Meet the Anglers: Challenge Cup - Team Smokey Mountain (#8)

Dean Rojas + Josh Bertrand

rojas and bertrand_25-Challenge-D2-Takeoff-PMoore-28-scaled.jpg

MLF Bass Pro Tour Anglers Dean Rojas and Josh Bertrand

Photo by Pheonix Moore

Rojas_0263.png

Dean Rojas

Major League Fishing

Dean Rojas

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Arizona native Dean Rojas holds one of the longest, most impressive records in bass-fishing history: the heaviest single-day weight ever recorded in a five-fish-limit format (45 pounds, 2 ounces on Lake Toho in 2001). Rojas has also notched 60 Top 10s and more than $2.9 million in career winnings. Rojas is the winner of the 2019 Bass Pro Tour Stage Five at Smith Lake in Cullman, Alabama.

FUN FACT

Dean likes golfing, off-roading, and fishing with his sons.

Career Wins5
Top 10s61
Top 20s104
REDCREST Appearances-
Career Winnings$3,034,976

GTTS-Erie-D6-Takeoff-PMoore-03.jpg

Josh Bertrand

Major League Fishing

Josh Bertrand

Queen Creek, Arizona

An Arizona-based pro with an affinity for smallmouth and West Coast techniques, Josh Bertrand picked up his first career tour-level win in 2018 (on the Bassmaster Elite Series). Bertrand was the 2012 Bassmaster Central Opens Angler of the Year, and in 2022, he won the U.S. Open.

FUN FACT

Bertrand is a big sports fan. His favorites are hockey, baseball, and football. He’s also the host of the Anglers Happy Hour podcast and enjoys camping with his wife and kids.

Career Wins1
Top 10s16
Top 20s30
REDCREST Appearances3
Career Winnings$940,465
Related Stories
Streaming LIVE March 12-28 only on RFD+
The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo concluded last night, marking the end of another successful year showcasing youth exhibitors, livestock producers, and the spirit of agriculture.
Three junior heifer exhibitors continue their trek through the Texas Swing at the San Antonio Stock Show, balancing competition, friendship, and life on the road.
Lynn County 4-H students showcase robotics and STEM skills at the San Antonio Stock Show, highlighting how ag education programs are preparing the next generation in agritech.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins visits Arizona cotton producers as rising fuel, fertilizer, and fuel and fertilizer costs continue to pressure farm margins.
Fred Nichols with Huma joins us to break down “just in time” fertilizer applications, a growing trend in modern nutrient management as input costs continue to pressure farmers.
Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities joined us to discuss spring planting progress and the outlook for trade and demand as the season continues.
USMCA review nears a critical stage as the U.S. and Mexico advance talks while Canada risks being left behind, raising concerns across North American agriculture trade.
Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas joins us to discuss the Food for Peace program’s Kansas roots, its place in the Farm Bill, and the importance of the USDA’s visit to the state.
USDA approves disaster aid for Pennsylvania orchard and specialty crop growers after April freezes caused major crop damage statewide.
Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
Opry Live is the premier weekly broadcast and livestream of the Grand Ole Opry, featuring country music superstars, legends, and rising talent performing on stage in Nashville.
Join popular polka performer Mollie Busta as she hosts the weekly “Mollie B Polka Party” on RFD Network! The one-hour program features the nation’s top polka bands and a wide variety of ethnic styles, recorded on location at music festivals across the country.
Brought to you by Gus Arrendale & Springer Mountain Farms, join dynamic bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent as they welcome scores of fabulous bluegrass, country, and gospel music acts as special guests. Loads of laughs, your favorite guests galore, and lots of good times are guaranteed. Don’t miss all the fun!
Enjoy traditional country music from modern-day troubadours The Malpass Brothers. Each episode stars the brother duo of Chris & Taylor Malpass along with a featured celebrity guest– and loads of clever humor.
Twisted Skillet brings a straightforward, hands-on approach to kitchen television, rooted in food and fire. Hosted by Texas chef Sean Koehler, the series explores open-fire outdoor cooking techniques, regional ingredients, and the people who raise, prepare, and inspire the food found across America.