Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Friday, October 10, 2025
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MLF Report
Skeet Reese, 2024 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee, A founder of Major League Fishing, the 2007 Bassmaster Angler of the Year and 2009 Bassmaster Classic Champion announces his retirement from competitive fishing at the end of the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour season.
While he is retiring from competition, he will remain actively involved in the industry. He plans to spend more time serving in an enhanced promotional capacity for his partners and to growing Reese Fishing, his new fishing rod brand.
His more than 40-year career began in the Western Pro circuits such as WON Bass and West Coast Bass, then turned to the Bassmaster Western Invitationals, where he qualified for the Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Elite Series.
The announcement brings to a conclusion one of the most highly decorated competition careers in the history of professional bass fishing. He has competed in more than 300 professional events, claiming 12 career victories, 84 top 10 and 120 top 20 finishes. Appeared in 19 Bassmaster Classics, three Major League Fishing REDCREST championships, two Forrest Wood Cups and a Red Man All American. Altogether, Reese has posted more than $4 million in career earnings while casting.
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BFHOF Report
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is kicking off the celebration of its 25th anniversary by hosting a silent auction this month in a continuing effort to support its mission of celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing.
The 25th Anniversary Auction is online now and will run through April 29. Up for grabs are an assortment of unique fishing gear packages, one-of-a-kind paintings and autographed memorabilia. Additional items will be added throughout the duration of the auction. Check out the auction here: https://one.bidpal.net/hof25years/browse/all.
“The continuing support we receive from throughout the bass fishing world and those involved in the sport in so many ways shows that they also believe in the Board’s mission and our efforts,” said BFHOF Board president John Mazurkiewicz. “Plus, it’s great to see the support from new and upcoming brands like Bizz Baits, Nomad Design, Reese Fishing and RodBender Fishing Company joining in with the major players like Daiwa, Denali, Gamakatsu, Lew’s/Strike King, Shimano, SPRO, and Sunline who all again never say no when we ask for support. We can’t thank them enough.”
Later this year, the Hall will welcome three new inductees as part of its annual Celebrate Bass Fishing Week. Randy Hopper, Craig Lamb and William Shakespeare Jr. will be inducted on Thursday, Sept. 25 at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Mo. As part of the induction festivities, the Hall will also conduct an online silent auction that week as well as a live auction for those in attendance at the banquet.
Proceeds from the auctions aid the Hall’s initiatives, such as funding grants for fisheries conservation, scholarships for fisheries science students, and backing youth fishing.
For additional information about how to support the Hall or the upcoming induction banquet, please visit bassfishinghof.com.
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D&R Sports Report
Here are the speakers and the tentative times they are scheduled to speak during the D&R Sports Center Spring Fishing and Boat Show Friday and Saturday at the Kalamazoo store.
The speaker lineup includes Kevin and Jonathon VanDam, Mark Zona, James Lindner, Ish Monroe, Chad Grigsby and Justin Cooper. They will cover a variety of topics, but smallmouth bass will top the agenda.
Michiana’s Ron Nelson, a successful Major League Fishing Pro, won’t be doing seminars but will be available to talk Michiana fishing and tactics.
Jon Vandam – Smallmouth bass tactics, Friday 6:15 p.m.
Kevin VanDam – New Humminbird products and general fishing tactics, Friday 9:30 a.m. and Saturday, 10:45 a.m.
Zona – Drop-shotting with Baby Z-too and fishing the Strike King Homing Minnow, Friday 11 a.m.
Lindner – Hot spring patterns and Lures for multi-species, Friday 3:30 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m.
Grigsby – Big Michigan smallmouth on spy baits and hair jigs, Friday, 2 p.m. and Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
Cooper – Fishing summer grass for largemouth, Friday, 5 p.m. and Saturday 9:30 a.m.
Monroe – no topic was made available but he’s always eager to talk frog fishing, Friday 12:30 p.m. and Saturday 1:15 p.m.
Owner Randy VanDam says the store also will feature some of their biggest sales of the year in tackle and boats. Representatives of boating and fishing tackle companies also will be on hand to discuss their products.
Store hours are 9-8 Friday and 9-5 Saturday.
Call the store for any additional information, 269-372-2277.