Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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BASS Report
BASS opens
As buzz continues around the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, B.A.S.S. officials announced increased payouts and widely expanded coverage for 2024. These enhancements not only reinforce the longstanding stability and popularity of the Opens format, but also highlight the organization's commitment to leadership in serving the bass fishing community.
Live coverage from all nine Bassmaster Opens will be streamed on Bassmaster.com, with expanded coverage for the 2024 season on FS1, FS2, Tubi and the Fox Sports digital platforms. The newly expanded live coverage on multiple platforms will allow fishing fans to follow the intense competition and see every hookset, battle and weigh-in as they get to know the sport’s rising stars.
“B.A.S.S. continues our commitment to fueling a passion for fishing by entertaining and educating fans as well as serving anglers, who pour their time and efforts into our events. We have been exploring opportunities to further support our Opens Series, and after listening to anglers, fans and industry partners, we are thrilled to announce these exciting changes,” said Chase Anderson, B.A.S.S. CEO. “Providing the best possible platform for anglers is a top priority for us, and showcasing all levels of Bassmaster tournament fishing only helps to strengthen the entire sport.”
With nearly 1 million fans tuning in to live, final-day broadcasts of three Opens tournaments on FS1 in 2023, it's clear the fierce competition and dramatic fight for Elite Series invitations resonated with viewers. In total, fishing fans eagerly devoured more than 38.8 million minutes of live Opens coverage across all platforms.
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Butchers Baits Report
Jeremy Siler and Brock Howell - 1st Place
Jeremy Siler and Brock Howell won the Butchers Baits Classic last weekend on Magician Lake by less than three-quarters of a pound.
The winners had 9.53 pounds, caught on crankbaits.
Kent Dowden - 2nd Place
They edged out Kent Dowden who had 8.89 pounds caught on a Real Deal Shad.
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LMBT Report
Chris Hubbard and Tim Lusher - 1st Place
Chris Hubbard and Tim Lusher won the Little Money Bass Tournament (LMBT) last weekend at Duke’s Bridge.
They had 12 pounds, 5 ounces caught on Chatterbaits and swim jigs.
Nate Bontrager and Dave Dowden - 2nd Place
Nate Bontrager and Dave Dowden finished second with 9-4 caught on Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits.
John Miller and Robbie Gibson - 3rd Place
Third place went to John Miller and Robbie Gibson with 8 pounds, 8 ounces. They used frogs.
Don Miles - Big Bass
Don Miles had the biggest bass, a 4-12.
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Tackle Shack Report
Brendon and Ryan Sutter - 1st Place
Brendon and Ryan Sutter weathered a horrible weather day on the St. Joseph River at 6 Span to win the annual Tackle Shack Fall Brawl.
The tournament was a benefit for Toys for Tots. Sutter said that, between monetary donations from Medix Specialty Vehicles in Elkhart and Grand Design in Middlebury, plus the raffles and 50/50 drawing, the event raised a $1,468 cash donation.
The Sutters won with four fish weighing 12.75 pounds - all largemouth.
“We started the day off with the goal of catching largemouth,” said Brendon. “We went to check some spots early, and sure enough, started pretty strong. Ryan caught our first largemouth early on a chatterbait. I caught #2 (the biggest bass of the day 3.79) shortly thereafter, also on a chatterbait.”
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Tackle Shack Report
Chase Fennell and Chase Laughlin - 1st Place
Chase Fennell and Chase Laughlin made a big haul in the two-day Tackle Shack Classic held on the Detroit River last weekend.
The wind and weather muddied up the water and Lake Erie was tough rough for most anglers. Yet, a lot of good sacks were weighed in.
Fennnell and Laughlin’s 44.76 pounds garnered them the win plus they won two big bass pots to take home $5,250.
They tied for Luxx Trailer Center Big Bass the first day with Brandon and Braden Bontrager with a 6.36-pound smallmouth. They caught one the second day weighing exactly the same.
They said they looked for sand and rock veins between eel grass patches. The big fish was caught on an A-rig in 18 feet of water around noon.
On the second day, Fennel caught the giant smallmouth on a crankbait in 18 feet, again around noon.