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Bassmaster Elite Series Event At Chickamauga Lake Moved To March

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February 10, 2020

Bassmaster Elite Series Event At Chickamauga Lake Moved To March

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Due to high waters, flooding conditions and a forecast calling for continued heavy rain in the region, B.A.S.S. officials announced today they will postpone the Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake originally scheduled for later this week.

The second stop of the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series season is now scheduled to be held on the Dayton, Tenn., fishery March 19-22.

“We have been in close communication with local authorities and our hosts in Tennessee about the current flooding as well as the forecast,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “After careful discussions, it was apparent that the best decision was to postpone the tournament and festivities.”

The National Weather Service is predicting widespread severe thunderstorms across Tennessee and much of the Southeast on Wednesday with additional moderate to major river flooding over the next seven days.

“Extreme heavy rainfall and runoff is causing elevated river conditions all across the Tennessee Valley,” said James Everett from TVA River Management. “These are much higher than normal flows and flow rates coming from the dams, which can increase boating hazards.”

According to local law enforcement, much of the venue where the tournament was to be held is currently flooded and road closures are expected.

“It was smart for B.A.S.S. to postpone the tournament until conditions are better,” said Rhea Sheriff Mike Neal. “The combination of parking issues and road closures would make it unsafe for fans and everyone involved, especially if we get the additional rain forecasted.”

When the event kicks off in March, the field will launch from Dayton Boat Dock with weigh-ins and the Bassmaster Outdoors Expo being held at Point Park.

2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Talon, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Carhartt, Garmin, HUK Performance Fishing, Mossy Oak Fishing, Rapala

2020 Bassmaster Elite At Chickamauga Lake Local Host: Rhea Economic Development and Tourism Council

Heybo Outdoors Expands Outfitter Series With New Performance Shirt

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February 10, 2020

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Heybo Outdoors Expands Outfitter Series With New Performance Shirt

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CHESTER, S.C., Feb. 10, 2020 – Heybo Outdoors – a rapidly growing outdoor lifestyle, hunting and fishing apparel brand – has released its all-new Outfitter Shirt. Available in Mossy Oak Bottomland, Mossy Oak Obsession, and Realtree Timber camo patterns, the Outfitter Shirt is built to perform in any environment and provides you with all day comfort.

Constructed with Heybo’s durable and lightweight CORE Regulating Technology designed specifically for the performance-minded sportsman, the Outfitter is perfect as a stand-alone piece or for layering. The Outfitter’s mesh panels and vented back keep your core temperature regulated, while its built-in UV protection and quick-dry, moisture-wicking properties, promise to keep you dry and cool you down as things heat up.

“We strive to create products that will ensure the most comfortable experience possible,” said Scott Clyburn, president of Heybo Outdoors. “The Outfitter combines well thought out features to provide maximum versatility and comfort while you’re out in the field all day long.”

The Outfitter Shirt retails for $54.00. Look for this item at your local hunting retailer or at the official HEYBO website, https://heybooutdoors.com/collections/the-outfitter-shirt-short-sleeve

About HEYBO

Headquartered in Chester, S.C.,Heybo makes affordable, versatile, high-quality outdoor lifestyle apparel and gear that performs in the field, at work and at play. Heybo is an outdoors obsessed, family owned company; committed to helping its customers live their best outdoor life. Founded by life-long outdoorsman, Scott Clyburn, Heybo products are designed by an outdoors-obsessed team who understands the demands of today’s serious outdoorsman. From standing in the cold flooded timber of Arkansas to an all-day trip trolling for marlin in the Gulf Stream, Heybo uses modern fabrics and state-of-the-art technology to make the world’s finest outdoor gear and lifestyle apparel.

For more information about Heybo Outdoors, visit www.heybooutoors.com or follow along on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Vicious Fishing joins Thebasscast.com Fantasy Fishing

Fantasy Fishing

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February 10, 2020

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Vicious Fishing joins Thebasscast.com Fantasy Fishing

Please Welcome Vicious Fishing

Thebasscast.com is pleased to announce Vicious Fishing as a new sponsor for our fantasy fishing league. Vicious Fishing is the first line sponsor to join basscast and we couldn’t be more happier to have them on board. Vicious Fishing makes and sells all kinds of fishing line from mono to fluorocarbon to braid. We have already received our shipment for all the events for 2020 Fantasy Fishing. Please check them out on this link Vicious Fishing

Check out this video to our very own Brian who unboxes the shipment from Vicious Fishing. Click link –> Vicious Fishing Unboxing

More sponsor updates to come as we will try to showcase each one!!

Bass Pro Tour Rookie Bryan Thrift Wins Group A and Advances Directly to the Championship

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February 10, 2020

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Bass Pro Tour Rookie Bryan Thrift Wins Group A and Advances Directly to the Championship

February 9, 2020 (Eufaula, Ala.) Bass Pro Tour Rookie Bryan Thrift won Qualifying Round Group A of the B&W Hitches Stage One presented by Power-Pole to become the first automatic Championship Berth in MLF history. Alabama resident Greg Vinson rose 18 places to finish in second. Chris Lane, who held the lead in Group A for nearly five periods, fell to fifth overall with a two-day total of 38 pounds, two ounces. Overall the third day kept everyone guessing despite the sunny skies and warmer temperatures.

