We had 15 boats competing on Leesville lake today in a one stop mart Leesville lake tournament Trail tournaments.
Richard Bates wins ABA in a big way on the Chickahominy River
Richard Bates wins in a big way on the Chickahominy River
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In what turned out to be a lopsided victory Richard Bates scored a four pound margin of victory on the Chickahominy River May 12. “This was a personal best for me on this river. Everything just fell into place today. All my fish came fishing Zoom plastics shallow. There had to be cover of some sort to find the fish. Every bite came when my bait was in contact with wood of some sort. The big fish followed the bait out from wood and struck a few feet after I had contacted the cover,” said Bates.
Richard brought in the winning weight of 19.47 pounds, anchored by the big fish of the tournament at 6.34 pounds. In securing the win Richard claimed first place in a full field event and took home a check for $795 which includes the big fish pot. “Since its Mother’s Day weekend I think I’ll share! She only lets me go fishing when its tournament time, so maybe this will give me more opportunities on the water,” said Bates.
In a distant 2nd place was Danny Lamie with 15.70 pounds. Rounding out the money winners were Guy Fairweather in third with 14.86 pounds and division point leader John Gillis at 4th place with 14.45 pounds.
Of the 27 anglers that fished this event, 21 of them had a 5 fish limits of bass. 112 fish were brought to the scales with an average fish weight of 2.35 pounds!
Top 10 Finishers
| Place | Name | Fish | BB | Total | Points |
| 1 | Richard Bates | 5 | 6.34 | 19.47 | 200 |
| 2 | Danny R. Lamie | 5 | 0 | 15.7 | 199 |
| 3 | Guy Fairweather | 5 | 4.31 | 14.86 | 198 |
| 4 | John H. Gillis | 5 | 0 | 14.45 | 197 |
| 5 | James James T. Bland | 5 | 4.12 | 13.61 | 196 |
| 6 | Richard Plemons | 5 | 0 | 13.6 | 195 |
| 7 | Tim TJ L. Schmitz | 5 | 0 | 12.74 | 194 |
| 8 | Richard Rick G. Rodriguez Jr | 5 | 0 | 12.73 | 193 |
| 9 | Henry F. Davis | 5 | 0 | 12.28 | 192 |
| 10 | Calvin Hunter | 5 | 4.23 | 11.72 | 191 |
The next event for the Virginia division will be May 26 on Kerr Reservoir
For more information about this Division and future events visit http://www.drawtrail.com/2018DivPage.php?Division=13
or contact the local Director for Virginia Division 13 Gary Conner at 757-293-8651
The American Fishing Tour offers low cost, close to home bass tournaments that are designed for the weekend angler. All ABA anglers fish for money and points. The points advance the angler to their divisional championship and the top 500 anglers in the US are invited to the American Fishing Tour National Championship.
American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the ABA Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
American Bass Anglers, Inc. is supported by Triton Boats, Mercury Outboards, Hydrowave, T-H Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Livingston Lures, Best Western Hotels, Garmin, Maui Jim, Power Pole, Optima Batteries and GEICO. American Bass Anglers, Inc. can be contacted at (256) 232-0406 or visit AmericanBassAnglers.com
Chatterbait Fishing Tips: How To Fish A Chatterbait 3 Different Ways
Chatterbait Fishing Tips: How To Fish A Chatterbait 3 Different Ways
A Chatterbait fished alone will catch lots of bass, but adding a soft plastic trailer will enhance your chances of catching even more fish.
The Chatterbait itself has plenty of action and vibration for attracting bass, yet you can add more bulk, buoyancy and action to the lure with a plastic trailer attached to the bladed jig. You can also add more color to your Chatterbait by attaching a plastic trailer in a contrasting hue.
A variety of soft plastics including toad-style baits, paddletail swimbaits and beaver-style baits can be attached to a Chatterbait, but here’s a look at three of the best trailers to enhance a bladed jig.
Chatterbait Trailer 1: Split-Tail Grubs
This is the trailer I use most frequently on my bladed jig to give the lure some added length and increased tail action. This style of trailer works best as a finesse presentation of a Chatterbait when bass are finicky due to fishing pressure or clear water conditions.
The trailer is also ideal for Chatterbaits when you want to fish the blade jig in vegetation because the grub is streamlined and glides through the grass. Bulky trailers or ones with appendages tend to cause your bladed jig to bog down in the weeds.
This is the first trailer you should try because it will catch both numbers of bass and quality fish.
Chatterbait Trailer 2: Flukes
This soft jerkbait is an ideal bladed jig trailer year round, but it really shines in summer, fall and winter when bass feed mainly on shad. When attached to the back of a Chatterbait, the Fluke imitates the same gliding action as a swimming shad.
