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Z-Man® snags Bassmaster Elite star Seth Feider

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Fishing’s Best Flow

Z-Man® snags Bassmaster Elite star Seth Feider

Ladson, SC (January 12, 2020) – For a dude whose BassFan profile lists sideburns and chest hair as his biggest weaknesses, Seth Feider brings an awfully strong salad game. Beyond his rising street cred on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Feider’s trademark mustache and spicy blonde mullet have made the Bloomington, Minnesota based bass ace one of the most recognizable anglers in the country.

“Z-Man respects high-end facial hair,” quips Joey Prochazka, pro-staff and promotions manager for Z-Man Fishing Products. “Seriously, we’re super happy to welcome Seth to team Z. He’s the real deal—a genuine dude who shoots it to you straight. Of course, he’s already logged a really successful tournament career on the Bassmaster Elite Series, and sits at the top of his game right now.

“No doubt, he’ll fit right in with our motley bunch of Z-Man pros—all exceptional anglers as well as good gals and guys; friendly, approachable people who know how to catch fish anywhere there’s water.”

New Z-Man pro Seth Feider continues his hot-streak on the Bassmaster Elite Series.

Feider, who owns an uncanny knack for filtering out the fluff and getting down to brass tacks, summarizes the formalized friendship. “I’ve been stealing ElaZtech® baits and ChatterBaits® out of Gussy’s stash for years,” admits Feider. “Heck, I’ve won a lot of money on Z-Man stuff under the radar. Figured it was time to get on board with these guys and work with a company whose baits really work—stuff I prefer to have at the end of my line as opposed to just doing the whole sales pitch thing. I mean, Z’s one of the topnotch fishing companies out there right now—I think a lot of the anglers are figuring that out.”

When asked to explain his appeal, Feider goes all modest. “Guess you could say I’m pretty easy going. Honest. Maybe too much so, at times. But yeah, I’m certainly capable of getting excited, too—especially when thigs go well and the tournament is over. On the water, though, for the most part, I stay pretty chill.”

Feider, who travels the tournament road with fellow Z-Man pro Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, also shares his buddy’s fondness for north-country smallmouth bass. “Gussy’s the one who put me on the ElaZtech Hula StickZ™ on a Ned rig. I saw right away, the durability, flotation and action of that little thing gets me way more bites from quality smallmouths. I mean, the Ned rig buoyancy deal routinely cranks out like ten bites to one against other baits that don’t stand up. Looks to me like the perfect mimic of a crawdad’s defensive posture. Regardless, it seems like I’ve already caught like a million smallmouths on that little bait.”

A dropshot aficionado from way back, Feider entered his Z-Man alliance already familiar with another elite ElaZtech bait. “I fish that StreakZ™ on a dropshot all the time. Sometimes, the 3.75-inch one is the deal. But at last year’s St. Clair tourney, I threw the bigger 5-inch StreakZ a bunch and it got me way more quality bites. The buoyancy of that bait is key—keeps it floating up above the grass and where bass can see it from a long ways away.”

A current project has Feider prospecting with some of the full-sized Z-Man baits in search of high-grade largemouth bites. “Suppose it’s no surprise I’ve been a huge fan of the (ChatterBait) JackHammer,” he notes. “I mean, who isn’t, right? Threw that bait at the 2020 Classic and again at Lake Fork for real strong finishes at both events.

“This year, it’ll be fun to start dialing in to some of the other Z-Man ChatterBait patterns, like the StealthBlade™, Freedom CFL™ on deep structure and WillowVibe™. That bait should be a player for big smalljaws and suspended spots.”

On his usual tourney game, Feider likes flipping brush or swim-jigging milfoil mats; he pitches a Neko rig everywhere else. “That 7-inch Mag FattyZ™ is really becoming a big deal for largemouths. I’ll be throwing that on a Neko rig a ton this year. And the Turbo CrawZ™ is already becoming my favorite trailer on the back of a swim jig. Guess you could say I’m feeling a little like a kid in a candy store right now.”

During the off-season, Feider approaches life more or less low key. “Fall and winter in Minnesota, I do a lot of duck hunting. I also like to sneak out in my duck boat for a little river fishing, or put in on a bunch of secret little lakes; do things sort of incognito.”

For the affable, fan-favorite angler, that’s becoming more and more of a challenge—particularly among the younger crowd who’ve been known to follow Feider like puppies before and after tournaments. He’s cool with that, too. Chalk the likeability factor up to his chill attitude, unmistakable style and the ‘do and ‘stache Feider refers to as ‘a Minnesota thing.’

