Scott Canterbury Reclaims BASS Elite Angler of the Year on Lake St. Clair Day 2

Canadians Cory Johnston 4th, Chris Johnston 14th & Gussy 29th
By Bryan Brasher
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Canterbury rebounds and take AOY lead.
(Photo: BASS)

Scott Canterbury began this week’s Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Lake St. Clair with a nine-point lead in the season standings.

 He wobbled a bit during Sunday’s opening round due to technical problems and fell briefly into third place. But after a nice rebound Monday, the crown is once again his to lose.
 
Canterbury, a Bassmaster Elite Series newcomer from Odenville, Ala., caught five bass Monday that weighed 21 pounds, 13 ounces and pushed his two-day total to 39-8. That places him in 16th place for the week, but restores him to a slim lead in the AOY Championship season standings with a total of 846 points.
 
With one day left to fish, Texas pro Chris Zaldain (842) is in second, followed by Arkansas pro Stetson Blaylock (840), Canadian Cory Johnston (838) and Brandon Lester (814) of Tennessee.
 
“Yesterday was a real a struggle for me, but I rebounded today,” said Canterbury, who fished all day Sunday without the use of depthfinders on the front of his boat. “After yesterday, I felt like I needed to catch 20 pounds each of these last two days. I got 21 pounds today, and I’ll still like my chances if I can catch 20 more pounds tomorrow.
 
“I said coming in if I could get around that 57-pound mark — that’s 19 pounds a day — I’d have a chance. I’m a little ahead of that pace right now.”
 
Canterbury, who has led the AOY race since early summer, had once hoped just to survive the Elite Series’ New York swing — which was fair, considering he’d never fished the St. Lawrence River or Cayuga Lake. He did better than that, finishing third and 11th in the two events, respectively.
 

Chris Zaldain Grabs BASS Elite Angler of the Year on Lake St. Clair Day 1

Canadians Cory Johnston 4th, Chris Johnston 13th & Gussy 29th
By Bryan Brasher
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Seth Feider smashes 26-12lbs for tournament lead!
(Photo: BASS)

The Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship is actually several competitions in one.
 
But the biggest one by far will decide the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race — and for the moment, Chris Zaldain has moved into that big-picture lead.
The California native turned Texas resident caught 20 pounds, 12 ounces Sunday and moved from second place in the AOY standings into first with 842 points. Arkansas pro Stetson Blaylock (840) is just two points back, followed by Alabamian Scott Canterbury (838), Canadian Cory Johnston (833) and Tennessee pro Brandon Lester (811).
 
Zaldain said things didn’t go as he expected, but he was more than satisfied with the results.
 
“I caught two 5-pounders on what I thought was my worst spot,” said Zaldain, who finished 13th or higher in six of the nine regular-season Elite Series events this year. “Then on my best spot — out in 17 to 19 feet — I only caught one 3 1/2-pounder.
 
“That’s telling me things are changing a lot, and you’ve gotta stay on your toes.”
 
Blaylock came into the event fourth in the AOY race, but moved up after catching five smallmouth that weighed 24-12. Canterbury, who held a nine-point AOY lead coming into the event, had mechanical problems and caught only 17-11, causing him to slip into third.
 
Canterbury was forced to fish all day Sunday without the use of depthfinders on the front of his boat.
 
“It was brutal all day long,” he said. “I walked to the back about 93 times just to see the console graphs. You don’t know how deep it is. You don’t know if there’s grass.
 
“It was a little bit of an aggravating day. But I actually had a little more weight than I thought, so I may have survived. I’ve just got to catch them these next two days.”
 

2020 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Schedule

2020 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Schedule

Eastern Division:

Jan. 15-17, Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee, Fla.

May 7-9, Cherokee Lake, Jefferson County, Tenn.

Aug. 6-8, Oneida Lake, Syracuse, N.Y.

Sept. 24-26, Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.

Central Division:

April 9-11, Lewisville Lake, Lewisville, Texas

May 21-23, Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden, Ala.

June 18-20, Arkansas River, Muskogee, Okla.

Sept. 10-12, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper, Texas

KVD Switches to Lew's!

After spending his entire career with Quantum, Kevin Van Dam has made the move to
Lew's for the 2020 MLF season. 

