As lakes go, Lake Martin isn't a big one, covering only 800 acres. I just had a great day, he said. I let the bait pause four to 15 seconds between twitches., As the water warms, the bass begin moving from the red clay points into the creeks. An app and technology used to track angler locations using GPS and cellular signals debuts at the Classic. win in three years in the state of Alabama after a triumph on Wheeler Lake in 2016. Ive fished literally hundreds of tournaments on that lake.. Cliff Pace wins the Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake o the Cherokees in Oklahoma. Roland Martin wins his ninth and last Bassmaster Angler of the Year award. Omori didnt exactly have a wealth of options for putting together good limits during the four-day event. Copyright 2023 FISHING BAMA - All Rights Reserved. Rookie Roy Hawk caught five bass that weighed 12-10 Saturday and pushed his second-place total to 41-6. This could be riprap, but it is most often what Swindle calls cathead rocks., Those white-looking, natural rocks are common at Logan Martin, Swindle says. Ray Roberts has a history of producing big bass. From April 1 to July 4, anglers are invited to fish on Lake Martin and take a chance at catching a tagged bass worth one million dollars or others worth $1,500, two boats, or a truck. The second-highest-placing eligible entrant, Avena, received $2,000. and his second B.A.S.S. Andrew Upshaw of Stephen F. Austin University in Texas becomes the first angler to qualify for the Classic through the Bassmaster College Series. Early April is the tail end of a prespawn pattern that usually begins in February. When I did see them, it was hard to get them to bite. - Lake Martin, less than an hour northeast of Montgomery, is a 44,000-acre reservoir created by the damming of the Tallapoosa River. All regular season tournaments are single-day team events held on Saturdays. The top 12 anglers finish with over 100 pounds apiece. Marshall, TX (75670) Today. Sometimes inactive spots will sit under the bait balls. Martin grew up fishing Lake Okeechobee where the family still operates a marina in Clewiston, and he guided there for many years. 2018 Bassmaster Elite At Lake Martin Presenting Sponsor: Econo Lodge 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird Robert Hamiltion takes the Bassmaster Classic championship on Lake Logan Martin in Alabama. ET on Saturday and Sunday. The B.A.S.S. Registration & Check In February 24, 2023 Central Alabama Community College Betty Carol Graham Center Nation Series presented by Magellan Outdoors, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICKS Sporting Goods, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICKS Sporting Goods. Swindle stays with the twitch-twitch, pause cadence but shortens the pauses to four to six seconds. Kim Bain becomes the first woman to qualify for the Classic in its 38-year history. Bassmaster Elite Series pro and Alabama resident Dustin Connell will be one of 110 competitors at the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Martin presented by Econo Lodge out of Alexander City, Ala., Feb. 8-11. Rick Clunn added the 1988 Bassmaster Angler of the Year title to his already remarkable career. Fifty years later there are over three-dozen anglers in the millionaires club of cash and winnings. Tournaments Show sub menu . Concerned by the decline in youth fishing, B.A.S.S. Here youll find detailed information about nine lakes and two major river systems, including fishing locations, productive fishing patterns, local guides, campgrounds and where to stay. The concept of an exclusive made-for-TV tournament is launched as B.A.S.S. How To Catch The Million Dollar Bass Swimming in Lake Martin. Tokyos Norio Tanabe becomes the first international angler to win a B.A.S.S. The lake is a deep, clear water reservoir. It is the third time he wins the honor in back-to-back seasons. I think its anybodys ball game because of that. In this situation, two of Parks most productive lures are jerkbaits and Neko- rigged plastic worms. The tournament will continue Friday, with the field being trimmed to the Top 51 for Saturdays semifinal round. But its been a charmed tournament for the Japanese-born angler turned Texas resident. Parks concludes, Fishing for largemouth on Lake Martin can be tough. Parks and Smith also won the first Bass Pro Shops U.S. National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championship, to split the biggest payout in bass fishing history: one million dollars, two Toyota Tundras, and two Nitro Z21 boats. It has 750 miles of shoreline, much of it wooded, but there are several cities and a number of waterfront housing developments on the lake. Texas angler Alton Jones wins a Bassmaster Classic championship on Lake Hartwell out of South Carolina. The Dont Kill Your Catch campaign is launched out of concern for the future of conserving bass populations. Casey Ashley wins the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. The first of five B.A.S.S. And since spotted bass are known for following lures, the greater distance