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Clark Wendlandt Win’s Bassmaster AOY

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November 8, 2020

BASSMASTER.com

Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas won the Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year title with 680 points, while David Mullins of Mt. Carmel, Tenn., finished second with 677. Walters is currently in third with 669, Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., is fourth with 667 and Jake Whitaker of Fairview, N.C., is fifth with 663.

Austin Felix of Eden Prairie, Minn., won the Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year title.

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:40 a.m. CT at Sabine River Authority (SRA) — Lake Fork. The weigh-in will be held back at the SRA — Lake Fork at 3 p.m.

Live coverage of the event will start at 8 a.m. on Bassmaster.com and ESPN3. Additional live coverage of Championship Sunday will also be aired live on ESPN2. Check local listings for details.

The tournament is being hosted by the Sabine River Authority and Wood County Economic Development Commission.

Yo-Zuri Rattl’n Vibe Lipless Crankbait Review By Walker Smith

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November 8, 2020

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Yo-Zuri Rattl’n Vibe Lipless Crankbait Review By Walker Smith

I love to wind a plug around. Whether it’s a flat-sided crankbait, a squarebill or a lipless crankbait, I’m just too impatient to fish slow most of the time. I like to put the trolling motor down and burn through an area quickly.

Because of this, I’ve tested countless lipless crankbaits. They allow me to fish quickly and cover water efficiently, so I pretty much always have one on my front deck all year long. To be honest, however, there are definitely some duds out there. Some folks think these lipless cranks are all the same, but nothing could be further from the truth. I am very particular about which lipless baits I keep in my boat.

After fishing with it this year, the Yo-Zuri Rattl’n Vibe has, without a doubt, made the cut. If you stick with this lure in the fall and late winter especially, you’re going to get a bunch of bites from quality fish.

Here’s why I like it so much.

Walters Builds Huge Lake Fork Lead

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November 8, 2020

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Patrick Walters, of Summerville, S.C., is leading after Day 3 of the 2020 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department on Lake Fork with a three-day total of 82 pounds, 2 ounces.

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

November 7, 2020

Walters Builds Huge Lake Fork Lead

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QUITMAN, Texas — Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., was worried all day that he was falling behind, but his massive Day 3 limit of 29 pounds, 6 ounces extended his lead at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department with a tournament total of 82-2.

“I feel like I started dragging after about 12 o’clock or 1:30; I start catching squeakers, everybody starts leaving and I’m thinking, ‘Somebody has 40 pounds,’” Walters said. “That’s the feeling here at Lake Fork; that you can never catch enough fish because (big ones) live here and you have to catch as much and as fast as you possibly can.

“Honestly, I thought the tournament was slipping away from me. I’m not kidding; that feeling was in the back of my mind. I was fishing as hard as I could until I had to leave around 2:53.”

After placing second on Day 1 with 25-14, Walters took over the Day 2 lead by adding 26-14. Today’s limit — the event’s biggest catch — sends him into Championship Sunday with a 25-pound lead over Ed Loughran of Richmond, Va.

Walters started his day with a 9-pound, 1-ounce fish at 7 a.m. A trio of fish in the 5-pound range and one just under 5 completed his bag.

“Words cannot describe how this week has been,” Walters said. “You can’t explain it. When it’s your time, it’s your time. I had a decent practice, but the biggest I caught was 3 1/2 pounds.

“When I went back to my main area (on competition days), they just kept getting bigger. God has truly blessed me this week.”

Committed to a pattern he identified in practice, Walters is targeting standing timber. That, alone, is nothing revolutionary, but he’s fishing specific scenarios in which fish position in certain depths for feeding.

“When they get in that right depth, they’re catchable,” Walters said.

Using a trio of jerkbaits from Rapala, Duo Realis and Megabass, Walters varied his offerings to show the fish different looks. Each bait had a different action, but he also varied his colors.

“I’m starting out with an opaque color — a shad looking one — and as the sun gets up, I’m going to a shinier color,” Walters said. “When they stop hitting that, I switch back over. Staying in tune with the fish is probably the biggest thing.”

Walters noted that he struggled with short strikes — noncommittal bites. He remedied this by removing his bait’s center treble and replacing the stock size 6 trebles on the front and rear with larger size 4 hooks.

Massive Lake Fork weights are expected in spring events, as spawning movements bring the giants into the more accessible shallows. Fall fish are usually more scattered, so fourth-quarter events offer less concentrated opportunities.

Nevertheless, with one day of competition remaining, Walters is flirting with the Century Club — 100 pounds in a 4-day event. Statistically, he’s on track to easily reach that mark, but he said he is going to spend Day 4 specifically targeting Lake Fork giants.

“I’ve been moving around and leaving the big fish spots and trying to find where they’re biting, but I’m going to stay on them as hard as I can tomorrow,” Walters said. “We’re definitely going out there with maximum pressure tomorrow.

“That is the goal; Century Club Belt and an Elite Series win — those two side by side. We’re not letting up tomorrow. If it bites, we’re gonna set the hook on it.”

Loughran remains in second place with 57-2. On Day 1, he placed fifth with 21-13 and moved into second yesterday with 19-12. Loughran added 15-9 today.

