02-08    2
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   02-08
100. Quentin Cappo          Prairieville, LA         1  00-09    1
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   00-09
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Brandon Card             Salisbury, NC       05-09      $1,000.00
2   Brock Mosley             Collinsville, MS    06-10      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        29       300       626-05
2        39       327       724-04
———————————-
68       627      1350-09

The Ultimate Design in Buzzbaits is Here – Daiwa

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The Ultimate Design in Buzzbaits is Here – Daiwa

The Ultimate Design in Buzzbaits is Here

Ever Green’s LOUDBUZZ Buzzbait is loud, tracks straight, and fishes from slow or fast

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Cypress, CA (February 26, 2021) – Buzzbaits are nothing new…and won’t be going away anytime soon. Why? They flat-out catch fish. No other lure can spit as much water rhythmically on a straight retrieve. And oftentimes, it’s this consistent whirring and spraying that captivates fish.

New for 2021, Ever Green, a Japanese designer of highly refined baits, introduces LOUDBUZZ. A classic buzzbait at first glance, LOUDBUZZ is constructed of premium components that not only endure hearty strikes, but also deliver a best-of-class performance.

LOUDBUZZ’s custom offset aluminum prop throws a wave of water while keeping the bait tracking on a straight plane. The prop is affixed with an aluminum rivet and mounted on a stainless-steel shaft, yielding unmatched toughness.

Daiwa and Ever Green pro Cody Meyer is a big fan of the new LOUDBUZZ, having caught countless fish on the MLF Tour thanks to its premium, fish-attracting performance.

Meyer comments: “For starters, the name is LOUDBUZZ, and it’s extremely loud. I’ve always liked loud buzzbaits, not the quiet ones. With the LOUDBUZZ you really aggravate the fish and draw them in from a far distance and thick cover. Second off, because of the keel design, the LOUDBUZZ always tracks straight and looks more natural, and the hook-up ratio is really, really good because of the way it tracks. A lot of buzzbaits will track off to the side, to the right or left, not so with the LOUDBUZZ.”

“The LOUDBUZZ also tracks straight and spits a lot of water at slow speeds. Most buzzbaits on the market you have to really crank to get that blade moving and keep the bait on the surface. The way the LOUDBUZZ is designed with the big blade and the whole head configuration, you can work it slow and keep it on top. It also features a premium hook, and I feel like we nailed it with the colors for any fishing situation. And all of the skirts are handtied. I’m just super impressed. It’s really a deadly buzzbait—everything I’ve been looking for in one and more.”

Daiwa Field Marketing Manager Marc Mills sums up the bait, “With the LOUDBUZZ, our lure designers worked long and hard on creating the ultimate design in buzzbaits. The goal was extreme volume and accuracy in tracking and solid hookups in a bait design that would draw strikes whether worked fast or slow.”

“One feature that may not stand out to a lot of anglers but is the shape of the head, which allows the bait to plane and come to the surface quickly and keep LOUDBUZZ in the strike zone longer. Also, the angle and design of the blade is a huge factor, much like the combination of the bow and the propeller of your bass boat. The result is a one-of-a-kind buzzbait that caters to the needs of pros and everyday anglers alike—and we know it’s going to quickly become a go-to lure.”

If you’re a fan of frantic surface strikes, you’re going to want to add the new Ever Green LOUDBUZZ to your arsenal—it’s one bait that promises loads of topwater mayhem…

Ever Green’s new 3/8-ounce LOUDBUZZ comes in eight proven patterns, including Green Pumpkin, Fire Craw, White, Black, White Delight, Chartreuse Shad, Clearwater Shad and Golden Shiner. MSRP is $16.99.

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

Thrift Cruises to Knockout Round Win at REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage on Lake Eufaula

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Thrift Cruises to Knockout Round Win at REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage on Lake Eufaula
Neal Catches two 3½ -Pounders in Final Six Minutes to Advance, 10 Anglers Set for Championship Friday – Final-Day Shootout for $300,000

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EUFAULA, Ala. (Feb. 25, 2021) – The fishing improved over Wednesday, but it was still not an easy day for tournament competitors Thursday on Lake Eufaula. Unless your name was Bryan Thrift. Thrift weighed in 14 bass totaling 40 pounds, 8 ounces Thursday to easily cruise to the win in the Knockout Round (Group B) on Day 4 at REDCREST 2021, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. The five-day competition featured a field of 40 of the best anglers in the world from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour competing for a top cash prize of $300,000.

