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Tyler Trent & Jacob Lloyd Win Catt Smith Mountain Lake Feb 16th 2020 with 21.42lbs

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Tyler Trent & Jacob Lloyd Win Catt Smith Mountain Lake Feb 16th 2020 with 21.42lbs

Photos Taken By Alicia Matherly

Cat kicked off the 2020 season with a bang. Fifty seven teams come together on Smith Mountain lake for the first event of the 2020 season & as always Smith Mountain lake did not disappoint. With over half the teams weighing fish one team was able to find the winning 21.42lb bag. Congratulations to the team that is on a roll so far this year of Tytler Farmer & Jacob lloyd.

Click the Image to see Larger Photo of Results

John Murray Joins Sixgill Fishing Products Pro Staff

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John Murray Joins Sixgill Fishing Products Pro Staff

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Spring City. Tenn. – February 17, 2020 – John Murray, MLF Bass Pro Tour pro from Spring City, Tenn. announces his inclusion to the Sixgill Fishing Products pro staff.  Murray, one of the most accomplished anglers to ever come from the Western United States will be using Sixgill rods and reels as he competes in 2020.

Murray joins a Sixgill Fishing Products pro staff that counts fellow Major League Fishing Pro Fred Roumbanis and Bassmaster Elite Series pros Tyler Carriere, Tyler Rivet, Randy Sullivan and Dale Hightower among its members.

Murray said that the gear itself has been a joy to use, and that he is looking forward to working with the company.  “The best thing about a company like Sixgill, is that they make great products for every level of angler,” said Murray.  “They have series that will help beginning anglers who hire my guide service and high-end, advanced gear that fills my needs on the Bass Pro Tour; and they are so great to work with, that I look forward to every communication.”

Murray is currently utilizing the Sixgill Siren Rods matched with the Wraith baitcasting reels and Banshee spinning reels.  He said that while he has found products to rely on, he looks forward to being more involved in development in the future.  “The products are very light, very sensitive, but strong enough to handle anything I’ve thrown at them,” he said.  “There are products that I use for everything that I do, and I look forward to working to help them develop new products along the way.”

Aaron Hansen, Professional Angler Manager for Sixgill Fishing Products likes what Murray brings to the table.  “John brings a vast range of knowledge to the fishing community and is known around the world to be one of the best anglers in the business,” said Hansen. “With all of his career accomplishments, he adds a lot to the brand. We are more than excited to have him join our Professional Staff for the 2020 season and we look forward to a great year with John on and off the water.”

About Sixgill Fishing Products – Sixgill Fishing Products is an extension of our brand family of outdoor and fishing products.  Our brands include Allen Fly Fishing, Exterus Outdoor Development, and Sixgill Fishing Products.

After establishing our loyal customer base with Allen Fly Fishing, we wanted to expand our product lines to include all of the outdoor passions shared within our company.  Using the same unique business model that made Allen Fly Fishing quickly grow in to a favorite in the fly fishing industry, we are bringing our outstanding customer service, product quality, and simple direct to consumer business model to the conventional fishing tackle world. Visit Sixgill on the web at: https://sixgillfishing.com/

About John Murray – Murray has been a full time professional angler since 1985 fishing local, regional and national tournament circuits like Won Bass, FLW and the Bassmaster Elite Series; he is currently a competitor on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. At one time, Murray was being called the ironman since he was fishing both FLW and the Bassmaster Elite Series the same year. John is the only professional angler to win a fully rigged bass boat on every major western waterway from New Mexico to Washington totaling 31. He has qualified for the Bassmaster Classic 7 times and is a 2 time US Open Champion and has earned $2.5 Million during his career. Follow Murray on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JohnMurrayProfessionalAngler/.

Village Mills’ Sharp Catches Record-Breaking 40-Pound Limit, Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Sam Rayburn

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Village Mills’ Sharp Catches Record-Breaking 40-Pound Limit, Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Sam Rayburn

Village Mills’ Sharp Catches Record-Breaking 40-Pound Limit, Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Sam Rayburn

Third-Largest Limit Ever and Largest Margin of Victory in Bass Fishing League History, Largest Limit Ever at Sam Rayburn in FLW Competition

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BROOKELAND, Texas (Feb. 17, 2020) – Boater Anthony Sharp of Village Mills, Texas, had a day Saturday that most bass fishing tournament anglers only dream about. Sharp brought a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 40 pounds, 6 ounces to win the 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas. For his victory, Sharp earned a total of $7,000.

The tournament was the second of five events in the Cowboy Division presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps.

Sharp’s massive five-bass limit broke multiple Phoenix Bass Fishing League records. His 21-pound, 5-ounce margin of victory was the largest in Bass Fishing League history. His limit was the third-largest limit ever weighed in Bass Fishing League competition – topped only by Rogne Brown in 2011 (Lake Chickamauga, 40 pounds, 14 ounces) and Casey Martin in 2015 (Lake Guntersville, 40 pounds, 11 ounces). His five bass were also the heaviest limit ever weighed in FLW history – across all circuits – at Sam Rayburn.