“I caught a limit fishing docks and about noon, I went to an area with timber on a creek channel edge that (fellow Elite) Derek Hudnall suggested I go to,” Loughran said. “I caught a 3 1/2-pounder and that gave me 10 1/2 pounds.

“I said to my cameraman, ‘This just looks like the kind of place where I should catch a big one.’ A couple of casts later, I caught a 7-pounder.”

Loughran caught his fish on a 3/8-ounce ChatterBait with a Missile Baits Shockwave trailer and a drop shot with a Missile Baits Fuse and Quiver worm.

Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas is in third with 57-1. Consistently fishing big ridges with a chartreuse/blue Strike King 6XD, Combs placed 39th on Day 1 with 11-7, and followed with limits of 23-14 and 21-12.

“I did the same thing (each day); I fished the same spots and spent the same amount of time on them,” Combs said. “I don’t know what went wrong the first day. In practice, I wasn’t getting many bites, but they were quality.

“Somehow I timed it wrong the first day. Since then, it’s still been tough. I caught 11 today, 11 yesterday and 10 the first day.”

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., is in the lead for Toyota Tundra Big Bass honors with his 9-9.

Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas is in third with 57-1. Consistently fishing big ridges with a chartreuse/blue Strike King 6XD, Combs placed 39th on Day 1 with 11-7, and followed with limits of 23-14 and 21-12.

Austin Felix of Eden Prairie, Minn., won the Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year title.

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:40 a.m. CT at Sabine River Authority (SRA) — Lake Fork. The weigh-in will be held back at the SRA — Lake Fork at 3 p.m.

Live coverage of the event will start at 8 a.m. on Bassmaster.com and ESPN3. Additional live coverage of Championship Sunday will also be aired live on ESPN2. Check local listings for details.

The tournament is being hosted by the Sabine River Authority and Wood County Economic Development Commission.

2020 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 11/5-11/8
Lake Fork, Emory TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

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

1. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 15 82-02 100
Day 1: 5 25-14 Day 2: 5 26-14 Day 3: 5 29-06
2. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 15 57-02 99
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 19-12 Day 3: 5 15-09
3. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 15 57-01 98
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 5 21-12
4. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 13 53-10 97
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 24-12 Day 3: 3 12-11
5. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 15 52-11 96
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 14-07
6. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 15 52-06 95
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 19-07
7. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 13 52-00 94
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 3 16-07 Day 3: 5 21-09
8. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 15 49-13 93
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 14-00
9. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 14 49-10 92
Day 1: 4 09-01 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 26-02
10. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 12 49-10 91
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 2 05-03 Day 3: 5 24-15
11. Seth Feider New Market, MN 14 48-04 90 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-04 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 4 11-01
12. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 48-04 89 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 20-07 Day 3: 5 15-08
13. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 14 47-11 88 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 4 13-09 Day 3: 5 16-03
14. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 14 47-09 87 $15,000.00
Day 1: 4 09-08 Day 2: 5 25-03 Day 3: 5 12-14
15. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 15 47-06 86 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 15-01 Day 3: 5 12-02
16. John Cox Debary, FL 15 46-12 85 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 10-01
17. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 11 46-06 84 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-04 Day 2: 3 07-00 Day 3: 3 10-02
18. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 12 45-14 83 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 23-07 Day 3: 2 04-12
19. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 14 44-07 82 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 4 11-10
20. Rob Digh Denver, NC 14 43-14 81 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 4 12-06 Day 3: 5 14-03
21. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 15 43-10 80 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 5 13-06
22. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 43-08 79 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 18-06
23. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 12 41-11 78 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 2 10-03 Day 3: 5 17-14
24. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 15 41-08 77 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 5 15-15
25. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 41-02 76 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 11-04
26. Greg DiPalma Millville, NJ 11 41-01 75 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-09 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 1 02-08
27. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 11 38-09 74 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 4 12-01 Day 3: 2 06-07
28. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 14 38-05 73 $112,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 4 07-04
29. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 13 37-13 72 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 3 06-00 Day 3: 5 14-09
30. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 37-07 71 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 10-12
31. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 12 34-13 70 $11,000.00
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 11-04
32. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 14 34-10 69 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 4 09-07
33. Wes Logan Springville, AL 13 34-10 68 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 3 09-02 Day 3: 5 12-13
34. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 12 31-10 67 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 3 08-10 Day 3: 4 10-12
35. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 12 30-12 66 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 2 09-01
36. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 30-00 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
37. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 13 29-02 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 3 06-14
38. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 27-11 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 3 05-15
39. Frank Talley Temple, TX 7 27-01 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 4 15-02 Day 3: 1 06-13
40. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 9 23-13 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 3 07-06 Day 3: 1 01-09
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 46 323 957-09
2 36 288 866-01
3 24 161 511-03
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106 772 2334-13

High School All-Americans Spend Dream Day With Elites

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November 8, 2020

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November 7, 2020

High School All-Americans Spend Dream Day With Elites

QUITMAN, Texas — Twelve outstanding high school anglers lived a dream today by competing in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster High School All-American Bass Tournament, held during the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The students are members of the exclusive 2020 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team. Each angler was paired with a Bassmaster Elite Series pro for the competition held Saturday on Lake Winnsboro, an 806-acre impoundment near Lake Fork, site of the Bassmaster Elite Series event. The weigh-in was held on the Bassmaster Elite Series stage used by the pros on the shoreline of Lake Fork.

