Once again 26 individuals from Idaho and 26 individuals from Montana met on Noxon Reservoir in Western Montana.  Everything seemed to go quite smoothly for the most part.  After pre-fishing for 3 days, we had a banquet at the Lakeside Resort in Trout Creek, MT.  Food was good and everyone left full and had a great time.

Fishing was a little tuff as the bass were in summer-time mode and were mostly spread out.  Water temps were in the low 70’s which is quite warm for these northern lakes.  While it was difficult for some, others managed to find the fish.  Noxon yielded 2 limits that exceeded 21 lbs. and quite a few limits in the mid to high teens.

Idaho Qualifiers

Montana Qualifiers

After battling it out for 2 days we were able to establish our representatives to go to the TBF National Championships for both Montana and Idaho.  We look forward to seeing how they fare when competing against the rest of the country and especially our N.W. Division.

Top 5 Boaters

Top 5 Co-anglers

2025 TBF Alabama National Semi-Finals was held on Lake Mitchell, Clanton, AL, September 6-7, 2025. Qualified Alabama Anglers and Co-Anglers competed for the opportunity of advancement to the 2026 TBF National Championship Tournament to be held spring of 2026. Corey Cole of Pine Level Bassmasters took the angler lead on Day -1 with a weight of 12 lbs. and on Day-2 Cole added an additional weight of 11.07 having two-day total of 23.07 securing 1^st Place of the Anglers. Finishing 2^nd Place is Marty Giddens of Alabama Ranger Club with a total of 23 lbs. 3^rd Place is Rocky Rockhill of Tennessee Valley Bass Club with 20.05.  Nicholas Foster of Alabama Ranger Club was 4^th Place with 20.05; Phil Williams of L A PO Boys was 5^th Place with 20.04 and Keith Glasgow of Alabama Ranger finished 6^th Place of the Anglers with 19.12. Corey Cole and Marty Giddens qualified to advance to the 2026 TBF National Championship Tournament.

Of the Co-Anglers Dennis Sandoval of Morgan County Bass Club lead the Co-Anglers on Day-1 with 10.10 and on Day-2 Dennis weighed in 8.11 making his two-day total 19.05 securing 1^st Place of the Co-Anglers. Matthew King of Morgan County Bass Club with a total weight of 16 lbs. finished 2^nd Place of the Co-Anglers. In 3^rd Place is Charles Douglass of Pine Level Bassmasters with a weight of 15.11; Steven McSpadden of Locust Fork Bassmasters with 15.07 finished in 4^th Place; Terry Quates of Pine Level Bassmasters is 5^th Place with 13.09 and Mason Carden of Alabama Ranger Club took 6^th Place with 12.11.  Dennis Sandoval and Matthew King have qualified to advance to the 2026 TBF National Championship Tournament.

Big fish for Day-1 competition was a weight of 3.14, shared by Anglers Marty Giddens and Tim Windsor and Co-Angler Dennis Wynn. Day-2 big fish of the Anglers was Marty Giddens with 4.08 and Co-Angler Marlyana Castleberry with 2.15 had Day-2 big fish of the Co-Anglers. Davis Bait Company awarded a big fish bonus to Marty Giddens and Dennis Wynn for the biggest Angler & Co-Angler fish of the tournament.

Boat Total Weight for Day-1 with a combined weight of 20.06 was Marty Giddens and Steve McSpadden. Day-2 Boat Total Weight was won by Kevin Gibsin and Charles Douglass with a combined weight of 19.07

What a junior World Championship! Pierre, SD rolled out the red carpet for this year’s Junior World Championship and all our Junior Qualifiers with our annual Presidents and leadership conference.

We had 24 states represented at this years JWC with some of the top Junior anglers coming and competing for the title of the 2025 Junior World Champions.

For the past few years our members have asked to bring the annual event to a renowned smallmouth fishery and what a better place than Lake Oahe, in Pierre, SD making this truly a family vacation being right down the road from Mount Rushmore and the historic Black Hills of SD. Not a single team asked, would deny a second trip back to Lake Oahe. Every team and their boat captains enjoyed the experience greatly.

With running our Junior World Championship modeled after the adult Bass Federations divisional format, it greatly enhances the possibilities and makes it possible for the top divisional team from every division to make it to the Championship Day. Cutting the field to the top 15 teams from the first 2 days of competition.

Our 2025 Junior World Championship team came to the scales on day 1 with 10 pounds and 3 ounces placing them in 13^th place overall and leading their division. The Maine Junior anglers, John (JT) Cross and partner Jake Paradis won their berth to the 2025 JWC through the Maine TBF junior program.

On day 2 with 11 pounds and 6 ounces would prove the Maine Junior Anglers would hold their divisional lead, finishing in 5^th place for day 2 securing them a spot in the championship final day. With a 5^th place overall finish on the first two days weighing in with 2 days weights at 21 pounds and 9 ounces. All weights zero for the final day, may the best team win. The crowds stood by cheering on their top teams for the final day. A little different weather had emerged with cooler temps in the AM hours and stronger winds proved tougher conditions for the top 15 teams. A six thousand-dollar scholarship on the line for the first-place team, 3K per angler, who will make the top spot? Teams all checked in and bags coming to the scales, the top team and honors went to JT Cross and Jake Paradis topping the scales at 12 pounds and 3 ounces. Not only did the Maine Anglers claim day 3 but it secured them with the title of the 2025 Junior World Champions. Congratulations to JT Cross and Jake Paradis on your great performance on Lake Oahe in Pierre, SD.

Second Place overall representing Central IA Junior Anglers was Walter Louk and partner Leon Pauley. The IA Junior anglers started day one with a 6^th place finish weighing in at 11 pounds and 3 ounces. This put them in the lead for their division and day 2 proved a little tougher for this team weighing in at 9 pounds and 9 ounces with a 9^th place finish for 2 days weights at 20 pounds 12 ounces.

The second-place team from Iowa Walter Louk and Leon Pauley walked away with a sizable scholarship as well, winning a 2k dollar scholarship to be split at 1k per angler.

3^rd place team from North Louisiana Caden Culpepper and John Hollis Robinson Started the week off with a 10-pound 3 ounce on day 1 & on day 2 with a two-day weight of 20 pounds 6 ounces. The third-place team representing the central division win the third-place honors plus a 1K scholarship split $500 per angler.

4^th place weighing in at 10 pounds and 14 ounces with a $500 scholarship goes to Jaxon Littlejohn and Landen Anderson from Oklahoma representing Oklahoma Jr Fishing. The pair started day 1 off with a bang weighing in at 12 pounds and 13 ounces. Day 2 would prove to be just as strong with a first-place finish weighing in 12 pounds and 4 ounces giving the team the divisional championship and sending them into the final day with a 25 pound-01-ounce, 2-day total.

4^th place through 15^th place all win a $500 scholarship, $250. Per each angler. Congratulations to our top 15 teams and all of our 2025 qualified Junior Anglers.

LIVE!

LIVE  Weigh in July 30-Aug 1, 2025 at 2:00pm CT.  Lake Oahe, Pierre, SD

For LIVE feeds &  Daily Results CLICK HERE