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Collins Comes from Behind to Win on Ouachita River
Albert Collins of Nacogdoches, Texas, caught 44 pounds, 15 ounces over three days to win the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Ouachita River held out of Monroe, La.
MONROE, La. — Albert Collins’ victory in the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship was a year in the making. The Texas angler lost his bid to the Classic by 1 1/2 pounds on the Ouachita River in November 2014; he’s been planning for his next chance ever since.
Collins ended the 2015 championship with 44 pounds, 15 ounces over three days, and he earned a berth in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro. He also won the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy and a Skeeter ZX200 with a Yamaha motor, a Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance electronics.
Collins has qualified for the Classic before, back in 2013 when he won the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series Championship. But he really wanted to make it through the B.A.S.S. Nation.
“It means something special to qualify through the Nation,” said Collins, who has tried several times to qualify through the Nation Championship and, like one year ago, fell just short.
“What I learned last year was that I needed an aluminum boat,” said Collins. “Last year, I used my fiberglass boat, and it’s just not made to go through those stumps and all that shallow water. So I bought an aluminum one for this tournament.”
It paid off. The Triton 18 TX he bought, equipped with a 115 Mercury Pro XS, got him into Bayou D’Arbonne, north of the launch area at Forsythe Park. It topped out at 47 miles per hour, but it let him slip into areas most of the other anglers couldn’t.
“It all revolved around last year,” said Collins, a member of the Nacogdoches Bass Club he helped found several years ago. “I knew where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do; I just needed to get the details.”
The details are what he focused on in pre-fish and practice. He liked that D’Arbonne area because it fits his style of fishing.
“I like to flip and throw spinnerbaits and crankbaits, and that’s what you do there,” he said. “There’s a lot of backwater, a lot of stumps and a good channel, and you can fish multiple ways up there.”
He did flip and he did throw crankbaits, but the standout for him was spinnerbaits.
“I used a Stanley spinnerbait, white/chartreuse with silver and gold willow blades,” said Collins. “I was fishing a medium retrieve, 6 to 10 inches underneath the surface.”
That’s how he started out the final day, too, when he was behind the leader, Jamie Laiche, by nearly 2 pounds. After no fish in the first hour, he changed his tactic.
“They were not as active today,” said Collins, “so I started slow rolling it.” That method accounted for 90 percent of his catches on Day 3, when he brought in a 16-pound, 6-ounce bag.
By winning the tournament, Collins also won his division, edging out two-day leader Jamie Laiche of Louisiana by 1 pound, 13 ounces. The winner of each of the six divisions earns a Classic berth. Joining Collins at the Classic will be Charles Sim of Ontario in the Eastern Division; Fabian Rodriguez, Delaware, Mid-Atlantic; Greg Vance, Iowa, Northern; John Proctor, South Carolina, Southern; and Levi McNeill, Wyoming, Western.
None of those five anglers has ever qualified for the Classic before. Most of them couldn’t even find the words to express their excitement.
“I’m speechless,” said Sim. “I’m only the second Canadian ever to make it! This is phenomenal.”
Overall, the catches on Day 3 were significantly lighter than on the previous days. Still, the biggest bass of the tournament was boated on the final day by Matthew Roberts of the Missouri B.A.S.S. Nation. It was a 5-pound, 6-ounce largemouth, the first 5-plus-pounder anyone had seen during this event. Roberts won $500 for catching the tournament’s big bass.
Jamie Laiche won the other award, the Livingston Lures Leader Award, for leading on Day 2. He earned $250.
The biggest bag of the tournament was a tie between Laiche and Collins. Laiche brought in 16-6 on the first day, and Collins brought in the same bag on the third day.
Keep up with the journey of the six competitors who qualified for the Classic over the next few months at Bassmaster.com/Nation. The Classic will take place March 4-6, 2016, and the new season for the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Regionals will resume in April 2016.
