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

The morning started off a crisp 45 degrees making for cold morning run with fog created by 31 rooster tails. At weigh-in, Delaware boater Brian Barnes came away with the lead with 10.81 pounds anchored by a 3.77 big fish. But on his tail were fellow Delaware boaters Andy Kent with 10.31 pounds, Amos Dixion with 9.80 pounds and Roger Shirkey Sr with 9.74 pounds.

Morning of day 2 came with warmer temps at 58 degrees and a high around 80 changing the bite for most of the field showing at weigh in with a few of the leaders coming in with only one fish.

Two boaters stayed on track. DC boater Pete Yanni backed up his day 1 weight of 9.77 pounds with 10.20 pounds, giving him a two-day total of 19.97 pounds making him the qualifier for DC sending him to his fourth national championship and giving him a 2nd place finish.

Delaware boater Roger Shirkey came to the scales with big bag of the tournament with 11.76 pounds backing up his day 1 total of 9.74 pounds giving him a two-day total of 21.50 pounds.

Ranger cup winner was Brian Barnes with a two-day total of 12.76 pounds. For full results and photos CLICK HERE

Top 5 boaters: Brock Belik, Tyler Darling, Zane Ridpath, Marshall Halverson, Jordan Hirt

Top 5 co-anglers: Dennis Hanzlik, Jefferson Lehman, Brian Forcier, Harvey Miller, Chad Garton

We had a great weekend on Lake Francis Case. Day one we launched with beautiful weather. The boaters and co-anglers said that the fishing was tough but we had some decent bags day one. Day two we launched and the rain hit, but ended the day with hot sunny weather. The fishing was tough but these guys crushed it! Big Bass of the weekend was 6.25 lbs brought in on day two by a co-angler. Overall the boaters brought in 279.97 lbs and co-anglers brought in 181.16. For a tough weekend on the water they brought in 461.13 lbs of bass. For full results and more photos CLICK HERE

The 2022 NSF was contested at Lake Champlain out of the Ticonderoga New York ramp.  22 Boaters and 22 Co-anglers competed for the chance to represent their home state at the TBF National tournament next spring.  The tournament pairings meeting was held at The Knights of Columbus in Ticonderoga.  After a pizza dinner the rules were gone over, and the anglers were paired for day one on to this year’s District 16 TBF National Semi-Final.

Day one of the tournament the boats launched onto the water with light winds and clear skies.  The light chop made for good running as several boats headed towards Plattsburg and the Inland Sea area. At the day one weigh-in Tom Waltz of the Vermont Bass Federation took the lead with a 17.61 LB bag of fish.  Dave McNary from Massachusetts Bass Federation came in with a nice bag of Largies that weighed 17.37 Lbs.  That left Tom Waltz with a .24-ounce lead over Dave.  Third place was Jacob Swanson from MBF with 16.59.  Fourth was Peter Bradley from MBF with 15.91.  Fifth place was Chris Adams from VBF with 13.63.  On the Co-Angler side Charlie Hinrick, a HAS from the MBF took the day one lead with 15.16 Lbs. Second was Will Doud-Martin from VBF with 14.41 Lbs. Third was Chye Khoo from MBF with 14.20 Lbs.  Fourth place was Jim Mitchell from MBF with 11.63 and fifth was Nick Frumkin from MBF with 10.94.

Day two the weather was the same as it was on day one.  Bright skies, and light winds also allowing the anglers to make the 60-mile run to Plattsburg and the Inland Sea area. In the Boater division Tom Waltz from VBF brought in 15.80 pounds to win the tournament.  Tom had a total weight of 33.41 LBS. Tom made the run north! Second Place from MBF was Peter Bradley with day two big bag 17.35LBS, giving him 33.25 LBS for two days.  Third place was Dave McNary with 12.80 on day 2 and a total of 30.17.  Dave also took the Ranger Cup for this event!  Fourth place went to VBF’s Chris Adams with 15.43 LBS and a total of 29.06 LBS. Fifth place went to Mike Morrissey of MBF with 14.57 LBS and a total of 27.36LBS.

On the Co-Angler side First place went to Chye Khoo from the MBF with 13.83 LBS and total of 28.03LBS.  Second place went to HSA MBF’s Charlie Hinrichs with 10.66 and a total of 25.82.  Third was VBF’s Will Doud-Martin 10.53 and a total of 24.94 LBS. Fourth was MBF’s Peter Frumkin with one day big bag of the tournament for the Co-Anglers 15.99 LBS and a total of 23.34 LBS. Fifth place went to VBF’s HSA Gavin Rushford with 13.88 LBS and a total of 28.03 LBS.

Congratulations to VBF’s Tom Waltz and Will Doud-Martin and MBF Peter Bradley and Chye  Khoo who will represent their state at the TBF National Championship in 2023!

Congratulations to all that competed and to those that won!  Great tournament and hope to see you all there next year! For full results and more photos CLICK HERE