Month: April 2021

Wisconsin’s Brown Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Mississippi River in LaCrosse

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date April 21, 2021
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LA CROSSE, Wisc. (April 19, 2021) – Boater Aidan Brown of Onalaska, Wisconsin, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Mississippi River Presented by TINCUP Whiskey in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Brown earned $4,915 for his victory at the event, hosted by the La Crosse County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Aidan Brown of Onalaska, Wisc.	5	18-1	$4,915
2^nd	Mike Brueggen of La Crosse, Wisc.	5	17-6	$2,049
2^nd	Devin Teigen of Nelson, Wisc.	5	17-6	$2,549
4^th	Nick Trim of Galesville, Wisc.	5	17-0	$1,147
5^th	Ben Potaracke of La Crosse, Wisc.	5	16-3	$983
6^th	Cade Laufenberg of La Crosse, Wisc.	5	16-2	$901
7^th	Chia Vang of Holmen, Wisc.	5	15-15	$819
8^th	Dustin Bliss of Brooklyn Park, Minn.	5	15-13	$737
9^th	Brandon Gann of Sparta, Wisc.	5	15-6	$655
10^th	Joe Pollak of Lake Geneva, Wisc.	5	14-14	$544
10^th	Kory Krienke of Annandale, Minn.	5	14-14	$544

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Alan Pierschalla of Slinger, Wisc.	5	15-3	$2,458
2^nd	Thomas Clearman of De Soto, Wisc.	5	14-3	$1,229
3^rd	Ron Mairet of Columbus Junction, Iowa	5	12-12	$817
4^th	Ryan Coon of LeClaire, Iowa	5	11-5	$532
4^th	Nicole Jacobs Stelmach of Saint Paul, Minn.	4	11-5	$532
6^th	Alan Bernicky of Joliet, Ill.	4	10-7	$901
7^th	Mike Marr of Oxford, Wisc.	4	9-5	$410
8^th	Thad Vettrus of Chippewa Falls, Wisc.	3	9-4	$369
9^th	Cody Rothstein of Rogers, Minn.	4	9-1	$328
10^th	Kalvin Korotka of Manawa, Wisc.	4	8-14	$287

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Troy Anderson of Galesville, Wisc.	5-pound, 2-ounce bass	$750
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Eric Breitkreutz of Sheboygan, Wisc.	5-pound, 6-ounce bass	$375
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Devin Teigen of Nelson, Wisc.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

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

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Unspecified Ned Rig	Black/Blue
Strike King Co-Angler	Berkley Powerbait Maxscent The General Worm	Green Pumpkin

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Great Lakes 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 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

Indiana’s Ison Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Rough River Lake

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date April 21, 2021
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FALLS OF ROUGH, Ky. (April 19, 2021) – Boater Richard Ison of New Washington, Indiana, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Rough River Lake Presented by TINCUP Whiskey in Falls of Rough, Kentucky. Ison earned $7,330 for his victory at the event, including a $2,500 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Richard Ison of New Washington, Ind.	5	13-4	$7,330
2^nd	Chris Martinkovic of Hamilton, Ohio	5	12-5	$2,615
3^rd	Bryan Jenkins of Indianapolis, Ind.	5	12-1	$1,609
4^th	Eric Hardesty of Nineveh, Ind.	5	11-4	$1,127
5^th	Terry McWilliams of Greenfield, Ind.	5	11-3	$966
6^th	Charlie Land of Coatesville, Ind.	5	11-1	$885
7^th	Clint Bissonett of Beaver Creek, Ohio	5	10-12	$805
8^th	Brody Campbell of Oxford, Ohio	5	10-8	$724
9^th	Nathan Harrison of Reynolds Station, Ky.	5	10-5	$644
10^th	Caleb Carnes of Harned, Ky.	5	10-3	$563

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Jeffery Johnson of Austin, Ind.	5	10-5	$2,560
2^nd	Hunter Bowden of Terre Haute, Ind.	3	8-6	$1,652
3^rd	Tom Harber of Kokomo, Ind.	4	8-2	$787
4^th	John Albertson of Bloomington, Ind.	5	7-7	$551
5^th	David Rector of Brazil, Ind.	5	7-3	$472
6^th	Devon Welter of Connersville, Ind.	4	6-11	$433
7^th	Josh Ford of Camden, Ohio	4	6-2	$373
7^th	Luke Robinson of Hardinsburg, Ky.	5	6-2	$373
9^th	Brian Liming of Dillsboro, Ind.	5	6-1	$315
10^th	Steven Sanders of Orleans, Ind.	3	6-0	$275