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: Old Milwaukee
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Huk, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Nationwide, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-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), social media programs and events. For more than 45 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, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
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2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 11/5-11/7 Ouachita River, Monroe, La. (BOATER) Standings Day 3Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX (Cntrl) 15 44-15 0 ———————————————————————– TEAM STANDINGS Day 3 INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3 NORTHERN CENTRAL WESTERN EASTERN SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC
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Denali Rods… South of the Boarder
Denali Rod’s Mike Helton headed south of the boarder to do some serious testing on the new Lithium Series.
Louisiana’s Jamie Laiche Leads on Ouachita River
Louisiana’s Jamie Laiche caught 16 pounds, 6 ounces to lead the first day of the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Ouachita River held out of Monroe, La.
Photo Thomas Allen/B.A.S.S.
MONROE, La. — Jamie Laiche of Gonzales, La., only traveled four hours to get to the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, so it seems like he would have home-lake advantage over the rest of the field. However, he had never fished the Ouachita River until he started pre-fishing it earlier this fall, and now he leads the event on Day 1 with 16 pounds, 6 ounces.
“I call the Atchafalaya Basin my home water,” Laiche said, “and so I’d call myself a shallow-water, stump, cypress tree fisherman. This is right in my wheelhouse.
“I’m used to fishing tough for seven to eight bites a day, which is how this is fishing,” he said.
Laiche is one of a handful of anglers who brought small boats to navigate the stumpfield of the Ouachita.
“I gambled a little and brought the smaller boat,” said Laiche, referring to his 17-foot Bass Tracker boat that is only 6 feet wide but floats in 7 inches of water. “It’s got a small motor on the back that floats high, and that’s key to getting into those shallow backwaters.”
The drawback to that small boat? “It goes 28 miles per hour,” said Laiche with a laugh. “They’re all passing me.”
He’s covering a lot of water in his area, though, just using his trolling motor. He’s relied a lot on a push-pole, too, which has left him muddy from each time he pulls it out of the water.
“I try to control the things I can control in a tournament,” Laiche said. He can’t control the depth of the water and certainly not the weather, but he can control what craft he drives. “It’s the best way to fish more effectively when the water is this low.”
If Laiche maintains his lead, he’ll qualify for the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro. And it will be eight years after his other trip to the Classic, back in 2008 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wish I could have that second day back,” Laiche said. The Ascension Area Anglers club member had qualified for the Classic that year through the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. He had a great first day that put him in the Top 20. But then, the second day came.
“I changed my game plan because of the weatherman,” he said. “I should have stayed with my game plan.” He ended up finishing in 38th place.
“If you ever fish the Classic, all you can think about is going back,” Laiche said.
Laiche is not the only previous Classic qualifier in contention to go back to the big show. The top angler from each division will advance. Laiche currently leads in the Central Division, but he is trailed closely by Albert Collins of Texas, who qualified in 2013, and Doug Thompson, who qualified in 2014. Paul Mueller of Connecticut leads in the Eastern Division, and he has qualified for both of the last two Classics. David Watson and Jami Fralick in the Northern Division are in striking distance, as are Mark Pierce, Southern, and Tim Johnston, Western.
Laiche is confident going into Day 2, but he’s not counting his chickens before they hatch.
“There is no comfortable lead in the Central Division,” he said. “It’s got some phenomenal anglers. I can’t slip. I’ve got to make the right decisions, I’ve got to execute, and I’ve got to have all my equipment top-notch.”
Laiche added that he would be very surprised if he could follow up with another 16-pound sack.
Sixteen pounds was a larger bag than most people predicted. Many anglers expected the top weight on the first day to come in no heavier than 12 pounds. But besides Laiche’s 16-6 sack, Fabian Rodriguez brought in 14-8, and Albert Collins followed with 14-1.
The river is producing far better than it did last year when the championship was here during the same week under similar conditions. On Day 1 in 2014, only 29 anglers had limits and three had zeros; in 2015, 46 had limits and no one goose-egged. The overall weight caught on the first day is higher this year by nearly 150 pounds, even with the same number of competitors. And Alabama’s Coby Carden led on Day 1 last year with 11 pounds, 8 ounces — which would put him in eighth place this year.
