Retired U.S. Air Force Vet Earns First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at DeGray Lake

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (April 22, 2024) – Boater Justin Howard of Austin, Arkansas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on DeGray Lake. Hosted by the City of Caddo Valley , the tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Arkie Division. Howard earned $4,394 for his victory.

Howard, who retired a couple years ago after a 25-year career in the U.S. Air Force, put in some prep time for this event. Though he didn’t find a lot of bass on beds, he found a key spawning fish that helped him kick off the tournament first thing in the morning. That fish weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces and earned him the Berkley Big Bass award on the boater side.

“I thought if I could catch her, I had an area mid-lake with some cuts that had some better fish flipping bushes and throwing a (Z-Man…