Powroznik Rallies for Win in Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Three Raleigh presented by Evinrude.

Wheeler 2nd, Omori 3rd. 

MLF PRESS RELEASE

Jacob's change from sight fishing to casting secured win!
(Photo: MLF)

When it all comes down to it, the Major League Fishing® (MLF) format has always been about identifying fishing conditions on the fly, and making the right adjustments as those conditions change.

MLF pro Jacob Powroznik learned enough from the first fish he saw on Championship Sunday to tell him all he needed to know. That fish, which rolled on a floating worm in the first pocket that the Virginia pro fished on Shearon Harris Reservoir, clued Powroznik in that the lake's largemouth were in extremely shallow water and spawning.

Powroznik didn't catch that fish, but it caused him to pick up a wacky-rigged 5-inch V&M Chopstick and start fishing for spawners. It was the right decision: Powroznik connected with 20 fish for 63 pounds, 4 ounces to earn a shiny new red-and-silver trophy and the $100,000 first-place check at the Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Three Raleigh presented by Evinrude.

"I saw that fish swim over on that floating worm, and I knew right then fish were spawning," Powroznik said. "They were really shallow, and I picked that wacky-worm up right then and didn't take it out of my hand the rest of the day."

 

From sight fishing to casting

Powroznik, one of the most skilled sight-fishermen in the field, dedicated some time early in the day to bedding fish, but then pulled off the beds and started casting to shallow water when mid-day clouds spoiled the visibility. That, too, proved to be a key decision.

2019 Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Group 2: Marty Robinson Score 56lbs and 15 lb Lead over Gagliardi!

Three late 6 pound bass save anglers
By Luigi De Rose

Robinson poured it on and grabbed huge Stage 1 lead.
(Photo: MLF)

Nothing can be worse in Florida than a cold, cloudy day after a major cold front in January. The 40 anglers from Group 2 were met with such conditions but the fishing was still good. Anglers stayed consistent for the morning round but big moves were made during the afternoon shift. Late in the afternoon, Marty Robinson zoomed past the field and scored 56lbs for 34 bass, his largest was a 4-06lb bass for the Stage 1 lead. Anglers in the group will rest tomorrow as Group 1 will return to fishing.

Rank	Angler	Total Weight Caught	Number of Fish Caught
1	Marty Robinson	56 - 00	34
2	Anthony Gagliardi	41 - 14	20
3	Jacob Powroznik	33 - 08	20
4	Greg Hackney	31 - 06	14
5	Fletcher Shryock	30 - 01	20
6	Alton Jones	30 - 01	17

Ish Monroe Wins 2018 Bassmaster Elite Mississippi River with 65-07lbs!

Powroznik 2nd, Tharp 3rd
By Thomas Allen

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Frogs and flipping key to win.
(Photo: BASS)

Notching his fifth Bassmaster victory, Ish Monroe of Hughson, Calif., produced a solid limit of largemouth bass that weighed 16 pounds, 2 ounces to win his first victoryin six years at the 2018 Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by Go RVing.
 
Monroe’s four-day total was 65-7, edging out Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., who produced a four-day limit of 64-12. Powroznik finished in second place.
 
Across the four official competition days, there were four different leaders, which kept the event very exciting until the final weigh-in.
 
Monroe started out in 20th place on Thursday’s opening round, moved up to sixth on Friday, third following Saturday’s semi-final round of competition and then into the top spot on ChampionshipSunday.
 
The impressive victory earned the 44-year-old pro valuable Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points and a $100,000 payday.
 
“Everybody knew that the rising river levels would affect the fish and how they positioned on the structure,” Monroe said. “I had a plan, but early on Day 1, I got stuck on a sandbar, and that was as stuck as I’ve ever been in a bass boat. I freed my boat, and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”

2018 Bassmaster Elite Mississippi River Day 2: Aaron Martens Leads by Ounce over Tharp!

Strong fishing despite flooding 
By Thomas Allen

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Martens and Zaldain share honey hole.
(Photo: BASS)

With this tournament being his fourth visit to the legendary Upper Mississippi River, Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., is now eyeballing a $100,000 payday as he took the lead at the 2018 Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by Go RVing.

The water is rising at La Crosse, but it’s not stopped the big largemouth and smallmouth bass from eating with regularity. River levels are expected to remain within the forecasted range: 12 feet high by Sunday, and cresting sometime Monday.
 
Twelve feet is considered flood stage, which will certainly impact the fishing from day to day.
 
