Major League Fishing (MLF) pro Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Arkansas, caught 17 scorable bass weighing 44 pounds, 5 ounces, to top the Championship Round and win the 2022 Builders FirstSource Patriot Cup Presented by Guaranteed Rate in Dallas, Texas, which premiered Saturday on the Outdoor Channel and Monday on the MyOutdoorTV app. The victory pushed Browning’s career earnings to more than $1.6 million.
Browning dominated the six-day event, winning his Elimination Round, Sudden Death Round and Championship Round of competition.
“Woo wee, that was fun!” exclaimed an excited Browning in his postgame interview with MLF analyst Marty Stone. “Look at these goosebumps on my arm – that’s how much this means to me. It was a battle, and I knew it was going to be. I just kept thinking to myself – don’t get off your gameplan. Fish your strengths, fish slow, fish thorough, make multiple casts and just let them come to you instead of trying to push it. It worked out perfect.”
Browning dialed into a pattern targeting the standing timber, which was plentiful in the Championship Round on Lavon Lake.
“I did all of my work on a 3/8-ounce bladed jig with a straight tail trailer on it,” Browning said. “Anytime I’ve got that bait in my hand I’ve got so much confidence. The biggest thing is I was fishing in super-shallow water.”
The final eight anglers at the 2022 Builders FirstSource Patriot Cup Presented by Guaranteed Rate in Dallas, Texas finished:
- Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 17 bass, 44-5
- Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 14 bass, 36-1
- Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 23-7
- James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 11 bass, 22-0
- Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, 12 bass, 20-4
- John Cox, DeBary, Fla., seven bass, 14-0
- Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 9-15
- Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., five bass, 8-13
Complete results along with photos from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