“Yeah, we’ve got the Minnesota All Hockey Hair Team deal (Google it.) But for me the hair has always been a superstition thing. Kind of like keeping a Han Solo action figure in my boat as a good luck charm. Years ago, I’d cut my hair short at the start of the season and let it grow out all year. Seemed like I always did better toward the end of the season, so eventually, I just let it ride. Guess you could say, it’s kind of worked out.”

B.A.S.S. Officially Announces 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Field

 

Bryan New of Belmont, N.C., who won the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year title, is one of 13 new anglers on the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series. 

Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.

January 12, 2021

B.A.S.S. Officially Announces 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Field

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A reworked 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series season drew millions of enthusiastic fans to live broadcasts as the Elites became one of the only major sports to complete their full schedule, so it is no surprise that the full field is eager to resume competition. When the Elite Series takes to the St. Johns River to launch the 2021 season in February, the roster will feature 101 anglers.

B.A.S.S. announced the field for the 2021 Elite Series today, and every angler from the 2020 roster is returning, along with 12 qualifiers from the Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens and the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation champion.

“To have all of the guys back from last year says a lot about the positive momentum we have with the Bassmaster Elite Series,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “The reaction to last season was overwhelmingly positive from sponsors and fans. While they may not have always been able to join us lakeside for weigh-ins, B.A.S.S. fans cheered on each big moment while watching live coverage and encouraged their favorite anglers with messages on social media. We’re looking forward to adding 13 incredibly talented anglers into the mix.”

The list of returnees will include the legendary Clark Wendlandt, who fished a brilliant season to secure his first Bassmaster Angler of the Year title to go along with three FLW AOY crowns. Also returning are the six first-time Elite Series champions from 2020: Buddy Gross, Chris Johnston, Lee LivesayFrank TalleyPatrick Walters and Bill Weidler.

They will be joined by a talented crop of rookies that includes Bryan New of Belmont, N.C., who won the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year title, along with overall qualifiers Marc Frazier of Newnan, Ga., and Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky. The rookie anglers who qualified through the Central Opens are Darold Gleason of Many, La., and Kenta Kimura of Osaka, Japan. Justin Hamner of Northport, Ala., KJ Queen of Catawba, N.C., and Joshua Stracner of Vandiver, Ala., all qualified through the Eastern Opens and round out the rookie class.

Pat Schlapper of Eleva, Wis., will also join the rookie class after winning the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake in November but also earned an invitation via his Top 4 finish in Eastern Opens points.

Four additional anglers who qualified through the Opens Series points standings are joining the Elite field; however, any angler who has combined earnings of at least $500,000 with B.A.S.S. and FLW is not considered a rookie.

Scott Martin of Clewiston, Fla., earned an Elite Series invitation through the Eastern Opens division; however, while this will be his first season on the Elite Series, he will not be eligible for the 2021 Rookie of the Year race.

Instead, Martin will join Justin Atkins, Jason Christie and Greg Hackney as established anglers competing on the Elite Series. Atkins (No. 2 in Opens AOY points), Christie (No. 1 in Eastern Opens points) and Hackney (No. 2 in Eastern Opens points) all fished another pro circuit in 2020. Both Christie and Hackney have competed on the Elite Series previously, combining for six Elite event wins and an AOY title.

The 2021 Elite Series schedule will begin Feb. 11-14 with the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla. From there, it will wind through six states for nine events as anglers compete for cash and prizes and attempt to qualify for the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. For the first time in history, every Bassmaster Elite Series event as well as the Bassmaster Classic will feature live television coverage on the FOX Sports platforms.

Each tournament will begin with the full field of anglers on Days 1 and 2 before the field is cut to 50 for the semifinal round on Day 3. Only the Top 10 remaining anglers will fish the final day of each event with a $100,000 first-place prize on the line.

“Momentum is a powerful thing in any business or sport,” Akin said. “We built a lot of momentum over the last two seasons, and we have a field of anglers who will help us keep it going this year.”