On a slightly tougher fishing day on Lake Eufaula, Bryan Thrift showed he could compete well in this new-to-him format with an impressive two-day total and commanding march into first over Chris Lane. Thrift took control of the top spot with the Berkley Big Bass of the Day, which weighed in at six pounds, three ounces, shortly after Period 3 began. In the last 80 minutes of the day, he added five more bass to his total including one at five pounds, five ounces. Thrift said his late-day success was a surprise.

“I did a lot better than I expected at the end,” Thrift admitted. “It started so slow, and I only had four fish between the first two periods.

“I’m not getting enough bites to have a pattern,” he added. “I’m running different stuff and throwing different baits; there’s no way I can know what is going to work.”

PRESS KIT IMAGES: https://mlf.canto.com/g/MLF

Thrift earned the Phoenix Boats Daily Leader award for his ten bass weighing in at 34 pounds, six ounces. Perhaps most exciting, Thrift receives the benefit of a “Championship Berth,” which guarantees him a $12,000 minimum payday. New for 2020, the winners of each Group (A and B) automatically advance to the final, Championship Round, and do not need to fish the Knockout Round. The remaining 19 anglers from each Group (A and B) will fish Tuesday for one of the remaining eight spots in the Championship Round.

Alabama resident Greg Vinson rose steadily up the SCORETRACKER® from 20^th place to second. His success stemmed from the fact that he caught more scoreable bass on the day with 12, including one just shy of five pounds at four pounds, 15 ounces. Vinson eluded to how stressful it can be for an angler to find himself mid-round on the “elimination line.” The elimination line refers to the top 20 places on SCORETRACKER® who advance and the bottom 20 who are eliminated from a Stage of the Bass Pro Tour.

“I came in as the ‘bubble boy,’ and I was sweating it,” Vinson said. “With the tough fishing conditions, you never know. I locked into something a little different today, and it was fun.”

Chris Lane finished day one of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour B&W Hitches Stage One presented by Power-Pole at the top of the SCORETRACKER® with 35-pounds, 12-ounces representing nine bass. However, day two proved to be a completely different ballgame. Lane caught one scorable bass in Period 1 and then remained scoreless the rest of the day. His lead coming into day two provided him a secure position in fifth place for the Qualifying Round, Group A.

The Top Ten of the Qualifying Round, Group A finished day two as follows:

Place	Angler	Total 2-Day Weight	Total Day Two Weight	Largest Fish of Day Two
1	Bryan Thrift	54-01	34-06	6-03
2	Greg Vinson	42-11	32-08	4-15
3	Andy Morgan	41-10	30-15	5-13
4	Todd Faircloth	40-02	14-05	3-10
5	Chris Lane	38-02	2-06	2-06
6	Brent Ehrler	37-06	19-08	6-02
7	Mark Rose	31-11	17-03	4-08
8	Josh Bertrand	31-04	4-14	4-14
9	Jacob Powroznik	30-09	18-13	5-06
10	Jeff Sprague	27-09	10-01	4-10

For complete results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com, Bass Pro Tour, Results.

Lane was not the only angler to experience a tough day on the water. Stephen Browning started the day in 11^th but fell to 23^rd, while Boyd Duckett slipped from 13^th to 25^th. Mark Daniels, Jr. began on the bubble with Vinson at 19^th and fell to 24^th. While Andy Montgomery moved from 22^nd to 18^th. While in the other direction, Alton Jones, Jr. rose from 26^th to 13^th and Brent Chapman leapt from 28^th to 11^th place.

The Qualifying Round continues Monday with Group B, currently led by 2019 Major League Fishing (MLF) World Champion Jacob Wheeler. Wesley Strader stands in second place with Randall Tharp, Bobby Lane, and MLF Rookie David Dudley rounding out the top five. Defending 2019 Points Champion and REDCREST presented by Venmo Champion, Edwin Evers sits in 36^thplace and Kevin VanDam hopes to hold onto his 13^th place to advance to the Knockout Round. The SCORETRACKER® resets to zero for the Knockout Round making it a new game going into Tuesday’s Knockout Round and Wednesday’s Championship Final.

Tuesday’s Qualifying Round, Group B, day two begins with launch 7-7:30 a.m. before lines-in at 8:00 a.m. Period 1 ends at 10:30 a.m. Period 2 spans 10:45 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Period 3 begins at 1:30 p.m. and lasts until day’s end at 4:00 p.m. The General Tire Takeout show airs approximately 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. as anglers return to the ramp.

Fans can catch all the action every day of competition on MLFNOW! livestream on MajorLeagueFishing.com or download the MLF App for your Apple or GooglePlay device or on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).

Mueller Takes Narrow Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On St. Johns River

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February 10, 2020

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Mueller Takes Narrow Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On St. Johns River

Paul Mueller, of Naugatuck, Conn., is leading after Day 2 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River with 36 pounds, 10 ounces.

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

February 9, 2020

Mueller Takes Narrow Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On St. Johns River

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PALATKA, Fla. — Two days of persistence and adaptation have landed Paul Mueller in the lead at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River heading into Championship Monday.

Mueller, the veteran Elite Series pro from Naugatuck, Conn., caught a five-bass limit that weighed 16 pounds, 2 ounces during Sunday’s second round. Added to his first-round catch of 20-8, it gave him a two-day total of 36-10.

He leads second-place angler Kelley Jaye of Dadeville, Ala., (35-10) by 1 pound.

Mueller, who earned his first Elite victory last year at Georgia’s Lake Lanier went in the opposite direction of most his competitors. While most anglers fished south of the Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp, Mueller committed his day to the same creek he fished Saturday, well north of the takeoff site.

