Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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By Al McGuckin
McClelland and VanDam Feel at Home on Lake Travis
Tuesday morning marked the start of the second very long hot practice day on Lake Travis for the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Two of pro fishing’s most likeable, accomplished, and even-keeled veteran anglers, Mike McClelland and Kevin VanDam, launched next to one another in the humid predawn air, and say this gorgeous reservoir in the Texas Hill Country is very new to them, but also one they’re liking a lot, and feeling right at home on.
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By Al McGuckin
Swindle Says Lake Travis is Full of Fish
Gerald Swindle has no history with Lake Travis. He’d never seen the gorgeous 18,000- acre reservoir along the Colorado River in the Texas Hill Country until arriving for practice on Mother’s Day.
But after another long 12-hour day of practice for the Bassmaster Texas Bassfest this week, he likes what he sees.
“Well, I just saw a woman swim across the cove with her Larbradoodle; that was interesting. And they dang sure like to party on this lake, even on a Monday,” says the hilarious Team Toyota pro.
“It’s also full of fish. I think it’s gonna surprise people what we catch here this week. There’s a ton of bass swimming here. The challenge will be getting that big bite or two to separate you from the pack,” he explains.
Water temps are ranging 77 to 80. It’s full post-spawn mode, and how you choose to catch them is up to you. Swindle says most of the baitfish he saw on Lake Travis were super tiny shoreline minnows.
“You name it – we’ll be throwing it this week,” says Swindle. “Drop shot, Ned Rig, a casting jig, Shaky head, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, deep cranking -- it’s all in play this week.”
Swindle piloted his Tundra roughly 14 hours to get to Austin after saying a brutally tough, heartbreaking goodbye to his dog Myrick, but Lake Travis has been reason to smile again for the highly accomplished Quantum pro.
“Grand Lake and Kentucky Lake, where we just came from, were places I’d been many times before, but bites were tough to come by,” says Swindle.
“We weighed-in big bags, but bites were real tough to get. Coming here to Travis was a long drive, but kind of cool like getting a Christmas present. You’re excited to unwrap it, and see what you got, and so far, I like what we’ve got here.”
“I think one of the reasons Lake Travis is good is because there’s not a lot of fishing pressure. Now look, there’s party pressure – if the bass bit Bud Light cans here they’d be in trouble, because these locals know how to party - especially with the weather being so hot this week – like hotter than Miranda Lambert in yoga pants,” he concluded.
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IBF Report
Dave Thies of Auburn, Ind. and Todd Boyles of Kendallville
Dave Thies of Auburn, Ind. and Todd Boyles of Kendallville took top honors in the Indiana Bass Federation Open Tournament on Sylvan Lake near Rome City, Ind.
The winners had five bass weighing 12.66 pounds, including a 3.72-pound largemouth, and collected $518 for their efforts.
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BASS Report
Grand Valley State Wins Bassmaster Eastern Tour Event at Cherokee
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Lucas Murphy and Nolan Hitt had only fished one official tournament together before they teamed up this week in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Eastern Tour presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The first event was forgettable, but this one they'll remember for the rest of their lives.
Murphy and Hitt, who compete for Michigan's Grand Valley State University, came from behind today to win the college tour stop here on Cherokee Lake in northeast Tennessee. The tandem caught a five-bass limit that weighed 13 pounds, 9 ounces. Combined with the 29-1 they caught on the first two days of the tournament, they finished with a three-day total of 42-10.
That was enough to overtake Bethel University's Cully Scroggins and Nathon Portch, who held the lead on both Day 1 and Day 2 of this event, but wound up finishing third overall (41-2).
The University of Alabama team of Lee Mattox and Anderson Aldag finished second with 41-6.
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The season opener for Casting Couples at Koontz Lake was a big success for the circuit entering its fifth year.
The tournament drew 24 couples and a giant 6.38-pound bass won big bass of the event.
John and Marcy Dixon (Elkhart)
John and Marcy Dixon (Elkhart) won ($350) the event with five keeper bass totaling 9.55lbs. The Dixon's used jigs and Senkos in shallow water.
Rich and Nicole Miller (DeMotte, Ind.), with their young son in the boat, were second ($180) with a 7.99-pound limit. They used Senkos on inside weed edges.
Mark & Stephany Siskaninetz (Dowagiac, Mich.)
Mark & Stephany Siskaninetz (Dowagiac, Mich.) only had two keepers but one was the big bass ($115) of the tournament. Their 7.68-pound total earned them third place ($130). They also used Senkos to catch their fish
Mike Martin and Kristen Branham (LaPorte, Ind.)
Mike Martin and Kristen Branham (LaPorte, Ind.) brought in five keepers totaling 7.63 pounds for fourth place ($80), caught on Senkos in lily pads.
Jeremy and Courtney Bussey (Middlebury, Ind.) were fifth ($60) with 7.58 pounds caught on swim jigs around docks.
Rob Swem and Kimm Siewert (Buchanan, Mich.) had also had a limit weighing 7.36 pounds for sixth ($40) caught on jerkbaits.
The next Casting Couples event is Fishers Lake in Three Rivers June 2nd 6:30am-12:30 p.m. Entry fee is $50. Contact Rick at 269-240-4917 or rkedik13@yahoo.com or on Facebook - MichianaCastingCouples.