Keith Carson Wins MLF Invitations Stop 6 Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches at the Detroit River

Canadian Cory Johnston 6th

Keith Carson won Stop 6 with a three-day total of 67-6. Photo by Rob Matsuura.

By Jody White

Major League Fishing Press Release

TRENTON, Mich. – Stop 6 Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches at the Detroit River was a wild one from start to finish, with big weights, lots of movement in the points standings, and a tightly contested chase for the win. In the end, Keith Carson put it all together for three days to earn his first MLF win as a pro with a three-day total of 67 pounds, 6 ounces. For the win, Carson earned $80,000 and a ticket to REDCREST 2025. Finishing runner-up, Alec Morrison weighed 66-12, and though he could not clinch the win, he did earn both the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year and Polaris Rookie of the Year titles. 

This being the last Tackle Warehouse Invitationals event of the season, the top five pros in the points also earned Bass Pro Tour invites for 2025. Morrison leads a high-flying group of anglers that includes Jake Lawrence, Colby Miller, Jaden Parrish and Marshall Hughes. 

ActiveTarget skills put Carson on top 

A childhood friend of John Cox, who is noted for eschewing forward-facing sonar and remaining quite successful, you wouldn’t exactly peg Carson as a player on

Jordan Lee Rules 2023 Knockout Round of General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles

Mason Prince

BASS PRO TOUR Press Release

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Championship Round is set after a windy day on Lake St. Clair for the Knockout Round of General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles. The Top 10 anglers fought their way through smokey conditions to earn their shot at $100,000.
Jordan Lee will head into the final day on St. Clair with 24 pounds, 9 ounces and a 1-7 lead over second-place Alton Jones Jr. as he tries to win his third Bass Pro Tour event in his career and the first since the 2020 season. He’ll have to hold off Jones, who finished second on Lake St. Clair in 2021 and will be looking to avoid another runner-up finish.
There was also a three-way tie for ninth place at 21-4, with Terry Scroggins and John Hunter advancing to the Championship Round over 11th-place Justin Lucas as they both had a bigger bass than Lucas’ 4-6 big fish. It was the closest Knockout Round finish in the history of the Bass Pro Tour.

Here’s how the Top 10 will look heading into Thursday’s Championship Round:

1. Jordan Lee – 24-9 (5)

2. Alton Jones Jr. – 23-2 (5)

3. Mark Rose – 22-14 (5)

4. Gary Klein – 22-11 (5)

5. Jacob Wheeler – 22-2 (5)

6. Mark Daniels Jr. – 21-14 (5)

7. Josh Bertrand – 21-10 (5)

8. Jesse Wiggins – 21-8 (5)

9. Terry Scroggins – 21-4 (5)

10. John Hunter – 21-4 (5)

Full results

Lee looking to lock it up

Lee has been on St. Clair this week, but he’s spent his entire time on the Canadian side of the 275,000-acre lake. The Alabama pro spent his morning on Wednesday drop-shotting a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Jerk Shad with a 1/2-ounce weight on an area the size of a football field. He was able to round up 22 pounds in the first hour, which gave him the confidence he needed to keep his Canadian strategy on track.

A Smallmouth Secret: The Carolina Rig

A Carolina rig is an old school technique to catch big bass. It works exceptionally well on beast smallmouth. If you encounter heavy wind, giant waves, scattered smallmouth or just cannot figure out finesse, then you need to learn how to Carolina rig. Carolina rig is a secret technique to nail smallmouth. You'll be surprised how how IBASSIN.com rigs up for smallmouth. Listen to Luigi De Rose as he goes through the set up, bait selection and when are where to fish the Carolina Rig for smallmouth.

Whopper smallmouth on Lake St. Clair with Sparkus Fisher: POV hookset to net on light line

Wonder why guys love big smallmouth? Its the FIGHT! Check out this video, from hookset to net, as Sparkus Fisher lands a Lake St. Clair stud. If you want to see for yourself how a big smallmouth fights on light line, give Sparkus Fisher Fishing guideservice a call at 519-803-8666 or #sparkusfisherfishing

Sparkus Fisher runs a Ranger 522D, one of the biggest, battleships out there making any future trip so much easier. Give Sparkus a call and go battle some big water smallies.

Moblie Link: https://youtu.be/CDqtHag2vDc

2020 FLW Super Tournament on Lake Erie Day 3: Bertrand Reclaims Lead with 62-12lbs

St. Clair vs Lake Erie battle raging

By Sean Ostruszka

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Bertrand capitalized on bumpy day.
(Photo: FLW) 

It’s a numbers game for Josh Bertrand, and the numbers keep lining up so far.

We’ll start with the biggest number – one – as in, he’s back again in first place at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Super Tournament on Lake Erie after slipping from the top spot to fourth yesterday.

