Jacob Wheeler Joins Suzuki Marine USA Team

 

It's official, Jacob Wheeler and Suzuki Marine USA have joined forces. 

Laker Howell Wins 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Wheeler Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Howell's double Classic qualification secures Classic spot for  Kyle Norsetter

David A. Brown, BASS PRESS Release

DECATUR, Ala. — For a guy who finished first, the number two came up a lot in Laker Howell’s victory story.

After three days of competition, the pro from Guntersville, Ala., tallied 65 pounds, 11 ounces and won the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Wheeler Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.

“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my back, because this morning when I got up, I was so nervous, I literally woke up (nauseous),” Howell said. “The whole day, I was just a cat trying to catch a bass. But right now, I can’t even describe how incredible this is.”

By the numbers, Howell caught 21-6 on Day 1 and placed second to Matt Adams. In the second round, Howell caught 25-4 — the event’s heaviest bag — and moved ahead of Adams by 4 ounces. Championship Saturday saw the 6-foot-5 pro stood tall with a final limit of 19-1.

His winning margin — 2 ounces.

Continuing the numerical theme, Howell has won two of the last three tournaments he’s fished. In mid-August, he won the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN.

Finally, Howell’s family has claimed two wins at this Tennessee River impoundment. In 1998, Laker Howell’s father, Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series angler Randy Howell won his first major event at Wheeler Lake.

And if the story wasn’t already good enough, Randy Howell was 24 when he won his Wheeler Lake trophy. His son’s age — 24.

“That’s why this tournament is so special to me,” the younger Howell said. “I literally watched that video during practice with my roommate. I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be crazy if I won this tournament.’”

All week, Howell committed to a section of the Decatur Flats about 2 miles from takeoff. He focused on a saddle with shell bottom between two bars near the river channel.

Scott Hamrick Wins 2025 NPFL Championship on Lake Hartwell

Scott Hamrick rallies on the final day to take the Championship on Lake Hartwell.

Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

The most consistent angler over three days at the 2025 NPFL Championship on Lake Hartwell, hosted by Visit Anderson, was Scott Hamrick. He opened with a 14‑10 bag on day one, followed by 15‑3 on day two, and closed strong with his biggest bag of the week on Showdown Sunday, weighing 15‑15, anchored by a 6‑1 largemouth.

His three-day total weight of 45‑12 secured the Championship victory, earning him a $100,000 payday, a berth into next year’s Championship event, and the coveted NPFL shield.

Rallying to second after day two with 16‑12, to go with his day one weight of 14‑4, Tennessee angler Michael Stout did enough on the final day, catching 14‑10 to finish the Championship in second place with a three-day total of 45‑10. In third, Georgia pro Will Harkins, a pre-tournament favorite, also finished with 45‑10.

Moving into fifth place, 2024 Progressive Angler of the Year winner Kyle Welcher caught the biggest bag, and biggest bass of the event, making up for a tough day two. His 6-11 lunker anchored his 19-14 rally bag, moving him several spots on the final day.

Hamrick Flips the Switch

Living in North Carolina, Scott Hamrick is a bit familiar with Lake Hartwell. When he arrived for practice this week, he had a hunch he would be fishing shallow and picking apart cover, but he did not know it would unfold the way it did.

“I knew what the plan was going to be before I got here,” he said. “I knew the weather was coming and that it would help the bite in the creeks, where I focused my time. I had a decent practice, but you’re not really fishing anything, so I was not sure what the potential was going to be.”

TOP 10 BELOW

Chad Poteat: First Honoree in NPFL- Circle of Honor

An extraordinary moment with an extraordinary man at the Championship Banquet.

Story by Ken Duke; photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons 

Occasionally, people are extraordinary.

Through grit, determination, perseverance, resilience, and sheer force of will, they find a way to prevail under circumstances that would crush most of us.

In 2025, NPFL professional angler Chad Poteat, 52, of Mount Airy, North Carolina showed the world that he is one of those extraordinary people. Early this year, Poteat was diagnosed with an aggressive form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS” or “Lou Gehrig’s disease”). It’s a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting neurons in the brain and spinal cord. These neurons control voluntary muscles, like the ones that enable us to walk, talk, swallow, and breathe. With ALS, they gradually weaken, atrophy, and lose their ability to function. Over time, paralysis develops, but cognitive abilities usually remain intact.

