Month: June 2020

Clear Lake Named Best Bass Fishery Of The Past Decade

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 30, 2020
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Since 2012, Bassmaster Magazine has released annual rankings of the country’s best bass fisheries. While tournament data could not be gathered because of the COVID-19 pandemic, crunching numbers gathered over the past eight years revealed a surprising Best Bass Lake of the Decade — California’s Clear Lake.

“Typically, creating the rankings takes more than two months as we dig through current tournament data as well as state fishery information on stocking efforts, catch rates and angler access,” explained Bassmaster Magazine Editor-in-Chief James Hall. “Instead, we used all of this research and rankings from the past eight years to create an incredible — and somewhat surprising — ranking of bucket-list destinations for anglers.”

While long-considered a West Coast powerhouse, Clear Lake has never topped the Best Bass Lakes list until this year. However, in the past decade, California’s largest natural lake has also never ranked below 10th in the country and has been the top-ranked Western fishery for the past three years. Anglers can expect to consistently catch big bass in a fishery where an average bass weighs in at over 5 pounds. In fact, a bass over 16 pounds was landed at Clear Lake last year. Combine that production with a pristine setting in California’s wine country, and you have the definition of a bucket-list fishing destination.

Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, home of the 2020 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, took the No. 2 spot, matching its 2019 rank. Like Clear Lake, the Big G has never been named the Best Bass Lake in the nation, but it is rarely out of contention. Guntersville is known for its breathtaking scenery and easy access, but big fish swim there as well. Most big-bass prizes are awarded to fish topping the 8-pound mark, with 10-plus-pounders taking center stage on occasion.

True giants call our third-place fishery, Lake Erie, home. While most of the tournament data comes out of Buffalo, N.Y., anglers can expect smallies in the 6-pound range anywhere along the shoreline, which includes New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Michigan’s Lake St. Clair, where you can catch the smallmouth of a lifetime surrounded by Instagram-worthy scenery, is in the fourth spot.

Rounding out the remainder of the Top 10 lakes are California’s Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta at fifth; Toledo Bend, on the Louisiana/Texas border, at sixth; Texas’s Sam Rayburn Reservoir at seventh; Texas’s Falcon Lake at eighth; Idaho’s Lake Coeur d’Alene at ninth; and Florida’s Lake Okeechobee at tenth.

The rankings identify the Top 25 lakes in the nation based on head-to-head comparisons, as well as the top lakes in four geographical regions — Central, Western, Southeastern and Northeastern.

“We divide the nation into four regions and rank the lakes in each region to give anglers perspective on the fisheries they can most likely reach,” Hall explained.

As for bragging rights on which state has the most fisheries in the all-decade rankings, that title goes to Michigan with seven lakes. Right behind the “Great Lake State” there is a three-way tie with California, Florida and Texas each placing six lakes on the list.

Oklahoma’s Webb Wins Saturday, Missouri’s Fitzpatrick and Oklahoma’s Gilbreath Tie Sunday at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Double-Header on Arkansas River

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (June 29, 2020) – It was a double-header for bass anglers this past weekend in Muskogee with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on the Arkansas River events. FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, rescheduled the events after the coronavirus pandemic forced the organization to pause competition in mid-March.

Boater Mitchell Webb of Skiatook, Oklahoma, brought five bass to the scale totaling 16 pounds, 1 ounce to win Saturday’s event and earn $12,839 – including the lucrative $7,000 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency award – while boaters Roger Fitzpatrick of Eldon, Missouri, and Mike Gilbreath of Grove, Oklahoma, both brought in limits weighing 13 pounds, 13 ounces, on Sunday to tie for the win. Fitzpatrick earned $3,380 for his victory, while Gilbreath won a total of $6,880 after contingency awards.

“It started off kind of slow for me. I just kind of caught one here, then caught one there, and by the end of the day I realized I had a pretty decent limit,” said Webb, who earned his first career FLW win. “I stayed in Muskogee Pool and just covered a lot of water. I basically ran from lock to lock.

“I caught four of my five fishing flipping shallow, and the other one I caught on an offshore spot,” Webb went on to say. “I’d had a couple of mishaps with my tow vehicle earlier this week, so it feels good to finally come out on the right side of something.”

The top five boaters on Saturday were:

1^st: Mitchell Webb of Skiatook, Okla., five bass, 16-1, $12,839

2^nd: Caleb Black of McAlester, Okla., five bass, 15-2, $2,419

3^rd: Jeff Clark of Van Buren, Ark., five bass, 14-11, $1,614

4^th: Blake Capps of Muskogee, Okla., five bass, 13-4, $1,129

5^th: Jason Sandidge of Centerton, Ark., five bass, 13-2, $968

Complete results for Saturday can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Steven McLarty of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, brought a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass to the scale to win Saturday’s Boater Big Bass award of $730.