The competition will shake out more on Day 2 on Friday, when the air temperature is predicted to drop by as much as 10 degrees and rain will likely come. The change in weather comes as a relief to some anglers and is worrisome to others.
The biggest bass for Day 1 was a 4-pound, 9-ounce largemouth caught by South Carolina’s John Proctor. Proctor is leading the Southern Division, looking for his first trip to the Bassmaster Classic. Other division leaders are Laiche, Central; Paul Mueller, Eastern; Rodriguez, Mid-Atlantic; Gary Adkins, Northern; and Robert Peixotto, Western.
Competition resumes at Forsythe Park in Monroe, La., Friday at 6:15 a.m. CT. The weigh-in will also be at Forsythe Park at 2:30 p.m. CT. The event concludes on Saturday, Nov. 7. Tune in to Bassmaster.com for updates and for live streaming of the weigh-ins.
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: Old Milwaukee
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Huk, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Nationwide, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-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), social media programs and events. For more than 45 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, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 11/5-11/7
Ouachita River, Monroe, La.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA (Cntrl) 5 16-06 0
2. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, DE (MidAt) 5 14-08 0
3. Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX (Cntrl) 5 14-01 0
4. Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR (Cntrl) 5 12-09 0
5. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT (East) 5 12-04 0
6. John Proctor Conway, SC (South) 5 11-11 0
7. Charles Sim Ottawa CANADA (East) 5 11-10 0
8. Preston Frazell Cleveland, OK (Cntrl) 5 11-01 0
9. Robert Peixotto Albuquerque, NM (West) 5 10-10 0
10. Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI (North) 5 10-06 0
11. Samuel Ferroni POGGIO A CAIANO PRATO I 5 10-00 0
12. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT (East) 5 09-15 0
13. Billy Lemon Jr Sand Springs, OK (Cntrl 5 09-14 0
14. David Watson Sullivan, IN (North) 5 09-12 0
15. Joaquim Maria Lopes Evora PORTUGAL (Cntrl) 5 09-11 0
16. Matthew Roberts Pulaski, IA (Cntrl) 5 09-06 0
17. Davick Hansen Clinton, UT (West) 5 09-05 0
18. Donald Adcock Richland, MS (Cntrl) 5 09-02 0
19. Pat Hanning Tucson, AZ (West) 5 08-14 0
19. Brad Weese Petersburg, WV (MidAt) 5 08-14 0
21. Brian Harold McGaheysville, VA (MidA 5 08-13 0
22. Greg Vance Dubuque, IA (North) 5 08-12 0
23. Kieron Samkin Gillitts SOUTH AFRICA 5 08-10 0
24. Mark Pierce Radcliff, KY (South) 5 08-08 0
25. Marcelo Lozano San Luis Potosi MEXICO 5 08-07 0
26. Levi McNeill West Valley, UT (West) 5 08-05 0
27. Jami Fralick Martin, SD (North) 5 08-04 0
28. Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO (West) 5 08-03 0
29. Nick Leonard Cincinnati, OH (North) 5 08-00 0
30. Dave Andrews Hudson, MA (East) 5 07-13 0
31. Bruce Cooke Greendale ZIMBABWE (Mid 5 07-11 0
32. Dan Brown Joliet, IL (North) 5 07-09 0
33. Cesar Ventura Pecellin Munoz Badajoz SPAIN (East) 5 07-07 0
34. Steven Wilson Rohnert Park, CA (West) 5 07-05 0
35. Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT (West) 5 07-04 0
35. Roger Thomas Snow Hill, NC (South) 5 07-04 0
37. Chad Shutty Northern Cambria, PA (M 5 07-03 0
38. Jeff Fischer Farmington, MI (North) 5 07-02 0
38. Brent Shores Boise, ID (West) 5 07-02 0
40. Brad Durden Atlanta, GA (South) 5 07-01 0