The team of Elite Series pro Brett Preuett and All-American Aaron Cherry, of Kinsey, Ala., weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces to take the win. Bladed jigs fished on rocky points produced most of their strikes.

“He’s got a great future ahead of him, both as an all-star student and an angler,” said Preuett, whose competitive career began at the Bassmaster College Series level.

“He taught me a lot about breaking down a new lake because neither of us had fished there before,” said Cherry.

Elite Series pro Paul Mueller and Brooks Anderson took second with 7-6. Anderson, a senior at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy in Marietta, Ga., covered the lake from end to end.

“What he taught me was how to use electronics to find offshore bass,” said Anderson. “I had never done that before, and offshore fishing is my weakness.”

The team used a variety of crankbaits, all fished on hard bottom, with much of their time spent with a rotation at the dam.

Qualification criteria for All-American underscores the prestige and popularity of the program. More than 300 applications nominating students in grades 10-12 were submitted from 33 states. Of those, 49 were chosen as Bassmaster All-State anglers. After reviewing tournament resumes, conservation efforts, community service activities and recommendations from coaches and school officials, a panel of judges representing the sportfishing industry, media and conservation groups further narrowed the field to the Top 12 high school anglers in the country.

While a senior at Headland High School, Cherry secured five wins, including Bassmaster High School Classic champion, as well as three Top 5 finishes and six Top 20 finishes in high school events. Cherry earned the angler of the year title in the East Alabama High School Bass Trail twice and has been ranked in the Top 5 in the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation Angler of the Year standings three times in the last four years. Cherry also fishes in adult tournaments and ranked in the Top 20 in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship this tournament season, as well as winning the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship in 2018 as a co-angler.

Cherry dedicates much of his time to teaching others about fishing and introducing them to the sport. He has helped raise over $50,000 for the Headland Bass Team over the duration of his six years as a member and has volunteered 200 hours with Wired Ministries.

On Friday, students from a local elementary school attended a fishing clinic taught by the All-American anglers. Following the clinic, the All-Americans attended an awards banquet, where they received commemorative tournament jerseys, a Texas Parks & Wildlife state fishing license, and a $150 gift card from Academy Sports + Outdoors for a shopping spree. All events were held at the store in Greenville.

2020 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster High School All-American Bass Tournament
Final Standings

Aaron Cherry – Brett Preuett 7-15
Tucker Smith – Robbie Latuso 5-4
Jackson Swisher – Shane LeHew 3-14
Brooks Anderson – Paul Mueller 7-6
Jackson Kulijof – Dale Hightower 4-7
Easton Fothergill – Harvey Horne 2-14
Lake Norsworthy – Quentin Cappo 3-8
Carson Palmer – Mike Huff 4-15
Dylan Fogarty – Austin Felix 3-14
Drake Hemby – Tyler Carriere 3-5
Matthew Vandagriff – Shane Lineberger 6-7
Tyler Cory – Jesse Tacoronte 3-0

Chris Coble & Jim Long Win The Bass Cast Tournament Trail SML Nov 7th with 20.71lbs

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November 8, 2020

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Chris Coble & Jim Long Win The Bass Cast Tournament Trail SML Nov 7th with 20.71lbs

On a beautiful November day on Smith Mountain Lake, 21 teams fished the Bass Cast Tournament Trail. With less than half the field weighing fish, one team was able to find the winning bag – Chris Coble & Jim Long weighing 20.71lbs

CLICK HERE TO SEE RESULTS

CLICK HERE TO SEE POINTS STANDINGS

3 Great Bass Fishing Lures for Chasing Schooling Bass in the Fall By Walker Smith

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November 7, 2020

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3 Great Bass Fishing Lures for Chasing Schooling Bass in the Fall By Walker Smith

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Fall bass fishing is a weird creature. It’s tough to run into both quantity and quality in a single day on the water. For me at least, it seems like I have to make a decision right when I launch my boat. Do I want to get fewer bites to catch bigger bass or vice versa?

While I love chasing big bass, it’s hard to avoid the temptation to get out there and just yank on dozens of bass all day long. As the baitfish starts infiltrating the shallow creeks and pockets this time of year, a bunch of bass are right behind them which can lead to an absolute bass beatdown. These schoolers aren’t always big, but this is an awesome way to catch fish until you’re too tired to cast anymore.

Sometimes it seems like these schoolers would eat your flip flop if you threw it towards ’em, but they can definitely get a little finicky at times. I was thinking in my shop the other night and realized that when the fall schooler bite gets tough for me, I tend to reach for three particular lures time and time again.

Walters Targets Timber For Lake Fork Lead

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November 7, 2020

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Walters Targets Timber For Lake Fork Lead

Patrick Walters, of Summerville, S.C., is leading after Day 2 of the 2020 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department on Lake Fork with a two-day total of 52 pounds, 12 ounces.

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

November 6, 2020

Walters Targets Timber For Lake Fork Lead

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QUITMAN, Texas — Patrick Walters said he believes there are fish on every piece of standing timber in Lake Fork, but dialing in the right scenario allowed him to take the Day 2 lead at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with a total of 52 pounds, 12 ounces.

