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Tidal River Bass Will Play At Upper Chesapeake Bay Bassmaster Elite

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Tidal River Bass Will Play At Upper Chesapeake Bay Bassmaster Elite

The eighth of nine regular-season Bassmaster Elite Series events will take place July 26-29 on the Upper Chesapeake Bay out of Harford County, Md. Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., will be among a full field of 107 anglers competing for $100,000 and valuable Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.

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

July 19, 2018

Tidal River Bass Will Play At Upper Chesapeake Bay Bassmaster Elite

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HARFORD COUNTY, Md. — Hot summer temperatures, fluctuating tidal waters and big bass will make for an exciting pro-level tournament along the Eastern Seaboard at the 2018 Huk Bassmaster Elite at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by Mossy Oak Fishing, July 26-29.

The eighth stop of the season will prove very exciting for anglers and fans alike as 107 of the world’s best bass anglers will compete for a top payday of $100,000 and valuable Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.

The intense summer weather conditions will create challenges for the entire field of pros, but that’s typically the case during the summer months anywhere largemouth bass swim.

“I have no doubt that the Elites will showcase our fishery,” said Joe Love, Tidal Bass Program Manager for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. “The anglers who figure out how the timing of the daily Chesapeake Bay tides position the bass will be the anglers who will remain in contention to win the tournament.”

Love said that while the event is being held along Chesapeake proper, the numerous freshwater rivers and tributaries that feed the mighty bay contain the necessary bass populations to win the event.

“There are certainly numbers of quality bass that thrive along the edge where fresh and saltwater meet,” he said. “However, during in the middle of the summer that edge is pushed back into the river mouths. I fully expect the Black, Middle, Bush and Susquehanna rivers to play key roles in this event.”

He said an average of 15 to 17 pounds per day would likely be near the winning weight. He also wouldn’t be surprised to see 20-pound bags anchored by a big bass pushing the 7- to 8-pound mark.

“I know big bass like that are available here in good numbers, but getting them to bite at the right time is the challenge,” he said. “Overall, the fishery is in great health, and the anglers will find bass on multiple structural elements, such as abundant grass, wood and rock. There is a little something for everybody.”

In 2015, Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., won with a four-day total of 70 pounds, 2 ounces. Most of his catch came from a marina full of wooden docks. He outscored his nearest competitor by nearly 8 pounds.

Bill Lowen of Brookville, Ind., finished in second place with 62-3.

Considering both anglers’ total weights, Love likely is spot-on in predicting that 15 to 17 pounds could win the derby.

Elite Series pro Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., agrees with Love on winning weights.

“I think the Chesapeake fishery is best during the spring and fall when bags over 20 pounds are likely to be caught during a multi-day event,” Powroznik said. “But when things get tough in the summer, if an angler can produce 16 pounds per day, he’s going to be very tough to beat.”

In 2015, Powroznik earned a Top 25 finish and a $10,000 paycheck. However, he felt like his timing was off.

“Timing is everything on a tidal fishery like the Chesapeake,” he said. “Many factors will come into play, especially if the bass are staged on wood, rock or grass. Grass is plentiful here, and it’s worth checking any time of the year.

“I was on the right fish in 2015, and this year I’m getting a second chance at the Chesapeake Bay. I’m excited to get started,” he said.

Takeoffs will occur at Flying Point Park near Edgewood, Md., at 6 a.m. ET daily, and weigh-ins Thursday and Friday will be held at the same location at 3 p.m. For the semi-final round and Championship Sunday, weigh-in will be moved to Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Md., beginning at 3:30 p.m.

The Bassmaster Elite Series Outdoors Expo will be held in conjunction with the tournament. It will take place at Ripken Stadium on Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon. The Expo will feature boat demo rides, an aquarium, free prizes, food and beverage vendors and the latest fishing products on the market. The Maryland Center for the Arts and Maryland Department of Natural Resources will present exhibits onsite as well. All activities are free and open to the public. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.

Visit Harford! is the host sponsor of the event.

The Dog Days and Fish Care – By Bruce Callis

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The Dog Days and Fish Care – By Bruce Callis

The Dog Days and Fish Care

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The dog days of summer are here for sure. Days where the humidity is well above 100 and the sweat pours freely. And the heat inside the livewell of your boat can become an oven, killing those precious bass that we spend hours finding and trying to keep alive. The old question is, what can we do to help keep them alive. There are plenty of options out there, but what works best?

For us weekend warriors who fish small club tournaments, it comes down to the old tried and true methods. Ice is the basic agent that we use. But how do we use it. A lot of anglers will either pull it out of our own refrigerator or stop at the store and buy a bag or two. While these are great options, we are taking fresh water, some of it processed or treated, and adding it to the water from the body of water we are fishing. Some will take the tap water and freeze it in plastic water bottles, tossing them in as needed. This method helps keep the flow of water more natural to what they are in as the water we take from home never mixes with the lake or river water. But we still can lose fish.

The addition of additives to the water is another means of fish care, but what do we know about them? How safe are they? When we release the fish after the tournament, we do not know what happens. Will that fish be caught by another angler who keeps the fish for their family meal? It happens and I am not against someone having food on their table. But that is a touchy subject for many. A lot of ponds, lakes, and rivers still need management practices to keep them healthy, and the harvesting of some bass is a good practice. But what effect do the products we use have on those fish and human consumption?

One thing that is important in any fish care according to Aaron Martens is taking care of your livewell. It must be working properly to give the fish the best opportunity to survive. Cleaning the livewell after every trip is a must.To clean his, according to Aaron, “I take a little minnow net, like the kind you can get at the local pet store for catching goldfish, and I kind of sweep the inside of my livewell. By the time I”m done, that little goldfish net is almost halfway full of stuff like scales and debris that the fish either spit up or poop out.” he says that he thinks that “this alone can help improve your livewell’s water quality by up to 90 percent.” When was the last time you cleaned your livewell?

