By MLF Communications Staff

It was never close.

After jumping out to a big lead on day 1 Friday, Michael Neal backed it up with another big day Sunday, weighing in 33 smallmouth bass totaling 102-03 to coast to the win in the Group A Qualifying Round at the MLF Bass Pro season finale at Lake St. Clair in Michigan.

Neal’s two-day Qualifying Round total of 69 bass weighing 223-00 broke numerous Bass Pro Tour records – Neal became the first angler to ever weigh back-to-back 100-plus pounds of bass on both days of the Qualifying Round, and his final weight was the heaviest two-day Qualifying Round total in Bass Pro Tour history. Neal’s Qualifying Round margin-of-victory of 76-14 ounces also shattered the record as the largest blowout in the three-year history of the Bass Pro Tour.

“Without a doubt, the winning fish are right here in this area,” Neal said in his post-game interview. “I’ve had two fantastic days of fishing. It’s a 1/2- to 3/4-mile stretch and there are just tons and tons of fish (there). And they’re good sized. I’ve been able to maintain a 3-pound average over two days and have caught 100 pounds there two days in a row.

“Wednesday is going to be a shootout, for sure, and I have a hard time believing that it won’t take over 100 pounds to win the Championship Round. So, we’re just going to have to come back out here Wednesday and see how it goes one more day."

Neal caught his fish on a variety of baits, but credited his hooks as being the key so far for him this week.

“I’ve caught them on a variety of different things so far. I caught them on a dropshot rig with a spinning rod. I’ve caught them on a vibrating jig, And I’ve caught them on a crankbait. A lot of my bigger fish have come on the crankbait.

“One of the keys this week has been swapping out my hooks,” Neal went on to say. “I’ve been putting on a No. 2-sized Gamakatsu G Finesse treble hook. It’s super smooth but super strong. I’ve changed all of my jerkbaits and crankbaits to it. It’s the only hook I’ll throw on these smallmouth. And it’s special because Aaron Martens designed it. He couldn’t be here competing with us this week, but we want him to know that he is in all of our thoughts and prayers, and I hope he’s been able to watch and know that his hook has put a lot of fish in my boat this week.”

Russ Lane caught a two-day total of 48 bass weighing 146-02 to finish the round in 2nd place. Jacob Wheeler, seeking his fourth win of the campaign boated a two-day total of 46 bass weighing 124-11 to end the round in 3rd place.

After starting the day in 8th place, Brett compiled the second-heaviest weight of the day totaling 68-10 to vault into 4th place with a two-day total of 36 bass for 117-03. Rounding out the Top 5 is Bryan Thrift, who caught a two-day total of 34 bass weighing 115-05.

The Top 20 anglers from Group A will now enjoy an off day while the 40 anglers in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round on Monday. The Knockout Round, featuring 38 anglers competing to finish in the Top 8, will take place on Tuesday. Wednesday’s Championship Round will feature Neal, Monday’s Group B winner and the Top 8 from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for the top prize of $100,000.

Wheeler won Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with 5-11 smallmouth that he caught on a dropshot rig during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the biggest bass each day and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

Anglers will take off from the 9-Mile Ramp, located in St. Clair Shores, at 8 a.m. ET each day. The takeout ceremonies will also be held at the ramp beginning at 5 p.m. each day. Fans are welcome to attend all takeoff and takeout ceremonies and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW! livestream and ScoreTracker coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLF NOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney break down the extended action each day from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW! is live-streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.



Group A Qualifying Round – Day 2

(Figure at far right indicates weight of angler's heaviest fish for the round)