Walters positioned himself well on Day 1 with a second-place limit of 25-14 and trailed Rick Clunn by 3-6. Adding 26-14 today, the Summerville, S.C., angler carries a lead of 11-3 into Semifinal Saturday.

Returning to the standing timber he fished on Day 1, Walters enjoyed a fast start with a limit of 18-15 by about 8:30. His second catch, a 6-1, got his day going in the right direction.

“That made me feel pretty good, catching that 6-1 first thing; it was like, ‘Okay, they’re still here and they’ll still bite,’” Walters said. “I was worried that the big fish just bit yesterday because of weather or something, so I had no idea what I was going to be able to catch.

“It was good to know they would bite again today. Yesterday, I caught a 4-pounder off that same tree where I caught the 6-1 today.”

Walters said that amid the fields of standing timber, he’s looking for a particular type of structure. He declined to elaborate but noted that the right spots also held bait schools. Finding the fish positioned at the right feeding depth meant it was game-on.

“I also checked some of my other areas that I found in practice,” Walters said. “Everywhere on this entire lake has fish. When you set the boat down, there are fish there. You just have to figure out how to catch them.

“I just needed to expand to make sure I wasn’t missing a better area. You don’t know where the bite’s at, so you have to keep putting your feelers out.”

Walters caught his fish on a Rapala Shadow Rap, complemented by Duo Realis and Megabass jerkbaits. Each one had a role to play, based on bait action, depth and sky conditions.

“You have to show them the buffet,” Walters said. “These fish in Texas like to eat, but they’re very picky at the hog trough.

“You have to let the fish do the talking. When that bait’s right, they’re going to eat it. When it’s not right, they’ll just follow it.”

Walters noted that a lot of his fish weren’t eating the bait well; they were just swatting at it. Around 1 o’clock, this noncommittal behavior created a tense moment when a lengthy fight ended with Walters boating a 5-10 that was skin-hooked on the top of the head by a single treble hook barb.

“At that point, I really needed a good cull, so I went into the back of a pocket where I had some good ones follow my bait in practice,” Walters said. “I saw that fish (on my electronics) and she started chasing my bait. Today, they’d chase the bait for 30 feet and then they’d just turn down.

“I was just working it, working it, working it and at the last minute she grabbed it. I saw it was skin-hooked — and I’ve lost several fish on treble hooks — so it had me worried.”

Ed Loughran of Richmond, Va., is in second place with 41-9. Improving from fifth, he added 19-12 to his Day 1 weight of 21-13. Loughran said he did most of his work after noon.

“I had one fish for 1 1/2 pounds at 12:30 and I was going down a row of docks where another angler had just left,” Loughran said. “I know what the other angler does, so I went over to a dock where I had a fish in practice and threw something a little different and caught a 5-pounder about 3 minutes after he left.”

Knowing he had likely made the Top-40 cut, Loughran decided to finish out his day in an area where he’d caught several big fish. A 30-minute flurry produced a 6-pounder, a 5 and a 3.

Loughran caught his fish on a 3/8-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer with a Missile Baits Shockwave Trailer, as well as a drop shot with a Missile Baits Fuse.

Chad Pipkens of Lansing, Mich., is in third place with 41-2. After placing 13th on Day 1 with 17-11, Pipkens landed 23-7 today. Starting on a large timber flat in 14 to 17 feet that he called a “feeding place,” Pipkens caught a 6-8 on his third cast.

“Yesterday, I went to this place with about an hour left and in 10 casts caught a 2-pounder, a 4-pounder, a 5-pounder and lost one over 6,” Pipkens said. “Today, I started there and then went shallow. I came back later in the day, but nothing. I came back 40 minutes later and caught three big ones.”

Pipkens caught one of his fish flipping shallow cover. The rest, he caught on crankbaits.

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., is in the lead for Toyota Tundra Big Bass honors with his 9-9 caught on Day 1.

Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, leads the Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year standings with 689 points, while David Mullins of Mt. Carmel, Tenn., follows in second with 677. Walters is third with 669, Jake Whitaker of Fairview, N.C., is fourth with 668 and Austin Felix of Eden Prairie, Minn., is fifth with 651.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:40 a.m. CT at Sabine River Authority (SRA) — Lake Fork. The weigh-in will be held back at the SRA — Lake Fork at 3 p.m.

Live coverage of the event will start at 8 a.m. on Bassmaster.com and ESPN3.

The tournament is being hosted by the Sabine River Authority and Wood County Economic Development Commission.

