July 2019 Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Report

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June 29, 2019

July 2019 Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Report

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REP
July 2019
DALE WILSON’S
SML GUIDE SERVICE
PHONE NO: 540-297-5650 / 540-874-4950
www.captaindalewilson.us

Picture: John Jones with a nice summer striper caught while fishing with Captain Dale.

OVERVIEW: Fishing has been fair. Water temperature has risen rapidly the past several weeks. Night fishing has been good the past few weeks. Most species of fish have spawned. Look for striper fishing to improve soon! Water temperature will be in the low to middle 80’s.

Largemouth Bass- Fishing will be good this month. Best lures will be Neko rigs, drop shot rigs, crank baits, shaky heads, Carolina rigs, large plastic worms and top water lures. Most largemouth bass will be caught on points, ledges rock piles, brush piles and deep docks. Best depths will be from the surface to 25 feet deep. Largemouth bass will feed mainly at night this month. Points, rocks, stumps and brush are a key factor to finding bass this month. Please release the bass quickly during hot months.

Smallmouth Bass- Fishing should be fair. Best areas will be rocks, ledges, and main channel points. Best lures will be Ned rigs, hair jigs, top water lures and Carolina rigs. Best areas will be in the mid to the lower sections of the lake. Most smallmouth bass have spawned. Cloudy days are good times to try your luck! Light line will increase your chances to catch smallmouth bass. Night fishing will be fair.

Striped Bass- Fishing will be good. Stripers will be caught in the lower to mid sections of the lake and in the larger creeks. Best lures will be swim baits, top water lures and Zoom flukes fished on 1/2 to 3/4 oz. lead heads. The best depths will be from near the surface to 60 feet deep. Vertical jigging is one of the best methods to catch stripers in the hot months. Try to find areas with the largest concentrations of baitfish. Fishing at night will be fair this month. Some schools of stripers will surface early morning this month. Live bait fished on planner boards and down lines are also good methods this month.

Crappie- Fishing for crappie will be poor this month. They will be found 15 to 25 feet deep. Best areas will be in the main creeks around docks, fallen trees, stumps and brush piles in the mid to upper parts of the lake. Small live minnows and 1 ½ to 2 inch tubes or shad shaped plastic lures fished on 1/16 to 1/8 oz. lead heads will work best to catch crappie this month.

TIP OF THE Month: Fishing during the early morning, late afternoon and night is usually the best time to fish. If you are looking for something different to fish for this summer try fishing for white perch!To avoid the boat traffic and the hot sun you should try fishing at night! Make sure you wear your life jacket and never fish alone at night! Make sure your running lights are on after dark! You can never be too careful when boating. Remember to please practice catch and release! PLEASE TAKE A KID FISHING!

STEWART HOLDS LEAD FOLLOWING DAY TWO OF FLW TOUR EVENT ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN PRESENTED BY T-H MARINE

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June 28, 2019

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STEWART HOLDS LEAD FOLLOWING DAY TWO OF FLW TOUR EVENT ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN PRESENTED BY T-H MARINE

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PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 28, 2019) – Pro Tyler Stewart of West Monroe, Louisiana, held his lead after day two of the FLW Tour at Lake Champlain presented by T-H Marine after catching a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 14 ounces. Stewart’s two-day total of 40-1 will lead the final 30 pros into the third day of the event, with John Voyles of Petersburg, Indiana, in second with 38-12 and Daryl Biron of South Windsor, Connecticut, right behind in third with 38-3. Only the final 10 pros will continue on to Championship Sunday, where the winner will receive up to $125,000.

Stewart spent his day targeting largemouth in the Ticonderoga area of the lake, flipping plastics to a variety of cover.

“It started off good this morning. The first place I pulled up to I caught one that was close to 4 pounds,” said Stewart, who is eyeing his first top-10 FLW Tour finish. “I jumped around a little bit, caught a few fish here and there and then I ended up catching one that was about 4½ around 10 [a.m.]. At that point, I had about 16 pounds. I culled a few more times before catching one right at the end of the day that put me up another 2 pounds to get close to 18.

“I think they’re postspawn bass that are feeding up. The fish are just so healthy, it’s crazy,” continued Stewart. “All of my stuff I fished was main-lake stuff, so I think they’re all just really healthy, postspawn fish.”