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Field

1. Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C.
2. Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala.
3. Todd Auten, Lake Wylie, S.C.
4. Drew Benton, Blakely, Ga.
5. Stetson Blaylock, Benton, Ark.
6. Scott Canterbury, Odenville, Ala.
7. Quentin Cappo, Prairieville, La.
8. Brandon Card, Salisbury, N.C.
9. Tyler Carriere, Youngsville, La.
10. Hank Cherry, Lincolnton, N.C.
11. Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla.
12. Gary Clouse, Winchester, Tenn.
13. Rick Clunn, Ava, Mo.
14. Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C.
15. Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas
16. Drew Cook, Cairo, Ga.
17. John Cox, DeBary, Fla.
18. John Crews, Salem, Va.
19. Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala.
20. Destin DeMarion, Grove City, Pa.
21. Rob Digh, Denver, N.C.
22. Greg DiPalma, Millville, N.J.
23. Bob Downey, Hudson, Wis.
24. Seth Feider, New Market, Minn.
25. Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn.
26. Marc Frazier, Newnan, Ga.
27. Micah Frazier, Newnan, Ga.
28. David Fritts, Lexington, N.C.
29. Darold Gleason, Many, La.
30. Chris Groh, Spring Grove, Ill.
31. Buddy Gross, Chickamauga, Ga.
32. Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Ontario, Canada
33. Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La.
34. Skylar Hamilton, Dandridge, Tenn.
35. Justin Hamner, Northport, Ala.
36. Ray Hanselman Jr., Del Rio, Texas
37. Jamie Hartman, Greenbrier, Ark.
38. Matt Herren, Ashville, Ala.
39. Dale Hightower, Mannford, Okla.
40. Cody Hollen, Beaverton, Ore.
41. Harvey Horne, Bella Vista, Ark.
42. Derek Hudnall, Denham Springs, La.
43. Mike Huff, Corbin, Ky.
44. Taku Ito, Okegawa, Japan
45. Kelley Jaye, Dadeville, Ala.
46. Carl Jocumsen, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
47. Chris Johnston, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
48. Cory Johnston, Cavan, Ontario, Canada
49. Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala.
50. Kenta Kimura, Osaka, Japan
51. Koby Kreiger, Alva, Fla.
52. Caleb Kuphall, Mukwonago, Wis.
53. Robbie Latuso, Gonzales, La.
54. Shane LeHew, Catawba, N.C.
55. Brandon Lester, Fayetteville, Tenn.
56. Shane Lineberger, Lincolnton, N.C.
57. Lee Livesay, Longview, Texas
58. Wes Logan, Springville, Ala.
59. Ed Loughran III, Richmond, Va.
60. Bill Lowen, Brookville, Ind.
61. Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla.
62. Mark Menendez, Paducah, Ky.
63. Yusuke Miyazaki, Forney, Texas
64. Kyle Monti, Okeechobee, Fla.
65. Chad Morgenthaler, Reeds Spring, Mo.
66. Rick Morris, Virginia Beach, Va.
67. Brock Mosley, Collinsville, Miss.
68. Paul Mueller, Naugatuck, Conn.
69. David Mullins, Mt. Carmel, Tenn.
70. Bryan New, Belmont, N.C.
71. Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho
72. Luke Palmer, Coalgate, Okla.
73. Garrett Paquette, Canton, Mich.
74. Randy Pierson, Oakdale, Calif.
75. Chad Pipkens, DeWitt, Mich.
76. Clifford Pirch, Payson, Ariz.
77. Brett Preuett, Monroe, La.
78. Cliff Prince, Palatka, Fla.
79. KJ Queen, Catawba, N.C.
80. Tyler Rivet, Raceland, La.
81. Matt Robertson, Kuttawa, Ky.
82. Pat Schlapper, Eleva, Wis.
83. Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md.
84. Bernie Schultz, Gainesville, Fla.
85. Hunter Shryock, Newcomerstown, Ohio
86. Brian Snowden, Reeds Spring, Mo.
87. Joshua Stracner, Vandiver, Ala.
88. Randy Sullivan, Breckenridge, Texas
89. Caleb Sumrall, New Iberia, La.
90. Gerald Swindle, Guntersville, Ala.
91. Jesse Tacoronte, Orlando, Fla.
92. Frank Talley, Temple, Texas
93. Patrick Walters, Summerville, S.C.
94. Bill Weidler, Helena, Ala.
95. Kyle Welcher, Opelika, Ala.
96. Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas
97. Brad Whatley, Bivins, Texas
98. Jake Whitaker, Fairview, N.C.
99. Jason Williamson, Wagener, S.C.
100. Jay Yelas, Lincoln City, Ore.
101. Chris Zaldain, Fort Worth, Texas

Longwood’s Panzironi Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Harris Chain

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Longwood’s Panzironi Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Harris Chain

Pensacola’s Garrett Wins Co-angler Division

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LEESBURG, Fla. (Jan. 11, 2021)Eric Panzironi of Longwood, Florida, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 24 pounds, 12 ounces to win the 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg,

Florida. Panzironi earned $6,000 for his victory.

