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Roster Set for Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2022 in Tulsa
TULSA, Okla. – Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is ready. The field of 41 professional anglers is confirmed. The Outdoor Sports Expo planning is underway. REDCREST 2022, the MLF Bass Pro Tour Championship, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is set to be a massive event for fishing and outdoors enthusiasts.
Originally scheduled for February of 2021, the event was postponed a year after mounting uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions and a guest capacity reduction at Expo Square. With relaxed restrictions and Tulsa once again open for business, it’s full steam ahead for MLF and event hosts VisitTulsa, the City of Grove, and the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.
“With our MLF headquarters based in Tulsa, this is a homecoming for Major League Fishing and we are honored to showcase our sport and the outdoors to the Tulsa community with our world championship event,” said Michael Mulone, Senior Director of Events and Partnerships for MLF. “REDCREST 2022 is going to be a show like no other, and we look forward to highlighting Grand Lake and Tulsa to the tens of thousands of passionate fishing and outdoors fans that will attend the event and the hundreds of thousands of fans that will be watching from around the world.”
The five-day bass-fishing world championship, shot for television broadcast on CBS, the Discovery Channel and the Outdoor Channel, will showcase the top 41 Bass Pro Tour anglers from the 2021 season competing for the prestigious REDCREST Championship and the top prize of $300,000.
According to MLF rules, the REDCREST field of 40 is determined by Angler of the Year (AOY) points ranking at the end of the seven-Stage 2021 Bass Pro Tour. This year, MLF and the MLF Anglers Association agreed upon a structure that allowed all 76 anglers on the Bass Pro Tour roster to drop their lowest finishes from the 2021 regular season. That helped to level the playing field after multiple anglers sat out of events due to health and safety concerns that fell under MLF’s CDC-recommended Healthy Operating Protocols and Executions (HOPE) guidelines.
When all of the AOY points were tallied, one angler that had qualified to compete in the event was negatively affected and dropped out of the 40-angler qualification. In the interest of fairness, that angler will still be allowed to compete in the event as the lowest-finish drop was not meant to penalize an angler that had already qualified. REDCREST 2022 will feature 41 anglers competing over the five-day competition.
The 41 pros from the 2021 Bass Pro Tour season that will compete in REDCREST 2022 at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees are:
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
John Cox, DeBary, Fla.
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va.
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala.
Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark.
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Fletcher Shryock of Guntersville, Ala.
Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La.
Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Scott Suggs, Harrison, Ark.
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala.
In addition to the competition, REDCREST 2022 will feature an Outdoor Sports Expo at Tulsa’s Expo Square on March 25-27, 2022. Tens of thousands of passionate MLF fans will pack the halls ready to see the latest in tackle and gear innovation, meet their fishing heroes, learn from the greatest anglers in the world, spend their money on merchandise and celebrate all things bass fishing. Bass Pro Tour anglers will conduct seminars and will be available for meet and greets with fans. Additional celebrities of the outdoors will be on site. All activities are free and open to the public.
Exhibitor space if filling up fast, but a limited number of spaces are still available. If your business is interested in being a part of the consumer outdoor sports show, please visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/REDCREST.
For complete details and updated information on the REDCREST 2022 and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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Tuesday Night Live Cast #14 – The Fall Transition with Braxton Setzer
Tonight we will be breaking down the fall transition with MLF Pro Circuit angler Braxton Setzer and much more!
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Bassmaster High School Combine Tests Anglers’ Skills With Three Challenges
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When 85 of the country’s most talented young anglers gather this weekend for the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine in Decatur, Ala., they will be showcasing their skills for championship-caliber college coaches in a series of three skills challenges.
High school anglers from 28 states will participate in a series of three skills challenges at the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine Oct. 15-17 in Decatur, Ala.
“College coaches have told us time and again that it’s hard to judge high school anglers based on tournament results, so each of the three skills tests at the High School Combine was designed to create a fair method to compare the skills and techniques of the anglers,” explained Hank Weldon, senior manager of the B.A.S.S. College and High School program.
Each of the three disciplines — Casting Distance, Knot Tying and Casting Accuracy — will operate on a point system and be timed by an official judge. Each angler will accumulate points to determine an overall winner.
