Ben Cleary’s Big Bass Win, Archery Course Records, Moose Live Streams, Ammo Inc. Sold & More

From archery course records to massive moose migrations to an ammo company selling to big bass fishing wins and more, check out some of the latest news from the outdoors.

The Third Annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament took place from March 28-30, 2025, at Lake Point State Park on Lake Eufaula, Alabama. It featured more than 700 anglers from 27 states and Canada. More than $230,000 in cash and prizes were awarded. Eufaula, Alabama, is home to the renowned Humminbird facility.

Georgia angler Ben Cleary stayed with the topwater frog. “I was only fishing for one big fish, so I figured I might as well keep a frog in my hand,” Cleary said. “I had one bite not long after we started, probably a five or six pounder, but she didn’t eat it good, and I missed her. It gave me confidence to keep a frog in my hand all day.”

Twenty minutes later, he caught a giant, 7.4-pound, post-spawn bass. He caught it in a foot and a half of water. “When we got her in the boat, I knew she was pretty big, but I didn’t think there was a chance it would hold up throughout the entire event,” he said. “The first hour, someone had already weighed a 6.2-pound bass, and I was sure someone would catch a fish bigger than mine. It wasn’t until Sunday that I really started to believe I had a shot.

“It was really special to have my dad and Bruce in the boat when I caught that fish,” Cleary continued. “We took advantage of all the electronics that Bruce had on his boat throughout the tournament. I think I’m going to keep the new Nitro Z20 XL I won and get back into bass fishing more.”

Overall winning weights included: 1st Place – Ben Cleary with 7.4 pounds, 2nd Place – Jay Albritton with 7.28 pounds, 3rd Place – Drake Barlow with 6.97 pounds, 4th Place – Greg Green with 6.93 pounds, and 5th Place – Brookey Meeks with 6.84 pounds.

“We sincerely thank all the anglers who took part in this year’s annual Owners Tournament,” said Sarah Wells, Associate Brand Manager – Minn Kota. “Your enthusiasm, commitment, and heartfelt support for both the sport and our Humminbird and Minn Kota brands made this our most successful event to date. We’re grateful to be part of such a passionate and dedicated fishing community.” For more, visit humminbird.com.

A collaborative effort by the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College is attempting to teach the public how great wild game can be for the table. The second “Taste of the Wild” at Pulaski Tech’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute will be held at 5:30 p.m. on April 24. This event will feature cooking demonstrations.

In Arkansas, frog gigging season tends to start on April 15. That said, in an effort to protect frogs during the breeding season, the season now kicks off on June 1. This is the first year for the big change.

“Surrounding states have similar season start dates,” Bryant said. “Missouri opens on June 30; Tennessee opens on July 1, and Louisiana does not allow take of bullfrogs in April or May to allow them to mate and lay eggs before harvest begins.” For more, visit agfc.com.

Yamaha Rightwaters and the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER) teamed up in an effort to bolster fisheries conservation efforts in North America. This support from Yamaha Rightwaters includes two initiatives, specifically conservation efforts regarding swordfish and white seabass.

“At PIER, we couple science with innovation to create solutions in fishery management that prioritize the needs of local communities,” said Dr. Chugey Sepulveda, PIER director and senior scientist. “Like Yamaha Rightwaters, we believe responsible fishing is essential for healthy oceans and sustainable fisheries. We look forward to our collaboration.”

“Yamaha Rightwaters supports science-driven solutions that protect our marine ecosystems,” said Joshua Grier, Sustainability Program Manager, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “Collaborating with PIER allows us to contribute to meaningful research that benefits fisheries, communities, and the environment.” For more, visit yamahaboats.com. 

Yamamoto Baits and Bonehead Tackle recently added some color to their product offerings. The Yamamoto Sanshouo 5-inch is now available in four new colors. Bonehead now has its “Over the Moon” color.

“We are always looking to expand and improve,” says Crispin Powley, GSM Senior VP of Fishing. “Angler feedback matters. When they ask, we try to answer. These colors fill some of those requests, and they give folks more options to choose from. It’s a no-brainer.” For more, visit yamamotobaits.com.

Ammo, Inc., the owner of GunBroker.com, has sold its ammunition manufacturing assets to Olin Winchester. “This transaction marks a defining moment in AMMO’s evolution,” said Christos Tsentas, Chair of the Board’s M&A Committee. “After a thorough strategic review and collaboration with our financial and legal advisors, we are confident this sale will unlock significant value and enable AMMO to accelerate growth as a pure-play e-commerce platform. GunBroker.com is already the leader in the online firearms marketplace, and we expect this streamlined focus will allow us to double down on innovation, user engagement, and long-term profitability.” 

Although the annual moose migration in Sweden started early (due to an early spring), people are there to see it, nonetheless. In 2024, 87 moose were seen crossing the river. In 2023, that number was 21. Other wildlife often come into view, too. The nation is home to about 300,000 moose. You can see the event take place via the Moose Migration Livestream at svtplay.se

Paige Pearce, a pro archer with Bowtech, recently set a new national record. She had a great performance at the Break the Barriers and NFAA 1 Arrow 3D National Championship. She performed very well. She set a new course record of 984.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to see Paige perform at such a high level,” said Todd Snader, Brand Manager for Bowtech Archery. “Her commitment and skill not only elevate Bowtech’s products but also inspire archers around the world.” For more on Bowtech, visit bowtecharchery.com. Catch up with Paige Pearce via facebook.com/paigepearceinsight.

The Dyrt is a great camping app that includes state and national park campgrounds, RV parks, glamping, free campsites, and more. It even has millions of user-generated campground reviews. Plus, the launched Drive Time feature allows campers to find campsites within a specific amount of driving time from their current location.

"Camping is the quintessential weekend activity, but that also means that your time is fairly limited," says The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long. "You don't want to spend so many hours driving on Friday and Sunday that it makes your Saturday less enjoyable. Drive Time is the perfect way to immediately unlock every camping option available to you within your preferred driving time. It's also great for discovering new places close to home you never knew about."

"Trying to figure out where to go camping every weekend was the reason I started The Dyrt in the first place," says Sarah Smith, founder of The Dyrt. "Drive Time would have helped immensely in those days. We would have set it for one hour and made it our mission to stay at every campground in the surrounding area." Learn more at thedyrt.com.

Hardy recently announced that its Fortuna Regent fly reel was awarded the coveted 2025 Consumer Choice Award for Best Saltwater Reel by The Fly Fishing Show. The competition included 38 categories and 150 products.

“This award is especially meaningful because it comes directly from the anglers who use and trust our gear,” said Jake Fischenich, Hardy Brand Manager. “The Fortuna Regent is a reel built for serious saltwater pursuits, by those who spend the majority of their days in harsh conditions. We are honored that it’s been chosen as the Best Saltwater Fly Reel by the fly fishing community.” Visit hardyfishing.com for more information.