Photos & video taken by Alicia Mathely & a special thank you to Kevin Dawson for the interview.
Alabama Angler Rusty Cooper Wins MLF Toyota Series at Smith Lake
CULLMAN, Ala. (April 6, 2024) – A 20-plus-pound limit at Smith Lake isn’t unheard of, but it sure isn’t expected. And of all people, Rusty Cooper of Gurley, Alabama, was the last to expect it to happen after only bringing in four bass on Day 2 of the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Smith Lake event.
Cooper, though, had the kind of Championship Saturday all bass anglers dream about, and it culminated in a $95,500 payday (including Phoenix and Berkley Big Bass bonuses) and his first MLF trophy – on his first time fishing Smith Lake, against a field of 241 other anglers.
Over the three days of competition Cooper weighed in 14 bass totaling 50-10 to earn the win by a 6-pound, 4-ounce margin over Addison, Alabama pro Jesse Wiggins, who finished second with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 44-6, good for $25,000.
“Man, everything went perfect today,” Cooper said. “I couldn’t ask for a better day. I had lots of stuff happen that will probably never go right again. I had fish that were tangled up in stuff and they stayed on until I got to them and could get them out. Everything just went right.”
That may be the understatement of the entire season. Outside of Cooper’s 20-pound, 14-ounce limit on Day 3, the largest bag caught at Smith in the tournament was Wiggins’ 17-5 that he caught Saturday – the only bag that eclipsed the 17-pound mark.
As good as Smith Lake is fishing, finding a bag that averages more than 4 pounds per fish is not ordinary. Throughout the week, the field leaned on spotted bass and some largemouth, but no one worked on either species as well as Cooper did on his largemouth on Saturday. He didn’t even catch a single spotted bass in practice or during the event proper.
A big part of Cooper’s success came down to what he considered a terrible two days of practice. Not finding much outside of a couple good bites in a creek pocket, Cooper went to that pocket on Day 1 with the intention of staying there as long as he could. That proved to be the right call.
“Day 1 I was pretty blessed,” he said. “I kind of laid off it because I knew I had that area for three days and knew I was going to stay there and grind. The second day I only had four fish. My co-angler had a 6-pounder. The fish were still there. I just couldn’t catch them for whatever reason, but I knew they were still coming, and I knew I had to stay in there and grind it out.”
Cooper’s largemouth were moving in and out of his area in waves, and while they were undoubtedly using that pocket to spawn, he said he never visibly saw any of the fish he was catching on beds. Almost all of them came on a combination of moving baits that included a Scottsboro swim jig with a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper trailer, a 4- or 6-inch Scottsboro swimbait or a Scottsboro glide bait. Only a couple of the keepers he weighed in were caught on a finesse presentation – a wacky-rigged Xcite Baits stickbait.
The large baits approach, at least on Day 3, was by design. Having weighed in just four keepers for 13-5 on Day 2, Cooper knew he’d have to swing for the fences to have a shot at the win, which he never really expected to come to fruition in the first place.
“I thought there was no way,” he admitted. “I though the second day was going to cost me. Not having that other keeper, that was at least 2 pounds I was behind. I thought there was no way I could pull it off with four fish on Day 2.
“I just put the big baits in my hand today and said I’m going to go for it. I need a big bag. I’m either going to catch them or I’m not.”
And catch them he did. The Huntsville firefighter, who couldn’t commit to a full season of Toyota Series events last year but who finished 79th at Guntersville to start the Central Division season in February this year, now has his ticket punched to the Toyota Series Championship on Wheeler Lake in early November.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “I’m just on cloud nine right now. The Lord truly blessed me all week.”
The top 10 pros on Smith Lake finished:
1st: Rusty Cooper, Gurley, Ala., 14 bass, 50-10, $95,500 (includes $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
2nd: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 15 bass, 44-6, $25,000
3rd: Austin Swindle, Parrish, Ala., 15 bass, 44-4, $17,000
4th: Jeremy Gordon, Rutledge, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-15, $15,000
5th: Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 15 bass, 42-10, $14,000
6th: Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-4, $10,500
7th: Laker Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 41-12, $9,000
8th: Blake Knies, Jasper, Ind., 15 bass, 41-4, $8,000
9th: Tristan McCormick, Burns, Tenn., 15 bass, 40-15, $7,000
10th: Wesley Sams, Vinemont, Ala., 15 bass, 40-11, $5,000
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Chandler Brewer of Meridanville, Alabama, won the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday with a bass weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces. On Friday, Cooper earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize after bringing a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass to the scale.
