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FLW Announces Lake Hartwell As 2015 BFL Wild Card Venue
MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 27, 2015) – FLW announced Sunday that the 2015 BFL Wild Card tournament will take place on Lake Hartwell on Nov. 13-14. The event will launch from Clemson Marina, located at 150 Clemson Marina Drive in Seneca, South Carolina.
In order to be eligible to fish the no-entry-fee BFL Wild Card tournament, anglers must have entered all five events within a BFL division during the 2015 season. In addition, anglers who have already qualified for a BFL regional are ineligible.
During the BFL Wild Card tournament, the full field competes both days, with winners determined by the heaviest two-day catch. The top six boater and top six co-angler finishers advance to the 2016 BFL All-American based on accumulated weight.
The 2015 BFL Wild Card tournament is being hosted by the Mountain Lakes Convention & Visitors Bureau. Tournament entries will be accepted beginning Monday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. EST. You may enter by phone at (270) 252-1000 or onsite at the pre-tournament meeting.
The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 50 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
ABOUT FLW
FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2015 over the course of 240 tournaments across five tournament circuits, four of which provide an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world. For more information about FLW visit FLWFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
B.A.S.S. Plans Three Regional High School Tournaments for 2016
The 2016 Costa Bassmaster High School Series tournament season kicks off at Toledo Bend — the No. 1 bass lake in America according to Bassmaster Magazine’s 2015 100 Best Bass Lakes list. The series will also makes stops on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville and Illinois’ Clinton Lake. The 2016 Costa Bassmaster High School Series tournament season kicks off at Toledo Bend — the No. 1 bass lake in America according to Bassmaster Magazine’s 2015 100 Best Bass Lakes list. The series will also makes stops on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville and Illinois’ Clinton Lake.
Photo by Ronnie Moore/Bassmaster
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — High school anglers will have the chance to fish the No. 1 bass lake in the nation during the 2016 Bassmaster High School tournament season.
Toledo Bend — the best bass fishery in the United States according to Bassmaster Magazine’s 2015 Best Bass Lakes list — will be the first stop on the 2016 Costa Bassmaster High School Series tournament trail.
High school anglers will compete in three regional Opens tournaments in 2016, including the Central at Toledo Bend on the Louisiana/Texas border, the Southern at Lake Guntersville in Alabama and the Midwestern at Clinton Lake in Illinois.
Following a year that saw participation numbers more than double over 2014, Hank Weldon, the B.A.S.S. High School Series tournament manager, said he expects those numbers to grow again in 2016.
“We were excited when we rolled out the additional tournaments in 2015,” Weldon said. “We were cautiously optimistic about participation in the inaugural Opens, but participation easily exceeded our expectations. As the high school platform continues to grow at exponential rates, we have high hopes for the turnout for the 2016 High School Opens.”
In 2015, more than 3,400 students from 370 schools participated in the Costa Bassmaster High School Opens. Approximately 1,500 students from 230 schools participated in 2014.
The first tournament for 2016, March 12 at Toledo Bend, will be hosted by Sabine Parish Tourist Commission-Toledo Bend Lake Country and in partnership with the Louisiana B.A.S.S. Nation. High school anglers competed on the same fishery last year, with 117 teams in attendance.
“It was wonderful to have them here last year and to see the quality of young anglers who are associated with B.A.S.S.,” said Linda Curtis-Sparks, director of the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission. “We’re so excited to see that B.A.S.S. is stepping up and encouraging those young men and women. Not only is it good for their growth, but it’s also good for the industry.
“Our affiliation with the B.A.S.S. staff is exciting; they’re just good people to work with,” Curtis-Sparks added. “We have 35 major tournaments on Toledo Bend each year, but the B.A.S.S. tournaments turned the heads of the business community.”
On April 16, high school anglers will compete on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, hosted by the North Alabama Lakes/Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and working with the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation. Last year 205 teams competed on Alabama’s Lake Martin.