Webb was the highest-finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member and took home the top contingency payout of $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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Aubrey Herlocker of Stillwater, Oklahoma, won the Co-angler Division and $2,419 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 12 pounds, 4 ounces.

The top five co-anglers Saturday finished as follows:

1^st: Aubrey Herlocker of Stillwater, Okla., five bass, 13-15, $2,419

2^nd: Hunter Moody of Norman, Okla., three bass, 12-11, $1,210

3^rd: Porky Roberts of Morris, Okla., three bass, 12-10, $807

4^th: Matthew Hargarten of Bolivar, Mo., three bass, 12-9, $565

5^th: Chase Fitzpatrick of Eldon, Mo., two bass, 12-3, $484

Joe Landers of Okemah, Oklahoma, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division Saturday, weighing in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $365.

On Sunday, winning boaters Roger Fitzpatrick and Mike Gilbreath also stayed in Muskogee Pool.

“I caught a limit fairly early on a crankbait, but it only weighed around 10 pounds and I knew it wasn’t going to help me much,” said Fitzpatrick, who earned his ninth career FLW victory. “I spent the rest of my day flipping wood with a Zoom Speed Craw.

“I also found a little hyacinth patch that had floated to the bank,” Fitzpatrick continued. “It was near deeper water – over 5 feet – and I ended up catching my three biggest fish out of that.”

Gilbreath fished a similar pattern as Fitzpatrick.

“I had a great time out there,” Gilbreath said. “I caught some early on a squarebill crankbait, then flipped in the creeks later in the day. It was tough – I found a few areas where I had to make 8 to 10 casts to the same piece of structure before I’d get a bite – but all in all it was a very good day.”

The top five boaters on Sunday were:

1^st: Roger Fitzpatrick of Eldon, Mo., five bass, 13-13, $3,380

1^st: Mike Gilbreath of Grove, Okla., five bass, 13-13, $6,880

3^rd: Ed Barton of Vian, Okla., five bass, 13-11, $1,502

4^th: Jared Miller of Norman, Okla., five bass, 12-7, $1,052

5^th: Joel Baker of Talala, Okla., five bass, 11-10, $901

Complete results for Sunday’s event on the Arkansas River can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Scott Burkett of Bokchito, Oklahoma, brought a 4-pound, 12-ounce bass to the scale Sunday to earn the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $655.

Thad Hewitt of Delaware, Oklahoma, won the Co-angler Division and $2,253 Sunday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 11 ounces.

The top five co-anglers Sunday finished as follows:

1^st: Thad Hewitt of Delaware, Okla., five bass, 12-11, $2,253

2^nd: Ken Coats of Claremore, Okla., five bass, 12-10, $1,127

3^rd: Maverick Mosiman of Bel Aire, Kan., five bass, 11-12, $751

4^th: Aaron Warren of Inola, Okla., four bass, 10-14, $526

4^th: Raymond Moody of Norman, Okla., five bass, 10-13, $451

Bill Wiles of Arcadia, Oklahoma caught Sunday’s largest bass in the Co-angler Division, weighing in at 4 pounds, 8 ounces to earn him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $327.

The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Double-Header on the Arkansas River was the third and fourth of five qualifying events in the Okie Division.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Okie Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 22-24 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, hosted by ExploreBranson.com. 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 co-anglers will fish for a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.

The 2020 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 co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held Nov. 11-13 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina and is hosted by Visit Anderson. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division earn priority entry into the FLW Series, the pathway to the FLW Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour, where top pros compete with no entry fees.

MLF BIG-5

FLW Shifts Toyota Series Northern Event to Lake Erie

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 29, 2020
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Originally Scheduled for New York, Toyota Series Moves to Ohio for July 9-11 Event

SANDUSKY, Ohio (June 29, 2020) – FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that due to New York’s recently announced travel restrictions, the organization will shift its July 9-11 Toyota Series Northern Division opener from the St. Lawrence River at Massena, New York, to Lake Erie at Sandusky, Ohio.

“The City of Sandusky is excited for the opportunity to host the Toyota Series at the Shelby Street Boat Launch facility,” said Eric Wobser, City Manager for the City of Sandusky. “We welcome the opportunity to provide access from our waterfront downtown destination and are encouraged by FLW’s commitment to safety and the guidelines set during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“The Town of Massena deeply regrets that FLW has to reschedule the Toyota Series outside New York State due to the newly-implemented directives for people traveling from other parts of the country,” said Don Meissner, Tournament Coordinator for the Town of Massena. “The town highly values its relationship with FLW and we look forward to future tournaments.”

Entries will roll over to the rescheduled event unless instructed otherwise.