Cooper took home an extra $35,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Justin Stephenson of Jasper, Alabama, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 34 pounds, 2 ounces. Stephenson took home the top prize package worth $36,000, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Smith Lake finished:
1st: Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., 15 bass, 34-2, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard + $2,500
2nd: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., 15 bass, 34-0, $7,500
3rd: Jeff Thompson, McFarland, Wis., 15 bass, 33-5, $6,000
4th: Cody Abbott, Woodruff, S.C., 15 bass, 32-7, $4,500
5th: James Steve Burgess, Killen, Ala., 13 bass, 32-5, $4,150
6th: Larry Franks Jr., Wilsonville, Ala., 14 bass, 31-12, $3,500
7th: Chris Bensel, Abbeville, S.C., 15 bass, 31-1, $3,000
8th: Cooper Jett, Norton Shores, Mich., 14 bass, 30-6, $2,250
9th: Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 15 bass, 29-9, $1,700
10th: Oliver Siebert, Fenton, Mo., 15 bass, 29-8, $1,500
Jonathan Majors of Chelsea, Alabama, was the Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, Thursday, with a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass, while the Day 2 $150 award went to Eddie Barton of Smiths Grove, Kentucky, with a bass weighing 6 pounds even.
With two of the three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Central Division now complete, pro Austin Swindle of Parrish, Alabama, leads the Central Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 513 points, while Chris Bensel of Abbeville, South Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-angler Division AOY race with 492 points.
The Toyota Series at Smith Lake, hosted by Visit Cullman, was the second of three regular-season events for the Toyota Series Central Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series at Grand Lake, April 11-13, in Grove, Oklahoma. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville Sports Commission.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak Fishing, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Toyota Series, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitational updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook , Instagram and YouTube.
Chris Brummett Wins Shenandoah Division BFL on SML with 27.09lbs
What a tough day on Smith Mountain Lake for the 1st Shenandoah Division BFL event. But 195 boats vied for there chance to win 6k dollars for the win. As the anglers bagan to come in the weights were hanging around the 15lb mark & some anglers only had 4 fish but its those all important end of the year points. Brandon Pritchett was the 1st angler to make a big splash with his 20lb bag then Zack Peasley Followed with a 21lb bag & Wyatt Kelly Brought in 21lbs. But no one ever figured or saw this giant bag as well as 8lb lunker weighed in by Chris Brummett. Congratulation to everyone that cashed a check.
Johnson scores wire-to-wire win at B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Arkansas River
Arkansas’ Chris Johnson led the field and didn’t let up for a wire-to-wire win with a three-day total of 51 pounds, 3 ounces at the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at the Arkansas River presented by Lowrance.
Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
April 5, 2024
Johnson scores wire-to-wire win at B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Arkansas River
MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Enduring a painfully slow day that starkly contrasted the previous activity levels, Chris Johnson’s steadfast belief in his area allowed him to tally a three-day total of 51 pounds, 3 ounces and claim the wire-to-wire win at the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at the Arkansas River presented by Lowrance.
“Holy cow, this whole week has been unbelievable,” said the Farmington, Ark., angler. “I’ve been at this tournament thing since I was 11 and this is my first major win. I’ve been really close a lot of times.
“I’ve wanted to be here my whole life. You imagine standing here and what you might say, but it just escapes you.”
After taking the early lead with a Day 1 limit of 19-6, Johnson added 17-15 and held on to the top spot. On Championship Friday, he squeaked out a final-round limit of 13-14, edged Blake Capps of Muskogee, Ark., by 1-9, and took home the top prize of $12,065.
The Top 20 anglers qualified for the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance, scheduled for Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Grove, Okla., Nov. 6-8.
Staying true to the game plan that put him in position to win, Johnson returned to the same backwater ponds he fished the first two days. Running a few miles upriver from takeoff, he snuck through breaks in the rock levees to access the protected waters where he targeted prespawn fish.
As Johnson noted, the fish were positioned about the same as the first two days, but the pacing of his five bites stoked his stress level.
“Today was an absolutely nerve-racking day,” he said. “Fishing had been tough and I knew I was fishing for five to six bites a day.
“I got to my area and had the spot all to myself. I fished 1 1/2 hours with no bites. I finally got a bite and it was my biggest fish — a 4-pounder — about 9:30, but then it was back to the grind.”
With no competition, Johnson thought he should have been catching fish more frequently, but he knew the bites would eventually happen, so he kept on track.
