Month: January 2024

Categories
Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Dustin Connell Cruises to Group B Lead at MLF Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole at Toledo Bend

MANY, La. (Jan. 31, 2024) – After dancing around the top spot throughout the day, pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama , went on an afternoon flurry to pull away from the pack and grab the early lead for Group B after Day 1 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole. Connell and pro Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, set the pace for Group B, both slipping in and out of the number one spot throughout the morning, as each had tallied more than 50 pounds of bass by the end of the second period. Connell pulled ahead during Period 3 to finish the day with 27 bass weighing 81 pounds, 14 ounces. Becker ended the day in second, with 18 bass weighing 61-12.

Link to Hi-Res Photo of Qualifying Group B Leader Dustin Connell
Link to Photo Gallery of Group B’s Day 1 Qualifying Round Highlights

The six-day tournament, hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000, and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

If Connell didn’t have enough motivation when he took to the water for Group B’s first day of competition on Toledo Bend — wanting to start the 2024 season strong, to get back in the Championship Round after making just one Top 10 last year — all he had to do was look at the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard for the event.

Jacob Wheeler, who has roomed with Connell throughout their Bass Pro Tour careers, rocketed to the Day 1 lead in Group A when he landed 28 bass for 91 pounds on Tuesday. Though the two pros won’t compete head-to-head until the Knockout Round, Connell wanted to one-up his close friend – and he nearly pulled it off.

“I always try to beat Jacob,” Connell said. “It’s very hard to do. He’s on another level, and he motivates me to become better every day. It’s just cool to see me and him on top.”

While dynamic conditions on Toledo Bend have made the bite tricky for much of the field, Connell made it look easy, boating seven scorable bass for 20-6 in the first hour, then putting together an even stronger surge across the second and third periods. Between 10:53 a.m. and 1:58 p.m. (which included a 15-minute period break), Connell stacked 14 bass on SCORETRACKER®, including his biggest of the day, a 6-11. The flurry added 45-13 to his total and gave him some breathing room over Becker.

While Connell was pleased by his performance, he said his total could have been significantly larger. He lost several fish, including the biggest one he hooked.

“I had a good start,” he said. “I told myself before the day started, if I can catch 10 pounds per period, I’ll probably be leading, and I was right there on track. And I lost several fish today. I lost one probably 8 pounds. I lost a 5-pounder, two more 4-pounders. I don’t know what was going on. I think it was just the first day jitters.”

Connell did his damage in an area that he identified a few months ago, during pre-practice. However, he had to move around throughout the day to stay on the fish. With dirty runoff from recent rains continuing to flow through Toledo Bend and water temperatures on the rise, the bite is constantly changing.

“I came over here and pre-practiced, found a certain area that I really liked, and I just milled around and caught what I could,” he explained. “Things are changing, though. The water has come up – it’s dirty in some areas, and it’s clearing up in others – and there’s so many different variables right now. I had to move around a decent amount.”

Connell expects that change to continue. While finesse tactics paired with forward-facing sonar have dominated so far — that’s how Connell caught all his fish Wednesday, and per SCORETRACKER® Insider, Becker employed similar tactics — Connell isn’t willing to guarantee that’s how the first trophy of the year will be won.
 
“I think there’s going to be a lot of fish moving, and I wouldn’t doubt this tournament gets won shallow,” Connell said. “That water temperature really gets fish wanting to move up. So, I don’t know. I mean, I would think that my pattern would hold, but you just can’t ever tell.”

The good news for Connell is, with a buffer of more than 50 pounds over the elimination line, he can use the second day of qualifying to explore new water. He said he plans to spend all day Friday practicing.

“I’m going to be able to expand my area on Friday,” he said. “I’ll move around a lot, and I’ll have a whole day to look for fish for the Knockout and Championship Rounds. So, I feel really good about it.”

The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day from competition Thursday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group A will wrap up their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B will finish their Qualifying Round on Friday.

