Category: MLF BIG-5

LA CROSSE, Wis. (Aug. 22, 2021) – Pro Jimmy Washam of Covington, Tennessee brought a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 15 ounces to the stage on Sunday to win $200,000 and the TITLE belt at the second annual Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury – the Pro Circuit Championship, Presented by Bad Boy Mowers – on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Washam won by a 1-pound, 3-ounce margin over Berkley pro Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida who weighed a limit of 17-15, good for second place and $50,000. Favorite Fishing pro Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma rounded out the top three, weighing a five-bass limit of 15-6 and taking home $30,000.

Sunday’s final day of competition marked the finale of the six-day Tackle Warehouse TITLE, which featured the top 48 pros in the 2021 Pro Circuit standings, along with last year’s reigning TITLE champion and reigning Angler of the Year – all competing for a purse of nearly $900,000.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury – the Pro Circuit Championship, Presented by Bad Boy Mowers was hosted by Explore La Crosse.

Washam said he began fishing MLF tournaments in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League in 2012, before moving up to the Toyota Series in 2017. He qualified for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers through the Toyota Series Central Division in 2019 and has made TITLE appearances in both ’20 and ’21. When he’s not fishing, Washam is a deputy sheriff sergeant in Tennessee

“All the glory goes to God,” Washam said of the win. “This is so amazing, but it’s His work above, I promise you. Five years ago, I bought my first fiberglass boat and decided I’d fish the [Phoenix Bass Fishing League] as a boater. Now I’m standing here with a TITLE belt on my shoulder.”

Moving up through the ranks hasn’t been easy for Washam, who took a big financial risk in 2020 and again in 2021 to follow his passion.

“I’m 34 years old and I didn’t start as young as I wish I would have, but I had to earn a living and work, so it was a slow progression to step up to this level,” said Washam. “After last year I knew that I could hang, and this year has been an absolutely incredible year. It’s humbling to know the group of anglers I just joined.”

Washam said he was contemplating going back to the Black River on the final day, having found a few places where he could pull up and catch a limit in a few casts, but he decided to make a change.

“I got to thinking, it’s Sunday and there are a lot of guys out fishing,” said Washam. “I’ve got a place that likely has the winning bag on it. Why in the world would I not go there first? Literally, as I pulled up, there was a guy in a Jon boat that was slinging a topwater and he was only half a cast away from my fish. I don’t think he knew what was there, but he was really close to finding out.

“He was a total class act,” Washam continued. “I pulled up and said, ‘Good morning.’ Of course, I was going to ask him as politely as I could if he minded giving me a little space for a couple hours, but I didn’t even have to ask. He picked up the trolling motor and left, then came back later as a spectator. Turns out he works at the sheriff’s office in La Crosse.”

Nerves didn’t seem to be a factor for Washam going into the Championship Round, even with $200,000 on the line.

“I was confident going into the final day,” said Washam. “Any time you find something like that and you’re able to leave it for Championship Sunday it’s great. But I’ve played this game long enough to know that there are so many variables. When I made the first cast and didn’t get a bite the wheels started turning. Then, when I made the second cast and caught a 3-pounder I was pumped.”

The top 10 pros at the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE on the Mississippi River are:
1^st:           Jimmy Washam, Covington, Tenn., five bass, 17-15, $200,000
2^nd:          Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 16-12, $50,000
3^rd:          Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 15-6, $30,000
4^th:           Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 13-5, $25,000
5^th:           Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., five bass, 13-2, $19,000
6^th:           Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., five bass, 13-2, $18,000
7^th:           Miles Burghoff, Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., five bass, 12-8, $17,000
8^th:           Jimmy Reese, Witter Springs, Calif., five bass, 11-14, $16,000
9^th:           Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 11-3, $15,000
10^th:       Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass,  11-1, $14,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 50 bass weighing 136 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the 10 pros on Saturday with 10 five-bass limits.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury – the Pro Circuit Championship, Presented by Bad Boy Mowers featured a hybrid tournament format. All 50 anglers were seeded into two groups of 25 – Group A & Group B, based on points earned in 2021 qualifying events – where they competed in Qualifying Rounds over the first four days of the tournament. The top 10 anglers in each group moved on to the Knockout Round on Day 5, with zeroed weights, to compete for the chance to fish on the final day. The top 10 anglers from the Knockout Round then advanced to Championship Sunday, where weights were again zeroed as anglers competed for the $235,000 prize. Winners were determined by the heaviest five-bass limit of each round.

Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Presented by Mercury event will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Oct. 10 on the Outdoor Channel. Episodes premiere Sunday mornings on the Outdoor Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition. Episodes will run through Nov. 14.

The 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers featured a field of 163 of the top professional anglers in the world competing at six regular-season events around the country. The top 50 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the six events qualified to compete in the Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, Presented by Bad Boy Mowers.

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MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 1, 2021) – Rookie Cody Pike of Powhatan, Virginia brought a five-bass limit to the scale Sunday weighing 22 pounds, 3 ounces to win the   MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Savage Arms Stop 6 Presented by Abu Garcia at the St. Lawrence River. Pike’s four-day total of 20 bass weighing 82 pounds, 12 ounces earned him the win by a 1-pound, 12-ounce margin over pro Matthew Stefan of Junction City, Wisconsin, and the top prize of $135,000, including a lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus.

“You don’t do this sport for the money, you do it because you love it,” said a very emotional Pike after earning the win. “This is awesome – it’s like a dream. I’ve tried to make it here for so many years.

“I qualified [for the Pro Circuit] through the Toyota Series last year,” continued Pike. “You aren’t guaranteed the opportunity to make it and fish these professional circuits every year, so I went ahead and jumped on the opportunity and I’m loving it.”

Pike said he came into the final qualifying event of the Pro Circuit with just the hope of qualifying for the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where anglers have the opportunity to compete for up to $235,000.

“Things happened this week that made no sense – things that weren’t supposed to happen and there was no explanation to it,” said Pike. “I had one main area that I was fishing today, with 15 to 20 good spots along it. I just kept making circles through those areas and kept getting bites.

“I honestly couldn’t ask for more,” continued Pike. “To qualify for the TITLE, then fish in the Top 10, find myself in contention for the win – then take home the win, all in my rookie season – it’s just unbelievable.”

Pike said he loves catching smallmouth but would not consider himself a smallmouth angler. Add his lack of experience fishing rivers to that and his expectations for this event were low.

“I could understand figuring out fish that I was more comfortable with, but to do this on a smallmouth fishery is just incredible,” said Pike. “I usually get my tail kicked in smallmouth tournaments.

“I mostly fished shoals and rock piles the size of my boat this week. If I didn’t get bit on the first cast, I just moved to the next one. I probably had 40 to 50 spots that I found during the tournament. Once I knew I had a solid bag each day, I could just go fish and look around. That helped a lot.”

Pike said he caught most of his fish this week drop-shotting a green-pumpkin Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm  with a 1/2-ounce Eco Pro Tungsten weight and 6- and 7-pound-test  Gamma Touch fluorocarbon line.

“I had no idea what I needed to do to catch Joey [Cifuentes] going into today. He had such a strong lead, I just didn’t think it was going to happen,” said Pike. “I still can’t believe it.

“This trophy means a lot. People work their whole lives for this and don’t ever get one. I got lucky and everything lined up just right to go home with one my rookie year – that doesn’t happen often.”

The top 10 pros at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Savage Arms Stop 6 on the St. Lawrence River finished:

                  1^st:           Cody Pike of Powhatan, Va., 20 bass, 82-12, $135,000
                  2^nd:          Matthew Stefan of Junction City, Wis., 20 bass, 81-0, $30,000
                  3^rd:          Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., 20 bass, 79-10, $25,000
                  4^th:           Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Mich., 20 bass, 78-6, $20,000
                  5^th:           Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., 20 bass, 76-11, $19,000
                  6^th:           John Cox of DeBary, Fla., 18 bass, 76-8, $18,000
                  7^th:           Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., 20 bass, 76-6, $17,000
                  8^th:           Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., 20 bass, 75-8, $16,000
                  9^th:           Justin Cooper of Zwolle, La., 20 bass, 73-7, $15,000
                  10^th:        Aaron Britt of Yuba City, Calif., 20 bass, 71-9, $14,000

Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 50 bass weighing 183 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the final 10 pros Sunday. All of the final 10 pros brought a five-bass limit to the scales.