Carl Jocumsen Wins 2019 BASS Elite on Lake Tenkiller with 54-15lbs!

Canadian Cory Johnston 3rd and 3rd for BASS AYO! 

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Molix football jig key to Carl's first BASS win!
(Photo: BASS)

Relentless determination and commitment to his game plan paid off big for Carl Jocumsen, who turned in a catch of 19 pounds, 12 ounces on Championship Sunday and scored a career-defining victory at the Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller.

His four-day total weight of 54-15 was worth $100,000 and made a nice birthday gift for the Queensland, Australia angler, who turned 35 Sunday.

Jocumsen said his first Elite win — which is also the first by an Aussie — has been a lifelong dream.

“Since I was four years old, I’ve loved fishing and I’ve dreamed of the day I would do this,” Jocumsen said. “Today is that day. This is a lifetime of work; a lifetime of passion and loving this sport with every ounce of my body.”

Yesterday, after placing third and trailing leader Kyle Monti by 4-8, Jocumsen boldly stated that he believed he was on the fish to win. He predicted he needed five keepers to have a legitimate shot, and he blew away that expectation with a limit of 19-12 that ranked as the tournament’s heaviest single-day catch.

Jocumsen’s winning program stood out from much of the field, in that he committed his tournament to fishing offshore. Relying heavily on his electronics to break down the lake and identify the most promising spots, he targeted six different offshore drop-offs with brush and other cover.

2019 BASS Elite Lake Tenkiller Day 3: Monti Moves into Lead with 39-11 lbs!

Canadians Cory Johnston 4th, Gustafson 36th & Chris Johnston 46th 

By David A Brown

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Off-shore key to top weights on stingy Tenkiller.
(Photo: BASS)

A key adjustment early on Saturday enabled Okeechobee, Florida’s Kyle Monti to stay with his offshore game and move into the lead of the Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller with a three-day total of 39 pounds, 11 ounces.

After placing third Thursday with 14-4, Monti slipped to fifth with 23-2 Friday. On Saturday, he added 16-9 — the event’s heaviest catch so far. His Day 3 bag included four largemouth bass and one spotted bass.

For two days, Monti fished an offshore sandbar with isolated hard spots and caught his fish on a drop-shot rig. Saturday, he shifted gears and caught most of his bass on a wobblehead jig.

“I caught one right off the bat that clued me in that the fish were still there, but I caught it on a bait that I haven’t caught a fish on all week,” Monti said. “That clued me in on how to catch them without dropping straight down to them with a drop shot.”

Monti said this proved crucial to his success, as he would have had a difficult time executing the drop-shot technique he had employed for much of Days 1 and 2.

2019 BASS Elite Lake Tenkiller Day 1: Blaylock Leads with 15-09 lbs!

Cory Johnston 6th, Chris Johnston 26th & Gustafson 36th

By David A Brown

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Heat wave and summer transition makes Tenkiller tough but
Blaylock ekes out lead.
(Photo: BASS)

Stetson Blaylock loves a tough tournament, and pushing through Thursday’s tough conditions delivered a 15-pound, 9-ounce limit that leads Day 1 of the Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller.

Daytime highs reached into the 90s, while a declining lake level, which has lost about a foot and a half since practice, left fish displaced and finicky. Fishing the mid- to lower lake, Blaylock caught a mixed bag of largemouth, spotted bass and smallmouth bass. His catch, which included a 4-pound smallmouth, was a welcome performance, considering his expectations.

“Everybody said practice was bad, but I literally caught six keepers the entire practice,” the Benton, Ark., angler said. “I just like this style of lake. When they pulled that water down, it didn’t help the bite, but I was able to slow down and not think about whether I need to flip bushes because I knew the water was falling out of there. So, I just went out with no care and threw.

“I knew if I just caught a bass, that I would be in (the Bassmaster Classic) easy. My very first cast, I caught a 12-inch spotted bass and I was like ‘Well, my day’s made.’ So I just slowed down.”

Blaylock demonstrated his toughness earlier this season with a hard-fought win at the Winyah Bay Bassmaster Elite Series event in April. Acknowledging the similarities, he notes two major differences: First, he stayed in a much smaller area on the South Carolina tidal fishery; moreover, his 2020 Classic berth was far from secure at Winyah.

