Tough fishing continues as TBF anglers struggle to find fish on Patoka Lake, in Jasper, Ind., on day two of the 2010 Northern Division Championship. Home state advantage showed its face today as the Indiana TBF rose above their competition in the fight to name the Northern Division Champions. Though fishing was rough some were consist, while others fought but came up empty. Anything can happen tomorrow and these TBF anglers are going to lay it all on the line to make sure that it does. As the final day decides who will be called champions and who will advance to the 2011 Federation National Championship.
Allen Boyd
Allen Boyd, from Salem, Ind., came from behind with another limit of bass to make a mighty leap and seize the lead from yesterday’s leader. Boyd is the only angler to catch two limits both days. Today, he weighed in 15lb 12ounces to make his tournament total 27lb 15ounces. “Fishing was pretty much the same as yesterday for me; I fished hard all day,” Boyd said. Boyd has never qualified for nationals before and he’s just one day away from accomplishing just that. “It would be an honor; just awesome. Honestly, I’m not thinking about the weigh-in or nationals yet, just tomorrow and making it happen out on that water.” As the other TBF anglers are struggling, Boyd has seemed to find quite a niche. When asked for his secrets Boyd pauses and simply responds, “Tomorrow, no secrets ‘til tomorrow.” Indeed, tomorrow we will see if he can hold on to his lead, the championship title and all its glory.
Yesterday’s tournament leader, Don Watts, from Gowen, Mich., dropped to second overall with a total weight of 14lb 9ounces. Watts wasn’t able to find them today, but he still has a 3lb 10ounce lead for the Michigan State team keeping him in contention to qualify for nationals. “Really it was tough for everyone but the leader; the fish just weren’t there,” Watts said. Watts lost one bite and struggled to find bites the rest the day. “I lost one keeper around 9am and I couldn’t find another bite after that.”
Indiana State team is not going down without a fight; they made a push today to take the lead away from the repeat champions, Michigan TBF. Indiana brought in 15 fish weighing 41lb 10ounces making their tournament total 82lb 1ounce. Michigan caught 12 fish today weighing 31lb 5ounces bringing their tournament total to 80lb 8ounces. In third, is the state team of Ohio who caught 12 
fish weighing 27lb 12ounces making their total 60lb 4ounces. Currently in fourth, Minnesota TBF also caught 12 fish with a day two weight of 30lb 3ounces making their tournament total 57lb 13ounces. Illinois is in fifth with seven fish weighing 16lb 11ounces making their total 43lb 15ounces and Wisconsin is in sixth with six that weighed 14lb 13ounces making their total of 40lb 2ounces.
TBF anglers hope Patoka eases up on them tomorrow. The final day will prove to be an exciting event for the anglers who will advance. Those 12 will get the opportunity to compete for over a quarter of a million in cash and prizes and a chance to the “Live the Dream” on the FLW Pro circuit with the use of a wrapped Chevrolet and Ranger Boat and all entry-fee’s paid. Despite the tough waters, there’s still a lot on the line and a lot to prove for these state champions as the 2010 Northern Division Championship comes to a close, tomorrow, on Lake Patoka in Jasper, Ind.
Full results can be found on our results page.
Perfect weather greeted 40 teams who fished in this year’s Open tournament to benefit the troops c/o the USO. The Lake Champlain event was coordinated and managed by the Plattsburgh Bass Club c/o Rick Perry and Ben Wright (president NY TBF). The weigh-in was managed by the National FLW staff c/o Bill Taylor and Chris Hoover. Karen Clark, USO at Fort Drum Director, was on hand and was pleased to take back approximately $3,000 for the Fort Drum NY USO Center. Assisting Rick in garnishing sponsors and supporters were Nick Albano, Bob Murphy, Robert Curtis, John Ernest, Lance Cahoon, Scott Mitchell, John Williams and Dave Lipari of the Bergen Bassmasters (NJBF). Placing in the money (and ahead of many pros), were Scott Mitchell and Lance Cahoon. Their six bass limit of 19-14 exceeded the 19-10 bag weighed in by Chris Hall and Dave Wolak. Chris had won the FLW non-boater division the day before and Dave Wolak 
finished in the Top Five of the FLW pro division.
c/o Harvey Knight, Reynolds Marine c/o Tom Reynolds, Northern Bass Supply c/o Sandra, Ranger Boats, The Iceman Dave, Bearpaws c/o Johnny Olsen, Ramsey Outdoors c/o Bob Murphy, Daiwa, NY Giants c/o Robert Curtis, The Meadowlands Renaissance Hotel, the WFN, MegaStrike c/o Bobby Urhig and Optima Batteries. Rick Perry and his club obtained additional support such as $1,000 in lunker money from the Econo Lodge and airline tickets from Direct Air.
Thirty-Four boats with sixty-seven young competitors fish the OBF youth State Championship on O’Shaughnessy Reservoir August 22. The water was a little stained from the recent rains but that did not seem to affect former Junior National Champ Daryk Eckert as he was the only angler to bag a limit of five fish taking his age group with 5.88 lbs total.. Tristen Walters led the 11-14 year age group with two nice fish weighing in at 3.91 lbs including the big bass for his group of 2.15 lbs. Johnny McKenzie had big bass honors for the 15-18 Year age group with a 2.94 lbs largemouth.
