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How to Catch Big Bass in February!

In the chilly embrace of February, the aquatic landscape transforms, guiding anglers to the sanctuaries where bass congregate. These areas, often overlooked, are the gateways to backwaters and hidden coves, where secondary points serve as the bass’s chosen paths. Here, amidst the quietude of winter’s grip, the water whispers secrets of the deep, revealing where life thrives against the cold. It is in these transitional zones that the dance between predator and prey becomes most vivid, offering those who listen closely a chance to join in the rhythm of the natural world. The allure of these high-percentage fishing areas lies not just in their ability to harbor life, but in their promise of unspoken battles between man and nature. Anglers who seek these points are often rewarded with encounters that test skill, patience, and understanding of the underwater world. Each cast into these waters is a question asked of the lake, and the tug on the line is its answer, filled with the thrill of the unknown. To fish here is to engage in a dialogue with the elements, a conversation that spans the gap between the surface and the depths. In the stillness of February, these places hold the whispered promises of the giants lurking below, waiting for the right moment, the right lure, the right angler to tell their story.Introducing the FreshBaitz Newest Mandingo Trick Worms – the ultimate game-changer in bass fishing! Engineered for the angler who knows SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a penchant for the larger bait. The Mandingo Trick Worm boasts a solid 7-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. Officially available in a vibrant array of 7 colors. Each worm is made from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for total and maximum attraction, the Mandingo Trick Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing the big ones. Proudly made in the USA by real anglers to help elevate your fishing experience and catch more bass year-round!
February’s cold waters cradle the promise of legendary catches, as bass prepare for the rituals of spring. This month, more than any other, holds the allure of the trophy bass which is a creature of both myth and reality. As they feed voraciously, building reserves for the spawn, their sizes swell, presenting anglers with the opportunity to etch their names into the annals of fishing lore. It is a time when the water’s silence is broken by the tales of giants, and every cast carries the potential for a story of a lifetime. The pursuit of these behemoths becomes a quest, a challenge that calls to the heart of every angler seeking their moment of glory. The trophy bass of February are not merely fish but they are clear symbols of the pinnacle of angling achievement, of patience, skill, and sometimes, sheer luck. The cold, clear waters become the stage for epic battles, where every twitch of the line could lead to a heart-stopping encounter with a fish of dreams. It is a time for reflection, for understanding that the chase is about more than just the catch. Along with connecting with the primal forces of nature. As the month progresses, stories of triumph and loss fill the air, each one adding to the rich tapestry of fishing lore that will be passed down through future generations and enjoyed forever.The newest FreshBaitz Lizard delivers a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fact, we just released a new 10w30 Syntheic Lizard color! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Each HellaMite is made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater.
The whims of winter weather cast a profound influence over the waters, shaping the day’s potential for angling success. February’s erratic moods fluctuating between the caress of warmth and the bite of chill demand vigilance and adaptability. On days when the sun breaks through, shallow waters beckon, hiding bass that bask in the fleeting warmth. These shifts, subtle yet significant, offer clues to the observant angler, who can read the signs and predict the movements of their elusive quarry. The interplay between cold snaps and warm spells creates a dynamic environment, where the water’s temperament can change with the weather. This constant flux challenges anglers to stay attuned to the subtle cues that signal bass movements and feeding patterns. The ability to decipher these signs, to understand how the weather influences the underwater world, becomes a crucial skill in the angler’s arsenal. It is in the dance of clouds and sunlight, of storm fronts and calm days, that the angler finds the keys to unlocking February’s potential. Adapting to these strategies to match these conditions, and to anticipate the bass’s response to the weather’s whims, is what truly separates the successful anglers from the merely hopeful.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic , Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders in the winter. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action-triggering strikes!
February teaches the angler the virtue of patience, a lesson that transcends the boundaries of the sport and seeps into the essence of being. In the crisp, silent mornings and the golden, glowing afternoons, time seems to stretch, offering a space for reflection and growth. This period of waiting, of hopeful anticipation, becomes a canvas on which the angler paints their experience, stroke by stroke, cast by cast. The cold, often unyielding days of February force a reevaluation of what it means to be successful on the water, suggesting that perhaps the true catch is not the fish itself, but the moments of peace, the lessons learned, and the quiet joy found in the simple act of fishing. As the month progresses, each outing becomes a chapter in a larger story, one of personal discovery and a deepening bond with the natural world. In this way, February’s challenges are transformed into opportunities, its lessons into wisdom, and its moments of silence into a profound dialogue with the heart of nature. Through this seasonal journey, the angler emerges not just with stories of the catch but with a soul enriched by the serene beauty and timeless lessons offered by the waters.Each Fresh HellaMite is scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic HellaMite color is a must-have. We also just released new eye-catching colors including the Slimer Green and Barbie Pink HellaMite. Act fast, these colors won’t stay in stock for long. If you’re fast enough you can also grab our seasonal limited-release Pumpkin Spice HellaMite along with the Money HellaMite. We also recently restocked our Red Bug, Purple Rain, Brown BugElectric Chicken, and Goby Wan colors for those who’ve been waiting. Take this time to stock up! The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Additionally, its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait more clearly and is more likely to look like real food, increasing strikes.  
As the season inches towards renewal, bass begin their age-old journey from the depths to the shallows, driven by the instinct to spawn. This transition paints a map for the astute angler, a guide to tracing the bass’s path backward from known spawning grounds to their winter havens. By anglers understanding this migration, one can position themselves in the corridors of movement, intercepting the bass as one prepares for the next chapter in their lifecycle. The strategy involves more than just knowledge of the terrain it demands an intuition about the timing of these movements and the ability to read the subtle signs of nature’s cues. As the waters begin to warm, albeit slightly, the bass’s behavior shifts, making them more predictable yet still challenging to catch. This holistic view enables them to predict bass movements with greater accuracy, turning the act of fishing into a dialogue with the water itself. Success comes not just from the right lure or technique but from a symbiosis with the environment, a harmony between angler and nature. In February, adapting to this strategic approach becomes the major key to unlocking the secrets of the lake, revealing the pathways that lead to the most elusive of catches.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate MintOx Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round!
Grasping the nuances of bass behavior during February is akin to unlocking a puzzle, where each piece reveals more about the intricate dance of nature. In this month, bass are driven by primal urges feeding to build energy for the spawn and seeking out the optimal conditions for their progeny. An angler’s ability to empathize with these creatures, to see the world through their eyes, becomes a powerful tool. It’s a study of life under the surface, recognizing the signs of stress, comfort, aggression, and fear that dictate the bass’s actions. This deep understanding fosters respect for the fish, transforming the hunt into a respectful pursuit, where each catch is a culmination of insight, patience, and skill. As anglers decode the language of bass behavior, they learn to anticipate the fish’s next move, adapting their strategies to be in the right place at the right time. This connection goes beyond the mere mechanics of fishing, touching on a more profound communion with the natural world. It’s about reading the water as if it were a book, with each ripple and current revealing a new chapter in the life of the bass. February, with its stark landscapes and quiet waters, offers a unique backdrop for this study, providing much more clarity and focus that can be harder to find in the busier months.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a wide variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from. You can experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools, featuring 24 high-quality worms in the popular Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Red, and Black & Blue, alongside four precision-crafted Owner Wacky Hooks 1/8oz. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with our newest Brown Worm, Electic Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also just recently released new 6-inch Worms that catch some trophy bass. CharmeleonRainbow TRTBoneChocolate Mint, and Fire TGR are all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon RedBlack & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Each Fresh Worm is scented for complete and total attraction underwater.
Navigating the chilly waters of February demands a blend of courage and cunning, as anglers face the dual challenges of cold temperatures and elusive prey. The key lies in versatility and openness to explore different strategies and to adapt to the day’s conditions. Whether it’s capitalizing on brief windows of activity or enduring long stretches of silence, the successful angler knows that February’s rewards are reserved for those who can match their tactics to the temperament of the water and its inhabitants. This adaptability is born from experience, from countless hours spent in the pursuit of understanding the myriad ways in which bass react to the cold. The cold water tactics of February require a balance between aggression and restraint, a dance between pushing the limits and knowing when to wait. It’s about finding the thin line where the water’s lethargy meets the spark of life that warmth can ignite. This month challenges anglers to refine their craft, strip away the unnecessary, and focus on what truly matters. In the quiet of winter, the lessons learned on the water reflect broader truths, teaching us about patience, resilience, and the subtle art of paying attention.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from. For Scorpions, we love to use the Stand-Up Jig because it sits your bait up-right in a defensive stance! The Owner All Purpose Hook is built with an extra-wide gap and is made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. Mosquito Hooks work for drop-shotting and are perfectly designed to better accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics such as lizards and worms. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you pressure time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. Covering a wide range of soft plastics including worms and other types of creatures.



