Bass Tournament Fishing & Shows
Tournaments, Shows & Related Info
This is here for historical reasons and example as I no longer actively fish bass tournaments as of ~2008.
My Tournaments, Shows & Related Info…
This page mostly contains information about tournament I fish and other fishing related events. I have some of my tournament schedule on here along with known show schedules, seminars and other events I’ll be involved in.
There are also links to pages on past seasons. I try to do a season summary about how things went after the completion of each tournament and fishing season. (I did miss 2002 thanks to a hefty work schedule at my new job – I had just enough time to make it to tournaments and head back to work.)
More general interest fishing and tournament information can be found in other sections of the website such as Bass & Tournament Tips; Online Articles, Bass Fishing Forums and other pages available from the menu.
This Season’s Tournaments & Events
2006 Tournament Schedule
2006 should be better than the past two seasons – at least a little. I’m planning on fishing all the MI BFL and maybe a Top Bass or two. Depends somewhat on gas prices again, and you never know how things are going to turn out until they happen. (Click this link to see how I’m doing as the season progresses – How am I Doing This Year):
| Date | Tournament | Location |
| Jun 10 | Wal-Mart BFL | Burt-Mullett Lakes |
| Jun 24 | Wal-Mart BFL | Lake St. Clair |
| Jul 29 | Wal-Mart BFL | Grand River |
| Aug 26 | Wal-Mart BFL | Detroit River |
| Sep 9-10 | Wal-Mart BFL Super T | Detroit River |
| Oct 29 | Last Chance Open | Cass Lake |
2005 Show/Seminar Schedule
| Date | Event / Location | Description |
| Jan 13 | Ultimate Fishing Show-Novi – Seminars 5PM & 7PM |
I won’t be there this day Wayne & Alex Esselink |
| Jan 14 | Ultimate Fishing Show-Novi -Seminar 7PM/td> |
I won’t be there this day Wayne & Dave Misaras |
| Jan 15 | Ultimate Fishing Show-Novi | various areas today |
| Jan 16 | Ultimate Fishing Show-Novi – Seminar 1pm Wayne & I – No Secrets Smallmouth |
L. St. Clair Combat Fishing Booth – Seminar schedules |
| Feb 5 | Bob Bauer’s Outdoor Wrld 97.1 FM radio show |
8-10:30 AM me, Wayne & Dave No Secrets book & Lake St. Clair |
| Mar 10 | Lansing Ctr Fishing Show | L. St. Clair Combat Fishing Booth |
| Mar 11 | Lansing Ctr Fishing Show – Seminar 2:30 PM |
L. St. Clair Combat Fishing Booth – Those Crazy Smallmouth, Wayne |
| Mar 12 | Lansing Ctr Fishing Show | L. St. Clair Combat Fishing Booth |
| Mar 13 | Lansing Ctr Fishing Show – Seminar schedules |
L. St. Clair Combat Fishing Booth |
| Mar 17 | Grand Rapids Fishing Show – Seminar 6PM Main Stage |
L. St. Clair Combat Fishing Booth – Those Crazy Smallmouth, Wayne |
| Mar 18 | Grand Rapids Fishing Show – Seminar 6PM Main Stage |
L. St. Clair Combat Fishing Booth – Those Crazy Smallmouth, Wayne |
| Mar 19 | Grand Rapids Fishing Show – Seminar 2:30 PM Main Stg |
L. St. Clair Combat Fishing Booth – Those Crazy Smallmouth, Wayne |
| Mar 20 | Grand Rapids Fishing Show – Seminar 2:30 PM Main Stg – Seminar schedules |
L. St. Clair Combat Fishing Booth – Those Crazy Smallmouth, Wayne |
| Mar 25 | D&R Sports Open House | I probably won’t be there this day |
| Mar 26 | D&R Sports Open House | Seminar 2:30 PM today tent. |
| Mar 29 | Eastside Bass Club seminar | Shelby Township location |
| May 3 | Kelloggsville Church Sportspersons Club | – evening bass seminar |
| Aug 13 | Crossroads for Youth, Oxford MI | – youth fishing event and speech |
(Bold dates are the days I was involved in the activity)
How Am I Doing This Season – Money Finishes
Check back later. I may not have many chances this year, but I hope to have something listed here…
Date Event Lake Place Partner –
Additional Publicity / Activities
| Date | Description |
| Jun 10, 2005 | Article – Lansing State Journal Outdoor page on my 2nd place finish at Top Bass Houghton Lake event |
| May 27, 2005 | Article – Lansing State Journal Outdoor page on my tournament career and goals by Ron St. Germain |
| May, 2005 | Interviewed Oakland Lakefront online article-“DNR considering new bass regulations” by Kevin Elliott |
| Mar 4, 2005 | Interviewed Michigan Outdoor News article-“Statewide bass survey is under way” by Peter Salinas |
| Aug 10, 2005 | Mentioned in Spinal Column Online article-“ Anglers divided on bass season changes” by Kevin Elliott |
Tournament Pages from Previous Seasons
2004 – Tournament Season Recap
2003 – Tournament Season Recap
2001 – Tournament Season Recap
2000 – Tournament Season Recap
My Favorite Circuit – Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL)
FLW Outdoors really changed the fishing world since they went all out to create their innovative stepping-stone tournament circuits.
