CANNELTON, Ind. – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Hoosier Division is gearing up for its second event of the 2025 season. On June 7, the Ohio River at Rocky Point will serve as the tournament location for an event that should have bass in many stages.
This year, BFL anglers benefit from an expanded slate of Regionals, which minimizes travel costs and provides more opportunities to qualify for the $120,000 BFL All-American while fishing familiar, closer-to-home waters. Click here to find out more.
What to expect
Few BFL anglers can match the 10 career wins of Chris Wilkinson, who has eight of them on the river alone. He’ll be fishing this event as the defending champion, having won on this pool in May last year. He says this year’s event is a little later but should be similar.
“That one was earlier in the season and a spawn tournament, but I’m not sure that all of the fish have finished spawning this year,” he said. “You can probably find some fish spawning and some guarding fry. It should be a little bit of everything going on. This has been an unusual spring with many ups and downs with the temperatures and water levels.”
Although the water level has been in flux in recent weeks, Wilkinson says things have settled.
“The water’s back down to the normal pool, and it doesn’t look like we have any crazy rains coming, so hopefully everything will stabilize,” he said. “That could get some of those fish that haven’t spawned yet moving shallow. If that happens, we’ll have a good event.”
Wilkinson expects good fishing because of the time of year and says that many anglers will find a limit, but the key will be finding one or two better-quality fish.
“I think there will be several limits, but it will be tough like it always is on the river,” he said. “Those 3-pound and bigger fish will be the key. But usually on this pool, someone finds a 4- or 5-pounder, and if they have a limit to go with it, they’ll be right where they need to be.”
Baits to bring
Wilkinson says lure selection can be simple this time of year, with buzzbaits and spinnerbaits used to cover water and then tubes and other Texas-rigged soft plastics for slowing down around shallow cover.
What will it take?
The Ohio River has traditionally been known as a stingy fishery. Wilkinson won last year with 11 pounds, 10 ounces, but he says anything in the double digits is a solid day on the river that has a chance to win. He added that anglers have a shot at cashing a check with six or seven pounds of bass.
Sign up to Fish 4 Free!
Every Phoenix Bass Fishing League angler fishing the fourth event in each division will receive an Abu Garcia gift pack valued at $230 for boaters and $180 for co-anglers – a value that exceeds the entry fee. It’s like Fishing 4 FREE! Plus, participants will receive a code for 25% off an order at AbuGarcia.com. Sign up today at MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270) 252-1000 to take advantage of this incredible offer. Anglers will receive their gift box at the event.