Onyx Continues as Major League Fishing Life Jacket Sponsor

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April 24, 2019

Onyx continues its role as Major League Fishing’s exclusive life jacket sponsor. Onyx’s suspender-style personal flotation devices are regular safety gear for the league’s officials and cameramen, and is the brand of choice of 75 percent of anglers in its Bass Pro Tour. (Click to enlarge/download)

Onyx Continues as Major League Fishing Life Jacket Sponsor

TULSA, Okla. (April 24, 2019) – Major League Fishing® (MLF) announced today that Onyx, a water safety and outdoor recreation brand of Absolute Outdoor, Inc., is continuing its role as the league’s exclusive life jacket sponsor of the MLF Cup series.

MLF Cup anglers wear Onyx’s automatic inflatable life jackets, and the same personal

flotation device (PFD) is also the required game-day safety wear for MLF camera crews and officials throughout all competitions, including the new MLF Bass Pro Tour.

“Onyx is a proud sponsor of Major League Fishing and is pleased to be teamed up with the fastest growing bass fishing organization in the world,” said Mary Snyder, Absolute Outdoor vice president, marketing. “We’ve been the exclusive life jacket provider of the MLF Cup and Select series for the past few years, and we’re pleased to keep moving forward with the league that continues to innovate and bring excitement to fishing to help grow the sport.”

“Onyx is a great MLF partner and we appreciate their ongoing support as we’ve made some exciting changes to our MLF Cup program for 2019, as well as launched the all-new Bass Pro Tour,” said MLF President and CEO Jim Wilburn. “Of course, on-the-water safety is a critical element in what we do and quality life jackets are a must. Our staff and anglers greatly appreciate the comfort and reliability of Onyx PFDs.”

MLF Cup participants are determined by angler performances in Bass Pro Tour competitions, where its 80-angler roster includes the top and best-known professionals in the sport of bass fishing.

Onyx directly sponsors MLF pro Ott DeFoe, but many of the other Bass Pro Tour anglers are also wearing the company’s life jackets.


	MLF pro Ott DeFoe is sponsored by Onyx. He and most competitive bass anglers prefer the suspender-style, automatic-inflate life jackets because they are lightweight, comfortable and easy to fit over outerwear. (Click to enlarge/download)

“Nearly 75 percent of Bass Pro Tour anglers are wearing Onyx and that makes us especially proud,” Snyder added.

Automatic inflatable life jackets inflate upon immersion in water or when the wearer pulls the “inflate” handle (CO2 powered); they are also equipped with a valve for oral inflation as a backup. The automatic inflatable life jackets are United States Coast Guard approved PFDs for persons 16 years of age and older.

Competitive anglers especially like the “tournament” versions of the inflatables because their suspender-style design makes them lightweight and comfortable to wear. Several Onyx models incorporate the brand’s In-Sight feature that shows green if the product is armed, and red if it’s not.

2019 marks Onyx’s sixth season with MLF.

MLF’s unique catch, weigh and immediate-release format, in which all scorable bass (typically a one-pound minimum) count, has proven to be appealing to the wide and diverse television audience watching MLF programming.

According to Nielsen ratings, “Major League Fishing” has been Outdoor Channel’s top-rated show in first quarters for four years in a row. MLF also airs on World Fishing Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network and Discovery Channel.

For more information about Onyx, visit www.onyxoutdoor.com.

For more information about MLF and its anglers, rules and schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

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About Onyx:

Onyx is a water safety and outdoor recreation brand under the Absolute Outdoor, Inc. company, based in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. Our U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets offer function and dependability, and are crafted from quality materials to provide comfort and reliability to make your time on the water safe and more enjoyable. The brand known for “Keeping You There”, Onyx provides unique, quality products that appeal to the great traditions of fishing, boating, paddling, and hunting.