“I stayed on Harris all day, which was a short run for me but it worked out nicely,” said Panzironi. “I caught all my fish on a black-colored Zoom Magnum Trick Worm in 10 to 12 feet of mostly dirty water.

“The real key to the victory was the Garmin LiveScope. I caught every single one of my fish directly beneath my boat and I could see them all. I dropped down to them and they’d eat it – it was amazing.”

Panzaroni said he was excited to walk away with a win at the first tournament of the year for the Gator division.

“It’s awesome – I love it,” he said. “To start off 2021 with a win at my first event – I definitely have no regrets.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:

1st:       Eric Panzironi of  Longwood, Fla., five bass, 24-12, $6,000

2nd:      Peter Thliveros of Saint Augustine, Fla., five bass, 22-7, $3,000

3rd:       Joshua Parry of Saint Johns, Fla., five bass, 20-11, $3,000

4th:       Jonathan Semento of Okahumpka, Fla., five bass, 19-8, $1,900 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)

5th:       Tyler Sheppard of Jacksonville, Fla., five bass, 19-7, $1,200

6th:       Grady Johnson of Saint Cloud, Fla., five bass, 18-7, $1,100

7th:       Bill Troyer of Sarasota, Fla., five bass, 17-11, $1,000

8th:       Robert Crosnoe of Inverness, Fla., five bass, 17-10, $900

9th:       Grady Maynard of Umatilla, Fla., five bass, 17-4, $800

10th:     McCoy (Simon) Borja of Fruitland Park, Fla., five bass, 16-9, $700

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Parry also caught the largest bass in the Boater Division, a 10-pound, 2-ounce largemouth, which was good for the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $1,000.

Semento took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF BIG5 Contingency Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Mike Garrett of Pensacola, Florida, won the Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 3 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:

1st:       Mike Garrett of Pensacola, Fla., five bass, 22-3, $3,000

2nd:      Shaun Ireland of Lake Worth, Fla., five bass, 17-4, $1,500

3rd:       Aymon Wilcox of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., five bass, 17-3, $1,000

4th:       Justin Brown of Frostproof, Fla., five bass, 16-6, $900

5th:       Bradley Phillips of Alachua, Fla., five bass, 15-11, $600

6th:       Justin Bun of Lake Alfred, Fla., five bass, 15-0, $550

7th:       Joshua Dunn of Mulberry, Fla., five bass, 14-7, $500

8th:       Jason Cooper of Shelbyville, Tenn., five bass, 14-0, $450

9th:       Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo., five bass, 13-12, $400

10th:     Jake Stines of Plant City, Fla., five bass, 12-8, $350

Luke Cocke of Valdosta, Georgia caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 8 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $500.

The 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on the Harris Chain of Lakes was hosted by Visit Lake County, FL.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Gator Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 21-23 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, hosted by the Putnam County Tourist Development Council. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury s outboard.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held June 3-5 at Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee and hosted by the Jefferson County Department of Tourism. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on the MLF BIG5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About MLF BIG5

January Lower Roanoke River/Albermarle Sound Lake Report by Capt. Scooter Lilley

January Lower Roanoke River/Albermarle Sound Lake Report

Capt. Scooter Lilley

CWWcharters.com

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Largemouth Bass update: 
Large mouth bass fishing with the water temps in the mid 40’s in most areas has made the bite slow, for the patient angler the mid day bite can be rewarding with a few big bites. Shallow Cranking has been my choice to approaching this cold water situation on the lower Roanoke and Albermarle sound. Fishing depths 2 to 7ft deep has been the range of most the bites and they are quality fish! It will definitely pick up over the next few weeks as a slight rise in water temp starts to happen. If you’re a bass fishing Enthusiast and willing to give winter bass fishing a shot, I’ll definitely do my best to put you around some quality fish.
Striped Bass update:
This is the season for curing cabin fever on the lower Roanoke River and Albermarle Sound. The Striper bite is about to be in full swing as we follow the schools of fish from the Albermarle into the Roanoke where they stage up for the spawn in April. A school of respectable size fish has already entered the river. The fish are averaging 20 to 25 inches they are a blast to catch on light tackle for fishermen of all ages. The equipment used will be light spinning tackle with 20lb. braid rigged with Z-Man swim baits and the appropriate sized weighted hook depending on the current flow and conditions. On a average charter daily catches normally range from 25 to 40 fish a trip, with catches reaching upwards to the triple digit mark on those perfect condition days! In some areas one fish per day can be kept over 18 in. per person. This all depends on the weather and the location during the seasons wildlife regulations. If you’re interested in a great trip on the Roanoke River this winter or Spring give me a call 252-799-9536 or cwwcharters.com also check us out on Facebook at CWW Inshore Charters , Instagram @capt. scooterlilley.

