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Prespawn contest on tap for College Series event at Douglas Lake

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March 1, 2024

Prespawn contest on tap for College Series event at Douglas Lake

Tennessee’s Douglas Lake will host the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops March 7-8.

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

March 1, 2024

Prespawn contest on tap for College Series event at Douglas Lake

JEFFERSON, Tenn. — When anglers come to Douglas Lake, they can always expect to catch lots of bass.

But when anglers visit March 7-8 for the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Tennessee pro Robert Gee believes their timing could be perfect.

“This is usually the time of year when they start biting really good,” said Gee, a rookie on the Bassmaster Elite Series this year. “That is usually prime time when you need to be going. It won’t be a tournament where people are looking to just catch one. Most everyone should have a limit, but they might all be 12-inchers. A 3-pounder is definitely a good one at Douglas.”

Douglas Lake is one of the many popular fisheries in eastern Tennessee and provides the opportunity to catch quality largemouth and smallmouth bass. Douglas has played host to several major Bassmaster events in recent history, including a 2021 Open that was won by Japanese pro Daisuke Aoki with a three-day total of 43 pounds, 13 ounces.

Daily takeoffs for the College Series event will be held at 7 a.m. ET from Dandridge Boat Dock with weigh-ins back at the dock each day at 3 p.m. This is the second of three College Series events in the Lunkers Division, and teams will be fighting to punch their tickets to the College Series National Championship, details of which will be released at a later date.

Largemouth bass are the showcase species at Douglas, but smallmouth also play a role in most events. Both species, depending on how warm it gets, should be entering the prespawn phase.

“Usually, when the water starts warming up a little bit into the lower to mid-50s, they’re likely to rush the bank,” Gee said. “We get a lot of rain from late February into mid-March. That’s been on display in the (Bassmaster) Classics on Loudoun.”

With the lake still in the midst of a drastic drawdown, most of the wood cover along the shoreline will not come into play. But that still leaves lots of rock and rock transitions for anglers to target.

In stained areas, Gee anticipates a shallow crankbait bite will present itself. In clearer areas, a jerkbait will be an important tool.

“The typical east Tennessee players will shine in this tournament,” Gee said. “That’s usually the time of year I break out a Magdraft (swimbait) too. The swimbait bite is pretty good. I think the team that will win will be up shallow throwing a crankbait, ChatterBait or lipless.”

Gee also believes several teams will have success fishing offshore points and humps.

“There are usually a lot of bass offshore. You can go and catch a lot of numbers off the bank, but that’s not really where the big ones live,” he said. “The Damiki stuff could still be a player. Douglas is similar to Cherokee, just not as many smallmouth.”

After a day off on March 9, the Bassmaster Junior Series and Strike King Bassmaster High School Series will hold one-day events on Douglas Lake March 10.

These events are being hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN.

Kentucky-Barkley Lakes to Host MLF Toyota Series Plains Division Season Opener

Brian Carter

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February 29, 2024

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Kentucky-Barkley Lakes to Host MLF Toyota Series Plains Division Season Opener

CALVERT CITY, Ky. (Feb. 29, 2024) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to return to Kentucky and Barkley lakes next week, March 7-9, to open the 2024 Plains Division with the Toyota Series at Kentucky Lake.

The three-day competition, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.

“This is going to be a really fun tournament,” said pro Jake Lawrence of Buchanan, Tennessee, who has two career Toyota Series victories on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. “Last year, with the way everything set up and the timing of everything the event was right in the middle of the smallmouth spawn. Things were a little funky, and a little bit off. This year, we’re about six weeks earlier than last year, and there a lot of fish coming out of their winter patterns and are in the prespawn staging areas near the bank.

“I think overall the weights will be similar to last year – I believe it’ll take 59 to 63 pounds to win this one – but the weights are going to be a lot better a lot further down into the field,” Lawrence continued.

One major difference that Lawrence expects to see this year – Lake Barkley being a much bigger factor for tournament anglers to consider.

“(Lake) Barkley hasn’t been talked about much the last few years, but this is the time of the year that it really plays,” Lawrence said. “There is so much natural wood there – laydowns and logs – any bass that wants to be on a piece of cover is going to be caught on Barkley. I’m not sure the tournament will be won there, but it is definitely going to play a big role and I think that we could see up to half of the top 10 end up coming out of Barkley.“

Lawrence said that he expects standard prespawn baits to be the most popular baits thrown by tournament anglers.