5 Great Busted Secrets By Skye Riggleman

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April 24, 2019

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Busted Secrets
By Skye Riggleman

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Like any fisherman, over the years I’ve made a lot of friends and fished with a lot different people. Everyone has something they are good at, and some guys are able to make the fish eat certain baits and presentations in ways that nobody else can. We’ve all fished with someone who has ran the score up on us using the same bait on the same water and we wondered why. That being said, I’ve noticed something amongst a lot of people I know personally and what I hear through the grapevine that I always found kind of funny. A lot of guys are holding certain baits close to their heart that they believe only they, or only a handful of others are throwing, and they keep them secret like a winning lottery ticket.

Over and over again, friends and other fisherman look over both shoulders before they whisper to you about what these techniques are and make you promise not to tell a soul. Even better, every now and then, you can see what a person is catching them on out on the water, and when you ask them what they are fishing, they give you the pro talk. “Oh you know, I was just junk fishing” or “I’ve got something pretty good figured out, and I know nobody is doing it”. So in the spirit of fun, I’m going to list out the most common baits everyone is throwing that a lot of people still think is an ace in the hole.

Megabass 110 (+1, +2) in Elegy Bone

I figured since every bass from South Holston to the Potomac has seen at least 20 of these since Feburary, this was a good place to start. The 25 dollar Japanese jerkbait with the Chartreuse bottom and purple back that really doesn’t resemble any freshwater fish is in every tackle box. When pre-spawn hits and the fish start feeding up, you can bet at least half the field has one tied on or close by. This goes for Table Rock Shad, and the darker Chrome colors as well.

2. California Love- Big Swimbaits: Rago BV3D and SKT Swimmer, Optimum Swimbaits and more recently the Megabass Mag Draft/Mag Slowl and Keitechs

You can blame Skeet Reese, TacticalBassin or anything else, but the cats out of the bag on the East Coast swimbait pattern. At least since the Elite Series came to town, guys have been throwing big swimbaits. This trend is a cool to see. Some of the best anglers around Virginia and the Carolinas have really put their time in and learned how to throw these baits well and develop confidence. The sad part? If you hit Smith Mountain, Kerr or Gaston on the right windblown day and catch your first bag of all 4 plus pounders on a Mag Draft, you’re late to the party. Guys have been crushing big bass during all times of the year when the conditions are right for it and as time has gone by the baits and equipment have improved greatly. With the right gear they are a lot easier to throw than they used to be.

3. Jackall Mickey- As soon as the sun goes down.

This is probably the newest craze on the list. Some dedicated night fisherman might be disappointed to read this, but over the last couple of years a lot of those guys that bring big bags to your weeknight jackpot tournaments are lying about the Thunderstick and Buzzbait. I’m sure if the fish will get used to it or not, but right now, they can’t stand not to eat it when all other topwaters fail. A couple summers ago I heard rumors it was good, but I hadn’t thrown one until I found one somebody had broken off in a tree that fell. Needless to say It was worth getting covered in pine sap and bark to get. Cast it out, reel it slow, and hold on.

4. The Cheeseburger Jig- Buggs Island Killer

There was about a five year period a while back where it was the first thing that flew off the shelves. I’m not sure why nobody mentions it anymore but I can tell you it’s not because it stopped working or guys quit throwing it. A lot of guys are still making them themselves and there are a lot of others close to it. I learned this one the hard way. I took four of them to a Lake Norman tournament and couldn’t keep the fish off it. After two days of practice I had lost three. I took the last one to a local bait shops down there in a brown paper bag so nobody else would see it. It was busy in there that day and I quietly asked the owner if he had any jigs that were even close to that one. He looked at me dumbfounded and then chuckled. He proceeded to tell me that a local guy had been making a jig that looked just like that for about 30 years, pointed over to the rack and said, “You better get them while you can, because I’ve probably sold about two dozen or so today.” Long story, short, Bryan Thrift would be proud; I walked out with my first card of Shooter Jigs.

5. Evergreen Jackhammer Chatterbait- It’s worth it.

Chatterbaits obviously aren’t a secret, but this one is kind of an anomaly. This one is probably the funniest trend on the list because the guys that throw it will come right out and tell you they are throwing a chatterbait. That said, as soon as you ask if it’s the Jackhammer they say, “Heck no! I’d never spend 17 dollars on a chatterbait! You’re crazy!”. When tournament day comes, the guys who were telling the truth lost to the ones who lied and threw a chatterbait they paid a 20 dollar bill for. If you haven’t thrown one and you like a chatterbait, invest in one. It is just that much better, and the amount of guys who have figured that out is surprising.