Thrift now advances to Championship Friday, along with pros Ott DeFoe, Michael Neal, Takahiro Omori and Anthony Gagliardi.
“I’ve made it to the Championship Round of my very first REDCREST, and I am beyond excited,” Thrift said. “I feel like I’m on enough fish right now to at least have a chance. I am a little nervous – a lot of people watched me catch them this morning off of my one place, and that’s where I’ve caught most of my fish this week. So, I’m really hoping that I can still get on it tomorrow. Hopefully there are still a few there, and if they are then I think we have a chance.”

Despite four straight days of sunny skies and warmer temperatures that had many predicting the fish would be heading to the bank, Thrift has done the majority of his fishing offshore with a swimbait and a shaky-head rig.

“I know they’re headed to the bank, any time now,” Thrift said. “I went in one pocket today and seen six or seven bass cruising around – no big ones yet – but buck bass up there looking. So, I definitely think they’re coming to the bank soon, but they’re still not quite right yet. I’ll probably look again tomorrow and see what happens. I have a lot of stuff to run tomorrow. I have some stuff left that I didn’t fish today that hopefully could be good, but you never know.”

Michael Neal continued his last-minute REDCREST heroics Thursday, matching what he started earlier this week. After catching a 4-pounder with just 50 seconds left in the final period to advance from Tuesday’s Qualifying Round, Neal caught two 3½-pounders in the final six minutes Thursday to jump from sixth place to third place and advance to the final day.

“What a day. I don’t know how I keep putting myself in this position – right on the cutline, every time,” Neal said. “It’s getting kind of old. It’s fun, don’t get me wrong. But I’d like to have a strong start for once. Who knows, maybe tomorrow will be the day.

“I think I stuck with the spinnerbait a little too long today,” Neal continued. “This morning they were biting it really good, and then the sun got up and it was slick calm, I should have went to the jerkbait a lot earlier. It’s a lesson learned for tomorrow, and I’m very fortunate to make it. Everything goes back to zero, and now it’s anyone’s ballgame.”

The top five pros that made the cut and will advance to Championship Friday on Lake Eufaula are:

1st:          Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., 14 bass, 40-8
2nd:         Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn., seven bass, 23-14
3rd:         Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., seven bass, 20-9
4th:         Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan, seven bass, 19-10
5th:         Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 18-6

The five pros eliminated from competition Thursday are:

6th:         Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., six bass, 15-14
7th:         Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala., five bass, 15-8
8th:         Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas, four bass, 11-11
9th:         Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan., two bass, 6-14
10th:       Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., two bass, 6-5

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 59 bass weighing 189 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the 10 pros in Group B Thursday.

Thrift and DeFoe split Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, each weighing in a 5-pound, 8-ounce largemouth. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $7,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

At REDCREST 2021, the full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Days 1 (Monday) and 2 (Tuesday) of the event. The field was cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers were split into two groups for the Knockout Round – 10 (Group A) competed on Day 3 (Wednesday) and 10 (Group B) competed on Day 4 (Thursday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight now advance to the Championship Round – the fifth and final day of competition (Friday) where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight on the final day will be crowned the REDCREST 2021 champion.

The 10 anglers that will compete in the final Championship Round on Lake Eufaula on Friday are:

Zack Birge of Blanchard, Okla.
Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala.
Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark.
Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tenn.
David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va.
Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C.
Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn.
Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan
Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C.
Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn.

The final 10 anglers in the competition have a combined four FLW Cup titles, three Bassmaster Classic wins, and 10 Angler of the Year (AOY) titles.

REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship at Lake Eufaula, is hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce.

Attendance is limited to competing anglers, essential staff and media covering the event only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2020 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing in a COVID-shortened five regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 40 anglers in the AOY standings after the five events qualified to compete in Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2021 presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action each day of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com. and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of REDCREST 2021 Presented by Old Wisconsin Sausage, the Bass Pro Tour championship, will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 3 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside the REDCREST will premiere at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 18 on CBS. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.

