Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
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SMAC Report
Two of Michiana’s best jerkbait anglers put their skills to good work in the Southwest Michigan Anglers Club (SMAC) Classic on Lake Leelanau last weekend.
Eben Lambert and Joe Sears - 1st Place
Eben Lambert and Joe Sears were very consistent, catching 18.54 pounds on Day One and 18.42 Day Two for a total of 36.96 pounds of smallmouth bass. They fished 8 to 15 feet deep with Luck “E” Strike Rick Clunn signature jerkbaits. They won $1,000.
The 17 competing teams battled wind and rain throughout the two-day event.
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Arjay’s Report
Gary Butcher and Scott Smith - 1st Place
Gary Butcher and Scott Smith pocketed $1,500 to win the Arjay’s Classic last weekend under tough conditions on the Kalamazoo River.
The river fished a lot tougher than it did for anglers who practiced. The wind changed directions throughout the day and the water color was chocolate-like. Five of the 20 anglers failed to catch a keeper bass.
Butcher and Smith had a limit weighing 13.02 pounds that included a 3.10-pound smallmouth for the second biggest bass ($200) of the tournament.
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MFL Report
Jimmy Brown and Larry Reyes - 1st Place
Jimmy Brown and Larry Reyes continued their hot streak and figured out a winning plan to win the two-day Michiana Fishing League Classic last weekend.
The tournament for 13 teams was held on Portage Lake Saturday and the St. Joseph River at Buchanan Sunday. Starboard Choice Mariana co-sponsored the event with swag for the anglers this weekend.
Brown and Reyes used finesse and power tactics for a combined, two-day weight of 16.32 pounds.
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MFL Report
Jimmy Brown and Larry Reyes - 1st Place
Jimmy Brown and Larry Reyes caught 9.84 pounds to win the Michiana Fishing League tournament on Lake Maxinkuckee.
The battle on Lake Maxinkuckee was a rough one for a lot with the 15 mph + winds. The bite wasn’t as active as it normally is and some anglers found success.
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Casting Couples Report
Ben Harrison and Nicci Heneke - 1st Place
Ben Harrison and Nicci Heneke (Portage, MI.) caught a quality limit of smallmouth in the CastingCouples tourney on Paw Paw Lake, giving them an easy win.
The couple had the only limit of smallmouth in the tournament and it weighed 15.82 pounds to earn them $215. They said they caught a 3-pound smallmouth on their fourth cast and began targeting them all day. It was their first time on the lake.