Our congratulations go out to Becky & Aaron David on the birth of their new son, Alexander Joseph, The new Bassn' Champ was born this past Sunday afternoon, 8/17/08, at 4:30pm.

     No other particulars are available at this time although I expect we will get a complete update after our Mendota tournament. Once again, Congratulations! 

 The birds are singing, the sun is shinning, and the Bass are ready to come to the beds…if they can find them! At present, the lake is 10 ft. high and falling slowly, which is good, except that the lake is also muddy, very muddy, all 27 miles of it, and there is no chance of it clearing up any time soon. Compare these pictures with those in the earlier article.
 
I drove up stream of the lake some 40 miles (as the river runs) on Sunday to see what was coming down stream, It wasn’t pretty. The Illinois River is running at about 10 ft. right now which is well below flood stage. However, the river is usually running at around 3 to 4 ft. The kicker is that the river is as muddy as the lake...and as I said, that is 40 miles upstream.
 
We have made this trip each spring for about 20 years now, and it is hard to remember any two years being exactly like one another. This year will be no exception. In fact it will be unlike any preceding year. Although all of this sounds very bad, there is some good to consider.

The lake level will be good. The water will be in the brush line but not so far into the brush that we can’t get at the fish. Most of our very best years have been when the Lake was 7 to 10 ft high. Lower than that and there isn’t much shoreline cover. More and the surface area of the lake increases too much and the water penetrates far back into the trees where boats can’t go. 

Then, the water temps are rising, but not too fast. The bass will still want to come to the shore and when the water temps hit 57 & 58 degrees. When that happens, the Bass will be on the move and feeding up before the spawn. With so much water coming into the lake we will be able to find the right temps somewhere.

Then there are the big creek arms. Burnt Cabin, Down Hill, Snake Creek, and Sisemore should be much clearer than the main body of the lake. In addition, these areas will have cleaner water running into them if the big rains will stay away for awhile.

The last factor that could help is the water color. These fish are usually sight feeders but that isn’t going to happen anytime soon for them. So, they are going to have to strike by impulse. They will too, when the time is right, and it looks like we may be here at the right time this year.

Regardless of how good the fishing is, or isn’t, while everyone we know is thinking of getting out on the water, or doing it in snowmobile suits, we will be in short sleeves fishing in warm weather, and having a good time.

See You On The Water, Steve

Wisconsin TBF State Junior Bass Championship

Little Green Lake, just outside Markesan WI., was the site of the Wisconsin State Bass Federations', 2007 TBF State Junior Bass Championship. Clubs from across the state sent their top youth anglers to Little Green Lake this past August to compete in the championship event. 

The C & R Juniors were represented by Hunter Brusenboch, Steven Sellnow & Mitch Van Ert in the younger division (11 to 14) and Brock Barker, Adam Gross, and Nathan Hoeppner in the older division (15 to 18). Each of these competitors is to be congratulated for having made it to the State Tournament and for representing themselves and their club so well in the event.

Steven Sellnow & Mitch Van Ert did especially well taking first & second place respectively in their division. Steven now has the opportunity to fish against other Juniors from across the nation and compete for a world championship. His first place finish on Little Green Lake, with 8.39 Lbs and Big Bass of the tournament, earned him a slot at the “National Guard, Junior World Championship” to be held during August of this year, on Lake Monticello Reservoir near Jenkinsville, SC. It should be noted also that Steven not only had Big Bass for the Tournament, but his catch was the heavy stringer for the event too.

Congratulations Steven and good luck on Lake Monticello in August.

Thanks also to The Madison Fishing Expo for its efforts in presenting the Wisconsin State Bass Federation event, which is in affiliation with The Bass Federation (TBF) and The FLW Outdoors.

 Team Of The Year

The team who posts the largest over all catch based on total inches will be awarded a pair of St. Croix rods. (See official rules on 2007 Thursday Night Open poster)

Tournament Information

• Entry Fee: $ 20.00 per team

• Big Bass (optional): $ 5.00 per team

• Tournament Hours: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Registration Hours: 5:00 pm – 5:50 pm

Official Tournament Weigh In Sites 

 Determination of Winning Teams

The winning teams will be determined by total weight of all fish.Ties will be broken by the team who presents the heaviest single fish. Big Bass will be broken by the team that has the higher number of fish accepted at the weigh-in.

If ties cannot be broken in this manner, prize money will be totaled and divided between the tied teams. Payouts All Tournament Payouts will be 90% of the tournament entry fees. This payout will be divided according to the following and paid out at the conclusion of the weigh-in. Big Bass payout is 100% of all entries. 1st Place ---50% 2nd Place---30% 3rd Place---20% Tournament Rules

A team consists of one or two fishermen Competitors are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon the effort to promote fisheries conservation, clean water and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification.

Use of alcohol or illegal drugs by any competitor during the official tournament hours will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from that and all future C & R Bass affiliated tournaments. No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants, or illegal drugs shall be allowed in the boats during the official tournament hours. Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times.

All competitors must wear a Coast Guard approved chest type preserver any time the combustion engine is operating.

Only artificial bait may be used. NO "LIVE BAIT" with the exception of pork strips, rinds etc.

Every boat must have all Coast Guard safety equipment. In addition, it MUST have a live well space properly aerated to adequately maintain a live catch of bass by the fisherman using the boat.

Fishing on tournament waters is permitted anywhere that is accessible to all contestants, EXCEPT within 50 yards of another competitor’s boat which is anchored. No boat shall permit only selected anglers to fish within that 50 yard circle claimed by him.

LATE IS LATE, NO EXCUSES

Any boat arriving at the check in site that is deemed LATE by the organizers of the event will be DISQUALIFIED.

After proper recognition at the check in site, competitors will be given ample time to proceed to the weigh in site. Each two man team may present up to a six fish limit Single competitors are limited to five fish in their possession. Only largemouth and smallmouth bass at least 14" in length will be accepted. A courtesy measuring board will be provided. If a "short" fish is submitted, your team will be disqualified.

NO QUESTIONS ASKED

All fish must be alive when submitted for measurement. All judgments of "dead" shall be made solely by the tournament organizers. If a "dead" fish is submitted, it will not be counted toward that team’s catch. No replacement for such fish will be accepted.

Questions: Dave Van Ert