Anglers will have three casts from a platform on a B.A.S.S.-provided Abu Garcia rod and reel combination in the Casting Distance challenge with the judge scoring their longest cast. Moving on to the Knot Tying discipline, anglers will showcase their technical skills by tying one line-to-lure knot and one line-to-line knot in the allotted time. Anglers will be scored on both knot accuracy and strength. In their third Casting Accuracy skills test, anglers will earn points for hitting a series of targets using B.A.S.S.-provided equipment.
The participating anglers are ready to take advantage of the level playing field to see how they stack up against other anglers in hopes of reeling in college offers.
“Fishing is a sport of constantly changing circumstances, conditions and variables,” said Kyle Smith, a senior from Richland, Md. “Every high school angler has a very unique set of skills and circumstances that are not always easy to see and recruit during a fishing tournament. However, this event allows anglers to show their skill, talent and passion to college coaches in a way that a regular tournament does not allow.”
In addition to the three skills challenges, Day 1 will be spent meeting with college coaches. After the first day, colleges will have the opportunity to select anglers for a “second look” where they can further explore everything that angler has to offer and see if they would be the perfect fit for their fishing program.
Only colleges offering bass fishing scholarships were invited to attend, and coaches from 20 schools will be on-site recruiting during the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine.
For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/high-school.
2021 Bassmaster High School Combine Title Sponsor: Abu Garcia
2021 Bassmaster High School Combine Supporting Sponsor: Mossy Oak Fishing
2021 Bassmaster High School Combine Partners: Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bajio, Dovetail Games’ Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, Toyota
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 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, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship, Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
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MLF Announces 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League
TULSA, Okla. – MLF announced today the schedule, rules, payouts and entry dates for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League, the only circuit offering weekend anglers a clear path to the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour. The Phoenix Bass Fishing League is the premier circuit for weekend tournaments, maintaining the best payouts and advancement opportunities for the lowest entry fees available in the sport.
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League allows anglers to fish close to home with opportunities to advance to the prestigious All-American and Toyota Series Championships for a shot at winning top boater awards of $120,000 and $235,000, respectively, including lucrative Phoenix MLF Bonuses.
Each qualifying tournament offers a top boater award of up to $13,000, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a top Strike King co-angler award of $3,000. Top awards jump up to $16,000 for boaters, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and $4,500 for Strike King co-anglers in super-tournaments. Entry fees remain unchanged for qualifying and super-tournaments – $200 per boater and $100 per co-angler for one-day qualifying tournaments and $300 per boater and $150 per co-angler for two-day super-tournaments. Six Regionals will also have a $300 per boater and $150 per co-angler entry fee in 2022, resulting in enhanced payouts of more than 200 percent per tournament with the top 40 boaters and co-anglers receiving checks – up from 24 in previous seasons.
Boaters in each regional compete for a $67,000 top award, including a Phoenix 819 Pro with 200 HP Mercury and $10,000 plus a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. Co-anglers in each regional compete for a $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro with 200 HP Mercury. Additionally, the highest finishing boater from each division in each regional receives a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division receives a $500 bonus – you only have to beat 49 anglers from your division to win big.
“We pride ourselves on continuing to provide the absolute best tournaments for the lowest cost of participation available anywhere,” said MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations Daniel Fennel. “Our team has put together a great schedule that will uphold that tradition, providing a competitive outlet for weekend bass anglers with multiple advancement opportunities for those looking to launch professional careers. We’ve had a fantastic 2021 season and are excited to carry that momentum into 2022.”
The extremely popular Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency award will also continue for the 2022 season. The Phoenix MLF Bonus enhances payouts from $500 to $7,000 for registered Phoenix boat owners in every qualifier, super-tournament and regional, an additional $20,000 in the All-American, and $35,000 in the Toyota Series Championship.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers, plus the five tournament winners in each division, advance to a regional.
Enter all five events in a division, fish at least two and automatically advance to the Wild Card if you weren’t pre-qualified for a regional.
The Wild Card offers a $13,000 top boater award, including Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a top co-angler award of $3,000. Entry fees are $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers.
