THE
FRONT PAGE
By Justin Onslow
2023 promises more prime opportunities for strike king co-anglers
Fishing from the back of the boat is for everyone . New anglers and seasoned vets , casual weekend warriors and anglers with professional aspirations alike , there ’ s no one who can ’ t benefit from fishing tournaments as a co-angler .
That ’ s especially true in Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine and Toyota Series tournaments , where the Strike King Co-Angler program shines an extra-bright light on the anglers who choose to ride along in the lefthand seat and catch their fish from the back deck while learning the ins and outs of tournament fishing from some of the best grassroots bassers in the country .
The Strike King Co-Angler program provides prestige and exposure for Major League Fishing co-anglers while also incentivizing the best performances and awarding the top performers . In Toyota Series competition , Strike King Co-Anglers of the Year in each of the six divisions are awarded a $ 2,000 top prize and a trip to the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship , this year contested at Missouri ’ s Table Rock Lake in early November .
At the Phoenix Bass Fishing League level , top Strike King Co-Anglers from each of the 24 divisions are awarded $ 500 , and with five tournaments in each division and oftentimes several divisions to choose from in any given area of the country , there ’ s ample opportunity to chase after Strike King Co-Angler of the Year dollars across multiple divisions .
from the back deck to the top of the game
Look at any tour-level roster – Bass Pro Tour included – and you ’ ll find familiar names and faces who all started their professional bass fishing journeys from the back deck – names like Justin Lucas , Michael Neal and Mark Rose . Everyone who has ever fished a
Co-angler Justin Lucas earned $ 35,000 in cash and prizes with his victory at Lake
Shasta in April , 2006 .
tournament at some point learned the ropes by fishing with someone more experienced .
“ The co-angler side is such a critical part of this sport ,” said Tom Brewbaker , Sr . Brand Manager at Rather Outdoors . “ It ’ s the ideal avenue for improving your skills as an angler because you get a chance to see a variety of different strategies and techniques from another angler ’ s perspective . It also exposes anglers to so many diverse bodies of water that require a variety of techniques and critical decision making to succeed . At Strike King , we believe this lifelong journey of improving as an angler is what connects all of us that love this sport . We ’ re excited to continue this partnership with MLF for a third consecutive year .”
Even if you don ’ t have your sights set on a professional career , the Strike King Co-Angler program is about rewarding top performers and incentivizing participation and consistency . It ’ s a win-win any way you slice it .
growing all the time
In the previous two full seasons since its inception in 2021 , the Strike King Co-Angler program has fostered tremendous growth for the Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League – a testament to the value of the program and what it offers MLF co-anglers .
In 2021 , co-angler participation rose 11 percent on the Toyota Series and a whopping 20 percent in BFL competition . The 2022 season saw explosive growth in the Toyota Series , where a 23-percent increase in individual coanglers resulted in a 34-percent increase in overall events fished from the back of the boat . That momentum leads to another positive outlook for the upcoming 2023 season , and you don ’ t have to look very hard to see why .
The 2023 Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League seasons have only just started , meaning there ’ s still plenty of time to get on board for a full slate of tournaments and an opportunity at claiming some Strike King Co- Angler of the Year cash . You can find entry information on the Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League pages at MajorLeagueFishing . com .
Jason Sandidge , the 2022 Strike King co-angler champion at the Toyota Series Championship on Lake Guntersville .
10 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | FEBRUARY-MARCH 2023