41. Samuel Bounds Jr Charleston, WV (MidAt) 5 06-13 0
42. Casey Smith Macedon, NY (East) 5 06-09 0
43. Michael McMahon Hackettstown, NJ (MidAt 5 06-08 0
44. Wayne Black San Mateo, FL (South) 5 06-05 0
45. Kory Ray Lebanon, OR (West) 5 05-14 0
46. Jerome Pape Milford, IA (Cntrl) 5 05-13 0
47. Corey Brant Minnetonka, MN (North) 2 05-13 0
48. Alec Williams Windhoek NAMIBIA (MidAt 3 05-11 0
49. Lance Freeman Eddyville, KY (South) 4 05-10 0
50. Brian Croteau Blackstone, MA (East) 4 05-09 0
51. Kyle Glasgow Jr Guin, AL (South) 3 04-15 0
52. Kentaro Yamada Osaka JAPAN (West) 2 03-13 0
53. Jackie Barber West , TX (MidAt) 3 03-09 0
54. Skip Sjobeck Randolph, VT (East) 3 03-08 0
55. George Barnes Cambridge, MA (East) 3 03-02 0
56. David Kromm Kennewick, WA (West) 2 02-05 0
57. Robert Williamson Gorham, ME (East) 2 01-15 0
58. Stephen Kanowski Shorncliffe AUSTRALIA ( 1 01-03 0
58. Stephen Pike Las Vegas, NV (West) 1 01-03 0
———————————————————————–
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 46 263 462-12
———————————-
46 263 462-12
TEAM STANDINGS Day 1
———————————-
State Lbs-Oz
1 CENTRAL 106-06
2 WESTERN 80-03
3 NORTHERN 75-10
4 EASTERN 69-12
5 MID-ATLANTIC 69-10
6 SOUTHERN 61-03
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 1
———————————————————————–
NORTHERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI 5 10-06 0
2 Samuel Ferroni POGGIO A CAIANO PRATO I 5 10-00 0
3 David Watson Sullivan, IN 5 09-12 0
4 Greg Vance Dubuque, IA 5 08-12 0
5 Jami Fralick Martin, SD 5 08-04 0
6 Nick Leonard Cincinnati, OH 5 08-00 0
7 Dan Brown Joliet, IL 5 07-09 0
8 Jeff Fischer Farmington, MI 5 07-02 0
9 Corey Brant Minnetonka, MN 2 05-13 0
CENTRAL
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA 5 16-06 0
2 Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX 5 14-01 0
3 Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR 5 12-09 0
4 Preston Frazell Cleveland, OK 5 11-01 0
5 Billy Lemon Jr Sand Springs, OK 5 09-14 0
6 Joaquim Maria Lopes Evora PORTUGAL 5 09-11 0
7 Matthew Roberts Pulaski, IA 5 09-06 0
8 Donald Adcock Richland, MS 5 09-02 0
9 Marcelo Lozano San Luis Potosi MEXICO 5 08-07 0
10 Jerome Pape Milford, IA 5 05-13 0
WESTERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Robert Peixotto Albuquerque, NM 5 10-10 0
2 Davick Hansen Clinton, UT 5 09-05 0
3 Pat Hanning Tucson, AZ 5 08-14 0
4 Levi McNeill West Valley, UT 5 08-05 0
5 Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO 5 08-03 0
6 Steven Wilson Rohnert Park, CA 5 07-05 0
7 Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT 5 07-04 0
8 Brent Shores Boise, ID 5 07-02 0
9 Kory Ray Lebanon, OR 5 05-14 0
10 Kentaro Yamada Osaka JAPAN 2 03-13 0
11 David Kromm Kennewick, WA 2 02-05 0
12 Stephen Pike Las Vegas, NV 1 01-03 0
EASTERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 12-04 0
2 Charles Sim Ottawa CANADA 5 11-10 0
3 Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 09-15 0
4 Dave Andrews Hudson, MA 5 07-13 0
5 Cesar Ventura Pecellin Munoz Badajoz SPAIN 5 07-07 0
6 Casey Smith Macedon, NY 5 06-09 0
7 Brian Croteau Blackstone, MA 4 05-09 0
8 Skip Sjobeck Randolph, VT 3 03-08 0
9 George Barnes Cambridge, MA 3 03-02 0
10 Robert Williamson Gorham, ME 2 01-15 0
SOUTHERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 John Proctor Conway, SC 5 11-11 0
2 Kieron Samkin Gillitts SOUTH AFRICA 5 08-10 0
3 Mark Pierce Radcliff, KY 5 08-08 0
4 Roger Thomas Snow Hill, NC 5 07-04 0
5 Brad Durden Atlanta, GA 5 07-01 0
6 Wayne Black San Mateo, FL 5 06-05 0
7 Lance Freeman Eddyville, KY 4 05-10 0
8 Kyle Glasgow Jr Guin, AL 3 04-15 0
