Now is the Time for Autumn Smallmouth

Warm days and cool night equals amazing smallmouth bass fishing. Jerkbaits, spinnebaits and jigs can be super when the weather is this warm during autumn.

Doug Brownridge Wins the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional!

Big win with big smallmouth!

By Tyler Wade

bass press release

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Doug Brownridge has finished two tournaments with 71 pounds and ended up second. He had no plans to finish second in the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional, so he resolved to catch 72 pounds — and win.

Largest bass of the day was insurance to a
win on the St. Lawrence for Ontario angler
Doug Brownridge.
(Photo: BASS)

He did, indeed. Brownridge ended the divisional with 72 pounds, 9 ounces over three days. What’s exceptional about that is all of his bass were smallmouth, averaging nearly 5 pounds each. Well, almost all of them were smallmouth.

“I’ve got one largemouth in my bag today,” he said on the final day. “I had a chance to cull up with a smallmouth that was 1/4 pound heavier, but it didn’t look that healthy.” So Brownridge put the smallie right back into the St. Lawrence River and held onto the largemouth.

Brownridge has led the tournament since its opener on Wednesday and has never even been threatened with losing his lead. He caught 24 pounds, 5 ounces on the first day, and then followed it up with 24-2 sacks on Days 2 and 3. He had the three biggest bags of the tournament.

2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional Day 2: Doug Brownridge Leads After Another 24 Pound Bag!

bass press release

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Doug Brownridge followed up his massive 24-pound, 5-ounce bag on Day 1 of the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional with one that weighed 24-2, extending his lead in the tournament on the St. Lawrence River to nearly 6 pounds.

“I’m still not comfortable yet,” said Brownridge, a member of the Mississauga Bassmasters in the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation. “I’m going to have to fish hard all day tomorrow.”

Brownridge on his way to a victory with

six pound lead.

(Photo: BASS)

The Canadian angler shows no signs of slowing down, though. He caught most of his fish in the same place on Day 2 as he did on Day 1, leaving him plenty of areas to pick apart on the final day.

“I dropped a horse today, though,” said Brownridge, referring to a big fish he lost. It’s not the only one, either: He lost a couple on the first day, as well. “That one was a monster. If I had gotten that one, I’d be much better off.”

Still, Brownridge said he figured out something that he thinks will help him on the final day. And he’ll have to work hard early on Day 3. “My smallmouth bite just shuts down around 10 o’clock,” he said. “I’ve got to really get them in the morning.”

Brownridge has 48 pounds, 7 ounces for two days. His closest competitor is Rob Messenger of New Hampshire with 42-14. Messenger was also the runner-up on Day 1.

Brownridge and Messenger are currently among the team leaders slated to qualify for the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, Nov. 6-8, on the Ouachita River in Monroe, La. The top angler on each team advances there, and one competitor from each of six divisions will earn a coveted berth in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.

2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional Day 1: Doug Brownridge Leads with over 24lbs of Smallmouth.

By Tyler Wade

bass press release

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — When Doug Brownridge took off on Day 1 on the St. Lawrence River, he knew exactly where he was heading.

He chose correctly, and he currently leads the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional with 24 pounds, 5 ounces.

“This year, I was second in a Canadian Open and sixth and first in two other tournaments here,” said Brownridge. “I’ve spent 10 to 15 tournament days on this river this year. So I knew right where I wanted to go.”

Doug has the tournament experience and knowledge
of the river to win.
(Photo: BASS)

Brownridge, a member of the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation, doesn’t even know what’s special about the spot he’s got. He only knows that it produces big fish, and that’s enough to keep him coming back for more.

Just in case it doesn’t bear similar fruit on Day 2, Brownridge has plenty of backup areas.

“I’ll run out of time before I run out of spots,” he said.

“Smallmouth are notorious for moving. They never give up that easily.”

Brownridge had his Day 1 limit by 10 a.m., and he culled up once with a 5-pound, 12-ounce smallmouth.