The top 20 pros in Group B after Day 1 on Toledo Bend are:

1st:          Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 27 bass, 81-14
2nd:        Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Penn., 18 bass, 61-12
3rd:        Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 16 bass, 54-2
4th:         Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 19 bass, 52-14
5th:         Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 12 bass, 46-14
6th:         Cole Floyd, Leesburgh, Ohio, 14 bass, 45-4
7th:         Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 15 bass, 39-12
8th:         Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 12 bass, 35-1
9th:         David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-8
10th:      Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 30-13
11th:      Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., eight bass, 29-12
12th:      Dave Lefebre, Erie, Penn., nine bass, 29-5
13th:      Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., eight bass, 24-13
14th:      Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., seven bass, 24-11
15th:      Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., seven bass, 24-6
16th:      Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., nine bass, 23-15
17th:      Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., six bass, 21-15
18th:      Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, eight bass, 21-5
19th:      Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., four bass, 20-15
20th:      Grae Buck, Green Lane, Penn., four bass, 19-5

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

Pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award after a 9-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bit his jig in Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard and event coverage at  MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com  and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

On Friday, Feb. 2, Toledo Bend Lake Country will host an Education Day in conjunction with the tournament at Cypress Bend Park, where 260 eighth-grade students from local area schools will have the opportunity to learn about lake ecology, casting techniques and the Toledo Bend fishery. Bass Pro Tour pros will be onsite throughout the event providing instruction and working with students.

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3-4, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF invites fans of all ages to visit Cypress Bend Park for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the action from the water live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.

Bass Pro Tour anglers will also compete throughout the 2024 season for the prestigious Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) award and its $100,000 payday. Fishing Clash – an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide – is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League.

Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 20 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on July 27. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.

Categories
Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Jacob Wheeler Grabs Early Lead at Major League Fishing B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole at Toledo Bend

MANY, La. (Jan. 30, 2024) – Despite a three-way battle atop the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard Tuesday, pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee , weighed in 28 scorable bass totaling 91 pounds even to jump to the early lead for Group A after Day 1 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole. Pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, ended the day just 2 pounds, 15 ounces behind Wheeler with 29 scorable bass totaling 88-1, good for second place. Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois , began his rookie season on the Bass Pro Tour with a bang, weighing 26 scorable bass totaling 81-13 to round out the top three.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

The 40 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition Wednesday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Thursday.

It’s no secret that the past three years on the Bass Pro Tour have been defined by Wheeler’s dominance. During that span, the Tennessee pro has racked up 20 Championship Round appearances (in 27 total events) and four wins. He took home the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title in 2021 and 2022 before finishing second to Matt Becker last season.

Wheeler wasted no time on Day 1 showing that his game remains as sharp as ever, boating a Toledo Bend giant less than 10 minutes into the first period. By the time Wheeler trailered his boat, other anglers had already peppered him with questions about the 8-pounder, asking whether he’d marked the fish during practice and run to his starting spot to find it. He insisted the giant caught him by surprise.

“I just happened to pull into a little area that I caught some fish (during practice), and my first bite just happened to be an 8-pounder,” Wheeler said. “And if that’s any telltale sign for how the year is going to go, I’m all about 8-pounders.”

While the longterm implications remain to be seen, his early success proved indicative of the pattern Wheeler ran throughout the day. He didn’t divulge many details but did say that once he found a spot with the right ingredients, he generally caught fish quickly and in bunches.

“It’s definitely a pattern where if I see what I’m looking for, it’s pretty quick to generate a bite,” he explained. “I’m hoping to have enough of that stuff because that’s really what it comes down to.”

With an advantage of more than 55 pounds over 11th place, Wheeler plans to use most of Day 2 for Group A exploring new water in hopes of finding more productive areas. That could prove key, as conditions are changing rapidly on Toledo Bend.

The region was hit hard by storms prior to practice, and swaths of muddy water are moving through the reservoir as a result. Wheeler said the lake fished differently than even a day or two ago — which might explain why the Day 1 weights were a bit top-heavy, with 19 of the 40 anglers falling short of 20 pounds. With more dirty water expected to reach the main lake and temperatures likely to warm in the coming days, Wheeler said he doesn’t believe he’ll be able to ride the areas he fished Tuesday through Sunday’s Championship Round.

“A lot of water is going to continue to move down the system,” Wheeler predicted. “So I think that’s definitely going to continue to be the trend, water continuing to dirty up and things continuing to change. It’s prespawn, spring fishing. When you have that kind of rain, it’s definitely going to change some things, and every day is going to be different.”

While Wheeler held the top spot on SCORETRACKER® for most of the day, both Shuffield and Gill challenged his lead at times. Those three have separated themselves from the rest of the pack; they each cleared 80 pounds on the day while no one else reached 50.

Gill wasn’t the only newcomer to get off to a strong start. Rookie Martin Villa sits sixth with 40-7, while fellow rookie Justin Cooper — who lives in nearby Zwolle, Louisiana, and guides on Toledo Bend — finished ninth with 36-14.