Try this combination any time you see shad flicking on the surface or balls of baitfish on your electronics. Throw it around shallow cover such as rocks, grass and stumps to catch bass ambushing baitfish.
Chatterbait Trailer 3: Plastic Craws
A plastic craw with flappy appendages adds bulk and action to your presentation. The craw is an ideal trailer for many occasions but probably works best in dirty water situations.
A craw attached to a bladed jig moves more water allowing the combo to work on a slow retrieve. So the combination is effective in both cold and hot water because it can be slow-rolled or dead-sticked to tempt lethargic bass into biting.
More Chatterbait Fishing Tips With A Swimbait
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LAMBERT CATCHES RECORD-BREAKING LIMIT TO TAKE LEAD AFTER DAY THREE OF FLW TOUR AT KENTUCKY LAKE PRESENTED BY COSTA SUNGLASSES
LAMBERT CATCHES RECORD-BREAKING LIMIT TO TAKE LEAD AFTER DAY THREE OF FLW TOUR AT KENTUCKY LAKE PRESENTED BY COSTA SUNGLASSES
Day-Two Leader Randy Haynes Withdraws from Competition, Jason Lambert Hauls in 30-pound, 8-ounce Limit to Vault into Lead
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GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 19, 2018) – Pro Jason Lambert of Michie, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit Saturday weighing 30 pounds, 8 ounces – surpassing the record that he already owned for the largest single-day limit ever caught on Kentucky Lake in FLW Tour competition– to catapult into the lead at the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses. Lambert will bring a commanding 19-pound, 3-ounce lead into Championship Sunday, where the final 10 pros will compete for up to $125,000.
Lambert trailed Day Two leader Randy Haynes by 2 pounds, 4 ounces, starting today’s competition, but gained his massive lead after Haynes, in an unprecedented move, decided to withdraw himself from the competition.
Shortly after takeoff, Lambert and Haynes both arrived on the same area – a well-known community hole at the north end of the lake, and a spot that both anglers fished on days one and two. Lambert arrived first, and the two anglers fished side-by-side for several minutes. Lambert caught several keepers quickly. Frustrated by the situation, Haynes chose to leave the area, return to the ramp and withdraw from the event. Haynes finished the tournament in 12th place and received $12,000.
Lambert ended up catching a limit from the area, but landed an additional three largemouth – including a 9-pounder – at his next stop that upgraded him past the 30-pound mark.
“I actually found those fish [at the second location] yesterday afternoon. It’s a place that I’ve fished in the past, but I hadn’t seen them there [this week] until I pulled up on them and they were eating some gizzard shad,” said Lambert, who was also crowned champion when the FLW Tour last visited Kentucky Lake in 2016. “I hadn’t caught anything there, but when I saw that happen I knew there were some fish down there.”
Lambert said he used 5- and 7-inch Castaic Jerky J soft jerkbaits on a Scrounger Head jig to catch his fish, a bait he’s relied on all week. It’s also the exact lure that caught the bulk of his weight in 2016.
“I probably wouldn’t have gone to my second area this morning had I not caught a good limit early on,” said Lambert. “I had around 20 pounds when I left the first spot, so I went there and idled over them and found that there were more fish down there than I thought. I got a couple 5-pounders and was done after I caught the giant.”
The Tennessee pro said he plans to go out Sunday and finish strong, even with his commanding lead.
“I’m going to start out tomorrow at the second stop from today. If I can catch two or three good ones in the morning, we’re going to have some fun and try and break the 100-pound mark.”