Stewart said he ran some new water today, but also played defense on some of his best spots. In total, he said he put about 15 keepers in the boat.

“I think the areas will hold up for days three and four as long as I don’t have a bunch of company,” said Stewart. “If I have it to myself I feel like I could potentially catch a couple more good limits.”

The top 30 pros that made the cut and will fish Saturday on Lake Champlain are:

1^st: Tyler Stewart, West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 40-1

2^nd: John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., 10 bass, 38-12

3^rd: Daryl Biron, South Windsor, Conn., 10 bass, 38-3

4^th: Hensley Powell, Whitwell, Tenn., 10 bass, 38-2

5^th: Casey Scanlon, Lake Ozark, Mo., 10 bass, 37-11

6^th: Lowrance pro Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn., 10 bass, 37-11

7^th: A.J. Slegona, Pine Bush, N.Y., 10 bass, 37-5

8^th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 37-0

9^th: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, 10 bass, 36-15

10^th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 10 bass, 36-11

11^th: Tommy Dickerson, Orange, Texas, 10 bass, 36-9

12^th: Polaris pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 36-4

13^th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 35-15

14^th: Christopher Brasher, Longview, Texas, 10 bass, 35-15

15^th: Jackson Kayak pro Eric Jackson, Walling, Tenn., 10 bass, 35-14

16^th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 10 bass, 35-12

17^th: Joseph Webster, Winfield, Ala., 10 bass, 35-9

18^th: Joel Willert, Prior Lake, Minn., 10 bass, 35-6

19^th: Lowrance pro Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., 10 bass, 35-5

20^th: Lowrance pro Jeff Dobson, Bartlesville, Okla., 10 bass, 35-4

21^st: Charles Sim, Nepean, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 35-4

22^nd: Chad Warren, Sand Springs, Okla., 10 bass, 35-3

23^rd: Shawn Murphy, Nicholasville, Ky., 10 bass, 35-3

24^th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 10 bass, 35-3

25^th: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 35-1

26^th: Kurt Dove, Del Rio, Texas, 10 bass, 34-15

27^th: Robert Behrle, Hoover, Ala., 10 bass, 34-14

28^th: Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., 10 bass, 34-12

29^th: Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., 10 bass, 34-9

30^th: Berkley pro John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 34-6

For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.

Jordan Osborne of Longview, Texas, earned the $500 Big Bass award Friday after bringing a 4-pound, 13-ounce bass to the scale – the heaviest fish of the day.

Overall there were 785 bass weighing 2,351 pounds, 11 ounces, caught by 162 pros Friday. The catch included 148 five-bass limits.

In FLW Tour competition, the full field of 163 pro anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight now advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue will competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.

The total purse for the FLW Tour at Lake Champlain presented by T-H Marine is more than $860,000. The tournament is hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau.

Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2019 FLW Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2019 FLW Cup will be on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 9-11 and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. EST Saturday and Sunday from Plattsburgh City Marina, located at 5 Dock St., in Plattsburgh. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 4 p.m.

In conjunction with the weigh-ins, FLW will host a free Family Fishing Expo at Plattsburgh City Marina from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Expo is a chance for fishing fans to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, as well as learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.

Also for youth, the FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby will be held at Wilcox Dock, located at 90 Cumberland Ave., in Plattsburgh, on Saturday, June 29, from Noon-2 p.m. The event is hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, and is free and open to anyone under the age of 18 and Special Olympics athletes. Rods and reels are available for use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one. The 1st and 2nd place anglers that catch the most fish will be recognized Saturday on the FLW Tour stage, just prior to the pros weighing in.

Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Lake Champlain presented by T-H Marine will premiere in 2019. The exact air-date will be announced soon. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs each Saturday night at 7 p.m. EST and is broadcast to more than 63 million cable, satellite and telecommunications households in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean on the World Fishing Network (WFN), the leading entertainment destination and digital resource for anglers throughout North America. FLW television is also distributed internationally to FLW partner countries, including Canada, China, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and South Africa.

The popular FLW Live on-the-water program will air on Saturday and Sunday, featuring live action from the boats of the tournament’s top pros each day. Host Travis Moran will be joined by veteran FLW Tour pro Todd Hollowell to break down the extended action each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. On-the-water broadcasts will be live streamed on FLWFishing.com, the FLW YouTube channel and the FLW Facebook page.

