Kayak League Report
Cody Breseman of Union - 1st Place
Cody Breseman of Union took the SW Kayak League finale on Gravel Lake near Marcellus with five largemouth totaling 67.75 inches Sunday afternoon.
Those were just his largest, as he said he caught more than 30 from the tip of an underwater point, all on a white Megabass Vision 110 Junior jerkbait.
“I got everything off the submerged point in front of the channel right by the ramp,” said Breseman of his first victory after fishing all 10 of the afternoon contests. “The wind was blowing right into it and everything was up on top of it.”
Fishing his paddle-powered Wilderness Systems A.T.A.K. 120 kayak in the wind proved challenging, he said. Even with a heavy chain anchor, the relentless wind kept blowing him towards the fish-covered structure.
“I would have to shoot out back to deep water then come back shallow,” he said “Everything I got was in 5 feet or less.” Breseman’s win was worth $170 and also moved him from fifth into third for the league’s Angler of the Year, worth an additional $75. He was understandably jubilant.
“No motor, no fish finder, no pedal drive, I did it!” he exclaimed. “I can’t wait till next season!”
Not far behind with 65 inches to take second was Andy Bitely of Plainwell, fishing his first fall league contest. He won $70.
Andy Bitely of Plainwell used a 1/15 Z-Man red ShroomZ head with a Drew’s Craw TicklerZ to take 2nd Place
“I caught all of my keepers on a 1/15 Z-Man red ShroomZ head with a Drew’s Craw TicklerZ,” Bitely said. “Caught them all in the channel (adjacent to the ramp), they seemed to be positioned in front of hard structures.”
He added a tale of woe that took place in the waning moments of the catch-photo-release contest.
“I moved to the end of the point straight out from the channel the last 45 minutes and tried to get an upgrade on the Vision 110,” Bitely told Michiana Outdoors News. “Nice green weeds were still up out there; caught three nice crappie and three small bass that didn’t cull. I finally caught my upgrade 14.5 incher at 3:58, just two minutes to go, and struggled to get all three Megabass trebles out. I got him on the board just as submissions closed—no luck.”
He noted winner Breseman saw the whole thing.
Russell E. Wilson of Schoolcraft - 3rd Place
Behind Bitely by a quarter inch to take third was Russell E. Wilson of Schoolcraft with 64.75 inches. He caught just five fish in the four-hour tourney, all on a 1/8-ounce Gamakatsu Gika Rig with a Stink Craw soft plastic from M. Pierce Custom Lures. He said the fish all came from a weedy 150-yard stretch in 8 to 10 feet of water, which he could see on his Garmin Livescope unit. His catch included the 16.5-inch big bass of the contest, worth $30. Wilson won $38 for third.
Steve Boekhout of Fremont, Indiana took fourth and the $10 gift card from league sponsor Mainstream Tackle & Outdoors in Galesburg. He said he caught a bunch of fish on a wacky-rigged Jackall Flick Shake worm on a drop shot.
Hopson wins Angler of Year
AOY Points Totals
Hanging on to win the SW Kayak League Angler of the Year title was Kevin Hopson of Crooked Lake, Indiana, with 620 points. The title came with a trophy and $300. Second, with 600 points and winning $150 was Boekhout. Breseman took third with 597 points.
The SW Kayak League was one of several under the Topwater Series umbrella in Michigan and Indiana. Three-hour weeknight tournaments around the Kalamazoo area start up again in April 2023 with 10 events planned. The 101 Lakes League will take place Sunday mornings with contests in northeast Indiana and southern Michigan. For more information, check out topwaterseries.com or the Topwater Nation Facebook page.
Gravel Lake Tourney Results