Dayton, TN (July 31) – This is the big one, the one with an opportunity to take it all! Team Garrett and Palmer are one of a hundred-plus anglers who fought their way into the final showdown on Lake Chickamauga. " Kyle and I have one thing on our minds, that is to take one day at a time and grind out every opportunity to put bass in the tank,” said John Coble Garrett. The Championship series has critical benchmarks that each team must accomplish. After two days of competition only the top 12 teams with the most weight will make the cut into Saturday’s final elimination day to be crowned Carhartt Bassmaster College National Team Champions.

Unlike other tournaments, the competition doesn’t end there. Next, the final four teams are split and each angler will go into individual bracket eliminations. Everyone’s previous totals are zeroed out. The eight become four; the four becomes two; then a winner-take-all champion is crowned. At the close of the bracket eliminations, the one college angler who put together the most consistent patterns, selected the best bait/rod combination and has exhibited outstanding technical skills will walk away with one of the most prestigious titles in college competition, the 2019 Bassmaster College Classic Champion.

“Bryan College will be a force, for sure. They are good anglers, plus Chick (Lake Chickamauga) is their home turf. With that also comes pressure to perform well,” said Garrett. Bethel teams have competed at Chickamauga in quite a few tournaments and are expected to do well. John Garrett has some added pressure. He would like nothing better than to capture another Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Championship. “I was blessed to win this event my sophomore year in 2017. It truly is a life changing experience. To win my senior year would qualify me into the Bassmaster Classic and entry into Bassmaster Open tournaments and really give me a kick start to the pro season,” said John.

John was determined to graduate college before entering into the professional world of competitive fishing. True to his word, he is graduating this year from Bethel University. “I don’t want to think ahead too much, just going to focus on one day at a time, from take-off to weigh-in. At the end of the day if I’ve fished the best I can, hopefully the results will keep us in striking distance. It’s really easy to get off your game, letting the pressure get to you, second guessing yourself. But for me, I try to lean on the Serenity Prayer to keep me calm and focused. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference,” said John Coble Garrett.

Where: Lake Chickamauga, Dayton, TN
What: 2019 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship
Date: August 1-3, 2019
Take-off: 6:40 am Dayton Boat Dock
Weigh-in: 3:00 pm Point Park

If you have never had the opportunity to fish the St. Lawrence River, this is a place to put on your bucket list. It is one of the most outstanding fisheries I’ve ever fished. If you like bass fishing – small or largemouth – this is the place. Kyle and I made the 16-hour drive competing in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship June 19th -21st. The tournament was a slugfest to say the least. Many anglers were catching their biggest small bass ever. It was pretty common to see everyone’s bag with a limit of 5 each weighing four pounds or better.

The St. Lawrence River was crystal clear and the bass were spawning which allowed everyone to weigh in heavy bags. On day one we were in 26th place with 23.6 pounds, but we were under the cut line of the elite twelve by only a little over a pound.

Going into the second day the weather conditions changed to steady rain and cooler temperatures throughout the day. I felt this might give us an advantage, plus on day one we were in the last flight out so we would be one of the first on the river starting day two. Down South it rains during the spring, and you just have to deal with it if you’re going fishing. Keeping focused and taking advantage of every bit was the mind set. At the end of the day most of the teams had experienced a little drop off from day one. We had to overtake fourteen teams and hold off the rest of the field to make it into the top twelve. For day two we posted a weight of 22.3 pounds, putting us in third place for a short time. We knew third wasn’t going to hold up, but we felt it could keep us in the top 12. It turned out to be a long, wet couple of hours until the last few minutes before the last of the leaders weighed in … and we made it!

We went from 26th place to 9th place. Fishing on the final day is what every team shoots for. This was the final event of the regular-season college tournaments for 2019 and the last opportunity to punch a qualifying spot qualifying into the 2019 Carhartt Bassmaster College National Championship held in August.

On day three all 12 teams had the river pretty much to ourselves, but most of the bass had been caught and moved out of the beds. 149 teams had been fishing for two days so lots of bass had been taken off spawning beds and spots fished out.

We had four bass in the tank early, all weighing around 4 pounds, but we needed something in the five-pound range to take the lead. All day we were culling by a few ounces and sweating each tick of the clock knowing time was running out. It was pressure packed day!

Bassmaster really makes a production out of weigh-in on the final day. Each team is brought up to the stage riding in their own boat, allowing us to take each fish out of the tank while everyone is watching. Friends, family members, teammates, coaches…everyone is watching. As Kyle and I stepped out of my Skeeter FX21 onto the main stage for the final weigh-in results we both were doing math in our heads of just what we needed to take over the hot seat. It seemed like it took forever for our active bass to settle down before the official weight was locked in and recorded. Twenty-one pounds and eight ounces – that’s what the announcer called out – for three-day total of 67.1! Good, but not enough to unseat the leaders.

Only a few teams remained to weigh in after us. We ended up in 6th place AND we qualified for the prestigious 2019 Carhartt Bassmaster College Championship held on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee, August 1-3, 2019. As they say, it’s not over yet….we live another day to fish for a National Championship. I won the 2016 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket my sophomore year and would love to finish my senior year in style as the 2019 Champion. That would certainly kick start my professional career.

Waddington, NY (June 18) – “Coming off with a great fifth place finish at the recent 2019 YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship on the Potomac River has really gotten me pumped up and ready to take on the St. Lawrence River with my teammate Kyle Palmer. Both Kyle and I have been trying so hard to find the perfect balance to get back to our winning form. Winning at the first 2019 Major League Fishing College head-to-head tournament really helped bolster our confidence,” said John Coble Garrett.

The team of Garrett and Palmer has the skills and experience needed to bring in winning weights each day, to make the cut, and contend for the top prize, but of course there are several teams that can say the same thing. It's a very tough sport and, after all, Bass are moving targets.

“The St. Lawrence River is known for exceptional Bass fishing, and it could be a real slugfest between all the college teams in competition. I am hoping practice goes well and we find a few sweet spots. With a five-Bass limit it would be great to have a mixed bag of smallmouth and hopefully land a game changing bigmouth or two,” said John. “I’ve fished the St. Lawrence before and it’s the kind of place where on any given day everyone will be catching fish. If that happens, the standings will be very close each day with day two weigh-in determining who’ll make the cut. The St. Lawrence River is one of the finest Bass spots in the country that offers a myriad of challenges and opportunities. Our best plan it to go fast, catch 5 early, and start culling and be consistent, building each day.”

