Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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Mercury Report
Jonathon VanDam
Modern fiberglass bass boats are built for speed and long-range efficiency, among other performance traits. In tournaments, speed plays a role on practically every outing, but making a long run requires some careful decision-making.
Mercury Pro Team member Jonathon VanDam is no stranger to long runs, and he’s quick to clarify the term. Generally, he defines “long” as 70-plus miles. However, it’s not always about the linear distance.
“It’s relevant to where you’re at,” said VanDam, who fishes the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. “There are cases when running 30 miles can be a long run. For example, on lakes like Table Rock or Bull Shoals, you’re not traveling a gigantic distance, but there are a lot of snaky turns throughout the run. The overall distance is not that far, but when you add it up, it’s a pretty good way.”
VanDam offered some advice to all tournament anglers when weighing the question of “Do I stay, or do I go?”
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Arjay’s Report
Justin and Hunter Kosmerick - 1st Place
Justin and Hunter Kosmerick caught a small limit at Corey Lake but it was enough to beat out 19 other teams and win the Arjay’s Weeknight tournament last week.
The Kosmericks had 6.94 pounds by drop-shotting deep weed lines to grab the win.
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Casting Couples Report
Rick and Jennifer Kedik (South Bend) - 1st Place
Rick and Jennifer Kedik (South Bend) only had four keepers but they were enough to give them the win in the Casting Couples Tournament at Muskegon last weekend.
The Kedik’s 12.27 pounds was anchored by a 4.11-pound smallmouth that earned them the big bass pot. Kedik's used drop-shot rigs in 15 feet of water to take home $290 total. The Kediks were one of the three boats that took the trip up to White lake but only had two keepers, so they came back to Muskegon to catch the smallmouth.
Scott and Patty Smith (Burr Oak) - 2nd Place
Second place went to Scott and Patty Smith (Burr Oak) with five keeper bass totaling 11.75 pounds. The Smiths used topwaters to earn $120.
Brian and Sandy Souza (Elkhart) - 3rd Place
Brian and Sandy Souza (Elkhart) were third with five keepers totaling 11.24 pounds. The Souzas used frogs and Ned rigs to take home $70.
The next regular scheduled tournament for Casting Couples is July 29th at Paw Paw Lake from 6 a.m to 12 p.m. Any questions contact Rick at 269-240-4917 or Facebook - MichianaCastingCouples.
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Four Flags Report
Chuck Powell and Louie Stout caught a mixed bag of largemouth and smallmouth to win the Four Flags tourney at Paw Paw Lake Sunday.
Stout and Powell had 15.55, that included two largemouth and three smallmouth. One of their largemouth weighed 4.22 pounds and should have been bigger but it spit up a fat, 10-inch perch in the livewell. They caught their fish on drop-shot rigs and ½-ounce jigs. Their fish were released before a photo could be taken.
Rick Kedik and Jake Lisenko - 2nd Place
Rick Kedik and Jake Lisenko were second with 14.57 pounds caught on drop-shots and jigs while Tanner Hursh and Jarrett Tighe finished third with 14.08 pounds caught on drop shots.
Tanner Hursh and Jarrett Tighe - 3rd Place
Dave Landon won the big bass pot with a 4.93-pound largemouth he caught on the first cast of the day.
The next Four Flags tourney is at Diamond Lake July 16. For more information, visit the Lake Drive Marine Events Calendar on this website.
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SMAC Report
Billy Mathews and Conner Pickens - 1st Place
Billy Mathews and Conner Pickens dinked and dunked jigs and creature baits into shallow weeds and pads to win the Southwest Michigan Anglers Club (SMAC) tournament on Mill Pond (Dowagiac) Tuesday night.
Mathews and Pickens had 12.68 pounds that included a 4.22-pound bass that was the biggest of the derby.
Terry Smith and Scott Crocker - 2nd Place
Terry Smith and Scott Crocker finished second with five weighing 10.65 pounds caught on Senkos and jigs in 3 to 5 feet.
John Davis and Rober Zuhl - 3rd Place
John Davis and Rober Zuhl had the third place limit of 9.99 pounds. They fished frogs in the pads.
The next event is on the St. Joseph River in Niles July 2. For details, visit the Lake Drive Marine Events Calendar on this website or call Crocker, 269-591-4667.