Anglers will take off daily at 6 a.m. EDT from the Shelby Street Boat Launch Facility, located at 101 Shelby St., in Sandusky. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Shelby Street Launch Facility and will begin at 2 p.m. To minimize the spread of COVID-19, attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to forgo the daily takeoffs and weigh-ins and follow the event online through the “FLW Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at FLWFishing.com.

FLW continues to monitor Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), federal, state and local guidelines. Officials are still evaluating options for other New York events, including the 2020 Tackle Warehouse FLW TITLE presented by Toyota, currently scheduled Aug. 24-29 at the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York. No additional updates are available at this time.

The Toyota Series consists of eight divisions – Central, Eastern, Northern, Plains, Southeastern, 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 Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 FLW PHOENIX Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2020 Toyota Series Championship will be held Dec. 3-5 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky, and is hosted by the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and the Burnside Tourism Commission.

MLF BIG-5

Arkansas’ Richmond Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament on Lake Ouachita

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 29, 2020
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MOUNT IDA, Ark. (June 29, 2020) – Boater Russell Richmond of Sheridan, Arkansas, brought three bass to the scale Saturday totaling 11 pounds, 5 ounces to win the 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event at Lake Ouachita in Mount Ida, Arkansas. Richmond topped his neared competitor, Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Arkansas, by 1-pound, 1-ounce and earned $4,394 for his victory.

“I caught all of my fish on a white Strike King swimjig, running grass in Webb and Twin Creeks,” said Richmond, who earned his second career win in FLW competition. “I had all of my fish that I weighed in by 6:30 (a.m.). I caught a bunch of more small ones throughout the day, but I never could upgrade.

“The area that I was fishing had a creek channel really close. My boat was sitting in about 10 foot of water and it went up to about 3 to 4 feet at the edge of the grass,” Richmond continued. “I hadn’t practiced there, but I had fished it before and I was committed to that spot. I knew that if I stayed there long enough I could catch enough to win, and it only took 15 minutes.”

Richmond was ecstatic about earning the win in the tough Bass Fishing League Arkie division.

“This division is very hard to win as a boater. These guys are very good, and we fish all different types of water – clear-water reservoirs, rivers – so it’s hard to beat these guys,” Richmond went on to say. “I’ve been fishing BFL events since 2005 and this is my second trophy. I’ve been to the All-American once, and I really want to make it back.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:

1^st: Russell Richmond of Sheridan, Ark., three bass, 11-5, $4,394

2^nd: Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., three bass, 10-4, $1,940

3^rd: Beau Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., three bass, 10-1, $1,293

4^th: Chris Darby of Hot Springs, Ark., three bass, 9-13, $905

5^th: Chris Layton of North Little Rock, Ark., three bass, 9-8, $776

6^th: Brian Bean of Hot Springs, Ark., three bass, 9-5, $711

7^th: Josh Busby of Rogersville, Mo., three bass, 9-3, $1,147

8^th: Eric Pinter of Little Rock, Ark., three bass, 9-1, $582

9^th: Evan Barnes of Hot Springs, Ark., three bass, 8-12, $517

10^th: Derwin Thomas of Little Rock, Ark., three bass, 8-11, $453

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Richmond caught brought a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass to the scale to add the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $515 to his winnings.

Busby was the highest-finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member and took home an extra $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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Alvin Williams of Hartman, Arkansas, won the Co-angler Division and $1,897 Saturday after catching three bass weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:

1^st: Alvin Williams of Hartman, Ark., three bass, 8-5, $1,897

2^nd: Bryan Barnard of Harrison, Ark., three bass, 7-7, $949

3^rd: Brian Choate of Conway, Ark., three bass, 7-0, $661

4^th: Justin Eldridge of Marion, Ark., three bass, 7-0, $538

5^th: Jason Phillips of Rison, Ark., three bass, 6-14, $379

6^th: John McCullar of Benton, Ark., three bass, 6-12, $348

7^th: Buck Blackwell of Pine Bluff, Ark., three bass, 6-10, $316

8^th: Terry Dugger of Little Rock, Ark., three bass, 6-9, $285

9^th: Robert Bogard Jr. of Conway, Ark., three bass, 6-8, $237

9^th: Chris Cusick of Hot Springs, Ark., three bass, 6-8, $237

Choate caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, weighing in at 3 pounds, 9 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $123.

The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Lake Ouachita was the fourth of five qualifying events in the Arkie Division.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Arkie Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 22-24 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, hosted by Explore Branson. 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 co-anglers will fish for a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.

MLF BIG-5

Indiana’s McClain and Drake Earn Wins at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Double-Header on Lake Monroe presented by Fish-Intel

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 29, 2020
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (June 29, 2020) – It was a double-header for bass anglers this past weekend in Bloomington with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Lake Monroe events presented by Fish-Intel. FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, rescheduled the events after the coronavirus pandemic forced the organization to pause competition in mid-March.