Where: Whitaker Park, Waddington, NY
What: 2019 Bassmaster College Tour – St. Lawrence River
When: June 19-21, 2019
Take-off: 5:30 AM ET
Weigh-in: Days 1-2 Whitaker Park at 1:30 PM, Waddington, NY
Day 3 Clarkson University at 1:30 PM, Potsdam, NY

Marbury, MD (June 4, 2019) –"It's a very exciting time," Garrett said. "Brian Pahl and I are heading into round 1 of 3 days of competitive fishing at the 2019 YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship on the Potomac River. The winning team earns an entry into the coveted FKW Cup in August. Brian and I have a great track record of bringing in daily limits and heavy bags and making runs at tournament championships.

"Tournament fishing is a zero-tolerance competitive world. You can’t win a tournament on the first day but you certainly can sink into a deep hole. It’s extremely important to stay focused and keep grinding out every fishing opportunity. The preparation during practice sets the stage for the days ahead. Patterns developed, selection of bait and tackle – all have to be perfect, nothing can be left to chance. There's just no room for error as any one of the 148 qualified teams is capable of winning. It just takes a hot bed of keepers and a heavy weigh-in.

“We hope to get our limit of five in the box early and start culling. Ounces can make a difference from finishing first or in the middle of the pack. Bass can be very finicky this time of the year, some are still spawning and others are coming out of the spawn; we have several strategies to hopefully entice some big bites. Brian and I haven’t fished together since he graduated last year. It’s fun to be in the boat again. One thing for sure, we will go full throttle, all-out, heads down, Yahama cranking, Skeeter streaking with our Lews Rods and Strike King baits locked down.”

Where: Smallwood State Park Marina – June 4th, 5th and 6th
What: 2019 YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship
Take-off: Days 1 -2-3 at 7:00 AM ET
Weigh-in: Days 1-2-3 at 3:00 – 7:00 PM ET
Format: Second day is cut day, only the top ten teams will advance to the third day to earn the title of 2019 YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship team.

Florence, Alabama (May 21) - Hot and sunny Florence, Alabama on the beautiful waters of Pickwick Lake. Nothing better that representing Bethel University with my partner Kyle in the 14th Annual BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shop...well, winning is better. Got a great day of practice with all the right equipment: Skeeter, Yahama, PowerPole, Strike King, Lews and, of course, a great pair of Costa shades.

Special thanks to Yamaha for putting on the Angler Appreciation Night. It was great to relax and take a break from practice and preparation before Thursday and Friday’s pressure packed tournament days. Practice days are just crazy for me. I get so focused on where to go, what to use and how’s the weather going to affect the bass. So it was a great night for everyone. And for me, I could unwind and think about something other than patterns, baits and rods selection.

A special thanks to all the sponsors for great products and support. Kyle and I were already instant winners, just competing; Bass Pro Shop gave us a $25.00 gift card. I think I’ll save mine for Father’s Day…who said anglers aren’t resourceful.

Honestly, everyone has a chance for a lot of swag, prizes and gifts. The host and sponsors make it so much fun being a part of BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, and Florence Tourism certainly rolls out the red carpet for everyone.

Where: May 20-24, Pickwick Lake, Florence, Alabama
What: 14th Annual BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shop
Take-off: McFarland Park 6am
Weigh-in: McFarland Park 2pm

WOW! What an opportunity Major League Fishing made available for all my Bethel University teammates and me to compete in a head-to-head competition with Bryan College on Watts Bar Lake (Dayton, Tennessee). MLF put together the inaugural College Face-Off tournament. The format was different than most tournaments we fish; to say it’s an exciting duel to the last boat standing is an understatement. Kyle and I were so focused that we didn’t drink or eat anything until close to weigh-in. (That’s saying a lot for two college students; we like to eat!)

The SCORETRACKER LIVE system made it super easy for everyone to score fish weights. Immediately after the catch, our bass was weighed and the total number of legal size bass was recorded and added to our total weight. We tallied up 42 legal limit bass for a grand total of 86-15 pounds taking home first place for Bethel Wildcats. We had one of those dream days and so did the bass we caught … they were back in the water – not in our live well– to keep Watts Bar Lake stocked for other anglers to enjoy the experience of landing a” Big Mouth Bass “.

If you just look at the number of bass we caught and the weight you would think it was a perfect day on Watts Bar Lake, but it was a day of decision making and some rain as well. Using Strike King bait and my Lews Rod put me in the zone, and then adding the SCORETRACKER to the mix certainly was a game changer for us. We were fishing for pre-spawn fish and had moderate success with a few fish but once the rain let up we checked the live SCORETRACKER and found one of the Bryan teams had accumulated 25 pounds. What we were doing wasn’t even close to getting us to the weight we needed. A decision was made to make a change, and thankfully that was the right choice. It was instant success. Like instant score tracking, we started catching keeper fish! Normally you don’t know where you stand and you continue with the same bait and pattern, you think you are doing what’s needed but the moment of truth comes at final weigh-in, too late to make adjustments.

Having the right baits, is a must, especially in tournament fishing, my Skeeter FX21 is designed with the perfect locations for all my tackle and rods. The design of the Skeeter FX21 provides easy access to everything, even with two competitive anglers in the same boat hooking and landing. One tip, I paired my Skeeter with a Yahama 250HP. I can lay the throttle open, get to any of my spots, without sucking up too much gas.

Both Kyle and I were well equipped to make the needed change, and the standout bait was a Strike King Rage Bug. If you don’t have this bait in your arsenal, you need to put the Strike King Rage Bug 4” soft tail on top of the list. It’s sort of ugly but very attractive to bass, it’s especially good for flipping, and we did a lot of flipping.

It was certainly fun to be a part of MLF history making the first ever College Face-Off tournament, to be on the main stage, to be interviewed live during the Bass Pro Tour Postgame Show and, most of all, hoisting the MLF College Face-Off Shield . Bethel College seized the day winning the College Over All Challenge and we took 1 st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th and 10th places making it a pretty nice grand slam day.

Thanks Major League Fishing!

I am not necessarily a Groundhog fan but Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring and a delegate of Bethel Bass Team members are headed South. Our first tournament with FLW is a one day on Lake Seminole out of Brainbridge, Ga……so I guess Punxsutawney was right, it’s an early spring for us WildCats.