The top six boaters and co-anglers from each regional and the Wild Card advance to the 2023 All-American.
The highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each regional and the Wild Card at the All-American advance to the Toyota Series Championship – anglers only need to beat five anglers from their regional to advance.
With every tournament featuring live streaming weigh-in coverage, the Phoenix Bass Fishing League places anglers in front of the sport’s largest fan base with coverage on MajorLeagueFishing.com and MLF’s social media outlets. The 2022 All-American and Toyota Series Championship will be nationally televised, offering Bass Fishing League anglers unprecedented media exposure.
The complete 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League schedule, rules and payouts can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Anglers can register for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League season at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CDT on the dates listed below:
December 6, 2021 – Cowboy, Gator, Hoosier and Music City.
December 7, 2021 – Bulldog, Bama, Illini, Mississippi and Volunteer.
December 8, 2021 – Buckeye, Choo Choo, Great Lakes, Mountain and Ozark.
December 9, 2021 – Arkie, LBL, North Carolina, Northeast and Okie.
December 10, 2021 – Michigan, Piedmont, Savannah River, Shenandoah and South Carolina.
Phoenix boat owners (Phoenix owners with current registrations or confirmation of a boat on order who will use their Phoenix boat in Bass Fishing League competition) and TBF members may enter all divisions by phone starting December 3, 2021.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Schedule:
Arkie Division
Feb 12 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark.
Feb 26 Lake Ouachita, Mount Ida, Ark.
Apr 9 Greers Ferry Lake, Greers Ferry, Ark.
May 21 Lake Dardanelle, Russellville, Ark.
Oct 1-2 Lake Dardanelle, Russellville, Ark.
Bama Division
Mar 5 Lake Martin, Alexander City, Ala.
Apr 2 Lake Mitchell, Clanton, Ala.
May 7 Alabama River, Prattville, Ala.
Jun 11 Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden, Ala.
Oct 1-2 Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Ala.
Buckeye Division
May 21 Indian Lake, Lakeview, Ohio
Jun 25 Ohio River-Tanners Creek, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Jul 23 Ohio River-Maysville, Maysville, Ky.
Aug 13 Ohio River-Tanners Creek, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Sep 10-11 Mosquito Lake, Cortland, Ohio
Bulldog Division
Feb 26 Lake Lanier, Gainesville, Ga.
Mar 12 Lake Oconee, Buckhead, Ga.
May 7 Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, Ga.
Jun 11 Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Ala.
Aug 27-28 Lake Lanier, Gainesville, Ga.
Choo Choo Division
Feb 5 Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro, Ala.
Feb 26 Pickwick Lake, Counce, Tenn.
Apr 9 Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala.
Apr 30 Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro, Ala.
Sep 24-25 Pickwick Lake, Florence, Ala.
Cowboy Division
Jan 8 Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Brookeland, Texas
Feb 5 Toledo Bend Lake, Zwolle, La.
Apr 2 Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Brookeland, Texas
May 14 Lake O’ the Pines, Jefferson, Texas
Aug 27-28 Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Brookeland, Texas
Gator Division
Jan 29 Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
Feb 12 Lake Toho, Kissimmee, Fla.
Mar 5 Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
Apr 2 Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.
Sep 24-25 Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.
Great Lakes Division
Apr 30 Mississippi River-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wis.
May 21 Mississippi River-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wis.
Jun 18 Wolf River Chain of Lakes, Winneconne, Wis.
Aug 13 Mississippi River-Prairie du Chien, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
Sep 10-11 Mississippi River-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wis.
Hoosier Division
Apr 30 Rough River Lake, Falls of Rough, Ky.
May 14 Patoka Lake, Birdseye, Ind.
Jul 16 Lake Monroe, Bloomington, Ind.
Aug 6 Ohio River-Rocky Point, Cannelton, Ind.
Aug 27-28 Ohio River-Tanners Creek, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Illini Division
May 14 Lake Shelbyville, Shelbyville, Ill.
Jun 18 Lake Shelbyville, Shelbyville, Ill.
Jul 16 Rend Lake, Whittington, Ill.
Aug 20 Ohio River, Paducah, Ky.
