PROFILE :
CHRIS
MALONE
IRONTON , OHIO
If there was a better feel-good story from the 2020 Toyota Series season than Chris Malone ’ s Toyota Series Championship win on Lake Cumberland in early December , we haven ’ t found it yet .
Malone , who stepped away from competitive bass fishing several years ago – having last fished an FLW event in 2007 – made the title event through the Central Division and secured a chance to fish his favorite lake in the country , just a few hours from his home in Ironton , Ohio . Cumberland just happens to be where Malone and his wife somewhat recently purchased what Malone has called his “ early retirement gift .”
The rest is almost a Cinderella story . The humble owner of Malone ’ s Marine ( a Phoenix dealership in Ironton ) used the knowledge and experience he garnered preparing for the event with his friend and 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro Ryan Davison to top the field and take home almost a quarter of a million dollars .
72 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | FEBRUARY-MARCH 2021