I’m starting 2019 with a new fishing partner, Kyle Palmer (2017 Bassmaster High School All-American), although we did fish together in November in the 2018 Murray State Fall Invitational out of Paris Landing State Park in Buchannan, Tn. The weather conditions challenged everyone, high winds and a few whitecaps. Overall, despite the tough conditions, Kyle and I were able to grind out a limit of five bass limit weighing in just over 18 ½ pounds to take first place at the Murray State Fall Invitational.

We both have high expatiations for the 2019 tournament season. Our first tournament is a one day event with very little water time making it extremely pressure packed. Preparation is a key factor in getting ready for any tournament.

It’s a lot like Christmas, finally I get to breakout my new Mark Davis Rods by Lews, new reels and a dozen or so new Strike King lures. My reels are spooled with Seaguar monofilament clear 15 pound line and my lures sport new Owner Hooks treble hooks making sure when a lurker strikes, he’ll find his want into the box.

This will be Kyle’s and my inaugural outing in my Skeeter FX21 with a Yamaha SHO 250 powerhouse and official for points chase and qualifying for the year end championships. We’ll make the trip in my slightly used 2013 F150 with engine tuning by Hypertech’s Max Energy programmer. My main goal in selecting a programmer, I wanted towing power and better fuel mileage, Hypertech didn’t disappoints. A.R.E. Accessories hooked me up with a superfine topper and completed deal, sending me to Cars & Trucks ETC in Memphis, Tn. for the install. Barbara Cole made arrangements for me to come to Memphis for the installation. The Topper paint was flawless and the Oxford white match perfectly with my truck. The installers at Cars & Truck make an easy task of the installation, right down to the remote locking and keyless entry feature. I love that feature, it comes in handy when you are loading and unloading, walk away and can’t remember if everything is lock up…just hit the remote and it’s done. The driver and passenger side were vented and sported screens to keep pest out but fresh air in. The inside is well lit with added LED Dome light, Prop Switch and dual rope lights. Up top sports Yakima skyline towers to support my home-made dual rod pods.

Arriving on site, registering and getting settled in when smoothly, everyone at FLW were right on top of things as well as everyone associated with Bainbridge Convention and Visitor Bureau. I believe 173 teams registered for the Southeastern Conference. Kyle and I had about a day and half to try to put a pattern together, practice actually didn’t go as planned. Thank goodness everyday is a new day, drawing an early pill we were out in the early morning dawn, that was the first time I’ve ever been number one out, you don’t have much time to get nervous so that’s a plus. We went to a site where we had caught one during practice and on our first pass we landed 15, culling early takes some pressure off, knowing we have the limit but we just couldn’t he the big ones to bite. What Kyle and I were serving up wasn’t appealing enough for the big bass. What I finally used was an oldie but goodie top water bait call a Devil’s Horse it has great action, easy to cast and has some adjustment on how much water you want the bait to throw, you can work it slow or you can use a fast pace for a quicker retrieve.

The weigh-in time came way too soon, being first at weigh-in is unsettling to say the least, you don’t know what’s in the tank behind you, so Kyle and I had to sweat it out. I was extremely pleased with fuel mileage from my 250 SHO Yamaha, we fished tournament day and the day and half practice using less than one tank of fuel. (3) Guys, that’s a winner, during three day tournaments in the past sometimes I would get a little concerned making wide open long runs out and back. For the most part, the sweet spot was about 3,000 RPMs but when I went Wide Open Throttle the response RPM quickly hit 6,000 and we were clocking around 75 MPH.

We had a 5 bass limit, no big bass but legal length, all alive and we weighed in 16 pounds – 14 ounce to come in 12th overall. Bethel had a good showing, we had three teams in the top twenty place Bethel University in second place for School of the Year with 585 points just being the winning team of University of Montevallo with 594 points. Congratulations to everyone and again, thanks to FLW and Bainbridge for hosting a great tournament.

Going into my Senior year at Bethel University, so much is on my mind. Graduation is certainly a big accomplishment and goal, plus, of course, competing full-time as a pro fisherman. But right now I am thankful for school break and hunting season. Working as a duck guide allows me to earn money to support my living expenses, school expenses and tournament fishing costs.

As the season is ending and Tournament fishing is starting, I wanted to personally thank all my clients for giving me a great season. Everyone of you is a part of my success in school, in the blind and on the fishing tour. Without your support I couldn’t travel and pre-fish prior to tournaments.

I look forward to next season, shoving out of Parker’s Outfitting located on the World Famous Reelfoot Lake, back hunkered down in a duck blind with a group of hunting enthusiasts ready to bag a limit of Mallards. You have to love the sport as work begins at 4:30 am in all kinds of weather Monday through Friday, but the big reward is clients enjoying the waters of Reelfoot, the Cypress stumps and seeing a flow of Mallards being called in by the sound of my duck call, a steady rhythm of a clean, crisp quacks talking the birds into coming closer within our range.

My clients and friends come from all over America to West Tennessee, and many are repeats from previous seasons. I try to provide something good to eat for those early morning outings. Once the ducks start making their way in everyone only has an appetite for the hunt. Always remember to hunt responsibility and legally and never overharvest our waterfowl.

For now, I’m pulling my spread of decoys, hanging up my waders and heading south to Lake Seminole with my fishing partner for the Yeti FLW College Southern Conference opener.

Check out some short instructional videos we made with Bassmaster to help you become a better angler.

THE RIGHT SPOON COMBO
GRAPHING ANGLES

QUICK BIG CRANK RETRIEVE
DEEP CRANKING

You have the electronics but the question is: are you getting the most out of your equipment. Frankly, it is difficult to understand what the screen is telling you and, certainly, setting up everything is just as confusing.

I had an article featured on Bassmaster.com titled “Looking For Beans On Your Sonar Screen” where I do a short and sweet overview of what the viewing screen is showing. Thinking about this article and about this essential piece of equipment (article found on my news page) I felt that one-on-one training would go a long way in helping you understand what your electronics can do for you. Whether you use a Humminbird or Lowrance or anything in-between, I can help navigate through the process. I am offering training sessions in September. I will provide my boat or we can set up everything using your boat and equipment. When finished, your graph will be set to perfection. I will show you what I look for offshore and most importantly, how to correctly set up on a school of fish.