Regardless of challenging river conditions, Martens posted a five-bass limit that weighed 17 pounds, 14 ounces to push him to the atop of the leaderboard with a two-day total of 34-3.

The three-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year finished in fifth place in 2012 when the Elite Series visited La Crosse, second in 2013 and 30th in 2016.
 
To say he wants to win here is an understatement.
 
“I know the winning limit of fish is swimming where I'm fishing,” he said. “I want to prove it this time. But a number of factors are going to have to go my way for that to happen.”
 
Over the years, he’s spent a lot of time across this vast fishery, and he said it’s an amazing place to come and catch a lot of bass. But his location close to the launch in Veterans Freedom Park continues to produce quality fish year after year.
 

2018 Bassmaster Elite Mississippi River Day 1: Chad Pipkins Leads with 17-15lbs!

Heavy rain no problem for Elites

By Thomas Allen

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Chad all smiles with 5-8 pound largemouth.
(Photo: BASS)

Nonstop soaking rain, increasing river levels and heavy limits of big smallmouth and largemouth bass were of hot discussion after Thursday’s opening round of competition at the 2018 Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by GO RVing.

The tough conditions didn’t keep the Mississippi River bass from eating, however.

Thirty-four-year-old pro Chad Pipkens of Lansing, Mich., took control of the top spot after an impressive five-bass limit that weighed 17 pounds, 15 ounces.

The derby pays $100,000 to the top-scoring angler, and the dandy 5-8 largemouth has Pipkens also in charge of the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award. That fish could earn him an extra $1,500 once the event wraps up.

Jacob Powroznik Going to 2018 BASSMASTER Classic!

Powroznik prevails.

By Bryan Brasher

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Jacob grabbed early lead and never looked back.
(Photo: BASS)

For the past three years, Jacob Powroznik has qualified for the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods by finishing inside the cut in the season-long Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points standings on the Bassmaster Elite Series.

This year, he had to work overtime to get to the Classic.

But he’ll be there just the same.

Powroznik defeated four anglers in five days to win this week’s Classic Bracket on Pokegama Lake, outscoring Steve Kennedy in the two-day first round, Dave Lefebre in the semifinals and Ish Monroe in Friday’s closely contested finale.

The Virginia pro caught 16 pounds, 11 ounces of bass Friday — compared to the 14-8 landed by Monroe — to earn the tournament’s automatic Classic berth.

“It’s unbelievable, man,” Powroznik said with tears in his eyes. “It’s just such a relief. It’s the most pressure I’ve ever fished under — and I mean ever.

2017 Bassmaster Classic Bracket Showdown on Lake Pokegama Day 3

Monroe and Powroznik prevail.

By Bryan Brasher

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Then there was two. Ish and Jacob battle for last Classic spot.
(Photo: BASS)

When the Bassmaster Elite Series season began, 110 of the best pro fishermen in the world had a chance to qualify for the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

Now, after eight months and thousands of miles traveled on the nation’s interstates and waterways, that race for a last-chance berth is down to two.

California pro Ish Monroe and Virginia pro Jacob Powroznik both won their matches during Thursday’s semifinal round of the Bassmaster Classic Bracket event on Pokegama Lake, Minnesota. That means they’ll battle head-to-head Friday from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. CT for an automatic Classic berth.

The Classic Bracket started Tuesday with the Top 8 anglers from the final Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings who failed to qualify for the Classic. All of the action from the catch-weigh-release event has been carried by Bassmaster LIVE online at Bassmaster.com.

bracket_day3_results.png

Here’s a look at how the semifinals played out.

Ish Monroe vs. Michael Iaconelli

The two anglers, who are close friends and frequent roommates on the Elite Series, were close in the standings most of the day, with Monroe using a plastic frog to catch largemouth around shallow grass and Iaconelli relying heavily on a jerkbait to catch offshore smallmouth.

Kevin Van Dam Wins 2016 BASS Elite Cayuga Lake Event with 71-13lbs!

KVD is King again!
By Bryan Brasher

BASS PRESS RELEASE

KVD is BACK! (Photo BASS)

A little over six weeks ago, many professional fishing fans were wondering out loud, “What’s wrong with Kevin VanDam?”

Now those same fans must be wondering just how many gigantic moments VanDam has ahead of him.

