Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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Casting Couples Report
Scott and Patty Smith (Burr Oak, Mich.) - 1st Place
Scott and Patty Smith (Burr Oak, Mich.) won the Casting Couples Tournament on Klinger Lake that drew 21 teams last weekend.
The Smiths had a limit of five bass totaling 10.79 pounds. They used drop-shot rigs and Senkos in 5 to 25 feet to take home $290. Tournament Director Rick Kedik said the Smiths may have locked in the Anglers of the Year title with the win.
Jim and Jamie Horn (Niles, Mich.) - 2nd Place
The father/daughter team of Jim and Jamie Horn (Niles, Mich.) brought in a limit weighing 10.52 pounds for second and had the event’s biggest bass with a 3.31-pound largemouth. The Horns used Crankbaits in 10 feet to win $270 and they even won the huge 50/50 drawing!
Ron and Nicci Desimone - 3rd Place
Another father/daughter team of Ron and Nicci Desimone had five weighing 8.50 pounds for third. The Desimones caught several keeper bass on almost everything they threw to bring home $120.
Jim and Merle Hobbs (LaPorte, Ind.) - 4th Place
Jim and Merle Hobbs (LaPorte, Ind.) had 8.28 pounds to finish fourth. They fished drop-shot rigs in 15 feet to earn $70.
The season finale will be at Corey and Harwood lakes Sept. 9th from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Teams must be one male and one female, Entry fee is $50. Any questions contact Rick (269)240-4917.
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LMBT Report
Jerry and Doug Roher - 1st Place
Jerry and Doug Roher won the Little Money Bass Tournament (LMBT) event on the St. Joseph River at Constantine last weekend.
The Roher’s fished jigs to catch 11 pounds, 10 ounces.
Jeremy Bunnell and Floyd Wolkins - 2nd Place
Jeremy Bunnell and Floyd Wolkins flipped and fished frogs to catch 10-8 and finish second. They also had big bass of the tourney, a 3-15.
Eben Lambert - 3rd Place
Eben Lambert was third with 9-15 caught that he caught flipping cover. The next LMBT contest is Sept. 16 on Barton Lake. Visit the Michiana Outdoors News Lake Drive Marine Event Calendar for details.
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By Louie Stout
Tackle Warehouse Invitational AOY Ron Nelson
Ron Nelson keeps climbing the ladder.
The Berrien Springs angler won another Angler of Year title recently, taking home the Tackle Warehouse Invitational AOY.
Tackle Warehouse Invitational circuit is part of the Major League Fishing family and akin to the Bassmaster Opens.
As a result, he receives an invitation to fish the Bass Pro Tour, MLF’s equivalent of the Bassmaster Elites, and the right to compete in MLF’s Redcrest, that circuit’s version of the Bassmaster Classic.
Nelson has steadily proven he can catch ‘em with the best at each level he has fished. He says he’s ready to match wits with some of the best on the Pro Bass Tour.
“I still love bass fishing in this area, but my original goal as a younger man was to explore bass fishing in the rest of the country,” he says. “I slowly kept progressing, so I guess the natural thing now is to go to the Bass Pro Tour. But I’m waiting to see the schedule and entry fees.”
Those anglers who fish the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals (formerly FLW Circuit) will be glad to see him move up. Nelson has been a consistent threat throughout his career.
He won the Rookie of the Year title in 2019 and followed it up with the FLW Angler of Year title in 2020.
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SMAC Report
Skyler Traver and Drake Nevins - 1st Place
Skyler Traver and Drake Nevins walked off with the win and the big bass pot in the Southwest Michigan Anglers Club tourney on Corey Lake Sunday.
Traver and Nevins had five fish that weighed 10.22 pounds. Their big bass was a 3.45-pound largemouth. They said they caught most of their fish the last half hour live scoping bait balls. They fished drop-shot rigs in 18 feet of water.
Jeff Stankovich and Paul Groves were second with a limit weighing 8.05 pounds. They fished tubes and jigs in 20 feet.
Chuck Powell and Louie Stout were third with a limit weighing 7.77 pounds. They fished drop shots in 14-18 feet.
There were 11 boats that weighed in 35 fish for a total weight of 50.06 pounds.
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Butcher Baits Report
Steve Martin and Josh Roberts - 1st Place
Steve Martin and Josh Roberts won the Butcher Baits tourney last weekend on Austin Lake near Kalamazoo.
Martin and Roberts used jigs to catch 13.04 pounds.
Jeff and Dallas Ogletree - 2nd Place
Jeff and Dallas Ogletree were second with 11.66 pounds and also got big bass with a 4.61-pound largemouth caught on Zoom worms.
Gary Butcher and Scott Smith - 3rd Place
Gary Butcher and Scott Smith were third with 10.78 pounds. They used topwater lures and Butchers Baits stick baits.
The next tournament is August 27th at Portage Lake beginning at 7 a.m. See the Michiana Outdoors News Lake Drive Marine Events Calendar for details.