Pangrac’s Top 5 Tips For Opens Success

The Bassmaster Opens have quickly become one of the most competitive tournament trails in the country.  A record number of anglers signed up to compete in all nine of the 2023 Opens, and with the 2024 schedule featuring stops at some of the top lakes in the U.S., it’s likely to become an even more hotly contested playing field for aspiring Elite Series anglers.

Bass Talk Live host Matt Pangrac is currently finishing up his third year of fishing a full Bassmaster Open schedule, and has learned some important lessons along the way that he thinks can help anglers looking to make the jump in 2024.

“Fishing a full Bassmaster Open schedule gives you a true taste of what it is like to travel all across the country to compete on different fisheries.  The schedule is similar to what you would experience if you qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series, so it is a great learning opportunity.  Over the past few years I’ve learned several things that I wish I knew when I started this journey.  Hopefully learning from some of my mistakes can help you succeed in 2024,” said Pangrac.

Pangrac’s Five Tips For Opens Success

  1. Take care of your housing before the year starts. One of the most stressful things is not having a place to stay and depending on where the tournament is places fill up fast. Figure out who you’re rooming with and reserve your housing ASAP so you don’t have to worry about it and can focus on fishing.
  2. Create a budget with every expense that you think you’ll incur for each tournament. Having an expectation of the amount of money you will spend will help keep you from being stressed out. I also always add a cushion for  additional expenses, such as baits and tackle that you might need for a specific stop.  
  3. Identify an area of the lake or river where you can fish your strengths. It’s hard enough to compete at this level doing what you’re good at, let alone something that you are not familiar with. One of the biggest mistakes I personally have made numerous times is trying to see an entire fishery with limited practice time. I’ve had my best tournaments when I concentrated on a small area and fished within my comfort zone.
  4. Realize that you are not fishing against the other competitors. You’re fishing against yourself. Your goal is to come in with five fish every day. Don’t worry about what other people are catching. Just figure out how you can catch the five biggest fish. If you can do that the results will take care of themselves.
  5. Understand that it’s a process. Even those who experience success immediately realize that even the best professional anglers win less than 10% of the events they compete in. Set achievable goals for yourself and don’t set your expectations too high. This is a process and each year is just one step in the process, you can‘t accomplish everything all at once.

Registration for the 2024 Bassmaster Opens will open November 7, beginning with B.A.S.S. Life and Nation anglers who want to participate in the Opens EQ Division.

For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/Opens.

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Pangrac’s Realizations Up North

After fishing the Bassmaster Open on the St. Lawrence River out of Waddington, New York, Matt Pangrac realized that fishing a swift current river connected to a Great Lake is a totally different ball game than fishing any other body of water in the country. Matt spent several days practicing and competing, and even though he cashed a check and finished in 23rd place, he realized that he was inadequately prepared to handle the big water.  Here are some of the key things that Matt wished he had known before he headed North:

QUALITY FOOTWEAR (NOT FLIP FLOPS) 

I’ve always worn flip flops in the boat, but in rough water flip flops don’t provide enough support and my feet were sliding around in the flip flops and my footing was unstable. I switched to a light, waterproof hiking shoe and the difference was incredible when it came to stability and comfort in the big waves.

 

PROPER MAPPING 

Everything is bigger on the Great Lakes and trying to find on Lake Ontario without the best available contour lines was literally like searching for a needle in a haystack. I didn’t even realize that I had bad mapping until a fellow competitor showed me his mapping during pre-practice. I immediately ordered a chip that covered both the United States and Canada and the difference was incredible.

 

BUG SPRAY 

Between the mosquitos and biting flies, I nearly went insane swatting at my ankles and legs until I stopped by the convenience store and purchased some insect repellent.  In the middle of open water, the fish slime attracts a crazy number of flies.

 

WIND APP ON YOUR PHONE 

Wind direction and speed is critical when it comes to fishing big water for both fishing as safety. I found that the wind direction and speed from basic predictions was unreliable, and I got caught miles offshore when the wind switched direction and started blowing. Downloading the Windy App on my iPhone really helped me decide where and when I could run the big lake.

 

LET SOMEONE KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING THAT DAY 

The further you go into Lake Ontario, the less cell service you have. I’m used to fishing bodies of water where there are docks, marinas, and other signs of human life. When you’re fishing alone 20 miles offshore, it can be a lonely feeling. After getting stuck in 6+ foot waves one day in practice, I started telling at least one fellow competitor the general area that I was planning on fishing that day just in case something happened they would know where to start the search.

 

BRING MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU’LL NEED 

When it comes to smallmouth fishing up North, it’s hard to beat the basics like a dropshot or Ned rig. I practiced for several days prior to the start of the tournament, so I was on the water a lot when it was all said and done. I thought that I brought enough dropshot weights and baits, but five days in I realized that I had to start rationing if I was going to make it through the tournament without running out. I had roughly 50 of the correct sized dropshot weights when I arrived, and I finished the tournament with just three.

 

RESEARCH WHERE THE RAMPS ARE 

There is no such thing as a “short run” on the St.Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. There are all sorts of both public and private boat ramps scattered throughout the area and after burning through a full tank of gas each of the first three days of practice, I started trailering to ramps closer to areas that I planned on exploring. That allowed me to idle more and fish longer without worrying about fuel and it also allowed me to fish areas during windy days without putting myself or my equipment in jeopardy.

