Snatcher Tournament Bay Lake June 4th

2/8 on Jackhammer/GOAT (Purple/Black/Blue)

The small of Nate's two smalls
(Pretty sure he weighed this one as his lunker as well)

Conditions: 

70-84℉, Mostly Sunny to Partly Cloudy, 0-5mph ESE 

Water Temp: Low 70's

The Day:

With only 6 boats and it being a Sunday, everybody was in the water in no time, and we blasted off early. We went to the spot that won the last couple of tournaments, and it was slow. I picked up a few dinks, rock bass, and hammer handles. Nate got a few small keepers on a craw tube and maybe a jig as well. He had me down 5-0 when I got my first small keeper on the KVD 1.5. I got bit off and caught a couple of dinks, pike, and rockies on a craw tube. We fished some docks. Nate got one quality 2lber and a few dinks. I got dinks and rockies on the Dinger. We went west of where we started, probably known as an altogether different bay. I picked up a couple of keepers, including my big (2/8), and some dinks, rockies, and pike. I got two pike in a row, and the skirt on my Jackhammer came off, killing the bite for me. We returned to the starting area, where I got another keeper on the Craw Tube.

We then ran some beautiful docks and a slop bay and only ran into something once we came out to the docks on the other side of the bay. Nate was getting bit on almost every dock, and I picked up a keeper out on the inside weedling on the Bagley Crank. All I got on the docks were rockies and dinks. We ran into Nate's dad, Snatcher Chuck, and he spilled the beans that he had a good bag anchored by smallies. We returned to where we started seeing fish on the docks, and I quickly picked up my limit fish. After about 15 minutes of nothing notable as Nate looked for smallies. He asked me if I knew of any areas smallies might be in. I told him about a large sand flat with reeds, so we headed there. We saw beds but no fish. Next, we went to the rock area, and Nate hit pay dirt, getting two quality smallies on a dead sticked Senko. We ran another rock area and got some rockies and dinks. We tried a couple of other areas, getting the same. We went back to where we got the smallies. I got a rock bass and about a half-pound cull with a largemouth that fell to the Dark Sleeper. We finished on a point off an Island by Rutgers, where Nate made a small cull. I had a pike-like feeling hit that didn't hook up and got a rocky. Day Over!

Results: My fish weighed 9lbs 11ozs which put me in 8th Place out of 12 anglers.

 

It was a massacre for Snatcher Chuck

First Place and Lunker went to Snatcher Chuck with 19/01 and 4/03

Second Place went to my boater Snatcher Nate with 12/13

Third Place went to Snatcher Tuma with 12/06

My Thoughts: If Nate's Plan A had worked, I think I would have been right up there, but the quality and quantity were not there on this day, so we had to scramble. Me losing that Jackhammer skirt to the pike didn't help matters.  Not having my dock-skipping game on point was an error on my part as well. One would have thought on such a nice day, the fish would have been on fire, but it was just a mediocre bite for Bay.

Grade: C, Another pound would have moved me up to 5th Place. It wouldn't surprise me if I lost the fish that would have gotten me another pound on the Jackhammer, Dark Sleeper, and Craw Tube. Any way I slice it, not getting at least 10 lbs on Bay Lake is a disappointment.

 

The Plan And Rods I'm Bringing, Bay Lake Snatchers Tournament

The Plan: I drew Snatcher Nate who finished 2nd and 1st the last two times the club has been to Bay Lake. Bay is a clear water, bass factory with mostly smaller fish. With the extended stretch of warm stable weather and full moon, I am expecting a spawn/post-spawn deal. I expect to throw the Dark Sleeper, Craw Tube, and Jackhammer a lot. 

The Goal: Beat Snatcher Tuma, the only Snatcher I have yet to best.

Rods I'm Bringing: 

7'4" H Tatula (Billy GOAT)

7'4" H Tatula (Chatter)

7' H Avid (Craw Tube)

7'H Mojo (Swim Worm)

6'10" MH Tatula (Sleeper,Jig)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Sleeper, Jig, Chatter)

6'8" M Avid (Prop Bait,topwater)

6'6"MH Veritas (Dinger)

Thoughts On The 2023 Baxter Bass Snatcher Tournaments

 

Bay Lake: May not return until after 11PM due to being down in the cities on Saturday. Hope I don't run out of energy. Hope to pre-fish it at least one time with Roger Ubl, maybe a second time with my boater. 