Boater Frank McClain of Scottsburg, Indiana, brought five bass to the scale totaling 20 pounds, 7 ounces to win Saturday’s event and earn $4,271, while boater Bob Drake of Noblesville, Indiana, brought in four bass weighing 16 pounds, 12 ounces, on Sunday to earn the win and $4,155.

The top five boaters on Saturday were:

1^st: Frank McClain of Scottsburg, Ind., five bass, 20-7, $4,271

2^nd: Mike Quinlin of Mooresville, Ind., five bass, 20-6, $2,636

3^rd: Russell Sproessig of Columbus, Ind., five bass, 19-9, $1,424

4^th: Blake Knies of Jasper, Ind., five bass, 17-4, $997

5^th: Lee Mills of Columbus, Ind., five bass, 17-0, $854

Complete results for Saturday can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Barry Gunter of Trafalgar, Indiana, brought a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass to the scale to win Saturday’s Boater Big Bass award of $595.

Quinlin was the highest-finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member and took home an extra $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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Brant Gish of Evansville, Indiana, won the Co-angler Division and $2,136 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 19 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top five co-anglers Saturday finished as follows:

1^st: Brant Gish of Evansville, Ind., five bass, 19-1, $2,136

2^nd: Roger Seitzinger of Lawrenceville, Ill., five bass, 17-4, $1,216

3^rd: Remington Gill of Mitchell, Ind., five bass, 16-2, $860

4^th: Tim Knight of Bargersville, Ind., five bass, 14-8, $498

5^th: Lincoln Bowen of Crothersville, Ind., five bass, 13-2, $427

Gill caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division Saturday, weighing in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces, to earn the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $148.

According to post-tournament reports, Sunday’s boater winner Bob Drake caught his fish with a Marten’s Madness-colored Roboworm on a drop-shot rig on the main lake, about 3 to 4 miles from the takeoff site.

The top five boaters on Sunday were:

1^st: Bob Drake of Noblesville, Ind., four bass, 16-12, $4,155

2^nd: Kyle Sears of Lebanon, Ohio, five bass, 15-6, $2,078

3^rd: Brad Hostetler Jr. of Franklin, Ind., five bass, 15-3, $1,383

4^th: Chris Martinkovic of Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 14-10, $1,170

5^th: John Melton of Corydon, Ind., five bass, 13-9, $831

Complete results for Sunday’s event on Lake Monroe can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Mike Quinlin of Mooresville, Indiana, brought a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass to the scale Sunday to earn the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $570.

Lenny Bays of Dayton, Kentucky, won the Co-angler Division and $2,078 Sunday after catching five bass weighing 12 pounds, 7 ounces.

The top five co-anglers Sunday finished as follows:

1^st: Lenny Bays of Dayton, Ky., five bass, 12-7, $2,078

2^nd: Darren Green of Muncie, Ind., five bass, 10-7, $1,039

3^rd: Shane Thomas of Bedford, Ind., three bass, 10-4, $691

4^th: Gary Owens of Columbus, Ind., four bass, 9-10, $485

4^th: Jason Skipworth of Aurora, Ind., three bass, 8-6, $416

Bill Smith of Columbus, Indiana, caught Sunday’s largest bass in the Co-angler Division, weighing in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $285.

The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Double-Header on Lake Monroe presented by Fish-Intel was the first and second of five qualifying events in the Hoosier Division.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Hoosier Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 15-17 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, hosted by Explore La Crosse. 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 co-anglers will fish for a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.

The National Angler

FIRST LOOK – Introducing Minn Kota Raptor; Hydraulic Shallow Water Anchors

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 29, 2020
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FIRST LOOK – Introducing Minn Kota Raptor; Hydraulic Shallow Water Anchors

Hydraulic anchoring systems currently on the market have lacked the ability to adapt to changing conditions on the water. Once anchored, waves, currents, tide changes and different bottom compositions can negatively affect the anchors’ ability to hold a boat in place. Raptor is the only shallow water anchor to feature Active Anchoring™ and Auto-Bottom Mode™, which enable these shallow-water anchors to automatically monitor the water and bottom conditions to keep the boat anchored firmly in place no matter what the fishing situation.

Active Anchoring continuously monitors anchor hold and adjusts automatically to changing conditions while Auto-Bottom Modes senses bottom hardness to ensure the right amount of force is delivered for a more secure hold every time.

“Developing real fishable features for our consumers has driven every new Minn Kota innovation for nearly nine decades. Today we are bringing that spirit of innovation to our Shallow Water Anchors,” said Minn Kota Brand Manager Brad Henry.