So there you have it. Five baits I know a lot of people keep under lock and key that pretty much everybody knows about. If there is anything new on the list you haven’t heard of, by all means, go try them! If I ruffled any feathers, sorry about it, this piece is written totally in good fun. And what else is out there? What did I miss, or what don’t I know about? Comment below what baits you know are open secrets.

Bass Edge Radio – The Edge – Episode 299 – Brandon Card

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April 23, 2019

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Bass Edge Radio – The Edge – Episode 299 – Brandon Card

Bass Edge Radio, presented by Megaware KeelGuard features 2019 BASS Elite Series Angler Brandon Card in this episode of their top-rated podcast. Bass Edge hosts Aaron Martin and Kurt Dove discuss with Brandon the keys to starting off the season well and the seasonal transitions on high-land lakes.

4 Bass Baits Not To Leave Home Without – MTB

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April 23, 2019

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4 Bass Baits Not To Leave Home Without

If you could only have one tackle box (God forbid) and could put any lures in that box to fish any body of water, what baits would you choose? This question is always popular among anglers as it outlines a fisherman’s confidence baits, overall versatility and fishing style. Even though the question is oftentimes hypothetical, the answer is important. So, if you were forced to limit yourself to only one box of lures for all circumstances, which ones would you pick? Here are our top choices.

Weedless Jig

Obvious, right? The jig has long been a staple in the tackle boxes of anglers across the globe and for good reason. This bait catches numbers of quality fish in a multitude of conditions. You can do just about anything with a jig. Cast it, flip it, drag it, swim it, and the list goes on. Don’t get caught up on head design either. Nearly any jig head design can be used for multiple applications. Don’t let the marketing gurus fool you. Just because a jig has a “swimming head” doesn’t mean it can’t be used to drag deep water or flip shallow vegetation. Senko

Senkos (Stick Bait)

Next on the list is the senko. Again, it is no secret that this bait is a favorite when it comes to versatility and catching quality and numbers of bass. The senko can be rigged weighted or weightless on a Texas-rig, used on a Ned rig, wacky rigged, and in seemingly countless other ways. Choosing colors is simple. Either some variation of black or green pumpkin will catch fish all year around the country. The senko can be fished in deep or shallow water, fast or slow. It’s a no-brainer for our list.

Lipless Cranks

Known for its ability for long casts and being extra loud, the rattlebait (AKA the lipless crankbait) is number three on our list. This is quite a unique bait. It can be used in virtually any part of the water column with many different retrieves and catches gargantuan bass. When bass are inactive, the bait can be slow-rolled back to the boat and the opposite, a super-fast retrieve, can be used when fish can’t resist these BB-filled baits. They even work well in and around vegetation because of their ability to be ripped aggressively and clear fouled hooks.

The Drop Shot

Last but not least, a drop shot rig is a perfect closer for any angler’s tackle box. Like the baits above, the drop shot can be fished in virtually any depth and adjusted to suspend in any part of the water column. Bass love a drop shot when they are finicky as well as when they are active, and the rig seems to work wonders year-round. Tip your drop shot with a minnow, worm, or goby-style imitator and watch the magic happen.

SEAGUAR INVIZX NOW AVAILABLEIN VERSATILE 600 YARD SPOOL

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April 22, 2019

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SEAGUAR INVIZX NOW AVAILABLE

IN VERSATILE 600 YARD SPOOL

Compact, convenient, easy and economical new spool for anglers

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Louisville, KY (April 22, 2019) – When it comes to choosing fishing line, hordes of anglers—including numerous pros—turn to Seaguar’s InvizX, a 100% fluorocarbon that’s great for casting, all-around use, as well as segmentation as a reliable leader material. It works extremely well as the main line on spinning reels and in higher pound test on baitcasting reels. It’s soft, supple and very castable with superior sensitivity. Part of the reason so many anglers turn to it as their primary choice in fluorocarbon is also because it’s virtually invisible yet has advanced hook-setting power, casts smooth and exhibits superior knot strength.