“I’ll be honest, when he [the tournament director] sat the sack up there I was praying that I had maybe mid-30s,” said Sharp. “I’ve caught a couple 30-pound limits up here, but never in a tournament. When he said 40 pounds, I couldn’t hardly answer his questions. I kind of got flushed.”

The spot Sharp found was a pretty classic offshore area – a flat section topping out in about 20 feet, with a drop that went down to about 40 feet. It turned out that was all he’d need to find to have the tournament day of a lifetime.

“Friday, when we started practice, I ran right there and idled over the spot, and there was a lot of fish,” said Sharp. “I idled over them four or five different times, just to make sure I was seeing fish, because they were stuck to the bottom. So, I backed off them and started easing up to them on the trolling motor, and I was still 100 yards from my waypoint and on my very first cast I caught an 8-pounder.”

On tournament morning, Sharp ran right to his honey hole.

“We blasted off at about 7:15, and I made a 15-minute run up the lake,” said Sharp. “At 8:35, I called Mr. Callahan [the tournament director] and asked if I could use my co-angler’s livewell because I couldn’t fit all my fish in one livewell. So, in about an hour I was done.”

Deciding not to idle over his fish to check on them, Sharp simply eased up to where he thought they would be and tossed a Carolina rig with a 1-ounce weight and a Zoom Baby Brush Hog in green pumpkin magic with the tails dyed chartreuse.

“On my second cast I caught one that I told my co-angler was about 6 pounds,” said Sharp. “Then I fished a little while, and my next fish was about 5 pounds. I got a bite about every 10 or 12 minutes for the first three fish, and I was fan-casting around the bow of my boat, kind of in the middle of the flat spot.”

After catching a short and then another 6-pounder, Sharp picked up a Strike King 8XD in chartreuse and blue.

“I probably threw it 15 or 20 minutes, and I caught one that was probably 8 pounds, and I caught one over 9. I put my rod down and told my co-angler, ‘That’s it. I think I’ve got high 20s right there.’

“I don’t know what I was even thinking,” continued Sharp. “After I sat about 10 minutes in the boat, letting him fish the area, I thought it would really be cool if I could cull that 5-pounder. I made three more casts with that crankbait and caught my biggest fish, and that was all before 8:45.”

And that was it. Though Sharp hung around the spot to try to give his co-angler a shot at some, neither caught anything else. Throughout the rest of the day, when Sharp ran around for his co-angler, he said he only made about 50 casts. He knew he’d done something special already, even if it’d take the scale to tell him exactly how special it was.

“It’s incredibly special. I can’t even describe it,” Sharp went on to say. “I was just praying I could catch one or two fish like that. I really had no idea that was going to happen.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:

1st:       Anthony Sharp of Village Mills, Texas, five bass, 40-6, $7,000

2nd:      Randy Deaver of Blanchard, La., five bass, 19-1, $3,200

3rd:       Kyle Dragulski of Lufkin, Texas, five bass, 17-8, $2,000

4th:       Kevin Lasyone of Dry Prong, La., five bass, 17-4, $1,400

5th:       Shaine Campbell of Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 16-9, $1,200

6th:       Mathew Dorcz of Huffman, Texas, five bass, 16-1, $1,100

7th:       Cole Moore of Anacoco, La., five bass, 15-15, $1,500

8th:       Aaron Johnson of Shreveport, La., five bass, 15-11, $900

9th:       Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, five bass, 15-5, $800

10th:     Bart Doty of Kilgore, Texas, five bass, 15-4, $700

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Sharp also earned the day’s $1,000 Boater Big Bass award with his largest fish, a 9-pound, 14-ounce kicker bass.

Moore took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX 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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Wyatt Stout of Altura, Minnesota, and Doug Rush of Midlothian, Texas, tied for the win in the Co-angler Division Saturday after both catching a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 7 ounces. Each angler brought home $2,250 for their wins.

The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:

1st:       Wyatt Stout of Altura, Minn., five bass, 15-7, $2,250

1st:       Doug Rush of Midlothian, Texas, five bass, 15-7, $2,250

3rd:       Sieg Kilby of Kilgore, Texas, five bass, 14-15, $1,150

4th:       Michael McCollum of Wimberley, Texas, four bass, 14-4, $700

5th:       Logan Slaughter of Dallas, Texas, five bass, 13-4, $600

6th:       Mitchel Martin of Washington, La., four bass, 13-2, $1,050

7th:       Cade Nelson of Long Branch, Texas, five bass, 12-9, $500

8th:       Cody Brown of Saratoga, Texas, five bass, 12-6, $450

9th:       Nick Morris of Princeton, Mo., five bass, 12-5, $400

10th:     Justin Shelton of Kemp, Texas, five bass, 12-4, $350

Martin caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $500.

The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Sam Rayburn Reservoir was hosted by the Jasper County Development District.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Cowboy Division presented by A.R.E. based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 22-24 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, hosted by Explore Branson. 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 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.

The 2020 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 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held April 30 through May 2 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina and is hosted by Visit Anderson. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division earn priority entry into the FLW Series, the pathway to the FLW Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour, where top pros compete with no entry fees.