The four top performers who now qualify to compete in the MLF Bass Pro Tour Carparts.com Stage Seven at Lake St. Clair Presented by Covercraft in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, Sept. 10-15, are Cody Pike, Matthew Stefan, Joey Cifuentes and Scott Dobson.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Savage Arms Stop 6 Presented by Abu Garcia at the St. Lawrence River will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the Outdoor Channel on Sunday, Sept. 1 from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and re-air on the Sportsman Channel this fall.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Savage Arms Stop 6 Presented by Abu Garcia at the St. Lawrence River was hosted by the Town of Massena.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continued competition on Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.

Pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, clinched the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year title Saturday, after finishing the event in 11^th place. Neal will receive his entry fees paid for the entire 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit season for his win.

Pro Clabion Johns of Social Circle, Georgia, clinched the Polaris 2021 Rookie of the Year (ROY) award on Friday, which is awarded to the rookie pro angler who finishes the season with the highest point total. For his efforts, Johns won a Polaris Ranger 1000.

Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2021 TITLE will be on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin on Aug. 17-22, and is hosted by Explore La Crosse.

MASSENA, N.Y. (July 29, 2021) – A field of 154 bass-fishing professionals from around the world began their four-day competition for a top award of $135,000 at the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Savage Arms Stop 6 at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Abu Garcia Thursday in Massena, New York.

Berkley pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, weighed a five-bass limit of St. Lawrence River smallmouth totaling 24 pounds, 12 ounces to take the early lead after Day 1. Cox holds a slim 7-ounce lead over pro Joey “Cowboy” Cifuentes of Clinton, Arkanas, who caught five bass weighing 24-5, good for second place.

“I am in absolute shock to be leading this thing,” Cox laughed after weighing in. “I’m not kidding – this was probably the worst practice that I have ever had before. Coming into today I was thinking, ‘If I can somehow catch 18 or 20 (pounds) and maybe catch a couple tomorrow I could get out of here with a check.’ And I would have taken that. I was shooting for 50^th place. So to weigh what I did today is just unreal.”

Cox said that he caught just seven fish on the day – all before noon.

“I didn’t catch many, but the ones that I did catch were the right ones,” Cox said. “Tomorrow I’m going to try to do what I did today and just bounce around and hit some new areas. I tried so hard to make those areas that I fished in the Bass Pro Tour event here last month work, but I couldn’t catch anything. They’re not even the same areas anymore – there is grass growing in now and it’s just changed completely. I had to change everything up and treat this place like I’d never fished it before.”

Cox spent the afternoon scouting new areas and trying to find a couple of spots that could possibly carry him through the remainder of the four-day tournament.

“It looks so good when I weigh in 24 pounds, and it was a lot of fun today, but I’ve got nothing for tomorrow,” Cox went on to say. “All I can do is keep trying to find new stuff, but honestly I think I’ll be lucky to catch five again.”

The top 10 pros after Day One the St. Lawrence River are:

  1^st:        John Cox, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 24-12
  2^nd:       Joey “Cowboy” Cifuentes, Clinton, Ark., five bass, 24-5
  3^rd:       Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 23-7
  4^th:       Miles Howe, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., five bass, 22-10
  5^th:       Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., five bass, 22-7
  6^th:       Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., five bass, 22-0
  6^th:       Erik Luzak, Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada, five bass, 22-0
  8^th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 21-8
  9^th:       Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 21-2
  10^th:     Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 21-0

For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Stefan won Thursday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass award, weighing a 6-pound, 8-ounce smallmouth to earn the day’s award.

Overall, there were 711 bass weighing 2,270 pounds, 12 ounces caught by the 153 pros on Thursday, which included 124 five-bass limits.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Savage Arms Stop 6 at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Abu Garcia is hosted by the Town of Massena.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 154 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition on Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.

Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2021 TITLE will be on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin on Aug. 17-22, and is hosted by Explore La Crosse.

Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. ET, Thursday through Sunday, from the Massena Intake Boat Launch located at 1415 State Highway 131 in Massena. Weigh-ins will also be held at the boat launch daily at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the MLF NOW! live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Bad Boy Mowers, Savage Arms Stop 6 Presented by Abu Garcia at the St. Lawrence River will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the Outdoor Channel on Sunday, Sept. 1 from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and re-air on the Sportsman Channel this fall. Weigh-ins will be streamed daily and fans can catch live on-the-water action all day Saturday and Sunday, July 31 – Aug. 1 on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

CORTLAND, Ohio (July 26, 2021) – Boater Kyle Knauf of Berlin Center, Ohio, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Mosquito Lake Presented by TINCUP Whiskey in Cortland, Ohio. Knauf earned $5,428 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1st	Kyle Knauf of Berlin Center, Ohio	5	16-5	$5,428
2nd	Shaun Brown of Slippery Rock, Pa.	5	15-13	$2,214
3rd	Jeffrey Yost of Lima, Ohio	5	14-10	$1,478
4th	Josh Kelly of Cortland, Ohio	5	14-1	$1,033
5th	Chuck Willis of Dayton, Ohio	5	13-15	$886
6th	Jay Ellis of Celina, Ohio	5	13-12	$2,012
7th	Butch Dobransky of North Canton, Ohio	5	13-9	$738
8th	Luke Fulton of Ray, Ohio	5	13-2	$627
8th	Danny Reaves of Cleves, Ohio	5	13-2	$627
10th	Josh Smith of Hamilton, Ohio	5	13-1	$517

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1st	Brian Blinn of Troy, Ohio	5	12-3	$2,214
2nd	Mark Miller of Baltic, Ohio	5	11-14	$1,107
3rd	Jarrod Simmons of Athens, Ohio	5	11-13	$738
4th	Brian Zelinskas of Beavercreek, Ohio	5	11-12	$517
5th	J.R. Selke of Waynesville, Ohio	5	10-12	$443
6th	Dan Goforth of Monroe, Ohio	5	10-10	$406
7th	Jordan Voigt of Celina, Ohio	5	10-8	$369
8th	Jeff Turner of Plainfiled, Ill.	5	10-5	$532
9th	Alfie Bricker of West Portsmouth, Ohio	5	10-4	$295
10th	Billy French of Hamilton, Ohio	5	10-3	$258

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Brody Campbell of Oxford, Ohio	5-pound, 3-ounce bass	$635
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Preston Hake of Mineral Ridge, Ohio	4-pound, 4-ounce bass	$317
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Jay Ellis of Celina, Ohio	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

* 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	Unspecified Drop Shot	N/A
Strike King Co-Angler	Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer	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	Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark.	Arkansas Department 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.

HENRICO, Va.  (July 26, 2021) – Boater Ryan Lachniet of Gum Spring, Virginia, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at James River in Henrico, Virginia. Lachniet earned $4,127 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1st	Ryan Lachniet of Gum Spring, Va.	4	21-15	$4,127
2nd	Marshall Johnson of Montpelier, Va.	5	18-12	$2,064
3rd	Jason Tibbetts of Centreville, Va.	5	18-10	$1,377
4th	Thomas Milton of Chester, Va.	5	18-8	$963
5th	Steve Colgin of Lanexa, Va.	5	18-1	$825
6th	Travis Lugar of McGaheysville, Va.	5	17-7	$757
7th	Drew Parks of Union Bridge, Md.	5	17-4	$1,188
8th	Tim Chaffin of Quinton, Va.	5	16-5	$619
8th	Mike Hicks of Goochland, Va.	5	16-1	$550
10th	Chris Daves of Spring Grove, Va.	5	15-11	$482

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1st	Alex Titus of Annandale, Va.	5	14-5	$2,064
2nd	Lazarus Durham of Dumfries, Va.	5	13-8	$1,157
3rd	Rob Hilliard of Vinton, Va.	5	12-12	$688
4th	Dean Dalton of Keeling, Va.	5	12-7	$482
5th	Tracy Gravely of Petersburg, Va.	5	12-3	$413
6th	Doug Griles of Providence Ford, Va.	5	12-2	$378
7th	Matt Hummel of Lancaster, Pa.	5	12-1	$344
8th	Greg Chuhta of Germantown, Md.	5	11-13	$310
9th	Thomas Greenberg of Montpelier, Va.	3	11-10	$275
10th	David L. Deciucis of Chester, Va.	5	11-7	$241

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Richard Hodges of Knotts Island, N.C.287	7-pound, 4-ounce bass	$575
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Dick Allen of Sumerduck, Va.	5-pound, 7-ounce bass	$287
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Drew Parks of Union Bridge, Md.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