Sep 17-18 Rend Lake, Whittington, Ill.
LBL Division
Mar 5 Kentucky-Barkley Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.
Apr 23 Kentucky-Barkley Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.
Jun 11 Kentucky-Barkley Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.
Jul 9 Kentucky-Barkley Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.
Sep 10-11 Kentucky-Barkley Lake, Buchanan, Tenn.
Michigan Division
Jun 25 Lake St. Clair, Harrison Township, Mich.
Jul 16 Lake St. Clair, Harrison Township, Mich.
Aug 6 Detroit River, Trenton, Mich.
Aug 27 Detroit River, Trenton, Mich.
Sep 24-25 Detroit River, Trenton, Mich.
Mississippi Division
Feb 19 Pickwick Lake, Iuka, Miss.
Mar 12 Ross Barnett Reservoir, Brandon, Miss.
Apr 2 Grenada Lake, Grenada, Miss.
May 7 Columbus Pool, Columbus, Miss.
Sep 17-18 Pickwick Lake, Iuka, Miss.
Mountain Division
Mar 19 Dale Hollow Lake, Byrdstown, Tenn.
Apr 9 Dale Hollow Lake, Byrdstown, Tenn.
May 21 Lake Cumberland, Monticello, Ky.
Jun 25 Barren River, Scottsville, Ky.
Sep 17-18 Lake Cherokee, Jefferson City, Tenn.
Music City Division
Mar 5 Dale Hollow Lake, Byrdstown, Tenn.
Apr 23 Percy Priest Lake, Smyrna, Tenn.
May 14 Percy Priest Lake, Smyrna, Tenn.
Jun 18 Old Hickory Lake, Gallatin, Tenn.
Oct 1-2 Old Hickory Lake, Gallatin, Tenn.
North Carolina Division
Mar 5 Lake Norman, Huntersville, N.C.
Apr 23 High Rock Lake, Salisbury, N.C.
May 14 Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Jun 25 High Rock Lake, Salisbury, N.C.
Sep 10-11 Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Northeast Division
May 7 Potomac River, Marbury, Md.
Jun 11 Potomac River, Marbury, Md.
Jul 9 St. Lawrence River, Massena, N.Y.
Aug 6 Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Aug 27-28 Lake Cayuga, Union Springs, N.Y.
Okie Division
Mar 19 Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Okla.
Apr 23 Arkansas River, Muskogee, Okla.
May 14 Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Okla.
Jul 9 Fort Gibson, Wagoner, Okla.
Sep 17-18 Grand Lake, Grove, Okla.
Ozark Division
Mar 12 Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, Mo.
Apr 2 Table Rock Lake, Kimberling City, Mo.
May 7 Table Rock Lake, Kimberling City, Mo.
Jun 18 Lake Truman, Warsaw, Mo.
Sep 24-25 Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, Mo.
Piedmont Division
Mar 12 Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Apr 2 Smith Mountain Lake, Huddleston, Va.
Apr 30 Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Jul 16 James River, Henrico, Va.
Sep 17-18 High Rock Lake, Salisbury, N.C.
Savannah River Division
Mar 19 Lake Keowee, Seneca, S.C.
Apr 9 Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.
Apr 30 Lake Hartwell, Lavonia, Ga.
May 21 Clarks Hill Lake, Appling, Ga.
Sep 10-11 Lake Hartwell, Lavonia, Ga.
Shenandoah Division
Mar 5 Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Apr 9 Smith Mountain Lake, Huddleston, Va.
Apr 23 Potomac River, Marbury, Md.
May 15* Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Oct 1-2 Potomac River, Marbury, Md.
South Carolina Division
Feb 12 Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.
Feb 26 Santee Cooper Lakes, Summerton, S.C.
May 7 Lake Murray, Prosperity, S.C.
Jun 18 Clarks Hill Lake, Appling, Ga.
Sep 24-25 Lake Wateree, Camden, S.C.
Volunteer Division
Jan 29 Lake Chickamauga, Dayton, Tenn.
Mar 12 Cherokee Lake, Jefferson City, Tenn.
Apr 30 South Holston Reservoir, Bristol, Tenn.
May 21 Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.