“I think Rat-L-Traps, spinnerbaits, and ChatterBaits will all be pretty strong,” Lawrence said. “I predict it’s going to be more of a pattern-type event rather than finding a mega school of bass. They exist, but they’re so hard to predict. I think the winner going to have to juke and jive and fish the conditions, and target whatever looks right.”

Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. CT each day from the Kentucky Dam Marina, located at 466 Marina Drive in Gilbertsville. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.

The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Ito takes early lead as giants emerge on Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Fork

Brian Carter

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February 29, 2024

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Ito takes early lead as giants emerge on Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Fork

Japan’s Taku Ito has taken the lead on Day 1 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork with a total of 39 pounds, 1 ounce.

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

February 29, 2024

Ito takes early lead as giants emerge on Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Fork

YANTIS, Texas — Just about everyone expected to see big bags of bass this week at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork.

Few, however, could have predicted the absolute slugfest that took place Thursday on this 27,000-acre jewel in the northeast corner of the Lone Star State.

A whopping 14 of the 103 anglers in the field caught 30 pound or better on Day 1 of the four-day tournament. Taku Ito, of Chiba, Japan, led the way with a five-bass total of 39 pounds, 1 ounce, including a personal best 10-5 lunker largemouth he brought to the stage at Caney Point Recreation Area.

His previous best was a 10-pounder he caught in Japan.

“Today was an incredible day,” Ito said. “I caught the big one about 10 a.m. I was throwing many types of baits — a jighead, a jerkbait, Texas rigs, drop shots. I was in different kinds of water, from 25 feet to about 5 feet.”

It was an unexpected turnaround for the 37-year-old Elite pro, who said he struggled mightily during his practice days on Fork.

“It was terrible,” he said. “I had four fish in one practice. Then I had three fish one day and two on another day. But today, I caught a bunch. Everything worked for me today.”

Ito wasn’t expecting Thursday’s cold and windy weather to help his cause, either, though it certainly did. Temperatures plummeted into the 40s on Wednesday, from the mid-80s a day earlier, and they stayed that way on Day 1 of this derby.

The weather is predicted to slowly warm throughout the the tournament, though Friday morning could be cold and windy again. The rapidly changing conditions make Ito uncertain he can come close to repeating the phenomenal 39-1 he caught Thursday.

“It’ll be hard,” he said. “The weather today helped me. I will go to the same places and try the same things.”

Stetson Blaylock, of Benton, Ark., is in second place with 37-6. He had a strong start, with bass weighing 6-10, 8-6 and 9-10 coming from the same small spot in the opening hours. Blaylock went cold for more than three hours, though, and didn’t catch his fourth and fifth bass until much later in the day.

He said unpredictable weather has him thinking he’ll try something new on Friday. And yes, he realizes it’s not too often you catch 37-6 and change tactics.

“This weather made the fish weird,” he said. “I found that one little area that really produced this morning. I knew it would be good, but I didn’t know it’d be that good … I don’t think I go there tomorrow … Things are gonna flip-flop. With the amount of 30-pound stringers caught today, I know I can go other places in the lake and catch big fish.”

Second-year Elite Kyle Norsetter, of Cottage Grove, Wis., is in third place with 35-8. He too said he struggled during practice, but a midday change of scenery helped him mount a strong Day 1 finish.

“We had about 35 bed fish marked, but I pulled into my first spot, and I only caught a 3-11,” he said. “I thought it was gonna be a decent day. I hit my spots, about six of them, and they were gone … I caught only one bedding fish today.

“So, I ended up switching gears,” Norsetter continued. “I saw something and made a cast, got it. Then I started LiveScoping. From there, everything went right. There were a lot of fish and some really nice fish, too. It was encouraging after having a really tough, draining practice.”

Trey McKinney, of Carbondale, Ill., is fourth after Day 1 with 33-11. Justin Hammer, of Northport, Ala., is fifth with 33-5. A total of 92 Elites had double-digit totals on Thursday and 69 of them caught at least 20 pounds.

Wesley Gore, of Clanton, Ala., caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass on Thursday — a 10-9 giant he hooked just before 9 a.m.

Big bags are nothing new at Lake Fork. Texas pro Lee Livesay won the past two Elite derbies held here, cracking the Century mark both times — 112-5 in 2021 and 113-11 a year later. There were a total of six Century Club performances in those two tournaments.

The entire field will fish again Friday, with only the Top 50 advancing to Semifinal Saturday. The Top 10 will compete for the blue trophy and $100,000 first-place prize on Championship Sunday.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday and Sunday.