He also believes that it’s super important to have the fresh water coming in from the top of the livewell, dropping into the water from above the waterline. He likes for it to “give your fish a little waterfall. A waterfall can help agitate the surface and aerate very efficiently.” You may have to make some adjustments to your livewell’s plumbing in order to change it from pushing water in below the water line to above it, but its not that difficult. Oxygenation of livewell water may be one of the best ways to help during the hot summer tournament season.

Another option is venting of the gases that build up in the livewell. Some livewells may have a venting system built in, but we can do our part. There are products that you can put in the lid of the livewell that will allow the gases to escape. You may need to check with the manufacturer of your livewell to be sure if it has a built in means to vent the gases, but well worth the effort.

Another trick to keeping your fish calm so they can survive is a little trick of adding a couple sponges to the livewell. Just ordinary sponges you can buy at any store. What it does is give the fish the illusion of a semi hiding place. It is like having floating lily pads in your livewell for them to hide under.

Another tip is to be aware of the water depth and temperature that you caught your fish at. If the fish was caught in 75 degree water at 15 feet deep, then you can’t expect them to stay healthy if you put them in an 85 degree water temperature livewell. The deeper you catch them also presents its own issues. There are two ways to combat deep caught bass. One is fizzing the swim bladder, but you need to make sure you know what you are doing and it requires a special tool. The second is to attach a weight to the bottom lip to allow the fish to remain upright while it adjusts to the depth change.

Another item to consider is care when we catch them. For those that use a net, a rubber net is much better for the fish. It doesn’t rub the slime coat off the bass and there is less chance of hurting the fish. Another is by not allowing the bass to land on the carpet of the boat. This is another way that the slime coat can get rubbed off, This also can help cut down on the possibility of infections and parasites from the slime coat being gone.

No matter what we decide to do, we must be aware that fish care is super important. Do your homework on any additives you may use, whether it is a natural solution or a product that is man made. And keep those fish healthy for future generations.

LAKE ERIE SET FOR COSTA FLW SERIES NORTHERN DIVISION EVENT PRESENTED BY POLARIS

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LAKE ERIE SET FOR COSTA FLW SERIES NORTHERN DIVISION EVENT PRESENTED BY POLARIS

LAKE ERIE SET FOR COSTA FLW SERIES NORTHERN DIVISION EVENT PRESENTED BY POLARIS

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 18, 2018) – Lake Erie and the city of Buffalo is set to host as many as 350 boaters and co-anglers July 26-28 for the Costa FLW Series Northern Division event at Lake Erie presented by Polaris. Hosted by the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission, the three-day bass-fishing tournament will feature a top prize of up to $85,000, including a brand new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard engine.

“The fishing, from what I hear, is very good right now. There are fish everywhere on the eastern part of Lake Erie,” said FLW Tour pro Chris Johnston, of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, the 2017 FLW Series Northern Division Angler of the Year. “It’s one of the best fisheries in the world in terms of the number of 3- to 4-pound smallmouth.

“I think we’re going to see a fifty-fifty split of people fishing the Canadian and the U.S. side of the lake,” Johnston continued. “The highest concentration of boats should be from Buffalo out to the Myers Reef area [on the U.S. side] and across. There’s so many fish in that area that if someone gets on the right ones, the tournament could definitely be won there. Some boaters may run farther, but it’s a little more of a gamble.”

Johnston said that the majority of bigger fish will be found anywhere from 20 to 45 feet of water, and that standard deep-water tactics will be in play.

“The number one bait out there is still a tube,” said Johnston. “People are going to be drifting with the wind and dragging tubes. Soft-plastics on drop-shot rigs are going to be good as well.”

Johnston predicted it would take around 23 pounds a day – a three-day cumulative of 68 to 69 pounds of bass to win.

“I think we’ll see a lot of weights from 21 to 23 pounds, but staying consistent each day will be the challenge,” said Johnston. “You can catch them one day and they’ll leave the next, or they just won’t bite like they did on day one.”

Anglers will take off from Safe Harbor Marina, located at 1111 Fuhrmann Blvd., in Buffalo, at 6 a.m. EDT each day. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also take place at Safe Harbor Marina, and will begin at 2 p.m. each day. Saturday’s final weigh-in will take place at Cabela’s, located at 2003 Walden Ave., in Cheektowaga, New York, and will begin at 3 p.m. All takeoffs and weigh-ins are free to attend and open to the public.

In Costa FLW Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event. At Lake Erie, pros will fish for a top prize of up to $85,000, including a brand new Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup qualified. Co-anglers will cast for a brand new Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower Evinrude or Me rcury outboard, and $5,000 if Ranger Cup qualified.

The Costa FLW Series consists of five U.S. divisions – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western – along with the International division. Each U.S. division consists of three regular-season tournaments with competitors vying for valuable points that could earn them the opportunity to compete in the season-ending Costa FLW Series Championship. The 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship is being held Nov. 1-3 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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

YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING EVENT PRESENTED BY BASS PRO SHOPS SET FOR LAKE CAYUGA

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YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING EVENT PRESENTED BY BASS PRO SHOPS SET FOR LAKE CAYUGA

YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING EVENT PRESENTED BY BASS PRO SHOPS SET FOR LAKE CAYUGA

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SENECA FALLS, N.Y. (July 18, 2018) – The 2018 YETI FLW College Fishing season will continue with an event July 21 on Lake Cayuga presented by Bass Pro Shops. The tournament, hosted by the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce, is the second of three regular-season events for anglers in the Northern Conference, and will feature a top prize of a $2,000 club scholarship and an invitation to compete in the 2019 College Fishing National Championship.

Tubes, Senkos, swimjigs and topwater baits are all expected to play a role for the college anglers competing in this event. Recent local reports say that an algae/plankton bloom has diminished the water clarity, but a large number of both largemouth and smallmouth bass will still be brought to the scales.

