Author: jcarrigan

Johnston Moves Into Lead Of Bassmaster Elite At St. Lawrence River

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 17, 2021
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WADDINGTON, N.Y. — For the past three days, Cory Johnston has mentioned saving certain fish he’d previously located for when he needed a big bite. On Saturday, he started with a trio of those difference-makers and took over the Day 3 lead of the Farmers Insurance Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River with a three-day total of 68 pounds, 10 ounces.

Hailing from Cavan, Canada, Johnston tied his younger brother Chris for second place on Day 1 with 23-7. He added 22-2 on Friday and slipped to third before moving into the top spot with Saturday’s limit of 23-1. Heading into Championship Sunday, Johnston leads Alabama pro Justin Atkins by 12 ounces.

Johnston said the smallmouth he targeted first were bed fish in about 8 feet. Picking off three solid keepers in short order gave him an early cushion and allowed him to “go fishing.”

“I fished a lot of shallow stuff today — 15 feet or less,” Johnston said. “Every spot was different; some were rock, some were sand, some were weed. It was a mix of everything.

“The strategy was: hit as many spots as you can and hope you get the right ones to bite.”

As he’s done the first two days, Johnston said he fished multiple spots throughout a 90-mile stretch from the take-off area to Chaumont Bay outside the mouth of the St. Lawrence. He caught his fish on a drop shot with an 8- to 10-inch leader.

“I had a limit by the noon hour,” Johnston said. “I upgraded a little bit, but not much. I didn’t want to burn too many fish.”

Essential to his execution was Johnston’s use of a Flogger — a cone-shaped device with a clear, flat screen that sits at the water’s surface and allows him to view details below. Similar to looking through a dive mask, without the submersion, the Flogger provides key perspective that aids in presentation.

“It shows you your bait, it shows you where the fish is and it shows you the sweet spot,” Johnston said. “You’re seeing how the fish reacts to your bait. I can catch them eventually, but it just speeds up the process.”

Looking ahead, Johnston said he’ll follow a game plan similar to the one he employed Saturday.

“I’m excited to get back out there tomorrow; I left a few out there,” Johnston said. “I probably could have culled a few more times, but I’m trying to play the game and save as many fish as I can.

“I should have three good ones saved for tomorrow and then I’m going to have to go fishing. I’m hoping for 23 pounds tomorrow; that’s my goal. I think if I got 23 I’d be hard to beat.”

Hailing from Florence, Ala., Atkins is in second place with 67-14. After tying Gerald Swindle for eighth place on Day 1 with 21-6, Atkins added 22-14 and rose to fifth. On Saturday, he weighed 23-10 and gained three more spots.

Spending his day in Lake Ontario, Atkins targeted a range of spots he’d previously fished along with a few new areas. One of his new spots yielded a 5-pounder.

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Atkins caught his fish on a drop shot with a Berkley MaxScent Flat Worm and a 1/16-ounce brown Marabou jig. The latter also benefitted from the MaxScent appeal.

“I’m cutting a piece of a MaxScent The General (stick worm) and threading it onto the hook of the jig,” Atkins said. “That adds bulk to the Marabou, but I’m using a piece that’s even with the bottom of the feathers, so the fish can smell it and taste it when they bite.

“Those fish are really bad about just nipping at the Marabou jig and not getting it. I use a really limber rod, so you can tell when they get it. I think with a little bit of MaxScent on that jig, it helps them get it.”

Chris Johnston, of Peterborough, Canada, is in third place with 65-11. The first Canadian to win an Elite title at last year’s St. Lawrence River event, Johnston added 19-6 to his first two days’ weights of 23-7 and 22-14.

“I caught four of my five in the river today,” Johnston said. “I lost a big one in the lake and I lost a big one in the river — that hurt.

“I was targeting the transitions of sand patches and grass in 15 feet or less. Sometimes, you’d pull up to a spot and there’d be five or six fish there and sometimes, it would be a ghost town. They move a lot, so you’re just hoping to run into them on that stuff.”

Johnston caught his fish on a drop shot, a wacky-rigged 4-inch Senko and a 1/8-ounce black Marabou jig.

Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass standings with a 6-5 caught on Day 2.

Josh Stracner of Vandiver, Ala., won the Rookie of the Year title with 547 points. Edging fellow Alabama pro Justin Hamner (536), Stracner said he focused on maintaining a strong mental game, even when his chances of winning the ROY title appeared bleak.

“Just keeping my head screwed on right was probably the biggest key,” Stracner said. “I held my own the first part of the season, but at the halfway point, I kind of got behind. Going into (Lake Champlain) last week, I was in fifth place and all I was worried about was making the Classic.

“Today, I did both; I made the Classic and got Rookie of the Year. It’s pretty hard to believe.”

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET from Whittaker Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3:15 p.m. The Top 10 remaining anglers will be vying for a $100,000 first-place prize.

Live coverage can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders beginning at 8 a.m. ET.

The Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River is being hosted by the Village of Waddington and St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. This tournament is supported by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism awarded as part of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. The tournament and all associated festivities are being planned to ensure the safety of anglers, marshals, staff and fans.

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Bass Pro Shops, Garmin, Huk Performance Fishing, Marathon, Rapala

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Conservation Partner: AFTCO

2021 Farmers Insurance Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River Local Hosts: Village of Waddington, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce

MLF BIG-5

Major League Fishing Marshall Program – Your Chance to Fish with A Pro!

