FLW Report
Boater Ryan Hochstetler of Shipshewana, Ind. brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 22 pounds, 9 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event at Lake St. Clair.
Hochstetler earned a total of $6,972.
The tournament was the first of five events in the Michigan Division presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps.
"I was fishing in Anchor Bay, north of the North Channel," said Hochstetler, who earned his first career victory in FLW competition. "I was fishing a shallow weedline in 4- to 6-feet of water."
Hochstetler said that his key baits were a Duo Realis Spybait and a drop-shot rig with a Duo Realis V-tailshad.
Couples Report
Randy and Marti Walls won the Best Catch Couples Event on Palmer Lake on a rainy, windy day and a tough bite.
The winners had 8.08 pounds caught on worms and frogs.
Second place went to John and Marcy Dixon with 8.07 pounds caught on jigs and worms while Brian and Sandy Sousa were third with 6.07 pounds.
The Dixons also had big bass of the event, a 2.07 pounder.
The next Best Catch Couples event will be Aug. 1 on Lake Tippecanoe.
Arjay’s Report
Sawyer Brown and Travis Brown caught the only limit of the night among 27 teams to win the Arjay’s Wednesday night league tournament on Thompson Lake with 9.04 pounds.
They also won the Tackle Shack Big Bass Prize with a 3.26 pounder.
John and Ashley Miller were second with four fish weighing 8.88 pounds while John and Jon Walkinhood were third with four fish weighing 7.58 pounds.
Casting Couples Report
The father/daughter team of Mike Hobday (Elkhart) and Cassandra Eddy (Niles) had five keeper bass totaling 12.27 pounds to win the Casting Couples tournament on Long Lake last weekend.
Hobday and Eddy used crankbaits in 8-12 feet of water to win $230. They also took home big bass honors with a 3.06-pound largemouth for an extra $60.
Ryan and Alssya Yoder (Mishawaka) had five bass totaling 10.7 pounds to finish second ($120) and had the second biggest bass, 3.04 pounds, to win the Native Pride Tackle Pack. The Yoders fished docks all day to catch their limit of bass.
George and Kayleigh Fowler (Elkhart) brought in five bass weighing 8.74 pounds to finish third ($70) by fishing wacky-rigged Yum Dingers.
The next regular Casting Couples tournament is at Fish, Finch, and Saddlebag lakes Aug. 8 from 7-1. Entry fee is $50. Contact Rick Kedik at 269-240-4917 or visit the Facebook Page, MichianaCastingCouples.
SMAC Report
Billy Mathews and Kris Iodice won the Southwest Michigan Anglers Club at Klinger Lake Sunday.
The winners had 10.47 pounds caught on jigs.
Second place went to Renee and Brian Hensley with 10.14 pounds caught on Senkos while Korey Boss and Kevin Mack caught 10.06 pounds with drop-shot rigs.