The day began slowly, but Mueller said he believed in his area enough to keep casting the Strike King Hack Attack swim jig trailed with a Zoom Speed Craw that produced his Day 1 bag. He steadily picked up keepers before finding a day-making 6-4 largemouth.

“What a key bite; that fish anchored my weight,” he said. “I made an adjustment at the end of the day and that was it. I caught the majority of my fish earlier on the swim jig, but I just couldn’t get a big bite, so I started punching a 3-inch junebug-color craw with a 1-ounce tungsten weight.

“I felt like the fish moved under the mats. There wasn’t as much water in the place I was fishing as there was on Day 1, but I felt like if I could find a mat with enough water on it, there would be a big fish there.”

Notably, Mueller said the spot that produced his 6-4 was approximately 10 yards from where he lost an estimated 8-pounder on Day 1. Describing his kicker as a classic prespawn fish, Mueller said the positioning told him the chunky bass was staging for a shallow move.

“There was a little point in the mat next to a little piece of wood on a transition of where the creek channel swung in to the bank,” he said. “The fish could spawn anywhere left or right in those pads.”

Despite warmer conditions than Day 1, Mueller said he did not believe many fish had started recovering from the week’s cold front. One possible explanation could be that the strong winds that postponed the tournament’s start by two days had blown a lot of water out of his area.

“I thought more fish would show up today but it was tough,” he said. “I think the key was that the water level was lower than it should be. If it comes up tomorrow, a few more fish could be positioned right where I can catch them. I think some of those big fish are out deep and when it gets right, they move up.”

Jaye, who started the day in first place with a 15-ounce lead, slipped to second with 35-10.

Adding 14-3 to his Day 1 bag of 21-7, he stuck with the same game plan — throwing a jerkbait over a spring. His bag included a 4-pounder, but he lost one possibly larger on the same area that produced a 9-pounder Saturday.

“I had another place I could go catch a couple of keepers, but I’m trying to win and I knew I was where the big fish are,” Jaye said. “I figured if I caught one there, it would be equal to two I’d catch somewhere else

“The channel bend comes around close to the reed line and it’s easy access for the fish to move right up to the reeds to feed. I lost that big one and I lost another one on a worm on a laydown. I had my opportunities and that’s all you can ask for — to stay within striking distance, and that’s where we are.”

Jake Whitaker of Fairview, N.C., proved that consistency matters, as he added 16-3 to the 16-12 he weighed on Day 1 to take third with 32-15.

Fishing a wacky-rigged green pumpkin magic Bizz Baits Sassy Stick in a protected canal, Whitaker lost a 6-pounder on camera, but later redeemed himself by catching one of equal size.

“What could have been is always in the back of your mind, but I’m happy with how the day went,” Whitaker said. “I caught my fifth fish 30 minutes before check-in. There are definitely some big fish in that area, so I’m going to go back in there tomorrow and do the exact same thing.”

Elite Series rookie Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., took the lead in the race for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week with a 10-1 largemouth.

The Top 20 remaining anglers will fish Monday with a $100,000 first-place paycheck on the line. Takeoff is scheduled for 6:45 a.m. ET at Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at Palatka Riverfront Park at 2 p.m.