This will be one of the most productive times spent on the water in real fishing conditions. Whether you are a beginner, an intermediate or more advanced, I can help. I started fishing at an early age when this type of equipment wasn’t even available. I fished on the Obion County High School team, as well as being a member of the Reelfoot Lake Bass Club, and now fish for the Bethel University Bass team, so I’ve grown up getting the most out of sonar technology. Let me help you or your young angler get an edge on the competition or just more put the big ones in the box. You’ll leave with the confidence of not only catching more fish, but we’ll take the “scary” out of the equation and you can out-fish your buddies or the competition.

For more details email me or message me on facebook. Contact info here.

Driving to tournaments Brian Pahl and I are usually talking about fishing gear, patterns, water conditions...just plain getting focused on the tournament at hand. Sort of ironic, not sure who remember that Jimmy Houston, grew up on Lake Tenkiller anyway, we started talking about the pro’s pro. We sort of laughed, both of us are sporting our Coasta sunglasses, Jimmy Houston invented his own brand, blond hair, big bass and sunglasses. He is a classic example of someone who truly is a fishing professional in a boat or in front of a camera! To think what he accomplished in the days before all the state-of-the-art electronics, perfected fishing gear and yes, Coasta sunglasses. Something so simple as sunglasses can certainly give you an edge on the water, just as I customize my fishing gear, I’ve got different Costa’s handy while fishing. Why? Because the light conditions are ever changing. I like the green and copper shades , the seem to work for me overall. We launch early dawn and as the sun comes up, we’re fighting blinding glare conditions. Casting to a target area, is a whole lot easier when you’re not fighting glare or sunrays bouncing off the water. I’m just saying, I guess Jimmy was on the edge of that, long time ago.

Anyway, it’s pretty cool to image Jimmy Houston on Lake Tenkiller, what his patterns would be. Would he head straight to the shoreline where there’s plenty of brush and willows? Or hit the marinas and floating boat docks? There are lots of largemouth bass between two and four maybe five pounder or should we set our sights on the smallmouth? There should be plenty of fish to bag a 5 fish limit. All-in-all, we’re going to do our best Jimmy Houston impression, filling the box, high-fiving and having fun on Jimmy’s Tenkiller Lake!

“Going to school at Bethel and being a part of the Bass Fishing Team has meant everything to me. The opportunity that I have to excel and to impact the younger team members is very special. The Bass Fishing team has given me the discipline to be a better student and a better angler. I want to pursue a future as a professional angler and this program and its reputation has opened up so many doors for me.”
~ John Garrett, Business Management Major, Member of the 2018 National Championship Bethel Bass Fishing Team

“Thanks to John and all of his teammates for a huge year here at Bethel University. Go Bethel Bass Cats.”
~ Coach Garry Mason

Brian and I are hoping our fireworks go off next week! We travel to Tahlequah, Oklahoma for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. We will be fishing in crystal clear water with 13 miles of shoreline just inviting us to set Strike King bait right in a bass honey hole. Hopefully, our preparation will pay off and our practice will produce Lews rod-bending lurkers.

We had a little time during tournaments to get everything organized. Tournament fishing – or just challenging your partner – is all about preparation. The longer you fish the more you realize paying attention to the details is mandatory to any successful outing. Don’t take anything for granted. Here’s a quick rundown: boating equipment; live-well, clean and aerating properly; batteries load tested, fully charged; Power-Poles functioning; my Yahama, a quick inspection from top to bottom. Yes, check the trailer to make sure the tires are in good shape. It’s summer, it’s hot and you don’t want to start on a 500-mile trip and be on the side of the road changing tires. And finally my Ford F-150, full of gas and loaded with my lucky “Ding Dong” snacks and our YETI cooler full of iced-down cold water, a necessity to keep hydrated.

Now, the fun part, picking out the right bait! Strike King offers a variety of lures for any type of fishing or water condition. Lures are like women’s shoes, you can never have too many. Since I like to customize my lures, Mark Menendez has a dye kit with color selections that’ll turn a Rodent into a tasty looking Bluegill. For this trip, I’ve made sure if any of my baits needs a touch up, it’s done and packed in one of several of my BassMafia boxes. I label my boxes so when I’m on the water and need to make a change, I’m not having to look through a tangled mess. I change out the hooks regularly. If you use Ownerhooks you may not need to change them as often as I do, but these tournaments are critical, and especially the Carhartt Bassmaster one is a biggie. I inspect my line, again just to make sure it’ll cast out smoothly. I just don’t have issues with Seaguar line.

Tenkiller Lake was named after a Cherokee warrior who got his name for the ten notches on his bow. Well, Brian and I are going to war attacking the shoreline and everything in-between to come up with 10 outstanding patterns, 10 game changing rod bending lurkers and 10 finger grips on some awesome competition weigh-in bags.

Follow Team Bethel, Brian Pahl and John Garrett, July 19-21th at BassMaster.com.

Florence, Alabama, Pickwick Lake was the final leg for earning points for the ACA School of the Year Award and also the Cabela’s Boat US National Championship. Bethel University headed into the event several points in the lead, but anything can happen when you’re on the water.

With over 340 anglers – 170 boats all total – we all had our work cut out for us. Coach Mason put together a strategy at the beginning of the season to put us into position to take home a championship.

There is a song “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” that certainly fits the Bethel Wildcat team. We all believed in each other and believed in Coach’s plan. On this road of “winding turns” the quest took us to new lakes and rivers; we fished in cold and hot weather; we battled the rain and wind. But all of us managed to stack on valuable ACA SOY points by making critical cuts, Team Bethel finishing in the top five at most events, winning big bass of the tournament and, of course, taking home first place. As the song says, each of us is “strong enough” to carry the other when they are down.

Cole Floyd and Carter McNeal made a statement letting our competition know, we are TEAM Bethel, Team Wildcats, weighing in a big bag of over twenty pounds to take the first day lead of the two day Cabela’s Boat US National Championship tournament. Nothing fires you up more than seeing a teammate take the lead in a major championship. Big Cole and Carter went back to back bring in a killer bag the second day clinching the Cabela's Boat US National Championship! Cole Walker & Hunter Louden, Brian Pahl & I, and KJ Queen & Evan Owrey rounded out the Bethel squad for the Championship win at Pickwick Lake and ACA School of the Year honors.

As the season winds down, I have much to be thankful for, but it is sad to see teammates graduating and especially my teammate Brian Pahl, who drew the short straw and got the incoming freshman as his new fishing partner. Brian and I are fishing in our last events together as the season winds down. I was so lucky to fish with Brian, I couldn’t have asked for a better partner and friend. It’s been a long, long road together – we’ve netted lunkers, baby keepers, made cuts, won tournaments and celebrated with him, my coaches, and teammates as the newly crowned ACA School of the Year Champion. It is a blessing and a memory etched with a little fish slime for life.