Previously only available in 200- and bulk 1000-yard spools, Seaguar is proud to announce the popular line is now available in a versatile 600 yard spool that you can take anywhere. This new spool is the perfect size to fit in a boat cup holder, a glove compartment in a boat, a fanny pack, smaller watercraft including kayaks, a tackle box, etc. It’s considerably smaller than a bulk 1000-yard spool and also more economical than purchasing three 200-yard spools. Ultimately, the 600 yard spool size is compact, convenient, and always at the ready.

Many anglers have already taken to the unique 600 yard format, including bass pros Aaron Britt and Keith Combs.

“Most of the time large spools of line are incredibly bulky and take up a lot of room. Not the new 600 yard InvizX spool. You could be a bank fisherman, a kayak angler, a small boat fisherman and put the spool virtually anywhere. A lot of anglers running the banks are using backpacks, fanny packs, smaller tackle boxes, etc. and the spool size is perfect for that. Not only does the spool fit into most places but you’re fishing with the best line in the world. It’s hard to argue that it’s the best bite for your buck considering you could roll up about six reels from one 600 yard spool versus separate 200 yard spools. Not only do you get more line on a 600 yard spool, you save money,” says FLW pro Aaron Britt.

Photo courtesy of FLW

He continues: “I keep one in the center console of my boat, which is very, very small. It fits a marker buoy, and some sunscreen, but also fits my 600 yard spool for quick and easy access. I love InvizX. It’s smooth, casts brilliantly, there’s not a whole lot of memory, and there’s just enough stretch. There’s not a lot of stretch but just enough that I feel comfortable setting the hook hard on any bait that I throw. It’s also a universal line. You can use it on spinning and baitcasting reels, as great leader material—it’s just overall the best line on the planet. I have the utmost confidence in it and spool all my reels with it.”

B.A.S.S. Elite pro Keith Combs agrees: “The 600 yard spool is the perfect size to fit into places that might have been wasted space in your boat. And For kayak fishing it’s great because you’re limited with space there, too. The other thing, it seems like there’s always some wasted line at the end of a 200 yard spool and a 1000 yard spool takes you forever to use; not with the new 600 yard spool—it’s the all-around perfect format.”

Combs has been a diehard user of InvizX for years and says he just appreciates its all-around performance besides the new economical and versatile 600 yard spool format.

Photo courtesy of B.A.S.S.

“It’s an awesome all-purpose line. Seaguar has a lot of really good specialty lines and I use their Flippin’ line sometimes, their Finesse line on occasion, but InvizX is just kind of like if you’re going to stock up on your basic line sizes—your 12, 15, 20—InvizX is simply the most versatile line I’ve ever used. It holds up under all conditions and it’s good for anything. With that, I really appreciate the simplicity of saying I’m going to get a 600 spool of 15 lb. InvizX and wind up a bunch of my reels.

The performance is just incredible. There’s very little memory even when it’s extremely cold and it’s a supple line. A lot of my fishing is long casting offshore fishing and it’s great for that—it’s strong, it’s sensitive, but I can make really long casts because it’s very limp and extremely castable. But I can also use the same line to go flip laydowns. It handles it all.”

Seaguar InvizX is available in line tests of 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 20 lbs, in the new 600 yard spool format.

For more information, call 502-883-6097, write Kureha America LLC, 4709 Allmond Ave., Suite 4C, Louisville, KY 40209, or visit us on the Web at www.seaguar.com or on Facebook.

FLW TOUR SET TO VISIT LAKE CHICKAMAUGA FOR SIXTH EVENT OF SEASON

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April 22, 2019

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FLW TOUR SET TO VISIT LAKE CHICKAMAUGA FOR SIXTH EVENT OF SEASON

Dayton to Host 168 Anglers Casting for $125,000 Top Prize in Four-Day Event

DAYTON, Tenn. (April 22, 2019) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, is set to continue the 2019 FLW Tour season – the 24^th season of the competitive Tour – next week, May 2-5, with the FLW Tour at Lake Chickamauga presented by Evinrude. Hosted by Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic Tourism Council, the tournament will feature 168 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals competing for a top award of up to $125,000 and valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2019 FLW Cup – the world championship of bass fishing.