extends the time for bass to attack his swimbait. Every day, there was less and less current. The lake has 275 miles of shoreline along its 48 1/2-mile length sandwiched between Logan Martin Dam (on the south) and Neely Henry Dam (at the northern end of the reservoir). I never had anything big, so I didnt really know what I had there. Bassmaster Elite to visit Lake Neely Henry May 6-9 Published: May. Hank Parker wins his only Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. Bill Dance becomes the first Bassmaster Angler of the Year. It is his third Classic championship. Tournament : Tournament Date : Destination : Ramp: 2021-01: 11/14/2020 : Lake Guntersville Also for distance, Parks spools a size 30 ABU Garcia Zenon reel with 10-pound test Fireline and an 8-pound fluorocarbon leader. He uses the post to lobby for safety reforms such as positive upright and level floatation in boats. Tom and Don Mann become the first brothers to compete against each other in the Bassmaster Classic. Gallery elite Elite Seminole: Day 4 behind the scenes Trending Elite Schlapper and Fujita's final-day frenzy Elite Sunday on Seminole with Rivet and Lowen Elite Hackney and Hudnall's hustle on Seminole Elite Larry Nixon wins a fourth B.A.S.S. ESPN acquires B.A.S.S. The points around Rabbit Branch are a good place to start, Swindle points out. He said he might be even closer to the leader if it hadnt been for one missed opportunity. With plenty of smaller spotted bass likely to come to the scales, the separating factor, he agreed, will be finding a big fish or two each day. He also won an FLW Tour event on Martin in 2001, earning a $100,000 first-place prize. 1975 Using a 7 1/2-foot rod with precision accuracy to swing baits into tight cover, Californian Dee Thomas catches 35 pounds of bass from Arkansas' Bull Shoals Lake to win the Arkansas Invitational. I probably caught 20 keepers or more Friday, but I only caught 10 today because the fish were so spread out.. In 1976, Jimmy Houston wins his first Angler of the Year title, becoming the first angler not named Martin or Dance to win. The next year, live coverage of the Classic is shown for the first time, and again the following year. Lee Livesay, of Longview, Texas, has won the 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork with a four-day total of 112 pounds, 5 ounces. Kevin VanDam tops the list with over $6 million. Coverage. ENTER DAILY FOR YOUR CHANCE TO FISH WITH FATHER AND SON FISH PHENOMS SCOTT AND ROLAND MARTIN - AND WIN A $2,500 . The backs of the longer, deeper creeks from Stemley Bridge south to the Logan Martin Dam have the best potential, Swindle adds. Davy Hite broke through in 1997 with the first of his two Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles. Young California angler Aaron Martens won the Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. The tournament, hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, was the second event of the season for the BFL Choo Choo Division. 2021 Tournament Results. Larry Nixon is a new face to the sport, and he wins his first Bassmaster Angler of the Year title in 1980. Still early in his career, KVD joins the prestigious group of Roland Martin and Bill Dance as the only three-time winners. Pre-Tournament Meeting: Everyone seated by 6:30 P.M. February 25, 2023Wind Creek State Park4325 AL-128Alexander City, AL 35010. As a result, crankbaits designed to run at depths of 20 feet or more hit the market. Daily takeoffs will be held about 90 miles away at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility on Grand Lake. As the youngest AOY in 1992, he also became second-youngest with his 1996 title. Davy Hite lands a Bassmaster Classic championship fishing on the Lousiana Delta. I think it could be won with 12 pounds a day and if somebody can find a couple of 5-pounders, they can blow it away for sure.. There were times when I would catch one and I would see more down there. conservation movement begins when B.A.S.S. Logan Parks strategy for winning tournaments on Lake Martin is to catch five spotted bass weighing 2 to 2 1/2 pounds each and then land at least one big largemouth to anchor his bag. This is one of the most effective baits on Lake Martin. Aerated livewells become standard as bass boat manufacturers embrace the idea of conserving the resource. You need that 3- to 5-pound kicker, Weldon said. Michael Iaconelli wins the 2006 Bassmaster Angler of the Year award. Join B.A.S.S. Alabama's Logan Martin Lake will host the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops June 17-18. Ray Scott testifies in Senate hearings against user fees on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes. Elite standout Gerald Swindle learned the bass fishing fundamentals on Alabama's Logan Martin Lake. BassCenter debuts on ESPN2, becoming the first program to borrow the Center name and the SportsCenter theme music. Kim Bain is the first woman to compete in the Bassmaster Classic, finishing 47th out of 51 competitors. makes the move to recognize increased media and fan attention. Yet, it was the key largemouth