“Raptor was designed to hold more reliably than any other anchor of its kind utilizing patented smart technology to analyze water and bottom conditions keeping you where you want when you want. It is the anchor that relentlessly works to keep you on your spot.” added Henry.

Beyond those benefits, Minn Kota Raptor also produces twice as much retraction force as anchoring force to ensure spike removal in all bottom conditions, meaning no matter where you choose to deploy your Raptor, it comes back up every time. Features like a wide profile and heavy-duty pivot points help to reduce wear and maintain longer stability. Its unique pump design keeps Raptor holding tightly when stowed, eliminating the need for special covers or bungee cords to keep your anchor secure while running or trailering. An extruded aluminum mounting bracket not only adds strength while reducing weight, but dramatically simplifies installation. Raptor also boasts the lightest on-transom weight of any 10-foot shallow water anchor.

Giving anglers more options for control than ever, Minn Kota Raptor comes equipped with a wireless remote and optional footswitch. As part of the One-Boat Network™, anglers can utilize i-Pilot® Link™ to control the anchor from their Humminbird® unit, the Raptor mobile app or the i-Pilot remote.

Minn Kota’s new Raptor shallow-water anchor will be offered in 8- and 10-foot lengths as well as a variety of options and colors. Raptor models will be available mid-July from authorized Minn Kota retailers starting at $1,499.99 up to 1,899.99. Minn Kota’s shallow water anchors are backed by a comprehensive 5-year warranty plus a lifetime warranty on the spike for years of reliability anglers can count on. For more information on the new Raptor shallow-water anchor, visit MinnKotaMotors.com.

CHECK OUT THE MINN KOTA RAPTOR FOR YOURSELF

THE MINNKOTA RAPTOR WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THESE RETAILERS

MLF BIG-5

Wheeler Wins Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Super Tournament at Lake Chickamauga

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 26, 2020
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DAYTON, Tenn. (June 26, 2020) – Major League Fishing (MLF) pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, caught a final-day five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 6 ounces to win $125,000 in the $1.3 million Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Super Tournament at Lake Chickamauga. Wheeler topped his closest competitor, Cole Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, by 11 pounds, 13 ounces to earn the win in the event that featured a field of 204 anglers competing from FLW and MLF in Dayton, Tennessee.

“It’s been an unbelievable week,” said Wheeler, who notched his fifth major win since the start of the 2019 season. “I put more time in (practice) for this event than any other event that I’ve fished. To get the win here means so much to me. On my home lake. In front of my best friends and family. With FLW, the organization that I started with and the people that watched me grow up. This one means the world to me.”

Wheeler said he used a variety of baits to catch his fish this week, including Rapala DT-20 (Citrus Shad) and DT-16 (Big Shad) crankbaits, an 8-inch green-pumpkin-colored worm, a 5/8-ounce white hairjig, a scrounger with a soft-plastic jerkbait trailer, a jig, an unnamed topwater bait, and a vibrating jig.

“I knew that I had to keep an open mind and I couldn’t get locked into one particular bait,” Wheeler said. “There was no magical bait. That’s why I had so many different rods on my deck each day. I was able to trigger some of those really good bites by rotating through them.”

Wheeler estimated that he fished around 50 spots throughout the week but had three areas that were really key for him. While many pros focused solely shallow or deep, Wheeler constantly switched between the two over the course of the event.

“Each place was so unique,” Wheeler said. “The areas were completely different. It’s not like it was a pattern. It was just finding places that were a little bit less obvious was really what it came down to. Those fish weren’t as pressured and easier to get to bite. That was my game plan the whole week.

Wheeler opened the tournament Tuesday in first place with five bass weighing 24-9. He slipped to second place Wednesday with a five-bass catch weighing 22 pounds, 1 ounce to advance into the top 50 cut with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 46 pounds, 10 ounces. On Thursday, Wheeler caught five bass weighing 25-12 to reclaim his lead and advance to the final day of competition in first place. Wheeler added another five bass weighing 21-6 to his final-round total Friday and earn $125,000.

The top 10 pros on Lake Chickamauga finished:

            1^st:       Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn., 20 bass, 93-12, $125,000
            2^nd:      Cole Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, 20 bass, 81-15, $35,500
            3^rd:       Jason Reyes of Huffman, Texas, 20 bass, 76-12, $3,000
            4^th:       Cody Meyer of Auburn, Calif., 20 bass, 72-13, $25,000
            5^th:       Alex Davis of Albertville, Ala., 20 bass, 72-12, $22,000
            6^th:       Miles Burghoff of Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., 20 bass, 71-3, $21,000
            7^th:       John Cox of DeBary, Fla., 20 bass, 70-1, $19,000
            8^th:       Joshua Weaver of Macon, Ga., 20 bass, 65-10, $18,000
            9^th:       David Williams of Maiden, N.C., 20 bass, 65-0, $17,000
            10^th:     Alton Jones of Lorena, Texas, 20 bass, 61-4, $16,200

Complete results for the entire field can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Overall there were 50 bass weighing 149 pounds, 14 ounces caught by pros Friday. All of the final 10 pros weighed in five-bass limits.

Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Chickamauga will premiere at 7 p.m. EDT, Aug. 14 on the Outdoor Channel. Beginning July 3 and running through Dec. 27, FLW will air 312 hours of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit action on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Episodes have been expanded to two hours long, allowing each show to go in-depth to break down the final rounds of regular-season competition. Each episode will premiere in Friday night primetime slots on the Outdoor Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel.

The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Chickamauga was hosted by Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic & Tourism Council.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Super Tournament competition, the full field of 204 pro anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advanced to Thursday. Only the top 10 pros continued competition on Friday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.

FLW anglers are vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the Tackle Warehouse FLW TITLE presented by Toyota, the Pro Circuit championship. The 2020 Tackle Warehouse FLW TITLE presented by Toyota will be held on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 24-29.

MLF pros competing in the Pro Circuit Super Tournaments will fish for prize money only. No points will be awarded toward any championship or title to MLF competitors. Only the original Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit anglers will compete for the AOY title throughout the remainder of the season. AOY points in the final events will be awarded based on Pro Circuit anglers finishing order. The top-finishing FLW pro will receive “first-place points” regardless of where he finishes in the overall standings, and so on.

About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, FLW 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.

FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show while Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. Acquired by Major League Fishing in late 2019, FLW is expanding its programming in 2020 to the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel as well as on-demand at MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).

MLF BIG-5

Tennessee’s Faulkner Wins Saturday, Turner Wins Sunday at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Double-Header on Norris Lake

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 24, 2020
No Comments on Tennessee’s Faulkner Wins Saturday, Turner Wins Sunday at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Double-Header on Norris Lake

ANDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (June 23, 2020) – It was a double-header for bass anglers this past weekend in Andersonville with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Norris Lake events. FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, rescheduled the events after the coronavirus pandemic forced the organization to pause competition in mid-March.

Boater Riley Faulkner of Jacksboro, Tennessee, brought a three-bass limit to the scale totaling 8 pounds, 14 ounces to win Saturday’s event, while Derek Turner, also of Jacksboro, brought in three bass weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces on Sunday to earn the win. Faulkner earned $2,400 for his win Saturday, while Turner won Sunday’s top prize of $2,300.

“I stayed on the Powell (River), fishing brush piles from 5 to 15 feet deep,” said the 17-year-old Faulkner, who earned the win in just his fourth career event. “My key bait was a 10-inch Zoom Ol’ Monster worm (cherry seed).

“My dad won the last BFL tournament held on this lake, so it’s really cool to come out and win again right after he did. I know how hard these events are to win,” Faulkner went on to say.

The top five boaters on Saturday were:

1^st: Riley Faulkner of Jacksboro, Tenn., three bass, 8-14, $2,400

1^st: Eddie Richards of Corbin, Ky., three bass, 8-9, $1,200

3^rd: Tate Rice of Newport, Tenn., three bass, 8-7, $800

4^th: Jake Lee of Powell, Tenn., three bass, 7-14, $560

5^th: Vernon Lowe of Oneida, Tenn., three bass, 7-11, $480

Eddie Ball of Newport, Tennessee, won Saturday’s Big Bass Award of $240 with a 4-pound bass.

Archie Wilson Jr. of Corryton, Tennessee, was the highest-finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member and took home an extra $500 Saturday. 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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Josh Smith of Siler, Kentucky, won the Co-angler Division and $1,320 Saturday after catching two bass weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces.

The top five co-anglers Saturday finished as follows:

1^st: Josh Smith of Siler, Ky., two bass, 6-11, $1,320

2^nd: Gabriel Poveda of Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 6-7, $600

3^rd: John Gann of Kingston, Tenn., three bass, 6-4, $400

4^th: Ben Arnold of La Follette, Tenn., three bass, 5-15, $280

5^th: Ronald Musgrave of Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 5-9, $240

Smith also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division Saturday, weighing in at 3 pounds, 9 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $120.

On Sunday, Turner also won the event by fishing up the Powell River, but instead of brush piles he was looking for laydowns.

“I went way up the Powell River – about 20 miles,” said Turner, who also earned his first career victory. “I was looking for laydown trees, but the key was that they had to be horizontal to the surface. If they sloped down, they weren’t really productive.”

Turner also credited the Zoom Ol’ Monster (green-pumpkin) as being his key bait and was thankful to earn his first victory on a special day.

