Month: March 2021

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

BREAKING NEWS!!! – Major League Fishing Prohibits Berkley PowerBait MaxScent in Bass Pro Tour Competition

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date March 31, 2021
No Comments on BREAKING NEWS!!! – Major League Fishing Prohibits Berkley PowerBait MaxScent in Bass Pro Tour Competition

TULSA, Okla. (March 31, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today a rule change to Bass Pro Tour Rule No. 7 regarding Tackle and Equipment, which addresses the usage of Berkley PowerBait MaxScent baits on the MLF Bass Pro Tour. Effective immediately, anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour are prohibited from using any Berkley PowerBait MaxScent product, both in practice and competition.

“MLF has studied the use of the Berkley PowerBait MaxScent since its launch in 2018, and we’ve made the decision to no longer permit its usage on the Bass Pro Tour,” Aaron Beshears, MLF Bass Pro Tour Director said. “The ban applies only to Berkley PowerBait MaxScent baits. At this time, original Berkley PowerBait and Berkley Gulp! baits are not included in this restriction.

“The bait has simply evolved to a point that it provides an unfair competitive advantage to Bass Pro Tour anglers that cannot use the product – whether through limited availability or competing sponsorship restrictions,” Beshears continued. “That said, Berkley PowerBait MaxScent baits will still be permitted in our MLF BIG5 tournament circuits. This decision is consistent with the wishes of the majority of our Bass Pro Tour anglers.”

Berkley remains a sponsor of MLF and the Bass Pro Tour, and MLF is currently in discussions with the company and its stakeholders regarding this decision.

For further clarification on the elimination of Berkley PowerBait MaxScent from Bass Pro Tour competition, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

“We are proud to be an angler-driven league and to continue to support our anglers and their livelihood with this decision,” said Boyd Duckett, MLF co-founder and President of the Professional Bass Tour Anglers’ Association (PBTAA). “The Alabama Rig was banned in 2013 for similar reasons and we believe this is the next crucial step to creating a level playing field and ensuring no one angler or group of anglers has an unfair advantage over the rest of the field.

“Since 2012, we have prided ourselves on listening to our anglers, providing them with excellent tournaments on premium fisheries and a game that can be played and won by any competitor. We believe the game must continue to evolve as well in order to preserve the integrity of the sport.”

The Berkley PowerBait MaxScent products which are now prohibited from usage on the Bass Pro Tour are:

PowerBait MaxScent Creature Hawg
PowerBait MaxScent Critter Hawg
PowerBait MaxScent D-Worm
PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm
PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Jerk Shad
PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow
PowerBait MaxScent Hit Worm
PowerBait MaxScent Hit Worm Magnum
PowerBait MaxScent Kingtail
PowerBait MaxScent Lizard
PowerBait MaxScent Lunch Worm
PowerBait MaxScent Meaty Chunk
PowerBait MaxScent Power Chunk
PowerBait MaxScent The General

The 2021 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 76 of the top professional anglers in the world – joined at each event by 4 pros that qualify from the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit – competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2022 championship. The next event for Bass Pro Tour anglers will be the 2021 General Tire Heavy Hitters Event, held April 9-14 at Falls Lake, Jordan Lake & Shearon Harris Reservoir in Raleigh, North Carolina.

APRIL FOOLS COURTESY OF MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING!!!

MLF BIG-5

Virginia’s McCarthy Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Kerr Lake

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date March 30, 2021
No Comments on Virginia’s McCarthy Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Kerr Lake

HENDERSON, N.C. (March 30, 2021) – Boater Ryan McCarthy of Warrenton, Virginia, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. McCarthy earned $6,894 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Ryan McCarthy of Warrenton, Va.	5	17-5	$6,894
2^nd	Marty Warren of Elon, N.C.	5	17-0	$1,940
3^rd	Jeff Gafford of Pamplin, Va.	5	15-6	$1,293
4^th	Carlton Owens of Franklin, Va.	5	14-12	$905
5^th	Travis Lugar of McGaheysville, Va.	5	13-12	$776
6^th	Brandon Cox of Ruther Glen, Va.	5	13-10	$711
7^th	Paul Smith of Victoria, Va.	5	13-9	$647
8^th	Tim Kowalewski of Bumpass, Va.	5	13-8	$1,032
9^th	Ben Reynolds of Callands, Va.	5	13-7	$517
10^th	Tyler Trent of Nathalie, Va.	5	13-3	$453

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Tyrone Adams, Jr. of Fredericksburg, Va.	5	11-4	$1,940
2^nd	David Williams of Fredericksburg, Va.	5	10-12	$1,095
3^rd	Carl Whipple of Manassas, Va.	4	10-2	$646
4^th	William Lisenby of Centreville, Va.	5	9-13	$453
5^th	Nelson class of Woodbridge, Va.	4	9-12	$388
6^th	Gerrit Vanvoorhees of Lenexa, Va.	5	9-10	$356
7^th	Ricky Grant of Callands, Va.	5	9-3	$291
7^th	Tyler Folts of Ashburn, Va.	5	9-3	$291
7^th	Steven Jacobs of Sanford, N.C.	5	9-3	$291
10^th	Justin Faison of South Prince George, Va.	5	8-13	$226