Expect largemouth anglers to target the plentiful shallow weeds and grass, while the anglers choosing to target smallmouth will be out deeper, off the bank. The winners will likely need a five-bass limit nearing 18 pounds to earn the victory and the $2,000 top prize.

Competitors will take off from Cayuga State Park, located at 2678 Lower Lake Road in Seneca Falls, at 6:30 a.m. EDT Saturday. Weigh-in will be held at the State Park beginning at 2:30 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.

Schools are allowed to register up until the morning of the tournament. Entries may be made either by phone or at CollegeFishing.com.

Schools currently registered to compete in the Lake Cayuga tournament include:

Bowling Green State University – Hayden Hoffma, Kelleys Island, Ohio, and Emily Menegay, Homeworth, Ohio

California University of Pennsylvania – Colton Higgins and Jakob Bissett, both of Waynesburg, Pa.

California University of Pennsylvania – Nick Fulks, Canonsburg, Pa., and David Blaker, Rice’s Landing, Pa.

Clarkson University – Benjamin Seaman, Colchester, Vt., and Tyler Robinson, Madrid, N.Y.

Franklin & Marshall College – Collin Martin, Sykesville, Md., and Nicholas Brown, Manheim, Pa.

Kent State University – Andrew George, Canton, Ohio, and Riley Minerd, Rocky River, Ohio

Kent State University – Tanner Ward, Coshocton, Ohio, and Jacob Klicman, Deerfield, Ohio

Kutztown University – Joe Tini, Archibald, Pa., and Sean Cassel, Marlton, N.J.

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania – Lock Holmes, Fairport, N.Y., and Ty Faichney, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania – Logan Murray, Easton, Pa., and Billy Gregory, Swoyersville, Pa.

Ohio State University – Gardon Wycoff, Delaware, Ohio, and Patrick Henry, Stanhope, N.J.

Ohio State University – Colton Lindsey, Raymond, Ohio, and Jacob Middleton, London, Ohio

Paul Smith’s College – Brandon Johnson, Collins, N.Y., and Frank Keegan, Watervliet, N.Y.

Penn State University – Derek Horner and Matthew Huggler, both of State College, Pa.

Penn State University – Stephen Jesso, Plymouth, Pa., and Ryan Fox, Thornhurst, Pa.

Penn State University – Jonathan Dietz, Corry, Pa., and Shane Rolle, Hanover, Pa.

Slippery Rock University – Kyle Brown, Wexford, Pa., and Jeffrey Henderson, Perkasie, Pa.

Slippery Rock University – Nathan Quince, Imperial, Pa., and Samuel Jenesky, Pittsburgh, Pa.

State University of New York-Buffalo – Anthony DeGregorio, Queensbury, N.Y., and Noah Weinstein, Jamestown, N.Y.

State University of New York-Buffalo – Austin Keppler, Hamburg, N.Y., and Zachary Hector, Hamburg, N.Y.

State University of New York-Cobleskill – Tristen Bauer, Port Leyden, N.Y., and Drew Tiano, Hudson, N.Y.

State University of New York-College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Peter Denton, Central Square, N.Y., and Austin Lamica, East Branch, N.Y.

State University of New York-College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Caleb Konrad, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Tyler Hodges, Chittenango, N.Y.

State University of New York-College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Mitchell Natalizio and Nicolas Echevarria, both of Port Jervis, N.Y.

State University of New York-College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Patrick Durand, Cherry Hill, N.J., and Benjamin Schultes, Ontario, N.Y.

University of Massachusetts-Amherst – Julian Burgoff, Amherst, N.Y., and Jon Hastings, Leominster, Mass.

University of Pittsburgh – Henry Colberg, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Dominic Vitale, Shickshinny, Pa.

Virginia Highland Community College – Clay Winebarger and Dustin Murray, both of Abingdon, Va.

Virginia Highland Community College – Ryan Strong, Bristol, Va., and Dylan Andis, Abingdon, Va.

Virginia Tech University – Perry Marvin, Peru, N.Y., and Jeffery Cullop, Marion, Va.

Virginia Tech University – Robert Swope, Orange, Va., and Cole Bitler, Earlysville, Va.

West Virginia University – Miles Perzynski, Churchville, Md., and Bailey Gordon, Hurricane, W. Va.

Youngstown State University – Jared Latone, Austintown, Ohio, and Jonathan Creed, Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University – Stan Miketa, New Middletown, Ohio, and Mike Soots, McDonald, Ohio

YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship. Additional teams will qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats. The location of the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship will be revealed in early fall.

YETI FLW College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club that is recognized by their school.

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

WABASHA SET TO HOST YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING EVENT ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER PRESENTED BY COSTA

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WABASHA SET TO HOST YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING EVENT ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER PRESENTED BY COSTA

WABASHA SET TO HOST YETI FLW COLLEGE FISHING EVENT ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER PRESENTED BY COSTA

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WABASHA, Minn. (July 17, 2018) – YETI FLW College Fishing will continue the 2018 fishing season with an event July 28 on the Mississippi River in Wabasha presented by Costa. The tournament, hosted by the Wabasha-Kellogg Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the second of three regular-season events for anglers in the Central Conference, and will feature a top prize of a $2,000 club scholarship and an invitation to compete in the 2019 College Fishing National Championship.

“This is going to be a really fun event for the college anglers,” said FLW Tour pro Austin Felix of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a two-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “Pool No. 4 is loaded with fish – just as much as La Crosse and Prairie du Chien – and they aren’t nearly as pressured. I expect that the majority of the fish weighed in this event will be largemouth.”

Although the anglers will be launching in Pool No. 4, the teams are allowed to lock up or down one pool. Felix said that he expects that most teams will be heading south.