This event is being hosted by Wood County Texas.

2024 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork 2/29-3/3
Lake Fork, Yantis TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 5 39-01 103
Day 1: 5 39-01
2. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 37-06 102
Day 1: 5 37-06
3. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 35-08 101
Day 1: 5 35-08
4. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 33-11 100
Day 1: 5 33-11
5. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 33-05 99
Day 1: 5 33-05
6. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 33-02 98
Day 1: 5 33-02
7. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 5 32-13 97
Day 1: 5 32-13
8. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 32-11 96
Day 1: 5 32-11
9. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 32-02 95 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 32-02
10. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 31-15 94
Day 1: 5 31-15
11. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 31-05 93
Day 1: 5 31-05
12. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 31-04 92
Day 1: 5 31-04
13. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 30-11 91
Day 1: 5 30-11
14. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 30-04 90
Day 1: 5 30-04
15. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 5 29-12 89
Day 1: 5 29-12
16. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 29-09 88
Day 1: 5 29-09
17. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 29-06 87
Day 1: 5 29-06
18. Derek Hudnall Zachary, LA 5 29-05 86
Day 1: 5 29-05
19. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 4 28-05 85
Day 1: 4 28-05
20. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 4 28-04 84
Day 1: 4 28-04
21. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 27-14 83
Day 1: 5 27-14
22. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 27-07 82
Day 1: 5 27-07
23. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 26-09 81
Day 1: 5 26-09
24. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 26-02 80
Day 1: 5 26-02
25. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 26-01 79
Day 1: 5 26-01
25. Frank Talley Belton, TX 5 26-01 79
Day 1: 5 26-01
27. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 25-13 77
Day 1: 5 25-13
28. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 25-12 76
Day 1: 5 25-12
29. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 25-10 75
Day 1: 5 25-10
30. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 25-05 74
Day 1: 5 25-05
30. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 25-05 74
Day 1: 5 25-05
32. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 25-00 72
Day 1: 5 25-00
33. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 24-11 71
Day 1: 5 24-11
34. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 24-08 70
Day 1: 5 24-08
35. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 24-01 69
Day 1: 5 24-01
35. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 24-01 69
Day 1: 5 24-01
37. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 23-13 67
Day 1: 5 23-13
37. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 23-13 67
Day 1: 5 23-13
39. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 23-11 65
Day 1: 5 23-11
40. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 23-04 64
Day 1: 5 23-04
41. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 23-02 63
Day 1: 5 23-02
41. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 23-02 63
Day 1: 5 23-02
43. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 22-15 61
Day 1: 5 22-15
44. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 22-12 60
Day 1: 5 22-12
45. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 22-09 59
Day 1: 5 22-09
46. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 22-00 58
Day 1: 5 22-00
47. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 21-15 57
Day 1: 5 21-15
47. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 21-15 57
Day 1: 5 21-15
49. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 21-14 55
Day 1: 5 21-14
50. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 21-11 54
Day 1: 5 21-11
51. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 21-10 53
Day 1: 5 21-10
52. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 21-09 52
Day 1: 5 21-09
52. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 5 21-09 52
Day 1: 5 21-09
54. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 5 21-05 50
Day 1: 5 21-05
55. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 21-04 49
Day 1: 5 21-04
56. Mike Huff London, KY 5 21-03 48
Day 1: 5 21-03
57. Bryan New Leesville, SC 5 21-02 47
Day 1: 5 21-02
58. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 20-15 46
Day 1: 5 20-15
58. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 5 20-15 46
Day 1: 5 20-15
60. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 5 20-14 44
Day 1: 5 20-14
61. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 5 20-12 43
Day 1: 5 20-12
62. John Garrett Union City, TN 4 20-11 42
Day 1: 4 20-11
63. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 5 20-09 41
Day 1: 5 20-09
64. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 20-07 40
Day 1: 5 20-07
65. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 20-06 39
Day 1: 5 20-06
66. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 20-01 38
Day 1: 5 20-01
66. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 20-01 38
Day 1: 5 20-01
66. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 20-01 38
Day 1: 5 20-01
69. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 20-00 35
Day 1: 5 20-00
70. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 5 19-14 34
Day 1: 5 19-14
71. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 19-13 33
Day 1: 5 19-13
72. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 19-11 32
Day 1: 5 19-11
73. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 19-10 31
Day 1: 5 19-10
74. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 19-05 30
Day 1: 5 19-05
75. Todd Auten Clover, SC 5 19-03 29
Day 1: 5 19-03
76. John Cox Debary, FL 5 19-00 28
Day 1: 5 19-00
76. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 19-00 28
Day 1: 5 19-00
78. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 18-12 26
Day 1: 5 18-12
79. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 5 18-06 25
Day 1: 5 18-06
80. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 17-07 24
Day 1: 5 17-07
81. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 17-03 23
Day 1: 5 17-03
82. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 16-14 22
Day 1: 5 16-14
83. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 16-13 21
Day 1: 5 16-13
84. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 16-08 20
Day 1: 5 16-08
85. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 4 15-06 19
Day 1: 4 15-06
86. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 4 14-13 18
Day 1: 4 14-13
87. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 5 14-10 17
Day 1: 5 14-10
88. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 13-11 16
Day 1: 5 13-11
89. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 4 13-01 15
Day 1: 4 13-01
90. Cody Huff Ava, MO 4 12-01 14
Day 1: 4 12-01
91. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 3 11-12 13
Day 1: 3 11-12
92. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 3 11-00 12
Day 1: 3 11-00
93. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 3 09-06 11
Day 1: 3 09-06
94. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 3 08-06 10
Day 1: 3 08-06
95. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 3 08-04 9
Day 1: 3 08-04
96. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 2 08-03 8
Day 1: 2 08-03
97. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 3 08-00 7
Day 1: 3 08-00
98. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 3 07-13 6
Day 1: 3 07-13
99. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 3 07-11 5
Day 1: 3 07-11
100. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 2 06-08 4
Day 1: 2 06-08
101. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 1 05-15 3
Day 1: 1 05-15
102. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 1 04-02 2
Day 1: 1 04-02
103. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 1 02-09 1
Day 1: 1 02-09
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10-09 $1,000.00