Tournaments Fished: 3 (12,15,18)

Best Finish: 2nd (6/2/12) Roger Ubl (Boater)

Best Limit: 15/11 (6/2/12) Roger Ubl (Boater)

Biggest Bass: 3/2 (6/2/12) Roger Ubl (Boater)

North Long: I just want to catch a limit. Haven't done that the last two times we have fished here. Also hope to pre-fish this one with Roger and maybe my boater as well.

Tournaments Fished: 3 (08,17,21) 2 Snatcher Mini-Bucks

Best Finish: 17th (8/23/08) Chuck Steinbauer (Boater)

Best Limit: 11/1 (8/23/08) Chuck Steinbauer (Boater)

Biggest Bass: 2/9 (In both 08 and 21) Chuck and Nate Steinbauer (Boaters)

Alexander: I like the lake. Will smallies be hitting topwater? I should rig up a wacky rig on a rocket bobber.

Tournaments Fished: 2 (14,19)

Best Finish: 18th Place (6/29/19) Tim Benson (Boater)

Best Limit: 10/1 (6/7/14) Chuck Johansen (Boater)
Biggest Bass: 2/3 (6/7/14) Chuck Johansen (Boater)

MN B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship Leech Lake Aug. 2-4.: I have been thinking about going to a BASS Nation State Championship for a long time, and it's probably now or never. I hope I don't get paired with guys using forward-facing and chasing smallies, but I will come prepared if I do. I pray we get favorable weather.

Tournaments Fished: 5 (09,12,14,19,21)
Best Finish: 10th Place (9/28/19) Paul Ruff (Boater)

Best Limit: 16/11 (6/30/12) Darrien Keifer (Boater)

Biggest Bass: 3/14 (6/30/12) Darrien Keifer (Boater)

Blind: I don't think there are any conflicts on Platte/Sullivan that day that will get it thrown out of the drawing. It would be nice to draw P/S to save me driving time, and I'm usually somewhat dialed in at that time of year.  I also wouldn't mind Edward, Fishtrap, Serpent, The Cullen Chain, or the Mississippi. Not so hot on Mission, Pelican, or Cedar.

The Poke: It's about time the Snatcher's returned to The Poke; it's been 7 years since we last had it on our schedule. I've never fished it in the Fall.

Tournaments Fished: 3 (08,12,16)

Best Finish: 13th Place, but only 14 guys went North for this one (8/6/16) Bill Bailey (Boater)

Best Limit: 12/8 (7/19/08) Bill Ludenia (Boater)

Biggest Bass: 3/7 (7/19/08) Bill Ludenia (Boater)

Whitefish Chain: Hopefully, it isn't windy, cold, and raining because The Chain is a fish factory. Wouldn't mind a little rain to keep boat traffic down.

Tournament Fished: 6 Snatcher Tournaments (10,12,14,16,19,21) and 1 Excel (04)

Best Finish: 10th Place (6/5/10) Chuck Steinbauer (Boater)
Best Limit: 14/02 (6/5/21) Hammer (Boater)

Biggest Bass: 3/5 (6/5/21) Hammer (Boater)

Thoughts On 2023 Snatcher's Tournaments (Tentative)

 

Sunday, June 4th, Bay Lake: This will be the fourth time the Snatchers will begin the tournament season on Bay Lake. I had a 2nd Place finish in 2012 with 15/11 fishing with Roger Ubl; In 2015, I had an 18th Place finish with 10lbs on a cold and windy day with Todd Berghuis; and in 2018, I had a 14th Place finish with a 10/01 bag fishing out of Chuck Steinbuaers boat on a rainy and windy day. Bay has never been a lake to produce giant bags, but it does kick out a lot of limits. The pre-fish I had with Roger Ubl back in 2012 was amazing with how many bass and pike we caught. Always happy to be going back to Bay Lake. I want to thank the club for voting with me to switch this one to Sunday, so I can make the tournament.

