Russell, Ks: Fifty-four anglers representing the Kansas and Missouri Bass Federations converged on Wilson Lake in central Kansas the weekend of 2-3 October 2021 to compete in The Bass Federation District 7 National Semifinals tournament. Anglers were competing for cash payouts and the right to advance to The Bass Federation 2022 National Championship tournament. When the smoke cleared from a very competitive event six Kansas anglers stood atop the leader board. Chris Brimager’s two-day total of 30.76 nudged out Chad Schmidt’s two-day total of 30.72 by .04 of a pound to take top honors and advance him to the national semifinals. Chris’s major day-two pattern adjustment from shallow moving baits to deep dragging paid off with the win. Brad Tyer finished seventh overall with 21.93 topping Missouri’s Brian Maloney by a little over a pound to qualify for the national championship. This is Chris’s and Brad’s first national championship qualification.

Ranger Federation Bonus winner – Chris Brimager

From left to right: District 7 national semifinal champion Chris Brimager, 2nd place Chad Schmidt, 3rd place Hunter Baird, 4th place Jason Benjamin, 5th place Tim Merkh

From left to right: District 7 national semifinal co-angler champion Gary Martin, 2nd place Ryder Mains, 3rd place Mason Chapman, 4th place Billy Ray, 5th place Paul Huse

From left to right: first time Kansas National Championship Qualifiers co-angler Ryder Mains and Chris Brimager

From left to right: first time Missouri National Championship Qualifiers Brad Tyer and co-angler Gary Martin

The TBF District 5, Louisiana/Texas Semi-final was held out of San Miguel State Park at Toledo Bend Reservoir on September 25^th-26^th 2021 that featured low water level and moderate temperatures which are not normal for this time in late September. However, it did open the door for local Louisiana boater, Josh Moore, who lives near the lake, to have the lead in Day 1 with 14.48 pounds and Texas Boater, Zack Fogle trailing in second with 13.38 pounds. Day 1 Co-angler from Texas, Dustin Glaze, lead with 8.05 pounds while Louisiana Co-angler, Frank Ducote was holding 2^nd place with 4.80 pounds.

After the second day with less winds James Biggs brought in a 17.77 pound sack, which sealed the envelope for the 1^st place overall win and to the national championship for the Texas side. Josh Moore finished 3rd place overall spot by hauling in a 3.57 pound bag for day 2 to give himself 18.05 pound total which will send him to the national championship for the Louisiana side.

Texas Co-angler Jerry Biggs came to the scales with 7.55 pounds that will send him to the National Championship and Louisiana Co-angler Frank Ducote brought a 8.17pound sack to send him to the National Championship as well.

Ranger Federation Bonus winner – Colt Farris

Lake Winnipesaukee really showed out for District 17 National Semi-Finals. George Cooper of Maine started things off with a bang weighing a 5.60 lbs. smallmouth! George had everyone’s attention 17.40 lbs. bag which had him sleeping on a 1 lbs. lead heading into day 2. Not letting the host state down was John Levesque who crushed them on day 2 with a 20.42 which made up the 1 lbs he trailed by heading into the day and won the boater side by more than 7 lbs.

The co-angler side was a battle of ounces in the end but not after day 1. Andy Duffy of NH put a 15.60 bag together and edged Jeff Perron by 1 pound when day 1 concluded. Unfortunately, Andy’s big day 1 bag was not enough to hold off the rest of the co-anglers. When the scales closed on day 2 it was consistency that won. Peter Owen put back to back 12+ pounds bags together to take the title. His 2 day total would have been enough to finish 8^th in the boater ranks.

Congrats and good luck to New Hampshire and Maine’s national qualifiers.

Fishing was at its toughest this week at the 2021 District 12 WV/VA National Semi-Finals on Sutton Lake in WV. Coming off a full moon and blue bird skies, it was really tough to put a together a pattern. The locals said fishing hasn’t been good since heavy rains and lake flooding earlier this year.

Fishermen said “we were catching lots of small fish”. Out of 114 fishermen, there was only 226 bass caught, weighing an average of 1.26 lbs. We only had 1 fisherman that had a limit of bass for two days and 8 fishermen that caught over 5 bass in two days.

Sutton Lake has been one of the hottest fisheries in WV when it was chosen in 2020 to host this year’s event. Hope to see better fishing in WV in 2023.