If you're reading this, you probably remember your first fish and its impact on your life. Most anglers get their start early on in their lives and the reason is because somebody decided to take them fishing. It's always fun to introduce someone to fishing and the "take a kid fishing" mantra has been stated for years, but the important part is to make the experience enjoyable and catch fish.
An ongoing fish die-off on Lake Macatawa, near Holland in Ottawa County, stems from the virus responsible for causing viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, the Michigan DNR confirmed.
Abu Garcia has added a new model to the Zenon spinning selection with the Zenon X.
This new model fills the gap by offering the flexibility to fish lightweight finesse style baits while also providing the power to handle heavier baits when needed.
Derek Kelly and Devin Wright won the Smith Family Benefit Saturday on Diamond Lake, but the real winner was the worthy cause that 38 teams showed up to support.
The efforts raised $4,200 to help defray costs incurred by fellow tournament angler Jordan Smith and his wife. The young couple’s baby boy was born prematurely with a heart condition and has remained in the hospital for several weeks.
Kelly and Write had 12 pounds 2 ounces that included a 4-pound, 4-ounce bass. They said they caught their fish on jigs, 10-inch worms and drop-shot rigs in 6 to 12 feet of water.
Skyler Traver and Drake Nevins were second with 11 pounds caught on drop shots and jigs in 10 to 15 feet while Trevor Nunemaker fished alone for third with three bass weighing 9 pounds 12 ounces. He also had the big bass of the event, a 5 pounder, caught shallow.
Gary Butcher and Scott Smith were fourth with 9-10 and Eric Moore and Shannon Combs fifth with 8-12.
The tournament paid three places and 50 percent of the $100 entry fee each team paid went to the family.
By Louie Stout
Tournament bass fishermen are good about coming together to help out a fellow angler in need.
That’s why a group is rallying around fellow angler Jordan Smith whose new-born son came several weeks early. Smith's son has been hospitalized in Indianapolis with heart complications for more than a week and will likely be there much longer.
A benefit tournament will be held July 8 at Diamond Lake from 6 a.m. to noon and registration begins at 4:30 a.m. Entry fee is $100 and 50 percent of the proceeds will go straight to the family. There also will be a $10 big bass pot and $5 biggest rock bass pot. Payouts will go to the top three and there will be a 50/50 drawing. Hotdogs will be available after the weigh-in. Donations will be accepted.
In addition there will be drawings for several tackle prizes including a $160 hand-painted Floyd Wolkins swimbait.
Tournament organizers Izaak Wetzel (269-625-6482) and Cody Brown (269-689-5588) urge teams to contact one of them in advance to confirm your participation so they can get a handle on number of contestants. It is hoped that the tournament will draw a big turnout and raise a lot of money for a young family that is going through some really difficult times.
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