2020 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River 2/8-2/11
St. Johns River, Palatka FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 36-10 100
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 16-02
2. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 10 35-10 99 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 14-03
3. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 10 32-15 98
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 16-03
4. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 10 32-09 97 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 20-12
5. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 10 32-08 96
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 22-15
6. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 32-02 95
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 15-05
7. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 10 31-03 94
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 15-14
8. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 30-04 93
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 12-06
9. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 9 28-03 92
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 4 08-03
10. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 10 28-00 91
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 14-01
11. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 8 27-14 90
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 3 08-14
12. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 27-12 89
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 16-11
13. Drew Cook Midway, FL 10 27-08 88
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 17-14
14. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 10 27-04 87
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 09-09
15. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 26-14 86
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 10-12
16. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 26-03 85
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 18-05
17. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 9 25-15 84
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 5 17-08
18. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 25-13 83
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 08-08
19. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 25-11 82
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 15-06
20. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 25-06 81
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 14-12
21. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 10 25-05 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 16-12
22. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 10 25-01 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 12-07
23. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 6 23-01 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 5 19-11
24. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 9 21-10 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 11-11 Day 2: 5 09-15
25. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 10 21-10 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 10-01
26. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 21-09 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 09-04
27. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 21-08 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 10-04
28. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 21-07 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 11-15
29. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 10 21-00 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 11-07
30. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 9 20-15 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 10-08 Day 2: 5 10-07
31. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 8 20-14 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 5 12-08
32. Wes Logan Springville, AL 9 20-13 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 4 07-02
33. John Cox Debary, FL 4 20-12 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 1 06-14 Day 2: 3 13-14
34. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 9 20-05 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 11-02 Day 2: 5 09-03
35. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 19-14 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 19-14
36. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 19-13 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 12-00
37. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 10 19-10 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 11-12
38. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 7 19-08 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 2 03-13
39. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 9 19-08 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 5 10-13
40. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 9 19-03 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 4 09-05
41. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 8 19-00 60 $7,500.00
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 5 14-12
42. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 9 18-09 59 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 4 08-04
43. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 6 18-03 58 $7,500.00
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 5 16-15
44. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 7 18-03 57 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 2 06-08
45. David Fritts Lexington, NC 7 18-02 56 $7,500.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 4 10-13
46. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 10 18-02 55 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 09-08
47. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 7 18-00 54 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 2 04-12
48. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 8 18-00 53 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 3 07-06
49. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 9 18-00 52 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 07-08 Day 2: 5 10-08
50. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 18-00 51 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 10-04
51. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 7 17-14 50 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 2 10-00
52. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 7 17-06 49 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 2 04-03
53. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 7 17-04 48 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 13-03
54. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 8 17-00 47 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 3 03-07
55. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 9 16-08 46 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 5 09-15
56. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 7 16-02 45 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 5 13-10
57. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 7 16-02 44 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 08-13 Day 2: 3 07-05
58. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 6 16-01 43 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 09-14
59. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 8 16-00 42 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 3 03-11
60. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 6 14-15 41 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 5 13-02
61. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 14-13 40 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 10-09 Day 2: 2 04-04
62. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 8 13-11 39 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 5 07-04
63. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 6 13-10 38 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 3 06-01
64. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 7 12-05 37 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 08-12 Day 2: 3 03-09
65. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 12-01 36 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 3 08-14
66. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 12-00 35 $2,500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-00
67. Seth Feider New Market, MN 8 11-01 34 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 4 05-11
68. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 5 10-02 33 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 3 07-01
69. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 6 10-01 32 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 1 01-05
70. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 09-06 31 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
71. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 5 09-05 30 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 2 04-13
72. Rob Digh Denver, NC 6 09-00 29 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 1 01-12
73. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 4 09-00 28 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 2 04-05
74. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 08-05 27 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 3 05-10
75. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 4 08-03 26 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 1 03-01
76. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 5 08-02 25 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 4 04-11
77. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 6 07-15 24 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 5 06-15
78. Derek Hudnall Baton Rouge, LA 5 07-15 23 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 4 06-09
79. Greg DiPalma Millville, NJ 4 06-06 22 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 1 02-06
80. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 4 06-01 21 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 3 04-12
81. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 5 05-15 20 $2,500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 05-15
82. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 4 05-13 19 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
83. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 3 05-11 18 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 1 02-08
84. Lee Livesay Gladewater, TX 2 05-03 17 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 1 01-13
85. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 2 04-01 16 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
86. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 2 03-12 15 $2,500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-12
87. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 3 03-12 14 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 1 00-15
88. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 2 03-05 13 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 1 00-15
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 44 322 762-08
2 47 332 831-07
———————————-
91 654 1593-15

Wheeler Leads Group B after a Chilly Day on Lake Eufaula

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February 9, 2020

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Wheeler Leads Group B after a Chilly Day on Lake Eufaula

February 8, 2020 (Eufaula, Ala.) Jacob Wheeler, 2019 General Tire World Champion, assumed the lead from Bobby Lane early in day two of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour and never looked back, finishing in first place with 15 scorable bass totaling 42 pounds, five ounces. The B&W Hitches Stage Two presented by Power-Pole opened for the anglers in Group B on Lake Eufaula with chilly temperatures in the mid-30s and rain throughout the day. Wesley Strader finished second with nine fish totaling 36 pounds, six ounces. Justin Atkins earned the Berkley Big Bass of the Day award with a six-pound, 13-ounce largemouth bass, while MLF Rookie David Dudley rose to fifth by the end of the day.

Indiana native (Tennessee resident) Jacob Wheeler caught Floridian Bobby Lane, brother to Group A leader Chris Lane, at 9:30 a.m. Fishing a mainly offshore pattern with a variety of tactics, the Academy Sports Pro went against the grain in a tournament where most of the other anglers were beating the bank and targeting shallow cover.

“Today was a great day, and I was fortunate to catch them on a rotation of baits, but I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on the lake,” Wheeler said. “You have to keep an open mind because each day is unique this time of year, and you have to start over every morning.”

Fellow Tennessean Wesley Strader finished second by a spread of six pounds, one ounce and the only angler within striking distance of Wheeler. The 48-year-old angler with a rich history of FLW wins before joining the Bass Pro Tour in 2018 found that the high water impacted his ability to advance further.

“It was a really good day, but it could have been even better,” Strader admitted. “I wish the water would drop a little bit because that will pull some more fish out of the thick cover, and I think I can get more bites doing what I’m doing.”

MLF Rookie David Dudley showed that he can compete well in all fishing formats by finishing in fifth place with six bass totaling 22 pounds, 15 ounces. Today was the first day Dudley competed using the catch-weigh-immediately release format and rules.

“It was a fun day,” recapped Dudley. “I loved the SCORETRACKER® and kept telling my official all day to give me another update. I like hearing that people are catching or not catching fish, because it helps me process my day.”

Despite remaining scoreless until Period 3, Kevin VanDam rallied to finish 13th overall with four fish weighing in at 13 pounds, 11 ounces.

The Top Ten of Day One, Qualifying Group B finished as follows:

Place	Angler	Total Weight	Total Fish	Largest Fish
1	Jacob Wheeler	42-05	15	4-04
2	Wesley Strader	36-06	9	5-14
3	Randall Tharp	27-13	6	5-01
4	Bobby Lane	25-11	9	5-01
5	David Dudley	22-15	6	5-14
6	James Watson	21-12	6	5-05
7	Fletcher Shryock	21-04	7	4-09
8	Dustin Connell	19-03	6	6-02
9	Michael Neal	18-00	5	4-10
10	Mike McClelland	17-06	6	3-10

For complete results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com, Bass Pro Tour, Results.