“The majority of the field will be fishing below Lake Pepin on Pools 4 and 5,” Felix said. “The fish will be pulling out near the main river, but still in the grass. Carolina rigs, frogs and swimjigs will all be good bets. About 90-percent of what I throw in the river is black- or white-colored, but if the water clarity is very clear then green pumpkin with chartreuse tails will be productive, too.

“The bass on the river are extremely aggressive, so if you’re not getting bites than you need to keep moving,” he continued. “Cover a lot of water, and don’t spend too much time in one area looking for them if they’re not biting.”

Felix went on to predict that the tournament winners would bring a limit weighing 17 to 19 pounds to the scale.

Competitors will take off from the Wabasha City Ramp at Izaak Walton Park, located at 707 4th St. W., in Wabasha, at 7:30 a.m. CDT Saturday. Weigh-in will be held at the Park beginning at 2:30 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.

Schools are allowed to register up until the morning of the tournament. Entries may be made either by phone or at CollegeFishing.com.

Schools currently registered to compete in the Mississippi River tournament include:

Bemidji State University – Austin Mau and Isaac Johnson, both of Bemidji, Minn.

Bemidji State University – Ben Donnelly, Woodbury, Minn., and Benjamin Johnson, Bemidji, Minn.

Bemidji State University – Lincoln Horsman, Wabasha, Minn., and Travis Rotzien, Bemidji, Minn.

Bemidji State University – Mitchell Swanson and Thor Swanson, both of Blaine, Minn.

Campbellsville University – Adam Carman, Berea, Ky., and Hunter Adams, Campbellsville, Ky.

Campbellsville University – Gavin Barnes and Ezra Oliver, both of Campbellsville, Ky.

Central College – Cameron Timok, Glen Allen, Va., and Dillon Peters, Urbandale, Iowa

Greenville University – Christopher Brooks, Greenville, Ill., and Cordell Beckmann, Breese, Ill.

Greenville University – Ricky Huge, Carlyle, Ill., and Evan Seggerman, Minonk, Ill.

Illinois State University – Tyler Rocke, Peoria, Ill., and Justin Schick, Morton, Ill.

Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne – Kyle Mast, Millersburg, Ind., and Austin Lutz, Syracuse, Ind.

Iowa State University – Pat Morrison, Omaha, Neb., and Matt Blair, Ames, Iowa

Lewis University – Joe Skvarla, Tinley Park, Ill., and Zachary Spesia, Coal City, Ill.

McKendree University – Trevor McKinney, Benton, Ill., and Curtis Lilly, Sterling, Ill.

McKendree University – Shane Campbell, Highland, Ill., and Ethan Jones, Worden, Ill.

McKendree University – Jacob Louis, Pinckneyville, Ill., and Nathan Doty, Decatur, Ill.

Missouri State University – Robert Moody, Purdy, Mo., and Matt Fielder, High Ridge, Mo.

Northwest Missouri State University – Blake Charboneau, Desloge, Mo., and Nathan Itao, Platte City, Mo.

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville – Bryce Peters, Camp Point, Ill., and Matt Fors, Batavia, Ill.

St. Ambrose University – Tanner Atkinson, Camanche, Iowa, and Anna Kvidera, Dysart, Iowa

St. Cloud State University – Aidan Hansen, St. Cloud, Minn., and Mitchell Evans, Albert Lea, Minn.

St. Cloud State University – Taylor Mazur, Maplewood, Minn., and Dallas Pearson, Milaca, Minn.

University of Nebraska – Charlie Deshazer, Fremont, Neb., and Jonah Blackburn, Lincoln, Neb.

University of North Dakota – Zachery Oldre, Lakeville, Minn., and Noah Levesseur, Prior Lake, Minn.

University of Wisconsin – Alexander Lemke, Green Bay, Wis., and Dylan Peckham, Lodi, Wis.

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay – Connor Kupsh, De Pere, Wis., and Matthew Murphy, Hastings, Minn.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse – Brady Fernette, Prairie du Chien, Wis., and Kilian Boland, Gays Mills, WIs.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville – Alec Garrison, Winthrop Harbor, Ill., and Zach Clisch, Reedsburg, Wis.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville – Blake Lawston and Jonathan Koenen, both of Rushford, Minn.

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Jayden Schmitz and Dakota Koepp, both of Pewaukee, Wis.

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Brad Hamilton and Gavin Clayton, both of Palatine, Ill.

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Reed Fredrick, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., and Nick Dagel, Round Lake Beach, Ill.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Ross Phelps, Edgerton, Wis., and Collin Cropp, Janesville, Wis.

Winona State University – Mason Garin, Spring Valley, Wis., and Aric Avestruz, River Falls, Wis.

Winona State University – Tyler Berg, Rushford, Minn., and Patrick Andrade, Winona, Minn.

YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship. Additional teams will qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats. The location of the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship will be revealed in early fall.

YETI FLW College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club that is recognized by their school.

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

ICast 2018: Karl’s Best Of Show Winners – MTB

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ICast 2018: Karl’s Best Of Show Winners – MTB

ICast 2018: Karl’s Best Of Show Winners

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ICast 2018 is in the books!  There was a tremendous turnout, and companies from around the globe showcased new innovation and ideas for the outdoor industry. It was a lot to take in, but after strolling around the show, we have put together a list of some of the products that stood out to us this year. In no particular order, here is our top picks from ICast 2018:

Berkley MaxScent

ICast 2018 - Berkley Powerbait Max

Berkley has added more options to the MaxScent product line. The new soft bait material releases a super-charged scent field attracting fish in a way never before seen. Berkley now offers a soft bait option infused with MaxScent in a wide variety of style options to set anglers throwing anything from finesse drop-shot worms to heavy-duty punchin’ craws.

