tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30081923187732122212024-03-18T06:55:16.458-04:00IBASSINIBASSIN is your first choice for all things bass fishing. Tournaments, new lures, articles, interviews and resources centred around bass fishing.IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.comBlogger3424125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-61196964786799750782024-03-18T06:54:00.004-04:002024-03-18T06:54:39.193-04:00Dustin Connell Wins 2024 Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Powered by OPTIMA Lithium on Lay Lake!<b style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iQnTQ5ThC62HE9jBxg25FLFNzWF1xrrAQYB-atXTMN0aIsRRLBKS3FaUK8QMg52QaPvAgPIYtnUSnJXZ3lt46Di_YdjNzSatBYEJTw8FLY65enORtm7wS67-bZNze3lUuAPqW9ITsBGVpE1tvhNbsDYSHLST5HC2j5j2C5NF1fRa120vuMLqsv0FKGA1/s675/REDC-ddddddD3-Takeoff-Garrick-36-1000x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iQnTQ5ThC62HE9jBxg25FLFNzWF1xrrAQYB-atXTMN0aIsRRLBKS3FaUK8QMg52QaPvAgPIYtnUSnJXZ3lt46Di_YdjNzSatBYEJTw8FLY65enORtm7wS67-bZNze3lUuAPqW9ITsBGVpE1tvhNbsDYSHLST5HC2j5j2C5NF1fRa120vuMLqsv0FKGA1/w320-h400/REDC-ddddddD3-Takeoff-Garrick-36-1000x500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Make it 2! Connell dominates on Lay Lake for second REDCREST victory</span></h1><span style="font-size: medium;">Mitchell Forde</span></span></span></span></b><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;">BASS PRO TOUR Press Release</b> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Just about every day in the 13 months since Major League Fishing announced that </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/redcrest-2024/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Powered by OPTIMA Lithium</span></a><span style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> would take place on Lay Lake, </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/dustin-connell/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dustin Connell</span></a><span style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> has thought about what it would be like to taste victory at the Coosa River impoundment where he grew up fishing. </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8fbeef53-7fff-f344-3fa3-225d711854e2"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But in all his dreaming, scheming and practicing, the Clanton, Alabama, native didn’t envision this.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Connell routed the rest of the Championship Round field Sunday, stacking 28 scorable bass for 83 pounds on SCORETRACKER® – more than 30 pounds better than runner-up </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/circuits/bass-pro-tour/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Alton Jones Jr.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> The dominant performance earned Connell $300,000 and made him the first ever two-time winner of the </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/circuits/bass-pro-tour/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bass Pro Tour’s</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> championship event.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It wasn’t just his margin of victory that surprised Connell, but how he made it happen. As recently as Saturday evening, he planned to spend the final day fishing current seams in the riverine portion of the reservoir, as he had during the Knockout Round. But at the last minute, he called an audible, opting to start on the lower end of the lake targeting suspended, schooling spotted bass. One of several clutch decisions he made over the four-day event, doing so led to Connell landing on a pile of unpressured bass and unleashing an avalanche that buried the rest of the Top 10.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“This tournament has been on my radar ever since they announced it last year,” Connell said. “I’m like, ‘Oh man, I gotta win that one. That’s a great opportunity. I gotta win that one.’ And I won it today unexpectedly. I didn’t know that many (were) in there. They just moved in there.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Here’s how the Top 10 anglers finished the Championship Round:</span></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Dustin Connell — 83-0 (28 bass)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Alton Jones Jr. — 52-2 (19)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ron Nelson — 39-9 (12)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Takahiro Omori — 36-11 (13)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jesse Wiggins — 32-8 (12)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jacob Wheeler — 29-13 (11)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Gerald Spohrer — 29-9 (11)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Cole Floyd — 25-15 (10)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Nick Hatfield — 24-2 (9)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Michael Neal — 18-1 (7)</span></span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/redcrest-2024/results/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Complete results</span></span></a></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 2pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A fresh approach to a familiar playing field</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Competing on a fishery that an angler knows well comes with obvious advantages. Connell put his lifetime of experience on the Coosa River to use all week – knowing how baitfish and bass would behave amid the heavy current that rolled through Lay Lake, where bass would set up in that current, the best baits to trigger bites.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But there’s a reason so many anglers talk about the “home-lake curse” – Remembering places and ways one has caught fish in the past can get in the way of finding the best way to do so at the present.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Connell wasn’t immune to the pull of history, but he made it a point to base his decisions about where to fish on what he saw on the water, not where he’d found success before.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“When I’m running down the river, I’ve caught ‘em on so many different places, and I’m like, ‘golly, I need to stop, I need to stop,’” Connell said. “But I told myself before I fished this tournament, I said, ‘I’m going to fish this lake like I would any other one, not run off of history.’ I wanted to fish it brand new. And I did all week. I did really, really good practicing and just trying to find new areas.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Key for Connell was turning over every possible stone to discover what could be the winning area. Not only during practice but also the two-day Qualifying Round, he visited every section of the lake, switching between techniques – shaking a jighead minnow for suspended fish, swimming a jig in grass, rolling a spinnerbait around laydowns, plying current seams with a scrounger head.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">His thorough approach paid off on the second day of qualifying, when Connell found what would become his winning spot. Friday afternoon, he pulled into a bay off the main lake that featured two depressions where bass were chasing schools of shad. He caught just one 4-pounder there, but the number of baitfish present led him to mentally flag the area.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“The two depressions harbor the bait, and the fish swim around those depressions and feed on all the bait,” he explained. “And it’s just like their home place. It’s the deepest water in that bay, and the big spots just roam out there and chase that bait. And in the past, I’ve caught them in there. I’ve caught them on a jerkbait, I’ve seen them schooling in there. And I knew that they lived in there. I’ve caught them there a bunch of times, but not to that extent.”</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 2pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The decisions that led to domination</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Finding the area was one thing, but it took a series of clutch calls for Connell to find himself back there on Championship Day. Even as he arrived at the launch ramp Sunday morning, he was torn between returning to the river, where he’d caught more than 52 pounds of scorable bass the day prior, or joining the forward-facing sonar crowd in the lower lake. Feeling like his urge to fish current stemmed at least in part from nostalgia, he settled on starting the day chasing schooling fish, then running upriver in the afternoon, when the bite had been better the past two days (if need be).</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I said, I can catch 50-something pounds – maybe 60 (in the river),” Connell said. “I can’t catch 75 up there, no way. And I thought it was going to take 70, 72 pounds total (to win), because I figured they would catch a lot of fish. I said, ‘I’m going to go down, start down here and then work my way up.’ … Well, I never got to go upriver.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Connell’s first stop was the main-lake area that had accounted for most of the forward-facing sonar success all week – half of the 10-angler field started Sunday morning within sight of one another. Whether due to pressure or those bass heading to the bank to spawn, it quickly became apparent that the bite had dried up.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After feeling several fish short-strike his bait, Connell became the first to leave. He first stopped in a nearby pocket before hitting the bay where he’d caught the 4-pounder two days prior. Before even dropping his trolling motor into the water, he knew he’d found something special.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I rolled up, and as soon as I set the boat down, I saw bait on my 2D (sonar), and I said, ‘Dude, we’re about to catch ‘em,’” Connell said. “‘They’ve got to be here; all the bait’s in here.’ And this low-light conditions had all that bait up shallow, and they were there.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Connell began Period 2 in second place, 6-7 back of </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/ron-nelson-162854/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ron Nelson</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. Within the first 15 minutes, he boated back-to-back 4-pounders to take the lead. From there, the rout was on. In a 70-minute span, he put 10 scorable bass on the scale, adding 29-4 to his total and extending his cushion to more than 20 pounds. By noon, he’d already reset the bar for the best single day of the week.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He didn’t just catch fish in bulk quantities, either. Connell landed 14 spotted bass of 3 pounds or bigger and three over 4 pounds. In all, he piled on 41-12 on 14 fish during Period 2, all of them eating a new minnow-style soft plastic from Rapala CrushCity called a Mooch Minnow. The bait is slated for public release at ICAST this summer.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“That bait is the perfect size, and it has two small tabs at the back of that creates a small, subtle swimming action,” Connell explained. “And instead of it just being straight-tailed, that little action, man, it really gets them going. I caught every bass I weighed in today on that bait. And it’s made out of TPE, and you can catch like 20 fish on (each one).”</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 2pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">An emotional triumph</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Competing amid familiar surroundings with family and friends in attendance made for an emotional week for Connell. Even before he launched Sunday, he found himself tearing up, thinking about his journey from fishing Lay Lake out of an aluminum boat as a kid to returning as one of the most accomplished pros in the world.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’ve been shook up all day,” Connell said. “I was crying this morning at the boat ramp. This lake is very sentimental to me – the whole Coosa River system. I grew up fishing that way, fishing those lakes and catching those big spotted bass, and it just meant a lot.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">During the final minutes of Period 3, the tears returned, as his massive lead offered Connell a rare chance to soak in the win and what it meant in real time. He reminisced about catching Lay Lake spotted bass on topwaters with his brother – who was among the contingent to greet him at the boat ramp after his win – about asking his mother to drive him to the lake so he could fish from a canoe.</span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-8844768870152932162024-03-17T05:00:00.001-04:002024-03-17T05:00:00.131-04:002024 Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Powered by OPTIMA Lithium on Lay Lake Day 3: Cornell Leaps into Lead! <p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYDRyyG8u5CCNClOBbTpGGM9XELFQrOIvffSz2_Szaf0-KqaWwwriyxIgvgyI9uYOf5HmIm63AkSlyR9yEWp0PIUIrKOTif9UOVKagX_eSvDHVQh-TLAhCqOLQ4CIYpsQISo01AQM3iVWarMjS1himPFTCElI5f1mzTxcmTQxi7Yt8AeEk2VsQ8REVC6G/s1000/REDC-ddddddD3-Takeoff-Garrick-36-1000x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYDRyyG8u5CCNClOBbTpGGM9XELFQrOIvffSz2_Szaf0-KqaWwwriyxIgvgyI9uYOf5HmIm63AkSlyR9yEWp0PIUIrKOTif9UOVKagX_eSvDHVQh-TLAhCqOLQ4CIYpsQISo01AQM3iVWarMjS1himPFTCElI5f1mzTxcmTQxi7Yt8AeEk2VsQ8REVC6G/w400-h200/REDC-ddddddD3-Takeoff-Garrick-36-1000x500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2829; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dustin Connell won the Knockout Round with 18 bass weighing 52 pounds, 14 ounces. Photo by Garrick Dixon.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Mitchell Forde</span></span></span></b></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>BASS PRO TOUR Press Release</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Knockout Round at </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/redcrest-2024/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Powered by OPTIMA Lithium</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> turned into a no-holds-barred melee. It didn’t matter whether anglers were chasing spotted bass with forward-facing sonar, beating the bank or dissecting current, the bite caught fire across Lay Lake, with the top spot on SCORETRACKER® and the weight needed to qualify for Sunday’s Championship Round fluctuating all day as a result.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ultimately, </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/dustin-connell/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dustin Connell</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> wound up atop the leaderboard with 18 scorable bass for 52 pounds, 15 ounces. Connell, who lives in nearby Clanton, Alabama, bailed on the main-lake area where he caught most of his fish during the Qualifying Round, instead opting to run up the river and fish beneath the Logan Martin dam. He started slow, spending the first two periods below the cut line, before making an adjustment and boating 10 spotted bass for 29 pounds even in the final period. He finished just 1 ounce ahead of </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/gerald-spohrer/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gerald Spohrer</span></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meanwhile, after 39-1 across two days proved enough to qualify for the Knockout Round, it took nearly as much Saturday alone to earn a spot in the Top 10 and a shot at the $300,000 first-place paycheck. </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/nick-hatfield-441604/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nick Hatfield</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> claimed the 10</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and final spot with 38-14, 1-8 ahead of BFL All-American champion </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/emil-wagner-478657/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emil Wagner</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. University of Montevallo angler </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/dalton-head-5/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dalton Head</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> narrowly missed extending his dream event another day as well, finishing 12</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With weights once again zeroing overnight, all 10 qualifiers in the stacked Championship Round field will have a chance to win the single-day sprint for the trophy. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MLFNOW!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> will provide live coverage of all the action starting at 7:15 a.m. CT. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Full results </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/redcrest-2024/results/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">can be found here.</span></a></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 2pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Connell committed to old-school current fishing</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Connell has emerged as a vocal proponent of forward-facing sonar, and for good reason. The technology played a role in each of his five previous </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/circuits/bass-pro-tour/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bass Pro Tour</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> wins, including </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/2024-bass-pro-tour-stage-one-toledo-bend/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stage One on Toledo Bend.<span></span></span></a></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But this week, on a lake he grew up fishing without modern electronics, he’s making it a point to try and win old-school. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I don’t want this tournament to get won, on my home lake, ‘Scoping,” he said. “I’m going to do my best to save it.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Connell believed his best chance to find bass in the same numbers as those anglers using live sonar would be in the turbulent tailrace at the upper end of this week’s playing field. Finding the morning bite slow there surprised him; he was the last angler in the field to post a scorable bass.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“That first period was just brutal,” Connell said. “There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to get some bites here and there, but the speed at which I was going to get a bite was just slow. I mean, it was just dead.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Knowing he needed to make a move to keep pace with the cut line, Connell resisted the temptation to run to the lower end of the lake, instead moving about 10 miles downriver to a current seam shortly after the start of the third period. It didn’t take long for the decision to pay off.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During a 32-minute flurry from 1:37-2:09 p.m., Connell used a </span><a href="https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/rapala-crushcity-customs-freeloader?searchTerm=freeloader" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rapala CrushCity Freeloader</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on a scrounger head to haul in seven scorable bass and leap from outside the Top 10 into the lead. Not even getting his line tangled in his clip-on microphone could slow him down.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I pulled up on a place and stomped ‘em, right off the rip,” Connell said. “And then I was like, OK, we’re good.”</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 2pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Flow vs. ‘Scope</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Lay Lake continues to showcase its diversity, with five distinct patterns producing spots in the Top 10. However, Connell believes the championship will boil down to a battle between anglers fishing current up the river and those using forward-facing sonar to chase schooling spotted bass at the lower end of the main lake.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Knockout Round results support that assessment. Connell wasn’t the only angler in the river to catch fire late. </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/ron-nelson-162854/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ron Nelson</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, who hunkered down in a honey hole just beneath the Logan Martin dam spillway, also started the third period outside the Top 10. Like Connell, he stacked 10 scorable bass on SCORETRACKER® in the final 2 1/2hours, climbing all the way to third. Spohrer did all his damage in the current, too.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While those three ended up claiming the top spots in the Knockout Round, that might have had something to do with the fact that the most proficient anglers using forward-facing sonar caught their weight early before intentionally backing off the throttle. </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/michael-neal/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michael Neal</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/cole-floyd/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cole Floyd</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/jacob-wheeler/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jacob Wheeler</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> all spent much of the day in the top five. Neal has looked particularly in tune with the roaming fish, leading after Day 1 of qualifying and after each of the first two periods Saturday.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I feel like I’ve pretty much led the tournament all the way through even though I haven’t technically been at the top of the leaderboard, just because I’ve quit every day,” Neal said. “But tomorrow, there’s no quitting. We’re going to burn it to the ground.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Connell acknowledged that Neal and company will be tough to beat. He also noted that the generation at Logan Martin dam is scheduled to change Sunday, which might reposition his fish. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Still, he’s “all-in on the river.” Predicting it will take more than 50 pounds to hoist the trophy, he doubts he can catch as many fish as his lower-lake competition but hopes to make up for it with a bigger average.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’m trying to catch big ones,” he said. “I want to catch big spots. That’s why we come here.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another variable that could favor Connell’s approach is having less company nearby. Neal, Wheeler, Floyd, Hatfield and </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/alton-jones-jr/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alton Jones Jr.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are all scanning the same section of the lake, often within sight of one another. While a few of the anglers who occupied that same zone during the first three days of competition missed the cut, the fish have to be feeling the pressure.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, Connell didn’t see another angler near his Saturday afternoon spot. Even if someone else has stopped by, he said, the dynamic nature of river fishing means the fish probably won’t be caught with the same presentation.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’m in a section of the river I don’t think is getting a lot of pressure,” Connell said. “And tomorrow, the water schedule is supposed to change some, so it’s going to change the whole deal. It’s going to mix up a lot of things.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Connell admitted that there’s a chance he’s being too stubborn. But whether it’s because he’s already experienced a REDCREST win, taking home the trophy at Lake Eufaula in 2021, or because of his many memories catching spotted bass out of Coosa River current, he doesn’t just want to add another title to his résumé. He wants to do it his way.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-335b2765-7fff-48ce-6fe2-0721cd6cc158"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“It’s very sentimental to me to have a chance at a major, major tournament at one of my home waters that I’ve always fished, but I worry if I’m being too stubborn or not,” Connell said. “So, it’s back and forth. I don’t mind going down there and ‘Scoping, but it would mean way more to me if I won it doing what I’m doing.”</span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-25461540885768915902024-03-16T22:38:00.001-04:002024-03-16T22:38:15.713-04:002024 Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Powered by OPTIMA Lithium on Lay Lake Day 2: Ryan Salzman Grabs Lead!<p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6190HF9NBeyK9D_8af6pm0QX0GTUp_yMUl1r9XroVh0ciLbqfZmQM5oTlowBpYt6y8gmPhoaz8e5odCqLZ6NzWLMAcOZ42tDjVuF5GCvVnLRkOukfchrTTfaWDZELQkTXH86FC2Prc-VpSeGh4N3sNHKHbttllO3azpjXQ2hZLfCT6dZMJdoIzw46zfW/s1000/Ryan-Salzman-5.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6190HF9NBeyK9D_8af6pm0QX0GTUp_yMUl1r9XroVh0ciLbqfZmQM5oTlowBpYt6y8gmPhoaz8e5odCqLZ6NzWLMAcOZ42tDjVuF5GCvVnLRkOukfchrTTfaWDZELQkTXH86FC2Prc-VpSeGh4N3sNHKHbttllO3azpjXQ2hZLfCT6dZMJdoIzw46zfW/w400-h200/Ryan-Salzman-5.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2829; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ryan Salzman caught 10 bass for 30-3 on Friday and a two-day total of 65-14 and a Qualifying Round win.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Mitchell Forde</span></span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>BASS PRO TOUR Press Release</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Since the start of practice, the buzzword at </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/redcrest-2024/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Powered by OPTIMA Lithium</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has been “change.” That remained the case on the second day of qualifying, with Thursday’s sunny skies giving way to morning thunderstorms and subsequent overcast conditions.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ever-evolving spring bite on Lay Lake shifted as a result, and so did the name atop SCORETRACKER®. Alabama pro </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/ryan-salzman/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ryan Salzman</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> climbed to the top spot with a two-day total of 65 pounds, 14 ounces. Fishing at the upper end of the playing field below Logan Martin Dam, Salzman boated 10 scorable bass Friday for the second day in a row, adding 30-3 to his tab for a 65-14 Qualifying Round total. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Salzman leads a tightly bunched and dangerous group of anglers at the top of the standings. Coosa River local and 2021 REDCREST champion </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/dustin-connell/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dustin Connell</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> finished the round in second place with 63-4. Within 4 pounds of him are former </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/circuits/bass-pro-tour/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bass Pro Tour</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> winners </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/michael-neal/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michael Neal</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/jesse-wiggins/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesse Wiggins</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as well as </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/dalton-head-5/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dalton Head</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the Abu Garcia College Fishing representative from the University of Montevallo who happens to call Lay his home lake. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Considering the logjam at the top of the leaderboard and the fact that weights will zero when the Top 20 anglers take the water for Saturday’s Knockout Round, the race for the championship trophy and $300,000 first-place paycheck remains wide open. Just about every technique still has a chance to account for the win, too, as the suspended spotted bass pattern that dominated Day 1 appeared to cool and shallow power fishing in pockets, bedding bass and heavy current all produced big days.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Top 10 finishers during the Knockout Round will qualify for Sunday’s Championship Round. All the action during the final two days can be streamed live on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MLFNOW! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT each day.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Complete tournament results </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/redcrest-2024/results/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">can be found here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 2pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Salzman fishing his strengths</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Salzman first branched out from pond fishing as a college student at North Alabama on the shores of Pickwick Lake. The only vessel he had access to was a jon boat with no electronics and a 25-horsepower outboard, so he quickly found that the easiest way to catch bass on the Tennessee River impoundment was by braving its turbulent tailraces.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He’s has been enamored with fishing heavy, manmade current ever since. Now a guide on the Tennessee River, Salzman focuses many of his outings on various tailraces. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">While Salzman said the area he’s patrolling on Lay is smaller and shallower than most of the tailraces he fishes at home, that knowledge has served him well so far at REDCREST.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“The main difference is this one is shallower,” he explained. “Our (Tennessee River) dams are so massive, there’s sections that set up just like this. So, we just have more options. This dam is just a lot smaller.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">While the current tends to position fish predictably, Salzman said the front that rolled through the area Friday morning impacted his bite. He caught just three bass in his first four hours on the water. He closed strong, though, catching more than half his weight (17-9 on five fish) in the final period.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Salzman kept coy about the nuances of his approach, but he said the key to his strong afternoon was getting into the perfect spot. He shared the area with two other anglers during most of the Qualifying Round, and one beat him to his primary location Friday morning. That’s why he wasn’t afraid to keep catching fish long after he’d locked up a place in the Knockout Round – by qualifying in the top spot, he’ll be the first boat to launch Saturday.