Brad Beatson & Brian Scott Win CATT Santee Cooper, SC Feb 17, 2024

Next Santee Cooper Spring CATT Qualifier is March 23rd at John C Land!

Mark your calendar! This is going to be a good one! Tap on the link for more info!

Also, the 2024 Carolinas Bass Challenge Santee Cooper Qualifier is April 13th at John C Land! $10,000 1st Place!

Tap on this link to view info!  Carolinas Bass Challenge – Bass Tournaments in the Carolinas

Brad Beatson & Brian Scott weighed in 5 bass at 24.53 lbs taking 1st Place at Santee Cooper!

Mack Altman & Randall Miller claimed 2nd with 22.28 lbs!

3rd Place went to Casey Warren with 18.14 lbs!

Justin Cromer with the BF at 8.22 lbs!

TeamBFWeightWinningsPoints
Brad Beatson – Brian Scott6.2424.53$1,175.00110
Mack Altman – Randall Miller6.9422.28$670.00109
Casey Warren5.7718.14$355.00108
Kerry Bilton – Wesley Bilton5.0316.61107
Corey Casey -Matt Judy4.0315.67106
Carter Leggett – Hunter Vincent0.0015.29105
Max Terry – Jamie Glascock0.0013.34104
Justin Cromer – Mark Barnes8.2212.90$170.00103
Steve Harmon – Bryan Cook0.0012.49102
Jessie Strickland – Austin Jernigan0.0011.55101
Will Timmons – Bennett Lawshe0.009.80100
Jeffrey K Borne5.548.3599
Jay Jefferies – Brandon Jeffries3.868.3298
Coda Westbrook – Samuel McCants0.000.0088
David Ardis – Chris Barfield0.000.0088
Patrick Oliver – Jay Weinberg0.000.0088
Todd Olds – Brian Maxwell0.000.0088
Total Entrys$2,040.00
BONUS $$725.00
Total Paid At Ramp$2,370.00
2024 Santee Cooper Spring Final Total$295.00
CATT$50.00
2024 CATT Championship Fund$50.00
2024 Santee Cooper Spring Final Total$1,095.00



Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Fork should produce fireworks once again

The second stop of the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series season will be held at Texas’ Lake Fork February 29-March 3.

Photo by Shane Durrance/B.A.S.S.

February 23, 2024

Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Fork should produce fireworks once again

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YANTIS, Texas — If Lee Livesay had a say in where Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments are held, there’s zero question which lake he’d pick first — and second, third and so on.

“I’m not gonna beat around the bush,” Livesay said. “I want to fish at Lake Fork any day, every day and any time of the year. I’ll take it over anyplace else. That’s never gonna change.”

Well, well, well.

As if Livesay drew up the schedule himself (note: he didn’t), the second stop of this year’s tour will be Feb. 29-March 3 with the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork, less than an hour from Livesay’s hometown of Longview, Texas. In all, 103 Elites are scheduled to compete in the derby, with a $100,000 first-place prize at stake and thousands more in cash prizes for top competitors, as well as all-important points in the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.

The field will include many of the world’s best bass anglers, including Livesay, the four-time B.A.S.S. winner who has, to put it mildly, feasted at Fork the past few times he’s competed here.

How dominant has the 38-year-old Texan been on his home water?

Consider this: Livesay cracked the ballyhooed Century Club in Elite Series tournaments here in 2021 and 2022, each resulting in runaway wins. He caught an incredible 112 pounds, 5 ounces over four days in 2021 (a full 10 pounds better than second-place finisher Patrick Walters) and came back a year later with a winning total of 113-11 (a full 11-9 better than the second-place angler for that derby, two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk).

Though both were double-digit victories, competitors were pounding Fork as well, with six total Century Club performances across those two tournaments. The 2022 derby was especially productive, with each of the Top 10 anglers catching more than 90 pounds of bass over four days.

Livesay is confident he can three-peat at Lake Fork but knows any Elite finding a consistent big bite could hoist a blue trophy when the fishing is done.

“I know a lot about the lake, but there are going to be many guys who will find fish out there,” he said. “I think we could see huge weights again. It’s the right time frame. There will be fish in the timber, in the grass. You can fish deep or you can fish shallow. People will have their pick.”

Livesay wasn’t pointing to the wealth of possibilities to disguise his own game plan. Matter of fact, he hasn’t actually fished the lake since last spring.

“It was last May or June,” he said. “I drove around about a quarter of the lake recently, before it went off-limits, and it was full pool. We’ve had a lot of rain and I saw some things that make me believe we’ll have good fishing. I like to fish shallow and that’s probably my best chance there. But that could change.