The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Toledo Bend are:

1st:          Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 28 bass, 91-0
2nd:       Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 29 bass, 88-1
3rd:        Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 26 bass, 81-14
4th:         James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 17 bass, 49-15
5th:         Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 19 bass, 49-13
6th:         Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 12 bass, 40-7
7th:         Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 15 bass, 39-2
8th:         Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 14 bass, 39-1
9th:         Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 12 bass, 36-14
10th:      Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 36-5
11th:      Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 11 bass, 35-14
12th:      Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 11 bass, 35-3
13th:      Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 11 bass, 32-0
14th:      John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 30-0
15th:      Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., nine bass, 29-15
16th:      Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., nine bass, 29-4
17th:      Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 11 bass, 28-9
18th:      Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 28-0
19th:      Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., eight bass, 24-5
20th:      Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 23-7

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

Local favorite “Cajun Baby” Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, Louisiana , earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award after an 11-pound, 1-ounce largemouth bit his crankbait in Period 1. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard and event coverage at  MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com  and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

On Friday, Feb. 2, Toledo Bend Lake Country will host an Education Day in conjunction with the tournament at Cypress Bend Park, where 260 eighth-grade students from local area schools will have the opportunity to learn about lake ecology, casting techniques and the Toledo Bend fishery. Bass Pro Tour pros will be onsite throughout the event providing instruction and working with students.

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3-4, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF invites fans of all ages to visit Cypress Bend Park for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the action from the water live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.

Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 20 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on July 27. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.

Categories
MLF BIG-5

Louisiana’s Miller’s Early Limit Holds Off Field for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake of the Pines

JEFFERSON, Texas (Jan. 29, 2024) – Boater Colby Miller of Elmer, Louisiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 28 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake of the Pines. The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Cowboy Division. Miller earned $3,641 for his victory.

“I was kind of worried about the wind,” said Miller, whose first time on Lake of the Pines was during his practice period before the tournament. “I knew it was supposed to get up a bit more throughout the day. I had two little areas I thought I was going to be able to do well in.

“I went to the first area and caught a 4-pound fish fairly quickly,” Miller continued. “Then the rain hit, and that continued for 20 to 30 minutes. As soon as the rain quit, I caught a 6-pounder.”

Miller said he then went 45 minutes without a bite and decided to relocate.

“When I made the move, it was definitely the right move,” Miller said. “Within 10 minutes I caught my kicker, which was an 8-3. Five minutes later I caught a 5-pounder, then one that went 3½. It was 9:30 in the morning, and I had 28-3.

“When I caught my fifth keeper, I thought I might have a shot at winning,” Miller added. “My co-angler said, ‘There’s no doubt. You just won.’ And at that point, I was jacked up and thought I had a shot. Then the wind started blowing and I wasn’t able to fish how I needed to fish. I tried to move around, and every move I made was the wrong move.”

Miller said he fished the rest of the day targeting bottom structure with an Alabama rig, trying to cull the 3½-pound bass, but as the day went on his confidence in a victory waned. Miller never got another bite after his fifth keeper bass.

“I just kept after it and hoping, because I was getting nervous,” Miller said. “So, this win is great. This feels amazing.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

                1st:        Colby Miller, Elmer, La., five bass, 28-3, $3,641
                2nd:       Tater Reynolds, Florien, La., five bass, 27-7, $2,120
                3rd:       Robert Parkison, Marshall, Texas, five bass, 25-12, $2,189 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF  Bonus)
                4th:        Jeffery Rice, Shreveport, La., five bass, 24-1, $850
                5th:        Fisher Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 18-0, $728
                6th:        Zack Fogle, Longview, Texas, five bass, 15-10, $668
                7th:        Dylan Sorrells, Dallas, Texas, five bass, 14-5, $607
                8th:        Ron Festavan, Vivian, La., four bass, 13-10, $546
                9th:        Arthur Johnson, Judson, Texas, five bass, 12-13, $485
                10th:     Corey Calvert, Coldspring, Texas, five bass, 11-13, $425

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Robert Parkison of Marshall, Texas, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $475.

