GreatLakesBass.com Bass Fishing Blog

A very eventful week is coming to an end. Team Michigan does their job at the TBF Northern Divisional Championship putting almost 500 pounds on the board for an 86 pound win over 2nd place Indiana. Michigan TBF member Derek Cummings wins the whole thing with over 63 pounds. Six of the top 11 anglers in the final standings are from the Michigan team - pretty good considering there are 6 states / teams.

(L to R) Front Row: Steve Griffen, Jeff Cox, Mark Modrak, 
Derek Cummings, Leo Reiter, Dan Kimmel Back Row: President
/2nd Alt Dennis Beltz, Jon Jezierski, Rob Roberts, Wayne 
Macklin, Eric Peck, Teddy Bradley, John Serniak (not 
pictured: team alternate Tom Kiefer)
(Photo by Scott Ellison/FLW Outdoors)

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I had intended to provide some details today about the wrap up of the 08 TBF N Divisional, but we had a somewhat unexpected death in the family early this morning so I'll have to report things tomorrow sometime instead.

Well... I probably won't be able to forget today... ever. One part of the 'fond' memories of my massive 6 pound catch of 3 measly little squeaker keepers is hauling my nonboater partner back out of the St. Clair River (69 F water) after he took a header off the bow. He was a Ohio bucknut so I made him wear my M Go Blue sweatshirt most of the day while his enter outfit dried out.

This was fairly early in the morning in the North Channel while it was still pretty chilly out. He was worried abou losing his hat, but I knew it would float for a few minutes and found it just downstream of the stearn.

I think the U of M championship sweatshirt was the deal for him because he managed 16 plus on my spot while I managed to miss a half dozen and lose a good one under the boat to my stunning 3 keepers.

I don't think he really thought I knew what I was doing, but I pointed out at the end of the day that he was leading his state by 10 pounds thanks to my spot and my doggedness in keeping with the spot once the bite turned on.

The good news is two of our team members (Derek Cummings and Mark Modrak respectively) are 1 - 2 in the overall standings and Michigan leads Indiana in the all important (money) team contest by 57 pounds. We should be able to hold on and take the top prize.

So I'm adjusting my own approach for tomorrow to do what I can to make sure we win the state competition. I have an Indiana boy for the 2nd time in 3 days. I have to beat this one. I've been waaaayyy too nice to the other two nonboaters . Have to stop the madness! I shouldn't be ruling out water still at this point, but that is what I seem to be doing . Hopefully, tomorrow I just fish spots with bass actually on them AND I CATCH the bass! Stay tuned...

Well, this didn't go quite the way I personally hoped, but the team did pretty well. Modrak is leading and several other members - Cummings, Peck, Reiter off the top of my head (tired head) had real good weights. I managed a limited plus a few extra, but it was an odd day for me.

Way too nice. Yep, I said it. I can't recall the last time it was that nice all day on the Northern end of the lake/river. Normally, I love days like this - they are rare on the Great Lakes, but today was odd.

First off, I caught largemouths all day almost everywhere I went in the lake and river including spots I've never caught them before. I weighed 2 in. The bass were feeding up high overall and keying in on small minnows. We had no real opportunities for big bass early and few keepers - which is how my practice had been going. But we have to do something in the morning.

Later, the size of the bass started to head in the right direction, but with the bass keying in on the small minnows in a lot of spots, they didn't always hook up good or fully 'commit' to the bait, we I lost 3 better keepers including 1 I had two shots at, and my nonboater partner lost at least 2 good ones. Twice we pulled in on spots to have bass busting. We got 1 only the first time and a double the 2nd.

My partner was from 2nd place Indiana and had a little more weight than me with 4 bass - the team was pre-occupied so they forgot to get after me. So tomorrow, I have a partner from Ohio who is leading his state and antsy about keeping that lead. It should make for an interesting day as I try to figure out what adjustments to make to start getting back on the bigger bass I was catching in practice. And we HAVE to keep the lead!!

Well, tomorrow it counts. Tomorrow the hooks will be set with full and unforgiving force because we all need to bring in the bags. We can't let Michigan down and lose on our home turf!!! No way. We would never live it down...

I drew an angler from Indiana. He is fishing something possibly not too far from one of my patterns and wants to go there in the afternoon, so I get the morning to see what I can put together. Cross your fingers time...

I'm in the last (3rd) flight, but there's only 36 boats so tomorrow I'll have almost an extra half hour to fish. They will probably flip flop us, but I like having more time on the first day to see what happens.

I had one a really good bass in an old spot and found a new spot that had at least one quality bass on it (it creamed a new lure I'm trying, plus Wayne has some news baits I want to try tomorrow). I have a few other bass on, but I didn't fish a real long time. Needed to make sure everything is ready and I'm as prepared as I can be (I am almost the world's slowest preparer, but that's okay).

FLW has a person on site who will be updating their TBF section daily so you can find out how we did later tomorrow evening. I hope we end up living up to the level of confidence the guys were showing at the team meeting tonight. Team confidence seems very high. Confidence is important!

What a day...? Not sure it taught me a lot, but... I think... once I dry out I will have a better idea.

I ran into TBF of Michigan Pres Dennis Beltz on the way out this morning and spent some time going over plans – what was working and what needed to be changed – for the actual logistics of this event. Michigan team mate Jon Jezierski came by for a few minutes too.

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Well, had to work late every night this week at the 'day' job so nothing much prepared. Now comes Saturday and I have a zillion things to do to get on the road for the 2008 TBF Northern Divisional Championship.

A zillion is too many for one Saturday. Sunday would have been a GREAT day to be on the water BUT I have to have my ducks in a row (more jigheads poured with new, sharp hooks, lures found, wet boxes dried out from last weekend, clothes, healthy snacks to keep the head clear, etc. etc.) to feel right about being there and helping the Michigan team win this thing for the home state!! So I didn't end up here at a really nice hotel until late Sunday.

I'm sure there are plenty of anglers from other states who want to keep Michigan from defending the home front (I've already been grilled by a member of another state in the hallway)... you never want to lose on your home turf. It is not a given that you won't. Tomorrow sounds like a good start early for checking the lake before possible rain, winds and storms come in late (I hope). So off to bed I go for a good start tomorrow. Lets home the big ones are biting and I find a few...