* 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	Yamamoto Senko/Wacky Rig	Black/Blue
Strike King Co-Angler	Zoom Magnum Shakey Head Worm	N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Shenandoah Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship	Oct. 14-16	Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C.	Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American	June 2-4	Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark.	Arkansas Department 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.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (JULY 26, 2021) – Boater Jared Barkyoumb of Winooski, Vermont, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Barkyoumb earned $4,695 for his victory at the event, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1st	Jared Barkyoumb of Winooski, Vt.	5	20-8	$4,695
2nd	Thomas Waltz of Saint Albans, Vt.	5	20-2	$2,348
3rd	Stephen Estes of Auburn, N.H.	5	19-14	$1,565
4th	Pete Gluszek of Mt. Laurel, N.J.	5	19-10	$1,796
5th	Cameron Chase of Conway, Mass.	5	19-6	$900
5th	Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas	5	19-6	$1,400
7th	Henry Fristik of Blandford, Mass.	5	19-5	$783
8th	Gary Longley of So. Londonderry, Vt.	5	19-4	$704
9th	Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas	5	19-3	$626
10th	Andrew Bechard of Plattsburgh, N.Y.	5	19-1	$520
10th	Robert Bordeaux of Essex Junction, Vt.	5	19-1	$520

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1st	Dominic Pellegrino of Torrington, Conn.	5	20-8	$2,309
2nd	Scott Minch of Feasterville, Pa.	5	19-2	$1,155
3rd	Michael Burke of Breinigsville, Pa.	5	18-3	$770
4th	Charles Peart of King of Prussia, Pa.	5	17-13	$539
5th	Chris Hurley of Carlisle, Pa.	5	16-10	$802
6th	Craig Cleveland of Frankfort, N.Y.	5	16-0	$423
7th	Jim D’Ambra of Hanover, Mass.	5	15-8	$385
8th	Romano Duncan of Andover, Mass.	5	15-5	$346
9th	Ethan McMahon of Swanton, Vt.	5	15-4	$288
9th	Thomas Illar, Jr., Hyde Park, Pa.	5	15-4	$288

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Jared Barkyoumb of Winooski, Vt.	5-pound, 7-ounce bass	$700
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Chris Hurley of Carlisle, Pa.	5-pound, 6-ounce bass	$340
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

* 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	Berkley Flat Worm/Drop Shot	N/A
Strike King Co-Angler	Roboworm/Drop Shot	N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Northeast 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	Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark.	Arkansas Department 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.

ORLANDO, Fla. (July 22, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced Thursday schedules for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and the 2022 Toyota Series at a live press event held at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST).

The 27th season of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit (formerly FLW Tour), professional bass fishing’s premier five-fish limit circuit, will feature six regular-season stops showcasing the best anglers in the world competing for thousands of dollars across the best bass fisheries in the United States. The 2022 season will culminate with the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE, in which 50 anglers will qualify – the top 48 finishers in the Pro Circuit Angler of the Year standings along with the reigning 2021 TITLE Champion and the 2021 Angler of the Year.

2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Schedule:
Jan. 27-30         Stop 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir     Brookeland, TexasHosted by the Jasper County Development District March 13-16   Stop 2 at Harris Chain of Lakes           Leesburg, Fla.
Hosted by Visit Lake County, Florida April 21-24      Stop 3 at Pickwick Lake                           Counce, Tenn.
Hosted by the Hardin County Convention & Visitors Bureau
May 12-15        Stop 4 at Lake Guntersville                   Guntersville, Ala.
Hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports June 16-19       Stop 5 at the James River                        Richmond, Va
Hosted by Richmond Region Tourism July 29-Aug. 1 Stop 6 at Lake Champlain                       Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Hosted by the City of Plattsburgh & the Adirondack Coast Visitor’s Bureau Aug. 16-21       TITLE at the St. Lawrence River         Massena, N.Y.
Hosted by the Town of Massena
“We’ve got some great momentum as we near the end of a very successful 2021 season and we look forward to carrying that momentum into 2022,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “Our team has put together a pair of great schedules that I know will have our fans and anglers excited – a nice mix of some of our historic venues along with a few fisheries that we haven’t visited in a while. Our MLF anglers are the best in the world, and we look forward to providing our world-class tournaments to them again in 2022.”

