Camera men capture an angler reeling in a river monster from the St. Lawrence in an earlier MLF event. MLF photo.

BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- Major League Fishing is once again in Massena, this time with the Toyota Series presented by Phoenix Boats.

The event will be the season finale for the Northern Division, with 159 pro anglers with co-anglers taking part in the event.

Anglers left the Massena intake at 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 22, with weigh-in scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Though MLF and Bassmasters have hosted a number of tournaments on the river in recent weeks, MLF officials are confident that the tournament will bring in big crowds and some of the largest bass seen on tour.

“The St. Lawrence River is unlike any other fishery in the world,” said angler Ethan Carr

"I had the opportunity to grow up around that body of water, and I really enjoy targeting the biggest fish that live in a fishery. Obviously, sometimes that burns you, but there’s no better place than the St. Lawrence to do that," he continued.

Carr said the number of five and six pound bass in the river is "absolutely outstanding," creating a great training ground for angler to learn the habits of the biggest bass.

This is the fifth time the Toyota Series has visited Massena since 2019, Wayne Vaughn winning the first round.

In 2021 the event was won by Chris Johnston, who recently competed in the Bassmaster Elite Series in Waddington, finishing fourth while also capturing the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the year title. In doing so, he became the first Canadian ever to win the award.

In 2022, rule changes affected the field after MLF officials opted to make Lake Ontario off-limits to anglers.

With all anglers forced to fish on the St. Lawrence River, Spike Stoker took the victory.

In 2023, Brent Anderson claimed the victory while fishing mid-river, MLF said.

Attendees will also be able to see the battle for Fishing Clash Angler of the Year in MLF come down to the wire, with the top five anglers separated by only 15 points.

Kyle Cortiana leads with 506 points, with Chase Serafin and Casey Smith both sitting just two points back. Ben McCann, last year's runner-up, sits at 495 points, while Kurt Mitchell sits in fifth with 489 points.

The event is sponsored by FX Custom Rods and is hosted by the Town of Massena.