Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
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Casting Couples Report
Scott Culp and Scott Woods - 1st Place
Scott Culp and Scott Woods (Elkhart) had five keeper bass weighing 12.14lbs to win the Casting Couples on Diamond Lake recently.
Culp and Woods also had big bass honors with a 4.95-pound largemouth. They fished most of the day in 6-10 feet of water. All their fish were caught on Native Pride jigs, they had just purchased that morning. They won $285.
2nd Place
Brett Gessinger and Mike VanderReyden - 3rd Place
Brett Gessinger and Mike VanderReyden (Goshen) had five keeper bass weighing 10.78 pounds for third ($120). Gessinger and VanderReyden used spinnerbaits.
Dan Posey and Jim Gargis - 4th Place
Dan Posey and Jim Gargis (Niles) had five keeper bass totaling 9.50 pounds for fourth. They fished in 8-12 feet with spinnerbaits and jigs.
Rick Kedik and Jake Lisenko (South Bend) had five keeper bass totaling 8.96lbs for fifth. They fished jigs in 10-17 feet.
Casting Couples will host a few opens in October and November. Time and dates will be announced soon.
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By Al McGuckin
VanDam’s Sentimental Tokens
He’s garnered 7 Bassmaster Angler of the year titles, 4 Bassmaster Classic victories, and 3 MLF Cup wins, and rest assured, if you were tossing bean bags in a game of backyard cornhole with him, he’d muster everything in his jerkbait slinging’ fibers to win that, too.
Yet, within bass fishing’s all-time greatest angler lies a loyal and sentimental heart only those closest to him get to see. If you don’t believe it, check the Plano waterproof stowaway inside the pullout storage drawer of his Nitro Boat. That’s where you’ll find a collection of heartfelt tokens “KVD” never leaves home without.
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p>Best Catch Report
Randy and Marti Walls - 1st Place
Randy and Marti Walls won the Best Catch Couples Classic last weekend on a wind-blown Muskegon Lake.
Mark and Bobbie Flotow - 2nd Place
The winners had 12.01 pounds while Mark and Bobbie Flotow were second with 12 pounds and they also had the biggest bass, a 3.06 pounder.
Rosemary and Marshall Dixon were third with 4.11 pounds.
Best Catch Couples announced the group will return next year with another circuit for teams consisting of a man and woman. Details will be announced later.
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Arjay’s Report
Ben Harrison and Ryan Miller - Winners
Ben Harrison and Ryan Miller (subbing for Hunter Zona) won the Arjay’s Classic Tournament Saturday on Gull Lake near Kalamazoo.
The winners had 12.56 pounds including the second largest bass of the tournament, a 2.92-pound largemouth. They caught their fish in 40 feet of water on jigs, drop-shots and creature baits. They won $1,600 for first and another $200 for second big bass.
Jeremy Bunnell and Louie Stout - 2nd PlaceJeremy Bunnell and Louie Stout were second with 9.04 pounds that included the third largest bass, a 2.24 pounder. They caught their fish on Yamamoto Hula Grubs in 22 to 26 feet of water. They won $1,300 and a bonus $100 for third big bass.
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By Louie Stout
Berrien Springs’ Ron Nelson
It was believed for years that any angler coming out of Michiana would be handicapped if he pursued a fulltime pro bass fishing career.
After all, our short fishing seasons and small natural lakes are drastically different than the massive southern impoundments where most pros live and the events are held.
But along came Kalamazoo’s Kevin VanDam who proved it could be done and went on to become the most successful pro bass angler in the history of the sport.
Berrien Springs’ Ron Nelson is no Kevin VanDam, but he’s proving that area waters are viable training grounds for someone with enough passion, desire and skills to claw their way to the top.
After winning the FLW Tour Rookie of Year last season, Nelson earned this year’s FLW Angler of Year title. His $94,500 earnings this year pushed his career earnings to $490,165 that includes his minor league earnings since he launched his FLW career in 2013.
And like VanDam, Nelson attributes his Michiana fishing experiences to his success while fishing around the country.