For complete details and updated information on REDCREST 2021, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, and YouTube.

Smallmouth Guru Gustafson Takes Lead At Bassmaster Elite On Tennessee River

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Smallmouth Guru Gustafson Takes Lead At Bassmaster Elite On Tennessee River

Jeff Gustafson, of Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, is leading after Day 1 of the 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River with 17 pounds, 14 ounces. 

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

February 25, 2021

Smallmouth Guru Gustafson Takes Lead At Bassmaster Elite On Tennessee River

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In his tournament experience thus far, Canadian Jeff Gustafson said he had never fished a Southern fishery where smallmouth bass act the same as they do up North.

That changed Thursday when the Canadian pro most people know simply as “Gussy” smashed a limit of mostly smallmouth weighing 17 pounds, 14 ounces, securing a Day 1 lead in the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River.

The Keewatin, Ontario, native holds a nearly 4-pound advantage over three-time Elite Series champion Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., who put 14-0 on the scales.

“I’m catching them a way that I love to fish at home,” Gustafson said. “I’m pretty excited to get back out there, and I’m 100% committed to smallmouth. I spent five hours largemouth fishing this afternoon and caught one 2-pounder and a couple shorts.”

 

Gustafson said he found the spot during the final day of practice. But with the 18-inch minimum size limit for smallmouth on the Tennessee River, he wasn’t sure if the area held the right quality of fish.

He learned quickly on Thursday that it did, landing a limit of smallmouth by 9:30 a.m. in an area with several other competitors close by.

“It was one of the toughest practices I’ve ever had, and I found a little something yesterday and I didn’t catch big fish like that,” he said. “I didn’t know if I could get a keeper; the 18-inch thing is tough.

“My first fish I hooked this morning was 17 7/8 inches. Then I caught another short and another short, and then the next three I got were keepers. It worked out.”

The bass Gustafson located are in about 20 feet of water, and he said what he is doing is something a little different than most of his competitors.

“What I’m doing is kind of a unique way of catching them,” he said. “It’s not easy for everyone if you’ve never done it.”

With a weather system expected to arrive Friday that could bring heavy rains for the second round, Gustafson said he isn’t sure how the smallmouth will react.

“They could be gone tomorrow, but I think if I don’t have a lot of company I should be able to catch a few more,” he said. “I think that is just where they are living right now. I’m confident and excited to go again tomorrow. I’m not calling my shot, but I’m going to do that again tomorrow.”

The rest of the field managed to catch mostly largemouth bass in shallow water.

Kennedy said he caught nearly all of his fish on a jig and was fishing painfully slow to get his bites. He added that he broke off a quality fish on a crankbait.

The nine-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier said he had success in dirty water during practice. Then when he arrived at one of his best spots Thursday, he discovered the area had cleared tremendously.

“It was loaded in practice,” Kennedy said. “I got down there this morning and did not get a bite. The water was crystal clear. They weren’t there. I had to punt and just go fishing.

“I’m grinding. It’s not like I’m on them. I only caught five keepers.”

While Kennedy caught all largemouth Thursday, he still expects smallmouth to play during the event. He isn’t sure what the weather will do to his bite on Day 2, especially with the water clarity changing every day.

“When we first got here, the main river was muddy, the pockets were clear and the very backs were muddy,” he said. “By yesterday, the very backs were clear, the midsection of the creeks were muddy and the river started to clear.

“So, I don’t know if I’m going to have any dirty water left. I’m scared to death to do this again.”

John Crews of Salem, Va., secured 13-14 of mostly largemouth to finish Day 1 in third place, 2 ounces behind Kennedy and an ounce ahead of fourth-place Brandon Card. Crews said he was using a mix of reaction baits to catch his bass, with long lulls between bites.

“It seemed like I kept catching one every 45 minutes. You had to beat them down,” Crews said. “I ended up catching four keepers by noon and a couple shorts. I changed techniques and ended up catching a keeper right away. About another 45 minutes later, I caught a big one that weighed 5-7.”