As the song goes, “If I’m laden at all, I’m laden with sadness that everyone’s heart isn’t filled with the gladness of love for one another.”

Brian and I are qualified for the FLW National Championship, so we are headed to Shreveport, Louisiana. Hopefully fishing will be good...and we can make the head-to-head championship final taking place May 30th – June 1st.

Brian Pahl and I are in the running for 2018 Bassmaster College Team of the Year less than six points out of first place. It’s an awesome accomplishment given the competition we face during tournament season to be ranked at the top and close to a show down. It’s certainly an honor for us and our school, Bethel University.

The last points earning event is at Clear Lake, Lakeport, California May 23rd – 25th. It’s a haul of over 2500 miles and right after the Boat US Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship event. It’s a difficult situation but both Brian and I made the decision to stay home and not travel. We have too much at stake with upcoming Championship tournaments. We feel our best efforts should be to support and contribute to our Bethel Wildcat team goals.

In the South we have the famous Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, well; we have the National Championship Trail right here and right now. Team Pahl and Garrett will be representing Bethel fishing for the FLW National Championship in Shreveport, Louisiana - May 30 – June 1st. The first order of business…. team to win the Championship or at least one of the Bethel Wildcat teams in competition if we can’t bring it home.

Then next on the National Championship Trail list; 2018 Carharrtt Bassmaster College Series National Championship in Oklahoma. We have our eyes set on repeating and make the 2018 Carharrtt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Series one more time…that’s the money spot. As you can see, our events are packed back to back but that’s the goal, qualify for the major tournaments and hopefully with the Grace of God, we will be on a winning streak. Team Pahl and Garrett will head to Tahlequah, Oklahoma to participate in the National Championship July 19th – 21st. Bethel has eight teams qualified for the final Championship so everyone is looking for a strong showing and bringing home a National Championship for Bethel University.

Really, it wasn’t that hard for Brian and I to pass on the Team of the Year competition, there’s next year. When the points are finally tabulated, wherever we may end up in the standings, we have great pride knowing we have fished strong all year against the nation’s best. Best of luck to the particaption teams and congratulations to the winning team of the year.

College Team of the Year

Remember those professional “backlash” you would end up on your reel? Well, I kind of feel like one...only in a good way. The Bethel Bass Team has been on a mission for the past several weeks to out-fish every other angler to bring in ACA/Cabela’s School of the Year honors. We have had back-to-back-to-back tournaments, along with end of school exams and lots of ups and downs. Bottom line, it has been well worth the effort with the results of Bethel University going into the final event of the season with the lead.

It’s hard to say we have dominated the waters, but if one teammate seemed to falter, another Bethel Wildcats teammate put us on their back with an outstanding performance. Coach Gary Mason certainly put together an aggressive plan for 2018...nothing like a little pressure. Pressure situations can either bring out the best in you or you can fold, and I’m all in. Letting your school or your teammates down isn’t acceptable, and you can’t ask for better support. We are Bethel Wildcats, we are a team with one mind set, when one wins we all win!

Consistency is key to the Wildcat team’s success. We have fished in the cold, in the rain, on choppy waters, and in areas that were so congested we needed a crossing guard to get our boats through the maze. But the Wildcat anglers put together a season that has kept us in the lead for ACA/Cabela’s School of the Year honors as well as setting a new school record for the most teams to qualify for the Bass Masters National Championship with eight boats/sixteen anglers, and we have qualified teams as well for the FLW National Championship in Shreveport, Louisiana.

It’s been a tradition for the Garrett family to fish Reelfoot Lake as well as being part of the Reelfoot Bass Club events. I grew up around the Bass Club members; each one played a big part in my love for fishing and outdoors in general. My Grandfather, Johnny Garrett, my Uncle, Ricky Kelly, Gordon Fox, Billy Davis and Brent Callicott have mentored me in so many ways. Everyone is so supported of my efforts to turn pro. These guys are competitive but willing to nurture a sometimes stubborn know-it-all kid. Shoot, Brent Callicott still has the record for the largest Bass weighted in during the tournament’s 25 year history. In 2006 at the Reelfoot Open Buddy Bass Tournament Brent weighed-in a large mouth that registered 7 pounds 13 ounces….maybe next year I’ll put a lunker to overtake the reigning king.

The last tournament to collect points is the BOAT US Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship held May 21st -25th at Pickwick Lake, Florence, Alabama. Brian and I are one of several Bethel Wildcat teams scheduled for the Championship event. It is extremely competitive and one of the toughest tournaments to win with an extra incentive of being the last points event for ACA/Cabela’s School of the Year. Plus, at this tournament, teams will receive double points to add to year-end totals. Sunday, May 20th and Monday, May 21st are our first practice days. These are the days Brian and I will use to put together the plan. As soon as we have safe light we’ll head out in my Skeeter FX21, crank up the Yamaha 250, dial in using a Hummingbird fishfinder, and return only at sundown. It is critical to put together a pattern – really a couple of patterns – that’ll give us a five lunker limit each tournament day. During practice we will test several LEWS rods, throw countless Strike King lures, and make sure we have the right type of Seaguar line and the sharpest Owner Hooks. When I get a strike, I make sure the hook is set solid and the line will hold giving Big Head Bass no opportunity of escaping the box. Just a little tip: fishing from dawn to dusk, your eyes get extremely tired squinting from the glare. If you’re not using Coasta sunglasses, you’re missing what your competition is seeing. As they say Coasta-Born on the Water.

Taking first place in the oldest running tournament on Reelfoot Lake was an honor for Kyler Chelminiak (a Bethel Bass Cat team mate) and me. The tournament was Saturday, March 31, 2018 launching from Kirby’s Pocket in Obion County, Tennessee. Kyler hails from Franklin, Wisconsin and it was his first time fishing in the West Tennessee tournament and on Reelfoot Lake. It was also an opportunity for me to put my new Skeeter F21 Bass boat through its paces. Conditions were pretty good considering all the rain and cooler weather temperatures we’ve been having as well as having some gusting winds. The lake was above average (up about 1.5 feet) and muddy in some spots. We were able to find clear water in the middle section of the lake allowing us to land the 5 fish limit (even made a cull or two). The water was warmer in that area making good conditions for spawning bass. Our total winning weight was 18.89 pounds plus we hauled in a 4 pound 12 ounce bass to win the Second Big Bass award of the tournament in a tie-breaker. Both Kyler and I are college students at Bethel University, so splitting the cash prizes goes a long way in helping offset school expenses.