“We have two city high schools — both have high school fishing teams. Over the past few years we’ve been very supportive of those teams and anything we can do to encourage young men and women to participate in the sport, we want to do that,” said Katy Norton, president of the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “To have a Bassmaster High School Open on our lake gives us the chance to open a great body of water to young anglers.”
The third High School Open will be held June 5 on Clinton Lake — a return to Illinois for the second straight year. The tournament will be hosted by Forsyth/Clinton, Ill., and in partnership with the Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation.
“The Village of Forsyth is excited to host the 2016 Bassmaster High School Midwestern Open. These events promise to be a great opportunity to showcase the great fishing opportunities that Central Illinois and the entire state of Illinois have to offer,” said David Strohl, Village of Forsyth administrator. “The Village invites participants to take part in these great events and explore the great shopping, dining, and other amenities that Forsyth and the Decatur area have to offer.”
All of the high school teams will compete for a spot at the Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship held in the summer of 2016 on a date and place to be announced. One place at the championship is made available for every 10 teams competing in the Opens.
In addition, anglers in the Top 2 spots at each Open will earn a berth in an exhibition high school tournament at the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.
Registration and tournament rules will be announced next week on Bassmaster.com/high-school.
2015 Bassmaster High School Title Sponsor: Costa
2015 Bassmaster High School Presenting Sponsor: TNT Fireworks2015 Bassmaster High School Premier Sponsors: Toyota, ABU Garcia, Berkley, Carhartt, GoPro, Huk Performance Fishing, Triton Boats, Yamaha
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.
Whitney Stephens Wins At Lake Erie, Earns Berth In GEICO Bassmaster Classic
Whitney Stephens of Waverly, Ohio, wins the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open #3 presented by Allstate held on Lake Erie out of Sandusky, Ohio. Stephens brought 20 pounds, 5 ounces to Saturday’s weigh-in giving him a three-day total weight of 61-5. Photo by Shaye Baker/Bassmaster
SANDUSKY, Ohio — Whitney Stephens’ tournament winning edge came not from a secret lure but a widely used electronic gadget rigged on the front deck of his boat. Knowing how to use it well paid off Saturday at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open presented by Allstate.
Stephens, of Waverly, Ohio, won after three days with a final weight of 65 pounds, 1 ounce. He fished consistently all week, beginning in fifth place Thursday and moving to third on Friday. Jeff Lugar of Virginia took second place with 64-8, followed by third-place finisher Jason Root with 64-7.
Stephens relied on his bow-mounted fishfinder to pinpoint the location of smallmouth bass holding on isolated rockpiles. Those ranged in depth from the bottom at 28 to 23 feet on the peaks of underwater ridges. The rocks created a buffer of calm water for the bass until baitfish swept by in the current.
“I found the baitfish first and the bass were nearby,” he said. “It would have been nearly impossible to find them without the fishfinder.”
The electronics proved invaluable due to constantly shifting winds. The direction and velocity shifted each day, causing the bass to relocate their precise position on the rocks.
“It was like starting over every day because the wind made the current shift and reposition the bass,” he added.
He fished eight different areas around the bass-rich waters of Pelee Island. Stephens, like most other anglers fishing similar patterns, had limited fishing time due to rough boating conditions. The trip to his fishing area took one hour each way.
Stephens and the other top anglers used a drop shot rig. He used a 1/2-ounce VMC Tungsten weight and a size 1 Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot hook. He alternated between a Z-Man Jerk Shadz, Jackall Crosstail Shad and Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits Shad Shape Worm.
“I do a lot of ice fishing and it led to a discovery for me this week,” Stephens said. “What I found out is tungsten shows up better and is detected more clearly by an electronic graph.”
To see the weight and lure he made short pitches, not casts, to the rockpiles while watching the screen. The high definition features of the unit allowed him to easily see the lure, bait and bass.
Before even deciding to fish an area, he idled around the rockpiles in search of baitfish and bass. If those fish appeared on the graph, he stopped, sometimes leaving after 15 minutes unless getting a bite.
“I just alternated around all of the spots,” he added.
