Tough conditions at the District 12 Semi-National on the Mon River in Fairmont, WV this weekend!

Ideally, September is not the best time to bass fish in West Virginia waters but given the Mon River was blown out with high water just 3 weeks earlier made it more difficult.

The water was stained, and the water temperature dropped 6 degrees from official practice to the actual tournament days.

To make things worse, we experienced a 2-hour fog delay on Saturday (with fishermen losing the early morning bite) and had rainy, wet conditions on Sunday morning.

Only 3 fishermen had limits both tournament days (out of 76 anglers).

Congratulations to Chad Brinegar and Rick Mills for being the top 2 boaters and Trey Anderson and Chris Mills being the top 2 co-anglers and moving on to next year’s National Championship.

Idaho and Montana individuals qualified to fish the 2023 Semi-Final on Noxon Reservoir, September 23-24.  Idaho came with 15 pairs (15 Boaters and 15 Co-Anglers), Montana had 16 pairs (16 Boaters and 16 Co-Anglers).

Although we had some windy, rainy and cooling weather during the pre-fish period by tournament time, the weather cleared and we had a great weekend with temperatures ranging from mid-40’s to mid-70’s, very comfortable fishing conditions and the Bass seemed to like it also.  Bass were caught ranging up to the 6 lbs. and daily limits in the 18+ lb. range.

All had a great time beginning with a Pulled Pork BBQ banquet on Friday evening.

Top Boater overall and Montana TBF Championship Qualifier for the 2^nd year in a row, Yeej (Yang) Moua with a 2-day combined weight of 36.57 lbs.

Top Co-Angler overall and Montana TBF Championship Qualifier, Mark Hilyer with a 2-day combined weight of 29.67 lbs.

Top Boater for Idaho, Rick Funk, finished 2^nd overall with a weight of 33.11 lbs.

Top Co-Angler for Idaho, Daniel Dobransky, finished 3^rd overall with a total weight of 25.01 lbs.

Wow, what a hot one! Only one 5-bass limit over two days! Temperatures averaged around 105-110
degrees and wind battered the shores of Wilson Reservoir, Kansas for much of practice and the
tournament days for the 2023 TBF District 21 National Semi-Finals. Jeremy Fuentes from New Mexico
weighed in 13.02 lbs. on Day 1 to take a lead on the boater side and followed it up with 6.18 lbs. on Day
2 for a total of 19.20 lbs. On the Co-Angler side, Tim McClintick from Colorado weighed in 8.77 lbs. on
Day 1 and 6.66 lbs. on Day 2 for a total of 15.43 lbs. They would not look back and went on to claim the
Boater and Co-Angler 2023 District 21 Champion titles. Both will be moving on to the 2024 TBF
National Championship.
Joining them will be the top boater from Colorado, Ron Geibel with a 2-Day total of 16.23 lbs.
and top Co-Angler from New Mexico, Mike Estrada with a 2-Day total of 12.10 lbs.
During the tournament, water temperatures hovered at 80-82 degrees.
A combined 105 largemouth and smallmouth bass for a total weight of 273.96 lbs. were brought
to the scales. 100 % of them were released alive and well to be fished for again…
A very special thank you to the Colorado Junior Bass Club President Brandon Martinez and his
wife and CJBC Treasurer, Jessica Holcomb for all there assistance and hard work during this
event!!! They are a true class act! Without them this event would not have been successful.
CTBF would like to thank Meridy’s Restaurant and Lounge, Days Inn-Russell, KS, and Kansas
Parks and Wildlife for their hospitality.