Lefebre authors epic ending with Heavy Hitters win plus $100,000 big bass on Orange Lake

Dave Lefebre is going home $200,000 richer after topping the field with 31-3 on seven scorable bass and also making the biggest single catch of the day, a 9-3 largemouth.
Photo by Tyler Brinks.

By Mitchell Forde

Bass Pro Tour Press Release

OCALA, Fla. — Dave Lefebre never publicly announced whether he’s retired as a professional angler. He’s not sure if Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops will mark his last event. 

But this much is clear: He saved his best performance for what was likely his final Bass Pro Tour event.

Lefebre not only topped the field on Florida’s Orange Lake to win the Heavy Hitters championship belt and $100,000, he also caught the Berkley Big Bass during the Championship Round – a 9-pound, 3-ounce lunker – to earn a second $100,000 paycheck. He’s now the second angler in the history of Heavy Hitters to walk away with $200,000, joining Jordan Lee at the inaugural Heavy Hitters event in 2020.  

Lefebre’s total of 31 pounds, 3 ounces on seven scorable bass topped Ron Nelson by 3-12. His first Bass Pro Tour win and first national victory since 2015 just might go down as a storybook ending to his 23-year pro career.

“It’s been an emotional, spiritual battle for the last five years,” Lefebre said. “And it feels like God’s way of telling me I’m doing the right thing by getting out – going out this way.”

Here’s how the Top 10 pros finished the Championship Round:

1. Dave Lefebre – 31-3 (7)

2. Ron Nelson – 27-7 (5)

3. Jake Lawrence – 24-2 (4)

4. Mark Davis – 21-1 (5)

5. Marshall Hughes – 18-7 (3)

6. Alton Jones Jr. – 10-2 (3)

7. Brent Ehrler – 7-2 (2)

8. Bobby Lane – 6-3 (1)

9. Cole Floyd – 3-1 (1)

10. Jeff Sprague – 3-0 (1)

Full results

Rallying to make the Championship Round

With three FLW Tour wins and a victory at the 2009 Toyota Texas Bass Classic, Lefebre has enjoyed plenty of success during his career. But it had been a while

Bobby Lane Wins 2025 Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI on the Harris Chain of Lakes

Bobby Lane rallies to comeback win on Harris Chain

Celebrating a Stage 2 victory was a family affair for Bobby Lane. Photo by Joel Shangle.

By Mitchell Forde 

BASS PRO TOUR Press Release 

LEESBURG, Fla. — Across a decorated 17-year career that includes a REDCREST victory, one of the few accomplishments that had eluded Bobby Lane was a national-tour win in Florida. He’d come close – in fact, the last time the Bass Pro Tour visited the Harris Chain of Lakes, Lane finished second to Ott DeFoe – but had yet to lift a trophy in his home state.

Midway through the Championship Round at Suzuki Marine Stage 2 Presented by YETI at the Harris Chain of Lakes, it looked like Lane would have to keep waiting.

Matt Becker and Mark Davis shot out of the starting blocks, both amassing more than 30 pounds in the first period. Lane, meanwhile, started on the opposite end of Lake Apopka from where he’d caught most of his fish due to the strong south wind and struggled to gain traction. Halfway through Period 2, he’d tallied just 17 pounds, 6 ounces and trailed Davis by more than 20 pounds – and as the wind continued to increase in intensity, presenting baits and generating bites became more difficult by the minute.

Buzzer beater! Lane claims dramatic victory in final minute on Kissimmee Chain

Florida pro's last-minute 5-5 earns him 9-ounce win over Mark Davis

Chris Lane had no idea he was the winner of Stage One when it was time for lines out. Photo by Garrick Dixon.

Mason Prince

BASS PRO TOUR 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – “You’re kidding me?” Chris Lane asked his official in disbelief.

“No sir, I’m not,” his official confirmed.

In one of the most memorable finishes in Bass Pro Tour history, Lane was able to leapfrog Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Mark Davis in the final minute of B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Grundéns. Lane needed a bass weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces or more to cull and catch Davis. With less than 2 minutes remaining, Lane hooked into a 5-5 largemouth, landed it with less than a minute left and was able to edge Davis by 9 ounces.

In what should have been a moment of celebration, Lane had no idea he had actually just won his first Bass Pro Tour event. Lane believed he needed more than a 7-pounder to catch Davis and thought the 5-5 was going to leave him shy. It wasn’t until time expired that Lane’s official informed him that he had, in fact, just won the event.

