Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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Tackle Shack Report A big smallmouth late in the day helped lift Steve Martin and Floyd Wolkins to the Tackle Shack Fall Brawl title on the St. Joseph River at 6 Span Bridge Saturday. The tournament drew 29 teams who also helped raise money for Toys for Tots and the Forrest River Fishing Group conducted the weigh-in. Martin and Wolkins used a mixture of A-rigs, glide baits and Chatterbaits to pocket $1,200 for first and $580 for big bass. More importantly, says Martin, it was the decisions they made. “We didn’t have the greatest starting position so we picked a spot where no one was fishing and worked that pattern in similar areas,” he says. “It worked to perfection, which usually isn’t the case. We had an 11-pound limit in the first hour. We upgraded a few times by fishing bigger baits and Floyd wanted to try one more spot. I jumped on the back of the boat and hurled my A-rig over a nearby hole. That’s when the big one hit.” That smallmouth weighed 4.50 – huge for the St. Joseph River – and they culled out a 2 ½ pounder. They went back to the ramp and loaded early, knowing they were in good position to do well. Kevin Miller and his son Trevor finished second with 10.62 pounds, good for $800. “We culled once in the first hour and never upgraded the rest of the day,” said Kevin. “We focused on 3 to 5 feet of water. Baits that did the most damage were swimbaits and Senkos.” Lee Duracz and Terry Burgess used a mixture of baits to finish third ($550) with 10.24 pounds. “Our first fish was the biggest and it was caught on topwater,” offers Duracz. “The second was in a current seam on a Ned rig, third was caught on a Ned under a dock, and the fourth was under a dock on a wacky worm. Every fish was about an hour apart - just slow & steady.“ Dominick Tirotta and James Siguenza finished fourth ($350) with 8.50 pounds. “We started fishing for largemouth, but they weren’t cooperating, so locked in on throwing swimbaits up against the bank,” explains Tirotta. “The key for us was just covering a ton of water.”
Steve Martin and Floyd Wolkins - 1st Place
In the Money
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MLF Report Major League Fishing (MLF) announced the 2025 schedules and rules for the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI and the Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse seasons. Both circuits offer prizes, scholarships and advancement opportunities to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship for qualified teams, and for college anglers, a shot to compete against the world’s best pros for a $300,000 top prize at REDCREST 2026. “This is always one of the most exciting days of the year for MLF – when we get to roll out our College Fishing and High School Fishing schedules for the coming year,” said Kevin Hunt, MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations for College and High School Fishing. “Our 2025 schedule is one of the best we’ve ever offered and we’re really looking forward to making a return to some great, historical fisheries next season. Kentucky-Barkley Lakes, for example: After a successful Tackle Warehouse Invitational event there this year, we’re extremely excited to bring our college and high school fishing teams back to our ‘home’ waters in Kentucky next March. The 2025 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing schedule consists of six qualifying tournaments around the country, culminating in the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama. The top 15% of teams from each event will advance to the 2026 College Fishing National Championship. The 2025 MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing circuit will feature teams competing in five Opens, held in conjunction with Abu Garcia College Fishing events to allow students and parents to network with prospective college representatives during the event. Abu Garcia High School Fishing Opens are two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12, and open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF)-affiliated high school club in the United States. The top 10% of teams in each tournament advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. Starting in 2025, all boats across all MLF circuits will be limited to the use of two forward-facing or 360-degree sonar transducers in any combination. Additionally, no bow-mounted screen may extend vertically more than 18 inches off the surface of the front deck at its highest point when the boat is on plane, and no screen mounted at the console may extend vertically more than 25 inches off the surface of the driver’s seat. To create a more level playing field for up-and-coming student anglers and reinforce the learning of traditional bass-fishing techniques, use of forward-facing and 360-degree sonar will not be allowed in Abu Garcia High School Fishing competition. Its use will not, however, be restricted during practice. Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI Schedule: Abu Garcia High School Fishing Opens Presented by Tackle Warehouse Schedule: For complete rules and details for the 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI circuit, click here. For complete rules and details for the 2025 Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse circuit, click here. Entries for both circuits will be accepted starting December 9. Students can enter online at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000.