Saturday, June 24th, North Long Lake: This will be the fourth Snatcher Tournament and 6th overall (2 Snatcher Mini-Bucks). The previous three Snatcher tournaments resulted in 17th, 23rd, and 20th Place finishes. For some reason, I have struggled to get on the same page with the fish on this lake. Looking forward to cracking the code and getting a limit. I failed to get a limit here in 2017 and 2021.

Saturday, July 15th, Lake Alexander: This will be 3rd time I get a shot at Alexander. The first time was in early June 2014, and it went ok with me bringing in a 10/01 limit. The second tournament was in late June, and I struggled to get bites, only bringing in 3 small bass. Looking to get revenge here as well.

Saturday, August 12th, Lake Winnibigoshish: Who knows if this one will make the final cut. I have a friend who just purchased a place up that way. So it won't be the killer of a drive it would be if I had to leave from here. Rumor has it that Big Winni has big bass. Tuma has been trying to get us to go. This may be the year it happens.

Saturday, September 9th, Whitefish Chain: This will be the 7th time the Snatchers have visited the Chain since I joined the club. But it would only be the 3rd time fishing it in September, and the two previous times were later in the month. We got nice weather once and high winds the second time. If we hit it just right, this could be a phenomenal pick. It's post-Labor Day which will cut down on boat traffic, and smallies are still an option.

Saturday, September 30th, Pokegama: The club last got up to the Poke at Grand Rapids in 2016. All three times I have fished up, there have been summer tournaments. Provided it isn't a cold, rainy, miserable day, I also like this one.  I give this schedule two thumbs up. Hope nothing changes.

Snatchers Bay Lake June 2nd

Photo credit: SarahJean Fishing Bay Lake 6/2/18

Conditions: 47-64℉, Cloudy with fog for several hours, light and heavy rain after the first couple of hours, Windy ESE.

The Day:
The guys weren't in a big rush to launch the boats on this blustery foggy morning.  I think we blasted off a minute or two after 7AM.  Chuck took me to his starting spot where a couple of loons were milling around.  Chuck got a couple of small keepers in the boat and a pike or two and a rock bass. I think I got a pike and missed a couple of bites.  After fishing the area for around half an hour or so we moved on.  Chuck got a little turned around in the fog for a second, but quickly got back on track.

We next went to a large weed flat where Tuma and Sarah were fishing.  Chuck said they were on the juice.  I got a couple of pike to start things off on the Pure Poison and Chuck landed a couple of small keepers and a pike or two.  It was pretty clear to me at this point that the bass were not in a chasing mood, so I went to the craw tube.  It wasn't that long and I had my first keeper in the boat, a solid 2.18lb fish.  I quickly followed that up with a 1.71lb bass.  Then it was a pike fest for a while and Chuck filled out his limit with little keepers.  Tuma left.  I noticed a fish swirl on the surface.  I picked up a white Pure Poison/RaZor Shad and got a 1.14lb keeper on it.  We got a few more pike and it started to rain.

We headed South to try some docks.  Chuck got a rock bass.  We headed back North.  I got pike on three consecutive casts on the Pure Poison/Craw Fatty.  I also got 1.21lb and .88lb squeaker along with a few more pike.  We fished along Malkerson Island and got some more pike and a rock bass or two.  We went back to the large weed flat where Bailey/Herman were now fishing. I think Chuck got a couple of bass that didn't help and I got a few pike and missed some bites.  I also had a pike bite off my Texas Rig, so I downsized to 3/16oz sinker from 3/8th.

It started to rain harder just as we headed South and West.  We were fishing an offshore point.  Chuck and I both quickly got a small keeper.  Chuck invited me up to the front deck to fish next to him.  I had a fish pick up my Texas rig, but when I set the hook the fish had dropped it and the rig flew out of the water with the sinker nailing Chuck right in the eye.  I saw the whole thing as it happened, quite scary.  Chuck was in quite a bit of pain for a couple of minutes, but then he recovered fairly quickly after that.  I was a gun shy for a little while after that and missed some bites due to a poor hook-set because of it.

We moved back into the central part of the lake and I got some pike on a Whopper Plopper and Chuck got a small bass off of a dock.  We then went back up to the Northern part of the lake to try the starting spot getting nothing,  Chuck asked me if I had any ideas and I did, which paid off in me getting 2.50lber, my biggest of the day during the heaviest downpour.

