Author: jcarrigan

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

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date January 29, 2024
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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.

MLF BIG-5

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

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date January 29, 2024
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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.

MLF BIG-5

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

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date January 27, 2024
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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.

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 National Angler

Unlock the Ultimate Fishing Adventure with Co-Angler

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date January 20, 2024
No Comments on 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!

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

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date January 18, 2024
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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 10^th 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.

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

MLF Announces Strategic Plan for 2024 Bass Pro Tour and Beyond

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date October 17, 2023
No Comments on MLF Announces Strategic Plan for 2024 Bass Pro Tour and Beyond

MLF Returns to Its Roots, Reinstates “Every Fish Counts” Format on the Bass Pro Tour, Announces Exclusive Field of 50 Anglers in 2025 to Showcase Top Performers

BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 17, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, today announced long-term plans for the Bass Pro Tour, including an investment in increased livestreaming of MLF competition, a return to the “every fish counts” scoring format, and an exclusive roster of 50 anglers for the Bass Pro Tour in 2025 to increase visibility and showcase top performers.

2025 Bass Pro Tour:
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour field will feature an all-star roster of 50 anglers comprised of the top 35 pros from the 2024 Bass Pro Tour lifetime Angler of the Year (AOY) standings, the top 10 anglers from the 2024 Bass Pro Tour single-year standings that did not qualify via the top 35 lifetime AOY standings, and the top five (5) anglers from the 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals.

Each regular-season 2025 Bass Pro Tour event will be four days with every angler competing the first two days. The top 20 anglers based on two-day cumulative weight will advance to the Knockout Round (Day 3). Weights will reset in the Knockout Round, and the top 10 anglers will advance to the Championship Round (Day 4). Winners will be determined by heaviest cumulative weight from the Knockout and Championship rounds.

“The future of our sport is livestreaming, catch-weigh-immediate release and every fish counts,” said MLF President and CEO Boyd Duckett. “By focusing on 50 anglers in a more compact event that’s easy for both die-hard and casual fans alike to follow, we’ll do what other successful leagues have done to grow – focus on a small group of the highest performers and make them the most visible personalities in the sport. It also allows us to enhance what are already the sport’s best payouts.”

Each Stage on the 2025 Bass Pro Tour will pay $130,000 to the winner and $2,000 through 50th place. REDCREST will feature the sport’s top award of $300,000 with $10,000 through 20^th place and $5,000 through last place. Heavy Hitters will feature $100,000 for a win with big bass awards in each round of $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000.

Not only does the Bass Pro Tour feature the sport’s best payouts and biggest media platform, its anglers graduate through the sport’s most lucrative qualifying circuits – the nationally-televised and livestreamed Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats, Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine, and Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI.

Reinstating “Every Fish Counts” Scoring:
Scoring on the Bass Pro Tour will return to the “every fish counts” format in 2024. After scoring each anglers’ five biggest bass per day in 2023, the change will recapture the excitement and pressure of the Tour’s original format.

“We responded in 2023 to fans and anglers that wanted to see how five-fish scoring would work with our SCORETRACKER^® live leaderboard,” said MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “Unfortunately, viewership growth was stagnant. The Bass Pro Tour thrives on intense competition, and the scoring change affected the Tour’s competitiveness in an unexpected way. By reinstating the every fish counts scoring structure and having fewer anglers in the Knockout Round, pros will no longer be able to let their guard down without the risk of being overtaken by someone climbing SCORETRACKER^®.”

2024 Bass Pro Tour Tournament Format:
In addition to the scoring change, the format of each Bass Pro Tour event in 2024 will also be adjusted. Forty anglers in Group A will compete on Days 1 & 3 and 40 anglers in Group B will compete on Days 2 & 4. Only the top 10 anglers from each group – based on the two-day, heaviest cumulative weight – will advance to the Knockout Round (Day 5). Weights will be zeroed for the Knockout Round, and the top 10 anglers will advance to the Championship Round (Day 6). Weights from the Knockout Round will carry over into the Championship Round, and the winner of each event will be decided by the heaviest Knockout and Championship round two-day cumulative weight.

