Brent Anderson Wins 2023 MLF Toyota Series on St. Lawrence River!

Canadian Gary Miller 2nd!

Since making the St. Lawrence River his summertime home, Brent Anderson has passionately chased a title on the fishery. Photo by Charles Waldorf.

By Jody White

MLF Fishing

MASSENA, N.Y. – Since making upstate New York his summertime home, Brent Anderson has craved a win on his adopted waters of the St. Lawrence River. He finally pulled it off Saturday by tallying 66 pounds, 11 ounces to come out on top of the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Northern Division event and earn his 11th win with FLW/MLF. Weighing just over 22 pounds each day, Anderson won by less than a pound, and he’ll take home a crisp $80,500 (including a $35,000 Phoenix Bonus) for his efforts.

Dropping from the lead into second, Gary Miller totaled 66-1, and Spencer Shuffield finished third with 65-9. Overall, the event was characterized by some big single-day performances, but consistency won out, with most of the Top 10 staying very steady throughout.

This win is a long time coming for Anderson

A 10-time winner at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League level, Anderson has seen a lot of success in tournament fishing but hadn’t sealed the deal in a major event. Now, after a few close calls, he has convincingly outlasted the competition on a river he might be more fond of than the Tennessee.

“This is a big deal for me, it means the world to me,” Anderson said. “I’m really content. I’m not in it for the glory, I don’t like the risk that fishing the next level could put me back in the office. I’ll try to continue to do 100 guide trips a year if the tournaments are going good – I’ll try to squeeze in another 100 if they aren’t. Just spending time on places I really enjoy; once I fall in love with a place, I want to learn it as much as I can.”

Top 10 pros Below

Sam Houston Claims 2019 Bassmaster College Series at St. Lawrence River!

Smallmouth spawn producing giant limits.

By Andrew Canulette

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Jackson Carrell and Bryton Kurtz of Sam Houston State University win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at St. Lawrence River presented by Bass Pro Shops out of Waddington, N.Y., with a three-day total of 72 pounds, 13 ounces.

Sam Houston State University anglers Jackson Carrell and Bryton Kurtz traveled more than 1,700 miles to compete in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at St. Lawrence River presented by Bass Pro Shops.

They made it a trip to remember.

Carrell and Kurtz caught 15 bass over three days that weighed a whopping 72 pounds, 13 ounces. That output, which averaged an equally impressive 24-4 limit per day, was enough to top the 149-team field and clinch victory in the fourth and final Bassmaster College Series regular-season tournament of 2019.

The victors also secured a berth in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. That tournament, which will feature more than 100 of the top college duos from across the U.S., will be held Aug. 1-3 on Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee.

Carrell and Kurtz entered the final day on the St. Lawrence third among the 12 teams that survived Thursday’s cut. They briefly held the Day 1 lead, but quickly relinquished it on a record-breaking day that saw 85 teams catch at least 20 pounds of bass.

The anglers from Sam Houston, which is located in Huntsville, Texas, stayed near the top of the leaderboard, however, holding second place on Wednesday with a 25-13 limit and then third place on Thursday when they followed with a 22-5 limit.

The key, however, was the 24-11 bag Carrell and Kurtz produced Friday. It was nearly 2 pounds heavier than any other team in the final round — and with first place and 12th place separated by just more than 4 pounds, that bump was significant.

The St. Lawrence smallmouth were spawning this week, and Carrell and Kurtz were among the many teams that caught fish off beds. The water was extremely clear, as well, which made spotting the bass possible in as much as 10 feet of water.

“We started sight fishing on Wednesday morning and by 9:30, we had 25 1/2 pounds,” Carrell said. “That allowed us to go pre-fish for the next day.”

The ability to scout new areas benefited the winners, as foul weather moved into upstate New York on Thursday. With sight-fishing not possible that day, communication was crucial as one angler manned the electronics and the other laid belly down on the deck of the boat waiting for word to set the hook.

Adam Howell & Kyle Healey Win 2018 Renegade Bass Tour Classic with 49-57lbs!

St. Lawrance River smallmouth capital of the world. 
By Luigi De Rose

Easy to smile with Classic Trophies and new Basscat Boat!
(Photo: Renegade Bass Tour)

Rank	Angler Names	Day 1 Weight	Big Fish	Day 2 Weight	Big Fish	Total
1	Adam Howell / Kyle Healey	24.83	5.73	24.74	0	49.57
2	Nolan Leger / Mike Leger	23.15	0	25.92	0	49.07
3	Scott Lefebvre / Mario Formica	21	0	25.07	6.12	45.57
4	Martin Brisson / Patrick Reardon	22.73	0	21.13	6.07	43.86
5	Alex Merkley / Corey Gaffney	22.79	4.96	20.86	5.09	43.65
6	Tony Sleiman / Caleb Alexander	24.09	0	19.41	5	42.5
7	Ben Clapp / Matt Clapp	22.29	0	20.19	0	42.48
8	Jean Morin / Serge Carriere	23.18	5.81	18.83	6.02	42.01
9	Clancy Mulvihill / Jeff List	21.92	5.96	19.7	0	41.62
10	Troy Bresee / Bryan Pollock	20.54	0	20.8	4.82	41.34

FULL RESULTS 

2017 Bassmaster Elites St. Lawrence River Day 2: KVD continues to lead with 43-13lbs!

Fast current big plus for smallmouth anglers
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Kevin Van Dam focused on smallmouth and the win. (Photo BASS)

One the biggest names in professional bass fishing history managed to hold his ground at the top of the leaderboard during Friday's Huk Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River presented by Go RVing.
Kevin VanDam — a four-time winner of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic and seven-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year — caught five bass that weighed 19 pounds, 8 ounces and remained in the lead with a two-day total of 43-13.
The 23-time B.A.S.S. winner from Kalamazoo, Mich., said Friday's weather conditions in upstate New York didn't help the technique he's using.
"When the wind is blowing the same direction as the current, it really speeds it up — and this afternoon it was really blowing," he said. "That makes it a lot harder to get a good drift, to get that weight moving with your bait so it's really natural to the fish.
"When it's calm and the current is slow, it's a lot easier to get them to bite."
If that's the case, Saturday's weather forecast, which is calling for much lighter winds, favors VanDam — and he has little margin for error.