Greg Hackney is the 2014 BASS Elite Angler of the Year!

Jacob Powroznik wins Rookie of the Year and Wins Tournament

By Ken Duke

bass press release

ESCANABA, Mich. — Louisiana's Greg Hackney, 41, is the 2014 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year.

Over nine events, Hackney out-practiced, out-strategized, out-fished and ultimately outlasted the other 107 Bassmaster Elite Series anglers who started the season.

Hackey is now an Elite class angler.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Hackney finished 24th in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Bays de Noc where weather postponed the second (and final) round for three days.

It was enough to lock up his first career AOY title.

Along with the sport's most prestigious title and trophy, Hackney earns $100,000 as bass fishing's best angler in 2014.

His season was solid right out of the gate. He finished a respectable 38th in the opener on Lake Seminole and followed it up with top 16 finishes at the St. Johns River (16th), Table Rock Lake (3rd), Lake Dardanelle (3rd) and Cayuga Lake (1st).

His worst finish of the season was 48th at the Delaware River.

2014 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship Cancelled for Third Day will Restart Today

Three days of delays pushes AOY Championship to a final day blow out!

bass press release

ESCANABA, Mich. — Bassmaster Elite Series tournament officials postponed competition in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship for an unprecedented third consecutive day today because of unsafe boating conditions.

Wind whipped waters give BASS and anglers
little options.
(Photo: BASS)

The third day of competition was postponed Sunday because of steady north winds gusting to 20 miles per hour which resulted in small craft advisories for the Escanaba area of Lake Michigan.

“Winds through the north were up to 25 mph and higher,” said Trip Weldon, B.A.S.S. tournament director. “It's especially rough here at the takeoff location.” 

The Top 50 Bassmaster Elite Series anglers are competing this week on Big Bay de Noc and Little Bay de Noc in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for the coveted title of Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year and a purse of $900,000.

2014 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship Cancelled Again due to High Winds.

BASS Press Release
Tournament Director Trip Weldon has let the anglers know that once again he is forced to cancel the day on the water due to high winds and dangerous waves. This is the second day in a row where the Elite anglers will have to keep themselves occupied and hope that tomorrow will bring calmer water. 

2014 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship Day 2: Cancelled due to High Winds.

2014 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship Day 1: Brett Hite the Hero with 24lbs, Hackey Holding On!

Big bags of smallmouth dominate but all eyes on AOY leader board.

By Steve Wright

bass press release

ESCANABA, Mich. — Greg Hackney had numbers in mind while thinking about what it would take for him to win the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title this week at Lake Michigan.

Those numbers were 20 and 18, in that order.

Greg is holding onto the AOY but fishing was
better for Davis and Faircloth.
(Photo: BASS)

"I thought if I caught 20 pounds the first day and backed it up with 18 or 19, I'd be alright," said Hackney about his game plan for clinching the coveted AOY title.

After Day 1, the number 18 made him breathe a sigh of relief. That was his five-bass total weight Thursday, exactly.

"They actually weighed about two pounds heavier than what I thought I had," Hackney said. "That helped my feelings a little bit when I weighed in. (Friday) I've got to catch 20."

Todd Faircloth's number Thursday was 20 pounds, 15 ounces. That allowed him to cut into Hackney's lead in the AOY race.

Faircloth was in third place, 17 points behind. Now he's in second place, 10 points back.

Aaron Martens was discouraged by his numbers. A Day 1 total of 17-6 dropped him from 15 points behind Hackney to 19 points back.

A Huge Win for Team Ontario

A big congratulations for Team Ontario winning the 2014 TBF Eastern Divisional in grand fashion. Great job guys!

(Photo: Dave Chong)

Erik Luzak and Tom Hardy Win the CSFL Classic with 26.6 pounds!

By Luigi De Rose

Under cooling water temps and brisk fall breeze, the top teams of the many CSFL divisions battled it out at the two-day 2014 CSFL Classic. Cameron Lake, a small lake near the town of Fenelon Falls, Ontario, made for an ideal venue as only the top teams were allowed to fish for the win. Perseverance was key and the top three teams all benefited greatly by landing big bass.