“I’m a new dad, so it’s really special to get the first win of my career on Father’s Day.”

The top five boaters on Sunday were:

1^st: Derek Turner of Jacksboro, Tenn., three bass, 7-11, $2,300

2^nd: Jesse Burnett of Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 6-5, $1,150

3^rd: Bryan Leonard of Blountville, Tenn., three bass, 6-0, $766

4^th: Justin McGaha of Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 5-15, $537

5^th: Craig Powers of Rockwood, Tenn., three bass, 5-13, $460

Ted Ridley of Maryville, Tennessee, brought a 3-pound, 1-ounce bass to the scale to win Sunday’s Boater Big Bass award of $230.

Eddie Ball, who weighed in Saturday’s Big Bass, was Sunday’s highest-finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member and took home an extra $500.

Henry Bryan of Sevierville, Tennessee, won the Co-angler Division and $1,150 Sunday after catching a three-bass limit weighing 6 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top five co-anglers Sunday finished as follows:

1^st: Henry Bryan of Sevierville, Tenn., three bass, 6-1, $1,150

2^nd: Ben Arnold of La Follette, Tenn., two bass, 4-13, $690

3^rd: Darren Kelly of Wartburg, Tenn., three bass, 3-14, $384

4^th: Terri Davis of Chilhowie, Va., two bass, 3-13, $268

5^th: Curtis Crooke of Washburn, Tenn., two bass, 3-12, $230

Arnold caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, weighing in at 2 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $115.

The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Double-Header on Norris Lake was the third and fourth of five qualifying events in the Volunteer Division.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Volunteer Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 8-10 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the James River in Richmond, Virginia, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism. 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 co-anglers will fish for a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.

MLF BIG-5

Illinois’ Mull Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Shelbyville

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 24, 2020
No Comments on Illinois’ Mull Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Shelbyville

SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (June 23, 2020) – Boater Jeremy Mull of Pawnee, Illinois, earned the win Saturday at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event at Lake Shelbyville after bringing a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces. For his victory, Mull earned a total of $4,463.

“I started out fishing deep on the lower end of the lake, and we pulled up on the right spot at the right time,” said Mull, who earned his third career Bass Fishing League victory. “My co-angler caught the first two fish, then we just went to work on them. I caught them on a football jig (green-pumpkin) in 20-foot-of-water.

“The key was sticking with it all day long,” Mull went on to say. “I caught one real late – within the last 10 minutes – that culled. It was a grind, but I stuck with it all day long.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:

1^st: Jeremy Mull of Pawnee, Ill., five bass, 16-7, $4,463

2^nd: Michael Black of Toledo, Ill., five bass, 15-12, $2,232

3^rd: Todd Blakeman of Chatham, Ill., five bass, 14-11, $1,689

4^th: Mike Jackson of Moweaqua, Ill., five bass, 14-3, $1,041

5^th: Shane Haslett of Beecher City, Ill., five bass, 13-15, $893

6^th: Martin Conaughty of Fairview Heights, Ill., five bass, 13-14, $818

7^th: Matt Carroll of Hillsboro, Ill., five bass, 13-8, $744

8^th: Brian Futch of Herrin, Ill., four bass, 12-9, $1,169

9^th: Ryan Armstrong of Robinson, Ill., five bass, 12-2, $595

10^th: Ryan Lewis of Glasford, Ill., five bass, 11-0, $521

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

James Wright of Paducah, Kentucky, claimed the day’s Boater Big Bass Award of $640 after bringing a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass to the scale.

Futch took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member. 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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

William Curtright of St. Louis, Missouri, won the Co-angler Division and $2,232 Saturday after catching four bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:

1^st: William Liam Curtright of St. Louis, Mo., four bass, 11-8, $2,232

2^nd: Blake Hadley of Pana, Ill., five bass, 11-5, $1,116

3^rd: Arden Damberg of Wheatland, Iowa, five bass, 10-4, $743

3^rd: Jojo Johnson of Benton, Ill., five bass, 9-15, $521

5^th: Brad McElroy of Gardner, Ill., five bass, 9-7, $446

6^th: Dan Brown of Glenarm, Ill., five bass, 9-5, $409

6^th: Ryan Fancher of Olney, Ill., four bass, 9-2, $372

8^th: Barry Aumiller of O’Fallon, Mo., three bass, 7-13, $335

9^th: Ethan Fields of Breese, Ill., three bass, 7-9, $298

10^th: Timothy Nanzer of Bourbonnais, Ill., two bass, 7-7, $260

Dave Dobill of Royalton, Illinois, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, weighing in at 4 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $320.

The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Lake Shelbyville was the opening event of five qualifying tournaments in the Illini division.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Illini Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 15-17 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, hosted by Explore La Crosse. 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 co-anglers will fish for a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.