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 16, 2021
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Everyone is constantly trying to learn how to fish or improve our capabilities on the water. Anglers are reading magazine articles/blog posts, participating in seminars online/in-person, and watching videos. Even professional anglers are constantly trying to learn and improve as well. What if I told you that I had the best option to learn from a professional angler in the comfort of their boat! I recently posted a question on social media asking the following. If you could ask a professional angler anything, what would it be? Overwhelming response was, “can I go fishing with you” or “would you go fishing with me?”. This is completely possible with the Major League Fishing Marshal Program.

This is absolutely an amazing opportunity to learn directly from a professional. This could also prove beneficial should one of these tournaments take place on your home body of water or on a lake that you tournament fish. During this time you will see exactly how they cast, break down structure, and make lure selections. A lot of these anglers enjoy having someone on the boat with them. This presents an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about fishing. You really get a chance to get to know these anglers on a personal side. You get a chance to ride with anglers like Skeet Reese, Justin Lucas, Bobby Lane, Brain Latimer, and legend Larry Nixon. Who wouldn’t want that???

The Marshal Program was introduced just a few years ago when co-anglers were removed from the now MLF Pro Circuit. This gave the professional the ability to focus on their fishing with less distraction of having another angler in the boat. However, MLF still needed a way to provide oversight of the tournament for the purposes of enforcing rules and resolving disputes. That is how we got the MLF Marshall program.

Upfront it does cost to participate in the Marshall program. It’s a VIP experience like no other, all for only $100 per regular season tournament and $200 for the TITLE.As an added bonus, for no additional fee, you will be eligible to win as much as $2,500 at every tournament.

Marshal Program Overview:

MLF has a limited number of Marshal opportunities available at each Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit qualifier and the TITLE. Register today for your chance to ride along with a pro and learn about locating and catching big bass while they are fishing for a $135,000 payday. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for serious anglers, and it is only available to MLF members and subscribers who are at least 16 years old.

As a Marshal, you will be treated to a seminar with Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit anglers, plus you’ll get behind-the-scenes access throughout the event. You will also receive an exclusive MLF Marshal jersey and play a vital role in live coverage of the tournament by verifying your pro’s catch and relaying information to MLF editors. You won’t be fishing, but you’ll be in the middle of the action.

Pick your favorite lake, ride along to learn from the world’s best pros and win cash awards based on the combined weight of the pros you are paired with in the two-day opening round. Here is the complete Marshal payout for each Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit qualifier and the TITLE: Awards are as follows 1st $2,500, 2nd $1,000, 3rd $750, 4th $500, 5th $250, 6th$100, 7th $100, 8th $100, 9th $100, 10th $100.

Courtesy of Major League Fishing

2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Marshal Guidelines:

All applicants must have a current MLF membership or subscription. Marshals may register at flwfishing.com/marshals or by calling MLF at 270.252.1000 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time Monday-Friday.
All applicants must be 16 years of age or older. If selected, each Marshal will be required to sign a liability release. Marshals under the age of 18 (19 in Alabama and Nebraska) must also have the signature of a parent or legal guardian on their liability release.
The fee is $100 per regular season tournament and $200 for the TITLE, payable upon registration. Prospective Marshals can register for a single tournament or multiple events. Prospective Marshals not accepted will receive a full refund. No refunds will be issued once accepted for an event.
MLF may, at its sole discretion, deny any prospective Marshal based on the applicant’s ability to participate in all Marshal activities without hindering his or her pro and/or compromising his or her safety or the safety of his or her pro or other participants.
MLF may, at its sole discretion, deny any prospective Marshal based on criminal convictions or charges or any other offenses that could be detrimental to the MLF Marshal program, the integrity of the sport or its sponsors.
Marshals will be assigned pros by random computer draw and will be assigned a different pro each day of the tournament.
Marshals are not allowed to practice with pros. Marshals cannot share information about fishing locations or patterns with pros after the start of the 13-day off-limits period extending through the final day of competition for each tournament.
Marshals cannot assist pros with fishing in any way. Marshals cannot net fish, handle the net in any way, help anchor or stabilize a boat, or handle fish. During competition hours, Marshals must stay in the boat at all times, except in an emergency or for the momentary condition of restroom breaks. Pros may not ask a Marshal to exit a boat to make it more accessible to fishing waters.
Select Marshals may be required to ride in a chase boat should their assigned pro also be assigned an MLF Live camera operator or MLF editor.
Marshals are required to have a smart phone with text messaging, photo capability and mapping for communicating with MLF editors. Data charges for transmitting text and photos are each Marshal’s responsibility.
Marshals are required to provide regular updates, photos and angler locations to MLF editors as instructed during the pretournament Marshal meeting whenever an assigned pro catches a fish. Select Marshals may also be provided with video equipment from MLF for recording and transmitting video back to MLF editors. Data charges for transmitting text, photos and video from MLF provided equipment will be covered by MLF.
At no time can a Marshal give his or her assigned pro catch updates from other competitors, regardless of the source of the information, be it social media, a website, direct message, call or text.
At the request of their assigned pro, Marshals may use a cell phone to assist the pro with his or her social media updates. Marshals are not, however, obligated to assist a pro with social media updates, as their primary function is to communicate with MLF editors and producers.
Marshals may post updates to their personal social media pages so long as they are tagged as instructed by MLF during the pretournament Marshal meeting. Marshals may not, however, provide updates to any other social media pages or websites other than their assigned pro’s page or MLF.
Marshals are not permitted to smoke if requested not to do so by their pro.
Marshals are expected to participate every day for which their register was approved. Failure to do so may result in ineligibility to participate in future MLF events.
MLF may, at its sole discretion, reassign Marshals prior to takeoff.
Marshals are required to verify their pro’s catch by signing an MLF verification form immediately after checking in with MLF officials prior to each day’s weigh-in.
Unless authorized by the tournament director or MLF Marshal manager all Marshals must register and attend a pretournament meeting the afternoon before each event. Times and locations will be emailed to each Marshal prior to the event as confirmation they have been accepted to participate.
Applicants that register for all seven MLF Pro Circuit qualifying tournaments will have priority over applicants that register for single events and will have priority for participation in the semifinal and final rounds of competition at each tournament. Second priority for the semifinal and final rounds of competition will be offered to Marshals based on time and date of registration.
Each Marshal will receive credit for the weight of their assigned pro’s catch on Days 1-2. The Marshals with the top 10 weights following the close of weigh-in on Day 2 will receive cash awards. Ties will be broken by heaviest one-day catch. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by total number of fish and then by total number of live fish. If a tie remains, awards will be combined and split equally among the tied contestants.
Marshals are required to furnish their own PFD, rain gear and any snacks or drinks they would like to consume on the water. Pros will allow each Marshal to store snacks and drinks in the boat’s cooler. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
Marshals will be briefed on Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit rules during their pretournament meeting. Marshals must have a general understanding of the rules pros must follow, including but not limited to culling procedures, off-limits areas and accepted fishing methods. Marshals should call the tournament director immediately if a rule violation is suspected or there is any question concerning sportsmanship or safe boating.