Of course, there was a signature ‘POW’ expressed by Lane, maybe with a little more spunk and emotion than usual. For Lane to win this event on a lake where he holds so many fond memories, it’s easy to see why the massive moment in his career moved him to tears.

Steve Kennedy Wins 2017 BASS Elite Lake Dardanelle Tournament Win 63-12lbs!

Secret quarry provides winning bass for Kennedy
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., wasn't dominating the event until he weighed 16 pounds, 9 ounces of bass during the final weigh-in to take home $100,000 and the third championship of his career at the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge.

Steve is all smiles as last minute 5 pounder seals win! (Photo: BASS)

A big bass late in the day on Monday that weighed 5-10 anchored his five-bass limit and pushed his four-day winning weight to 63-12. The last time Kennedy topped a Bassmaster Elite Series field was in 2011 at Georgia's West Point Lake.

"I've been so close so many times before, and I've usually lost tournaments because of a missed bite, or losing a fish before I could get it inside the boat," Kennedy said. "It sure feels good to win one, especially after nearly winning this year's Classic on Conroe."

2017 BASS Elite Lake Dardanelle Day 3: Mark Davis Leads by Ounces with 48-08lbs!

Davis found a honey hole way, way up the river.  
By Thomas Allen

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Mark has tiny side channel to himself up the river.
(Photo: BASS)

Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., caught a five-bass limit that weighed 14 pounds, 15 ounces during today’s semi-final round to maintain his lead at the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge.
 
With $100,000 on the line for Monday's champion, Davis still thinks 16 to 17 pounds will be required to win. He’s averaging just over 16 pounds with a three-day total of 48-8.
 
“I’ve really beat up on the fish I’ve been depending on this week,” Davis said. “I believe the right fish are still there, and that I can catch a decent limit tomorrow. But I didn’t get as many big bites today as I had hoped.”
 
Davis’ spot did receive some additional local pressure before he could get there, and that certainly could be contributing to the reduced action during Sunday’s competition.
 
“I have no problem sharing water with local anglers, heck they’ve got just as much right to fish there as I do — if not more so,” he said. “When I arrived he moved off and let me have it, which was appreciated.
 

2017 BASS Elite Lake Dardanelle Day 2: Mark Davis Grabs Leads with 33-09lbs!

Davis a local but success here has been a challenge

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., is no stranger to tough tournaments, and during Saturday's second round of competition, he caught 19 pounds, 4 ounces of bass to take the lead at the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge. His two-day total is 33-9.

Davis adjusting to changing river.
(Photo: BASS)

Davis has accomplished nearly everything during his distinguished career on the Bassmaster tour, including three Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles and one Bassmaster Classic world championship in 1995.

One thing has escaped him, however — a good finish on Lake Dardanelle.

"Dardanelle has been my career nemesis," Davis said. "I live only an hour and a half from here, and I've always struggled. I'd have a good practice and be excited about getting the tournament started, then have a hard time even catching a limit."

For someone who has done so much in this sport, a win here would mean a lot to the 54-year-old angler.

"It would be huge to win this tournament," he said. "This place has whipped me down so many times, it feels good to just do well. I would love to finally conquer these bass, and I think I am on the right fish to make it happen."

2017 BASS Elite Ross Barnett Day 1: Brandon Card Leads with 22-14lbs!

Big lake fishing very small
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Card scores big on difficult day.
(Photo: BASS)

While 33,000 acres of fishable water seems like it should easily support a 109-angler field, most Elite Series anglers would say they’re sharing water at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Ross Barnett.
 
Ross Barnett Reservoir is the smallest venue on the schedule this year, but the quality is evident as the Top 6 anglers weighed limits of bass near or exceeding the 20-pound mark.
 
The question is can weights like Brandon Card’s impressive 22 pounds, 14 ounces be reproduced during Friday’s second round of competition.
 
“That’s a great question,” Card of Knoxville, Tenn., said following weigh-in. “I spent some time here during pre-practice, and the fishing was on fire. But that bite has changed dramatically since then, and I found an area during our official practice days, which is where I caught them today. I know the number of quality fish are available to have another 20-pound day, but I think it’ll take about a 17-pound average per day to remain in contention for the win.”
 

Greg Hackney is the 2014 BASS Elite Angler of the Year!