Steve Voros Wins the 2016 CANADIAN OPEN with 67.05 lbs!

Big smallmouth the real star of Canadian Open. 
By Luigi De Rose

Steve Voros wins with 67.05 lbs (Photo: Bob Mahoney)

When the scales finally settled, Steve Voros overcame the Climpsons, father and son, who dominated the first two days. With a last day limit of 23.15 lbs, Voros claimed the trophy with a three day creel of 67.05 lbs. Paul Climpson, father, grabbed second with 66.1 lbs., Third went to Joe Fonzi with 65lbs. Fonzi landed the largest limit of the event with a Sunday bag of giants that totalled 25.65 lbs. Forth, Cal Climpson, son, 64.45 lbs and fifth went to legendary angler Bob Izumi with 60.95 lbs.

A 7.2 lb Lake Ontario beast caught by
Darren Izumi (photo Yvonne Brown)

The Canadian Open was another stellar event held in Kingston, Ontario Canada. For three days the weather was hot, humid and fairly calm which allowed anglers to fish their best locations with ease and the fish didn't disappoint. Big bass of the event went to Darren Izumi, son and cameraman of Bob Izumi. This 7.2 lb smallmouth is Darren's personal best.

Edwin Evers Wins 2015 Bassmaster Elite St. Lawrence River with 77-10lbs!

Evers Double Down!

By Bryan Brasher

bass press release

WADDINGTON, N.Y.  — Confidence means a lot to a tournament bass fisherman, and Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers said his was sagging a bit after a couple of tough events earlier this year.

A win last month at BASSfest made Evers feel much better — and with a renewed sense of confidence, he went out and claimed his second victory in a row in this week’s Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River.

E2 on a hot streak as he puts 2 trophies in a row in the house.
(Photo: BASS)

With a four-day total of 77 pounds, 10 ounces, Evers became the first angler to win back-to-back events in the 10-year history of the Elite Series. He cemented the victory with a Sunday catch of five smallmouth bass that weighed 17-8.

Evers said the victory at BASSfest — and the automatic berth into the GEICO Bassmaster Classic that came with it — played a major role in his New York strategy.

“Last time we were here, I went upriver every day,” said Evers, who chalked up his 10th career B.A.S.S. victory at Waddington. “But I didn’t think I could win there. I felt like this year coming back, everybody was going to try to go that way and get as close as they possibly could to where Brandon Palaniuk won the last time we were here (in 2013). So I went the other direction, and it was hard.”

$100,000 Guaranteed Payout and Ranger Boat with Evinrude BRP Motor Up For Grabs!

Renegade Bass, the leader in live release bass tournament fishing in Canada, is pleased to announce the launch of the Thousand Islands Open presented by Hookset.com. This team tournament will take place on the St. Lawrence River July 30- August 1, 2015 in Rockport, Ontario Canada.

Ed Huck Marina will play host for this exciting 3-day event which will be open to a maximum of 100 teams competing for $100,000 in guaranteed prize money plus a Ranger Bass Boat powered by Evinrude BR and the title of Thousand Islands Open Champions. The event will also feature a unique, first of its kind way to win the Ranger Bass Boat powered by Evinrude BRP. The field will be cut in half on the final day. Every team making the final cut-off on the last day of the tournament will receive a Ranger boat key. Only one key will start the Evinrude BRP Motor. This means any of the teams making the final day cut will have the chance to win the boat and motor package with a turn of the key.

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

Big win with big smallmouth!

By Tyler Wade

bass press release

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

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

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

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

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

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

bass press release

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

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

Brownridge on his way to a victory with

six pound lead.

(Photo: BASS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Tyler Wade

bass press release

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Win with TSC and OFAH

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EverStart Northern 1000 Islands: Lucarelli Wins, Izumi 2nd.

New Hampshire pro finds sweet redemption in EverStart Northern event

18.Aug.2012 by David A. Brown

FLW Press Release

CLAYTON, N.Y. – About this time last year, New Hampshire pro told the weigh-in crowd that he wanted to go home and forget about the 1000 Islands. Good thing he didn't really let the bitter pill of a 75th-place finish obscure his memory; otherwise, he wouldn't have left the 2012 EverStart Northern event with the first-place trophy.

Joe, with tournament angler dad Steve, enjoy the win.
(Photos: FLW) 

Lucarelli got off to a good start on day one by placing 13th with 19-6. He'd follow a day later with his first of two bags over 20 – this one a limit that weighed 21-15 and moved him up to third place. In the final round, Lucarelli turned in his best performance and weighed a bulging bag of smallmouth that went 22-8 (second-largest of the event) and pushed his aggregate to a tournament-winning total of 63-13.

"It feels great to win this (after my 2011 disappointment)," Lucarelli said. "This fishery keeps getting better and better. I've been coming here for about 10 years and I remember when we used to be able to come here and catch 17-18 pounds and it really meant something. You wouldn't be (in the top-10) if you caught 17 or 18 pounds."