The FLW Tour has visited Lake Chickamauga four times prior in FLW’s 24-year history. When the Tour visited the East Tennessee fishery in 2015, some of the biggest names in the sport ended up competing on Championship Sunday, including former Forrest Wood Cup champion David Dudley and legendary angler Larry Nixon. Pro Michael Wooley, then of Collierville, Tennessee, won the event, weighing 20 bass totaling 92 pounds, 4 ounces, focusing on a shell bar in Dallas Bay with a shaky-head rig and a football-head jig.

The 2019 event will mark the 216^th tournament in FLW Tour history. The total purse for the FLW Tour at Lake Chickamauga presented by Evinrude is more than $860,000.

“This tournament is going to be one of the most fun events that we have all year,” said FLW Tour rookie Miles Burghoff of Hixson, Tennessee, who is currently leading both the Angler of the Year (AOY) and Rookie of the Year (ROY) point races with just two events remaining in the season. “Dayton, Tennessee is the most bass-friendly town that I have ever been to and the best bass-fishing community that I have ever seen. It’s going to be great fishing and great crowds all week.”

Burghoff predicted that the majority of the bass would be spawn or post-spawn, and he expects that competitors will be able to fish however they would like to.

“We’re going to have guys that fish the ledges and do great, and we’ll have guys that avoid the ledges and fish shallow that will do great,” Burghoff said. “I think the key will be having multiple options. I don’t think you can win off of one spot very easily. It’s possible, but there are no secrets on Chickamauga – especially offshore. In order to win, you’re going to have to stay fluid and have a few back up plans ready to go.”

Burghoff predicted that standard Tennessee River-tackle would be in play – big spoons, jigs and swimbaits are all expected to play a role for tournament competitors. Burghoff also predicted that many of the FLW Tour pros would likely be seen throwing topwater baits for the first time this season.

“We’re hitting the lake perfectly and there will be plenty of fish well into their summertime patterns,” he said. “I think it’ll take at least a 15-pound-a-day average to make the top-30 cut to fish the weekend. I think it’ll take a four-day total of 87 to 88 pounds to win. It could be a little high, but it’s Lake Chickamauga and we’re going to crush them.”

Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. ET Thursday through Sunday from the Dayton Boat Dock, located at 175 Lakeshore St., in Dayton. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins, May 2-3, will be held at the park beginning at 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins, May 4-5, will also be held at the park, but will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Prior to the weigh-ins, FLW will host a free Family Fishing Expo at the Dayton Boat Dock from 2 to 6 p.m. each day. The Expo is a chance for fishing fans to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, and 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 the Dayton Boat Dock on Saturday, May 4, 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 1^st and 2^nd place anglers that catch the biggest fish will be recognized Saturday on the FLW Tour stage, just prior to the pros weighing in.

As part of the FLW Tour’s community outreach initiative, FLW Tour anglers will visit shoppers and staff at We Care, a second-hand store benefitting the Safe Haven Light Family Transitional Shelter, located at 420 Market Street in Dayton on Wednesday, May 1 from 3-4:30 p.m. to interact with guests, snap photos and sign autographs, give away goodie bags and share fishing stories.

Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Lake Chickamauga presented by Evinrude will premiere in 2019. 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 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.

In FLW Tour competition, the full field of 168 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.

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.

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.

Randy Fisher & Frankie Wright win Tobacco Bass Invitational Tourney April 20th 2019

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April 22, 2019

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Randy Fisher & Frankie Wright win Tobacco Bass Invitational Tourney April 20th 2019

RESULTS ~~ 30th ANNUAL

TOBACCO BASS INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
April 20th, 2019~~FALLS LAKE
LEDGE ROCK WILDLIFE RAMPResults for the 34 Teams:

It finally quit raining about 2 am this morning and the sun came out and the wind was light at the 6:30 blastoff and air temps at about 55. About 2 hours later the SSW wind picked up and blew steady at 15 mph all day and the lake, which was already 4′ high, rose at least 6″ before weighin!! Rough fishing day!! However, most every team caught fish and 87 bass made it to the scales. Big fish for the day was 7.27 lbs with 2 tied for 2nd place at 6.99 lbs. and all the fish looked good and healthy.! Most all fish were caught on spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, jigs and crankbaits. Even had some caught on buzz baits! Top water bite is coming soon!! Water temps averaged 67 degrees.