2020 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 11/5-11/8
Lake Fork, Emory TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 10 52-12 100
Day 1: 5 25-14 Day 2: 5 26-14
2. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 41-09 99
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 19-12
3. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 10 41-02 98
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 23-07
4. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 40-15 97
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 24-12
5. Greg DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 38-09 96
Day 1: 5 22-09 Day 2: 5 16-00
6. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 10 38-04 95
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 19-02
7. Seth Feider New Market, MN 10 37-03 94
Day 1: 5 23-04 Day 2: 5 13-15
8. John Cox Debary, FL 10 36-11 93
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 15-13
9. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 8 36-04 92
Day 1: 5 29-04 Day 2: 3 07-00
10. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 10 35-13 91
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 16-00
11. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 35-05 90
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 23-14
12. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 10 35-04 89
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 15-01
13. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 9 34-11 88
Day 1: 4 09-08 Day 2: 5 25-03
14. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 10 32-15 87
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 15-10
15. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 10 32-13 86
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 17-00
16. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 32-12 85
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 20-07
17. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 9 32-02 84
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 4 12-01
18. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 9 31-08 83
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 4 13-09
19. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 10 31-01 82
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 14-06
20. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 8 30-07 81
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 3 16-07
21. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 10 30-04 80
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 14-12
22. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 30-00 79
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 14-13
23. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 29-14 78
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 12-12
24. Rob Digh Denver, NC 9 29-11 77
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 4 12-06
25. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 26-11 76
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 16-00
26. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 10 25-09 75
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 10-12
27. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 10 25-03 74
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 12-02
28. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 25-02 73
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-11
29. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 7 24-11 72
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 2 05-03
30. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 7 23-13 71
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 2 10-03
31. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 7 23-09 70
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 5 17-05
32. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 9 23-08 69
Day 1: 4 09-01 Day 2: 5 14-07
33. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 8 23-04 68
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 3 06-00
34. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 8 22-04 67
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 3 07-06
35. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 22-04 66
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 13-08
36. Wes Logan Springville, AL 8 21-13 65
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 3 09-02
37. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 7 21-12 64
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 5 17-03
38. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 10 21-11 63
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 12-00
39. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 8 20-14 62
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 3 08-10
40. Frank Talley Temple, TX 6 20-04 61
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 4 15-02
41. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 7 20-03 60 $8,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 2 05-05
42. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 20-03 59 $8,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 10-10
43. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 8 20-01 58 $8,000.00
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 5 13-07
44. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 7 20-01 57 $8,000.00
Day 1: 4 10-12 Day 2: 3 09-05
45. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 7 19-11 56 $8,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 2 03-11
46. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 8 19-03 55 $8,000.00
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 4 11-04
47. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 19-01 54 $8,000.00
Day 1: 3 10-06 Day 2: 2 08-11
48. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 7 18-13 53 $8,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 2 05-03
49. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 7 18-12 52 $8,000.00
Day 1: 2 07-13 Day 2: 5 10-15
50. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 6 18-11 51 $8,000.00
Day 1: 2 08-00 Day 2: 4 10-11
51. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 7 18-09 50 $6,000.00
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 5 15-00
52. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 7 18-06 49 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 2 05-11
53. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 8 18-05 48 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 3 08-01
54. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 8 17-11 47 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 3 05-08
55. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 6 17-04 46 $6,000.00
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 5 15-05
56. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 9 16-12 45 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 07-08
57. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 16-07 44 $6,000.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 16-07
58. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 15-12 43 $6,000.00
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 4 14-03
59. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 15-09 42 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
60. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 8 15-08 41 $6,000.00
Day 1: 3 08-13 Day 2: 5 06-11
61. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 6 14-15 40 $5,000.00
Day 1: 2 07-05 Day 2: 4 07-10
62. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 7 14-08 39 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 2 03-00
63. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 7 14-04 38 $5,000.00
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 3 07-08
64. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 6 13-10 37 $5,000.00
Day 1: 4 10-05 Day 2: 2 03-05
65. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 4 13-00 36 $5,000.00
Day 1: 2 07-01 Day 2: 2 05-15
66. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 6 12-15 35 $5,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-12 Day 2: 2 04-03
67. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 7 12-10 34 $5,000.00
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 5 08-05
68. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 6 12-08 33 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 1 01-15
69. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 6 12-02 32 $5,000.00
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 3 05-13
70. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 11-11 31 $5,000.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 07-02
71. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 11-07 30 $3,200.00
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 3 08-06
72. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 10-08 29 $3,200.00
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 1 02-07
73. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 4 09-04 28 $3,200.00
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 2 05-14
74. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 3 09-01 27 $3,200.00
Day 1: 3 09-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 4 09-00 26 $3,200.00
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 2 05-06
76. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 4 08-15 25 $3,200.00
Day 1: 2 06-09 Day 2: 2 02-06
77. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 1 08-12 24 $3,200.00
Day 1: 1 08-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
78. David Fritts Lexington, NC 2 08-03 23 $3,200.00
Day 1: 2 08-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
79. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 4 07-13 22 $3,200.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 1 01-02
80. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 3 05-15 21 $3,200.00
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 1 01-08
81. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 2 05-09 20 $3,200.00
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
82. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 2 04-10 19 $3,200.00
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
83. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 2 03-03 18 $3,200.00
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 01-07
84. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 2 03-01 17 $3,200.00
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 1 01-11
85. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 1 01-03 16 $3,200.00
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 46 323 957-09
2 36 288 866-01
———————————-
82 611 1823-10

Daiwa DIGIGEAR Technology Promises the Ultimate in Reel Performance

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November 6, 2020

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Daiwa DIGIGEAR Technology Promises the Ultimate in Reel Performance

Perfectly cut and meshed gears bring about increased sensitivity, strength, and long life

Cypress, CA (November 6, 2020) – Daiwa is renowned for technological achievements that set industry standards for reel performance. One of Daiwa’s biggest advancements comes in the form DIGIGEAR technology.