The competition continues Sunday as Group A returns to finish the Qualifying Round. Chris Lane hopes to retain his lead and earn the automatic Championship Berth. New for 2020, the winner of each Group in the Qualifying Round advances directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round. The weather forecast calls for a slightly warmer day calling for a high of 65-degrees-Farenheit with no rain in the forecast.

The day begins with launch 7:15 a.m. before lines-in at 8:00 a.m. Period 1 ends at 10:30 a.m. Period 2 spans 10:45 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Period 3 begins at 1:30 p.m. and lasts until day’s end at 4:00 p.m. The General Tire Takeout show airs approximately 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. as anglers return to the ramp.

Fans can catch all the action every day of competition on MLFNOW! livestream on MajorLeagueFishing.com or download the MLF App for your Apple or GooglePlay device or on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).

About the Bass Pro Tour:

The Bass Pro Tour began in 2019 and features 80 of the best professional anglers in the world, including Kevin VanDam, Edwin Evers, Aaron Martens, Mike Iaconelli, Jordan Lee, and Skeet Reese. Each stage includes six days of competition using the Major League Fishing, catch-weigh-and-immediately-release format, where every bass over a variable minimum weight, which is two pounds on Lake Eufaula for Stage One, toward a cumulative weight total for the day. Variable minimum weights are determined by fishery akin to a golf course handicap. The field of 80 anglers is divided into two groups of 40 to compete on days one and two respectively for the Shotgun Round. On days three and four, the Elimination Round culls the field based on a combined 2-day total weight from each angler’s Shotgun and Elimination Round. The top 20 anglers from each group in the Elimination Round (40 total) advance to the Knockout Round on day five, which determines who will compete on that final day, the Championship Round, for the Stage title and $100,000.

Each of Eight Stages of the Bass Pro Tour have the following payout schedule: 1^st $100,000; 2^nd $42,000; 3^rd $30,000; 4^th$24,000; 5^th $18,000; 6^th $16,800; 7^th $15,600; 8^th $14,400; 9^th $13,200; 10^th $12,000; 11^th – 40^th $6,000; Big Bass Daily $1,000; Big Bass Overall $1,000.

In addition to the economic impact on a host community, Major League Fishing showcases the region through their award-winning, live and linear programming. Each Stage of the Bass Pro Tour is broadcast live on the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), and majorleaguefishing.com, totaling more than 325 hours of original programming. Fans can follow the fast-paced nature of the MLF format as it unfolds on the live leaderboard through “SCORETRACKER® updates.” Highlights from each Stage of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour will air on Discovery Network beginning in July 2020 and Sportsman Channel in early 2021.

“MLF offers the strongest broadcast presence in the industry to fans and sponsors,” said Jim Wilburn, President and CEO of Major League Fishing. “And with these lakes planned for this coming Bass Pro Tour, we know 2020 will be our best year yet as we continue to capture a broad audience of both longtime fishing fans and those new to the sport, thanks to our fast-paced, fan-friendly format,”

Jaye Relies On Experience To Claim Day 1 Lead In Bassmaster Elite At St. Johns River

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February 9, 2020

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Jaye Relies On Experience To Claim Day 1 Lead In Bassmaster Elite At St. Johns River

Kelley Jaye, of Dadeville, Ala., is leading after Day 1 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River with 21 pounds, 7 ounces.

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

February 8, 2020

Jaye Relies On Experience To Claim Day 1 Lead In Bassmaster Elite At St. Johns River

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PALATKA, Fla. — Kelley Jaye knows the potential perils of fishing history, but doing so proved to be a wise decision Saturday as he took the Day 1 lead in the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.

The Dadeville, Ala., pro, who is beginning his eighth-year on the Bassmaster Elite Series, brought in a five-bass limit that weighed 21 pounds, 7 ounces.

Last year, Jaye fished the St. Johns’ offshore structure and earned an 11th-place finish. Today, he figured the cold front that brought big winds and postponed the tournament’s scheduled start by two days likely stalled much of the spawning movement that seemed be happening prior to the weather.

That hunch sent him offshore again.

“I’m catching them in the same place as last year, doing the same thing,” said Jaye, who has eight career Top 10 finishes with B.A.S.S. “I think the days off helped because I have a lot of boats around me. Hopefully, all those boats will stay on the bank tomorrow and leave me alone.”

Jaye went directly to his spot from takeoff Saturday, as he knew the post-frontal day would bring the usual “bluebird” conditions — high pressure and lots of sunlight. The first few hours of his day proved most productive, with the fish cooperating better before the sun got high overhead.

“It happened kind of fast, I had all my fish before 10 a.m.,” Jaye said. “The bite slowed down, but they live here where I’m fishing. It’s a grind, just like last year. I’m only getting eight or nine bites a day, but they were good fish.

“Tomorrow, I’m just going to grind it out again and hope I get the right five bites.”

Jaye said he targeted 4 to 6 feet of water and caught his fish on a jerkbait. He kept the details guarded, but noted that he alternated between two colors specifically matched to various water colors he encountered.

Despite two days of fierce winds and a sharp decline in air temperature, Jaye said his spot, which measures about 300 yards long and 200 yards wide, held up well. He didn’t disclose his specific area, but he said its location helped keep the water temperature at a comfortable level.