William Easley of Pollok, Texas, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,820 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 17 pounds, 5 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

                1st:        William Easley, Pollok, Texas, five bass, 17-5, $1,820
                2nd:       Robert Massey, Calhoun, La., five bass, 16-1, $910
                3rd:       James Moore, Jr., Lampasas, Texas, four bass, 12-8, $757
                4th:        Allen Musser, Ada, Okla., five bass, 11-0, $425
                5th:        Ethen Evans, Hughes Springs, Texas, three bass, 10-12, $364
                6th:        Robert Spangenberg, Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 10-1, $318
                6th:        Shane Trowbridge, Deer Park, Texas, three bass, 10-1, $318
                8th:        Austin Roach, Big Sandy, Texas, five bass, 9-9, $273
                9th:        Liam Curtright, Angleton, Texas, two bass, 8-13, $480
                10th:     Andrew Duhon, Lake Charles, La., four bass, 7-12, $212

Liam Curtright of Angleton, Texas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $237, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Jeffery Rice of Shreveport, Louisiana, leads the BFL Cowboy Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 495 points, while James Moore, Jr., of Lampasas, Texas, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 492 points.

The next event for BFL Cowboy Division anglers will be held March 9, at Toledo Bend Lake in Zwolle, Louisiana. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Wright Patman Lake in Texarkana, Texas. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

Categories
MLF BIG-5

Georgia’s Smith Holds On to Victory By Two Ounces at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Keowee

SENECA, S.C. (Jan. 29, 2024) – Boater Brendan Smith of Lavonia, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Keowee. Hosted by Visit Oconee, South Carolina, the tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division. Smith earned $3,514 for his victory.

“I was boat number 89 of 90,” said Smith, who said Keowee had proved to be a difficult fishery for him in the past. “I had found some fish in an area that I thought would be my only opportunity to catch a limit. When I got to that place it was occupied.

“I went about the day fishing a pattern that I thought could work,” Smith continued. “It was a pattern that evolved throughout the day. Essentially, I junk fished Lake Keowee from 2 feet to 50 feet. The good Lord shined on me, and I caught some good fish.”

Smith focused on the lower part of Lake Keowee and said his junk fishing approach consisted of a Berkley Stunna Jerkbait 112, which produced his biggest bass of the day, as well as a Zoom Zlinky Stick Worm on a drop-shot rig in 50 feet of water. He said he also caught a few bass on a Keitech Swing Impact FAT 2.8-inch Swimbait in a ditch.

“I had a limit by 9:30 and figured I had 9 or 10 pounds and was pretty happy to have that weight that early in the day,” Smith said. “When I got to 13 pounds, I knew that was a decent catch for Lake Keowee this time of year. I knew when I was culling that 15 pounds would be pretty respectable.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I’ve been through several of these squeakers, and I’m usually on the other end of it,” Smith added. “Did I ever think I had the win? No. I weighed in last and didn’t have a clue that I would win until the fish were weighed.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

                1st:        Brendan Smith, Lavonia, Ga., five bass, 15-5, $3,514
                2nd:       Randy Childers, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 15-3, $1,757
                3rd:       Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., five bass, 15-1, $1,672 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
                4th:        Daniel Atkins, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 14-11, $722
                4th:        Cody Hoyle, Rutherfordton, N.C., five bass, 14-11, $722
                4th:        Matt O’Connell, Brooks, Georgia, five bass, 14-11, $1,022
                7th:        Grayson Brewster, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 14-9, $586
                8th:        Michael Smith, Lexington, S.C., five bass, 14-8, $527
                9th:        William Bryson, Greer, S.C., five bass, 13-14, $469
                10th:     Hunter Cseledy, Waynesville, N.C., five bass, 13-13, $410

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jason Burroughs of Hodges, South Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 9 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $450.

Chris Wilson of Easley, South Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,982 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 10 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

                1st:        Chris Wilson, Easley, S.C., five bass, 11-10, $1,982
                2nd:       Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., five bass, 11-9, $879
                3rd:       Dale Ball, Asheville, N.C., five bass, 11-6, $585
                4th:        Colby Matthews, Madison, Ga., five bass, 11-4, $610
                5th:        Kyle Rogers, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 10-10, $351
                6th:        Justin Thompson, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 10-3, $322
                7th:        Andy Burgess, Greenville, S.C., five bass, 10-2, $293
                8th:        Renee Price, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 10-0, $249
                8th:        Brock Martin, Cross Hill, S.C., five bass, 10-0, $249
                10th:     Arthur Harris, York, S.C., five bass, 9-9, $205

Wilson earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $225, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

The next event for BFL Savannah River Division anglers will be held Feb. 24, at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

Categories
MLF BIG-5

Florida Pro Jessie Mizell Leads Wire-to-Wire and Wins Season-Opening Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee

Weighing 24 pounds each of the first two days and finishing off with 23 pounds, 13 ounces, Mizell totaled 72-9 to beat out Brody Campbell by nearly 3 pounds and win the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division opener on Lake Okeechobee.