In a nutshell, DIGIGEAR is the process by which Daiwa’s machined, digitally developed gearing creates maximum performance and endurance. Embedded in Daiwa’s lightweight reel bodies, DIGIGEAR transmits smoothly and efficiently the power of the reel directly to the angler.

New Daiwa BG MQ with DIGIGEAR

“DIGIGEAR is digitally-cut gearing that’s very precise and allows for perfect meshing of the main gear and the pinion gear. The result is extreme smoothness and promises even longer gear durability, so the better the gears are meshed together, the longer the gearing will feel good on the reel,” says Daiwa Field Marketing Manager, Marc Mills.

“We do this out of several different materials. Once a gear is stamped out or machined, it’s then digitally cut and polished to perfection in the next process before it’s put into circulation for being put in a reel. We do this in our zinc gears in our entry- to midrange reels, as well as cold-forged aluminum and brass you’ll find in the LT reels. In those reels you’ll find a cold-forged aluminum main gear and brass pinion gear. Besides being cut in a machine they are then digitally laser cut to fit perfectly together,” continues Mills.

DIGIGEAR delivers smoothness and fluidity to the gearing, letting you feel the lure and bites better. For many anglers, just that silky feel can make all the difference between sensing a strike and not sensing a strike. If you can feel tiny gear grooves along with your crankbait vibrating, it can throw things off. With DIGIGEAR, the angler senses any small change to the lure movement, from a fish taking the bait to a fish simply knocking the bait.

“It’s not just an improvement in how the reel feels for reeling the fish in,” says Mills. “That’s a portion of it, and what every angler wants to feel. Advanced anglers can tell when there’s just a little vibration in the reel. You don’t want to be in a position where you’re wondering if the vibration was the reel or the bait. Sometimes fish won’t eat the bait, they’ll just knock it. That little movement when a fish knocks the crankbait an inch is something you sense with DIGIGEAR,” adds Mills.

DIGIGEAR is a technological improvement found in our entry-level zinc spinning reels and some entry baitcasters, all the way to Daiwa’s upper-end, high performance reels. Some of the reels’ gearing is manufactured out of bronze, which is really hard, while others are made of aluminum. Some gears are made of brass and others are made of zinc. All are digitally cut and polished, so there’s perfect meshing between the main gear and the pinion gear.

“DIGIGEAR means a lot to our reels. The biggest result is the smoothness and durability of the gears, which is unparalleled in the industry. You can have reels that feel great in the store but the first day you fish them their performance suffers. Our DIGIGEAR process has created perfectly cut and meshed gearing, resulting in increased sensitivity and smoothness as well as strength and long life,” remarks Mills.

Looking for the ultimate in reel smoothness and high performance? Look no further than Daiwa’s extensive family of reels with DIGIGEAR technology. You won’t be disappointed.

New DAIWA KAGE with DIGIGEAR

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/

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Sudden Death Round of General Tire World Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops to Premiere Saturday on Discovery

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November 6, 2020

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Sudden Death Round of General Tire World Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops to Premiere Saturday on Discovery

Weights are Zeroed as Final Eight Anglers Compete on Minnesota’s Turtle Lake in Race to Qualifying Weight in Episode Five

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GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (Nov. 6, 2020) – Episode Five – the Sudden Death Round – of the Major League Fishing (MLF) 2020 General Tire World Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops is set to premiere tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 a.m. EST on Discovery. Shot over six days in late July in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the General Tire World Championship showcases 16 of the top MLF pro anglers culminating the 2020 Cup season and competing for a top prize of $100,000.

Saturday’s episode will showcase the Sudden Death Round, which features the final eight anglers that advanced from the Shotgun and Elimination Rounds racing to become one of the first six to reach a qualifying weight – determined by MLF officials. The top six anglers will advance to next week’s Championship Round finale – where weights are zeroed and the highest total weight at the end of competition will be declared World Champion.

The eight anglers competing Saturday on Discovery in the Sudden Death Round are:

Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C.
Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla.
Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala.
Cody Meyer of Star, Idaho
Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, S.C.
Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan
Jacob Powroznik of Prince George, Va.
Jeff Sprague of Point, Texas

“The Sudden Death Round is the most stressful day in bass fishing, in my opinion,” said South Carolina pro Andy Montgomery. “There is just something about knowing that cutline. Guys are getting closer, and you’re getting closer. Then, when you get really close and you need one more, you can’t catch one. It’s the hardest fish that you’ve ever caught in your life. Then. when you finally get that bite. it’s the most exciting fish you’ve ever caught in your life. It’s just so different, and so cool. I l love Sudden Death.”

“There is no downtime in Sudden Death – you have to start fast and catch them fast,” said pro Cody Meyer of Star, Idaho. “You can’t start slow or by the time you realize what’s going on it’s too late and you’re going home. Any of us that are in the Sudden Death Round can still win this thing, and I’m very excited to get back on the water.”

The 2020 General Tire World Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops is a six-episode, two-hour series that features 16 MLF pro anglers visiting Northern Minnesota to compete on four different fisheries across the region, including Pokegama Lake, Wabana Lake, Turtle Lake, and Spider Lake. The fisheries are unknown to the anglers – they do not learn where they are competing until they arrive to the launch ramp each morning of competition.

