MINOCQUA, Wisc. (Major League Fishing) — Keith Carson and Luke Clausen wasted no time setting the pace on Day 1 of the Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Bass Boat Technologies. Representing Team Fishing Clash, the Florida star and Washington veteran went wire-to-wire to claim the opening Elimination Match victory and advance to the Knockout Round of the second Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops event of the season.
The duo’s simple but deadly formula – weightless stick worms, wacky-rigged around boat docks – delivered 29 scorable bass and nearly 60 total catches in six hours of competition. Their total of 45 pounds, 2 ounces bested Nick LeBrun and Marty Robinson of Team Ferguson by 15-14. LeBrun and Robinson earned the second Knockout Round berth, narrowly edging James Elam and Gerald Spohrer of Team Lucas Oil by 5-4. Jeff Sprague and Bryan Thrift of Team YETI were eliminated alongside Team Lucas Oil.
Wacky worms power Carson, Clausen
After discovering on Sunday morning that they would be competing on a new fishery in Minocqua Lake, Carson and Clausen quickly figured out the fishery.
“It was a really good day,” Carson said. “We got the lead early, we stayed steady, and we just kept fishing the way we knew we could. To get that many bites and put together that kind of day, it feels really good to lock in a win right out of the gate.”
Clausen credited the conditions for steering them toward finesse.
“The fish just weren’t aggressive today,” Clausen said. “It was calm and sunny, and you could tell they weren’t in the mood to chase anything. Once we picked up the wacky rig, it was game on. My very first cast with it, I caught one, and from that point forward, it was locked in our hands.”
Carson noted how consistent the dock bite proved to be.
“We caught two on one of the first docks we pulled up to this morning, and that gave us confidence,” Carson said. “From there, we just kept rolling, and on a lot of those docks, there was more than one fish waiting. The wacky rig just flat-out got more bites than anything else.”
Clausen added that versatility kept them moving.
“We threw it around docks, pads, laydowns, grass, even seawalls,” Clausen said. “It didn’t matter what kind of cover it was; if it looked fishy, we fired a wacky worm in there. We tried some other things, but nothing else compared. That bait was our best chance to get bit.”
“Six hours of fishing, close to 60 bass,” Carson said. “That’s about as fun as it gets. Hopefully, we can carry this momentum all the way to Championship Day.”
LeBrun, Robinson rally to advance
While Carson and Clausen ran away with the top spot, Team Ferguson made the loudest noise in the closing stretch. LeBrun ignited a third-period rally offshore, catching 11 scorable smallmouth for more than 17 1/2 pounds using Lowrance ActiveTarget to locate schools. His surge lifted the duo past Elam and Sprague into second place and safely into the next round.
“Going into that final period, we were six pounds down and on the bubble,” LeBrun said. “But once we found those smallmouth offshore, the whole match flipped for us. That last-hour push was exactly what we needed.”
What’s next at the Heritage Cup
The Elimination Round continues Monday with a loaded crop of four teams taking the water. Three of the four winning Team Series duos from 2024 will be on the water, but only the top two finishers will advance to the Knockout Round.
Catch all the action LIVE on the RFD-TV Now Livestream from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT, or at MajorLeagueFishing.com. RFD-TV will air the entire opening day of the Challenge Cup live, as well as the final period of each of the following competition days (1-4 p.m.).