As with any outing, tournament or pleasure fishing, you have to have a good execution plan especially fishing a one day tournament. Selecting the right fishing gear can be a little tricky. One of my go to rods is a Lew’s Mark rose Ledge 6 ‘10” medium action spinning rod with Seaguar fluorocarbon 8.4b finesse line.

I have been in some crazy gusting winds that blow like crazy and then calm just as quick, so, you have to make good decisions on your rigging. I don’t need any combination that will be temperamental, just set me up with anything that flows easily and without a lot effort. Comfortable, accurate and consistent are key elements to catching big fish. I cast countless number of times and for that reason I use a Lew’s rod, it’s extremely comfortable in my hands, very easy on my palm and my arm and hand doesn’t get tired or fatigued during the day. My rod and reel combination is very lightweight allowing for a smooth range of motion and long range casting distance when needed. My Lew’s spinning reel feeds the Seaguar line smoothly with little drag or friction. For the Reelfoot tournament, I selected Strike King’s Perfect Plastics bait, it’s a soft scented plastic Rodent that’ll attract bass to strike and hold on. The Rodent is very flexible allowing for better bait action to lure stubborn fish to strike. But of course, most of us like to customize our bait. The three inch rodent from Strike King is a blue craw color, but I dipped the end of my Rodent in a Chartreuse color dye from my Mark Menendez Dye Kit. I met Mark Menendez (Paducah Kentucky Elite Pro) several years ago; he has always had time to talk fishing and the importance of staying in school and graduate college. I have a lot of respect for Mark, and this simple Dyeing2fish Dyesafe box that he endorses can help make your bait even more attractive to the bass. I’ve put a lot of bass in the box using the colored dye kit to customize many of my baits. My Rodent dipped with the Chartreuse (it’s between a yellow and green color) resemble a bluegill and bass love to feed on bluegills. All in all, the combination worked well for Kyler and me, putting bass-in-the box, picking up trophies and cash, that’s a good fishing day.

It’s been a tradition for the Garrett family to fish Reelfoot Lake as well as being part of the Reelfoot Bass Club events. I grew up around the Bass Club members; each one played a big part in my love for fishing and outdoors in general. My Grandfather, Johnny Garrett, my Uncle, Ricky Kelly, Gordon Fox, Billy Davis and Brent Callicott have mentored me in so many ways. Everyone is so supported of my efforts to turn pro. These guys are competitive but willing to nurture a sometimes stubborn know-it-all kid. Shoot, Brent Callicott still has the record for the largest Bass weighted in during the tournament’s 25 year history. In 2006 at the Reelfoot Open Buddy Bass Tournament Brent weighed-in a large mouth that registered 7 pounds 13 ounces….maybe next year I’ll put a lunker to overtake the reigning king.

I wanted to shout out to each of my sponsors that supported the Reelfoot Open Buddy Bass Tournament. I know everyone appreciates the support! Again, thanks to Final Flight, Strike King Lure Company, and Union City Marine.

My new Skeeter FX21 bass boat is bad to the bone, but there’s a lot more to the boat than meets the eye. It’s loaded to the gills with some awesome features that come standard with the FX21 package. It’ll be hard for me to describe everything in just one writing. I really want to allot an appropriate amount of space for the review of my new “office”. I can’t do the Skeeter office justice in just a few words. If you’re like me, what you fish out of is a major investment. You’ll want to do your homework to find what works best for you, and I hope my boating experience might help narrow down your selection.

I’ll break it down in a couple of segments over the next few weeks, starting with giving a quick view, then follow up with specifics such as the Yamaha V Max 250 motor and Minn Kota trolling motor, then I’ll hit on storage, livewell tanks and, believe it or not, the full-flex sport seats. Oh, I almost forgot, I want to talk about the trailer as well.

Waiting for delivery, I was a little apprehensive and wondered if the FX21 would meet expectations. To say it surpassed my expectations is an understatement! It only took one outing to understand how it’s packed with more unbridled power and comfort than anything I had been in before. The exceptional quality is built in from stem to stern. Certainly it’s easy to see that Skeeter’s 70 years of experience in manufacturing boats has been applied to perfection on this piece of watercraft.

Everything has its place – Skeeter blended high-end features exactly where they should be located! I wasn’t fumbling around trying to figure out where to store my gear, rods and tackle – there is a place for everything. I especially appreciate the design of the livewell system. It has two independent pumps for aeration, the tanks are deeper, and Skeeter has an oxygenation system that keeps the fish healthier and calmer while in the tank. Keeping your catch alive and healthy is key to making the cut and winning tournaments. A dead fish equals an automatic weight deduction from your daily weigh-in total. As hard as it is to land a bass, you sure don’t want to go backwards with a penalty. Personally, it’s very important to properly handle the fish from the moment it’s landed, put in the box and during weigh-in. My goal is to get credit for the fish and release it undamaged back into its home waters. I like to imagine the next angler’s thrill of landing my “Mr. Big Mouth”. Who knows, it might be the Big Bass of the Tournament.

Well, for now, I’ll close until the next segment – Commanding the water with the ultimate driving machine...

Our coach, Garry Mason, has put together a strategic plan for our 2018 fishing season to become the 2018 Cabela’s School of the Year winner. It’s one thing to have a plan, but it’s another to execute and fish up to everyone’s expectations (no pressure, right?). After the Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash tournament results were posted Bethel University is still leading. It’s a long season and the #1 ranking will continue to be challenged, but all of my Bethel Bass Cats teammates are focused on being consistent, finishing, placing and earning valuable points.

I was lucky to earn a fishing scholarship to attend Bethel. I am proud to say that almost any college-level angler who is fishing on a scholarship should appreciate the fact that Garry Mason with Bethel University was the first school to offer bass angler scholarships for a member of the fishing team in 2010.

