Live studio audience for LIVE

For the first time, Bassmaster LIVE has a studio audience.

A large contingent from nearby Greenbrier High School and Arkansas Tech College teams were invited to watch the second LIVE segment on Semifinal Sunday.

“It’s pretty awesome,” said Greenbrier’s Tyner Redden and Hayes Grooms, who are regular viewers when they’re not competing. 

Redden and Grooms won last Sunday’s Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Central Open presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Redden and Grooms had the big bass of 6-5 in their winning of 16-5 to earn their club $1,000. Also from Greenbrier was a top finisher in the Bassmaster Junior Central Open, Brady Horton, 13, who teamed with his younger brother Rhett to take second with 6-5.

Arkansas Tech, not far away in Russellville near their home lake of Dardanelle, brought several teams, including Austin Phillips. He teamed with Samuel Scott in placing 10th last Saturday on Bull Shoals in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops.

The author surely appreciates the guests he invited, namely Tim Preator, a law enforcement officer who served as a camera boat driver for the Dardanelle Elite. Preator is a local tournament angler who has long been a fan of B.A.S.S. He brought Sheridan High School angler Evan Reynolds and his boat captain, Evan Reynolds. In my eyes, Reynolds and Preator deserve to have the below shot put on Bassmaster for their quick turnaround on T-shirts, proclaiming #Soochforpresident. (President for what is still being debated).