After recording his 21st career victory at Louisiana’s Toledo Bend Reservoir in May, VanDam won again Sunday, coming from behind to claim the $100,000 first-place prize in the Busch Beer Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake. After going five years between victories, the Michigan superstar has now won twice in seven weeks.

VanDam, went into Sunday’s final round in third place, almost 2 pounds out of the lead. But a final-day catch of 15 pounds, 7 ounces put him over the top with a four-day mark of 71-13. Jordan Lee, a 24-year-old Alabama angler who led going into the final round, finished second with 70-12.

“You just never know how things are going to go out here,” said VanDam, who extended his own B.A.S.S. record with his 22nd career win. “I’ve said it many times before. It’s really hard to win against these guys.

“I feel pretty lucky today, for sure. I didn’t have a great day today.”

Unlike Toledo Bend, which he described as the “toughest tournament he ever won,” VanDam went into the Cayuga Lake event with a lot of confidence based on what he’d seen in practice. He used a variety of patterns throughout the week and exploited the lake’s solid populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Casey Ashley is the 2015 Bassmaster Classic Champ!

Casey Ashley wins hometown Classic with dad's homemade baits

By Bryan Brasher

bass press release

GREENVILLE, S.C. - On Sunday evening at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Casey Ashley completed a journey that began more than three decades ago and seemed to drag on forever these past few weeks.

The 31-year-old South Carolina native, who has lived just a few miles from Lake Hartwell all his life, caught five bass that weighed 20 pounds, 3 ounces to cap a moving victory in the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on his home waters with a three-day total of 50-1.

The weight was enough to help Ashley past Florida pro Bobby Lane, Jr., who finished second with 46-15, and Texas angler Takahiro Omori who placed third with 44-3.

Casey kept underspin spinning all day to capture win by 3 pounds.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

The end of the weigh-in meant Ashley could finally take a deep breath after seven weeks when the lake was mostly off-limits due to B.A.S.S. rules and when virtually everyone he saw wanted to talk about him being the favorite to win.

“I worked a show in Greenville at the TD Convention Center (in mid-January), and I bet I thought about the Classic 50,000 times while I was standing there,” said Ashley, who won the event on his sixth try. “My first Classic was here (in 2008), and ever since then I’ve been saying I’d like to have that one back.
“I wanted to win so bad here at home, and I had a long time to think about it. It was pretty rough.”

Greg Hackney Wins 2014 Bassmaster Elite Cayuga Lake!

Hackney leaves best for last to dominate in New York. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. — Greg Hackney was floating higher than a reel-peeling, skyward cast that seems to be held aloft by the sun itself.

Unlike a lure, he may not come down anytime soon.

In one fell swoop, the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Gonzales, La., won the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake — and held tight to his lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race.

Hackney is on a role with 2 wins
this year and leading AOY in
the Elites!
(Photo: Seigo Saito BASS)

“I’ll ride this as long as I can,” Hackney said Sunday just after he took the trophy and was sure no other angler had busted into his AOY lead. “There are not too many times you get to do this. It’s pretty awesome.”

Hackney slapped the 12-man field in Sunday’s final round with a catch of 23 pounds, 15 ounces. That pumped his four-day total to 85-0. His margin of victory was 9 pounds, 3 ounces over Todd Faircloth, who weighed 15-6 Sunday to finish in second place at 75-13.

The Cayuga trophy was the fourth for Hackney in his B.A.S.S. career. Coming more than eight years after his only other Elite win in March 2006, the Cayuga victory broke his Bassmaster winner’s drought. He won an FLW Tour in June, and also owns the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup trophy.

Hackney collected $100,000 and an instant qualification for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. He virtually has a Classic entry in hand through his standing in points, so the Cayuga title will double-qualify him.

Taking third place at Cayuga was Chris Zaldain of San Jose, Calif., with 74-12. Fourth place was claimed by Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., with 72-9.

Anchoring the Top 5 was Jared Lintner of Arroyo Grande, Calif., with 71-6. Lintner weighed a 6-2, tying him with Hackney for the largest bass of Sunday.

Jacob Powroznik Wins the 2014 Bassmaster Elite Toledo Bend Tournament

Powroznik throws KO punch on Toledo Bend

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

MANY, La. — With a one-two, the rookie won.

Jacob Powroznik delivered that punch Sunday in the form of two good-sized bass in the last hours of competition of the four-day Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend.

Dave Mercer gets the good on how Jacob achieved his
first win on the Elites.
(Photo: BASS)

“I’m speechless. That doesn’t happen very often,” said Powroznik as he accepted his first Bassmaster Elite Series trophy after competing in only four events in his first year on the top-level tour — and on a fishery on which he had never before competed.