The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition on Kentucky Lake are:
1st: Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn., 15 bass, 74-6
2nd: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 55-3
3rd: General Tire pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., 14 bass, 52-2
4th: Josh Douglas, Isle, Minn., 15 bass, 51-4
5th: Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, 15 bass, 51-1
6th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 50-11
7th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 14 bass, 48-14
8th: Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., 15 bass, 47-9
9th: Pennzoil Marine pro Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., 15 bass, 47-1
10th: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 13 bass, 47-0
Finishing 11th through 30th are:
11th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 15 bass, 46-9, $12,000
12th: Randy Haynes, Ripley, Miss., 10 bass, 46-2, $12,000
13th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 45-12, $12,000
14th: Costa pro Dylan Hays, Sheridan, Ark., 15 bass, 45-11, $12,000
15th: Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., 15 bass, 45-8, $12,000
16th: Bill McDonald, Greenwood, Ind., 14 bass, 45-6, $12,000
17th: Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury, Odenville, Ala., 14 bass, 45-3, $12,000
18th: Tyler Stewart, West Monroe, La., 14 bass, 44-2, $12,000
19th: Brandon Mosley, Choctaw, Okla., 15 bass, 43-13, $12,000
20th: Jordan Osborne, Longview, Texas, 14 bass, 43-10, $12,000
21st: Lowrance pro Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn., 11 bass, 43-2, $10,000
22nd: Koby Kreiger, Bokeelia, Fla., 14 bass, 42-13, $10,000
23rd: Jim Dillard, West Monroe, La., 15 bass, 42-4, $10,000
24th: Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., 12 bass, 41-15, $10,000
25th: Cabela’s pro Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 15 bass, 41-8, $10,000
26th: Kid Casters pro Charlie Evans, Berea, Ky., 15 bass, 40-3, $10,000
27th: Timmy Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 12 bass, 36-12, $10,000
28th: Joseph Webster, Winfield, Ala., 11 bass, 35-10, $10,000
29th: Polaris pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 11 bass, 34-15, $10,000
30th: Abu Garcia pro Tim Cales, Sandstone, W. Va., 11 bass, 32-13, $10,000
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 123 bass weighing 401 pounds, 7 ounces, caught by 29 pros Saturday. The catch included 21 five-bass limits.
Ronny Webb of Dyersburg, Tennessee, won the Co-angler Division and $25,000 Friday with a two-day total of nine bass weighing 26 pounds, 14 ounces, followed by Stephen Crawley of Bush, Louisiana, who finished in second place with eight bass totaling 25-4, worth $7,600.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round. Co-angler competition concluded following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advanced to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros now continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
The total purse for the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses is more than $930,000. The event is hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 10-12 and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
The final 10 anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CDT Sunday from Kentucky Dam State Park, located at 7792 U.S. Highway 641 N. in Gilbertsville. Sunday’s weigh-in will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-in Sunday, FLW will host a free Family Fishing Expo at Kentucky Dam State Park from noon to 4 p.m. The Expo is the perfect opportunity for fishing fans of all ages to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, meet characters from the “Paw Patrol” children’s television show, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) June 27 from Noon-1 p.m. EST. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the sport’s top anglers on the FLW Tour on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagra
Jason Adams & Zach Peaslee Win Angler’s Choice Claytor Lake with 16.94 lbs May 19,2018
On a crazy day in May with more rain then we have seen in the last few months 79 boats fished the Angler’s Choice Tournament Trail on Claytor Lake. Many teams had bags in the mid 6lb mark but one team found that bite & brought in 16.94lbs the team of Jason Adams & Zach Peaslee. Congratulations to them on their Victory & special thanks to all those who made this day happen.
CLICK HERE TO SEE RESULTS
CLICK HERE TO SEE Current Standings
CLICK HERE TO SEE Current Standings
CLICK HERE TO SEE Current Standings
Drew Benton Takes Over Lead At Bassmaster Texas Fest At Lake Travis
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May 19, 2018
Drew Benton Takes Over Lead At Bassmaster Texas Fest At Lake Travis
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JONESTOWN, Texas — Drew Benton of Panama City, Fla., caught an impressive five-bass limit that weighed 20 pounds, 4 ounces during today’s semi-final round to take command of the top spot at the 2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at Lake Travis.
Benton, the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year, pushed his three-day total weight up to 51 pounds.
With $1 million in total payout, $100,000 of which to be paid to the top finisher, the tournament champion will also earn a coveted berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods in Knoxville, Tenn.
Benton said he’s focusing on the Lake Travis bass and not the blue championship trophy or the paycheck.
At least not yet.
“I’ve still got a full day of fishing ahead of me, so I can’t afford to think about how much winning would mean to me at this point,” Benton said. “Don’t get me wrong, I know how hard it is to win on the Elite Series, and I want it badly. It’s just important that I stay focused throughout the day.”
Benton said he was able to isolate a couple of productive fishing patterns over the past three days of competition — both time-of-day dependent.
“The low-light action early in the morning has been critical to my limits,” he said. “The morning bite has been lasting longer each day, and with a chance of rain and cloud cover likely all day tomorrow, I think my early pattern could stay strong for quite a while.”
The 30-year-old pro explained that during the afternoons when the sun was out, he caught his fish along banks where the water was calm.
“When the wind and boat traffic would push waves against the shore, the water would get muddy, and the fish would stop biting,” Benton said. “Today I learned I could replicate that pattern in more protected stretches of water once the waves became more regular. It paid off this afternoon.”
Benton believes if he can catch 15 to 17 pounds, he’ll be tough to beat.