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Ryan McCarthy of Warrenton, Va.	4-pound, 15-ounce bass	$515
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Robert Reid of Clinton, Md.	4-pound bass	$257
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Ryan McCarthy of Warrenton, Va.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$2,500

* 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	Missile Jig	Did Not Divulge
Strike King Co-Angler	Generic Spinnerbait	Did Not Divulge

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
Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American	June 3-5	Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.	Jefferson County Department of Tourism

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

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

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

MLF BIG-5

South Carolina’s Howard Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Santee CooperPresented by Googan Baits

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date March 30, 2021
No Comments on South Carolina’s Howard Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Santee CooperPresented by Googan Baits

SUMMERTON, S.C. (March 30, 2021) – Boater Chuck Howard of Elloree, South Carolina, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Santee Cooper Presented by Googan Baits in Summerton, South Carolina. Howard earned $4,686 for his victory at the event.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Chuck Howard of Elloree, S.C.	5	26-15	$4,686
2^nd	Todd Smith of Bonneau, S.C.	5	26-14	$2,343
3^rd	Casey Warren of Longs, S.C.	5	26-5	$1,562
4^th	Daniel Howell of Prosperity, S.C.	5	24-13	$1,093
5^th	Spencer McNeill of Ladson, S.C.	5	24-11	$937
6^th	Chris Jones of Conway, S.C.	5	24-2	$859
7^th	Bryce Matthews of Olanta, S.C.	5	24-1	$781
8^th	Chris Epting of Chapin, S.C.	5	24-0	$1,203
9^th	Cecil Wolfe of Summerton, S.C.	5	23-13	$625
10^th	Ken Ellis of Bowman, S.C.	5	23-7	$547

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Andrew Starnes of Chapin, S.C.	5	20-7	$2,343
2^nd	Keith Thomasson of Abbeville, S.C.	5	18-8	$1,172
3^rd	Wayne Frierson of Manning, S.C.	4	14-15	$781
4^th	Samuel Jones of Raleigh, N.C.	5	14-5	$547
5^th	Terry Coleman of Sumter, S.C.	5	14-2	$469
6^th	Mike Sather of Beech Island, S.C.	3	13-7	$430
7^th	Brian Bultman of Aiken, S.C.	5	13-1	$371
7^th	Jeff Bissen of Lake Irmo, S.C.	5	13-1	$371
9^th	Brennan Gunther of Mount Pleasant, S.C.	3	13-0	$312
10^th	Robert Derrick Jr. of Charlotte, N.C.	2	12-12	$259
10^th	Beau Wilder of Charlotte, N.C.	3	12-12	$259

Full results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Berkley Big Bass	Jason Morse of Sumter, S.C.	9-pound, 10-ounce bass	$690
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Randy Brown of Lugoff, S.C.	7-pound, 11-ounce bass	$345
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Chris Epting of Chapin, S.C.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

ANGLER	BAITS	COLOR
Boater	– Yamamoto Senko	– Green Pumpkin
Strike King Co-Angler	– Wacky-rig	N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
South Carolina Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship	Oct. 21-23	St. Jons River, Palatka, Fla.	Putnam County Tourist Development Council
Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American	June 3-5	Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.	Jefferson County Department of Tourism

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.

BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

B.A.S.S. Announces 2022 Bassmaster Classic Will Be Held At Lake Hartwell

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date March 30, 2021
No Comments on B.A.S.S. Announces 2022 Bassmaster Classic Will Be Held At Lake Hartwell

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The world’s most prestigious professional bass tournament will be returning next year to the site of some of the best moments in the sport’s famed history.

B.A.S.S. officials, along with Visit Anderson and VisitGreenvilleSC, announced today that the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will be held for the fourth time at scenic Lake Hartwell, March 4-6, with takeoffs from Green Pond Landing & Event Center. Daily weigh-ins will be held at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and the annual Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will take place at the Greenville Convention Center, both of which are in nearby Greenville.

B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin said the organization is excited to once again visit a venue that has become the gold standard for professional bass fishing events.

“Everything about Lake Hartwell and the city of Greenville make them the perfect setting for the Super Bowl of Professional Bass Fishing,” Akin said. “The Bassmaster Classic is not only a chance for the best anglers in the world to showcase their abilities, it’s an annual celebration of the sport itself.

“Lake Hartwell provides the perfect site for amazing competition, and the city of Greenville provides the hotels, restaurants and other facilities you need for an event the size of the Classic.”

Hartwell is a 56,000-acre man-made reservoir situated between Georgia and South Carolina and encompassing portions of the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. It features a vast array of habitat and a good population of both largemouth and spotted bass that are likely to be in the prespawn phase when the Classic competitors arrive.

