Meet the Anglers: Challenge Cup - Team Lucas Oil (#4)

Michael Neal + Brent Chapman

michael neal and brent chapman_tam lucas oil_25-Challenge-LucasOil-NealChapman-PMoore-03-scaled.jpg

Michael Neal and Brent Champman, Team Lucas Oil, B&W Challenge Cup, Elimination Match 1

Photo by Pheonix Moore

Neal-Michael-25.png

Michael Neal

Major League Fishing

Michael Neal

Dayton, Tennessee

Tennessee native Michael Neal became one of the youngest anglers in history to compete in the FLW Tour when he kicked off his pro career in 2012. Neal won Stage Seven of the Bass Pro Tour on Lake St. Clair in 2021, just a month after securing the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year title. In 2022, Neal claimed his second Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year title in back-to-back fashion, becoming the third pro to win AOY in consecutive years and the sixth pro to win multiple AOY titles. Neal’s second win on the Bass Pro Tour happened on the same waters as his 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year title – the St. Lawrence River during Stave Seven of the 2024 Bass Pro Tour.

FUN FACT

Neal owns a tackle store called Real Deal Tackle. He enjoys hunting and trap shooting as well as riding ATVs and crappie fishing during the off-season.

Career Wins4
Top 10s46
Top 20s55
REDCREST Appearances6
Career Winnings$1,951,122

———

Brent Chapman

Lake Quivira, Kansas

Brent Chapman* hosts the popular “Pros Vs. Joes” online fishing show. One of the few anglers in the world who can lay claim to the title of tour-level Angler of the Year, Brent Chapman was the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series AOY, a 14-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, and a two-time REDCREST qualifier. He’s one of the Top 30 B.A.S.S. money winners of all time (over $2.3 million total), and has four wins on his résumé.

FUN FACT

Brent enjoys bow hunting, as well as pond, bank and saltwater fishing, and anything to do with the outdoors. He also does land management for deer.

Career Wins4
Top 10s44
Top 20s83
REDCREST Appearances2
Career Winnings$2,515,567

*Champman replaced fellow Bass Pro Angler Andy Morgan as Neal’s teammate.

Related Stories
Jacob Wheeler and Dustin Connell of Team O’Reilly Auto Parts took an early lead and never let go, finishing atop SCORETRACKER® with 64 pounds, 8 ounces on 42 scorable bass.
Team O’Reilly Auto Parts’ Dustin Connell and Jacob Wheeler caught 42 scorable bass weighing 64 pounds, 8 ounces—by far the day’s best total—advancing directly to the Knockouts.
Catch the action on RFD-TV and streaming live on the RFD-TV Now app.
FFA education inspires Chelsey Keiser to become the first female horse jockey.
Bradley Roy was the youngest angler to compete in a Bassmaster Elite Series event. Now, he’s prepping to hit the water with MLF Hall of Famer Greg “The Rooster” Vinson in the Team Series Patriot Cup.
Fans can catch all the action live starting next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET, following Cow Guy Close. Catch it LIVE only on RFD-TV.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, adding a decade of experience in the digital side of broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

AFBF Vice President of Public Policy and Economic Analysis, Dr. John Newton, explains the factors contributing to the growing financial strain in the ag sector and the urgent need for swift economic support.
Tyson’s Nebraska plant closure and falling Cattle on Feed numbers send cattle markets tumbling. Analysts warn of tighter supplies, weak margins, and rising global competition.
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller warns horse owners after EHV-1 cases linked to the Waco WPRA Finals. Horses linked to recent Waco events should be isolated and closely monitored, as early action is critical to stopping the spread of EHV-1.
One trader said the products entering the U.S. are primarily grind and trim, noting that the volume and type of beef, on its own, should not cause a major disruption. However, he says fund traders are reacting heavily to headlines rather than market realities.
Olivia Bury, AgriSafe Network Behavioral Health Coordinator, shares about AgriSafe Network’s resources created to support farmers and rural Americans.
Shaun Haney, host of RealAg Radio, provides the latest insight into the timing, expectations, and broader considerations of the potential aid package, despite increasing exports to China.
Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
This hour-long show explores the trains and locomotives that aided the growth of travel, further settlement, and the development of a variety of American industries and agricultural ventures.
SharkFarmer TV is the brainchild of Rob Sharkey, a 5th-generation farmer from Illinois. He shares the stories of incredible people in agriculture—both their successes and perhaps a few blunders along the way. You’ll see aerial footage of the field just as the drone crashes into a barn—and hear the story behind it all.
Discover the untold stories of farm families across the United States as they face tough decisions, adapt in unexpected ways, and fight to secure a future — for the next generation to carry on the farm. This unscripted documentary-style TV show follows the lives of ambitious farmers from diverse backgrounds across the US, highlighting the challenges, triumphs, and unique stories of these farmers as they navigate the world of agriculture.
The internationally-known “King of Polka,” 18-time Grammy award winner for “Best Polka Album,” and bandleader of arguably the most popular polka band in America—Jimmy Sturr—is taking to the stage for another slate of shows made for his fans and polka lovers across the country.
“Texas Our Texas” – a magical place. A place of land and legend. A place like no other. People come here to touch it, to feel the passion, to soak it in and be a part of it. Hosted by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Let’s ride!