Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Monday, November 24, 2025
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South Shore Report
The 2025 South Shore Bass Open presented by Horseshoe Hammond drew 47 teams this year compared to 36 in its inaugural year last year. Anglers from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida registered to take on the many smallmouth and largemouth bass that inhabit Lake Michigan and its connecting rivers, lakes and tributaries.
Much larger bags were weighed in this year compared to last year with a 19.44 limit hitting the scales on Day 1. Anglers Cody Bertrand and Edan Czarobski took the Day 1 lead with that limit of smallmouth.
When the scales settled on Day 2, Scott Christy and Tyler Christy a father and son team, who started Day 2 in 14th place took home the victory weighing in an impressive bag of smallmouths. They didn’t have a keeper at 12 o’clock and decided to run to a spot 18 miles from where they were. When they dropped the trolling motor in the water, their graph lit up with smallies on an offshore structure. They said they had their winning limit in about 25 minutes, although they didn’t think at the time it was enough to win but maybe enough to cash a check.
The Day 1 leaders brought 4 fish to the scales and took home 2nd place for $4,000. They were one 14” keeper short of winning it all.
Team Christy took the Title and a check for $12,000 plus a bonus check of $400 for having the overall heaviest 5 fish limit for the tournament.
The 2026 South Shore Bass Open is scheduled for August 1-2, 2026. Information will be available at southshorebass.com.
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Stars and Stripes Report
Big bags and deep offshore fishing dominated the Stars and Stripes tournament on Gull Lake July 27.
There were five bags over 18 pounds and 10 over 15 pounds weighed in during the event.
TJ and Todd Winkler eked out the top spot with 19.34 pounds. Todd said they caught a good amount of fish throughout the day, but they made some key culls near the end. One of those culls happened to be the big bass of the event (a 4.75-pound smallmouth bass) that they caught with less than 20 minutes left before heading back to the ramp. They targeted fish on the break and offshore.
John Gipson and Evan Delarosa finished a close second with 19.24 pounds, also by fishing offshore. Unfortunately for them, they had 1 dead fish and it cost them the win and big bass.
Cole Zagrzebski fished alone for third place with 18.94 pounds. He said he caught a quick limit and continued to cull fish throughout the day. At one point he had a near 4-pound fish struggling to survive, so he and turned it loose while it was able to swim off. He did catch another fish to fill out his limit, but came up a little short of the win.
Stars and Stripes will fish again Saturday at Gull from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. No membership required and entry is $100 and that includes big bass. Email Bassinbill96@gmail.com for details.
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D&R Sports Report
Brian Burmania and Don Watts sacked up 18.52 pounds to win the D&R Sports Center tournament on Muskegon Lake July 26.
The winners also had the second biggest bass which was a 4.83 pounder. No details were provided about how they caught their fish.
John Gipson fished alone with jigs to grab second place with 18.11 pounds. He had the biggest bass of the tournament a 5.29-pound largemouth.
Dustin Daggett and Carlos Vergara were third with 17.07 pounds and had a 4.09 pounder.
Brandon Stanley and Shane Rawlings were fourth with 16.95 pounds, anchored by a 4.77.
Travor and Stephanie Bethke were fifth with 16.85 pounds.
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Butcher Baits Report
A 5-pounder was the difference maker for Gary Butcher and Scott Smith Sunday in the Butcher Baits tournament on Long Lake (Portage, Mich.).
The Butcher team had 13.01 pounds, caught on topwaters and stick baits. A 5.06-pound largemouth was the key fish and biggest in the event.
Ray Lohr and Charlie Foutz finished second with 12.10 pounds caught on stickbaits and tubes.
Martin Hochstetler and Jonas Troyer fished stickbaits and lizards to finish third with 11.03 pounds.
The next tournament is August 24 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Finch, Fish, Saddlebag near Marcellus.
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Arjay’s Report
Maynard Hochstetler and Marvin Bontrager won the Arajy’s Wednesday nighter last week on a stormy Klinger Lake.
The first place finishers also captured the Tackle Shack Big Bass pot with a 3.38-pound largemouth. They said they fished Chatterbaits and swim baits.
Second was won with five fish for 11.42 pounds by John Miller and Ashley Gibson who fished Chatterbaits and jigs.
Chris Yoder and Edward Bontrager were third with a limit weighing 10.94. They fished wacky rigs and jigs.
Ryan Hershberger and Lynn Spicher were fourth with 10.12 pounds. They said they fished Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits shallow.
The ClearH2O Tackle first out of the money spot, with 9.26 pounds, went to Scott and Chase Carpenter.
The Michiana Outdoors News tackle pack was won by Tim and Daisy Tucker with 8.76 pounds and the Jaywalker Restaurant junk fish pot goes to Miller and Gibson with a .72-pound crappie.
Heath Musall and George N Jody Musall won the Str8-Up Mounts lucky dog pot, Bontrager and Hochstetler won the $50 gas cards and Hochstetler took home the 50/50 pot.
The Wednesday tourney is at Templene. It will start at 5:30.