The complete 2024 Bass Pro Tour schedule is available at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

MLFNOW! Livestream Expansion:
MLF is adding nearly 20% to its livestream offerings in 2024 with the addition of the General Tire Team Series to its MLFNOW! lineup. All six days of competition from each of three General Tire Team Series qualifiers and all seven days from the General Tire Team Series Championship, filmed in the fall of 2024 for television broadcast in 2025, will be livestreamed on MLFNOW!

Each 2024 Bass Pro Tour Stage will feature four days of MLFNOW! livestreamed coverage – the final two days of the Qualifying Round, the Knockout Round and the Championship Round. REDCREST 2024 will stream all four days of competition, and the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event will stream all six days of competition. MLF will also livestream all three days at each Tackle Warehouse Invitational stop as well as the final day of competition from the Toyota Series Championship, Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American and Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship. All told, fishing fans will have a total of 84 full days of Major League Fishing livestreamed content to consume in 2024.

“The General Tire Team Series is one of our most exciting products,” Duckett said. “Condensing the Bass Pro Tour livestream to four days allows us to expand our Team Series coverage, which is a win-win for fans. We’ll have an easier to follow Bass Pro Tour format and an extended season with 25 days of Team Series livestream coverage to watch in the fall.”

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Alabama’s Jordan Lee Earns Third Career MLF Bass Pro Tour Win at General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 29, 2023) – Championship Thursday on Lake St. Clair started off with a bang, with Berkley pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama , taking advantage of the early morning bite to put together a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 4 ounces to earn his third Bass Pro Tour win and the top award of $100,000 at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles . Lee’s two-day Knockout and Championship Round total of 10 bass weighing 47-13 earned him the win by a 1-pound, 3-ounce margin over second-place finisher Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas, who weighed in 23 pounds, 8 ounces Thursday to finish the event with a two-day total of 46-10, his second runner-up finish this season.

Lee also went wire-to-wire on Berkley Big Bass Awards, claiming the award each day he competed throughout the event and winning $1,000 both days of the Qualifying Round, $1,000 during both the Knockout and Championship Rounds and the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass award for the overall largest bass of the event, with his 6-pound, 7-ounce smallmouth that was weighed Wednesday during the Knockout Round.

The Alabama pro whipped up his 23-4 limit on Championship Thursday within the first two hours of competition yet was able to maintain the top position throughout the day despite never upgrading his fish in the second or third period.

“Before I came up here, I knew I wanted to fish on the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair, primarily around the Bell River Hump area,” said Lee. “Tournaments have been won over there, historically, so I felt like it was worth the risk to commit to that for the week, despite not being able to practice over there.

“I bounced around a bit during the first part of the event, but not so much the last two days,” Lee continued. “In practice I was looking for grass clumps and grass lines, but once I started actually fishing, that didn’t seem to be the deal.

“My main area just had a smooth bottom, and the fish were just hanging out there. There wasn’t anything on the map that pointed out fish might be there, but I spent some time scoping around with my Lowrance ActiveTarget and started seeing some fish that clued me in. It just happened to be the winning area.

“I found a couple places that didn’t pay off and others where I didn’t catch anything, but my first fish of the tournament was almost 6 pounds, and that just started me off on the right path,” Lee continued. “I pulled up to my main spot this morning, and the fish weren’t in the area where I had been catching them. They’re notorious for moving out here, so I was a bit worried, but they’d only moved about 200 yards away. Once I found them it was game on. I caught a couple over five pounds early on and those two fish were really the difference makers.”

Lee’s limit of 23-4 included a pair of 5-pounders weighing 5-4 and 5-10.

“Those big bites were definitely key throughout this entire week,” said Lee. “I was getting a couple of them per day, and they were all in different places, so it was just meant to be.”

Lee caught most of his fish throwing a 5-inch Berkley PowerBai

t MaxScent Flatnose Jerk Shad on a drop-shot rig.

“I did well here during a tournament in 2017, throwing a big, fluke-style bait, so I always think about that when I come here,” said Lee. “That 5-inch Berkley Jerk Shad is a little bit bigger than a flatworm or other typical smallmouth baits; but smallmouth on Lake St. Clair eat big stuff, and I saw the giant perch they were spitting up all week, so I knew I wouldn’t scare them off with a bigger bait.”