“This lake can be unpredictable. One day you could catch 25 pounds, and the next, only 6 pounds for five bass,” he said. “I’m keeping that in mind during the final day, but I think I’m on the right fish in the right locations. Things just have to go right tomorrow, and I’m confident.”
Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn., dropped back to second place following today’s competition. He produced a five-bass limit that weighed 12-15, bumping his total weight up to 48-6.
“I had a pretty good day,” he said. “I caught more fish than I could count, but I just never caught a big bass. This lake is full of fish, and they love to bite. I think there are so many small bass that dominate the feeding, you really have to cover water to find the big ones.”
Wheeler said he’d be starting Championship Sunday right where he likes to be — in the hunt.
“I have a shot at the win tomorrow, that’s all I can say,” he said. “It’s really hard to predict what I need to win this tournament — it could be only 12 pounds, it might be 26. I do think the right fish are in my fishing areas, and I think I can catch them. But we’ll have to see how it shakes out.”
Cliff Pirch weighed in the biggest bass of the day, a 7-1 largemouth, but that fish trails the heavyweight of the tournament, a 10-pound, 5-ounce bass caught the first day by former Classic champion Cliff Pace. If no one catches a heavier bass Sunday, Pace will win a new Toyota Tundra pickup truck valued at $50,000.
Pace held down third place for the third day in a row, this time with a total of 46-3. Rounding out the Top 5 are Brent Chapman in fourth place with 43-5 and Bobby Lane in fifth with 43-2.
Takeoff will begin at 6:15 a.m. CT Sunday morning at Jones Brothers Park in Jonestown, Texas, and final weigh-in will take place at the same location beginning at 3 p.m.
2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 5/17-5/20
Lake Travis, Jonestown TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 15 51-00 110
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 20-04
2. Jacob Wheeler Harrison, TN 15 48-06 109
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 12-15
3. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 15 46-03 108
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 13-07
4. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 15 43-05 107
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 15-12
5. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 15 43-02 106
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 09-02 Day 3: 5 12-14
6. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 14 42-15 105
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 4 12-02 Day 3: 5 08-14
7. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 42-03 104
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 15-01
8. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 15 41-12 103
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 15-00
9. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 15 41-02 102
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 21-13 Day 3: 5 08-11
10. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 15 40-06 101
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 17-06
11. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 14 40-04 100
Day 1: 4 13-07 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 11-08
12. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 15 39-10 99
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 13-01
13. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 38-13 98 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 08-09
14. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 14 37-13 97 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 4 11-10 Day 3: 5 11-03
15. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 15 37-07 96 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 12-05
16. Gary Klein Mingus, TX 15 37-05 95 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 10-08
17. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 15 37-02 94 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-12 Day 3: 5 12-02
18. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 15 36-13 93 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 07-05 Day 3: 5 13-12
19. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 15 36-11 92 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 09-10
20. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 15 36-06 91 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 06-12
21. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 15 36-05 90 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 08-10
22. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 36-02 89 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 08-13
23. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 15 36-02 88 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 13-01 Day 3: 5 13-02
24. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 13 36-01 87 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 3 09-04
25. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 35-12 86 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 08-06 Day 3: 5 08-01
26. Josh Bertrand San Tan Valley, AZ 15 35-07 85 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 08-02 Day 3: 5 08-00
27. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 15 35-05 84 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 10-13
28. Mike McClelland Bentonville, AR 15 35-04 83 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 13-13
29. Brent Ehrler Redlands, CA 15 35-03 82 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 07-13
30. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 15 34-13 81 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 09-03
31. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 14 34-10 80 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 4 10-13
32. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 34-08 79 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 09-05 Day 3: 5 09-06
33. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 15 34-05 78 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 10-07
34. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 15 34-02 77 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 09-04
35. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 33-12 76 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 09-13
36. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 15 33-11 75 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 07-01
37. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 15 33-11 74 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 5 12-02
38. John Murray Spring City, TN 15 33-09 73 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 08-01 Day 3: 5 11-13
39. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 14 33-08 72 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 4 07-09
40. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 15 33-00 71 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 08-08 Day 3: 5 10-03
41. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 15 32-13 70 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 09-08
42. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 15 32-13 69 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 07-08
43. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 32-01 68 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 06-11
44. Shin Fukae Palestine TX JAPAN 15 31-07 67 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 10-06 Day 3: 5 07-10
45. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 15 30-13 66 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 06-13 Day 3: 5 08-03
46. Jonathon VanDam Gobles, MI 14 30-10 65 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 4 08-07
47. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 15 30-07 64 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 07-06
48. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 15 30-02 63 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 08-10
49. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 29-15 62 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 07-01 Day 3: 5 08-05
50. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 14 29-14 61 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 4 14-12 Day 3: 5 06-06
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 91 507 1173-03
2 91 502 1110-04
3 46 245 524-03
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228 1254 2807-10
Elite Series Anglers Serve As Coaches In High School All-American Tournament
As part of the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, the 12 Bassmaster High School All-
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
May 19, 2018
Elite Series Anglers Serve As Coaches In High School All-American Tournament
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JONESTOWN, Texas — Spencer Childers caught the most weight in the Bassmaster High School All-American Bass Tournament, and his real prize was getting to fish with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mark Menendez.