“I really don’t want any preconceived notion of what to expect,” he continued. “It’s all affected by temperature, fishing pressure. Forward-facing sonar is a real factor now. I know what to look for, so I’ll show up, practice hard, look shallow, look deep and everywhere in between.’

Livesay said he had a “bad day” in both of his Elite Series wins on Lake Fork. The key for him, and likely every other competitor, is to be “open-minded.”

“Lake Fork is more of a mental game for me because a million variables go through my head,” he said. “When the schedule came out, I thought I might spend all winter there. But where the giants are in December and January is not where they’ll be in February. So, I just backed off. I know how to get around and I know what’s there. When we start, it’s just about reading the conditions and finding the bigger bites.

“I just have to get into a flow.”

The AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork will have a full field for Day 1 and Day 2. The group will be cut to the Top 50 for Day 3 and the Top 10 will compete for the tournament title 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.

Wood County Texas is hosting.



Fujita wrangles big bag to claim Day 1 lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Toledo Bend

Kyoya Fujita of  Minamitsuru, Yamanashi, Japan, has taken the lead on Day 1 of the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend with a total of 31 pounds, 3 ounces. 

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

February 22, 2024

Fujita wrangles big bag to claim Day 1 lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Toledo Bend

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MANY, La. — Before the start of the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend, Kyoya Fujita’s personal-best bag of largemouth weighed around 24 pounds.

But after anchoring his bag with an 8 1/2-pounder Thursday, the Japanese pro shattered that mark and claimed the Day 1 lead at Toledo Bend with a 31-pound, 3-ounce bag of largemouth.

Known as the “Prince of Japanese Angling,” Fujita holds a 2-3 advantage over Elite Series rookie Robert Gee of Tennessee and nearly a 4-pound advantage over Wisconsin pro Pat Schlapper.

Fujita had never been to Toledo Bend before he pre-fished here in January. He said the lake has changed a lot since then, particularly the water levels, which are much higher now.

Using Garmin LiveScope, Fujita targeted prespawn bass located in 30 feet of water around standing timber in a popular area of Toledo Bend. Two baits caught the majority of his bass in one specific spot he found the last day of practice.

It only took about three hours for Fujita to reach his total for the day, as he landed the 8-pounder around 8 o’clock. During one particular flurry, he threw back a 4-pounder and then a 5-pounder. While the day was warm and sunny, the wind kicked up across the lake, making things more difficult.

“It’s getting tougher and tougher,” Fujita said through a translator. “In the morning, it was easy fishing. Afternoon, no bites. I don’t like rough water.”

Fujita said 30 pounds is the goal for tomorrow, and believes there are the bass in the area to repeat that performance.

“I will go to same area and same spot. (I’ll do) the same fishing,” he said. “I’ll try for 20 pounds. But if tough conditions, I’ll go to the next area with 3-pounders and 4-pounders and change tactics.”

Gee fished the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN in 2023 and suffered his worst finish of the season at Toledo Bend. But he took the lessons he learned from that event and applied them this week to catch 29-0 Thursday.

“I beat the bank the whole time [in 2023] and from that moment on it changed my outlook on the way I needed to be fishing,” Gee said. “I dedicated myself to working on my offshore game ever since that tournament and it paid off today.”

He caught plenty of bass on Day 1, including a stop that produced two 5-pounders and several more quality bass to increase his total to 20 pounds around midday.

But a late-day stop produced the bulk of his weight.

“I made a move to a ditch and every fish I saw was over 5 pounds,” he said. “I culled everything I had out, including a 5-pounder, in 30 minutes. It was unbelievable. This is my biggest bag ever by myself.”

The majority of the bass he is catching are relating to standing timber. The shallowest bass came from 10 feet of water while his big bass late in the day were in 40 feet. One bait produced the bulk of his weight.

Gee knows there are plenty of bass left in his afternoon area and is hoping it will produce just as well on Day 2.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it held bass that size,” he said. “I went over there to catch 3- and 4-pounders. But every fish I saw was 5-plus. It was the perfect storm when I rolled in there and I think they are coming to it. I think I know where they are going to if they aren’t in the same spot.”

Schlapper brought 27-4 to the scales to land in third. A three-time qualifier for the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors, he settled into the same popular area as Fujita and caught the bulk of his bag in about an hour and a half.

“I got into an area later in the day where I figured it would be right, and it was right,” Schlapper said. “I caught my biggest one earlier in the day, but everything else came in that one area. There’s a group of us that are all in the same area. That one little stretch I had, people overlooked and it’s a little different than what the main thing is that is going on.”

The majority of the bass Schlapper caught are individuals just roaming around in 12 to 40 feet of water. He will be heading to the same area Friday, although he isn’t sure the day will follow the same script.

“What I think is happening is later in the day with the sun, they start coming up. I don’t know if it is to warm up or what,” he said. “I’m in a good area. There’s a lot of big bass and they are moving around. I just have to get it in front of five of the right ones and get them in the boat.”

Leesville, S.C., pro Bryan New landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 9-8 largemouth that bested several other 9-pounders.

The full field will take off from Cypress Bend Park beginning at 7 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The Top 50 anglers after the Day 2 weigh-in will advance to Semifinal Saturday before the Top 10 compete for the blue trophy and $100,000 top prize on Championship Sunday. All anglers are earning points towards Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days beginning at 8 a.m. ET, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday and Sunday.

Those wanting to attend will be able to enjoy the “B.A.S.S. on the ’Bend” festival on Saturday and Sunday at Cypress Bend Park before weigh-in. The festival will feature live music and many local vendors.

The event is being hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office and Tourism.