The 16 anglers that compete in the 2020 General Tire World Championship are: Casey Ashley, Brent Ehrler, Edwin Evers, Bobby Lane, Jordan Lee, Jared Lintner, Aaron Martens, Cody Meyer, Andy Montgomery, Michael Neal, Takahiro Omori, Jacob Powroznik, Mark Rose, Jeff Sprague, Greg Vinson and Jacob Wheeler. For more information on the qualifying process, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/MLF-101.

The General Tire World Championship, hosted by Visit Grand Rapids, will air on the Discovery Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday morning debuting on Oct. 10, 2020, and running through Nov. 14, airing from 7 to 9 a.m. EDT. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-schedule.

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

HOBIE B.O.S. ANCHORED BY POWER-POLE SET TO ROCK KNOXVILLE WITH T.O.C.

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November 6, 2020

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HOBIE B.O.S. ANCHORED BY POWER-POLE SET TO ROCK KNOXVILLE WITH T.O.C.

Tournament of Champions crown is up for grabs as elite qualifying kayak anglers converge on famed Tennessee bass waters

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (November 5, 2020) – In the end, it all boils down to one final event for those who’ve advanced in the 2020 Hobie Bass Open Series (B.O.S.) Anchored by Power-Pole: the 2^nd Annual Tournament of Champions (T.O.C). Slated for November 14-15 in Knoxville, Tennesee, this is the final stop on Hobie’s celebrated kayak bass fishing tour, and qualifying anglers have truly earned the right to compete. The cream of the crop has risen to the top and the battle royale is set to begin!

“It’s been a crazy year given the circumstances under which we’ve had to run this series,” says tournament director, A.J. McWhorter. “These anglers have poured their hearts and souls into securing their spots and I can’t say enough about their skills, dedication and hard work. Every one of them has proven they can handle the pressure and come through in when it counts. It’s going to be a great event on fish-filled waters based in a super-friendly city that knows how to roll out the welcome mat for visitors. I just can’t wait to see who comes out on top as the final seconds tick off the clock.”

The competition will be stiff, no doubt, but the venue is also equal to the task. The Tennessee River runs right through downtown Knoxville and the city is nearly encircled by more than half-a-dozen large lakes and rivers filled with smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass. This fall’s T.O.C. will provide competitors the opportunity to work within the same basic boundaries as last year’s 49^th Annual Bassmaster’s Classic event, focusing on the headwaters of the Tennessee River, French Broad River below Douglas, the Holston River below Cherokee, Lake Fort Loudon and Lake Tellico. It’s an ideal setting for kayak fishing with tons of structure, weedy expanses, deep channels, rivers that snake through beautiful country, and two primary lakes to anchor the action. In short, it’s the perfect place to demonstrate both the talent of this amazing field and the great bass fishery that thrives in these scenic waters.

While the competitors are laser-focused on the task ahead, each has undertaken an amazing journey to qualify for this event. To make the cut, anglers had to compete in at least one of nine two-day Hobie B.O.S. Anchored by Power-Pole open events and/or the single-day B.O.S. Shootout, scheduled for November 13. These events, spread across the country, allow the 50 top anglers in the series based on accumulated points to showcase their skills, compete for the toughest and most highly prized title in kayak bass fishing, and gain the final qualifying spot for the Hobie Fishing Worlds 10.

This year’s competitors are also casting for substantial cash prizes that have been building within the series structure throughout the season. The total T.O.C. payout up for grabs is $61,000, dispersed through the top 10 anglers (or 20% of the field), including a whopping $30,000 for the first-place finisher. There’s also a $1,000 bounty for Bassin’ Big Bass honors. All T.O.C. qualifiers will enjoy three complimentary meals and the comforts of the Farragut Community Center as their tournament headquarters. The first-class accommodations are central to everything in the Knoxville area. If you want to enjoy the city or the great outdoors with family and friends after the competition, this is the perfect place to spend a few days.

Tournament of Champion anglers also continue to compete for the Hobie B.O.S. Anchored by Power-Pole Angler of the Year (A.O.Y.) championship, which is based on the culmination of points from their three highest finishes in the current B.O.S. season, points for the largest daily limits or Bassin’ Big Bass of the day, plus points earned at the T.O.C.

For Ryan Lambert of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the timing couldn’t be better. The 34-year old qualified at Lake Norman in Mooresville, North Carolina, back in March. Although he finished fourth, first-place finisher Kurt Smits had previously qualified at Lake Seminole, Bainbridge, GA, so Lambert was advanced. He competed in a total of four B.O.S. events during the year and is coming off a winning performance in the Kayak Anglers of Tennessee (KAST) State Championship in mid-October.

“I’m ready to go,” says Lambert. “I love river fishing so this is right in my wheelhouse, but there are plenty of other options as well with Lake Fort Loudon and Lake Tellico providing lots of shoreline cover, shallow weed beds, awesome structure and deep-water possibilities.”

Lambert plans to fish to his strengths by keying on the river bass. Fish in the flow, he explains, tend to be aggressive because they are used to seeing baits blow past them all day long. That makes them ideal targets for spinnerbaits and crankbaits that can dig into the current with an exaggerated action. He’ll be looking to work seams, submerged rock piles and any wood he can cue up. “I’ll probably ramp-hop to cover five or six spots each day instead of committing to a single, long float. I’ll also count on my Hobie Mirage 360 Pro Angler 14 to provide an edge. In the current and wind, it allows you to easily position for efficient casting without having to pick up a paddle. That ‘yak is worth its weight in gold.”

