2023 Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Day 3: Mosley In Command!

Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., is leading after Day 3 of the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River with a three-day total of 34 pounds, 4 ounces.  (Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS) 

BASS PRESS RELEASE

ORANGE, Texas — Following an upward trajectory into an enviable final-round advantage, Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., leads Day 3 of the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River with a three-day total of 34 pounds, 4 ounces.

 

Posting his best effort of the week — a five-bass limit that weighed 12-14 — on Semifinal Saturday, Mosley heads into Championship Sunday with a lead of 3-1 over Alabama pro Keith Poche.

 

“It was a fun day,” Mosley said. “I caught a bunch of fish and I finally got a good bite. I just have to go out and catch 10 to 11 pounds tomorrow.”

 

Mosley began his third morning at a blistering pace, with a limit of 12 pounds just past 7 a.m. Boxing his first keeper — a 2-pounder — 17 minutes after the 6 a.m. takeoff, Mosley anchored his bag with a 4 1/2-pounder around 6:30.

 

During the first three days of the Elite’s previous trip to the Sabine in 2021, Mosley ran 110 miles to fish Clear Creek on Houston’s east side. This year, he started each morning within a couple miles of takeoff and then closed out his day looking for upgrades around reeds and pads in Taylor Bayou.

 

He caught his bass fishing a popper, a Texas-rigged Senko and a power shot around seawalls, barge tie-ups, laydowns and grass.

 

“It has worked out differently every day,” Mosley said. “The first day, I started out with a small limit (close) and then I ran over to Taylor and caught my two best fish. Friday, all my fish here were about the same size and when I ran to Taylor, I only culled up a couple of ounces.

2023 Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Day 2: Mosley Jumps into Lead!

Canadians: Chris Johnston 63rd, Gallant 73rd, Cory Johnston 75th & Gustafson 78th

(Photo: Seigo Saito/BASS)

BASS PRESS RELEASE

ORANGE, Texas — Despite losing about two hours of fishing time to a mechanical issue, Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., tallied a two-day total of 21 pounds, 6 ounces to take the lead in the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River.

 

After placing 12th on Day 1 with 9-15, Mosley added a second-round limit of 11-7 on Friday. He heads into Semifinal Saturday with a half-pound lead over Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., and a 3/4-pound margin over Keith Poche of Cecil, Ala.

 

“This place fishes a lot like how I do back home,” Mosley said. “You just put your head down and grind it out and know that you’re only going to get a handful of bites and you’re going to have to capitalize on them.”

 

Mosley, who finished second the last time the Elites fished the Sabine (2021), spent the first three days of that event fishing 110 miles west in the Houston area. This time, he traded that long-range game plan for a more local strategy that began on the main river within a couple miles of takeoff.

 

“Every year, I’ve caught them a different way,” Mosley said. “This morning I got off to a good start and then I made a long run up Taylor Bayou, but I had boat problems and had to come back in. The service crews did a good job getting me back on the water and I ended up making that long run (back up Taylor) and got some bites.

 

“I was kind of questioning if I had enough fuel to make the run again, so I took my time, eased over there and conserved my fuel. I got over there and realized that I still had enough fuel to make it back.”

 

Mosley began his day with a mix of topwater and flipping baits. Prior to his mechanical issue, he had about 10 pounds in his livewell.

2023 Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Day 1: Pipkens Rips Lead!

Canadians: Chris Johnston 45th, Cory Johnston 60th, Gallant 83rd & Gustafson 96th

Chad Pipkens of DeWitt, Mich., is leading after Day 1 of the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River with 14 pounds, 7 ounces. (Photo: Seigo Saito/BASS)

BASS PRESS RELEASE

ORANGE, Texas — Chad Pipkens of DeWitt, Mich., broke with two of his historical patterns and sacked up a 14-pound, 7-ounce limit to lead Thursday’s opening round of the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River.

 

On a fishery where limits are never assumed and only 11 anglers eclipsed 10 pounds, Pipkens heads into Day 2 with a lead of 1-5 over Hunter Shryock of Ooltewah, Tenn. Suffice it to say, Pipkens has positioned himself well to end a streak he’d rather forget.

 

“It’s about time Sabine River!” Pipkens happily exclaimed. “I have fun at this place, but I have gotten my teeth kicked in every time I come here. This is the fifth time I’ve fished here and the good news is I think I can fish Saturday without catching a fish.

 

“I’m going to go out tomorrow and have some fun and try to put a few in the boat. We’ll see what happens.”

 

As Pipkens explained, breaking his streak of Sabine disappointment was the result of abandoning his previous preference.

 

Why Coloured Braided Line is a Must!

A lot of pro bass anglers love coloured braided line. Most weekend anglers don't feel comfortable using red, yellow or white lines as they worry it will cost them fish. Check out this video as we explain the benefits of using coloured braided line for everything from deep-water smallmouth to shallow, heavy cover largemouth.

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Great Lakes Super Series Cancelled 2023 Season

Originally posted on Facebook 

Unfortunately due to lower interest levels, personnel availability and lack of sponsorship we are forced to rethink how the 2023 Glss season will take place as well as moving forward.

We want to inform you that all 2023 dates will be replaced by one single multi day tournament. Details and dates of that tournament are yet to be determined. We are planning for the buy in to be sizeable and have the payouts topped up considerably.

We would like to thank you for all your participation and interest to date and we are very disappointed that continuing on with the 2023 season is no longer feasible. Refunds are available immediately.

Wheeler makes his sixth Bass Pro Tour event win during Toro Stage Four Presented by Bass Cat

Tyler Brinks 

BASS PRO TOUR

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. – After yesterday’s nearly 30-pound bag, it seemed inevitable that Jacob Wheeler would win at Lake Guntersville for Toro Stage Four Presented by Bass Cat. He backed up his banner day on Saturday with another day-best total during Championship Sunday as he placed 25 pounds, 6 ounces, on SCORETRACKER®.

Wheeler’s winning weight of 54-15 over the final two days was more than enough to win a Bass Pro Tour event for the first time since he won three during the 2021 season. His two stellar days in Alabama gave him the win by 9-7 over Bass Pro Tour rookie and Guntersville local Jacob Wall.

Planning ahead pays off

It was another dominant showing for Wheeler, who won for the first time on the Bass Pro Tour under the five-fish format. No matter the format this week, he would have won as he consistently fooled big bass and plenty of them while fishing offshore ledges that the lake is known for.

One key to his success this week was staying ahead of the game and continually finding new areas.

Heavy Neko Rig: The Easiest Way to Fish Matted Grass

Fishing matted grass needs the correct tackle. But, what happens when you're not comfortable using a magnum bullet weight and punching rig? Look no further than a heavy spinning rod and reel spooled with braided line and a beefed up neko rig.

Check out this video and learn how to break through the heavy cover without using the big rod.

Neko rigged senko style worm with braid is a great solution if you know how to rig up for monster bass.

Will Davis Jr. Wins 2023 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite At Lay Lake!

Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., has won the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a four-day total of 62 pounds, 12 ounces.  ( Photo: Seigo Saito/BASS

BASS PRESS RELEASE

SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Throughout the years, Will Davis Jr. estimates he and his father Will have won over $300,000 fishing tournaments on Lay Lake. Today, Davis Jr. added another $100,000 to that total by winning the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a four-day total of 62 pounds, 12 ounces.

 

The rookie from Sylacauga, Ala., hoisted the blue trophy in front of what seemed like his entire hometown and the roar that erupted drowned out the thunder from a pop-up thunderstorm.

 

“It means the world to do it in front of my home crowd,” Davis said. “I did it for my wife, dad, my little girl and everyone who came and watched me. I did it for these guys I fish against around here too. They are good enough to be on the Elite Series. I was just really blessed. I had a good job and a good boss, Chris Landers, who let me take off and fish the B.A.S.S. Nation.”

2023 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite At Lay Lake Day 2: Palaniuk Continues to Lead!

Canadians Gustafson 27th, Cory Johnston 52nd, Gallant 63rd & Chris Johnston 67th.

BASS PRESS RELEASE

SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Most of this week, Brandon Palaniuk has worn a wry smile on his face. It is one of disbelief more than anything that he has actually found the quality of bass he has during the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake.

 

By adding 16 pounds, 5 ounces Friday to his Day 1 tally of 19-7, the Rathdrum, Idaho, native now has a two-day total of 35-12 and holds the lead for the second day in a row. Alabama rookie Will Davis Jr. is second with 34-3 and veteran Florida pro Bernie Schultz is third with 31-8.

 

“I’m just the clueless leader out there,” Palaniuk said. “I’m 100% in disbelief. The fact I was able to fish for all of those fish the first day blew my mind. The fact I went back there and caught 16 pounds today blows my mind, too. I’m going to have to go again tomorrow because I don’t know what is going to happen. I might have another 15 or 16.”

 

Palaniuk has been maximizing one specific area of Lay Lake and has had to adjust to the conditions every day. Even though thunderstorms moved through the area Thursday night, the water had dropped a couple of inches when he arrived Friday morning. As the day progressed, it began to rise again.

 

“It is almost like a tidal fishery this week,” Palaniuk said. “They keep bringing the water up and down, up and down, so it has been hard for me to get dialed in to any one thing. You can see the water clarity change and you can see the current move in one direction and then back the other. It definitely changes everything.”

 

Friday morning when the water was at its lowest, there was very little activity in the area. The shad were stagnant and the bream beds were not active. But once the water rose, activity increased and the bite improved.