Month: July 2021

John Cox Leads Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Savage Arms Stop 6 on St. Lawrence River Presented by Abu Garcia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

JOIN THE MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING CONVERSATION NOW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MLF BIG-5

Ohio’s Knauf Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Mosquito Lake

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

Ohio’s *Blinn Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division*

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

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

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CONTINGENCY AWARDS

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

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

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Unspecified Drop Shot	N/A
Strike King Co-Angler	Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer	N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

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

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

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

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

MLF BIG-5

Virginia’s Lachniet Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on James River

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

Virginia’s *Titus Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division*

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

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

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

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

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Yamamoto Senko/Wacky Rig	Black/Blue
Strike King Co-Angler	Zoom Magnum Shakey Head Worm	N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

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

The 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

Vermont’s Barkyoumb Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Champlain

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 26, 2021
No Comments on Vermont’s Barkyoumb Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Champlain

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

Conn’s *Pellegrino Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division*

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

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

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

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

ANGLER	BAIT	COLOR
Boater	Berkley Flat Worm/Drop Shot	N/A
Strike King Co-Angler	Roboworm/Drop Shot	N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

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

The 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

Major League Fishing Announces 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Toyota Series Schedules

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 22, 2021
No Comments on Major League Fishing Announces 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Toyota Series Schedules

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

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

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

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

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

JOIN THE MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING CONVERSATION NOW

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

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

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

BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

Ito’s Mega Bag Earns Bassmaster Elite Series Win At St. Lawrence River

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 18, 2021
No Comments on Ito’s Mega Bag Earns Bassmaster Elite Series Win At St. Lawrence River

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Saving the best for last may not have been his intention, but Taku Ito’s eye-popping 26-pound limit propelled the Japanese sensation to a convincing victory at the Farmers Insurance Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River with a four-day total of 90 pounds.

Hailing from Chiba, Japan, the second-year Elite placed 38th on Day 1 with 17-15, then improved to 11th with a second-round limit of 22-14. Day 3 saw Ito secure his Championship Sunday berth by adding 23-3 and improving to seventh.

Earning $100,000 for his Elite win, Ito anchored his third and fourth days’ limits with 6-pound smallmouth, both of which earned $1,000 daily awards for Phoenix Boats Big Bass.

“I love Waddington — I’m very, very happy,” Ito said with the engaging sincerity Elite audiences have come to love. “When I was 8 years old, I won the (Bassin’s Black Bass with Hank Parker) video game and now, on the St. Lawrence River, I won the Bassmaster Elite Series.

“Big Bass. Big Stage. Big Dreams. Bassmaster!”

Ito, who placed sixth at last year’s St. Lawrence River event, devoted all four days to Lake Ontario. The first two days, he fished rock structures in approximately 20 feet. On Saturday those areas failed to produce, so he relocated to a spot in 26 to 27 feet near Chaumont Bay.

Calling this spot “Taku Disneyland” for its abundance of fish, Ito caught his Day 3 limit there and started on the spot Sunday.

“I was driving about two hours (each way) and I had about two hours and 30 minutes of fishing time,” Ito said.

Arriving at his spot this morning, Ito thought his graph was malfunctioning when he saw what appeared to be a false bottom at 13 to 14 feet. To his delight, it was a massive school of Lake Ontario giants.

“Usually, smallmouth are on the bottom, but today there was a school of big smallmouth suspended,” Ito said.

Ito said he noticed a distinct water clarity difference, and he assumed the fish had followed the clean water into his area. Also, Ito said the gobies he incidentally caught on his drop shot were a couple of inches larger than the 3- to 4-inchers he saw the previous three days.

“My spot had bigger gobies today, so maybe the smallmouth were there for the big gobies,” Ito said.

Ito caught some of his bass on a drop shot with a 4-inch Ecogear Aqua Swim Shrimp rigged on a 1/0 Ryugi Talisman hook with a 1/4-ounce Ryugi TG Delta sinker.

He also caught keepers on a Neko-rigged 5 1/4-inch Nories Latterie straight worm and a Berkley Hit Worm. For this rig, he used a 3/16-ounce Neko weight and a 1/0 Ryugi Talisman hook.

“I was using many Japanese techniques,” Ito said. “I would cast and sometimes the fish would take (the bait) while it was falling. Sometimes, I kept my bait on the bottom for 10 seconds, 15 seconds, with no action.”

Justin Atkins of Florence, Ala., finished second with 88-12. Atkins tied Gerald Swindle of Guntersville, Ala., for eighth place on Day 1 with 21-6, then added 22-14 and rose to fifth. He caught 23-10 on Day 3 and moved into second before settling at that position with Sunday’s limit of 20-14.

“I caught all of my fish out of the lake,” Atkins said. “I found a flat that had some grass and rock with some sand mixed in 12 to 20 feet. There was big school of fish on it, and I was using my Lowrance Active Target to look for them.”

Atkins caught his fish on a drop shot with a Berkley MaxScent Flat Worm and a 3/32-ounce Marabou jig with a piece of MaxScent worm on the shank. That adjustment added bulk and scent appeal, which helped convert more bites into hookups.

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“I really liked the brown Marabou jig this week,” Atkins said. “I had some followers on black, but the brown, for whatever reason seemed to get them to trigger.”

Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, finished third with 88-10. On Day 1, the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year tied Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., for sixth place with 21-12.

Wendlandt added 23-3 on Day 2 and moved up to fourth. Catching 20-10 on Semifinal Saturday kept him in that spot until his final-round limit of 23-1 advanced Wendlandt one more spot.

“I fished the lake and used a lot of different depths, but the shallowest I caught one was probably 12 feet and the deepest was 28,” Wendlandt said. “The best seemed to be about 20 feet.”

Wendlandt caught his fish on a 3/16-ounce Ned rig and a drop shot with a green pumpkin minnow-style bait.

Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., won the $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for the week with a 6-5. Walters also claimed the $1,000 daily Big Bass award for Day 2.

Bernie Schultz of Gainesville, Fla., who led Days 1 and 2 and finished eighth, won the $1,000 daily Big Bass award for Day 1.

Schultz took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Chris Groh of Spring Grove, Ill., earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Ito also earned $4,000 for winning while Wendlandt claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

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

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

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

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

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Conservation Partner: AFTCO

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

MLF BIG-5

Estes Wins Toyota Series Event on Lake Champlain

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 18, 2021
No Comments on Estes Wins Toyota Series Event on Lake Champlain

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

Pro Circuit angler Kyle Gelles decided to jump in on the co-angler side at Lake Champlain. The decision seems to have paid off well. Photo by Cobi Pellerito. Angler: Kyle Gelles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

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

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 17, 2021
No Comments on Johnston Moves Into Lead Of Bassmaster Elite At St. Lawrence River

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

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

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

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Conservation Partner: AFTCO

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

MLF BIG-5

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

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 16, 2021
No Comments on Major League Fishing Marshall Program – Your Chance to Fish with A Pro!

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

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

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

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

Marshal Program Overview:

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

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

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

Courtesy of Major League Fishing

2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Marshal Guidelines:

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

Courtesy of Major League Fishing

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

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

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

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

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date July 16, 2021
No Comments on Mossy Oak Expands Major League Fishing Sponsorship with Multi-Year Deal to Remain Exclusive Camo Sponsor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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