Spro Rk Star Jig

ICast 2018: Spro Hair Jig

A true cold water fish catcher, the Spro Hair Jig is a new treat for northern smallmouth anglers to drool over. Spros’s attention to detail does not go unnoticed – the polished paint design blends perfectly into tightly tied strands of high quality marabou hair. In addition to being a great bass lure, this hair jig is likely to be a multi-species fish crusher.

6th Sense Devine SwimJig – Braided

ICast 2018: 6th Sense Hybrid Jig

Built with an extremely strong hook, with other hardy features, this is the ideal jig to fish with braided line. The beefed up design will help you fish around the nastiest cover without having to worry about bending out hooks when winching out a big one from the thick stuff. Pair this bad-boy up with your favorite swim-jig trailer and you’re ready to do some damage.

Z-Man Finesse Bulletz

ICast 2018: ZMan Finesse Bulletz

The Finesse BulletZ is another innovative finesse offering from the team over at Z-Man. This new deal allows you to now fish ‘Ned Rig’ style baits around grass, wood, docks and cover without having to worry about getting hung up. Put small finesse plastics baits in areas you couldn’t before with this sweet little new deal from Z-Man.

Bill Lewis MJ-6

ICast 2018: Bill Lewis MR-6

The newest member to the Bill Lewis line-up, the MJ-6 looks to be a flat out fish catching machine. Designed with help from Elite Series pro Mark Daniels Jr., rest assured it’s going to put them in the boat. Easily match any forage option with one of the many colorways provided with this model option. Start crankin’ em up fast with this new treat.

Molix Finesse Jig

Molix has done it again, providing a unique new take on an age old presentation. How? They took some of the very best features from different jig styles, and shrunk them down to a game changing finesse jig. Finicky largies and rock dwelling smallmouth don’t stand a chance with this one. Paired best with light line, this jig will be an ideal tool for catching clear water fish reluctant to bite.

BioSpawn VileBug

ICast 2018: Best Of Show

The all new BioSpawn Vile Bug is a hybrid creature flipping bait that really has caught my eye. The kicking craws and ribbed design help displace water along with body cavities that provide a perfect area to add scent. This new set-up is going to a true fish catching machine with a look and feel unlike anything else available today.

Googan Baits Drag And Drop Worm

Designed by Alex Peric, the Googan Baits Drag and Drop is a finesse killer. The 4 inch drop shot worm had a baitfish profile that comes in a bunch of fish catching colors. Whether you’re fishing offshore or on a tough bite, this little bass snack should be able to produce a bite. Easily one of the most exciting baits to see at the show, and for good reason.

13 Fishing Pro-V

13 Fishing hit the ground running this year by launching a new line of hard bait options. The Pro-V keel weight design helps provides a tight wiggle that refuses to lay-over. Rip it through the grass without worrying about your bait running true, the compact design and weight distribution will help this cast a country mile. 13 Fishing continues to push the envelope with this excellent addition to their line-up.

Storm 360GT Searchbait

ICast 2018: Storm GT Searchbait

Storm’s 360GT Searchbait now has a new design option. Now available in a ‘billed’ option the 360GT comes with a built-in swimming lip that will allow the bait to get down to a precise depth. You can now throw a swimbait at a fixed depth allowing you to dial in your depth presentation, without worrying about where you’re bait is in the water column.

VMC Tokyo Rig

ICast 2018: VMC Tokyo Rig

The VMC Tokyo Rig leader punch shot is a welded ring hook attached to a two-way swivel extended to a wire leader. The open leader design allows you to add any weight you’d like to customize a punch shot rig on the fly. Change up your punchin’ game and give the fish something they haven’t seen before with this unique set-up from VMC!

Westin Freddy The Frog

Winner of the Best Hardbait ICast 2018, ‘Freddy The Frog’ from Westin is a work of art. It not only looks like an incredibly crafted bait but it also has an insane swimming action that screams big fish. Without a doubt one of the most unique baits we’ve seen this season in the packaging and on the water. The jointed body and kicking legs produce a ton of drawing power upon retrieval.

Teckel Sprinker

ICast 2018: Teckel Sprinker

The Teckel Sprinker was possibly the hottest lure of 2017 and they’ve done it again this year.  By offering new colors and accessories to their line-up they’ve been able to keep things innovative and fresh while staying at the forefront of the top-water frog game.

VMC Skirted Neko Weight

ICast 2018: Skirted VMC Necko Rig

Adding another look to the traditional neko rigs, the VMC Neko Skirt gives off a fresh, finesse bait that can only help you get a few extra bites. Rubber and silicone that is threaded through the weight and held in place with an epoxy resin providing a firm hold that will last for multiple outings. Add some hair to your Neko Rig set-up to put a few more in the boat this season.

Biovex Jointed Swimbait

ICast 2018: Savage Gear Swim Bait

The jointed swimbait from BioVex may leave your arm sore after a day on the water but it’s also one of those baits that is mentioned in a story about landing a personal best bass. Big fish like big baits, and BioVex has produced something your local lunker will not be able to resist. Pull out the big stick and find the biggest and baddest fish in the school.

Ready To Catch Some Fish?

mystery-tackle-boxGear up and catch more fish! With a Mystery Tackle Box Subscription, you’ll get a box of baits hand delivered to your door each month. In addition to the best new baits you’ll have access to our expert tips, how-to videos, fishing decals, MTB exclusive baits, and more. With baits up to 40% off retail, this is one service every angler needs to try!

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DELAWARE’S MANDES WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE NORTHEAST DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON ONEIDA LAKE

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DELAWARE’S MANDES WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE NORTHEAST DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON ONEIDA LAKE

DELAWARE’S MANDES WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE NORTHEAST DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON ONEIDA LAKE

Co-angler Title Goes to Pennsylvania’s Bahnweg

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BREWERTON, N.Y. (July 16, 2018) – Boater Jeff Mandes of Smyrna, Delaware, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Northeast Division tournament on Oneida Lake Saturday with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 2 ounces. Mandes pocketed $6,996 for his win.

