PHOTO BY PHOENIX MOORE
Jacob Wheeler and Dylan Hays return in 2024 for a shot at a Team Series repeat .
Dakota Ebare explains his Team Series draft wish list .
Momentum going into Season 2
The 2023 Team Series draft was the first step in a process that will continue in September and October with three nine-team qualifier competitions on yet-to-be-announced fisheries . Those qualifiers will send nine squads to the Team Series Championship in November , where they ’ ll compete for their share of $ 700,000 in cash payouts . All the action will be filmed and produced for weekly shows that will premiere every Saturday on Outdoor Channel throughout the first two quarters of 2024 .
The first run of the General Tire Team Series continued the outstanding ratings success of its predecessor , the MLF Cup and MLF Select series , thanks largely to the unique three-man team dynamic and wireless technology that allows teammates to communicate , strategize and adjust to conditions in real time as they compete .
Hence the fist bump when Jacob Wheeler chose Arkansas pro Dylan Hays with the final pick of the first round , a repeat of Wheeler ’ s first pick in the 2022 draft . Wheeler and Hays ( along with former BPT pro Jason Lambert ) dominated throughout the inaugural Team Series , winning their qualifier in Minnesota by an astounding 85 pounds and running away with the $ 300,000 Championship in Florida by almost 73 pounds .
“ Ultimately , if you ’ re going to compete against this crew , you have to be able to work together well ,” Wheeler said , gesturing to the BPT anglers in the room . “ Last year worked out pretty darn well . When my guy Dylan was available to be picked when I was up , I thought , ‘ If it ’ s not broke , don ’ t fix it .’ Let ’ s run it back .”
Full coverage of the General Tire Team Series can be found on the web at MajorLeagueFishing . com .
CAPTAIN : Josh Bertrand Edwin Evers , Marty Robinson
CAPTAIN : Greg Vinson Bradley Roy , David Dudley
CAPTAIN : Chris Lane Jared Lintner , John Hunter
CAPTAIN : Wesley Strader Scott Suggs , Matt Becker
CAPTAIN : Todd Faircloth Jeff Sprague , Jeff Kriet
CAPTAIN : Ott DeFoe Andy Montgomery , Brandon Coulter
CAPTAIN : Stephen Browning Anthony Gagliardi , Keith Poche
CAPTAIN : Casey Ashley Terry Scroggins , Jacob Wall
CAPTAIN : Jonathon VanDam James Elam , Matt Lee
CAPTAIN : Bryan Thrift Luke Clausen , Josh Butler
CAPTAIN : Brent Ehrler Brett Hite , John Murray
CAPTAIN : Alton Jones Jr . Nick LeBrun , Britt Myers
CAPTAIN : Randall Tharp Gerald Spohrer , Russ Lane
CAPTAIN : Jeremy Lawyer Cody Meyer , Shin Fukae
CAPTAIN : Dustin Connell Cole Floyd , Roy Hawk
CAPTAIN : Adrian Avena Spencer Shuffield , Ryan Salzman
CAPTAIN : Andy Morgan Fletcher Shryock , James Watson
CAPTAIN : Michael Neal Takahiro Omori , Dean Rojas
Pre-draft discussion among captains is hot and heavy .
2024 general tire team series teams
CAPTAIN : Mark Daniels Jr . Randy Howell , Cliff Crochet
CAPTAIN : Justin Lucas Skeet Reese , Fred Roumbanis
CAPTAIN : Zack Birge Mark Rose , Cliff Pace
CAPTAIN : Jesse Wiggins Kyle Hall , Gary Klein
CAPTAIN : Kevin VanDam David Walker , Kelly Jordon
CAPTAIN : Dakota Ebare Mitch Crane , Tommy Biffle
CAPTAIN : Alton Jones Sr . Brent Chapman , Dave Lefebre
CAPTAIN : Jordan Lee Mark Davis , Timmy Horton
CAPTAIN : Jacob Wheeler Dylan Hays , Boyd Duckett
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