Card anchored his Day 1 bag with a 5-9 largemouth, which was the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day.

The full field will take off from Volunteer Landing at 7 a.m. ET Friday, and the Day 2 weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. After Friday, only the Top 50 will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round.

 

The Top 10 anglers will compete on Championship Sunday with a chance at the $100,000 first-place prize.

 

Live coverage of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live from the tournament beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament is being hosted by the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission.

2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River 2/25-2/28
Tennessee River, Knoxville  TN.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Jeff Gustafson         Keewatin Ontario CANADA  5  17-14  100
Day 1: 5   17-14
2.  Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  14-00   99
Day 1: 5   14-00
3.  John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  13-14   98
Day 1: 5   13-14
4.  Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            5  13-13   97   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-13
5.  Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  13-00   96
Day 1: 5   13-00
6.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  12-01   95
Day 1: 5   12-01
7.  Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  12-00   94
Day 1: 5   12-00
8.  Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  11-11   93
Day 1: 5   11-11
9.  Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            5  11-09   92
Day 1: 5   11-09
10. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             5  11-06   91
Day 1: 5   11-06
11. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA             4  11-03   90
Day 1: 4   11-03
12. Frank Talley           Temple, TX               5  11-02   89
Day 1: 5   11-02
13. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  11-01   88
Day 1: 5   11-01
14. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  11-00   87
Day 1: 5   11-00
15. Jake Whitaker          Fairview, NC             4  10-15   86
Day 1: 4   10-15
16. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL            5  10-14   85
Day 1: 5   10-14
17. Bob Downey             Hudson, WI               5  10-12   84
Day 1: 5   10-12
18. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL            5  10-07   83
Day 1: 5   10-07
19. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          4  10-03   82
Day 1: 4   10-03
20. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                5  10-01   81
Day 1: 5   10-01
21. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              5  09-15   80
Day 1: 5   09-15
22. John Cox               Debary, FL               5  09-14   79
Day 1: 5   09-14
22. Taku Ito               Chiba JAPAN              5  09-14   79
Day 1: 5   09-14
24. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  09-13   77
Day 1: 5   09-13
25. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK            5  09-10   76
Day 1: 5   09-10
26. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           4  09-10   75
Day 1: 4   09-10
27. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            5  09-04   74
Day 1: 5   09-04
28. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             5  09-03   73
Day 1: 5   09-03
29. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN              4  09-03   72
Day 1: 4   09-03
30. Joshua Stracner        Vandiver, AL             5  09-00   71
Day 1: 5   09-00
31. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             5  08-15   70
Day 1: 5   08-15
32. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO         4  08-13   69
Day 1: 4   08-13
33. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            4  08-11   68
Day 1: 4   08-11
34. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC           4  08-08   67
Day 1: 4   08-08
35. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             5  08-03   66
Day 1: 5   08-03
36. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                3  08-02   65
Day 1: 3   08-02
37. Patrick Walters        Summerville, SC          5  08-01   64
Day 1: 5   08-01
38. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              3  07-11   63
Day 1: 3   07-11
39. Chad Morgenthaler      Reeds Spring, MO         4  07-09   62
Day 1: 4   07-09
40. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              4  07-03   61
Day 1: 4   07-03
41. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           5  07-02   60
Day 1: 5   07-02
42. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            4  07-01   59
Day 1: 4   07-01
43. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              4  06-14   58
Day 1: 4   06-14
44. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            4  06-10   57
Day 1: 4   06-10
45. Dale Hightower         Mannford, OK             3  05-11   56
Day 1: 3   05-11
46. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           3  05-10   55