The three graduated levels of competition along with separate boater and co-angler paybacks provide valuable training for anglers who have professional angler aspirations. I especially enjoy the boater – co-angler format that gives the boater complete control over the fishing day and the front of the boat.
You can really test yourself as a tournament angler that way. Co-anglers can get their feet wet and learn many aspects of tournament fishing competition for minimal cost.
If you think you have what it takes to be a successful bass tournament angler there’s just no better vehicle to test it without going all out and paying tens of thousands of dollars to fish national circuits that very few anglers can jump right to affording the cost for very long.
The BFL lets you build the experience and confidence that is so critical to any tournament angler with reasonable cost and without traveling too far. The BFL also gives anglers a great shot at getting publicity and larger prizes through the Regionals and the Wal-Mart BFL All-American.
First place for the regionals most of us fish for is a new truck and new bass boat. First place for the All-American is a whopping $100,000 cash. You could fish a few tournaments with that nest egg.
The All-American is a tournament everyone can enjoy. I had a blast in Hot Springs on Lake Hamilton. Everything was provided for me. Drivers to haul and launch the provided bass boat. All my meals. The hotel room. You name it. We weighed in indoors on the big stage in front of several thousand people. I’ve got to make it back again.
You can also earn priority entry into the various EverStart Series events the following year when you qualify for the Regional from your BFL division. EverStart tournaments have a great payback and a big-time feel for a reasonable entry fee for boaters and co-anglers.
Of course, the marquee series is the FLW Tour (now part of Major League Fishing). It’s an expensive and highly competitive circuit to fish, but the payback is HUGE – $7.6 million total payback for 2006 including $500,000 to the winner of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship!
I believe this tiered approach to tournament fishing is an excellent training program for the professional tournament angler hopeful, while the boat / co-angler format provides one of the best formats for anglers who enjoy great competition and learning experiences.
If you haven’t fished the BFL and are ready to compete or just want to know more, contact me by email or phone, or post on my BFL forum and I’ll do what I can to help.
Click on the BFL logo above to get information directly from FLW Outdoors including schedules, results and angler profiles. For the BFL, it’s in your best interest to sign up early with a boater if you’re a co-angler, or a co-angler if you’re a boater. That way, you both get to fish in the category you signed up in.
| 2006 Michigan BFL Schedule | Event Date | Priority Deadline | Entry Deadline |
| Burt-Mullett Lakes The Landings | Jun 10 | May 23 | May 30 |
| L. St. Clair Metro Beach | Jun 24 | Jun 06 | Jun 13 |
| Grand River Riverside Park | Jul 29 | Jul 11 | Jul 18 |
| Detroit River Elizabeth Park | Aug 26 | Aug 8 | Aug 15 |
| Detroit River Elizabeth Pk Super Tourn | Sep 09-10 | Aug 22 | Aug 29 |
| Lake Cooper Captain Kirk’s Marina | Oct 5-7 | Regional – Ft. Madison IA…Off Limits Sep 23-29 |
**Here it is – the ‘new and improved’ 2006 Michigan BFL Schedule – an earlier start with more variety for all anglers – I think it will appeal to many of you!**