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Yesterday, we had someone who had zero run up there in the middle of the day, and he kind of got on one of my main places and sacked it pretty good,” Salzman said. “Then he was on it all morning, and then he finally got off of it, and I was able to get on it at the end of the day, and I caught some of my bigger fish. That was really the big goal was to win the round so that I could have a good boat number.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fishing his first REDCREST, Salzman said he’s not nervous entering the weekend – for good reason. He has a strong track record when championships are on the line. In both his two previous appearances in championship events, the 2019 Forrest Wood Cup and 2021 Tackle Warehouse TITLE, Salzman finished among the Top 10. He thinks being able to take risks and not worry about points suits his style.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I feel like I feel no pressure, because you don’t have to worry about just going and getting a few bites,” Salzman said. “You can just go all-in on whatever you’re doing.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Salzman isn’t quite all-in on fishing the tailrace. He recognizes that a </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/bass-pro-tour/know-the-flow-how-the-current-in-lay-lake-could-impact-redcrest/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">change in generation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at Logan Martin dam could occur at any time and make the area far less productive, if not unfishable, so he has a few backup patterns in mind. But he’d much rather stick to his comfort zone in the current.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3e486df1-7fff-9d59-a8ef-ce434d3dbb87"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Pending a drastic change, I will be up there,” he said. “But I did figure out some patterns down the lake that I felt good about. I didn’t know that I could catch the weight that I caught up there, but I feel like I can catch fish in other places. I’d like to be up there, but you just never know. With the current, every day is different up there, and you’ve just got to keep an open mind.”</span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-86590857508034941092024-03-15T02:00:00.001-04:002024-03-15T02:00:00.133-04:002024 Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Powered by OPTIMA Lithium on Lay Lake Day 1: Michael Neal Scores With Spots!<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXukas8sxhyjn93646row3Wlhp9YoZejUdV32volnMiP5HTSAgamAtxjWcLIkDV-0cG5EYcc5806XnOwm0VlF931BxYhNVygvJn6M_ICnqfMgvjydc4UyTpt_LflkOksVTkyUoRIK_oiUOopAAhEMjkO3yYP_rlov9FIVzWUY9QEp6iJDyNGf0tizKhJl-/s1000/REDC-D1-MichaelNeal-Garrick-3-1000x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXukas8sxhyjn93646row3Wlhp9YoZejUdV32volnMiP5HTSAgamAtxjWcLIkDV-0cG5EYcc5806XnOwm0VlF931BxYhNVygvJn6M_ICnqfMgvjydc4UyTpt_LflkOksVTkyUoRIK_oiUOopAAhEMjkO3yYP_rlov9FIVzWUY9QEp6iJDyNGf0tizKhJl-/w400-h200/REDC-D1-MichaelNeal-Garrick-3-1000x500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2829; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Michael Neal leads the way after the first day with 21 bass weighing 52 pounds, 9 ounces. Photo by Garrick Dixon. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Mitchell Forde</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>BASS PRO TOUR Press Release</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In the days leading up to </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/redcrest-2024/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Powered by OPTIMA Lithium</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, no one seemed to know what to expect from Lay Lake. While it’s normal for competitors to keep coy prior to lines in, the air of mystery felt real this time – </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/kevin-vandam/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kevin VanDam</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> even reported that he took to the water on Day 1 with 43 rods rigged and ready.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through one day, at least, the answer has been lots of bass, particularly offshore on the main lake. The 50-angler field accounted for 362 total scorable bass, with 20 pros topping the 20-pound mark. And even though air temperatures climbed into the 80s Thursday and water hit the 60s, spotted bass chasing bait in the main channel on the lower end of the reservoir produced much of that weight, with more than half of the Top 10, including leader </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/michael-neal/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michael Neal,</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> roaming the same stretch.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Neal stacked 21 scorable bass weighing 52 pounds, 9 ounces on SCORETRACKER®, giving him a lead of 8-3 over </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/dalton-head-5/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dalton Head</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The 21-year-old University of Montevallo angler put his local knowledge to good use, creating plenty of distance between himself and the cut line and even climbing to the top of the standings at one point. </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/anthony-gagliardi/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anthony Gagliardi</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, who fished within sight of Neal for much of the day, sits in third with 38-13, just 13 ounces clear of Coosa River local </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/dustin-connell/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dustin Connell</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Complete results </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/redcrest-2024/results/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">can be found here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While many of the top performers Thursday employed similar approaches, that could change as the weather, water clarity and current all remain in flux. Connell even went so far as to predict that using forward-facing sonar to target suspended fish will not win. And with weights set to zero twice before a champion is crowned, the event is still wide open. Continue to follow the action live on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MLFNOW! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from 7:20 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT each day.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For about the first six hours of competition, Neal never cranked up his Mercury. He spent that entire time milling around an area on the main lake, spinning rod in hand, scanning for spotted bass.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It didn’t take long to see why he started in that area, which he found the final day of practice, and spent so much time hunkered there. During a 30-minute flurry that started around 8 a.m., he boated seven scorable bass that weighed a combined 17-10, vaulting to the top of SCORETRACKER® in the process. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Neal described his approach as typical late winter/early spring spotted bass fishing: find the baitfish, find the bass.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“They focus their whole life around bait besides when they go to spawn, and that’s what I’ve been doing is just focusing on bait,” he explained. “It doesn’t really matter how deep it is or where it’s really located; just the more bait the better.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Yesteryear’s conventional wisdom would have suggested that, with the water temperature in the 60s, it was time to beat the bank. And while we did see a few anglers sight-fishing for spawning bass Thursday, Neal believes the healthy population of Alabama bass in Lay Lake spawn later than their largemouth counterparts, especially given the amount of current that’s been rolling through the reservoir recently.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I went to the bank and tried to make them be on the bank, kind of like everybody else did, and just didn’t get any bites,” Neal said. “And the ones I did were just real little. It’s just a matter of listening to what the fish have got to say and not worrying a whole lot about what the weather’s telling you. You’ve just got to fish where they are and let them tell you what they’re doing. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I think these spots will be spawning way after the largemouth here. I think they wait on like no current and things like that to spawn on the river, and they just haven’t had those options yet.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">While Neal said he could have put more weight on SCORETRACKER® – he went into practice mode with about 90 minutes left in Period 3, once he hit the 50-pound mark – he doesn’t think he can ride his starting spot to a championship. For one thing, he’s concerned about the number of other anglers in the area. Neal plans to use the second day of qualifying to try to find a less-popular school.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’ve got some other places I can go run, and I’ve pretty much got a full day tomorrow to go try and find some other stuff, too,” he said. “Just gotta be smart with how I play the day tomorrow to try and find some fresh stuff.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There’s also a weather change in the forecast, with thunderstorms expected Friday. While Neal doesn’t think that will have too great an impact on the fish he’s targeting – of all the bass in the reservoir, they should be the most stable – he said there’s a chance it stirs up the pollen that has collected in the water. Pollen has proved to be the enemy of ‘Scopers, clouding their screens and making it difficult to identify fish.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“It wasn’t bad – like, I didn’t really notice it to start,” Neal said of the pollen Thursday. “But as the day went on, it got worse and worse. But we’re supposed to have like an inch of rain tomorrow, so it’s going to change. Whether it makes it better or worse with the pollen, I don’t know, but it’ll be one or the other.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">While he hopes to find new fish Friday, Neal doesn’t plan to veer too drastically from his game plan. He’s fully committed to targeting spotted bass on the lower end of Lay Lake.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’m going to do some shallow stuff, but I’m not going largemouth fishing at all,” he said. “I’m going to go in some pockets and fish some places where I feel like spots would spawn and stuff, but I’m going to go to the same area of the lake and kind of put all my eggs in one basket and hope for the best.”</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 2pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Head not shrinking from REDCREST spotlight</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The first ever Abu Garcia College Fishing angler to compete at REDCREST, Head admitted he experienced some nerves Thursday morning. Running to his first three spots and finding established touring pros sitting on each of them didn’t help. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But the Moody, Alabama, native, who grew up fishing Lay Lake, leaned on his well-earned Coosa River expertise to put a few fish in the boat and calm himself down. He did so by finding a school of spotted bass on a spot he didn’t even check during the three-day practice period. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I got up to a place that I didn’t check in practice and caught probably 30 off of it, but I had a couple keepers off of it,” Head said. “So that kind of eased the nerves, just knowing like, okay, I’m catching some fish.” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Around 10:30 a.m., Head settled into a groove. Over the next 90 minutes or so, he caught 11 bass for 30-2, briefly taking the lead from Neal in the process. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And yet, while his day looks great on paper, Head believes he should have had an even bigger total. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“The thing is, I lost so many fish, I don’t even feel super confident,” he said. “I felt like I just fished so not clean today, and it kills me, because I could be sitting way better than I am right now.” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Head will have a chance to correct those mistakes Friday. Assuming he can catch a few more fish early, he’ll also get a rare opportunity to practice during an event. Competing in an every-fish-counts event for the first time, the 21-year-old said he’ll have to remind himself not to catch too many fish Friday, but he’s excited for the chance to observe how the bass react to the change in weather. Typically, he said, a spring storm is “usually when this lake fires.” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“The main thing I want to do is just see what the fish do,” he said. “I just want to see how they treat this weather. And I think I just need to keep telling myself, I don’t have to smash ‘em. I don’t need to just destroy ‘em tomorrow. I just need to get a general look at things and see what the fish are doing, so if I do make it to the Knockout Round, I can use that to my advantage while other people are maybe guessing.” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">However long he can stay on the water and in contention, Head will have plenty of support. An entourage of Montevallo teammates and other fishing buddies followed him around the lake Thursday, cheering each catch. That contingent should only grow in size come the weekend. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-17c09af1-7fff-9f6d-4e49-646ac2e457dc"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“It was awesome to me,” Head said. “That’s all you can ever ask for is something like that, to get supported by people like that doing something you love.” </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-67738992757803707402024-03-12T06:05:00.000-04:002024-03-12T06:05:05.445-04:00Great Lakes Finesse New 2.5" Juvy Craw Ideal Smallmouth Candy!<p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Great Lakes Finesse releases the 2.5" Juvy Craw, a
modern take on the traditional tube.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q-sMSaIi4wk5tUL8QD6-plVdbq2v768xKLwhEAOhz8_JQ6yh142ZUrFNhfDtjYFTXM_-Em23fi_RFSMo2w4E8TYX5gBzyMGxTrgI28ouuBYk1hgW7Jw_K17N5pAUlC6WADvw9TFKydecglDieWQzbJtPquHfTfnsmtQWcoaIadE0vnHkQNOF-pHEGxxK/s1800/Juvy%20Craw%20Lifestyle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q-sMSaIi4wk5tUL8QD6-plVdbq2v768xKLwhEAOhz8_JQ6yh142ZUrFNhfDtjYFTXM_-Em23fi_RFSMo2w4E8TYX5gBzyMGxTrgI28ouuBYk1hgW7Jw_K17N5pAUlC6WADvw9TFKydecglDieWQzbJtPquHfTfnsmtQWcoaIadE0vnHkQNOF-pHEGxxK/s320/Juvy%20Craw%20Lifestyle.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />Great Lakes Finesse, the leading innovator in premium
finesse fishing tackle, proudly introduces the latest innovation in the soft
tube bait category: the 2.5" Juvy Craw.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Designed to pair perfectly with their already popular Mini
Pro Tube Head, the Juvy Craw is designed to resemble a juvenile crawfish. When
the tube head is pushed into the body, the hook shank sits right between the
two tentacles allowing the hook to blend in and the bait to sit up right with
its flat bottom. When fished, the Juvy Craw will behave similar to a small
defenseless crawfish on the fall and when dragged/hopped along the bottom. This
bait features floating claws and tentacles.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">"Our team at Great Lakes Finesse is thrilled to
introduce the Juvy Craw, a product that reflects our intense commitment to premuim
innovation in the fishing industry," remarked Dan Miguel, Global Brand
Manager at Great Lakes Finesse. "We know how important a tube bait is for bass
anglers and we know how much bass love to eat crawfish. This seemed so obvious
to us and we asked ourselves over and over again during the development
process… why has noone done this before?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Juvy Craw’s official release date is March 22<sup>nd</sup>
at the Bassmaster Classic but you can already find it at reputable retailers
and Lurenet.com. Comes in 10 colors. MSRP: $6.99 for a 7 pack.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For more information about the Great Lakes Finesse Juvy Craw
and their full line of finesse products, please visit <a href="http://GreatLakesFinesse.com">GreatLakesFinesse.com</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-77435422729619096972024-03-09T01:30:00.001-05:002024-03-09T21:53:13.804-05:00Kyle Austin Wins 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper with 83-07lbs!<span id="docs-internal-guid-296710e9-7fff-f3c3-1b11-260d20d99e5e"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Canadian Evan Kung 9th!</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCf4Ib3nCx9NdyUaZ4_GTxdAmFY2EW1W3JR5oYLQksvGN3C3pfQYPId1OrDzjdNUi-5WllNaV5zlTLOsFT3dC8mIeOEz06-uxszRhnQmEeNXTdU_5v8BS76v60f_3E1zdBZaRj-I9-d_-ywKAHkeTna2_A4PHhCgm3WVaQn19nq7noTchCpwCtGSs_xkg/s1024/basssss.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCf4Ib3nCx9NdyUaZ4_GTxdAmFY2EW1W3JR5oYLQksvGN3C3pfQYPId1OrDzjdNUi-5WllNaV5zlTLOsFT3dC8mIeOEz06-uxszRhnQmEeNXTdU_5v8BS76v60f_3E1zdBZaRj-I9-d_-ywKAHkeTna2_A4PHhCgm3WVaQn19nq7noTchCpwCtGSs_xkg/s320/basssss.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #042948; font-family: "Work Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0.14px; text-align: start;">Kyle Austin takes the win at the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by SEVIIN with 83 pounds, 7 ounces.(Photo: Andy Crawford/ BASS) </span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">By David A. Brown</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>BASS Press Release</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Amid the rainy, windy conditions, a late-morning kicker lifted </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4xHjQ9sx5jGx-2F2bRp2eeHegd4TCxryfj31lbfZP2343cw-3D-3DQMg5_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTa9FBBE0DkJ-2F7VRkTjbXMUVXqWe6noZIHLl6F6kMp9MmHudmdahMu-2BTEsarC0u8qgwZVIz6MYCknMARNPTpOLUBVtGDt-2Bi2s6J2smXR-2Bd5dP8v0o2bPOTJEtYxmrVi8qzM3-2FKoGu6aGV-2FXC6vNH-2FhJNTymJSk-2Bpr-2BO8wYXKV05PtWj-2BePY7jrB-2FNAzQWXYH-2FaWEpW8zD8Q5GZrVIAnK6BhoQnTckPn3z5DoaI9yvbJuk-3D" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Kyle Austin</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> to a final-day catch of 27 pounds, 8 ounces. That gave him a three-day total of 83-7 and a victory at the </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4wHYMhu71JUE7jCQ0chmco9EGmL4VCVEfA7tCyKw4mlRq2VgGj3bQOJNc3ZrxI-2Fzme9Eb01BOivCvCBh2KNexZMdLH3_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTa9FBBE0DkJ-2F7VRkTjbXMUVXqWe6noZIHLl6F6kMp9MmHudmdahMu-2BTEsarC0u8qgwZVIz6MYCknMARNPTpOLUAguA9MI6oZ4kXytB37G6LOWn19poKCIpF9WEu0FH-2BzY55ZSNtavScQNaFGt8U4LyOhstDqlDNtX-2BuJ2fl6JxGSTrsi2s7rwr9edS51uh6sTo1Idm15hmboLZ1G0iYvJc6j-2BGQi8ptmSRadUuXo9EUw-3D" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by SEVIIN</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Ridgeville, S.C., pro said winning on his home fishery was the crowning achievement of his life on the water.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve stood in this parking lot and watched the Bassmaster weigh-ins and watched local tournament weigh-ins, and I’ve always wanted to stand up here on this stage and hold (the winning trophy),” said Austin, who guides on the Santee Cooper Lakes. “I’ve fished against a lot of these guys on this lake and they’ve beat me like a drum. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“To finally stand up here with the trophy is just incredible. There’s no place I’d rather do it.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After placing 13th on Day 1 with 24-7, Austin added a second-round limit of 31-8 — the event’s heaviest bag — and took over the lead by a 1-pound margin. It was one of only two bags over 30 for the event. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the final round, the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers (EQ) angler bagged a limit of 27-8 and secured the win with 83-7 — the second-heaviest winning weight in a Bassmaster Open behind Florida’s </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4xn7soJwXotTYtk0ZGK0tpRm4gJV86R5qD1L5Ihdo2nCA-3D-3DaK5l_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTa9FBBE0DkJ-2F7VRkTjbXMUVXqWe6noZIHLl6F6kMp9MmHudmdahMu-2BTEsarC0u8qgwZVIz6MYCknMARNPTpOLUO7b02vHD5On2cgePkOXs0I1ykt1hHzx6BYS6lzLppT0r8iCJHMxPOgJqvJwkbsN1HOwSsNrEdubUnQUuqqNZzc6VX7nbIrvVn4amXLhvMrLnflvguaj5EvjfqVWVUrJWpoEByvqWoI87dbUeVYEx-2FI-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scott Martin</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, who set the high mark of 90-6 during the </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4wMeOpsehSEIO-2BgiaJSKCs1pWJSFbO8okLAUc2sgWFm5uaU9qWHLBDEsLm4jkNojjyrQQbzB4bi3lP9GgOjxnbnCU-2Feq-2BoXdZYcKbFKCHXMma-2BTUO-2FfPocjBNlibVU2r0UahUhNOJbZLJQGdNT8N61K-2FXcRVYgSJ69EJ5bYibsRya49GM-2BmZrTKC-2FJXuSlZzS60ffJLJHNGat5-2FKmNxkmkmcr0MOGyi3Ox7VNMaTpUHjP5T7EUCN3H-2BRbvshV7jIro-3DdxIw_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTa9FBBE0DkJ-2F7VRkTjbXMUVXqWe6noZIHLl6F6kMp9MmHudmdahMu-2BTEsarC0u8qgwZVIz6MYCknMARNPTpOLUPJWXewze4jV6EO5mYbk0tjQOSDYSEXmUDhB0UEtjueCYko6ErZq34wQKRlQvzAolXn73jaVKLtIrfnTWPq-2BNOvp4b87ciSCk82g5Yxh3P5gsAZ7MFgpsJKeJJqpRq0wBJLzqxvFqmEsVIbCV8lSvYo-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">season-opener at Lake Okeechobee</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> just over a month ago.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Austin took home the top prize of $49,638 and secured a berth in the 2025 </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zOomIXNF-2BSGUfXyRhxXCykwsqUt04bSLrezkKX1nJVcQP-2Fg2aJkQIzpQfA66of4nM-3Dpo_2_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTa9FBBE0DkJ-2F7VRkTjbXMUVXqWe6noZIHLl6F6kMp9MmHudmdahMu-2BTEsarC0u8qgwZVIz6MYCknMARNPTpOLUIH-2BBOedrdh6DwUDcDdJoWaO8IN-2FkwZrskZCS0ShKx3hHWZMxE7PW1AwJ2ac9gP6fNcgCJLM42hbxhzPSX9Z3MTRq3j21A1h8ASFAg0VQxb-2Bp0fMIfyxdHdzZ3vwaoZ1FVVKAdGqjHBfI87mLKu7Ipo-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> scheduled for March 21-23 on Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Fishing the Bassmaster Classic has been a dream of mine,” Austin said. “It’s a dream for a lot of people and it’s definitely possible.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On a Championship Saturday that was shortened by 1 1/2 hours due to a National Weather Service afternoon forecast for severe conditions, Austin started on the same spot that produced the majority of his weight the first two days.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“That was a super-shallow hard spot with current,” he said. “The key was getting that current to flow the right way to get them to bite.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“This morning, I cast 20 to 30 times and never had a bite. The wind changed and made an eddy and we got right in a hurry.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Austin caught his current-related fish on a 1/2-ounce Strike King Red Eyed Shad Tungsten 2-Tap lipless crankbait and a 1-ounce locally made spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades. The latter produced his biggest fish on his starting spot.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Around 9:30 a.m., Austin transitioned to a high-percentage strategy of running particular Lake Marion trees in search of big bites. That move would deliver the game-changing opportunity.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“A lot of people get into an area and they fish every tree in the area,” he said. “I pull up and fish two or three of them.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a morning of trading the lead with Martin and second-place </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4ymL537yuy25GUxOvpRKrImcWQxOa4pwB-2BCjqvDSSXUsw-3D-3DyvCe_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTa9FBBE0DkJ-2F7VRkTjbXMUVXqWe6noZIHLl6F6kMp9MmHudmdahMu-2BTEsarC0u8qgwZVIz6MYCknMARNPTpOLULjdMZI7pQChb12d8OBNW58VTemoxLSFrWXZVhC0wGsDO2Q2AqXviBi0B4iyfP26GOSz-2FeByCHxW1tCxali-2FayUfIjHK3rLCVs8nU3FdHCUWayEtxMlKrLLVRRbVcKyv5jSsSaiT8NkyjaeUMn2fu4E-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laker Howell</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of Guntersville, Ala., Austin sat a few ounces behind Martin in BassTrakk’s unofficial standings. Pulling up to a tupelo tree around 11:15, he pitched a wacky-rigged stickworm to the base and came tight on a 7-6 ball of green fury that would slam the door shut on Austin’s first B.A.S.S. victory.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“They get on the same trees every year,” he said. “I had the confidence of knowing which ones they get on, so I just kept running them and running them until I caught a big one.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Despite the day’s increasingly strong winds and the rough ride back to the weigh-in, Austin said the reward more than justified the challenge. Had the final day been cancelled due to unsafe conditions, Austin would have been declared the winner as the Day 2 leader.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’m glad we went today; I did not want to win on a cancellation,” Austin said. “I wanted to get back out there.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Howell placed ninth on Day 1 with 25-5 and rose to third by adding a second-round bag that went 28-7. He gained another spot with his final limit of 26-13 that pushed his total to 80-9.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Committing his tournament to a protected area on Lake Moultrie, Howell targeted shallow grass and caught his bass in a foot and a half of water. Howell relied on a 1/2-ounce ChatterBait JackHammer with a black/blue and green Yamamoto Zako trailer.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Not only did the bait perform well in the grass, Howell said the bulkier trailer and the particular color pattern likely resembled the area’s abundant sunfish. He also noted that dialing in particular sweet spots boosted his success.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-bd89b7bb-7fff-9e15-5836-879bdfc770e2"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“There were three chutes in the grass and that’s how they were coming into the area,” Howell said. “Every time I’d come to one of those chutes, I’d catch a big one.”</span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-32334601424777808722024-03-06T02:00:00.000-05:002024-03-06T02:00:00.140-05:00B.A.S.S. announces Fort Worth, Texas, as site for 2025 Bassmaster Classic<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFX79zdjJrZNmE4xm3A8MMLHbpQi-HwcnZPW3rtrUd-o0KsQFuEWBSyxR8YdPmKB-8Vk6KRIUzzZu1RnWicYICzmrVtma2VxeJRcxzCIXY61W2a5ODM2F1MDA2dWsJXKKfstQ5yLND1tko8IOMHq-2_FvrgKghVFhn0BHt16NSZnvjqH7mhyphenhyphenjGcV8ovv9/s863/classic.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="863" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFX79zdjJrZNmE4xm3A8MMLHbpQi-HwcnZPW3rtrUd-o0KsQFuEWBSyxR8YdPmKB-8Vk6KRIUzzZu1RnWicYICzmrVtma2VxeJRcxzCIXY61W2a5ODM2F1MDA2dWsJXKKfstQ5yLND1tko8IOMHq-2_FvrgKghVFhn0BHt16NSZnvjqH7mhyphenhyphenjGcV8ovv9/w400-h259/classic.webp" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />FORT WORTH, Texas — The <a href="https://www.bassmaster.com/tournament/2024-bassmaster-classic/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, will return to Fort Worth for fishing’s biggest event of the year. Dubbed the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing, this tournament is estimated to draw crowds approaching 150,000 to Fort Worth as anglers compete for a $1 million dollar purse on March 21-23, 2025. </span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><a href="https://www.fortworth.com/sportscommission/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5rGuBhCnARIsAN11vgRtG24q9feYPa7wbZBCMUOd5b1C9l2d2CElupFyEsMXuFnDk0NdqXoaAnKAEALw_wcB" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fort Worth Sports Commission</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> will host the tournament and festivities at the </span><a href="https://www.fortworth.com/convention-center/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fort Worth Convention Center</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="https://dickiesarena.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dickies Arena</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The tournament will be a week-long, fishing-themed party with the world championship of bass fishing as its centerpiece. Only the fourth time the Classic has been held in the Lone Star State, it will get a Texas-sized boost in attendance and participation with an expected economic impact of more than $25 million for local businesses. Weigh-ins and all of the usual festivities will be held in Fort Worth, the state’s 12th-largest city, with competition being held on Lake Ray Roberts in nearby Denton.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fort Worth and Lake Ray Roberts </span><a href="https://www.bassmaster.com/tournament/2021-academy-sports-outdoors-bassmaster-classic-presented-by-huk/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hosted the event in 2021</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, drawing 147,197 fans. At the time, it was the </span><a href="https://www.bassmaster.com/news/record-breaking-attendance-at-2021-bassmaster-classic/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">second-largest crowd ever for a Bassmaster Classic</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and still a record for a Classic held in Texas. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“There was a lot of uncertainty in the world in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic the last time we visited Fort Worth — so much so that we had to move it to June instead of holding it in March,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “But the city of Fort Worth was so great to work with and the people in Texas came out and still made it one of the most exciting Classics we’ve ever had. They treated the Classic like what it is — a true celebration of the sport — even though circumstances forced that move to the summertime. <span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Now, we’re really looking forward to going back to this fantastic venue during the time when the Classic is traditionally held.” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The annual </span><a href="https://www.bassmaster.com/expo/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at the Fort Worth Convention Center will offer attendees deals on the latest fishing tackle and outdoors accessories from more than 200 exhibitors. They’ll also be able to rub shoulders with legends of the sport like Bassmaster and television superstar </span><a href="https://www.bassmaster.com/angler/bill-dance/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bill Dance</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3ec51285-7fff-43fe-9d45-8429bafdc8c6"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After soaking in all the Expo has to offer, attendees can enjoy the daily weigh-ins at nearby Dickies Arena, where a new angler will be crowned the Classic champion on Sunday, March 23, 2025. This title provides lifelong clout and a $300,000 first-place prize. </span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-82307985980180929432024-03-04T02:00:00.001-05:002024-03-04T02:00:00.141-05:00Tyler Steward Wins 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 2 Presented by Suzuki on West Point Lake! <p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: 400; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicN2YCbmGiWDOXwDygHsDqA6oY3zfQnbnDZEpGoUNdkUleunjsqB1I9i8VjAShxjj4Ft9hYdlc9_j2UuJmKg3kMb3PDlcRyNpD-H1sUBPUHiJqPnj5Xfmea_HT01m6yWjPR8X0mDoUZzY6twjhOChZgOPYPnup9HnwBjGqjljUG2d6MxxZWIvJ828SsT_z/s1000/mlfff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicN2YCbmGiWDOXwDygHsDqA6oY3zfQnbnDZEpGoUNdkUleunjsqB1I9i8VjAShxjj4Ft9hYdlc9_j2UuJmKg3kMb3PDlcRyNpD-H1sUBPUHiJqPnj5Xfmea_HT01m6yWjPR8X0mDoUZzY6twjhOChZgOPYPnup9HnwBjGqjljUG2d6MxxZWIvJ828SsT_z/w400-h200/mlfff.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2829; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Tyler Stewart is heading to REDCREST in 2025 with an extra $80,000 in hand thanks to winning Stop 2 with a three-day total of 45-3. Photo by Jody White</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>By Jody White, Invitationals</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">LaGRANGE, Ga. – The final day of </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/tyler-stewart-397686/" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Stop 2 Presented by Suzuki on West Point Lake</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> was as dramatic as anticipated. With the clock ticking, none of the leaders had pulled clearly ahead or had spectacular days, until </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/tyler-stewart-397686/" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tyler Stewart</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> iced it with a last-minute kicker.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Honestly, I was hoping to catch a 2 1/2-pound spot to get a few more pounds, because I knew it was going to be so close,” Stewart said of his final fish. “There was a dock that I caught one 2-pounder on in practice in front of the ramp. I rolled up to that dock with 10 minutes left, slung a ChatterBait under it and caught a 3 1/2-pounder and culled out a 1-pounder. When it’s meant to be, it’s gonna happen.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That fish bumped Stewart up to 14 pounds, 4 ounces on the day, enough to clear </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/todd-walters-163133/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Todd Walters</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by 7 ounces and win his first </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/circuits/invitationals/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tackle Warehouse Invitationals</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> event with a three-day total of 45-3. For the win, Stewart takes home $80,000 and a spot in REDCREST 2025. </span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: #f9f9fb; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 2pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Docks and largemouth earn Stewart the victory </span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Having fished as a pro on the FLW Tour and its various iterations since 2018, Stewart has competed in the Forrest Wood Cup and the TITLE and been in the hunt to win before. A winner in college in 2016, Stewart fished at the University of Louisiana-Monroe and has since fished his way around the country. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><span></span></b></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>TOP 10 BELOW</b></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This week, he took a couple of clues from practice, added some veteran savvy and put together a win. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“The first day of practice, I caught an 8-pounder, or about that, on the docks I fished the first day,” he said. “It ate that ChatterBait, and that was the only big bite I had. I said, ‘Well, there’s big ones around here, I might as well start here.’ I went down that stretch first thing on Day 1 and caught 15 pounds.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">From there, Stewart was able to let his skills take it the rest of the way. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“When I got bit doing that in practice, I was excited, because I’ve done well in tournaments where that (dock bite) was going on,” he said. “Clarks Hill last year, I had a bad second day, but the first day I did the exact same thing on docks and caught 16 or 17 pounds real quick. I love doing it; I do it a lot back home – the Ouachita River has a bunch of marinas and I catch them like that all the time on it.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Most of those docks were in 15 or 20 feet. The fish were definitely sitting under the floats, like a foot under the water. I was slow rolling it through there, trying to get one to react.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fishing some laydowns and catching a few spotted bass off rock places as well, the bread and butter for Stewart was a ChatterBait and docks, either along shorelines or in marinas. His bait of choice was a 1/2-ounce </span><a href="https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Favorite_Hex_Casting_Rods/descpage-FAVSC.html?from=flwo" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait JackHammer</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with a shad trailer, which he threw on a 7-foot, 5-inch, medium-heavy </span><a href="https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Favorite_Hex_Casting_Rods/descpage-FAVSC.html?from=flwo" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Favorite Hex</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> rod with 17-pound </span><a href="https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/P-Line_Tactical_Fluorocarbon_Line/descpage-PLS.html?from=flwo" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">P-Line Tactical</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On the final day, Stewart caught two kicker largemouth — one early, one late — and that made the difference. Combined with a stellar Day 1, which saw him catch the biggest bag of the event, it was just enough to get the job done. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I haven’t won since college; it’s so hard to do it,” Stewart said. “Leading a day is one thing, but finishing it out — I’ll just be honest, I’m not really a closer. I usually catch them really good and then fall off. This feels really good.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It also sets him up for a run at </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/circuits/bass-pro-tour/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bass Pro Tour</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> qualification. After finishing 66</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at Sam Rayburn to start the year, he’s now 23</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the points. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’m excited about it,” he said. “Last year, I had a couple unfortunate things happen that might have cost me the BPT. But, I’m going to try to be more responsible this year, make sure to charge my batteries before the second day and stuff like that. The schedule looks like a lot of fun. I’ve been doing it eight years now, and I’ve been to all these places other than where we’re at right now.”</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 2pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Top 10 pros </span></span></h3><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-caa96f49-7fff-9c14-a778-432ad8011b16"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Tyler Stewart – 45 – 3 (15) – $80,000</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Todd Walters – 44 – 12 (15) – $50,000</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Derik Hudson – 43 – 8 (15) – $20,300</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Colby Miller – 41 – 14 (15) – $18,000</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Drew Gill – 41 – 6 (15) – $17,000</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Cole Breeden – 41 – 1 (15) – $16,000</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Jake Lawrence – 40 – 5 (15) – $15,000</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Ethan Greene – 40 – 2 (15) – $14,000</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Troy Stokes – 39 – 13 (15) – $13,000</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Ken Thompson – 39 – 12 (15) – $12,000</span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-17612670649760192332024-03-03T20:59:00.006-05:002024-03-03T20:59:34.927-05:00Trey McKinney Wins 2024 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork with 130-15Lbs! <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Copper Gallant with 100-07lbs!</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatT4EcoTJzDJazzWdWWeIIbNQLq1qPE2vgDPK1IlySDdD9S-M48HRR1BY0EAEyFcD4QzQg-cGpP5UnkAxGCy48hBIGfbYB6AAROnIbOHzPqL6aby23A_J2OXCCX-Px7ViSZRm8wrcr_5_IzGcUcX9cPS0R7LqxRFCqj7pyQJe413bxw97ys8GqNLnCk4R/s1543/bassssssss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1543" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatT4EcoTJzDJazzWdWWeIIbNQLq1qPE2vgDPK1IlySDdD9S-M48HRR1BY0EAEyFcD4QzQg-cGpP5UnkAxGCy48hBIGfbYB6AAROnIbOHzPqL6aby23A_J2OXCCX-Px7ViSZRm8wrcr_5_IzGcUcX9cPS0R7LqxRFCqj7pyQJe413bxw97ys8GqNLnCk4R/w400-h266/bassssssss.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>BASS Press Release</b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">YANTIS, Texas – </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4yUIwvk66eW1V61A4MCVvsmJgBT2sXRnUYNcaTu-2B1nrTg-3D-3Dtdmo_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpWiZPUjz2R1lRuwVVqyEqHDxbF2apMQUANHADu40ceYJknWzUEPv5in0sLj8XAasiO06I8gxKoSKHsB3b1rZAfbLPqZeMfWYPZ92c-2BGoLh8JLTn-2BR5-2BJjeX-2BEcrvZOWGYck-2BNiF7nSotwe7SpWLcHXk-3D" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Trey McKinney</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> made history, with authority, on Championship Sunday at the </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zOomIXNF-2BSGUfXyRhxXCyksF3BPDXX6-2BzSvj7U3E7-2B-2FiHjvN7SroPxwCEmtZ2ybZJsdkfA1rqIWw86P3waIh0GZYEr_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpfk6XAFj3ZIANLu4C-2FLEQqGhlqq1afGC3kR6wVHFnvUt-2FWBvekhZ5hR7l3bLuPDF-2BITWY6HoR4sJsxywHWyoU1vDK0H98OQXhnnly4QTxve48dK3vUyXoC103JhjJNpjKR7-2Bko0Xut1Jf1y-2BL9X4zr8-3D" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Carbondale, Ill., native, exactly one week removed from his 19th birthday, finished with a four-day total of 20 bass weighing 130 pounds, 15 ounces, outlasting the field of 103 anglers in what was one of the most productive tournaments in the history of competitive bass fishing.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He became the youngest winner in Elite Series history and earned $100,000, while missing the all-time record for total weight in a four-day B.A.S.S. event — set by Paul Elias on </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zOomIXNF-2BSGUfXyRhxXCykSfvndRdMAVq5dWndg9-2FC3TwupM1Ji-2BntKsNLCWBFZfI62tvZBM5o7hn-2FzDaM4c0LZuv__pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpQj35f9zjyicghQwzLD8LoCO78hrNi9PeB6P7gp-2F66muWkAZXnbhzHGKewUVY1NdFDS8GAAJqsrmM4LQLPeWr-2BGMnwV3svrqUj7ozJGposGN5wyOevM7zzcH-2BnFFbA7Jr8QC15-2BzBr-2BXdEIfUdsmfDI-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Falcon Lake in Texas in 2008</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> — by just 1 pound, 9 ounces.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“This is crazy to even be up here, much less come that close to setting the all-time tournament record,” McKinney said. “To think, that one more fish and I could have had it. I lost a 7 1/2-pounder yesterday that would have given me 33 pounds and enough weight to break it.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“But I couldn’t be happier. This lake is just awesome. It was stressful and I had adrenaline. I was really spinning out today when I had 28 pounds and didn’t know if I had enough to win. I knew I had to have more.”<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">McKinney’s total was the fourth-highest produced in a four-day tournament in B.A.S.S. history, trailing Elias and two other angler who each caught more than 131 pounds at that historic 2008 event at Falcon.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The tournament on Lake Fork was only McKinney’s second since qualifying for the Elite Series. The rookie caught more than 30 pounds each day (the only angler to do so this week), posting totals of 33-11, 33-10 and 30-0 before closing with another 33-10 limit to clinch the win on Championship Sunday.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">McKinney figured he could get the extra weight in his favored spot of the week, but it was filled with locals when he arrived there Sunday morning, compounding his stress. Then, showing a maturity beyond his age, he slowed down and considered his options.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He settled into a small pocket just a stone’s throw from the Caney Point Recreation Area where daily takeoffs and weigh-ins were held. He noticed the small cove earlier in the week, but didn’t rely on it until the final minutes of the tournament.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What a choice.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It was just loaded in there,” he said. “I finally wound up catching one more that weighed 7-6 and that put me over 33 pounds overall with 30 minutes left to fish. I had a feeling it</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was gonna happen right there, and it just worked out perfectly.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">McKinney adjusted to rapidly changing conditions on Championship Sunday, just like every other day of the shootout on Fork. He caught his Day 4 bass using a Strike King KVD Ocho stickbait with 8-pound Seaguar Tatsu line on a St. Croix 7-foot medium-heavy Legend X rod. Earlier in the week, he hooked his biggest bass using a St. Croix Physyx 7-1 medium rod with a Strike King Z Too lure on 10-pound Seaguar Tatsu line.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“The Lowrance ActiveTarget was essential to finding these fish up on the shallow flats, too,” McKinney said. “I started the tournament fishing in 20 to 30 feet of water and then today, I was in 4 feet … They were moving off the timber toward the bank. I had to follow them.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Each of the 10 Elites who survived the final Phoenix Boats Cutline became members of the Century Club, meaning they caught more than 100 pounds of bass over four days. It was only the second time in history that has happened, with the historic 2008 tournament on Falcon the only comparison. A total of 12 competitors surpassed the 100-pound mark in the Falcon event, which featured a final-day cut of 12 instead of 10.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">McKinney, who led here after Day 2 and Day 3, fell from atop the leaderboard early on Sunday, but he regained the upper hand when he hooked a 6-7 largemouth just after noon. </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zNCVzhQ6oR89DYRWDIZkMnjvapQ00hHb-2FtDhvERUbkog-3D-3Dt94q_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpUQBlVkz54mBl7F2YwPk1bOIcUnaDnha5Mu-2FtbzBN9M-2F-2BDQGEED-2BcIq1CWerE2ULmCIM90H9uFy5Z2S8hR-2FcR46kXc2lZyyeeC6uFKqDjEnu0Mx6rAXbAimqgfiaGbimUZM3wz2x8Z8UGhuHWhIGBmo-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Justin Hamner</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, of Northport, Ala., jumped into second place soon after with a gigantic 11-7 largemouth that pulled him within 18 ounces of the lead.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But then McKinney closed with his 7-13 and pulled away again.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4y-2F7OnX6-2BbLOo55X2kLxtOJeXlLydYPRhPm59JC3r7wkQ-3D-3Dxuxu_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpU2WjudBRe2KhkvcB-2BR-2FJv0se-2BfFt7vFobAFOKsE6bZs6h6Gda-2BQuUdW9tPw3n1sYs3v5yiCVXKS-2BYSIqi354htYyfpCs11OiLi6WZ8R7eSGPi46-2F-2ByN3uPkrcyJQ1f8V89ZZIXezhEOxG7aluPMW8I-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tyler Rivet</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, of Raceland, La., finished second with 125-9. Hamner finished third with 124-10 and his 11-7 was the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day and the tournament, earning him an additional $3,000 in prize money.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rivet’s 125-9 is the eighth-highest four-day weight in B.A.S.S history. Hamner’s 124-10 is ninth all-time and </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4y-2F7OnX6-2BbLOo55X2kLxtOJL4sS3T-2BDycoOBRyjYA1gtA-3D-3DmNca_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpcB1MnBlMqtIF41WrYZrXbER36ZvTTLoXerpE3dRWK5xdCeG-2FdK9x7hMycdVapNaK74Fzxdpv8O5P40zq5vq6z0mp8AxmpfghuDP5nJsMxYoQAMqW0ssQUN9GNXcmFhWzUh-2FfiBPToe4WLBuTl5ojcQ-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tyler Williams</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">’ 124-9 is 10th.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Lake Fork has now produced 19 Century Club members, passing Falcon (15) for most in B.A.S.S. history.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With only two of the nine Elite Series tournaments completed, the race for </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4x28zFGjKfbgzf2ttHt232Hx8GY_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpR72HeUzvm3E8hmwHPjJ6OcDAnorlrJMoSMl19lWZRdqbexWsxFssmIcyNs3w60pf-2Bjpq99wG3x0J5zT8UzEhzgp8SAoWeLxUvK-2Bt1IN8Z0VT8f57V1N6dr9pufp70PVqWF-2FqFOTb5PRXlf6p1FMjj0-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is just beginning.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After his victory, McKinney tied Texas pro </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4x-2Fg2OjzqIyjhRjYHH5vBTK055fuPRDw7Kgro7lTWxkCA-3D-3D32gi_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpRFZKbNdCIKX3O7CjeghbYwoKXamBZVP9p9TEq2z75C7riKfBqzbAldrigwFa0jP2bZjiqIGr8w2pRwPZ3-2B-2F5IiD9Ucmdjt4siudmcp8c3UP79i2rBamVav0Ma0HWSCD9hWHImbDgn35HvvHMC6r9Jc-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ben Milliken</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for the AOY lead with 195 points and </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4yNsrOwEVy8g2goVvXTISkcqTfKNPz-2B9etEe9d7xaXOVQ-3D-3Dndt3_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpWgR1KQuSy-2FLTOQYOPAznSP0x0HrsCTPOTbLpUqzHX79oJIb0-2BzurqIeqBdG079Xapatv2kqAu2RK7x0QIdnH-2FakAyqDWdb-2BOA5RfKS-2F-2FE0av13Kiaa-2BDodmQFA2Rm05-2FVDDBz3-2B3-2B2XV1Xea8hhrTw-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Patrick Walters</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of South Carolina follows closely with 194 points.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">McKinney and Milliken also lead the race for </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4wnyTon4-2F7iQxFlAn9h1zklZmlHcdxwU74D436WAibd8w-3D-3Dnycn_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpd6X-2FsaLmASIeXAU3iPotVijlDwuoDOLPZz2yTbizAeebo8CwpE3FPXtPBLUqDGqtbuwSRU2UWwp9fvK8cGMOMDGh7s3oWl0pkjA5pK2-2F3McM0BZiB7BbUHdfLpKInuGy6HJMoivMTL1mOnLm7YIpbA-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Japan's </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4wZrV0HIWPFjC40eHo7TGuQXh5ETk-2BO8XKRQB-2FLh6cv9Q-3D-3DzlNd_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpdLbkebTk7Yonxy9EH0GaRpm8mEKMSVmvHmDlA3FU6UI40BN0CubKQXnbh7pkMy8G91de9gHqrc1AKWUpSahoCqFc-2FtBxxBaUoOswTGNcw4LnjUnp65PliVcSECTkPMww-2B71Yi3i6jqvJzyI0kmaBgA-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taku Ito</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> won the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the tournament for his 39-1 Day 1 catch, earning him an additional $2,000.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 4pt 0pt 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">McKinney earned an extra $4,000 for the Yamaha Power Pay contingency award while Williams earned a $2,500 bonus.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">McKinney also earned $3,000 in Toyota Bonus Bucks, second-place Rivet earned $2,000 in Bonus Bucks.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This event was hosted by </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC8Xblh-2FfvUQVcbJSJHRU9atYk-2BvebocTLAVQWcN-2B94BCKZCR_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5vC-2BXFz4xFJMoYFA1saZUw9ztjR-2F8rIfvfsDA3qa4DqcD33LwGwv8jzsTNfuIHrBnHTav0bZgVegLNRHfXsXJpe8etd9Dbec3TBeeSQ8zv0jRqY-2BzfQchuhfYJWJngMJMHt6kI5fC0zngF4mdZLhd5UdGdNPVwqBisPkYxmBC4jx3NuCvkWitQHu5-2Bw2VD-2FaZmwdoSlYGH4FR77QWHFZYBJYG2l-2FvITAw4ek05avfo-2Bg-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wood County Texas</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4486cd54-7fff-914e-c625-a8e4428405ce"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor:</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Toyota</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bass Pro Shops</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A</span><span style="color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">FTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC</span></span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-7039105106908195242024-03-02T20:27:00.001-05:002024-03-02T20:27:07.016-05:002024 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork Day 3: Trey McKinney Reminds the Leader!<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: #042948; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Canadians Gallant 8th, Cory Johnston 24th & Chris Johnston 38th </span></span></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: #042948; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: #042948; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFOaoByOgUqRkqEfDX02mzDXJQpqC4L9-eIVCUMJq_wzk8ing-HyQE8KhYanucIeXCPLwadSnQhgSU1Qf815c-1XvMsT9Y1xdyrzPkCkX3rlDtsueCEYNGD22lFSsJDjx1_I323FSpmg71M3oBZZ6WesUqjYw-d2nVLk7xN9ArEVHttbyD-eu3OuXQ1CE/s2994/bassssssss.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1996" data-original-width="2994" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFOaoByOgUqRkqEfDX02mzDXJQpqC4L9-eIVCUMJq_wzk8ing-HyQE8KhYanucIeXCPLwadSnQhgSU1Qf815c-1XvMsT9Y1xdyrzPkCkX3rlDtsueCEYNGD22lFSsJDjx1_I323FSpmg71M3oBZZ6WesUqjYw-d2nVLk7xN9ArEVHttbyD-eu3OuXQ1CE/w431-h266/bassssssss.jpg" width="431" /></a></span></b></span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><em>Rookie Trey McKinney maintains the lead on Day 3 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork with a three-day total of 97 pounds, 5 ounces. (Photo: Andy Crawford/ BASS)</em></span></p><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">BASS Press Release</span></b></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">YANTIS, Texas — </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Trey McKinney</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> already is the youngest angler ever on the Bassmaster Elite Series. Now, he’s only a day away from possibly winning the </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and scratching his name into another chapter of the B.A.S.S. record books.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">McKinney, a 19-year-old Elite Series rookie from Carbondale, Ill., maintained his lead on Semifinal Saturday at this 27,000-acre big-bass factory in the northeast corner of the Lone Star State. He caught a Day 3 limit of five bass that weighed 30 pounds even, giving him 15 total bass for 97 pounds, 5 ounces.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">BassTrakk had McKinney falling out of first place with only 5-3 caught after 75 minutes of fishing. His confidence shot skyward, however, after hooking a chunky 8-8 largemouth an hour later.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“The nerves were getting to me,” McKinney said. “I was trying to stay calm. When I finally hooked that big one, I said ‘This bass is what’s going to get me through.’ It took the pressure off me and I was able to fish better.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It’s almost unfathomable that McKinney flirted with the Century mark (a 100-pound total or higher) through only three days of the four-day derby. In fact, the Top 10 anglers who survived the Phoenix Boats Cutline after Saturday’s fishing all are within striking distance of the celebrated Century Club, with the 10th-place angler having 86-5 after three days on Fork.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Still, the tournament appears McKinney’s to win or lose. Only a teenager, he’s displayed wisdom beyond his years in this tournament, making key switches when needed and maintaining focus with the spotlight shining squarely on him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">After calming down with the 8-8, McKinney caught a trio of 5-pounders over the next few hours to build a 7-pound cushion on the field. But Louisiana’s </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tyler Rivet</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> hooked a crucial 8-15 largemouth just after 11 a.m. to complete his limit and reel McKinney back to the pack.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tyler Williams</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, a 22-year-old Elite Series rookie from Belgrade, Maine, is in second place with a three-day total of 94-11. Williams posted 33-14 on Saturday, following limits of 30-4 and 30-9 earlier in the tournament, and he and McKinney are the only two anglers to catch 30 pounds each day of the derby.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Williams’ 33-14 was the third-heaviest total caught Saturday. He hooked a pair of 7-pounders early and ended with a flourish, catching an 8-5 lunker on his last cast.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I’m fishing in 40 feet of water sometimes and in 2 feet of water other times,” he said. “The big one today came really shallow. If the water was clear enough, I probably could have seen it with my eyes.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Williams is covering a lot of water, but he’s doing so methodically. On Saturday, he trolled parallel to the bank and leaned on a 3/4-ounce Greenfish brown jig to boat his best bass.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I put my trolling motor down about 7:15 a.m. (just after takeoff) and picked it up at about 2:45 p.m. (just before weigh-in,)” he said.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Rivet, a 29-year-old Elite angler from Raceland, La., is in third place with a 92-15 total. He followed limits of 31-5 and 29-13 with a 31-13 stringer on Semifinal Saturday.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I just keep moving,” Rivet said, responding to how he’s maintained consistency in an event featuring a 40-degree temperature drop to start the tournament, bluebird skies and rapidly climbing temps on Day 2 and steady 15 mph winds on Day 3.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I’ve been catching them where there’s a lot of timber in a pretty long pocket, and I’m getting new fish every day,” Rivet continued. “I think I can get another big bag. I’m confident.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Others surviving the Phoenix Boats Cutline were </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Stetson Blaylock</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, fourth, 92-7; fifth, </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Justin Hammer</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, 91-3; sixth, </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Kyle Patrick</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, 90-5; seventh, </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Justin Atkins</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, 90-0; eighth, </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Cooper Gallant</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, 88-0; ninth, </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ben Milliken</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, 87-3; and 10th, </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Wesley Gore</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, 86-5.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Five of the remaining Top 10 are Elite Series rookies (McKinney, Williams, Patrick, Milliken and Gore). Gore still has the Phoenix Boats Big Bass (a 10-9 caught on Day 1), while Milliken caught a 9-10 for the Big Bass on Day 3.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">With the remarkable totals on the board, it’s realistic (if not probable) that each of the 10 remaining anglers will crack the 100-pound mark on Championship Sunday. That’s happened only once before in the era of four-day tournaments and five-bass limits — in </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">2008 on Falcon Lake in Texas</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> when 12 Elites caught 100 pounds or more. Paul Elias caught 132-8 that year on Falcon, a four-day B.A.S.S. record that still stands. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">It's worth noting that the 2008 Falcon event was limited to 12 anglers on the final day of fishing instead of 10. Under similar circumstances on Fork, that record would likely be equaled — and there’s no telling how many 100-pound totals would be caught if the full field fished Sunday.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“Getting a Century belt is just about the coolest thing I can think of,” McKinney said, noting he still has 2-11 to get to that storied milestone. “That’s something you can’t do every day. But this tournament has been something special.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“And if they bite again tomorrow like they have the first three days, it’ll be a fun day. If not, I’ll have to tooth-and-nail them every minute of the day.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-24b67bf1-7fff-95dc-0468-42e1c92af995"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #242424; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">FS1 will have live action from Championship Sunday from 8-11 a.m. There also will be live coverage on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3008192318773212221/703910510690819524#" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bassmaster.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #242424; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.