Author: jcarrigan

Categories
Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING SECOND DESTINATION HAS BEEN CHOSEN! WHAT DO YOU THINK?

December 12, 2018 – Photos courtesy of MLF 

TULSA, Okla. Major League Fishing announces the venue for the second stop on its new eight-event Bass Pro Tour is Lake Conroe, a popular recreational lake in Texas located about 40 miles north of Houston. The news follows only a few days after the league announced its series opener is scheduled for Florida’s Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in late January.

Many of the Bass Pro Tour’s 80-man roster, among which are seven anglers from Texas, have experience on the 21,000-acre lake that serves as an alternate drinking water supply to Houston. However, previous knowledge may not be much of a factor during the 2019 Bass Pro Tour competition dates of Feb. 12-17, because recent rains have carried new debris into the lake to create additional bass hideouts and possibly altered some of the known brushpiles and other existing cover in the lake.

“Lake Conroe is a great bass tournament fishery because it has such a diverse variety of cover including docks, islands, bulkheads, humps and standing timber,” said Michael Mulone, MLF Senior Director of Events and Partnerships. “Complementing the usual appearance of a double-digit bass caught during competition, is the great presence and support by our hosting partners and the entire angling community from the region and state.”

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. actively supports catch-weigh-immediate release tournament practices in Texas,” said Dave Terre, Chief Inland Fisheries Management and Research, TPWD Inland Fisheries Division. “The format used by Major League Fishing maximizes survival of tournament-caught bass by totally by bypassing live well containment or a stressful stage weigh-in process.”

“They even use unique tournament rules to promote proper handling of fish while on the water. We know, based on our studies, that larger bass are particularly susceptible to stress and delayed mortality with traditional tournament formats. MLF’s low impact format may be particularly meaningful to Lake Conroe, or others lakes, where fisheries management efforts are geared towards the production of big fish. In our mind, the MLF format has the same impact as simple “catch and release” fishing – It’s practically zero! It really can’t get any better than that,” Terre added.

Although in development over a period of years, the creation and launch of the Bass Pro Tour was officially announced in September. Its catch-weigh-immediate release format is one distinguishing characteristic from the other large tournament trails, but so is the fact that all of the rules for the new tour are decided by and voted upon by the Bass Pro Tour anglers.

Perhaps the most game-changing rule implemented by the anglers to date is when they voted to have no entry fees for participation in the 2019 Bass Pro Tour events.

“We control our own destiny, and that’s what makes Major League Fishing and this new tour so unique,” said MLF pro Gary Klein, a Texas-resident and co-founder of the league and the Bass Pro Tour. “We see competitive bass fishing as a major league sport and that’s the basis for all of our decisions going forward. As for the Conroe destination, I can’t be more pleased than to have a Texas lake become one of our earliest stops in 2019.”

MLF will feature five hours of live streaming during each competition day with free access to the real-time broadcast being available at www.MajorLeagueFishing.com. Also, the Conroe Bass Pro Tour event will result in a 2-hour television show that will air on Discovery Channel in the fourth quarter of 2019. It will repeat on Sportsman Channel in first and second quarters 2020.

Categories
Blog Reviews

WHY YOU SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS ROD & REEL COMPANY NOW!

WHY YOU SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS ROD & REEL COMPANY NOW!

This post is not sponsored or solicited by Sixgill. The National Angler has no affliation with Sixgill Fishing.

Most companies in the fishing industry are very big and feeling part of their family is hard, but that is something today’s anglers are wanting. In the past only, the biggest names were part of a pro-staff, today’s company’s like National Pro Staff bring those companies to you. This was my first introduction to working with a company and feeling like you are apart of something. For me personally, that has passed and the whole pro-staff thing just isn’t for me. However, I still wanted to feel like I was a part of something and provide input on the gear I want.

I recently found that company in Sixgill Fishing and they are growing extremely fast and offer an opportunity that not one other company in the industry offers. Sixgill really has figured it out, they offer that experience that I was looking for and they provide value and that is #1 for me. One other thing that makes Sixgill different is the marketing strategy. Sixgill is direct to consumer and that means they cut out the middlemen and sell from Sixgill to the consumer. There is a bad part for this strategy, you can only buy Sixgill products from them. You will not find these products in stores and therefore you won’t be able to try them out. The up side to the strategy, you get great prices and steep discounts on great gear.

