2021 TITLE BY THE NUMBERS
The number of pools the 50 pros competing in the 2021 TITLE will be allowed to fish . Pools 7 , 8 and 9 are all loaded with fish , and each pool offers something a little different as far as cover , structure and current . Takeoff and weigh-in is at Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse ( Pool 8 ).
The weight ( in pounds ) of the biggest bass caught during MLF competition on the Upper Mississippi . The fish was caught by Tony Seiler in 2018 at a Phoenix Bass Fishing League event . There have also been three more bass weighed in over 6 pounds during BFLs out of La Crosse .
POOL
7
Veterans Freedom Park
La Crosse , WI
Since 1998 , there have been seven four-day events on the Upper Mississippi River between the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and the Toyota Series . Local hammer Tom Monsoor won two of those seven events , his latest in 2020 with a four-day total weight of 54-10 . Bryan Schmitt boasted the heaviest four-day weight of those contests with 61-6 in 2017 . Other winners include Davy Hite in 1998 with 43-15 , Jeff Ritter in 2004 , Fred Roumbanis in 2005 and Dan Morehead in 2006 .
The number of minutes ( on average ) it takes to get through a lock on the Upper Mississippi River , according to former winner Fred Roumbanis . The Arkansas pro recalls having to wait nearly three hours for a barge to pass through in front of him during his win in 2005 . Timing will be of the utmost importance for those anglers who choose to lock to Pools 7 or 9 .
POOL
8
The heaviest five-fish limit ( in pounds ) caught in MLF competition on the Upper Mississippi River , weighed-in during a Pro Circuit event in May of 1999 . While there hasn ’ t been a BIG5 event held out of La Crosse in August , Jimmy Johnson did catch a bag weighing 20-4 during a Toyota Series event in September of 2014 .
Mississippi River
Tom Monsoor has 26 Top 10 finishes on the Upper Mississippi River and has won on his home body of water seven times . His most recent success came in 2020 with his win in the Super Tournament , followed shortly thereafter by a fifth-place finish in a BFL just a month-and-a-half later . However , the master of the swim jig won ’ t be participating in the TITLE event after missing out on qualification — good news for the rest of the field .
POOL
9
The year the dams at Pools 7 , 8 and 9 were placed in operation . All three locks and dams were given a facelift beginning in 1989 .
The surface area ( in acres ) of the three competition pools combined . That ’ s more than enough room for the 25 anglers in each group to spread out for the six-day event . n
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2021 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 19