2024 Elite #1 Toledo Bend Reservoir 2/22-2/25
Toledo Bend Reservoir, Many  LA.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN       5  31-03  103
  Day 1: 5   31-03   
2.  Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN            5  29-00  102
  Day 1: 5   29-00   
3.  Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                5  27-04  101
  Day 1: 5   27-04   
4.  Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             5  25-01  100
  Day 1: 5   25-01   
5.  Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  24-00   99
  Day 1: 5   24-00   
6.  Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  5  23-09   98
  Day 1: 5   23-09   
7.  Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 5  23-07   97
  Day 1: 5   23-07   
8.  Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL              5  22-12   96
  Day 1: 5   22-12   
9.  Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX            5  22-09   95
  Day 1: 5   22-09   
10. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL              5  22-08   94
  Day 1: 5   22-08   
11. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         5  22-06   93
  Day 1: 5   22-06   
12. Bryan New              Leesville, SC            5  22-01   92   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   22-01   
13. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           5  21-14   91
  Day 1: 5   21-14   
14. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL               5  21-10   90
  Day 1: 5   21-10   
15. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY          5  21-09   89
  Day 1: 5   21-09   
16. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        5  21-08   88
  Day 1: 5   21-08   
17. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          5  21-02   87
  Day 1: 5   21-02   
17. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               5  21-02   87
  Day 1: 5   21-02   
19. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             5  21-01   85
  Day 1: 5   21-01   
20. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           5  21-00   84
  Day 1: 5   21-00   
21. Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL           5  20-14   83
  Day 1: 5   20-14   
22. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  20-07   82
  Day 1: 5   20-07   
23. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            5  20-05   81
  Day 1: 5   20-05   
24. John Cox               Debary, FL               5  20-04   80
  Day 1: 5   20-04   
24. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME             5  20-04   80
  Day 1: 5   20-04   
26. JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC         5  19-15   78
  Day 1: 5   19-15   
27. Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA          5  19-11   77
  Day 1: 5   19-11   
27. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC           5  19-11   77
  Day 1: 5   19-11   
29. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI             5  19-10   75
  Day 1: 5   19-10   
30. Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI               5  19-02   74
  Day 1: 5   19-02   
31. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           5  19-00   73
  Day 1: 5   19-00   
32. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  5  18-15   72
  Day 1: 5   18-15   
33. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              5  18-13   71
  Day 1: 5   18-13   
34. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          5  18-07   70
  Day 1: 5   18-07   
34. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  18-07   70
  Day 1: 5   18-07   
36. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                5  18-04   68
  Day 1: 5   18-04   
37. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               5  18-02   67
  Day 1: 5   18-02   
38. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN           5  18-00   66
  Day 1: 5   18-00   
39. John Garrett           Union City, TN           5  17-14   65
  Day 1: 5   17-14   
40. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL            5  17-13   64
  Day 1: 5   17-13   
41. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                5  17-11   63
  Day 1: 5   17-11   
42. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            5  17-09   62
  Day 1: 5   17-09   
42. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL             5  17-09   62
  Day 1: 5   17-09   
44. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  17-08   60
  Day 1: 5   17-08   
45. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  5  17-04   59
  Day 1: 5   17-04   
45. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA  5  17-04   59
  Day 1: 5   17-04   
47. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               5  16-11   57
  Day 1: 5   16-11   
48. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             5  16-09   56
  Day 1: 5   16-09   
48. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC                5  16-09   56
  Day 1: 5   16-09   
50. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              5  16-07   54
  Day 1: 5   16-07   
51. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, ON Ontario CANA  5  16-03   53
  Day 1: 5   16-03   
52. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  16-01   52
  Day 1: 5   16-01   
53. Todd Auten             Clover, SC               5  16-00   51
  Day 1: 5   16-00   
54. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  15-14   50
  Day 1: 5   15-14   
55. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           5  15-13   49
  Day 1: 5   15-13   
56. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN        5  15-11   48
  Day 1: 5   15-11   
56. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              5  15-11   48
  Day 1: 5   15-11   
56. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             5  15-11   48
  Day 1: 5   15-11   
59. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              5  15-10   45
  Day 1: 5   15-10   
59. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  15-10   45
  Day 1: 5   15-10   
59. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  15-10   45
  Day 1: 5   15-10   
62. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  15-09   42
  Day 1: 5   15-09   
63. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             5  15-08   41
  Day 1: 5   15-08   
64. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL            5  15-06   40
  Day 1: 5   15-06   
65. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             5  15-05   39
  Day 1: 5   15-05   
65. Kyle Welcher           Valley, AL               5  15-05   39
  Day 1: 5   15-05   
67. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK            5  15-04   37
  Day 1: 5   15-04   
67. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  15-04   37
  Day 1: 5   15-04   
69. Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN          5  15-00   35
  Day 1: 5   15-00   
69. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC       5  15-00   35
  Day 1: 5   15-00   
71. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            5  14-15   33
  Day 1: 5   14-15   
72. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             5  14-11   32
  Day 1: 5   14-11   
73. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  14-10   31
  Day 1: 5   14-10   
74. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              5  14-07   30
  Day 1: 5   14-07   
75. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN           5  14-04   29
  Day 1: 5   14-04   
76. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              5  14-01   28
  Day 1: 5   14-01   
77. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           5  13-12   27
  Day 1: 5   13-12   
78. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  13-11   26
  Day 1: 5   13-11   
79. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             5  13-10   25
  Day 1: 5   13-10   
80. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL            5  13-06   24
  Day 1: 5   13-06   
81. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN          5  13-05   23
  Day 1: 5   13-05   
82. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  13-04   22
  Day 1: 5   13-04   
83. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            5  13-02   21
  Day 1: 5   13-02   
84. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  12-09   20
  Day 1: 5   12-09   
85. Derek Hudnall          Zachary, LA              5  12-05   19
  Day 1: 5   12-05   
85. Cole Sands             Calhoun , TN             5  12-05   19
  Day 1: 5   12-05   
87. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL            5  12-01   17
  Day 1: 5   12-01   
88. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  11-15   16
  Day 1: 5   11-15   
89. Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            5  11-13   15
  Day 1: 5   11-13   
90. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           3  11-13   14
  Day 1: 3   11-13   
91. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  11-04   13
  Day 1: 5   11-04   
92. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            4  11-04   12
  Day 1: 4   11-04   
93. Timothy Dube           Nashua , NH              3  10-15   11
  Day 1: 3   10-15   
94. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          5  10-14   10
  Day 1: 5   10-14   
95. Mike Huff              London, KY               5  10-08    9
  Day 1: 5   10-08   
96. Frank Talley           Belton, TX               5  10-06    8
  Day 1: 5   10-06   
97. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            3  10-06    7
  Day 1: 3   10-06   
98. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               4  10-01    6
  Day 1: 4   10-01   
99. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             5  09-09    5
  Day 1: 5   09-09   
100. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  09-07    4
  Day 1: 5   09-07   
101. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          2  09-05    3
  Day 1: 2   09-05   
102. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  07-12    2
  Day 1: 5   07-12   
103. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC              2  05-07    1
  Day 1: 2   05-07   
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS 
Day
 1   Bryan New                Leesville, SC       09-08      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        96       501      1726-01
———————————-
          96       501      1726-01



Dylan Hays Wins Group A Qualifying Round at Major League Fishing Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes

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Arkansas pro boats two-day total of 71-13 to overtake Becker and win Group A Qualifying Round, Top 10 pros advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. (Feb. 22, 2024) – Hot Springs, Arkansas, pro Dylan Hays caught seven scorable bass Thursday weighing 30 pounds, 8 ounces, to earn the Group A Qualifying Round win at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Suzuki Stage Two Presented by Fenwick at Santee Cooper Lakes in Clarendon County, South Carolina.