Courtesy of Major League Fishing

SIGN UP FOR THE MLF MARSHAL PROGRAM AND GO FISHING WITH A PRO

HEAR FROM MLF'S CHRIS JONES ABOUT THE MARSHAL PROGRAM!

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Mossy Oak Expands Major League Fishing Sponsorship with Multi-Year Deal to Remain Exclusive Camo Sponsor

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 16, 2021
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TULSA, Okla. (July 15, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s premier tournament-fishing organization, and Mossy Oak, the West Point, Mississippi-based leading branded camouflage and outdoor lifestyle company, announced a new multi-year sponsorship expansion ensuring the company will remain the exclusive camo sponsor of Major League Fishing through 2024. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Major League Fishing is thrilled to expand our relationship with Mossy Oak,” said MLF President and CEO Jim Wilburn. “Their commitment to our anglers, fans and the sport of professional bass fishing has been consistent since 2018 and their innovative and realistic camouflage patterns are a huge hit with anglers, hunters and outdoorsmen alike. To partner with an organization that shares the same love and passion for fishing and the outdoors as we do is very special.”

Mossy Oak will be showcased at all MLF-sanctioned tournaments and outdoor activations, and the brand will also be seen across numerous MLF media platforms, including prominent display in the MLF Cup events and the Bass Pro Tour Heavy Hitters All-Star event, at MajorLeagueFishing.com, MLF Bass Fishing Magazine and the “MLF NOW!” livestream, which broadcasts during every Bass Pro Tour and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event for a total of more than 600 hours of live-streamed content.

JOIN THE MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING CONVERSATION NOW

“We are very excited about our expanded partnership with Major League Fishing,” said Mossy Oak Chief Sales Officer Chris Paradise. “Our ultimate goal is to connect with our loyal and growing Mossy Oak fishing consumer and customers via the strongest and most authentic reach possible. Major League Fishing and their leading, broad-based media platform delivers on that expectation greatly. As the Official and Exclusive pattern of Major League Fishing, we are honored and energized to continue bringing the Mossy Oak Fishing Brand to anglers everywhere.”

Mossy Oak’s logo will also remain prominently located on the wrapped trucks, boats, and jerseys of its sponsored MLF anglers. This list includes the current Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year (AOY) leader Ott DeFoe, brothers Jordan and Matt Lee, professional bass-fishing’s all-time leading money winner Kevin VanDam, and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit anglers Ramie Colson Jr., and Brian Latimer.

For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Mossy Oak, visit MossyOak.com.

About Mossy Oak
Established in 1986, Haas Outdoors Inc. is headquartered in West Point, Miss., and is home to Mossy Oak. For more than 30 years, Mossy Oak has been a leading outdoor lifestyle brand specializing in developing and marketing modern camouflage designs for hunters and outdoors enthusiasts. The Mossy Oak Brand and patterns can be found on a multitude of products worldwide. Haas Outdoors Inc. is the parent company of Mossy Oak, BioLogic, Capture Productions, MOOSE Media, Nativ Nurseries, Nativ Living, GameKeepers, GameKeepers Kennels, Mossy Oak Properties, and Mossy Oak G.O. Mossy Oak is the official camouflage of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, and Mack’s Prairie Wings and the official pattern of MLF.

BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

Schultz Commits To Protected Spot For Lead In Bassmaster Elite At St. Lawrence River

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 16, 2021
No Comments on Schultz Commits To Protected Spot For Lead In Bassmaster Elite At St. Lawrence River

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — A patient approach to what Bernie Schultz described as a slow area rewarded the Gainesville, Fla., pro with a five-bass limit that weighed 25 pounds, 5 ounces to lead Day 1 of the Farmers Insurance Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River.