Stephens collected $6,443 and a Triton 19TrX boat with accessories, a Mercury 200 Pro XS outboard and custom trailer. The package is valued at $45,000. Just as important is the automatic berth he received for the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake.
Mark Shopene, of Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., took first place in the co-angler division. He received a Nitro Z18 boat with accessories, a Mercury 150 Pro XS and custom trailer. The package is valued at $30,000.
Shopene fished a drop shot rig on all three days.
Finally, the Top 5 anglers from the 2015 Northern Open season received invitations to the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series, the top tier of professional bass fishing.
The Allstate Good Hands, Great Day award of $250 will be presented to Jim Dillard for climbing the most points from Day 1 to Day 2. Co-angler Nick Ray wins $150.
The Livingston Lures Leader Award of $250 is presented to Derek Remitz for leading on Day 2. Co-angler Mark Shopene receives a Livingston Lures gift pack valued at $250.
The A.R.E. Top Angler award of $500 will be awarded to Fletcher Shryock.
The Bass Pro Shops Big Bass award of $750 goes to Rick Nitkiewicz for the 6-4 he caught on the first day. Co-angler Bob Snyder wins $250 for the 6-7 he caught on the first day.
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: Allstate
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: 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, 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 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open – Lake Erie Presented by Allstate 9/24-9/26 Lake Erie, Sandusky OH. (BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 15 65-01 200 $51,443.00 2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open – Lake Erie Presented by Allstate 9/24-9/26 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Mark Shopene Point Pleasant Beach, N 9 39-04 200 $30,000.00 |
Michigan Angler Holds Slim Lead At Lake Erie Open
David Reault of Livonia, Mich., takes the lead on Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open #3 presented by Allstate held on Lake Erie out of Sandusky, Ohio. Reault brought 25 pounds, 9 ounces to the scales at Thursday’s weigh-in. Photo by Shaye Baker/Bassmaster
SANDUSKY, Ohio — David Reault of Livonia, Mich., battled against the wind Thursday to take the lead in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open presented by Allstate on Lake Erie.
Reault has 25 pounds, 9 ounces with a lot of close company behind him. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Derek Remitz is second with 24-4, and New Jersey pro Pete Gluszek is third with 23-1. Charlie Hartley, another Elite Series pro from Ohio, is fourth with 22-4.
The 20-pound mark set the benchmark for success. The Top 19 anglers have bags at or exceeding that mark, with the next 10 anglers with 19 pounds or better.
Reault, a real estate broker, is a part-time tournament angler with expertise fishing for smallmouth on the Great Lakes. He is unsure of duplicating his success on Friday to make the Top 12 on Saturday.
“I’m looking for places that won’t be so affected by the wind,” he said. “Too much of it makes it really difficult to be effective in one area.”
The bane of the wind for Reault is boat control. The balancing act between keeping the boat over a productive spot and then catching the bass is a tough proposition.
That is especially true when it blows from the northeast on Erie. Local anglers say due to the lake’s shape it allows the wind to funnel more turbulent waves.
Remitz let the wind blow in his favor.
“The wind helped me set a drift over my key spots,” he said. “Without it I wouldn’t have that weight.”
Spots is the key word. Remitz, like many of the open water anglers, knows the smallmouth roam across expansive areas of shallow, rocky shoals. The key attractants are specific, small and sometimes obscure spots that polarize the fish in a specific location. Those can be a slight change of depth, a boulder, or any other bottom irregularity.
For Remitz, the northeast wind allowed him to drift directly over those sweet spots. He used the trolling motor like a rudder, to keep the boat tracking over the strike zone.
The heaviest catches crossed the scales early, with some anglers returning earlier than their original check-in time. The trigger was the midday wind that ticked up from a slight breeze to 10-15 knots.
At least one boat required a rescue and tow. Michigan angler Brian Schram’s boat became swamped after the bilge pump failed. That’s not a direct fault of the wind, although it likely played a factor due to waves spilling aboard.