Now with six MLF wins to his credit on Lake Okeechobee, Mizell has won over $90,000 in less than 12 months, as he also won last year’s Toyota Series event on the Big O. For this one, Mizell takes home another trophy for a rapidly growing collection, plus $44,000 and qualification to the Toyota Series Championship. 

Mizell started each tournament morning on the north side of Okeechobee, easing into a staging bay and going to work. His bite shut down before noon each day of the event, though, as anglers coming and going muddied up the water. When Mizell arrived Saturday, he had a small audience of Bassmaster Open pros starting practice, and he put on a show. 

“I got there first thing, it was a good thing I was boat No. 1, and there were already a couple boats – BASS guys, in there,” he said. “But they just sat there and watched – I got my first, second, third, my biggest one. After that, there were boats going in and out, and they stirred it up. I didn’t get a bite after 11 o’clock, it got muddy and (the fish) shut down. But I was lucky enough to get my limit, and get those couple key fish. They were eating a frog like crazy – just absolutely destroying it.”

All week, Mizell was anticipating the warming water, watching it climb out of the 60s and into the low 70s. 

“I knew it was going to happen this morning,” he said. “I wanted to see 74 degrees, that’s the magic number for me. Everybody has their magic number. When I got there, it was right at 74 and started warming up, and that’s when I got my bites. Everything was on a frog, that new Gambler Popping Frog. I normally use my bread and butter (frog), but Val Osinski at Gambler Baits gave me some frogs yesterday, and it’s the same thing, so I broke it in.” 

While Campbell and others targeted fish that were spawning or prespawn, Mizell believes he was mostly catching postspawn bass that were easing out of a spawning bay and stopping on isolated pieces of cover on the way out. To catch them, he used a vibrating jig and a worm a little, but mostly relied on a prop bait and a frog. 

Mizell’s biggest fish of the event ate a Rapala X-Rap Prop on Day 1, but the frog was his standby. Using either a doctored up SPRO or a Gambler Popping Frog in yellow belly, Mizell threw them on a 7-foot, 6-inch, heavy/fast 13 Fishing Muse Black  with an 8.3:1-gear ratio  13 Fishing Concept A2 reel and 65-pound Sufix 832 braid. 

“They stage in these heads – little buggy whip heads, or cattail heads,” Mizell said. “They’re about as big as a coffee table. I would hit the edges first, and then hit the center, or go through the head, and work it through. Today, my biggest one, I threw into the head, and it exploded and totally missed the frog. I went back with a Senko, and it did not commit. But, I know how these fish work. when they’re postspawn. They’re worn out from laying eggs, so they use all their energy to bite once. You have to come back to them. So, I went around, gave her five minutes, and then came back and Power-Poled down. I threw, pop, pop, pop, and I didn’t even get to pop it again – she just absolutely caved it in.” 

Fishing his frog quickly, with a pop, pop, pop, stop retrieve, Mizell was focused on the key spots within his area. 
“Every time I throw, I want to think there’s a fish on that key spot,” he said. “If I was just fishing a pad field, I’d be just randomly throwing, not throwing at a target. I love to fish isolated stuff, I love pointing at stuff, because I feel like a fish is there. I would Power-Pole down, hit every isolated clump, then go forward, Power-Pole down again, and hit every isolated clump.” 

A fishing guide and mobile mechanic, Mizell didn’t practice much for the event. He took a guide trip out on Tuesday, and then rode around the lake on Wednesday without making a cast. It turned out, that was all he needed to earn the win. 

“That was my gameplan, I did not want to spin out – I knew they were coming and going,” he said. “I didn’t stress about this event, I just wanted to go fishing and do what I do. I knew the fish were in there, because a couple months ago I caught 34 pounds on the outside – they were staging. When it’s your time to shine, it’s your time to shine.”

