Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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Z-man Report
Jack Gammie
Prior to paddling the sprawling waters of Lake St. Clair this past June, Australian kayak angler Jack Gammie had never caught a bass. Nor had Gammie ever cast the Z-Man bait that would soon help him entice countless heavyweight smallmouth bass and ultimately, win the 2024 Hobie World Championship.
Representing sixteen countries around the globe, including eminent ‘yak pros from China, South Korea, and Kuwait, fifty men and women qualified to enter the world championship of competitive kayak fishing via regional tournaments in their home countries.
But in many ways, the story of this year’s kayak world championship began two years ago on the shores of Sweden’s scenic Lake Vänern.
Jack Gammie
“I first met Jack Gammie at the 2022 Hobie Worlds over in Sweden,” recalls Z-Man kayak pro Ryan Lambert, a talented angler, practical joker and co-host of the Kayak Bass Nation podcast. “Ever since, he’s become like a little brother to me.”
To hear Lambert tell it, the two fun-loving anglers struck up a friendship from day one. “We were constantly goofing around, sabotaging each other’s gear— just a lot of good-natured trash talking and other mischief we always get into during these kayak derbies. The chance to meet and exchange ideas with anglers all over the world and to experience fishing from all these diverse perspectives . . . that’s what makes today’s kayak scene so cool.”
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Casting Couples Report
Brent and Jake Burgess - 1st Place
Brent and Jake Burgess beat out eight other teams Sunday in the Casting Couples Open tourney at Magician Lake.
The Burgesses had five bass totaling 11.36 pounds to take home $240. Burgess used jigs in 5-12 feet of water.
Rich Ozgood and Jake Horn - 2nd Place
Rich Ozgood and Jake Horn were second ($120) with a 9.26-pound limit. They also fished jigs.
Rick Kedik and Jake Lisenko - 3rd Place
Rick Kedik and Jake Lisenko finished third with five weighing 8.70 pounds. They also won the big bass pot ($40) with a 2.98-pound largemouth. They fished used jigs and topwaters to earn $40.
There were five limits caught for a total of 36 bass.
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R&B Report
Matt and Todd Hagerman - 1st Place
Matt and Todd Hagerman won last weekend’s Palestine Lake tourney and captured big bass honors.
The Hagermans had 17.56 pounds that include a 5.48-pound giant. They caught their fish on poppers and jigs along weed edges.
John Gipson and Adam Yeagley - 2nd Place
John Gipson and Adam Yeagley were second with 13.76 pounds caught in 4 to 8 feet of water on jigs.
Third place went to Dave and Matt (no last names provided) with 13.20 pounds. They fished jigs along breaklines.
Drew and Blake (no last names provided) had the second biggest bass with a 4.31-pound largemouth.
Any teams who fished at least 3 tournaments are qualified for the classic, which is Sunday, Sept. 29 on the St. Joe River in Benton Harbor from 8-4.
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Four Flags Report
Jeff Stankovich and Paul Groves took home top honors in the Four Flags tournament at Austin Lake last weekend.
The winners ($220) had a limit weighing 13.17 pounds. They caught their fish on tubes in 1-3 feet of water.
Dan Posey - 2nd Place
Dan Posey fished alone and had a limit weighing 10.85 pounds to pocket $132 for second. He caught his fish in 2-4 feet on TRD’s and jigs. He also had big bass with a 3.77-pound largemouth to earn a bonus $110.
Mike and Ryan (no last names provided) - 3rd Place
Third place went to Mike and Ryan (no last names provided) with five weighing 10.27 pounds. They said they caught their fish in 2-6 feet of water on jigs and Senkos. They won $88.
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SMAC Report
Scott Crocker might finally stop complaining about Juno Lake.
Scott Crocker - 1st Place
Crocker, who previously said he detests fishing Juno, went out Saturday in cold, windy conditions and put a butt-whipping on a handful of other teams fishing the Southwest Michigan Anglers Club season finale on the popular chain of lakes.
Crocker, who fished alone, had only of only two limits – and said he caught 15 keepers – taking home the first-place money and big bass pot. He had 12.19 pounds and a 3.30-pound largemouth. Crocker said he caught them on swim jigs, jerkbaits and bladed jigs in 4 to 10 feet of water.
Kory Bloss and Kim Vaughn - 2nd Place
Kory Bloss and Kim Vaughn were second with five weighing 7.33 pounds. They fished Ned rigs and wacky worms around docks in shallow water.
Pat Pilmore and Brent Burgess - 3rd Place
Pat Pilmore and Brent Burgess were third with four weighing 7.20 pounds. They fished jigs in 5 to 15 feet of water.
The next event is the Classic slated for Lake Leelanau Sept. 21-=22.