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

GILL Reveals Revolutionary Eyewear at ICAST

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June 28, 2019

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GILL Reveals Revolutionary Eyewear at ICAST

New GILL Corona Sunglasses offer features specifically for anglers

Buford, GA (June 28, 2019) – Whether you’re talking eye protection, spying gamefish below the surface, or making sure sun, wind, and weather are managed-out, nothing beats a first-class pair of sunglasses on and around the water.

The problem with most fishing sunglasses, however, is they form a cumbersome block around the eyes that is far from aerodynamic when zipping across the lake, river or ocean. Along with that, most lenses take on water spray, ultimately spotting, which marginalizes optics.

Enter GILL’s new Corona sunglasses, eyewear sure to impress anglers and boaters everywhere. Featuring a saltwater-tested design, the Corona’s are shaped to direct airflow around the eyes and face. Specially designed cutouts on both sides of the temples direct airflow around (and through) the frames themselves.

The Corona’s also feature polarized and hydrophobic lenses for awesome views of what’s below the surface, and so water spray goes away. And since Gill’s new Corona sunglasses are engineered for aquatic activities…they also float.

Gill Corona sunglasses come in three colors (Dark Blue/Smoke; Silver/Smoke; and Matte Black/Amber) and have an MSRP of $89.95.

To learn more about Gill’s rainwear, fishing apparel, sunglasses and marine accessories, visit www.gillfishing.com.

Zee Bait Co. Rib Tail Worm Rattlesnake Edition

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June 28, 2019

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Zee Bait Co. Rib Tail Worm Rattlesnake Edition

Zee Bait Co, a Pennsylvania based soft plastics manufacture set to release their unique Rib Tail Worm (7.4”) with a rattle produced directly in the soft plastic bait. This would be a first for soft plastic trick worm style bait.

1. Zee Bait Co. says the Rattlesnake Edition Rib Tail Worm will be an epic addition for anglers looking to get more sound attraction while fishing the Rib Tail Worm rigged Neko weighted, Shaky Head, Wacky rigged and even power drop shot! Some days when the water is stained anglers need an extra edge to gain more bites!

2. We had this idea soon after developing the Rib Tail Worm back in the fall of 2015 and into its debut in 2016, but we couldn’t get it just right! Rather than rushing it to the market, we have been continuing to develop the idea and now we think we are very close!

3. The key was to utilize a rattle that would make enough noise but still, allow for the bait’s tail to suspend and naturally fall as it does without a rattle. Also, you don’t want to make the bait less durable just for adding the rattle.

4. We cannot yet give a release date on the Rattle Snake Edition Rib Tail Worms, but we do know they will be limited run and in select top selling colors!

STEWART LEADS AFTER DAY ONE OF FLW TOUR EVENT ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN PRESENTED BY T-H MARINE

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June 28, 2019

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STEWART LEADS AFTER DAY ONE OF FLW TOUR EVENT ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN PRESENTED BY T-H MARINE

Louisiana pro targets largemouth, weighs sole 22-pound limit to sit atop the leaderboard after Day One

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PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 27, 2019) – Pro Tyler Stewart of West Monroe, Louisiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 3 ounces to sit atop the leaderboard after day one of the FLW Tour at Lake Champlain presented by T-H Marine. Tied for second place with 20-7 are pros John Voyles of Petersburg, Indiana, and Tom Redington of Royse City, Texas. The full field of 163 anglers, who are casting for a top award of up to $125,000, will continue competition Friday on day two, with just the top 30 fishing Saturday and the final 10 competing Sunday.

“On the first day of practice, I spent the whole day [focusing] on largemouth. On day two, I tried smallmouth, but just really couldn’t anything going,” said Stewart, a second-year FLW Tour pro. “On the third day of practice I focused on largemouth again and got a little something going, and that’s kind of what I ran with today.

“It started happening pretty quick [this morning]. I caught my weight by like 10:30 [a.m.],” continued Stewart. “I had a 2-pounder in my livewell, and at 11, I caught a 4-pounder that culled, then I left. I’m keeping a flipping stick in my hand all day. I only have a couple of small areas and that’s basically what I’m doing – flipping them up in pretty shallow water.”

Stewart said he caught around 10 keepers throughout his day. He did weigh one smallmouth, a fish he caught after leaving his primary areas.

“I ended up making a quarter-pound cull, which could be pretty crucial,” said Stewart.