Mandes caught his fish from a large section of grass in Maple Bay, a location he ended up committing to due to motor trim issues.

“I couldn’t trim my motor up when I got to the ramp. I’m not sure how it happened, but it started working by the time we launched and I made it through boat check,” said Mandes, who notched his first win in FLW competition. “Normally I’d move around more, but I was afraid the trim would quit working.”

Mandes made the most of his predicament, figuring out that the fish were in a certain, smaller area about half the size of the general location he fished. He said he kept going around and through it to pick them off.

“When I went beyond it, I couldn’t get a bite. It all looked the same, but they were in a certain section,” said Mandes.

Mandes said he started out with a topwater bait, but didn’t have any luck. After 20 minutes or so, he picked up a green-pumpkin-colored Big Mouth Lures swimjig with a custom-colored skirt and an Okeechobee Craw-colored Netbait Paca Craw trailer and went to work.

“I caught a good one on my third cast with the swimjig, so that’s what I stuck with. I also caught some on a black Texas-rigged (Yamamoto) Senko with a belly-weighted hook,” said Mandes. “When the wind died down and it got slick-calm, the Senko worked well, but when there was a ripple in the water, the swimjig did better.”

By noon, Mandes said he had approximately 18 pounds of bass.

“I culled one more time and around 12:30 (p.m.) I ran closer to the ramp to fish and finish out my day,” said Mandes. “Overall, I caught between 15 and 18 keepers throughout the day.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Jeff Mandes, Smyrna, Del., five bass, 19-2, $4,996 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

2nd:         Mike Shumanis, Bethlehem, Pa., five bass, 18-0, $3,113

3rd:          Grae Buck, Harleysville, Pa., five bass, 17-7, $1,695

4th:          Joe Wolter, Rochester, N.Y., five bass, 16-15, $1,119

5th:          Shawn Flynn, Dexter, N.Y., five bass, 16-7, $959

6th:          Chris Caravan, Pottsville, Pa., five bass, 16-5, $879

7th:          Ed Casey, Whiteford, Md., five bass, 16-0, $799

8th:          Robert Polishan, Wilkes Barre, Pa., five bass, 15-14, $719

9th:          Cody Cutter, Harveys Lake, Pa., five bass, 15-11, $639

10th:        Rick Anderson, Dover, Pa., five bass, 15-10, $560

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Shumanis brought a 5-pound, 8-ounce, bass to the scale – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $715.

Michael Bahnweg of Union Dale, Pennsylvania, won the Co-angler Division and $2,398 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1st:          Michael Bahnweg, Union Dale, Pa., five bass, 15-13, $2,398

2nd:         Christian Snyder, Oswego, N.Y., five bass, 15-5, $1,199

3rd:          Thomas Bartholomew, Palmerton, Pa., five bass, 14-12, $995

4th:          Jonathan Ruch, Jersey City, N.J., five bass, 14-10, $560

5th:          Steve Houseknecht, Freeville, N.Y., five bass, 14-8, $480

6th:          Terry Beck, Lock Haven, Pa., five bass, 14-6, $440

7th:          Brian Wisniewski, Sayerville, N.J., five bass, 14-1, $400

8th:          David Compton Jr., Mount Bethel, Pa., four bass, 13-12, $360

9th:          Mike Stahl, Mifflinburg, Pa., five bass, 13-11, $300

9th:          Ron Dopko, Plymouth, Pa., five bass, 13-11, $300

Michael Saganich Sr. of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division weighing in at 4 pounds, 9 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $357.

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. 11-13 BFL Regional Championship on Chesapeake Bay in North East, Maryland. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.

The 2018 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. 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, YouTube and Snapchat.

CLINTON’S LANKFORD WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE OZARK DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE TRUMAN

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CLINTON’S LANKFORD WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE OZARK DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE TRUMAN

CLINTON’S LANKFORD WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE OZARK DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE TRUMAN

Ballwin’s Meyer Takes Co-angler Title

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WARSAW, Mo. (July 16, 2018) – Boater Darin Lankford of Clinton, Missouri, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Ozark Division tournament on Lake Truman. For his efforts, Lankford netted $4,553.

“I casted a square-billed crankbait up into shallower water in the Grand River arm of the lake,” said Lankford, who earned his first career victory in FLW competition. “I caught fish in four different locations, but they looked similar. I really keyed in on main-lake flats that had any kind of underwater point and looked for bigger stumps with more roots.”

Lankford said he used a large Dave’s Custom Baits Black Market Balsa crankbait with a chartreuse-pattern color scheme on 20-pound-test monofilament line to catch his fish.

“I threw the same bait all day. I had to burn it and hit the stumps and cause the reaction bite,” said Lankford. “I barely had them hooked – every one of them was on the back hook.

“I actually fished the same locations earlier in the week with jigs, but I think the front and a little cloud cover moved them shallower, so I switched to a crankbait,” continued Lankford. “I used the heavier line to get the fish out of the stumps. It was also a little more buoyant so the bait didn’t dive so deep.”

Lankford said he ended up catching six keepers during the tournament.

“It was a typical day of fishing on Lake Truman,” said Lankford. “When it gets hot they get a little shallower, I’m not sure why, but that’s what they do.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Darin Lankford, Clinton, Mo., five bass, 19-5, $4,553

2nd:         Tom Alsop, Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 15-11, $1,977

3rd:          Brock Reinkemeyer, Lone Jack, Mo., five bass, 14-10, $1,185

4th:          Matt King, Olathe, Kan., five bass, 13-12, $929

5th:          Mike Barnes, Mackinaw, Ill., five bass, 12-11, $1,011

6th:          Eric Poindexter, Eufaula, Okla., five bass, 11-7, $651

7th:          David McCormick, Lees Summit, Mo., five bass, 11-5, $592

8th:          Stan Tucker, Festus, Mo., three bass, 11-3, $533

9th:          Marcus Sykora, Osage Beach, Mo., five bass, 11-2, $444

9th:          Mark Tucker, Kirkwood, Mo., three bass, 11-2, $444

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Thomas Rallo of Springfield, Missouri, brought a 5-pound, 15-ounce, bass to the scale – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $455.