We went back to work the large weed flat again.  I missed several fish as they bit on the upswing of my jigging motion.  Also caught a few more pike.

We tried a spot over by Chuck's starting spot and I got a very minor cull along with a rock bass and a pike or two.  We tried his starting spot one last time and then the day was done.  It quit raining during the last hour or so.

The Results:
My Fish weighted 10lbs 1ozs, which put me in 14th Place out of 28 anglers.  I jumped 2 places due to some anglers getting to the weigh-in a bit late.  Chuck had 9/14 and finished right behind me in 15th. Jim Smith won with 13/10 and Dave Branum caught a 5/01 hawg for "Lunker".

Thoughts: Both Chuck and I just didn't put enough two-pound fish in the boat.  One more 2lber would have jumped me into the top 10 and another one probably Top 6.

Final Results:

   

Bay Lake Quick Report

Man, that was a super soaker tournament.  Thankfully, the forecasted thunderstorms never materialized, but boy did it rain.  I learned that if ever rain is in the forecast that I should bring an extra pair of socks and shoes to put in the car.  Driving home with dry feet sure would have been nice.  I only managed to get two two pounders in the boat, which was one more than my boater Chuck Steinbauer had, so I managed to beat him by a couple of ounces.  That is the first time I've beaten him out of 5 tournaments fished together.  I'll call this tournament a win for that reason.  My 10lb bag will hopefully put me in the top half of 28 guys, but if past tournaments are any indication I'll land on the bottom half of that line.  I'll have my full report sometime after the official results are released. 

Bass Snatchers at Bay Lake Tomorrow

My tournament year kicks off tomorrow at Bay Lake.  It's supposed to be cool, windy, and wet.  Hopefully, it will turn the bass on because when we pre-fished it on Tuesday in hot, windy, and dry conditions the bass were not exactly on fire.  My boater is Chuck Steinbauer, so I'm confident I'll be around fish all day.  If Bay Lake tradition holds getting 2lb fish is golden.

Here are the rods I'm bringing:
7'4" H Tatula (Frog Rod) (Not likely to be used, but one never knows)
7'2" H Tatula (Jig Rod)
7'2" MH Tatula (Bladed Jigs/Topwater/ Spinnerbaits)
7' H Avid Craw Tubes
7' MHM Mojo (Bladed Jigs)
6'10" MH Crucial (Buzzbait/Spinnerbait/Swimbait)
6'8" M Avid (Topwater)

6' MH Techna AV (Dock Rod/Flukes/Dingers)

My Snatcher Tournament at Bay Lake May 30th

Todd Berghuis and a loon

6:50AM-3:00PM
Conditions-  Mostly sunny, cold and windy in the morning out of the NNE, the breeze dying down a bit, and it warmed to the high 50's.

The Day:
It was cold in the morning, I did layer up properly and stayed warm except for my left hand which I had to stop fishing with a couple of times to put in my pocket to warm up.  We agreed to start on a deeper spot where we got a double on in practice.  This spot was exposed to the brunt of the wind and the fish weren't there.   My boater Todd got a couple pike and an Ok sized bass and I got a pike on a craw tube.  After about an hour we moved shallow.

I got a pike then a small keeper (12.5") on a black/blue D & M Piranha with a sapphire blue Chigger Craw.  We then moved to another shallow bay where that loon came to see what we were up too.  Todd got two small keepers.  I switched up to a bluegill color D & M Piranha with a swimbait trailer.  Very quickly I got a small keeper (12.25") casting out, then one that felt better than it was (13.75") right up next to shore.  We worked back over this area two more times.  I got a pike on the D & M and Todd got another keeper or two.  We worked into a small marina and I got a quality fish (15.75) off a pontoon with a white Zoom Horny Toad.

We then made a move to a boat channel.  As we were entering it I got my best fish of the day (15.9") off of the first dock in the entrance.  Todd caught one of his better fish in the channel and I got my limit fish (12.5") and missed one on a bubblegum Zoom Super Fluke.

We made a long move to another shallow bay.  Todd got a fish to cull and I ran the trolling motor for about 10 minutes while he got his fish figured out.  Shortly after he regained control of the trolling motor I saw a 15.5" bass take a shot at my Piranha.  I caught it.