Sep 10-11 Watts Bar Lake, Spring City, Tenn.
* Sunday
2022 Regionals:
Oct 6-8 Lake Murray, Prosperity, S.C.
Divisions: Bulldog, Choo Choo, Gator and Piedmont
Hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board
Oct 13-15 Pickwick Lake, Counce, Tenn.
Divisions: Bama, LBL, Music City and South Carolina
Hosted by Hardin County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Oct 13-15 Mississippi River – La Crosse, La Crosse, Wis.
Divisions: Hoosier, Illini, Michigan and Okie
Hosted by Explore La Crosse
Oct 20-22 Grand Lake, Grove, Okla.
Divisions: Arkie, Cowboy, Great Lakes and Ozark
Hosted by City of Grove and Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau
Oct 20-22 James River, Richmond, Va.
Divisions: Buckeye, North Carolina, Northeast and Shenandoah
Hosted by Richmond Region Tourism
Oct 20-22 Smith Lake, Cullman, Ala.
Divisions: Mississippi, Mountain, Savannah River and Volunteer
Hosted by Cullman Area LOC (Local Organizing Committee)
Nov 11-12 Wild Card: TBA
2022 All-American:
Jun 2-4 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark.
Hosted byVisit Hot Springs and Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
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Scroggins Feeds Finicky Bass a Petey Rig
The first time Florida bass fishing legends Terry “Big Show” Scroggins and Peter “T” Thliveros met, Scroggins was 10 years old and mowing the lawn at Ditto lure company where Thliveros worked as a teen pouring Ditto’s famous Fire Claws, and Gator Tail worms.
Both youngsters had dreams of fishing for a living, but it’s doubtful they imagined back in 1979 that Peter “T” would later create a unique finesse Carolina Rig that would put thousands of dollars in their pockets as pros.
Yes indeed, credit the “Petey Rig” for a portion of the $4 million dollars the two best buddies have won as pros, including Scroggins’ Bassmaster Open win at Lake Toho, and Thliveros’ victory at the 2007 Bassmaster Memorial at Onondaga Lake near Syracuse.
“Yup, I’ve known Pete for 42 years. And anytime you’re struggling to get a bite, that Petey Rig he came up with will save your butt,” insists Scroggins who also shares a love of cooking and grilling with Thliveros.
So, what exactly is a Petey Rig?
It’s sort of a finesse Carolina Rig without a glass bead or 2-way swivel. Scroggins throws it on spinning tackle. He first slides a 1/8 to 3/8-ounce worm weight on his line, then adds not one, but two bobber stoppers immediately behind.
He keeps about 18” of line between the bobber stoppers and the hook – to which he most often attaches either a 5” Zoom Super Fluke or a Big Show Kicker Tail worm. Of course, you can adjust the distance between your worm weight and the lure by simply sliding the bobber stoppers up or down your line.
The main line on Scroggins’ spinning reel is 10-pound braid, but he ties it to a 10-pound fluorocarbon leader.
Year round, and all three species – just Don’t fish it fast
“You’d think since we’re Florida boys this would be a warm water largemouth rig, but it’s not. It’ll catch smallmouth and spotted bass too. In fact, some of Pete and I’s best days with the Petey Rig have been up north around aquatic vegetation,” says Scroggins.
Scroggins says it really seems to shine in the fall of the year around vegetation, but he can’t emphasize enough that much like a shaky head or drop shot, the Petey Rig is an all seasons rig from north to south, hydrilla to rocks – anytime you need a bit of finesse to make ‘em bite.
“The whole key is to not get in a hurry. The best way to get bites is to leave it dead still for a couple seconds between every short hop or drag. If you fish it slow and let that Fluke or Kicker Tail sit still for a couple seconds, that’s where the magic is,” he emphasizes.
But what about the grub, bub?
Thliveros worked as chef for years in the family restaurant when not on the road competing, and Scroggins has been featured in his own grilling blog series. Neither men ever lack for a healthy appetite. Scroggins says Pete can even cook a wild hog on a rotisserie that is “off the chain delicious.”
But when bass seem to lack an appetite you can bet both these veteran Florida pros will serve up a Petey Rig as the featured menu item.
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