It’s simple math really: Zero eggs equals zero fish for future stocking programs.
So, the spring walleye and steelhead egg collections by the Michigan DNR are critical components of the strategy for maintaining world-class fishing opportunities in the Great Lakes State.
Nearly fifty years have now passed since the first paddletail swimbaits splashed down in U.S. waters, the earliest designs having likely originated in France. Today, paddletails have almost singlehandedly rewritten the rules of soft plastics engagement. Fans of catching bass, crappie, walleye and inshore slams nearly always cast these ingenious tail-driven baits, each version capable of different retrieve speeds, actions and the almighty thump.
Gamakatsu has announced a proprietary new finish for their most popular hook styles.
Derek Kelly and Devin Wright won the Smith Family Benefit Saturday on Diamond Lake, but the real winner was the worthy cause that 38 teams showed up to support.
The efforts raised $4,200 to help defray costs incurred by fellow tournament angler Jordan Smith and his wife. The young couple’s baby boy was born prematurely with a heart condition and has remained in the hospital for several weeks.
Kelly and Write had 12 pounds 2 ounces that included a 4-pound, 4-ounce bass. They said they caught their fish on jigs, 10-inch worms and drop-shot rigs in 6 to 12 feet of water.
Skyler Traver and Drake Nevins were second with 11 pounds caught on drop shots and jigs in 10 to 15 feet while Trevor Nunemaker fished alone for third with three bass weighing 9 pounds 12 ounces. He also had the big bass of the event, a 5 pounder, caught shallow.
Gary Butcher and Scott Smith were fourth with 9-10 and Eric Moore and Shannon Combs fifth with 8-12.
The tournament paid three places and 50 percent of the $100 entry fee each team paid went to the family.
By Louie Stout
Tournament bass fishermen are good about coming together to help out a fellow angler in need.
That’s why a group is rallying around fellow angler Jordan Smith whose new-born son came several weeks early. Smith's son has been hospitalized in Indianapolis with heart complications for more than a week and will likely be there much longer.
A benefit tournament will be held July 8 at Diamond Lake from 6 a.m. to noon and registration begins at 4:30 a.m. Entry fee is $100 and 50 percent of the proceeds will go straight to the family. There also will be a $10 big bass pot and $5 biggest rock bass pot. Payouts will go to the top three and there will be a 50/50 drawing. Hotdogs will be available after the weigh-in. Donations will be accepted.
In addition there will be drawings for several tackle prizes including a $160 hand-painted Floyd Wolkins swimbait.
Tournament organizers Izaak Wetzel (269-625-6482) and Cody Brown (269-689-5588) urge teams to contact one of them in advance to confirm your participation so they can get a handle on number of contestants. It is hoped that the tournament will draw a big turnout and raise a lot of money for a young family that is going through some really difficult times.
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