Angler Lands 9-pound Smallmouth from Traverse City Lake

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Published: 19 May 2023

By Louie Stout

Todd Vydick with his big smallmouth

Todd Vydick’s primary hope was to improve his personal best when he hired Cody Johnson to guide him for big smallmouth in the Traverse City, Mich. area.

“My biggest bass up to that point was 6.1 pounds,” said Vydick of Hartland, Mich. “I try to improve my personal best every time I fish with Todd.”

Well, mission accomplished – and in spades. Vydick not only bettered his biggest when he landed a 9.3-pound smallmouth, but also came up about a half pound shy of tying the Michigan record.

They fished into the evening last Monday when they encountered a school of smallmouth holding on a small grass patch in about 20 feet of water.

The Brighton, Mich. guide said he spotted the school along a drop-off on his Humminbird Side Imaging unit. He doesn’t have forward-facing sonar.

That’s where the behemoth bass ate Todd’s ¼-ounce, green pumpkin Strike King coffee tube. He knew it was big, but had no idea it was that big.

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Gustafson Struggles on the Final Day but Holds on for Historic Bassmaster Classic Victory on the Tennessee River

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Published: 27 March 2023

BASS Report

Jeff Gustafson of Kenora, Canada

Jeff Gustafson of Kenora, Canada, has won the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota with a three-day total of 42 pounds, 7 ounces, becoming the first Canadian to be crowned the Classic champion. - Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Canadian pro Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson’s bass refused to play fair on the final day of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota on the Tennessee River.

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