“I caught them earlier this morning on the lower tide; I don’t know if they could see the bait better or what,” he said. “Then as the tide came up, the water started muddying up and the bite slowed down.”

Beefing up his jerkbaits by replacing the stock No. 5 lightwire trebles with No. 4 Owner treble hooks gave him more firepower. Still, Jaye said he had to take his time with each fish.

Anchoring Jaye’s bag was a 9-2 largemouth that leads the race for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week.

“My first fish was a 4 1/2 and then I caught that big one,” Jaye said. “When I caught those two big ones, I thought I was going to have a really big bag, based on what I’d caught in there in the past, but I’m pleased with what I had.”

Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., is in second place with 20-8. One of the few anglers who ran north (downriver) from the take-off site at Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp, Mueller caught most of his fish on a swim jig.

Timing, he said, was the key to his success.

“I spent half my day looking for new stuff, because I knew I had to fish my area at the right time; meaning when the water got a little higher and the sun got higher,” Mueller said. “You’re going to have a slow start with the weather that we had.

“This morning, I knew I had to learn something and try to find something new, so I treated it like a practice day. Then I went into my area and, thankfully, got a couple of good bites. I had two good fish and three decent fish, but those two good ones anchored my weight today.”

Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, is in third place with 20 pounds. With the day’s chilly start quickly yielding to sunny, warming conditions, the seasoned pro trusted his experience.

He knew the weekend’s full moon, plus rising temperatures, would spur a spawning movement.

“I don’t normally bet on them coming, but I kind of bet on them coming; I just thought that was what was going to happen — the full moon is too strong this time of year,” Wendlandt said. “I caught fish scattered throughout the day. I’m not getting tons of bites.”

Wendlant said he stuck with flipping/pitching baits because that forced him to slow down and fish his area thoroughly. He was able to spot some beds in the shallow, low-tide scenario, but most of his catches were unseen fish.

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. ET at Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at Palatka Riverfront Park at 3:15 p.m.

2020 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River 2/8-2/11
St. Johns River, Palatka FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 21-07 100 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-07
2. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 20-08 99
Day 1: 5 20-08
3. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 20-00 98
Day 1: 5 20-00
4. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 19-00 97
Day 1: 5 19-00
5. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 17-14 96
Day 1: 5 17-14
6. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 17-11 95
Day 1: 5 17-11
7. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 17-05 94
Day 1: 5 17-05
8. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 16-13 93
Day 1: 5 16-13
9. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 16-12 92
Day 1: 5 16-12
10. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 16-02 91
Day 1: 5 16-02
11. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 15-11 90
Day 1: 5 15-11
12. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 5 15-05 89
Day 1: 5 15-05
13. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 5 13-15 88
Day 1: 5 13-15
14. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 13-11 87
Day 1: 5 13-11
15. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 13-09 86
Day 1: 5 13-09
16. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 13-04 85
Day 1: 5 13-04
17. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 13-03 84
Day 1: 5 13-03
18. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 12-10 83
Day 1: 5 12-10
19. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 12-05 82
Day 1: 5 12-05
19. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 5 12-05 82
Day 1: 5 12-05
21. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 5 11-13 80
Day 1: 5 11-13
22. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 5 11-11 79
Day 1: 5 11-11
23. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 4 11-11 78
Day 1: 4 11-11
24. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 5 11-09 77
Day 1: 5 11-09
25. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 11-04 76
Day 1: 5 11-04
26. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 4 11-02 75
Day 1: 4 11-02
27. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 11-01 74
Day 1: 5 11-01
28. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 10-10 73
Day 1: 5 10-10
28. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 10-10 73
Day 1: 5 10-10
30. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 3 10-09 71
Day 1: 3 10-09
31. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 4 10-08 70
Day 1: 4 10-08
32. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 10-05 69
Day 1: 5 10-05
32. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 10-05 69
Day 1: 5 10-05
34. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 5 09-14 67
Day 1: 5 09-14
35. Drew Cook Midway, FL 5 09-10 66
Day 1: 5 09-10
36. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 09-09 65
Day 1: 5 09-09
36. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 09-09 65
Day 1: 5 09-09
38. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 09-08 63
Day 1: 5 09-08
39. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 09-06 62
Day 1: 5 09-06
40. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 4 08-13 61
Day 1: 4 08-13
41. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 5 08-12 60
Day 1: 5 08-12
42. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 4 08-12 59
Day 1: 4 08-12
43. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 4 08-11 58
Day 1: 4 08-11
44. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 5 08-10 57
Day 1: 5 08-10
45. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 5 08-09 56
Day 1: 5 08-09
46. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 4 08-07 55
Day 1: 4 08-07
47. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 3 08-06 54
Day 1: 3 08-06
48. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 5 07-14 53
Day 1: 5 07-14
48. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 07-14 53
Day 1: 5 07-14
48. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 07-14 53
Day 1: 5 07-14
51. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 07-13 50
Day 1: 5 07-13
52. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 07-12 49
Day 1: 5 07-12
53. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 3 07-09 48
Day 1: 3 07-09
54. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 4 07-08 47
Day 1: 4 07-08
55. David Fritts Lexington, NC 3 07-05 46
Day 1: 3 07-05
56. Rob Digh Denver, NC 5 07-04 45
Day 1: 5 07-04
57. John Cox Debary, FL 1 06-14 44
Day 1: 1 06-14
58. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 4 06-09 43
Day 1: 4 06-09
59. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 3 06-07 42
Day 1: 3 06-07
60. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 3 06-03 41
Day 1: 3 06-03
61. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 4 05-13 40
Day 1: 4 05-13
62. Seth Feider New Market, MN 4 05-06 39
Day 1: 4 05-06
63. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 3 05-02 38
Day 1: 3 05-02
64. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 2 04-11 37
Day 1: 2 04-11
65. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 3 04-08 36
Day 1: 3 04-08
66. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 3 04-04 35
Day 1: 3 04-04
67. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 2 04-01 34
Day 1: 2 04-01
67. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 2 04-01 34
Day 1: 2 04-01
69. Greg DiPalma Millville, NJ 3 04-00 32
Day 1: 3 04-00
70. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 1 03-07 31
Day 1: 1 03-07
71. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 1 03-06 30
Day 1: 1 03-06
71. Lee Livesay Gladewater, TX 1 03-06 30
Day 1: 1 03-06
73. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 2 03-03 28
Day 1: 2 03-03
73. Frank Talley Temple, TX 2 03-03 28
Day 1: 2 03-03
75. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 2 03-01 26
Day 1: 2 03-01
76. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 2 02-13 25
Day 1: 2 02-13
77. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 2 02-11 24
Day 1: 2 02-11
78. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 2 02-08 23
Day 1: 2 02-08
79. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 1 02-06 22
Day 1: 1 02-06
80. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 1 01-13 21
Day 1: 1 01-13
81. Derek Hudnall Baton Rouge, LA 1 01-06 20
Day 1: 1 01-06
82. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 1 01-05 19
Day 1: 1 01-05
83. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 1 01-04 18
Day 1: 1 01-04
84. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 1 01-00 17
Day 1: 1 01-00
85. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
85. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
85. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
85. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 44 322 762-08
———————————-
44 322 762-08