So, what really makes Sixgill great, simple its the value they provide. Go on Facebook and join the Sixgill Fishing page and see for yourself. I will provide the link at the bottom of this article. In this group, you will find the value. First, you get direct access to the President of Sixgill Mr. Justin Geisel and he is not shy about his love for Sixgill. How many company Presidents regularly interact with their clients, none! To me, this is a big deal to have him so close to his customers. The customers have a direct impact on all new products and pricing sold by Sixgill. He is constantly asking for input on specs and pricing. Again, you won’t find that anywhere.

Price and quality are the other part of the value that Sixgill brings to the table. Let’s go back to the sales strategy, direct to the customer. This allows Sixgill to steeply discount products and have great sales and incentives. Let me tell you, they run sales that are really hard to passup. You will find BOGO’s, 50% off, 30% off, etc., but the one big sale that got me hooked was the Deposit Program. Products that are just being designed and intended to be released the following year are offered up for early sale to gauge interest. You will get an even steeper discount for your up-front deposit of about 25% and save up to 75% off retail. I recently received a rod from the deposit program that will retail at $389, I paid $45 deposit and $90 at delivery. That is a great program and you won’t find that anywhere else. 

Quality is the next piece to the value you will find with Sixgill. First, I have never really seen the testing that goes into selecting rods and blanks that are being used. Justin will routinely post videos of the factory stress testing the blanks. I have my hands now on several of the rods and reels from Sixgill and let me tell you the quality is superb. It exceeds other companies and really rivals some of the biggest names in the industry. 

Community is the last piece of the value that Sixgill brings to the table. If you want to be part of something this is the company to get involved with. Just the other night one of the employees went live on Facebook. I heard an important term mentioned over and over again. Bart Gore, kept mentioning that Sixgill is a family, and I believe that.  Again, head over to the Sixgill Fishing Facebook group and find out for yourself just how good Sixgill really is, you won’t be disappointed.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler

Here is the link to the Sixgill Anglers BUY/SELL/TRADE group on Facebook ->  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2265900710095982

Categories
Blog

HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT WILL THIS RIG HAVE ON FISHING IN 2019?

New rigs and techniques are always popping up and making an impact on the fishing world. Some are homegrown like the Alabama Rig and other are transplants from other countries like the Neko Rig.

These rigs usually aren’t anything new and they have usually been around for a while just used regionally until one person wins something big like Paul Elias and the Alabama Rig.

So what is the Tokyo Rig? Its nothing really groundbreaking just a new look for lures that you want to follow bottom contours and be just off the bottom. The Tokyo Rig has a tried and true, wide gap worm hook, but it’s what’s in front of the hook that makes this rig so unique. The unique feature is the large round ring, where other might expect a split ring. This large round ring allows you to attach a swivel on the front and long wire with a swivel on one end that drops down to add on weights of your choice. The large ring is really the key, it allows your choice of baits to have freedom of movement. Having a soft plastic swimbait, craw, or worm just off the bottom undulating as it moves has proven deadly on largemouth bass.

I have already found tons of videos with people making homemade rigs. However, VMC with the support of Mike Iaconelli for this technique that is sure to be hot for 2019.

Here is the link to Tackle Warehouse below the video if you are interested and a video below to show you this potential game changer for 2019.

Make sure to subscribe to The National Angler YouTube channel as well! Click on the logo in the upper left corner!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np8-vnDgTSw[/embedyt]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbzep15gQPM[/embedyt]

 

Click Here ->Tackle Warehouse VMC Tokyo Rig

 

If you want to join one of the fastest growing Facebook Groups dedicated to helping anglers, join Bass Fishing Network. Click on the image below to take you to the group to join!

Categories
BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

GUESS WHERE BASSMASTER WILL BE AIRED FOR 2019!