Day 1: 3   05-10
46. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 3  05-10   55
Day 1: 3   05-10
48. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA             2  05-10   53
Day 1: 2   05-10
49. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           3  05-09   52
Day 1: 3   05-09
50. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               3  05-07   51
Day 1: 3   05-07
51. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               3  05-00   50
Day 1: 3   05-00
52. Bill Weidler           Helena, AL               3  04-15   49
Day 1: 3   04-15
53. Buddy Gross            Chickamauga, GA          2  04-15   48
Day 1: 2   04-15
54. Derek Hudnall          Denham Springs, LA       3  04-13   47
Day 1: 3   04-13
55. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              3  04-11   46
Day 1: 3   04-11
56. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN           1  04-11   45
Day 1: 1   04-11
57. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               2  04-10   44
Day 1: 2   04-10
58. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          3  04-08   43
Day 1: 3   04-08
59. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         2  04-08   42
Day 1: 2   04-08
59. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           2  04-08   42
Day 1: 2   04-08
61. Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL              3  04-07   40
Day 1: 3   04-07
62. Jay Yelas              Lincoln City, OR         2  04-06   39
Day 1: 2   04-06
63. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         3  04-05   38
Day 1: 3   04-05
63. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                 3  04-05   38
Day 1: 3   04-05
65. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               3  04-03   36
Day 1: 3   04-03
66. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  2  04-01   35
Day 1: 2   04-01
67. Destin DeMarion        Grove City, PA           2  04-00   34
Day 1: 2   04-00
67. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             2  04-00   34
Day 1: 2   04-00
67. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              2  04-00   34
Day 1: 2   04-00
70. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            2  03-12   31
Day 1: 2   03-12
71. Tyler Carriere         Youngsville, LA          1  03-10   30
Day 1: 1   03-10
72. Drew Benton            Blakely, GA              2  03-07   29
Day 1: 2   03-07
72. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            2  03-07   29
Day 1: 2   03-07
72. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                2  03-07   29
Day 1: 2   03-07
75. Rob Digh               Denver, NC               2  03-03   26
Day 1: 2   03-03
75. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               2  03-03   26
Day 1: 2   03-03
77. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC           1  03-03   24
Day 1: 1   03-03
78. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             1  03-00   23
Day 1: 1   03-00
79. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             2  02-15   22
Day 1: 2   02-15
79. Mike Huff              Corbin, KY               2  02-15   22
Day 1: 2   02-15
79. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX               2  02-15   22
Day 1: 2   02-15
82. Kyle Monti             Okeechobee, FL           1  02-13   19
Day 1: 1   02-13
83. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA     1  02-11   18
Day 1: 1   02-11
84. Harvey Horne           Bella Vista, AR          1  02-02   17
Day 1: 1   02-02
85. Bryan New              Belmont, NC              1  02-01   16
Day 1: 1   02-01
86. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  1  01-13   15
Day 1: 1   01-13
86. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN            1  01-13   15
Day 1: 1   01-13
86. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               1  01-13   15
Day 1: 1   01-13
89. Cody Hollen            Beaverton, OR            1  01-12   12
Day 1: 1   01-12
89. Rick Morris            Lake Gaston, VA          1  01-12   12
Day 1: 1   01-12
89. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI               1  01-12   12
Day 1: 1   01-12
92. Randy Pierson          Oakdale, CA              1  01-10    9
Day 1: 1   01-10
93. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               1  01-09    8
Day 1: 1   01-09
93. Brett Preuett          Monroe, LA               1  01-09    8
Day 1: 1   01-09
95. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
95. Quentin Cappo          Prairieville, LA         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
95. Chris Groh             Spring Grove, IL         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
95. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
95. Randy Sullivan         Breckenridge, TX         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
95. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Brandon Card             Salisbury, NC       05-09      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        29       300       626-05
———————————-
29       300       626-05

