Michiana Angler Wins BFL on Detroit River

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Published: 26 August 2025

BFL Report

Boater Jesse Richardson of Ligonier, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 12 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) on the Detroit River Presented by Lew’s. Richardson edged out second-place Nicholas Seitz of Maumee, Ohio , by one ounce to win the fourth event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Richardson earned $3,889 for his victory.

“I went north to Anchor Bay in Lake St. Clair and knew it was going to be tough with all the pressure the water had seen lately,” Richardson said. “I knew the fish were still there, but they were finicky and tough to get to bite.”

Richardson said he focused on Anchor Bay and targeted large weed beds in 10 ½ to 12 feet of water. He said he searched for clean spots, 100 feet off of the weed beds, with forward-facing sonar and picked up wolfpacks as well as single large bass. His bait of choice was a 6-inch minnow, although a drop-shot rig tipped with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm accounted for a couple of keepers.

Although Richardson knew he had a decent bag, a win in his first BFL Michigan event wasn’t in his mind as he headed to weigh-in.

“I didn’t have a good practice,” Richardson said. “I did have a couple of quality fish, and I thought if I could get 20 pounds, I could maybe get a Top 10. It turns out everybody was right up there with 20 to 20 ½ pounds, but I figured somebody would have had at least 22 or 23 pounds.

“Anybody can run into giants on that fishery,” Richardson added. “It just happens.”

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Eagle Lake Boat Launch Development Remains in Doubt

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Published: 21 August 2025

By Louie Stout

If you have hopes of the new DNR boat launch on Eagle Lake to be developed anytime soon, forget about it.

Darrin Schaap of Clear H20 Tackle and I had a conference call last week with DNR officials who are overseeing the project.

For those unfamiliar with the project, the DNR purchased land to install a new and safer boat launch on the east side of Eagle Lake in August, 2014.

That’s right 11 years ago.

Since then, the Eagle Lake Improvement Association has filed multiple lawsuits – which they lost – yet continue to throw roadblocks at the DNR to prevent the development.

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