December 4, 2018

Pursuit Channel To Air The Bassmasters And Other B.A.S.S. Programming In 2019

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —Fans of the long-running The Bassmasters TV show will have more opportunities to watch their favorite fishing program thanks to a new multi-year agreement between B.A.S.S. and the Pursuit Channel.

Under the agreement, the Pursuit Channel will air 26 episodes on Saturdays during the first and second quarters of 2019, with each show repeating on the following Sunday morning and other times to be announced. Pursuit reaches more than 30 million households after a remarkable 15 percent growth year to date in 2018.

“This partnership with Pursuit means more opportunities for fans to find and enjoy our Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Classic programming — and that means more ways for anglers to learn how to catch the five biggest bass on their next fishing adventure,” said Mike McKinnis, vice president of media content of JM Associates and producer of Bassmaster LIVE and The Bassmasters.

“Pursuit Channel is honored by this new partnership with B.A.S.S., the worldwide authority on bass fishing,” said Rusty Faulk, CEO of the Alabama-based television network. “B.A.S.S. features the best pro anglers competing in the best tournament series across America, and our viewers will eat it up! We also look forward to other natural opportunities to jointly grow our brands and the angling community.”

B.A.S.S. will continue to air its award-winning programming from the Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Classic on ESPN2, as it has done since 2000. Because the first event of the 2019 Elite Series season does not occur until early February — the Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, Florida, Feb. 7-10 — the first episodes of Bassmaster competition to appear on Pursuit will be re-airs of the most exciting Elite events and Classics of recent years, including those won by Elite Series standouts Steve Kennedy, Rick Clunn, Drew Benton, Keith Combs and others.

“We are thrilled to be able to air The Bassmasters on Pursuit Channel, which has an unmatched track record of growth among the audiences our anglers and sponsors most want to reach,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “With Pursuit and ESPN2, plus our incredibly popular Bassmaster LIVE programming on Bassmaster.com, ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App, we are providing cutting-edge fishing content to a wide spectrum of fans and aspiring anglers.”

The Bassmasters episodes will air initially on Pursuit Channel during the programming block, “Walmart Reel Life Saturdays presented by Berkley and Abu Garcia,” which also includes outdoor shows by Bassmaster Legends Jimmy Houston and Hank Parker.

Pursuit Channel reaches the largest universe of true HD homes and is active nationally via DIRECTV HD, AT&T HD, DISH Network, Fios by Verizon HD and Centurylink Prism HD, Cox Communication and National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC). Since subscribing to Nielsen for its reporting in January, Pursuit added 4 million households. In addition, PursuitUp is the only outdoor network with a free digital platform featuring VOD of all episodes that previously aired live on the channel. The PursuitUp app can be downloaded on ROKU, Amazon Fire TV, iPhone and Androids.

Categories
Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

THIS IS JUST THE FIRST BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING IN 2019, MORE TO COME!

Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Announces Inaugural Event

Top Competitive Bass Fishing League Selects Kissimmee, Fla. to Kick Off Season

TULSA, Okla. – Major League Fishing officials announced today that the MLF Bass Pro Tour will head next month to Kissimmee, Fla., to kick off its inaugural season. Though the majority of the Jan. 29 – Feb. 3 action will take place on historic Lake Toho, the championship round will be held on another nearby body of water out of respect for the Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) tournament that follows.

News of the MLF Bass Pro Tour shook the fishing industry when it was announced in September. After obtaining the support and commitment of 80 of the world’s top anglers, MLF was able to begin conversations with potential tournament destinations in mid-October.

“We’re delighted to welcome the inaugural Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour to Kissimmee,” said John Poole, Executive Director of Kissimmee Sports Commission. “We pride ourselves on our destination’s championship bass fishing lakes, which have been home to many marquee tournaments throughout the years. The impact of this event will benefit the industry’s prominent presence in Kissimmee for years to come.”

While all 2019 locations are nearing announcement, Major League Fishing must first go through an extensive vetting process that includes an extensive survey of the area and lakes for each venue prior to confirmation. Unlike all other bass tournaments, MLF gives fans a real-time virtual onsite experience of angler coverage by using industry-leading communication technology requiring highly specialized connectivity needs to be able to feed all of MLF’s integral components, like its live-streaming MLF NOW! and SCORETRACKER© live.