9 Stephen Kanowski Shorncliffe AUSTRALIA 1 01-03 0
MID-ATLANTIC
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, DE 5 14-08 0
2 Brad Weese Petersburg, WV 5 08-14 0
3 Brian Harold McGaheysville, VA 5 08-13 0
4 Bruce Cooke Greendale ZIMBABWE 5 07-11 0
5 Chad Shutty Northern Cambria, PA 5 07-03 0
6 Samuel Bounds Jr Charleston, WV 5 06-13 0
7 Michael McMahon Hackettstown, NJ 5 06-08 0
8 Alec Williams Windhoek NAMIBIA 3 05-11 0
9 Jackie Barber West , TX 3 03-09 0
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B.A.S.S. Announces Sites Of BASSfest And Toyota Bassmaster Angler Of The Year Championship
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two special events of the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series will be held at new, or relatively new, venues for the world’s premier bass fishing circuit, B.A.S.S. announced today.
The fan-favorite BASSfest will be held June 8-12 at Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma-Texas border, and the season finale, the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship, will take place at Minnesota’s Mille Lacs Lake.
“Similar to the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, the Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments have become extremely popular ‘happenings’ for bass fishing fans. By taking our fishing festivals to Lake Texoma and Mille Lacs, we will expose the sport to new fan bases,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “And, our Elite Series anglers are sure to enjoy the new challenges these lakes present.”
Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Okla., is presenting sponsor of BASSfest.
In addition, officials of the world’s largest fishing organization revealed a new tournament for 2016: the Bassmaster Classic Bracket tournament, to be held on the Niagara River out of Buffalo, N.Y., July 19-22.
In that event, the Top 8 finishers in Elite No. 7 on Cayuga Lake, New York, will go head-to-head in a bracket format tournament that will pay $50,000 in cash — in addition to the prize money they will have earned at Cayuga — and award a guaranteed spot in the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing, the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.
The Classic Bracket will be streamed live on Bassmaster.com and will feature — for the first time ever in Bassmaster competition — catch-weigh-release scoring. That is, competitors will have their catches weighed instantly on the water by judges, and the bass will be released back into the water at the spots where they were caught. Only the heaviest five bass per angler will be counted.
Lake Texoma, an 89,000-acre impoundment of the Red River, was the site of the 1979 Bassmaster Classic won by Hank Parker, now a popular television fishing show host, in September of that year, and it was the venue for Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens in 2007 and 2010. It has not hosted an Elite event, however.
Parker caught 31 pounds and won $25,000 in the ’79 Classic by using a “flipping stick” borrowed from fellow competitor Gary Klein, shining the national spotlight on the then-new technique of “flippin’.” Klein finished fourth in that event. Veteran pro Rick Clunn was third.
Headquarters for the five-day BASSfest will be Choctaw Casino Resort at Durant, Okla. As in the two previous BASSfests, both held on Tennessee River impoundments, the 2016 event will feature a military and fan appreciation day, complete with Bassmaster University seminars, an expo and other activities.