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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 83 474 2224-07
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83 474 2224-07

Fishing Expert Todd Davis Joins The Bass Cast: Power Up Your Bass Game!

Brian Carter

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February 28, 2024

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Fishing Expert Todd Davis Joins The Bass Cast: Power Up Your Bass Game!

We are thrilled to announce that, thanks to the continued dedication and support of our faithful fans, The Bass Cast is welcoming a new team member, Todd Davis. Todd brings with him the kind of experience and passion for bass fishing that will undoubtedly resonate with our community. Starting in March, he will be contributing to the rich content that we cultivate, aimed at assisting our readership in becoming more adept at catching bass.

A veteran in the outdoors, Todd boasts extensive experience across numerous outdoor publications – a testament to his expertise and knowhow. His commitment to helping the Bass fishing community is aligned with the vision of The Bass Cast, making him an exciting addition to our team.

In his new role, Todd will be crafting insightful and valuable content designed to help bass anglers up their game. From strategies and techniques to tackle recommendations, his aim will be to equip you with the knowledge you need to maximize your bass fishing prowess.

But that’s not all. Todd will also be your conduit to the wider world of professional bass fishing. He will be conducting interviews with some of the best professionals in the field, gathering their perspectives on tournament bass fishing, and sharing practical tips that can transform your bass fishing game.

As we move into this exciting new phase with Todd in our corner, we ask for your continued support. Your engagement and feedback are integral to our mission and help shape The Bass Cast in its endeavor to serve you better.

We’re thrilled to embark on this journey with Todd Davis and look forward to sharing his passion and expertise with our incredible audience. Together, we’ll continue to foster a community where all bass fishing enthusiasts can find their place and catch some giant bass along the way!

Todd Davis is an avid outdoorsman and passionate about sharing the outdoors with others. He enjoys fishing for anything that bites and even fish that don’t. He has been writing about the outdoors for over ten years. His work includes writing for companies like Drury Outdoors, Mossy Oak, Texas Sportsman Magazine, Life and Land Magazine, Turkey Call Magazine, Whitetales Magazine, etc. Todd and his wife Debbie live in north Texas and own Davis Outdoor Adventures.

Toyota and B.A.S.S. extend partnership through 2026

Brian Carter

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February 28, 2024

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February 28, 2024

Toyota and B.A.S.S. extend partnership through 2026

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — On the 20th anniversary of the partnership between B.A.S.S., the world’s largest fishing organization, and Toyota Motor North America, the long-standing official truck of bass fishing, the two organizations have announced the extension of their partnership through 2026. Toyota will remain the exclusive truck and automotive partner of Bassmaster and the myriad events run by the organization, from the high school level to the Elite Series to the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors. Toyota will remain at the Platinum Partner level of B.A.S.S. and will also sponsor an exciting new female initiative, BassmastHER, to be rolled out in 2024.

