Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
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Arjay’s Report
Steven Wickey - 1st Place
Steven Wickey fished alone last Wednesday yet managed to win Arjay’s Weeknight tourney on the St. Joseph River at 6 Span Bridge, east of Elkhart.
Wickey only had 5.94 pounds on a tough night of river fishing. He used jigs to seal the victory.
Justin and Hunter Kosmerick - 2nd Place
Justin and Hunter Kosmerick made it close with 5.86 pounds for second. They used spinnerbaits.
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Butchers Baits Report
Gary Butcher and Scott Smith - 1st Place
Gary Butcher and Scott Smith fished shallow to win the Butchers Baits Sunday League at Portage Lake.
The duo had 13.20 pounds caught on topwater lures and Butchers Baits stick baits.
Roger and Darryl Trams - 2nd Place
Roger and Darryl Trams were second with 9.36 pounds caught on power worms.
Third place went to Martin Hochstetler and Jonas Troyer with 9.28 pounds caught on stick baits. They also weighed in the biggest bass of the tournament, a 3.73 pounder.
The next tournament is Sunday September 10th at 7 a.m. on Fishers Lake. Visit the Michiana Outdoors News Lake Drive Marine report for details.
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Casting Couples Report
Scott and Patty Smith (Burr Oak, Mich.) - 1st Place
Scott and Patty Smith (Burr Oak, Mich.) won the Casting Couples Tournament on Klinger Lake that drew 21 teams last weekend.
The Smiths had a limit of five bass totaling 10.79 pounds. They used drop-shot rigs and Senkos in 5 to 25 feet to take home $290. Tournament Director Rick Kedik said the Smiths may have locked in the Anglers of the Year title with the win.
Jim and Jamie Horn (Niles, Mich.) - 2nd Place
The father/daughter team of Jim and Jamie Horn (Niles, Mich.) brought in a limit weighing 10.52 pounds for second and had the event’s biggest bass with a 3.31-pound largemouth. The Horns used Crankbaits in 10 feet to win $270 and they even won the huge 50/50 drawing!
Ron and Nicci Desimone - 3rd Place
Another father/daughter team of Ron and Nicci Desimone had five weighing 8.50 pounds for third. The Desimones caught several keeper bass on almost everything they threw to bring home $120.
Jim and Merle Hobbs (LaPorte, Ind.) - 4th Place
Jim and Merle Hobbs (LaPorte, Ind.) had 8.28 pounds to finish fourth. They fished drop-shot rigs in 15 feet to earn $70.
The season finale will be at Corey and Harwood lakes Sept. 9th from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Teams must be one male and one female, Entry fee is $50. Any questions contact Rick (269)240-4917.
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LMBT Report
Jerry and Doug Roher - 1st Place
Jerry and Doug Roher won the Little Money Bass Tournament (LMBT) event on the St. Joseph River at Constantine last weekend.
The Roher’s fished jigs to catch 11 pounds, 10 ounces.
Jeremy Bunnell and Floyd Wolkins - 2nd Place
Jeremy Bunnell and Floyd Wolkins flipped and fished frogs to catch 10-8 and finish second. They also had big bass of the tourney, a 3-15.
Eben Lambert - 3rd Place
Eben Lambert was third with 9-15 caught that he caught flipping cover. The next LMBT contest is Sept. 16 on Barton Lake. Visit the Michiana Outdoors News Lake Drive Marine Event Calendar for details.
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By Louie Stout
Tackle Warehouse Invitational AOY Ron Nelson
Ron Nelson keeps climbing the ladder.
The Berrien Springs angler won another Angler of Year title recently, taking home the Tackle Warehouse Invitational AOY.
Tackle Warehouse Invitational circuit is part of the Major League Fishing family and akin to the Bassmaster Opens.
As a result, he receives an invitation to fish the Bass Pro Tour, MLF’s equivalent of the Bassmaster Elites, and the right to compete in MLF’s Redcrest, that circuit’s version of the Bassmaster Classic.
Nelson has steadily proven he can catch ‘em with the best at each level he has fished. He says he’s ready to match wits with some of the best on the Pro Bass Tour.
“I still love bass fishing in this area, but my original goal as a younger man was to explore bass fishing in the rest of the country,” he says. “I slowly kept progressing, so I guess the natural thing now is to go to the Bass Pro Tour. But I’m waiting to see the schedule and entry fees.”
Those anglers who fish the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals (formerly FLW Circuit) will be glad to see him move up. Nelson has been a consistent threat throughout his career.
He won the Rookie of the Year title in 2019 and followed it up with the FLW Angler of Year title in 2020.