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Published: 09 December 2024

By Louie Stout

Springtime tournament fishing may seem like a long ways away, but tournament groups already are putting together schedules and registering them with the respective DNR programs.

As a result, Michiana Outdoors News is reminding tournament directors to get us their schedules once they are finalized. They will be posted on our Lake Drive Marine Events Calendar that is found on the home page and other pages of the website.

We welcome seasonal tournament circuits, open events and charity events.

There is no charge for posting the schedules. It’s a popular item on the site and where anglers go to find details of events they might want to fish.

By getting your schedule to us early, it reduces the chance of other groups scheduling on top of you.

We are primarily interested in events held in northern Indiana and southern Michigan although we will include tournaments scheduled outside Michiana if the circuit is based in northern Indiana/southern Michigan or if the circuit makes visits to our regional waters. Schedules for the Events Calendar must include dates, entry fees, tournament hours, name/phone number of a tournament director contact, and ramp location (if the lake has more than one. Tournaments/circuits must be open to the public.

Send your tournament information to stoutoutdoors@comcast.net.

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Published: 03 December 2024

Polar Bear Report

Despite air temperatures below 20 and water temperatures 43 degrees and lower, six teams braved the weather and caught some nice bass at Duke’s Bridge (Waldron Chain) in the Bob Evans Classic and Polar Bear season finale over the weekend.

Chris Brunt and Lee Duracz - 1st Place

Chris Brunt and Lee Duracz persevered with 13.75 pounds anchored by the big bass of the tourney, a 3.66 pounder. They fished Ned rigs and Baby Z-Toos in 6 to 10 feet over weed patches to win $320. They had their limit by 8:45, moved to another area at noon and made two culls, one of which was with the big bass.

Weather aside, four of the six teams had limits and three of them who didn’t win had 10.33, 10.74 and 10.79 pounds.

Eric Frankenberger and Brad Elliot - 2nd Place

Eric Frankenberger and Brad Elliot finished second ($100) with 10.79.  They also fished Ned Rigs. 

The critter pot ($60) was won by Sam Cavanaugh and Devon Fry with a 4.45-pound carp.

Chris Brunt won the St. Croix Mojo Bass rod in the Tackle Shack drawing while Eben Lambert and Joe Sears won the Str8-up mount prize.

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Published: 28 November 2024

By Louie Stout

Jon VanDam

A VanDam will attempt to get back to the Bassmaster Elites, but not THAT one.

Jonathon VanDam, nephew of Kevin VanDam and a former Bassmaster Elite angler, has left the MLF Bass Pro Tour and registered to fish the Bassmaster Opens.

“I want to get back to the Bassmaster Classic,” said the 36-year-old Kalamazoo angler.

He fished Bassmaster Opens from 2006 through 2010, winning one event at Sandusky Ba, Ohio. He qualified for the Elites in 2011 and competed there before leaving to compete on the Major League Fishing circuit in 2018. During his time with B.A.S.S., he logged 18 top 10 finishes, including an Elite win at Green Bay, Wisc. He’s won $563,000 with B.A.S.S. and competed in two Classics, finishing 23 at Grand Lake, Ok. in 2013 and 16th at Lake Guntersville, Ala. in 2014.

VanDam was qualified to return the MLF Bass Pro Tour but chose to fight his way back into the Elites through a very tough Bassmaster Open format.

“I did well over at the other circuit, but I wanted to get back to the B.A.S.S. format which seems to fit me better,” he said.

He added that the new Elite Series “no entry fee” policy is another motivator.

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