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Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive MarineTournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine


By Louie Stout

Tired of your kids – or grandkids – sitting lethargically in front of a computer screen or computer game on a nice summer day?

Why not get them outdoors and expose them to fishing?

The St. Joe Valley Bassmasters Youth Tournament is a good place to do it and one of the best in the Midwest. The 43rd annual event will be held on the banks of Worster Lake in Potato Creek State Park.

It’s slated for Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The event is free to kids ages 4 to 14, although you will have to pay the state park fee to get on the grounds.


SMAC Report

Mike VanderReyden and Brett Gessinger won the Southwest Michigan Angler Club tourney on Klinger Lake last weekend with five fish weighing 9.42 pounds.

There were 26 teams participating and 15 limits were caught. Details on top patterns were not made available.

Brad and Clay Sterling were second with 8.63 pounds, Mark and Steve Wolownik were third with 8.43 pounds, DJ and Peggy McCoy fourth with 8.30 pounds and Al Gerhart and Mike Heberling fifth with 8.08 pounds.

Big Bass honors went to Steve Juroff and his grandson Austin Holdgen with a 2.67 pound bass.


Brett Gessinger and Mike VanderReyden First PlaceBrett Gessinger and Mike VanderReyden First Place

Gessinger/VanderReyden Win at Juno

Brett Gessinger and Mike VanderReyden won the Southwest Michigan Anglers Club (SMAC) tournament on Juno last Tuesday with 11.58 pounds.

The winners also had big bass of the event, a 3.05 pounder. They used Senkos.

Terry Smith and Scott Crocker were second with 9.58 pounds caught on jigs while Gary Stahler and Doug Finley were third with 7.36 pounds caught on wacky worms.


SWMBBC Report

Noe, Gipson Crush 17 Pounds on Diamond, Win by Big MargainNoe, Gipson Crush 17 Pounds on Diamond, Win by Big Margain

Tom Noe (Benton Harbor, Mich.) and John Gipson (Battle Ground, Ind.) continued their reign as winners and big bass catchers by blowing away the field at Diamond Lake recently.

The duo had 17.76.pounds, including a 4.31 pound largemouth to win big bass pot ($125).

All fish were caught in less than 4 feet of water and near shore. They pocketed $350 or first.

John Miller and Robbie Gibson (White Pigeon, Mich. were second ($250) with 8.53 pounds caught along the break using finesse techniques.

Josiah Grandy (White Pigeon, Mich.) and Tim Culver (Niles, Mich.) finished third ($150) with 8.43, also caught along the break using finesse techniques. 

Bill Matthews (Dowagiac, Mich.) and Kris Iodice (Chicago, Ill.) were fourth ($100) with 7.71 pounds caught on the breaks and docks while Scott Kulp and Scott Woods (South Bend, Ind.) were fifth ($60) with 7.63 pounds caught on the breaks.


Scott and LeeAnn Sizemore (Albion, Ind.) 1st PlaceScott and LeeAnn Sizemore (Albion, Ind.) 1st Place

Although the Casting Couples Open at Lake St. Clair wasn't limited to male/female teammates, Scott and LeeAnn Sizemore (Albion, Ind.) weighed in 17.77 pounds to beat out 10 other teams under windy conditions.

The wind howled at 15 to 25 out of the south/southwest yet nine limits were caught and every team weighed in a bass over 3 pounds.

The Sizemores won $300 for their five keeper smallmouth and also won the second big bass pot with a 4.22-pound smallmouth that earned them a bonus $55. They used 3.8-inch swimbaits on 3/8-ounce jigheads to catch their limit.