Major League Fishing General Tire Team Series Wraps Production of First Event in Alexandria, Minnesota
New Team Bass Fishing Event Completes Week-Long Television Shoot in Alexandria, Minnesota, with Nine Three-Man Teams Competing to Advance to General Tire Team Series Championship
ALEXANDRIA, Minn. – Major League Fishing and 27 of the world’s best pro anglers wrapped production this past weekend at the General Tire Team Series Lucas Oil Qualifier presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Alexandria, Minnesota. The event, hosted by Explore Alexandria Tourism, and filmed entirely for television broadcast, was shot over six days and featured nine teams of three anglers competing to finish in the top three to advance to the General Tire Team Series Championship.
Central Minnesota and Alexandria have played host to numerous bass-fishing tournaments over the years, however, the General Tire Team Series Lucas Oil Qualifier presented by B&W Trailer Hitches event will mark the first time that MLF has visited Alexandria with an event that showcases the catch, weigh, immediate-release tournament format.
“The Alexandria area has long been a destination for fishermen, but that’s been somewhat overshadowed by all of the families who spend their time here in the heart of lakes country, not only enjoying time on the water, but also the golf courses, the parks and our other great vacation venues,” said Joe Korkowski, Executive Director of Explore Alexandria. “Having the Major League Fishing anglers put their expertise to the test on a few of our lakes brings the attention on fishing to a whole new level.
“Living in Minnesota, with our four very distinct seasons, we know the importance of being adaptable,” Korkowski said. “These pros are demonstrating just how good they are at figuring out all of the elements that go into a successful day on the water and showing the average fisherman what’s possible. Alexandria is a great community for many reasons, including the fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation, but the friendships, collaborations and community spirit are why we say it’s easy to get to, but hard to leave.”
The six-episode, two-hour series features the professional anglers visiting the Alexandria area to compete on Lake Le Homme Dieu or Lake Ida on each day of competition. The anglers do not learn where they are competing until they arrive to the launch ramp each morning of competition, creating a reality-based television episode that showcases how the top anglers in the world break down new and unfamiliar waters.
The nine teams that competed in the General Tire Team Series Lucas Oil Qualifier presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Alexandria, Minnesota, are:
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
- Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
- Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas
- Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss.
Team Builders FirstSource:
- Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
- Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla.
- Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Team Crockett Creek:
- Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
- Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark.
- Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn.
Team Ferguson:
- Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan
- Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala.
- Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C.
Team Fox Rent A Car:
- James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
- Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
- Jonathan VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Team Knighten Industries:
- Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
- Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark.
- Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo.
Team Kubota:
- Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
- Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
- Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala.
Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff:
- Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.
- Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.
- Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
Team Starbrite:
- Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas
- Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C.
- Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
The General Tire Team Series Lucas Oil Qualifier presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, hosted by Explore Alexandria Tourism, will air on Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting Dec. 31, 2022, airing from 2-4 p.m. EDT. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-schedule.
The winning three-man team in the General Tire Team Series Championship will claim the $300,000 top prize. The second-place team will earn $60,000, and the third-place team will win $30,000. Teams 4-9 in the championship will each earn a $15,000 prize. All anglers receive $3,000 for participating in the no-entry fee Qualifying Events.
Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: B&W Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Covercraft, Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Frogg Toggs, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, NGK Spark Plugs, Onyx, Optima Batteries, Phoenix Boats, Power-Pole, Rapala Baits, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Sonic, Star brite, Strike King, T-H Marine, Toyota, USAA, and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.