Tackle Shack Report
Duane Bontrager and Tyler Wingard - 1st Place
Duane Bontrager and Tyler Wingard caught 14.62 pounds to win the Tackle Shack Tournament on Coldwater and other lakes in the chain last weekend.
The winners caught their fish on drop-shot rigs in 25 to 35 feet of water.
“We caught fish all day long, but there was a bite window between 10 a.m.-noon when the bigger fish ate,” the team said. “MaxScent and ElaZtech baits were keys. We stayed on Coldwater Lake.”
Bill Mathews and Kris Iodice - 2nd Place
Bill Mathews and Kris Iodice were close to winning, finishing second with 14.26 pounds.
“We got our limit in the box pretty early,” said Mathews. “We had five within the first hour, with one of the five being our biggest fish. We caught a ton of fish throughout the day, but caught a few key culls in the last 2 hours. We were throwing a swim jig around grass in 4-10 feet. Archer and Bartholomew lakes were where we had the most success.”
Brandon Bontrager and Jesse Richardson - 3rd Place
Brandon Bontrager and Jesse Richardson finished third with 14.09 pounds. They targeted suspended fish in 18 to 35 feet of water.
“We were using a custom ball head with a (Strike King) Baby Z too swimbait, and also caught the largest on a drop shot with a Roboworm,” they said. “We had our limit by 8:30, but really upgraded on some quality fish in the window from 9:30-11 when the sun peeked through. We did not leave Coldwater Lake.”
John Gipson and Ken Holder - 4th Place
John Gipson and Ken Holder not only finished fourth with 13.71 pounds, but they also won the Stutzman Landscaping Big Bass Prize with a 5.57-pound largemouth.
“We caught 8-10 keepers on Chatterbaits in 5-10 feet of water from Coldwater Lake and through Archer Lake,” they said. “We also caught one of our keepers in 35 feet on a 3.25-inch swimbait with Garmin LiveScope. We lost one that was way bigger today, but am thankful we caught the 5.57 with about an hour to go.”
Tournament organizers said there were 166 bass caught weighing 344 pounds for a 2.07-pound average.
“We’re very proud that we never had a dead fish, something we have stressed with our anglers all year,” said Brendon Sutter of Tackle Shack.
The Tackle Shack Classic is next. It will be at the Detroit River Oct.7-8.