Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
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By Al McGuckin
Gerald Swindle
Team Toyota’s Gerald Swindle sat floating on the front deck of his boat at iconic Beeswax Boat Ramp after a long day of practice Tuesday wearing a heartfelt grin as he recounted 30 years of treasured memories on Lay Lake, one after another, like the steady flow of the Coosa River behind him.
“Lay is where we’d come to fish when we’d get rained-out back when I was still working as a house framer with my Uncle Jimmy and Dan Hayes,” recalls Swindle.
“The three of us spent a ton of rainy days backing a boat into that current up in the river, and I was always the guy that got picked to ride the trolling motor, trying to keep us from drifting too fast downstream. There was no such thing as Spot-Lock on a trolling motor back in 1992,” laughs Swindle.
Laughter has always been a core quality for Swindle, so much so, he admits he and his young buddies would arrive extra early to tournaments at Paradise Point on Lay just to laugh at the stories older fellas like Tim Cornelius would tell while drinking coffee around the marina boat ramp before blast-off.
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John Gipson and Ken Holder - 1st Place
John Gipson and Ken Holder won the Starboard Choice Marine Big Bass Challenge at Palestine Lake last weekend.
The winners ($520) had 16 pounds, 4 ounces. They also had the biggest bass, a 3-15 largemouth. Gipson said they caught them on jigs and frogs.
Jesse Richardson and Dalton Pinkerton - 2nd Place
Jesse Richardson and Dalton Pinkerton were second ($340) with 12 pounds 14 ounces.
The next tournament is May 20 at Lake Maxinkuckee from 6:30 - 2:30. Entry fee is $100 and all Starboard Choice Marine Big Bass Challenge tournaments are open to anyone.
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NICC Report
The all-new Northern Indiana Couples Circuit kicks off May 27 at Winona Lake.
The male/female team tournament tail will fish four events, all in Indiana. Entry fee is $45 and includes big bass pot. All entry money will be paid back at the ramp.
Other events include June 10 at Duke’s Bridge, July 29 at Skinner Lake and Aug 26 at Webster Lake.
According to tournament director Johnathan Pearson, all events are opens but points will determine the team of the year that will get free entry fees into next year’s circuit.
For more information, visit the group’s “Northern Indiana Couples Circuit” Facebook page or call Pearson at 260-564-5211.
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LMBT Results
Jeremy Bunnell and Floyd Wolkins won the Little Money Bass Tournament opener at the Barbee Chain last weekend.
The winners had 11 pounds caught on jigs and frogs.
Second place went to Ken Holder and John Gipson with 10 pounds 10 ounces caught on weightless worms. They also won the big bass post with a 5-10.
Third place went to John and Jarett Miller with 9-9 caught on A-rigs.
Floyd Wolkins and Jeremy Bunnell
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MFL Report
Bob Johnson - 1st Place
Bob Johnson fished alone and won the Michiana Fishing League Team Tournament on Pleasant and Riddles Lakes in Lakeville, Ind. recently.
Johnson had 15.90 pounds by fishing jigs on the weedlines.
Although the day began mild, a cold front moved in and the bite slowed, hence most anglers were using finesse tactics.
Bryan Souza and Tom Bond - 2nd Place
Bryan Souza and Tom Bond were second with 12.33 pounds.
Kasey Conklin and John Bryant - 3rd Place
Kasey Conklin and John Bryant were third with 10.65 pounds and had big bass of the tournament, a 3.96-pound largemouth. They also won the critter pot with a 3.85-pound walleye. They said they caught their fish on the Conklin’s Custom 110 jerkbait.
The next event is May 7 at Hudson Lake in New Carlisle, Ind. Visit the Michiana Fishing League Facebook page for details.
Kasey and John credit their big catches on Conklins Custom baits 110 Jerk Bait.
Our next tournament will be held on May 7th on Hudson Lake in New Carisle, IN. Check out Michiana Fishing League for additional details.