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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.
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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.Â
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.Â
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.