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Justin Henderson of Bargersville, Ind.	4-pound, 15-ounce bass	$720
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Hunter Bowden of Terra Haute, Ind.	4-pound, 4-ounce bass	$347
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Richard Ison of New Washington, Ind.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$2,500

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Berkley PowerBait	Did Not Divulge
Strike King Co-Angler	Secret Lures Stupid Tube	Did Not Divulge

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Hoosier 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

MLF BIG-5

Miss. Galloway Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Grenada Lake

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date April 21, 2021
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GRENADA, Miss. (April 19, 2021) – Boater Grant Galloway of Houlka, Mississippi, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Grenada Lake Presented by Googan Baits in Grenada, Mississippi. Galloway earned $4,426 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Grenada Tourism Commission.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Grant Galloway of Houlka, Miss.	5	15-15	$4,426
2^nd	Billy Doyle of Somerville, Tenn.	5	14-14	$1,713
3^rd	Justin McKee of Pheba, Miss.	5	13-3	$1,141
4^th	Connor Martin of Oakland, Tenn.	5	13-1	$799
5^th	Andy Graves of Clarksdale, Miss.	5	12-7	$685
6^th	Mark Clark of Crawford, Miss.	5	12-5	$628
7^th	Jim Phillips of Greenwood, Miss.	5	12-1	$571
8^th	Steve Ruth of Columbus, Miss.	4	10-1	$514
9^th	Kirk Tisdale of Ellisville, Miss.	5	9-1	$457
10^th	Clint Pegg of Caledonia, Miss.	5	8-14	$380
10^th	Logan Main of Lumberton, Miss.	5	8-14	$380

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Jimmy Tisdale of Ellisville, Miss.	5	13-12	$1,713
2^nd	Chaz Douglas of Wesson, Miss.	3	12-14	$1,071
3^rd	Jason Mitchell of Hamilton, Miss.	5	8-13	$571
4^th	Mitchell Bond of Collins, Miss.	4	8-9	$400
5^th	Blake Jeffreys of Booneville, Miss.	4	8-8	$343
6^th	Billy Carpenter of Mason, Tenn.	5	7-10	$314
7^th	Chris Mitchell of Millport, Ala.	2	6-10	$285
8^th	Colin Fogerty of Memphis, Tenn.	3	6-6	$257
9^th	Eric Melton of Flowood, Miss.	2	5-15	$202
9^th	Ryan LeCompte of Picayune, Miss.	3	5-15	$202
9^th	Matthew Cooper of Brooksville, Miss.	2	5-15	$202

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Dathan Lambeth of Hamilton, Miss.	5-pound, 1-ounce bass	$430
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Chaz Douglas of Wesson, Miss.	5-pound, 15-ounce bass	$215
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	George Christian of Indianola, Miss.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	SpinnerbaitBerkley Powerbait Bunker Hawg	Did Not Divulge
Strike King Co-Angler	Swimbait	Chartreuse/White

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Mississippi 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

MLF BIG-5

Maryland’s Mathias Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Chesapeake Bay

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date April 21, 2021
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NORTH EAST, Md. (April 19, 2021) – Boater Jeremy Mathias of Monrovia, Maryland, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Chesapeake Bay in North East, Maryland. Mathias earned $4,938 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Jeremy Mathias of Monrovia, Md.	5	20-3	$4,938
2^nd	Joe A. Zombek, II of Scranton, Pa.	5	19-12	$3,214
3^rd	Trent Cole of Sewell, N.J.	5	19-8	$1,646
4^th	Michael Duarte of Baltimore, Md.	5	18-0	$1,152
5^th	Adam Janerella of Jersey Shore, Pa.	5	17-13	$1,488
6^th	Joe Booker of Elkton, Md.	5	17-5	$905
7^th	Ernie Freeman of Broad Run, Va.	5	15-11	$1,323
8^th	Randy Caruso of Liberty, N.Y.	5	15-8	$741
9^th	Joe Morgan of Newfield, N.J.	5	14-11	$617
9^th	Teimuraz (Tom) Balachvili of Scarsdale, N.Y.	5	14-11	$617

