CLIFF CROCHET
NAME: Cliff Crochet
HOME: Pierre Part, LA
The “Cajun Baby” grew up in the Atchafalaya Basin in southeast Louisiana and has been fishing since he can remember. At age 18 he began serving in the Assumption Parrish police force and has since traded his sheriff’s badge for a flipping stick. When he is not fishing, Cliff is active in his community volunteering as a youth football coach.
In 2000, Cliff joined the Lake Verret Bass club and became a serious competitor in the Federation Nation events. In 2006 he became the youngest ever Louisiana State Champion and began to set his sights on becoming a professional angler. Starting in 2007 he competed in the Bassmaster Open series and qualified for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic and an invitation to the Bassmaster Elite Series. He now fishes in the MLF Bass Pro tour. Cliff’s career includes 1 win, 15 Top 10’s and 23 Top 20’s with career winnings of $596,862.
HIs sponsors include Bill Lewis Fishing, Angler Armor, Power-Pole, Blazer Boats, KastKing, HUK, Crusher Lures, SnagProof, Netbait, Lowrance, Cajun Outboards, Dakota Lithium Batteries and Buzbe
Matty Wong
NAME: Matty Wong
HOME: Oahu, HI
Matty grew up on Oahu, Hawaii. Addicted to fishing from a young age, Matty gravitated towards any body of water. From fishing his home lake; Lake Wilson, to streams and the ocean. Matty eventually moved to California in 2013 to pursue a dream in competitive bass fishing. Successfully competing in the Ventura County Bass Club, Matty earned a spot on the California State Team. He won the regional championship for the state of CA on Lake Havasu in early 2021 and qualified for the National Championship in West Monroe, Louisiana. Matty won the National Championships out of an Old 1990 Ranger 364v and no new aged electronics. Matty Wong is also the first person from Hawaii to ever fish on the Elite Series and qualify for the Bassmaster Classic. At the age of 33, he has done more than most fishermen have done in a lifetime yet remaining humble and hardworking.
RICHARD COOPER
NAME: Richard Cooper
HOME: Benson, NC
HOME LAKE: Kerr Lake
SOMETHING FANS MAY NOT KNOW: I always fished but did not do much tournament fishing until after College. I played baseball at the collegiate level and that competitiveness transferred into fishing.
TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE: 15 yrs.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2015 BASS Northern Open James River 9th place, 2016 BASS Northern Open James River 13th place, 2017 BASS Northern Opens 13th in AOY points, 2014-2017 BASS Federation State team qualifier.
SPONSOR ROSTER: Title Sponsor: Jenko Fishing, Twin lakes Marine, Bassreaper bait Co, Kastking, Accu-Cull, Amped Outdoors, Bryant’s Custom Jigs, Buck N Bass, Performance glass inc, Spearpoint Hooks, Rugged Road Outdoors, Phoenix boats, Mercury Marine, Lowrance, Angler Armor
DOUG CHAPIN
NAME: Doug Chapin
HOME: Tigerton, WI
HOME LAKE: Wolf River Chain
SOMETHING FANS MAY NOT KNOW: I am a U.S. Army Infantry Veteran with multiple deployments overseas to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Fishing has helped me immensely since I got out of the military, not only because it’s my job, but as a means of therapy. I hope to use the opportunity that I’ve been blessed with to give back, and help others that may be struggling, by showing them how the outdoors can change their lives in a positive way!
TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE: 5 yrs.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: U.S. Anglers Choice National Championship, lake Chickamauga- 12th BFL Super tournament, Lacrosse WI 8th BFL Prairie Du Chien – 2nd NPFL, Wright Patman 19th NPFL, Lake Winnebago 21st
SPONSOR ROSTER: Angler Armor, Fully Loaded Chew, JB3 Rods, Jewel Baits, O’Reilly Auto Parts, 5×3 Fishing, Mercury Marine, Vexus Boats
Hometown: Tavares, FL
Age: 67 Married: wife, Denyse
2008 Team Supreme Super North Division Champion
2013 Bass World Sports Team Championship, Guntersville, AL
1st Place $44,000 Ranger Boat with Mercury 200.
2021 Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Tournament, Harris Chain, FL
Fellow Angler Armor pro staffer Dan Helmer came down to Florida and we brought in a 9.99 lb. bass to win the event. $48,000 Nitro Z19 with Mercury 200.
Multiple time BFL regional qualifier.
Personal best bass: 11.10 lbs.
Favorite bodies of water - Harris Chain, Mississippi River Pool 9, Chequamegon Bay, WI
Favorite ways to catch bass: topwater, sight fishing
Gear I couldn’t do without: Angler Armor boat alarm, Garmin Livescope, Power Pole
RICK FOX
KAORU O'BRYAN
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Won 6 National Tournaments
Won 30 first place team tournaments
Top 10 – 15 times in BFL/Redman
Top 5 – 8 times BFL/Redman
3rd place – B.A.S.S. Lake of the Ozark
2014 1st place Kentucky State Bass Federation Championship
Personal Best: 9.8 lbs
Favorite bodies of water:Kentucky and Barkley Lake, Ohio River
Favorite ways to catch bass: I like to use moving baits such as
a Buzz bait, splash-it, crank bait or spinnerbait as a search bait.
