(Provided by B.A.S.S.)
/>Koby Kreiger - Photo Courtesy BASS/James OverstreetThe 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series field is now set with a mixture of well-known veteran pros and young up-and-comers ready to zig-zag the country, vying for thousands of dollars and the coveted Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.
Topping the 113-angler field is Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., who won the 2014 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite Series event on New Yorkís Cayuga Lake en route to capturing the 2014 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. The remainder of last yearís Top 5 points earners is also returning with four-time B.A.S.S. tournament winner Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas; three-time winner Jacob Powroznik of Port Haywood, Va.; six-time winner Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala.; and five-time winner Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark.
There will be 13 newcomers to the Elite Series field, including Mishawaka native Koby Kreiger, who won five FLW events and pocketed $1.4 million while fishing FLW events.
Bob Evans annual Thanksgiving Weekend Bass Tourney played out at Baldwin Lake recently and attracted eight teams.
It was cold but the fish bit.
Jeff Stankovich and Randy Kafka came out on top with 11.79 pounds while Kevin Fletcher and Greg Mangus were second with 8.98 pounds. Third place went to Pablo Gonzales and Dave Stead with 8.77 pounds and Ryan Evans and Mike Lagodney won big bass honors with a 4.20-pound largemouth.
The tournament was scheduled to launch at the old Baldwin Lake Marina access on U.S. 12, but the channels were iced in.
Mike Waumans of Tri-Lakes Marine, who now owns the old Baldwin Marina property, came to the rescue. Boats were launched at the roadside access on Sunset Blvd. and Waumans shuttled anglers between there and his parking area on U.S. 12. He also donated prizes.
Waumans plans to move his business on Sunset to the U.S. 12 site.
Jason Lahr (South Bend) and Tom Bell (Mishawaka) caught a giant 6.29 largemouth from the St. Joseph River at 6 Span last week to win the R&B Circuit Open.Jason Lahr (South Bend) and Tom Bell (Mishawaka) caught a giant 6.29 largemouth from the St. Joseph River at 6 Span last week to win the R&B Circuit Open.
The big bass anchored a 14.30-pound limit, all caught on jerkbaits.
Kevin Fletcher (Elkhart) and Greg Mangus (Fremont) slung blade baits and swimbaits in the main river channel to grab an 11.97-pound limit of smallmouth bass for second place while Andy Buss (North Liberty) and Trevor Paulus (Osceola) tossed swimbaits, jerkbaits, and blade baits to weigh in an 11.85-pound limit of smallmouth for third.
Two late season bass tournaments will be held this month.
The first will be Nov. 15 on Pine and Stone lakes in LaPorte, Ind. Entry fee is $50 and hours are 8 a.m.-2 p.m. central time.
The tournament offers 100 percent payback to top finishers. For more information, call Mike Martin, 219-393-3895 or email kickinbass101@comcast.net.
Then, on Nov. 29, Bob Evans will conduct his annual Thanksgiving Bass Tourney on Nov. 29 at Baldwin Lake near Union, Mich. Evans has held the event annually since 1991, regardless of the weather.
Entry fee is $40 per team and the event will launch at the old Baldwin Lake Marina access. If the channels are frozen, the tournament will be moved to Klinger Lake.
For more information, call Evans at 574-320-3366.
*Click small images for a larger view
John Leader and Brian Souza caught 14.37 pounds to win the first annual Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament on the St. Joseph River held at the 6 Span access in late October.
The winners said they caught their four fish that included largemouth and smallmouth within 15 minutes after the tournament started. They were fishing a shallow flat along a break and caught everything on Rat-L Traps and 1/4-ounce Lockjaw jigs. Oddly enough, they couldnít catch a fish under 12 inches to fulfill a legal limit. (St. Joseph River regulations limit each angler to two fish over 15 inches and the rest must be under 12.)