He added his second fish around 10, then another at 11. His fourth keeper came at 1 o’clock and his limit-filler bit at 2:30.
“It played out just like it should,” Johnson said. “The first two fish were deeper, but later in the day, the fish moved shallow. I attribute that to a colder morning that slowed down the bite and then, as the day got warmer, the fish moved up closer to the bank.”
Johnson caught all of his fish on a 3/8-ounce tandem Colorado/willow-leaf spinnerbait with a Zoom Split Tail trailer. A chartreuse/white skirt produced earlier in the day, with a shad pattern getting the afternoon work.
“The main thing all week was keeping that retrieve slow,” Johnson said. “I’d cast close to the bank and keep that bait on a slow, steady reel.”
While the pressure of having many friends and family members on site for this event occasionally whispered in his ear, Johnson said his commitment to a game plan ultimately carried him to victory.
“Mainly, it was just being able to settle in one area and keep grinding because I knew there were good fish in there,” he said. “I just kept making passes over good water and I wasn’t preoccupied with other areas.
“When your mind starts wandering, you have to tell yourself to stay there and stay after it.”
Statistically, the most consistent angler in the final field, Capps placed sixth on Day 1 with 16-1 and improved to second with a Day 2 limit of 16-12. Adding a third-round limit of 16-13, he settled in second place with 49-10.
Each day, Capps locked down to the Kerr Pool, where he fished spawning bays with a mix of coontail and reeds. He caught his fish by throwing a Booyah Pad Crasher frog and flipping a YUM Baby Christie Critter.
“I was fishing that frog really fast,” Capps said. “A lot of those fish were bedding and you could get a reaction bite. If they missed, I’d flip in there and a lot of times, I’d catch that fish.”
Capps ended each day by saving about an hour of fishing time for when he locked back up to the Muskogee Pool. There, he’d flip bigger rocks with the Baby Christie Critter, but his biggest fish on Day 2 — a 4-pounder — bit a wacky-rigged YUM Dinger.
Jeremy Norris of Ama, La., placed third with 46-15. His daily weights were 14-5, 18-6 and 14-4.
Spending most of his time in Kerr, Norris focused on the same 200-yard drain all three days. In depths of 2 to 4 feet, he flipped lighter vegetation with a Jaboom Bait Co. Boom Bug.
In thicker mats, he channeled his Louisiana roots and punched a Jaboom Bait Co. Beaver Ball with a 1/2- and 3/4-ounce weight. He used the Cali 420 color in clear areas and black/blue in stained water.
“I knew that with the clear skies and high pressure, they’d be under those mats,” Norris said. “It felt right in my wheelhouse.”
Jeff Clark of Van Buren, Ark., topped the Big Bass standings with his 6-9.
Charlie Miglicco of Cypress, Texas, won the nonboater division with a three-day total of 24-1. Turning in daily three-bass limits of 4-15, 9-9 and 9-9, Miglicco won $4,911.
Shayne Dupree of Haslet, Texas, topped the Big Bass standings in the nonboater division with his 5-8.
This event was hosted by Visit Muskogee.
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 15 51-03 0 $12,065.00 Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 17-15 Day 3: 5 13-14 2. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 15 49-10 0 $5,860.00 Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 16-13 3. Jeremy Norris Ama, LA 15 46-15 0 $4,136.00 Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 5 14-04 4. Jesse Parks Goodyear, AZ 15 45-01 0 $3,300.00 Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 14-05 5. Chris Jones Bokoshe, OK 15 44-14 0 $2,980.00 Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 15-15 6. Jesse Jordan Stilwel, KS 15 44-02 0 $2,758.00 Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 19-07 7. Scott Dooley Ashland, MO 15 42-01 0 $2,585.00 Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 17-13 8. Kazuki Kitajima Corinth, TX 15 40-11 0 $2,413.00 Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 11-13 9. Alex Torkleson Coweta, OK 15 39-07 0 $1,551.00 Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 5 17-05 10. Brett King Kinta, OK 13 38-14 0 $1,530.00 Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 3 06-03 11. Brandon Morton San Tan Valley, AZ 12 36-06 0 $1,379.00 Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 2 07-02 Day 3: 5 13-04 12. Greg Vance Delhi, IA 15 36-04 0 $975.00 Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 10-09 13. Hunter Litchfield Macomb, IL 11 32-05 0 $948.00 Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 2 05-01 Day 3: 4 09-09 14. Hunter