</span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-41790119510118904412024-03-02T08:05:00.000-05:002024-03-02T08:05:00.756-05:002024 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork Day 2: Trey McKinney Scores Lead! <p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Canadians Gallant 10th, Cory Johnston 13th, Chris Johnston 17th & Gustafson 59th</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR9T3LpGFHH57xIwETK_1NNxZqpoisT8LmKEHPzXEtt_sm1UhqXlD5Fh6ViT2jWYTJct2i4mERxXEmSmiaTMUQ4JYMuXntPfBYzb5RtiGfgXXyC6VC5QR2acrlA2MbPEioE60FLPbiewRnrtz3Xf7wn39h3WUKMZwwAXmUjB12LRW2fhsD7hg-Nds2c1i/s2948/bassssssss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1966" data-original-width="2948" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR9T3LpGFHH57xIwETK_1NNxZqpoisT8LmKEHPzXEtt_sm1UhqXlD5Fh6ViT2jWYTJct2i4mERxXEmSmiaTMUQ4JYMuXntPfBYzb5RtiGfgXXyC6VC5QR2acrlA2MbPEioE60FLPbiewRnrtz3Xf7wn39h3WUKMZwwAXmUjB12LRW2fhsD7hg-Nds2c1i/w400-h266/bassssssss.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; text-align: start;">Rookie Trey McKinney has taken the lead on Day 2 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork with a two-day total of 67 pounds, 5 ounces. (Photo: Andy Crawford/ BASS) </em></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></b></span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>BASS Press Release</b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">YANTIS, Texas — Just when you thought the fishing at the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3Du001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zOomIXNF-2BSGUfXyRhxXCyksF3BPDXX6-2BzSvj7U3E7-2B-2FiHjvN7SroPxwCEmtZ2ybZJsdkfA1rqIWw86P3waIh0GyPg8_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKH-2FLbCJWzimurrvZaWSo1VVrOuGDT42kiroUHrOnqwC1W9k-2BWuGwSG2jQ9vGPT0jkRy51dxdJl6xvSua3KR-2Bla-2BQHxI7B7b8uZ7CeG7dL1dUZNgbJzHD54D4tNKNgXP4eEl4-2BM5pU3g-2Flxwa1Cg-2B65I-3D&source=gmail&ust=1709470701072000&usg=AOvVaw1kT85nlFI5dlCO2R3Wtw4d" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zOomIXNF-2BSGUfXyRhxXCyksF3BPDXX6-2BzSvj7U3E7-2B-2FiHjvN7SroPxwCEmtZ2ybZJsdkfA1rqIWw86P3waIh0GyPg8_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKH-2FLbCJWzimurrvZaWSo1VVrOuGDT42kiroUHrOnqwC1W9k-2BWuGwSG2jQ9vGPT0jkRy51dxdJl6xvSua3KR-2Bla-2BQHxI7B7b8uZ7CeG7dL1dUZNgbJzHD54D4tNKNgXP4eEl4-2BM5pU3g-2Flxwa1Cg-2B65I-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork</a> couldn’t get better, it did.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fifteen of the 103 anglers in the field caught 30 pounds or more on Day 2 of this four-day derby in the northeast corner of the Lone Star State. That was up from a total of 14 who caught 30 pounds or more on Thursday to start competition on the 27,000-acre fishery.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3Du001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4yUIwvk66eW1V61A4MCVvsmJgBT2sXRnUYNcaTu-2B1nrTg-3D-3D8-MU_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKJ9Ige7rO45guHluWzUmkDigcp1tWsA5uSfFeoSLNpodFQibb4E0HmmLT-2Bxws8zMaasUw9dAoJ-2F1PeNcA128-2FeRMnm7pWwDT6uk7k0xZ3l3muArnfFWm6gSjvj-2BSINHaQFRGQnJz3ZAOz5AjKy8K9lw-3D&source=gmail&ust=1709470701072000&usg=AOvVaw3JHdaNmVWuYomSwlD4huB9" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4yUIwvk66eW1V61A4MCVvsmJgBT2sXRnUYNcaTu-2B1nrTg-3D-3D8-MU_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKJ9Ige7rO45guHluWzUmkDigcp1tWsA5uSfFeoSLNpodFQibb4E0HmmLT-2Bxws8zMaasUw9dAoJ-2F1PeNcA128-2FeRMnm7pWwDT6uk7k0xZ3l3muArnfFWm6gSjvj-2BSINHaQFRGQnJz3ZAOz5AjKy8K9lw-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Trey McKinney</a>, the 19-year-old wunderkind from Carbondale, Ill., leads with 10 bass totaling 67 pounds, 5 ounces. He was in fourth place after Day 1 with a 33-11 limit and held steady with a nearly identical 33-10 limit a day later.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">McKinney is an Elite Series rookie who qualified for the tour through the 2023 <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3Du001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zDBa5t3JTLVR4Ku5-2FAekepuXVd_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKLTre30QcNw6klPfWWedM2ZKnCH9-2F3uGmjv3JMahlSNmbTTigp02udC39HbcRLE-2BXkps0K2uBJAfZ7aU00GYKpS9RahrJ0Z7Y2MEEMWwGmaJb1JFle0TqBrLkuJh2KeKZ2DHoTVdIk22aWD1X1J-2Bn6c-3D&source=gmail&ust=1709470701072000&usg=AOvVaw2Qul7GNA_Ziy7g-SnTVhX4" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zDBa5t3JTLVR4Ku5-2FAekepuXVd_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKLTre30QcNw6klPfWWedM2ZKnCH9-2F3uGmjv3JMahlSNmbTTigp02udC39HbcRLE-2BXkps0K2uBJAfZ7aU00GYKpS9RahrJ0Z7Y2MEEMWwGmaJb1JFle0TqBrLkuJh2KeKZ2DHoTVdIk22aWD1X1J-2Bn6c-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN</a>. After finishing third in the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers division of the Opens, he’s the youngest angler to ever qualify for the Elites — and he’s already displaying a mastery beyond his years.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Not only does he have the lead at the halfway point of this tournament, but he has the best story of the derby to date, too.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It happened early Friday when a heavy 5-pounder broke off one of his favored jerkbaits. The misfortune briefly dampened the 19-year-old’s spirits. But an hour later, he caught the same bass, adding nearly 6 pounds to his Day 2 total.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He also got his jerkbait back — part of another amazing day for the teenager on this fabled fishery.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I grabbed his lip and my jerkbait is staring me in the face,” McKinney said, shaking his head in near disbelief. “And I caught him the second time on the same kind of jerkbait. It was crazy. He had two baits in his mouth. He could barely fit the second one in there, but he was determined.”</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">McKinney didn’t offer specifics about which jerkbaits he’s using, but he did say he’s deploying them in two different ways.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’ve got one that sinks and one that suspends” he said. “It just depends on what kind of mood they’re in. You have to read them to know which one to use … It’s a feeling really. For the less active fish, I like to use the suspended one.”</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">McKinney also said he’s opting occasionally for a Strike King Z Too to excite Fork’s best bass.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Friday began much like Day 1, with temperatures in the 40s. The weather warmed throughout the day, however, and by midday, it was in the mid-60s and Day 1’s stiff winds had dissipated.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Today, I think the fish were feeling the pressure,” McKinney said. “These conditions have been crazy, so the fish are moving around a lot. They want the bank, but they can’t quite get there. So, these next two days are going to be very interesting. We’ll have to make some changes, no question. Hopefully I make the right ones.”</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3Du001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4yLYNjmIBC93ky8tk80jaL-2BMyDdHbXdDXKGOT538ALFYw-3D-3DQXzp_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKIOEPZFSmjlfy4prQ6RMBq5c2D3iz-2FokP3hr5YfUHn6Z4Dbp-2FQERwzzWO7ko0LNtIMC9-2FkV1p1wQlNuzhKoscMLa45EZdmsMpMb5UNbQSesle63G-2FP1cbbkhxGpECDuL01sRfYt0evdO4R8DjlcwNyQ-3D&source=gmail&ust=1709470701072000&usg=AOvVaw18u7G2wix5CDHXBjBM5Y9a" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4yLYNjmIBC93ky8tk80jaL-2BMyDdHbXdDXKGOT538ALFYw-3D-3DQXzp_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKIOEPZFSmjlfy4prQ6RMBq5c2D3iz-2FokP3hr5YfUHn6Z4Dbp-2FQERwzzWO7ko0LNtIMC9-2FkV1p1wQlNuzhKoscMLa45EZdmsMpMb5UNbQSesle63G-2FP1cbbkhxGpECDuL01sRfYt0evdO4R8DjlcwNyQ-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Matty Wong</a>, who was in sixth place after Day 1, caught his second 30-pound limit in as many days, and is in second place with 63-10. The 36-year-old Honolulu native caught 33-2 on Thursday and was hoping for some of the same cold and blustery weather that aided his bite.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Warmer temps and bluebird skies didn’t hurt his bite one bit, though, as he tacked on a 30-8 limit Friday. A personal best of 9-3, which he caught just before 10 a.m., anchored his Day 2 bag.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’m keying on prespawning fish and I think these cold mornings have got them up where they need to be,” Wong said. “These fish are trying to feed up their eggs, and I think I’m cutting them off as they move in … And there are more fish coming. I dumped two really good ones today that could’ve given me 40 pounds.”</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3Du001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zNCVzhQ6oR89DYRWDIZkMnWROOhLZcVfLCuH3I-2FL-2F0Dg-3D-3DJlwq_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKKnf0yPUaaqdjYlB43F0-2FX2NsH55RSNGxn6-2FzDe4kTRVS0055gIfrVfZIW1y647lMvoF1gOl8ts0MSon749Pqn5cusgsrbU1m3uhnGD0X5Biy-2BcW0c-2FUD9Am2cXwCTEA-2F4QZ3FgYIKOdpCjaYKLckV0-3D&source=gmail&ust=1709470701072000&usg=AOvVaw1onTHo3htwz5_2HTJ22S6N" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zNCVzhQ6oR89DYRWDIZkMnWROOhLZcVfLCuH3I-2FL-2F0Dg-3D-3DJlwq_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKKnf0yPUaaqdjYlB43F0-2FX2NsH55RSNGxn6-2FzDe4kTRVS0055gIfrVfZIW1y647lMvoF1gOl8ts0MSon749Pqn5cusgsrbU1m3uhnGD0X5Biy-2BcW0c-2FUD9Am2cXwCTEA-2F4QZ3FgYIKOdpCjaYKLckV0-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Justin Atkins</a>, a 33-year-old pro from Florence, Ala., is in third place with 61-13. He followed a 32-11 total on Thursday with 29-2 on Friday.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“The wind made it harder to fish, but I think it got them more active,” Atkins said of the main difference he saw between the first two days of the derby.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“When you get your bait out there by them, they seem a little more anxious to just get it. But today, I really had to coax them. The biggest one I caught, I bet my bait had been out there more than a minute before it finally bit. The slick conditions today just made them come up, get high on the timber, get on the bed — all the things you want. I’ll take these conditions the next two days, without a doubt.”</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3Du001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4y-2FNqW78444-2BAUdDg-2BviJ5XfuQt-2B-2F3sYUSb985TmDPTxg-3D-3DEt66_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKCRECt-2FS7kfTPaPU-2BV0YC0-2FrjdsKkjahXRuoBsO6HY-2FPpHoUzFxVUk0A2uptnb6JmjEIfnHpxsgfE4F3KViQBGrBL9VRzU9cBcPYq5H6iQbdJgpLP4xqzWQeVqhL8I0ngId46FYNbr-2F3h5-2BmrV5YCxY-3D&source=gmail&ust=1709470701072000&usg=AOvVaw1fGzN78JVU6HdOD5SPcegp" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4y-2FNqW78444-2BAUdDg-2BviJ5XfuQt-2B-2F3sYUSb985TmDPTxg-3D-3DEt66_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKCRECt-2FS7kfTPaPU-2BV0YC0-2FrjdsKkjahXRuoBsO6HY-2FPpHoUzFxVUk0A2uptnb6JmjEIfnHpxsgfE4F3KViQBGrBL9VRzU9cBcPYq5H6iQbdJgpLP4xqzWQeVqhL8I0ngId46FYNbr-2F3h5-2BmrV5YCxY-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Wesley Gore</a>, of Clanton, Ala., maintains his lead for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass prize with the 10-9 largemouth he caught on Day 1. Rookie <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3Du001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4xbWVSr9ygDiShDlmsB1IChP413ysKAxqNCrLFMQZUnYA-3D-3DaKmN_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKKfgEQkUyGbYTIbZF4rJ-2FA72aM7FLMZVsGf9BEki5FTBMza7Z4uUvycMlTlQ8Pc0fXOJaqB1ENLTYcoO8JhGyxpZBrfqvX8gCXu7bhmfvi93YwcxZq5orQXJMrmbaurS68AdEZTT8WnKS9UDIyQobjo-3D&source=gmail&ust=1709470701072000&usg=AOvVaw1XY8C_KTZ60FIwJejDm6x3" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4xbWVSr9ygDiShDlmsB1IChP413ysKAxqNCrLFMQZUnYA-3D-3DaKmN_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKKfgEQkUyGbYTIbZF4rJ-2FA72aM7FLMZVsGf9BEki5FTBMza7Z4uUvycMlTlQ8Pc0fXOJaqB1ENLTYcoO8JhGyxpZBrfqvX8gCXu7bhmfvi93YwcxZq5orQXJMrmbaurS68AdEZTT8WnKS9UDIyQobjo-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">JT Thompkins</a>, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., had the big bass on Day 2 (a 9-13 lunker).</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Four Elite Series rookies are in the Top 10 heading into Semifinal Saturday, including six of the Top 12. The Top 50 anglers after Friday’s action survived the Phoenix Boats Cutline and will fish on Day 3.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After Saturday’s competition, the Top 10 will advance to Championship Sunday to fish for the tournament title and the accompanying $100,000 prize.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Follow all the live action on FS1 from 8-11:30 a.m. and on <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3Du001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zavSBnO2xYA-2F2tvDDrky-2F4FKT7_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKAyLFijUoRnOl1eC0A2aO2rSJKfNnEdB2SK7NdnZ1WeJeRgqRFRQ2iEBYbZMekvLHrQofj8DPUjyDL1teNb4nTB7gZ-2BmMTsf6ZHfnuyFJzRLwZwok4k9Sr30TkrfUiJ1oYOzCHXYFZnmk733R4qu60s-3D&source=gmail&ust=1709470701072000&usg=AOvVaw1tbyZk5ZetRCbMyblWc7D3" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zavSBnO2xYA-2F2tvDDrky-2F4FKT7_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKAyLFijUoRnOl1eC0A2aO2rSJKfNnEdB2SK7NdnZ1WeJeRgqRFRQ2iEBYbZMekvLHrQofj8DPUjyDL1teNb4nTB7gZ-2BmMTsf6ZHfnuyFJzRLwZwok4k9Sr30TkrfUiJ1oYOzCHXYFZnmk733R4qu60s-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Bassmaster.com</a> from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. On Championship Sunday, watch live coverage on FS1 from 8-11 a.m. and on Bassmaster.com again from 9-4 p.m.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 14.98px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This event is being hosted by <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3Du001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC8Xblh-2FfvUQVcbJSJHRU9atYk-2BvebocTLAVQWcN-2B94BCY0Ju_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKM5SGFh5tWBgRTGnS4jQPZ4AaFzVIdM2fxRej2iKFBw967aK5QLqVP5oTI3SuMlkFFqhnUhVWt7V7xB4eejv29gEQVNcrB77crYDmzglQJgBbAkEwMNcvzP2gWez-2BQcnhxJnAZ1Q7kw-2F5isPJgANm-2B4-3D&source=gmail&ust=1709470701072000&usg=AOvVaw1J3MIjNUUOd_2WQJJvtzFL" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC8Xblh-2FfvUQVcbJSJHRU9atYk-2BvebocTLAVQWcN-2B94BCY0Ju_pcNAwSx-2BjMxiFoonVtNTsEb-2BbhPa26EZkhUeskPAx23pFDsPrLskkCjCzXK7KReJCeQ3JCLpFAnRv1a5yunj8IW9TK3HnA-2BCrhIp2J8z5A44F0OIv2u-2FApKbH818n6m5re6XMFjwQ3wZew8VHn8JlDaYqPMsHoeawV2IbsmoyPCzXB-2F8WZjHHf4bURhzFPdTPI6dF44DEn6sbUGEN1-2BKKM5SGFh5tWBgRTGnS4jQPZ4AaFzVIdM2fxRej2iKFBw967aK5QLqVP5oTI3SuMlkFFqhnUhVWt7V7xB4eejv29gEQVNcrB77crYDmzglQJgBbAkEwMNcvzP2gWez-2BQcnhxJnAZ1Q7kw-2F5isPJgANm-2B4-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Wood County Texas</a>.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: black;">2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor:</span></strong><span style="color: black;"> Toyota<br /><strong>2024 </strong></span><strong><span style="color: black;">Bassmaster Elite Series </span></strong><span style="color: black;"><strong>Premier Sponsors: </strong>Bass Pro Shops<strong>, </strong>Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha<br /><strong>2024 </strong></span><strong><span style="color: black;">Bassmaster Elite Series</span></strong><span style="color: black;"><strong> Supporting Sponsors: </strong>A</span>FTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC</span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-87167367822491088862024-03-01T21:29:00.001-05:002024-03-01T21:33:04.444-05:002024 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork Day 1: Taku Ito Smashes 38lbs!<p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Canadians Cory Johnston 15th, Gallant 20th, Gustafson 60th & Chris Johnston 66th</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHQOsECQJOReSZlPM1_e3xZx9TW9otN1nVqsnobyhkO1WElCsQhRKSVBd_DzgPUF_4MoDjVElowHHEt0ohg8WDm_Z4fA6_uwKOMWCtKe4NJU8CZBbuK0G2dfwdtbt6ypBDmYhckdw6RntWSK-XmBjAXZ6YzEETwQWq-c6UWV0D3_g5mUbrL2-e_hG-Up5/s960/ito.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHQOsECQJOReSZlPM1_e3xZx9TW9otN1nVqsnobyhkO1WElCsQhRKSVBd_DzgPUF_4MoDjVElowHHEt0ohg8WDm_Z4fA6_uwKOMWCtKe4NJU8CZBbuK0G2dfwdtbt6ypBDmYhckdw6RntWSK-XmBjAXZ6YzEETwQWq-c6UWV0D3_g5mUbrL2-e_hG-Up5/s320/ito.jpg" width="256" /></a></b></div><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">By Andrew Canulette</b><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>BASS Press Release</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">YANTIS, Texas — Just about everyone expected to see big bags of bass this week at the </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zOomIXNF-2BSGUfXyRhxXCyksF3BPDXX6-2BzSvj7U3E7-2B-2FiHjvN7SroPxwCEmtZ2ybZJsdkfA1rqIWw86P3waIh0G61rn_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTdwjiN3adOQJznO-2BvJm-2BDCiC8ApylGfV6VMlp4ofqunLVPnfnwCHg0etARdFltS7mxj7DsM4Og3Xe1P2FC9o7cOD-2B9PH-2F-2BRS07ifHLytjlQDPrGMWwWCi2nSZEoPo5DOBqfHjcy-2BLHt2rKKNiGGiOqNdi-2F6MGOoGQg-2BqfBcTobKOqKlg6qHCjX1fc3zA5tdfpT-2Fb9lsxcSUYHDlhbMtDm5X7RLL2hWEBeixPgmTs4pD0-3D" style="font-family: arial; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Few, however, could have predicted the absolute slugfest that took place Thursday on this 27,000-acre jewel in the northeast corner of the Lone Star State.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A whopping 14 of the 103 anglers in the field caught 30 pound or better on Day 1 of the four-day tournament. </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4wZrV0HIWPFjC40eHo7TGuQXh5ETk-2BO8XKRQB-2FLh6cv9Q-3D-3Dt-lZ_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTdwjiN3adOQJznO-2BvJm-2BDCiC8ApylGfV6VMlp4ofqunLVPnfnwCHg0etARdFltS7mxj7DsM4Og3Xe1P2FC9o7cIbz-2FkkPZoWOrQV08ucSIuI48RRr0C0jWUDrHP2SoDOLptRyfBMnHowSQ9tn-2FNwhUSyJusj3QyPP0Yjkey0kizdFJv4Vp0LKB-2FNEzzDiQg4J7mfbSlsRgxDDYXyiNF7B6-2Bzhq-2BY53H8M5rHQCM8ig7g-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taku Ito</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, of Chiba, Japan, led the way with a five-bass total of 39 pounds, 1 ounce, including a personal best 10-5 lunker largemouth he brought to the stage at Caney Point Recreation Area.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">His previous best was a 10-pounder he caught in Japan.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Today was an incredible day,” Ito said. “I caught the big one about 10 a.m. I was throwing many types of baits — a jighead, a jerkbait, Texas rigs, drop shots. I was in different kinds of water, from 25 feet to about 5 feet.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It was an unexpected turnaround for the 37-year-old Elite pro, who said he struggled mightily during his practice days on Fork.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“It was terrible,” he said. “I had four fish in one practice. Then I had three fish one day and two on another day. But today, I caught a bunch. Everything worked for me today.”<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ito wasn’t expecting Thursday’s cold and windy weather to help his cause, either, though it certainly did. Temperatures plummeted into the 40s on Wednesday, from the mid-80s a day earlier, and they stayed that way on Day 1 of this derby.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The weather is predicted to slowly warm throughout the the tournament, though Friday morning could be cold and windy again. The rapidly changing conditions make Ito uncertain he can come close to repeating the phenomenal 39-1 he caught Thursday.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“It’ll be hard,” he said. “The weather today helped me. I will go to the same places and try the same things.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4yr3uh0J8bkjAgTzWgDMGF-2B7k6N0BVW9tnQy3kVfbFkng-3D-3D4OXG_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTdwjiN3adOQJznO-2BvJm-2BDCiC8ApylGfV6VMlp4ofqunLVPnfnwCHg0etARdFltS7mxj7DsM4Og3Xe1P2FC9o7cDvzyKCEiMZa54Q9QrPvScgcG2f-2Fr1NbEDawDidlB62y9F440P36XuKeaOFrBzlpRZxhQ5fK3TeTQACdAPAhCr7pFfC0Clgc8NXEvk1e6awrTovRVNJXO380byTgzKys1ssHdHuT8-2BgMO4ZAjDS75Wg-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stetson Blaylock</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, of Benton, Ark., is in second place with 37-6. He had a strong start, with bass weighing 6-10, 8-6 and 9-10 coming from the same small spot in the opening hours. Blaylock went cold for more than three hours, though, and didn’t catch his fourth and fifth bass until much later in the day.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He said unpredictable weather has him thinking he’ll try something new on Friday. And yes, he realizes it’s not too often you catch 37-6 and change tactics.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“This weather made the fish weird,” he said. “I found that one little area that really produced this morning. I knew it would be good, but I didn’t know it’d be that good … I don’t think I go there tomorrow … Things are gonna flip-flop. With the amount of 30-pound stringers caught today, I know I can go other places in the lake and catch big fish.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second-year Elite </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4yoDQludAe4eYNwSCifiBHFMzzxSeyX4r5qE8ek-2FIfQsw-3D-3DcAYK_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTdwjiN3adOQJznO-2BvJm-2BDCiC8ApylGfV6VMlp4ofqunLVPnfnwCHg0etARdFltS7mxj7DsM4Og3Xe1P2FC9o7cKL6lseesknXxfDjdRthq3Segi8-2F4Fi-2BRreCJBOVx-2BIVDDTVCOyXUdUHQB9CdXDz30OII7kHH0K06CkdFgSQHt2LCI9vqLOThU9jYIU4vqsF1Gg-2BPSrleZ5QRSzFn-2BkzXk9GGh3INbK-2Bs3-2BkpMsVfLg-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kyle Norsetter</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, of Cottage Grove, Wis., is in third place with 35-8. He too said he struggled during practice, but a midday change of scenery helped him mount a strong Day 1 finish.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“We had about 35 bed fish marked, but I pulled into my first spot, and I only caught a 3-11,” he said. “I thought it was gonna be a decent day. I hit my spots, about six of them, and they were gone … I caught only one bedding fish today.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“So, I ended up switching gears,” Norsetter continued. “I saw something and made a cast, got it. Then I started LiveScoping. From there, everything went right. There were a lot of fish and some really nice fish, too. It was encouraging after having a really tough, draining practice.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4yUIwvk66eW1V61A4MCVvsmJgBT2sXRnUYNcaTu-2B1nrTg-3D-3DafMJ_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTdwjiN3adOQJznO-2BvJm-2BDCiC8ApylGfV6VMlp4ofqunLVPnfnwCHg0etARdFltS7mxj7DsM4Og3Xe1P2FC9o7cBvVG6Str4jSZZ99Sg7Gzwv948v53qGesJo5z3qMyZ79uxnND7dUs1zAAyrlpqiMTSmi0QZCDPfb8jbyXougp0hJyQfJihZbiQXBLw2rv83zuPKOmGPMrbCW6IDxssBJUSOHWNALJp3eK6dnhwA-2BIGA-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trey McKinney</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, of Carbondale, Ill., is fourth after Day 1 with 33-11. </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4zNCVzhQ6oR89DYRWDIZkMnjvapQ00hHb-2FtDhvERUbkog-3D-3DpZkp_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTdwjiN3adOQJznO-2BvJm-2BDCiC8ApylGfV6VMlp4ofqunLVPnfnwCHg0etARdFltS7mxj7DsM4Og3Xe1P2FC9o7cFtpS5eR0QHZoNc2YdwWKBXUkpDfXL9hPJ-2BfIv648jYGmspGXWfw5cFXmk2k3VXgtCfvJ1zoGmxIpFmoLelFPKtL-2F9fOYkwTQPTMpEyPqq-2BGtpjyEnE94EL7Wugzs6xd51KKmbob2PDe-2BOL-2B-2FX17aXI-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Justin Hammer</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, of Northport, Ala., is fifth with 33-5. A total of 92 Elites had double-digit totals on Thursday and 69 of them caught at least 20 pounds.</span></span></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5b4c5bf7-7fff-2079-6202-1483ecb8d3d2"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCwgZK-2BV-2Bv5ypwb87-2FBVOW4y-2FNqW78444-2BAUdDg-2BviJ5XfuQt-2B-2F3sYUSb985TmDPTxg-3D-3DBqJ6_pgxdYzk94IKWLzh38L52cw4WtopG169hJo2xdd7ryMg-2BuVz2LEinxbxAlBH9I-2FZC8IK-2BZNp47S5HGenVBXp0tJggWk65wiS6KSblFIL5qyE7tuWdZLlYl374nCzgfZOTdwjiN3adOQJznO-2BvJm-2BDCiC8ApylGfV6VMlp4ofqunLVPnfnwCHg0etARdFltS7mxj7DsM4Og3Xe1P2FC9o7cFhIk4cB-2F0mlGOPqb3gjpbeM3rYAWGCKKuCsTsrCqeCBavgQbbR29J1gZCWvmG5ee4uivHfmnj2Qa11Fjuo1kP8VwBkbqD6aWFvmgz-2Fwn0Rmp3qahlr-2B8j1lT3FV5Z8taUIqppr9Rhtorqyu52MnXDQ-3D" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Wesley Gore</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, of Clanton, Ala., caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass on Thursday — a 10-9 giant he hooked just before 9 a.m</span></span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-53975429280529780002024-02-28T01:30:00.002-05:002024-02-28T07:17:32.496-05:00Meeting the 2024 Canadian Angler Hall of Fame newest inductee Gord Ellis <p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Representing the north has served him well</span></b></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-64854680-7fff-7541-bdeb-8cf953f74778"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b></b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejhXEFovztpxU6sOzMIGskgbuzMx5CqRdDRNibeHxOajinzKClki6rjHytgm_PFOqTUdTG6jet7fyDBOvVkuSer-mtKcRKA0PeXeFoWLFVvbu7brHon-JFIKitrSAGkkeo5wV0sitoEFNDllGR-gPpGvq6Q-8YIrlBBSLDKIBg76wakEq5G6SnehGbxYT/s2048/gord.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1771" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejhXEFovztpxU6sOzMIGskgbuzMx5CqRdDRNibeHxOajinzKClki6rjHytgm_PFOqTUdTG6jet7fyDBOvVkuSer-mtKcRKA0PeXeFoWLFVvbu7brHon-JFIKitrSAGkkeo5wV0sitoEFNDllGR-gPpGvq6Q-8YIrlBBSLDKIBg76wakEq5G6SnehGbxYT/s320/gord.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br />By Luigi De Rose </b></b></div></span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Turning one’s passion into a career has burned deep within many of us. Thunder Bay’s golden child Gord Ellis, a journalist, fishing guide, musician and conservation advocate has been one of the lucky ones. Through dedication and grit, Gord has made a career of writing and preaching the merits of pursuing adventure in the outdoors particularly in Canada’s north. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">At the Spring Fishing and Boat show at the Toronto International Centre in Toronto, on Friday, February 16, 2024, members of the Canadian fishing industry honoured Gord Ellis by inducting him into the Canadian Angler Hall of Fame. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Flanked by his wife Cheryl, Ontario OUT OF DOORS Editors Ray Blades and Jason Bain, and past inductees, Gord looked back on a career in fishing media spanning over 38 years. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Beginning with an article in Angler and Hunter Magazine published by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) in the late 1980s. Those first years saw Ellis expand his craft while being published in numerous popular magazines. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“I was writing quite a bit back then. I got $350 for my first cover on a magazine and I was like WOW! That was a lot of money for a kid back then.” recalls Ellis </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Soon after his career shifted gears when he was granted a position on the masthead of Ontario OUT OF DOORS Magazine in 1992. He leap frogged seniority quickly and became Senior Editor in the early 2000s, a position he continues to hold. Ontario OUT OF DOORS Magazine has been a jewel in his crown but Gord continues to actively write and his work is published in various magazines across North America. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gord has been a symbol of the majesticness of the North. At one point in his career, Ellis was the icon of giant brook trout anglers and his passion focused on not only pursuing these majestic trout but conserving cold water species’ habitat. His conservation work is something that Gord takes great pride in. “I, along with many other people, have made changes. We’ve helped make very important decisions to help different fisheries.” states Gord. “I am very much a historian and when anglers complain about fishing regulations, I like to remind them how poor the fishing was just a few decades ago.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A member of several fisheries groups, Gord, along with others, advocated for great brooker trout sustainability through fishing regulations and focused on creating greater partnerships regarding water levels in the Nipigon River during key spawning times. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Through his many media avenues, Gord created greater public awareness of the key obstacles that were hindering cold water species that live in the Nipigon. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Since 2013, he has revealed the wonders of Northern Ontario while guiding the Nipigon in pursuit for world-class brook trout, pike, walleye and salmon. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In 2018, Gord was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, in Hayward, Wisconsin. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now this new induction to the Canadian Angler Hall of Fame has left him humble and pleased as very few media members, especially from the north, are recognized for their efforts. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Follow Gord Ellis via his many social media outlets like </span></p><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ellisgord/" target="_blank">@ellisgord</a> or </span><a href="https://gordellis.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://gordellis.com/</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> or purchase a copy of Ontario OUT OF DOORS magazine to see what he’s up to that month. </span></span>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-87277297650309207422024-02-26T02:00:00.001-05:002024-02-26T02:00:00.137-05:00Wheeler out-duels Rojas on Santee Cooper, lands seventh BPT win<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDAHd4-bu3Sbc070QAPKGR25E4po-mhMnhseBzz0R-C3ZpzjCaIRlxl5aj5qXGe37CpqCBxeqD5omCIMI2CCIbxXGnwwfX-YwUuNpsrEgDUsJoEJTm8tnFprSvZ0osNLBMYHRzKbwMrqPXHzdaQ0bgU7QAMCRwiMTcoCLnkMnDQkvi9atfJ1HIDOS5wWL/s1000/mlfff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDAHd4-bu3Sbc070QAPKGR25E4po-mhMnhseBzz0R-C3ZpzjCaIRlxl5aj5qXGe37CpqCBxeqD5omCIMI2CCIbxXGnwwfX-YwUuNpsrEgDUsJoEJTm8tnFprSvZ0osNLBMYHRzKbwMrqPXHzdaQ0bgU7QAMCRwiMTcoCLnkMnDQkvi9atfJ1HIDOS5wWL/w400-h200/mlfff.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2829; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jacob Wheeler claimed his seventh career Bass Pro Tour event win on Sunday. <br />Photo by Garrick Dixon</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">By Mitchell Forde</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">BASS PRO TOUR</span></p><p><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/2024-bass-pro-tour-stage-two-santee-cooper/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Presented by Fenwick</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2829; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">, the Santee Cooper lakes that had churned out chunky bass all week simply shut down. At one point, the 10 pros duking it out during the Championship Round went 45 minutes without boating a scorable bass. They combined to catch just 18, none breaking the 4-pound mark, during the final frame.