Current Cabela’s School of the Year Top 10 teams:

1. Bethel University (McKenzie, TN)

2. University of North Alabama (Florence, AL) *2014 & 2015 Cabela’s SOY Winner

3. Auburn University (Auburn, AL)

4. Murray State University (Murray, KY)

5. Adrian College (Adrian, MI)

6. McKendree University (Lebanon, IL)

7. Bryan College (Dayton, TN) *2017 Cabela’s SOY Winner

8. University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)

9. University of Louisiana – Monroe (Monroe, LA) *2013 Cabela’s SOY Winner

10. Mississippi State (Starkville, MS)

It’s not my fault … just look at this photograph taken over fifty years ago. You’ll see three generations of Garretts standing on the dock at Buchanan’s Resort on Kentucky Lake.

Hunting and fishing have always been part of my life, just like my Dad. My Paws put a fishing pole in my hand when I was a toddler, and he spent time showing me the wonders of nature. Many days were spent on Kentucky Lake, Reelfoot Lake and every pond in between, fishing and telling fish tales. My Paws once told me he caught a whale in those waters at Kentucky Lake … I really didn’t believe him until last week when my Bethel fishing teammate hauled in a big mouth lunker right into my new Skeeter office. Brian Pahl had the top bass in this year’s Big Bass Bash with a weight of 9.22 pounds, so I guess my Paws might have landed a whale, or maybe he’s shared the story so many times, the minnow might have gotten a little bigger.

There is no question about it: it’s in my DNA. Pictured are my Great-Great Granddad, Coble; my Granddad, Johnny (Paws); and my Dad, Van standing on the dock at Buchannan’s Resort in Paris, Tennessee. Why wouldn’t it be?

The last several weeks have been as unpredictable as the weather….Team Bethel has been hitting the tournament trail focused on lunker bags, tournament placing and earning points for Bethel University. All that said, the Skeeter family knocked it out of the park! My office has no doors, no walls…it a Skeeter ultimate FX 21 bass boat. If you have ever moved into a new house, a new dorm or into a new office you know the craziness that happens. I was switching everything from one boat to the other, really not taking too much time thinking about exactly where to put all my gear into the new bass boat. Image being so overwhelmed with the awesomeness of the new bass boat: new features, new bin locations, new livewells plus a different operating system stacked just days before fishing in a FLW YETI College tournament 300 miles away at Lake Guntersville, Alabama. Now, don’t think I am complaining, no way! The smile across my face is still as big as a wide mouth Texas bass. It hasn’t really soaked in – THIS is my floating office, my link to hitting the professional trail after graduation.

On the inaugural trip, the Skeeter FX 21 was everything I imagined and more, and why wouldn’t it be? Skeeter has manufactured tournament winning boats for the professional angler as well as boats for any level of fishing for over 70 years. The first trip may not have been a tournament win, but Brian Pahl (my Bethel teammate) and I earned a spot into the 2019 FLW College National Championship by qualifying at Lake Guntersville. That takes the pressure off slightly, now being qualified for both College Championships, the FLW and Carhartt BassMaster.

I have so much to learn and experience with my new Skeeter. I am excited to get back into the boat fishing an FLW Open on Kentucky Lake (March 6 and 7th) where conditions will be challenging due the amount of rain we have been experiencing. It’ll put everyone’s fishing techniques to the test, but I am also looking forward to learning how to maneuver the new Skeeter. It was hard to believe how easy it was on my first trip to adapt. It was extremely responsive and gives a very smooth ride. The water conditions will be way different than what we have seen this year. After this event, I’ll have a little more time to report on my new ride/new office and of course, overall fishing results.

I was recently fishing at Lake Seminole, Bainbridge, GA in the Yeti FLW College Southeast tour when my Bethel Teammate, Brian Pahl, shot this photo during practice. This keeper was quickly returned to the water. Our plans were to return on tournament day and put him in the box, but that didn’t happen. But the photo reminded me of the importance of having the right wearables while fishing. Preparing for a variety of weather conditions is part of the day’s routine. Tournaments require early morning take-offs and racing for weigh-in later in the day, so you have to be able to adapt to the changing conditions. As they say, if you don’t like the weather conditions, you typically don’t have to wait too long for everything to change. Fact of the matter, I fish in all types of weather conditions, from less-than-ideal to sunny and perfectly calm conditions. Mother Nature can play games but my Carhartt gear gives me the upper hand. Layer and layer! It is easier to take off than put on. You don’t want to waste time dressing or undress, and you can’t catch fish while you’re messing with your clothing. My layers: a lightweight wicking T-shirt, a water repellent hoodie, and my go-to Carhartt bib. That combination of clothing could be totally restrictive if Carhartt hadn’t done their homework. You can’t focus on fishing if you’re not comfortable or weighted down. Same goes if everything you own becomes water soaked and cold.

I have been extremely pleased with all my Carhartt gear. Because of the relaxed-fit and the light weight I still have a full range of motion allowing for free-flowing casting and setting the hook. The clothes are externally water repellent so I stay dry and comfortable.

I have heard some people complain about the cost of Carhartt compared to some other gear. I’m a Bethel college student on a budget that goes toward books and classroom fees. So anything I purchase not related to school has to last, and that’s why I invest in Carhartt products: they pay attention to detail and the clothes are rugged, durable and comfortable. I may pay a little more, but I do not have to replace my shirts, hoodies and outerwear often because they last.

Oh, one more thing: I do my own laundry. I don’t exactly follow the washing instructions (coin operated machines are expensive!), so the washer is usually a little overloaded. Even so, thankfully, all my Carhartt stuff is stain resistant and the fishy odor gone.

The Red Eye Shad by Strike King is a great choice for anyone’s tackle box . It’s not too costly but the payoff in landing big bass will exceed your expectations. I used my lucky Red at this past 2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Tour - Toledo Bend, Many, Louisiana. Strike King has the Red Eye available in three different colors, lengths and weights. I have a good selection of each of these. They have just the right amount of floating rattles to increase the action of the lure, and the sound emitted by the rattles will entice your big bass target. It works in shallow to deep water, so when fishing in tournament waters that I haven’t been in before this is a good base set up.

I take the time to change out the stock hooks on all my baits to Owner Hooks. I started using Owner Hooks because of the large selection of hooks . When tournament fishing or just pleasure fishing, you need to land every bite you get. Setting the hook is of utmost importance, then landing is vital. Every time I go out, I go out with a specific fishing pattern and strategy, and I don’t have time to second guess my equipment. I have learned that I can depend on Owner Hooks to do the job. I like the different sections they offer, but one thing each hook has in common is they are all high quality, super sharp and strong.