“Choctaw Casino Resort is excited to partner with B.A.S.S. to bring the best anglers in the country to the Lake Texoma area,” said Wendy Carter, director of marketing for Choctaw Casino Resort – Durant. “We look forward to hosting competitors and their families, and introducing them to our many new amenities, like our recently-opened entertainment complex called The District. In The District, families can enjoy an arcade, 20 bowling lanes, a movie theater, laser tag arena and food court.”
No B.A.S.S. professional tournament has ever been held on Mille Lacs, which lies about 90 miles north of Minneapolis. At 132,500 acres, the lake is Minnesota’s second-largest inland lake and is known among bass anglers as a bucket list smallmouth destination. It is ranked 10th on Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list for 2015.
“We are proud to support the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year tournament in 2016,” said Tracy Sam, general manager of Grand Casino Mille Lacs. “Not only will it help bring thousands of new visitors to the area, it’s a great opportunity to showcase everything Mille Lacs has to offer.”
Earlier this year, the state of Minnesota announced it would permit culling bass in major tournaments on Mille Lacs in hopes of inducing B.A.S.S. and other tournament organizations to schedule events there. The region’s tourism economy has been hard hit by a declining walleye fishery, on which lakeshore lodges and other businesses depend for much of their income.
“We applaud the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for its efforts to accommodate competitive bass fishing,” said Akin. “The Angler of the Year Championship is expected to generate $3.4 million in economic impact for the region, and the area will continue to benefit as the bass fishing world learns about the fantastic fishing available in Mille Lacs Lake.”
“The Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council is thrilled that the 2016 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year tournament will be coming to Mille Lacs Lake,” said Tina Chapman, executive director of Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council. “We have a rich history of great fishing in this community, and this tournament is a chance to increase awareness of numerous fishing opportunities to new anglers. This is great news for businesses and communities all around the lake.”
The $1 million Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship includes the Top 50 Elite anglers based on their ranks in AOY points at the end of the regular season, and it will determine the 2016 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year as well as 38 or more qualifiers for the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.
“Toyota is proud once again to sponsor the championship, which elevates the Angler of the Year title to one of the most prestigious awards a professional angler can earn,” said Ed Laukes, vice president, Marketing, Performance and Guest Experience for Toyota Motor Sales. “After competing in 10 events in as many states over the course of the season, the AOY champion will truly have proved that he is the best of the best.”
The 2016 Elite Series comprises 10 tournaments in addition to the Classic Bracket event, an increase over the nine events of 2015.
Following is a complete list of the tournaments, dates and venues, beginning with the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Dates Tournament Fishery Host Community/State
March 4-6 Bassmaster Classic Grand Lake Tulsa, Okla.
March 17-20 Elite No. 1 St. Johns River Palatka, Fla.
April 7-10 Elite No. 2 Winyah Bay Georgetown, S.C.
April 21-24 Elite No. 3 Bull Shoals/Norfork Mountain Home, Ark.
April 28-May 1 Elite No. 4 Wheeler Lake Decatur, Ala.
May 12-15 Elite No. 5 Toledo Bend Many, La.
June 8-12 BASSfest Lake Texoma Durant, Okla.
June 23-26 Elite No. 7 Cayuga Lake Union Springs, N.Y.
July 19-22 Classic Bracket Niagara River Buffalo, N.Y.
Aug. 11-14 Elite No. 8 Potomac River Charles County, Md.
Sept. 8-11 Elite No. 9 Mississippi River La Crosse, Wis.
Sept. 15-18 AOY Championship Mille Lacs Lake Onamia, Minn.
2015 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Huk Performance Fishing, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-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), social media programs and events. For more than 45 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, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by TNT Fireworks, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
5 Must Have Baits
These are the essentials you need to catch fish in the fall. In my experience, I have caught fish in multiple parts of the south and some northern states on these baits when the temperatures start to cool down.
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Follow Justin on his Facebook page.
Get all of the products Justin uses here.
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