Happy Thanksgiving!

Anderson Media becomes majority owner of B.A.S.S.

BASS PRESS RELEASE
Anderson Media Corp., a 100-year-old family business founded in Alabama, has acquired a majority interest in B.A.S.S., LLC, the world’s largest fishing organization, the company announced today.

Anderson Media has been an investor in B.A.S.S. for several years. It increased its share of the company Tuesday, and, in a statement released today, it promised “business as usual” for B.A.S.S., which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year.

The company will continue to operate with Bruce Akin as CEO and the current owners involved in the business.

Chase Anderson, a fourth generation shareholder of the Anderson Companies and director of Anderson Media and B.A.S.S., and an avid outdoorsman, will join B.A.S.S. fulltime.

“This will provide seamless continuity for B.A.S.S. and those connected with it,” said Anderson. “For the fishing professionals, the loyal sponsors and advertisers and, most importantly, the millions of people nationwide who love this sport, things will both remain as they are and continue to improve.”
 

Chris and Cory Johnston Best Brothers in Bass Fishing.

Win after win after win.

When it comes to tournament success, the Chris and Cory Johnston have no thoughts about giving up their ‘first brothers in bass fishing’ title - be it on Canadian or United States waters.

           

Cory and Chris all smiles at the B1 Lake St. Francis. 

The brothers continued their dominance in Canada this past week - winning for the second time this year in the prestigious Berkley B1 Tour stop on Lake St. Francis in Quebec. The win also earned them ‘team of the year’ honors in this ultra-competitive tournament circuit. To catch smallmouth on Lake St. Francis, the brothers Johnston used G. Loomis GLX 892S spinning rods with Sustain 2500 reels to toss Jackall Rhythm Wave soft swim baits in shallow. When the need called for going deep, it was NRX 822S drop shot rods with Jackall Cross Tail Shad tied on.

But there’s more from these successful fishing brothers. In the just completed COSTA FLW Northern Division Angler of the Year race, Chris took top honors, with Cory just 25 points behind for sixth place finish. In 2016, Cory got the upper hand there in winning his third AOY title, with Chris coming in a close second. On the COSTA Tour, the Johnston boys proved their fishing success truly crosses boarders while competing on waters in New York and Maryland.

Jessie Wiggins Wins Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open with 39-15lbs!

Wiggins First and Last Qualifier for 2018 Classic
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Wiggins dominated the Opens. (Photo: BASS)

When Jesse Wiggins moved to the top of the leaderboard on Friday after Day 2 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open No. 3, he told the crowd that “two-thirds of the work is done.”

Today in the final round of the tournament, Wiggins finished the job.

Wiggins slammed the door on the 11 other competitors who survived the cut to 12 on Smith Lake here in north-central Alabama. He weighed a five-bass limit of 13 pounds, 8 ounces today to give him a three-day total of 39-15.

That was more than enough to earn the 27-year-old Wiggins his second win in three Southern Open tournaments of the season (the first Southern Open on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes in January marked his earlier win).

But this victory was especially sweet because it earned the Cullman, Ala., native the rare honor of “triple qualifying” for the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, which will be held on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell in March.

It's Official!

Bass Pro Shop has officially merged with Cabela's. 

Chris and Cory Johnston Win 2017 B1 Team of the Year and St. Francis Event!

Brothers sack 49.03lbs on Lake St. Francis for win!
By Luigi De Rose 

Cory and Chris Johnston enjoy the windfall. (Photo: Cory Johnston)

The fishing was as red hot as the weather on Lake St. Francis in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec. The 108 two-man teams battled it out on one of the most specatular smallmouth bass fisheries on the planet. Unfortunately,  catching the huge smallmouth became a trying experience for most. With temperatures in the low 30C, the bass were not in their predictable early autumn locations. Many found the bass disinterested even with the best presented baits and blamed countless bass tournaments throughout the summer and early fall for the fickly bass. Regardless, the Johnston brothers displayed once again why they are top FLW Touring pros and sacked a tremendous two-day limit of 49.03lbs for ten bass. Day 1 leaders, Lenny Devos and Jeff Magee came the closest to dethrore the Johnston boys who just won the Emerald Isle tournament the weekend prior.
Along with grand prize of $20 000 cash, Cory and Chris also won a Ranger Boat package plus  additional Ranger Boat and Garmin contingency prizes. Quite a haul for the last B1 Event of 2017

Top 5

1. Chris and Cory Johnston 49.03 lbs
2. Lenny Devos and Jeff Magee 48.95 lbs
3. Mathieu Dansereau and Jean Charles Goulet  44.41 lbs
4. Ryan Thornton and Josh Lewis 44.41 lbs
5. Denny Andrade and Scott Nagy 44.19 lbs

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.

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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.

2017 Bassmaster Classic Bracket Showdown on Lake Pokegama Day 2

Monroe, Iaconelli, Lefebre and Powroznik all advance
By Bryan Brasher
BASS PRESS RELEASE

After two full days of fishing the Bassmaster Classic Bracket last-chance tournament on Pokegama Lake, four anglers moved a step closer to earning a berth in the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods to be held on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell.

During the morning session, California pro Ish Monroe won his head-to-head battle with Jonathon VanDam and earned a spot in the semifinals, while New Jersey veteran Michael Iaconelli kept his chances alive for a 17th straight Classic berth with a victory over second-year B.A.S.S. pro Adrian Avena.