MLF BIG-5

South Carolina’s Brunson Wins Saturday, Wolfe Wins Sunday at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Double-Header on Lake Santee Cooper

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date June 24, 2020
No Comments on South Carolina’s Brunson Wins Saturday, Wolfe Wins Sunday at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Double-Header on Lake Santee Cooper

SUMMERTON, S.C. (June 23, 2020) – It was a double-header for bass anglers this past weekend in Summerton with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Lake Santee Cooper events. FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, rescheduled the events after the coronavirus pandemic forced the organization to pause competition in mid-March.

Boater Chris Brunson of Mayesville, South Carolina, brought a three-bass limit to the scale totaling 17 pounds, 7 ounces to win Saturday’s event and $3,592, while Cecil Wolfe of Summerton, South Carolina, brought in a three-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce on Sunday to earn the win and $3,164.

Brunson won Saturday’s event fishing in Lake Marion, above the Hwy. 95 Bridge near Jack’s Creek.

“I caught my fish in grass, with a Spro Poppin’ Frog and a Texas-rigged worm,” Brunson said. “The key was keeping an open mind and changing things up, because the fish were not where they were at last week.”

The top five boaters on Saturday were:

1^st: Chris Brunson of Mayesville, S.C., three bass, 17-7, $3,592

2^nd: Chad Cook of Cross, S.C., three bass, 14-14, $1,796

3^rd: Tim Kelley of Irmo, S.C., three bass, 14-9, $1,019

3^rd: Bo Chappell of Lake City, S.C., three bass, 14-9, $1,019

5^th: John Haas of Mount Pleasant, S.C., three bass, 14-5, $1,178

Complete results for Saturday can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Haas brought an 8-pound, 15-ounce bass to the scale to earn Saturday’s Boater Big Bass award of $460.

Jason Miles of Summerville, South Carolina, was the highest-finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member and took home an extra $500 Saturday. 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 FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Gage Spagnola of Columbia, South Carolina, won the Co-angler Division and $1,796 Saturday after catching three bass weighing 11 pounds, 14 ounces.

The top five co-anglers Saturday finished as follows:

1^st: Gage Spagnola of Columbia, S.C., three bass, 11-14, $1,796

2^nd: Bill Hawkins of Piedmont, S.C., three bass, 10-6, $898

3^rd: Jeff Rikard of Leesville, S.C., three bass, 9-6, $598

4^th: Blake Winans of Sumter, S.C., three bass, 9-0, $419

5^th: Dylan Thompson of Myrtle Beach, S.C., two bass, 8-15, $359

On Sunday, local Summerton angler Wolfe won the event fishing in Lake Moultrie.

“I was finesse fishing, mainly with a drop-shot rig,” said Wolfe. “I was targeting stumps and brush piles using a Zoom Finesse Worm, both green-pumpkin and watermelon-red colors.

“The key was slowing down – fishing slow, and real methodical. You had to pretty much make them bite. It was really tough.”

The top five boaters on Sunday were:

1^st: Cecil Wolfe of Summerton, S.C., three bass, 16-1, $3,164

2^nd: Ronnie McCoy of Lamar, S.C., three bass, 15-0, $1,582

3^rd: Kyle Austin of Ridgeville, S.C., three bass, 14-10, $1,054

4^th: Lex Costas of Daniel Island, S.C., three bass, 14-8, $738

5^th: Freddie Gamble Jr. of Manning, S.C., three bass, 13-12, $633

Complete results for Sunday’s event on Santee Cooper can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Danny Shanz of Summerton brought a 7-pound, 2-ounce bass to the scale to win Sunday’s Boater Big Bass award of $380.

Roger Medlock of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, was Sunday’s highest-finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member and took home an extra $500.

Taylor Barnette of Landrum, South Carolina, won the Co-angler Division and $1,582 Sunday after catching a three-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces.

The top five co-anglers Sunday finished as follows:

1^st: Taylor Barnette of Landrum, S.C., three bass, 12-13, $1,582

2^nd: Terry Jarvis of Inman, S.C., three bass, 12-10, $981

3^rd: Thomas Robbins of Jackson, S.C., three bass, 10-4, $526

4^th: Brandon Jeffcoat of Columbia, S.C., three bass, 9-8, $369

5^th: Brian Bultman of Aiken, S.C., three bass, 8-14, $316

Jarvis caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, weighing in at 6 pounds, 10 ounces. The catch earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $190.

The 2020 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Double-Header on Lake Santee Cooper was the third and fourth of five qualifying events in the South Carolina Division.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the South Carolina Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 16-18 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Cherokee in Jefferson City, Tennessee, hosted by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. 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 co-anglers will fish for a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.

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