The top 10 boaters after day one on Lake Champlain are:

1^st: Tyler Stewart, West Monroe, La., five bass, 22-3

2^nd: John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., 20-7

2^nd: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, five bass, 20-7

4^th: Casey Scanlon, Lake Ozark, Mo., five bass, 20-0

5^th: Lowrance pro Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., five bass, 19-15

6^th: Hensley Powell, Whitwell, Tenn., five bass, 19-14

7^th: Daryl Biron, South Windsor, Conn., five bass, 19-12

8^th: Lowrance pro Jeff Dobson, Bartlesville, Okla., five bass, 19-9

9^th: Tommy Dickerson, Orange, Texas, five bass, 19-8

10^th: Kurt Dove, Del Rio, Texas, five bass, 19-5

For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.

Ryan Salzman of Huntsville, Alabama, earned Thursday’s $500 Big Bass award after bringing a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass to the scale – the largest fish of the day.

Overall there were 804 bass weighing 2,494 pounds, 3 ounces, caught by 163 pros Thursday. The catch included 157 five-bass limits.

In FLW Tour competition, the full field of 163 pro anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.

The total purse for the FLW Tour at Lake Champlain presented by T-H Marine is more than $860,000. The tournament is hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau.

Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2019 FLW Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2019 FLW Cup will be on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 9-11 and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. EST each day from the Plattsburgh City Marina, located at 5 Dock St., in Plattsburgh. Friday’s weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina, but will begin at 4 p.m.

In conjunction with the weigh-ins, FLW will host a free Family Fishing Expo at Plattsburgh City Marina from 2 to 6 p.m. The Expo is a chance for fishing fans to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, as well as learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.

Also for youth, the FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby will be held at Wilcox Dock, located at 90 Cumberland Ave., in Plattsburgh, on Saturday, June 29, from Noon-2 p.m. The event is hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, and is free and open to anyone under the age of 18 and Special Olympics athletes. Rods and reels are available for use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one. The 1st and 2nd place anglers that catch the most fish will be recognized Saturday on the FLW Tour stage, just prior to the pros weighing in.

Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Lake Champlain presented by T-H Marine will premiere in 2019. The exact air-date will be announced soon. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs each Saturday night at 7 p.m. EST and is broadcast to more than 63 million cable, satellite and telecommunications households in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean on the World Fishing Network (WFN), the leading entertainment destination and digital resource for anglers throughout North America. FLW television is also distributed internationally to FLW partner countries, including Canada, China, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and South Africa.

The popular FLW Live on-the-water program will air on Days Three and Four of the event, featuring live action from the boats of the tournament’s top pros each day. Host Travis Moran will be joined by veteran FLW Tour pro Todd Hollowell to break down the extended action each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. On-the-water broadcasts will be live streamed on FLWFishing.com, the FLW YouTube channel and the FLW Facebook page.

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

Wheeler Continues Roll, Leads Shotgun Round 2 at Bass Pro Tour Evinrude Stage Eight Presented by Tracker Off Road

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June 27, 2019

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MLF pro Jacob Wheeler sits in familiar territory after today’s Shotgun Round 2 at Lake Winnebago – atop SCORETRACKER® for Group B at Bass Pro Tour Evinrude Stage Eight Presented by Tracker Off Road

Wheeler Continues Roll, Leads Shotgun Round 2 at Bass Pro Tour

Evinrude Stage Eight Presented by Tracker Off Road

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NEENAH, Wis. (June 26, 2019) – Jacob Wheeler has picked up right where he left off after winning Stage Seven on Table Rock Lake. Even though the competition has moved more than 700 miles north, he still finds himself in familiar territory after the second Shotgun Round of the Evinrude Stage Eight Presented by Tracker Off Road on Lake Winnebago: on top of SCORETRACKER®.

The Tennessee pro caught 33 fish for 51 pounds, 4 ounces, finishing the second day of competition on top of Group B. Leading Bass Pro Tour rounds has become a theme for Wheeler this year. In fact, he’s been in first place after four of his last five competition days, and is proving that the Major League Fishing® (MLF) format is tailor-made for his fishing style.

Wheeler has a chance to become the Bass Pro Tour’s first two-time champion and first back-to-back winner if he can continue his hot streak.