It’s a cruel, relentless disease that takes an inevitable toll. That toll has been magnified in the case of Chad Poteat in 2025. In August, his 21-year-old daughter passed away. His 96-year-old mother died less than a month later.

To withstand such loss—even in great health—is a challenge. To do it with a debilitating disease seems unthinkable.

Poteat and his wife Alaine did it.

MillerTech expands sponsorship of Major League Fishing, named presenting sponsor of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit

Larger and Deeper Payouts for New Season

BENTON, Ky. – Major League Fishing, the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, announced today that MillerTech Energy has renewed its sponsorship agreement with the organization and expanded their agreement into a multi-year partnership that now encompasses all MLF circuits, including being named the presenting sponsor of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. The new multi-year deal strengthens MillerTech’s status as an Official Sponsor of MLF while continuing several high-profile assets across the league’s premier events and enhancing Pro Circuit payouts.

As part of the agreement, the Pro Circuit will now be titled the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Energy. MillerTech’s presence will also extend across the MLF Bass Pro Tour, REDCREST, Heavy Hitters and Team Series, highlighted by the popular “MillerTech Time Clock” feature during live broadcasts. The company will also maintain its footprint at the annual REDCREST Outdoor Sports Expo and expand digital, broadcast and social media activations throughout the season.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Major League Fishing and excited to expand into the presenting sponsorship of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit,” said Lester Miller, owner of MillerTech Energy. “Our company was built on performance, reliability and customer service, and those values align perfectly with the passion and dedication of MLF anglers and fans.”

Scott Canterbury Wins 2025 NPFL Lake Logan Martin in Alabama

Scott Canterbury Wins 2nd NPFL Event in 2025. (Photo: Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons)

Story by Justin Brouillard, NPFL Press Release

Alabama angler Scott Canterbury wins his second NPFL event of the season, capping off a stellar 2025 with a $100,000 payday in his home state, at a place he loves to fish, especially in the fall. What is meant to be will be, they say, and Canterbury proved it this week. After a decent Day One, he kicked off the event with 13-15, putting him in the top five.

He added his biggest bag of the event on Day Two, weighing 17-5, and moved into the lead going into Showdown Saturday. This morning, he left the docks as boat one, leading the field, and had his toughest day of the week. His 10-1 limit was enough to edge Tennessee angler Brandon Perkins by just 6 ounces, capping an emotional finish.

Canterbury also took home big bass honors with his Day Two lunker. The 6-4 came in the midst of running a stretch of deep spots, where Canterbury has a lot of history. “I used to fish that brush pile back in the day before technology, triangulating myself to fish it. I cast in, had no idea there was a fish there, had no idea he was looking at my bait, and when I set the hook I had no idea how big it was—just like I grew up fishing,” he said.

Canterbury Brings It Home

Under tough summer/fall conditions, a big bite is hard to come by, but his magical Day Two was the sealing moment of the week, moving the Alabama angler into the lead and putting him in position to win his second event of 2025.

After a tough practice, in which he sampled the entire lake, he landed on some deeper spots on the south end that ended up producing the majority of his weight. Knowing so much about Logan Martin, he learned quickly where it might go down—but he didn’t know it would be him.

TOP 10 BELOW

Flambeau® NextGen™ Tackle Box: A New Spin on a Classic Design for Today’s Angler

 

Flambeau Outdoors® has reengineered the DNA of the over 60-year-old trunk-style cantilever tackle box. Flambeau knows that anglers face various fishing applications and scenarios on the water. Many factors can affect the bite, proving that various gear and tackle options are critical to success. Protecting and organizing hooks, baits, floats, sinkers, and tools allows anglers to be efficient with precious time and make the most of every cast.  Generations of anglers have invested time on the water with trunk-style cantilever tackle boxes, creating both tradition and nostalgia. Time-honored heritage, whether panfish in a farm pond, catfish at a community lake, or bass fishing in a reservoir, cannot be overlooked. The Flambeau NextGen™ Tackle Box suits various angling applications and is practical for experienced anglers and brand-new fishermen.   The iconic product line features a top entrance bulk storage compartment for full access without compromising tools and gear like needle-nose pliers, line clippers, and fillet knives. Pivoting swing trays instead of stacked cantilever trays open with ease. A new fast dial latch for secure closure and an integrated storage space for stowing Tuff Tainer utility boxes nearly doubles the tackle volume capacity of traditional tray boxes, despite sharing the same standard exterior dimensions. Proudly made in the U.S.A., the NextGen tackle boxes are Built to Fish. Built to Last™.