“Toyota is very excited to not only extend our long-term partnership with B.A.S.S., but to amplify our support for anglers through this new agreement,” said Steve Appelbaum, national manager, sponsorship integration, Toyota Motor North America. “We recognize and identify with the passion of bass anglers and the fans that follow the Bassmaster tournament trails and look forward to continuing our support of the bass fishing community and empowering more people to enjoy the outdoors.”

As in years past, the agreement includes Toyota’s sponsorship of the Bassmaster Elite Series, the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, the Bassmaster Junior Series and the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance. Of course, Toyota will continue as a premier sponsor of the 2024 Bassmaster Classic to be held in Tulsa, Okla., March 22-24 on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.

The very popular Toyota Bonus Bucks program will also continue, awarding cash prizes to Toyota owners participating in Bassmaster events (based on performance).

An exciting new addition to the Toyota sponsorship agreement is the incorporation of the new BassmastHER female initiative. This new program is dedicated to supporting the goals and aspirations of female anglers. Three educational workshops focusing on the fundamentals of bass fishing will be held in conjunction with 2024 Elite Series events. Furthermore, Toyota will sponsor three female anglers participating in Bassmaster events, and their journeys will be shared through the expansive B.A.S.S. media apparatus. The aim is to not only inspire other females to engage in the sport, but also to foster a supportive community moving forward. You can find more information about this initiative at Bassmaster.com/bassmasther.

“Toyota’s enduring partnership with B.A.S.S. extends beyond mere support; it reflects their unwavering commitment to both the angling community and the industry,” said Chase Anderson, CEO of B.A.S.S. “We are excited to spotlight Toyota’s passion for bass anglers through not only our events, but through the new BassmastHER initiative as well. Our organizations put a premium on quality, and together we will deliver amazing events, content and educational opportunities to anglers across all skill levels.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 47 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.6 million cars and trucks (more than 2.2 million in the U.S.) in 2023, of which more than one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

TJ Eubanks & Derek Hutchins Win CATT Lake Greenwood, SC Feb 24, 2024

Brian Carter

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February 28, 2024

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TJ Eubanks & Derek Hutchins Win CATT Lake Greenwood, SC Feb 24, 2024

Next 2024 Spring Lake Greenwood Qualifier is March 16th out of the Greenwood State Park!

We had a great crowd with 18 boats entering and a lot of new faces! Come join us! You only have to enter 1 to be eligible to enter the Final!

Use PHANTOMCATT15 at check out to receive 15% off your order at Phantom Outdoors Apparel! Tap on the logo to start shopping!

TJ Eubanks & Derek Hutchins weighed in 5 bass at 17.86 lbs to take 1st Place at Lake Greenwood!

Patrick Ricks & Colden Harmon earned 2nd Place with a limit weighing 16.63 lbs!

Chris Quesenberry & Eric Dufala finished 3rd with 16.27 lbs!

Mike Underwood brought in the BF of the day weighing 6.35 lbs!

Team	BF	Weight	Winnings	Points
TJ Eubanks – Derek Hutchins	5.86	17.86	$900.00	110
Patrick Ricks – Colden Harmon	4.68	16.63	$225.00	109
Eric Dufala – Chris Quesenberry	4.64	16.27	$100.00	108
Cade Blackwell – Mitchell Robinson	5.24	15.88		107
Mike Underwood	6.35	15.56	$180.00	106
Daniel Skipper – Patrick H	4.71	15.52		105
Alex Cummings – Chandler Willis	4.53	14.46		104
Truett Hill – Anthony Kiker	3.77	13.69		103
Brian Ruppe – Darryl Deaton	0.00	11.62		102
Timothy Jones – Michale Sellers	3.05	8.38		101
Erik Caddell – Leonard Claunen	0.00	0.00		91
Jason Moyer – Sam Metts	0.00	0.00		91
Wayne Gerould – Chad Gerould	0.00	0.00		91
Gregg Williams – Mark Williams	0.00	0.00		91
Brian McDade – Eddie Burgess	0.00	0.00		91
John Williams – Darryl Redfern	0.00	0.00		91
Hank Oshields – Brad Burdette	0.00	0.00		91
Doug Fuller	0.00	0.00		91
Total Entrys			$1,440.00
BONUS $			$400.00
Total Paid At Ramp			$1,405.00
CATT			$50.00
2024 Greenwood Spring Final Fund			$335.00
2024 CATT Championship Fund			$50.00
2024 Greenwood Spring Final Total			$555.00

Clear Lake Expected to Show Out at MLF Toyota Series Western Division Season Opener

Brian Carter

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February 28, 2024

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Clear Lake Expected to Show Out at MLF Toyota Series Western Division Season Opener

LAKEPORT, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2024) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to visit Lakeport, California, next week, March 6-8, for the 2024 Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse season opener – the Toyota Series at Clear Lake.