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Jeff Mellott of Warfordsburg, Pa.	5	17-5	$2,469
2^nd	Tom Rufenacht of Bel Air, Md.	4	16-10	$1,235
3^rd	David Paszkiewicz of Kearny, N.J.	5	16-4	$823
4^th	Roberto Laboy of Geigertown, Pa.	5	15-11	$576
5^th	Tim Nichols of Pittsgrove, N.J.	5	13-3	$494
6^th	Jacob Zimmerman of Warrenton, Va.	4	12-3	$453
7^th	Brandon Humbertson of Walkersville, Md.	4	11-13	$412
8^th	Chris Slater of Dorchester, Mass.	3	11-9	$370
9^th	Ryan Fronina of Mohrsville, Pa.	3	9-7	$329
10^th	Jerome Louie of Bear, Del.	3	9-5	$288

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Joe A. Zombek, II, Scranton, Pa.	6-pound, 11-ounce bass	$745
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	John Redmond, North Potomac, Md.	5-pound, 11-ounce bass	$372
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Ernie Freeman of Broad Run, Va.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Strike King KVD 2.5 Hard Knock Squarebill Crankbait	Tennessee Shad
Strike King Co-Angler	Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer	Green Pumpkin

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Northeast Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship	Oct. 14-16	Potomac River, Marbury, Md.	Charles County Board of Commissioners
Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American	June 3-5	Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.	Jefferson County Department of Tourism

MLF BIG-5

Georgia’s Gould Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Clarks Hill Lake

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date April 21, 2021
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APPLING, Ga. (April 20, 2021) – Boater Christopher Gould of Grovetown, Georgia, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. Gould earned $6,000 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Christopher Gould of Grovetown, Ga.	5	19-6	$6,000
2^nd	Jason Burroughs of Hodges, S.C.	5	19-3	$3,500
3^rd	Jayme Rampey of Liberty, S.C.	5	18-10	$2,000
4^th	Jeremy Strong of Elberton, Ga.	5	18-0	$1,400
5^th	Stephen A. Gravely of Greenville, S.C.	5	16-10	$1,900
6^th	Cain Waller of Hartwell, Ga.	5	16-3	$1,100
7^th	Joe Eubanks of Marietta, Ga.	5	16-1	$900
7^th	Dearal Rodgers of Camden, S.C.	5	16-1	$900
7^th	Wesley Sandifer of Chapin, S.C.	5	16-1	$900
10^th	Bo Price of Seneca, S.C.	5	15-15	$636
10^th	Brian Tidwell of Seneca, S.C.	5	15-15	$636
10^th	Derek Schlotterback of Simpsonville, S.C.	5	15-15	$636

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Corey Yaden of Grovetown, Ga.	5	14-4	$3,000
2^nd	David Few of Lake Wylie, S.C.	5	13-14	$1,500
3^rd	John Hagins of Roswell, Ga.	5	13-7	$1,000
4^th	Paul Casey of Evans, Ga.	5	12-14	$700
5^th	Colby Martin of Edgefield, S.C.	5	11-15	$600
6^th	Jacob Turner of Donalds, S.C.	5	11-12	$550
7^th	Chuck Bond of Laurens, S.C.	5	11-6	$475
7^th	Jordan Cobb of Townville, S.C.	5	11-6	$475
9^th	Cory Guinn of Mountain Rest, S.C.	5	11-0	$400
10^th	Damion Northern of Grovetown, Ga.	5	10-13	$350

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Justin Hadden of Leesville, S.C.	7-pound, 2-ounce bass	$1,000
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Brandon Hendrix of Anderson, S.C.	5-pound, 8-ounce bass	$500
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Jason Burroughs of Hodges, S.C.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Did Not Divulge	N/A
Strike King Co-Angler	Did Not Divulge	N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Savannah River 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

MLF BIG-5

James “WORLDWIDE” Watson Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Table Rock Lake

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date April 20, 2021
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KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. (April 20, 2021) – Pro James Watson of Lampe, Missouri, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Table Rock Lake Presented by Fenwick in Kimberling City, Missouri. Watson earned $7,000 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	James Watson of Lampe, Mo.	5	20-3	$7,000
2^nd	Wesley Rogers of Thayer, Mo.	5	19-0	$3,000
3^rd	Cody Ellison of Fordland, Mo.	5	18-2	$2,000
4^th	Casey Martin of Brownsboro, Ala.	5	16-7	$1,400
5^th	Aaron Martin of Wildwood, Mo.	5	15-14	$1,150
5^th	Connor Cunningham of Springfield, Mo.	5	15-14	$1,650
7^th	Josh Busby of Rogersville, Mo.	5	15-1	$1,000
8^th	Christopher Smith of North Branch, Minn.	5	15-0	$1,100
9^th	Clint Williams of Fayetteville, Ark.	5	14-14	$800
10^th	Chris Macy of Diamond, Mo.	5	14-13	$1,700