The fishery has hosted three previous Classics that each provided action-packed finishes.

In 2008, Texas pro Alton Jones Sr. went into the final day with little more than a pound lead, but managed to hold off the rest of the field and claim his only Classic trophy. In 2015, when temperatures dipped as low as a frigid 9 degrees, hometown favorite Casey Ashley of South Carolina came from behind on the final day to win his only title. Then in 2018, young Alabama pro Jordan Lee jumped from sixth place on the final day to win his second-straight Classic.

The fans turned out in droves for all three visits, creating an electric atmosphere for the weigh-ins and packing the Expo all three days.

“The Upstate of South Carolina is thrilled to welcome the Bassmaster Classic back to Lake Hartwell for the fourth time since initially hosting back in 2008,” said David Montgomery, Vice President of Sales for VisitGreenvilleSC. “Not only has the Classic set attendance records each year it has returned, but it has proven to be one of our largest economic impact events for the Greenville region.”

In 2018, a then-record crowd of 143,323 fans attended all of the Classic-related events. That Classic won a Sports Destination Management Innovation in Sports Tourism award for its ability to have two destinations working together for such a large economic impact.

“We are very excited for the opportunity to host the Bassmaster Classic once again on Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson. “The leadership of Anderson County has made a significant commitment to Green Pond Landing and the marketing efforts of Lake Hartwell, and we expect another record-breaking event with our teammates from Greenville.

“Hosting our fourth Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell is significant to our community because no other fishery will have hosted more Bassmaster Classic events. Having hosted this great event in the past, we can speak firsthand to the significant economic impact it will have on the Upstate of South Carolina and the impact of residual tourism that will be felt in Anderson County for years to come.”

Since the 2018 Classic, Hartwell has hosted several other high-level B.A.S.S. events, including a 2019 Bassmaster Elite Series tournament that was won by South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb. Just last year, another South Carolina pro, Patrick Walters, won the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open on Lake Hartwell.

Most recently, Hartwell hosted a Bassmaster College Series tournament that was won by Carson-Newman University anglers Ben Cully and Hayden Gaddis with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 10 ounces. In two days, a giant field of 261 teams caught just over 4,536 pounds of bass.

The 2022 Classic will feature 55 qualifiers who will earn their berths through the Elite Series, the Opens, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation circuit, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Bassmaster Team Championship plus the defending Bassmaster Classic champion and winner of the final Elite Series event of the 2021 season. They will compete in the no-entry fee event for their share of a whopping $1 million purse, with the champion earning $300,000.

“Since its inception, the Classic has been a tournament that changes lives,” said B.A.S.S. Chairman Chase Anderson. “The payday is great, sure. But the opportunity to refer to yourself as ‘Bassmaster Classic champion’ for the rest of your life — there’s no greater clout in our sport.”

The Bassmaster Classic is being hosted locally by Visit Anderson and VisitGreenvilleSC.

About VisitGreenvilleSC
VisitGreenvilleSC is a non-profit, economic development organization that is responsible for promoting the greater Greenville area as an attractive destination for leisure travelers, meetings, conventions, trade shows, and sporting events. As the official sales and marketing organization of the City and County of Greenville, the goal of VisitGreenvilleSC is to increase visitor-generated revenue, thereby strengthening Greenville’s economy. VisitGreenvilleSC is raising awareness of the destination through the brand “yeahTHATgreenville.” For more information go to VisitGreenvilleSC.com.

About Visit Anderson
Visit Anderson is the official destination marketing organization for Anderson, South Carolina. The mission of Visit Anderson is to grow the economy of Anderson County by fostering sustainable tourism, economic development and effectively marketing Anderson County and Lake Hartwell to increase visitation and improve the quality of life for the residents of Anderson County. For more information go to VisitAnderson.com.

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship, Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

MLF BIG-5

Arkansas’ Barnes Wins Toyota Series Event on Lake Texoma Presented by Abu Garcia

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date March 28, 2021
No Comments on Arkansas’ Barnes Wins Toyota Series Event on Lake Texoma Presented by Abu Garcia

KINGSTON, Okla. (March 28, 2021) – Toyota Series angler Evan Barnes of Hot Springs, Arkansas, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 13 pounds even to win the three-day Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Lake Texoma Presented by Abu Garcia in Kingston, Oklahoma. Barnes’ three-day total of 14 bass weighing 42-10 earned him the win by a 3-pound, 3-ounce margin over second-place angler Cameron Mattison of Benton, Louisiana and earned Barnes the top payout of $40,906 in the second tournament of the 2021 Toyota Series Southwestern Division.

“I’ve had a tough year, on the [Pro Circuit], missing checks and stuff,” said Barnes. “This year, I felt like I was led to fish full-time and I made that big leap of faith. Because I’ve had such a tough year, and financially there were a lot of questions, I really didn’t know if I was going to come to this tournament. I wanted to come, but, I’m telling you, I literally started praying. I was like ‘Lord, if you want me to come to this tournament, then you need to let me know.’ I felt Him urging me to go and knew I was going, but without that nudge, I wouldn’t even be standing here today.”