The fishing on Winnebago proved to be more difficult on Wednesday’s anglers as only four anglers topped 40 pounds as opposed to eight yesterday. The first Elimination Round on Thursday will show if it was just the conditions or if the fishing is getting tougher.

Even with the lower weights, 664 bass weighing 1,046 pounds were brought in today. The fish are still biting here in Wisconsin.

Wheeler Rolls Through Shotgun Round 2

Wheeler did most of his damage midmorning during Period 2, and once he took over the lead, he never looked back.

“I started in the morning with a pattern that I thought would be good and caught a few, but it didn’t work out as planned,” Wheeler said. “Midmorning is when I started to make the transition and started to figure things out. It was a good mixture of shallow and deep and both largemouth and smallmouth. I feel like if I can catch another 10 pounds or so during the Elimination Round that I should be able to make it to the Knockout Round.”

He will carry a 3-pound lead over second place and a 26-pound lead over the 20th place spot heading into the Elimination Round.

Tak Stands in Second

Takahiro Omori had an excellent day and held the lead or top two spots for most of the day with 31 bass for 47-14. His catch count was buoyed by a strong morning.

After Period 1, Omori was in the lead by over 5 pounds over Bobby Lane. He stayed near the top the entire day and is in an excellent position to qualify for the REDCREST. He came to Winnebago in 29th and helped his cause tremendously today.

Points Watch

After Group A’s Shotgun Round, Edwin Evers found himself in 26th place. After the Shotgun Rounds, Jeff Sprague sits in 25th. These two continue to match each other blow for blow, and Evers’ slim lead is now down to two points over Sprague in the race for the title of Bass Pro Tour Points Champion. Each fish is always crucial in this format, but it will be magnified the rest of the week.

Looking Ahead

Group A will return to Lake Winnebago tomorrow as the weather prediction calls for partial clouds in the morning with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Daily Winners

Shotgun Round 2 daily awards were:

* The Berkley Big Bass of the day was Jeff Sprague’s 5-0 largemouth.

* Jacob Wheeler won the Berkley Catch Count award with 33 bass on the day.

* Wheeler also earned the Phoenix Boats Daily Leader award with 51-04.

Looking Ahead

Thursday starts the Elimination Round for Group A, and Group B will compete in this round on Friday. From there, the Top 20 from each group will move on to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Lake Butte des Morts – weights will be zeroed, making the Knockout a one-day scramble on a new fishery.

The Top 10 anglers in the Knockout Round will advance to the Championship Round on Sunday, June 30.

How, When, Where to Watch

Competition continues Thursday at 7 a.m. CT, with live, official scoring available via SCORETRACKER on MajorLeagueFishing.com and on the MLF app. The MLF NOW! live stream begins at 9:30 a.m. CT with Chad McKee, JT Kenney, Marty Stone and Natalie Dillon.

The Postgame Show Presented by Berkley will begin at approximately 4:30 p.m. CT. The public is welcome to attend the activity at Shattuck Middle School in Neenah.

Shotgun Rounds’ Results

To see all results for Shotgun Rounds 1 (Group A) and 2 (Group B), visit MajorLeagueFishing.com and click “Results.”

Which Pole Should I Get? Selecting The Right Fishing Rod

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June 26, 2019

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Which Pole Should I Get? Selecting The Right Fishing Rod

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Your skill level and the species of fish you enjoy catching will determine which type of fishing rod you should select.

The two basic types of rods are casting and spinning rods. Casting rods are designed for baitcast and spincast reels whereas spinning rods are matched with spinning reels. Let’s take a look at the differences between the two types and how to determine which one you should choose for your style of fishing.

Casting Rods

SHOP CASTING RODS

A casting rod is equipped with a reel seat that positions a spincast or baitcast reel above the rod and all the rod guides face upward. When fighting a fish on a casting rod the rod bends over with the guides facing up so the force of the fish pushes the line down on the eyelets and the rod blank. This prevents a big fish from pulling the eyelets off of the rod. Long casting rods with straight handles are designed for power fishing bass tactics and trolling or surfcasting for large fish such as blue or flathead catfish, salmon, striped bass and many powerful saltwater fish. These rods usually have larger rod guides to handle the heavier line of baitcast reels. Shorter casting rods with pistol grip handles and smaller rod guides can be matched with spincast reels filled with lighter line. This combination is ideal for beginners because it is easier to cast than the baitcast combo. The spincast outfit works best for catching panfish, trout and other smaller fish species with artificial lures or live bait.