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Steve Treiber of Eureka, Mo.	5	14-14	$3,000
2^nd	Zach Ritter of Holts Summit, Mo.	5	14-1	$1,500
3^rd	BJ Davis of Mountain Home, Ark.	5	13-12	$1,000
4^th	Kelby Humble of Marshfield, Mo.	5	12-10	$700
5^th	Dennis Spell of Bonne Terre, Mo.	5	12-1	$600
6^th	Sam Cox of Imperial, Mo.	5	11-11	$550
7^th	Brock Krohne of Belton, Mo.	5	11-8	$500
8^th	Kevin Dickey of Harrison, Ark.	4	11-5	$450
9^th	Joe Dietz of O’Fallon, Mo.	4	11-1	$375
9^th	Rick McGuire of Monroe City, Mo.	5	11-1	$375

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Chris Macy of Diamond, Mo.	6-pound, 4-ounce bass	$1,000
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Izac Sumpter of Cuba, Mo.	5-pound, 4-ounce bass	$500
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Connor Cunningham of Springfield, Mo.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Tackle HD Worldwide Buzzer BuzzbaitBig Swimbait	Did Not Disclose
Strike King Co-Angler	Shaky Head	Green Pumpkin

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Ozark Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship	Oct. 7-9	Lake Norfork, Mountain Home, Ark.	Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce
Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American	June 3-5	Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.	Jefferson County Department of Tourism

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Alton Jones Wins MLF General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops – Fellow Texas pro Jeff Sprague Catches 5-pound, 3-ounce Fish to Earn $100,000 Big Bass Bonus

RALEIGH, N.C. (April 14, 2021) – It was a sight-fishing clinic on Shearon Harris Reservoir in Raleigh on Wednesday, and pro Alton Jones of Woodway, Texas, was the professor. The Texas angler boated 12 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces to dominate the final-day Championship Round and win the top prize of $100,000 at the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops in North Carolina. Jones won by a 15-pound, 5-ounce margin over pro Jeff Sprague of Point, Texas, who caught eight bass totaling 30-4. Sprague, however, was not disappointed in his finish as he earned the top Big Bass Bonus of $100,000 with a 5-pound, 3-ounce largemouth.

Just 23 minutes into Period 2, Jones caught a 3-pound, 3-ounce bass to move into the top position on the leaderboard and he never relinquished it. The tall Texan showed MLF NOW! viewers why he has long been considered one of the top sight-fishing anglers in the game.

“This feels so, so good. It’s been a while since I’ve won a Tour-level event like this, and it was a very special day,” said an emotional Jones when he came off of the water. “After my practice time, I knew that I had found several key areas that had the potential to be really special for this event, if I could just make the final rounds.

“When we did our morning ride-through this morning and I got on the trolling motor, I found about 10 3-pounders in my first pass through the cove, and I thought to myself, ‘you know what, this could actually happen.’ I didn’t know if they were going to bite, but if they did I was going to have a chance. And sure enough, here I am. I still can’t believe that I’m the Heavy Hitters Champion.”

Jones saw the majority of the fish that he caught on Wednesday on beds, and managed to boat a dozen keepers flipping an “old-school” Texas-rigged Canyon Plastics Gitzit tube (green-pumpkin with purple and black metal flake).

“I really like throwing a tube during the spawn – it’s a bait that will catch a 2-pounder, a 3-pounder, but it will also catch a 10-pounder,” Jones said. “So, it’s good bait to fish for numbers and size. My Kistler rods were also very important – I used a Kistler Z Bone. That rod is super-light, super-sensitive, and super-strong and helped me out a lot today.”

Jones also shared some of his sight-fishing prowess with the crowd gathered at the takeout ramp.

“Every fish that I caught today was an individual,” Jones said. “I had to figure out what each fish was doing, and how to work that particular fish. That’s one of the things that I love about sight fishing – you treat every fish as an individual. What makes one fish hot, the other fish will ignore. So, it’s kind of a thinking man’s game. It’s a stealthy game, because you can see them, but they can also see you. I try to hide from the fish, and I’ve got a few other little tricks that I like to pull and today, it all worked out for me.”