A pastor and a constant participant in Meet the Pros ministry events on the Pro Circuit, Barnes speaks about his faith as eloquently as anyone. On Saturday, after catching nothing off all his best areas, his hopes of a win were slipping away.

“I didn’t have a bass at 1 o’clock,” said Barnes. “Man, I pulled up on this point, right by weigh-in, and I caught a 2-pound smallmouth. I wanted to go back to my main areas and give them one more shot, but for whatever reason, it had to be the Lord, I just turned around and made a few more casts. I bombed that swimbait up and caught like a 4-pounder. We literally caught all of our fish over there, I caught my last one with 10 minutes to go and half the people here were watching me fish.

“It was just nuts – I didn’t have a single bass at 1 o’clock. Then I pulled up on that point and caught five and my co-anger caught four and we both win the event.

Barnes caught his fish off shallow brush and a pair of clutch points, using HI-SEAS fluorocarbon, Phenix Recon Elite rods and Daiwa reels. He targeted brush in less than 10 feet of water with a Duo Realis Apex Vibe painted by Curry’s Customs and a Black’s Custom Lures Widow Maker A-rig with three ¼-ounce heads from Motivated Fishing and 3.3-inch Keitech Swing Impact FAT swimbaits in the crystal shad color.

The brush fish were difficult to catch, but Barnes said his Garmin LiveScope helped tremendously.

“I think there were at least three or four fish this week I would not have caught without LiveScope,” said Barnes. “It was very difficult to get the fish to bite. You could see them everywhere, they were on every brush pile, and you could throw an A-rig out there and they wouldn’t bite. But every once in a while, you’d get one to track it. One of the big ones I caught this week, I watched it track it, and finally shook it right in her face and she grabbed it.”

The story of Day 1, and the entire event to an extent, was the flurry of smallmouth that Barnes ignited to stake the lead. With a few fish in the livewell, Barnes pulled up on a point where he’d gotten a few bites and landed a 2-pound bass in practice.

“I rolled over there to that point, and the first one I catch is a 4-pounder,” said Barnes.

He and co-angler Billy Sammons proceeded to light the world on fire. At one point, Barnes had a fish breaking water with his bait in his mouth while he was getting ready to net a fish for Sammons. Somehow, not only did he not lose his rod overboard, he landed the fish.

“That just goes to show you,” said Barnes. “When it’s your time, you can’t do anything to stop it.”

The top 10 pros on Lake Texoma finished:

            1^st:       Evan Barnes of Hot Springs, Ark., 14 bass, 42-10, $40,906
            2^nd:      Cameron Mattison of Benton, La., 15 bass, 39-7, $15,270
            3^rd:       Billy Cline of Bartonville, Texas, 13 bass, 38-10, $11,822
            4^th:       Christopher Temple of Krugerville, Texas, 11 bass, 35-0, $11,102
            5^th:       Blake Schroeder of White House, Texas, 12 bass, 33-1, $8,866
            6^th:       Chad Mrazek of Montgomery, Texas, nine bass, 30-6, $7,881
            7^th:       Mitchell Webb of Skiatook, Okla., nine bass, 29-8, $7,042
            8^th:       Tommy Dickerson of Orange, Texas, 11 bass, 28-10, $5,911
            9^th:       Wesley Dawson of Chester, Texas, nine bass, 27-10, $4,926
            10^th:     James Ware of Longview, Texas, 10 bass, 26-15, $3,941

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

Christopher Temple of Krugerville, Texas 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.

Bill Bean of Eufaula, Oklahoma, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 31 pounds, 5 ounces. Bean 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 Texoma finished:
1^st:       Bill Bean of Eufaula, Okla., 13 bass, 31-5, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
2^nd:      Keith Honeycutt of Temple, Texas, 12 bass, 30-7, $4,935
3^rd:       Hank Williams of Claremore, Okla., 11 bass, 23-14, $3,948
4^th:       Mike Crain of Oklahoma City, Okla., seven bass, 22-4, $3,454
5^th:       Jake Inderman of Allen, Texas, six bass, 17-11, $2,961
6^th:       Ben Burns of Lucas, Texas, eight bass, 17-5, $2,467
7^th:       Billy Sammons of Whitesboro, Texas, five bass, 16-14, $1,974
8^th:       Joshua Williams of Newcastle, Okla., five bass, 16-1, $1,727
9^th:       Trever Tinkle of Liberty, Texas, seven bass, 15-11, $1,480
10^th:     Johnny Burke of Bristow, Okla., five bass, 13-4, $1,234
River Lee of Nacogdoches, Texas, took home an additional $146 for the Day One Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, with a bass weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Mitchell Webb of Skiatook, Oklahoma, won the Day Two Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, bringing an 6-pound, 6-ounce bass to the scale.