King North Platte, NE 13 32-01 0 $948.00 Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 4 11-07 Day 3: 4 10-09 15. Jeff Clark Van Buren, AR 9 30-10 0 $948.00 Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 3 10-07 Day 3: 1 02-02 16. Sam Mitchell Kiowa, OK 9 29-15 0 $948.00 Day 1: 2 07-10 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 2 04-05 17. Lane Kindle Stilwell, OK 11 29-08 0 $948.00 Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 1 01-08 18. Trevor Rogge Canyon Lake, TX 10 28-02 0 $948.00 Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 3 06-10 19. Tony Baldridge Oklahoma City, OK 11 27-11 0 $948.00 Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 1 02-05 20. Randy Campbell Tijeras, NM 11 26-13 0 $948.00 Day 1: 4 10-15 Day 2: 5 10-14 Day 3: 2 05-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 33 433 1112-01 2 31 359 940-08 3 11 76 213-09 ---------------------------------- 75 868 2266-02
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Charlie Miglicco Cypress, TX 9 24-01 0 $4,911.00 Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 09-09 Day 3: 3 09-09 2. Wade Roberts Lake Charles, LA 7 23-00 0 $2,806.00 Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 3 10-07 Day 3: 3 10-04 3. Matt Jurcin Pueblo, CO 7 22-08 0 $1,403.00 Day 1: 3 11-07 Day 2: 1 02-05 Day 3: 3 08-12 4. Ken Mcdonald Crossett, AR 7 20-08 0 $1,299.00 Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 1 01-15 Day 3: 3 10-03 5. James Halford Pryor, OK 6 18-05 0 $961.00 Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 2 07-13 Day 3: 3 07-13 6. Chad Nolan Muldrow, OK 6 17-12 0 $807.00 Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 2 07-12 Day 3: 1 01-12 7. Shea Breznik Kansas City, MO 6 17-09 0 $721.00 Day 1: 2 06-11 Day 2: 2 06-05 Day 3: 2 04-09 8. Mark Cowart Kearney, MO 7 16-12 0 $673.00 Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 3 08-00 Day 3: 3 06-01 9. Colten Hutson Edmond, OK 6 16-06 0 $631.00 Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 3 07-12 Day 3: 2 05-15 10. Thomas Edwards Gilbert, AZ 7 16-03 0 $561.00 Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 08-10 Day 3: 1 02-01 11. Matt Gnoth Sharon, KS 5 15-10 0 $561.00 Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 1 02-13 Day 3: 1 04-07 12. Elliott Thorn Tahlequah, OK 6 15-02 0 $491.00 Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 3 08-05 Day 3: 1 03-02 13. Russ Seaman Norfolk, NE 7 14-14 0 $421.00 Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 2 03-10 Day 3: 2 04-08 14. Jeremiah Proulx Cherokee Village, AR 6 14-10 0 $351.00 Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 3 08-13 Day 3: 1 02-07 15. Kevin Turner Sand Springs, OK 4 14-07 0 $351.00 Day 1: 3 11-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 02-11 16. Kenny Keovilayphone Taylorsville, UT 6 13-10 0 $351.00 Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 2 04-00 Day 3: 1 01-11 17. Sky Wooten Farmington, NM 5 12-11 0 $351.00 Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 2 03-07 Day 3: 0 00-00 18. Mark Sloan Harrison, AR 4 12-06 0 $351.00 Day 1: 3 10-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 02-06 19. Zac Ortiz Kaysville, UT 5 12-05 0 $351.00 Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 2 05-06 Day 3: 1 02-06 20. Mike Turner Berryton, KS 3 09-08 0 $351.00 Day 1: 3 09-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 0 00-00 ———————————————————————– Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 17 128 312-13 2 15 117 293-08 3 6 33 90-09 ———————————- 38 278 696-14 |
Grand Lake Set to Host MLF Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats
GROVE, Okla. (April 5, 2024) – Grand Lake is ready for another major bass-fishing tournament, next week. The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to return to Grove, Oklahoma, next week, April 11-13, for the second event of the 2024 Plains division – the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Grand Lake.
The three-day competition, hosted by the City of Grove, will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.
According to recent local fishing reports, anglers fishing in this event can expect a very competitive tournament. Bass are being caught in all three phases of the spawn, so anglers will be able to fish to their strengths. Expect forward-facing sonar to play a role in this event. Swimbaits, umbrella rigs, crankbaits and jigs will all be strong players, as will the soft plastic minnows and minnow-type baits used by the forward-facing sonar anglers. A three-day total right around 50 to 54 pounds is expected to be brought to the scales by the eventual winner.