The three-day tournament, hosted by the Konocti Vista Casino Resort & Marina, will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $75,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor in the co-angler division.

“I am super excited for this event – after seeing how well the local team tournaments have been doing the last month, I expect that we are going to see some giant weights,” said Rancho Santa Margarita, California, pro Kyle Grover, who has four career top-10 finishes and a 2019 win on Clear Lake in Toyota Series competition. “I think it’s going to take 85 to 100 pounds over the three days to win this one. I can’t wait to get there.”

Grover said the water levels on Clear Lake are extremely high, and with more rain and even a little bit of snow being forecast for this upcoming weekend, he expects anglers are going to have to slow down and work hard to locate the biggest schools.

“Clear Lake is a pretty simple fishery, and they usually always bite the same stuff,” Grover said. “The key is finding them – we call it the biomass. The fish there like to group up, and when you find those big schools you can usually get on that one spot and smash them. Most of the time it’s a one-boat, one-cast type deal.

“You’ll be able to tell who found the schools pretty quickly,” Grover continued. “There will be a handful of guys at the top of the leaderboard that weigh in some massive limits, and then you’ll see the weights taper off pretty quickly.”

With schools of fish being the key Grover said that he expects forward-facing sonar to play a big role in this tournament, although not with the minnow-type soft plastics that are winning events across the south.

“The fish here like the bigger baits, so I think we’ll see a lot of swimbaits, umbrella rigs, (Lucky Craft) LV 500s – I think the tournament will likely be won on one of those three baits,” Grover went on to say. “But there will be guys catching them on the south end of the lake, too, throwing crankbaits and big jigs.”

Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. PT each day from the Konocti Vista Casino Resort & Marina, located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.

The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Spring dynamic could be on display for Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes

Brian Carter

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February 28, 2024

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Spring dynamic could be on display for Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes

South Carolina’s Santee Cooper Lakes will host the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by SEVIIN tournament March 7-9.

Photo by Craig Lamb/B.A.S.S.

February 28, 2024

Spring dynamic could be on display for Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bryan New is certain there will be plenty of bass to catch during the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by SEVIIN. The Saluda, S.C., angler is just not certain how he and his competitors will catch them.

Competition days will be March 7-9 with daily takeoffs from the John C Land III Sports Fishing Facility at 6:30 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day at the same location at 2:30 p.m.

“There’s going to be fish spawning and some prespawn,” New said. “The fish will still do the same thing, but where do they do it? I’m sure some fish will be staging on grass, on trees, in ditches — and some will be spawning in backwater ponds.”

Santee Cooper Lakes include the 110,600-acre Lake Marion, impounded by the Santee Dam, and Lake Moultrie, which runs down to the Pinopolis Dam. A 6.5-mile diversion canal links the two lakes and, while there’s no lock to control access, running to Moultrie from the tournament site on Marion’s northeast side requires careful time management — especially if a windy day slows travel time.

Fed by the confluence of the Wateree and Congaree rivers, Marion’s best known for the upper end’s riverine cypress swamp, but includes a mix of docks, lily pads, stumps and grass. Moultrie has traditionally been more of an offshore deal, with brushpiles, bamboo piles and concrete rubble reef sites placed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources dominating the scene.

With good numbers of stocked Florida-strain largemouth bass, Santee Cooper Lakes are a well-renowned giant factory with a reputation for kicking out impressive numbers. During last year’s AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes, 10th-place finisher Matt Robertson of Kentucky sacked up the event’s biggest bag — 28 pounds, 1 ounce — while Oklahoma pro Luke Palmer averaged just over 24 pounds a day, as he won and almost earned a century belt with 96-14.

That late April Elite tournament fell toward the end of the Santee Cooper spawn, but the upcoming Division 1 Open will likely comprise a mix of early-season action. With the bass at their heaviest weights of the year and still in a snappy kind of mood, the stage is set for a potential slugfest.