Childers, a senior at Pickens High School in Jasper, Ga., was among the 12 standout high school anglers selected as members of the exclusive Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Elite Series anglers served as teammates and “coaches” of the student anglers in the tournament.
The anglers fished Inks Lake, a picturesque 768-acre reservoir on the Colorado River in the Texas Hill Country. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department waived fishing license requirements for the anglers and entrance fees into the launch site at Inks Lake State Park.
“Fishing with Mark was a great experience,” said Childers, who is 18 years old. “Before today, my dock fishing and flipping skills weren’t as good, and now they are much better.”
Menendez was among 28 Elite Series pros volunteering for the event should they not have made the top 50 cut on Saturday at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
“Those kids are the next generation, the future of our sport,” said Menendez. “I have done this for so long that I wanted to be around them, remind me about what fishing truly is all about.”
Each pro and high school angler weighed one bass apiece. Childers’ catch weighed 3 pounds, 12 ounces, and the fish caught by Menendez tipped the scales at 6 pounds. The combined 9 pounds, 12 ounces ranked as the heaviest weight of the week. The anglers weighed their catches on the same stage used for the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Childers and Menendez focused on boat docks. A 1/4-ounce Buckeye Lures Spot Remover Pro Model Jig Head with Zoom Trick Worm was the top producer for Childers.
“He called the shots and took the lead, and it was a great day with a fine angler,” added Menendez.
Following are heaviest weights by weight for the top anglers. Randy Howell and Ethan King caught a combined weight of 9-9. Alton Jones and Jacob Woods caught the third heaviest weight of 8-9. Next came Brock Mosley and Samuel Vandagriff with 7-9, followed by Alton Jones Jr. and Dalton Smith with 5 pounds.
More than 465 applications from students in grades 10-12 were submitted from 38 states across the nation. Of those, 64 were chosen as Bassmaster All-State anglers. After reviewing tournament résumés, community service activities and recommendations from coaches and school officials, a panel of judges further narrowed the field to the Top 12 high school anglers in the country.
Childers earned five wins in high school tournaments, including the B.A.S.S. Nation Georgia State Championship and Bass High School tournament. He also has three Top 5 finishes to his credit, each with 100-plus-boat fields.
In addition to his tournament success, Childers is a volunteer at the Pickens County Fishing Rodeo, an event in which children and adults with disabilities get the opportunity to fish in a stocked stream. Childers spent the day baiting hooks and helping members of the community experience the joy of catching fish. He is also a volunteer with his high school’s Special Olympics program.
“One of the things that makes Spencer stick out from most high school kids is his ability to lead,” wrote Bo Page, bass fishing coach at Pickens High School. “His leadership in the classroom is a rare and welcomed sight to his teachers. Spencer has never missed a meeting; he’s never missed a tournament; and most importantly, he’s never missed a chance to give back to our school and community.”
On tournament eve, a banquet was held for the High School All-Americans. Each received special All-American jerseys from B.A.S.S. and a prize package valued at over $400. Abu Garcia, Mercury, Skeeter Boats, Toyota and Yamaha Outboard provided the gifts.
2018 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods Pairings
All-American Angler Angler Hometown Bassmaster Elite Series Pro
Alec Berens Channahon, Ill. Tommy Biffle
Spencer Childers Jasper, Ga. Mark Menendez
Cal Culpepper Hamilton, Ga. Bernie Schultz
James Gibbons Timmonsville, S.C. Caleb Sumrall
Karson Hamilton Hot Springs, Ark. Bradley Roy
Ethan King Wilsonville, Ala. Randy Howell
Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, Ill. David Fritts
Thomas Martin Marquez, Texas Darrell Ocamica
Garrett McWilliams Florence, Miss. Cliff Prince
Dalton Smith Brandon, Miss. Alton Jones Jr.
