Mitchell Leads Way As Finals Field Completed

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Photo: MLF/Jody White

Kurt Mitchell caught a tournament-best 24-08 stringer in the Knockout Round at the St. Lawrence River.

By MLF Communications Staff

After an absolute slugfest that saw 13 of 18 anglers weigh in bags over 20 pounds, Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Del., brought a five-bass limit to the stage Saturday weighing 24 pounds, 8 ounces – the largest bag of the event – to win the Knockout Round and advance to the final day of competition at the MLF Pro Circuit Title Championship on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, N.Y.

The final 10 anglers are now set, and competition will resume Sunday morning with the Championship Round, where weights are zeroed and the winner will be determined by the heaviest five-bass limit of the day.

The Championship Round will feature Group A winner Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., Group B winner Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tenn., and the Top 8 anglers from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for a top prize of up to $235,000.

The Top 8 pros from Saturday’s Knockout Round who advanced to the Championship Round are:

1st: Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., five bass, 24-08
2nd: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 22-04
3rd: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 21-10
4th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., five bass, 21-05
5th: Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., five bass, 21-05
6th: Bobby lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 21-02
7th: Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 21-01
8th: Josh Bragg, Fayetteville, Ga., five bass, 21-00

“We had perfect conditions today and the St. Lawrence River is continuing to kick them out,” Mitchell said in his post-game interview. “I caught two 5 1/2-pound smallmouth today and that’s never happened before. This place is just phenomenal.”

Mitchell said he figured 21 pounds would get him into the Championship Round, but his day didn’t start off at all like he’d planned.

“I thought I had a good game plan going into today,” Mitchell said. “I hit four or five different areas where I thought I’d catch some good fish, but everything I caught was small. Disappointed, I ran to a buoy where I had caught three good ones on the first day, but they weren’t there anymore.

“I was getting really frustrated and decided to just try to figure out where those fish went. I started searching the shoal where the buoy was, and I found some depressions in that shoal where the fish were holed up. That’s where I caught almost all my fish today. I had about 21 pounds by noon, which is when I started feeling good about making it into the Championship Round.”

While most of the field is running upwards of 90 miles each day, Mitchell said he only has a 55-mile run to his primary area, which he hopes will play to his advantage with the weather that’s forecasted for Sunday.

“I still have a long run to make, but if the weather comes in like it’s forecasted, the waves can only get so big where I’m going, so I should have a distinct advantage. These guys running all the way to the mouth of the lake are going to have to combat some large waves if they decide to make that run.”

Mitchell said he caught all his fish dropshotting a swimbait and although he struggled to catch a 3-pounder on Thursday, once he topped 23 pounds in the Knockout Round, he began catching 3-pounders constantly.

“Today was just one of those days – I even caught a 5 1/2-pound kicker accidentally at the end of the day,” Mitchell laughed. “I was running around looking for new areas and I cast over to what looked like a little tiny pebble on my Garmin (Livescope) and reeled in a 5 1/2-pounder.

“Things may change up a little bit tomorrow with the weather coming in, but I’m happy with what’s going on so far and am looking forward to Sunday,” Mitchell finished.

Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas was presented the Forrest L. Wood Sportsmanship and Community Leadership Award during the weigh-in on Saturday. The award recognizes a TITLE qualifier, nominated by his peers, who displays an overall commitment to sportsmanship and community leadership, on and off the water, through ethical behavior, integrity, class, selflessness, conservation, volunteerism and kindness to others. Ebare’s nomination cited his genuine concern for the nation’s fisheries and his reflection of a true sportsman and leader who is always willing to lend a hand to those in need.

Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. ET Sunday from the Massena Intake Boat Launch, located at 1415 State Hwy 131 in Massena. Weigh-ins are held at the boat launch daily at 3 p.m.

The MLF NOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the MLF NOW! livestream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Knockout Round

1. Kurt Mitchell -- 24-08 (5)

2. Jacob Wall -- 22-04 (5)

3. Dakota Ebare -- 21-10 (5)

4. Martin Villa -- 21-05 (5)

5. Matt Becker -- 21-05 (5)

6. Bobby Lane -- 21-02 (5)

7. Kyle Cortiana -- 21-01 (5)

8. Josh Bragg -- 21-00 (5)

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not advance to the Knockout Round

9. Jon Canada -- 20-11 (5) -- $11,000

10. Chris Lane -- 20-09 (5) -- $11,000