“I found a spot near where I fished last year,” Schultz said of his upriver area, near Chippewa Bay. “I haven’t seen another tournament boat in two years and I hope I don’t — unless it’s a camera boat.”

Schultz, whose best finish on the St. Lawrence was sixth place in 2013, described his spot as a flat approximately 200 yards long with depths of 3 to 8 feet. Starting on one end of the flat in practice, he quickly caught a 4-pounder, and by the time he’d completed his drift, he had another 4- and two 3-pounders.

“It’s a really good area and it’s protected,” Schultz said. “That’s what I like about it — it has everything the fish want and it has everything I need to fish, no matter what the weather does.

“There are numerous islands and I’m cradled right in the middle of them. I decided to start there today and it was a good call. It started quickly and I left them biting.”

Despite an impressive performance, which included the day’s Phoenix Boats Big Bass — a 6-2 — Schultz said the spot he fished required such a laborious effort that he believes most anglers would have abandoned it.

“It’s a precise drift that I’m making,” he said. “It’s slow enough that if anyone practiced there, they probably would have gotten discouraged.

“The fish are in certain sections of the flat and I had to locate them today because they moved a little bit. I had a 5, that 6-2 and a 3-pounder pretty quickly, but after that I had to move around on the flat to find them.”

Schultz fished a diverse arsenal of baits including a 1/2-ounce Hildebrandt Drum Roller spinnerbait, a Shimano jerkbait (debuting next week at ICAST), a 1/8-ounce black Marabou jig, a drop shot with a green pumpkin Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm and a Ned rig with a 3-inch green pumpkin watermelon laminate Yamamoto Senko.

It is a well-known truth that two of the biggest obstacles to winning on the St. Lawrence share the same last name. Today, brothers Chris and Cory Johnston, of Peterborough and Cavan, Canada, respectfully, strengthened that lore by catching identical 23-pound, 7-ounce limits and sharing second place.

Adding to the statistical oddity, the Johnstons nearly matched one another’s top fish. Chris caught a 5-5, while his older brother had a 5-4.

Chris Johnston, who won last year’s St. Lawrence River Elite, started his day by running upriver to the Clayton, N.Y., area and targeting fry guarders — male bass that hover near the spawning bed to protect recent hatchlings — on flats in 8 to 10 feet. He found a handful of these fish early in practice but noticed Wednesday that a couple of them had left.

“I was a little disappointed yesterday, so today I thought I’d better go catch the ones that are left in that area,” he said. “That gave me a good start to the day, so I could relax a little bit.”

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Around midmorning, Johnston left this area and added a few keepers, including a 5-8, in Lake Ontario’s Cape Vincent area. Contrasting his 2020 victory, he said the fish are significantly less concentrated this week.

“They’re not set up good like they were last year,” he said. “They’re scattered anywhere from 5 feet to 25 feet. I don’t have a spot that has a big group of them so I’m looking and trying to find random fish.

“The reason is that there are still fish spawning. There are fish that are guarding fry and fish that finished spawning a month ago and they’re already making their way out. There are fish up shallow trying to do their thing, and they’re everywhere in between.”

Cory Johnston devoted his day to the river and fished a hodgepodge of locations. Covering a 90-mile stretch from Waddington to Lake Ontario, he fished traditional rock reefs and shoals from 5 to 35 feet.

“I just kind of ran all over the place, wherever the wind allowed me to go,” he said. “I caught all of my fish in the river; I didn’t weigh a fish out of the lake.

“I didn’t have any specific area, I just hit 30 spots. I have a game plan and I have something in my back pocket where if I need a fish I can grab one quick in a couple of little areas. I needed a couple today and that’s what I did.”

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., maintained his lead in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 795 points. With a 66-point margin over Chris Johnston (729), Feider just needs a decent showing Friday to conclude his best professional season with an AOY title.

Former AOY (2017) Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is in third place with 702 points, followed by Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., with 676 and Caleb Sumrall of New Iberia, La., with 669.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at Whittaker Park. The weigh-in will be held back at the park at 3:15 p.m. After Friday’s weigh-in, only the Top 45 anglers will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round.

Live coverage for each day of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Bass Pro Shops, Garmin, Huk Performance Fishing, Marathon, Rapala

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Conservation Partner: AFTCO

2021 Farmers Insurance Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River Local Hosts: Village of Waddington, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce

BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

Schmitt Slams The Door On Bassmaster Elite Series Event At Lake Champlain

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 11, 2021
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PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Bryan Schmitt talked all week about “special little things” that were happening to help him maintain the lead at the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain.

But the most special one happened just 15 minutes before Sunday’s final weigh-in, as Schmitt landed a 3 1/2-pound smallmouth that gave him a 12-ounce upgrade and allowed him to secure his first Elite Series win with a four-day total of 78 pounds, 5 ounces.

Call it luck. Call it fate. But the win seemed meant to be for the second-year Elite Series pro from Deale, Md.

“I pulled up to a buoy cable this afternoon right before time to come in and saw two fish on my (Garmin) LiveScope,” Schmitt said. “I threw that drop shot in there, felt the bite and didn’t really think it was a bass. But it turns out it was a bass — and without that fish I don’t win.

“When things like that are happening, man, it’s a special week.”

Schmitt talked each day about a waning bite, but he still managed to catch 21-11, 21-5 and 19-4 the first three rounds. Then on Championship Sunday, things did get tougher and he only managed to bring in 16-1.