Trapper Tackle: Bankruptcy Sale Starts Now

Unlimited 50% Sale on all Hooks!

Due to limited manufacturing, an uncertain supply chain and heavy import tariffs, Trapper Tackle is getting out of the hook business. 

Here is the CEO's letter to its loyal customers. 

Dear Fellow Anglers,

First, I want to say that developing and introducing our innovative “box hook” and related terminal tackle to the angling community has been a wild ride.

I think we unconditionally proved that the boxhook is simply a more effective design. It allows you to hook and land more fish regardless of size or
species.

Thousands of anglers all over the world have had this same experience. However, designing
the most effective hook in the world is only one part of the story; manufacturing and regulatory
compliance also play a substantial role.

Streamside Predator Elite Rods with Jay Martin

If you're interested in some new rods then check out the Streamside Predator Elite rods. Ontario bass tournament sensation Jay Martin knows a good gear when he sees it and he's impressed with the Streamside Predator Elite rods for great craftsmanship, quality and a great price.

Bob Downey Wins Central BASS Opens and Grabs Classic Spot!

Another Classic spot filled

By Kelly Bostian

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Saturday's conditions killed fragile bite.
(Photo: BASS)

Bob Downey, in his first season fishing the B.A.S.S. Opens, rode a consistent but demanding pattern to his first career victory in the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on Grand Lake.

With a final-day catch of 16 pounds, 3 ounces and a three-day total of 48-9, the Wisconsin angler earned $29,200 and a berth in the 2020 Bassmaster Classic scheduled for March 6-8 on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville.

By finishing fifth in the season points standings for the Central Open, Downey also earned an invitation to fish the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series.

“Holy smokes, I got it done,” said Downey, who was fishing Grand for the first time. “I can’t believe it.”

Downey climbed steadily through the standings the first two days and was in second place going in Saturday’s finale.

With this catch of 16-3 Saturday, he finished just 8 ounces in front of another Wisconsin angler, Caleb Kuphall of Mukwonago, with 48-1. Kuphall’s finish also put him in the Top 5 of the season points race and earned him an invitation to the Elite Series.

Kyle Dorsett of Odenville, Ala., grabbed third place at Grand with 45-12.

Another chance for a first career win slipped away from the leader of the first two days, Kenta Kimura of Osaka, Japan.

A year ago the seven-season veteran led the pack on the Red River, fell off on the last day and placed fourth. History repeated for him Saturday as he boated three bass in the morning and could not find another keeper. With 43-4, he finished fourth.

Persistence, faith in his pattern, and some last-minute fortune got it done for Downey.

“When I got on that pattern early this week (in practice) and got that 6-pounder, I knew it was potentially a special deal,” he said. “But I didn’t know if it would hold up.”

Geiger Tec Marine Mounts

If you put great electronics in your boat, you've better keep them safe. Geiger Tech, a great Canadian company, is making a first class marine electronic mounting brackets for your dash or bow. Check out JP De Rose as he explains why investing in a Geiger Tech Marine mount is a smart investment.

Jay Short and Ryan Crowley Win the 2019 CSFL Classic on Balsam Lake with 49.14 lbs

Difficult conditions test anglers
By Luigi De Rose 

Jay Short and Ryan Crowley grab $10 000 for their 2019 CSFL Classic Win.
(Photo: CSFL)

The first weekend after Labour Day has historically been filled with turmoil. This year was no different but that didn't stop the best teams of the CSFL from trying their best on Balsam Lake, Ontario. The three-day event put anglers to the test as they battled harsh winds, cool temps and stubborn bass. Despite the odds, the team of Jay Short and Ryan Crowley won the 2019 CSFL Classic in grand style. They rallied on Sunday with the day's best 5-bass limit of 18.12 lbs to amass a three day total of 49.14 lbs. They held off second place Steve Clark and Dave Norgrove by 2 pounds. Clark and Norgrove  three day, 15 bass limit was 47.4 lbs. The team of  Jordan McIntyre and Corey Moreau grabbed third with 46.86 lbs. 