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The one angler who managed to manufacture consistent action – <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/jacob-wheeler/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jacob Wheeler</a>. Wheeler accounted for five of those bass, which combined to weigh 14 pounds, 2 ounces and boosted his final-day total to 47-4, lifting him past <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/dean-rojas/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dean Rojas</a> by 5 pounds for his seventh career <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/circuits/bass-pro-tour/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Bass Pro Tour</a> victory.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Bucking conventional Santee Cooper tactics by fishing offshore with a jighead minnow, Wheeler did what he’s done for the past six years, seemingly willing bites into existence. He started the third period 2-8 back of Rojas but promptly took the lead with a 3-12 largemouth. A little more than an hour later, with everyone else at a standstill, he boated three fish over 2 pounds in about 10 minutes. After Rojas closed within 2-6 in the final 30 minutes, Wheeler ran across Lake Marion to hit one more spot, where he added a 2-10 to all but seal the victory.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I stuck to my game plan this whole week, and I stayed out offshore and I tried to fish isolated stuff,” Wheeler said. “It really came down to just keeping my head down and keeping my rotation going. I tried to make other tactics work, but those last two periods really came down to throwing that Freeloader, locking it in my hand. I’ve got so much confidence in it; I know it’s going to generate the bites if they are going to bite at all.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Here’s how the Top 10 pros finished the Championship Round. Complete results <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/2024-bass-pro-tour-stage-two-santee-cooper/results/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.</span></p><ol style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 2rem;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jacob Wheeler — 47-4 (15 bass)</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Dean Rojas — 42-4 (17)</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jesse Wiggins — 29-14 (9)</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Matt Becker — 19-10 (4)</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Dylan Hays — 18-12 (5)</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Casey Ashley — 16-8 (6)</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Dave Lefebre — 15-5 (5)</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Cole Floyd — 11-5 (5)</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">James Watson — 7-13 (3)</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Justin Lucas — 4-8 (1)</span></li></ol><div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If an instruction manual for fishing Santee Cooper existed, it would probably read<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;"> something like this: Find one or two productive areas full of shallow cover like cypress trees, stumps or grass. Dissect them thoroughly using power-fishing techniques and heavy tackle. You might go hours without a bite, but don’t be tempted to fire up the outboard and waste time running around the treacherous fishery.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wheeler pretty much threw all that out the window. During practice, he saw a bunch of anglers cycling through the same few creeks and decided he didn’t want to mix it in the crowd. So, he decided to fish the way he’s most comfortable, graphing offshore and compiling a list of waypoints he could run throughout the event.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I just said, ‘Forget this, there’s no way I can win this tournament at all if I continue to go on and spend all my time in these areas,’ because I just felt like we were going to get cannibalized more than anything,” Wheeler said. “So, I focused on some areas that were getting hit by the wind, I focused on some main lake stuff, I focused on trying to find a couple places that I could manage myself.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That proved prescient. Both Wheeler and Rojas, who pulled away from the rest of the pack Sunday, largely ignored the fishery’s innumerable cypress trees, with Wheeler fishing offshore and Rojas skipping boat docks.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wheeler wound up with 30 to 40 spots that he cycled through during the event, mostly located in the middle and lower sections of Lake Marion. He primarily targeted brushpiles, but also found a few productive locations that featured stumps or hard spots on the bottom.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While he realized his plan might not be the best way to get bites, Wheeler figured the lack of pressure would give him a better shot of having biters left during the Championship Round. He managed his fish to perfection. After putting plenty of distance between himself and the cut line on the first day of qualifying, he only caught two scorable bass for 7-4 on his second day on the water. During the Knockout Round, he amassed just enough weight (34-1) to advance without having to sweat.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I didn’t feel like it was the winning pattern,” Wheeler said. “But I basically was able to find enough stuff that I could keep to myself and rotate on myself and really manage that it ended up being that way. And it was a combination of the right bait, the right area, the right stuff.”</span></p></div>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-13082837025108566632024-02-25T20:43:00.000-05:002024-02-25T20:43:11.845-05:00Kyoya Fujita Wins 2024 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend Day with 100-13lbs!<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EDgPNBKKxkjM0ENynoTiYFokN3B_RBeKvMyzEUAkxNSM-mQelmDoVDgIjwxfWJ2ik2667-k8N05Ilg9Ge7M9LNNlMvaNxRoC-hUzhD1EzhDfVu1qfidbQE_eI-zXhd4MOo7h96Fn8rCodCSLb3mlKXs4OdS1WEV1s3awh2RElfft-wb0abNhih-yTllr/s1800/bassssss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EDgPNBKKxkjM0ENynoTiYFokN3B_RBeKvMyzEUAkxNSM-mQelmDoVDgIjwxfWJ2ik2667-k8N05Ilg9Ge7M9LNNlMvaNxRoC-hUzhD1EzhDfVu1qfidbQE_eI-zXhd4MOo7h96Fn8rCodCSLb3mlKXs4OdS1WEV1s3awh2RElfft-wb0abNhih-yTllr/w320-h400/bassssss.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Canadians Chris Johnston 7th & Gallant 8</b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>th!</b></span><p></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">BASS Press Release</b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">MANY, La. —</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOaGZcxWB5hrBy9PutgdnVz151hcBrZAp0sZMZ73oGKehA-3D-3DRol2_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5BHMV8CNhrYf-2BoIEqfFxhjukzkE3TG7m-2BUlflFcI3-2B76MSu1a-2Bs23CEzq70qbiy4U-2FwmlTxnqEW4Oe9OeGu78tTP9D2ONgCVAxCPGyPvCDnYatFUGnZ4Ty6whg9atQSO8yW0WfwjJ7-2FJmMIh-2FCvzdzU-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw0IKbfsYX0Zms3SeUi_-5TW" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOaGZcxWB5hrBy9PutgdnVz151hcBrZAp0sZMZ73oGKehA-3D-3DRol2_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5BHMV8CNhrYf-2BoIEqfFxhjukzkE3TG7m-2BUlflFcI3-2B76MSu1a-2Bs23CEzq70qbiy4U-2FwmlTxnqEW4Oe9OeGu78tTP9D2ONgCVAxCPGyPvCDnYatFUGnZ4Ty6whg9atQSO8yW0WfwjJ7-2FJmMIh-2FCvzdzU-3D" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Kyoya Fujita</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">’s ultimate goal for 2024 is to win the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYqqzgEkI17RFwtnIUqOzy9MLAp_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5I4S5C-2BOAfDcdb49-2Fla8ckq0RJyxk8funPo9OdNjHPg6gE90IEydpGQQXA4jxR3bQI9OEHK59nD05Xb56r-2F-2BI5ul-2BAClgHB1IdY2NJg-2B-2BRFY5WlVAhomToiHy3EGS3-2BjJTYSo2Fti8ZRZUaeO1KmQss-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw3BFTy2R3pVEa-zUe_SqvY5" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYqqzgEkI17RFwtnIUqOzy9MLAp_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5I4S5C-2BOAfDcdb49-2Fla8ckq0RJyxk8funPo9OdNjHPg6gE90IEydpGQQXA4jxR3bQI9OEHK59nD05Xb56r-2F-2BI5ul-2BAClgHB1IdY2NJg-2B-2BRFY5WlVAhomToiHy3EGS3-2BjJTYSo2Fti8ZRZUaeO1KmQss-3D" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">award.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Winning the first tournament of the season is certainly an impressive way to start that campaign.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With 100 pounds, 13 ounces, Fujita claimed the victory at the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKQQFxMoEP4QkayHzwKRc9QHUoBC_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5INTcwcHG45-2Fj51Q52aa70Y2NKXlSRHlOvY7H1ozHnfe78HefUcr0wA1BfZckyFY9BTcAczrH0FjQ-2BX7z22tUbiq6U-2Bj4-2FPXp5cK7OoMn26X02nFYrPInj-2FVoQxLQQ8ec2bILWpkHuO9rmnLU7gDT9Q-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw34_h6tZPzL05hYXHJl45XQ" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKQQFxMoEP4QkayHzwKRc9QHUoBC_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5INTcwcHG45-2Fj51Q52aa70Y2NKXlSRHlOvY7H1ozHnfe78HefUcr0wA1BfZckyFY9BTcAczrH0FjQ-2BX7z22tUbiq6U-2Bj4-2FPXp5cK7OoMn26X02nFYrPInj-2FVoQxLQQ8ec2bILWpkHuO9rmnLU7gDT9Q-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend</a>. Along with the coveted century belt — an exclusive award given only to those who catch at least 100 pounds of bass in a four-day event — the Elite Series sophomore earned the $100,000 top prize and a blue trophy. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I was surprised,” Fujita said with the assistance of a translator. “I am looking to make every Championship Sunday this season. But winning tournaments are really hard things to do. I have been champion in Japan, but I know how hard it is to do. I’m happy with how it worked out. It’s a very good start.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Entering the day 6 pounds behind Wisconsin pro <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYjVqveafpzr6ysUinHFKPCL3JJPbUR52bbeY8C6NUU5A-3D-3D7jc4_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5AdXzAk7BIpimWVzBwnSPTRxrwYDRmA4UfrVK16BEUHyuTF6fhONodMpegzBmR7NyDgyCdsB4bC8bMPQhwX-2B0GgvMaaNJwzwvN1PyV3P9EW4m4AVlHNYGWUpC-2BYrgqESkTYlhFY6r2gyfooNcSgxKFQ-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw3LcL4zaAekie6vgCBspIki" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYjVqveafpzr6ysUinHFKPCL3JJPbUR52bbeY8C6NUU5A-3D-3D7jc4_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5AdXzAk7BIpimWVzBwnSPTRxrwYDRmA4UfrVK16BEUHyuTF6fhONodMpegzBmR7NyDgyCdsB4bC8bMPQhwX-2B0GgvMaaNJwzwvN1PyV3P9EW4m4AVlHNYGWUpC-2BYrgqESkTYlhFY6r2gyfooNcSgxKFQ-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Pat Schlapper</a>, Fujita made a furious comeback in the final round by catching 28-13 — a bag almost entirely made up of 6-pounders and a total he wasn’t expecting after struggling the previous day.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I thought there was a chance for me to win if Pat caught only 16 or 17 pounds and I could catch 22 or 23 pounds,” Fujita said. “If I can locate the bass, I am confident I can catch those bass. In my brain, my tactics, my fishing and my heart, I believe in myself.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This win only adds reinforces his hard-earned nickname “Prince of Japanese Angling.” This is Fujita’s second Elite Series title in 10 events, with the first coming at Lake Champlain last August. Before coming to America, he won four Angler of the Year titles in Japan as well as six major tournaments.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Most of the week, Fujita stayed in one offshore spot in the mouth of Housen Bay and targeted prespawn bass suspended in deep standing timber. As the fishing pressure from Elite anglers and locals began to build, the bite began to suffer.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When that spot began to fizzle on Day 3, he moved to the creek right above Housen and caught suspended bass in 10 feet of water using his forward-facing sonar in the mouth of that creek. That spot produced multiple 6-pounders the final two days, several of which he believed to be postspawners.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I practiced there and found some 3-pounders, but nothing special,” he said. “I think because of the wind situation (on Day 4), the bass came up there.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In both areas, Fujita used a Jackall Drift Fry and a Deps Sakamata Shad and rigged them on either a 1/8-ounce or 3/16-ounce Keitech Super Round Jighead. When he located a bass on Garmin LiveScope, he would cast to it and then lightly shake the bait in front of the bass until it bit.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He rigged both baits on a 6-foot, 5-inch medium-light Daiwa Steez Real Control spinning rod paired with a Daiwa Exist reel which he spooled with 30-pound Daiwa braid main line and 16-pound fluorocarbon leader.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fujita took the lead on Day 1 by catching 31-3 — a five-bass limit that earned him $2,000 for as the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament. He fell to second after a Day 2 bag of 24-3 and then to third after catching 16-10 on Day 3.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">During his Day 3 struggles, however, Fujita caught a late 6-pounder that pointed him in the right direction for Championship Sunday.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fujita returned to his primary spot to open the final round — and while there weren’t many bass left in the area, he started the morning by landing a 6- and 5-pounder in the first two hours. He caught two more keepers in that area, but he could not manufacture another bite.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I caught four nice ones at the first main area,” Fujita said. “There weren’t many bass this morning either, but there were less boats. Nobody was fishing around me. So, I was able to see them. When I saw the four big fish, I caught all of them. I didn’t fish for the smaller ones. After I caught those four, I didn’t see anything.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After mid-morning, Fujita made a move to his secondary spot and landed another 6-pounder to fill his limit. His day only got better from there as he landed several more 6-pounders in the last three hours to seal his victory.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">South Carolina pro <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOb1kTZJ-2FOYzrLfqXrVFLFDU46tyeVip-2FUkHiV2Owd4lYw-3D-3DUItL_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5LaSkAp6DP5lwQimhl623vxdXG8vCXok-2BlS65W7LGhwGEgetx91TRtr75Elbv3ITzdE4ALSvQetDauDwrSkFhcUWDpYpqvxPa6wM6U7NFsnLRQlfS24SKFyndzELi7B-2FEilZyFZgUKd0GMP3RsWWJR0-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw0FJ9MQcXppqgOkVrGHYgIG" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOb1kTZJ-2FOYzrLfqXrVFLFDU46tyeVip-2FUkHiV2Owd4lYw-3D-3DUItL_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5LaSkAp6DP5lwQimhl623vxdXG8vCXok-2BlS65W7LGhwGEgetx91TRtr75Elbv3ITzdE4ALSvQetDauDwrSkFhcUWDpYpqvxPa6wM6U7NFsnLRQlfS24SKFyndzELi7B-2FEilZyFZgUKd0GMP3RsWWJR0-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Patrick Walters</a> caught 29-0, the biggest bag of the final day, to jump into second place with a four-day total of 95-15. He anchored his big Sunday bag with an 8-4 largemouth that claimed Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Walters opened the tournament with 19-11 before bringing 30-5 and 16-5 to the scales on Days 2 and 3. While a good start to his season, he had mixed feelings about the way the final day unfolded.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“It started out slow,” he said. “It took all day long. I caught my biggest one on my last cast. It was one here and one there and it took forever. But I had the bites to crack the biggest bag I’ve ever had in my life. I lost two hammers — two absolute giants — and a 4-pounder. I’m happy with the start, though.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Using forward-facing sonar, Walters focused on a major creek channel and searched for bass in a wide area. The key was keeping the trolling motor down and covering water until he saw something he liked. A 3/16-ounce Damiki rig with a Fluke-style bait and a Neko-rigged Zoom Magnum Swamp Crawler were his key baits.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I wouldn’t pick my trolling motor up for 5 miles,” Walters said. “I would follow the creek channel and then move to the flat. I would move to wherever I thought they were going.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Entering the final day with the lead, Schlapper fell to third with a four-day total of 93-8 after landing just 14-14 on Sunday. The Wisconsin pro had three great days, landing 27-4 on Day 1 before adding 28-5 and 22-7 the next two days.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I knew I was in trouble when I didn’t catch a couple good ones early,” he said. “It is what it is. I ran out of bass and didn’t adjust.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Schlapper spent most of his time this week fishing the deep edge of a grass flat in Housen Bay. The majority of the bass he caught this week were roaming between 10 and 30 feet of water. While he combed a large area, Schlapper keyed on one particular sweet spot that produced multiple big bites each of the first three days.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“There was a drain that went in, a little gap they were funneling into,” he said. “The majority of the big ones I caught were within a 100 yards of the mouth of that drain. I think those bass were either in the grass or timber and would come out to that edge and sun themselves. All of the big ones I caught were up high in the water column, like 10 feet down.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He caught almost every bass this week using a Damiki rig with a Queen Tackle tungsten jighead and a minnow-style bait. Garmin LiveScope was an important contributor as well. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Schlapper said he did not see nearly as many bass as he’d seen the previous three days. The quality bass he did see on his forward-facing sonar did not bite. With a small limit and time running out, he punted and moved to a shallow grass flat and caught several nice bass with a bladed jig to salvage the day.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fujita took the early lead in the Angler of the Year standings with 103 points, followed by Walters in second with 102. Schlapper is third with 101 points, followed by Tennessee rookie <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZVBI1DUCnam5Mqdny8Aw52lZefE8gwecZopSjdpcyavw-3D-3DkETc_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5DJYDL-2BGpRvXo-2FYIr96r1cOzFehZh476TPTJHiHlMVVuvQZFjSuzgW8jU7QJkBwMr6UT6C7bmZj8Ri53LscOE0dANRn0Rcs5y9p39It5UyIYjC3g6xgCNbtP2ZUSpq5wqqdxI8GN5DUtMXuSWzvb9Xs-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw2jXYa6ougxH10KVmUF369f" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZVBI1DUCnam5Mqdny8Aw52lZefE8gwecZopSjdpcyavw-3D-3DkETc_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5DJYDL-2BGpRvXo-2FYIr96r1cOzFehZh476TPTJHiHlMVVuvQZFjSuzgW8jU7QJkBwMr6UT6C7bmZj8Ri53LscOE0dANRn0Rcs5y9p39It5UyIYjC3g6xgCNbtP2ZUSpq5wqqdxI8GN5DUtMXuSWzvb9Xs-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Robert Gee</a> in fourth with 100 and Texas rookie <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZ4LzuL6i7AQ3FIVTDsx8b-2FiO0jHEQ3IRFQbxsM6aFcCQ-3D-3DxicR_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5HWMcfbNfTlv5bdirWtKQ1amQcByutEqS1rsMxfGAwYMB-2B4vo75srF1M-2F6mAk07ZSkM5Ht9ILY68tlh0m9lG26b5G3i5hdA1LSAe1P109vkPHm7aoWrQ6E-2BQkLN7AMKzwmljPG-2Bfg6qj1F0y0tG6wGY-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw3Rb8QHwTjaaLF_LMPK9XvR" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZ4LzuL6i7AQ3FIVTDsx8b-2FiO0jHEQ3IRFQbxsM6aFcCQ-3D-3DxicR_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5HWMcfbNfTlv5bdirWtKQ1amQcByutEqS1rsMxfGAwYMB-2B4vo75srF1M-2F6mAk07ZSkM5Ht9ILY68tlh0m9lG26b5G3i5hdA1LSAe1P109vkPHm7aoWrQ6E-2BQkLN7AMKzwmljPG-2Bfg6qj1F0y0tG6wGY-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Ben Milliken</a> in fifth with 99.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Gee and Milliken sit atop the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOa0AP7ThOR4S8W-2FYDzgoOfOhaduHX3zubOYsTV75X4dSQ-3D-3DfKCa_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5Ne6s5l4AeLZJeecSwQYUrjs7riB6sScXi5KpUSQ-2FtuDPz-2Bb8rB2-2B-2BxVmiqKsyG3ORCkEO1VN4yYfH43P4rlMr3gwW5jJc70eR-2BRhtaxePgdTmDwQiKdE2iDfb7BEzhgjhFqnhh39-2B2f4TfShRW9N0Y-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw3Wkg0P2UpzN1jbUseY5w5C" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOa0AP7ThOR4S8W-2FYDzgoOfOhaduHX3zubOYsTV75X4dSQ-3D-3DfKCa_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5Ne6s5l4AeLZJeecSwQYUrjs7riB6sScXi5KpUSQ-2FtuDPz-2Bb8rB2-2B-2BxVmiqKsyG3ORCkEO1VN4yYfH43P4rlMr3gwW5jJc70eR-2BRhtaxePgdTmDwQiKdE2iDfb7BEzhgjhFqnhh39-2B2f4TfShRW9N0Y-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year</a> standings, followed by Alabama’s <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZkqrZyFtiTK9NGMs1upVGgeOhGvIlB7mImY-2BLQAjkoQg-3D-3DHeHX_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5DUefOAJTPZnPOnyrL8hIjJbbxTHrhnOmoA77skW-2B9qay-2BJstAppHETndXscsRDtkSw2mv5FVirWSPjaFYfEqIg5XIoImS-2FOnoufa-2FvKZhRLCeMJkEzNsJ6G3K9T0Ykds43hxec9xVAD4bVIUM8eGy0-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw0u8COtjxcZVim3RGmSibYR" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZkqrZyFtiTK9NGMs1upVGgeOhGvIlB7mImY-2BLQAjkoQg-3D-3DHeHX_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5DUefOAJTPZnPOnyrL8hIjJbbxTHrhnOmoA77skW-2B9qay-2BJstAppHETndXscsRDtkSw2mv5FVirWSPjaFYfEqIg5XIoImS-2FOnoufa-2FvKZhRLCeMJkEzNsJ6G3K9T0Ykds43hxec9xVAD4bVIUM8eGy0-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Wesley Gore</a> in third with 93 points, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYTmkcT8Kh-2F2il6yXr8j-2F5Sg5f6bMp2wNduPJ1xm1OnUw-3D-3D1i9h_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5Pm3jk-2F00KUsMmJpVUwtwkdZ6O-2BYgu0pwlKDyNqu54encjW24-2FYTX4XagvSEC0JTSnTuFygnKNWE-2BMXAYc4o6eUMk2ivROQsEYWQeg3vPY8QLjVa3xnJMC2ut4FdEP51YCzUFVKpTZ04EV5LIINly9s-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw1R935JkuqaNvygnCv3yes6" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYTmkcT8Kh-2F2il6yXr8j-2F5Sg5f6bMp2wNduPJ1xm1OnUw-3D-3D1i9h_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5Pm3jk-2F00KUsMmJpVUwtwkdZ6O-2BYgu0pwlKDyNqu54encjW24-2FYTX4XagvSEC0JTSnTuFygnKNWE-2BMXAYc4o6eUMk2ivROQsEYWQeg3vPY8QLjVa3xnJMC2ut4FdEP51YCzUFVKpTZ04EV5LIINly9s-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Trey McKinney</a> of Illinois in fourth with 92 and Maine’s <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYduOBgyVQGLG0zrqLp7fjXOCqPOv6YmaxFfi-2B-2BbQZw-2Fw-3D-3DF5QR_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5NkRtwfkiltUPFtKLqbMmIFThG-2FY705xPJjMm6rnXMXyH-2FLSy0iarlY5Hz1-2FqvfkbXql2fVK2WIcRk-2BU1itHCNzsQrpnu62nEFA6waR7w4v2hOdLuVgm3OGO26OkxSiLdF-2FBqEqpi2lHD8OMHzCXyvU-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888564000&usg=AOvVaw1vhNu6QWzzwPV9RqtFE26k" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYduOBgyVQGLG0zrqLp7fjXOCqPOv6YmaxFfi-2B-2BbQZw-2Fw-3D-3DF5QR_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5NkRtwfkiltUPFtKLqbMmIFThG-2FY705xPJjMm6rnXMXyH-2FLSy0iarlY5Hz1-2FqvfkbXql2fVK2WIcRk-2BU1itHCNzsQrpnu62nEFA6waR7w4v2hOdLuVgm3OGO26OkxSiLdF-2FBqEqpi2lHD8OMHzCXyvU-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Tyler Williams</a> in fifth with 85.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">South Carolina’s <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObqx107iv04eCVnNEocKrfmXI9ORqMgiAlL6KzhLDUKzw-3D-3DhUDy_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5FZSHNa-2BW7UYlY7tA5F4r0BKJjj-2B-2BbHVXbBqqEMprqDYg1uMn4wa1wn5Vt7MZiZ-2BJMtA3tZECyKYIZqdMp3ojXvZO3RnNDP1LJH2FgE0U-2FW7xzdGrkLB0G0CshOcmg1xhbW6FELJbfS82PyjOr-2F8Pcc-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888565000&usg=AOvVaw0aCfczBic4yqYKFP9q3s8E" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObqx107iv04eCVnNEocKrfmXI9ORqMgiAlL6KzhLDUKzw-3D-3DhUDy_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5FZSHNa-2BW7UYlY7tA5F4r0BKJjj-2B-2BbHVXbBqqEMprqDYg1uMn4wa1wn5Vt7MZiZ-2BJMtA3tZECyKYIZqdMp3ojXvZO3RnNDP1LJH2FgE0U-2FW7xzdGrkLB0G0CshOcmg1xhbW6FELJbfS82PyjOr-2F8Pcc-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Bryan New</a> earned a total of $3,000 for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament, a 9-8 largemouth he landed on Day 1.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Virginia pro <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYe8-2F3kViz-2FAa9v-2BryNchJCGH5xVkTf4PIILdnS5gnRlg-3D-3D7Ypz_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5Gdgwz-2BiT7wUDj6zvT-2F6obmCbVIluCGOFdlH-2FRza0tVzbH6kcPwV-2BWO-2BoXJzuUxZKrOco7XmqTh9G-2FG5dRvPPxEg0eP0TOzoMGDZunyZYVIq4JLmyl5dZer1XkR32IFfEu2fAIm2NIG-2BDsS38-2FRiwUM-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888565000&usg=AOvVaw26rApx9lhLTwP6dgXJ3vkT" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYe8-2F3kViz-2FAa9v-2BryNchJCGH5xVkTf4PIILdnS5gnRlg-3D-3D7Ypz_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5Gdgwz-2BiT7wUDj6zvT-2F6obmCbVIluCGOFdlH-2FRza0tVzbH6kcPwV-2BWO-2BoXJzuUxZKrOco7XmqTh9G-2FG5dRvPPxEg0eP0TOzoMGDZunyZYVIq4JLmyl5dZer1XkR32IFfEu2fAIm2NIG-2BDsS38-2FRiwUM-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Ed Loughran III</a> took home the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency bonus for most accurate weight recording this week.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fujita earned an extra $4,000 for the Yamaha Power Pay contingency award while Walters earned a $2,500 bonus.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Oklahoma pro <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYV-2FBmaMs1UKq-2FbESexGACx5gdxa03EWhPzwUwhvvomWg-3D-3D9RXY_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5K36XN2gTnKqzB9BOvGmjba6kc6IsFRYos8QpwD-2FlpsGHd3yzVCGq3XI4h0X70UoEF1w1UGVS-2BqYDMzebg2c4PUHytVAdELZPVhKl8-2B6d2TsxetiC3njAZpiLcsU6tf9GimrXvcaNudld8ea8uZvNIg-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888565000&usg=AOvVaw3McIX783r3dlc9H-OteooH" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYV-2FBmaMs1UKq-2FbESexGACx5gdxa03EWhPzwUwhvvomWg-3D-3D9RXY_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5K36XN2gTnKqzB9BOvGmjba6kc6IsFRYos8QpwD-2FlpsGHd3yzVCGq3XI4h0X70UoEF1w1UGVS-2BqYDMzebg2c4PUHytVAdELZPVhKl8-2B6d2TsxetiC3njAZpiLcsU6tf9GimrXvcaNudld8ea8uZvNIg-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Luke Palmer</a> earned $3,000 in Toyota Bonus Bucks, while rookie McKinney earned $2,000 in Bonus Bucks.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The event was hosted by <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUVkq2iXyVm-2FSg7qUeUHmIq7QNqoLjeX-2Fz-2F1zoKK-2Fc-2FDR83xbLNIogkacHnP6T1tI-2Blbi2jVWsL3iUVa9DukhzMUdpHerAlDbcuvkM2i9VMHVFeUa_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5HZ-2B3iuMfxGEe2x-2FKt67wFd4AlRlQ0aEZykcu4y4tsFX7VlHHgYqzxd50Q2ll6hYVWc6T3BH5uGm-2BqgZOqUuwMVOVZ80zxUoj84w-2FXjM9LV0bWvTAhNHW-2Fff0GU4bWl346awBluhm0BAKCsP7-2FzNbnc-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708997888565000&usg=AOvVaw2POrw0AJcncP_3NSLsp14k" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUVkq2iXyVm-2FSg7qUeUHmIq7QNqoLjeX-2Fz-2F1zoKK-2Fc-2FDR83xbLNIogkacHnP6T1tI-2Blbi2jVWsL3iUVa9DukhzMUdpHerAlDbcuvkM2i9VMHVFeUa_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDkyEIz0hYHQZ5Wx1dR-2FJ2ntQB04-2BVZJGilurWa78pTvo6Oz5CQ6AWXLTkpcvJoN43Rbn7wfDS93OSJ3iiqnT-2F5HZ-2B3iuMfxGEe2x-2FKt67wFd4AlRlQ0aEZykcu4y4tsFX7VlHHgYqzxd50Q2ll6hYVWc6T3BH5uGm-2BqgZOqUuwMVOVZ80zxUoj84w-2FXjM9LV0bWvTAhNHW-2Fff0GU4bWl346awBluhm0BAKCsP7-2FzNbnc-3D" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Toledo Bend Lake Country</a> and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.</span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-27471897873008540462024-02-24T20:50:00.001-05:002024-02-24T20:50:21.521-05:002024 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend Day 3: Schlapper Retains Lead!<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b style="color: #042948; font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Canadians Chris Johnston 7th, </b></span></span><b style="color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gallant 9th, </b><b style="color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cory Johnston 13th & Gustafson 23rd. </b></p><p><b style="color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92x1JhOzV19hLOyFPt0qTfmPTUhyphenhyphenahfmvYjyz9tShxjaNT9NOaGCXnE3R9r0WsIZ0rl9UbfcF13flxqBQ_d6kgYNOhZtcUq7FT6vO7167rqn3C2qrXdg8yEBU4bPXkvlfgfADuJ32gmEVd2aDMIV1GrWEIPjWrM9my7PW-jw4A7jpsBEJfHTdzOnyFV9r/s960/basss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92x1JhOzV19hLOyFPt0qTfmPTUhyphenhyphenahfmvYjyz9tShxjaNT9NOaGCXnE3R9r0WsIZ0rl9UbfcF13flxqBQ_d6kgYNOhZtcUq7FT6vO7167rqn3C2qrXdg8yEBU4bPXkvlfgfADuJ32gmEVd2aDMIV1GrWEIPjWrM9my7PW-jw4A7jpsBEJfHTdzOnyFV9r/w400-h266/basss.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><em>Wisconsin's Pat Schlapper maintains the lead on Day 3 of the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend with a total of 78 pounds. (Photo: BASS/Andy Crawford) </em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">BASS Press Release</b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">MANY, La. — Before this week,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYjVqveafpzr6ysUinHFKPCL3JJPbUR52bbeY8C6NUU5A-3D-3Dvpy__cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBtHzUQ-2FJHuuHpBH-2FMDtofPvns3RaHuNGQFEn9kD4LDwtK08lBY5d79y-2FE0COLrUexbnI27WT1lwasPxyvIahhHFqJqWm6zeTEfmGSH1x2s9bZna1W4tIKrF7AWSRX5276S4oCAVqPv4lZ4mPaSM2jMo-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719765000&usg=AOvVaw0bJy1fQRBMH3bZBf0mJ2qp" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYjVqveafpzr6ysUinHFKPCL3JJPbUR52bbeY8C6NUU5A-3D-3Dvpy__cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBtHzUQ-2FJHuuHpBH-2FMDtofPvns3RaHuNGQFEn9kD4LDwtK08lBY5d79y-2FE0COLrUexbnI27WT1lwasPxyvIahhHFqJqWm6zeTEfmGSH1x2s9bZna1W4tIKrF7AWSRX5276S4oCAVqPv4lZ4mPaSM2jMo-3D" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Pat Schlapper</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">had never led a day of Bassmaster Elite Series competition. The Wisconsin pro has now led two-straight days of the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKQQFxMoEP4QkayHzwKRc9QHb0lZ_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBliXbQhwLvgn9l82c-2B9y1QofDjLLxqi1WD61es6973-2FAQ7elAXo7Q8QqS3PJIF63iWAKHo3zwxITohTF-2FDKh0Pb7t636gfzc-2F7mz7klK9MR9jIqNeX1-2BWkOKHaDd-2FFqGB0rtGn-2BcXcLXU5sDQV7vUXw-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719765000&usg=AOvVaw0jgV0zXu3BKDxmsbh25d55" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKQQFxMoEP4QkayHzwKRc9QHb0lZ_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBliXbQhwLvgn9l82c-2B9y1QofDjLLxqi1WD61es6973-2FAQ7elAXo7Q8QqS3PJIF63iWAKHo3zwxITohTF-2FDKh0Pb7t636gfzc-2F7mz7klK9MR9jIqNeX1-2BWkOKHaDd-2FFqGB0rtGn-2BcXcLXU5sDQV7vUXw-3D" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and will hold the pole position heading into Championship Sunday with a three-day total of 78 pounds.