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

St. Croix Lifts the Veil on its Most Sensitive Rods Ever

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St. Croix Lifts the Veil on its Most Sensitive Rods Ever

St. Croix Lifts the Veil on its Most Sensitive Rods Ever

All-New Legend® Xtreme Series to be introduced at the 2020 Bassmaster Classic

Park Falls, WI (February 17, 2020) – St. Croix Rod has one guiding goal: to provide anglers with the rods that give them the upper hand in any fishing situation. So when anglers began requesting rods with increased sensitivity, instead of arguing that St. Croix rods were already the Best Rods on Earth®, the engineers in Park Falls listened intently. They went to work performing sensitivity testing on all the rods in their expansive lineup. Ultimately, these painstaking exercises resulted in a repeatable and quantifiable method for measuring the sensitivity of each St. Croix rod.

“These efforts will pay dividends to all anglers,” says St. Croix Director of Marketing, Jesse Simpkins, “by allowing us to make seemingly small changes to existing rod models and series that will return significant increases in performance.”

But there’s a lot more to this story. St. Croix’s sensitivity testing and measurement methodology has resulted in something else of great significance as well – something that simply must be fished to be completely understood and fully appreciated. It’s the first, outward example of St. Croix’s new obsession with sensitivity, and is likely to become the single most-significant new-product launch in the company’s 70+ year history.

Keeping its promise to anglers, St. Croix Rod announces the next generation of Legend® Xtreme rods. Launching at the 2020 Bassmaster Classic early next month, these highly advanced Xtremes are easily the most sensitive rods St. Croix has ever produced. St. Croix materials, technologies, engineering and craftsmanship have combined with Daiwa’s incredibly sensitive – and strong – AGSTM carbon fiber guides through an exclusive partnership. Put simply, the result is a heightened, highly sensitized fishing experience the likes of which anglers have never experienced before.

How does one describe the indescribable? Gavin Falk, St. Croix Rod Engineering Supervisor, lays it down like this: “These new Legend Xtreme rods use a strategic combination of unique components, materials and technologies in their blanks, guide trains and handles to maximize the energy transfer from the line to the rod and, ultimately, to the angler’s hands.” Of course, anglers will undoubtedly come up with their own creative descriptions and responses after they fish the new Legend Xtreme. Until then, read on… and set your expectations high.

A Blank Slate

The story of the NEW Legend Xtreme begins with the series’ incredibly sensitive blanks, which feature Integrated Poly Curve® (IPC™) mandrel technology and design for more refined powers and actions. IPC adds continuous tapers to eliminate “stepped” transition points to create blanks that are smoother, stronger and more sensitive than traditional designs. They also feature a new and improved version of St. Croix’s Advanced Reinforcing Technology™ (ART™), a high-tensile high-modulus cross-grain material that reinforces the blank and allows for the use of less material while maintaining strength and decreasing weight.

Additionally, Taper Enhancement Technology (TET) blank design provides curved patterns for improved action with increased sensitivity. “We add a little bit of curvature to the patterns to refine the actions of the blanks even more… which is especially noticeable in the extra-fast models,” says Falk. “Taper Enhancement Technology makes these new rods even smoother.”

New Legend Xtreme rod blanks also feature St. Croix’s most exotic blend of carbon materials. A super high-modulus SCVI carbon in the lower section joins high-modulus/high-strain SCV carbon in the upper section to yield maximum power, unparalleled strength, durability, sensitivity and reduced overall weight. St. Croix’s Fortified Resin System (FRS) is also employed throughout the entire blank. FRS combines a fortified super resin with computer-operated curing ovens that provide improved temperature and time management through all stages of the curing cycle. Ultimately, FRS prevents microbuckling by keeping the carbon fibers in proper alignment throughout the critical curing process. Blanks manufactured with this advanced manufacturing protocol consistently test out at 33% stronger than those built with standard resins and curing methods.

Finally, a new, stealthy, matte-black finish completes the upgrade to the new Legend Xtreme’s incredibly sensitive, high-performance blank – the ultimate canvas for additional sensitivity-enhancing features and components.

Guiding Principles

Moving beyond their remarkable blanks, new St. Croix Legend Xtreme rods take sensitivity to insane levels via the all-new, exotic Daiwa AGS carbon fiber guide train.

“The Daiwa AGS carbon fiber guides with Fuji KG tip top and torzite ring are brand-new to us, and we have the both the knowledge and the exclusive rights to use them,” says Falk. “Their rigid frames are what really set these guides apart and make them so unique. They transfer energy much more efficiently than other traditional guide platforms. Their rigidity increases responsiveness, which is beneficial in every fishing situation… not just the obvious ones; they reduce recovery time when making a cast, for example. The bottom line is that the angler is always feeling what’s happening with their line and lure.”

Think these new carbon guides are weak? Think again.

“Of course, we did strength and durability testing,” says Falk. “They tested much more rigid than a stainless steel guide and frame. And while they don’t bend or deflect like traditional guides, it actually took twice as much force to break them in our testing.”