Once I locate bass then I can slow down and throw plastics or jigs.
Sponsors include: Angler Armor, Kastking, Baitmate Fish Attractant,
Mercury Motor, Zeco Shoes, Simms Fishing Products, Lure Lock,
Atomic Bass Jersey, Stanley Jigs, Bullet Weights, Daiichi Hooks,
Bass Reaper Baits, Catch Some Relief and TH Marine.
Read more about Kaoru, his nonprofit Kentucky Pro Bass Warriors
and links to his social media here
Andrew Behnke
Andrew is from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin where he works as a full-time firefighter/paramedic. Fishing has always been who I am. It's never been just a hobby for me, it's a lifestyle, my passion, the thing that I could not live without. I grew up traveling the country for all different sorts of tournaments, everything from saltwater tournaments in Florida to freshwater tournaments in New York. I have met some absolutely amazing people being in and around the fishing industry and knew that competing at the highest level of fishing is what I have always wanted to do.
I started competitively bass fishing at the age of 14 in a bass club and small team tournaments around home. Once I was able to get into my own boat I started competing in more team tournaments and regional tournaments such as Major League Fishing Bass Fishing Events all over the state of Wisconsin. As I grew more comfortable from the front of the boat I started entering bigger tournaments and traveling more out of the state to compete on my own. I have competed in Bassmaster Opens, MLF BFL Regionals, MLF Toyota Series Events, as well as a Toyota Series Championship. This past season I achieved a lifelong goal of qualifying for a professional tour, MLF Invitationals. It has been a long road with lots of lessons learned on the way, but it has all been worth it. The hard work is just beginning and I am ready to showcase my skills and who I am to everyone on a national level!
SHANE KNUEPPEL
Shane was born and raised in Fond du Lac, WI on the southern shore of Lake Winnebago. He grew up hunting and fishing with his father, who taught him the ins and outs of walleye and perch fishing at a young age. Shane also frequents Lake Erie and Green Bay in his pursuit of walleye along with several annual trips to Lake Michigan for salmon. His love of fishing and close proximity to one of the best walleye fisheries in the world drove him to start fishing competitively in his 20's. He's recently retired and when he's not on the water he spends time with his wife Melissa and their daughter Britany. Shane started his tournament career doing small local walleye competitions for fun on the weekends, the desire to compete drove him to larger, more competitive series. The Mercury Nationals and Battle on Bago regularly have over 300 boats of the best walleye fishermen competing and he has successfully been doing both for over 20 years. He also participates in the Winnebago Walleye Series and several smaller club tournaments with several top finishes. He fishes out of a Triton 206 Fishunter powered by Mercury. Okuma rods and reels are his preferred tools of the trade along with tackle from Berkeley and Salmo
SCOTT SKUPAS
Scott Skupas is a life long resident of Fond du Lac, WI. He grew up fishing and has been fishing competitively for about the last 16 years. Scott fishes the Mercury National Tournament, Battle on Bago, Winnebago Walleye Series as well as several other local tournaments. In his career he has 2 wins, 1 second, 1 3rd and several other top ten finishes. He also “cashed” in several others. In addition to Lake Winnebago System, Scott fishes Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and many other smaller bodies of water. Scott uses Angler Armor to protect his 2021 Nitro ZV20 powered by a 300HP Mercury Pro XS. With gear, electronics and other accessories he trusts this system to protect his $90,000.00 investment. Scott’s favorite body of water is Lake Erie. His favorite technique is trolling. Scott’s must have when the boat leaves the garage would be his full array of crank baits and of course peace of mind with the Angler Armor security system installed.
DAN HELMER
47 years old
Boat: 2021 Nitro Z19
Motor: 2021 200hp Mercury 4 Stroke
Born and raised in WI, Dan has been fishing since he could walk. The 1st tournament he entered was the Lyn Durant Memorial Team Tournament. He was 16 years old and his partner was his 9 year old sister. They took 1st place and had big bass honors as well. To say the least, Dan has been hooked on tournament fishing ever since.
Dan has competed in the WI Fisher’s of Men Tournament Trail where he had 1 win and 3 top 3 finishes in the three years they had a WI division. He competes every in the River Country Bassmaster open on Big Green Lake where he has two 2nd place finishes in the last 5 years. He also won the Big Sack’s Bass Club open tournament on Fox Lake in 2020. His most memorable victory was in February 2021 at the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Tour on The Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida which landed him a fully rigged Nitro Z19 bass boat with a 200 hp Mercury 4 stroke motor.
When Dan is not fishing, he enjoys spending time with his family and hunting with family and friends.