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Schlapper caught 22 pounds, 7 ounces on Day 3 to add to his 27-4 and 28-5 marks from the first two days. Japanese pro <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOaGZcxWB5hrBy9PutgdnVz151hcBrZAp0sZMZ73oGKehA-3D-3DBGAM_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBv5soyIbR-2B3iVYZKEJUViGkcQC-2Fix1MRdny7PEQloZ-2BgvLo63fosbWQYWFP7tu3WsoD43CRMA-2BHq5ftMW0mcrGo7fU0hjzihNx9z6g7SM-2FG6rTpFXcWGFOY0Dc5niAWgLoZjiSXq17xFF-2FRBdwF7UjE-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719765000&usg=AOvVaw3DZ-cNAzif3bGLtMZaEcU2" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOaGZcxWB5hrBy9PutgdnVz151hcBrZAp0sZMZ73oGKehA-3D-3DBGAM_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBv5soyIbR-2B3iVYZKEJUViGkcQC-2Fix1MRdny7PEQloZ-2BgvLo63fosbWQYWFP7tu3WsoD43CRMA-2BHq5ftMW0mcrGo7fU0hjzihNx9z6g7SM-2FG6rTpFXcWGFOY0Dc5niAWgLoZjiSXq17xFF-2FRBdwF7UjE-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Kyoya Fujita</a> follows in second with 72-0 and Tennessee rookie <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZVBI1DUCnam5Mqdny8Aw52lZefE8gwecZopSjdpcyavw-3D-3DRr5t_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBs1rh0i-2BhWFpATiCY-2FWFzMUCHterdKeIQ18n53ymSr4AvA9Wwh-2Fvg1hX5gJFGOMlEpvopgq5jORmP7tmNQfguwfzWG1keegjP-2F18tjJARncepvB7pqaCuz0SoktJxZpVKszK9LP2BP6EffkoG7rPMUU-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719765000&usg=AOvVaw0XLKGnfoHfqFBs745V8Ddq" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZVBI1DUCnam5Mqdny8Aw52lZefE8gwecZopSjdpcyavw-3D-3DRr5t_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBs1rh0i-2BhWFpATiCY-2FWFzMUCHterdKeIQ18n53ymSr4AvA9Wwh-2Fvg1hX5gJFGOMlEpvopgq5jORmP7tmNQfguwfzWG1keegjP-2F18tjJARncepvB7pqaCuz0SoktJxZpVKszK9LP2BP6EffkoG7rPMUU-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Robert Gee</a> is third with 69-7. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“I’m very thankful to have the bag I got. I worked hard for it. I’m happy to be in the position to have a chance,” Schlapper said. “It feels really good. I want to win so badly. It is so hard to get into a position to win.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“Last year, I had one opportunity on Seminole and I had a bad first day. So, I’m trying to concentrate and fish to the best of my ability and win. That is all that’s in my mind.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Throughout the week, Schlapper has targeted bass roaming offshore on a warming Toledo Bend using his Garmin LiveScope, with one particular spot producing the bulk of his weight. He found that spot during his pre-fishing trip last month and then dialed in an exact pattern during practice this week.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The majority of his bass have been caught on one bait in 15 to 30 feet of water.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“Where I am at, a lot of fish are just passing through there,” he said. “So, every day I see new fish. I don’t think I’ve casted at the same fish in three days. They are constantly moving around, or they’re buried in the grass and then come out.”<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Each day has gotten tougher for Schlapper. Not only has the amount of local pressure increased in the area, the bass are also in transition as sunny skies and air temperatures over 70 degrees in the afternoons have warmed the waters.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">As the tournament has progressed, though, he has put more pressure on his best area.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“I’ve had a sweet spot the whole time, but I didn’t want people to know exactly where it was,” he said. “But today I had to really saturate it. There were so many high school anglers and competitors out there. I had to hang out there today, which paid off because I got two big ones.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“The majority of my big ones have been in that couple-100-yard area.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">By milking that sweet spot, Schlapper was able to generate bites early on Semifinal Saturday. He filled his limit and caught his two biggest bass, including a 6-pounder, before 9 a.m. From there, the bite slowed tremendously as the fishing pressure increased.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“It started out decent,” Schlapper said. “I was able to get a couple good ones pretty early and secure a decent limit to where I knew I was going to make the cut. From there, I picked one up here and there. I got one key cull at the end of the day and lost a really big one.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">With the idea that new bass are moving through every day, Schlapper will be all in on his primary area on the final day. He has other spots where he feels he can catch a bass, but none that have produced as many big bites.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Although he has a sizable lead, the three-time qualifier for the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeMODYoXruaHkl2OhmaD94EFj4tRqMqB-2FeyrnqfrZAkOcU-3DFTGR_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBi-2FpCopr1-2F-2FHZ2jhCYknxt4ARIMWOf23CgMFL2ZAXPEwvCvSbntoVfUG6h2iHTi-2B07Tr5rkp6kqsIk8mX-2BwpmsPK0XY88prf-2BTQgE7dUrmVbbEG6h9OpJPK-2F15HI7r224RXLSqvTEo9IN1YECKCTzkI-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719766000&usg=AOvVaw0rgC-5_JhO4P9Kt2hMMSgb" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeMODYoXruaHkl2OhmaD94EFj4tRqMqB-2FeyrnqfrZAkOcU-3DFTGR_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBi-2FpCopr1-2F-2FHZ2jhCYknxt4ARIMWOf23CgMFL2ZAXPEwvCvSbntoVfUG6h2iHTi-2B07Tr5rkp6kqsIk8mX-2BwpmsPK0XY88prf-2BTQgE7dUrmVbbEG6h9OpJPK-2F15HI7r224RXLSqvTEo9IN1YECKCTzkI-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors</a> feels he needs 25 pounds to secure his first Elite Series victory.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“If that area doesn’t produce, we are going to be hurting,” Schlapper said. “I’m 100% committed and I knew that coming into the tournament. I didn’t want any other thought in my mind. If I’m going to win this tournament, this is what I have to do.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">After leading on Day 1 with 31-3 — the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament to this point — Fujita caught 24-3 on Day 2 before stumbling Saturday with 16-10. Most of the week, the four-time Japanese Angler of the Year has targeted one area of standing timber. He has caught the majority of his bass on a Jackall Drift Fry using after identifying them on Garmin LiveScope.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">On Saturday, Fujita returned to his primary spot but did not see the numbers of bass he had witnessed the first two days. The colder morning, along with an increase in fishing pressure around him, contributed to this tough day.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“Changes in lake condition (also). I find many fish in practice. But today, no fish,” he said. “I went to same area, many boat area, in the morning.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">At 10 a.m., Fujita began searching for new bass and slowly worked his way to a limit. His final bass of the day was a 6-pounder, which came from an offshore area he found during his practice period.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“I hit 10 spots today, but no fish,” he said. “In the afternoon, I catch a 6-pounder in a new area. Six-pounder spot, (I will) try tomorrow.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">With a big deficit to overcome, Fujita believes he needs a minimum of 25 pounds to have a shot at his second Elite Series title.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In his first-ever Elite event, Gee qualified for Championship Sunday with bags of 29-0, 22-10 and 17-13. He has bounced back and forth between offshore areas this week, using a Crock-O-Gator Slide Shad. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“It is wild. I never expected to make (the final day),” he said. “I had a gut feeling I might have a good tournament because before I got down here, everything that could go wrong was going wrong. My trailer messed up on the way down here and I had to fix it for four hours on the side of the highway. But it happened for me (on the water) this week. I hope I have one more blessed day.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“Hopefully I can bring in 30 pounds tomorrow. That would be cool.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Day 3 started well for Gee as he caught a limit in the first 45 minutes. From there, Gee went through his rotation of six or seven areas, but only found bass in two or three of them.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“They are definitely leaving where I am fishing,” he said. “I am going to have to make a change,” he said. “It was a pretty tough day, especially this evening. I didn’t see very many and they were hard to hit.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">With bass leaving his areas, and water temperatures over 60 degrees in places, Gee believes he will have to move shallow at some point Sunday to have a shot at victory. He has an idea of where the bass he was targeting early in the week are going next.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Wisconsin’s <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYlvE7YM4xZLN-2BknMU4CsvBdj7oqmcfEcDLMpHjFHIP2Q-3D-3Dni_y_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBmCXlKkvhq2e2vrnY-2FVDr3GyG-2FQAc-2BEyhECzJ6wvklBuZfLzwFnO9ELeBHVDj4mBiZUZs0jClMWC03vndUld3tFsQ3YrV8XS7ZYjL13QzyxOfpTkcwrmlY6XhNHZHFnFHxceB-2BxcO9W-2BigkwOOOW7j4-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719766000&usg=AOvVaw2EQLgYTBeksun568oMi2Li" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYlvE7YM4xZLN-2BknMU4CsvBdj7oqmcfEcDLMpHjFHIP2Q-3D-3Dni_y_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBmCXlKkvhq2e2vrnY-2FVDr3GyG-2FQAc-2BEyhECzJ6wvklBuZfLzwFnO9ELeBHVDj4mBiZUZs0jClMWC03vndUld3tFsQ3YrV8XS7ZYjL13QzyxOfpTkcwrmlY6XhNHZHFnFHxceB-2BxcO9W-2BigkwOOOW7j4-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Jay Przekurat</a> caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 7-15 largemouth. But South Carolina pro <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObqx107iv04eCVnNEocKrfmXI9ORqMgiAlL6KzhLDUKzw-3D-3Dk0YT_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBqQQgk519d7tmBEoAvoAziMXGD8jM7xlzCfPHNIYIpmWIb1VpeUHhG7duaBl6uhQoXLlPKMxHfKGZEMFIrczG9-2B3DVO91-2BFLJIOCYrV0-2Fc-2Bz5-2FcO0DyN2BQj08sRgJjBDaFy46QUtN4qQRalgpQWzjM-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719766000&usg=AOvVaw21rT4FjE9KHLYDAlh-D1ue" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObqx107iv04eCVnNEocKrfmXI9ORqMgiAlL6KzhLDUKzw-3D-3Dk0YT_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBqQQgk519d7tmBEoAvoAziMXGD8jM7xlzCfPHNIYIpmWIb1VpeUHhG7duaBl6uhQoXLlPKMxHfKGZEMFIrczG9-2B3DVO91-2BFLJIOCYrV0-2Fc-2Bz5-2FcO0DyN2BQj08sRgJjBDaFy46QUtN4qQRalgpQWzjM-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Bryan New</a> still holds the lead in the race for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament with the 9-8 largemouth he landed on Day 1.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Top 10 remaining anglers will launch from Cypress Bend Park beginning at 7 a.m. CT Sunday and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The winner will earn a coveted blue trophy and the $100,000 top prize. All anglers are earning points toward the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYqqzgEkI17RFwtnIUqOzy9AHcA_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBvjF64haHiCDoLEWJKBbcoshLmV1k3RWURZJMjkCwuCI0lTKRE1IHUn62WTzMQwZmroOAlYgEqk0tU6yVQC-2B7IElv3ZmHRA5MS-2FvQHPlWjwwqym1iQinBDxrPheGZRSBEgKXAN9KzEL07e3MUvc4yIk-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719766000&usg=AOvVaw2whmugo4j1_KZ_0HQTwXou" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYqqzgEkI17RFwtnIUqOzy9AHcA_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBvjF64haHiCDoLEWJKBbcoshLmV1k3RWURZJMjkCwuCI0lTKRE1IHUn62WTzMQwZmroOAlYgEqk0tU6yVQC-2B7IElv3ZmHRA5MS-2FvQHPlWjwwqym1iQinBDxrPheGZRSBEgKXAN9KzEL07e3MUvc4yIk-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year</a> race.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Bassmaster LIVE will be available on FS1 on Sunday from 7-10 a.m. CT before moving to <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYuR064SbgVW5tCjivGnCnd1wjI_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBibNa5p-2BYvR4CVunEF4vYaR2OUNqISIb9XbA-2FHRS4ECp8xisSLXVveim2kAEcSqtPNZ9kas8MBf4eaK30U95oH51RCEmQ0dvqemoWIR01B3BJglf4sq88Mo0yvAYwnV4AwmvC-2F4ibp3v0-2F00FXkmVYQ-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719766000&usg=AOvVaw2ScBf6HtevDwHEgITPQXfM" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYuR064SbgVW5tCjivGnCnd1wjI_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBibNa5p-2BYvR4CVunEF4vYaR2OUNqISIb9XbA-2FHRS4ECp8xisSLXVveim2kAEcSqtPNZ9kas8MBf4eaK30U95oH51RCEmQ0dvqemoWIR01B3BJglf4sq88Mo0yvAYwnV4AwmvC-2F4ibp3v0-2F00FXkmVYQ-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Bassmaster.com</a> for the afternoon session.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Those wanting to attend will be able to enjoy the “<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKS7-2BfjWx21jGxit6Fwsrb6AdRfI_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBm-2B9iB0Qfsev1MLOAt29Mwf7YkZ72WnfZBCzr4uj4lfEKwzAQjzdsLI1mz0xSz-2BjfDLKFtRa-2BDhjZYbKL07YEIqxoidG-2FdhlZsGIQenuyDb9bbmMZr3uBdOAVZkTLUxiO-2FS-2BbOWLKiZzB-2Bx4ocrhcr8-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719766000&usg=AOvVaw37CjzfEbm9Ad8a97hDFToq" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKS7-2BfjWx21jGxit6Fwsrb6AdRfI_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBm-2B9iB0Qfsev1MLOAt29Mwf7YkZ72WnfZBCzr4uj4lfEKwzAQjzdsLI1mz0xSz-2BjfDLKFtRa-2BDhjZYbKL07YEIqxoidG-2FdhlZsGIQenuyDb9bbmMZr3uBdOAVZkTLUxiO-2FS-2BbOWLKiZzB-2Bx4ocrhcr8-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">B.A.S.S. on the ’Bend</a>” festival on Sunday at Cypress Bend Park before weigh-in. The festival will feature live music and many local vendors.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The event is being hosted by <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUVkq2iXyVm-2FSg7qUeUHmIq7QNqoLjeX-2Fz-2F1zoKK-2Fc-2FDR83xbLNIogkacHnP6T1tI-2Blbi2jVWsL3iUVa9DukhzMUdpHerAlDbcuvkM2i9VMHVdGr2_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBoa5MGOtP9q8mTH6CffoIGhjhIOqMXqAVzlSXIM6LbM1rBAp7e0KiI8nqzWpFgf6b4B-2FNE0bZh3dYpbF66RkirNhO-2FK0p-2BTpSaJodtWzunRewDONlS5f1-2FXDmqVPmTcV7y02KwPjIRr4JVT9TAknznE-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708911719766000&usg=AOvVaw1TW0J62Xc-RAswr4HsycXr" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUVkq2iXyVm-2FSg7qUeUHmIq7QNqoLjeX-2Fz-2F1zoKK-2Fc-2FDR83xbLNIogkacHnP6T1tI-2Blbi2jVWsL3iUVa9DukhzMUdpHerAlDbcuvkM2i9VMHVdGr2_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDiw-2BnnGOmZDucxzxiUspQ4IcQQ4mgRdMb4GzIl51Aj61VEWxzRMf5srTY90SiRkV8hFl1xJtGu3G0dD8NZk7-2FBoa5MGOtP9q8mTH6CffoIGhjhIOqMXqAVzlSXIM6LbM1rBAp7e0KiI8nqzWpFgf6b4B-2FNE0bZh3dYpbF66RkirNhO-2FK0p-2BTpSaJodtWzunRewDONlS5f1-2FXDmqVPmTcV7y02KwPjIRr4JVT9TAknznE-3D" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Toledo Bend Lake Country</a> and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.</span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-60734116414406036342024-02-23T21:24:00.003-05:002024-02-23T21:24:26.433-05:002024 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend Day 2: Schlapper Leads by 3 ounces over Fujita!<b style="background-color: white; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Canadians Chris Johnston 6th, Cory Johnston 20th, Gustafson 22nd & Gallant 27th</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-uozIGXI9L7nAL204a6yPgDtqfMsvcdGE6FXRaTlupnAsz6ByV723IqIQ-aEAXa19Mbr0XEhm8IB0JS5mTFQK70FB0YSE802AMMkIBFjeFEGvb06MfbNZWPAOh-oiRdfBAHE2GK-pmDIYfRS3pFwh7ezZQBLH6o9yFwe2aNNdNyHkX0-uV3Adt4dgt6T/s3060/basss.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="3060" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-uozIGXI9L7nAL204a6yPgDtqfMsvcdGE6FXRaTlupnAsz6ByV723IqIQ-aEAXa19Mbr0XEhm8IB0JS5mTFQK70FB0YSE802AMMkIBFjeFEGvb06MfbNZWPAOh-oiRdfBAHE2GK-pmDIYfRS3pFwh7ezZQBLH6o9yFwe2aNNdNyHkX0-uV3Adt4dgt6T/s320/basss.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><em>Wisconsin's Pat Schlapper has taken the lead on Day 2 of the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend with a total of 55 pounds, 9 ounces. </em></span><em style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">(Photo: Andy Crawford/BASS) </em></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">MANY, La. — With the help of an 8-6 largemouth,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYjVqveafpzr6ysUinHFKPCL3JJPbUR52bbeY8C6NUU5A-3D-3D8hWh_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkWncbYmJLCa1uBjlMjEZWmjpi-2BU4fKgPLpgvhknuzpX5ja6XdKO6zms83fsYg-2BPlZhc5tVIW9p7gIvYVnjDzuTEkMvFt99s0v8y2Cr6gdOL74DxILR5I6Kv1JUL2sK-2BfVa-2BurLBWRtEaNfjZW1tfIec-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404366000&usg=AOvVaw0admk_6QrqGQMs285oVPcm" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYjVqveafpzr6ysUinHFKPCL3JJPbUR52bbeY8C6NUU5A-3D-3D8hWh_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkWncbYmJLCa1uBjlMjEZWmjpi-2BU4fKgPLpgvhknuzpX5ja6XdKO6zms83fsYg-2BPlZhc5tVIW9p7gIvYVnjDzuTEkMvFt99s0v8y2Cr6gdOL74DxILR5I6Kv1JUL2sK-2BfVa-2BurLBWRtEaNfjZW1tfIec-3D" style="background-color: white; color: blue;" target="_blank">Pat Schlapper</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">caught 28 pounds, 5 ounces on Day 2 of the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKQQFxMoEP4QkayHzwKRc9QHq2R2_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkScmsYXYJlXxYnVt1QvO53UMcGZCyPIQ8F74sf70K-2BUJvvnzngEgF-2Fvw9td2ZqviVbH2f7oym061HJuctHeelISB9wI7-2BHUBZSONnjs3M1PMIVffGNG0dzL720-2FXFnLngdv4NBzS43EWe0s4-2B5dyIpE-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404366000&usg=AOvVaw082sFQQi9MwdjNfLgh8T7j" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKQQFxMoEP4QkayHzwKRc9QHq2R2_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkScmsYXYJlXxYnVt1QvO53UMcGZCyPIQ8F74sf70K-2BUJvvnzngEgF-2Fvw9td2ZqviVbH2f7oym061HJuctHeelISB9wI7-2BHUBZSONnjs3M1PMIVffGNG0dzL720-2FXFnLngdv4NBzS43EWe0s4-2B5dyIpE-3D" style="background-color: white; color: blue;" target="_blank">Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">to jump into the lead with a two-day total of 55-9.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The pro from Eleva, Wis., holds a 3-ounce advantage over Day 1 leader <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOaGZcxWB5hrBy9PutgdnVz151hcBrZAp0sZMZ73oGKehA-3D-3Deeu6_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkUA-2Bj-2Bh6iSC-2FQj941c5ur2KTTuGv-2F45ykdK9q6CA-2FEBYyHFhyHT16JMKU5ARm8FfcCsP0D5ch56AxjdcrS-2FCfEvJTYT3ZvU2QhsNeGYXBZLbAeeXSFKzRc5oUQDKFRGEi570kFMCpSZAgM2htwah35I-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404366000&usg=AOvVaw0vqJqVqbRSs0I2vt8syIZf" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOaGZcxWB5hrBy9PutgdnVz151hcBrZAp0sZMZ73oGKehA-3D-3Deeu6_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkUA-2Bj-2Bh6iSC-2FQj941c5ur2KTTuGv-2F45ykdK9q6CA-2FEBYyHFhyHT16JMKU5ARm8FfcCsP0D5ch56AxjdcrS-2FCfEvJTYT3ZvU2QhsNeGYXBZLbAeeXSFKzRc5oUQDKFRGEi570kFMCpSZAgM2htwah35I-3D" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Kyoya Fujita</a>, who is second with a two-day mark of 55-6. Tennessee’s <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZVBI1DUCnam5Mqdny8Aw52lZefE8gwecZopSjdpcyavw-3D-3DPiwT_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkclzLWwgid-2Fy-2BHoEKLceCitBaO5i33a1zaNp-2FhNtdP6juGfxkp9mnxi95f6fJ0T7lcPJzvLUHnFNNEYLzy2oerjL8wmWxLKqSc7E-2B-2FcYxM5-2FTQnpsWYET-2FBHkhFEBMBVHVRb2PYCsDwP-2BhrQNLhBEzc-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404366000&usg=AOvVaw1oUerncDyHs7ORCkjAy8KB" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZVBI1DUCnam5Mqdny8Aw52lZefE8gwecZopSjdpcyavw-3D-3DPiwT_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkclzLWwgid-2Fy-2BHoEKLceCitBaO5i33a1zaNp-2FhNtdP6juGfxkp9mnxi95f6fJ0T7lcPJzvLUHnFNNEYLzy2oerjL8wmWxLKqSc7E-2B-2FcYxM5-2FTQnpsWYET-2FBHkhFEBMBVHVRb2PYCsDwP-2BhrQNLhBEzc-3D" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Robert Gee</a> is third with 51-10.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“There were some really fun moments today,” Schlapper said. “It was tougher than yesterday, honestly. I didn’t get that many bites, and the bass are either leaving or getting picked off. I still had three really good bites.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After finding a rhythm late in the day Thursday, the three-time <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeMODYoXruaHkl2OhmaD94EFj4tRqMqB-2FeyrnqfrZAkOcU-3Dh86o_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkRgVksyhIp8rq9kHmIidZ6JPZS3n0blW4waZOofmjqJt-2Fb8hbEMUQudg8MsKpkMKlTRUGAUd5Dg3wcNadLxbFLdJbnFKO8EagPp8A2-2F8Jleo992-2BH7H797nVR8CypyFdmrGq2ougOSvI4bqSS54GZgA-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404366000&usg=AOvVaw2mUqsY33weNRq0tI7hWeG9" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeMODYoXruaHkl2OhmaD94EFj4tRqMqB-2FeyrnqfrZAkOcU-3Dh86o_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkRgVksyhIp8rq9kHmIidZ6JPZS3n0blW4waZOofmjqJt-2Fb8hbEMUQudg8MsKpkMKlTRUGAUd5Dg3wcNadLxbFLdJbnFKO8EagPp8A2-2F8Jleo992-2BH7H797nVR8CypyFdmrGq2ougOSvI4bqSS54GZgA-3D" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors</a> qualifier returned to one of his most productive areas and targeted roaming bass in 15 to 30 feet of water. He used the same bait he caught the majority of his bass on yesterday with the help of his Garmin LiveScope.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Despite the increase in boat pressure in the area, Schlapper immediately started catching bass and filled out his limit around 9:30 a.m. before landing his biggest bass of the day.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I saw the bass on LiveScope, but it looked too big. I made a good cast and it came up on it, bit it and I missed it,” Schlapper said. “I cast up there again; the way it came up I thought it was a bass. Then, the way it fought, I knew it was a bass. I was lucky I (that) missed it the first time and then (it) ate it again. It was awesome.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Late in the day, he returned to that same area and caught another kicker bass, a largemouth that weighed just under 8 pounds.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I had a good bag fairly early, but then it was a long time before I caught anything else,” he said. “I came back at the end of the day when everyone was gone and caught another that was almost 8.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Schlapper, however, is a bit concerned about how the rest of the tournament will play out in his primary area. With the weekend starting, boat pressure will likely only increase. He has also noticed the water temperature rising, which could mean the bass will move toward the bank and away from his area.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“There aren’t many bass left there. There were a lot of spectators and other competitors really messing with them,” he said. “If another wave kind of moves through, we might be alright. If not, it might be tough. There’s a chance I can throw (it) in front of five big ones tomorrow. I think there is less of a chance than there was today and the day before.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“But I’m sticking with it.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After landing the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament on Day 1 at 31-3, Fujita landed 24-3 to drop into second place. The Japanese pro returned to his primary spot from Day 1 and, while he filled out a limit in the first three hours, he struggled to generate big bites until the afternoon. His biggest bass, logged as a 6-0 on BassTrakk, came after 1 p.m. He caught all of his bass on a Jackall Drift Fry around standing timber in 30 feet of water.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Boat pressure was the main reason for the tougher bite, he said.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Yesterday in the morning, it was fish, fish, fish, and then in the afternoon, there was fishing pressure and no bites,” Fujita said with the help of a translator. “Today was tough.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Despite the increased pressure, Fujita still saw plenty of bass on his LiveScope. He plans on returning to the same area in the morning and will evaluate how many other boats are around. If he isn’t liking what he sees, he will move to a different spot on the lake.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Gee added 22-10 to his 29-0 Day 1 bag to increase his two-day total to 51-10. While he lost a 4-pounder early in the day, the Knoxville, Tenn., rookie filled a limit quickly but struggled to find quality.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I started where I could get a limit early,” he said. “It seemed like the bigger ones were leaving. I didn’t catch any really big ones, and everywhere I went it seemed like fish were leaving me. I feel like they are making a push up shallow with this full moon coming tomorrow night.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Late in the day, Gee moved to his big-bass spot from yesterday and caught his two biggest of the day.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I understood what I was doing wrong, so I went in closer to where the bass wanted to be going,” Gee said. “I was still in a basin, so I was in 35 feet of water instead of 50 feet.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So far this week, Gee has caught the majority of his bass on a Crock-O-Gator Slide Shad and has changed the jighead size based on the depth he’s fishing and the wind speed. Forward-facing sonar has played a big role in his success.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With the bass leaving his areas, Gee feels like he will need to start making a move to the shallows. He didn’t have much success fishing shallow in practice, but he has an idea where his deep bass may move to in the coming days. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’m just going to have to adjust and fish new water,” he said.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Canadian pro <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOaZdzx-2FziTMBeZoWYxaabN9-2BHHY9PulaIHVxu-2B4LbGxpw-3D-3D7452_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkfpwWZsHVoOzUo3LcS2qEeEgCW-2Fj6LaCV5VdFFm-2F2EeJMhGZDo-2BPIros4qdAB3CatkpeKxUjLD7qUL5gZOkl7O-2Fhn0wh-2FZlMvUmUAkeZo2oVR-2BK3331Gf-2FGbBSxhhRBlxClXmEDPt9oUwq5ISNL-2FC6o-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404367000&usg=AOvVaw38ItZpmYCOjHx6p5FN_Yt_" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOaZdzx-2FziTMBeZoWYxaabN9-2BHHY9PulaIHVxu-2B4LbGxpw-3D-3D7452_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkfpwWZsHVoOzUo3LcS2qEeEgCW-2Fj6LaCV5VdFFm-2F2EeJMhGZDo-2BPIros4qdAB3CatkpeKxUjLD7qUL5gZOkl7O-2Fhn0wh-2FZlMvUmUAkeZo2oVR-2BK3331Gf-2FGbBSxhhRBlxClXmEDPt9oUwq5ISNL-2FC6o-3D" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Chris Johnston</a> caught a 9-3 largemouth on Day 2 to claim the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day. South Carolina’s <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObqx107iv04eCVnNEocKrfmXI9ORqMgiAlL6KzhLDUKzw-3D-3DrrAy_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkaxR-2BGKNnVgZhvZu3u0FecLrkrnYo0aL331D4cC42w7EsJgOJqtBIS3kaaJiwWGo23KydHFes0N9fKwToa-2FeiL1d7WCrI4GVzxL3sCaUHgVV3Fjh9WYW7kUDVQgY4NvKt0WGb09GbA-2BG3oFzcc2rZQA-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404367000&usg=AOvVaw02-JF7V4a_tqMx8Ha725oH" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObqx107iv04eCVnNEocKrfmXI9ORqMgiAlL6KzhLDUKzw-3D-3DrrAy_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkaxR-2BGKNnVgZhvZu3u0FecLrkrnYo0aL331D4cC42w7EsJgOJqtBIS3kaaJiwWGo23KydHFes0N9fKwToa-2FeiL1d7WCrI4GVzxL3sCaUHgVV3Fjh9WYW7kUDVQgY4NvKt0WGb09GbA-2BG3oFzcc2rZQA-3D" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Bryan New</a> currently holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament, a 9-8 largemouth he caught on Day 1.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Top 50 anglers will launch from Cypress Bend Park beginning at 7 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The Top 10 will advance to Championship Sunday to compete for the blue trophy and $100,000 top prize. All anglers are earning points toward the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOa0AP7ThOR4S8W-2FYDzgoOfOCuojd5BMEmRRhUoiYO-2B-2F3w-3D-3Dmy2K_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkXtKBW-2FvzD77tDmHJlYCXSdnBmfsCn9qXXz1o6NXrM1sn8kuaa4nbGNKPNeso5KFp-2F7wx8YVEiZYHaW8eGyhAJm1c6W23KUl6R-2FCbOL6Jr06AkVl0xlC3V7-2FmrDaGIK-2BAO9vsMRATHnnLDTio0NYpnM-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404367000&usg=AOvVaw3vpSr28WXt9f_5KVl0MUoU" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOa0AP7ThOR4S8W-2FYDzgoOfOCuojd5BMEmRRhUoiYO-2B-2F3w-3D-3Dmy2K_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkXtKBW-2FvzD77tDmHJlYCXSdnBmfsCn9qXXz1o6NXrM1sn8kuaa4nbGNKPNeso5KFp-2F7wx8YVEiZYHaW8eGyhAJm1c6W23KUl6R-2FCbOL6Jr06AkVl0xlC3V7-2FmrDaGIK-2BAO9vsMRATHnnLDTio0NYpnM-3D" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year</a> race.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Bassmaster LIVE will be available on FS1 on Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. ET through 11:30 a.m. before moving to <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYuR064SbgVW5tCjivGnCndmABq_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkfl59mGwzoAA-2FTpBKXQ8AcQ3ZZCws852owPFXoyon9WIYaVdGYzOg5s57MrZJFzyduO7u8vq4nCOjhsCWCsrIJmLy0CCgmy-2FQ3vMwKOAYPOz3fK9HgCzKKLTlZfPtqKOec-2Bv22cZbbl4NCY4ECNYxZs-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404367000&usg=AOvVaw27hYCEglXXuIPieovF4rfb" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYuR064SbgVW5tCjivGnCndmABq_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkfl59mGwzoAA-2FTpBKXQ8AcQ3ZZCws852owPFXoyon9WIYaVdGYzOg5s57MrZJFzyduO7u8vq4nCOjhsCWCsrIJmLy0CCgmy-2FQ3vMwKOAYPOz3fK9HgCzKKLTlZfPtqKOec-2Bv22cZbbl4NCY4ECNYxZs-3D" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Bassmaster.com</a> for the afternoon session.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Those wanting to attend will be able to enjoy the “<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKS7-2BfjWx21jGxit6Fwsrb6A-4De_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkTM0P8DNE-2BvxmAKNRprghxjzuhAsrzoJd9zvUfeO6mKfeaFV6sSrLwNnC-2BZwv-2FzgShvD8jAdz4YMr-2FaH5IWcmKrek58rhowOV4EliAkgzlwnk8EjwJw6gIsnrrX20mlHl1hmwqnnYT5c-2BxnLUB-2F-2BUu4-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404367000&usg=AOvVaw2bNRzwaRwIzTElD3r_qNN9" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKS7-2BfjWx21jGxit6Fwsrb6A-4De_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkTM0P8DNE-2BvxmAKNRprghxjzuhAsrzoJd9zvUfeO6mKfeaFV6sSrLwNnC-2BZwv-2FzgShvD8jAdz4YMr-2FaH5IWcmKrek58rhowOV4EliAkgzlwnk8EjwJw6gIsnrrX20mlHl1hmwqnnYT5c-2BxnLUB-2F-2BUu4-3D" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">B.A.S.S. on the ’Bend</a>” festival on Saturday and Sunday at Cypress Bend Park before weigh-in. The festival will feature live music and many local vendors.