 

B.A.S.S. Nation 2021 Regional Championship Schedule Announced

January 11, 2021

B.A.S.S. Nation 2021 Regional Championship Schedule Announced

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation schedule features five opportunities for grass-roots anglers to battle some of the country’s best bass fisheries. Each regional championship will provide opportunities for everyday anglers to qualify for the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship and a shot at one of three berths in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

“As we’ve seen in the past with anglers like Paul Mueller and Brandon Palaniuk, who both won Elite Series events last year, the B.A.S.S. Nation can be the gateway to a stellar career in professional fishing,” said B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart. “Once you reach the Nation Championship, you’re fishing for a chance to fish in the Bassmaster Classic, and we’re excited this year to offer even more chances for anglers to do that.

“We’ve put together a great, really unique schedule.”

The schedule will kick off with the Western Regional at Lake Havasu in Havasu, Ariz., Feb. 3-5. This Western fishery, which offers a combination of crystal-clear waters and stark desert beauty, ranked No. 17 on Bassmaster Magazine’s list of the Best Bass Lakes of the Decade.

During April, Nation anglers will take on the largest lake in Kansas during the Central Regional at Milford Lake in Junction City, Kan., April 21-23, just before the Southeast Regional heads to Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., April 28-30. Hartwell has hosted three Bassmaster Classics and six major B.A.S.S. events.

The schedule will swing to the upper region of the United States with the Northeast Regional at Lake Erie/Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pa., June 23-25. This smallmouth mecca ranked No. 3 on the Best Bass Lakes of the Decade list.

“We are thrilled that Bassmaster has chosen to host its 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Northeast Regional Championship in Erie,” said Mark Jeanneret, Executive Director of the Erie Sports Commission. “The Erie region offers world-class bass fishing on Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay, as well as the accommodations and attractions that will make the tournament memorable for participants and their families. We are eager to welcome a full field of anglers to experience all that our community has to offer while competing in this prestigious event.”

The final regular-season event, the Northern Regional, will be held on the Upper Mississippi River out of La Crosse, Wis., Sept. 1-3.

“The B.A.S.S. Nation means so much to so many different people,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “Of course, for those anglers who aspire to fish professionally, it can certainly be a great stepping stone. For weekend anglers, it is a chance to compete for big money on a big stage. Beyond these Regional Championship events, there is such great camaraderie among B.A.S.S. Nation clubs at their local tournaments and youth events.”

The date and location for the 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will be released at a later date. The Championship tournament will be made up of qualifiers from all five regions, and the Top 3 anglers from the overall standings will earn a berth to the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

The winner of the 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will also receive a cash prize, an invitation to join the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series and use of a “Nation’s Best” wrapped, tournament-ready boat.

2021 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Schedule

Western Regional: Feb. 3-5, Lake Havasu, Havasu, Ariz.
Central Regional: April 21-23, Milford Lake, Junction City, Kan.
Southeast Regional: April 28-30, Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.
Northeast Regional: June 23-25, Lake Erie/Presque Isle Bay, Erie, Pa.
Northern Regional: Sept. 1-3, Upper Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.

Logan Johnson and Jeremy Christian win the Inaugural Alabama Bass Trail 100

Logan Johnson and Jeremy Christian win the Inaugural Alabama Bass Trail 100

By Jason Duran

Photos by Chris Brown

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January 10- Columbiana, AL- 100 Teams launched at Beeswax Park for the first of three events in the brand-new Alabama Bass Trail 100 series. The ABT 100 series features 100 teams, 100 percent payback and $100,000 total payout in each event.  Logan Johnson and Jeremy Christian claimed the first-place title and took home the hardware and $25,000.