Spinning Rods

SHOP SPINNING RODS

Unlike the casting rod, a spinning rod holds the spinning reel under the rod with the rod guides facing downward. So when you are fighting a fish, the force of the line pressed against the eyelet is pushing away from the rod blank and could lead to a big fish pulling an eyelet off of the rod.

Spinning rods vary in lengths and actions for catching a variety of fish. You can use shorter ultralight or light action spinning rods with thin line for panfish or trout. Medium and medium-heavy action 6- to 7-foot rods are ideal for finesse bass fishing tactics. Long heavy action rods with elongated grip handles for two-handed casting are best for surfcasting for saltwater fish or steelhead and salmon fishing.

Spinning rods are also popular for trolling or fishing with live bait for catfish, panfish and walleye.

BOWLING WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE TOURNAMENT ON BROKEN BOW LAKE

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June 25, 2019

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BOWLING WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE TOURNAMENT ON BROKEN BOW LAKE

Wellston’s Hooker Claims Co-Angler Title

BROKEN BOW, Okla. (June 24, 2019) – Local boater John Bowling of Broken Bow won Saturday’s T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Okie Division tournament on Broken Bow Lake after catching five bass weighing 19 pounds, 8 ounces. For his win, Bowling earned $6,440.

Bowling said he fished offshore ledges toward the southeast end of the lake.

“I only fished one ledge that was about 200-yards long,” said Bowling, whose win came in his first-ever event with FLW. “I didn’t catch a fish until noon, but put an 11-pounder in the boat around 1:45 p.m.

“I had let the ledge sit for five to 10 mins, and after I returned she bit on the second cast,” Bowling continued. “It was one of those ‘being in the right place at the right time’ kind of deals.”

Bowling said he used a ¾-ounce PB&J-colored Buckeye Lures Mop jig with a green-pumpkin Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer and caught a total of six fish.

“I was fishing deep – 23 to 24 feet down,” said Bowling. “I also used a one-ounce version of the jig to get down there because of wind.”

Bowling threw the jig on a 7-foot, 4-inch Duckett Triad Series heavy-action casting rod and a Lew’s Super Duty Wide Speed Spool reel with 20-pound-test Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon line.

“I couldn’t have done it without my Lowrance electronics, they helped me find the fish,” said Bowling. “The Spot Lock feature on my Minn Kota Ultrex was also crucial, as it held me in place when the wind picked up.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st: John Bowling, Broken Bow, Okla., five bass, 19-8, $4,440 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

2^nd: Brandon Snow, Broken Bow, Okla., five bass, 15-4, $1,773

3^rd: Christopher Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., five bass, 13-8, $1,281

4^th: Mark Shadowens, Kiefer, Okla., five bass, 13-2, $827

5^th: Darin Crowder, Claremore, Okla., five bass, 13-0, $709

6^th: Trevis Unger, Towanda, Kan., five bass, 12-13, $650

7^th: Mason Spencer, Broken Bow, Okla., five bass, 12-9, $591

8^th: Brent Haggard, Gans, Okla., five bass, 11-13, $532

9^th: Nick Kincaid, Coweta, Okla., five bass, 11-12, $593

9^th: Chris Ogan, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 11-12, $443

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Bowling’s big bass weighed 11 pounds, 3 ounces and was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division. The catch earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $445.

Sanford Hooker of Wellston, Oklahoma, won the Co-angler Division and $1,773 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 11 pounds even.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st: Sanford Hooker, Wellston, Okla., five bass , 11-0, $1,773

2^nd: Shane McGlothlin, Anadarko, Okla., five bass, 10-11, $1,086

3^rd: Alan Hill, Ada, Okla., five bass, 10-4, $591

4^th: Darin Comstock, Denison, Texas, five bass, 10-3, $414

5^th: Michael Shinstine, Springdale, Ark., four bass, 9-14, $355

6^th: Colton Johnson, Allen, Okla., four bass, 9-10, $310

6^th: Jackie Copeland, Sallisaw, Okla., five bass, 9-10, $310

8^th: Dalton French, Broken Bow, Okla., five bass, 9-6, $266

9^th: Rick Blosser, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 9-5, $286

10^th: Dalton Ross, Cave Springs, Ark., five bass, 9-4, $207

Leroy Sheperd of Mountain View, Oklahoma, caught the heaviest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 7 pounds even. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $222.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Buchanan, Tennessee, presented by Evinrude. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard.