Grass Will Play A Key Role In Bassmaster Southern Open On Harris Chain

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Grass Will Play A Key Role In Bassmaster Southern Open On Harris Chain

Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes will host the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open March 4-6, 2021.

Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S. 

February 25, 2021

Grass Will Play A Key Role In Bassmaster Southern Open On Harris Chain

LEESBURG, Fla. — March in Central Florida typically sees plenty of big bass occupying the shallow spawning zone. But, while this seasonal element will likely play a significant role in the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain of Lakes, Keith Carson is betting on the offshore game.

Competition days will be March 4-6 with daily takeoffs from Venetian Gardens (Ski Beach) at 6:45 a.m. ET. Weigh-ins on Days 1 and 2 will take place at Venetian Gardens at 2:45 p.m., and the final-day weigh-in will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Orlando at 4 p.m.

Located northwest of Orlando and totaling approximately 75,000 acres, the Harris Chain comprises eight primary lakes: Apopka, Harris, Griffin, Eustis, Dora, Beauclair, Carlton and Yale. Linked by canals, these lakes sport a diverse array of classic Florida vegetation with plenty of docks and seawalls.

Hailing from DeBary, Fla. — about an hour east of Leesburg — Carson earned his first Opens win at last year’s Eastern Open on Alabama’s Lay Lake. Notably, it was grassy habitat that delivered that December win. While the timing and venue will differ significantly, Carson is no less confident in the vegetation game.

“Harris is probably the best fishery in the nation right now,” he said. “You look at any tournament results in the last two years and it’s on fire.”

Case in point: late October saw Bryan College anglers Cole Sands and Conner Dimauro win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at the Harris Chain with a three-day total of 84 pounds, 12 ounces.

“It’s going to take some high weights to win,” Carson said. “I went out there recently and caught a 10-pounder and one that was almost 10. It’s pretty darn good right now. For catching numbers and (quality), it’s some of the best fishing I’ve seen in a long time.”

Carson attributes the Harris Chain’s tremendous productivity to “an explosion of offshore grass.” It’s mainly hydrilla, and the dense, green subsurface jungles offer bass the perfect blend of cover and feeding opportunities.

“Any time you have an abundance of grass, the fish get large, they eat a lot and it’s great for fishing,” he said. “It holds the forage — you have bream and crappie out there.

“A friend who works for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told me that they find more crappie in (the stomachs of sampled bass) than anything. That tells me that those fish are offshore. They’re out there eating crappie in the grass, in the brushpiles.”

Notwithstanding the likelihood of shallow fish in all three stages of the spawn — prespawn, bedding and postspawn — Carson is convinced the winning bags will be caught in the chain’s deeper areas. Electronics, he said, will help anglers find sweet spots like points, shellbars, humps and shelves where the grass tops off and then drops to form a vertical wall.

“I see offshore winning,” he said. “Even in the dead middle of the spawn, when you’d think that would be a factor, it’s not (the dominant pattern). There are just too many fish and too much quality offshore.

“Maybe if you’re a sight fisherman, like myself, you can have a good day and catch a 25-pound bag, but there’s no way I can maintain that for three days. The offshore bite will hold up more consistently.”

Carson said the tournament will see a variety of offshore baits, including jigs, jerkbaits, swimbaits, swim jigs and crankbaits like the Berkley Frittside 5 he used on Lay. He said the entirety of the tournament waters should be in play.

Ultimately, he believes a mobile strategy will prove most productive.

“I think if a guy is good enough and he can have multiple offshore spots in multiple lakes, that will be the winning combination,” Carson said. “But as good as the grass is, I wouldn’t be surprised if a guy gets on one stretch that keeps reloading.”

Carson estimates that 23 pounds a day will be competitive. He’s looking for a three-day winning total of about 71 pounds.

Noting that one bite on this Florida powerhouse can dramatically change an angler’s fortune, Carson made a bold prediction: “I think we might see the big bass of the year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an 11- or 12-pounder weighed in.”

Fans can find real-time BassTrakk scoring updates and stream live coverage of the weigh-ins at Bassmaster.com. To help ensure the safety of all involved, those who wish to attend the tournament in person are encouraged to wear face coverings, maintain proper social distance and avoid congregating in large groups.

Visit Lake and the City of Leesburg are hosting the tournament.

Guaranteed Rate Sponsors Four 2021 Bassmaster Elite Events

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Guaranteed Rate Sponsors Four 2021 Bassmaster Elite Events

February 25, 2021

Guaranteed Rate Sponsors Four 2021 Bassmaster Elite Events

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Guaranteed Rate, one of the Top 5 largest retail mortgage lenders in the country, has expanded its relationship with B.A.S.S., the worldwide authority on bass fishing. Guaranteed Rate will serve as the title sponsor for four Bassmaster Elite Series events in 2021: Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River, Feb. 25-28; Bassmaster Elite Series at Pickwick Lake, March 18-21; Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork, Apr. 22-25; and Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain, July 8-11.