The end result of pairing the new Legend Xtreme blanks with the Daiwa AGS carbon fiber guides is a rod that goes far beyond what anglers previously considered sensitive. In a way, it feels like there are no guides at all. “When a fish bites, the sensation is intense and immediate,” summarizes Falk, “but the technology doesn’t end there.”

Getting a Handle on Sensitivity

The process of making a rod this sensitive shouldn’t ignore the critical connection point between rod and angler. That’s why St. Croix developed an all-new handle worthy and on par with the rest of the astounding, new Legend Xtreme.

“Our first generation Xtreme-Skin™ handle is an incredible performer, but we wanted to take the opportunity afforded by the new Legend Xtreme launch to improve upon it by creating an even better handle with both improved grip and heightened energy transfer,” says Falk. “We came up with a rain drop coating that offers more friction points, a grippier coating, and not just a smooth surface like the generation before.”

The result is the Gen2 Xtreme-Skin handle, which improves handling in both wet and dry conditions and transmits feedback from the rod better than ever before. It’s also extremely resilient. “Through our salt spray tests we discovered it’s also very easy to clean and very durable,” says Falk, who opted to pair the new handle with the Fuji® SK2™ split reel seat. “The entire handle assembly is lightweight and extremely durable, while complementing the sensitivity of the overall package.”

Meet the New Legend Xtreme Models

The new Legend Xtreme Series includes seven rods — four new casting models and three new spinning models – covering a wide range of technique-specific applications. Anglers will find specially designed spinning models optimized for jerkbaits, finesse fishing, general plastics use and more, as well as casting models designed specifically for everything from flipping to frogging.

On the spinning side, the XFS68MXF 6’8” medium power, extra-fast action rod is suited for jerkbaits, smaller crankbaits and more, while the XFS610MLXF 6’10” medium-light power, extra-fast action rod shines for Ned Rigs and other finesse applications. Lastly, the versatile XFS70MF 7’ medium power, fast action rod excels in a host of presentations, especially plastics.

Taking a closer look at the casting lineup, the XFC70MF is a 7’ medium power, fast action rod is the perfect choice for plastics and small-to-medium jigs. Anglers will appreciate the XFC70MHF 7’ medium-heavy, fast action model for everything from topwaters to flipping. The XFC71MHXF 7’1” medium-heavy, extra-fast makes a great swim jig rod and more, while the XFC74HF 7’4” heavy power, fast action rod does double duty for flipping and frogging.

New St. Croix Legend Xtreme Features

  • Blending St. Croix’s highest-grade materials and proprietary technologies with Daiwa AGSTM guides, the Legend Xtreme has extreme sensitivity that begs to be fished
  • Integrated Poly Curve® (IPC™) mandrel technology
  • Advanced Reinforcing Technology™ (ART™)
  • Taper Enhancement Technology (TET) blank design provides curved patterns for improved action with increased sensitivity
  • Super high-modulus SCVI carbon with FRS in lower section for maximum power and strength with reduced weight
  • High-modulus/high-strain SCV carbon with FRS and carbon-matte scrim for unparalleled strength, durability and sensitivity
  • Daiwa AGSTM Carbon Fiber Guides with Fuji KG Tip Top with Torzite ring
  • Fuji® SK2™ split reel seat for the ultimate in light weight and sensitivity
  • 2nd Generation Xtreme-Skin™ handle provides unparalleled control.
  • Kigan titanium hook-keeper
  • Machined wind check, handle trim pieces and butt cap
  • Two coats of Flex-Coat slow sure finish
  • 15-year transferable warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service
  • Designed and handcrafted in Park Falls, U.S.A.

Classic Contenders

BASS Elite pros, Brian Snowden and Bob Downey, have played significant roles in on-the-water testing of the new Legend Xtreme Series and are excited to be using the rods throughout practice and competition on bass fishing’s grandest stage, the upcoming 2020 Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham, Alabama, March 6-8.

“When I first saw it, I was just very impressed with the look of the new Legend Xtreme and was intrigued by the carbon fiber guides,” says Snowden, “and then I picked it up.” His first physical response was to the new Gen2 Xtreme-Skin handle. “I loved the handle. The feel is comfortable and sticky with a new textured finish that feels not only more secure in my hand, but also more rigid for better energy transmission.”

And then he fished them.

“These new Legend Xtreme rods are incredibly sensitive,” says Snowden, who recalls fishing the 7’ medium-heavy power fast action Xtreme (XFC70MHF) at the BASS Elite tournament at St. John earlier this month with 1/8- and 3/16-oz. jigs in the pads. “Even with these light jigs, I could tell the difference between my lure hitting the roots of the pads versus it hitting the soft bottom. I thought I had a bite the first couple times it happened… then I did get a bite and the feedback through the rod was shocking and immediate. I can’t wait to fish these rods on deep structure and a hard bottom back home on Table Rock,” he continues. “These rods are amazing in shallow water, but they are really going to shine during deep structure fishing in the summer with 60-80 feet of line out on a ledge or a brush pile.”

Downey is equally excited by the shocking performance characteristics of the new Legend Xtreme.