that really separated the field, and what helped Jason Abram earn his first victory. The Classic weigh-ins are held inside the Houston Astros Minute Maid Park in downtown Houston. Its been almost four months since Brandon Palaniuk raised the trophy at the final Bassmaster Elite Series event of 2017, but the long countdown to a new season is nearly done. I figured if I caught a big one, it would be down that stretch and I caught two.. Kevin VanDam wins the Bassmaster Classic on Alabamas Lay Lake. As part of our celebration were publishing stories, videos and photos about the history of the sport, including the one below. Reserved | It is not as dirty as the upper section and it holds a lot of fish.. He called on his sweetheart there almost every weekend for four years, which gave him an excuse to fish Logan Martin. Like many of the competitors in this weeks 110-angler field, Prince has very little experience on Lake Martin and the three official practice days prior to the tournament werent exactly kind to him. Fishing Techniques, Guns & Gear, Bassmaster Tour and CastingKids. Fishing a rainy and chilly Lake Martin, boater Mark McCaig (Team Tackle Box) and co-angler Parrish Argo (LA PO Boys) topped a large field of competitors. I just flipped a jig in a bush and it was hung, he said. Menendez struck paydirt on the big-fish front twice Thursday. Mark Tyler catches a 14-pound, 9-ounce largemouth bass at the California Western Invitational on the California Delta. 920 E. Del Monte Ave Clewiston, Florida 33440. A young Kevin VanDam wins his first Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. Theyre critical.. Usually when we schedule a tournament for early February, its in Florida and the fish have already spawned. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. Rojas weighs 45-2 for the single day mark and an amazing 108-12 for the overall tournament win. GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Boater Justin Nalley of Hampton, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 8 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Lanier. If theres an area that you think youre going to catch one in, youll go over there and catch one. Sharps ideas and rules shape tournaments for the next 17 years, while memberships in the 1990s grow to 650,000 under the marketing genius of Sevier. Kevin VanDam wins the Bassmaster Classic on the Louisana Delta. The tournament was the first event of the 2023 season for the BFL Bulldog Division. The Bassmaster Elite Series is introduced as the worlds premier professional bass angling circuit. Lake Martin is very popular among tournament bass fishermen and is unique, in that most tournaments are held at Wind Creek State Park on the north end of the lake, near Alexander City. Conventional wisdom says one big bass per day will give you a good shot at winning a tournament on Lake Martin. holds the world championship in upstate New York on the St. Lawrence River. To ensure the hook remains in position, Parks also inserts the hook through the skin of the worm. I dont know if I can duplicate what I did today, but I can at least catch some fish.. Hoover's Garret Warren edges field by 1 ounce for win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Lake Martin 1w MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League. High 86F. Bill and Gregory Ward become the first father and son to compete against each other in the Bassmaster Classic. Ironically, Weldon knows the lake about as well as anyone, having won numerous major events there as a tournament angler. B.A.S.S. David Fritts wins the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Logan Martin in Alabama. Nation kick off soft bait recycling program, Update on the 2022 AFTCO and B.A.S.S. Living Waters Symposium. Proud to be a part of B.A.S.S He retired from fishing Bassmaster events following the 2005 season. B.A.S.S. More to Come! Its the same old, same old. The Alexander City Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event. You can catch them right now in 1 foot of water all the way out to 40 feet of water, Miller said. Randy Howell claims the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. Note: The 2018 B.A.S.S. lobbies successfully for the Wallop-Breaux Amendment to expand the federal Dingell-Johnson Act. The format is the forerunner to the current Bassmaster Elite Series. Rick Clunn becomes the first angler to win back-to-back Bassmaster Classics, this time claiming the title on Floridas Lake Tohopekaliga. debuts Fishing Tackle Retailer, the definitive trade publication for independent tackle retailers and the industry. The Womens Bassmaster Tour is launched. This time, he narrowly edged out legend Guido Hibdon for the honor. Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., earns his fourth Bassmaster Angler of the Year award. Mostly, he tempted bedding largemouth with a V&M J-Bug (green pumpkin) before going after offshore spotted bass. With the Classic gaining media attention, B.A.S.S. A crowd estimated at 3,500 attends the first Classic indoor weigh-in at the Montgomery Civic Center.