Flambeau NextGen Specs: Item #: 440NGA Product Exterior Dimensions: 14" L x 8.7" W x 7.6" H Compartments: 4 Trays / 23 Compartments + Top Bulk Flambeau NextGen Features: Top entrance bulk storage compartment with extra deep bobber box (345 cu. in.) 4 pivoting swing trays with 23 individual tackle compartments (142 cu. in.) - Compartment sizes: 5" Max / 1.5" Min Easily access specific tackle from individualized anti-migration pivot trays Fast dial latch for secure closure Integrated storage space for stowing a 4000 Series Tuff Tainer adds 16-24 compartments (Not included) Proudly made in the U.S.A.

The 9 Lives of Line

 

 XBRAID’s new FULLDRAG X9 brings big game fishing the pinnacle in 9-strand braided line technology and advanced manufacturing techniques

Not so long ago, 8-strand – aka 8-carrier – braided lines were all the range. New offerings were popping up like prairie dogs. Now, legitimate fishing line brands offer at least one 8-strand variety. But no, 8-carriers weren’t enough. It was inevitable that somebody would push the envelope and develop a 9 strander.

But like the goldrushes for who could pack the most ball-bearings in a reel or slap the most X’s on a graphite blank, smoke and mirrors are aplenty. Just because a spool reads 9-strand, doesn’t mean it’s worth the tiny cardboard box it’s packaged in.

Fortunately, the fishing world has dependable and time-honored brands like XBRAID... Its parent company, Japan’s YGK, traces its lineage back to 1945 and the pioneering company’s first braided line to 1953 – spun threads for hand fishing. Over the decades, YGK has earned a reputation with anglers worldwide for producing the highest quality fishing lines, especially those sporting the XBRAID name. And now, the fishing line master craftsmen present XBRAID FULLDRAG X9, a technical and purposeful 9-carrier braided fishing line that surpasses all others. 

Sizes and strengths below

Emil Wagner Wins 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Lake Champlain presented by Bass Pro Shops; John Crews Advances to 2026 Classic!

Elite Series pro Emil Wagner claims the title at the very first Elite Qualifier tournament on Lake Champlain. 

By Andrew Canulette

BASS Press Release

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Before the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Lake Champlain presented by Bass Pro Shops even started, Emil Wagner was telling anyone who would listen how much he loves this lake.

Now that the tournament is complete, he can shout it even louder.

Wagner, a 27-year-old Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro, topped the 105-angler field with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 69 pounds, 2 ounces. That’s the heaviest three-day winning total on Champlain in B.A.S.S. history, which is saying a lot given how frequently B.A.S.S. has visited this 278,000-acre mammoth fishery that forms a large portion of the New York/Vermont border.

Because Wagner is already qualified for next year’s Elites, he was one of 10 anglers in the field who wasn’t eligible to earn EQ points at Champlain. He made the 20-plus hour journey from Marietta, Ga., because he enjoys fishing Champlain more than any other tournament water in the world. There was also a $58,049 check awaiting the winner, which Wagner happily pocketed after hoisting the first Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier presented by Bass Pro Shops trophy aloft Saturday afternoon at Plattsburgh Boat Basin on the Champlain shore.

“I asked my buddies when we were on the way up here, ‘Why are we driving this far to fish this tournament?’” Wagner said. “We all just love catching smallmouth … This place is the absolute best.”

Wagner climbed atop the leaderboard on Day 2 after catching a 23-9 limit, which tied for second heaviest of the derby. Combined with the 22-2 he caught on Day 1, he entered Championship Saturday with 45-11 and a mere 2-ounce lead over Day 1 leader Matt Messer.

Wagner caught 23-7 on Saturday to pull away from Messer, who caught 22-12 on the final day and finished second overall with 68-5. 

The 23-year-old native of Warfield, Ky., said finishing second was bittersweet, but he was happy to leave Champlain with a full 95 EQ points. That puts him atop the EQ standings with two of the three EQ events to go — at Alabama’s Wheeler Lake on Oct. 2-4 and Florida’s Lake Okeechobee on Nov. 13-15. The Top 10 in the EQ points standings when those events are complete will earn invites into the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.