That barely helped him stave off a hard charge from Texas pro Keith Combs, who finished with 77-13 — just 8 ounces behind the leader.

To catch his bass, Schmitt used a Spro Spin John, a Neko-rigged Missile Baits Quiver Worm and a Missile Baits Ned Bomb on a drop-shot rig.

“I caught a couple of key fish on the spinbait, but the Quiver Worm produced the bulk of my fish for sure,” he said. “I was fishing it on a Hayabusa Spin Muscle Guard Hook with a little nail weight just to get it down.

“These fish are smart, I guess. You could throw a jig in there and they wouldn’t bite it, but they would eat that Quiver Worm.”

For the Neko setup, Schmitt used a 6-9 Fitzgerald Stunner Rod and a spinning reel spooled with 10-pound braid and a 10-pound fluorocarbon leader. For the drop-shot rig, he used a drop-shot wacky hook from Hayabusa, a 1/4-ounce Reins Tungsten sinker with 8-pound fluorocarbon on the same rod. The only time he picked up a baitcaster was when he used the spinbait.

Another special element for Schmitt this week was the ability to overcome several unfortunate moments.

On Saturday, he had two key fish break his line. Then on Sunday, he lost several bass because of something he says he should have never allowed to happen.

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“Today, it took me three lost fish to realize that the point on my drop-shot hook had bent in,” he said. “That’s not a smart move. Out of those three, I’ll bet you at least one of them was a big one because they were on a spot where I had caught three 4-pounders this week.

“I was able to overcome those kinds of mistakes — somehow.”

Even as he was standing in the weigh-in line, Schmitt said he thought he’d blown his chance with only 16-1 in his bag.

“I thought it was over, no way,” he said. “I knew one of these guys was going to have a good day — and Keith (Combs) did.”

Combs, who was in 16th place going into Saturday’s semifinal round, dialed in a topwater strategy for big smallmouth and caught 20-14 to jump into third heading into Championship Sunday.

The topwater pattern, which included a Strike King Sexy Dawg and another unnamed walking bait, produced again Sunday, as Combs caught 19-3 and held the unofficial lead on BassTrakk for a while.

Combs, who also used a couple of different jerkbaits, caught a pair of large fish that swallowed his lures so deeply he was forced to release them for fear of receiving a 4-ounce dead-fish penalty at the scales.

“With those two fish, I might have actually had enough to win,” Combs said. “I hate that it worked out that way, but it is what is.”

Minnesota pro Seth Feider, who came into the event just needing to avoid a total crash and burn to maintain his lead in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, did far more than simply survive. He finished in fourth place behind Schmitt, Combs and Texas pro Chris Zaldain.

With his fourth Top 10 of the season, Feider now has 699 points and holds a commanding lead over his closest competitors, Patrick Walters of South Carolina (644) and Canadian Chris Johnston (630).

Feider believes it will take something catastrophic to keep him from winning the AOY title now — and for that reason, he plans to stay close to the takeoff site during next week’s season-ending Farmers Insurance Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River.

“I’m not going to take any chances, and that definitely means I won’t be making the long run to Lake Ontario,” Feider said. “I probably won’t get more than 30 miles from the takeoff site anytime during the week.”

Another Minnesota pro, Austin Felix, took Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day honors with a 4-13. Oklahoma pro Dale Hightower had Big Bass of the week with the 5-15 he caught on Day 1.

Combs took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Zaldain earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

Combs also earned $2,500 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Yamaha Power Pay program, while Zaldain claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Major League Fishing’s Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Set to Premiere on This Week on Sportsman Channel and Outdoor Channel

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 8, 2021
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TULSA, Okla. (July 6, 2021) – The 26^th season of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers is set to premiere with a two-hour episode Wednesday, July 7, at 10 a.m. ET on the Sportsman Channel and re-air on Sunday, July 11, at 7 a.m. ET on the Outdoor Channel.

The 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers features a roster of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals competing across six regular-season events, each with a top award of up to $135,000. The field also competes for valuable points to qualify for the 2021 Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury – the Pro Circuit Championship.

The first two-hour episode of the Pro Circuit will showcase the 13 Fishing Stop 1 at Lake Okeechobee event in Clewiston, Florida. Episodes will premiere Wednesdays at 10 a.m. ET on the Sportsman Channel and re-air that same week on Sundays at 7 a.m. ET on the Outdoor Channel. The schedule will culminate with six new episodes of the Tackle Warehouse TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship event, airing from October through mid-December.

The complete air schedule for the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers on the Sportsman Channel and Outdoor Channel is:

– July 7                   13 Fishing Stop 1 at Lake Okeechobee – Sportsman Channel
– July 11                 13 Fishing Stop 1 at Lake Okeechobee – Outdoor Channel
– July 14                 Covercraft Stop 2 at Lewis Smith Lake – Sportsman Channel
– July 18                 Covercraft Stop 2 at Lewis Smith Lake – Outdoor Channel
– July 21                 Googan Baits Stop 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Favorite Fishing – Sportsman Channel
– July 25                 Googan Baits Stop 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Favorite Fishing – Outdoor Channel
– Aug. 18                Grundens Stop 4 at Lake Eufaula Presented by A.R.E. – Sportsman Channel
– Aug. 22                Grundens Stop 4 at Lake Eufaula Presented by A.R.E. – Outdoor Channel
– Aug. 25                Federal Ammunition Stop 5 at Potomac River Presented by Lucas Oil – Sportsman Channel
– Aug. 29                Federal Ammunition Stop 5 at Potomac River Presented by Lucas Oil – Outdoor Channel
– Sept. 1                 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 6 at St. Lawrence River Presented by Googan Baits– Sportsman Channel
– Sept. 5                 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 6 at St. Lawrence River Presented by Googan Baits– Outdoor Channel
– Oct. 6                   Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 1 – Sportsman Channel
– Oct. 10                 Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 1 – Outdoor Channel
– Oct. 13                 Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 2 – Sportsman Channel
– Oct. 17                Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 2 – Outdoor Channel
– Oct. 20                 Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 3– Sportsman Channel
– Oct. 24                 Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 3 – Outdoor Channel
– Oct. 27                Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 4 – Sportsman Channel
– Oct. 31                 Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 4 – Outdoor Channel
– Nov. 3                  Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 5 – Sportsman Channel
– Nov. 7                  Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 5 – Outdoor Channel
– Nov. 10               Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 6 – Sportsman Channel
– Nov. 14               Tackle Warehouse TITLE at Mississippi River Presented by Mercury Day 6 – Outdoor Channel

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About MLF BIG5
MLF BIG5 is part of MLF, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization. It provides anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money across five tournament circuits featuring a five-biggest-fish format. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with offices in Benton, Kentucky, MLF and its partners conduct more than 290 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.

MLF tournaments are broadcast on Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, MyOutdoorTV, Discovery and CBS Sports while MLF Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros to the world’s most avid bass anglers.

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

CarParts.com Named Title Sponsor of Stage Seven, Exclusive Auto Parts Retailer of Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 1, 2021
No Comments on CarParts.com Named Title Sponsor of Stage Seven, Exclusive Auto Parts Retailer of Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour

TULSA, Okla. (June 22, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s premier tournament-fishing organization, and CarParts.com (NASDAQ: PRTS), an industry leading technology-driven eCommerce company that simplifies the way drivers shop for automotive parts, announced a new partnership designating CarParts.com as the Exclusive Auto Parts Retailer of the MLF Bass Pro Tour and the Title Sponsor of the MLF Bass Pro Tour CarParts.com Stage Seven Presented by Covercraft at Lake St. Clair, scheduled for Sept. 10-15 in St. Clair Shores, Michigan.

“We are very pleased to announce our latest sponsorship agreement with CarParts.com, an industry-leading brand and a highly-regarded company that perfectly aligns with Major League Fishing,” MLF President and CEO Jim Wilburn said. “The reach of MLF provides our sponsors an appealing platform to showcase their brands. Our fans and anglers have shown tremendous loyalty to our sponsors’ products and we are confident that CarParts.com will find this sponsorship extremely beneficial.”

CarParts.com will be prominently featured throughout the Bass Pro Tour Stage Seven event, including in-studio signage, graphic elements, and the opportunity to activate at the event in St. Clair Shores. In addition to the title sponsorship, MLF will work with CarParts.com to produce a series of custom content videos, showcasing MLF professional anglers who are auto enthusiasts as they perform their own automobile repairs and maintenance.

“We are thrilled to join the MLF family as the Exclusive Auto Parts Retailer of this year’s Bass Pro Tour and to be the go-to parts solution for all fishing fans,” said CarParts.com Chief Marketing Officer Houman Akhavan. “This partnership will allow us to reach a core demographic of truck owners who enjoy working on their vehicles. Whether you’re towing to the lake or just packing up for a camping trip, we want to make sure our customers can spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time worrying about the reliability of their vehicle.”

The MLF NOW!® livestream will showcase all six days of competition from the CarParts.com Stage Seven Presented by Covercraft at Lake St. Clair live on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app. Television coverage of the event will premiere at 7 a.m. ET, Nov. 13 on the Discovery Channel. New two-hour MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel.

With brand and factory-direct self-distribution, CarParts.com offers a wide selection of new, quality auto parts for car repair, maintenance, and collision as well as accessories. Paired with their online vehicle selector, fast shipping, and satisfaction guarantee, CarParts.com ensures that drivers can get what they need, when they need it. To share their mission with more and more drivers, CarParts.com has joined forces with a number of esteemed partners—including Front Row Motorsports and NASCAR Cup Series driver Michael McDowell, the Professional Fighters League, and Donut Media—and looks forward to helping MLF fans get from point A to point B with confidence as well.

For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about CarParts.com, visit their website at CarParts.com.

About CarParts.com
With over 25 years of experience, and more than 50 million parts delivered, we’ve streamlined our website and sourcing network to better serve the way drivers get the parts they need. Utilizing the latest technologies and design principles, we’ve created an easy-to-use, mobile-friendly shopping experience that, alongside our own nationwide distribution network, cuts out the brick-and-mortar supply chain costs and provides quality parts at a budget-friendly price.

CarParts.com (NASDAQ: PRTS) is headquartered in Torrance, California.

JOIN THE MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING CONVERSATION NOW

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, the Discovery Channel, the Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, the World Fishing Network, the Sportsman Channel and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with offices in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. In 2019 MLF acquired FLW and rebranded it as MLF BIG5, which expanded its portfolio of catch, weigh and immediate release events to include the sport’s strongest five-biggest-fish format tournament circuits. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams, and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.