Alabama Resident Chris Lane Leaps Ahead in MLF Bass Pro Tour Season Opener

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February 8, 2020

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Alabama Resident Chris Lane Leaps Ahead in MLF Bass Pro Tour Season Opener

February 7, 2020 (Tulsa, Okla.) Alabama resident Chris Lane finished day one of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour B&W Hitches Stage One presented by Power-Pole at the top of the SCORETRACKER® with 35-pounds, 12-ounces representing nine bass. Weather over recent days on Lake Eufuala played a factor in today’s competition as the excessive rain, wind, and lightning led to rising lake levels and muddy water conditions. Josh Bertrand finished in second with seven total bass weighing in at 26-pounds, six ounces. Brandon Coulter caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day, which weighed in at seven pounds, 14 ounces.

Chris Lane took an early lead in Period 1 by catching the first bass of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour at 8:09 a.m. local time. The Power-Pole pro had eight fish for 33 pounds, nine ounces – a more than four-pound average – at the conclusion of that first period. Despite a drought in Period 2 and only one fish in Period 3, Lane held his lead throughout the day. Included in his total were fish that weighed five pounds, 11 ounces and five pounds, 7 ounces, respectively.

“That was a great first period,” exclaimed Lane. “(In Period 3), I found an area late in the day with some clear water, and I made the mistake of not going there soon enough in the day. I look forward to getting back there (Sunday).”

MEDIA KIT + PRESS IMAGES HERE

32-year-old Josh Bertrand of moved from fifth place to end the day at second despite a slower start in Period 1 than others. His largest bass of the day weighed in at six pounds, 10 ounces and landed two others over four pounds. The Berkley pro who lives in Arizona didn’t know what to expect today and indicated that he hopes better weather in coming days may help hasten the pace of the game.

“We have some better weather coming so it might bust wide open,” said Bertrand, when asked about returning on Sunday to Lake Eufaula for his second Qualifying Day.

The Top Ten of Day One, Qualifying Group A finished as follows:

Place	Angler	Total Weight	Total Fish	Largest Fish
1	Chris Lane	35-12	9	5-11
2	Josh Bertrand	26-06	7	6-10
3	Todd Faircloth	25-13	6	5-08
4	Bryan Thrift	19-11	7	3-13
5	Greg Hackney	19-08	5	5-07
6	Anthony Gagliardi	19-08	4	6-04
7	Brent Ehrler	17-14	5	5-15
8	Jeff Sprague	17-08	6	3-13
9	Brandon Coulter	16-04	3	7-14
10	Mark Rose	14-08	5	3-14

For complete results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com, Bass Pro Tour, Results.

The Qualifying Round continues Saturday with Group B, which includes Edwin Evers, 2019 Points Champion and REDCREST presented by Venmo Champion, fishing greats Kevin VanDam and Mike Iaconelli, as well as 2019 Major League Fishing (MLF) World Champion Jacob Wheeler and MLF Rookie David Dudley. The weather forecast calls for a slightly warmer day calling for a high of 57-degrees-Farenheit and scattered showers midday.

The day begins with launch 6-6:30 a.m. before lines-in at 7:00 a.m. Period 1 ends at 10:30 a.m. Period 2 spans 10:45 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Period 3 begins at 1:30 p.m. and lasts until day’s end at 4:00 p.m. The General Tire Takeout show airs approximately 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. as anglers return to the ramp.

Fans can catch all the action every day of competition on MLFNOW! livestream on MajorLeagueFishing.com or download the MLF App for your Apple or GooglePlay device or on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).