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each day from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th St. in Grove. Weigh-ins will also be held at Wolf Creek Park and will begin at 3 p.m. on Days 1 & 2, and at 4 p.m. on Day 3. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.
The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Big catches likely for Bassmaster Kayak Series event at Possum Kingdom Lake
Possum Kingdom Lake is set to host the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX April 13-14.
Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
April 5, 2024
Big catches likely for Bassmaster Kayak Series event at Possum Kingdom Lake
GRAFORD, Texas — Michael Cates set the record for the biggest winning total ever caught in a Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX event at Possum Kingdom Lake last year with a two-day mark of 210.25 inches.
The Kayak Series will make another trip to central Texas this April, and Cates believes his record will likely fall.
“There is more water for everyone to do their thing,” the Texas angler said. “You won’t have to fish deep and catch them. They will be on the bank all the way out to 10 or 12 feet of water.
“It will be dynamite. It is a great lake. It has a population that is unbelievable. It will be a knockdown, drag-out (fight).”
Tournament days are scheduled for April 13-14. Competitors will be able to launch from any of the approved public launches posted on Bassmaster.com and can begin fishing at 6:45 a.m. CT. Lines-out will be at 2:45 p.m. each day. Bass will be measured in inches, and the angler with the highest two-day total will earn the top prize.
Since hosting the 2021 National Championship, an event won by Mark Pendergraf with an incredible 209.25 inches, Possum Kingdom has been a favorite stop for anglers competing in the Kayak Series. Big bass are prominent in this Brazos River impoundment located west of Fort Worth.
The two previous events were in the summer. This time, anglers will have a whole new set of conditions to decipher.
The bass in Possum Kingdom tend to spawn later than on other Texas reservoirs, Cates said, which means there is a good possibility that plenty of bass will either be locked on bed or making their way to the spawning grounds.
“They go a little bit later over there than the rest of our lakes,” Cates explained. “I don’t know why but they do. So, I think there will be some bed fishing and, in the first part of April, you can throw a glidebait around the docks too. That’s the best lake I know to do that on.”
The key will be the water level. Cates would prefer the water to remain high so the bass can spawn around shallow bushes and wood cover. Blind bed fishing will likely occur in the upper sections of the lake where the water is dirtier.
“All of the various bushes will be in the water,” Cates said. “There are strands of reeds that go miles in length in certain areas. When you get to the backs of the creeks, there is the random wood and a few stumps.”
If the water drops, docks and big flats will hold the most bass this time of year. The lower end of the lake tends to be clearer, and anglers will be able to locate spawning largemouth in as deep as 9 and 10 feet of water.
“The size of the flat seems to dictate how many bass there are,” Cates said. “It will be kind of random in the spring, but someone will catch them good. And it could be bed fishing too. You only need 10 bass.”
For spawning bass, Cates believes a stickbait like a Yamamoto Senko will be a productive bait, as well as a variety of creature baits. If the wind blows, a glidebait could factor into the decision.
The tournament is being hosted by the Possum Kingdom Chamber of Commerce.
2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Title Sponsor: Yamaha Rightwaters
2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Partner: MotorGuide, YakGear
2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Dakota Lithium
John Willocks & Kevin Alford WIN CATT Phantom Outdoors Open with 26.37lbs on Santee Cooper, SC Mar 30, 2024
Use PHANTOMCATT15 at checkout and earn 15% off your order! Tap on the Phantom logo and start shopping!
We had 78 teams enter the Phantom Outdoors Open on Santee Cooper this past weekend and they anglers were greeting with some great weather! Lots of bass were weighed in and a boatload of cash was paid out! We will do it again next year!
Use PHANTOMCATT15 at checkout and earn 15% off your order! Tap on the Phantom logo and start shopping!
We had 78 teams enter the Phantom Outdoors Open on Santee Cooper this past weekend and they anglers were greeting with some great weather! Lots of bass were weighed in and a boatload of cash was paid out! We will do it again next year!
John Willocks & Kevin Alford win the 2024 Phantom Outdoors Open on Santee Cooper with 5 bass weighing 26.37 lbs! They collected $10,000.00!
Jason Smith & Casey Warren finished 2nd with 5 bass weighing 25.04 lbs and earned $5,650.00!
Mark & Michael Hutson claimed 3rd Place with a limit weighing 23.70 lbs! Total winnings $2,500.00!