“It’s wonderful to have a place like Kissimmee on board and so many other cities interested in hosting our Bass Pro Tour events because it really validates the impact of Major League Fishing’s visitation to an area,” said Michael Mulone, Senior Director of Events and Partnerships. “The power of our brand is resonating with destinations as they know our anglers and content will provide significant exposure and tangible economic impact to their respective communities. We are so grateful that Experience Kissimmee and the City of Kissimmee are partnering with us on the inaugural Bass Pro Tour event.”

Major League Fishing features the 80 top anglers in the country and includes Bassmaster Classic champions, Angler of the Year winners and titleholders from both the Bassmaster Elite Series and the FLW Tour. In the Bass Pro Tour opener, two groups of 40 anglers will compete across Lake Tohopekaliga, known as Lake Toho, all seeking to make it to the final day’s championship round of 10 anglers.

The format is for the competitors to seek and catch as many fish as possible in 7.5 hours of fishing, during which all “scorable bass” will be weighed, scored and immediately released back into the water, a scenario that sets the Bass Pro Tour apart from all other bass tournament series.

The Kissimmee Bass Pro Tour event will also result in a 2-hour television show that will air on Discovery Channel in the fourth quarter of 2019, and then in the first and second quarters on Sportsman Channel.

 

 

Major League Fishing has previously visited Florida twice to film its highly popular “Major League Fishing” television show, including the filming of the MLF 2018 General Tire World Championship, all of which al

 

Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Announcement

 

 

so air on Outdoor Channel.

 

Categories
Blog

GROUND BREAKING LURE FROM LIVE TARGET!

GROUNDBREAKING LURE FROM LIVE TARGET!

This is one lure the I’m excited to see from Live Target! This is incredible technology that one day I hope the homegrown swimbait guys can duplicate. This is a lure that will skip a mile and hold up to the most vicious strikes and heavy fishing that anyone can experience.

Endless possibilities when it comes to using this lure, and in clear/pressured waters I think this lure is going to excel. The rigging options are also endless with the new innovative lure as well!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKmFGGRFx6E[/embedyt]

 

 

What do you think of the groundbreaking lure?

Can you name another lure manufacturing company that can produce innovative lure like Live Target? I can only wait to see what is next from this amazing company!

 

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler!

Categories
BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

BASSMASTER, AND WHY IT WILL ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST

BASSMASTER, AND WHY IT WILL ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST

2018 has been a year of transition for professional bass fishing. Major League Fishing went into the lead by signing some of the biggest pros in the industry. Most of those pros came from BASSMASTER. Fishing League Worldwide or FLW also announced some major changes. FLW has announced new live coverage and also introduced a new YouTube channel geared towards High School and College Anglers.

Let’s face it, the biggest battle for BASSMASTER and FLW is going to be the health of the fish. I’ve seen this topic brought up across social media. The idea of releasing the fish on the spot is gaining popularity. Hourly weigh-ins are also gaining momentum. One of the prominent Potomac River tournament, Potomac River Battle Series has announced it will have an hourly weigh-in tournament.

BASSMASTER has three major things in their corner that I believe will keep them as the ultimate professional bass fishing tournament. History, the Classic, and they are last to announce any major changes or additions for 2019.

HISTORY – This is the oldest professional bass fishing tournament that dates back to the ’60s. Tried and true, with this amount of history in the business they will stand the test of time and continue to be a dominant force. Founder Ray Scott founding principles are simple and basic; however, they are still 100% relevant today.

 

1. To organize the bass anglers of America.
2. To stimulate public awareness of bass fishing as a major participation sport and elevate it to a place of prominence.
3. To improve our skills as bass anglers through the exchange of expert bass catching techniques and ideas.
4. To offer our state conservation departments our organized moral and political support and encouragement. To promote full adherence to all conservation codes.
5. To demand adequate water standards and legal enforcement of existing regulatory standards. To detect and report any polluter and call public and political attention to the crime.
6. To encourage private and governmental study necessary to maintain quality fishing and fish habitat and to ensure quality fisheries for ourselves and future generations.
7. To promote and encourage youth fishing. Kids don’t just go fishing— they are taken fishing. We must instill in our youth an interest in and love for this great sport.
8. To present national championship bass fishing tournaments. These tournaments will bring together the nation’s most dedicated bass fishermen, and the publicity derived from them will stimulate public interest in bass angling. 