The top 10 pros on Lake Okeechobee finished:

1st:        Jessie Mizell, Myakka City, Fla., 15 bass, 72-9, $44,000
2nd:       Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 69-10, $18,500
3rd:       Brandon Tallhamer, Parkersburg, W. Va., 15 bass, 66-1, $12,750
4th:        Benny Townend, Lake Worth Beach, Fla., 15 bass, 65-2, $10,750
5th:        Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., 15 bass, 58-0, $9,750
6th:        Rafe Sexton, Okeechobee, Fla., 15 bass, 57-0, $8,375
7th:        Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., 15 bass, 56-4, $7,800
8th:        Robert Camp, Port St. John, Fla., 15 bass, 54-6, $6,300
9th:        Bo Collins, Robbinsville, N.C., 13 bass, 53-2, $5,300
10th:     Michael Venditto, Boca Raton, Fla., 15 bass, 52-13, $4,200

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Kyle Wieczorek of Nokomis, Florida, earned the Day 1 $500 Berkley Big Bass Award on Thursday with an 8-pound, 15-ounce brute, while Friday’s Day 2 $500 Berkley Big Bass Award went to pro Christian Greico of Tampa, Florida, who weighed in a nice 8-pound, 11-ounce largemouth.

Casey Gonzalez of Lake Wales, Florida, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 53 pounds, 1 ounce. Gonzalez took home the top co-angler prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Okeechobee finished:

1st:        Casey Gonzalez, Lake Wales, Fla., 13 bass, 53-1, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd:       Brady Lunsmann, Citrus Springs, Fla., 13 bass, 50-6, $5,375
3rd:       Stephen Draghi, Sparrowbush, N.Y., 15 bass, 49-5, $4,300
4th:        David Honsted, Ocala, Fla., 14 bass, 47-11, $3,800
5th:        Cooper Jett, Norton Shores, Mich., 15 bass, 45-1, $3,150
6th:        David Archibald, Somerset, Mass., 15 bass, 43-8, $2,800
7th:        Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., 13 bass, 42-8, $2,150
8th:        Alex Dempsey, Orangeburg, S.C., 15 bass, 41-10, $1,825
9th:        Keith Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, 15 bass, 41-5, $1,530
10th:     Fernando Rosa, Margate, Fla., 15 bass, 41-0, $1,290

David Honsted of Ocala, Florida, earned Thursday’s $150 Berkley Big Bass co-angler award with an 8-pound, 14-ounce largemouth, while Friday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to Marc Snyder of St. Johns, Michigan,  who weighed in a bass that totaled 7 pounds, 15 ounces.

The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Okeechobee was hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments for the Toyota Series Southern Division. The next event for the Toyota Series Southern Division will be the Toyota Series at the Harris Chain of Lakes, March 19-21, in Leesburg, Florida. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

Categories
MLF BIG-5

Strickland Edges Field by One Ounce to Win Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Harris Chain of Lakes – Inverness’ Brooks Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

LEESBURG, Fla. (Jan. 22, 2024) – Boater Laramy Strickland of Bushnell, Florida, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Harris Chain of Lakes. Hosted by Discover Lake County Florida, the tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Gator Division. Strickland earned $4,806 for his victory.The weather in the Leesburg area had been consistently rainy and cold for weeks before the event, and Strickland said he keyed in on a pattern he had noticed for the event.“I think those fish are pre-spawn, and they were just ganging up on a spot wanting to spawn and not being able to,” Strickland said.“I had three specific clumps of hydrilla I had located some nicer quality fish on,” added Strickland, who said he lives 30 minutes from the lake but hadn’t fished there since 2022. “I kept my head down and grinded a 50-yard stretch all day long.”Strickland said he relied exclusively on a ½-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer to fill his limit during the tournament. He said he caught around 30 bass – all keepers – during the day.Strickland said he did make one run about a mile away from his hydrilla spots, and his first cast there resulted in a 5-pounder, but he soon returned to the hydrilla where he would cull fish for the rest of the day.“This really feels great,” Strickland said. “I feel blessed to have had a really great day on the water. I’m looking forward to fishing the rest of the events in the Gator Division.”The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Laramy Strickland, Bushnell, Fla., five bass, 20-1, $4,806
2nd:       Sean Wieda, Alexandria, Ky., five bass, 20-0, $2,403
3rd:       Parker Stalvey, Green Cove Springs, Fla., five bass, 19-0, $1,605
4th:        Tyler Sheppard, Yulee, Fla, five bass, 18-9, $1,846
5th:        Lee Stalvey, Palatka, Fla., five bass, 18-3, $961
6th:        Brady Lunsmann, Citrus Springs, Fla., five bass, 17-13, $881
7th:        Jakson Little, Leesburg, Fla., five bass, 14-7, $801
8th:        Corey Smith, Clermont, Fla, five bass, 14-2, $7 9th:        Stephen Williams, Green Cove Springs, Fla., five bass, 13-14, $601 9th:        Gage Foster, St. Cloud, Fla., five bass, 13-14, $601

Tyler Sheppard of Yulee, Florida, caught a bass that weighed 9 pounds, 4 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $725.