Link to HD Video – Fish-Catch Highlights of Group A Qualifying Round Day 2 on Santee Cooper
Link to Photo Gallery of Group A’s Day 2 Qualifying Round Highlights

Hays’ two-day Qualifying Round catch of 17 bass totaling 71 pounds, 13 ounces, earned him the win by a narrow 2-pound, 11-ounce margin over Day 1 leader and reigning Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, who caught a two-day total of 19 bass weighing 69-2 to finish the round in second place. General Tire pro Alton Jones, Jr., of Waco, Texas, caught a two-day total of 18 bass weighing 66-9 to finish the round in third, while pro Gerald Spohrer of Gonzales, Louisiana, ended the round in fourth place with a two-day total of 23 bass for 64-15. Rounding out the top five is Stage One winner Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, who caught 17 bass for 63-14 to advance in fifth place.

The top 10 anglers advancing from Group A will now have an off day from competition Friday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 10 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

All week, anglers have stressed the importance of triggering bites from the bigger-than-average bass that roam Santee Cooper. At least in Group A, no one has done so better than Hays.

The Arkansas pro anchored his Day 2 bag with a 7-3 kicker. He also caught a 6-7 and a 5-4. During each of his first two days on the water, he’s landed three bass over 5 pounds, and his biggest five fish weighed more than 26 both days.

Hays believes he’s figured out a key to enticing those bigger bass. Fishing in Lake Marion, he’s not shying away from the dirty water in much of the lake. He also thinks his bait selection has played a part. All his fish Thursday ate a 1/2-ounce bladed jig with either a Zoom Z Craw Jr. or Shimmer Shad as the trailer.

“Key No. 1 was dirty water,” Hays said. “Key No. 2 was throwing a ChatterBait instead of flipping. … And then just making a lot of casts, working really hard.”

Hays admitted that he’s “kind of making it up as [he goes],” especially as he explored new terrain, but he’s optimistic his key areas are reloading with new staging fish each day. Early in the morning, he watched another angler catch a 5-pounder off the same tree that produced a 6-pounder for him on Day 1.

Still, even if his cypress bite sputters, Hays now has a backup plan in place. The thing that had him most excited about his second day on the water was the fact that he caught several fish not around Santee Cooper’s ubiquitous wood, but grass.

“The first day I caught the majority of them off trees – specific trees, but off trees – but in practice I caught a couple good ones off of some grass,” Hays said. “I couldn’t ever really make it work very long. Today, I actually caught the 7 and 5 off the same kind of stuff, and a couple males, so that kind of got me excited. That might start developing as well.”

Hays’ Group A win marked the first time in his three Bass Pro Tour seasons that he’s won a round. He’ll hope it leads to his first tournament win as a pro on Sunday.

The fact that he’s put himself in that position power fishing around shallow cover – the way he grew up fishing – has made his first two days on Santee Cooper even more fun.

“Dude, if they’re biting a Hula Popper, I’ll throw a Hula Popper,” Hays said. “If I gotta throw a drop-shot in 40 foot, I’ll do that. I do not care, and that’s God’s honest truth. It does not matter; I like it all. But it is fun. I mean, it’s been a while since we were able to do this, and I grew up fishing a place very similar to this, a lot of cypress trees, and I’m very comfortable.”

The top 10 pros in Group A that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Santee Cooper Lakes are:

1st:        Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 17 bass, 71-13
2nd:       Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 19 bass, 69-2
3rd:       Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 18 bass, 66-9
4th:        Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 23 bass, 64-15
5th:        Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 17 bass, 63-14
6th:        James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 15 bass, 55-12
7th:        Jesse Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., 17 bass, 51-11
8th:        Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., 14 bass, 50-12
9th:        Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 16 bass, 50-8
10th:     Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 16 bass, 47-15

Eliminated from competition are:

11nd:    Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 14 bass, 45-11
12th:     Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 40-10
13th:     Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 40-7
14th:     Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 14 bass, 38-9
15th:     Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 38-6
16th:     Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 16 bass, 38-0
17th:     Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 11 bass, 36-7
18th:     Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 11 bass, 36-1
19th:     Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, nine bass, 34-11
20th:     Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., nine bass, 34-11
21st:      Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 14 bass, 33-3
22nd:    Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 12 bass, 32-14
23rd:     David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., nine bass, 32-4
24th:     Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, seven bass, 31-3
25th:     Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 30-5
26th:     Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., nine bass, 29-14
27th:     Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., nine bass, 28-7
28th:     John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., seven bass, 26-8
29th:     Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., nine bass, 25-6
30th:     Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., eight bass, 24-15
31st:      Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., nine bass, 24-11
32nd:    Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, seven bass, 24-9
33rd:     Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., four bass, 21-13
34th:     Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., six bass, 21-2
35th:     Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., six bass, 19-7
36th:     Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., five bass, 17-13
37th:     Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., six bass, 15-8
38th:     Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., five bass, 11-14
39th:     Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., five bass, 11-2
40th:     Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., three bass, 10-14

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro David Walker of Huntingdon, Tennessee, earned Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with an 8-pound, 8-ounce largemouth that he caught on a bladed swimjig during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The six-day tournament, hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from the John C. Land III Landing, located at 4404 Greenall Road in Summerton. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!®  is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24-25, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the John C. Land III landing for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.


The Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.

Bass Pro Tour anglers also compete throughout the 2024 season for the prestigious Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) award and its $100,000 payday. Fishing Clash – an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide – is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League.

Television coverage of the Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 21 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering the following Saturday on Sept. 28. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, XInstagram and  YouTube.



2024 Tornado Predictions and Water Safety Guide: A Comprehensive Review for Preparedness

After a sequence of intense tornado seasons, 2024 promises to bring a distinct shift in tornado activity across the United States. For those residing in traditionally tornado-prone regions such as the deep south or the infamous tornado alley, preparedness is of essence regardless of this shift. This is more so for folks who partake in aquatic activities or trips on local lakes, rivers, and coasts. To ensure your safety, let’s delve deeper into understanding the tornado activity for 2024 and discuss safety measures if you encounter a tornado while out on the water.

The Pacific Ocean’s temperature anomalies greatly influence our weather patterns. Experts suggest that 2024 will experience a weakening El Nino configuration followed by a transition into La Nina. Consequently, we are expecting a surge in tornado activity in the plains stretching from Texas to the Midwest. However, Dixie Alley and the South Central US, regions usually prone to tornadoes, are forecasted to experience less severe tornadic activity. Nevertheless, it’s vital to remember that even minimal activity can yield significant destruction.