John Myers is also ready to rumble. The 57-year old Atwater, California, bass sharpie qualified for the T.O.C. by finishing third in the California Delta event as searing August temperatures topped 100 degrees. He’ll be flying cross country to test his skills against the best kayak anglers on the planet and will no doubt revel in the cooler fall weather on the sprawling Tennessee River system.

“I’m so hyped for this event that I haven’t been able to sleep,” reveals Myers. “I keep getting up to do more homework on Google Earth. I like to use a lot of different techniques when I’m bass fishing, so I’m scouting for places where several types of fishing environments are located within a short stretch. That way, a quick move in my Hobie Mirage 360 Pro Angler 14 will let me try something new. I’ve already downloaded a bunch of waypoints and transferred them into my Lowrance unit. I’ve marked stumps, trees, mud flats, rock piles, reefs and more.”

Myers plans to explore various launch sites to check water clarity, current and wind direction and then put in where he can hit both backwaters and the main river channel to maximize his options. He expects to target smallmouths, believing they average a little longer than the bigmouths within the contest boundaries. “Either way,” he says, “I’m going in with an open mind and plenty of ammo. I’ll have a flipping stick, jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chatterbaits and selection of small swimbaits. I’m also gonna open up a #10 can of whip arse.”

Another angler that’s putting in some serious travel time to be a part of the T.O.C. is Zach Humphries. The 31-year old from Rothschild, Wisconsin, qualified for the big show after placing third in the La Crosse event last July – his first and only Hobie B.O.S. Anchored by Power-Pole tournament.

“I’m thrilled to be coming to this T.O.C.” says Humphries. “I followed the events in 2019 and they looked to be exceptionally competitive and a lot of fun. When I entered the La Crosse event I was hoping for a top-ten finish but never expected to be in the top three. Imagine having a chance to qualify for the Hobie Worlds 2020! It just goes to show, anything can happen once you ante-up.”

Humphries, who by November is usually ice-fishing on his home waters, already has a spot picked out to begin his prospecting. “I like to fish rivers and flowages,” he explains, “but I also like to try a lot of different patterns and techniques. Through virtual scouting I think I’ve lined-up a couple areas where I’ll have several options. I’ll start at one of those and see how things develop. I’ve also signed up to fish the B.O.S. Shootout to squeeze in some extra practice time.”

“We are thrilled to welcome the Hobie Tournament of Champions to these East Tennessee waters,” said Chad Culver, Senior Director of the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission. “We’ve been looking forward to hosting this event for a long time and are excited to finally see it come to fruition. We’ll be crowning a new Hobie champion in about two weeks and we can’t imagine a better place for such an awesome event. We know these anglers and their families will be appreciated in Knoxville, a place where big bass and southern hospitality await.”

In addition to its tremendous fishing, Knoxville is an international travel center. The 1982 World’s Fair was held here, and the city gave Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton their first big career breaks. Renown for great music, terrific food and brews plus an atmosphere both artsy and friendly, it’s bordered by vast and picturesque parklands including Great Smokey Mountains National Park, which makes it an excellent destination for just about any outdoors activity.

“All of the T.O.C. competitors I’ve spoken with can’t wait to get this event underway,” says 25-year old Jordan Marshall of Maryville, Tennessee. Like Lambert, Marshall is a local qualifier with an easy ride to the championship waters. He finished 5^th in last year’s T.O.C. at Lake Ouachita in Arkansas and gained entry to this year’s tournament through A.O.Y. points accumulated at the Lake Seminole, Lake Dardanelle and Coosa River B.O.S. events.

“A lot of the anticipation and good feelings that surround these B.O.S. events arise from how well Hobie runs this kayak bass fishing series,” states Marshall. “In terms of professionalism, fairness, organization, camaraderie and promoting anglers, they are second to none. If you want to be part of series that sees the highest level of competition, pays out substantial prize money, and offers support to its anglers throughout the entire process, this is where you need to be. It’s a real honor to have made the T.O.C. for a second time.”

While the Hobie B.O.S. open two-day events have concluded, there is still one more chance to qualify for the T.O.C., reminds McWhorter. “The Hobie B.O.S. Shootout Powered by Power-Pole is a one-day opportunity for at least two more anglers to make the cut. Held solely on Lake Tellico, a day prior to the big event, any angler that has participated in a B.O.S. contest during the 2020 season can enter. All remaining T.O.C. qualifying spots will be filled at this event. T.O.C. qualified anglers are also allowed to participate but compete for cash only. The entry fee is $150, and payouts will be distributed to the top 10 percent of the field.”

To register for the B.O.S. Shootout, visit: https://tourneyx.com/app/tourney/hobie-bos-shootout.

For more information on the Hobie B.O.S. Anchored by Power-Pole, or to view standings during and after the tournament, go to: https://tourneyx.com/app/tourney/hobie-bos-tournament-of-champions.

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Sudden Death Round of General Tire World Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops to Premiere Saturday on Discovery

HOBIE B.O.S. ANCHORED BY POWER-POLE SET TO ROCK KNOXVILLE WITH T.O.C.

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