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How to Become a Pro Angler

Paths to Become a Pro Angler

At some point, every youth, high school, and college angler dreams of becoming a professional angler. Anyone can decide to fish in high school and college if he or she is enrolled and has the minimum GPA requirement to be eligible. If you are a high school student and your school does not have a fishing team, read here for some suggestions on how to start one. Competing in high school tournaments will prepare you for college fishing, and it will also help build your resume if you want to get a fishing scholarship somewhere. Competing in college tournaments will prepare you for competing at the semi-pro and even the pro level if you choose to do that. There are 3 different tournament organizations of professional bass fishing: Bassmaster, Major League Fishing, and the National Professional Fishing League. Bassmaster and Major League Fishing (MLF) have different levels of tournaments that offer paths to become a professional angler, while the National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) is a fairly new professional tournament trail that launched in March of 2021 and has no qualifying trails to compete on the trail. The first few seasons allowed anglers to submit resumes for consideration to compete, and if accepted competitors paid a $31,200 entry fee for six tournaments.

Stepping into Semi-Pro

Obviously, semi-pro level events are not cheap to enter. Sponsors do play a huge role in paying the pro-level anglers’ expenses, but how do you get to that level? Tournament expenses are a big deal along with the tough competition, but high school and college fishing can be the steps to prepare for the competition and compete for a chance to make it to the next level without paying a ton of money in entry fees. There are two paths to making it to the next level through college fishing: Strike King Bassmaster College Series and MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing. The Bassmaster College Series gives anglers a chance to compete for a spot in the legendary Bassmaster Classic. The top 3 anglers from the Bassmaster College Series National Championship along with the Team of the Year compete in a head-to-head bracket style competition. The winner advances to the Bassmaster Classic and has his or her entry fees paid to compete in all the Bassmaster Opens for the following year. As an alternate route, MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing gives college anglers a chance to qualify for the Toyota Series Championship, with the top boater prize being $235,000, including a Phoenix Boat valued at $35,000, and the top co-angler prize being a Phoenix Boat. Both anglers of the top two teams at the College Fishing National Championship receive qualifications for the Toyota Series Championship as boaters, and both anglers of the third-place team receive qualifications as co-anglers. In addition, the highest-finishing member of the winning team from the College Fishing National Championship at the Toyota Series Championship advances to REDCREST.

The Big Leap: Semi-Pro to Pro

There are 3 paths to making it to the professional level as a bass fisherman. It’s not an easy route, but it’s possible. Check out the odds here.

Path 1: Bassmaster

The Bassmaster Elite Series has existed since 2006, and it has been the standard for professional fishing tournaments since then. Only 9 anglers from the Bassmaster Opens advance to the Elite Series each year through what’s called the “Elite Qualifier (EQ)” standings. The EQ format is new for 2023, which requires anglers to compete in all 9 Bassmaster Opens to qualify for the Elite Series. The entry fees are $1800 per tournament for boaters, and $475 for co-anglers. While there is no professional level for co-anglers, fishing in the back of the boat can be a great learning experience for an angler who wants to fish professionally in the future but needs to know more about what it’s like. The competition is fierce in the Bassmaster Opens, and one bad day can ruin your chances of making it to the Elite Series for that year. The top boater in an Open event receives $46,667 based on 200 contenders, and also, if he or she were to enter all tournaments in that division, a qualification in the prestigious Bassmaster Classic.

Path 2: Major League Fishing

A great way for an angler to work his or her way up the ladder is to start out competing in MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournaments. Through this route, an angler can enter a division as a boater or co-angler and fish lakes close to home, qualify for the Regional Championship, qualify for the BFL All-American, then qualify for the Toyota Series Championship. The top boater from the Regional Championship receives $10,000 plus a Phoenix 819 Pro valued at $50,000, and the top co-angler receives a Phoenix 819 Pro. The top six boaters and co-anglers from each Regional Championship advance to the BFL All-American for a chance to win $120,000 for a boater and a Phoenix 819 Pro valued at $50,000 for a co-angler. The top finishing boater and co-angler from each Regional Championship at the BFL All-American qualifies for the Toyota Series Championship for a chance to win $235,000 for a boater and $35,000 for a co-angler.

While the Bassmaster Elite Series and Tackle Warehouse Invitationals (formerly known as FLW Tour) have existed for years, the Bass Pro Tour is currently in its fifth season. To qualify for the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, an angler must place in the top 5 in his or her division standings through the Toyota Series. If an angler is already qualified for the Invitationals, they will keep working down the list until the spots are filled. To qualify for the Bass Pro Tour, an angler must place in the top 10 of the Invitationals Angler of the Year standings.

Path 3: National Professional Fishing League (NPFL)

As mentioned before, this is a fairly new professional tournament trail that is in its third season, and there are no qualifications that are needed to compete in this trail, nor are there any advancement opportunities for higher levels through this trail. So how do you enter? Well, it was a first-come first-serve basis when they started accepting applications for 2021 and it costs $31,200 to enter. The first-place prize money is $100,000 per tournament. Applications must be submitted to be considered for entry.

Semi-Pro Earnings

The difference between semi-pro fishing versus other sports is there is no guarantee that someone can make money in fishing tournaments, while most other sports are salary-based. Entry fees are close to $2,000 for a semi-pro level fishing tournament, and an angler must place well to earn his entry fee back. Below are the top 10 earnings from the 2022 Bassmaster Opens and the 2022 Major League Fishing Toyota Series, both considered semi-professional trails. Relating these earnings to a sport like Minor League Baseball, they look very similar. Minor League Baseball salaries can range anywhere from $19,910 to $187,200.