Position	Angler	Co-Angler	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Total
1	JAY SHORT	RYAN CROWLEY	16.3	14.72	18.12	49.14
2	STEVE CLARK	DAVE NORGROVE	16.84	16.14	14.42	47.4
3	JORDAN MCINTYRE	COREY MOREAU	15.44	14.48	16.94	46.86
4	TIM FERNANDES	ANDREW BONELLO	14.92	15.96	15.8	46.68
5	CHRIS LITTLE	JOSH BURK	14.98	17.14	11.36	43.48
6	MATT MCINTYRE	CALEB CULBERT	15.4	13.5	11.98	40.88
7	MARIO PALERMO	DILLON VORICH	16.3	14.34	9.62	40.26
8	RYAN THORNTON	JOSH LEWIS	13.7	15.48	9.98	39.16
9	GARRY MANSHOLT	PAUL FISHER	13.2	16.8	9.1	39.1
10	RON COLUCCI	PAUL DIPASSIO	15.62	13	6.78	35.4

Pradco Aquires Gene Lerew Lures

PRADCO Outdoor Brands, a world leader in top-name fishing and hunting products, announced today that it has acquired Gene Larew Lures, a Tulsa, Okla., company that manufactures and sells fishing lures under its Gene Larew, Bobby Garland and Crappie Pro brands.

"Today, we've added two more legendary names - Larew and Garland - to our  already historic lineup of fishing brands," said PRADCO's Bruce Stanton, Vice President and General Manager of the fishing division. "In addition to growing our bass offerings with Larew and jumping right to the top of the crappie bait category with Garland, we're also getting a wealth of manufacturing experience, industry knowledge and fishing expertise that fully complement the things we do that put us at the top in this industry. We're excited!"   

 

"Only a couple hours up the road from Ft. Smith (Arkansas), we know PRADCO, Bruce and many of his team, so I'm elated to be passing along my company to them because I know it'll be in great hands," said Gene Larew Lures owner, Chris Lindenberg. "They have proven themselves to be a great caretaker of the brands that I grew up fishing with, and I wanted Larew and Garland to have a permanent next home in such a prominent place. I couldn't be any happier than having PRADCO be the ones to take our efforts to the next level and beyond."

SpiderWire Launches New UltraCast and Stealth Smooth Lines

SpiderWire^® launches new colors for its UltraCast® and Stealth^®Smooth line collections. The SpiderWire^® UltraCast^®, Stealth^® Smooth 12, and Stealth^® Smooth 8 lines are an evolution in line technology, allowing for a sensitive yet powerful feel.

The SpiderWire UltraCast line is crafted from eight tightly woven 100 percent PE fibers, giving UltraCast the unique capacity to launch great distances with very little effort—all while retaining a high level of strength and abrasion resistance. UltraCast is now available in two new colors – Aqua Camo and Inshore Camo. The new colors will be available in the following sizes: 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 65-, 80- and 100-pound. Available in July 2019, the new line colors will offer lengths of 150 meters ($18.99), 300 meters ($36.99) and 2000 meters ($249.99).

New this year, Stealth Smooth braid will be available in a 12-carrier option. The new Stealth Smooth 12 is woven from 12 PE fibers to create a tight, round braid that is strong and sensitive. Offering an incredibly soft feel without sacrificing strength, sensitivity or diameter, the braid is thin and smooth, rendering it almost completely silent through the guides. The new line will be available in Hi-Vis Yellow, Moss Green and Translucent. Coming in Spring 2020, the Stealth® Smooth 12 braid will be available in multiple sizes (4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 65-, 80-pound) and a 150-meter length for $24.99.

The SpiderWire Stealth Smooth collection receives additional updates with added colors to the Stealth Smooth 8 braid. Hi-Vis Yellow joins Moss Green as colors options for the Stealth® Smooth 8 line. The new color will be available in October 2019 in multiple sizes (4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 65-, 80-pound) and will be available in lengths of 150-meters ($12.99), 300-meters ($24.99) and 2000-meters ($164.99).

“The new additions to the SpiderWire family demonstrate the continued evolution of our line production technology,” said Chris Pitsilos, brand manager for SpiderWire. “The Stealth Smooth 8 and 12 braid will give anglers an immensely strong cast without even breaking a sweat. And the UltraCast is the pinnacle of performance line strength. Casting long distances has never felt so effortless.”