Chad & Brooks Crosby took 4th Place with 5 bass weighing 22.10 lbs PLUS they brought in the 1st BF at 8.56 lbs! Winnings – $1,300.00!
Gary Elsey & Cecil Wolfe earned 5th place 22.04 lbs! They received $1,900.00!
Chuck Howard & Ken Ellis took home $1,000.00 for their 6th Place finish!
Rusty Bullard came in 7th with 21.07 lbs!
2nd BF went to Steven Walter & Walter Capps 8.21 lbs!
| Team | BF | Weight | Winnings |
| John Willocks – Kevin Alford | 7.30 | 26.37 | $10,000.00 |
| Jason Smith – Casey Warren | 6.78 | 25.04 | $5,650.00 |
| Mark Hutson – Michael Hutson | 6.89 | 23.70 | $2,500.00 |
| Chad Crosby – Brooks Crosby | 8.56 | 22.10 | $1,300.00 |
| Gary Elsey – Cecil Wolf | 0.00 | 22.04 | $1,900.00 |
| Chuck Howard- Ken Ellis | 0.00 | 22.03 | $1,000.00 |
| Rusty Bullard | 0.00 | 21.07 | $350.00 |
| Mac Altman – Nick Miller | 5.77 | 20.48 | $300.00 |
| Horace Lee Scott – Gordon Owens | 0.00 | 20.32 | $275.00 |
| Ronnie Watts | 0.00 | 19.90 | $250.00 |
| Nigel Goewey – Robbie Drake | 0.00 | 19.37 | $225.00 |
| Matt Brault – Steven Felder | 0.00 | 19.14 | |
| Heyward McLeod – Brett Mitchell Henderson | 0.00 | 18.85 | |
| William Holmes – Michael Craven | 0.00 | 18.51 | |
| Eric Glenn – Taylor Bond | 0.00 | 18.17 | |
| Freddie – Clark Gibbs | 0.00 | 18.06 | |
| Wade Grooms – Chris Timmons | 0.00 | 17.77 | |
| Lex Costas- Ben Lee | 0.00 | 17.09 | |
| Bryan Cook – Steve Harmon | 0.00 | 17.00 | |
| Nathan Burgess – Brent Riley | 0.00 | 16.58 | |
| Todd Smith – Matt Murphy | 0.00 | 16.11 | |
| Jonathan Brindel – David Grooms | 0.00 | 15.96 | |
| Brian Crosby – Elvis Black | 0.00 | 15.94 | |
| Gregory Bowen – Dustin Hardy | 0.00 | 15.83 | |
| Justin Cromer – Mark Barnes | 0.00 | 15.80 | |
| Robert Clarke – John Clarke | 0.00 | 15.39 | |
| Tory McCallum – Kyle Price | 0.00 | 15.31 | |
| Garrett Brown – Hogan Hutchins | 0.00 | 15.07 | |
| Ronnie McCoy – Wayne Fountain | 6.34 | 14.66 | |
| Will Timmons – Bennet Lawshe | 6.14 | 14.46 | |
| Jay Jefferies – Carter Jeffries | 0.00 | 14.30 | |
| Kevin Hardee – Justin Lifesey | 0.00 | 14.13 | |
| Brett Mitchell – Jerry Montjoy | 7.97 | 14.10 | |
| Jared Griffith – Austin Terry | 0.00 | 14.08 | |
| Wyatt Simms – Landon Powell | 0.00 | 13.83 | |
| Ed – Eddie Paul | 0.00 | 12.71 | |
| David Ardis – Chris Barfield | 0.00 | 11.81 | |
| Steven Walker – Walter Capps | 8.21 | 10.92 | $200.00 |
| Elvis – Brian Peagler | 0.00 | 10.78 | |
| Wendell Causey – Tj Anderson | 0.00 | 9.69 | |
| Chris McCarty – Elvis Peagler Jr. | 0.00 | 8.01 | |
| Dan Darby – Cody Russell | 0.00 | 7.70 | |
| Joey – Bill Callahan | 0.00 | 5.57 | |
| James Turner – Ray Turner | 0.00 | 4.88 | |
| Billy Willis – Glen Porter | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Nick Gant – Patrick Cook | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Wayne Clifton – Micah Bennett | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Zack Rogers – Chris Gainey | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Todd Olds – Brian Maxwell | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Steve Thomas – Trey Rex | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Freddie Smith – Eric Stubbs | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| James Gibbons – Michael Gibbons | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Robbie Murdaugh – Josh Kinard | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Zack Coffindaffer – Evan Ambrose | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Kevin Jones – Tyler Jones | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Zachary Claytonm – Chad Parker | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Shane Cantley – Chris Joyner | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Craig Mcfadden – Mike Watson | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Jamie Bryan – Trey Bryan | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Cooper Hopkins – Joel Hopkins | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Patrick Findley – Joseph Garnto | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Ronnie Mills – Tripp Mills | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Bo Chappell – Cliff Cantey | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Nick Brown | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| John – Michael Duarte | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Ben Cox – Ernie Wallace | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Max Terry – Rodney Jordan | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Jamie Blackburn – Dale Carter | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Corey Casey – Matt Judy | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Mason Miles – Andrew McLeod | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Thad Driggers – Bucky Black | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Alston Long | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Thomas – TJ Bancroft | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Gabriel Pearson – Sandy Montgomery | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Daniel – Kal Jordan | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Hunter Hackworth – Brett Shuler | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Matt-Andrew Baker | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Thomas Hepstall | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Jason Barrett – Jason Miles | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Chris Powell & Ryland Adams Win CATT Pamunkey River, VA Mar 30, 2024
Next up is the 3rd Qualifier on Chick Lake launching from Ed Allens!
