Arjay’s Report
The 25 teams in Arjay’s Wednesday Night Fishing League faced a tough night on the water at Portage Lake near Vicksburg, Mich.
There were no limits caught but Mark and Mike Oldenberg had three dandies for 8.42 pounds to win the Wild Minnow Baits first place. Their catch included the big bass of the event, a 4.78 pounder.
Second place went to Steven Wickey and Caleb with three weighing 7.24 while Jeremy Bunnell and Louie Stout were third with 6.36.
Jose Munoz and Wyatt Haskins were fourth (5.08) and Steve and Amy Martin fifth (4.38).
The Clear H2o Tackle first-out-of-the-money went to Gary Butcher and Scott Smith (4.28) and the Jaywalkers second-out-of-money prize went to Justin Spence and Wes Stevens (4.20). Michiana Outdoors News’ third-out-of-money lure pack was won by Jeremy Daniels and Anthony Sivits (4.16).
The Pigeon Inn Junk Fish Award went to the Martins with a pike weighing 11.24.
SMAC Report
Bill Mathews and Chris Zodice caught five bass weighing 14.28 pounds to win the Southwest Michigan Anglers Club tournament on Diamond Lake last weekend.
The winners also won the big bass pot with a 3.85-pound largemouth. They fished jigs on shallow flats.
Second place went to Tom Noe and John Gipson with a limit weighing 11.96 pounds caught on topwaters and jigs.
Bret Gessinger and Mike VanderReyden were third with 10.80 pounds caught on drop shots.
Terry Smith and Scott Crocker were fourth with 10.64 caught on jigs while Jason Dittmar and Dave Eggers were fifth with 9.56 caught on jigs.
The next SMAC event is a weeknighter June 30 at Juno.
Casting Couples Report
Rick Kedik (South Bend) and Scott Crocker (Niles) won the Casting Couples Open held at Lake St. Clair last weekend.
Since the tournament was an open event, it was not limited to male/female teams.
The duo had 19.70 pounds of smallmouth to win $300. They caught their fish on tubes fished in one area where the water was 13 to 15 feet deep.
Arjays Report
Klinger Lake fished tough for 34 teams in the Arjay’s Wednesday night League last week, but Jeremy Daniels and Anthony Sivits were able to scratch out a 7.22-pound limit to win the Wild Minnow Baits first-place prize.
Only two limits were caught that night and only 52 fish were weighed in. One of those was a smallmouth.
Second place went to Ryan Miller and Chris Bundy with a limit weighing 6.08 pounds while Doug and Eric Sanderson were third with four weighing 5.98 pounds.
The Tackle Shack Big Bass Award went to John and Ashley Miller with a 2.20-pound bass.
The Pigeon Inn Junk Fish Award was a tie between Joe and Cole Long and Steve and Amy Martin, both with a 0.70-pound rock bass.
It was Sponsors Appreciation Night with plaques awarded to the top three places and big bass winner.
Casting Couples Report
When bass tournaments are held on Corey and Harwood lakes, most - if not all - teams choose Corey.
But when the Casting Couples were there last Saturday, Harwood not only produced first and second place but a giant bass as well.
Ryan and Alyssa Yoder chose the smaller Harwood Lake out of necessity due to a blown outboard engine. They caught five keepers weighing 13.94 pounds and won $215. They also had the second largest bass, a 3.68 pounder. Their fish came on swimbaits.
Bill Mathews and Cortney Heartline were second ($110) with only two fish weighing 8.12 pounds, but one of those weighed 6.84 pounds that earned them the big bass pot ($55). The big fish came on a jig in 10 feet of water.
John and Heather Miller fished Corey for third ($60) with 7.62 pounds caught on worms while Rick and Jennifer Kedik were fourth (Harwood) with four fish weighing 7.04 pounds to earn a vehicle detail from R&B Car Company. They used swimbaits.
The next couple’s event is July 11 at Long Lake northeast of Kalamazoo. Call Rick, 269-240-4917 for more information.