Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

From Major League Fishing

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 27, 2023) – Favorite Fishing pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, maintained his position atop the leaderboard, catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces, to lead Group B and win Tuesday’s Qualifying Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles.
The remaining 40 anglers – the top 20 from each group – now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round on Thursday. Weights will carry over from the Knockout Round into the Championship Round, which will feature the final 10 anglers competing for the heaviest two-day cumulative total and the top prize of $100,000.
“It’s been a good two days, but now the real derby starts,” said Connell. “I was able to practice and look around a lot today, but it’s strictly business now. I’ve done great in the Qualifying Rounds this season, but I haven’t done too well in the Knockout Round. I have a feeling that might change in this event though.”
Connell spent the day bouncing around various places on the lower section of Lake St. Clair using his Lowrance ActiveTarget. He said he found a new area – and two new schools of fish – where he expects to find some big ones.
“I’m on such a big area and that’s played out well for me,” said Connell. “I’m able to get away from everyone else and there hasn’t been a single boat in sight, which just makes it better. Hopefully the weather lays down on Wednesday, because if it does, a lot of these fish will slide up off the bottom and that will make it easier to see them and catch them.”
Connell’s five-fish limit on Tuesday included a group of 4-pounders and a 5-pound, 7-ounce kicker fish that he weighed in during Period 2. He caught all of his fish on his 7-foot, 2-inch medium heavy Favorite Fishing Hex Rod, throwing a Googan Baits Rattlin’ Ned on a 3/8-ounce drop-shot rig, using 15-pound braid and a 12-pound Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon Leader.

The top 20 pros in Group B that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Lake St. Clair are:

1st: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 45-9
2nd: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 42-5
3rd: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 10 bass, 41-4
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 40-6
5th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 40-1
6th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 10 bass, 39-11
7th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 39-11
8th: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 38-14
9th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 10 bass, 38-5
10th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 10 bass, 38-3
11th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 38-2
12th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 38-1
13th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 10 bass, 37-4
14th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 36-14
15th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., 10 bass, 36-9
16th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 10 bass, 36-0
17th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 35-7
18th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 35-1
19th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 10 bass, 34-13
20th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 34-5

Eliminated from competition are:

21st: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 34-4
22nd: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 10 bass, 34-4
23rd: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 34-1
24th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 34-0
25th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 10 bass, 33-15
26th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 33-12
27th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 33-10
28th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 33-10
29th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 10 bass, 32-5
30th: Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 10 bass, 32-4
31st: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-4
32nd: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 30-3
33rd: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 10 bass, 30-1
34th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 29-9
35th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., 10 bass, 28-12
36th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 28-12
37th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, eight bass, 28-7
38th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, eight bass, 27-14
39th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., 10 bass, 27-8
40th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 24-11

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.