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BASS Report
VanDam Dominates Grand Lake to Win 25th Bassmaster Championship
Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., won his 25th B.A.S.S. title at the 2018 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Grand Lake out of Grove, Okla., with a four-day total weight of 83 pounds, 4 ounces. - Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., relied upon large female pre-spawn bass to claim a record-breaking 25th title on the Bassmaster Elite Series, and a $100,000 payday at the 2018 Academy Sports - Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Grand Lake in Grove, Okla.
During Championship Sunday, VanDam put up 18 pounds, 7 ounces to push his four-day total to 83-4, which outscored Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., by more than 5 pounds.
The 50-year-old VanDam will place an unprecedented 25th Bassmaster trophy on his mantle - a feat many believe may never be broken.
This isn't his first victory on the famous Oklahoma lake. He won an Elite Series event on Grand Lake back in 2007 with 78-2.
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Chad Worvey (Niles) and Chris Maynard (Mishawaka)
Chad Worvey (Niles) and Chris Maynard (Mishawaka) caught five smallmouth to win the Casting Couples Open Bass Tournament on the St. Joseph River at 6Span launch last weekend.
The winners ($300) had 11.72 pounds caught on darters far upriver. They also had the second largest bass of the tournament, a 4.03-pound smallmouth.
Jake Lisenko (South Bend) and Rick Kedik (Niles)
Jake Lisenko (South Bend) and Rick Kedik (Niles) were second ($150) with a mix bag of smallmouth and largemouth totaling 10.81 pounds. They also had big bass of the day ($65) with a 4.22-pound smallmouth. Lisenko and Kedik used ¼-ounce Native pride Bluegill color jigs to catch their fish in the channels.
Lee Ebby (Elkhart) and Floyd Wilkins (Cassoplis)
Lee Ebby (Elkhart) and Floyd Wilkins (Cassoplis) had a limit totaling 9.65 pounds for third place ($70). They used square bill crankbaits to catch their mix bag of smallmouth and largemouth.
The Next Casting Couples event is May 6th at Koontz Lake. Team must consist of one male and one female with a $50 entry fee. Hours are 6:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
The group will host one more OPEN tourney June 16 on Lake St. Clair. That entry is $80 and early sign-ups go into a drawing for a Skeet Reese casting rod and Trokar hook tackle pack.
Call Rick 269-240-4917 or email rkedik13@yahoo.com for more information.
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R&B Report
Quillen/Brock Jerkbait Their Way to R&B Win on Manitou
Andrew Quillen (Fort Wayne) and Dan Brock (Churubusco) fished a steep bank that led into a big spawning flat to catch 12.43 pounds and win the R&B Open on Lake Manitou on a blustery day.
The winners ($250) said the fish were just beginning to pull up on the flat where they fished traditional lures, like lipless crankbaits, blade baits and jigs but only the jig produced a keeper early. Shortly after, the jerkbait caught fire. The key was fishing it slow and lazy. They milked that stretch for all it would give up and caught 22 keepers throughout the day. They never caught a short fish.
Ron Fabiszak (South Bend) and Jason Fowler (South Bend) sorted through 10 keepers to pare down to an 11.51-pound limit and finish second ($130).
They focused their efforts in submerged grass between 5-6 feet of water with bladed jigs made by Kevin Fletcher. They had their limit by 9:30. They key was a "super slow" retrieve.
Mark Farver (Goshen) and Steve Kline (Albion) brought a 9.20-pound limit to grab third place ($80). Their fish were caught on umbrella rigs and lipless crankbaits in 10 feet of water.
Jake Wyatt and Bobby Nelson (Fulton) won the big bass pot ($130) with a 4.30-pound largemouth.
For more information about the regular season R&B Circuit and its divisions, visit www.randbbasscircuit.com.
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BASS Report
Knoxville to Host 2019 Bassmaster Classic on The Tennessee River
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - For the first time in its 49-year history, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods will be held on the Tennessee River out of Knoxville, it was announced today by B.A.S.S. and the host organization, Visit Knoxville.
The prestigious championship bass tournament ó widely known as the "Super Bowl of Bass Fishing" ó will be held March 15-17 in downtown Knoxville and on The University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus.
"Knoxville meets and exceeds all the requirements we have for the Bassmaster Classic ó great fishing on the Tennessee River, first-class facilities to accommodate crowds of fishing fans, a vibrant city with plenty to see and do, and a corps of state and local tourism professionals who will ensure its success," said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin.
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Casting Couples Report
Farver, Kline Win at Wawasee with 22 Pounds Despite Brutal Weather
Mark Farver (Albion) and Steve Kline (Goshen) used the new Minn Kota Spot Lock trolling motor feature to fight the wind while they fished out the back of their boat to catch a limit of 22 pounds and win the CastingCouples Open tournament last weekend on Lake Wawasee.
The weather was brutal with winds whipping out of the east and air temperatures around 36 degrees. The lake temperature ranged from 39 to 42 degrees.
Farver and Kline used crankbaits and jigs in 10 feet of water to win $270.
Jason Hall and Brian Wittker (Warsaw) also fished the main lake to catch 20.01 pounds to earn $120.
Jason Hall and Brian Wittker (Warsaw) also fished the main lake to catch 20.01 pounds to earn $120. They also used crankbaits and jigs and won the big bass pot ($55) with a 5.34-pound largemouth.
Neil Vanderbeizen (Battle Creek) and Ron Fabiszak (Mishawaka) used jigs to catch a 12.76-pound limit to win $50.
Jeremy Chase (Mishawaka) & Bryce Amberg (Granger) had four keepers that weighed 12.01 pounds for fourth. They used jigs and blade baits in the channels.
The next open tourney April 21 on the St. Joseph River at SixSpan Bridge, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.†Entry fee is $50 and $5 for big bass pot. Itís open to anyone.
Contact Rick Kedik at rkedik13@yahoo.com or 269-240-4917.