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Todd and Edie Wilkinson caught the only limit to win the Starboard Choice Big Bass Challenge on the St. Joseph River at Constantine Sunday.
The winners had 7 pounds, 15 ounces caught on a toad, Texas-rigged craw and a jig in 8 feet of water.
Top finishers in the Arjay’s Weeknight Circuit event at Coldwater Lake last week made it a family affair.
The tournament drew 22 boats and four of the top five teams consisted of family members.
New Tackle for 2022
Strike King is back with a new lineup of eyewear, delivering new styles with the Rogue and Catawba polarized sunglasses.
Featured Videos
| Timmy Horton: How to Tie the Blood Knot | Greg Hackney: Understanding Current and Pinch Points |
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| Top 6 NED RIG Mistakes | Jon VanDam: The Versatile Stick Worm |
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Repairman Shares Views and Offers Advice for Getting More Life Out of Fishing Reels
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By Louie Stout
If you’re shopping for a reliable spinning reel, choose Daiwa. And if you’re after a quality baitcaster, choose Shimano.
That’s the opinion of a Michiana reel service provider who sees about 200 reels a year.
Given the popularity of Shimano spinning reels, one might think just the opposite.
But John Meyer, the reel repairman for Clear H2o Tackle who works from his home in Edwardsburg, Mich., says he sees fewer problems with Daiwa spinning and Shimano baitcasters.
“Regardless of what dollar-wise you’re going to invest, those two are probably the best and most reliable that I see,” he said. “I don’t see a lot of difference in the brands of reels, but those two seem to be best.”
Even so, he said that paying $500 for a reel is overkill. Based upon what he sees inside the reels that he repairs, a $150-$200 baitcast or spinning reel are pretty good quality. Reels built today, he added, are better than those some 20 years ago.
Spawning Bluegills, Crappies Await Holiday Anglers
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Holiday Fishing Report
By Louie Stout
Panfishermen can expect a banner holiday weekend assuming the weather is stable.
If you're fishing Michigan this weekend, you won’t need a license as the state will celebrate a free fishing weekend Saturday and Sunday for both residents and non-residents.
Bluegills and crappies are biting just about everywhere, with both species spawning shallow on some lakes. Things could slow down a bit with Friday’s cold frot but fishing should still remain pretty good over the holiday.
Crappies typically spawn earlier, but area baitshops report anglers still finding good crappies in the spawning mode.
Bluegills began moving onto beds on the shallow, darker lakes last week and should be in full force on most lakes by the weekend since we will be under a full moon beginning today.
“It doesn’t matter where you go, the fishing is good everywhere down here,” said Bonnie Kelley of Kelley’s Bait in Lakeville, Ind.
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