Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Friday, October 10, 2025
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SMAC Report
Deep-water scopers dominated the Southwest Michigan Anglers Club (SMAC) tournament on Paw Paw Lake last weekend.
Justin Hahaj and Mike Rappette - 1st Place
Winners Justin Hahaj and Mike Rappette fished 40 to 90 feet of water with minnow-type baits to catch 17.52 pounds of smallmouth.
Tanner Hursh and Hayley Dodd - 2nd Place and Big Bass
Tanner Hursh and Hayley Dodd had a limit of smallmouth weighing 16.97 pounds by fishing swimbaits in 30 toi 80 feet of water. They also had the biggest bass that fell victim to a Damiki rig in 30 feet of water.
Skyler Traver and Drake Nevins - 3rd Place
Third place Skyler Traver and Drake Nevins said they fished jigs in 5 to 10 feet to finish third with 14.03 pounds.
Dan Baerwald and Kyle Learner - 4th Place
Dan Baerwald and Kyle Learner were fourth with 11.96 pounds caught on tube baits and jigs in 10 to 20 feet.
There were 41 bass weighed in, 15 of which were smallmouth, for a total of 97.60 pounds.
The next SMAC event is next Tuesday at Eagle Lake. Visit the Lake Drive Marine Events Calendar on this website for details.
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NICC Report
Connor Tonkel and Ava Godbey - 1st Place
The Northern Indiana Couples Circuit ran into tough fishing conditions last weekend at Skinner Lake.
Only four of the six teams brought in fish.
Connor Tonkel and Ava Godbey won with four bass weighing 8.3 pounds, and had the biggest bass, a 3.55 pounder. Three of their four fish, including the big one, came on a frog, while there final fish was caught on a spinnerbait shortly before weigh-ins.
Jonathan and Vanessa Pearson were second with two weighing 2.98, caught by punching grass and swimming a jig.
The season finale is August 31st at Dukes Bridge. Visit the Lake Drive Marine Events Calendar on this page for details.
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Arjay’s Report
Forward Facing Sonar (FFS) and drop-shot rigs ruled the Arjay’s Wednesday nighter at Clear Lake last week.
John Miller and Ashley Gibson - 1st Place
John Miller and Ashley Gibson won with a five-fish limit weighing 11.60 pounds.
Chris Yoder and Edward Bontrager - 2nd Place
Chris Yoder and Edward Bontrager were a hair behind with 11.58 pounds but they also brought in the Tackle Shack LLC big bass with a 3.72-pound largemouth.
Hunter and Justin Kosmerick - 3rd Place
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(Editor’s note: We apologize for the delay in posting this.)
Tackle Shack Report
Sometimes it just pays to wing it.
Bill Mathews and Steve Martin - 1st Place
That’s what Bill Mathews and Steve Martin did in the Tackle Shack Tournament on Lake St. Clair last weekend.
With the Mathews, a top angler in Michiana, as a substitute partner, the team never got a practice day yet went on to win the event with 21.35 pounds on a wind-blown Lake St. Clair.
“Bill and I just winged it,” said Martin. “No practice – we just set out at 2:45 a.m. on a hope and a prayer. We really only had a couple spots in mind to try. Bill punched in the coordinates on the Lowrance and we set sail.”
And they battled big water to get to the first spot.
“Our destination was roughly 10 miles away,” adds Martin. “The first half was fairly smooth then reality set in and we were catching air and crashing waves, so I just brought her down and put the nose in the air and took our time the next five miles. It was sketchy to say the least but we got there.”
They fished that spot and a few others, scrapping together a big limit that carried them to the $2,000 first place prize.
“We fished the ol’ NED rig, a jig and a Fluke-style minnow bait,” described Mathews. “We targeted 12- to 18-feet of water. It was a slow day; we caught two early, but then had a few hours without a keeper. We moved areas and then started catching keepers every hour or so, but they were the right ones. We made a key cull in the last hour or so to get rid of our last little one. We only fished U.S. waters.”
Chase Fennell and Josh Brandenburger - 2nd Place
Chase Fennell and Josh Brandenburger pocketed $1,400 for second place with 20.62 pounds.
“We caught everything in 10- to 12- feet of water on two different stretches,” said Brandenburger. “We caught them on jighead minnow and an A-rig, with a few coming on a drop shot. The afternoon was the best bite. All fish were caught in US water. The Canadian fish seemed to be smaller when we pre-fished.”
Jeremy Bunnell and Eben Lambert finished third ($900) with 19.11 pounds. (No picture provided)
“We caught everything between 9 and 12 feet with drop shot and Ned rigs,” said Bunnell. “We didn’t venture far from Anchor Bay.”
Andrew Jr Troyer and sub Hunter Brinkman - 4th Place
Fourth place ($500) went to Andrew Jr Troyer and sub Hunter Brinkman with 19.60 pounds.
“They all came on a drop shot and variety of MaxScent baits,” explained Troyer. “We fished 18 to 19 feet and all of our fish were caught in the first 2 1/2 hours. We only culled twice and fished our primary area until 11 when it was getting too rough. We caught everything on U.S. side.”
Shawn Kertai and Heath Hawkins - Big Bass
Big bass honors ($500) went to Shawn Kertai and Heath Hawkins with a 5.89-pound Smallmouth, which barely beat out a 5.88-pound smallmouth caught by Strock and Yoder.
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LMBT Report
Cameron and Jeff Crussemeyer - 1st Place
Cameron and Jeff Crussemeyer won the Little Money Bass Tournament (LMBT) on Palmer Lake over the weekend.
The Crussemeyers caught 10 pounds, 5 ounces on jigs in shallow water.
John Dixon and Steve Martin - 2nd Place were second with 10-1. They also said they caught their fish on Jigs in shallow water. They also had the biggest bass of the tournament, a 3-1.
Dave Dowden and Don Miles had 9-4 for third. They used Senkos and jigs.
The next LMBT tournament is Sept. 7 on the St. Joseph River at Maggie's landing. Visit the Lake Drive Marine Events Calendar on this website for details.