1. Michael Neal -- 120-13 (36) -- 102-03 (33) -- 223-00 (69) -- 4-15

2. Russ Lane -- 102-03 (33) -- 40-14 (14) -- 143-01 (47) -- 4-14

3. Jacob Wheeler -- 102-04 (39) -- 29-09 (9) -- 131-13 (48) -- 5-11

4. Jesse Wiggins -- 66-08 (22) -- 51-12 (18) -- 118-04 (40) -- 4-15

5. Brett Hite -- 48-09 (15) -- 68-10 (21) -- 117-03 (36) -- 4-15

6. Bryan Thrift -- 98-06 (28) -- 16-15 (6) -- 115-05 (34) -- 5-12

7. Gary Klein -- 80-06 (28) -- 15-07 (6) -- 95-13 (34) -- 4-11

8. Gerald Spohrer -- 63-01 (21) -- 32-04 (10) -- 95-05 (31) -- 4-09

9. Adrian Avena -- 41-14 (14) -- 43-04 (14) -- 85-02 (28) -- 4-09

10. Fletcher Shryock -- 40-01 (15) -- 44-07 (15) -- 84-08 (30) -- 4-06

11. Luke Clausen -- 45-11 (16) -- 37-07 (13) -- 83-02 (29) -- 4-12

12. Ish Monroe -- 48-03 (16) -- 33-00 (13) -- 81-03 (29) -- 5-13

13. Bradley Roy -- 13-05 (5) -- 62-13 (20) -- 76-02 (25) -- 4-11

14. Matthew Stefan -- 37-13 (12) -- 34-12 (10) -- 72-09 (22) -- 5-01

15. Kevin VanDam -- 36-12 (13) -- 35-10 (12) -- 72-06 (25) -- 4-06

16. Skeet Reese -- 29-13 (9) -- 41-00 (13) -- 70-13 (22) -- 4-13

17. Paul Elias -- 26-05 (9) -- 41-14 (13) -- 68-03 (22) -- 5-00

18. Anthony Gagliardi -- 13-06 (4) -- 53-11 (20) -- 67-01 (24) -- 4-10

19. Jeff Sprague -- 40-07 (15) -- 22-12 (8) -- 63-03 (23) -- 4-04

20. James Watson -- 25-02 (7) -- 37-10 (13) -- 62-12 (20) -- 5-12

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

21. Takahiro Omori -- 38-14 (16) -- 23-02 (9) -- 62-00 (25) -- 4-01

22. Chris Lane -- 35-13 (12) -- 25-04 (9) -- 61-01 (21) -- 4-12

23. Keith Poche -- 36-05 (13) -- 23-15 (9) -- 60-04 (22) -- 4-01

24. Brent Ehrler -- 35-09 (14) -- 23-12 (9) -- 59-05 (23) -- 3-12

25. John Murray -- 39-11 (15) -- 18-03 (7) -- 57-14 (22) -- 3-08

26. Josh Bertrand -- 24-12 (9) -- 33-01 (11) -- 57-13 (20) -- 5-02

27. Mark Daniels Jr. -- 8-07 (3) -- 47-11 (15) -- 56-02 (18) -- 4-10

28. Roy Hawk -- 18-03 (6) -- 35-13 (12) -- 54-00 (18) -- 4-08

29. Todd Faircloth -- 23-08 (9) -- 28-02 (10) -- 51-10 (19) -- 3-15

30. Casey Ashley -- 32-03 (12) -- 18-15 (6) -- 51-02 (18) -- 4-07

31. Cliff Pace -- 38-10 (12) -- 10-06 (4) -- 49-00 (16) -- 5-07

32. Shin Fukae -- 36-10 (13) -- 11-06 (4) -- 48-00 (17) -- 4-05

33. Joey Cifuentes -- 20-00 (7) -- 25-02 (8) -- 45-02 (15) -- 4-07

34. Brent Chapman -- 20-03 (7) -- 21-13 (7) -- 42-00 (14) -- 4-02

35. Randall Tharp -- 25-13 (9) -- 14-02 (5) -- 39-15 (14) -- 4-12

36. Marty Robinson -- 18-07 (7) -- 12-13 (4) -- 31-04 (11) -- 4-08

37. David Walker -- 10-09 (4) -- 12-01 (4) -- 22-10 (8) -- 3-11

38. Randy Howell -- 10-09 (4) -- 11-14 (4) -- 22-07 (8) -- 3-12

39. Tommy Biffle -- 3-10 (1) -- 8-04 (3) -- 11-14 (4) -- 4-00

40. Jared Lintner -- 0-00 (0) -- 2-05 (1) -- 2-05 (1) -- 2-05