Now, let’s discuss safety tips. If you find yourself out on the water and face-to-face with a tornado, you’d need to remember these lifesaving pointers:

  1. Seek Shelter: If you’re in a boat and spot a tornado or receive a tornado warning, do your best to get to land and find a sturdy shelter. Avoid buildings with wide-span roofs like cafeterias or auditoriums, as they are more prone to collapse.
  2. Be Aware of Flying Debris: If seeking sturdy shelter is impossible, ensure you protect yourself against flying debris by using anything sturdy to cover your body. Many injuries during tornadoes come from flying debris rather than the actual tornado.
  3. Stay Informed: Keep a battery-powered NOAA weather radio with you, or a smartphone equipped with emergency alert system apps that can provide real-time updates about severe weather conditions. Always heed the warnings from local authorities to stay safe.
  4. Always Wear a Lifejacket: Regardless of the weather situation, always wear a lifejacket when you’re out on the water. In the event of a tornado, your boat or vessel could capsize, and a lifejacket might be the only thing that saves you from drowning.
  5. Have an Emergency Plan: Ensure everyone onboard knows what to do if a tornado strikes. Run drills if possible, so everyone is well-versed with the safety measures.

In conclusion, although the 2024 tornado season suggests favorable outcomes for traditionally tornado-stricken areas, it’s essential to remain prepared. Nature can be unpredictable, but with the right knowledge and essential safety tips, potential risks can greatly be mitigated. Be alert, stay safe, and keep an eye on the sky.



Designed for the Modern Angler

Designed for the Modern Angler
Whitewater Fishing represents 100-years of expertise in developing premium apparel.
MUSKEGON, Mich. (February 22, 2024) – Gone are the days of patchwork fishing apparel for inclement conditions like rain, sleet, snow, wind, and waves. And up until the introduction of the Whitewater Fishing brand a couple years ago, most fishing outerwear felt boxy and lacked the fabric combinations that provide everything today’s athletic angler demands: supreme fit, articulation, waterproofing, warmth, moisture wicking, breathability, durability, wind and sun protection, and especially, mobility.Mobility is the kicker that makes Whitewater fishing apparel stand out from the crowd. Retail racks brim with apparel that promise great water resistance, warmth, and durability, but most are rigid, making bending over to pick up a jig, climb over a boat gunnel, adjust electronics, or land a fish difficult. So, Whitewater Fishing took design to the granular level, making mobility the key feature in every piece of apparel.They heard it from bass, walleye, muskie, and Great Lakes guides, tournament anglers, and avid multispecies anglers: We want sun, wind, water, and cold protection, but a fit that responds to movement. Today’s anglers are very active; sitting on a wooden bench running a tiller with one hand and dragging a rig behind the boat is pretty much history. 
Whitewater HistoryWhitewater is part of the NEXUS family of quality hunting apparel brands that includes ScentLok, Blocker Outdoors, HARDCORE Waterfowl, and Tuo Gear. Taken as a whole, that’s well over 100 years of soft goods product development expertise. The man at the helm of the Whitewater brand, Nexus Outdoors President, Aaron Ambur, is also a very experienced and passionate angler. Ambur grew up on a South Dakota farm and spent his formative years exploring prairie potholes and the larger Missouri River system catching marble eyes in his grandpa’s old tri-hull boat with a modest flasher. “I was hooked on walleye fishing from grade school,” Ambur says, “and I learned early on that sometimes the best bites are during the worst weather. That still holds true.”Years later, Ambur went on to fish as a co-angler on the FLW; these days he spends a good deal of time pursuing big Great Lakes walleyes. “Whitewater designs didn’t come out of a vacuum,” says Ambur. “Personally, I’ve worn every rain suit out there over the years—just like our network of pros like Gary and Chase Parsons, Tommy Kemos, Jason Przekurat, Jim and Matt Schiefelbein, and guides who are on the water every single day.”
Ambur continues: “We also work on R&D with younger anglers who are very athletic in their fishing style—like B.A.S.S. Elite-winning, Jay Przekurat and decorated National Walleye Tour angler Korey Sprengel. Then you consider the synergies with our hunting brands, and we have a soft goods brain-trust unlike any other company on the market.”The goal, states Ambur, was to create a brand that “braves the waves” – literal ones, and the increased activity levels modern fishing represents. “We staked our flagpole deep in the ground announcing what Whitewater stands for is handling inclemency on the water, no matter how extreme—whether that’s wind, cold, water, heat—while providing a completely unprecedented level of mobility and agility.” Ambur continues: “Where I fish most, here in the Great Lakes Region, the conditions are often unpredictable and ever-changing.” he says. “Our expanding line of Whitewater Fishing apparel gives anglers a toolkit of versatile pieces that help them brave the waves—the challenges Mother Nature throws at them—delivering more mobility, comfort, breathability, and durability, so they can fish longer, more often, and catch more fish.” 
APPAREL DESIGN & FABRIC CHOICES THAT MOVE WITH (NOT AGAINST) YOU“I’ve been in the soft goods world for a long time, and I can say with 99% certainty that Whitewater is the very first company to integrate the stretch aspect and yet durability into foul-weather fishing apparel for a sport that has become increasingly active and athletic, from weekend anglers to pros on tour,” says Ambur. Ambur says Whitewater delivers these advantages via the best materials, technologies, and tailoring, resulting in comfortable, high-quality garments that perform beyond anglers’ expectations. “We didn’t expand into fishing apparel because it’s simply another category we can fill,” he states. “That’s not our business model. We launched Whitewater Fishing apparel because – similar to our hunting apparel – we’re confident in our team’s ability to give anglers new options that offer them real advantages.”Although proprietary information, suffice to say that NEXUS/Whitewater has a team of designers second-to-none, versed in thousands of different fabrics, insulation materials, DWR waterproofing options, exterior laminates, components, stitching, seams, and unique exterior materials for reinforcing key body areas, etc. 
APPLICATION #1: WALLEYE FISHING“Some walleye anglers are still trolling and vertical jigging sitting down, but what was once a stationary activity has turned into a very active casting game with the advent of forward-facing sonar. More walleye anglers are moving around the boat and fishing from the bow—and spot & stalk casting to fish what they see on their screen. That’s a lot of movement—and our garments cater to that style of contemporary fishing,” notes Ambur. Ambur and legendary NEXT BITE host and walleye pro, Gary Parsons, were just discussing the needs of today’s walleye angler: “Not only do our garments provide mobility and ability, Gary brought up that they’re well-articulated, which is important because today’s anglers are moving their arms and legs all the time and there’s a lot of energy being spent, which has been restricted in foul weather suits of the past, many of which were bulky and stiff. Our suits create less friction and hence less fatigue, which results in an angler being able to fish longer in poor conditions.”Previously, anglers were forced to choose toughness over comfort. Now, integrating stretch into the equation, Whitewater apparel is a paradigm shifter that provides anglers the best of all worlds. “Having tested every foul weather fishing suit out there, I was frustrated with the experience. It’s kind of like owning a 1-ton truck. They have great suspensions and are beasts, but they’re built for one mission in mind. Foul-weather fishing gear has been that 1-ton truck. We sought to design that fishing vehicle that has the durability and toughness of a 1-ton, but with ease of movement, agility, 100% waterproof performance, and a great weight-to-warmth ratio,” adds Ambur. 
Another major factor that has gone into all Whitewater fishing apparel is breathability. “Not only have existing suits been stiff, they’ve been like wearing a sandwich bag with little or no wicking or breathability. You end up sweating, getting clammy, and cold again, no matter how much bulk and insulation. So, breathability has been a huge design focus for us in all our apparel – from our warm-weather to cold-weather gear.” Besides extremely high DWR waterproof ratings, Whitewater’s foul-weather gear also possesses an amazing level of windproof functionality, as perfectly demonstrated in the pre-launch of the company’s Great Lakes Pro Jacket and Bib.“I don’t think there’s been a walleye fishing suit designed yet that compares to our new Great Lakes Pro,” says Ambur. “It’s waterproof, offers excellent agility, stretch, and unprecedented protection against the wind walleye anglers routinely face.”
APPLICATION #2 – BASS, MUSKIES, ICE, & BEYONDWhile in development with walleye pros and guides fishing some on the baddest, big waters in the country, Whitewater gear is far from walleye-centric. From warm weather apparel perfect for saltwater and southern fishing to a soon-to-be-released suit warm and agile enough for ice, Whitewater covers the needs of all anglers. As you read this, professional bass anglers are starting to fish early-season tournaments—and with that, facing colder temps which make Whitewater apparel like the Torque Heated Vest, Tamer Jacket & Bib, Buoy Hoodie (DWR treated), Great Lakes Jacket & Bib, and new Great Lakes Pro Jacket & Bib perfect. 
2024 LAUNCH: Whitewater Great Lake Pro Jacket & Bib“The new Great Lakes Pro is our most technically designed and fabricated rain jacket and bib so far,” says Ambur. “For the angler who wants that one suit that will do it all during midwinter on the river, full-on ice fishing, or spring and fall fishing anywhere for anything, this is the suit,” states Ambur. In terms of features, the Great Lakes Pro has an increased DWR and breathability ratings over other styles currently in the assortmentThe Great Lakes Pros is founded on a proprietary three-layer fabric, and features specifically-located pockets, as well as Aqua-Guard zippers, D-rings, waist-high zippers on the bib, and more. “In a couple words: it’s clean and streamlined,” says Ambur. “And you get a level of stretch unprecedented in a three-layer suit, while still being lightweight, durable and athletic in form and function. The Great Lakes Pro Jacket and Bib is our team’s two-year product development effort designing the ultimate foul-weather fishing suit for hardcore anglers.” As far as Great Lakes Pro’s waterproofing, after 30 years in outdoors soft goods, Ambur understands apparel industry guidelines, specifications, and ratings like the back of his hand.“From the first days of spraying Camp Dry on everything to what’s happening today, I’ve been there. With the Great Lakes Pro, I was beta testing our first production samples in long, cold showers at home. My wife thinks I’m crazy. But I wanted to find out if we were really getting it right before any of our pros took it out on the ice and water. Not to mention all the on-water days our external group of Whitewater Pros had testing and beating up our product to ensure we were ready for launch.” Ambur continues: “All I can say is we got it right, and it’s our own special sauce, unlike anything competitors are doing with waterproofing and functional design engineering.”Lastly, Ambur points out that the Great Lakes Pro has another unique design feature asked for by walleye and bass fisherman alike, a higher hood collar that extends just below the nose so when anglers are running full-tilt to spots down lake, the water and wind doesn’t hit their face. 
TAKE HOMEFor anglers looking for the next big thing in fishing apparel, Whitewater is just that. With over 100 years of design experience across the NEXUS brands and a team of notable pros and guides pushing for real-world fishing-specific feature sets with extended field testing, the result is nothing short of awesome.“I want everyone to be as excited about Whitewater apparel as I am,” concludes Ambur. “Once they try it, they’ll see it’s completely different than what’s been done, and quickly becomes a second skin you hardly realize you’re wearing and will perform day after day in the worst fishing scenarios possible.”For more information, or to order, visit whitewaterfish.com.