Bassmaster Opens Angler Earnings 2022

Keith Poche: $97,152

Kenta Kimura: $96,803

Cooper Gallant: $82,799

Tristan McCormick: $60,237

Brandon Lester: $56,217

JT Thompkins: $55,270

Lee Livesay: $52,500

Casey Smith: $52,300

Keith Combs: $47,317

David Gaston: $46,881

Toyota Series Angler Earnings 2022

Kyle Hall: $267,925

Jeff Reynolds: $94,130

Bryan Labelle: $87,000

Kent Ware: $82,200

Jonathan Semento: $80,500

Jack Daniel Williams: $76,953

Hayden Heck: $75,300

Robert Branagh: $68,530

Marshall Robinson: $67,850

Matt Stanley: $66,850

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Making The Most Of Your Time In Front Of The Camera

Being in front of a camera can be extremely intimidating. For some of us it can be a disconcerting experience, but one that in today’s world of almost instant social media posts and media coverage you need to become proficient at as a tournament angler. Whether you are asked by a photographer to snap a few stills of your catch, or for a brief interview on camera, there a few things you need to remember in order to get the most out of the opportunity.

Treating each of these requests as an opportunity and not an obligation is the first piece of advice that anglers on every level need to adopt. Whether you’ve had a great day on the water or one you would rather forget, if you turn down the opportunity for any media exposure you are missing out. When you get these opportunities it is important that you are prepared to take advantage of them.

We caught up with legendary Bassmaster photographer James Overstreet to get his take on how to make the most of your stage time, whether you are fishing at the highest level or aspiring to get there. Overstreet has seen countless anglers cross the B.A.S.S. stages over the years and offers some sage advice on what you should do to stand out from the crowds. We’ve listed some of his standouts below.

  • Project a good, authentic image for your sponsors (current or potential), your family, and the organization your are competing with.
  • Show respect and acknowledge the weigh-in crowd no matter how large or small
  • If you are asked to hold up fish always do so. Never turn down an opportunity to get a photo taken that might be posted online or in a publication
  • When you are holding your fish up for photographs, make sure you are holding them far enough apart and high enough to give good exposure to the front of your jersey, as well as your face.
  • Engage with the emcee if you get the opportunity while onstage, but don’t get too long-winded. “Nobody wants to hear you read War and Peace up there on stage, man.” – James Overstreet
  • When you are holding your fish, make sure you take your time and turn so you hit all three angles (left, center, right) stage to make sure all the photographers have an opportunity to get a good image. However, make it a priority to give center stage the most attention because that is where the main photographers and media will be seated.

Covering professional fishing  tournaments for well over a decade has also given me a unique opportunity to form some opinions on do’s and don’ts as it pertains to stage time.

  • Do smile, or at least attempt to look pleasant while holding up your fish or posing with a check or trophy.
  • Don’t put your sunglasses on your hat covering up a sponsor logo. Either wear them, or put them in your pocket until you get off stage.
  • Do thank your sponsors, but don’t literally look down and read them all off of your jersey.
  • Don’t say you broke off fish if you have a line sponsor. It happens to all of us no matter what line you use, but makes no sense to mention on stage as the reason why you didn’t have a mega bag. Trust me, the line companies are paying attention!
  • Do plug your social media accounts if you get the opportunity. Keep it short and sweet but organic followers are a big deal in today’s marketing climate.
  • Don’t speak poorly of the host fishery if you’ve had a bad day on the water.

While all of these are simply opinions from industry professionals they are solid rules of thumb to keep in mind the next time you get a chance to be in front of a camera at a tournament. Hopefully they help you to better take advantage of your opportunities in front of the camera!

– Dave Rush

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Hooky The Bookie: Bassmaster Elite Series on Santee Cooper 2023 Odds

Hooky The Bookie: Santee Cooper

The Fantasy Fishing season has kicked off on both major tours and players are always looking for inside information to set their rosters. Best On Tour has tapped one of the original odds makers in the sport of professional bass fishing, Mark Jeffreys, to offer up fantasy fishing odds to help you set your teams. Stay tuned for the inside scoop from “Hooky The Bookie” for future tournaments!

2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes Odds:

Angler Name Group Odds
Brandon Card A 6-1
Brandon Cobb A 2-1
Drew Cook A 5-1
Will Davis Jr. A 7-1
Carl Jocumsen A 7-1
Lee Livesay A 7-1
Tyler Rivet A 8-1
Kyle Welcher A 6-1
Clark Wendlandt A 7-1
Greg Hackney A 3-1
Mike Iaconelli A 5-1
Shane LeHew A 8-1
Pat Schlapper A 9-1
John Cox A 4-1
Patrick Walters A 2-1
Cody Huff A 8-1
Brock Mosley A 9-1
Bernie Schultz A 10-1
Matt Arey A 7-1
Drew Benton A 7-1
Kyoya Fujita A 10-1
Joey Cifuentes III B 10-1
Cooper Gallant B 10-1
Gerald Swindle B 12-1
Derek Hudnall B 9-1
Chris Johnston B 9-1
Scott Canterbury B 7-1
Jay Przekurat B 9-1
Keith Combs B 4-1
Stetson Blaylock B 8-1
David Gaston B 8-1
Jonathan Kelley B 12-1
Luke Palmer B 10-1
Bryan Schmitt B 11-1
Steve Kennedy B 4-1
Scott Martin B 7-1
Bryant Smith B 10-1
Austin Felix B 7-1
Kenta Kimura B 8-1
Hunter Shryock B 8-1
Brandon Lester B 7-1
Jason Williamson B 6-1
Bill Lowen C 6-1
Brad Whatley C 9-1
Micah Frazier C 8-1
Jeff Gustafson C 8-1
Bob Downey C 9-1
David Fritts C 18-1
Darold Gleason C 10-1
Mark Menendez C 10-1
Marc Frazier C 8-1
Jake Whitaker C 6-1
John Crews C 7-1
Ray Hanselman C 10-1
Jamie Hartman C 10-1
Wes Logan C 9-1
Clifford Pirch C 9-1
Cory Johnston C 8-1
Brandon Palaniuk C 6-1
Seth Feider C 8-1
Jacob Powroznik C 7-1
Matt Robertson C 10-1
Joseph Webster C 10-1
Cliff Prince D 11-1
Logan Latuso D 9-1
Ed Loughran III D 9-1
Buddy Gross D 6-1
Bradley Hallman D 5-1
Skylar Hamilton D 8-1
Hank Cherry D 5-1
KJ Queen D 8-1
Caleb Kuphall D 9-1
Greg DiPalma D 9-1
Chris Zaldain D 12-1
Justin Atkins D 6-1
Justin Hamner D 7-1
Jason Christie D 5-1
Taku Ito D 8-1
Caleb Sumrall D 8-1
David Mullins D 8-1
Todd Auten D 6-1
Jacob Foutz D 8-1
Masayuki Matsushita D 10-1
Matty Wong D 10-1
Gary Clouse E 15-1
Rick Clunn E 12-1
Josh Douglas E 15-1
Matt Herren E 8-1
Cole Sands E 12-1
Josh Stracner E 14-1
Bryan New E 7-1
Kyle Norsetter E 11-1
Alex Redwine E 14-1
David Williams E 15-1
Clent Davis E 10-1
Mike Huff E 12-1
Koby Kreiger E 10-1
Paul Mueller E 12-1
Larry Nixon E 15-1
Chad Pipkens E 14-1
Keith Poche E 7-1
John Soukup E 10-1
Frank Talley E 12-1
Alex Wetherell E 15-1

How Do Betting Odds Work?

Betting odds represent the probability of an event occurring and are typically displayed as a ratio or a fraction. The odds indicate how much money a bettor would hypothetically win based on their wager.

For example, if the odds for a particular angler are 2:1, it means that for every dollar a bettor wagers, they will win two dollars if that angler wins the tournament. In other words, if you bet $10 on an angler with 2:1 odds and win, you would receive $20 in winnings plus your original $10 bet back.

In general, the “higher” the odds, the lower the probability of that outcome occurring. So an angler with 2:1 odds is considered more likely to win a tournament than one with 10:1 odds.

The betting odds presented on this website are for entertainment and informational purposes only. We do not accept bets on this platform nor do we promote illegal gambling activities. It is important to gamble responsibly and within the legal guidelines of your jurisdiction.

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Hooky The Bookie: Bassmaster Elite Series on Lake Murray 2023 Odds

Hooky The Bookie: Lake Murray

The Fantasy Fishing season has kicked off on both major tours and players are always looking for inside information to set their rosters. Best On Tour has tapped one of the original odds makers in the sport of professional bass fishing, Mark Jeffreys, to offer up fantasy fishing odds to help you set your teams. Stay tuned for the inside scoop from “Hooky The Bookie” for future tournaments!

2023 Marathon Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray Odds:

Angler Name Group Odds
Brandon Card A 5-1
Joey Cifuentes III A 7-1
Brandon Cobb A 5-1
Drew Cook A 4-1
Will Davis Jr. A 9-1
Cooper Gallant A 8-1
Carl Jocumsen A 6-1
Lee Livesay A 9-1
Tyler Rivet A 9-1
Gerald Swindle A 8-1
Kyle Welcher A 6-1
Clark Wendlandt A 5-1
Greg Hackney A 7-1
Mike Iaconelli A 5-1
Shane LeHew A 9-1
Bill Lowen A 8-1
Pat Schlapper A 10-1
John Cox A 8-1
Derek Hudnall A 10-1
Chris Johnston A 8-1
Scott Canterbury B 9-1
Jay Przekurat B 10-1
Patrick Walters B 3-1
Brad Whatley B 9-1
Keith Combs B 10-1
Micah Frazier B 5-1
Jeff Gustafson B 6-1
Cody Huff B 8-1
Brock Mosley B 7-1
Cliff Prince B 9-1
Bernie Schultz B 10-1
Matt Arey B 5-1
Stetson Blaylock B 6-1
Bob Downey  B 8-1
David Fritts B 15-1
David Gaston B 5-1
Darold Gleason B 11-1
Jonathan Kelley B 15-1
Luke Palmer B 11-1
Drew Benton B 5-1
Kyoya Fujita B 8-1
Mark Menendez B 10-1
Bryan Schmitt B 9-1
Marc Frazier C 5-1
Steve Kennedy C 6-1
Logan Latsuo C 11-1
Ed Loughran III C 9-1
Jake Whitaker C 5-1
John Crews C 6-1
Buddy Gross C 7-1
Bradley Hallman C 8-1
Skylar Hamilton C 6-1
Ray Hanselman C 10-1
Jamie Hartman C 10-1
Scott Martin C 8-1
Hank Cherry C 7-1
Wes Logan C 10-1
Clifford Pirch C 8-1
KJ Queen C 7-1
Bryant Smith C 12-1
Austin Felix C 7-1
Kenta Kimura C 8-1
Hunter Schryock C 7-1
Cory Johnston C 4-1
Caleb Kuphall D 5-1
Brandon Palaniuk D 5-1
Gary Clouse D 12-1
Greg DiPalma D 10-1
Brandon Lester D 9-1
Jason Williamson D 7-1
Chris Zaldain D 10-1
Justin Atkins D 8-1
Rick Clunn D 15-1
Josh Douglas D 8-1
Seth Fieder D 10-1
Justin Hamner D 8-1
Matt Herren D 9-1
Jacob Powroznik D 6-1
Matt Robertson D 12-1
Joseph Webster D 10-1
Jason Christie D 4-1
Taku Ito D 8-1
Cole Sands D 8-1
Josh Stracner D 10-1
Caleb Sumrall D 9-1
David Mullins E 9-1
Bryan New E 6-1
Kyle Norsetter E 10-1
Alex Redwine E 15-1
David Williams E 8-1
Todd Auten E 9-1
Clent Davis E 9-1
Jacob Foutz E 8-1
Mike Huff E 10-1
Koby Krieger E 10-1
Masayuki Matsushita E 9-1
Paul Mueller E 8-1
Larry Nixon E 15-1
Chad Pipkens E 9-1
Keith Poche E 8-1
John Soukup E 9-1
Frank Talley E 12-1
Alex Wetherell E 12-1
Maty Wong E 15-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Do Betting Odds Work?