September 27, 2018
Photo by: B.A.S.S.

The CLASSIC – The Super Bowl of professional bass fishing and absolutely nothing compares to it. Honestly, this will be my shortest point. It’s the Classic, every angler growing up has come to know the greatest tournament of the year.

TIME – Major League Fishing was first to announce major changes to the industry and most bass anglers eagerly watched social media for live videos announcing their new commitments to MLF. FLW also announced new additions to their tournaments. BASSMASTER has announced major sponsors to the trail. They haven’t announced any major changes, and that is ok.

I think the fact they haven’t announced any major changes is a good thing. First, they get to see how things really play out for the 2019 fishing season. Second, they have time to really come up with groundbreaking ideas. This is where the rich history and time will benefit BASSMASTER in the long run.

So many changes with the 2019 season coming to be excited about! What are your thoughts for the 2019 season and any points that you think I missed?

Let’s have a discussion below.

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler

March 19, 2018
Photo by: Laurie Tisdale/B.A.S.S.
Categories
BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL GET IT???

November 28, 2018

Final Bassmaster Classic Berth On The Line At Team Championship On Harris Chain

LEESBURG, Fla. —The 2018 B.A.S.S. tournament schedule that began in January and crisscrossed the country through 17 states over 10 months will reach its conclusion with the Bassmaster Team Championship on Dec. 5-8 at Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes.

The event will determine the final berth for the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, which is scheduled for March 15-17 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Qualified teams from around the globe will compete for two days next week to determine the national team champions. Then the six anglers from the Top 3 teams will fish solo the final two days in the Team Championship Classic Fish-Off, with the winner earning a trip to the Classic.

“It’s a pretty amazing thing to think that you’ll have teams from Arizona, Texas, Ohio — all over the country — and they’ll be competing for a chance to take part in pro fishing’s pinnacle event,” said Clifford Pirch, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Arizona who has fished the Classic five times. “I don’t care what part of the country you come from, that’s the deal you’ve always dreamed of being a part of.”

Some competitors will be traveling from other countries. Also competing in the championship are three teams from South Africa and one from Australia. To qualify, two-angler teams representing sanctioned team trails had to finish near the top of their respective circuit’s championship or team of the year race.

Daily takeoffs will be at 6:45 a.m. ET from Ski Beach Park in Leesburg, and weigh-ins will be held at the park each day at 2:45 p.m.

Counting the team qualifier, the Classic field will feature 52 anglers, including Alabama pro-Jordan Lee, who receives an automatic berth as the defending champion, and Drew Benton of Florida, who punched his ticket by winning the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in May.

Seven anglers also qualified through the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens circuit, along with one from the Carhartt College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, three from the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors, three from the Mossy Oak Fishing Classic Bracket and 35 from the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.

Pirch finished 28th in the AOY standings to qualify for the Classic for the sixth time. He’s finished in the Top 20 three times at the Classic, including a 13th-place showing at South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell last year.

He’s also had some success on the Harris Chain, where the final berth will be decided. In 2012, he finished second in a Southern Open held on the fishery with a three-day total of 58 pounds, 1 ounce.

“That tournament was in January, and when it actually warmed up, I saw a lot of really big fish,” Pirch said. “Then we had a little hiccup with the weather, had a cold night. So it wasn’t quite as wide open as it could have been.

“But I definitely saw the potential of the place.”

Pirch offered some advice to the anglers taking part in the Team Championship.

“Anywhere in the Southeastern United States this time of year, I would really be looking for that little bit of clearer water and better grass,” he said. “There’s always that zone that seems to be healthier than a lot of other places.

“There are plenty of big fish in those lakes, and if you can find areas like that, you should find some of those fish.”

