Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Wednesday, October 01, 2025
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
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Big Bass Chasers Report
Jeff Showalter - 1st Place
Jeff Showalter fished alone to win the Big Bass Chasers at Hamilton Lake May 11.
Hamilton had 17.33 pounds caught on jigs.
John Freed was second with 12.39 pounds. He used bladed jigs.
Gary Chew and Chad Fruchey were third with 11.33 pounds. They caught their fish on swimbaits and worms.
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By Al McGuckin
Kevin VanDam
It was a 19-hour drive in his Toyota Tundra from Kalamazoo to the highly familiar waters of Florida’s Kissimmee Chain, but Kevin VanDam is feeling very much at home this week as he takes a tiny break from his pro tournament retirement to sit in second place after Day 2 of the MLF General Tire Heavy Hitters event, a special stand-alone event he qualified for last season.
“I’ve probably competed in about 30 events in Florida throughout my pro career. I’ve always enjoyed this state because the lakes are expansive and full of so much vegetation,” says VanDam.
He actually notched one of his 29 mind-boggling career victories on Kissimmee’s Lake Toho in March of 2008 by ripping a Red Eye Shad from the submerged vegetation he treasures, and the submerged salad was certainly in play during Sunday’s opening round of competition when a Strike King Thunder Cricket vibrating jig helped him land 13 bass totaling 40 pounds to sit second behind Jordan Lee.
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By Louie Stout
Tad Hepler and Dave Eggers
Tad Hepler and Dave Eggers continued to represent Michiana as a hotbed for top anglers by finishing third in the Sturgeon Bay Open last weekend at Sawyer Park, Wisc.
The Sturgeon Bay Open is one of the nation’s biggest bass tournaments. It’s held on Lake Michigan and Sturgeon Bay.
Hepler, a former Hoosier who now hails from Berrien Springs, Mich., and Hepler, who lives in Granger, Ind., have fished the Open for 17 years. They’ve logged two second place finishes in previous years.
The tournament draws some of the biggest names in bass fishing. In fact, Hepler and Eggers finished ahead of Cory and Chris Johnston of Canada. The Johnsons are often considered the best smallmouth anglers in the country and are top names in the Bassmaster Elite events.
Hepler and Eggers won $5,000 (entry fee is $500) for a two-day total of 54 pounds, 9 ounces with 10 bass. They beat out the Johnson brothers by one ounce.
The Michiana team was a pound away from second place and nearly three pounds from winning.
They had sacks of 28-6 on Day 1 and 26-3 on day two. They were all smallmouth.
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NICC Report
Luke Wallace and Kim Walkup - 1st Place
Luke Wallace and Kim Walkup targeted bedding smallmouth to win the Northern Indiana Couples Circuit event at Clear Lake (Steuben County).
The winners had 17.92 pounds anchored by their 5.24-pound smallie.
Second place went to Ryan and Emily Thompson with 16.07 pounds who also targeted bedding smallmouth.
Sandra Haggard with personal best smallmouth
The group’s next event is June 15th at Dukes Bridge. Visit the Lake Drive Marine Events Calendar on this website for details.
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Casting Couples Report
Casting Couples kicked off their 10th season last weekend at Webster Lake and it produced a tie for third and a tie for big bass honors.
Ryan and Alyssa Yoder - 1st Place
Ryan and Alyssa Yoder had one of two limits weighed in that gave them the first place prize of $310. The Yoders used topwaters on the main lake to catch 10.86 pounds.
Rick and Jennifer Kedik - 2nd Place
Rick and Jennifer Kedik was the other team with a limit of 5 bass totaling 10.01 pounds for second place ($175). The Kedik's used worms in 5 feet of water to catch their fish.
John and Heather Miller - 3rd Place
John and Heather Miller tied for third ($100) with four bass weighing 6.27 pounds. The Millers used frogs and wacky worms.
Rob and Kimm Swem - 4th Place
They tied with Rob and Kimm Swem. The Swems used Senkos to catch their fish in 8 feet to take home Great Lakes Gear.
Scott and Robin Parr - Big Bass
Jake and Cheyenne Lisenko - Big Bass
The big bass pot was split between Scott and Robin Parr and Jake and Cheyenne Lisenko with both teams having a 4.23-pound largemouth bass. The Parr's used Senkos and Lisenko's used topwater lures. They split $65.
The next scheduled Casting Couple male/female event is June 8th at Lake Macatawa, Holland, Mich. Hours are 6 am to 12 pm, $60 entry fee, and a $40 membership fee, which will go towards your classic fee. If you have any questions, contact Rick (269) 240-4917 or Facebook MichianaCastingCouples.