Betting odds represent the probability of an event occurring and are typically displayed as a ratio or a fraction. The odds indicate how much money a bettor would hypothetically win based on their wager.

For example, if the odds for a particular angler are 2:1, it means that for every dollar a bettor wagers, they will win two dollars if that angler wins the tournament. In other words, if you bet $10 on an angler with 2:1 odds and win, you would receive $20 in winnings plus your original $10 bet back.

In general, the “higher” the odds, the lower the probability of that outcome occurring. So an angler with 2:1 odds is considered more likely to win a tournament than one with 10:1 odds.

The betting odds presented on this website are for entertainment and informational purposes only. We do not accept bets on this platform nor do we promote illegal gambling activities. It is important to gamble responsibly and within the legal guidelines of your jurisdiction.

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Hooky The Bookie: Bassmaster Classic Odds

Hooky The Bookie: Bassmaster Classic 2023

Need help picking your Fantasy Fishing team for the 2023 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River in Knoxville? Best On Tour has tapped one of the original odds makers in the sport of professional bass fishing, Mark Jeffreys, to offer up fantasy fishing odds to help you set your teams. Stay tuned for the inside scoop from “Hooky The Bookie” for future tournaments!

2023 Bassmaster Classic Odds:

Angler Name Group Odds
 Stetson Blaylock A 7-1
 Brandon Card A 6-1
 Jason Christie A 4-1
 Seth Feider A 10-1
 Jeff Gustafson A 7-1
 Greg Hackney A 6-1
 Chris Johnston A 7-1
 Brandon Lester A 5-1
 David Mullins A 6-1
 Brandon Palaniuk A 6-1
 Chris Zaldain A 11-1
 Matt Arey B 7-1
 Drew Benton B 5-1
 Drew Cook B 6-1
 John Cox B 6-1
 Buddy Gross B 4-1
 Cory Johnston B 7-1
 Lee Livesay B 8-1
 Brock Mosley B 9-1
 Bryan New B 4-1
 Gerald Swindle B 8-1
 Patrick Walters B  4-1
 Scott Canterbury C  6-1
 Brandon Cobb C  7-1
 Keith Combs C  8-1
 Bob Downey C  10-1
 Austin Felix C  8-1
 Taku Ito C  7-1
 Scott Martin C  6-1
 Keith Poche C  8-1
 Jacob Powroznik C  9-1
 Matthew Robertson C  15-1
 Bryan Schmitt C  10-1
 Will Davis Jr. D  16-1
 Marc Frazier D  6-1
 Cooper Gallant D  8-1
 Kenta Kimura D  9-1
 Caleb Kuphall D  8-1
 Luke Palmer D  9-1
 Clifford Pirch D  8-1
 Jay Przekurat D  10-1
 KJ Queen D  9-1
 Tyler Rivet D  9-1
 Pat Schlapper D  15-1
 Wil Dieffenbauch E  20-1
 Jonathan Dietz E  25-1
 Cody Huff E  9-1
 Carl Jocumsen E  9-1
 Shane Lehew E 7-1
 Tristan McCormick E  6-1
 Louis Monetti E  14-1
 Chad Pipkens E  9-1
 Casey Smith E  10-1
 Collin Smith E  11-1
 JT Thompkins E  10-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Do Betting Odds Work?

Betting odds represent the probability of an event occurring and are typically displayed as a ratio or a fraction. The odds indicate how much money a bettor would hypothetically win based on their wager.

For example, if the odds for a particular angler are 2:1, it means that for every dollar a bettor wagers, they will win two dollars if that angler wins the tournament. In other words, if you bet $10 on an angler with 2:1 odds and win, you would receive $20 in winnings plus your original $10 bet back.

In general, the “higher” the odds, the lower the probability of that outcome occurring. So an angler with 2:1 odds is considered more likely to win a tournament than one with 10:1 odds.

The betting odds presented on this website are for entertainment and informational purposes only. We do not accept bets on this platform nor do we promote illegal gambling activities. It is important to gamble responsibly and within the legal guidelines of your jurisdiction.