Final standings

	Angler	Co-Angler	Day 1	Day 2	Total Weight
1	Erik Luzak	Tom Hardy	16.75	9.85	26.6
2	Dave Chong	Oliver Grigull	11.15	14.3	25.45
3	Dan Risorto	Frank Perciasepe	9.5	12.95	22.45
4	Brent Valere	Phil Curtis	12.15	10.15	22.3
5	Ryan Crowley	Jay Short	12.05	10.15	22.2
6	Erny Janzen	Franklin Janzen	10.65	11.05	21.7
7	Wayne Misselbrook	Dave Kennedy	10.75	10	20.75
8	Bill Todd	Brian Moore	12.35	8.35	20.7
9	Garry Mansholt	Pat Wong	11.7	7.3	19
10	Mike Guzzo	Rob Guzzo	10.75	8.05	18.8
11	Scott Berrey	Shawn Sullivan	10.35	8	18.35
12	Chuck Allan		9.25	8.45	17.7
13	Bill Walker	Kal Vaisanen	8.5	8.2	16.7
14	Mike Allen	Coady Grant	6.05	9.95	16
15	Kirk Sullivan	Linda Royle	8	7	15
16	Trevor Barr	Vic Richards	10.45	4.3	14.75
17	Henry Nguyen	Wayne Matson	7.75	4.85	12.6
18	Mark Tomasin	Mike Tomasin	8.3	3.05	11.35
19	Chris Cappuccitti	Mike Millar	2.4	7.15	9.55
20	Gary Miller		7.85		7.85
21	Walter Adams	Steve Kozelj	7.7		7.7
22	Jason Greentree	Janson Greentree		7.6	7.6
23	Mike Lafreniere	Derek Lafreniere	4.55		4.55

Erik Luzak and Tom Hardy Win the CSFL Classic!

Very little news as of late but Erik Luzak and Tom Hardy won the Classic  narrowly beating out Dave Chong and Oliver Grigull. Erick and Tom has a commanding lead on Day 1 powered by a 5.65 lb largemouth. Dan Risorto and Frank Perciasepe grabbed third at the two-day CSFL Classic.

More info tomorrow. 

More TOP BASS Classic photos.

Our gallery just got a bit larger. Come look at more TOP BASS CLASSIC photos. Click here for more photos.

Link to photos.

Clifford Pirch Wins 2014 U.S. Open in Wire-to-wire Fashion Wins Third U.S. Open Title

WON BASS Press Release

It took landing a haymaker blow in the opening round, then dodging opponents punches for him to do it, but Clifford Pirch today claimed his third WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open victory. The win joins him with Mike Folkestad and Aaron martens as the only individuals to have won the West's most prestigious bass fishing event a trio of times.

"I'm speechless right now, especially after being so close the last two years," said the Payson, Ariz. pro. "I really didn't think that I had produced enough weight to hold on, but it feels great to pull through, and I'm especially blessed to have been so fortunate to win this event three times; I'm completely humbled right now."

Pirch at elite level with 3rd win.
(Photo: WON BASS)

Pirch opened the event by landing a giant uppercut to the field when he weighed in a 15.49-pound limit that gave him almost a four pound lead after the first day. He decided to play it safe in the second round and stayed closer to the Calville Bay takeoff area trying to conserve equipment and avoid disappointment by making a big gamble. That move resulted in a 7.80-pound limit that left the door open to competitors to overtake him. However, he entered the final day with a two-pound lead.

He decided to make a sizeable run to the back of the Overton Arm to target dirty runoff and debris that had resulted from upstream monsoons and flash floods. It was an area that he had saved for the final day, and it took a while for his bite to develop, but he connected with fish that had moved downstream and caught more than 25 keepers en route to an 8.19-pound limit that left him nervous.

