Polar Bear report
Zack and Mike Burdette - 1st Place
Lake Maxinkuckee rarely disappoints, but it sure made it tough on the 23 teams competing in the second stop of the Polar Bear Opens presented by Tackle Shack LLC and Str8-Up Mounts Nation.
Only eight limits were brought to the scales, with Zack and Mike Burdette claiming the top spot with 11.85 pounds that earned them $650.
Zack, who won last week’s Polar Bear at Wawasee, fished with a different partner but produced the same results. The winners said they used drop-shot rigs.
Bob Hyatt and Carl Bowser fished swimbaits in 5 feet or less to catch 10.14 pounds, good for second place ($300).
Kyle Kaser and John Gipson were third ($220) with 9.08 pounds and Hunter Paton and Dave Morrow fourth ($150) with 8.92 pounds.
Big bass ($220) went to Phil Reel and Greg Zellers with a 2.92 pounder.
Eric Fier with winning walleye
The walleye were more cooperative. Two monster walleyes were caught; Eric Fier won the miscellaneous fish pot ($220) with a 6.25 pounder, edging out Zellars (pictured with walleye) and Reel who had a 6.23 pounder.
Steve Trina and Petre Kline won the A-rig storage by Str8-up mounts for being the first team out of the money that stayed for the weigh-in, They had 8.92 pounds.
The next Polar Bear event is Nov. 23 on the St. Joseph at 6 Span Bridge access.