Professional anglers from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour spent their off day before competition at Lowrance Stage 5 at Kentucky Lake Presented by Mercury giving back to the local community in two impactful ways – restoring fish habitat through the Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Project Supported by Humminbird and Kubota, and meeting with fans during a lively Jet-A-Marina Meet and Greet.

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In partnership with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), the MLF Fisheries Management Division (FMD) held its fourth habitat project of the 2025 season, constructing and deploying 50 MossBack Fish Habitat ReedMat structures into Kentucky Lake. The structures were built at the Kentucky Lake Dam State Park by a team that included Bass Pro Tour anglers Gary Klein and Nick LeBrun, FMD Director Steven Bardin, MLF staff, KDFWR biologists, and staff from First Choice Farm and Lawn Calvert City.

Three of the newly created habitat sites are accessible only by boat, while one is available to shore anglers from the ADA Fishing Jetty off U.S. 641, making the effort beneficial for a wide range of Kentucky Lake anglers. Built from recycled PVC, the MossBack ReedMats will provide long-term fish habitat, particularly appealing to panfish and bass, enhancing the lake’s ecosystem and improving recreational fishing opportunities.

“These projects are so important to me because it’s crucial to give back to the communities and the local resources,” said Louisiana pro Nick LeBrun. “As an angler, you sometimes wonder ‘What can I do to really make a difference?’ We can get hands-on, and these FMD events are an easy and meaningful way for us to give back.”

This event marked the fourth Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Project of the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season, following similar successful efforts during Stage 1 at Lake Conroe in Texas, Stage 3 at Lake Murray in South Carolina, and Stage 4 at Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee.

Later that same day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jet-A-Marina in Calvert City hosted a fan-focused MLF Meet and Greet, where 19 of the Bass Pro Tour pros spent the afternoon interacting with local fishing fans. The event featured autograph signings, photo ops, cornhole games, free food, raffles, giveaways and a kids’ coloring station, creating a fun and festive atmosphere ahead of tournament action.

MLF anglers in attendance included Josh Bertrand, Brent Chapman, Dustin Connell, Justin Cooper, Mark Daniels Jr., Brent Ehrler, Edwin Evers, Cole Floyd, Drew Gill, Alton Jones, Chris Lane, Jeremy Lawyer, Andy Montgomery, Ron Nelson, Skeet Reese, Terry Scroggins, Wesley Strader, Bryan Thrift and David Walker.

“Any time we get to interact with fans, it’s always a good thing,” said NITRO pro Andy Montgomery. “They’re the lifeblood of our sport. These events are our way of supporting the fans, our sponsors, and our careers – all rolled into one.”

Wednesday not only reinforced MLF’s commitment to conservation and community engagement but also energized fans and anglers alike as they prepared to kick off Stage Five competition on Kentucky Lake – hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Calloway County Tourism Commission – the following day.

Thanks to our partners at Bass Pro Shops, NITRO, Ranger Boats, Jet-A-Marina and First Choice Farm and Lawn for their continued support and hospitality.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook , X, Instagram and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.