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Hooky The Bookie: Elite Series at Lake Seminole Odds

Introducing: Hooky The Bookie

The Fantasy Fishing season has kicked off on both major tours and players are always looking for inside information to set their rosters. Best On Tour has tapped one of the original odds makers in the sport of professional bass fishing, Mark Jeffreys, to offer up fantasy fishing odds to help you set your teams. Stay tuned for the inside scoop from “Hooky The Bookie” for future tournaments!

2023 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole Odds:

Angler Name Group Odds
Scott Canterbury A  6-1
Brandon Card A  5-1
Joey Cifuentes III A  20-1
Brandon Cobb A  5-1
Drew Cook A  6-1
Will Davis Jr. A  10-1
Marc Frazier A  4-1
Cooper Gallant A  8-1
Carl Jocumsen A  9-1
Steve Kennedy A  5-1
Logan Latuso A  10-1
Lee Livesay A  9-1
Ed Loughran III A  10-1
Jay Przekurat A  11-1
Tyler Rivet A  9-1
Gerald Swindle A  7-1
Patrick Walters A  3-1
Kyle Welcher A  5-1
Clark Wendlandt A  6-1
Brad Whatley A  14-1
Jake Whitaker A  9-1
Keith Combs B  9-1
John Crews B  8-1
Micah Frazier B  4-1
Buddy Gross B  8-1
Jeff Gustafson B  7-1
Greg Hackney B  6-1
Bradley Hallman B  7-1
Skylar Hamilton B  6-1
Ray Hanselman B  10-1
Jamie Hartman B  10-1
Cody Huff B  10-1
Mike Iaconelli B  8-1
Caleb Kuphall B  7-1
Shane LeHew B  9-1
Bill Lowen B  9-1
Scott Martin B  6-1
Brock Mosley B  9-1
Brandon Palaniuk B  6-1
Cliff Prince B  7-1
Pat Schlapper B  18-1
Bernie Schultz B  9-1
Matt Arey C  10-1
Stetson Blaylock C  9-1
Hank Cherry C  8-1
Gary Clouse C  11-1
John Cox C  5-1
Greg DiPalma C  12-1
Bob Downey C 15-1
David Fritts C  19-1
David Gaston C  11-1
Darold Gleason C  8-1
Derek Hudnall C  9-1
Chris Johnston C  8-1
Jonathan Kelley C  17-1
Brandon Lester C  9-1
Wes Logan C  7-1
Luke Palmer C  10-1
Clifford Pirch C  7-1
KJ Queen C  9-1
Bryant Smith C  16-1
Jason Williamson C  9-1
Chris Zaldain C  9-1
Justin Atkins D  6-1
Drew Benton D  3-1
Rick Clunn D  12-1
Josh Douglas D  8-1
Seth Feider D 13-1
Austin Felix D  8-1
Kyoya Fujita D  10-1
Justin Hamner D  8-1
Matt Herren D  9-1
Kenta Kimura D  9-1
Mark Menendez D  11-1
David Mullins D  9-1
Bryan New D  4-1
Kyle Norsetter D  12-1
Jacob Powroznik D  10-1
Alex Redwine D  15-1
Matt Robertson D 16-1
Bryan Schmitt D  10-1
Hunter Shryock D  8-1
Joseph Webster D  7-1
David Williams D  8-1
Todd Auten E  6-1
Jason Christie E  5-1
Clent Davis E  6-1
Jacob Foutz E  7-1
Mike Huff E  10-1
Taku Ito E  9-1
Cory Johnston E  8-1
Koby Kreiger E  10-1
Masayuki Matsushita E  11-1
Paul Mueller E  12-1
Larry Nixon E  19-1
Chad Pipkens E  12-1
Keith Poche E  7-1
Cole Sands E  10-1
John Soukup E  11-1
Josh Stracner E  8-1
Caleb Sumrall E  9-1
Frank Talley E  14-1
Alex Wetherell E  12-1
Matty Wong E  25-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Do Betting Odds Work?

Betting odds represent the probability of an event occurring and are typically displayed as a ratio or a fraction. The odds indicate how much money a bettor would hypothetically win based on their wager.

For example, if the odds for a particular angler are 2:1, it means that for every dollar a bettor wagers, they will win two dollars if that angler wins the tournament. In other words, if you bet $10 on an angler with 2:1 odds and win, you would receive $20 in winnings plus your original $10 bet back.

In general, the “higher” the odds, the lower the probability of that outcome occurring. So an angler with 2:1 odds is considered more likely to win a tournament than one with 10:1 odds.

The betting odds presented on this website are for entertainment and informational purposes only. We do not accept bets on this platform nor do we promote illegal gambling activities. It is important to gamble responsibly and within the legal guidelines of your jurisdiction.

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2023 Tournament Payouts

2023 Tournament Payouts

With what seems like an endless buffet of tournament options available to participate in, making the right choice from a financial perspective on which ones to enter can prove to be a daunting task.  Simply breaking down the entry fee to payout ratio can prove helpful in making a decision. There are many different semi-pro tour level events, and most of these events provide paths to making it to the pro-level which can also be a factor in your decision making if ascending the ranks is one of your goals.  Let’s take a look at a few of the options available in 2023.

MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League

The MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League is a great way to start your career as a bass angler and not have to travel far to do so. Anglers can fish as a boater or a non-boater, and pairings are determined through a random draw the night before the tournament. This tournament trail has 24 divisions with 4 qualifiers and a 2-day super tournament in each division. However, the payouts below are just for the single day qualifiers.