Samuel Vandagriff McMinnville, Tenn. Brock Mosley
Jacob Woods Loudon, Tenn. Alton Jones
High School Fishing: A Different Breed of Pro
High School Fishing:
A Different Breed of Pro
Today’s student-anglers (and coaches) see value in networking
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Park Falls, WI (May 18, 2018) – Will Simmons planned to be fishing by lunchtime; maybe just a little after. A transplanted crappie fisherman turned bass nut, and now coach of the Obion County Central High School (OCCHS) fishing team, Simmons was en route to his first fishing photoshoot. Together with Cody Gregory, a stand-out member of the OCCHS team, Simmons was on his way to meet with photographers and marketing execs for St. Croix Rods, who chose nearby Reelfoot Lake for the job at hand.
Simmons and Gregory figured they’d knock out the shoot in a couple hours and be free to spend the evening casting for bass. How hard could it be?
“We were quickly surprised,” Simmons reflected, “on how much went into that shoot.” Plans for a relaxing day on the lake were immediately cancelled.
Neither Simmons nor Gregory were disappointed, however, and used the opportunity to learn everything they could about the business of fishing. “It was real eye-opener, and a great experience,” Gregory reflected. A former Tennessee State Champion, Gregory recently received a fishing scholarship to attend Bethel University, one of the nation’s premier fishing-supportive schools.
“I’m working toward a business degree, and I want to get a job in the fishing industry,” Gregory added. “If I can’t be a (tournament) pro, I may look into a rep position.” Gregory added that the St. Croix shoot “wasn’t as easy as it looks. A lot goes into these types of things behind the scenes. They sure require a lot of patience…”
“St. Croix has an incredible camera crew,” Simmons added. Agreeing to take part in the event was an easy move for the coach, as he wanted to learn more about ways to network with the legendary rod builder. “I wanted to talk about developing a relationship between St. Croix and our team. The Mojo line, for example, is really appealing for high school and college anglers. This week, I fished a bunch with the new Mojo Power Shake rod (MJS73MHF) and was blown away with the combination of finesse and power. I really look forward to using a Power Shake for fishing around the bushes of Kentucky Lake.”
For some time, St. Croix has realized the need for high-quality gear at all price points, to fit into any budget. Recently, the Bass X series (casting and spinning) joined the Mojo Bass line (casting and spinning) with tournament-grade gear priced for student athletes.
Cody Gregory – now also a top-5 finisher in the bass fishing National Championships – has long been a St. Croix fan. “I’ve used them since I started fishing,” he added. “St. Croix rods have always been top of the line, but the new models are in a class of their own. The Dock Sniper is instantly one of my favorites.” A true specialty rod, the Mojo Dock Sniper (MJC70HF) combines heavy-power and fast action in a seven-foot frame, making it ideal for tournament winning dock tactics using casting jigs and stout line.
In addition to being technical about his fishing, Gregory’s recent photoshoot experience illustrates his passion for other aspects of a fishing career: “I jumped at the opportunity,” he said, when it came to the St. Croix invite. Now armed with even more knowledge and experience in fishing, Gregory will continue to push hard, looking to again qualify for Nationals this April.
Simmons also sees the recent event as a means to learn more of the fishing business. “In the future, we’re going to try to be more appealing to colleges and aspire to work more closely with Bethel University. This photo shoot can only help those efforts.”
As student fishing expands, so does the commitment to the cause by manufacturers like St. Croix Rods, with support at all levels of the movement.
Fishing Tube Baits: 5 Ways To Rig a Tube – MTB
Fishing Tube Baits: 5 Ways To Rig a Tube
Fishing tube baits is one of those techniques that just continues to get the job done. It’s caught fish for decades, and continues to pump out fish when other baits just won’t cut it. Unfortunately, the extent of most angler’s tube arsenals is an internal jig head. That’s a problem, because tubes are killer rigged with a variety of techniques. To help you catch a few more fish this season, we’ve put together our top 5 rigs for fishing tube baits.
Add Your Tube To A Jig
Arguably the most popular and effective way to rig a tube is with a internal tube jig. Tube jig heads typically have a bulbous weight at the top, sitting just below the hook eye. The weight provides a natural fall on descent, and realistic hopping action upon retrieval. Start by wetting your jig head and sliding it up your tube until the eyelet reaches the very top of the tube. Then, push the linetie through the plastic, exposing the eyelet. Next, find your hook point and push it through the bottom of the tube so it’s exposed. If rigged correctly, the tube will be completely straight. It will have a hook eye coming out of the top of the tube, followed by a hook point protruding from the bottom of the tube.
This rig works well fishing tube baits in open water, or when fished offshore. You can swim it, hop it, or drag it. Each technique has caught fish in the past and should work in the future. I like to use the lightest weight I can get away with, while still maintaining bottom contact. If you’re continually getting snagged up, try moving down a weight, or using a tube jig with a weed guard.
