(Editor’s note: We apologize for the delay in posting this.)
Tackle Shack Report
Sometimes it just pays to wing it.
Bill Mathews and Steve Martin - 1st Place
That’s what Bill Mathews and Steve Martin did in the Tackle Shack Tournament on Lake St. Clair last weekend.
With the Mathews, a top angler in Michiana, as a substitute partner, the team never got a practice day yet went on to win the event with 21.35 pounds on a wind-blown Lake St. Clair.
“Bill and I just winged it,” said Martin. “No practice – we just set out at 2:45 a.m. on a hope and a prayer. We really only had a couple spots in mind to try. Bill punched in the coordinates on the Lowrance and we set sail.”
And they battled big water to get to the first spot.
“Our destination was roughly 10 miles away,” adds Martin. “The first half was fairly smooth then reality set in and we were catching air and crashing waves, so I just brought her down and put the nose in the air and took our time the next five miles. It was sketchy to say the least but we got there.”
They fished that spot and a few others, scrapping together a big limit that carried them to the $2,000 first place prize.
“We fished the ol’ NED rig, a jig and a Fluke-style minnow bait,” described Mathews. “We targeted 12- to 18-feet of water. It was a slow day; we caught two early, but then had a few hours without a keeper. We moved areas and then started catching keepers every hour or so, but they were the right ones. We made a key cull in the last hour or so to get rid of our last little one. We only fished U.S. waters.”
Chase Fennell and Josh Brandenburger - 2nd Place
Chase Fennell and Josh Brandenburger pocketed $1,400 for second place with 20.62 pounds.
“We caught everything in 10- to 12- feet of water on two different stretches,” said Brandenburger. “We caught them on jighead minnow and an A-rig, with a few coming on a drop shot. The afternoon was the best bite. All fish were caught in US water. The Canadian fish seemed to be smaller when we pre-fished.”
Jeremy Bunnell and Eben Lambert finished third ($900) with 19.11 pounds. (No picture provided)
“We caught everything between 9 and 12 feet with drop shot and Ned rigs,” said Bunnell. “We didn’t venture far from Anchor Bay.”
Andrew Jr Troyer and sub Hunter Brinkman - 4th Place
Fourth place ($500) went to Andrew Jr Troyer and sub Hunter Brinkman with 19.60 pounds.
“They all came on a drop shot and variety of MaxScent baits,” explained Troyer. “We fished 18 to 19 feet and all of our fish were caught in the first 2 1/2 hours. We only culled twice and fished our primary area until 11 when it was getting too rough. We caught everything on U.S. side.”
Shawn Kertai and Heath Hawkins - Big Bass
Big bass honors ($500) went to Shawn Kertai and Heath Hawkins with a 5.89-pound Smallmouth, which barely beat out a 5.88-pound smallmouth caught by Strock and Yoder.