**Based on 200 boats**

Boater                                                                                                             Co-Angler

Entry Fee: $220                                                                                             Entry Fee: $110

1st place: $6,000 plus Phoenix Bonus up to $7,000                                 1st place: $3,000

2nd place: $3,000                                                                                             2nd place: $1,500

3rd place: $2,000                                                                                             3rd place: $1,000

4th place: $1,400                                                                                             4th place: $700

5th place: $1,200                                                                                             5th place: $600

6th place: $1,100                                                                                             6th place: $550

7th place: $1,000                                                                                             7th place: $500

8th place: $900                                                                                                8th place: $450

9th place: $800                                                                                                9th place: $400

10th place: $700                                                                                              10th place: $350

11th place: $630                                                                                              11th place: $315

12th place: $580                                                                                              12th place: $290

13th place: $56 0                                                                                              13th place: $280

14th place: $530                                                                                              14th place: $265

15th place: $500                                                                                              15th place: $250

16th place: $480                                                                                              16th place: $240

17th place: $460                                                                                              17th place: $230

18th place: $440                                                                                              18th place: $220

19th place: $420                                                                                              19th place: $210

20th place: $400                                                                                              20th place: $200

21st place: $390                                                                                               21st place: $195

22nd place: $380                                                                                              22nd place: $190

23rd place: $370                                                                                              23rd place: $185

24th place: $360                                                                                              24th place: $180

25th place: $350                                                                                              25th place: $175

26th place: $340                                                                                              26th place: $170

27th place: $330                                                                                              27th place: $165

28th place: $320                                                                                              28th place: $160

29th place: $310                                                                                              29th place: $155

30th place: $300                                                                                              30th place: $150

31st place: $290                                                                                               31st place: $145

32nd place: $280                                                                                              32nd place: $140

33rd place: $270                                                                                              33rd place: $135

34th place: $260                                                                                              34th place: $130

35th place: $250                                                                                              35th place: $125

36th place: $240                                                                                              36th place: $120

37th place: $230                                                                                              37th place: $115

38th place: $220                                                                                              38th place: $110

39th place: $210                                                                                              39th place: $105

40th place: $200                                                                                              40th place: $100

Big Bass: $1,000                                                                                             Big Bass: $500

 

MLF Toyota Series

The MLF Toyota Series is the step below the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. Like the BFLs, anglers can choose to either fish as a boater or a non-boater. There are 6 divisions with 3 tournaments in each division plus a championship that the top 25 boaters and top 25 non-boaters qualify for. Top prize for the championship is $235,000 plus REDCREST invitation for boaters, and a Phoenix 518 Pro with 115 HP Mercury valued at $33,500 for co-anglers. Check out the divisional payouts below.

**Based on 260 boats**

Boater                                                                                                             Co-Angler

Entry Fee: $1,700                                                                                          Entry Fee: $550

1st place: $65,000 plus $35,000 Phoenix Bonus                                       1st place: $38,500

2nd place: $27,500                                                                                           2nd place: $8,000

3rd place: $18,000                                                                                           3rd place: $6,500

4th place: $16,000                                                                                           4th place: $5,000

5th place: $15,000                                                                                           5th place: $4,500

6th place: $11,500                                                                                           6th place: $3,750

7th place: $10,000                                                                                           7th place: $3,250

8th place: $8,500                                                                                             8th place: $2,500

9th place: $7,500                                                                                             9th place: $1,800

10th place: $5,500                                                                                           10th place: $1,600

11th place: $5,000                                                                                           11th place: $1,200

12th place: $4,250                                                                                           12th place: $1,200

13th place: $3,750                                                                                           13th place: $1,200

14th place: $3,750                                                                                           14th place: $1,200

15th place: $3,750                                                                                           15th place: $1,200

16th-20th: $3,750                                                                                              16th-20th: $1,000

21st-25th: $3,000                                                                                              21st-25th: $850

26th-30th: $2,700                                                                                              26th-30th: $800

31st-40th: $2,350                                                                                              31st-40th: $725

41st-45th: $2,300                                                                                              41st-45th: $700

46th-50th: $2,250                                                                                              46th-50th: $675

51st-55th: $2,200                                                                                              51st-55th: $600

56th-60th: $2,100                                                                                              56th-60th: $570

61st-65th: $2,000                                                                                              61st-65th: $550

Day 1 Big Bass: $500                                                                                     Day 1 Big Bass: $150

Day 2 Big Bass: $500                                                                                     Day 2 Big Bass: $150

 

MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals is the step below the Bass Pro Tour. Anglers must qualify for the Invitationals through the Toyota Series to have a shot at making it to the top level. The Invitationals consist of 6 tournaments that last 3 days. Below are the payouts for those tournaments.

**Based on 150 anglers**

Entry Fee: $5,000

1st place: $115,000 plus REDCREST Invitation

2nd place: $50,000

3rd place: $20,000

4th place: $18,000

5th place: $17,000

6th place: $16,000

7th place: $15,000

8th place: $14,000

9th place: $13,000

10th place: $12,000

11th-30th: $10,000

31st-50th: $8,000

Day 1 Big Bass: $1,000

Day 2 Big Bass: $1,000

 

BASS St. Croix Bassmaster Opens

The Bassmaster Opens is the pathway to the Bassmaster Elite Series, and boaters must fish all 9 tournaments to qualify. However, a boater can qualify for the Bassmaster Classic through fishing one division if he or she wins an event. There are 3 divisions with 3 tournaments in each. Below are the payouts for each tournament, for boaters and non-boaters.