Major League Fishing – WE ARE Bass Fishing™

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

John Cox Tops Group B at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Five at St. Lawrence River Presented by Berkley

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 28, 2021
No Comments on John Cox Tops Group B at Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Five at St. Lawrence River Presented by Berkley

MASSENA, N.Y. (June 28, 2021) – Berkley pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, caught 23 scorable bass Monday weighing 75 pounds, 15 ounces to win the two-day Qualifying Group B round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Five at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Berkley in Massena, New York. Cox’s two-day total of 54 bass weighing 175 pounds even earned him the victory by a 23-pound, 11-ounce margin and advances him directly into Wednesday’s final-day Championship Round of competition.

Phoenix Boats pro James Elam of Tulsa, Oklahoma caught a two-day total of 51 bass weighing 151-5 to end the round in second place, and Shelby, North Carolina pro Bryan Thrift finished the round in third place with a two-day total of 51 bass weighing 149-11.

The remaining 38 anglers – 19 from Group A and 19 from Group B – will now compete Tuesday in the Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top eight to advance to Championship Wednesday. Wednesday’s Championship Round will feature Group A winner Jacob Wheeler, Group B winner John Cox, and the top eight anglers from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for the top prize of $100,000.

“Oh my gosh, I feel like I won the tournament, just making it to the Championship Round,” said an excited Cox. “I’ve never won one of these rounds before, so this is a new experience for me. I’m really excited to be able to allow the fish to rest a little before the next round.

“Ten of us are going to compete for $100,000 on Wednesday – I don’t even know what to say. Not sure if I’m having a mild heart attack or if the red bull is just really kicking in,” continued Cox. “I caught a ton of fish today and found some exciting stuff in the third period that should help us out in the next round. On the last cast, there were probably 15 fish that came in when I shook that 4 pounder off. I can’t wait to get back out there – it’s going to be awesome.

“I’ve been using the new 7-foot, medium action Abu Garcia Fantasista Premier spinning rod – it bends perfectly and handles the fish on the light line. I’m throwing 8-pound, Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, on the Abu Garcia REVO MGXtreme Spinning Reel. It has a super-smooth drag and allows me to fight the fish really well.”

Cox said his key baits came down to the Berkley Powerbait Maxscent The General Worm and the Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Hit Worm.

“I never even had these smaller Berkley General worm until a couple years ago because I figured the 5 inch was plenty small enough,” continued Cox. “They didn’t want the 5-inch today, but they ate this 4-inch one up really well.

“The Maxscent Hit Worm was an accidental win today. I had no idea it would work that well – I’d never heard of anyone catching smallmouth with it. I put it on to save some Flat Worms and they’ve just been killing it today.”

With a full day off, Cox said he plans to take his kids tubing down below the locks and is looking forward to enjoying the family time prior to Wednesday’s competition.

“This event has been awesome. I can’t wait to get back out there for the Championship Round,” said Cox. “This place is full of fish – it’s just been unreal.”

The top 20 pros in Qualifying Group B that now advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round on the St. Lawrence River are:

1^st:           John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 54 bass, 175-0
2^nd:          James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 51 bass, 151-5
3^rd:          Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 51 bass, 149-11
4^th:           Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 49 bass, 149-2
5^th:           Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 44 bass, 132-10
6^th:           Jared Lintner, Arroyo Grande, Calif., 41 bass, 127-1
7^th:           Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 33 bass, 126-6
8^th:           Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 35 bass, 125-9
9^th:           Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 42 bass, 125-6
10^th:        Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 44 bass, 123-14
11^th:        Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 37 bass, 122-14
12^th:        Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 41 bass, 116-15
13^th:        Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 37 bass, 114-15
14^th:        John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 38 bass, 110-11
15^th:        Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 29 bass, 104-12
16^th:        David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 36 bass, 102-12
17^th:        Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 32 bass, 100-0
18^th:        Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 31 bass, 96-9
19^th:        Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 34 bass, 96-6
20^th:        Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 34 bass, 94-14

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

Overall, there were 594 bass weighing 1,808 pounds, 8 ounces caught by the 39 pros on Monday.

Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Florida won Monday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 6-pound, 6-ounce smallmouth bass on a ned rig during Period 3. Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler who weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

The General Tire Stage Five at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Berkley features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement, meaning each bass caught must weigh at least 2 pounds for it to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Five at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Berkley is hosted by the Town of Massena and Fish Massena.

The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Friday and Sunday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Saturday and Monday. With both groups two-day qualifying round now complete, the anglers that finish in 2^nd through 20^th place from both groups now advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round, while the winner of each group advances directly to Wednesday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed and the remaining 38 anglers compete to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins.

Anglers will take off from the Massena Intake Boat Launch Ramp, located on Route 13, in Massena, at 8:30 a.m. ET each day of competition. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will also be held at the Launch Ramp, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all takeoff and takeout ceremonies and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined at each event by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit – competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2022 championship.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 9:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Five Presented by Berkley at the St. Lawrence River will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Oct. 23 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, the Discovery Channel, the Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, the World Fishing Network, the Sportsman Channel and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with offices in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. In 2019 MLF acquired FLW and rebranded it as MLF BIG5, which expanded its portfolio of catch, weigh and immediately release events to include the sport’s strongest five-biggest-fish format tournament circuits. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams, and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.