“The overall look and performance of the all-new Legend Xtreme is just stunning,” says Downey. “What St. Croix has accomplished with respect to sensitivity with these rods is truly unparalleled. Until you fish these rods, it’s hard to understand just how awesome the performance is. I’ve spent a lot of time with the with the 7’ XFC70MHF model, specifically, and it has already provided a great advantage for me fishing bottom-contact baits like Texas-rigged Beavers. The rigidity of the guides and the handle just translate bites – and whatever my bait is doing – better than anything I’ve ever experienced. I’m incredibly excited and proud to be carrying these advantage-laden weapons with me onto the water at Guntersville.”

Snowden expects to find a lot of bass in 5- to 10-feet of water when the Classic kicks off on Lake Guntersville early next month. “The docks will definitely be in play, as will shallow grass beds,” he says. “In addition to their sensitivity – which is going to easily telegraph strikes on the fall – these Legend Xtreme rods are also extremely accurate when flipping and skipping, so it’s going to be the ideal tool. The tips seem quicker and the rods also seem to have more power when compared to others with the same specs… they come back to straight almost instantly, yet they are soft enough for lighter lures,” adds Snowden, who also expects to deploy his 7’4” heavy power, fast action Legend Xtreme (XFC74HF) for swimbait duty over the shallow grass. “Maintaining contact with that grass is going to be key, and with the sensitivity and immediate feedback of Legend Xtreme, I’m going to know what my swimbaits or chatterbaits are doing at any given moment. That really builds a lot of confidence.”

Of course, Downey and Snowden won’t be the lone representatives of the new Legend Xtreme Series in Birmingham. The St. Croix Team will be on hand throughout the competition, giving anglers firsthand opportunities to see, feel and experience the new Legend Xtreme for themselves.

“The entire St. Croix Team is looking forward to this year’s Bassmaster Classic,” says Simpkins. “It’s obviously going to be particularly fun and exciting in the St. Croix booth, due to the significance of the Legend Xtreme launch… seeing and hearing the reactions of anglers when they pick up the rod for the first time is what makes all our effort and investment worthwhile. But it’s going to be equally rewarding and exciting talking with them about our overall sensitivity testing and enhancement program… how the specific St. Croix rod series they are currently fishing are going to be able to be improved to result in a heightened fishing experience. And even if you strip all this exciting news away, we’re still just pleased to be out there talking with anglers about where and how they fish and how we can keep making better products. That’s what we’ve always done, and what we promise to continue doing.”

New St. Croix Legend Xtreme models will retail in the range of $630-$650, and will be available for purchase online at https://stcroixrods.com/collections/rod-shopper and at participating St. Croix dealers on Friday, March 6.

Belleview’s Trevor Fitzgerald Wins Toyota Series Tournament on St. Johns River

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Belleview’s Trevor Fitzgerald Wins Toyota Series Tournament on St. Johns River

Belleview’s Trevor Fitzgerald Wins Toyota Series Tournament on St. Johns River

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 PALATKA, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2020) – Pro Trevor Fitzgerald of Belleview, Florida, brought a 19-pound, 8-ounce limit to the weigh-in scale Saturday to reclaim the top spot on the leaderboard and win the three-day Toyota Series at the St. Johns River. Fitzgerald’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 57-12 gave him the win by a 6-pound margin and earned him a payout of $38,048 in the Toyota Series Southern Division 2020 opener.

“I’ve been wanting this one for a while,” said Fitzgerald, who earned his first career Toyota Series victory after five previous top-10 finishes. “I seem to do okay in one-day tournaments, but I excel in these multi-day tournaments because I don’t typically go out and catch a giant bag. I usually find stuff that is more consistent.”

The first day, Fitzgerald caught multiple sight fish on a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver, fished on a Fitzgerald Stunner 7-foot, 3-inch medium-heavy and Stunner reel.

“On day two I didn’t have any spawners left, so I went to running the bank and found a little depression that I’d known about, but I came to realize there was a lot more fish sitting in it than I realized.”

What Fitzgerald was fishing was basically a long sand bar at the far south end of Lake George, which served as a staging area for fish coming to the bank to spawn. No one else seemed to find it, potentially due to how shallow it was.

“It’s just a depression surrounded by super-shallow water. I used to put in at that boat ramp right there when I was a kid, so I was kind of familiar with the way the bottom lays out.”

Fitzgerald caught his fish on a shaky-head rig tipped with a Reaction Innovations Pocket Rocket in black and blue, which he threw on a Fitzgerald Stunner spinning rod and spinning reel and 12-pound-test Fitzgerald Vursa fluorocarbon. Prior to that, he was mostly dragging a black and blue Reaction Innovations Machete on a 7-foot, 3-inch, medium-heavy Fitzgerald Stunner casting rod paired with a Fitzgerald Stunner casting reel (7:1) and 17-pound-test Fitzgerald Vursa fluorocarbon.

“I grew up about 20 minutes from the south end of Lake George, and I’ve been fishing here my whole life,” Fitzgerald went on to say. “I love fishing the St. Johns River and it is awesome to win here.”

