Anglers face Historically Low Water Levels for Event

Adjusting to new and changing conditions is often what separates the best anglers from the rest of the field and TBF District 7’s visit to Stockton Lake in the Ozark hills of Missouri was no exception.  A loaded field of 26 boaters and co-anglers had years of combined experience on this body of water, yet early fall water levels 7 feet below normal pool created an unfamiliar challenge for the anglers.  Participants that were used to running up one of the 3 river arms to find fresh fish were restrained by low water that made common summer runs extremely treacherous.  Compounding this challenge was the fact that warm fall temperatures had delayed the migration of shad to the backs of the creeks making the river bite unproductive. This concentrated the anglers to the main lake and limiting productive patterns available to the anglers. The remaining main lake bite was also abnormal with water levels making brush piles unproductive and putting other typical fall cover out of the water.

While the water conditions were a challenge the weather cooperated with consistent dry conditions and sunny skies for both practice and tournament days.  Highs for each day were in the low 80’s with morning lows around 50 degrees.  Winds were light and variable allowing water temps to cool off steadily from around 73 on the first day of practice to about 69 degrees on the final Sunday.  The lack of recent rain also provided good water clarity with 1–3-foot visibility around the lake.

The tournament started with Saturday’s low in the low 50’s and very light winds from the NNE.  A hazy sunrise caused by light fog greeted the boaters on their way to their first spot.  Day 1 boater results showed Brian Maloney of Missouri in first place with 5 fish for 14.04 pounds followed by Hunter Baird (Kansas) at 13.49 and Larry Stoafer (Kansas) with 11.25.  Attesting to the tough water conditions only 8 limits were weighed but Brian was able to land a 5.04-pound kicker to take home the big bass pot for the boaters.

Hunter Baird Boater Champion

Sunday dawned with light winds again that picked up only slightly throughout the day. Finishing out the 2-day event on top was Hunter Baird of Kansas with 10 fish for 24.77.  Hunter is one of our best young anglers and used a shad pattern to boat limits each day.  He followed the shad to the back of windy pockets hitting lots of spots each day with a combination of top water baits and plastic creature baits.  He would like to thank his sponsors Texoma Tackle, Whitetail Properties, Mesu Fishing and Jewel Baits.

Brian Maloney – 2nd place Boater

Finishing second overall and first in the Missouri division on the boater side was one of our most decorated anglers, Brian Maloney.  As a past champion of the BFL All-American and multiple TBF National Final qualifier it was inevitable that he would be a top contender in this event.  He boated multiple keepers each day and culled his sack up to a total of 23.03 pounds.  He used a combination of top water baits early to fill his limit then reverted to his trusty jig to add weight and cement his trip to the 2023 TBF National Championship. Robert Hime led the final day results with 13.02 but it was not enough to crack the top 5 even with his big bass of 4.33 pounds.

Rounding out the top boater finishers were Larry Stoafer (Kansas) 21.58, Craig Wolf (Kansas) 19.95 and Craig Torkleson (Kansas) 18.71 and Jeremey Montgomery (Kansas) 17.85.  Each angler used a combination of top water baits, jigs and soft plastics to boat their limits.  Other anglers having strong finishes were Robert Hime with a final day limit of 13.02, anchored by the big bass of 4.33 pounds.

Billy Ray, Co-angler Champion

Co-anglers face a difficult challenge in these events with varying patterns and a tough bite adding to the normal challenge. This year’s event also included a loaded field of strong anglers including several divisional and national qualifiers.  Day one co-anglers were led by John Kelley (Missouri) with 13.33 pounds, Don Glick (Kansas) at 7.96; Billy Ray (Missouri) with 6.03. John also landed the big bass on the co-angler side out of a brush pile that weighed 4.97.  While some angler’s bites faded, Billy Ray found a way to hold on with a strong day 2 ending with a total of 17.84.  Billy had an amazing year, winning both the Missouri TBF Co-Angler of the Year along with the state’s qualifying slot for the 2023 TBF National Semi-Final.  He would like to acknowledge the great boaters he had (Larry Stoafer and Hunter Baird) that put him in position to use both a top-water bait and shaky head to land his keepers.

Don Glick 2nd place co-angler

Finishing second overall and first in the Kansas division was Don Glick who boated 8 keepers for a total of 16.23. Finishing 3^rd overall was one of Missouri’s newest anglers (High School Anglers) Brent Ryan with 13.36.  Rounding out the top 5 were John Kelley (Missouri) with 13.33 and Paul Huse (Missouri) with 9.21.  Each of these anglers showed amazing adaptability, fishing tough conditions behind some of the best anglers in the Ozark area.