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The event is being hosted by <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3D4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUVkq2iXyVm-2FSg7qUeUHmIq7QNqoLjeX-2Fz-2F1zoKK-2Fc-2FDR83xbLNIogkacHnP6T1tI-2Blbi2jVWsL3iUVa9DukhzMUdpHerAlDbcuvkM2i9VMHV2I9U_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkaf7F5fPZlP3T9YtnYsVFSOzNae3Qp2LrycuXHAEO5ND60orxYSnW-2BXM3mj-2F94cP-2FqGnqBPmbbpHvbVq5svO-2FBUbgJh429X83wYHuXqHJGt1gv1H-2Fb0O-2BkixV9DlYgDSFE5ETGPS4CnXmCBnzSRrnU4-3D&source=gmail&ust=1708827404367000&usg=AOvVaw1UFa6OdS_Kemtbe30LpnPJ" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUVkq2iXyVm-2FSg7qUeUHmIq7QNqoLjeX-2Fz-2F1zoKK-2Fc-2FDR83xbLNIogkacHnP6T1tI-2Blbi2jVWsL3iUVa9DukhzMUdpHerAlDbcuvkM2i9VMHV2I9U_cKAzS9i3QaVgP4wbwqAK-2FZB6e-2FLq1gurbJjOVH1qbDlzCS0HK5LlD-2FVCYH3uuCFb0sHfyCiE951nUGyuh6ruX1ImZRtoJPNfcVZpnGNg2tZNDkeV7KpHSSRQ7AqpmVcDSXqTF8K-2B5IAASE42agR9NeICqQM34kH4cKRroE-2F6-2Fa9-2FfIzsAX08Ge0qSgungTyl2kJ2cALHC-2B5m0uGHMDXXkaf7F5fPZlP3T9YtnYsVFSOzNae3Qp2LrycuXHAEO5ND60orxYSnW-2BXM3mj-2F94cP-2FqGnqBPmbbpHvbVq5svO-2FBUbgJh429X83wYHuXqHJGt1gv1H-2Fb0O-2BkixV9DlYgDSFE5ETGPS4CnXmCBnzSRrnU4-3D" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Toledo Bend Lake Country</a> and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.</span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-44294590459614338542024-02-23T01:30:00.001-05:002024-02-23T01:30:00.131-05:002024 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend Day 1: Kyoya Fujita Smashes 31-03lbs! <p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Canadians Cory Johnston 27th, Chris Johnston 32nd, Gallant 45th & Gustafson 51st</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX63uEAJgPStJTpJb8BzBpQZMkMiYN6-fDCjZRRTGFEqUrKOkr1da83pvYsIAtU-U45OPqeDjPFjFTPesgzcSEKaMsSxOu35l69FcRZikaEXu-n-FVpVlV9thpHFprl3jPmiK_tOuiZvwCHpzelmph4NT1v8WR8utyJsjkhqiSJe4AYURmoaJP6yE9OxYH/s960/basss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX63uEAJgPStJTpJb8BzBpQZMkMiYN6-fDCjZRRTGFEqUrKOkr1da83pvYsIAtU-U45OPqeDjPFjFTPesgzcSEKaMsSxOu35l69FcRZikaEXu-n-FVpVlV9thpHFprl3jPmiK_tOuiZvwCHpzelmph4NT1v8WR8utyJsjkhqiSJe4AYURmoaJP6yE9OxYH/w321-h401/basss.jpg" width="321" /></a></span></div><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">By Christopher Decker</b><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>BASS Press Release</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">MANY, La. — Before the start of the </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKQQFxMoEP4QkayHzwKRc9QHMbLl_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9MU9R7GjKnc-2BQvKyI5NOF3FUUFiZrmBzQlyHc7ssQ9TK6lWIxaWCxAjaKKYZWZ6uAdZyrJjdOeBMAZAmYCbxASpprb-2FLiWaDdOWLLLcbDxYZ76hkrPl5YHHee5VC2OUjxc2d9U3I-2B-2FQylO7i1gsYgEplf8hX5pYrz5hu-2Fm6CWzueyxMj0mtg2wPRUOkGlL9csc1tom1aDqtIGrC4E8PBkHA-3D-3D" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOaGZcxWB5hrBy9PutgdnVz151hcBrZAp0sZMZ73oGKehA-3D-3DO8T4_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9MU9R7GjKnc-2BQvKyI5NOF3FUUFiZrmBzQlyHc7ssQ9TK6lWIxaWCxAjaKKYZWZ6uAdZyrJjdOeBMAZAmYCbxAShfKk-2FKME3SZa35kmqUykO9K5pA3mdCEbT6-2BDaYGopaqcCctcVidqzRLWzG7IuF07rm3rDz8pOFLhqe0qfYZ9tv2QUN4nAIgH6zKrXu5vKwcrA5NQzrl1ftDzohSWDIXGA-3D-3D" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Kyoya Fujita</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">’s personal-best bag of largemouth weighed around 24 pounds.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But after anchoring his bag with an 8 1/2-pounder Thursday, the Japanese pro shattered that mark and claimed the Day 1 lead at Toledo Bend with a 31-pound, 3-ounce bag of largemouth.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Known as the “Prince of Japanese Angling,” Fujita holds a 2-3 advantage over Elite Series rookie </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZVBI1DUCnam5Mqdny8Aw52lZefE8gwecZopSjdpcyavw-3D-3DFimW_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9MU9R7GjKnc-2BQvKyI5NOF3FUUFiZrmBzQlyHc7ssQ9TK6lWIxaWCxAjaKKYZWZ6uAdZyrJjdOeBMAZAmYCbxASrZxCvIP8XcK6ck6qAluGcDX1D9ehiSk52gim-2Ffd-2BlrMr8Tpwvikyk7moNaBS5OtotzqTLeXNms9q4juFfDmqN3aRCBaC7AlluHKZl3yp-2BD9zS5g0-2FkppcwyiiCt3hJnSQ-3D-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Robert Gee</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of Tennessee and nearly a 4-pound advantage over Wisconsin pro </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYjVqveafpzr6ysUinHFKPCL3JJPbUR52bbeY8C6NUU5A-3D-3DSzzQ_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9MU9R7GjKnc-2BQvKyI5NOF3FUUFiZrmBzQlyHc7ssQ9TK6lWIxaWCxAjaKKYZWZ6uAdZyrJjdOeBMAZAmYCbxASv-2BGRnPLVhr3ta4bxgYEZq9gyu0sTofIemzbFM-2F8JeRPSAdcyznsfbHyXJ1s0Fa-2FjY3nIoyj-2FmzmWLSV3v3tAGTms28Y-2BzuctfAlGj2MVVlFgrsOFAdojcAllrGLgGf9Iw-3D-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pat Schlapper</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fujita had never been to Toledo Bend before he pre-fished here in January. He said the lake has changed a lot since then, particularly the water levels, which are much higher now.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Using Garmin LiveScope, Fujita targeted prespawn bass located in 30 feet of water around standing timber in a popular area of Toledo Bend. Two baits caught the majority of his bass in one specific spot he found the last day of practice.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It only took about three hours for Fujita to reach his total for the day, as he landed the 8-pounder around 8 o’clock. During one particular flurry, he threw back a 4-pounder and then a 5-pounder. While the day was warm and sunny, the wind kicked up across the lake, making things more difficult.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“It’s getting tougher and tougher,” Fujita said through a translator. “In the morning, it was easy fishing. Afternoon, no bites. I don’t like rough water.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fujita said 30 pounds is the goal for tomorrow, and believes there are the bass in the area to repeat that performance.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I will go to same area and same spot. (I’ll do) the same fishing,” he said. “I’ll try for 20 pounds. But if tough conditions, I’ll go to the next area with 3-pounders and 4-pounders and change tactics.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gee fished the </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObo61Dqks-2FhMjBj18SnnY0i8Y7i_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9MU9R7GjKnc-2BQvKyI5NOF3FUUFiZrmBzQlyHc7ssQ9TK6lWIxaWCxAjaKKYZWZ6uAdZyrJjdOeBMAZAmYCbxASuINtGpSRfIWQtnVVwk435Rw77U0YXtYyLOTf-2BDY9vvgAOeg8scZroEwssyiKHKIX9PHVNBJqDqDJ5GgpQNlBFQ5o5UxCP72qsuf254La6P4f5kgNav3lKbMZC1uDUmqmw-3D-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in 2023 and suffered his worst finish of the season at Toledo Bend. But he took the lessons he learned from that event and applied them this week to catch 29-0 Thursday.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I beat the bank the whole time [in 2023] and from that moment on it changed my outlook on the way I needed to be fishing,” Gee said. “I dedicated myself to working on my offshore game ever since that tournament and it paid off today.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He caught plenty of bass on Day 1, including a stop that produced two 5-pounders and several more quality bass to increase his total to 20 pounds around midday.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But a late-day stop produced the bulk of his weight.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I made a move to a ditch and every fish I saw was over 5 pounds,” he said. “I culled everything I had out, including a 5-pounder, in 30 minutes. It was unbelievable. This is my biggest bag ever by myself.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The majority of the bass he is catching are relating to standing timber. The shallowest bass came from 10 feet of water while his big bass late in the day were in 40 feet. One bait produced the bulk of his weight.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Gee knows there are plenty of bass left in his afternoon area and is hoping it will produce just as well on Day 2.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Honestly, I didn’t think it held bass that size,” he said. “I went over there to catch 3- and 4-pounders. But every fish I saw was 5-plus. It was the perfect storm when I rolled in there and I think they are coming to it. I think I know where they are going to if they aren’t in the same spot.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Schlapper brought 27-4 to the scales to land in third. A three-time qualifier for the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors, he settled into the same popular area as Fujita and caught the bulk of his bag in about an hour and a half.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I got into an area later in the day where I figured it would be right, and it was right,” Schlapper said. “I caught my biggest one earlier in the day, but everything else came in that one area. There’s a group of us that are all in the same area. That one little stretch I had, people overlooked and it’s a little different than what the main thing is that is going on.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The majority of the bass Schlapper caught are individuals just roaming around in 12 to 40 feet of water. He will be heading to the same area Friday, although he isn’t sure the day will follow the same script.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“What I think is happening is later in the day with the sun, they start coming up. I don’t know if it is to warm up or what,” he said. “I’m in a good area. There’s a lot of big bass and they are moving around. I just have to get it in front of five of the right ones and get them in the boat.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leesville, S.C., pro </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObqx107iv04eCVnNEocKrfmXI9ORqMgiAlL6KzhLDUKzw-3D-3DpvXD_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9MU9R7GjKnc-2BQvKyI5NOF3FUUFiZrmBzQlyHc7ssQ9TK6lWIxaWCxAjaKKYZWZ6uAdZyrJjdOeBMAZAmYCbxASlcohRgNDHS8WIJahhIxAxYE4muif4Co9ZtFhmvoPDAzCv-2FormJGwO8njdIE-2B-2B626d5T4KvAJ8Knyuvl30ygkXUL22xDdV66E-2BzXUljbq6nwF-2Fd89LJLmdiABuCE4tpEvA-3D-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bryan New</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 9-8 largemouth that bested several other 9-pounders.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The full field will take off from Cypress Bend Park beginning at 7 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The Top 50 anglers after the Day 2 weigh-in will advance to Semifinal Saturday before the Top 10 compete for the blue trophy and $100,000 top prize on Championship Sunday. All anglers are earning points towards Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYuR064SbgVW5tCjivGnCndDjC3_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9MU9R7GjKnc-2BQvKyI5NOF3FUUFiZrmBzQlyHc7ssQ9TK6lWIxaWCxAjaKKYZWZ6uAdZyrJjdOeBMAZAmYCbxASqimnLfSXmPtqPnmUt4pNd3njxM01KPec7DLQzK04hVYk11DW9W2mrs94-2BiVPEkXFSJKzAEhzA4umXyyzoyV975KdBZnDqRWIZJ34C6O6S4196XEEP-2Fu6Hr4I-2FPtsmj-2Fug-3D-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bassmaster.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> all four days beginning at 8 a.m. ET, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday and Sunday.</span></span></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9fcb8514-7fff-d924-5950-87c295041328"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Those wanting to attend will be able to enjoy the “</span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM6A-2BSt-2BR7MfAGiETYAQwk9xCko9Tjrfoet-2B5RUKdYaKS7-2BfjWx21jGxit6Fwsrb6ArP8p_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9MU9R7GjKnc-2BQvKyI5NOF3FUUFiZrmBzQlyHc7ssQ9TK6lWIxaWCxAjaKKYZWZ6uAdZyrJjdOeBMAZAmYCbxASpr44-2FooP52Ljcr58I7shKlmZshS-2BG8xMILqP0XhVoSJEQNslLaCt1FBhdwwFhG35NsqSWLKdQJXP-2BXCP68kqq27S7Kqk7V1z9MBh1Qez1GpuaDzC5q9P2uEzJ850CYu0g-3D-3D" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">B.A.S.S. on the ’Bend</span></a><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">” festival on Saturday and Sunday at Cypress Bend Park before weigh-in. The festival will feature live music and many local vendors.</span></span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-46663649512558723442024-02-19T02:00:00.007-05:002024-02-19T02:00:00.132-05:00Jeremiah Kindy Wins 2024 St. Croix BASS Open on Lake Ouachita with 52-03lbs! <p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZHUdu7WyVfXOAKSrzgqDPdrcKW4Y2hd9dhDtG6Zuco_t98XooVpIgkvyq14AsQNlyHiE8DSi7dgMLLlUBdYSWcMAopvZLFdgWJ2BgfI6PNmoaAAe2QnTADRxcJDEhB95BBOi-sToYZV6IhDhVFgOiI4-Sn55kQUneMCDcbjMZI1UMHoGGPmnPu8W5pLw/s1800/basssss.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZHUdu7WyVfXOAKSrzgqDPdrcKW4Y2hd9dhDtG6Zuco_t98XooVpIgkvyq14AsQNlyHiE8DSi7dgMLLlUBdYSWcMAopvZLFdgWJ2BgfI6PNmoaAAe2QnTADRxcJDEhB95BBOi-sToYZV6IhDhVFgOiI4-Sn55kQUneMCDcbjMZI1UMHoGGPmnPu8W5pLw/w320-h400/basssss.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Canadian Evan Kung finishes 9th!</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Christopher Decker</b></div><div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>BASS Press Release </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOahtLfzEgmxxF8cJyN1GbQ4pikqhEVX-2F6IiNKaol0NpDA-3D-3Dlxrn_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW92WEGwiibExmvN3MAhSD0PfYOigQBY7078F9cVBrRS5uc4vZSchyq43pxO5tm5RCAr0nNpN6K7qgbKQef7-2By4jJHFSGCsynuJ8byoz9-2BiDQRZ17TkU3p4NBWVhJA8prz7vdmf8aE81GsyJIVRIX5TpRtAnlYjRV7LmCWZblyJf-2Fh06EyTisxDCAk1VMKOMNx5-2B-2BQiNQf2rA4k-2BucKcmgZErhb2PYHCdthJhPR7DI-2F0VU-3D" style="font-family: arial; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jeremiah Kindy</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> has bass fished on Lake Ouachita since he could walk. In fact, he caught his first jig bass as a toddler around a set of islands 2 miles from Brady Mountain Recreation Area fishing with his dad and brother.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d9f64d37-7fff-1cf5-8605-857faead17fd" style="font-size: medium;"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It was the Benton, Ark., native’s first Bassmaster Open appearance since the </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeMYRjUKRx1Rh86ekEj4xT-2BSAcQFZZ0BNYf3jzrKbzMhlw-3DlOjY_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW92WEGwiibExmvN3MAhSD0PfYOigQBY7078F9cVBrRS5uc4vZSchyq43pxO5tm5RCAr0nNpN6K7qgbKQef7-2By4jCMZubR5lVWIXhZh-2FlKQD2qRmk0eaZBP-2BawFwFT9xAuQ2-2BDh7-2FkuJtbM90q03BShpwPfzNK-2FplGS4-2FE7q2kWD5e78QKwQ8fN56akBHdYLnXUH3IUEucexUmnhlKp0tzAWU-2B7UsG2rFPUXvRFpIkUU9U-3D" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2002 Central Open</span></a><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, which was also held at Ouachita.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“This is definitely the most important tournament I’ve ever won,” Kindy said. “It means the world. Just being able to compete and have so many family and friends here. Even if I wouldn’t have won, it would have been awesome. But to get this win is freaking amazing. For three days, I was the best angler on this lake. That’s pretty important.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">With bags of 19-7, 16-5 and 16-7, Kindy outlasted fellow Arkansan Matt Baker, who finished second with 46-13 and third-place </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOZc0-2BXyUqUlZwiz6Eo0K-2FLurZgAlAHmIW-2FscdpZzLgtMQ-3D-3DXdBr_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW92WEGwiibExmvN3MAhSD0PfYOigQBY7078F9cVBrRS5uc4vZSchyq43pxO5tm5RCAr0nNpN6K7qgbKQef7-2By4jAcRJExYqi8ex956dab1bhUyaBmn6e425H7S8hAvAakpto-2FpVKNAR84uUbpwnxbrNyINr4eY7uBDXBwmFSnoKAH-2FKFf1WcSiYlPCFL5rIfTU32dOThgFPbXMCo2Yom5nZoTaSjr00JIlHG-2BOd2K7vuw-3D" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Andy Newcomb</span></a><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> who finished with 45-12. Although he isn’t currently signed up for the next two Opens in Division II, Kindy plans on fishing both of them, which will make him eligible for the </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYfZj0N0EN4TvbNdZT-2Bd-2FM3TuhZI5FWdmvbot-2B6GL0uA0LMMqaHXdPgr0IvLCZTcoXXqz0tAv0kmQHjiSqE0Y3-2FjRlDHqU9Qwqk6QDd-2FOvU-2FrLOHbMrU79awzA6FVSGnR-2BW9uieEFbZOMQosyckS-2Bk9y-my_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW92WEGwiibExmvN3MAhSD0PfYOigQBY7078F9cVBrRS5uc4vZSchyq43pxO5tm5RCAr0nNpN6K7qgbKQef7-2By4jA67bL-2BUtwV8SOYegcvf2QuwBWgMMjVVJTg-2FOdCgb5pyqIH6JlCa-2F1HbSX6VZzLYKUlOQWssPqnzIHKWVhjgU2mreiqrndYmup-2BlLh0B8PmwdIzDFgb3DGnQXS6-2BnAEBTHRPFOY-2BnvylKARFS3KBMGo-3D" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors</span></a><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, scheduled for March 21-23 in Fort Worth, Texas.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Since he began fishing tournaments as a teenager, Kindy has earned a reputation from fellow anglers as one of the best anglers on Lake Ouachita. With nearly 200 of the best anglers in the country coming to his home lake, many of whom planned on LiveScoping out deep, he knew he would have to do it his way if he wanted a shot at the win.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“The only way I thought I could win this tournament was to fish to my strengths, and that’s what I did,” he said. “I knew I couldn’t compete with the guys out in the middle of the lake. It set up right. The way we had them two warm days, some females moved up and I got fortunate enough to catch enough of them.”<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Kindy’s success revolved around early prespawn staging areas on the main lake where big bass have historically pulled up first. The majority of his bites came up the lake in dirtier water on isolated stretches of bank.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I ended up catching more than half of my fish up the lake,” Kindy said. “It was just key spots that I know they pull up on first. The places I caught them on, I will catch them in those same places in a month. It lasts a lot longer than people think.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When the wind kicked up, Kindy moved down lake to clearer water and fished around hydrilla beds. The deep edge of the grass was located in 25 feet of water, but Kindy said the majority of the bass were between the bank and 14 feet of water. Mixed in with the grass were some black rocks, and the bass seemed to hover close to that warmth.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Kindy rotated through three different baits — a Norman Deep Little N crankbait in a chili bowl pattern, a 3/4-ounce Toledo gold-colored Booyah One Knocker and a 3/4-ounce Duo Realis lipless crankbait.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Temperatures rose to 65 degrees on Day 1 and Kindy opened the tournament by catching just under 20 pounds to land in fourth. While warm still, clouds and wind spread over the lake Day 2 and Kindy struggled most of the day, but rallied in the afternoon to take over the lead heading into Championship Saturday.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Air temperatures dropped close to freezing the final morning, which caused some misfortune for Kindy to start the day.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I picked up my rod with my last Booyah XR75 and I guess my hand quit working. That rod went in the lake,” he explained. “I had my other Trap tied on, so I guess the Lord was telling me to throw that one. That is what I kept in my hands all day today, that Duo Realis one.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">From there, Kindy warmed up and was able to fill his limit by mid-morning around his grass related bass.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Today was my favorite kind of day, windy and sunny,” he said. “You don’t get a better recipe.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“It was all main-lake related,” Kindy continued. “I figured out something late yesterday that really helped me out. We had them two warm days and I had been catching them out over the grass. Well, with the cold front, a lot of the big ones stayed up shallow on the rocks.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After hitting some key stuff early in the morning up the lake and not getting a bite, he returned later in the day and was able to catch three bass in a row to make a couple of key culls. He ended the day close to check-in and sealed the deal with a 3 1/2-pounder.</span></span></p><div><span style="color: #042948; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></div>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-13185460715569231032024-02-14T01:30:00.001-05:002024-02-14T01:30:00.242-05:00The 2024 Spring Fishing and Boat Show Starts this Friday! <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEill7DixPBWhh6GJChVV13Kobm640gXPv8LlabE8kNEaw2X-uhLF14t1whrM8O77b4UZbvYRNpUAG0fOsxrtsB63WoZWKKl0IEpKDhP7qBJYNw-OTGIoRmsYhfrG3d1qUbCF7GoqjIVjVorkfzqBypKoDukCUJViBM_2-VNaJBonyiEthqTt5V_Ac_nb5lV/s843/spring.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEill7DixPBWhh6GJChVV13Kobm640gXPv8LlabE8kNEaw2X-uhLF14t1whrM8O77b4UZbvYRNpUAG0fOsxrtsB63WoZWKKl0IEpKDhP7qBJYNw-OTGIoRmsYhfrG3d1qUbCF7GoqjIVjVorkfzqBypKoDukCUJViBM_2-VNaJBonyiEthqTt5V_Ac_nb5lV/w580-h474/spring.jpg" width="580" /></a></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><p></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-eaef54f3-7fff-941d-1216-df1ae40587d6"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Join Jamie Bruce, JP DeRose, Joey Di Cienzo, Brian Latimer and Joey Teofilo, with special drop ins by Bob Izumi and Dave Mercer for the annual Bass Talk presented by </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fishcsfl/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">@fishcsfl</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> on Saturday, February 17! Reserve your spot today by purchasing your ticket on www.springfishingandboatshow.com - limited seats available!</span></span></span></p><p><br /></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-1894708772676575482024-02-12T03:00:00.001-05:002024-02-12T03:00:00.129-05:00Drew Gill Wins 2024 Stop 1 Presented by Power-Pole MOVE on San Rayburn!<p><b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2829; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Young gun Gill takes down Rayburn</span></b></p><h5 class="subtitle" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: -0.5em;"></h5><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqvtPpz75em_fe2EaesbpH-IHHSQM4b5dKmXFSOrrU6y2J0ZNMdxF6J6ldrBXDQYA6lX8Lm1nAau4LuLblLS2tJp-FNG36b4sXRHOmd0Nm_iTqPDn_4pAXg8KmAin8vuCqPxax4Gw6jQebBq70CVAXz_pRMXuFzV9AkgXsypKxy-jAw2O4zWuaSdpzvdM/s1000/mffffff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqvtPpz75em_fe2EaesbpH-IHHSQM4b5dKmXFSOrrU6y2J0ZNMdxF6J6ldrBXDQYA6lX8Lm1nAau4LuLblLS2tJp-FNG36b4sXRHOmd0Nm_iTqPDn_4pAXg8KmAin8vuCqPxax4Gw6jQebBq70CVAXz_pRMXuFzV9AkgXsypKxy-jAw2O4zWuaSdpzvdM/w400-h200/mffffff.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2829; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><b>Drew Gill's Day 3 total of 26 pounds, 3 ounces, earned him the win with a three-day total of 69-6. Photo by Rob Matsuura. </b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>By Jody White</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Invitations Press Release</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">BROOKELAND, Texas – <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/drew-gill-2/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Drew Gill</a> has been on a heater for a while, and it was only a matter of time before the LiveScope whizz closed out a high-level win. Today, after sacking up 26 pounds, 3 ounces on Championship Sunday, Gill took home the title at <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/2024-02-09-sam-rayburn-reservoir/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Stop 1 Presented by Power-Pole MOVE on Sam Rayburn Reservoir</a> with a 69-6 total. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Gill topped fellow electronics master <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/jake-lawrence-500859/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jake Lawrence</a> (second, 67-15), and had enough to overcome local <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/marshall-hughes-470506/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Marshall Hughes</a>’ (third, 67-4) megabag on Day 2, which put him more than 6 pounds ahead of the pack initially. For the win, Gill pocketed $80,000, and locked up his 2025 REDCREST qualification early. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Though still a fledgling circuit, Gill is now the youngest to win an Invitationals event, setting the mark to beat at 21 years, 8 months. Historically speaking, when you factor in FLW Tour stats, Gill slots in between <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/stetson-blaylock-160882/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Stetson Blaylock</a>’s win at Lake Norman in 2009 (21 years, 7 months) and <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/jacob-wheeler/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jacob Wheeler</a>’s 2012 Forrest Wood Cup title (21 years, 10 months).</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The consensus favorite for Fishing Clash Angler of the Year in the <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/circuits/invitationals/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Tackle Warehouse Invitationals</a>, Gill has started the season about as good as you can. Just last week, he finished third in the Bass Pro Tour season opener on Toledo Bend, and, for good measure, the 21-year-old also finished 19th in the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship with partner <a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/evan-fields-491824/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Evan Fields</a> back in January.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Nothing is a really a long time coming when you’re 21, but getting over the hump for the W was a big deal for Gill. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Any year you can do consistently well and have a lot of Top 10s is a win in itself,” Gill said. “Goal No. 1 every year is always Angler of the Year. Goal No. 1 is not to win an event. However, that is a very close goal No. 2, and to be able to accomplish that in the first event of the Invitationals season after having a third at Toledo last week, I could not be more stoked for how fishing is going right now.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>TOP 10 BELOW</b><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The win wasn’t exactly expected after a tough practice which featured a broken trolling motor. The usually confident angler was singing the blues. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Coming into this one – Cole (Breeden), Nick (LeBrun), and Britt (Myers Jr.) can back me up on this – I was saying if I can get out of here with a check and go to Guntersville next week, I’ll be happy,” Gill said. “To have everything unfold the way it did this week is mind-boggling. I’m ecstatic, to say the least.” </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On stage over three days, the enthusiastic young pro had a blast, as usual, and he finished off the Invitationals season opener with exactly the enthusiasm it deserved. </span></p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 2.5rem;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Adjustments and skill put Gill ahead </span></h3><div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Love it or hate it, any list of the best anglers with forward-facing sonar has Gill on it, and he rode his signature strength to victory this week. Seeming to always find enough fish for a quality bag (and to trigger enough fish to bite), he stayed ahead of a lot of other anglers trying to do similar things. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A big part of that was recognizing that he needed to leave winter behind and get closer to the bank. Luckily, that might be where his LiveScope skills shine the most – when it comes to shallow ‘Scoping, Gill is near or at the top of the list. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“The first day of the tournament, I was trying to replicate what I found in practice,” he said. “I was catching them at the fronts of main-lake pockets and drains – the very main lake. I noticed they were going down and eating my Damiki (rig) off the bottom, and I didn’t think that was going to work all week. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Day 2, I was throwing a Damiki and a Neko, and fishing more drains than the fronts of creeks,” Gill said. “Today, I was fishing midway back of just about every pocket I fished. These were short main-lake pockets and not big main creeks; those were unmanageable and there weren’t enough fish for me to fish a major creek. If five fish roll up into an area that’s a mile long, I’m not going to find them. If they roll up into a place that’s 400 yards long, your odds of running into those five big ones is pretty high.” </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For his jighead minnow, Gill used a 3/16-ounce head and a 4-inch bait. For his Neko, he used a 6-inch <a href="https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Big_Bite_Baits_Jeff_Kriet_-_Shaking_Squirrel_Worm/descpage-BBBSHSQ.html?from=flwo" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">Big Bite Baits </a><a href="https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Big_Bite_Baits_Jeff_Kriet_-_Shaking_Squirrel_Worm/descpage-BBBSHSQ.html?from=flwo" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Shaking</a><a href="https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Big_Bite_Baits_Jeff_Kriet_-_Shaking_Squirrel_Worm/descpage-BBBSHSQ.html?from=flwo" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"> Squirrel Worm</a>, a 1/8-ounce weight and a No. 1 <a href="https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Roboworm_Rebarb_Hooks/descpage-RWRBH.html?from=flwo" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Roboworm Rebarb Hook</a>. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On the last two days, when Gill honed his approach, he was fishing specifically for bass that were low in the water column and not too far from classic later-winter and prespawn things. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I was fishing some transition areas, basically – places that were adjacent to a contour or a drain, and I had to have some sort of cover in conjunction with that that would lead them along an edge,” Gill said. “Something that would lead them swimming one direction or another and keep them on a path that I could predict. I was running edges of grass, edges of rock, edges where sand dropped off a couple feet; places where bass should travel along, and the few good ones I was around, I could run right into them. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Almost every big one I caught this week ate it off the bottom,” he said. “I was in about 7 to 14 feet of water most of them time, and generally they would be 2 or 3 feet above the bottom. Not suspended, but hovering almost, like a maglev train. They’d follow it down … ‘bonk, zzzzzzzzz.’” </span></p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 2.5rem;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">‘Scoping out the competition</span></h3></div><div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For his LiveScope settings, Gill ran his forward range at 70 feet, his down range at 21 feet, his color gain at 75, his gain at 72, and he had his TVG on low, with his ghost reject and noise reject off. He only cast when he saw a fish, and he figures he caught about 160 fish over three days, though many were not very large. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The last few years have seen a lot of young anglers excel on big stages. Some of it is collegiate fishing, some of it is skill with electronics, some of it is networking. A lot of it is time on the water with forward-facing sonar, which may have taught us more about bass behavior than every magazine ever printed. Gill is the perfect storm, a passionate young angler who has learned as much about bass in the last few years as many will learn in a lifetime.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“When you spend as many hours watching fish behave in their natural environment as I have, you’re destined to learn a lot about fish behavior, and you’re going to be really good at reading their movements,” Gill said. “I’ve spent a lot of time watching fish, not listening to fishermen or the logic built up in bass fishing lore. I’ve just gone out and watched fish behave, around their food, with the cover they relate to, with the contours they use. When you understand that much about fish, they become pretty predictable.” </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Then, you just have to be super good at fishing, don’t get unlucky, make all the right decisions and beat a field that is trying to do all the same stuff. This week, Gill made it look easy. </span></p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 2.5rem;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Top 10 pros </span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2829; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">1. Drew Gill – 69 – 6 (15) – $80,000<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />2. Jake Lawrence – 67 – 15 (15) – $50,000<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />3. Marshall Hughes – 67 – 4 (15) – $20,000<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />4. Cal Lane – 65 – 5 (15) – $18,000<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />5. Keith Poche – 64 – 15 (15) – $17,000<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />6. Nick Hatfield – 62 – 7 (15) – $17,000<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />7. Mark Condron – 59 – 3 (15) – $15,000<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />8. Nick LeBrun – 58 – 9 (15) – $14,000<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />9. Alec Morrison – 58 – 0 (15) – $13,000</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">10. Ramie Colson Jr. – 58 – 0 (15) – $12,000</span></p></div>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-15393531582475689912024-02-12T02:00:00.001-05:002024-02-12T02:00:00.132-05:00Adam Rasmussen Wins 2024 Mercury BASS National Qualifier on Lake Eufaula <p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEm3pdmwec0F2uwgWOmz4vaKhfn9LU8lcIO_sC9sfxreQIHPcro6SLIzCp8bOMIjUTEOgLMwzsfvmEWklOTi9qu8Vz6imwsIXCiZ8PtGLs8E9_EOuoNUCFVzs7s975KeijVqubjbzjUhFEE7Wz2vpDwmUtrHrII_pn6qYzluA3LwvhTX780JLay6GjY8h/s1024/bbbbbbbbbbbb2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEm3pdmwec0F2uwgWOmz4vaKhfn9LU8lcIO_sC9sfxreQIHPcro6SLIzCp8bOMIjUTEOgLMwzsfvmEWklOTi9qu8Vz6imwsIXCiZ8PtGLs8E9_EOuoNUCFVzs7s975KeijVqubjbzjUhFEE7Wz2vpDwmUtrHrII_pn6qYzluA3LwvhTX780JLay6GjY8h/w400-h266/bbbbbbbbbbbb2.webp" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Christopher</b></span><b style="background-color: transparent; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Decker <br /></b></span><b style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">BASS Press Release</b></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EUFAULA, Ala. — After some anxious moments in the morning hours, </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOYPKfzEXFhtx-2BoDZkGobjgRo2GQ3WyYw908z8wPkbCRgw-3D-3DFZJk_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9Ijj1s39mP9dHDKaHdtXyXUNVBKnse-2BIPUj4TP6KwUKHt9V8XU5-2F8XS423EHOdBfSZAuuq-2BbRXIsEGI9PITF1BWVpU1kFqE3O6MIl-2FFp46ude6vt4pASqaoM3RPa1iocnYSI5R5PcYCGrBkhpYqcJnMKljZbuBf-2B2kI518IZkEX6Mp0Ony9m3EPXGRuW9UI5EM6tcDgi-2FhY-2Fln9wNLxhfafXiNcQmNLpnK0PpqBy0hvs-3D" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adam Rasmussen</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> caught a limit weighing 18 pounds, 13 ounces Friday to win the </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLObY9h3mxPiYA9p4qBZNODeM7l-2FKu050i-2FU4luqivNElvkcvm-2FiC45aKzlreSmziUUsdR-2FUT-2Fr1RauF6OqAtP5hz8OLvtlmBz6WogPTjCsyTMA-3D-3DAlzG_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9Ijj1s39mP9dHDKaHdtXyXUNVBKnse-2BIPUj4TP6KwUKHt9V8XU5-2F8XS423EHOdBfSZAuuq-2BbRXIsEGI9PITF1BWqCteUAVH1SRSuCdOptCnnhr6KDTKhVvvCNFhGwwAmkq4sIGBsDiR9V9iGedVCO7VquYnnYrxlotGx94opXwoJlZm2EotQojNyy1bS725R3hw0ALyH23WYKQVb6EY-2BmKA35EKDAUOCQFz7VcDxjT5I-3D" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> with a three-day total of 62-5.</span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Along with the trophy, Rasmussen earned $9,728 and a berth in the 2024 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Obviously this is what we all strive to do in this sport. We want to win,” he said. “So, you put your head down and work as hard as you can and try to do it every time. There’s a lot of good anglers that fish this and I am humbled to win it on a lake that hasn’t been very nice to me in the past.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alabama’s Kenneth Grover II finished second with a three-day total of 51-12 while </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXCzDKpXzfRhvlUN79KjLOa7liWdq-2Bv4NVJ-2F9CvIK0B-2FQc4lw3mV-2FyYuuqqtnqgocA-3D-3DWLep_PwOf9TV4o-2F51ashMaloDMwAROn0JFK3Mas5I8fiJ60UlgXs3ZC-2B6anQ8-2BMcMtpFKknpgNc6wZV2X5mTOJao8-2BwZaIffkAUhhXy-2B-2B1a-2FelZjlRUhUJHaSmOUxAoMICfW9Ijj1s39mP9dHDKaHdtXyXUNVBKnse-2BIPUj4TP6KwUKHt9V8XU5-2F8XS423EHOdBfSZAuuq-2BbRXIsEGI9PITF1BQVGt5VcqbFV5MPMrcY-2FpBdViqp-2FvTJmb7QZ1vQ0zLy2K7CNwawpEk9uoigtQtK0Hb312-2F3pIsuyX5egBOECMPW-2BZP94Kuj6YTwDuaQCZiF5ZWDcjqGZF1KDQ-2BBsMOzfg6KpCq87YKgoq0MZILmcLYU-3D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d76cf; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brock Belik</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> finished third with 50-15.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Anglers were welcomed to Lake Eufaula by a major rain storm, which dirtied up a lot of the lake at the beginning of the week. Rasmussen made a concerted effort to scan almost the entirety of practice in cleaner water, trying to find as many sweet spots as possible so he didn’t run out of areas to fish in the tournament.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I looked for as much stuff as I could. I probably laid down 400 icons (on my graph),” said Rasmussen, who notched an Opens victory on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake in 2023. “I always seem to run out of stuff halfway through Day 2. I pretty much had the attitude that I was going to find as much as I possibly could so I didn’t run out. And I didn’t. There’s still more that I didn’t even get to.”<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Opening the tournament in second with 19-1, Rasmussen anchored a 24-7 Day 2 bag with a 7-9 largemouth, which was the Big Bass of the Tournament, and took an impressive lead into the final day.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The noted Wisconsin walleye guide turned bass pro caught the majority of his weight the first two days by targeting hard-bottom staging areas outside of spawning pockets. Those bass were located anywhere from 5 to 15 feet of water, and he slowly dragged a 1/2-ounce brown jig paired with a green pumpkin Rapala CrushCity Cleanup Craw to generate bites.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“You had to keep contact with the bottom the whole time and fish it super slow,” he said.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On the final day, Rasmussen started in his primary area, only to find it did not reload with more bass. He caught one keeper from the area, but did not get another bite until he moved to the main lake around 10 a.m. There, he found a school of bass in 15 to 18 feet of water and dragged a 3/4-ounce jig with the Cleanup Craw.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I stumbled on a school of bass that were up on a shellbar,” Rasmussen said. “I had 17 pounds in six casts. At the end of the day I pulled up on another shellbar and caught a 4-pounder. I felt OK after that.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After barely sneaking into the Day 3 cut with bags of 12-9 and 13-15, Grover caught the biggest bag of the tournament on the final day — a 25-4 limit that was anchored by a 7-7 largemouth. Most of that bag was caught during the first two hours using a 1/2-ounce football jig with a Yamamoto Double-Tail Grub.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Last night, I got to thinking about that particular area. It is the perfect wintertime spot. It is a lake ledge, but it has a really sharp drop at the bottom,” Grover said. “I just knew there were some better fish and if I got there first thing in the morning I would have a chance at catching a big bag. The water was cleaning up every day.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Grover had that area, as well as his starting area on Day 1, to himself. Not only were there bass, but there were plenty of baitfish as well as crappie and other species. Slowing way down was the key to generating strikes.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ab5f4387-7fff-f598-7a76-19cb1804ee8b"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“It was definitely a much better bite first thing in the morning. I would bring the jig over the ledge break and shake my rod and let the bait just sit there,” he explained. “It seemed like the longer I would do that, one would finally come pick it up. I think they were cruising along the ledge and when one came across my bait, they would go ahead and eat it.”</span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-63098742431197756242024-02-09T01:30:00.001-05:002024-02-09T01:30:00.134-05:002024 Mercury BASS National Qualifier on Lake Eufaula Day 2: Adam Rasmussen Leads!<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #042948; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFct80V_L7XxeibT3RcUBzRQpEhAJVy58Qr2AyevrYgE0iWRObJ0vA7kKKe6xLArIW8cBG_T6wDsLGUujPRe-FIGdffratL4P8_zKukEGszMVqSrJ7n7QYK8FdDQhFfkmq5lay5aOMZo-XeEsQYbH-cGux6eXZ7qac9UT8ugSQIvwlogRMNmpbHikdxm1R/s1024/bassssss.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFct80V_L7XxeibT3RcUBzRQpEhAJVy58Qr2AyevrYgE0iWRObJ0vA7kKKe6xLArIW8cBG_T6wDsLGUujPRe-FIGdffratL4P8_zKukEGszMVqSrJ7n7QYK8FdDQhFfkmq5lay5aOMZo-XeEsQYbH-cGux6eXZ7qac9UT8ugSQIvwlogRMNmpbHikdxm1R/w400-h266/bassssss.webp" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Christopher</b></span><b style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Decker </b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">BASS Press Release</b></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></b></div>EUFAULA, Ala. — Adam Rasmussen’s string of good fortune in the state of Alabama continued on Day 2 of the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance as the Sturgeon Bay, Wis., native caught 24 pounds, 7 ounces and jumped to the lead with a two-day total of 43-8.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d2149ca3-7fff-d742-6a75-c779b3c54d3d"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After landing in second the first day with 19-1, Rasmussen anchored his Day 2 bag with the Big Bass of the Tournament thus far, a 7-9 largemouth he caught on his second cast of the morning. Texas angler Shaine Campbell is second with 35-14 and Jess Beihoffer is third with 33-6. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Rasmussen won the St. Croix Bassmaster Open on Wheeler Lake last May, and with time to kill between the Lake Okeechobee and Lake Ouachita Opens, he decided to sign up and search for redemption on a lake responsible for one of his worst finishes of 2023.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 13pt 0pt 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I wanted some redemption on the lake so I spent a day and a half of practice driving around and graphing,” he said. “I found a few schools of fish and didn’t know any of it was going to go down like it did.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">During his day and a half of practice, Rasmussen committed to scanning offshore structure for schools of bass and discovered a broad area that has produced most of his weight so far this week. A jig paired with a Rapala CrushCity Craw has been his best bait along with a Rapala Mavrik jerkbait. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Rasmussen believes the majority of the bass he is catching are still in a winter pattern, but he has caught bass from 5 to 25 feet of water. Humminbird MEGA 360 has played a key role in making pinpoint casts. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I’ve been trying to find areas with a hard bottom. That has been the biggest key,” he said. “It seems like you really have to slow down to get bit. When you catch them, they are as white as they can be.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Rasmussen opened Day 2 by catching the 7-9, a caliber of bass he didn’t think would be caught this week on a stingy Lake Eufaula. His next bass was a 3 1/2-pounder, which he felt locked him into a Nation Championship berth. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">From there, Rasmussen filled his limit around mid-morning and began looking for new areas late in the day. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“By 10 o’clock, I had 21 pounds and I left that area and went looking for more stuff for tomorrow,” Rasmussen said. “At the end of the day today, I went and checked on a school of fish I hadn’t fished for yet in the tournament and caught a 5-pounder and went in for the day.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The schools of bass Rasmussen has located are not very big and have been moving around in wolf packs. With an even warmer afternoon on Day 2, he noticed the bass were moving around a lot more than they did the previous day. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Temperatures are only supposed to dip into the high 40s overnight before rising to 75 degrees on Championship Friday. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow,” Rasmussen said. “I’m going to start where I’ve started the last two days and it could reload overnight. It is hard to say. I would expect some stuff to change tomorrow.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 18pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Daniel Wilson Jr. of Blackshear, Ga., leads the nonboater division with a two-day</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> total of 17-0. Tennessee’s Brian Gibler is second with 15-4 and North Carolina’s Brian Adams is third with 13-5. Kentucky’s Ron Whitaker still has control of the Big Bass of the Tournament with the 6-2 largemouth he caught on Day 1. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -5pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Top 20 boaters and Top 20 nonboaters will launch from Lakepoint State Park at 6:30 a.m. CT Friday and return for weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. All 40 anglers competing have also punched their tickets to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, details of which will be announced at a later date. </span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-75394487896733832342024-02-08T02:00:00.010-05:002024-02-08T02:00:00.130-05:002024 Mercury BASS National Qualifier on Lake Eufaula Day 1: Canadian Jamie Bruce Secures Lead!<div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyno2o9KEETlzPbpsqsQeupXyxtctdV2WO2T3PcSdVaN_uAg0j1PVi6OYilcn3QldtISmH7-brp-kfFKwwpozIc1hwe-WQfxD7uRZ0devzrypK5kNlRGsj4LmCeGXrpcRFvhhshZ4p6VLBSj3FjKc2sttj4xfEeqOOw__kp94W8nxXBblxB0Q2iJeYvHWj/s1024/bassssss.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyno2o9KEETlzPbpsqsQeupXyxtctdV2WO2T3PcSdVaN_uAg0j1PVi6OYilcn3QldtISmH7-brp-kfFKwwpozIc1hwe-WQfxD7uRZ0devzrypK5kNlRGsj4LmCeGXrpcRFvhhshZ4p6VLBSj3FjKc2sttj4xfEeqOOw__kp94W8nxXBblxB0Q2iJeYvHWj/s320/bassssss.webp" width="320" /></a></div>Christopher</b></span><b style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Decker </b></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="color: #042948; font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">BASS Press Release</b></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 13pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">EUFAULA, Ala. — Jamie Bruce got a taste of redemption on Day 1 of the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance by catching a limit weighing 20 pounds to lead the field of 152 boaters. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d41ff4ad-7fff-707d-398c-6f1db741c77a"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Bruce has a 15-ounce advantage over his Wisconsin roommate Adam Rasmussen, while Alabama’s Allan Glasgow is third with 18-7. Glasgow also landed the Big Bass of the Day, a 6-6 largemouth. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It was a beautiful day, but the fishing was stingy, as just 43 limits were weighed in by boaters and only 11 limits were recorded by non boaters. Temperatures will continue to rise during the tournament with calm conditions expected for Day 2. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Lake Eufaula was responsible for Bruce’s second-worst finish of his Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers slate in 2023, an event that likely kept him from punching his ticket for this year’s Bassmaster Elite Series. With a baby on the way, Bruce knew he couldn’t compete in the EQ race this year, but he wanted to make a trip south to give him a break from the cold Canadian winter. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I had never really missed the boat on anything that much before that tournament,” Bruce said. “I fished that one with no LiveScope. It was broken and I couldn’t get a replacement. So I fished that one with no front graph, went shallow and got my teeth kicked in. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“This week I haven’t looked at the bank at all. I’m purely staying offshore and the ‘Scope is working as good as it ever has.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Bruce ran through every target he thought could possibly hold a bass, everything from brushpiles to stumps and rockpiles. Many of those targets were in 7 to 15 feet of water. He filled his limit around mid-morning before making two key culls later in the day. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">While he mixed in a spinnerbait and a jerkbait, Bruce’s key bait was a jig paired with a Rapala CrushCity Cleanup Craw. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Those were the only places I could get consistently bit,” Bruce said. “I just had to run a bunch of sneaky stuff. I’m running as many of them in a day as I can. If anyone saw me out there, they would have thought I was in panic mode. I had the Lund up and down all day. My co-angler had to keep his life jacket on to fish.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Although he was using LiveScope, Bruce did not see many of the bass he caught. He used his forward-facing technology mostly to find the targets he wanted to fish. <span></span></span></span></p><!--more--></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After receiving a tutorial from Elite Series rookie Ben Milliken about deep cranking, Bruce arrived at Eufaula prepared to fish similarly to how last year’s Open was won. But after struggling much of his first practice day, Bruce pivoted to isolated targets. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“The bass are so tight to the piles and stumps,” Bruce said. “I caught my two biggest ones off stumps today and I could not see them on those stumps. It was all about using it for targets.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Matthew Lasky of Guyton, Ga., leads the nonboater division with a three-bass limit weighing 10-11. Mississippi’s Larry Carter is second with 9-0 and Blake Rogers from South Carolina is third with 8-3. Kentucky’s Ron Whittaker caught the Big Bass of the Day, a 6-2 largemouth. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The full field will launch from Lakepoint State Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in starting at 2:30 p.m. The Top 40 anglers after the Day 2 weigh-in will advance to the final day and the Top 20 anglers after the final day will advance to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This event is being hosted by the Eufaula-Barbour County Chamber of Commerce.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #042948; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></div>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3008192318773212221.post-69073588216080554122024-02-05T06:45:00.004-05:002024-02-05T06:45:39.002-05:00Dustin Connell Wins 2024 MLF B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One presented by Power-Pole Bass Pro Tour on Toledo Bend!<b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJFtVLL2OhO8XfqjkYpLfLrihP3csw6r-RiNV4ny9qPynooC7mDzBcgaKfB7ivgwtUqUNeQoA2Nup1Kav1frKHCOYGPJJDnGs2Hlmt9GbPYotqAK0_QHeL06UzYdyUZg00YwISu-WP_YuDsipEPtgFep1yYopjq-YGSBhGF42VVcUeoQbWwf4_a6zlQr2/s1083/FB_IMG_1707091301309.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJFtVLL2OhO8XfqjkYpLfLrihP3csw6r-RiNV4ny9qPynooC7mDzBcgaKfB7ivgwtUqUNeQoA2Nup1Kav1frKHCOYGPJJDnGs2Hlmt9GbPYotqAK0_QHeL06UzYdyUZg00YwISu-WP_YuDsipEPtgFep1yYopjq-YGSBhGF42VVcUeoQbWwf4_a6zlQr2/w332-h320/FB_IMG_1707091301309.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br />Mitchell Forde </b><p></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">BASS PRO TOUR Press Release </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MANY, La. — As the second period of the Championship Round ticked away at </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/2024-bass-pro-tour-stage-one-toledo-bend/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One presented by Power-Pole</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/dustin-connell/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dustin Connell</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> felt his lead slowly slipping away. The Alabama native had gotten off to a hot start, catching nearly 40 pounds of Toledo Bend bass in the first period and claiming the top spot on SCORETRACKER®. But around 1 p.m., his bite fizzled, and the field slowly chipped away. At one point, </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/zack-birge/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Zack Birge</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> got within one scorable bass of the lead.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So, Connell ran to a new spot, one he hadn’t visited since the Qualifying Round. On his first cast of Period 3, he hooked into a 4-pounder. In that moment, the match met the proverbial fuse, sparking an epic display of fireworks. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During the two-hour final period, Connell boated a whopping 20 scorable bass weighing 58 pounds, 6 ounces, bringing his total for the day to 112-4 on 36 fish. In the end, he blew away the field, finishing 44-2 clear of runner-up </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/spencer-shuffield-515616/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spencer Shuffield</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, who couldn’t quite recapture his </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/bass-pro-tour/shuffield-breaks-100-pound-mark-leads-charge-into-championship-round/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Knockout Round magic</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/drew-gill-2/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drew Gill</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> finished third in his </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/circuits/bass-pro-tour/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bass Pro Tour</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> debut with 19 bass weighing 66-8.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I looked for something like this all week,” Connell said. “And I can’t believe that it happened.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Connell’s total marked the biggest day for any angler during the event — despite the Championship Round being shortened by 30 minutes due to a 1-hour, 45-minute fog delay. The win marks his fifth Bass Pro Tour victory and his third straight in regular-season events contested with every-fish-counts scoring. He also won the final two tournaments of the 2022 season.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Connell will take home $100,000 for the win, plus an extra $1,000 for boating the Berkley Big Bass of the day — a 7-14. </span><a href="https://majorleaguefishing.com/anglers/cliff-crochet/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cliff Crochet’s</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 11-1 lunker caught on the first day of the event earned him $3,000 as the Berkley Big Bass for the tournament.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Here’s how the Top 10 anglers finished the Championship Round:</span></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Dustin Connell — 112-4 (36 bass)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Spencer Shuffield — 68-2 (22)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Drew Gill — 66-8 (19)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jacob Wheeler — 60-15 (18)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Zack Birge — 60-3 (19)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Martin Villa — 60-3 (21)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Alton Jones Jr. — 50-10 (19)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Justin Cooper — 48-6 (15)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jesse Wiggins — 42-11 (15)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Matt Becker — 28-11 (10)</span></span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ever since the BPT schedule was unveiled for 2024, Connell has had his eye on Toledo Bend. Given the late-winter timing of the event, he figured it would suit his strengths — namely, finding schools of fish with forward-facing sonar. And after failing to make a Championship Round during the 2023 regular season, he was hungry to get back in the Top 10.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I do really well looking for schools of fish,” Connell said. “That’s how I grew up.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So, Connell spent the months leading up to Stage One fishing three to four times per week on the lakes near his Clanton, Alabama, home. It didn’t matter that he primarily chased a different species (Alabama bass) a few hundred miles away from Toledo Bend. The practice was all about sharpening his skills with the hottest technique in tournament fishing: pinpointing suspended bass with electronics and using a soft-plastic minnow on a jighead to coax them into biting.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I practiced for this tournament all fall,” Connell said. “I didn’t go deer hunting, I didn’t go golfing, I didn’t go sit on the couch. I’ve literally been fishing three or four days a week for four months, preparing for this, because I knew that this was going to be a tournament that I could have a really good shot.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite the heavy rains that dumped muddy runoff into Toledo Bend prior to the event, Connell stayed committed to that strategy. He used a </span><a href="https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/rapala-crushcity-customs-freeloader" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rapala CrushCity Freeloader</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to catch most of his fish, especially in more stained water. He affixed the bait to various jigheads but said he leaned on a 5/16-ounce version Sunday. He also mixed in a smaller, prototype CrushCity plastic called a Mooch Minnow. Connell wouldn’t divulge many details about the bait, which will debut this summer at ICAST, but said it accounted for three fish over 5 pounds during the Championship Round, including the aforementioned 7-4. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He found all his fish, of course, with </span><a href="https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/lowrance-activetarget-live-sonar" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lowrance ActiveTarget</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Given the dingy water and fishing pressure, making precise presentations — the result of his offseason practice — proved pivotal.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Connell’s technique was no secret. Everyone else in the Championship Round chased fish offshore using forward-facing sonar, most with a jighead minnow.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The difference came down to finding large schools of actively feeding bass, which moved each day. Key to doing so, Connell said, was covering as much of the massive, 185,000-acre playing field as possible during the week. After a strong first day of qualifying put him well ahead of the rest of the anglers in Group B, Connell used his second day of competition solely to practice. Then, after stacking more than 45 pounds on SCORETRACKER ® in Period 1 of the Knockout Round, he once again set out in search of new water.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“The biggest key was decision making this week and trying to adapt to the water,” he said. “The water came up 3 feet, the water was muddy, the water started to clean.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">All that practicing paid off when Connell pulled the plug on his starting spot during the Championship Round. His first move took him to an area that was too muddy. Seeing how the water clarity had fluctuated led him to think of a spot he’d visited during the Qualifying Round. Connell described it as a pocket located between two major creeks. It featured a ditch, or “drain,” where bass could corral shad. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">During his initial visit, the area didn’t seem special — he caught a 3-pounder and a 2 ½-pounder there — but with clearer water, he knew it had the ingredients to attract baitfish (and thus bass) in large numbers. Boy did it. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“I ran in that area earlier in the week, and the fish weren’t in there as good,” he said. “And then the water cleared up, and they just flooded in there.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The spot didn’t just have bass in numbers, but big ones, too. On the day, Connell boated nine bass of 4 pounds or bigger.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f2350a09-7fff-c342-134b-93600b3b0b77"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c2829; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Connell, who didn’t catch a single 4-pounder during the Knockout Round, attributed his Sunday smashfest to his mindset — the biggest key to his win. Given how rapidly the conditions changed, he refused to commit to one area at any point in the week. And when the pressure mounted as his Championship Round lead shrunk, he avoided spinning out, ultimately making the winning decision.</span></span></p>IBASSIN.COMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09885856244274016875noreply@blogger.com0