The top 10 pros on the St. Johns River finished:

1st:       Trevor Fitzgerald of Belleview, Fla., 15 bass, 57-12, $38,048

2nd:      Jason Blair of West Palm Beach, Fla., 15 bass, 51-12, $14,550

3rd:       Steven Hatala of Harrison Township, Mich., 13 bass, 50-6, $11,265

4th:       Rodney Marks of Apopka, Fla., 15 bass, 45-0, $9,387

5th:       Keith Carson of DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 43-6, $8,833

6th:       Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, 12 bass, 38-8, $8,510

7th:       Jonathan Kelley of Old Forge, Pa., 12 bass, 37-12, $6,571

8th:       Frank Kitchens III of Oxford, Ga., 11 bass, 37-8, $5,632

9th:       Jason Meninger of St. Augustine, Fla., 12 bass, 36-3, $4,694

10th:     Chris Hensley of Marbury, Ala., 10 bass, 33-11, $3,755

A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Carson brought a 9-pound largemouth bass to the scale Friday – the largest fish weighed by a boater in the event – to earn the day’s Big Bass award of $135.

Gallelli took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX 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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Edwin Bartlett of Casco, Maine, won the Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 12 bass weighing 29 pounds, 12 ounces. For his win, Bartlett took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor, worth $33,500.

The top 10 co-anglers on the St. Johns River finished:

1st:       Edwin Bartlett of Casco, Maine, 12 bass, 29-12, $33,500

2nd:      Cole Hewett of Orlando, Fla., 14 bass, 28-8, $4,929

3rd:       Blaine Bucy of Weirton, W. Va., eight bass, 25-13, $3,783

4th:       Roger Hughes of Bartlesville, Okla., eight bass, 25-12, $3,400

5th:       David Wareham of Port St. Lucie, Fla., 12 bass, 25-11, $2,837

6th:       Chris Holland of Vero Beach, Fla., 11 bass, 22-1, $2,364

7th:       Andy Niles of Ocean Springs, Miss., 11 bass, 20-9, $1,891

8th:       Kevin Thomas of Miramar, Fla., eight bass, 19-11, $1,655

9th:       Early Whitaker of Iron City, Ga., 11 bass, 18-13, $1,419

10th:     Michael Harrelson of Conway, S.C., nine bass, 18-5, $1,182

Alan Carver of East Point, Georgia caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Thursday, a fish weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces. He earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $90.

The Toyota Series at the St. Johns River was hosted by the Putnam County Tourist Development Council. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments in 2020 for Southern Division anglers. The next tournament for Toyota Series anglers will be the Central Division opener – the Toyota Series at Lake Chickamauga, held Feb. 27-29 in Dayton, Tennessee. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.

The Toyota Series consists of eight divisions – Central, Eastern, Northern, Plains, Southeastern, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $200,000 cash, plus lucrative contingency bonuses. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2020 Toyota Series Championship is being held Nov. 5-7 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky, and is hosted by the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and the Burnside Tourism Commission.

For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Wade Grooms Win’s CATT Santee Cooper, SC Feb 8, 2020

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Wade Grooms Win’s CATT Santee Cooper, SC Feb 8, 2020

Next Santee Cooper CATT Qualifier is this coming Saturday Feb 15 at John  C Land! This is a GOLD Qualifier Entry at the ramp will be $130.00!

Use PHANTOMCATT15 at checkout and receive 15% off your order! Click on the Phantom logo to view the great line of Phantom Apparel! 

Wade Grooms takes home $975.00 & 1st Place with 5 bass weighing 22.92 lbs!

Brian Scott & Brad Beatson claim 2nd with 22.76 lbs!

Donnie McCord & Jamie Partee finished 3rd with 19.00 lbs!

Big Total Total
22 Teams Fish Weight Winnings Points
Wade Grooms 0.00 22.92 $975.00 110
Brian Scott – Brad Beatson 6.68 22.76 $366.00 109
Jamie Partee – Donnie McCord 0.00 19.00 $200.00 108
Jason Green – Bryan Miller 0.00 18.44 $100.00 107
Brent Waynick – Emmett McCauley 6.04 17.97 106
Max Terry – James Glasscock 0.00 16.19 105
Ronnie Mills – Trip Mills 6.54 14.83 104
Justin Johnson 0.00 14.22 103
Ben Smith – Isaac Perkins 0.00 14.14 102
Barry Sims – Witt Dority 0.00 11.99 101
Clark Gibbs – Freddie Gibbs 0.00 11.89 100
Lonnie Jones 0.00 9.50 99
Stevie Walker 0.00 7.76 98
John Wilson – Cody Armstrong 6.87 6.87 $154.00 97
John Ford Sr – John Ford Jr 0.00 6.43 96
Jason Morse – Zeke Lynum 0.00 5.86 95
Woody Floyd – Vickie Morris 0.00 5.47 94
Bunn Tyson – Thad Driggers 0.00 3.68 93
Patrick Williams – Mark Williams 0.00 0.00 92
Keith Shelton – Chris Rice 0.00 0.00 92
Bobby LeBlank – David Bennenhalley 0.00 0.00 92
Illya Smith – Frank Celestine 0.00 0.00 92
Total Entrys $1,760.00
BONUS $ $475.00
Total Paid At Ramp $1,795.00
Santee Cooper 2020 Spring Final Fund $340.00
2020 CATT Championship Fund $50.00
2020 Santee Cooper Spring Final Fund Total $340.00
2020 CATT Championship Fund Total $2,100.00

