rookies and not-so-rookies
THE REST OF THE ROOKIE FIELD
Shannon Abbott of Oceanside , Calif ., recorded two top- 20 finishes in Western Division Toyota Series competition in 2020 . Jason Blair of West Palm Beach , Fla ., finished second at the St . Johns River to earn his spot through the Southern Division . Mark Blevins of Palatka , Fla ., led the Southern Division AOY after two events in 2020 en route to earning his spot in the Pro Circuit .
Josh Bragg or Jacksonville , Ala ., finished fourth in the Southeastern Division in 2020 , and is an angler to watch anytime tournaments hit Alabama waters . Josh Butler of Hayden , Ala ., earned two top-10 finishes in the Toyota Series Southeastern Division , and also won AOY in the BFL Choo Choo Division . Justin Cooper of Zwolle , La ., piled up three top 5s in BFL Cowboy Division AOY races before finishing second in the Toyota Series Southwestern Division in 2020 . Trevor Fitzgerald of Belleview , Fla ., won the Toyota Series event on the St . Johns River and claimed the Southern Division AOY .
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Shannon Abbott
Clabion Johns
PHOTO BY ROB MATSUURA PHOTO BY JACOB FINE
Grant Galloway of Houlka , Miss ., enters the 2021 Pro Circuit with 58 MLF events already under his belt , qualifying up through the Central Division . Clabion Johns of Social Circle , Ga ., fished multiple BFL divisions in 2020 , qualifying for the Pro Circuit via the Toyota Series Southeastern Division . Takayuki Koike of Ohtsu , Japan , earned a fourthplace AOY finish in the Central Division , including a top 10 at Lake of the Ozarks .
Jason Lieblong of Conway , Ark ., put up impressive numbers in 2020 : A win at Dardanelle and second at Table Rock earned him a Plains Division AOY and a Pro Circuit bid . Jim Neece Jr . of Bristol , Tenn ., earned a win at Lake Chickamauga to qualify through the Central Division . Kevin Riney of Jonesboro , Ark ., qualified in through the Plains Division , earning a 12th-place finish in the Toyota Series Championship .
Ricky Robinson of Greenback , Tenn ., eked out a threepoint AOY win in the Central Division thanks to top 10s at Pickwick and Chickamauga . Chase Serafin of White Lake , Mich ., earned three top 10s in the Northern Division to push him to the AOY title and a Pro Circuit qualification . Troy Stokes of Brownstown , Mich ., qualified out of the Northern Division with a pair of top-10 finishes . Scott Towry of Lawrenceburg , Tenn ., has competed in nearly 150 MLF events – including two All-Americans – and qualified in through the Southeastern Division .
Chase Serafin
Todd Walters of Kernersville , N . C . finished second to Pro Circuit veteran David Williams for the Eastern Division AOY , but his resume includes five wins and a second-place showing at the 2016 All-American . Joe Wieberg of Freeburg , Mo ., qualified in out of the Plains Division ( his second Toyota Series AOY top 10 in three years ). Jason Wilson of Lincolnton , N . C ., finished fifth in AOY in the Eastern Division to qualify for the Pro Circuit . Steve York of Bronson , Mich ., qualified for the Pro Circuit via the Northern Division .
MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | FEBRUARY-MARCH 2021
PHOTO BY COBI PELLERITO