The Missouri TBF would like to thank all the participants for their cooperation and support at this event.  We would also like to thank our event venue, Orleans Trail Resort, who provided a great meeting location and lodging but also a fantastic meal for the attendees on Friday night.  We also appreciate the support of our sponsors Ranger Boats, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, Strike King, Lews and Wholesale Batteries.  Finally, we would like to thank the anglers and their families who support the Missouri TBF and the Kansas TBF.  We were specifically encouraged by the young anglers that attended this event along with the Missouri TBF Junior Anglers who held their fall event in conjunction with the TBF National Semi-Final. The sportsmanship shown by the participants set a great example for these new participants and goes a long way to helping both the Missouri and Kansas TBF continue to grow.

Hunter Baird Boater Champion

Brian Maloney – 2nd place Boater

Billy Ray, Co-angler Champion

Don Glick 2nd place co-angler

Larry Stoafer Boater 3rd place

Craig Wolfe Boater 4th place

Craig Torkleson Boater 5th place

Brent Ryan 3rd place co-angler

John Kelley Co-angler 4th place

Paul Huse Co-angler 5th place

Brian Maloney Boater Big Bass Day 1

John Kelley Co-angler big bass Day 1

Robert Hime Boater Big Bass Day 2

Kyle Klein Co-angler Big Bass Day 2

Orofino, Idaho-Dworshak Reservoir-October 1-2, 2022.  Idaho hosted the District 19 2022 Semi-Final Championship which is now in the books.  Some amazing fish were caught and memories made by all TBF Anglers.  Pre-fish weather had a good solid rain Thursday prior with the remaining days through the tournament in the mid-70’s with some clouds on Saturday and clear on Sunday.  Water temps were approximately 60 degrees plus.  The Best Western Lodge at Rivers Edge in Orofino was the site for the registration, banquet and Day One pairing announcements.  The Best Western provided a terrific taco Bar to start off the weekend.  There was a lot of comraderies and catching up between the two States Anglers.

Dworshak Dam is on the North Fork of the Clearwater River in north central Idaho about four miles northwest of Orofino and impounds the Dworshak Reservoir which is 54 miles long.  With a height of 717 feet, Dworshak is the third tallest dam in the U.S. and the tallest straight-axis concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere.  Smallmouth in the reservoir feed on kokanee almost exclusively and as a result, they are nomadic and often very deep. The reservoir holds Idaho’s largest small mouth record at 9.72 lbs.

The end of Saturdays weigh-in, found Montana Boater angler, Yeej Moua, firmly in first place with a weight of 22.71lbs. followed by Idaho Angler, Loren Torok in 2^nd with 17.82lbs. and ID angler, Denton Crofts, close behind at 3^rd with 16.76lbs.  However, ID Boater Keith Hoffman took the Big Fish for the day with his wopper 7.77lb. smallie weighing his bag in at 15.24lbs.

The Co-Anglers were led by Idaho High School Qualifier Angler, Kyle Luis, with a respectable weight of 12.64lbs. with a 3.75lb. big fish.  He was closely followed by ID Angler Chris Felty weighing 11.91lbs with a 3.31lb. big fish and in 3^rd place, another ID High School Qualifier, Dallon Hoskins,  with 11.26lbs. and weighing the Day One Co-Angler Big Fish at 3.84lbs.

With Day Two weigh-in, Boater Yeej Moua, did not disappoint with a 2^nd day bag at 28.20 for a total weekend weight of 50.91lbs.  Montana Boater, Karl Okerman, did his best by bringing in the 2^nd largest Day Two weight at 25.48lbs. with a 7.92lb. big fish, finishing with a 2 day total at 41.83lbs. Not to be outdone, Idaho Boater (Big Fish) Loren Torok weighed in the Two Day tournament winning Big Fish at 8.43lbs. and placed 3^rd overall with a total 2-day weight of 35.42lbs.

On the Co-Angler side, Idaho’s Tony Jennings blasted in with a total 2 day weight of 17.78lbs. and weighing a 6.15lb. big fish finishing the tournament with total winning weight of 26.37lbs. Idaho High School Qualifier, Kyle Luis, sat solidly in 2^nd place with a total 2 day winning weight of 20.31lbs.  Mr. Consistent, Montana Co-Angler, Jason Anderson finished 3^rd overall with a winning weight of 19.23lbs. and is headed to TBF Nationals next spring.