Second-place angler Jeff Sprague was also emotional and exhausted after a long week of competition.

“I scratched by every day this week,” Sprague said. “The first day at Lake Jordan was great – I caught so many fish and had a phenomenal day. The second day, we literally scratched by and barely made it into the Knockout Round. Then, in the Knockout Round, to tie for the last position in and to get through via a tiebreaker. And now, on Championship Day, to catch the big bass and win 100 grand and finish second overall, this has just been a stellar week.”

The top 10 pros from the General Tire Heavy Hitters event in Raleigh, North Carolina, finished:

  1^st:          Alton Jones, Woodway, Texas, 12 bass, 45-9, $100,000
2^nd:         Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, eight bass, 30-4, $25,000 + $100,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus
3^rd:         Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., seven bass, 26-8, $20,000 + $50,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus
4^th:         Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., six bass, 22-12, $18,000
5^th:         Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., six bass, 22-8, $15,000
6^th:         Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 18-7, $14,500
7^th:         Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., five bass, 17-15, $13,500 + $25,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus
8^th:         Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 14-2, $12,500 + $25,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus
9^th:         Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., three bass, 9-14, $11,000
10^th:       Ish Monroe, Oakdale, Calif., one bass, 3-11, $8,000

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

Overall, there were 57 bass weighing 211 pounds, 10 ounces, caught by the final 10 pros on Wednesday, which included two 5-pounders, 13 4-pounders, and 42 3-pounders caught from Shearon Harris Reservoir.

The MLF General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops was hosted by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance.

Television coverage of the General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 17 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside Heavy Hitters will also air on CBS in late 2021. 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.

MLF BIG-5

Reitzell Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake of the Pines

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date April 13, 2021
No Comments on Reitzell Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake of the Pines

JEFFERSON, Texas (April 12, 2021) – Boater Stephen Reitzell of Colfax, Louisiana, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake of the Pines in Jefferson, Texas. Reitzell earned $5,229 for his victory at the event.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Stephen Reitzell of Colfax, La.	5	23-10	$5,229
2^nd	Kraig Chapman of Bossier City, La.	5	21-12	$2,614
3^rd	Judah Morris of Forest Hill, La.	5	18-14	$1,745
4^th	Brad Morgan of Ashdown, Ark.	5	18-10	$1,220
5^th	Edwin Baker of Gilmer, Texas	5	18-3	$1,046
6^th	Troy Roder of Brookeland, Texas	5	17-15	$959
7^th	Arthur Johnson of Judson, Texas	5	17-9	$871
8^th	Red Ballard of Sulphur, La.	5	17-6	$1,284
9^th	Robert Riche of Houma, La.	5	16-14	$697
10^th	Randy Deaver of Blanchard, La.	5	16-11	$860

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	JJ Matzke of League City, Texas	5	14-9	$2,614
2^nd	Tyrell Harmon of Manor, Texas	5	14-6	$1,307
3^rd	Floyd Pittman of Covington, La.	5	14-4	$872
4^th	Greg Dennis of Fort Worth, Texas	5	14-1	$566
4^th	Albert Ignacio of Dallas, Texas	5	14-1	$566
6^th	Robert Massey of Calhoun, La.	5	13-10	$479
7^th	Calvin Bogan of Livingston, Texas	5	13-0	$436
8^th	Brandon Begnaud of Texas City, Texas	5	12-14	$392
9^th	Cameron Petras of Biloxi, Miss.	4	12-12	$349
10^th	Tim Woodard of Rosepine, La.	5	12-6	$430

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Louis Ferguson of Woodville, Texas	7-pound, 10-ounce bass	$815
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Lat Nichols of Deport, Texas	8-pound, 12-ounce bass	$407
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Red Ballard of Sulphur, La.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

WINNING BAITS

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Generic Spinnerbait/Jig	N/A
Strike King Co-Angler	Dropshot-Rigged Soft Plastic Jerkbait	Orange Magnum

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Cowboy 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

MLF BIG-5

Tenn’s Bowman Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Dale Hollow Lake

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date April 13, 2021
No Comments on Tenn’s Bowman Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Dale Hollow Lake