In the Strike King co-angler division, the $97 Day One Berkley Big Bass award winner was Thomas Martens of Cedar Park, Texas, with a 8-pound bass, while the $97 Day Two award went to Paul Reutlinger of Mineola, Texas, with a 6-pound bass.

The Toyota Series at Lake Texoma was presented by Abu Garcia and was hosted by Discover Durant. It was the second of three regular-season tournaments in 2021 for Southwestern Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place March 31 – April 2 – the Toyota Series at Dale Hollow Lake in Monroe, Tennessee. 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.

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

DeFoe Wins Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Power-Pole

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date March 26, 2021
No Comments on DeFoe Wins Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Power-Pole

JASPER, Texas (March 26, 2021) –In one of the craziest endings to a tournament in Major League Fishing (MLF) history, pro Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, caught two key fish late in the day to overtake Spokane, Washington’s Luke Clausen and win the Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Power-Pole with a final day total of 13 bass weighing 30 pounds, 2 ounces

The ending was crazy because of the area that DeFoe had been fishing in – a secluded spot way up the Angelina River on the north end of Sam Rayburn. Cellular coverage was extremely spotty, so when Defoe boated a back-to-back 2-12 and a 2-13 with about 20 minutes left in the event to overtake Clausen, it didn’t register on the SCORETRACKER leaderboard until very near the end of competition. His first bass – the 2-12 – tied him with Clausen, and the 2-13 earned him the victory by that margin.

“I just love fishing this time of year,” said DeFoe, who earned his second career Bass Pro Tour victory – both in Texas. “The end of the day was a bit of disaster due to the area that I was in… the service was bad, but the fishing was really good.”

DeFoe said that he found his area on the first day of practice and committed to fishing it for the entire event.

“The very first day of practice I spent up there and got a fair number of bites, and I liked what I saw,” DeFoe said. “I spent the second day of practice down the lake and saw how much boat traffic there was, and there wasn’t much traffic up on the north end, so that is where I committed to. I ended up fishing there every single day.

“I had one really key little spot that there were so many bass in, and really just going through a rotation of baits is what worked for me this week,” DeFoe continued. “My key baits were a squarebill crankbait; I caught some fish on a Rapala DT4, another homemade squarebill crankbait that will eventually be in the OG line from Rapala, a Bass Pro Magnum Fin-Eke Worm ended up being a big player for me, and a Bass Pro Wacky Stik worm was also a big deal.

“I give all of the thanks to God – he gets all of the credit for everything,” DeFoe went on to say. “I just love this time of year – the Easter season is upon us and I am so excited for next week. This week has been incredible, though, and I just can’t believe it. All I can say is God Bless Texas!”

Clausen lost an estimated 5- or 6-pounder in Period 1 that ended up being the difference maker for him.

“I’ll be thinking about the one that I lost for a long time,” Clausen said. “I knew today when it happened, that fish, if I didn’t win it was going to hurt me pretty dang bad. And it did.

“I really don’t know that I could have done anything different today, other than land that fish,” Clausen continued. “I didn’t have a lot figured out, and I knew it was going to be one of those kind of deals where I knew it was just going to be about me going fishing. I could catch them on a ChatterBait and on a stickbait, and other than that it was just grinding it out. I did what I thought I needed to do at the right times and got some of the right bites, but obviously it was not enough.”

The top 10 pros at the Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir finished:

  1st:        Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 13 bass, 30-2, $100,000
2nd:       Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., nine bass, 27-5, $45,000
3rd:       Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., nine bass, 26-8, $38,000
4th:        Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., nine bass, 20-3, $32,000
5th:        Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., six bass, 20-0, $30,000
6th:        Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., six bass, 19-1, $26,000
7th:        Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., five bass, 14-1, $23,000
8th:        Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, three bass, 8-3, $21,000
9th:        Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., two bass, 4-14, $19,000
10th:     Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., one bass, 4-2, $16,000

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

There were 63 bass weighing 174 pounds, 7 ounces caught by the final 10 pros Friday.

Clausen won Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 5-pound, 3-ounce largemouth that bit his wacky-rigged worm just 20 minutes into Period 3. Connell won the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass award for the largest bass of the event with his 9-pound, 5-ounce bass that he weighed in on Day 1 of competition.

Television coverage of the Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Power-Pole will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Aug. 28 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.

The MLF Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Power-Pole was hosted by the Jasper County Development District and the Jasper/Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action each day of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com. and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Spohrer Wins Qualifying Group B of Major League Fishing’s Toro Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Power-Pole

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date March 24, 2021
No Comments on Spohrer Wins Qualifying Group B of Major League Fishing’s Toro Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Power-Pole

JASPER, Texas (March 24, 2021) – Pro Gerald Spohrer of Gonzales, Louisiana, boated eight scorable bass Wednesday weighing 23 pounds, 14 ounces to win the two-day Qualifying Group B round at the Toro Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Power-Pole . Spohrer’s two-day total of 15 bass weighing 50 pounds even earned him the victory by a 2-pound, 1-ounce margin and advances him directly into Friday’s final-day Championship Round of competition. The six-day tournament is being filmed for television broadcast on the Discovery Channel and the Outdoor Channel later this year and live-streamed online.