This victory marks Lee’s first Bass Pro Tour win since 2020, when he went on a season flurry to win Stage One, the Heavy Hitters all-star event and the 2020 Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year (AOY) title.

“St. Clair is an awesome fishery, and I was looking forward to fishing it, but I never would have dreamed I’d win this event coming into it,” finished an emotional Lee. “You always hope for the win, every tournament, but I sure wasn’t expecting it. God has really blessed me and my family and this has just been a really special week.”

The top 10 pros from the General Tire Stage Six on Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles finished:

1^st:           Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 47-13, $100,000
2^nd:          Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 46-10, $45,000
3^rd:          Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 43-12, $38,000
4^th:           Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 43-4, $32,000
5^th:           Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 10 bass, 42-14, $30,000
6^th:           Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 42-8, $26,000
7^th:           Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 42-2, $23,000
8^th:           Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 10 bass, 41-1, $21,000
9^th:           John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 39-9, $19,000
10^th:        Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 10 bass, 37-11, $16,000

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

The General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles features anglers competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The six-day event, hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission, Macomb County and Lake St. Clair Metroparks, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, 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 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 4 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.

The 2023 MLF 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, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Dustin Connell Wins Group B Qualifying Round at MLF General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 27, 2023) – Favorite Fishing pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama , maintained his position atop the leaderboard, catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces, to lead Group B and win Tuesday’s Qualifying Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles .

The remaining 40 anglers – the top 20 from each group – now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round on Thursday. Weights will carry over from the Knockout Round into the Championship Round, which will feature the final 10 anglers competing for the heaviest two-day cumulative total and the top prize of $100,000.

“It’s been a good two days, but now the real derby starts,” said Connell. “I was able to practice and look around a lot today, but it’s strictly business now. I’ve done great in the Qualifying Rounds this season, but I haven’t done too well in the Knockout Round. I have a feeling that might change in this event though.”

Connell spent the day bouncing around various places on the lower section of Lake St. Clair using his Lowrance ActiveTarget. He said he found a new area – and two new schools of fish – where he expects to find some big ones.

“I’m on such a big area and that’s played out well for me,” said Connell. “I’m able to get away from everyone else and there hasn’t been a single boat in sight, which just makes it better. Hopefully the weather lays down on Wednesday, because if it does, a lot of these fish will slide up off the bottom and that will make it easier to see them and catch them.”

Connell’s five-fish limit on Tuesday included a group of 4-pounders and a 5-pound, 7-ounce kicker fish that he weighed in during Period 2. He caught all of his fish on his 7-foot, 2-inch medium heavy Favorite Fishing Hex Rod, throwing a Googan Baits Rattlin’ Ned on a 3/8-ounce drop-shot rig, using 15-pound braid and a 12-pound Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon Leader.

The top 20 pros in Group B that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Lake St. Clair are:

1^st:           Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 45-9
2^nd:          Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 42-5
3^rd:          Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 10 bass, 41-4
4^th:           Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 40-6
5^th:           John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 40-1
6^th:           Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 10 bass, 39-11
7^th:           Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 39-11
8^th:           Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 38-14
9^th:           Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 10 bass, 38-5
10^th:        Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 10 bass, 38-3
11^th:        Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 38-2
12^th:        Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 38-1
13^th:        Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 10 bass, 37-4
14^th:        Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 36-14
15^th:        Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., 10 bass, 36-9
16^th:        Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 10 bass, 36-0
17^th:        Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 35-7
18^th:        Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 35-1
19^th:        Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 10 bass, 34-13
20^th:        Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 34-5

Eliminated from competition are:

21^st:        Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 34-4
22^nd:       Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 10 bass, 34-4
23^rd:       John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 34-1
24^th:        Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 34-0
25^th:        Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 10 bass, 33-15
26^th:        James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 33-12
27^th:        Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 33-10
28^th:        Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 33-10
29^th:        Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 10 bass, 32-5
30^th:        Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 10 bass, 32-4
31^st:        Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-4
32^nd:       Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 30-3
33^rd:       Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 10 bass, 30-1
34^th:        Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 29-9
35^th:        Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., 10 bass, 28-12
36^th:        Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 28-12
37^th:        Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, eight bass, 28-7
38^th:        Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, eight bass, 27-14
39^th:        Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., 10 bass, 27-8
40^th:        Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 24-11

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

Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award was awarded to pro Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who weighed in a 6-pound, 2-ounce smallmouth – the biggest bass of the event thus far – which bit a jerkbait in Period 2. 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.