CONSERVATION: Investments and Rewards

Forestville, WI (February 21, 2024) – There are many benefits to spending time outdoors and interacting with the natural world in new, challenging ways. Join this adventurous family as they head out into one of America’s National Forests for an angling trip where they connect with nature and an abundance of wildlife. Building this appreciation for the outdoors creates new environmental stewards that can protect these ecosystems for generations to come.

Hear the family as they discuss important elements like kinship, stewardship, character building, learning about ecosystems and the healthiness of being in the wild.

Then, share the video and lesson plan with your students, Scouting organizations, fishing clubs, 4H clubs, or anyone interested in exploring our National Forests and expanding their personal relationship with the great outdoors.

ABOUT Future Angler Foundation
The Future Angler Foundation (FAF) is an incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation formed in April of 2012. The FAF’s mission is to “Create New Anglers and Boaters” through its support of angler education and boating safety programs hosted by passionate, knowledgeable volunteers throughout the U.S., and through its “Getting Families Fishing” initiative, a series of free source digital educational programs developed to engage young anglers and boaters as they learn about angling in an exciting, informative, and effective manner. More information about the FAF can be found online at www.futureangler.org.

Media Contacts
Patrick Neu
FAF President
president@futureangler.org
(920)365-6051



BAM Tournament Trail Announces Sponsorship with StorQuest Self Storage for 2024 Season

Dixon, CA – February 22, 2024 – BAM Tournament Trail, a premier name in bass fishing tournaments, is proud to announce a significant sponsorship for the 2024 season with StorQuest®, a leading national self storage brand.

StorQuest Self Storage, well known for its national portfolio of beautiful high-tech facilities, featuring a wide range of storage offerings, is dedicated to helping customers make room for whatever life has in store. StorQuest prides itself on its exceptional customer service, catering to a diverse clientele including outdoor enthusiasts, local community residents, and small business owners. 

Bill Hobin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The William Warren Group, owner and operator of StorQuest Self Storage portfolio, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration stating, “The sponsorship with BAM Tournament Trail is a natural fit. Many bass anglers require storage space for their extensive gear, boats, kayaks, or everyday personal belongings and StorQuest’s state-of-the-art facilities are perfectly equipped to meet these needs.”

Mark Lassagne, a prominent figure in the bass fishing community, also shared his excitement about the sponsorship. “Bringing a consumer-facing real estate company like StorQuest into the bass fishing world is crucial for the growth of both our circuit and the sport at large. We are thrilled about this venture and foresee a great sponsorship that will benefit both parties for years to come.”

This sponsorship marks a significant step in bringing together the worlds of outdoor sports and practical storage solutions. StorQuest’s involvement in the bass fishing community through the BAM Tournament Trail highlights its commitment to supporting the lifestyles and passions of its guests.

 About The William Warren Group (WWG) & StorQuest® Self Storage. 

