Allen Boyd

Fishing was tough on Patoka Lake, in Jasper, Ind., for these 72 TBF anglers; rough might be an understatement.  Through highs and lows, Boyd stayed consistent to seal the deal and win the championship.   Michigan fought hard to defend their title and came out on top, making them 3 -time Northern Division State Team Champions.  They’ve all battled it out to be called champions and advance to the 2011 Federation National Championship.  Today, 12 anglers advance, the top two from each state, to compete for over a quarter of a million in cash and prizes, and a chance to “Live the Dream” on the FLW Pro circuit for a year with use of a wrapped Chevrolet truck and Ranger Boat and all entries paid.           

Overall winner, Allen Boyd, from Salem, Ind., caught two fish weighing 4lb 12ounces making his three day total 32lb 11ounces.  Boyd fished shallow water flippin’ tubes and casting chigger craws, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and a couple of crankbaits.  “I fished hard and I fished super, super shallow, between 6inch to a foot deep.”  Boyd covered a lot of water in two small areas.  “The two areas were pretty close to each other and I just kept moving through the same water flippin’ the stump real shallow.”  Boyd also had a tough day on the water though he came out on top.  “I only caught two fish today, just doing a lot of what I’ve done the whole tournament.  But, the first two days when the sun got high they went super shallow. Today, we were dealing with some cloud cover and they spread out and weren’t as tied to the shallow covering; I did more scouting the flats.”  This

Don Watts

is Boyd’s first time to qualify for nationals.  “I haven’t really thought about it too much; I’m excited my two year old was here to see this.”    

Finishing second overall and first in the state of Michigan was Don Watts, from Gowen, Mich.  Watts brought in two fish today weighing 5lb 15ounces making his tournament total 20lb 8ounces.  Watts caught his fish using Poor Boy’s Baits in the same areas he did the first day.  “I just want to thank Poor Boy’s Baits, Wave Spin Reels and BP,” Watts said.  Watts came up empty on the second day, but was able to find enough to make it happen.  “Again, fishing was tough; I couldn’t find them yesterday, but today they replenished in the same spots they were the first day,” Watts said.  For Watts, this is not only his first time to qualify for nationals but also his first time to make it to a divisional tournament.  “This is my first experience at both levels and it’s an awesome time; nationals are going to be a lot of fun.” 

The very last angler to cross the stage today, Mike Johnson, from LaCrosse, Wisc., knocked out Don Watts for the tournament big bass with a 5lb 10ounce beauty to win the $500 big bass pot. 

The 2010 Division Champions are as follows: (boater, co-angler) Michigan; Don Watts-20lb 8ounces, Kendall Ulsh-15lb 10ounces; Indiana; Allen Boyd-32lb 11ounces, Matt Bell-19lb 14ounces; Ohio; Dean Hill-15lb 10ounces, Jason Myers-12lb 14ounces; Minnesota; Alexander Orme-20lb, Scott Bonnema-16lb 2ounces; Illinois; Andy Wegner-15lb, Andy Seaton-9lb 1ounce; Wisconsin; Mike Johnson-15lb 1ounce, James Klass-12lb 3ounces. 

2011 TBF National Championship Contenders

For the State Team Champions of Michigan the bragging rights keep piling on.  This is their 3^rd division championship win in a row.  They caught 17 fish weighing 47lb today making their tournament total 127lb 8ounces.  “It was a total team effort this year,” Michigan TBF President, Jeff Cox, said.  “We came together and just fished as a team.” 

Michigan’s team strategy is quite different than the other teams. “We don’t have team meetings.  Everyone just goes out there pre-fishes, finds their own fish and then fishes as hard as they can.”  For them, I think the motto “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” sums it all up.  “At the end of the day each team member’s efforts is what defines us; it’s worked for three years straight and next year we’ll see if it will work four.”

Michigan State Team

 Indiana State team battled until the end but came up less than 4lbs short.  They caught 14 fish weighing 42lb 13ounces

Tough fishing continues as TBF anglers struggle to find fish on Patoka Lake, in Jasper, Ind., on day two of the 2010 Northern Division Championship.  Home state advantage showed its face today as the Indiana TBF rose above their competition in the fight to name the Northern Division Champions.  Though fishing was rough some were consist, while others fought but came up empty.  Anything can happen tomorrow and these TBF anglers are going to lay it all on the line to make sure that it does.  As the final day decides who will be called champions and who will advance to the 2011 Federation National Championship.                  

Allen Boyd

Allen Boyd, from Salem, Ind., came from behind with another limit of bass to make a mighty leap and seize the lead from yesterday’s leader.  Boyd is the only angler to catch two limits both days.  Today, he weighed in 15lb 12ounces to make his tournament total 27lb 15ounces.  “Fishing was pretty much the same as yesterday for me; I fished hard all day,” Boyd said.  Boyd has never qualified for nationals before and he’s just one day away from accomplishing just that.  “It would be an honor; just awesome.  Honestly, I’m not thinking about the weigh-in or nationals yet, just tomorrow and making it happen out on that water.”  As the other TBF anglers are struggling, Boyd has seemed to find quite a niche.  When asked for his secrets Boyd pauses and simply responds, “Tomorrow, no secrets ‘til tomorrow.”  Indeed, tomorrow we will see if he can hold on to his lead, the championship title and all its glory. 

Yesterday’s tournament leader, Don Watts, from Gowen, Mich., dropped to second overall with a total weight of 14lb 9ounces.  Watts wasn’t able to find them today, but he still has a 3lb 10ounce lead for the Michigan State team keeping him in contention to qualify for nationals.  “Really it was tough for everyone but the leader; the fish just weren’t there,” Watts said.  Watts lost one bite and struggled to find bites the rest the day.  “I lost one keeper around 9am and I couldn’t find another bite after that.”         

Indiana State team is not going down without a fight; they made a push today to take the lead away from the repeat champions, Michigan TBF.  Indiana brought in 15 fish weighing 41lb 10ounces making their tournament total 82lb 1ounce.  Michigan caught 12 fish today weighing 31lb 5ounces bringing their tournament total to 80lb 8ounces.  In third, is the state team of Ohio who caught 12 fish weighing 27lb 12ounces making their total 60lb 4ounces.  Currently in fourth, Minnesota TBF also caught 12 fish with a day two weight of 30lb 3ounces making their tournament total 57lb 13ounces. Illinois is in fifth with seven fish weighing 16lb 11ounces making their total 43lb 15ounces and Wisconsin is in sixth with six that weighed 14lb 13ounces making their total of 40lb 2ounces.  

TBF anglers hope Patoka eases up on them tomorrow.  The final day will prove to be an exciting event for the anglers who will advance.  Those 12 will get the opportunity to compete for over a quarter of a million in cash and prizes and a chance to the “Live the Dream” on the FLW Pro circuit with the use of a wrapped Chevrolet and Ranger Boat and all entry-fee’s paid.    Despite the tough waters, there’s still a lot on the line and a lot to prove for these state champions as the 2010 Northern Division Championship comes to a close, tomorrow, on Lake Patoka in Jasper, Ind. 

Full results can be found on our results page.