“Sponsoring these marquee events takes our partnership with B.A.S.S. to the next level,” said Guaranteed Rate Chief Marketing Officer Steve Moffat. “We are excited to support the best anglers in the world as they compete in some of the sport’s most competitive tournaments.”

Guaranteed Rate is well known for its support of the Chicago White Sox, who play at Guaranteed Rate Field, but also has a diverse nationwide presence across the sports world. The company has sponsorship deals with NASCAR’s Ryan Newman, the NHL, the UFC, World TeamTennis, the Professional Bowlers Association and others.

Last fall, Guaranteed Rate sponsored the Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake. During that tournament, fans spent more than 22.4 million minutes absorbing live coverage as Texas angler Lee Livesay claimed his first Elite Series win. The young 2021 season is reaching historically high levels of interest as more fans take in real-time scoring and live on-the-water coverage streaming at Bassmaster.com and broadcast on FS1.

“Guaranteed Rate is already a fantastic supporter of sports, and we’re thrilled to partner with the company to reach enthusiastic sportfishing fans in a time when we’re seeing record-breaking levels of interest in the Elite Series,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin.

The Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River starts Thursday, Feb. 25, and live coverage for all four days of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live from every Elite Series tournament beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.

Grand Lake Readies for 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship presented by Lowrance

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Grand Lake Readies for 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship presented by Lowrance

College Fishing Anglers Compete for the Opportunity to Fish as a Pro in the 2021 Toyota Series Championship and the Chance to Win up to $235,000

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GROVE, Okla. (Feb. 25, 2021) – The nation’s best college fishing teams head to Grove, Oklahoma, next week, March 3-5, for the 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship presented by Lowrance at Grand Lake. This is the 12th annual College Fishing Championship – hosted by the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau – where 150 college bass fishing teams have qualified to compete for a $33,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.

In addition to the boat package, both members of the winning team and the runners-up at the 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship will advance to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship where they will compete as pros for a top prize of up to $235,000. Both members of the third-place team will advance to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for a shot at winning a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.

“I’m pretty excited about getting to fish a national championship in my home state,” said Ty Crutchfield of Inola, Oklahoma, who competes for Rogers State University. “This will be the second College Fishing National Championship I’ve competed in, but the first one was in Louisiana, so it’s going to be cool to have a championship on one of my local lakes.

“The national championship is such a great opportunity. Most college fishing anglers dream of eventually being able to fish professionally, so the chance to compete in the 2021 Toyota Series Championship could be life-changing.”

Crutchfield said he was able to do a little pre-practice prior to the lake going off-limits, but with the recent weather conditions, he expects to see pretty tough conditions at Grand Lake and assumes the lake has changed significantly since he was there.

Bass Pro Tour angler Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, said he is looking forward to following all the action from Grand Lake throughout the week.

“The event is going to be tough, but we’ve had a fairly warm week in Oklahoma so things are starting to thaw out,” said Evers. “Mentally these events can be tough because half the field goes into the tournament defeated because they didn’t get a single bite in practice. You have to keep your head in it.

“The main thing these anglers are going to need to look for is the cleanest, warmest water,” continued Evers. “There are a few areas on Grand Lake that clean up and warm up faster than others, so they just need to keep their head down.”

Evers said he expects the event will be a mental challenge due to the scarcity of bites anglers will likely receive, so it will be important that they make the most of every one of them.

“The Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship is a huge opportunity to launch these college anglers’ career in the professional bass fishing world,” said Evers. “Qualifying for the Toyota Series Championship and the notoriety of fishing that event will truly help them.”
Anglers will take off from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th St. in Grove at 7 a.m. CT each day of competition. Weigh-ins will be held at the park starting at 3 p.m. and will be livestreamed daily. Due to COVID-19 protocols, attendance is limited to competing anglers, family, essential staff and media covering the event. Fans are encouraged to tune in to the weigh-in and follow the online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .

National television coverage of the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship presented by Lowrance will premiere Sunday, July 4, from 8-9 a.m. ET on the Outdoor Channel, with re-airs on the Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network in the fall.

Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI on MLF’s social media outlets at  Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram and YouTube.

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