“Somebody could blow it away,” said Elite pro Todd Auten, who hails from Lake Wylie, S.C. “I’ve seen 45-pound bags there. If you hit it right when the fish are up spawning, you can catch 9- to 10-pounders off beds.”

As New points out, water clarity could suppress some of the fishery’s potential. Recent rains have muddied the waters and, while the fish still feel their seasonal prompting, lower visibility shrinks the strike zone.

“Both lakes are very dirty,” New said. “It’s rare that the Lower Lake gets dirty, but before (the off-limits period), I talked to a friend who said it’s dirtier than he has ever seen it.”

With more rain forecast for the tournament week, turbidity will likely continue to factor, particularly for Marion, which is first to receive major inflows. New notes that grass-filtered backwater areas away from the main flows could see cleaner water, but water staining might also bring benefits.

“Water color can be a good thing; we may be catching spawners we can’t see,” he said.

Wind could also play a significant role in how this event unfolds. As New points out, spring’s fickle nature often meddles with competitive game plans.

“You have to ask yourself, ‘Can I get to where I want to go? Will the wind dirty the water up? Will it cool the water down?’” he said.

New said an increase in aquatic vegetation will certainly impact the fishing — likely in a positive manner. Much of this is due to the SCDNR’s habitat enhancement efforts, which transplanted water willow from the lakes’ vast growth areas to more barren zones, while also bringing eelgrass plantings from Lake Greenwood (two hours northwest of Marion).

“Last year, we had eelgrass that was starting to come in pretty good,” Auten said. “This year, there’s also hydrilla and milfoil. That’s going to be a game changer for somebody, somewhere.

“The last few years, there’s been like no grass in the Lower Lake and those prespawn fish would stage out on brush or a drop. Now, the fish can really be about anywhere in that grass. They can spread out a lot more and have a lot more places to hide until they move up to spawn.”

More grass means more opportunities, but it also will require more searching. While a good stretch of open water might separate a brushpile or reef site from the spawning grounds, a healthy grassbed could provide cover and feeding opportunities right up to the areas where fish may bed.

Auten expects lipless baits, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, big worms and flipping jigs to produce competitive fish. New adds squarebills and wacky rigs to that mix. Both agree that surface presentations from frogs to buzzbaits could deliver big.

“A topwater might come into play if the water temperature gets up there,” Auten said. “I know they’re catching some shallow already, and it’s only going to get better.”

Tournament weekend brings a new moon and, while typically not as strong as the full moon’s affect, this phase is known to spur spawning movements, provided water temperatures are warm enough. Noting that seasonal progression will be inching closer to go-time, Auten expects the Santee Cooper Lakes to make a strong showing.

“To make the Top 10 cut, it’s probably going to take about 35 pounds,” Auten said. “If somebody can catch 25 to 26 pounds a day, they’ll probably win.”

The final day of competition will be broadcast live on FS1 Saturday morning beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET, with streaming available on Bassmaster.com, as well as FS2 and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

This event is being hosted by Clarendon County in association with Santee Cooper Country and the Town of Santee.

Rig Your Fishing Electronics Right with GRAPH POWER® PRO

Brian Carter

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February 28, 2024

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Rig Your Fishing Electronics Right with GRAPH POWER^® PRO

Connect-Ease^® GRAPH POWER^® PRO Provides Anglers With A Quick, Easy, and Problem-Free System For Rigging Today’s Advanced Fishing Electronics

PRIOR LAKE, MN (February 28, 2024) – If you haven’t prepped your boat, it’s time to get your ride ready for great spring bites.Some anglers may be looking at a recently-purchased boat wondering how best to rig it themselves, while others are talking with independent or marine dealership rigging staff and picking out the best rigging and power solutions.Other anglers may be upgrading an older boat with new electronics for the year, staring down a maze of wires wondering just where to start…Whether you plan to fish out of a new boat or a seasoned rig this spring, it’s critical today’s fishing electronics are rigged properly, have enough power, and are ready for hassle-free fishing. After all, nobody wants to be out on the water during a hot bite and end up messing around with amateur or problem-prone rigging—we just want our graphs and other electronics to work when we need them.Along those lines, Connect-Ease is proud to offer GRAPH POWER PRO, a bullet-proof rigging system designed specifically for powering today’s sophisticated graphs at the console or tiller position and on the bow, whether an angler uses Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance, or a combination of brands.

