Hank Cherry Wins 2026 FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville!

 

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Hank Cherry, turned 52 today, so it’s fitting that the pro from Lincolnton, N.C., employed a straight-up old-school technique to win the FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with 88 pounds, 11 ounces.

Cherry caught the majority of his fish on a 3-inch hand-poured chartreuse curly tail grub rigged on a 1/8-ounce ball-head jig. Dedicating his win to his father Harold, Sr., Cherry said he was thrilled to claim the victory with a bait from his childhood.

“I felt like I was 10-years-old again; it was incredible fishing,” Cherry said with a quaking voice. “I was throwing a bait that’s older than (much) of the field. I’ve been waiting my whole life to be able to fish a major tournament and do that.

“My dad has been feeling under the weather, but he’s the one that taught me how to fish and he started this thing.”

Cherry’s slower start amplified his win. A frigid Day 1 impeded his signature jerkbait efforts and left Cherry in 64th place with 16 pounds, 3 ounces. The following day, Cherry sacked up 22-11 and rocketed into 18th.

On Semifinal Saturday, Cherry continued his climb with a limit of 22-2, which moved him into sixth place and secured his Championship Sunday berth. In the final round, Cherry added 27-11 — the event’s heaviest bag — to claim the blue trophy.

Edging Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., by 1-13, Cherry won the $100,000 top prize.

Taylor Ashley Wins 2017 Costa FLW Series Southeastern Lake Okeechobee with 68-12lbs!

Swimming a jig crowns a champ!

by Rob Newell 

FLW PRESS RELESE

Lake Okeechobee has been the career launching pad for several young rookie pros through the years. Full-time pros like JT Kenney, Bryan Thrift and Drew Benton all took their first big career wins on the Big O before the fishing world had ever heard their names. Now you can add the name Taylor Ashley of Warrior, Ala., to that list.

Consistence key for Ashley's big win. (Photo: FLW)

At just 19 years old, Ashley won the Costa FLW Series Southeast Division opener presented by Power-Pole on Lake Okeechobee. It was the first FLW Series event Ashley had ever entered. It was the first time Ashley had ever been to Lake Okeechobee. And it ended with his first big career win.
“Four days ago, there was no way in the world I would have said I could have won this tournament,” Ashley says. “There is nothing that can prepare you for coming to this lake for the first time. I studied Google Earth for hours, but it does you no good because everything changes so fast here – the grass, the water levels, nothing looks like you think it's going to look.”

ICAST 2016 The LINK by Lunkerhunt and Matt Arey

Lunkerhunt has invented a really interesting bait for the 2016 ICAST SHOW. It walks and swims like no other bait on the water. FLW pro Matt Arey explains why the LINK is so cool.

JACKALL Spade T.G. Jig

Pro-grade JACKALL JIG a hit.
By Luigi De Rose

The JACKALL Spade T.G. Jig quietly came onto the scene a few years ago. Jigs don't get a lot of media attention but they sure rack up big bass awards. Here are some truly great features of this well made jig.

The Spade T.G. Jig's skirt comes with a cool spider leg skirt that produces great flare and bulk without a giant skirt. Unlike conventional American jigs, this one will respond much more quickly while worked through the water and burst open when stopped.

The spade shape is ideal for slipping over wood or worked through grass. The line tie is positioned at it's nose to allow for easy swimming if you wish to work it horizontally. The tungsten material creates a compact size compared to jigs pour from lead.

Available in 3/8oz and 1/2oz in 8 colours.