He did that with the biggest weight number of the day – 22 pounds, 14 ounces – to give him 62-12 for the tournament, which is a little more than 2 pounds ahead of Jacob Wheeler, who is on a historic tear (more on that later).

And he was able to put up that big number thanks to some dwindling numbers around his main area.

“Every guy that falls off opens more water up,” says Bertrand about sharing water, especially on day two, around the Gull Island Shoal area. “It’s so hard to bounce around and fish a lot of stuff when you’ve got other guys fishing all the same stuff. Yesterday, I was sharing a spot with seven or eight guys. Today, it was three. Tomorrow, it’ll be one or two.”

Now, those were the good numbers. There are some bad ones, though.

For instance, Bertrand continues to struggle to generate many bites in his area. He admits there are less fish in his area than to start, as “a lot of fish have been pulled out.” He’s barely getting enough bites to fill his limit, and he’s only able to do that because he’s maximizing his time on the water.

“I need every minute,” says Bertrand. “When you’re only getting 5-6-7 bites a day, on a good day, it’s such a fragile thing. If I didn’t have six hours to fish, I’d have no chance. I’d come in with two fish for 9 pounds. It would be too tough, if you were fishing for single fish like I am without that time. It’s the only way it works, for sure.”

The other number to watch is the wind speed, especially for tomorrow.

Scott Canterbury is the 2019 BASS Elite Angler of the Year; Cory Johnston Tied for 2nd!

Canadians Cory Johnston 2th, Chris Johnston 13th & Gussy 28th
By Bryan Brasher
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Canterbury claims AOY by 8 points of Johnston and Blaylock.
(Photo: BASS)

As a child, Scott Canterbury always spent his Saturday mornings watching The Bassmasters television program.

To him, the stars of that show — people like Bob Cobb, Ray Scott and Denny Brauer — are the true legends of professional bass fishing.

Now, he has forever claimed his own spot alongside them in B.A.S.S. history.

With five bass that weighed 19 pounds, 12 ounces during Tuesday’s final round, Canterbury pushed his three-day total to 59-4 and finished in 14th place for the week at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Lake St. Clair.

More importantly, he finished at the top of the season points standings with 848 points, earning one of the most coveted titles in professional fishing and the $100,000 check that goes with it.

“My first goal coming into the season was to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic next year,” Canterbury said. “Angler of the Year is always there on the radar. It’s just way out there.

“You always set goals that you don’t think you can reach — because if they’re easy to reach, you didn’t set them high enough.”

Chad Pikens Wins 2014 BASS Northern Open on Lake St. Clair

Canadian brothers Chris and Cory finish strong!

By Louie Stout

bass press release

DETROIT – Chad Pipkens picked the right day to have the best day of his life.

The 31-year-old Holt, Mich., angler, who has fished Lakes St. Clair and Erie since his college days, bagged 23 pounds, 6 ounces to win the Bass Pro Shops Northern Open #3 presented by Allstate on Lake St. Clair. 

Chad's first win and a trip to the 2015 Classic. Cannot beat
a day on the water like that!
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

His three-day total of 67 pounds, 4 ounces edged out Fletcher Shryock of Ohio. Shryock came in second with 63-10, while Chris Johnston of Canada placed third with 63-6. 

Joe Balog, the Harrison Township., Mich., pro and heavy favorite who led the first two days, lost valuable fishing time due to mechanical problems. Balog caught only three fish on Day 3, and fell to seventh. 

2014 BASS Northern Open Lake St. Clair Day 2: Balog Still Leads Over Smallmouth fest.!

Canadian brothers sit 3rd and 6th.

By Louie Stout

SEP 5, 2014

DETROIT – Joe Balog’s hopes of running the table in the Bass Pro Shops Northern Open #3 presented by Allstate could be blowin’ in the Lake St. Clair wind on Saturday.

Balog slapped an impressive 25 pounds, 2 ounces of smallmouth bass onto the scales Friday, expanding his first-day lead to nearly four pounds.

But a forecast calling for a turnaround in the wind – from the southwest to the northwest – is fret-worthy fodder.

Balog steals the day with 25 pound bag.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

“I’m really fishing something ‘off the wall’ and I’m concerned what the wind change might do to my fish,” the Harrison Twp, Mich. angler said.

Fellow Michigan angler Chad Pipkens, anchored in second place with 43 pounds, 10 ounces, expects the wind change to benefit him greatly and give him more time to fish his most productive area.

“I’ve had to leave it early every day this week because the wind made it difficult to fish,” he said. “If I could get a couple more hours there, I’ve got a shot.”

The field will be cut to 12 on Saturday. Canadian Chris Johnston is third with 43-12, Michigander Ben Nielsen is fourth with 42-13 and Elite Series Pro Fletcher Shryock of Ohio is fifth with 41-14.

Johnston’s brother, Cory, is sixth with 41-14.

2014 BASS Northern Open Lake St. Clair Day 1: Balog Sacks Lead with 22-8!

Balog leads over a strong local showing.

By Louis Stout

bass press release

DETROIT — The home-field advantage played a big role in the first round of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open presented by Allstate on Lake St. Clair Thursday.

Joe was one of 11 who cracked 20 pounds.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Two local anglers jumped to the head of the pack, with formidable pro Joe Balog of Harrison Township, Mich., sacking 22 pounds, 8 ounces, good for a 4-ounce lead over fellow Harrison Township angler Andrew Smith.

Canadian Chris Johnston is third with 21-12, while Bassmaster Elite Series pros Fletcher Shryock of Ohio and Michigander Chad Pipkens are tied for fifth with 21-6.

In addition to valuable prizes going to the winner of this final leg of the Northern Open is a berth in next February’s Bassmaster Classic to be held on Lake Hartwell of out Greenville, S.C., providing the winner has competed in two previous 2014 Northern Opens.

Chris Lanes Wins 2013 Bassmaster Elite Lake St. Clair tournament!

By Deb Johnson

BASS Press Release

DETROIT  — After leading the first day, then falling into Mark Davis’ wake on the second and third days, Chris Lane kicked it into high gear Sunday to win the Bassmaster Elite Series Plano Championship Chase.

Lane holds nothing back after winning on St. Clair!
He also nails a 2014 Classic berth on his home lake.
(Photo: BASS)

Through the win, Lane, the 2012 Bassmaster Classic champ, got his 2014 Bassmaster Classic ticket punched — what he came into the Chase to achieve. From Guntersville, Ala., he was set on qualifying for the 2014 world championship on his home water of Lake Guntersville.

The win was also his first in the Bassmaster Elite Series and a $100,000 payday. 

Lane landed the Chase title by weighing 82 pounds, 4 ounces of smallmouth bass in four days of competition. His margin of victory was 5-7 over Davis of Mount Ida, Ark.

Davis, the 1995 Classic winner who also owns three Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year trophies, led on Days 2 and 3. On Day 4, one bass shy of a five-fish limit, Davis’ weight was 13-3. He finished at 76-13 in the runner-up spot.

2013 Bassmaster Elite Lake St. Clair Day 3: Mark Davis Still Lead; Martens Wins Second AOY!

Bass Press Release

DETROIT — Mark Davis came to Michigan for the Aug. 22-25 Bassmaster Elite Series Plano Championship Chase ready to risk all to bag his 17th Bassmaster Classic qualification.

Mark Davis has a chance to claim Elite tournament.
(Photo:BASS)

Saturday, leading the Chase for the second consecutive day, the 1995 Classic champ from Mount Ida, Ark., put himself in position to do just that. His risk was a round-trip daily run of 180 miles that left him soaking wet, hat to shoes, and shaken like a James Bond martini.

“It was definitely the Classic berth that drove me to do it,” Davis said.

The risk he took to get to Erie and back without a time penalty or mishap paid off. Davis weighed 20 pounds, 15 ounces Saturday to retain the Chase lead with a three-day total of 63-10.

After his third consecutive day of turning in a 20-plus-pound bag, he was 1 pound, 1 ounce ahead of first-day leader Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala. Lane brought in 22-15 — the day’s largest sack of bass — for second place and a three-day total of 62-9.

Aaron Martens Wins the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Angler of the Year!

Aaron wins AOY!
Aaron sacked enough smallmouth to land in 3rd place in the last Bass Elite tournament
of the season but best of all claims his second Angler of the Year Title.
(Photo: BASS)


more to come...

2013 Bassmaster Elite Lake St. Clair Day 2: Mark Davis Grabs Lead at Smallmouth Heaven

By Deb Johnson

BASS Press Release

AUG 23, 2013

DETROIT — Mullygrubs?

Yup. Mark Davis said he had them on Thursday, the first day of the Bassmaster Elite Series Plano Championship Chase out of Detroit, Mich. He said he caught the mullygrubs after not boating two big smallmouth bass he hooked. He settled for second place.

Mark Davis lands another 20lb bag to grab lead.
(Photo: BASS) 

He shook off those mullygrubs Friday. Not hard to do after spending a great day on the water, weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces of smallmouth bass, and taking the Chase lead with a two-day tally of 42 pounds, 11 ounces.

“Mullygrubs,” the pro from Mount Ida, Ark., explained, is an old Arkansas term that means something that falls between the grumps and the blues, and maybe is tangled with regrets over missed chances.

“No mullygrubs today, everything was good. Everything went pretty well. I caught a limit pretty quick. I did lose one huge fish, but you aren’t going to catch all these big smallmouth,” said Davis, the 1995 Classic winner who also took the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title that same season. He went on to claim another AOY crown in 1998, and a third in 2001.