Fisher on left..Wright on right..

Randy Fisher & Frankie Wright took top honors this year with 5 bass weighing 23.74 lbs. plus they tied for 2nd place big fish honors (6.99 lbs.) and took home a total of $1,024 in prize money. 2nd Place went to the team of Bobby Houser & Mike Cox with 5 weighing 19.45 lbs. & $517 in prize money. Big money winners
today was the 3rd Place team of Kevin Tedder & Ricky Cobb with 4 weighing 19.21 lbs. and along with winning the TWT and 1st Place Big Fish (7.27 lbs.) they took home $1,486 in cash!

Once again, I had a great time as your director and thank for having me!

Thanks again! Phil McCarson~Tournament Director

HERE ARE THE OTHER TOP RESULTS

4th Place Team & 2nd TWT: Brian Stamps & Chris Wimbish…5 fish…17.73 lbs…$300 & $264
5th Place Team: Brian Fritts & Brian Postma…5 fish…16.90 lbs…$217
6th Place Team: Johnny Wilder & Mike Harris…5 fish…16.39 lbs…$190
7th Place Team & Tied 2nd Big Fish: Nicholas & Keith Bryant…4 fish…16.36 lbs…$163 & $99

OTHER NOTABLES

Soles & Thompson…5 bass…14.86 lbs.         Cates & Vaughan…5 bass…12.81 lbs.
Whitt & Moody…5 bass…12.69 lbs.          Maslyn & Ward…5 bass…11.57 lbs.
Semonco & Andrews…3 bass…10.52 lbs.          Arzonico & Arzonico…3 bass…10.07 lbs.
Parker & Parker…2 bass…9.40 lbs.             Ambrosini & Ambrosini…4 bass…8.48 lbs.
Campbell & McMullen…3 bass…8.25 lbs.          Fajardo & Hooks…3 bass…7.19 lbs.
Ellis & Lowe…5 bass…6.88 lbs.          Allen & Thorne…3 bass…6.52 lbs.
Massey & Costa…3 bass…5.91 lbs.          Clifton & Clifton…2 bass…4.17 lbs.
Bullock & Henderson…1 bass…2.77 lbs.          Smith & Tuck…1 bass…2.05 lbs.
Kunst & Holt…1 bass…1.95 lbs.          Clements & Clements…0
Hines & Mabe…0          Stone & Stone…0
Mitchell & Causby…0          Alexander & Ferrell…0
Page & Buchanan…0          Ellis & Stallings…0

Black…0 Fogleman & Martin…0 McGhee…0

Full results are on the website at:

http://piedmontbassclassics.com/TobaccoBassInvitational.html

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Contact Information:
Phil McCarson…Tournament Director—922 Valetta Rd.—Durham, NC 27712
Home: 919-471-1571 Cell: 919-971-5042
email: [email protected]
website:http://piedmontbassclassics.com/

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Piedmont-Bass-Classics-124874327582405/

Birmingham, Lake Guntersville To Host Historic 2020 Bassmaster Classic

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April 22, 2019

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Birmingham, Lake Guntersville To Host Historic 2020 Bassmaster Classic

Legacy Arena in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex was packed for weigh-ins during the 2014 Bassmaster Classic at Birmingham and Lake Guntersville. Crowds are expected to be even bigger in March 2020, when the 50th world championship of bass fishing will be held there. Photo by Laurie Tisdale/B.A.S.S.

April 22, 2019

Birmingham, Lake Guntersville To Host Historic 2020 Bassmaster Classic

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 50th Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods will come home to its Alabama roots in 2020. The world championship bass tournament will be held in Birmingham, Ala., with fishing competition taking place on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Ala., B.A.S.S. announced today.