James Brooks of Inverness, Florida, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,403 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        James Brooks, Inverness, Fla., five bass, 15-15, $2,403
2nd:       Brad Moore, Cape Coral, Fla., five bass, 14-5, $1,382
3rd:       Evrett Hunter, Saint Augustine, Fla., five bass, 13-7, $806
4th:        J.P. Sims, Port St. Lucie, Fla., five bass, 12-7, $561
5th:        Randy Paquette, Sarasota, Fla., five bass, 11-12, $481
6th:        Ron Weisenburger, Cloverdale, Ohio, five bass, 11-6, $441
7th:        Andrew Grosswald, Deltona, Fla., five bass, 11-3, $400
8th:        Leroy Fryson, Tallahassee, Fla., three bass, 10-9, $360
9th:        Steve Cornell, Crestview, Fla., five bass, 10-4, $320
10th:     Conner Herring, Old Town, Fla., four bass, 9-12, $280

Tyler Nekolny of Coral Springs, Florida, and Brad Moore of Cape Coral, Florida, both caught bass weighing in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catches of the day – to split the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $362.

The next event for BFL Gator Division anglers will be held Feb. 10, at Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Florida. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Santee Cooper Lakes in Clarendon County, South Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

Categories
The National Angler

Unlock the Ultimate Fishing Adventure with Co-Angler

Embarking on a new era in the world of fishing, Co-Angler, an innovative online application, cast its line into the digital waters in November 2023. Founded by John Bledsoe, this app is not just about connecting anglers for fishing trips—it’s about making fishing more accessible, affordable, educational, and downright fun. The story behind its creation is a testament to one angler’s realization during a solo fishing trip. As John gazed at the empty seat on his boat, an idea sparked—a vision to create an online platform that connects people through technology, encouraging them to put down their devices and embrace the outdoors with a like-minded fishing companion.

Key Features:

The app’s simplicity is its strength. Anglers can effortlessly Offer a Trip by dropping a pin on the map, selecting their desired location, and outlining trip details—day, time, duration, target species, technique, and a unique shared cost. This shared cost feature sets Co-Angler apart, allowing anglers to split expenses like gas, bait, and food, fostering a collaborative fishing experience. Users can specify whether co-anglers need to bring their own gear, lunch, or if there’s room for more companions. A visual touch is added by uploading photos—whether it’s a boat, a recent catch, or a smiling face on the water. Published trips appear in the app’s feed, inviting others to Request to Join. The Trip Control Panel streamlines the process, managing pending trips, incoming requests, and providing a glimpse into the requester’s profile.

Newest Feature: General Trip Request:

Co-Anglers can now initiate their fishing journey by creating a General Trip Request, mirroring the Offer a Trip feature. Select your preferred fishing location and outline the day, time, target species, technique, and cost contribution. A brief description covers the trip’s overall goals. Other users can explore these requests, learn more, and even send requests to Provide the Trip. Co-Anglers manage Provider Requests in their Trip Control Panel, ensuring a seamless experience.

Free for Early Adopters:

As Co-Angler sets sail, the app is currently free for all users. Navigating to COANGLER.COM allows interested anglers to create an account and offer or request trips without any cost. As the platform evolves, Co-Angler plans to transition to a subscription-based model to enhance user experience. Early sign-ups during the launch period, however, secure a complimentary lifetime membership at no cost—a fantastic opportunity to join the community and explore the world of shared fishing adventures.

Cast your line into the future of fishing with Co-Angler. Sign up now at COANGLER.COM and be part of a community redefining how we experience the joy of angling!

Categories
Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

MLF Bass Pro Tour Opens Sixth Season in Louisiana with B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole

BPT-S6-D6-Takeoff

MANY, La. (Jan. 18, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) will kick off the sixth season of the MLF Bass Pro Tour in Many, Louisiana, Jan. 30–Feb. 4, showcasing the top anglers in the sport of professional bass fishing at the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, will feature a field of 80 professional anglers, including superstars like Ott DeFoe,  Jacob Wheeler, REDCREST 2023 Champion Bryan Thrift and Louisiana pros Gerald Spohrer of Gonzales, Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part and Justin Cooper of Zwolle. They’ll be competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

“The Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, along with the Louisiana Office of Tourism, is excited to host the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season opener at Toledo Bend,” said Georgia Craven, Executive Director, Sabine Parish Tourist & Recreation Commission. “We’re looking forward to showcasing our outstanding fishery, as well as the great food, culture and people of Louisiana, and we are delighted to have the anglers, their families and MLF staff come and experience Toledo Bend Lake Country.”