Clint Brown & Terry Stevens Win Georgia Bass Trail Feb 8,2020

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Clint Brown & Terry Stevens Win Georgia Bass Trail Feb 8,2020

1st Clint Brown & Terry Stevens 15.30

2nd Mark Succi & Justin Smallwood 14.77 BF 5.43

3rd Calvin Sullivan & Cameron Beck 14.75

4th Duane Williams & Mike York 14.47

5th Michael Taylor & James Steele 12.67

6th Rodney Gore & Kevin Gregory 11.84

7th Dale Blackwell & Britt Daniel 11.62

8th Taylor Thompson & Wesley Griner 11.05

9th Eric Blessitt & Greg Adamek 9.71

10th Christopher Velie & Tom Geraldsen 8.70

The anglers were fishing in 16+mph winds most of the day. It was a good job.

Fishing Hacks: Tweaking Soft Plastics To Catch More Bass – MTB

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Fishing Hacks: Tweaking Soft Plastics To Catch More Bass – MTB

Fishing Hacks: Tweaking Soft Plastics To Catch More Bass

Soft plastic lures taken straight out of the package will frequently catch bass, but savvy anglers who spend time tinkering with these baits usually get more bites, especially on pressured waters. You can modify your soft plastics by clipping, slicing, melting or any other means to create a better bass catcher. Many of the alterations you can make are simple even for novice anglers to try.

Here’s a look at two simple modifications you can make to various soft plastics to change the looks and actions of the lures.

Getting Tricky With Finesse Worms

Through some alterations, you can change a do-nothing worm into a lure with livelier action. One way to liven the worm’s action is to cut at least four slits 1 1/2 to 2 inches long on one side of the lure to give it tentacles on that end. When you flip it and it comes over something, it will fall with a more natural look because those tentacles give the bait a tail action. You can also cut slits in both ends of the lure to create a unique-looking worm for rigging wacky style on a hook.

Slim Fast For Your Soft Plastics

Some simple alterations can also be made to the plastic chunks you attach to your jigs. Thinning down the legs of the chunk with a knife creates more action out of the legs. The only drawback is you tend to lose the legs when you catch a fish because they are so thin that they will break off. You can also cut notches at the end of the chunk’s legs to make the appendages look like crawfish pincers.

ANTICIPATION RUNNING HIGH FOR 2020 HOBIE B.O.S. ON LAKE FORK, TX

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ANTICIPATION RUNNING HIGH FOR 2020 HOBIE B.O.S. ON LAKE FORK, TX

ANTICIPATION RUNNING HIGH FOR 2020 HOBIE B.O.S. ON LAKE FORK, TX

Might the B.O.S. All-Time Single-Day Record Be Broken Yet Again?

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (February 14, 2020) – Anticipation! That’s the buzzword among those planning to participate in the second installment of the 2020 Hobie Bass Open Series (B.O.S.), scheduled for February 22-23 on Lake Fork Reservoir, TX. Listen carefully and you can almost hear it dripping from the end of every sentence as the kayak faithful gather to discuss their plans of attack for the 27,264-acre impoundment, and the heavy-shouldered bass that call these waters home.

“We visited Lake Fork last year in June and it produced some really great fishing,” said Hobie BOS tournament director, A.J. McWhorter. “It’s a true trophy bass fishery with high-end potential and we’re hitting it at a great time of year for anglers to catch big limits and some potentially huge fish.”

Indeed, many consider Lake Fork to be the premiere trophy largemouth lake in the Lone Star State. It has three distinct tributaries (Lake Fork, Big Caney and Little Caney creeks), plenty of channel swings, abundant grass flats, hydrilla, Eurasian milfoil and water hyacinth, plus tons of stumps, standing timber, old roadbeds and foundations that were present before the lake was impounded back in 1980. With a maximum depth of 70’ and miles of shallow flats, coves, nooks and crannies to explore, the bassin’ possibilities are limitless. Numerous hawgs topping the 15-pound mark have been recorded here, including the Texas state record of 18.18 pounds. In fact, more than half of the fish listed on the Texas Parks & Wildlife Top 50 Largemouth Bass list have come from these waters, which offer over two-dozen public launch ramps plus several parklands to provide ample access.

“I absolutely love Lake Fork,” says Brian Howell, 27, of Rowlett, TX, who finished second in last year’s BOS on the big lake. “This is actually my favorite bass spot and it has amazing big fish potential. There’s so many 4- to 6-pound fish that the leader board can change several times in a matter of minutes if a few anglers get hot. Depending on the weather, it might take 100 inches of bass or more on both days to win this tourney. A cold front could tamper expectations, of course, but if we have fair weather leading into day one, watch out because it could be a slugfest.”