Logan and Jeremy started the morning in an area they found in practice and felt would produce because of the large amount of shad active in the area. They soon realized it wasn’t the winning spot and quickly moved to their second area located in Spring Creek. Logan said, “it was a very large area, and in practice, we found it also was holding a lot of shad.” They spent the rest of the day on the trolling motor in this area.

Logan caught the big fish of the tournament, a 5.01 spot, near a dock. He was surprised to catch a spot in that area saying, “it was completely random. I caught it on the second cast in a transition area between docks.” During practice he fished near the area and decided to give the bank a try. The area was loaded with shad, and he shook off three fish during practice, so he decided it would be a good place to try on Saturday and expand on. Jeremy said, “when Logan caught that big fish, it really helped us settle down on a very frustrating morning.”

Logan noted, “I didn’t really know what was holding the fish in this area other than the shad. The area was shallow with grass mixed in.” They worked the area over because they felt the fish were there. Jeremy said, “we stuck with this pattern also because we didn’t really have anything else and knew we would just have to grind it out.”  After practice they felt it would take around 19 pounds to win. They ended up with catching six fish all day long, but they were the right fish for a total of 18.70 with four largemouth and a 5.01 spotted bass.

Logan said he and Jeremy talked all week how cool it would be to win the very first ABT 100. He said they “have won an ABT event before, but winning this one is kind of surreal.” They are not only the first ABT 100 winners; they also hold the record for the largest bass ever caught in an ABT with 10.36 at Lake Guntersville. Today they proved they are a solid team and stand tall against the best of the best in the ABT 100.

The second-place team of Gerald Swindle and Ryan Anaya made the long run north to the dam. Ryan said, “it was a long, cold run, and we went as far as we could go.” “Them boys don’t want to go where we go,” said Gerald. They spent eight hours fishing a drift pattern. They would drive up to the dam and drift back with the current for about a mile just fishing and talking. Gerald said, “you have to be so patient; you can’t call your shot and say throw right there. You go up there and just drift backwards for hours. We would get on a run where we caught a couple, and then it would be hours before we caught another one.” He said, “it’s a style of fishing that messes most people up because it’s so boring and seems so random, but we know if two people do it for 7-8 hours a day, they’re going to get 7-8 bites and have 17-18 pounds.”  They were right as they weighed in 17.06 pounds.

In addition to their $12,500 second place money, they also took home a $500 Garmin bonus. They used Garmin Live Scope to help them find places where the bank and other structure caused the current to speed up. There they would cast their bait and come by those areas saying they could see the fish come up and go after their bait.

Their key bait was a ½ oz black and blue Boss flipping jig with a Zoom big salty chunk. They said, “it is a big bait and it looked like we were tarpon fishing.” Gerald said, “you can go up there, throw a little jig and probably get a lot more bites, but you won’t catch any of the quality 4-pound bites.”

Ryan is recovering from a very difficult battle with COVID-19. He spent 7 days in the ICU and weeks on oxygen recovering at home. He just started back fishing and said, “today was a fun day but at times, I still got a little winded.” Gerald said, “it’s awesome being able to come back and fish this format with the guys I grew up fishing with. These are my boys and it brings back the fun of fishing to see everybody.”

Third place went to Paul Davis Josh Chapple, also long-time fishermen on the ABT, having fished the ABT North and the ABT South in previous years. Josh said, “the morning started out slow. We began early throwing a jerkbait in chartreuse and a red Rapala Shad Rap. We hit a couple spots using that pattern and decided to make an adjustment.

They said they have some “good history on this lake and went with the idea of knowing where to be this time of year.” Saturday the current didn’t really play a factor for teams on the south end of the lake. Paul and Josh said they have fished here enough to “know not to base their tournament on the current.”  After making a couple adjustments and a location change, Paul caught a 4.35 and followed right up with a 3.5 about 9:00. After that quick flurry of fish catches, they thought they had figured them out. However, Josh said then “the fishing got really, really slow, so we made another adjustment and moved around a little more. We spent some time flipping to finish out our limit.” They spent most of their time fishing the “narrows” fishing primarily in the creeks off the river.  With a total of 16.37 they secured third place and a $10,000 pay day. They echoed what many teams keep saying, “we are just looking forward to Eufaula.”

The second stop of the Alabama Bass Trail 100 will be on Lake Eufaula, “The Bass Fishing Capital of the World,” Saturday, June 5, where once again 100 teams will go for the $100,000 total payout.