Congratulations to the Boater and Co-anglers headed to TBF Nationals Spring 2023.  Montana will be sending Boater Yeej Moua and Co-Angler Jason Anderson.  Idaho is sending Boater Loren Torok and Co-Angler Tony Jennings to represent at Nationals.  Loren is a returnee having fished Nationals twice as a boater and once as a Co-Angler.  Justin Soppe was the top finishing Ranger Boat owner and will receive the $250 Ranger contingency bonus.

Yeej Moua

Jason Anderson

Loren Torok

Tony Jennings

A big shout out to Derick and Susan Rader of Raider Baits for helping out with the weigh-in.  And “Thank You” goes out to volunteers Bobbie, Russ and Susie Littlefield, Monica Springer, Rodney Ryza and Shane Torok.  And to the entire field of TBF Anglers, “Great Job” for qualifying to fish the 2022 ID-MT Semi-Final Championship.  We will see you next time!

The Bass Federation (TBF), 2022 District 4 National Semi-Finals tournament was held 8-9 October 2022, at Lake Logan Martin, Lincoln’s Landing, Lincoln, AL.  Alabama Bass Federation and The City of Lincoln hosted the event.  Anglers/Co-Anglers from Alabama and Mississippi Federations participated in the tournament. One angler and co-angler from each State Federation will qualify for the 2023 TBF National Championship Tournament which is to be held during the spring of 2023.

Forecast weather conditions for the tournament were favorable, Day 1 the winds were stronger the anticipated which may have affected tournament participates; however, the conditions on Day 2 were much better.

At the closing of the scales following tournament competition, angler Nathan Sherbet of Alabama with a two-day total weight of 25.14 claimed First PLace. Keith Glasgow of Alabama with a weight of 22.15 finished second, in third was Walter Orr of Alabama with 21.05. Rusty Burroughs of Alabama with 20.03 was fourth and rounding out the top five of the anglers was Brain Roszell of Alabama with 18.14.

Of the Co-Anglers, Luke Coleman of Alabama with a weight of 15.10 earned Co-Angler First Place.  Nick Glenn of Alabama with a weight of 15.06 was second Ethan Thyler Mood of Mississippi was third with 14.07. Blake Duncan of Mississippi with 14.01 was fourth and rounding out the top five of the co-anglers was Terry Pinkard of Alabama with 13.04.

Rocky Rockhill of Alabama caught Day 1 big fish of the anglers with a weight of 5.07   Co-Angler Joshua Jones had Co-Angler big fish of Day 1 with a weight of 3.09.  Day 2 big fish of the angler division was caught by Nathan Sherbet with a weight of 4.10 and John Ware of the co-angler division had big fish weight with 3.09.

Nathan Sherbet

Sam Husley

Luke Coleman

Ethan Thyler Moody

Congratulations to Anglers Nathan Sherbet of Alabama and Sam Husley of Mississippi for the qualification to Advance to the 2023 TBF National Championship Tournament.  Of the Co-Anglers, Luke Coleman of Alabama and Ethan Thyler Moody of Mississippi earned the co-angler berths at the 2023 National Championship Tournament.

Stephen Way and Dillon Robertshaw return to Colorado to claim District 21 National Semi-Final Championship

Stephen Way returned to a very stingy Pueblo Reservoir in Colorado on October 1^st and 2^nd 2022, after recently moving out of state to claim the District 21 National Semi-Final Championship.   Stephen won the event through his two-day consistency, bringing to the scales 10 fish weighing 18.98 lbs.  He was the only participant from the front or the back of the boat to weigh 5 fish limits both days.  When asked after day 2 he stated, “I caught the first four on an A-rig and the fifth keeper on a Bitsy bug jig.”  Stephen has been a boat captain for two of the last three TBF Jr. World Championship teams and now it is his turn to compete on the national stage.  What a send off from the state of Colorado, good luck Stephen at the TBF National Championship!

On the co-angler side, it was made known on day one who wanted it most.  With an impressive 5 fish limit anchored by a 4.75 lb. largemouth, Dillon Robertshaw, he wanted it most.  Dillon recently moved to Missouri with his family this year and made the trip back with outgoing CTBF President Rod Allen to fish this TBF event in Colorado as a co-angler.  Dillon is no stranger to Pueblo reservoir, and it showed.  His two-day weight of 16.51 lbs. was too much for anyone else to overcome.  Dillon’s response when asked what he caught his fish on, “5-inch green pumpkin Yamamoto hula grub on a stand-up football head.”  Dillon has shown he can compete on the national stage in High School, and we wish him all the best at the TBF National Championship.  Wherever the 2023 TBF National Championship is to be held, Colorado is sending two absolute hammers to compete!    

D21 Ranger Bonus winner – Jerod Rosten