Last year’s Lake Fork BOS winner was Matt Ramey, 26, of Carlsbad, NM, with 194.25 total inches of bass caught, photographed and released. Like Howell, he’s ready to launch his ‘yak and get the competition underway.

“I like Lake Fork because it offers a super mix of structure and weeds, abundant fish and plenty of lunkers,” said Ramey. “I’ve pulled two personal best bass here in previous Hobie Tournament of Champions competitions, so the opportunity for a trophy definitely excites me. I also enjoy that it’s a completely different type of ecosystem from what I fish back home. I’m used to working hard, rocky bottom, clear, deep waters, and maybe a few mesquite trees if I’m lucky. Here, there’s tons of timber, extensive grass lines, creeks and coves. I can’t wait to get started.”

Both Howell and Ramey expect the Lake Fork event will pan out somewhat differently than last year since it’s being held earlier in the season. They agree that the bass are likely to be in a late winter or pre-spawn patterns for this tourney, calling for different approaches than they used last June.

“Last year I was throwing a 1.5 and 1-ounce Strike King punch jig on day one, working it mostly around water hyacinth,” revealed Ramey. “Day two was cloudy, cooler and brought some short bites so I switched to a 2-ounce Tungsten jig tipped with a Strike King Rodent to better punch through the matts. This year, with the fish probably in a pre-spawn pattern, I’ll be searching for clean water that’s a degree or two warmer than the surrounding area. I’ll push all the way back into the creeks and look for shell beds. They can be one of the first areas to hold bait in the spring. Mussels feed on algae and detritus, just like small baitfish, so I use them as a tip-off to possible productive feeding zones. Find some shellfish with a spawning flat nearby and you can be in pretty good shape this time of year.”

A member of the New Mexico Hobie Pro Team out of Zia Kayak Outfitters in Elephant Butte, NM, Ramey also notes that his Hobie 360 can provide an edge, especially on the grassy flats of Lake Fork. “With that 360 maneuverability I can get in and out of the weeds without ever dipping a paddle, even if there’s some wind,” he stated. “That makes it easier to work edges or even move in and out of thick matts without spooking my quarry. It really helps when the water is clean and the fish are shy, as is often the case in late winter and early spring.”

Howell plans to fish shallow so long as a cold front doesn’t squeeze through immediately before the tourney. “If I find the fish are in a pre-spawn pattern as expected, I’ll run at least half-way up some creeks to look for staging areas with a lot of timber,” he explained. “I’ll hit those areas with Chatterbaits, crankbaits and maybe some Texas-rigged soft plastics.”

Ramey and Howell are both big fans of the Hobie BOS format, noting that in addition to substantial cash prizes, there are plenty of giveaways for participants, a clear set for rules for all to follow, a highly competitive field and plenty of camaraderie to go with numerous events held across the country. That means anglers can compete hard and still have fun, meet up with friends, rub elbows with top competitors, and learn from some of the best kayak bass anglers in the country.

Not only did the Hobie BOS Lake Seminole tournament provide plenty of drama, it paid out some nice prize money as well, with Harshman taking home $7,000, Counce, $3,700 and Smitts, $2,000. Total payouts tallied $23,125 and covered up to 13th place. In addition to their cash prizes, the top three anglers also qualified for Hobie’s 50-angler end-of-year Tournament of Champions.

“The Hobie BOS really is a great tournament series,” noted Nakada. “It’s open to anyone with a kayak, offers great competition, surprisingly large cash prizes, a chance to test your skills against top level competition, plus opportunities to learn and network with others in the kayak fishing community.”

The next Hobie BOS event is scheduled for legendary Lake Fork in Wood County, Texas, February 22-23. Visit www.HobieBOS.com for the full schedule and registration details.

The 2020 Hobie Bass Open Series is open to anglers fishing in any brand of kayak and consists of nine individual tournaments. Cost for the two-day, weekend, open tournaments is $235, with a maximum of 200 boats per event. The top 10% of the field in each event receive cash payouts while the top three non-qualified anglers from each open qualify for the Hobie Tournament of Champions (T.O.C).

January’s opening 2020 Hobie BOS event, held on Lake Seminole, GA, witnessed Jake Harshman of Harrisburg, PA literally inch out Josh Counce, of Sopchoppy, FL, 179.75” to 178.75” after Counce broke the BOS single day record in the first hour of competition with an amazing 101 inches for his five-fish catch and release limit. Ironically, the record had belonged to Ramey.

Can the Lake Fork, TX Hobie BOS event match or even surpass those marks? An entire fleet of kayak bass fishing fans – especially Ramey – can’t wait to test the waters and find out.

Special thanks to host site Lake Fork Marina & Hotel for supporting the Hobie B.O.S.’s second stop in 2020.

Buddy makes a Splash at his first Bassmaster Elite event on the St. Johns

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Buddy makes a Splash at his first Bassmaster Elite event on the St. Johns

In this episode of Bass Cast Radio Bassmaster Elite anglers Buddy Gross gives a look back at his great finish as well as his thoughts on his first Bassmaster Elite event. Going to be a great year for Buddy.

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Special thanks to our title sponsor

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