Top five standings are below for a complete list see https://www.alabamabasstrail100.org/lay-lake-results/

Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.”  The Podcast is released each week on Tuesday. This week podcast will feature winners

The sponsors of the 2021 Alabama Bass Trail 100 include; Phoenix Bass Boats, Bill Penney Automotive Group, Garmin, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Sweet Home Alabama, Alabama Tourism Department, T-H Marine Supplies, Wedowee Marine, Big Bite Bait Company, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Anheuser- Bush, Inc., fishalabama.org and American Baitworks.

For information about Alabama Bass Trail 100 visit www.alabamabasstrail100.org

Mark Krengel & Ron Wood Win CATT Lake Monticello, SC Jan 9, 2020

Next Lake Monticello CATT is Jan 23 at the Hwy 99 ramp!

Mark Krengel & Ron Wood weigh in a fat sack of Lake Monticello bass with 5 nice ones weighing 21.04 lbs! They weighed in the BF also with a 8.11 lb Hawg!

Todd Smith & Robbie Green 2nd with 18.00 lbs!

Roger & David Farr with 14.68 lbs!

Tap on the Phantom Logo and start shopping! Great outdoor apparel! Save 15% when you use PHANTOMCATT15 at check out!

Team BF Weight Winnings
Mark Krengel – Ron Wood 8.11 21.04 $595.00
Todd Smith – Robbie Green 5.76 18.00 $150.00
Roger Farr – David Farr 0.00 14.68
Bob Dyer – Robby Usher 0.00 10.66
Brent Kukowski – Pat Carter 0.00 9.26
Cory Vaughn – Devn Black 0.00 0.00
Chad Bradnurn – Robbie Bradburn 0.00 0.00
TJ Hopper – Andy Farr 0.00 0.00
Jake Brock – Shane Brock 0.00 0.00

The Bass Cast Fantasy Fishing group is back for the 2021 season

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The Bass Cast Bassmaster Fantasy fishing is back in full swing again for the 2021 season.
Visit https://bassmasterfantasy.com to create a new account or log in to your existing one. Then click ‘Join or Create a Group’ under the ‘Groups’ tab at the top of the page. Search for our group in the directory and enter the password when requested.
Group Name: The Bass Cast Fantasy
Password: Basscast2021

The winner for each tournament will receive a prize pack from Xzone Lures, and the overall winner will receive a $100.00 gift card to the online tackle retailer of their choice!

 

 

Schedule Announced For 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series

 

January 8, 2021

Schedule Announced For 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After a wildly successful inaugural campaign in 2020, B.A.S.S. officials were excited Friday to announce the regular-season schedule for the 2021 Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX.

The trail, which averaged 144 anglers per event during its inaugural season in 2020, will visit five lakes in five different states before culminating with the B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series Championship, which will be held in conjunction with the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at a site to be determined.

The field of anglers who qualified for the National Championship during the 2020 season will compete in a rescheduled two-day event June 9-10 held in conjunction with the Bassmaster Classic in Fort Worth, Texas. Additional information on that tournament will be released at a later date.

“Despite facing a lot of challenges, we had a great first season for the B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series in 2020,” said B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart. “We knew the popularity of kayak fishing had exploded; that was the reason behind starting the trail. But I’m not sure we realized just how incredibly popular the sport was until we held a few events and saw how many hardcore kayak enthusiasts showed up.

“That has us really excited about this upcoming season.”

The season’s first event will be held on one of the country’s premier big-bass factories, Lake Fork in Alba, Texas, on March 13. Fork was the site of an Elite Series event in 2020, and champion Patrick Walters blew the field away with a four-day November catch of 104 pounds, 12 ounces. Walters wasn’t the only angler to clear the century mark at a Bassmaster event on Fork last year. When the Kayak Series stopped on this fishery last March, Arkansas angler Cody Milton bested the field with a five-bass limit measuring 100 1/2 inches. That propensity for producing giant bass is why Lake Fork ranked 16th on Bassmaster Magazine’s Best Bass Lakes of the Decade in 2020.

Event No. 2 is scheduled for May 1 on world-famous Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Ala. Like Fork, the lake hosted an Elite Series event last year that was broadcast live to an audience of more than 2.8 million, and as a result, the buzz surrounding the fishery has never been louder.

From Alabama, the trail will shift to Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tenn., for a July 24 event that will see anglers fishing for a mixed bag of largemouth and smallmouth. In addition to the Kayak Series event, the popular Tennessee River fishery, which ranked 13th on the list of Best Bass Lakes of the Decade, is scheduled to host an Elite Series event and a Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open in 2021.