The partner of Pennsylvania pro and Erie guide Destin Demarion became so sea sick the anglers returned at 11:30 a.m. Demarion weighed 19-3, even though he lost a part of the day. His partner, Lance Baker of Iowa, stuck it out so Demarion could finish his limit.
The service crews worked overtime to repair windblown gear. Friday, the wind could be another game changer.
There is much at stake, in addition to determining the winner. The final event of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open Series presented by Allstate means five anglers will receive invitations to the 2016 Elite Series. The standings are tight and an extra day will matter, given the potential for a heavy catch.
Fishing resumes Friday morning with takeoff at 7 a.m. ET at Shelby Street Public Boat Launch. Friday’s weigh in will be at the same location at 3 p.m. Saturday’s takeoff will take place at the same time and place, and the weigh-in will be held at 4:15 p.m. at the Bass Pro Shops in Branson, Mo. Tune into Bassmaster.com for live blog updates, photos and more on Friday and Saturday.
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: Allstate
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: 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, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
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Central Open Finale Could Be A Repeat At Table Rock
The final Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open presented by Allstate heads to Table Rock Lake out of Branson, Mo., Oct. 1-3, where anglers will compete for cash and prizes and also a berth in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.BRANSON,
Mo. — History could repeat itself at Table Rock Lake during the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open presented by Allstate Oct. 1-3.
When Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kevin Short won the 2011 Bass Pro Shops Central Open at Table Rock, he spent the early part of the tournament fishing deep with limited success. The Arkansas pro eventually dialed in a shallow-water pattern with a square bill crankbait to catch double-digit limits the final two days and finish with a winning weight of 33 pounds, 8 ounces.
Fellow Elite Series pro Brian Snowden expects the winning weight will be somewhat higher in this Open. “It is not going to be fantastic weight-wise,” Snowden said. “If you can average around 15 to 16 pounds, that will be close enough to win.” The Missouri pro predicts it will take 45 to 48 pounds to win on his home lake and an average of 13 pounds a day to make the Top 12 cut.
“It’s going to be a tough tournament, but there will be some good structure fish that can be caught on a drop shot, football jig and Carolina rig in 15 to 30 feet of water,” Snowden said. “There are still going to be quite a few fish out because the water hasn’t cooled down enough to bring them all shallow.”
Snowden predicts Short’s winning pattern of 2011 could be repeated this year. “The secondary pattern that usually comes on this time of year will be fishing shallow wood with a square bill crankbait or a jig,” he said. “The good thing about this time of the year is the lake can spread out the anglers and it will fish pretty diverse with shallow and deep stuff.”
Rain and high water levels kept Table Rock from developing a thermocline, so bass remained shallower than normal throughout the summer. “The high water just scattered the fish,” Snowden said. “Some were up shallow in the bushes, or some were 15 to 40 feet deep because there was no thermocline.”
An algal bloom also led to a fish kill on the lake this summer, but Snowden believes the majority of the casualties were rough fish. The algal bloom could actually be a blessing in disguise for the Open contenders who prefer to fish shallow. “Most of the time the algal bloom just makes bass stay or go shallower,” Snowden said.
The high lake level also created a consistent stained water color throughout Table Rock, which should produce good fishing all over the lake. “You can definitely catch a big fish in a lot of different areas right now,” Snowden said.
The major tributary arms, such as the James and Kings rivers and Long Creek, should be hot spots for the shallow patterns during the Open, according to Snowden. He suggests the best structure fishing will be from Campbell Point to the dam area.
Table Rock contains strong populations of largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, so Snowden predicts it will take a mixture of each bass to win this event. “I think the winner is going to catch mainly largemouth, but he is going to have a few filler fish of either smallmouth or spotted bass,” Snowden said.
Anglers will take off each day at 7 a.m. CT at Table Rock State Park. Weigh-ins will be held at 3 p.m. CT at the State Park Marina the first two days, with the final weigh-in on Saturday held at the Bass Pro Shops in Branson, Mo., at 4 p.m.
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: Allstate
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: 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, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
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Media Contact: Helen White, 205-313-0944, hwhite@bassmaster.com or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, dprecht@bassmaster.com.