Chris Powell & Ryland Adams take 1st Place with 5 bass weighing 16.59 lbs!
Jared Williams & Alex Richards 2nd with 15.10 lbs!
| Team | BF | Weight | Winnings | Points |
| Chris Powell – Ryland Adams | 4.34 | 16.59 | $670.00 | 110 |
| Jared Williams – Alex Richards | 4.06 | 15.10 | $455.00 | 109 |
| Chris Roberts – Garrett Geouge | 0.00 | 9.77 | 108 | |
| Thomas Coluccio – Richard Williams | 2.86 | 9.48 | 107 | |
| Ralph Taylor – Bill Butler | 3.86 | 9.47 | 106 | |
| Steve Fulkerson – Corey Nichols | 0.00 | 8.53 | 105 | |
| Curtis Combs – CJ Combs | 0.00 | 7.18 | 104 | |
| Jerry Hammitt | 0.00 | 5.99 | 103 | |
| Eddie Durr – Matt Wood | 0.00 | 5.17 | 102 | |
| Harvey Reese | 2.91 | 5.09 | 101 | |
| Ray Hogg – Donnie Daniel | 0.00 | 0.00 | 91 | |
| Total Entrys | $1,320.00 | |||
| BONUS $ | $175.00 | |||
| Total Paid At Ramp | $1,125.00 | |||
| 2024 Pamunkey Spring Final Fund | $270.00 | |||
| CATT | $50.00 | |||
| 2024 CATT Championship | $50.00 | |||
| 2024 Pamunkey Spring Fund Total | $490.00 |
| Team | BF | Weight | Winnings | Points |
| Team | BF | Weight | Winnings | Points |
| Chris Powell – Ryland Adams | 4.34 | 16.59 | $670.00 | 110 |
| Jared Williams – Alex Richard | 4.06 | 15.10 | $455.00 | 109 |
| Chris Roberts – Garrett Geouge | 0.00 | 9.77 | 108 | |
| Thomas Coluccio – Richard Williams | 2.86 | 9.48 | 107 | |
| Ralph Taylor – Bill Butler | 3.86 | 9.47 | 106 | |
| Steve Fulkerson – Corey Nichols | 0.00 | 8.53 | 105 | |
| Curtis Combs – CJ Combs | 0.00 | 7.18 | 104 | |
| Jerry Hammitt | 0.00 | 5.99 | 103 | |
| Eddie Durr – Matt Wood | 0.00 | 5.17 | 102 | |
| Harvey Reese | 2.91 | 5.09 | 101 | |
| Ray Hogg – Donnie Daniel | 0.00 | 0.00 | 91 | |
| Total Entrys | $1,320.00 | |||
| BONUS $ | $175.00 | |||
| Total Paid At Ramp | $1,125.00 | |||
| 2024 Pamunkey Spring Final Fund | $270.00 | |||
| CATT | $50.00 | |||
| 2024 CATT Championship | $50.00 | |||
| 2024 Pamunkey Spring Fund Total | $490.00 |
Josh Renebaum & Wade Amick Win CATT Lake Murray, SC Mar 30, 2024
Next CATT Spring Qualifier on Murray is April 13th!