From Port Haywood, Va., Powroznik claimed the first-place prize of $100,000 and an instant-in for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, his first world championship qualification.

“To get into the Classic feels like someone just gave me a million dollars,” said Powroznik after he stepped off the stage and got his voice back. “You don’t get many opportunities to win one of these events. It’s so hard to do. To do it my first year is a blessing.”

After leading on Friday, Powroznik was stumped in Saturday’s round by a disappearing shad spawn bite that had helped him considerably in the early morning hours of competition. Then he was smoked out of a promising spawning bass area by a controlled burn of Texas shoreline forest. Going into the Sunday finals, Powroznik had dropped more than 2 1/2 pounds behind the leader, two-time Bassmaster Toledo Bend champ Dean Rojas.

Jacob Powroznik Wins the 2014 Bassmaster Elite Toledo Bend Tournament

Jacob Powroznik wins at Toledo Bend with 79-12 lbs
anchored with a 7-13 lb largemouth. That big bass was the largest
of the day. More tournament news shortly.
(Photo: BASS) 

2014 Bassmaster Elite Toledo Bend Day 3: Dean Rojas take lead and ready for his third victory here!

Rojas rules Toledo Bend again. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

MANY, La. — Toledo Bend Reservoir produced a little something extra — lagniappe in Louisiana French-speak — for Dean Rojas on Saturday.

This beauty along with a sizeable sack launched Dean
into the lead.
(Photo: BASS)

Actually, that something extra was very large: a 7-pound, 2-ounce largemouth bass. And it proved to be the catch that made all the difference for Rojas on the third day of the May 1-4 Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite on Toledo Bend.

Because of the big cull his 7-2 made possible, Rojas turned his day around. The so-so limit he would have had became a good day’s catch of 17-14.

Best of all, the 7-2 helped him to a 2-10 advantage over Friday leader Jacob Powroznik.

“I was fortunate today to have that big one that separated me from having a small limit,” said Rojas, who’s from Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

It helped that Powroznik tripped. He managed just 11-13 Saturday. Those bass put his total to 60-1, good enough for second, but not enough to stay in the catbird seat, the spot Rojas captured with his 62-11 total going into the final competition on Sunday.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Toledo Bend Day 2: Powroznik Powers To Lead, Rojas Closing In!

Former FLW Pro Takes Lead at Toledo Bend

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

MANY, La. — Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Jacob Powroznik had been to Toledo Bend Reservoir just once before he came to the May 1-4 Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite.

Powroznik ahead of former Toledo Bend Champ Rojas
by 3 pounds.
(Photo: Seigo Saito BASS)

Dean Rojas has a wealth of experience on the lake; his 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series victory on Toledo Bend proved that.

Yet these polar opposites — at least when it comes to the famed big-bass factory on the Louisiana-Texas border — were the top two anglers after Friday, the second day of competition.

And it was the rookie who led the veteran; Powroznik had 3 pounds, 7 ounces on Rojas.

Powroznik, who is from Port Haywood, Va., added 23-6 Friday to his Thursday weight of 24-14 for a two-day total of 48-4. He inched up from third place to take the lead.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Toledo Bend Day 1: Jared Lintner Leads with 25 pounds!

Jared Keep AOY Streak Alive

By Deb Johnson

BASS PRESS RELEASE

MANY, La. — Jared Lintner went to extremes Thursday, the first day of the May 1-4 Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend out of Many, La.

Jared sacks 25.7lbs and the lead. Expect major
changes in the leader board throughout the tournament as
big bass abound.
(Photo: Seigo Saito BASS)

He was especially extreme in his choice of fishing lines from lightweight to unbreakable. “I caught them on 10-pound fluorocarbon and 80-pound braid,” said the Californian from Arroyo Grande. “I didn’t get very many bites with the braid, but they were good ones.”

Good enough to help him amass 25 pounds, 7 ounces of bass to take the lead by 7 ounces over J Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Ga., who weighed 25-0 for second place.

In third after one round was Elite Series rookie Jacob Powroznik of Port Haywood, Va., with 24-14. Fourth place was taken by another Californian, Chris Zaldain of San Jose. His weight was 22-6, including an 8-12 on 6-pound-test line in an around-the-boat chase that “took forever” but was, he said, probably less than two minutes in real time.