Pro Randall Tharp of Port Saint Joe, Florida, caught a two-day total of 16 bass weighing 47-15 to end the round in second place, and Japanese pro Shinichi Fukae finished the round in third place with a two-day total of 15 bass weighing 43-13.

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

“This is my first round that I’ve won with Major League Fishing, and it’s overwhelming the joy that I have right now,” Spohrer said. “Duking it out with my buddy, Randall Tharp, right at the end was exciting, and to get to do it right here, on Sam Rayburn, is a big deal to me.”

Spohrer credited his equipment as being the key to his success – the same 7-foot Quantum Smoke heavy-action casting rod paired with a Quantum Smoke 8:1 reel and spooled with 50-pound-test Seaguar Smackdown braided line (stealth gray) has caught every one of his fish this week.

“I’ve been a one-trick pony the last two days,” Spohrer said. “If you’ve been watching the live stream, you probably saw how deep I was getting my swimjig into the wood and dragging those fish out of there. It’s all worked out for me and I can’t tell you how happy I am.

“Now I get a day off and I’m going to get ready for the Championship Round,” Spohrer went on to say. “There will only be 10 of us, so I start the year automatically with a top-10 finish and now I’ve got a real legitimate chance to compete for that red trophy. I can’t wait.”

Despite his second-place finish, Tharp was very happy to see his good friend win and advance directly to the Championship Round.

“That’s why I’ve always loved tournament fishing – when it comes down to the last second, the last cast, and having the opportunity like I did,” Tharp said. “My hat’s off to Gerald. I hope I made him sweat a little bit, because I sure had a good time this afternoon. I had my opportunities.”

Tharp said that he relied on just two rods Wednesday, and likely would only use two in the Knockout Round as well.

“Basically, I’m just flipping bushes and trees, and anything in front of me,” the Florida pro said. “I threw a Zoom Z-Hog with a 5/16-ounce weight and a straight shank flipping hook. Later in the day I picked up a little frog and that baby was awful good to me today. The average bite on the frog was way better than the flipping bite. I’m probably going to keep those two rods in my hand all day tomorrow and go to work and hopefully make the Championship Round.”

An emotional Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was the last man in, finishing the day in 20^th place.

“Thank God, man. It has been such a stressful day,” Kriet said. “I needed this. I’ve been sucking, and I haven’t been catching them. Last year, in the first two tournaments of the year, I finished like dead last. I only made a couple of cuts last year. I need a good year, badly. This gives me confidence and that’s important, because I’d lost all confidence. I was literally thinking I might have to hang this stuff up. I know it’s not like I won the tournament today, but making the cut really means a lot to me. It’s not easy to do. And it’s some positive momentum. I’m tickled that I get to come back out here, tomorrow.”

Kriet credited two baits – a wacky-rigged Big Bite Baits Trick Stick and a Big Bite Baits Methiolate Floating Worm – for his success in the Qualifying Round.

The top 20 pros from Qualifying Group B that now advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round on Sam Rayburn Reservoir are:

1st:        Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 15 bass, 50-0 (ADVANCES DIRECTLY TO CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND)
2nd:       Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., 16 bass, 47-15
3rd:       Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 15 bass, 43-13
4th:        Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 15 bass, 42-0
5th:        Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 12 bass, 41-9
6th:        Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 13 bass, 37-8
7th:        Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 11 bass, 36-12
8th:        Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 15 bass, 34-8
9th:        Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., nine bass, 32-3
10th:     Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., 11 bass, 32-2
11th:     Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, 12 bass, 31-0
12th:     Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., 10 bass, 30-9
13th:     Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 11 bass, 30-5
14th:     Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 12 bass, 29-6
15th:     Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 12 bass, 29-1
16th:     Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 11 bass, 28-5
17th:     Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., 11 bass, 27-2
18th:     Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., nine bass, 26-0
19th:     Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 10 bass, 24-11
20th:     Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., 11 bass, 23-6

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

Overall Wednesday, there were 194 bass weighing 543 pounds, 13 ounces caught by 39 pros, which included two 7-pounders, three 6-pounders and three 5-pounders caught from Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

Lucas won the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award on Wednesday, catching a 7-pound, 14-ounce largemouth which bit a swimbait in Period 2. Berkley will award $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

The MLF Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage One at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Power-Pole is hosted by the Jasper County Development District and the Jasper/Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce.