The 2019 BFL 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 BFL All-American. The 2020 BFL All-American will be held April 30-May 2 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina, and is hosted by Visit Anderson. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.

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

Jason Eaker & Mike Seawright WIN CATT Lake Hickory, NC June 22, 2019 with 23.98 lbs

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June 25, 2019

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Jason Eaker & Mike Seawright WIN CATT Lake Hickory, NC June 22, 2019 with 23.98 lbs

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Next Lake Hickory CATT is July 13 at Wittenburg!

Jason Eaker & Mike Seawright win with 23.98 lbs!

Bobby & Shane Kendrick with the BF 6.14 lbs!

Morris Elliott & Chris Tarbush with some nice uns!

	Big	Total	Total
5 Teams	Fish	Weight	Winnings	Points
Jason Eaker – Mike Seawright	5.89	23.98	$400.00	110
Shane & Bobby Kendrick	6.14	16.06	$50.00	109
Chris Tarbush – Morris Elliott	4.63	13.36		108
Jesse Smith – Patrick Houpe	2.92	11.00		107
Jacob Shepard – Zach McGlanery	0.00	0.00		106
Total Entrys			$400.00
BONUS $			$125.00
Total Paid At Ramp			$735.00
Hickory 2019 Spring Final Fund			$75.00
2019 CATT Championship Fund			$0.00
2019 Hickory Spring Final Fund Total			$315.00
2019 CATT Championship Fund Total			$1,530.00

Scott Forristall Selected to Lead St. Croix

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June 25, 2019

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Scott Forristall Selected to Lead St. Croix

New President and CEO brings deep industry experience, angling passion and a history of success to the Best Rods on Earth®

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Park Falls, WI (June 24, 2019) – St. Croix Rod CEO and co-owner, Paul Schluter, announced a planned transition of leadership to St. Croix Team Members in January of this year. In his statement, Schluter cited his desire to hand over the day-to-day operations of the 70-year-old company in order to focus on family, fishing and other aspects of the company he most loves.

Paul’s journey with St. Croix started in 1983 when his father, Gordon, hired him to manage retailer accounts in Minnesota. A year later, Paul was promoted to Sales Manager. In 1989, Gordon stepped aside, and Paul assumed the role of President. Brothers Paul, Jeff, Dave and sister Pamela Smiley purchased St. Croix from Gordon and Irene in 1990, and continue to own the company to this day.

St. Croix’s Board of Directors is excited to announce that fishing-industry veteran, Scott Forristall, has been selected and hired as the company’s new President and CEO.

Forristall brings a keen understanding of the fishing-rod business and the greater fishing industry to St. Croix, earned from a rich employment history with premier companies such as Eagle Claw, Johnson Outdoors and Far-Bank Enterprises, parent company to the Sage, Redington, and Rio Products fly-fishing brands. Most recently, Forristall served as President and CEO of the R.L. Winston Rod Company and Bauer Reels. His strong fishing lineage, industry knowledge and disciplined management style position the “Best Rods on Earth” for continued success in the company’s Balanced Scorecard approach to operations and measured company performance.

“St. Croix is the strongest brand in fishing rods in the US,” says Forristall, who shares the enthusiasm and pride of St. Croix’s employees and customers. “To come to work in Park Falls for this premier, family-owned business with US manufacturing is a rare opportunity in this industry that I love. St. Croix – its people, products and ties to the community – is everything I value and want to be part of.”

“Scott comes to us with vast experience managing premium outdoor brands and exhibits a management style which is consistent with all that we value at St. Croix,” says Schluter. “I’m really excited to watch Scott and the rest of our strong team further our objective of providing every angler the upper hand. Between my father and myself, a Schluter has been responsible for the execution of St. Croix’s mission for the last 41 of our 71 years. I have the highest confidence in Scott as he assumes this leadership role while I remain an active member of our Board of Directors, and, of course, an owner of St. Croix along with my brothers Jeff and Dave, and sister Pam.”

In addition to fishing, Forristall enjoys training and competing in triathlons during his free time. He and his wife of 44 years, Lynn, will relocate to Park Falls from their current home in Dillon, Montana. Forristall begins work at St. Croix on June 24.

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