> The expanded MLF program includes the addition of the Bass Pro Tour, a premier 80-angler, 8-event tour with a championship and heightened payouts, made possible through enthusiastic support from Bass Pro Shops and Outdoor Sportsman Group [the company that owns the Outdoor Channel and a whole lot more, including BassFan.com].

> MLF co-founder Boyd Duckett: “The preparation leading to this moment has been slow, methodical and well thought-out to ensure the outcome would be positive for everyone connected to the sport. As a result, we have a fully developed plan ready to go. Everyone in the fishing industry should appreciate the new path that Outdoor Sportsman Group and Mr. Morris have helped pave for the sport’s future because of their own personal beliefs toward conservation and the responsible use of our fish and water resources.”

> “We’re especially proud to be supporting anglers themselves, who make up an important part of MLF’s ownership team. Our support for this expansion does not diminish our enthusiasm or support for other popular tournament series including B.A.S.S., FLW and hundreds of grassroots events across the country.”

> “Mid-lake, shallow schools in 7-12′. Hard spots where fish were schooling up. I’d fish them until the current came on.

> “I saw a lot of people trying to crank and swimbait those fish. …throw that worm out there and you can feel the bottom change.”

> “Every day between 10-11 the water would come on — they’d start generating up the river. I found spotted bass stacking up on a few rockpiles, and I’d wash that swimbait over them.

> “If I had to throw it 60 yds, I’d set up 30 yds away. I paid attention to exactly where I threw every cast. If threw right at one tree, counted to 10 and didn’t get a bite, I threw it a little to the right or left. The rocks were crossways across the river…. Once I got bit, I’d duplicate that cast and catch every single one down there.”

> “I was going to fish schools and then fish grass with a frog to get a good one. But [on day 1] I saw on the Lakemaster chip a rockpile in the middle of the river…saw spots schooled up on it. That keyed me on that pattern and bite.

> “That night I found 10-12 places that could be good within 3.5 miles…ended up 5 were good. By day 3 I was pulling up and catching them, not wasting any time.”

> “That Lakemaster chip was a big key to my success, and Humminbird mega-imaging. [He’s won and had good finishes] in Aug and Sept, fishing offshore catching small groups of fish… If that doesn’t speak volumes, I don’t know what will. It’s pretty impressive how far that tech has come.”

> “All I know is it’s there and one will get it — I snipe one off every cast.

> “I do it at Pickwick a lot when the bite gets tough and those schools get hard to catch. I’ve also seen it in tank demos — 3-4 get to looking at it so one’s eventually going to get it.

> “When I idled over those fish [at Logan Martin] I’d see 30 dots but 5-6 would be better-size fish than everything else. I’d catch a lot of 12- to 13-inchers, but if I caught 15, one would be worth taking to weigh in.”

> “…8-lb [Berkley Fireline Ultra 8 braid] is light enough that I can cast it really far, and strong enough that it’ll never break — I always break the leader, even with 10-15 lb [fluoro]. There’s no need to throw a heavier braid if you’re not breaking it. I like to get the castability [of the 8-lb braid].

> “I’ve always thrown black [color worm on the shakey — a pretty common color up north but way less common in the South, where he’s from]. Seems to be a pretty consistent color to get bit on.

> “I throw black and gp 99% of the time in anything. If the water has a little color to it, I always throw a black worm. [Logan Martin had] 18-20″ viz — I thought, That’s perfect for throwing a dark worm. But really, I just try to keep it simple.”

> “One good’n came on a buzzbait with a toad around bank grass.

> “Roadbed dried up on me and didn’t adjust well enough on the final day. Proud for Justin though!”

> “The Zboss accounted for a 5-lb largemouth and 4-lb spot on the first day. Also caught a couple other key fish on it….

> “I targeted big boulders — the size of basketballs and trashcan lids — with the crank. If I didn’t crash into the rock and create a deflection I wouldn’t get bit…12-16′.”

> “I threw that a lot and caught about 25 keepers…. I targeted offshore brushpiles and busted-up cement foundations…16-22′.”