Dennis Meyer of Ballwin, Missouri, won the Co-angler Division and $2,204 Saturday after catching four bass weighing 12 pounds, 10 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1st:          Dennis Meyer, Ballwin, Mo., four bass, 12-10, $2,204

2nd:         Kelly Nunn, Urbana, Mo., five bass, 12-9, $888

3rd:          Larry Rothweil, Saint Charles, Mo., five bass, 12-7, $592

4th:          Gary Martin, Gladstone, Mo., four bass, 10-15, $415

5th:          Kyle Anderson, Foley, Mo., four bass, 8-5, $355

6th:          Cullen Baxter, Columbia, Mo., three bass, 6-12, $376

7th:          Joseph Lay, Gardner, Kan., two bass, 6-8, $296

8th:          Spencer Clark, Maryland Heights, Mo., two bass, 6-3, $267

9th:          Trey Schroeder, Crestwood, Mo., three bass, 5-12, $237

10th:        Carl Breeden, Valley Park, Mo., two bass, 5-5, $207

Meyer also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division weighing in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $227.

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. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.

The 2018 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. 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, YouTube and Snapchat.

Guy Fairweather Wins CATT James River July 14, 2018

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Guy Fairweather Wins CATT James River July 14, 2018

Tournament Results James River July 14, 2018 Guy Fairweather Hits the Jackpot! $9,150.00!!

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To be Eligible to Enter the James River Final You Must fish 4 of 7 James River Qualifiers! Last Qualifier is a Double Point Event!

Fishing solo once & with sub once counts toward teams Qualification. You may fish solo and you can Qualify solo for the James River Final.

Next James River Qualifier is Aug 25 at Riverfront Park!

Guy Fairweather had a great day on the James bringing in 5 bass weighing 18.46 taking the win worth $2,150.00! Guy was fishing out of his new Triton and will also collect some Triton Gold cash! Add another $7,000.00 and Guy took home $9,150.00!

2nd Place John Doyle & Eugene Carter

 3rd Dave Allen & Clayton Mullins

4th Don Bowman & Mike Wright

 

5th Mikey Anderson & Bo Boltz                                                 1st BF 8.07 lbs! Tripp & Rick Mistr!

   

2nd BF 7.60 lbs! Dave Allen & Clayton Mullins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Total Total
72 Teams Fish Weight Winnings Points
Guy Fairweather   Triton Gold 6.49 18.46 $9,150.00 220
John Doyle – Eugene Carter 6.77 18.35 $1,100.00 219
Dave Allen-Clayton Mullins  2nd BF-1st BONUS $ 7.60 17.83 $1,401.00 218
Don Bowman – Mike Wright 6.49 17.75 $625.00 217
Mickey Anderson – Bo Boltz 4.50 16.46 $515.00 216
Tim Chaffin – Trey Goodman 4.29 16.30 $415.00 215
Mike Rowe – Eric Rowe 4.17 15.85 $315.00 214
Tripp Mistr – Rick Mistr   1st BF 8.07 15.85 $779.00 213
Jason Bishop – Craig Shelton 4.54 15.59 $250.00 212
Edward Jordan Sr – Edward Jordan Jr 4.13 15.46 $225.00 211
Ryan Drewery – Wayne Drewery 0.00 15.12 $200.00 210
Matthew Kite 6.06 15.04 $160.00 209
Marshall Johnson – Ryan Lachinet 0.00 14.87 $140.00 208
Kelly Pratt – Joshua Wright 0.00 14.66 $125.00 207
Brian Cheek – Craig Cheek 0.00 14.50 206
Dave Carney – Andy Bollhorst 0.00 14.30 205
Andy Semonco – Wayne Adams   2nd BONUS $ 5.85 14.29 $220.00 204
Kelly Robinette – David Barlow 0.00 13.89 203
Jerry Britt – Howard Austin 0.00 13.84 202
Eddie Griggs – Bryan Elrod 0.00 13.76 201
Brandon Hill – Kevin King 0.00 13.68 200
Leidy Clark – Donna Clark 0.00 13.63 199
Michael Shears – Wayne Eastwood 3.74 13.28 198
Ricky Powell – Bubba Johnson 0.00 13.25 197
Ray Hogge – Donnie Daniel 0.00 12.96 196
Richard Bates – Chad Holms 3.26 12.76 195
Burley Langford – Brian Langford 5.22 12.40 194
David Heavenridge – Cody Heavenridge 0.00 12.32 193
Bobby Harris – Robby Harris 0.00 12.19 192
Mike Caul – Alexis Caul 4.67 12.12 191
Justin Hodges – Scott Harvey 0.00 12.05 190
Bobby Pinner – Tripp Pinner 0.00 12.02 189
Torrey Aiken – Craig Fagan 0.00 11.87 188
Audie Murphy – Chris Toone 0.00 11.82 187
Harvey Reese – Anthony Weithers 0.00 11.76 186
Tim Garner – Eric Johnson 0.00 11.57 185
Don Gregg – Trey Gregg 0.00 11.29 184
Ron Studer – Nelson Marshall 0.00 11.19 183
James Webb – Daniel Webb 3.96 11.16 182
Noah Gilley – Craig Hula 0.00 11.13 181
Matt Pulley – Brett Stewart 0.00 11.01 180
William Clements – Chris Simons 0.00 10.87 179
David Fox – Roger Walters 0.00 10.79 178
Travis Heath – Barry Cobb 0.00 10.44 177
Francis Martin – Paul Martin 0.00 10.30 176
John Korne – Joe Westfalll 0.00 10.23 175
Stacy Sasser – Edward Hancock 0.00 9.62 174
Brian Snipes – Chris Cockrell 0.00 9.43 173
Lynnwood Shores – Charlie Towler 0.00 9.11 172
Matt Noraas 0.00 8.44 171
Robert Whithurst – Parker Hinks 0.00 8.03 170
Mike Hinkley – Bernie Drimal 0.00 7.39 169
Jimmy Condrey – James Condrey 0.00 7.21 168
Avery Neely 0.00 6.96 167
Randy Ruffin – Seth Flynt 0.00 6.96 166
Brian Green – Jeff Parrish 0.00 6.80 165
 Brandon Smith – Brian Brooks 0.00 6.60 164
Jonathan Ceasar 0.00 6.14 163
Ernest Howell – Reuben Green 0.00 2.22 162
Michael Green 0.00 0.00 161
Carl Johnson – Bobby Harlow 0.00 0.00 161
Mike Baldwin – Randy Taylor 0.00 0.00 161
Will Vickery – Dee Kidd 0.00 0.00 161
Jonathan Dicherson and Aaron Keene 0.00 0.00 161
Trey Dotson 0.00 0.00 161
Luke Elliston – Jacob Kupselaitis 0.00 0.00 161
Kenny Wright – Charlie Seymour 0.00 0.00 161
Charles Kline – James Griffin 0.00 0.00 161
Michael Oley – Shaun Clarke 0.00 0.00 161
Robert Stinger – Shawn Burnett 0.00 0.00 161
Ben Knapp – Jeff Knapp 0.00 0.00 161
John Parson – Billy Orr 0.00 0.00 161
Total Entrys $8,640.00
BONUS $ $630.00
Total Paid At Ramp $15,620.00
James River 2018 Final Fund $650.00
2019 CATT Championship Fund $0.00
2018 James River Final Fund Total $2,585.00
2019 CATT Championship Fund Total $745.00