“The Town of Massena is excited and proud to be selected for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Championship,” said Don Meissner, Massena Tourism Promoter. “After years of working to promote our community, Massena is now being recognized as one of the most beautiful fishing destinations in the United States. On behalf of all of the communities in the North Country, we can’t wait to host the TITLE anglers that will visit us in upstate New York.”

Also announced Thursday was the 2022 MLF Toyota Series schedule, which kicks off its regular season in early-February at Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Florida, and runs through late-September when it wraps up at the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York.

2022 MLF Toyota Series Schedule:
Central DivisionFeb. 22-24                        Lake Guntersville                        Scottsboro, Ala.
Hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce
March 31-April 2         Dale Hollow Lake                        Byrdstown, Tenn.
Hosted by Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce
May 5-7                              Lake Chickamauga                     Hixson, Tenn.
Hosted by Chattanooga Sports
Northern DivisionJune 23-25                       Potomac River                              Marbury, Md.
Hosted by Charles County Board of Commissioners
Aug. 9-11                          Lake Champlain                           Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Hosted by City of Plattsburgh & Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau
Sept. 22-24                      St. Lawrence River                      Massena, N.Y.
Hosted by the Town of Massena
Plains DivisionMarch 1-3                         Lake of the Ozarks                      Osage Beach, Mo.
Hosted by Tri-County Lodging Association April 28-30                      Grand Lake                                      Grove, Okla.
Hosted by City of Grove & Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau
Sept. 15-17                      Truman Lake                                  Warsaw & Sedalia, Mo.
Hosted by the Sedalia Convention and Visitors Bureau & Visit Benton
Southern DivisionFeb. 3-5                              Lake Okeechobee                        Clewiston, Fla.
Hosted by Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort and the Hendry County Tourism Development Council
April 7-9                            Santee Cooper                               Summerton, S.C.
Hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce
May 19-21                        Harris Chain of Lakes                Leesburg, Fla.
Hosted by Visit Lake County, Florida
Southwestern DivisionFeb. 10-12                        Sam Rayburn Reservoir          Brookeland, Texas
Hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce
April 7-9                            Lake Texoma                                 Durant, Okla.
Hosted by TBD
May 4-6                              Sam Rayburn Reservoir          Brookeland, Texas
Hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce
Western DivisionMarch 3-5                         Lake Havasu                                   Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Hosted by Go Lake Havasu
April 28-30                      Clear Lake*                                      Clearlake, Calif.
Hosted by the City of Clearlake
June 2-4                             California Delta*                          Bethel Island, Calif.
Hosted by TBD
* Subject to California permit approval

After resounding positive feedback from anglers, the Toyota Series Wild Card Division will also return in 2022. Pros and co-anglers have a second chance at qualifying for the Toyota Series Championship by fishing four or more tournaments in any combination of divisions and keeping their three highest finishes. Twelve pros and 12 co-anglers will qualify for the 2022 Toyota Series Championship based on Wild Card division points.

Further details for both circuits will be announced later this year. The full schedule for the 2022 MLF Bass Pro Tour and the dates and location for the 2022 Toyota Series Championship will be announced in the coming weeks.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (July 18, 2021) – Toyota Series angler Stephen Estes of Auburn, New Hampshire, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 21 pounds, 15 ounces to win the three-day Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, New York. Estes’ three-day total of 15 bass weighing 61-3 earned him the win by a 2-pound, 3-ounce margin over second-place angler Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pennsylvania, and earned Estes the top payout of $44,000 in the first tournament of the 2021 Toyota Series Northern Division.

Estes fished the dream on Lake Champlain, weighing in all smallmouth and averaging more than 20 pounds per day. Looking hard for the mother lode, Estes said he started his four-day practice period with 90 hours on his motor – by the time he was back at the dock after Day 3 of the event, he had over 126 hours logged.

“I was just doing a lot of looking and trying to find something special,” said Estes. “I don’t like to fish around other people and I felt like that was the deal and I just happened to stumble across it. I was idling around and I saw bait and decided to drop the Lowrance ActiveTarget down. I wouldn’t have known the fish were there without the ActiveTarget.”

Estes said he set his target range out to 120 feet, catching fish anywhere from a long cast away to right under his boat. One of his keys on the first two days when it was windy was an independent pole mount from Cornfield Crappie.