The William Warren Group, Inc. (WWG) is a privately held, entrepreneurial self storage development, acquisition, property and asset management company based in Santa Monica, CA. Since inception in 1994, the company’s focus has been on investments in major metro markets across the United States that offer significant cash flow and long-term capital appreciation opportunities. To learn more, visit www.williamwarren.com

StorQuest Self Storage, StorQuest Express and StorQuest Economy Storage are registered trademarks, and owned assets of WWG’s national portfolio of self storage facilities. The StorQuest family of brands deliver best-in-class customer support with simple, easy-to-use technology –  built on a foundation that is focused on a guest-centric service approach. To learn more visit: www.storquest.com.  

 About BAM Tournament Trail

The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM TT) is an exclusive west coast pro level tournament circuit. BAM TT delivers multiple opportunities to showcase the talents of western anglers on several professional platforms.

As BAM TT continues to provide and refine a platform of elite events for competitive anglers, it simultaneously creates a logical avenue for sponsors to have direct contact with our west coast customers. BAM TT is dedicated to creating a complete package of advertising opportunities including on-site activation, internet/social media, and a YouTube series that reaches a large number of viewers each day.

Tournament events include BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am and a Kayak Tour with a no entry Championship can be viewed on YouTube.  Learn more here: BAM TRAIL, FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

Media / Advertising Contact Mark Lassagne 

#bamtrail #bassanglermagazine #storquest



Wheeler Runs Pattern to Grab Early Lead for Group B at Major League Fishing Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes

Two-time Fishing Clash Angler of the Year jumps out to early lead with 13 bass weighing 53-8

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. (Feb. 21, 2024) – For the second time in as many events this season, the Bass Pro Tour is visiting a new fishery, with the Suzuki Stage Two Presented by Fenwick at Santee Cooper Lakes in Clarendon County, South Carolina. Once again, pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, wasted little time figuring it out.

Link to Photo Gallery of Group B’s Day 1 Qualifying Round Highlights

Wheeler, whose six wins and 28 top-10 finishes in Bass Pro Tour competition are unmatched, is back atop the leaderboard through one day of qualifying for Group B. He boated 13 scorable bass for 53 pounds, 8 ounces Wednesday, 4 pounds, 11 ounces clear of Lake Havasu City, Arizona’s Dean Rojas who caught 16 bass weighing 48-14 to end the day in second place. Those two separated themselves from the rest of the pack – pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California, caught 39-0 total to finish the day in third place.

The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day from competition Thursday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group A will wrap up their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B will finish their Qualifying Round on Friday.

The six-day tournament, hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

Like most of the field, Wheeler emerged from practice on Santee Cooper a bit concerned about the dirty water and lack of bites. He rated his practice period a 4 out of 10. But, like many, his first day of competition left him pleasantly surprised.

“Obviously, catching 29 pounds for five and catching 50-something pounds of bass is one of the best days you could ask for,” Wheeler said.

While a small handful of the Bass Pro Tour anglers had prior experience fishing Santee Cooper before the spawn, conventional wisdom suggested this would be the type of tournament in which pros would be best served picking one area and combing it thoroughly. The navigational hazards and sheer amount of cover where fish could be living didn’t figure to suit a run-and-gun approach.

Wheeler turned that idea on its head. Taking advantage of the lack of wind, he hit several areas, looking for spots with the same key ingredients — a combination he figured out thanks to one clue during practice, then dialed in Wednesday.

“I constantly changed areas,” Wheeler said. “Because it was pretty calm today, it gave me an opportunity to run around. I didn’t stay in one area. I tried to run around and sort of look for that specific pattern, and that was what I did.”

While Wheeler mostly kept coy regarding specifics, he said he used a combination of forward-facing sonar and traditional, power-fishing tactics.

“I’m doing what I love to do, but I’m also sort of mixing a few things up,” he explained. “I’m looking for something very specific, and when I can find it, I’m basically running a pattern on this lake.”

Nearly half of Wheeler’s weight came from one stop. During a 90-minute stretch in Period 2, he caught six bass totaling 26-11. That included a 4-4, a 5-5 and a 6-14 — his biggest fish of the day. With the chances of catching 20-plus scorable bass in a day being slim, Wheeler said triggering big bites and landing those fish is the single biggest key to contending on Santee Cooper.

“I had three really big bites today,” Wheeler said. “So that, to me, is everything. I knew going into this, after seeing what happened in Group A, Day 1, I had to be very calm, cool and collected and be very methodical, because it wasn’t like it was going to be fast and furious. It wasn’t a Toledo Bend. Big bites were going to be few and far between, but when you got ‘em, you better capitalize on every single one.”

Wheeler remains unsure if he’ll be able to ride his Day 1 pattern through the weekend. He predicted that, as the weather warms and the bass continue their prespawn transition, Santee Cooper will fish differently during the Knockout and Championship Rounds than it has during the first two days. In typical Wheeler fashion, he’s put himself in prime position to figure it out. As usual, he said he plans to take advantage of his fast start by using much of Friday to explore new water.

“To me, I utilized this day to the best of my ability, to be leading right now going into Day 2 and have a firm grasp right now,” he said. “I still gotta catch a few bass, probably, to solidify my spot in the Knockout Round, but I’m feeling really confident about that.”

The top 20 pros in Group B after Day 1 on Santee Cooper Lakes are:

1st:        Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 13 bass, 53-8
2nd:      Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 16 bass, 48-14
3rd:       Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 11 bass, 39-0
4th:        Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 12 bass, 38-9
5th:        Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 37-0
6th:        Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., six bass, 29-4
7th:        Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala, 10 bass, 28-14
8th:        Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., eight bass, 27-3
9th:        Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 26-1
10th:     Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., seven bass, 25-10
11th:     Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., seven bass, 25-2
12th:     Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., eight bass, 24-12
13th:     Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., six bass, 22-8
14th:     Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., eight bass, 22-4
15th:     Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., seven bass, 21-5
16th:     Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., six bass, 20-0
17th:     Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., seven bass, 19-4
18th:     Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, six bass, 14-9
19th:     Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, four bass, 14-5
20th:     Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., six bass, 14-4

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 226 bass weighing 721 pounds, 13 ounces caught by the 40 pros on Wednesday. The catch included 16 6-pounders, three 7-pounders and two 8-pounders.

Pro Fred “Boom Boom” Roumbanis of Russellville, Arkansas, earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award Wednesday with an 8-pound, 6-ounce largemouth that he caught on a lipless crankbait in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from the John C. Land III Landing, located at 4404 Greenall Road in Summerton. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24-25, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the John C. Land III landing for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.

Bass Pro Tour anglers also compete throughout the 2024 season for the prestigious Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) award and its $100,000 payday. Fishing Clash – an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide – is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League.

Television coverage of the Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 21 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering the following Saturday on Sept. 28. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, XInstagram and  YouTube.