Wade Amick & Josh Renebaum took 1st Place with 5 bass weighing 19.67 lbs!
| Team | BF | Weight | Winnings | Points |
| Josh Renebaum – Wade Amick | 6.68 | 19.67 | $980.00 | 110 |
| Britten Haviard – Donald Stoudemire | 4.61 | 19.50 | $150.00 | 109 |
| Chris Epting – Johnny Mayer | 0.00 | 15.89 | 108 | |
| Jeffrey K Borne – Kate Borne | 6.12 | 15.13 | 107 | |
| Rob Osbourne – Don Burnett | 4.49 | 14.93 | 106 | |
| Matt Mollohan – MJ Mollohan | 3.74 | 13.98 | 105 | |
| Trey Locklair – Donnie Levister | 3.37 | 12.40 | 104 | |
| Darryl R – John Willimas | 0.00 | 0.00 | 94 | |
| Total Entrys | $960.00 | |||
| BONUS $ | $400.00 | |||
| Total Paid At Ramp | $1,130.00 | |||
| CATT | $50.00 | |||
| 2024 Murray Spring Final Fund | $130.00 | |||
| 2024 CATT Championship Fund | $50.00 | |||
| 2024 Murray Spring Final Total | $530.00 |
2024 WON Bass Clear Lake Open at Begins April 17
San Clemente, Calif. – April 4, 2024 –– Clear Lake, nestled in the Coast Ranges of California mountains, at the foot of Mount Konocti is known as being the largest natural lake entirely in the state of California. It is known for its picturesque scenery from any direction and for being a rich, fertile body of water.
It is also known as one of the best bass fisheries in the world. For many years, Clear Lake has been ranked as one of the top 10 bass fisheries in the country by BASSMASTER Magazine, and the northern California waterway has been the site of fireworks for WON Bass and the Clear Lake Open before.
Clear Lake has seen record setting performances in the past, with Byron Velvick winning a Bassmaster Invitational in 2000 with a then three-day record of 83 pounds, 5 ounces and in 2007, Steve Kennedy set a four-day record with 122 pounds, 14 ounces in winning the Bassmaster Elite Series Golden State Shootout.
In other words, having winning weights that average more than 25 pounds per day in a Clear Lake event are common, as evidenced by Nathan Phillips winning the Clear Lake Open in 2023 with 76.34 pounds. According to Ish Monroe, the Oakdale, Calif. pro who is fitting the 2024 Clear Lake Open into his national event schedule, more of the same can be expected.
Monroe said that anything will go later this month. “The lake should be fishing fairly large with the higher water levels, and the field should be able to do anything from finesse fishing to sightfishing and have a chance to win,” he said. “I expect that the weights will be good, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see someone win running a pattern, or that someone could win on a one cast spot – it really has the potential to be a great event.”
When asked what his thoughts about the outlook for the event, 2023 WON Bass U.S. Open Champion Kyle Grover replied, “epic.” The Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. pro said that the conditions looked amazing. “I really think the fish are in a stage, and the weather conditions are going to collide at a point that it should be an amazing event,” he said. “I think the pressure could get to the lake a little, but it’s still going to take someone averaging in the high 20’s daily to win; it’s just that good of a fishery.”
To combat the pressure of a large field, Grover suggested that anglers have two or three areas to remain competitive, and he said that boat draw would be a factor. “I think you’ll need a few areas to rotate through to win the event, but that’s also going to depend on where you get slotted for takeoff,” he said. “Being able to get on your areas will dictate a lot, but I really think it’s going to be an epic event.”
The winner of the 2024 WON Bass Clear Lake Open will earn the Ranger Boats / Mercury Motor prize boat, and the Golden Tickets to the 2025 Bassmaster BASS Nation National Championship will be awarded to the top five Pro and AAA anglers and will further develop the season long competition to see who will receive guaranteed slots into the 2025 Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers.
There are currently more than 156 pro anglers and more than 180 AAA partners signed up for the event. WON Bass is seeking more Pro anglers to balance the field – signups remain open until April 12, 2024.
AAA anglers looking to enter will now be required to sign up with a Pro partner not currently registered for the event to guarantee their entry, and there is of course more room for individual Pro anglers to register currently.
The 2024 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada moves next to the California Open at Clear Lake April 17 to 19, 2024. The series will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October. The full schedule of the five event dates are as follows:
Jan. 31–Feb. 2, Lake Shasta – Champion Nick Wood – 47.42 pounds
April 17-19, Clear Lake
May 15-17, Lake Havasu
Sept. 18-20, Lake Mead
Oct. 14-16, U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.