Midweek Bass Anglers of Arizona Publication
Bass Bites
October 2024, Lake Pleasant
The tournament showcased a diverse range of techniques, with successful teams making strategic adjustments throughout the day. While specific strategies varied, a few general patterns emerged among the top 6 teams:
September 2024 Roosevelt Lake
The Roosevelt Lake tournament was a challenging but rewarding day for the participating anglers, with a variety of techniques and strategies producing solid results across the board. Topwater baits like buzzbaits and frogs proved effective early in the morning, but as the day wore on, most teams found success by transitioning to deeper water and using finesse techniques like drop shots and Texas rigs.
Alan Wacker and Bryan Colby took first place
August 2024 Saguaro
The recent tournament showcased some impressive catches and skilled angling at its finest. Below is a detailed breakdown of the top performers, their strategies, and the baits they used to land their catches.
June 2024 Lake Pleasant
une 2024 Lake Pleasant Tournament Summary
Location: Lake Pleasant, Arizona
Date: June 19, 2024
Overview:
The June 2024 Lake Pleasant Tournament was a thrilling event that showcased the skills and perseverance of the participating anglers. Clear skies and warm temperatures created ideal conditions for competitive fishing over the half day event.
Winners:
- 1st Place**: Bryan Colby and Tom Atherton
- Total Bag**: 9.37 lbs
- Big Fish**: 4.13 lbs
May 2024 Lake Alamo
The recent tournament at Alamo Lake was a huge success, showcasing the skill and dedication of all participants. Manny Madrid and Bob Cooley took first place with a total weight of 17.61 lbs, catching fish on a variety of baits, including spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and frogs. Manny's biggest fish, weighing 3.90 lbs, was caught just an hour before weigh-in. Their strategy involved focusing on the river and capitalizing on the shad spawn early in the morning.
April 2024 Lake Mohave
Event Overview: The Midweek Bass Club's recent tournament at Lake Mohave showcased a transformation in the lake's reputation, largely due to the introduction of smallmouth bass. The tournament featured challenging conditions with varying weather but yielded impressive catches, thanks to the adaptability and expertise of the participants.
Conditions and Tactics: Anglers faced a mix of calm and windy conditions which influenced their fishing strategies. Most successful anglers adapted to the clear and deep water by focusing on smallmouth bass on beds, utilizing reaction baits like spinnerbaits and jerkbaits during windier periods. The clear water necessitated careful approach to bed fishing, with long casts and subtle techniques proving effective.
Acknowledgments: The tournament was well-received, with participants praising the organization and camaraderie within the Midweek Bass Club. Special thanks were extended to the volunteers and club members who ensured the smooth running of the event.
March 2024 Lake Pleasant
The March tournament at Lake Pleasant showcased impressive angling skills and diverse strategies among the participants. Raymond Bates and Patrick O’Malley secured the top spot with a weight of 18.66 lbs, with O'Malley showcasing adaptability and learning throughout the day despite initial navigational challenges.
Laron Porter and Steve Tinsley demonstrated efficient teamwork to secure 2nd place, utilizing crankbaits and drop shots to reel in a commendable 16.21 lbs, even landing a notable carp.
Meanwhile, Joe Michaels and Rick Harang's collaboration earned them 3rd place, with Michaels showcasing his pre-tournament prowess and bed fishing expertise, ultimately leading to a successful day on the water.
Similarly, Robert Bereiter and Mitch Vitkovich's partnership resulted in a strong showing, highlighting the importance of effective communication and flexibility in adapting to changing conditions.
Finally, Rick Torres and Keith Weidert's debut in the club yielded an impressive 8th place finish, with Torres acknowledging the learning opportunities and camaraderie fostered within the club. Overall, the tournament underscored the Midweek Bass Club's commitment to excellence and camaraderie in the pursuit of bass fishing success.
February 2024 Bartlett
Winning Team: Charlie Mackintosh and Bill Pfeifer won with a total catch of five fish weighing 13.35 lbs, including the tournament's big fish at 3.67 lbs.
Pre-Fishing and Strategy: Both Mackintosh and Pfeifer pre-fished separately and found success with bass in shallow water up the river, using jigs and drop-shot rigs.
Tournament Day Tactics: They adapted their location due to the presence of another boat, with Pfeifer catching a two-pound bass on a Margareta Mutilator drop-shot, while Mackintosh used a green pumpkin 4” Yamamoto hula grub on a ¼ ounce jig. They moved between 2-3 spots, timing catches with the fish’s feeding.
Catching and Culling: Despite early losses, they caught 9 keeper bass, culling smaller ones. Mackintosh's 3.65 lb. bass was crucial for their win.
January 2024 Martinez
The Midweek Bass Anglers completed their first tournament of the year, which was held in the swiftly moving waters of the lower Colorado River at Lake Martinez. The field was comprised of 25 boats, with the largest sack of fish being caught by Laron Porter and Joseph Edgett coming on at 25.26 pounds with a 6.06 lb. kicker!
Also, a shout out to Jeff Stone and Ernie Melcher with their 7.68 pound toad to lead the year with big fish honors. Congratulations boys!
I also wish to thank those who decided to bring their boat in order to get everyone on the water. Next month we return to Bartlett Lake, which most are very familiar with. Register for the tournament online and register early. See you soon.
This month was the annual awards banquet. We had a great turn-out and a great new venue. The award winners are listed below. And, to top that off, the raffle prizes were outstanding. We look forward to the next banquet.
I want to encourage the teams to have their photos taken after weigh-in. It only takes a minute. This month we had Jim Duel taking the photos. He actually ended up taking short videos instead of still photos