“I bought that mount maybe a year or so ago,” said Estes. “I started with LiveScope on the trolling motor, then I changed trolling motor brands and now I’m running all Lowrance. The Lowrance isn’t quite as easy to line your bait up, because the arrow isn’t perfect, but the whole point of the independent mount is when you’re on Anchor Mode, you can independently control it – that was huge the first two days. I keep a remote in my pocket and it has foot pedals.”

Throwing a drop-shot on a 6-foot-9, medium action Hammer Rods spinning rod with 10-pound Vicious No-Fade Braid and an 8-pound Seaguar Tatsu  leader, Estes went with a ½-ounce  Eco Pro Full Contact Drop Shot Weight and a drop-shot bait from Hawg Pours Hand Made Bass Baits called the Hawg Teaser.

“Every fish was different,” he said. “I caught some fish suspended, I’d watch my drop-shot fall, I’d see it stop falling and set the hook. I would never feel the fish bite. I’ve been doing that for three years and I’ve learned to watch my bait real close.

“Some of the fish I was catching 100 feet out from the boat – I can’t make a cast with a drop-shot further than 100 feet according to ActiveTarget,” continued Estes. “There was no rhyme or reason and I can’t tell you how many fish swam up to my bait and didn’t bite it. I just kept my head down and kept fishing  and put it in front of a lot of fish.”

Though he had to relocate his fish a bit each day, Estes definitely hit the mother lode daily throughout the event. His co-anglers nearly always caught big weights as well, and doubles from the front and the back were common. Given the fish he found and his skill with electronics, it would have been a feat to beat Estes this week.

“I had a feeling [after Day 1] but I chose not to acknowledge it,” said Estes. “This is just an awesome feeling. I never expected this at all, this group of anglers is so good.”

The top 10 pros on Lake Champlain finished:
1^st:           Stephen Estes of Auburn, N.H., 15 bass, 61-3, $44,000
2^nd:          Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., 15 bass, 59-0, $18,000
3^rd:          Bryan Labelle of Hinesburg, Vt., 15 bass, 57-13, $12,750
4^th:           Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, 15 bass, 57-7, $10,750
5^th:           Kyle Hall of Cleburne, Texas, 15 bass, 57-7, $9,750
6^th:           Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., 15 bass, 56-9, $8,625
7^th:           Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Va., 15 bass, 55-7, $7,300
8^th:           JJ Judd of Saint Albans, Vt., 15 bass, 54-4, $6,300
9^th:           Joseph Thompson of Coatesville, Pa, 15 bass, 53-14, $5,300
10^th:        Jason Bacon of Nutting Lake, Mass.,15 bass, 53-1, $4,200
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Nick Radtke of Greenwood Lake, N.Y. took home an additional $150 for the Day One Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, with a bass weighing 5 pounds, 9 ounces. Kevin Martin of Crown City, Ohio won the Day Two Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, bringing a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass to the scale.

Becker took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Kyle Gelles of Pingree, Idaho won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 48 pounds, 10 ounces. Gelles took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Champlain finished:
1^st:           Kyle Gelles of Pingree, Idaho, 14 bass, 48-10, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
2^nd:          Ted Kephart of Philipsburg, Pa., 15 bass, 48-3, $5,375
3^rd:          Jeff Crowley of Goodrich, Mich., 15 bass, 46-5, $4,300
4^th:           Carter Wijangco of Naperville, Ill., 15 bass, 45-10, $3,650
5^th:           Stephen Draghi of Sparrowbush, N.Y., 15 bass, 45-8, $3,350
6^th:           Jakob Labelle of Hinesburg, Vt., 13 bass, 37-15, $2,650
7^th:           Sakae Ushio of Tonawanda, N.Y., 12 bass, 37-11, $2,150
8^th:           John Detweiler of Harleysville, Pa., 11 bass, 35-12, $1,825
9^th:           Tommy Sikes of Como, Texas, 12 bass, 35-8, $1,530
10^th:        Romano Duncan of Andover, Mass., 11 bass, 33-7, $1,290          
In the Strike King co-angler division, the $100 Day One Berkley Big Bass award winner was Geoffrey Montgomery of Seneca Falls, N.Y. with a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass, while the $100 Day Two award went to Randy Brown of Lugoff, S.C., with a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass.

The Toyota Series at Lake Champlain was hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments in 2021 for Northern Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on August 3-5 – the Toyota Series at the California Delta in Oakley, California. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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

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

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.