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (April 13, 2021) – Boater Anthony Bowman of Monterey, Tennessee, wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Bowman earned $6,658 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Star Point Marina and Resort.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Anthony Bowman of Monterey, Tenn.	5	19-13	$6,658
2^nd	Eric Snow of Clarksville, Ind.	5	18-13	$2,829
3^rd	Christian Nash of Cookeville, Tenn.	5	18-11	$2,386
4^th	Clay Reece of Lexington, Ky.	5	18-8	$1,320
5^th	Adam Militana of Saluda, N.C.	5	18-7	$1,037
5^th	Mark Neal of Livingston, Tenn.	5	18-7	$1,037
5^th	Austin Poston of Cookeville, Tenn.	5	18-7	$1,037
8^th	Chris Burton of Somerset, Ky.	5	18-6	$849
9^th	Kyle Gelles of Pingree, Idaho	5	18-3	$707
9^th	Danny Abrams of Greensfork, Ind.	5	18-3	$707

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Todd Beaty of Rickman, Tenn.	5	15-13	$2,760
2^nd	Drew Campbell of Cookeville, Tenn.	4	14-15	$1,822
3^rd	Bert Kissick of Danville, Ky.	5	13-13	$918
4^th	Craig Marsh of Mount Juliet, Tenn.	5	13-2	$644
5^th	Bobby Richardson of Gainesboro, Tenn.	4	12-13	$552
6^th	Kellen Wilson of Somerset, Ky.	5	12-9	$506
7^th	Will Carnes of Stanford, Ky.	4	12-7	$460
8^th	Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tenn.	5	12-2	$414
9^th	Jonathan Combs of Winchester, Ky.	5	12-1	$368
10^th	Matt Hall of Frankfort, Ky.	4	11-11	$322

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	Matt Smith of Bowling Green, Ky.	5-pound, 15-ounce bass	$915
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Drew Campell of Cookeville, Tenn.	5-pound, 7-ounce bass	$442
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Christian Nash of Cookeville, Tenn.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

WINNING BAITS

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Did Not Divulge	N/A
Strike King Co-Angler	Did Not Divulge	N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Mountain 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

MLF BIG-5

Georgia’s Carter Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Sinclair

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date April 13, 2021
No Comments on Georgia’s Carter Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Sinclair

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. (April 13, 2021) – Boater Kip Carter of Eatonton, Georgia wins the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake Sinclair in Milledgeville, Georgia. Carter earned $6,673 for his victory at the event.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Kip Carter of Eatonton, Ga.	5	20-08	$6,673
2^nd	Girard Jones of Macon, Ga.	5	17-11	$2,837
3^rd	Jackson Brown of Bogart, Ga.	5	16-14	$1,891
4^th	Willie McMullen of Covington, Ga.	5	16-6	$1,324
5^th	Justin Kimmel of Athens, Ga.	5	15-11	$1,385
6^th	Jason Cheek of Eatonton, Ga.	5	15-8	$1,040
7^th	Michael Wilder of Lizella, Ga.	5	15-1	$946
8^th	Jimmy Millsaps of Canton, Ga.	5	14-9	$851
9^th	Tony Couch of Buckhead, Ga.	5	14-4	$756
10^th	Ben-Oni Maldonado of Covington, Ga.	5	14-1	$662

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Will Thomas of Madison, Ga.	5	13-6	$2,844
2^nd	James Murphy of Phenix City, Ala.	5	11-3	$1,185
3^rd	Kyler Turner of Perry, Ga.	5	11-3	$1,385
4^th	Thomas Pierce of Calhoun, Ga.	4	10-14	$664
5^th	Troy Harris of Watkinsville, Ga.	5	10-9	$1,029
6^th	Travis Wilkes of Covington, Ga.	5	9-15	$521
7^th	Bruce Jeffrey of Lithonia, Ga.	5	9-6	$474
8^th	Spencer Sato of Warner Robins, Ga.	4	9-3	$427
9^th	Jerry Bryant of Douglas, Ga.	5	8-13	$379
10^th	Donald Peppers of Good Hope, Ga.	5	8-12	$332

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass	William Glawson, Macon, Ga.	6-pound,11-ounce bass	$925
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Troy Harris, Watkinsville, Ga.	6-pound, 6-ounce bass	$460
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	John Duvall, Madison, Ga.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Generic ½ ounce spinnerbait	Did Not Divulge
Strike King Co-Angler	Zoom Trick Worm	June Bug

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Bulldog Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship	Oct. 21-23	St. Johns, 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