Anglers will launch each day at 7:20 a.m. ET from Lake St. Clair Metropark, located at 31300 Metro Parkway in Harrison Township. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Metropark, 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 Championship Thursday, June 29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate the top 10 and crown the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Champion at the Watch Party and Trophy Presentation. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

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

Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 4 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Jordan Lee Earns Group A Qualifying Round Win at MLF General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 26, 2023) – Despite the dreary, overcast weather and changing conditions, Berkley pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama , maintained the pace he set for the Group A field Monday, weighing in five bass totaling 23 pounds, 11 ounces to win the Group A Qualifying Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles . Lee’s two-day total of 46-3 earned him the Qualifying Round win by a 4-pound, 8-ounce margin over second-place pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, who maintained his second-place position with a two-day total of 10 scorable bass weighing 41-11.

Period 3 marked big changes for several anglers, shaking up the playing field as pros vied for big fish to move across the Toro cutline and advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. The biggest moves came from Wynne, Arkansas’ Mark Rose, who started the day in 17^th place and dropped down to 28^thbefore going on a third-period flurry to finish out the day in ninth. North Carolina’s Bryan Thrift also moved into the top 20 during the final period, while Takahiro Omori and Josh Butler dropped below the cutline and were eliminated from the competition.

The top 20 advancing anglers from Group A will now have an off day from competition Tuesday, while the 40 anglers competing in Qualifying Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 20 anglers from each group advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round on Thursday. In the final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

“The past two competition days have been unbelievable, and I feel really blessed,” said Lee. “Since we couldn’t practice on the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair, I came over here on a whim, just gambling. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but it’s been a great experience.

“I caught a lot of small fish this morning but found a school of big fish late in the day, so I’m excited about moving on to the Knockout Round. These smallmouth are notorious for moving, but I’m not going into panic mode if they move. I just plan to move around and see what else we can find.”

Two hefty smallmouth – weighing 5-11 and 5-2 – anchored Lee’s 23-pound, 11-ounce total on Monday.

“The [Berkley] MaxScent always plays for smallmouth, and this week has been no different,” said Lee. “I’m throwing a drop-shot rig with a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Jerk Shad on my signature 6-foot, 10-inch super finesse Abu Garcia Jordan Lee Spinning Rod, using 6-pound Berkley x5 Braid and an 8-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon Leader. These fish are out a little deeper and have been feeding on perch, so they seem to like this bigger bait.”

The top 20 pros in Group A that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Lake St. Clair are:

1^st:           Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 46-3
2^nd:          Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 41-11
3^rd:          Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 41-3
4^th:           Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 40-4
5^th:           Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 10 bass, 38-6
6^th:           Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 10 bass, 38-3
7^th:           Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 10 bass, 37-13
8^th:           Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 10 bass, 37-10
9^th:           Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 37-7
10^th:        Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 37-3
11^th:        Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 10 bass, 37-2
12^th:        Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-13
13^th:        James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 10 bass, 36-10
14^th:        Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-7
15^th:        David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 36-6
16^th:        Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 10 bass, 35-7
17^th:        Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 35-6
18^th:        Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 34-10
19^th:        Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 34-9
20^th:        Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 34-7

Eliminated from competition are:

21^st:        Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., 10 bass, 34-0
22^nd:       Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 33-12
23^rd:       Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 33-9
24^th:        Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, 10 bass, 33-7
25^th:        Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 33-2
26^th:        Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 32-14
27^th:        Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe, Fla., 10 bass, 32-10
28^th:        Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-2
29^th:        Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 10 bass, 31-15
30^th:        Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-13
31^st:        Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 31-11
32^nd:       Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-2
33^rd:       Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., 10 bass, 30-5
34^th:        Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., 10 bass, 29-5
35^th:        David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-13
36^th:        Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 10 bass, 28-7
37^th:        Dave Lefebre, Erie, Penn., nine bass, 26-5
38^th:        Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., eight bass, 25-12
39^th:        Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-9
40^th:        Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 12-8

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

Lee earned Monday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a smallmouth weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces that he caught in Period 2 on a drop-shot rig. 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.