Jacob Powroznik wins Rookie of the Year and Wins Tournament

By Ken Duke

bass press release

ESCANABA, Mich. — Louisiana's Greg Hackney, 41, is the 2014 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year.

Over nine events, Hackney out-practiced, out-strategized, out-fished and ultimately outlasted the other 107 Bassmaster Elite Series anglers who started the season.

Hackey is now an Elite class angler.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Hackney finished 24th in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Bays de Noc where weather postponed the second (and final) round for three days.

It was enough to lock up his first career AOY title.

Along with the sport's most prestigious title and trophy, Hackney earns $100,000 as bass fishing's best angler in 2014.

His season was solid right out of the gate. He finished a respectable 38th in the opener on Lake Seminole and followed it up with top 16 finishes at the St. Johns River (16th), Table Rock Lake (3rd), Lake Dardanelle (3rd) and Cayuga Lake (1st).

His worst finish of the season was 48th at the Delaware River.

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.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Cayuga Lake Day 2: Greg Hackney in Lead of AOY and Tournament!

Angler of the Year is Super Hot with Hackney and Faircloth 1-2. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. — Give the man some grass, and he feels right at home.

That’s grass, as in aquatic vegetation, and crystal-clear Cayuga Lake is loaded with it.

“Deep, clear water with grass is by far my favorite way to fish,” said Greg Hackney, the pro angler from Gonzales, La., who took the lead Friday in the second round of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake out of Union Springs, N.Y.

Greg is a master with the big rod. New York is playing to
the strengths of many Elite anglers.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Hackney weighed the day’s heaviest bag of bass — 23 pounds, 1 ounce — to rise into the lead from fourth place. His two-day total was 43-6.

“Grassmaster” No. 2 on Friday was Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas.

“Anytime we go to a lake that has grass in it, my confidence soars,” said Faircloth, who climbed from seventh place into second place with twin weights of 20-2 for a running total of 40-4. He trailed Hackney by 3-2.

Coincidentally, Hackney and Faircloth currently occupy first and second place, respectively, in the season’s Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race. After Friday’s round, they were 17 points apart.

Mike McClelland Wins 2014 Bassmaster Elite Table Rock Lake Tournament

Arkansas Pro Flips Tables to Win!

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

BRANSON, Mo. — They call him “McStick.” As of Sunday, they can call him “McRock” too.

Mike used his signature jerbait and wiggle
wart to take the win over super hot pro Mark Davis.
(Photo: Bass)

Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., added a seventh Bassmaster title by a nail-biting 13 ounces over Mark Davis in Sunday’s final round of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake.“This is where I cut my teeth fishing,” said McClelland, now with four victories in his Bassmaster Elite Series career. “I’ve never had the opportunity to win a big one here before.” To do it, McClelland sacked 61 pounds, 15 ounces of bass. His prize was $100,000 and an instant-in for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, his 10th qualification for the world championship.

McClelland broke a six-year winner’s drought. His most recent victory before Sunday was in March 2008 on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, when he added a sixth Bassmaster event title to his record. That was the end of a streak he had going from 2005 to 2008, with a win in each of those seasons.“I seem to go in these spurts where I win a few, then I go years without winning one, and it really can get under your skin,” he said. “To win at Table Rock in front of all my friends and family and people who have supported me through the years is a phenomenal feeling.”  “And I just realized I’ve got a berth for the Bassmaster Classic. That’s an awesome feeling,” said McClelland, who missed out on the 2014 event last February. McClelland said that “fishing by the seat of my pants” was one key to winning.“I didn’t try to slow down and finesse fish into biting. I chased the wind,” he said. “On this clear lake, you always have to look for at least a little ripple.”  McClelland said he’s been fishing Table Rock since he was 8 years old. What he learned over the years helped him considerably in the Elite event. He knows the lake so well, he was able run his primary pattern through areas he had not tried out during the three-day practice. And that pattern was fishing windy, rocky banks close to channel swings in creeks or main-lake pockets.“This time of year, these fish want to be on the biggest, gnarliest rocks,” he said. “Some people get frustrated trying to fish that stuff, but it was key for me.” He used his his signature series stickbaits made by Spro, a McStick 110, mostly in a natural herring color, and a McStick 115 in clear chartreuse for shallower presentations.When the water surface became slick because the wind died, he turned to a 4-inch paddletail swimbait near docks or over brush.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Table Rock Day 3: McClelland Become the Third Leader of Table Rock

Arkansas native McClelland uses his skill and consistency to tame Table Rock. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

BRANSON, Mo. — Mike McClelland, an Ozarks lakes angler since he was 8 years old, took his time this week before he stepped into the limelight in the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake.

