By MLF Communications Staff

Fletcher Shryock locked up a berth in the Championship Round of the Major League Fishing Heavy Hitters event with a two-day total of 23 bass for 88-13 from North Carolina's Jordan Lake, giving him the victory in the Group A Qualifying Round. He also won the $25,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus award Sunday after catching the biggest bass of round, boating a giant 9-04 largemouth that bit a Yamamoto Fat Ika right near the end of Period 2.

“I had a pretty incredible day – not just because I won the round, but to catch that many big ones in one day was just awesome,” said Shryock, who earned the first Qualifying Round win of his MLF career. “I got to fish exactly the way that I like to fish, and catching a 9 flipping bushes and willows and stuff like that, it just doesn’t happen a lot. These lakes are incredible.”

Shryock said his key bait Sunday was the Fat Ika fished on a prototype Favorite Fishing rod – expected to launch this year at ICAST – with 40-pound Vicious braided line.

“I came out today really just trying to stay inside the Top-10 cut, but the next thing I knew it was 5-pounder, 4-pounder, 4-pounder, and I just worked my way up the leaderboard. Today was just a great day of fishing, and winning $25,000 and going straight to the Championship Round just makes it that much sweeter.”

Dean Rojas also had a special day. After catching just two bass on Friday and ending the first day of competition in dead-last 20th place, Rojas skyrocketed up the leaderboard Sunday, boating 15 bass weighing 57-11 to end the day inside the cut line in 6th place and advance to the Knockout Round with a two-day total of 17 bass for 63-05.

“I had a great day today, a day that you dream about, especially in competition,” Rojas said. “Especially after only catching 5 pounds on the first day. Coming back and catching 55 pounds today, what an awesome dream day. And there is no better time to do it than today to move on to the Knockout Round at Heavy Hitters.”

The 10 anglers advancing from Group A will have a day off Monday, while the 20 anglers in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition. The Knockout Round, featuring 18 anglers competing to finish in the Top 8, will take place on Tuesday. Wednesday’s Championship Round will feature Shryock, Monday’s Group B Qualifying Round winner and the Top 8 anglers from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for the top prize of $100,000.

Group A anglers who'll join Rojas in the Knockout Round are Zack Birgh (2nd), Andy Morgan (3rd), Michael Neal (4th), Ish Monroe (5th), Boyd Duckett (7th), Adrian Avena (8th), Chris Lane (9th) and Jeff Sprague (10th).

Overall, there were 113 bass weighing 405-15 caught on Sunday, which included Shryock's 9-pounder, two 8-pounders, one 7-pounder and three 6-pounders.

Attendance at the event is limited to competing anglers, essential staff and media covering the event only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the MLF NOW! livestream and ScoreTracker coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com

The MLF NOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney breaks down the extended action each day of competition from 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLF NOW! is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com. and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.



Group A Qualifying Round Day 2

(Figure at far right indicates anglers's heaviest fish for the round)

1. Fletcher Shryock -- 28-05 (9) -- 60-08 (14) -- 88-13 (23) -- 9-04

2. Zack Birge -- 37-01 (11) -- 39-04 (11) -- 76-05 (22) -- 6-06

3. Andy Morgan -- 37-06 (12) -- 29-07 (8) -- 66-13 (20) -- 5-13

4. Michael Neal -- 51-15 (13) -- 12-10 (4) -- 64-09 (17) -- 7-12

5. Ish Monroe -- 34-08 (10) -- 29-12 (7) -- 64-04 (17) -- 6-02

6. Dean Rojas -- 5-10 (2) -- 57-11 (15) -- 63-05 (17) -- 8-11

7. Boyd Duckett -- 46-12 (12) -- 13-11 (5) -- 60-07 (17) -- 6-01

8. Adrian Avena -- 24-15 (8) -- 28-13 (6) -- 53-12 (14) -- 8-09

9. Chris Lane -- 45-07 (12) -- 7-02 (3) -- 52-09 (15) -- 6-04

10. Jeff Sprague -- 41-15 (12) -- 9-05 (3) -- 51-04 (15) -- 6-15

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

11. Mike McClelland -- 36-12 (10) -- 10-08 (2) -- 47-04 (12) -- 7-11

12. Randall Tharp -- 38-13 (12) -- 8-00 (2) -- 46-13 (14) -- 5-02

13. Brent Chapman -- 30-13 (9) -- 12-06 (4) -- 43-03 (13) -- 4-13

14. Mike Iaconelli -- 24-06 (9) -- 17-07 (6) -- 41-13 (15) -- 4-05

15. Britt Myers -- 15-01 (4) -- 21-01 (7) -- 36-02 (11) -- 4-15

16. Luke Clausen -- 12-10 (3) -- 23-07 (8) -- 36-01 (11) -- 4-10

17. Mark Rose -- 27-15 (10) -- 7-07 (2) -- 35-06 (12) -- 5-03

18. David Dudley -- 13-14 (5) -- 15-06 (5) -- 29-04 (10) -- 4-14

19. Anthony Gagliardi -- 21-01 (5) -- 2-02 (1) -- 23-03 (6) -- 7-15

20. Fred Roumbanis -- 16-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 16-07 (5) -- 5-09