Major League Fishing – WE ARE Bass Fishing™

MLF BIG-5

Ohio’s Collins Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Grand Lake-St. Mary’s Presented by TINCUP

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 28, 2021
No Comments on Ohio’s Collins Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Grand Lake-St. Mary’s Presented by TINCUP

CELINA, Ohio (June 28, 2021) – Boater Tony Collins of Dayton, Ohio, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Grand Lake-St. Mary’s Presented by TINCUP Whiskey in Celina, Ohio. Collins earned $12,271 for his victory at the event, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 contingency bonus.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Tony Collins of Dayton, Ohio	5	10-9	$12,271
2^nd	Josh Smith of Hamilton, Ohio	5	8-10	$2,336
3^rd	Jeremie Barker of Trenton, Ohio	4	8-7	$1,424
4^th	Chris Martinkovic of Hamilton, Ohio	5	8-4	$1,497
5^th	Gary Ginter of Bellefontaine, Ohio	5	7-14	$854
6^th	Jake Poffenberger of Brookville, Ohio	5	7-11	$747
6^th	Matt Cash of Fairfield, Ohio	5	7-11	$747
8^th	Dick Shaffer of Rockford, Ohio	5	7-10	$641
9^th	Zach Graham of Westerville, Ohio	4	7-8	$569
10^th	Michael Nesbitt of St. Paris, Ohio	3	7-3	$498

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Brent Jones of Okeana, Ohio	5	6-9	$1,802
1^st	Ron Weisenburger of Continental, Ohio	3	6-9	$1,802
3^rd	Randy Bramos of Winchester, Ohio	3	6-6	$712
4^th	Ryan Rich of Eaton, Ohio	5	5-11	$498
5^th	Brent Wilkens of Hamilton, Ohio	3	5-2	$427
6^th	Ed Mook of McDonald, Ohio	2	4-15	$392
7^th	Jacob Crapyou of Portsmouth, Ohio	3	4-14	$358
8^th	Rob Webber of Elyria, Ohio	2	4-4	$302
8^th	Dan Goforth of Monroe, Ohio	3	4-4	$302
10^th	Karl Schreiber of Georgetown, Ky.	3	3-14	$226
10^th	Jeff Moorman of Liberty Township, Ohio	2	3-14	$226
10^th	Greg Scythes of Marysville, Ohio	3	3-14	$226

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CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Berkley Big Bass	Jim Vitaro of Wooster, Ohio	3-pound, 14-ounce bass	$595
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Carrie Strauser of Belle Center, Ohio	3-pound, 6-ounce bass	$297
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Tony Collins of Dayton, Ohio	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$7,000

* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Spinnerbait	N/A
Strike King Co-Angler	8-in Worm (Weisenburger) Yamamoto Senko (Jones)	N/A N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Buckeye Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship	Oct. 14-16	Potomac River, Marbury, Md.	Charles County Board of Commissioners
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American	June 2-4, 2022	Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark.	Arkansas Dept. of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

MLF BIG-5

Alabama’s McCaig Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League & Jacques Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division on Lake Neely Henry Presented by Googan Baits

GADSDEN, Ala. (June 28, 2021) – Boater Mark McCaig of Oxford, Alabama, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Neely Henry Presented by Googan Baits in Gadsden, Alabama. McCaig earned $12,938 for his victory at the event, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 contingency bonus.

The event was hosted by the City of Gadsden.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Mark McCaig of Oxford, Ala.	5	16-12	$12,938
2^nd	Kris Colley of Ragland, Ala.	5	16-2	$2,469
3^rd	Tommy Hensley of Jackson, Ga.	5	15-0	$1,646
4^th	Hunter Hays of Gadsden, Ala.	5	14-3	$1,152
5^th	Robbie Robinson of Mobile, Ala.	5	14-1	$988
6^th	Blake Lewis of Pace, Fla.	5	12-9	$905
7^th	Blake Tomlin of Greenville, Ga.	5	12-7	$1,568
8^th	Roger Shifflett of Hayden, Ala.	5	12-6	$741
9^th	Jason Berrong of Crossville, Ala.	5	12-3	$658
10^th	Bradley Jones of Aragon, Ga.	5	11-15	$576

JOIN THE MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING CONVERSATION NOW

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Steven Jacques of Addison, Ala.	5	13-5	$2,655
2^nd	Johnathon Marsh of Graysville, Ala.	4	10-9	$1,235
3^rd	Steve Burgess of Killen, Ala.	5	9-15	$1,023
4^th	Richard Bailey of Florence, Ala.	5	9-10	$576
5^th	Mason Cole of Deatsville, Ala.	5	8-12	$494
6^th	Charles Davis of Wetumpka, Ala.	5	8-11	$703
7^th	Hunter Bowden of Terre Haute, Ind.	4	8-10	$412
8^th	Terry Harper of Ranburne, Ala.	5	8-9	$370
9^th	Audie Aultman of Knoxville, Tenn.	4	7-15	$329
10^th	Pauley Pitcher of Huntsville, Ala.	5	7-12	$288

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Blake Tomlin of Greenville, Ga.	7-pound, 4-ounce bass	$745
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Gerald Grace of Jasper, Ala. & Steven Jacques of Addison, Ala.	4-pound, 11-ounce bass	$372 (split)
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Mark McCaig of Oxford, Ala.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$7,000

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Jig and Beaver	N/A
Strike King Co-Angler	Shaky-head rig	N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Bama Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship	Oct. 7-9	Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala.	Decatur Morgan County Tourism
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American	June 2-4, 2022	Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark.	Arkansas Dept. of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.