Pirch said it’s also important for team anglers who may not be used to fishing under such enormous pressure to remember it’s a fishing tournament, just like any other.

“You’re fishing for a Classic berth, and that’s an exciting thing for any angler,” he said. “But in the end, it’s about catching the five biggest fish you can every day. Whatever happens will happen one day at a time.”

Categories
MLF BIG-5

BIG NEWS AND FAMILIAR FACES FROM FLW – NOT EVERYONE JUMPED TO MLF

FISHING LEAGUE WORLDWIDE ANNOUNCES 2019 FLW TOUR ANGLER ROSTER

November 26, 2018  by FLW Communications – Photo courtesy of FLW Communications

MINNEAPOLIS – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today the complete professional angler roster for the upcoming 2019 FLW Tour season, the 24th season of the FLW Tour. The field will be showcased along the 2019 FLW Tour, which features seven regular-season tournaments around the country with competition kicking off at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jan. 10-13, in Brookeland, Texas, and culminating with the world championship of bass fishing – the FLW Cup at Lake Hamilton, Aug. 9-11, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

There was enormous demand to compete on the 2019 FLW Tour, with 210 anglers registering for a slot on the prestigious tournament circuit in its final year of priority registration before switching to a strict qualifying process and a 150-pro field in 2020. To accommodate all anglers earning priority entry through the 2018 FLW Tour, Costa FLW series, T-H Marine BFL All-American, YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship and TBF National Championship plus sponsor entries, the 2019 FLW Tour field will feature 170 pros.

The top award at each qualifier is $125,000 with $300,000 going to the winner of the FLW Cup. Since the final field exceeds the published payout basis of 150 pros, FLW will survey all 170 participating pros to finalize the 2019 payout structure.

The 2019 FLW Tour roster is headlined by a stout contingent of bass-fishing heavyweights, including three-time Angler of the Year (AOY) and 2003 FLW Cup champion David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia, 2015 AOY and 2011 FLW Cup champion Scott Martin of Clewiston, Florida, and two-time Angler of the Year Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina. They’ll be joined by bass-fishing legends Jimmy Houston of Cookson, Oklahoma, and Larry Nixon of Quitman, Arkansas, as well as three former FLW Cup champions – John Cox (2016), Brad Knight (2015) and Darrel Robertson (2002). James Niggemeyer of Van, Texas, the 2019 FLW Cup runner-up, and rising star Luke Dunkin of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, are also among the top contenders for 2019. The 2019 Tour will also feature 34 rookies from around the country.

“With the demand, we saw this year to join the FLW Tour, we couldn’t be more eager to kick off another season at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in January,” said Bill Taylor, FLW’s Senior Director of Tournament Operations. “FLW has long been the home to some of the most decorated bass anglers in the sport, and with the expanded live coverage at all of our Tour events this year, we are more than ready to show off their skills at some of the best fisheries in the world.”

In FLW Tour competition anglers are vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2019 FLW Cup, the world championship of bass fishing. The 2019 FLW Cup will be held on Lake Hamilton and is being hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

 

FLW TOUR ROSTER

(* denotes 2019 FLW Tour Rookie)