As summertime tightens its grip across the country, the Kayak Series will visit the Upper Chesapeake in Cecil County, Md., on Aug. 7. The scorching summer conditions and tidal fluctuations will present a challenge like no other on the 2021 schedule, but it will also showcase the value of kayak fishing as anglers are able to access creeks and drainages that are unavailable to larger crafts.

As we move from summer to fall, the Kayak Series will finish its regular season Sept. 25 on the Upper Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis. The fishery has been a regular stop for B.A.S.S. and its major tournaments in recent years, hosting a Central Open in 2019 and Elite Series events in 2016 and 2018. The Kayak Series also stopped on the Mississippi during their first season, with South Carolina’s Barry Davis claiming the win with five fish measuring 88 inches.

“We try to provide a good mix with all of our tournament schedules, and we believe we’ve done that with the 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series slate,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “From the Alabama/Georgia state line to Texas and back across the country to Maryland and then to the Mississippi River, this trail offers a little bit of everything for avid kayak anglers.”

Instead of a standard weigh-in that requires scales measuring pounds and ounces, anglers will practice “catch, photograph and release” to determine the kayak tournament standings.

When an angler catches a bass, he or she will photograph it lying on an approved measuring board and submit the photo through a special mobile app provided by TourneyX. The boards will measure each bass in inches down to a quarter of an inch, and the angler with the longest five-bass limit will win.

“We established some records during our first season, and we’re looking forward to building on the things we did in Year One to see some of those records challenged and broken during our second season,” Stewart said.

Entry fees for all five regular-season events will be $250, and each will pay 30 places. Based on a full field of 150 kayaks, the total purse for each event will be $30,000. Registration will begin online Jan. 11 at Bassmaster.com.

2021 Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX regular-season schedule

March 13, Lake Fork, Alba, Texas
May 1, Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Ala.
July 24, Pickwick Lake, Counce, Tenn.
Aug. 7, Upper Chesapeake, Cecil County, Md.
Sept. 25, Upper Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.

Bassmaster Classic And Outdoors Expo Moved To June 2021

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January 7, 2021

Bassmaster Classic And Outdoors Expo Moved To June 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Due to the ongoing public health emergency and associated limits on large gatherings, B.A.S.S. officials announced today that the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk and Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo originally scheduled for late March would be moved to June 11-13, 2021.

“It’s our hope that this delay will allow us to alleviate many of the challenges — including any potential capacity restrictions and travel complications — related to hosting both the tournament and Outdoors Expo in the current pandemic environment,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “We look forward to seeing thousands of fans, along with our partners and industry friends, at the 51st Bassmaster Classic.

“Our team will be working with the Fort Worth Sports Commission and Visit Fort Worth to make this historic trip to Texas an incredible and memorable event.”

B.A.S.S. Chairman Chase Anderson emphasized the importance of cooperation with the city of Fort Worth. “We are so appreciative of Fort Worth officials and our hosts at Visit Fort Worth for working with us during these unprecedented times to reschedule this exciting event and ensure we have an outstanding Classic.”

For more than 50 years, the iconic Bassmaster Classic has been the premier tournament in sportfishing. Recent Classics held in Birmingham, Ala., and Knoxville, Tenn., have drawn record-breaking crowds of 122,814 and 153,809 fans respectively to Classic Week events, including the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo.

At least 12 new products were launched during the 2020 Outdoors Expo, which is recognized as fishing’s biggest consumer show and annually draws 200 exhibitors ranging from major international brands to local retailers.

“Hosting the Bassmaster Classic later this spring will bring jobs and much-needed business to our local economy,” said Jason Sands, Director of the Fort Worth Sports Commission. “We are looking forward to hosting anglers and the thousands of outdoor enthusiasts and Bassmaster fans this world-class sporting event attracts.”

The success of the Expo is a major contributing factor to the Classic’s overall economic impact which generated a windfall of $35.9 million according to 2020 host community Birmingham, Ala.

The move from an early spring tournament to June is a throwback to previous events. From its inaugural outing in 1971 until 1983, the Bassmaster Classic was held in the fall. The Super Bowl of Bass Fishing became a summer event in 1984 but shifted to February and March in 2006, the first season of the Bassmaster Elite Series.

The Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake, which was originally scheduled for June 10-13, will instead be held on the Florence, Ala., fishery March 18-21.

For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.