A solid 17 pound limit leaps Mike into the lead.
(Photo: BASS)

After the first day of competition, the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Bella Vista, Ark., was in 12th place. In Friday’s second round, McClelland found surer footing — and a better size of bass. He pushed up into fourth place.

And then he made his biggest move. McClelland grabbed Saturday’s lead by weighing 17 pounds, 9 ounces for a three-day total of 49-13 and an almost 4-pound lead.

“It was fine for me to start in 12th. As a ‘local,’ you’re going to get so much more attention if you are leading,”  McClelland said. “I kind of like to stay behind the scenes as much as I can and just let it happen.”

2014 Bassmaster Elite Table Rock Lake Day 2: Mark Turns Tables!

Veteran Davis Claims lead in tournament and AOY

by Deb Johnson

Bass press release

BRANSON, Mo. — Everyone’s saying Mark Davis is on fire.

Indeed he is. Friday he fanned that flame by taking the lead on the second day of the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite on Table Rock Lake.

Inferno, anyone?

Experience and determination has made
Mark Davis super keen to win it all.
(Photo: BASS)

Davis moved up from second place by adding another 15 pounds, 3 ounces to his first-day weight of 18-8. The Mount Ida, Ark., pro’s two-day tally was 33 pounds, 11 ounces.

If Davis, who already owns three Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, goes on to win Sunday, he would cement his early lead in the race for the 2014 AOY title. He earned the AOY lead by finishing in third place in each of the first two Elite events of the season.

“It’s been really, really hard to keep it going, but so far, so good,” said Davis, who also owns a Bassmaster Classic title from 1995.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Table Rock Lake Day 1: Aaron Martens Lead on Stormy Day

Aaron naps 8 pounder to grab early lead

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

BRANSON, Mo. — Aaron Martens called it a “picture-perfect day.” Mark Davis said he was “singing hymns all day.” Chris Lane landed inside his “comfort zone.”

Aaron has done well on Table Rock. He won his
first Angler of the Year on this lake.
(Photo BASS)

And that’s how it was for three of the hottest pros in bass fishing on Thursday, the first day of the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite on Table Rock Lake.

Martens, the 2013 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, took the Day 1 lead at Table Rock with 18 pounds, 11 ounces of largemouth bass. Davis, currently in the lead for the 2014 AOY prize, was second with 18 pounds, 8 ounces. Right behind them with 18-5 was Lane, who won the most recent Elite Series event less than two weeks ago.

The three leaders have lots of company. Weighing 17-4 to tie at fourth place were Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., and Jamie Horton of Centreville, Ala. They were 1 pound, 7 ounces, behind Martens.

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.

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.

Bassmaster Elite Pride of Georgia West Point Lake: Day 1 story

Edwin Evers Day 1 Leader with 22-04

Evers Took Day 1

By Deb Johnson
May 5, 2011
BASS Press Release

LAGRANGE, Ga. -- Steve Kennedy’s deep and wide West Point Lake history stood him well Thursday, but Edwin Evers went 1 ounce better to take the lead on the first day of the Pride of Georgia.
Evers, of Talala, Okla., weighed 22 pounds, 4 ounces to Kennedy’s 22-3. They have more than a few ounces as a cushion over David Walker, in third with 21-3; Dustin Wilks in fourth with 20-3; and Bobby Lane with 18-4 claiming fifth place.
Ninety-nine Bassmaster Elite Series pros are competing on West Point Lake for a first-place prize that includes $100,000 and an instant entry in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.
Anglers are also trying to earn points that count toward three coveted prizes: the 2011 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year crown, 2011 postseason berths, and 2012 Classic qualifications.
Evers already has a Classic berth in hand. He came from behind in March to win the season’s second event, the Power-Pole Citrus Slam on the St. Johns River.
Evers played it close to the vest Thursday, giving nothing away in hopes he can keep an advantage and score win No. 2 for the year.
“You have to keep it to yourself -- these guys are too good,” he said.
He did reveal that his day started so slowly, he scrapped his initial game plan and “went fishing.”
“Man, that worked out really good,” he said, adding that he was covering “a bunch of water,” and burned 26 to 27 gallons of gas, jumping from spot to spot and blowing through his arsenal to try to isolate a bait, technique or a pattern that worked.