TBF Report

Lake Wawasee wasn’t very kind in mid-October to the largest-ever field for The Bass Federation Nation Semi-Finals event held with only three limits caught over two days among 180 anglers.

John Ruffier of Brookville, Ind. and a member of the Gadabout Bass Masters claimed the top spot in the boater division with eight bass weighing 12.62 pounds. Travis Edgars from nearby North Webster and a member of the Northern Bass Anglers was second with eight fish weighing 12.48 pounds. He was also the Ranger Cup winner.

Brian Hensley from Edwardsburg, Mich. took the lead after the first day with the only five-bass limit which weighed 8.71 pounds. However, on day two he could only muster two fish weighing 3.06 pounds that dropped him to 3rd with 11.77 pounds.

Dewayne Wilda of South Bend, the Indiana Bass Federation Vice-President and a member of the St Joe Valley Bass Masters took top honors both days in the co-angler division with six bass weighing 9.39 pounds.

Bob Kuykendall was second among co-anglers with three bass weighing 5.26 pounds. Bob is from Bloomington, IN and a member of the Tri-County Bass Anglers. Placing third was Justin Brown from Georgetown, IN and a member of the Lily Pad Masters. He had three bass weighing 4.88 pounds.

Troy Thornburg of Syracuse, a member of the Ye Olde Tacklebox Team, claimed big bass in the boater division with a 4.40 largemouth caught on day one. Gregory Holmes of Illinois took big bass in the co-angler division with a 2.62-pound largemouth caught on day two.

Dale Rader of Mishawaka, (St Joe Valley Bass Masters) had big bass on day one in the co-angler division with a fish that weighed 2.36 pounds. In all 239 bass were brought to the scales weighing 377.37 pounds. All were released alive.

The top 3 Indiana boaters and co-anglers along with the highest finishing Illinois boater and co-angler qualified for the TBF Nationals which will be held in the spring of 2021.