The tournament will feature the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament is being filmed for broadcast later this year on Discovery.

The event will mark the first time that the MLF Bass Pro Tour has visited Many, Louisiana. Although there is no prior history on the books in the MLF format, Cooper – a Bass Pro Tour rookie and local pro – said it has the potential to be a record-breaking event.

“I think the weights are going to be phenomenal,” said Cooper. “The fishing was impressive before it went off limits, and I anticipate it will be just as good once we get back out on the water. I wouldn’t be surprised if the winner has over 100 pounds per day, and I figure Championship Round may take 150 pounds to take home the trophy.”

While the event will feature typical prespawn, winter fishing, Cooper said the fishery offers excellent diversity this time of year.

“Toledo Bend is a little unique,” Cooper said. “Other fisheries may only have opportunities out deep in the winter, but that’s not necessarily the case on Toledo Bend. I think we’re going to see a few different techniques come into play. We’ll definitely see guys fishing out deep with forward-facing sonar, but the grass is really healthy on the lake. Anytime you have hydrilla and milfoil in the winter in Louisiana, grass is a big player. I could also see deep brush piles being key players as well, so there will be a variety of ways to catch a bass.

“I think a jerkbait, jig and some type of Texas-rigged bait will be key for fishing brush piles. I’m sure we’ll see a swimbait or Damiki rig being thrown with forward-facing sonar and in the grass, I’d expect to see a lipless crankbait, ChatterBait and a bladed jig being utilized as well.”

While it’s still early to predict the weather for the six-day event, Cooper said anglers will have to be on guard while running their boats across the fishery and be mindful of high winds.

“The lake is currently 4 feet low, and it’s full of timber, so guys will really need to stay in the boat lanes during this event,” Cooper said. “If you get out of the lanes, it’s best just to idle. There are some places you can run outside the boat lane, but if you aren’t familiar with the lake and haven’t been there several times, the stumps and timber may not be obvious to the naked eye. Just because you don’t see them, that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

“Hopefully we won’t contend with much wind, but if it picks up during the event, it can be treacherous. It’s super windy today – I drove across the lake and it’s like a mini-ocean out there. If the wind blows out of the north or south, it can get really rough and dangerous, really quick.”

Cooper said the biggest tournament he’s fished on Toledo Bend was a Southwestern Division Toyota Series in January of 2000, where he finished fifth. The Louisiana pro finished second in points that same year, qualifying him for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit (now known as the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals), where he eventually qualified for the 2024 Bass Pro Tour.

“It’s phenomenal that my first Bass Pro Tour event is taking place on my home lake,” Cooper said. “There’re definitely some nerves, and it’s a double-edged sword sometimes. You know a lot, but that can be a hindrance at times as well. There are so many different spots and techniques running through your mind, especially if you get behind the eight ball. So, I’m just going to have to trust myself, fish free and not fish based on history alone.”

At the end of the day, Cooper said he’s just excited and happy to be in this place, at this time.

“This is what I’ve worked so hard for, to get the opportunity to fish at the highest level of professional bass fishing,” Cooper said. “That’s been a dream and goal of mine my entire life, so to finally get that opportunity is the biggest blessing. I just want to seize the moment, and make my family, friends and sponsors proud.

“I feel like I’m going into the event with a lot of confidence, verses if we were starting off on a body of water that I’d never been to. It’s a big confidence-booster starting out, and I just plan to use that to my advantage.”

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at  MajorLeagueFishing.com.

On Friday, Feb. 2, Toledo Bend Lake Country will host an Education Day in conjunction with the tournament at Cypress Bend Park, where 260 eighth-grade students from local area schools will have the opportunity to learn about lake ecology, casting techniques and the Toledo Bend fishery. Bass Pro Tour pros will be onsite throughout the event providing instruction and working with students.

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3-4, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Cypress Bend Park for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 20 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on July 27. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, StarBrite, Suzuki, Toyota and U.S. Air Force.