**Based on 200 anglers**                                                                  **Based on 150 anglers**

Boater                                                                                                 Co-Angler

Entry Fee: $1,800                                                                              Entry Fee: $475

1st place: $46,667                                                                                1st place: $17,000

2nd place: $22,667                                                                               2nd place: $4,000

3rd place: $16,000                                                                               3rd place: $3,000

4th place: $13,333                                                                               4th place: $2,250

5th place: $11,600                                                                               5th place: $2,100

6th place: $10,667                                                                               6th place: $2,000

7th place: $10,000                                                                               7th place: $1,900

8th place: $9,333                                                                                 8th place: $1,800

9th place: $7,333                                                                                 9th place: $1,650

10th place: $6,000                                                                               10th place: $1,500

11th place: $5,333                                                                               11th place: $1,400

12th place: $4,667                                                                               12th place: $1,300

13th place: $3,667                                                                               13th place: $1,100

14th place: $3,667                                                                               14th place: $1,000

15th place: $3,667                                                                               15th place: $900

16th place: $3,667                                                                               16th place: $800

17th place: $3,667                                                                               17th place: $750

18th place: $3,667                                                                               18th place: $750

19th place: $3,667                                                                               19th place: $750

20th place: $3,667                                                                               20th place: $750

21st place: $3,333                                                                                21st place: $700

22nd place: $3,333                                                                               22nd place: $700

23rd place: $3,333                                                                               23rd place: $700

24th place: $3,333                                                                               24th place: $700

25th place: $3,333                                                                               25th place: $700

26th place: $3,067                                                                               26th place: $600

27th place: $3,067                                                                               27th place: $600

28th place: $3,067                                                                               28th place: $600

29th place: $3,067                                                                               29th place: $600

30th place: $3,067                                                                               30th place: $600

31st place: $3,067                                                                                31st place: $550

32nd place: $3,067                                                                               32nd place: $550

33rd place: $3,067                                                                               33rd place: $550

34th place: $3,067                                                                               34th place: $550

35th place: $3,067                                                                               35th place: $550

36th place: $3,067                                                                               36th place: $550

37th place: $3,067                                                                               37th place: $550

38th place: $3,067                                                                               38th place: $550

39th place: $3,067                                                                               39th place: $550

40th place: $3,067                                                                               40th place: $550

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The Pressure of being a Bassmaster Classic winner

The Pressure of Being a Bassmaster Classic Winner

It is obvious that winning a Bassmaster Classic brings a lot of publicity to an angler. Ask any past winner of a Classic and he will tell you the same thing, that winning a classic is life changing. Of course, a $300,000 winning purse is life-changing, but the money is not the only reason an angler’s life has changed after winning a Classic. The publicity that an angler gets after winning a Classic is what changes their life forever. There is a reason why many people call it “the Super Bowl of bass fishing”. It is because nobody will forget a Bassmaster Classic winner. As media platforms are more present now than they have ever been, it seems difficult for a recent Classic champ to not be distracted by interviews, phone calls, and sponsorship responsibilities. Let’s look at which Bassmaster Classic champs in the last 20 years have handled the pressure with great follow-up finishes.

There have been 4 top 10 finishes in the last 20 years from a Bassmaster Classic champion in the tournament following their Classic win. Those four with a top ten finish are highlighted in bold below. These top 10 finishes are from Jordan Lee (2018), Kevin VanDam (2011 & 2005), and Michael Iaconelli (2003). Is it a coincidence that these anglers just so happen to have won AOY titles on major tour-level platforms? We think not. Anglers who can handle the pressure are the ones who will be the most successful.

Classic Champs (Last 20 years)

2022 Champ: Jason Christie

Next Tournament: Santee Cooper Lakes

Place: 93

 

2021 Champ: Hank Cherry

Next Tournament: Lake Champlain

Place: 69

 

2020 Champ: Hank Cherry

Next Tournament: Lake Eufaula (3 months later due to COVID)

Place: 18

 

2019 Champ: Ott Defoe

Next Tournament: BPT at Kissimmee Chain

Place: 16

 

2018 Champ: Jordan Lee

Next Tournament: Grand Lake

Place: 10

 

2017 Champ: Jordan Lee

Next Tournament: Toledo Bend

Place: 38

 

2016 Champ: Edwin Evers

Next Tournament: St. Johns River

Place: 16

 

2015 Champ: Casey Ashley

Next Tournament: Sabine River

Place: 44

 

2014 Champ: Randy Howell

Next Tournament: Lake Seminole

Place: 106

 

2013 Champ: Cliff Pace

Next Tournament: Sabine River

Place: 28

 

2012 Champ: Chris Lane

Next Tournament: St. Johns River

Place: 33

 

2011 Champ: Kevin VanDam

Next Tournament: Harris Chain of Lakes

Place: 4

 

2010 Champ: Kevin VanDam

Next Tournament: California Delta

Place: 29

 

2009 Champ: Skeet Reese

Next Tournament: Lake Amistad

Place: 22

 

2008 Champ: Alton Jones

Next Tournament: Harris Chain of Lakes

Place: 37

 

2007 Champ: Boyd Duckett

Next Tournament: Lake Amistad

Place: 93

 

2006 Champ: Luke Clausen

Next Tournament: Lake Okeechobee

Place: 80

 

2005: Champ: Kevin VanDam

Next Tournament: Table Rock Lake

Place: 2

 

2004 Champ: Takahiro Omori

Next Tournament: Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

Place: 41

 

2003 Champ: Michael Iaconelli

Next Tournament: Harris Chain of Lakes

Place: 4

 

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