The iconic fishing tournament will be held March 6-8, with daily weigh-ins and the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo taking place in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) in downtown Birmingham, B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin said during a press conference Monday afternoon at the BJCC.

“It’s fitting that the golden anniversary Classic be held in Alabama, where B.A.S.S. was founded more than 50 years ago,” Akin said. “Our plans are to make this the most spectacular celebration of bass fishing in history.

“Throughout the current Bassmaster Elite Series tournament season, we are celebrating ‘The Year of the Fan’ — our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the millions of bass fishing fans who make this sport so great. The celebration will culminate at the Classic here in Birmingham.”

The Classic was first held at Lake Mead, Nevada, in October 1971. The tournament was the brainchild of B.A.S.S. founder Ray Scott, who wanted a way to determine an ultimate champion at the end of every tournament season. It has since been held in Alabama 12 times, eight of those in Birmingham.

“We are so proud to once again host the Bassmaster Classic, the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “We look forward to the great competition the Classic attracts and the dedicated fans who will gather in Birmingham for this incredible event. While in the region, we invite everyone to experience the inspirational history, legendary food and world class entertainment which make us the Magic City.”

“We are thrilled that the Bassmaster Classic will be returning to the Birmingham region once again,” said John Oros, president and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This event is the pinnacle of professional bass fishing and it attracts the greatest anglers in the world. The tournament reinforces the fact that the Birmingham area is a great professional and amateur sports destination. We expect that the economic impact of the event will equal or exceed the $32 million spent in hotels, restaurants, attractions and retailers this past year in Knoxville, Tenn.”

Twice previously — in 1976 and 2014 — fishing has taken place on Lake Guntersville, which has become synonymous with bass fishing greatness over the past half-century.

“We are excited that Lake Guntersville has been chosen to be the fishery for this anniversary Classic,” said Katy Norton, president of Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The interest the Classic generates has positive impact for months, even years following the tournament, and we expect Lake Guntersville will be at the top of the list for anglers and B.A.S.S. fans to visit following next spring’s competition. We look forward to the tournament and to continuing our partnership with B.A.S.S.”

The inaugural event in Nevada, which was won by Arkansas angler Bobby Murray, featured a 24-angler field and a winner-take-all format with a $10,000 prize. None of the anglers knew the location ahead of time, and they all fished with identical boats and motors.

Much has changed since then — especially the payout, which is now a whopping $1 million for a 53-angler field with $300,000 going to the winner. The winner also adds his name to the most prestigious list in bass fishing.

“The Classic is literally a life-changing event for the angler who wins,” said B.A.S.S. Director Chase Anderson. “It exemplifies what Bassmaster competition stands for: ‘Big Bass. Big Stage. Big Dreams.’ It honors the angler who can catch the biggest bass of the week, and weigh them on the biggest stage in bass fishing, and fulfill the biggest dream any angler can have. No title in professional fishing holds the same clout as ‘Classic champion.’”

It’s hard to imagine a more fitting spot for the 50th renewal of the event than Lake Guntersville, which has hosted 22 major B.A.S.S. events.

The 68,000-acre Tennessee River fishery, which is a popular destination for bass fishing enthusiasts from across the country, will also play host to a regular-season Bassmaster Elite Series tournament June 21-24. That 23rd major B.A.S.S. event will make Guntersville the second-most visited lake in B.A.S.S. history, behind only Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas.

Weigh-ins and the Classic Expo will be held 75 miles away at the BJCC — and recent history says they’ll be plenty busy.

The 2018 Classic attracted 143,323 fans to all activities, including the Get Hooked on Fishing activity center, morning takeoffs, weigh-ins and the Expo. That was an all-time record until this year’s event on the Tennessee River in Knoxville drew 153,809.

The Classic will be covered live and streamed on Bassmaster.com, ESPN3 and the ESPN App, and five hours of original programming will be aired on ESPN2 and the Pursuit Channel following the event. In addition, the Classic annually draws more than 250 credentialed media. The 2019 Classic was covered by journalists from 28 states as well as Japan, China, Australia, Italy, Germany and Canada.