Feb. 14
Lake Seminole
Bainbridge, GA
March 7
Grand Lake
Grove, OK
March 28
Kentucky-Barkley Lake
Gilbertsville, KY
April 9-11
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP at Wheeler Lake
Decatur, AL
Sept. 14
Potomac River
Marbury, MD
Sept. 19
Lake of the Ozarks
Osage Beach, MO
Oct. 24
Lake Hartwell
Anderson, SC
Feb. 15
Lake Seminole
Bainbridge, GA
March 8
Grand Lake
Grove, OK
March 29
Kentucky-Barkley Lake
Gilbertsville, KY
June 25-28
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP at Grand Lake
Grove, OK
Sept. 20
Lake of the Ozarks
Osage Beach, MO
Oct. 25
Lake Hartwell
Anderson, SC
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Casting Couples Report Tanner Hursh and Hailey Dodd won the 10th annual Casting Couples Classic last weekend at Lake Margrethe near Grayling, Mich. Hursh and Dodd had 16.46 pounds to win $1000. They also had bass honors with a 4.8-pound Largemouth to earn an additional $100. They used drop-shot rigs and jigs in 20 feet of water most of the day. Second place ($600) was won by Scott and Patty Smith with 15.54 pounds. The Smiths used jigs in shallow water. Loren and Carrie Crosbie were third ($400) with 15.36 pounds. The Crosbies said they started in 15 feet, then later in the day they made a move to go shallow using tubes. Fourth place went to Scott and LeeAnn Sizemore with 13.52 pounds, worth $310. They earned an extra $50 for second biggest bass of the day, a 4.14-pound largemouth. Most of their fish were caught in five feet or less on Ned rigs and tubes. There were seven limits caught and 13 of 14 teams brought in a keeper. A total of 51 Smallmouth and Largemouth bass were weighted in. In other seasonal awards, Eddy Inc. Anglers of the Year points championship went to Ryan and Alyssa Yoder who received AOY jackets while second place John and Heather Miller and third place Scott and Patty Smith received gift certificates from Clear H20 Tackle. Big bass of the year, 4.23 pounds from Lake Webster, was split between the Lisenko's and Parr's who both received Beef'O'Brady's gift certificates. The smallest bag of the year was won by Jim and Merle Hobbs for a 1.10-pound bass caught at Lake Webster. The couple went home with an Electric Fish Caller. 
Tanner Hursh and Hailey Dodd - 1st Place
Scott and Patty Smith - 2nd Place
Loren and Carrie Crosbie - 3rd Place
Scott and LeeAnn Sizemore - 4th Place
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Four Flags Report Jeff Bostic and Dan Posey battled tough conditions at Lake Leelanau last weekend to win the Four Flags Championship. Bostic and Posey had similar bags both days to finish with 35.81 pounds. They said they fished Yamamoto Hula Grubs, drop-shot rights and A-rigs in 4 to 8 feet. They had the biggest bass the first day, a 4.80-pound smallmouth. Jeff Stankovich and Paul Groves used Hula Grubs and tubes in 4-6 feet to finish second with 32.75 pounds. They also had the big bass of the tournament with a 5.11-pound smallmouth. Third place went to the Ranger boys, Mike VanderReyden and Brett Gessinger, who recovered for a miserable first day to gather the tournament’s biggest bag with 19.64-pounds. They fished A-rigs, tubes and a Strike King Menace throughout the event. Four Flags plans to host a few open tournaments this fall. Check the club’s Facebook page for details. 
Jeff Bostic and Dan Posey - 1st Place
Jeff Stankovich and Paul Groves - 2nd PlaceMike VanderReyden and Brett Gessinger - 3rd Place
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LMBT Report
Ken Holder and John Gipson - 1st Place
Following the birds and baitfish led Ken Holder and John Gipson to the Little Money Bass Tournament Classic title at Gull Lake last weekend.
Holder and Gipson nearly doubled the weight of second place with their 22 pound, 9 ounce catch. They caught their fish by fishing ¼-ounce Strike King Bitsy Bug and Strike King Swim Jigs with three-inch swim bait trailers.
They also had the biggest bass of the tourney with a 5 pound, 9 ouncer.
“We couldn’t get a bite from the fish we saw on LiveScope,” says Holder. “We went five hours without a bite, but then started following the seagulls around. The smelt were popping near the surface and so we started fishing jigs near the top.“
John Federnok and Mike Haas - 2nd Place
John Federnok and Mike Haas were second by fishing wacky worms on docks. They had 12 pounds, 11 ounces.
Dan Rowell and Kent Reese - 3rd Place
Dan Rowell and Kent Reese were third with 11-14. They said they fished 12 to 20 feet with tubes, swim jigs and swimbaits.