Fishing Tube Baits On A Wobble Head
Wobble heads have really made an impact the past few years, and for good reason. Designed with an articulating head, this setup provides both functionality and a unique action. The free swinging head has a wobbling movement that almost dances as it pops off rocks and structure. The swinging weight also increases landing percentage, and is less likely to get snagged than other bottom contact baits. The movement from the swing head will work against a fish when it shakes its head which decreases the fishes leverage and therefore increases your landing percentage.
To fish tube baits on a wobble head, make longs casts to rocks, humps, saddles, shell beds, or other structure and let your bait fall directly to bottom on a slack-line. Start slowly dragging it back to you while your bait deflects of cover and structure. Bottom contact is crucial so make sure you’re using the correct weight for the conditions. If you’re not feeling bottom, move up a weight and if you’re constantly getting snagged, move down. Bites may be light so play close attention. Grab a wobble head and pair it with your favorite tube and get to work, drag it, hop it or just give it a slow retrieve and you’re bound to get bit.
Texas Rigging a Tube
Texas rigging a tube is a technique that catches fish in natural lakes way up north to giant man made reservoirs down south. A tube resembles a variety of forage and when it’s rigged Texas style, it allows you to throw your tube just about anywhere without worrying about getting hung up.
To fish, grab a 3/0 or 4/0 aught wide gap hook, bullet weights and some bobber stops. Rig it up like your standard Texas Rig. I like to use ⅛-⅜ oz bullet weights, they will cover you in most situations but add or remove weight depending on conditions you’re facing. In the Spring of the year, I like to Texas rig a craw colored tube, as the season progresses I’ll switch up to colors more resembling bait fish. Figure out what the fish are feeding on in your area and find the color that closest resembles that forage type. Fish around flooded timber, laydowns brush piles, docks, points or transition areas.
Drop Shot Your Tube For Finesse
There aren’t many drop shot baits better at imitating a baitfish than a tube. Tubes have a fishy profile and that resemble anything from bluegills to goby. Throwing a tube on a drop shot will help keep your bait off bottom away from weeds or hang ups and it’ll present a very natural look. Drop shotting a tube can help you break down water efficiently.
I like to start off fishing tube baits with long leaders while securing my hook with a palomar knot and my weight with a standard overhand knot. This way if my weight gets snagged and I break off, I’ll keep my hook and my leader will be long enough to simply just retie the weight.
Fishing A Tube Bait Weightless
While it may sound unusual, a weightless tube is a great way to target fish, whether they’re pushed up shallow close to the bank or if they’re suspended over deeper water a weightless tube can trigger a bite. Similar to a fluke or senko style bait, a weightless tube has a unique shimmy falling action which looks delicious to a hungry bass. With quick twitches to your rod tip you can get your tube to have a underwater ‘walk the dog’ action. This technique will cover water and can call in fish, it’s also something different so if the fish have seen a ton of senkos or flukes, the tube should do the trick.
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HAYNES EXTENDS LEAD AFTER DAY TWO OF FLW TOUR AT KENTUCKY LAKE PRESENTED BY COSTA SUNGLASSES
HAYNES EXTENDS LEAD AFTER DAY TWO OF FLW TOUR AT KENTUCKY LAKE PRESENTED BY COSTA SUNGLASSES
Tennessee’s Webb Wins Co-angler Title, $25k
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GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 18, 2018) – Pro Randy Haynes of Ripley, Mississippi, caught a five-bass limit Friday weighing 19 pounds, 15 ounces, to extend his lead at the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses. Haynes’ two-day total of 10 bass weighing 46 pounds, 2 ounces, gives him a 2-pound, 4-ounce advantage heading into Saturday over second-place pro Jason Lambert of Michie, Tennessee, who has 10 bass weighing 43-14. The field is now cut to the final 30 pros, with only 10 anglers advancing to championship Sunday where the winner will take home the top prize of up to $125,000.
Haynes returned to the same area he fished Thursday, putting a couple of keepers in the boat right off the bat. Later in the morning he said he hit a flurry that produced five or six good bites to cap off a limit.
“It was a struggle out there today. I had to relocate my fish and catch them a totally different way,” said Haynes, who has two career wins on Kentucky Lake in Costa FLW Series competition and finished 14th when the Tour last visited Kentucky Lake in 2016. “It was better in terms of numbers, but I didn’t catch the size.”
One of the key changes Haynes made Friday was switching from crankbaits to swimbaits.