Angler City, State
Jason Abram Piney Flats, Tenn.
Randy Allen Gilliam, La.
Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, Okla.
Evan Barnes Hot Springs, Ark.
Clayton Batts Butler, Ga.
Bradford Beavers* Summerville, Sc.
Matt Becker Finleyville, Pa.
Bob Behrle Hoover, Ala.
Daryl Biron South Windsor, Conn.
Randy Blaukat Joplin, Mo.
Greg Bohannan Bentonville, Ark.
Terry Bolton Benton, Ky.
Lionel Botha Malabar, Fla.
Bailey Boutries* Daphne, Ala.
Jay Brainard Enid, Okla.
Christopher Brasher Longview, Texas
Jimmy Brewer Marshall, Texas
Aaron Britt Yuba City, Calif.
Grae Buck Harleysville, Pa.
Miles Burghoff* Hixson, Tn.
Tim Cales Sandstone, W.Va.
Jonathan Canada* Helena, Ala.
Robert Case Jr. Point, Texas
Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, Texas
Russell Cecil Willis, Texas
Ryan Chandler Hebron, Ind.
Glenn Chappelear Acworth, Ga.
Jason Christy* Dadeville, Ala.
Joey Cifuentes Clinton, Ark.
Sheldon Collings Grove, Okla.
Ramie Colson Jr. Cadiz, Ky.
Kyle Cortiana Coweta, Okla.
John Cox Debary, Fla.
Alex Davis Albertville, Ala.
Darrell Davis Dover, Fla.
Randy Despino* Colfax, La.
Tommy Dickerson Orange, Texas
Jeff Dobson Bartlesville, Okla.
Bradley Dortch Atmore, Ala.
Josh Douglas Isle, Minn.
Kurt Dove Del Rio, Texas
David Dudley Lynchburg, Va.
Tony Dumitras Winston, Ga.
Luke Dunkin Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
Dakota Ebare* Stephenville, Texas
Jon Englund* Farwell, Minn.
Charlie Evans Berea, Ky.
Ron Farrow Rock Hill, S.C.
Austin Felix Eden Prairie, Minn.
Kevin Finley* Phoenix, Ariz.
Mark Fisher Wauconda, Ill.
Tim Frederick Leesburg, Fla.
Hunter Freeman Monroe, La.
Derek Fulps* Broken Arrow, Okla.
Nick Gainey Charleston, S.C.
David Gaston* Sylacauga, Ala.
Sam George* Athens, Ala.
Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, Fla.
Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, Minn.
Brant Grimm* Church Hill, Tenn.
Buddy Gross Chickamauga, Ga.
Cody Hahner Wausau, Wis.
Bradley Hallman Norman, Okla.
Chip Harrington* Olathe, Kan.
Dylan Hays El Dorado, Ariz.
Billy Hines Vacaville, Calif.
Jamie Horton Centerville, Ala.
Jimmy Houston Cookson, Okla.
Miles Howe San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Rex Huff Corbin, Ky.
John Hunter Shelbyville, Ky.
Bill Hutchison Bessemer, Ala.
Charlie Ingram Centerville, Tenn.
Eric Jackson Walling, Tenn.
Rex Jaeger* Hamilton, Ohio
Jim Jones Big Bend, Wis.
Rob Jordan Flowery Branch, Ga.
Cody Kelley Conway, Ark.
Jay Kendrick Grant, Ala.
Rob Kilby Hot Springs, Ark.
Brad Knight Lancing, Tenn.
Brian Latimer Belton, S.C.
Marty Lawrence* Mesa, Ariz.
Jeremy Lawyer Sarcoxie, Mo.
Nick LeBrun* Bossier City, La.
Wes Logan Springville, Ala.
Richard Lowitzki Hampshire, Ill.
Tim Malone Kodak, Tenn.
Scott Martin Clewiston, Fla.
Lendell Martin Jr. Nacogdoches, Texas
Michael Matthee* Centurion, Gauteng Province, South Africa
Billy McCaghren Mayflower, Ark.
Chris McCall Palmer, Texas
Johnny McCombs Morris, Ala,
Bill McDonald Greenwood, Ind.
Brandon McMillan Clewiston, Fla.
Jared McMillan Belle Glade, Fla.
Chuck Medley Owens Cross Roads, Ala.
Jason Meninger Saint Augustine, Fla.
Kerry Milner Bono, Ark.
Kurt Mitchell Milford, Del.
Tom Monsoor La Crosse, Wis.
Harry Moore Valley, Ala.
Bob Morin Seymour, Tenn.
Troy Morrow Eastanollee, Ga.
Brandon Mosley Choctaw, Okla.
Jim Moynagh Carver, Minn.
Shawn Murphy Nicholasville, Ky.
Cody Murray* Nampa, Idaho
Chris Neau New Orleans, La.
Corey Neece* Bristol, Tenn.
Ron Nelson* Berrien Springs, Mich.
Dicky Newberry* Houston, Texas
James Niggemeyer Van, Texas
Larry Nixon Quitman, Ark.
Jordan Osborne Longview, Texas
Robert Pearson Herndon, Va.
Pete Ponds Madison, Miss.
Hensley Powell* Whitwell, Tenn.
Chad Randles Elkhorn, Neb.
Drew Ratley* Shreveport, La.
Tom Redington Royse City, Texas
Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas
Clark Reehm Elm Grove, La.
Jimmy Reese Witter Springs, Calif.
Jason Reyes Huffman, Texas
Curtis Richardson Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Darrel Robertson Jay, Okla.
Troy Roder* Brookeland, Texas
Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas
Craig Rozema Simpsonville, S.C.
Ryan Salzman* Huntsville, Ala.
Casey Scanlon Lake Ozark, Mo.
Bryan Schmitt Deale, Md.
Colby Schrumpf Highland, Ill.
Braxton Setzer Montgomery, Ala.
Billy Shelton III La Crosse, Va.
Charles Sim Nepean, Ontario, Canada
AJ Slegona* Pine Bush, N.Y.
Capt. Blake Smith Lakeland, Fla.
Derrick Snavely Piney Flats, Tenn.
Matthew Stefan Junction City, Wis.
Tyler Stewart West Monroe, La.
Chuck Stratton* Chaffee, Mo.
Wade Strelic* Alpine, Calif.
Mike Surman Boca Raton, Fla.
Timmy Thompkins Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Bryan Thrift Shelby, N.C.
Rusty Trancygier Hahira, Ga.
J. Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga.
Jim Tutt Longview, Texas
Andrew Upshaw Tulsa, Okla.
John Voyles Petersburg, Ind.
Jacob Wall* Jacksonville, Ore.
Chad Warren Sand Springs, Ok.
Joshua Weaver Macon, Ga.
Joseph Webster Winfield, Ala.
Kyle Weisenburger Ottawa, Ohio
Chris Whitson Louisville, Tenn.
Andy Wicker Pomaria, S.C.
Scott Wiley Bay Minette, Ala.
Joel Willert* Prior Lake, Minn.
David Williams Maiden, N.C.
Austin Wilson* Citrus Heights, Calif.
Barry Wilson Birmingham, Ala.
Matt Wittekiend Angleton, Texas
Tyler Woolcott* Port Orange, Fla.
David  Wootton Collierville, Tenn.
Gary Yamamoto Palestine, Texas
Andy Young Isle, Minn.
Categories
MLF BIG-5

THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ANGLERS – VARSITY BASS

FLW AND RAPALA FISHING FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ANGLERS FOR NEW YOUTUBE REALITY SERIES – VARSITY BASS

November 20, 2018  by FLW Communications Photo Courtesy of FLW

MINNEAPOLIS – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that they are seeking applicants to be featured in a new, original YouTube based reality series, presented by Rapala, called Varsity Bass. Applicants should be a current high school or college fishing angler or team and are asked to submit their video through social media.

Similar to the hugely successful FLW Circuit Breaker series, each episode will document life as an angler that is just starting out in the sport of tournament bass fishing. It will allow fans to experience firsthand what life as a student angler is really like and feel both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat as it happens to the young anglers competing in the YETI FLW College Fishing and Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Open circuits. A new angler or team will be featured in each episode.

“We are extremely excited to partner with FLW and showcase the talented young bass anglers that compete at the high school and college levels,” said Matt Jensen – Director of Marketing for Rapala USA. “We know that there are some unique, compelling stories that are waiting to be told and after the success of FLW’s Circuit Breaker series we are eager to see what the talented production team at FLW can come up with. Rapala is proud to be associated with such a fresh and innovative idea, which matches our strategic initiatives to support the fast pace growth of youth fishing!  We expect Varsity Bass to be a huge success.”

Anglers are encouraged to submit a video – up to 10 minutes in length – that captures why they would be a great fit to be featured on Varsity Bass. Personality, creativity, uniqueness and passion for the sport are all qualities that producers of the show will be looking for on the submission videos.

To apply, visit http://bit.ly/VarsityBass. Videos should be uploaded to YouTube with the privacy set to “Unlisted.” Video links along with the application can be submitted starting Monday, Nov. 19 through the end of the year.