INDIANA’S WAGNER WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE MICHIGAN DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE ST. CLAIR PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS

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INDIANA’S WAGNER WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE MICHIGAN DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE ST. CLAIR PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS

INDIANA’S WAGNER WINS T-H MARINE FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE MICHIGAN DIVISION TOURNAMENT ON LAKE ST. CLAIR PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS

Plainwell’s Mitchell Takes Co-angler Title

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HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (July 16, 2018) – Boater Heath Wagner of Angola, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit Saturday weighing 28 pounds, 15 ounces, to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Michigan Division tournament on Lake St. Clair. For his efforts, Wagner earned $5,731.

“I fished the Belle River hump area of Lake St. Clair. It’s close to the same area where some of the FLW Tour event leaders fished,” said Wagner, who earned his fifth career win in BFL competition. “The area was about one square mile in size, and had a mega school of fish.

“A couple of the spots in the area attracted around 50 other competitors, but I didn’t start near any of them,” Wagner continued. “When I started, the closest person to me was about a half-mile away. I was between fish that were on the outskirts of the school and the school itself. I roamed the flat looking for a certain type of bottom – a big sandy spot with shells. I could see down there, even in 18 feet of water. As soon as I found where I needed to be, I hit the Spot Lock [on my Minnkota Ultrex trolling motor].”

Wagner said every fish he weighed came from some type of Z-Man ElaZtech lures on a drop-shot rig. He noted that green-pumpkin-goby colors did well.

“I had four areas that were similar and I basically just circled them. I’d catch three to 20 fish in a location and kind of wear it out before moving on to the next one. There was a stretch where I caught 20 fish in a row between 4½ and 5 pounds, but didn’t even weigh any of them – it was pretty ridiculous.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Heath Wagner, Angola, Ind., five bass, 28-15, $5,731

2nd:         Dan Mittlestat, Woodhaven, Mich., five bass, 24-9, $2,403

3rd:          Kyle Greene, Ortonville, Mich., five bass, 24-6, $1,705

4th:          David Reault, Livonia, Mich., five bass, 23-4, $1,121

5th:          John Devries, Fishers, Ind., five bass, 23-2, $961

6th:          Joshua Barr, Stow, Ohio, five bass, 22-13, $881

7th:          Codea McCathran, Mansfield, Ohio, five bass, 22-9, $801

8th:          Clayton Reitz, Morton, Ill., five bass, 22-8, $721

9th:          Alex Newman, Wapakoneta, Ohio, five bass, 21-12, $641

10th:        Ronald Nutter, Saint Louisville, Ohio, five bass, 21-10, $561

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Wagner also brought a 6-pound, 3-ounce, bass to the scale – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $725.

Tony Mitchell of Plainwell, Michigan, won the Co-angler Division and $2,816 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 22 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1st:          Tony Mitchell, Plainwell, Mich., five bass, 22-15, $2,816

2nd:         Ken Ramsey, Cassopolis, Mich., five bass, 22-5, $1,182

3rd:          Andrew Vadnais, Saint Clair Shores, Mich., five bass, 21-11, $788

4th:          Matthew Esparza, Green Springs, Ohio, five bass, 21-9, $552

5th:          Arthur Teper, Lake Orion, Mich., five bass, 21-7, $473

6th:          Steven Rowswell, Saint Thomas, Ontario, Canada, five bass, 20-9, $433

7th:          Randy Westerfield, Constantine, Mich., five bass, 20-2, $394

8th:          Harbor Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, five bass, 20-1, $405

9th:          Jorji Itoh, Beverly Hills, Mich., five bass, 19-11, $315

10th:        Robert Hernandez, Canton, Mich., five bass, 19-10, $276

Mitchell also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division weighing in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $352.

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. 18-20 BFL Regional Championship on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.

The 2018 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. 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, YouTube and Snapchat.

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