I learned a good lesson the hard way about the importance of selecting the best line available. Winning the 2016 Bassmaster College Bracket qualified me to fish in all of the 2017 Bassmaster Open tour events and the 2017 Bassmaster Classic. At the first Bassmaster tournament in Florida I was using another brand of line on my reel, not the Seaguar fluorocarbon line, and unfortunately I lost several fish the first day of qualifying. Nothing worse than getting a bass on and not landing because of line failure. I did manage to put some bass in the box that day, but as soon as weigh-in was over I made the trip to purchase some Seaguar line. I have been using the line exclusively now and only wish I had it on the first day of that tournament. I love the feel, it is ultra sensitive and soft, it has great tensile strength, and I like the smaller diameter over traditional nylon line. Getting the line on the reel is important. Seaguar recommends to keep the line moist, making the process much easier. First thing you will notice is it is soft to the touch, and I like the fact that it has low memory on the reel making your cast smooth and controllable. Every time I set the hook, I don’t worry about landing the lunkers.

I guess while I am on the subject of line, just as important, is securing my Strike King Red Eye on to the line. Seaguar recommends several different knots for whatever type of fishing. If we are talking Bass and freshwater, my recommendation is either the Seaguar knot, clinch knot or loop knot. Better to have a well tied knot on the line than a gut wrenching knot in your stomach as you watch Mr. Big Bass swim away.

It all comes together with my Lew’s rod. I’ve got several different rods, based on where I am fishing and what I am casting. I was using Lew’s Mark Rose Custom rod specifically designed for a crank bait. Mark Rose certainly knows what works in all different types of water. When I am fishing, especially tournament fishing, the rod I select has to fit the water and terrain conditions. Making hundreds of cast during the day, the rod has to be comfortable. The cork grip gives the much needed cushion without sacrificing feel or lure control. The Lews Mark Rose series comes in several lengths and range from medium to heavy weights. I can always depend on a smooth line flow for long distance casting. It’s a must have for your tackle collection.

The Toledo Bend was filled with twist and turns during the entire week. Changing weather conditions, fog and the big bass were out smarting us…how can a fish with a brain the size of a pea be such an allusive genius? Day one started with a delay and we were out in the middle of the pack, one hundred something out of two hundred forty eight for takeoff. At the end of day one Brian and I were just under the top 30 cut-line, not our best but we put together a 5 limit day and hatched another plan for day two, moving day.

At least Day two started without a delay, a nice little breeze was keeping the fog from rolling-in. After the National Anthem, our daily pray, Team Garrett and Pahl were ready to face the challenge. The most important task for Day Two was making it to Day Three. It’s a lot of pressure, when you catching fish and making culls, it fun and you don’t think about the cut and the pressure isn’t as intense. Day two, we had out 5 limit in the box but no big kicker in box. At least we were walking across the stage with a limit but just wasn’t confident our weight would hold up. We were consistent but our weight was just average, our two day total, 26.5 pounds. At the time, we were 13th but at the end of the day, we didn’t know if it was going to hold for a top 30 finish. The hardest part now, having to wait for the other anglers to cross the stage. Every bag, can be the knock-out punch. Now, 14th, 15th, 16th and it seemed like it was hours of stress…then we were 30th with several to go and at least a couple that had the potential to post a big weight. Well after 6PM EST, too many Ding Dongs later, the weigh-in was over, we are in for Day Three!

Brian and I knew going into day three we would have to put our noses down and grind it out all day just to move up in the standings. Our strategy, simple put one or two Toledo Bend lurkers in the box, well, maybe not so simple.

Once more the conditions were bad, heavy fog and unsafe for everyone. The decision was to call the event with current standing locked in. It would have been nice to fish on Day Three but we did achieve a major accomplishment, qualifying for the 2018 College Classic Bracket early on in the season. It’ll take some pressure off for the rest of the season, knowing Brian and I are lock into the event but that’s not our goal, our goal is to fish out best each tournament and be in the hunt for those top winning positions. That’ll take being consistent at each tournament, putting together a solid pattern, and making sure our rods are locked and loaded with the best bait for each tournament.

Brain Pahl and I are packing up and heading south to Toledo Bend Reservoir for the 2018 Carhartt College Central tour stop at Many, Louisiana this weekend. Getting prepared reminded me of my early days of fishing from being a member of the Junior Bass Club and ending up on the Bethel University fishing team. Growing up in an outdoor family who lived to hunt and fish, I had plenty of fishing gear to use. Early on, I learned the importance of having the right equipment for bass fishing. A rod to be good does not have to be the most expensive, but it has to be the one that works for you. I like the Lew’s custom speed stick line. It gives me the ability to make accurate long cast or medium ones when fishing in shallow or vegetated areas. The Rod is lightweight and packed with plenty of high-in performance features. I can easily feel the bait action and set the hook to bring in the big bass. Hopefully with a few good practices days, we will be ready to put Bass In The Box.

Clink on Lew’s logo for more information.

Who: Bethel Wildcat Bass Team of John Garrett and Brian Pahl
When: January 25-27, 2018
Where: Toledo Bend Reservoir, Cypress Bend Pavilion
Take Off: 7:00 AM CST
Weigh-IN: 3:00 PM CST

We are days away from the 2018 Carhartt College Central Tour starting January 25-27, 2018. Brian Pahl and I will be representing the Bethel Wildcat Bass Team with two very specific goals: be the team winner of the tournament and continue adding points for Bethel’s quest to win Cabela’s School of the Year.

Our team, Garrett and Pahl, fished the Murray State Fall Invitational, winning the invitational with 22.90 pounds, landing the Big Bass of the event and earning Bethel 50 points to move into first place for Cabela’s School of the Year. This is the momentum we needed for the 2018 season.

Brian and I are ready to get out of the snow, ice and frigid temperatures we have had for the past couple of weeks and get back into the waters of the Sabine River. The temperature will be much milder but the water temperatures will still be cooler. Typically, we are looking for the fish to be very active. We may encounter rain but I’ll be ready for whatever happens. I’ve got my Carhartt apparel to keep me dry, my Lew’s rods and a tackle box of my favorite Strike King cranks. Bottom line, Brian and I are prepared. We will rely on our experience, our proven fishing tactics and hopefully being in the right place at the right time. We know the Sabine River, having fished in the waters, and we’re aiming to put some Bass In The Box.”

We will take off at 7:00 AM CST and weigh-in at 3:00 PM CST at Cypress Bend Pavilion, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive, Many, LA 71449.