“I caught them all, including a couple that upgraded me, on a Zoom Swimmer and a couple of other swimbaits,” said Haynes. “I slowed down, and that’s probably the reason I caught more fish today. I’m just blessed to have caught what I did and hopefully we can keep it going tomorrow.”
The top 30 pros that made the first cut and will fish Saturday on Kentucky Lake are:
1st: Randy Haynes, Ripley, Miss., 10 bass, 46-2
2nd: Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn., 10 bass, 43-14
3rd: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 37-14
4th: Lowrance pro Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn., nine bass, 37-5
5th: Josh Douglas, Isle, Minn., 10 bass, 37-2
6th: Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury, Odenville, Ala., 10 bass, 36-13
7th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-15
8th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 32-1
9th: Tyler Stewart, West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 32-1
10th: Joseph Webster, Winfield, Ala., 10 bass, 31-15
11th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 31-12
12th: Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 31-9
13th: Polaris pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 31-7
14th: Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., 10 bass, 31-5
15th: Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., nine bass, 31-0
16th: Costa pro Dylan Hays, Sheridan, Ark., 10 bass, 30-14
17th: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., eight bass, 30-11
18th: Pennzoil Marine pro Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 30-10
19th: General Tire pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., nine bass, 30-4
20th: Abu Garcia pro Tim Cales, Sandstone, W. Va., 10 bass, 30-4
21st: Brandon Mosley, Choctaw, Okla., 10 bass, 10 bass, 30-2
22nd: Timmy Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 10 bass, 30-0
23rd: Jordan Osborne, Longview, Texas, nine bass, 29-9
24th: Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 29-5
25th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., nine bass, 29-4
26th: Kid Caster’s pro Charlie Evans, Berea, Ky., 10 bass, 28-9
27th: Cabela’s pro Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 10 bass, 28-5
28th: Koby Kreiger, Bokeelia, Fla., nine bass, 28-4
29th: Jim Dillard, West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 28-2
30th: Bill McDonald, Greenwood, Ind., nine bass, 28-1
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pennsylvania, earned the $500 Simms Big Bass award in the Pro Division Friday after weighing a 7-pound, 8-ounce bass.
Overall there were 577 bass weighing 1,708 pounds, 11 ounces, caught by 165 pros Friday. The catch included 64 five-bass limits.
Ronny Webb of Dyersburg, Tennessee, won the Co-angler Division and $25,000 Friday with a two-day total of nine bass weighing 26 pounds, 14 ounces, followed by Stephen Crawley of Bush, Louisiana, who finished in second place with eight bass totaling 25-4, worth $7,600.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Ronny Webb, Dyersburg, Tenn., nine bass, 26-14, $25,000
2nd: Stephen Crawley, Bush, La., eight bass, 25-4, $7,600
3rd: Benjie Seaborn, Guin, Ala., eight bass, 23-3, $5,000
4th: Chatfield Smith, Minnetonka, Minn., nine bass, 22-9, $4,000
5th: Rex Jaeger, Hamilton, Ohio, eight bass, 22-3, $3,050
6th: Keith Gunsauls, El Cajon, Calif., seven bass, 21-5, $2,500
7th: Bradley Smith, Saint Jacob, Ill., seven bass, 20-3, $2,000
8th: B.J. Nelson, Louisa, Ky., eight bass, 19-14, $1,800
9th: Craig Middleton, Harrodsburg, Ky., seven bass, 19-14, $1,700
10th: Mike Gabel, Saint Charles, Ill., seven bass, 19-11, $1,600
Jim Hippensteel of Rochester, Indiana, earned $250 for the Simms Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division with a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass.
Overall there were 282 bass weighing 761 pounds, 8 ounces caught by 136 co-anglers Friday. The catch included seven five-bass limits.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round. Co-angler competition concluded following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight now advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
The total purse for the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses is more than $930,000. The event is hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CDT each day from Kentucky Dam State Park, located at 7792 U.S. Highway 641 N. in Gilbertsville. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins, May 19-20, will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, FLW will host a free Family Fishing Expo at Kentucky Dam State Park from noon to 4 p.m. The Expo is the perfect opportunity for fishing fans of all ages to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, meet characters from the “Paw Patrol” children’s television show, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.
Also for youth, the FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby will be held at Kentucky Dam State Park on Saturday, May 19, from 9-11 a.m. The event is hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, and is free and open to youth (18 and under) and Special Olympics athletes (all ages). Rods and reels are available for use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one. The 1st and 2nd place anglers that catch the biggest fish will be recognized Saturday on the FLW Tour stage, just prior to the pros weighing in.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) June 27 from Noon-1 p.m. EST. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the sport’s top anglers on the FLW Tour on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagra