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Unpredictable Florida Weather Will Be A Factor In Bassmaster Elite Series Opener
PALATKA, Fla. — The St. Johns River is a fertile fishery with proven big-bass potential, but local Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cliff Prince said the fishery will provide a challenging chessboard when the Elites kick off their 2020 season there.
The 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series kicks-off with the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla., Feb. 6-9. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
Competition days will be Thursday through Sunday, with daily takeoffs from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp at 7:15 a.m. ET. Weigh-ins will be held at 3:15 p.m. at Palatka Riverfront Park.
Grass will play a role — or more specifically, the lack thereof. Historically, the St. Johns has held lush fields of eelgrass, but the majority of this thin-bladed vegetation fell victim to a one-two punch delivered in 2017 when Hurricane Irma ripped up existing grass and dumped a massive volume of water into the system. Dark outflows from local swamps blocked sunlight and impeded regeneration.
The habitat picture was also dire last February when the Elite Series opened its season on the St. Johns. But the event benefitted from a major meteorological whip cracking, and B.A.S.S. legend Rick Clunn claimed his 16th Bassmaster victory with an astounding 98 pounds, 14 ounces.
Prince says weather patterns may sway the script again.
“Last year, we had the perfect storm of conditions,” said Prince, who lives in Palatka and considers the St. Johns his home fishery. “We had a month of really cold weather and then all of a sudden, we had a week of 80 degrees. If the forecast holds, I don’t foresee another scenario like that.
“We are going to have a full moon on Saturday of the tournament, so you know there’s going to be some big females pulling up (shallow) somewhere. It’s just a matter of how many and who can capitalize on that.”
Stretching 310 miles from its marshy headwaters in Lower Indian River County to its Atlantic Ocean exit through Jacksonville’s Mayport Inlet, the St. Johns is Florida’s longest and its only north-flowing river. Fed mostly be storm water and natural springs, the St. Johns’ low flow rate of 0.3 mph classifies it as a “lazy” river.
That being said, the St. Johns’ coastal connection also makes it a partially tidal fishery. As Prince notes, daily ebb and flow fluctuates the water level in 72-square-mile Lake George — the most commonly fished pool, located south of the tournament’s takeoff and weigh-in site — and nearby Crescent Lake.
Noting that the lack of eelgrass will make the St. Johns fish small, Prince said the one significant patch on the east side of Lake George may be less productive than normal.
“The wind’s supposed to blow out of the west for a week, so that patch of grass is going to get (disrupted),” he said.
While the primary habitat source may be lacking, the St. Johns River and its major pools offer several viable options. Offshore shell bars often hold staging prespawners, while laydowns, stumps and loads of docks provide substantial targets.
“There’s a lot more vegetation — pads, hyacinth, pennywort — south of Lake George,” Prince said. “I don’t go down there a lot, just because of the no-wake zones and (manatee) speed zones, but some guys may capitalize on that.”
In the floating vegetation, flipping/punching beaver-style baits will produce. Similarly, dock and laydown fish like those Texas rigs and jigs. For searching open water, Prince suggests lipless baits, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs and topwaters.
A full field of 88 anglers will fish the first two days, with only the Top 40 making it to Saturday’s semifinal round. Only the Top 10 remaining anglers will advance to Championship Sunday with a chance to win the $100,000 first-place prize.
Prince said he expects 15 pounds a day to make the Top 10 Championship Sunday cut, but fireworks are never far away.
“If you look back in the history of the Elites visiting the St. Johns, the person that wins always has a 28- to 31-pound bag,” Prince said. “Somebody’s going to run into three big ones in a day — somebody always does.”
The AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River is being hosted by the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.
2020 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite At St. Johns River Title Sponsor: AFTCO
2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Talon, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Carhartt, Garmin, HUK Performance Fishing, Mossy Oak Fishing, Rapala
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2 and The Pursuit Channel), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship, new Huk Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX presented by Abu Garcia and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
Florida Takes B.A.S.S. Nation Team Title On Lake Okeechobee
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Consistency was key for the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation team, which backed up a Wednesday leading weight of 197 pounds, 6 ounces with 198-13 Thursday to win the team championship at the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeastern Regional on Lake Okeechobee with a two-day total of 396 pounds, 3 ounces.
For their accomplishment, the Florida team won $6,250. The second-place South Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation team, which posted the event’s largest combined single-day weight on Day 2 — 215-12 — won $3,750 and the third-place North Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation team won $2,000.
Florida B.A.S.S. Nation team captain David Driggers said his team’s deep well of Okeechobee knowledge proved helpful in tracking down quality fish during the often-tricky period of prespawn to spawning. Essential to maximizing this potential was the low-key team fellowship that fostered strategic interaction.
“I tried to keep them together every night since Sunday when we got together and made sure everyone got out on the water (for practice),” Driggers said. “The biggest thing was getting the anglers together in the evenings, feed them and let them enjoy the camaraderie. With that atmosphere, we’ve found that the anglers tend to talk among themselves without anyone telling them to do so.”
Noting that his team members dispersed throughout the lake, Driggers said the anglers experienced two mechanical issues, but everyone made it back to tournament site without incident.
B.A.S.S. Nation President Jon Stewart lauded the Florida team’s steady performance. With a wide age diversity, the winners have plenty of experience and longevity.
“It was just a really consistent team-wide effort,” he said. “We noticed that on Day 1, Florida didn’t have any boaters in the Top 10; they were just consistent throughout. Other teams had two or three teams that caught a big bag, while other team members struggled.
“There are a couple of high schoolers on that Florida team and one of them (sixth-place nonboater Zack Barrera) made the cut to fish in the final round.”
As Stewart observed, the winning team overcame a common impediment of tournament fishing and, in fact, leveraged the home-field advantage to their benefit.
“Nine times out of 10, the home lake is a curse where the team doesn’t really (perform well),” he said. “But the weather has been kind of inconsistent with cold fronts on and off, and I think the local anglers’ knowledge of what Florida bass do in a cold front scenario helped the Florida team this year.”
Driggers agrees that local knowledge aided his team: “Obviously, knowing the body of water played into our win. Since it was right here in our backyard, we more or less let the guys fish where they wanted to fish. There was no directing the lake; most of them knew this body of water and for the ones that weren’t familiar with it, we tried to explain it to them what they needed to try, but for the most part, it was just go out and have fun and enjoy the event.”
Leading the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation team standings, Ray Trudeau of St. Cloud, enters tomorrow’s final round in fifth place with 35-9. Jim Topmiller of Orlando, maintained his lead in the nonboater division with 24-1.
“Ray Trudeau is a hammer in the state of Florida; he’s fished the Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens, and he’s made it to the B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship,” Driggers said. “He struggled the first day (13-5), but had a great sack (22-4) today.
“The nonboaters are always at the mercy of what the boaters are doing, but Jim (Topmiller) is one who can adapt wherever you put him.”
Bryan Gunter of Ninety Six, S.C., leads individual standings with 43-8. The only angler to reach the 20-pound mark both days, Gunter moved up from third place by bolstering his Day 1 catch of 20 pounds with 23-8 — the heaviest bag of Day 2 and second-heaviest overall (behind Day 1 leader Mark Pierce’s 23-12).
“My best spot yesterday produced my biggest fish and it produced my biggest fish again today,” Gunter said of the shallow vegetation he targeted first each day. “My secondary spot really picked up. I caught two there yesterday and seven today and they were bigger. I caught my fish on a mix of reaction baits and flipping.”
Jeff Lugar of Cross Junction, Va., is in second place with 38-0. Matthew Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., is in third place with 37-6.
Lugar leads is in the lead for Big Bass honors with his 9-10.
Mike Caul leads the Big Bass competition among nonboaters with a 9-8.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at C. Scott Driver Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3:15 p.m.
The event is being hosted by Okeechobee County.
2020 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: TNT Fireworks
2020 B.A.S.S. Nation Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2020 B.A.S.S. Nation Premier Sponsors: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Talon, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2020 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: Carhartt, Garmin, HUK Performance Fishing, Mossy Oak Fishing, Nationwide, Rapala
2020 B.A.S.S. Nation Grass-Roots Sponsor: B&W Trailer Hitches
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2 and The Pursuit Channel), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship, new Huk Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX presented by Abu Garcia and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
2020 TNT Fireworks Southeastern Regional Lake Okeechobee 1/29-1/31
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Bryan Gunter Ninety Six, SC (SC) 10 43-08 0
2. Jeff Lugar Cross Junction, VA (VA) 10 38-00 0
3. Matthew Robertson Kuttawa, KY (KY) 10 37-06 0
4. Chuck Howard Elloree, SC (SC) 10 36-09 0
5. Ray Trudeau Saint Cloud, FL (FL) 10 35-09 0
6. Michael Boggs II Wheelersburg, OH (KY) 9 34-13 0
7. David Cavell Prairieville, LA (MS) 10 34-01 0
8. Mark Pierce Cadiz, KY (TN) 10 33-12 0
9. John Duarte Jr Middle River, MD (SC) 10 33-12 0
10. David Gorman Canton, GA (GA) 10 33-08 0
11. Joel Smith Guin, AL (AL) 10 32-08 0
12. Bert Collins Heaters, WV (WV) 10 31-10 0
13. Tyler Webb Glen Daniel, WV (WV) 10 30-04 0
14. Michael Cash Louisburg, NC (NC) 10 30-04 0
15. Kevin Alford Johnsonville, SC (SC) 10 30-04 0
16. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV (WV) 10 29-07 0
17. George Lambeth Thomasville, NC (NC) 10 29-05 0
18. Norman Mullinax Wilmington, NC (NC) 10 28-12 0
19. Michael Smith Laurel Hill, FL (FL) 10 28-12 0
20. Corey Smith Clermont, FL (FL) 10 27-07 0
21. Sawyer Mcmurphy Long Beach, MS (MS) 10 27-07 0
22. Keith Broyles Jackson, TN (TN) 10 27-02 0
23. Mark Jones Meadville, MS (MS) 10 27-02 0
24. Kenneth Lane Apopka, FL (FL) 10 26-15 0
25. Chris Moody Brooks, GA (GA) 10 26-15 0
26. Brad Smith Collierville, TN (TN) 10 26-12 0
27. Kyle Glasgow Guin, AL (AL) 10 26-09 0
28. Chad Brinegar Berkeley Springs, WV (W 10 25-06 0
29. Will Smith Moncks Corner, SC (SC) 10 25-05 0
30. Myles Palmer Alexander City, AL (AL) 10 25-03 0
31. Don Gregg Powhatan, VA (VA) 9 24-15 0
32. Joseph Puentes Clarksville, TN (TN) 10 24-13 0
33. Mark Blevins Palatka, FL (FL) 10 24-11 0
34. Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC (NC) 10 23-13 0
35. John Holtman Rydal, GA (GA) 10 23-11 0
36. Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 10 23-09 0
37. Scott Shrewsbury Rocky Mount, NC (NC) 10 23-09 0
38. Rick Osterholt Tavares, FL (FL) 10 23-07 0
39. Mark Cooper Nicholasville, KY (KY) 9 23-06 0
40. Craig Lonkard Florence, KY (KY) 9 23-05 0
41. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL (FL) 10 23-04 0
42. Max Haygood Franklin, GA (GA) 10 23-00 0
43. Sam Carroll Tavares, FL (FL) 9 23-00 0
44. Andrew White Ocala, FL (FL) 10 22-06 0
45. Brent Long Iron Station, NC (SC) 10 22-04 0
46. Jim Keith Newberry, FL (FL) 10 22-03 0
47. Ed Payne Guin, AL (AL) 7 21-15 0
48. Randall Christopher Irvine, KY (KY) 10 21-14 0
49. Bruce Sargent Gardendale, AL (AL) 9 21-13 0
50. Tim Goff Forest, VA (VA) 10 21-01 0
51. Brendan Smith Roswell, GA (GA) 9 21-01 0
52. Eric Schell Fayetteville, NC (NC) 9 20-15 0
53. David Ottman Terry, MS (MS) 10 20-14 0
54. Jason Brennan Roswell, GA (GA) 8 20-13 0
55. James Collins Holden, WV (WV) 9 20-07 0
56. Chad Poteat Mount Airy, NC (NC) 10 20-06 0
57. Daniel Snyder West Point, MS (MS) 10 20-05 0
58. Jason Turner Anderson, SC (SC) 10 20-02 0
59. David Morton Sugar Hill, GA (GA) 7 20-00 0
60. Billy Black Monroeville, AL (AL) 9 19-14 0
61. Gary Pope Jr Georgetown, SC (SC) 9 19-09 0
62. Jeff Hager Alexis, NC (NC) 10 19-05 0
63. Bobby Gibbs Harleyville, SC (SC) 7 19-03 0
64. Tim Frohlich Jr Verona, KY (KY) 10 19-03 0
65. Will Davis Sylacauga, AL (AL) 10 19-03 0
66. Rickie Harp Cottondale, AL (AL) 8 19-03 0
67. Rob Digh Denver, NC (NC) 10 18-10 0
68. Alan Fluharty Fairmont, WV (WV) 10 18-06 0
69. Brent Crow Hartselle, AL (AL) 7 18-05 0
70. Brian Hill Red House, WV (WV) 8 18-04 0
71. Ronald Guthrie Concord, VA (VA) 6 17-12 0
72. Justin Nichols Tuscaloosa, AL (AL) 10 17-10 0
73. Cory Leonard Castalia, NC (NC) 7 16-09 0
74. Thomas Foster III Suffolk, VA (VA) 8 16-09 0
75. Mike Spurlock Ripley, WV (WV) 9 16-09 0
76. Waine Pittman Villa Rica, GA (GA) 9 16-03 0
77. Chris Vickery Greenwood, SC (SC) 10 16-01 0
78. Scott Brison Clarksville, TN (TN) 7 15-10 0
79. J. J. Hale Martinsville, VA (VA) 7 15-04 0
80. Skipper Smith Jr Moss Point, MS (MS) 9 15-01 0
81. Eric Silverstrim Indian Mound, TN (TN) 5 14-08 0
82. Cavin Young Sr Prince George, VA (VA) 8 14-02 0
83. Brad Durden Atlanta, GA (GA) 4 13-08 0
84. Joe Johnson Clarksville, TN (TN) 8 13-05 0
85. Gary Little Laurel, MS (MS) 9 12-13 0
86. Richard Hodges Knotts Island, NC (VA) 7 11-11 0
87. Gary Melson Louisville, KY (KY) 7 11-09 0
88. David Cook Whitehouse, TN (TN) 5 10-14 0
89. Danny Carter Hernando, MS (MS) 6 10-12 0
90. Steve Galberaith Dawsonville, GA (GA) 8 09-12 0
91. John Smith Elkview, WV (WV) 4 09-08 0
92. Mark Bell Fisherville, KY (KY) 5 09-07 0
93. Todd Chaney Catlettsburg, KY (KY) 3 09-03 0
94. Michael Moore Dover, TN (TN) 4 08-12 0
95. Keith Webb Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 5 08-04 0
96. Chad Warnol Moss Point, MS (MS) 5 08-03 0
97. Jeff Delk Bradfordsville, KY (KY) 4 06-04 0
98. Gene Bailey Beckley, WV (WV) 5 05-13 0
99. Matt Martin Brookhaven, MS (MS) 3 03-11 0
100. Robert Pasionek Clarksville, TN (TN) 2 02-09 0
———————————————————————–
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 69 429 1010-04
2 72 431 1127-10
———————————-
141 860 2137-14
TEAM STANDINGS Day 2
———————————-
State Lbs-Oz
1 FLORIDA 396-03
2 SOUTH CAROLINA 386-13
3 NORTH CAROLINA 357-10
4 ALABAMA 332-14
5 KENTUCKY 322-02
6 VIRGINIA 310-11
7 WEST VIRGINIA 305-07
8 GEORGIA 303-01
9 TENNESSEE 275-11
10 MISSISSIPPI 274-13
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 2
———————————————————————–
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jeff Lugar Cross Junction, VA 10 38-00 0
2 Don Gregg Powhatan, VA 9 24-15 0
3 Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, VA 10 23-09 0
4 Tim Goff Forest, VA 10 21-01 0
5 Ronald Guthrie Concord, VA 6 17-12 0
6 Thomas Foster III Suffolk, VA 8 16-09 0
7 J. J. Hale Martinsville, VA 7 15-04 0
8 Cavin Young Sr Prince George, VA 8 14-02 0
9 Richard Hodges Knotts Island, NC 7 11-11 0
10 Keith Webb Virginia Beach, VA 5 08-04 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Bert Collins Heaters, WV 10 31-10 0
2 Tyler Webb Glen Daniel, WV 10 30-04 0
3 Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 10 29-07 0
4 Chad Brinegar Berkeley Springs, WV 10 25-06 0
5 James Collins Holden, WV 9 20-07 0
6 Alan Fluharty Fairmont, WV 10 18-06 0
7 Brian Hill Red House, WV 8 18-04 0
8 Mike Spurlock Ripley, WV 9 16-09 0
9 John Smith Elkview, WV 4 09-08 0
10 Gene Bailey Beckley, WV 5 05-13 0
MISSISSIPPI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 David Cavell Prairieville, LA 10 34-01 0
2 Sawyer Mcmurphy Long Beach, MS 10 27-07 0
3 Mark Jones Meadville, MS 10 27-02 0
4 David Ottman Terry, MS 10 20-14 0
5 Daniel Snyder West Point, MS 10 20-05 0
6 Skipper Smith Jr Moss Point, MS 9 15-01 0
7 Gary Little Laurel, MS 9 12-13 0
8 Danny Carter Hernando, MS 6 10-12 0
9 Chad Warnol Moss Point, MS 5 08-03 0
10 Matt Martin Brookhaven, MS 3 03-11 0
GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 David Gorman Canton, GA 10 33-08 0
2 Chris Moody Brooks, GA 10 26-15 0
3 John Holtman Rydal, GA 10 23-11 0
4 Max Haygood Franklin, GA 10 23-00 0
5 Brendan Smith Roswell, GA 9 21-01 0
6 Jason Brennan Roswell, GA 8 20-13 0
7 David Morton Sugar Hill, GA 7 20-00 0
8 Waine Pittman Villa Rica, GA 9 16-03 0
9 Brad Durden Atlanta, GA 4 13-08 0
10 Steve Galberaith Dawsonville, GA 8 09-12 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Bryan Gunter Ninety Six, SC 10 43-08 0
2 Chuck Howard Elloree, SC 10 36-09 0
3 John Duarte Jr Middle River, MD 10 33-12 0
4 Kevin Alford Johnsonville, SC 10 30-04 0
5 Will Smith Moncks Corner, SC 10 25-05 0
6 Brent Long Iron Station, NC 10 22-04 0
7 Jason Turner Anderson, SC 10 20-02 0
8 Gary Pope Jr Georgetown, SC 9 19-09 0
9 Bobby Gibbs Harleyville, SC 7 19-03 0
10 Chris Vickery Greenwood, SC 10 16-01 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Ray Trudeau Saint Cloud, FL 10 35-09 0
2 Michael Smith Laurel Hill, FL 10 28-12 0
3 Corey Smith Clermont, FL 10 27-07 0
4 Kenneth Lane Apopka, FL 10 26-15 0
5 Mark Blevins Palatka, FL 10 24-11 0
6 Rick Osterholt Tavares, FL 10 23-07 0
7 Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 10 23-04 0
8 Sam Carroll Tavares, FL 9 23-00 0
9 Andrew White Ocala, FL 10 22-06 0
10 Jim Keith Newberry, FL 10 22-03 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Joel Smith Guin, AL 10 32-08 0
2 Kyle Glasgow Guin, AL 10 26-09 0
3 Myles Palmer Alexander City, AL 10 25-03 0
4 Ed Payne Guin, AL 7 21-15 0
5 Bruce Sargent Gardendale, AL 9 21-13 0
6 Billy Black Monroeville, AL 9 19-14 0
7 Will Davis Sylacauga, AL 10 19-03 0
8 Rickie Harp Cottondale, AL 8 19-03 0
9 Brent Crow Hartselle, AL 7 18-05 0
10 Justin Nichols Tuscaloosa, AL 10 17-10 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Michael Cash Louisburg, NC 10 30-04 0
2 George Lambeth Thomasville, NC 10 29-05 0
3 Norman Mullinax Wilmington, NC 10 28-12 0
4 Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC 10 23-13 0
5 Scott Shrewsbury Rocky Mount, NC 10 23-09 0
6 Eric Schell Fayetteville, NC 9 20-15 0
7 Chad Poteat Mount Airy, NC 10 20-06 0
8 Jeff Hager Alexis, NC 10 19-05 0
9 Rob Digh Denver, NC 10 18-10 0
10 Cory Leonard Castalia, NC 7 16-09 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matthew Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 37-06 0
2 Michael Boggs II Wheelersburg, OH 9 34-13 0
3 Mark Cooper Nicholasville, KY 9 23-06 0
4 Craig Lonkard Florence, KY 9 23-05 0
5 Randall Christopher Irvine, KY 10 21-14 0
6 Tim Frohlich Jr Verona, KY 10 19-03 0
7 Gary Melson Louisville, KY 7 11-09 0
8 Mark Bell Fisherville, KY 5 09-07 0
9 Todd Chaney Catlettsburg, KY 3 09-03 0
10 Jeff Delk Bradfordsville, KY 4 06-04 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mark Pierce Cadiz, KY 10 33-12 0
2 Keith Broyles Jackson, TN 10 27-02 0
3 Brad Smith Collierville, TN 10 26-12 0
4 Joseph Puentes Clarksville, TN 10 24-13 0
5 Scott Brison Clarksville, TN 7 15-10 0
6 Eric Silverstrim Indian Mound, TN 5 14-08 0
7 Joe Johnson Clarksville, TN 8 13-05 0
8 David Cook Whitehouse, TN 5 10-14 0
9 Michael Moore Dover, TN 4 08-12 0
10 Robert Pasionek Clarksville, TN 2 02-09 0
2020 TNT Fireworks Southeastern Regional Lake Okeechobee 1/29-1/31
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. James Topmiller III Orlando, FL (FL) 6 24-01 0
2. Steve Hinkle Mount Nebo, WV (WV) 6 21-04 0
3. Zeke Abegg Clarksville, TN (TN) 4 20-00 0
4. Ryan Bone Douglasville, GA (GA) 6 19-08 0
5. Mike Caul Petersburg, VA (VA) 5 19-06 0
6. Zack Barrera Morriston, FL (FL) 6 19-01 0
7. Scott Pritt Clermont, FL (FL) 6 18-13 0
8. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL (AL) 6 18-11 0
9. Brian Adams Pittsboro, NC (NC) 6 18-03 0
10. Nathan Dellinger Hickory, NC (NC) 6 18-02 0
11. Tyler Lawwill Asheville, NC (NC) 6 17-09 0
12. Mark Smith Brandon, FL (FL) 6 17-06 0
13. Nick Coleman Kuttawa, KY (KY) 6 17-03 0
14. Kenneth Ellis Bowman, SC (SC) 6 16-13 0
15. Tim Kellam Crittenden, KY (KY) 6 16-11 0
16. John Roth III Kuttawa, KY (KY) 6 16-08 0
17. Adam Rodenhouse Ladson, SC (SC) 6 16-06 0
18. Jimmie Presley Ten Mile, TN (TN) 6 16-05 0
19. Richard Young Ellenboro, NC (SC) 6 16-03 0
20. Ted Woody Concoord, VA (VA) 4 16-02 0
21. Larry Carter Lucedale, MS (MS) 5 15-09 0
22. Matt Luken Independence, KY (KY) 6 15-06 0
23. Donald Henderson Monroeville, AL (AL) 6 15-06 0
24. Jason Brown Marion, KY (KY) 6 15-00 0
25. George Horton Greenville, NC (NC) 6 14-15 0
26. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC (SC) 5 14-13 0
27. Brian Canterbury Madison, VA (VA) 6 14-11 0
28. Reggie Guffey Bessemer City, NC (NC) 6 14-10 0
29. Steve Blakeney Acworth, GA (GA) 4 14-08 0
30. Adam Richardson Littleton, NC (NC) 6 14-03 0
31. Earl Maines Richmond, KY (KY) 6 14-03 0
32. Matthew Keeble Lakeland, FL (FL) 6 13-14 0
33. Ashley Miller Afton, VA (VA) 6 13-13 0
34. Jeffray Gooch Westport, TN (TN) 6 13-12 0
35. Ethan Melton Lake City, FL (FL) 4 13-09 0
36. Dan Carrigan Citrus Springs, FL (FL) 6 13-09 0
37. Jarrett Hughes Conway, SC (SC) 6 13-08 0
38. J.C Christopher II Clarksburg, WV (WV) 6 13-08 0
39. Matt Hall Frankfort, KY (KY) 6 13-07 0
40. Trey Mitchell Florence, AL (AL) 6 13-04 0
41. Barry Galloway Franklinton, LA (MS) 6 13-00 0
42. Costas Melendez Grottoes, VA (VA) 5 13-00 0
43. Larry Franks Sr. Wilsonville, AL (AL) 6 12-15 0
44. Sawyer Wallace Bogue Chitto, MS (MS) 5 12-14 0
45. Jim Leuthner Tamassee, SC (TN) 6 12-07 0
46. Dale Cook Chesapeake, VA (VA) 6 12-07 0
47. John Trunk Belmont, WV (WV) 5 12-02 0
48. Colt Slover Vidalia, LA (MS) 6 12-02 0
49. Christopher Curvin Piedmont, AL (AL) 6 11-15 0
50. Jeremy Smith Brookhaven, MS (MS) 6 11-10 0
51. Landy Filyaw Sr. Lake City, SC (SC) 6 11-09 0
52. Joseph Von Hoene Erlanger, KY (KY) 4 11-06 0
53. Jacob Barfield Conway, SC (SC) 4 10-13 0
54. Larry Witt Forest, VA (VA) 6 10-13 0
55. Richard Bright Fairmont, WV (WV) 4 10-12 0
56. Daniel Herrmann Villa Rica, GA (GA) 5 10-01 0
57. Josh Dees Mt. Olive, AL (AL) 5 09-12 0
58. Brian Fitzgerald Charleston, WV (WV) 4 09-12 0
59. Scott McNeely Acworth , GA (GA) 4 09-09 0
60. Will Delaney Duncanville, AL (AL) 6 09-08 0
61. Jace Newton Tifton, GA (GA) 4 09-05 0
62. Scott Wise Clermont, FL (FL) 5 09-00 0
63. Jerry Stephens Douglasville, GA (GA) 4 08-12 0
64. Dustin Hollen Buckhannon, WV (WV) 6 08-10 0
65. Horace Morris Sumter, SC (SC) 6 08-08 0
66. Gary Dennis Ravenswood, WV (WV) 5 08-07 0
67. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC (NC) 4 08-04 0
68. Brian Ebert Forest City, NC (NC) 3 08-03 0
69. Brad Schindledecker Moncks Corner, SC (SC) 3 08-01 0
70. Eric Dell Cumming, GA (GA) 5 07-14 0
71. Casey Mccaffery Bogue Chitto, MS (MS) 5 07-13 0
72. David Uskavitch Franklin, TN (TN) 5 07-09 0
73. Charles Davis Spout Spring, VA (VA) 4 07-09 0
74. Scott Hill Gallatin, TN (TN) 3 07-07 0
75. Mccain Merchant Winfield, AL (AL) 5 07-05 0
76. Steven Jackson Barboursville, WV (WV) 3 07-04 0
77. Steven Croom Adams, TN (TN) 3 07-03 0
78. Ryan Atkins Appomattox, VA (VA) 3 06-15 0
79. Rory Cunningham Dawsonville, GA (GA) 4 06-14 0
80. William Pontius Sugar HIll , GA (GA) 3 06-14 0
81. Bill Strong Sanford, NC (NC) 5 06-12 0
82. Terrell Pennington Hamilton, AL (AL) 4 06-10 0
83. Sam Drake Gainesville, FL (FL) 3 06-07 0
84. Shawn Ferguson Charleston, WV (WV) 3 06-05 0
85. Justin Jensen Laurel, MS (MS) 4 06-02 0
86. Allen Smith Knoxville, TN (TN) 4 06-01 0
87. George Collins Bude, MS (MS) 2 06-00 0
88. Dustin Hinkle Mount Juliet, TN (TN) 3 05-08 0
89. Jeffrey Ray Canton, MS (MS) 3 05-05 0
89. Khris Williams Mount Holly , NC (NC) 3 05-05 0
91. Donny Davis Tuscumbia, AL (AL) 4 05-05 0
92. Danny Goble Lagrange, KY (KY) 3 04-14 0
93. Robert Vaden Roanoke, VA (VA) 3 04-12 0
94. Dylan Carter Lucedale, MS (MS) 2 04-01 0
95. Ron Rutledge Lilburn, GA (SC) 3 03-10 0
96. Jayson Hooven Hudson, FL (FL) 1 02-13 0
97. Timothy Boothe Beaver, WV (WV) 1 01-13 0
98. Jeramie Vance Woodburn, KY (TN) 1 01-06 0
99. Maurice Graham Lawrenceville, GA (GA) 1 01-05 0
100. Rob Kitts Catlettsburg, KY (KY) 1 01-02 0
———————————————————————–
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 59 220 521-14
2 0 251 605-09
———————————-
59 471 1127-07
TEAM STANDINGS Day 2
———————————-
State Lbs-Oz
1 FLORIDA 396-03
2 SOUTH CAROLINA 386-13
3 NORTH CAROLINA 357-10
4 ALABAMA 332-14
5 KENTUCKY 322-02
6 VIRGINIA 310-11
7 WEST VIRGINIA 305-07
8 GEORGIA 303-01
9 TENNESSEE 275-11
10 MISSISSIPPI 274-13
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 2
———————————————————————–
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mike Caul Petersburg, VA 5 19-06 0
2 Ted Woody Concoord, VA 4 16-02 0
3 Brian Canterbury Madison, VA 6 14-11 0
4 Ashley Miller Afton, VA 6 13-13 0
5 Costas Melendez Grottoes, VA 5 13-00 0
6 Dale Cook Chesapeake, VA 6 12-07 0
7 Larry Witt Forest, VA 6 10-13 0
8 Charles Davis Spout Spring, VA 4 07-09 0
9 Ryan Atkins Appomattox, VA 3 06-15 0
10 Robert Vaden Roanoke, VA 3 04-12 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Steve Hinkle Mount Nebo, WV 6 21-04 0
2 J.C Christopher II Clarksburg, WV 6 13-08 0
3 John Trunk Belmont, WV 5 12-02 0
4 Richard Bright Fairmont, WV 4 10-12 0
5 Brian Fitzgerald Charleston, WV 4 09-12 0
6 Dustin Hollen Buckhannon, WV 6 08-10 0
7 Gary Dennis Ravenswood, WV 5 08-07 0
8 Steven Jackson Barboursville, WV 3 07-04 0
9 Shawn Ferguson Charleston, WV 3 06-05 0
10 Timothy Boothe Beaver, WV 1 01-13 0
MISSISSIPPI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Larry Carter Lucedale, MS 5 15-09 0
2 Barry Galloway Franklinton, LA 6 13-00 0
3 Sawyer Wallace Bogue Chitto, MS 5 12-14 0
4 Colt Slover Vidalia, LA 6 12-02 0
5 Jeremy Smith Brookhaven, MS 6 11-10 0
6 Casey Mccaffery Bogue Chitto, MS 5 07-13 0
7 Justin Jensen Laurel, MS 4 06-02 0
8 George Collins Bude, MS 2 06-00 0
9 Jeffrey Ray Canton, MS 3 05-05 0
10 Dylan Carter Lucedale, MS 2 04-01 0
GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Ryan Bone Douglasville, GA 6 19-08 0
2 Steve Blakeney Acworth, GA 4 14-08 0
3 Daniel Herrmann Villa Rica, GA 5 10-01 0
4 Scott McNeely Acworth , GA 4 09-09 0
5 Jace Newton Tifton, GA 4 09-05 0
6 Jerry Stephens Douglasville, GA 4 08-12 0
7 Eric Dell Cumming, GA 5 07-14 0
8 Rory Cunningham Dawsonville, GA 4 06-14 0
9 William Pontius Sugar HIll , GA 3 06-14 0
10 Maurice Graham Lawrenceville, GA 1 01-05 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Kenneth Ellis Bowman, SC 6 16-13 0
2 Adam Rodenhouse Ladson, SC 6 16-06 0
3 Richard Young Ellenboro, NC 6 16-03 0
4 Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 5 14-13 0
5 Jarrett Hughes Conway, SC 6 13-08 0
6 Landy Filyaw Sr. Lake City, SC 6 11-09 0
7 Jacob Barfield Conway, SC 4 10-13 0
8 Horace Morris Sumter, SC 6 08-08 0
9 Brad Schindledecker Moncks Corner, SC 3 08-01 0
10 Ron Rutledge Lilburn, GA 3 03-10 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 James Topmiller III Orlando, FL 6 24-01 0
2 Zack Barrera Morriston, FL 6 19-01 0
3 Scott Pritt Clermont, FL 6 18-13 0
4 Mark Smith Brandon, FL 6 17-06 0
5 Matthew Keeble Lakeland, FL 6 13-14 0
6 Ethan Melton Lake City, FL 4 13-09 0
7 Dan Carrigan Citrus Springs, FL 6 13-09 0
8 Scott Wise Clermont, FL 5 09-00 0
9 Sam Drake Gainesville, FL 3 06-07 0
10 Jayson Hooven Hudson, FL 1 02-13 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 6 18-11 0
2 Donald Henderson Monroeville, AL 6 15-06 0
3 Trey Mitchell Florence, AL 6 13-04 0
4 Larry Franks Sr. Wilsonville, AL 6 12-15 0
5 Christopher Curvin Piedmont, AL 6 11-15 0
6 Josh Dees Mt. Olive, AL 5 09-12 0
7 Will Delaney Duncanville, AL 6 09-08 0
8 Mccain Merchant Winfield, AL 5 07-05 0
9 Terrell Pennington Hamilton, AL 4 06-10 0
10 Donny Davis Tuscumbia, AL 4 05-05 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brian Adams Pittsboro, NC 6 18-03 0
2 Nathan Dellinger Hickory, NC 6 18-02 0
3 Tyler Lawwill Asheville, NC 6 17-09 0
4 George Horton Greenville, NC 6 14-15 0
5 Reggie Guffey Bessemer City, NC 6 14-10 0
6 Adam Richardson Littleton, NC 6 14-03 0
7 Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 4 08-04 0
8 Brian Ebert Forest City, NC 3 08-03 0
9 Bill Strong Sanford, NC 5 06-12 0
10 Khris Williams Mount Holly , NC 3 05-05 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Nick Coleman Kuttawa, KY 6 17-03 0
2 Tim Kellam Crittenden, KY 6 16-11 0
3 John Roth III Kuttawa, KY 6 16-08 0
4 Matt Luken Independence, KY 6 15-06 0
5 Jason Brown Marion, KY 6 15-00 0
6 Earl Maines Richmond, KY 6 14-03 0
7 Matt Hall Frankfort, KY 6 13-07 0
8 Joseph Von Hoene Erlanger, KY 4 11-06 0
9 Danny Goble Lagrange, KY 3 04-14 0
10 Rob Kitts Catlettsburg, KY 1 01-02 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Zeke Abegg Clarksville, TN 4 20-00 0
2 Jimmie Presley Ten Mile, TN 6 16-05 0
3 Jeffray Gooch Westport, TN 6 13-12 0
4 Jim Leuthner Tamassee, SC 6 12-07 0
5 David Uskavitch Franklin, TN 5 07-09 0
6 Scott Hill Gallatin, TN 3 07-07 0
7 Steven Croom Adams, TN 3 07-03 0
8 Allen Smith Knoxville, TN 4 06-01 0
9 Dustin Hinkle Mount Juliet, TN 3 05-08 0
10 Jeramie Vance Woodburn, KY 1 01-06 0
Ott DeFoe–Perspective
“perspective.” Merriam-Webster.com (noun): the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.
Perspective—that’s the word for 2019. We—Jennie and I—developed a whole new perspective last year that we have carried into 2020. We learned so much in 2019.
One thing we learned is that there are a lot of fishing fans out there. There are fans of television icons Bill Dance, Roland Martin, and Jimmy Houston, as well as fans of The Bass Pros on Outdoor Channel and my television show—The Hunt for Monster Bass. There are fans of the Bassmaster Classic and certainly fans of Major League Fishing.
Times are great in fishing these days for anglers, fans, and companies. We can all watch more fishing programming than ever. When I was recovering from heart surgery last year, I got to watch every minute of the Bass Pro Tour event on Lake Winnebago. I learned a lot, and I found it very entertaining, too. I watched my friends competing over at Bassmaster during my recovery time as well.
So many people have reached out and offered congratulations on the Classic win as well as prayers and support for the heart surgery and recovery. Honestly, the heart surgery response was the biggest outpouring of support of all. That fact changed our perspective. Bass fishing fans are some of the finest people who walk the earth.
One question that has been hanging out there is whether or not I’ll be fishing the Bassmaster Classic on Guntersville this year.
I will not be fishing. It is not any single tournament organization’s fault, either. It was ultimately my decision. When we chose to fish the Bass Pro Tour instead of the Elite Series, we knew this would be the last Classic I would qualify for. Per B.A.S.S. rules, you must fish the Elite Series in order to receive your automatic berth for the next year.
Not fishing it this year makes me appreciate the win in Knoxville even more. I can always say I won it. My name will be on the trophy from here on out.
But you know what?—trophies fade. Titles lose importance. People forget. Money gets spent. Accolades become ancient history. I’m reminded of a passage from the book of Matthew, chapter 6.
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
There will be a new Classic winner this year. I know for a fact that it’s a career-changer. My hope is we will grow the Bass Pro Tour’s championship to be a career-changer as well. That will take some time and a lot of effort, but we are excited to have the opportunity to be along for the journey.
I plan to be in Birmingham to hand off the trophy. When Jordan Lee handed it to me, he said two things –“this thing is heavy, and throw away your phone.” It was indeed heavy, but I decided to hang onto my phone. I’ve met a lot of great people this year and had a lot of great conversations, both in-person and on that phone.
I’ll be at the Expo on Sunday and welcome anyone to stop by and say hello.
11:00 a.m. – Bass Pro Shops/Nitro
12:00 p.m. – Mercury
1:00 p.m. – Humminbird/Minn Kota
2:00 p.m. – Mossy Oak
In a year filled with blessings, gaining more perspective was the biggest one of 2019.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
Toyota Series Set for 2020 Season Opener on Toledo Bend Reservoir
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MANY, La. (Jan. 29, 2020) – The Toyota Series will kick off the 2020 season this week at Toledo Bend, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, with the Toyota Series at Toledo Bend Reservoir. Hosted by the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, the three-day tournament will feature the best regional bass-fishing pros and co-anglers casting for a top prize of at least $40,000, plus a $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
“Wintertime at Toledo Bend can be outstanding, but it’s typically feast or famine,” said Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler Darold Gleason of Many, who guides on the lake and has seven top-10 finishes on Toledo Bend in FLW competition. “We’re going to see some really big weights – 25-pound limits and the possibility of a 10-pounder or two weighed in – but it can be really hard to get a lot of bites. The key to this tournament will be capitalizing on the opportunities that you get, because you might not get many.”
Gleason said that although there are fish to be found up shallow, due to the recent cold and rainy weather he expects the tournament to be won offshore.
“I predict the tournament will be won offshore, throwing a big crankbait, a football jig or a Carolina rig,” Gleason said. “We’ve had a lot of rain, lately, so the creeks are pretty muddy. The weather is definitely giving us a few wild cards, but there are so many good anglers fishing in this event that someone is really going to catch them well.
“I think the three-day winner will probably end up right around 60 pounds,” Gleason went on to say. “But, there haven’t been many tournaments here lately and the water is low, so the fish are pretty fresh. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see it take up to 70 pounds to win. It’s going to be a very fun tournament.”
Anglers will take off from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many at 7 a.m. CDT each day of competition. The weigh-ins will be held each day at Cypress Bend Park beginning at 3 p.m. All takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. At Toledo Bend Lake, pros will fish for a top prize of at least $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if FLW PHOENIX BONUS qualified. Co-anglers will cast for the top prize of a brand new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at more than $30,000).
The Toyota Series consists of eight divisions – Central, Eastern, Northern, Plains, Southeastern, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $200,000 cash, plus lucrative contingency bonuses. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2020 Toyota Series Championship is being held Nov. 5-7 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky, and is hosted by the Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission and the Burnside Tourism Commission.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, FLW and its partners conduct more than 290 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Zimbabwe.
FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show while Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. Acquired by Major League Fishing in late 2019, FLW is expanding its programming in 2020 to the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel as well as on-demand at MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).
For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Toyota Announces Sponsorship of Major League Fishing and Fishing League Worldwide
Multi-year partnership kicks off this month.
PLANO, Texas (January 29, 2020) – Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) announced today a formal sponsorship of Major League Fishing (MLF), professional bass fishing’s newest premier tournament organization, and home to Team Toyota professional anglers Mike Iaconelli, Terry Scroggins, Kevin VanDam, and Jacob Wheeler. The partnership includes Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, as title sponsor of the Toyota Series.
The partnership further solidifies Toyota’s ongoing commitment to anglers and their families who depend on Toyota to tow boats safely to their favorite boat ramp — whether competing in tournaments, or simply pursuing their weekend passion for fishing like more than 30 million other angling Americans.
“Partnering with Major League Fishing not only allows Toyota to show continued support of our pro angling team but support the entire bass fishing community, from youth programs to the big leagues, in the pursuit of their passions,” said Matt Ozawa, engagement marketing manager, Toyota Motor North America.
Toyota’s support of Major League Fishing soundly showcases the Texas-based automotive manufacturer’s heartfelt commitment to building reliable vehicles that help people enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle. However, the company’s support of bass fishing is not limited to tournament organization sponsorship, but also includes the popular Toyota Bonus Bucks program, as well as their support of youth fishing.
As the official vehicle of MLF and FLW, Toyota will host interactive fan events at upcoming bass fishing tournaments throughout the 2020 season. From behind-the-scenes to live broadcasts, and angler interviews, tips and more, check out all the action at 2020 MLF Bass Pro Tour.
“I’m excited to welcome Toyota into the MLF family,” remarked John Acosta, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development for Major League Fishing. “Through this comprehensive, multi-year deal, Toyota continues its rich history of supporting the outdoors, now leveraging MLF’s highly rated media platforms and angler-centric tournament trails to further position Toyota as a catalyst for growth in the sport of competitive bass fishing.”
“Ten years ago, we had this crazy idea to expand the sport of competitive bass fishing,” reflected Jim Wilburn, President and CEO, Major League Fishing. “As the longest national sponsor in competitive bass fishing, it’s an honor to add Toyota to our sponsor roster. Their investment in MLF and FLW validates our goals as a fan-friendly, angler-centric league on a mission to get more people at all levels to go fishing.”
About Major League Fishing
Founded in 2011, Major League Fishing (MLF) brings the high-intensity sport of competitive bass fishing into America’s living rooms through the highest-rated programming in fishing on Outdoor Channel, Discovery, CBS, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel, and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). The Bass Pro Tour consists of eight events and a championship streamed live on www.MajorLeagueFishing.com and MOTV. In late 2019 MLF acquired FLW, expanding their portfolio to include the world’s largest grassroots fishing organization.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 38 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold 2.8 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.