Whether you’re going to rig a new boat, re-rig an older boat—either on your own or with the help of professional riggers—Connect-Ease products promise problem-free operation of today’s sophisticated electronics.Wisconsin-based pro walleye angler and Connect-Ease pro staffer, Brett King, has been fishing tournaments for over 25 years. During this time, he’s seen a lot of fads come and go. What hasn’t changed over time is Brett’s need for pure, clean, and reliable power in his boat to fish long days and cash checks. To rig and power his network of graphs, live imaging, and forward-facing sonar, Brett is a huge believer in the ease of Connect-Ease GRAPH POWER PRO. Connect-Ease Founder, Cal Munkvold, remarks: “I’ve been an outdoorsman and big-water angler my entire life, so I knew there had to be a better way to rig electronics for everyone from the weekend warrior to the serious tournament angler. So we sat down and designed the trouble-free solution we would want to buy and install. The result became Connect-Ease products that allow easy, hassle-free rigging and powering of trolling motors, as well as GRAPH POWER PRO for today’s advanced fish-finders, including all types of forward-facing sonar.”

ABOUT GRAPH POWER PROFrom the get-go, GRAPH POWER PRO was designed to solve the connections and power issues associated with running today’s sophisticated fishing electronics common on today’s boats, providing clear, clean power and direct connections. GRAPH POWER PRO is designed to work with all manufacturers of fresh- and saltwater marine electronics. GRAPH POWER PRO features marine-grade sheathed wire with multiple fused connections for your console and bow electronics. It’s plug & play. Rigging that used to take hours now takes minutes. Connect-Ease uses the best marine-grade connections and heat-shrinkable crimped connections that are waterproof, reject RF interference, and stay connected on big water and waves. There is a 30 amp fuse at the battery and your choice of 3 or 5 amp fuses to use at the graph connections.

GRAPH POWER PRO FEATURES (19’-22’ CONSOLE BOAT KIT) HOUSE CONNECTION: 30 Amp fused quick-snap connection at the battery—no switch needed EASY FEED DESIGN: Bullet connections and sheathed housing for hassle-free installation and snaking through tight spaces PRO CONSOLE BACKBONE: 16 feet of 8 gauge sheathed marine-grade wire PRO BOW BACKBONE: 13 feet of 8 gauge sheathed marine-grade wire DEVICE PROTECTION: Your choice of 3 or 5 Amp at the fused connections to meet manufacturer recommendations HEAT SHRINKABLE BUTT SPLICES: Weatherproof, vibration-, and corrosion-free for a lifetime of on-the-water use GRAPH POWER “RIGGER” FEATURES (14’-18’ RIGGER BOAT KIT) HOUSE CONNECTION: 30 Amp fused with quick-snap connection at the battery—no switch needed EASY FEED DESIGN: Bullet connections and sheathed housing for hassle-free installation and snaking through tight spaces RIGGER CONSOLE BACKBONE: 13 feet of 8 gauge sheathed marine-grade wire RIGGER BOW BACKBONE: 8 feet of 10 gauge sheathed marine-grade wire DEVICE PROTECTION: Your choice of 3 or 5 Amp at the fused connections to meet manufacturer recommendations HEAT SHRINKABLE BUTT SPLICES: Weatherproof, vibration-, and corrosion-free for a lifetime of on-the-water use

Not only do Connect-Ease GRAPH POWER PRO kits make rigging fast and simple, they provides protection and limits RF interference to power your graphs, pucks, GPS, and NMEA boxes directly from your battery to meet manufacturer recommendations. The result?Not only is rigging faster and trouble-free, you get the best possible clear and defined imaging on your graphs once installed, especially helpful with side-, down-, and forward-looking sonar technologies. GRAPH POWER PRO was designed to provide clean, reliable power to the critical and power-hungry electronics found on today’s tournament boats, so that translates to the very best rigging solution for every customer, no matter how often you’re on the water. Our pro anglers and guides have learned through years of experience that to get the best performance out of today’s electronics, it’s best to use a GRAPH POWER PRO kit connected directly to its own dedicated lithium battery. Anglers can also visit Connect-Ease in person at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, Booth #116, March 22-24, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Or visit www.connect-ease.comGRAPH POWER PRO kits are also available for tiller models.

Huntersville’s Hammond Gets Elusive Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Norman

Brian Carter

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February 27, 2024

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Huntersville’s Hammond Gets Elusive Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Norman

Boater Will Hammond of Huntersville, North Carolina, and Strike-King co-angler Keith Wood of Mooresville, North Carolina.

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