Late-Winter Options Await Bassmaster Elite Series Anglers At Chickamauga

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February 7, 2020

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February 7, 2020

Late-Winter Options Await Bassmaster Elite Series Anglers At Chickamauga

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DAYTON, Tenn. — A week after kicking off the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series on Florida’s famed St. Johns River, the anglers from the Bassmaster Elite Series will once again enjoy a dose of Sunshine State charm.

This time, it’ll just happen in Tennessee.

The Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake will take place Feb. 14-17, with daily takeoffs at 7:30 a.m. ET from Dayton Boat Dock and weigh-ins each day at 3:30 p.m. from Point Park at Dayton Boat Dock.

The anglers’ chief target will be the lake’s massive population of giant Florida-strain largemouth.

“It’s going to be too early for prespawn; it’s going to be a cold winter bite,” said first-year Elite Series pro Buddy Gross, who makes his home in Chickamauga, Ga. “It would take a lot of sunshine to get us to a prespawn deal — and from what I’ve seen in the extended forecast, it’s going to remain more or less a wintertime pattern.”

While these big-growing fish thrive in Chickamauga’s latitude, East Tennessee’s still a significantly cooler environment than Florida. That means the fish will be in a much earlier stage of their seasonal patterns.

Covering 36,240 surface acres with a maximum depth of 72 feet, Chickamauga receives several chilly inflows, including the Hiawassee River — a point Gross expects to factor into the lake’s water temperature range.

The Dayton area saw heavy rains in recent days and the long-range forecast shows more precipitation likely for tournament week. Rain in the mountains means cold run-off, and that’ll keep the fish holding to their winter patterns.

Gross, who placed third at last year’s Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Chickamauga, points to another variable — grass.

“We have an annual drawdown of about 4 1/2 feet, and when they drop the water (for the annual drawdown to make room for the winter-spring influx), we lose a lot of our grass habitat because it grows shallow on that lake more than deep,” Gross said. “Whatever grass is there will be dormant — the old grass that’s leftover and some dead stuff.”

Gross said he expects to see a mix of shallow and deep patterns. Much depends on how the weather picture shapes up and how much shallow vegetation the fish have to utilize.

“I think that some of the 5-foot stuff will play, but I think it’s going to be more of a 10- to 12-foot deal,” he said.

Up shallow, anglers will find reaction baits like bladed jigs and lipless crankbaits productive. While gravel and other hard bottom supports the shallow game, this scenario is largely grass-related.

Offshore, jerkbaits, jigs and finesse options like dropshots and Neko rigs could come into play. There’s also a good chance someone will strike gold in the Watts Bar tailrace.

Below the dam or on the main lake, Gross believes current could become the most significant factor in this tournament’s outcome.

“With all this rain, it’s going to be a current-oriented deal that anglers can catch a lot of numbers on,” he said. “We have a lot of mountain streams feeding this lake. The Hiawassee River comes straight out of the Smoky Mountains, and then all the small mountains there close are also a lot colder.

“More of the run-off will be cold, so out closer to the main river will be the warmer water, unless the sun shines, and I don’t see that happening.

A full field of 88 anglers will fish Days 1 and 2, and the field will be trimmed to the Top 40 for Day 3’s semifinal round. After Day 3, only the Top 10 will advance to the championship round.

Gross said he believes it will take 15 to 15 1/2 pounds to make the semifinal cut. The winning weight is more of a moving target, but Gross said 82 pounds would not surprise him.

“We will probably see a few 20-pound bags each day,” Gross said. “We might even see a 30-pound bag.”

The winning angler will earn $100,000 and one of the coveted blue trophies awarded to all Elite Series winners.

The Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake is being hosted by the Rhea Economic Development and Tourism Council.

2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

Top 20 To Fish Monday At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On St. Johns River

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February 7, 2020

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Top 20 To Fish Monday At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On St. Johns River

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February 7, 2020

Top 20 To Fish Monday At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On St. Johns River

PALATKA, Fla. — After high-wind advisories forced the cancellation of the first two days of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, B.A.S.S. officials have adjusted plans and announced the Top 20 will fish a shortened competition day on Monday, Feb. 10.

Takeoff on Monday will be at 6:45 a.m. ET from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp, and the weigh-in will be held at Palatka Riverfront Park at 2 p.m.

The full field of 88 anglers will fish Saturday and Sunday. On those two days, anglers will launch from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp at 7:15 a.m. ET. Weigh-ins will be held at 3:15 p.m. ET at Palatka Riverfront Park.

From Florida, the Elites head to Dayton, Tenn., for the Bassmaster Elite Series at Chickamauga Lake. Competition on Chickamauga will continue as scheduled Feb. 14-17.

2020 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite At St. Johns River Title Sponsor: AFTCO

2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Talon, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Carhartt, Garmin, HUK Performance Fishing, Mossy Oak Fishing, Rapala

2020 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite At St. Johns River Local Hosts: Putnam County Tourist Development Council and Putnam County Chamber of Commerce

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2 and The Pursuit Channel), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship, new Huk Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX presented by Abu Garcia and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

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Bass Pro Tour Rookie Bryan Thrift Wins Group A and Advances Directly to the Championship

Mueller Takes Narrow Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On St. Johns River

Jaye Relies On Experience To Claim Day 1 Lead In Bassmaster Elite At St. Johns River

Alabama Resident Chris Lane Leaps Ahead in MLF Bass Pro Tour Season Opener

Late-Winter Options Await Bassmaster Elite Series Anglers At Chickamauga

Top 20 To Fish Monday At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On St. Johns River

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