But, one by one, his competitors faltered, and when the last two anglers who had the best shot to defeat him reported in with no fish; Pirch had won the 2014 WON Bass Nitro Bots / Mercury U.S. Open with a total weight of 31.26 pounds. The victory earned him a brand new Nitro Z8 / Mercury prize package valued at $37,000 and $50,000 cash.

2014 WON US OPEN Day 2: Clifford Pirch Remains on Top!

Won US OPEN Press Release 

Sometimes a little stumble is not as disastrous as one might think. Clifford Pirch, who presented a 15.49-pound limit to the scales on Monday's first day was not able to keep the torrid pace that he came out of the gates with on day two. However, his daily weight that came in at around half of his first day's weight was enough to keep him in the lead headed into the final day of the 2014 The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open.

Pirch managed to produce only 7.48 pounds from Lake Mead today, but his lead; which had been nearly four pounds, still remains a steady two pounds over second place pro Zack Holwerda of Phoenix, Ariz.

Clifford explains his day to the crowd. He has
to work hard not to allow a massive lead slip away.
(Photo: Dan O'Sullivan)

Pirch said that he had planned to run new water, and made a decision to switch up altogether again in the morning. "I had an area in mind when I set out this morning, but then changed and decided to stay closer and I didn't quite get the bites I thought I would," he said. "The weather slicked off and we didn't get the amount of breeze that we expected and it made the bite a little tougher for me."

That doesn't mean that the two-time U.S. Open champion is completely panicked. "I've got an area that was a key piece in my strategy for this tournament," he said. "I haven't gone to it yet and I'm pretty sure nobody else has found it. I'm going to go there tomorrow, and hopefully I didn't leave too much room on the table today for someone else to sneak in."

Standing Below

TJ Lacey and Travis Vivian Win the 2014 TOP BASS Classic with 37.25 Pounds!

Big fish abound on Tri-Lakes.

By Luigi De Rose

The top 75 teams descended on the Tr-Lakes system to do battle this past weekend. With a heat wave ending after a spectacular lighting storm on Friday night, the weekend cooled and the wind kicked up. Normally difficult conditions but anglers found and caught limits of bass heavier than anticipated. 

Winning smiles for the winning team!
(Photos: Jeff English)

Day 1 saw the team of  Steve Stinson & Jessey Willick sack a 21.45-pound limit to take the lead of the tournament in grad fashion. Ed and Brandon Baker held second with 20.98lbs and TJ Lacey and Brandon Baker secured third with 19.92 lbs. Saturday was a solid start to the two-day team Classic tournament.

The final day saw TJ Lacey and Brandon Baker weigh 17.33 pounds, the heaviest bag of the day, to take the win with a two-day total of 37.25lbs. They surpassed the dynamic duo of Jarrod Dean and Gerard Cocks who totaled 34.30 lbs. Baker and Lacey claimed the $12 000 first prize money plus the winner’s trophies.

Overall big bass went to Duane Jacobs and Mike Williams who caught a 6.53lb beast on Day 2. 

Awards were also given to Jarrod Dean and Gerard Cocks who won Team of the Year and Mike Williams captured Angler of the Year for the third year in a row. 

POS	Sat	Sun	Total	Captain,		Partner
1	19.92	17.33	37.25	LACEY	T.J	VIVIAN	TRAVIS
2	17.18	17.12	34.3	DEAN	JARROD	COCKS	GERRARD
3	19.78	14.44	34.22	FIGUEIRA	JOE	GONSALVES	DUANE
4	16.2	14.23	30.43	PILKEY	RON	MARTIN	JAY
5	18.67	11.58	30.25	MACNEIL	MICHAEL	ANDERSON	PAUL
6	21.45	8.47	30.19	STINSON	STEVE	WILLICK	JESSEY
7	20.98	8.89	29.87	BAKER	ED	BAKER	BRANDON
8	15.59	14.24	29.83	GOUGH	JASON	GRAVES	BARRY
9	13.8	15.33	29.13	CRUMPTON	JOEY	ADLER	BOB
10	12.42	15.64	28.06	BURNS	SCOTT	MACDONALD	JAY