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

Attendance is limited to competing anglers, essential staff and media covering the event only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com

MLF BIG-5

WV’s Davidson Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Dale Hollow

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date March 23, 2021
No Comments on WV’s Davidson Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Dale Hollow

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (March 23, 2021) – Boater Ryan Davidson of Branchland, West Virginia, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Dale Hollow in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Davidson earned $14,250 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Star Point Resort.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Ryan Davidson of Branchland, W.V.	5	17-15	$14,250
2^nd	David Stephens of Bowling Green, Ky.	5	17-13	$3,000
3^rd	Jonathan Green of East Bernstadt, Ky.	5	17-6	$2,000
4^th	Beau Grissim of Lebanon, Tenn.	5	17-5	$1,400
5^th	Robert Reagan of Byrdstown, Tenn.	5	16-10	$1,200
6^th	Brandon Maynard of Cookeville, Tenn.	5	16-2	$1,100
7^th	Eric Daniel Moore of Union, Ky.	5	16-0	$1,000
8^th	Mike Bryant of Cookeville, Tenn.	5	15-14	$900
9^th	Chris Holland of Winchester, Tenn.	5	15-13	$800
10^th	Josh Gaffney of Crab Orchard, Ky.	5	15-12	$700

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tenn.	5	11-7	$3,000
2^nd	Christopher Stites, Jr. of La Vergne, Tenn.	5	11-5	$1,500
3^rd	Caleb Chambers of Elizabethton, Tenn.	5	11-4	$1,000
4^th	Taylor Wisniewski of Lexington, Ky.	5	11-1	$650
4^th	Travis Giddens of Cookeville, Tenn.	5	11-1	$775
6^th	Les Baker of Lawrenceville, Ill.	4	10-14	$550
7^th	Bob Wiles of Hunington, W.V.	3	10-3	$975
7^th	Abbie Greynolds of Liberty, Ky.	3	10-3	$475
9^th	Ricky England of Sparta, Tenn.	3	9-15	$400
10^th	Dakota Cantrell of Decherd, Tenn.	5	9-9	$350

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Pat Eichmann of Nancy, Ky.	5-pound, 3-ounce bass	$1000
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Bob Wiles of Hunington, W.V.	5-pound, 1-ounce bass	$500
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Ryan Davidson of Branchland, W.V.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$7,000

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Generic moving baits	N/A
Strike King Co-Angler	Worm	Brown with blue flake

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Music City Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship	Oct. 7-9	Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala.	Decatur Morgan County Tourism
Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American	June 3-5	Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.	Jefferson County Department of Tourism

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.

MLF BIG-5

Oklahoma’s Davis Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Grand LakePresented by Abu Garcia

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date March 23, 2021
No Comments on Oklahoma’s Davis Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Grand LakePresented by Abu Garcia

GROVE, Okla. (March 23, 2021) – Boater Harmon Davis of Marlow, Oklahoma, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Grand Lake Presented by Abu Garcia in Grove, Oklahoma. Davis earned $5,961 for his victory at the event, hosted by the City of Grove.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Harmon Davis of Marlow, Okla.	5	21-15	$5,961
2^nd	Andy Carroll of Greenwood, Ark.	5	17-7	$2,760
3^rd	Brent Haggard of Sallisaw, Okla.	5	17-4	$1,837
4^th	Thomas Canady of Collinsville, Okla.	5	15-10	$1,788
5^th	Kord Hudkins of Pocola, Okla.	5	15-6	$1,546
6^th	Larry Crouch of Carthage, Mo.	5	15-5	$1,012
7^th	Gunner West of Spiro, Okla.	5	14-12	$920
8^th	Wayne Diffee of Bernice, Okla.	5	14-8	$828
9^th	Ryan Stinchcomb of Fort Smith, Ark.	5	14-3	$736
10^th	Brit Sumter of Prairie Grove, Ark.	5	13-8	$644

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Jason Wedel of Lowell, Ark.	5	12-9	$2,744
2^nd	Fred Fielder of Tahlequah, Okla.	5	12-0	$1,372
3^rd	Shaun Bradley of Edmond, Okla.	5	10-12	$917
4^th	Jim McLaughlin of Vinita, Okla.	5	9-11	$640
5^th	Alan Hill of Ada, Okla.	4	9-4	$549
6^th	Keith Baucom of Haskell, Okla.	4	8-11	$503
7^th	Nolan Wilson of Edmond, Okla.	3	8-3	$457
8^th	Jake Hess of Tulsa, Okla.	3	7-14	$412
9^th	Brady Short of Oxford, Kan.	3	7-8	$366
10^th	Scott Smith of Blanchard, Okla.	2	7-4	$320

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Kord Hudkins of Pocola, Okla.	5-pound, 14-ounce bass	$442
Boater Big Bass	Harmon Davis of Marlow, Okla.	5-pound, 14-ounce bass	$442
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Brandon (long) Nguyen of Overland Park, Kan.	5-pound, 11-ounce bass	$440
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Thomas Canady of Collinsville, Okla.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Santone Lures Spinnerbaits	White
Strike King Co-Angler	Googan Baits Saucy Swimmer Swimbait	Did Not Disclose

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Okie Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship	Oct. 21-23	Lake Ouachita, Mt. Ida, Ark.	Visit Hot Springs
Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American	June 3-5	Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.	Jefferson County Department of Tourism

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.

BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

Veteran Angler Lowen Earns First Bassmaster Elite Series Victory At Pickwick

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date March 23, 2021
No Comments on Veteran Angler Lowen Earns First Bassmaster Elite Series Victory At Pickwick

FLORENCE, Ala. — Bill Lowen turned in an impressively consistent performance at the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake, but he’ll never forget the 8-pound, 5-ounce largemouth that buoyed his Championship Tuesday performance and delivered a winning total of 83-5.

The only competitor to break 20 pounds three of the four days, Lowen placed third on Day 1 with 21-3 and improved to second a day later by adding 23-13. He earned his final-round berth on Day 3 with a limit of 17-10 that put him in a first-place tie with Chad Pipkens.

On Tuesday, Lowen surged across the finish line with a limit of 20-11. Edging second-place Brock Mosley by 2-10, Lowen claimed his first Elite win and earned $102,000, which includes the daily and overall Phoenix Boats Big Bass awards.

Lowen’s game-changing kicker bit around 10:30 a.m., when he skipped his black and blue Signature Series 3/8-ounce Lure Parts Online jig with a chunk trailer under a dock near Kogers Island. He initially snagged a piece of submerged cover, but then his line tightened.

“I had to pitch way up in there so the bait could get down in the current and sweep it through,” Lowen said. “I felt my jig get into a limb or a piece of brush, and as I hopped the jig over I felt the bite.

“I hesitated because I wanted to be sure, but when I got big pressure, I set the hook and it was game on.”

Lowen described that emotional catch: “There were so many feelings going through my head. You could hear me screaming and hollering and that’s not me. But that’s 14 years of excitement built up for this day. It all came out.”

The Tennessee Valley Authority steadily worked the volume through the system. But with Wilson Dam dumping approximately 180,000 cubic feet per second into Pickwick, the rising water and intense current dramatically changed Lowen’s game plan.

“My main goal was to start the tournament out on the grass flat by Koger Island. When all this rain and current came through I (was concerned) because I didn’t have anything else.

“The first morning of the event I ran down there and saw what was going on, and I said, ‘These fish have to slide to the sides — whether it’s on the island where I was fishing or the docks on the other side.’ Fortunately, when I pulled up and started flipping trees I got a bite, which keyed me in.”

That pattern worked for three days, but in the final round, falling water had drained much of Lowen’s prime habitat.

“Today, my main area (shallow cover on the outskirts of Kogers) was a foot and a half low,” he said. “A lot of the wood I was catching fish on was dry, so I started running some deeper stuff. I switched from the 3/8-ounce jig to a 1/2 and caught a couple key fish.”

Earlier in the tournament, Lowen used the 3/8-ounce jig so he could float it through the shallow, current-swept cover without getting hung up. He also used a Strike King Rodent Texas-rigged on a 5/0 Hayabusa flipping hook with a 5/16-ounce Reins tungsten weight for flipping reeds.

“Anytime I’m fishing current and I can keep a flipping rod in my hand, that’s my comfort zone,” Lowen said. “I grew up on the Ohio River, which looks just like (Pickwick) when it’s flooded. I’m used to rising, muddy water; it doesn’t affect me or make me get spun out. I just went out and fished the way I’d fish at home.”

Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., finished second with 80-11. Entering the final day in sixth place, Mosley caught the day’s heaviest limit — 22-14. His previous weights were 19-9, 21-8 and 16-12.

Having cut his teeth on Pickwick, Mosley said he knew the famous Horseshoe area of the Wilson Dam tailrace held tremendous potential, but he waited until the final day to fish this area.

“I’ve been waiting all week for the current to slow down,” Mosley said. “I don’t like fishing the tailrace when it’s 120,000 CFS. I saw that it was going to slow down yesterday, but you usually give them a half day to reposition.

“I went up there this morning and threw a 3/4-ounce spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades. In the first 10 minutes, I hooked up with two good ones.”

After leaving the tailrace, Mosley fished a big paddletail swimbait on the bluffs across from McFarland Park. He would rotate his areas once more and pick up a 5-pound fish 15 minutes before check-in.

Cory Johnston of Cavan, Canada, entered Championship Tuesday in third place and ended in that position with 79 pounds. His daily weights were 18-9, 15-3, 25-5 and 19-15.

After focusing on main-river current breaks the previous days, Johnston realized his opportunities were dwindling in the falling water. Transitioning to docks with 8 to 10 feet of water at the ends proved to be strategic adjustment.

Johnston caught his fish on a 7/16-ounce black/blue Punisher jig with a matching chunk trailer.

Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., leads the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 264 points. Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., is in second with 246, followed by Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, with 245, Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., with 242 and Bryan New of Belmont, N.C., with 239.

New leads the Rookie of the Year standings with 239 points.

Lowen took home $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, and Hank Cherry of Lincolnton, N.C., earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Lowen earned $2,500 for being the highest-placing entrant while Palaniuk claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

The tournament was hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism.

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

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

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

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Conservation Partner: AFTCO

2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake Local Host: Florence-Lauderdale Tourism

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.