We tried our starting spot and didn't get anything but a pike or two.  We then went back to the bay with the loon.  I had a hit on the the D & M that ran towards me and got off.  I think I got my next cull (14.5") on a Zoom Super Fluke.  Todd got a couple that didn't help him.  We got to a calm area and I got my last cull (13.25") on a Reaction Innovations Vixen.  We made one last move to the bay where I got my biggest fish in pre-fish, but didn't get anything.  And then the day was over.

Results:  My six fish weighed 10lbs even and was good for 18th place out of 30 anglers.  My boaters limit went for 10lbs 15ozs and put him in 11th place.  The winner was Nate Steinbauer with 14lbs 2ozs who caught the Lunker at 4lbs 2ozs.

My Thoughts:  I could have done without the cold front and a little less wind.  Apparently the bite turned on in the later part of the after noon, but we really struggled the last two hours.  Fish just didn't move up in the bay we chose to fish unfortunately.  Todd was really enjoyable to fish with and was very concerned that I get my limit, which I fortunately got in the 1st half of the day.

My #yearofrevenge starts at the next Tournament at Farm Island Lake.

Snatcher Bay Lake Quick Report

Sunrise Wigwam Bay Mille Lacs Lake May 30th

It was downright cold in the morning out in the wind where we were fishing.  Good thing I thought to bring my stocking cap and wore plenty of layers.  Fishing was OK, my boater and I both had 10lb limits. Neither of us got an above average size fish for the lake.  I missed a few bites, but nothing I can say for sure that would have helped me.  I caught 9 keepers total and 3 pike.  I got one of my better fish on a Horny Toad and I also got my first fish ever on a Vixen; It was the first time I ever threw it.  I'm guessing I came in around 20th out of 30 people fishing.

Bass Snatcher 1st Tournament Tomorrow at Bay Lake

We will be on the shores of Bay Lake at Ruttger's Resort, not a gravel parking lot.  I really wish this cold front wouldn't have hit.  We were all set up for a smash fest and now who knows what kind of a bite we will have.  Bay has plenty of fish, so I hope getting a limit won't be to difficult.  Bay has been good to me the three times I have fished on it.  Hopefully that continues.

Baxter Bass Snatchers Bay Lake Tournament Review

The tournament was this past Saturday June 2nd.

2nd Place

Conditions: Day started cool in the low 50's getting up to about 70 in the afternoon.  I was sunny and had light to medium winds out of the W NW.

Blast off was at around a quarter to 7AM and we stuck around close to the launch but didn't get anything so we left after 20 minutes.  We went around to the West side of Battle Point and started fishing the weedline.  I immediately caught a pike on a red Spro Aruku Shad.  Then my boater Roger landed the first small keeper of the day on a flat sided chartreuse DT shallow runner.   I landed a couple dink bass and a northern.  Roger got a couple more keepers before I got a 13.25" on the Aruku.  Roger landed a couple more before I got my 2nd fish, a 12.75 on the Aruku.  Roger was putting on a clinic with the DT.  I slowly got a 15.25", a 13", and a 16.5" on the Blue Bruiser Lake Fork Craw Tube.  We decided to run back to where we started so I could finish my limit.  I got a 14" to finish my limit on a chartreuse Cordell Spot.  I then started throwing a blue/black Strike King Pure Poison Chatterjig with blue/black Berkley Havoc Craw Fatty Trailer.  I was just thinking I was going to quit throwing it when I got hit by a 17.75" bass.  I  culled my smallest got her in the well and immediately got a 17.5".  Put her in the well, put a new Craw Fatty on and with in a couple of casts had a 16.75" in the boat.  Bing bang boom, now I had more weight than Roger.  I got a 14.75" to cull out a 14" and then things got slow.

We were headed to Johnson Point but a boat was there so we started working up from West to East along the  the North side of Corey Point.  It was slow for a while, but then I got a 16.5 on the Crawtube and I figured I had around 13lbs.  I got a few more that didn't help and then I got a 15.25" that culled my previous 15.25" up towards the tip of Corey Point.  That convinced Roger to fish there a little more and he got his best fish and another cull or two.  We were both pretty happy with our bags at this point.  I was now after 11AM and we fished off the SE tip of Malkerson Island.  Just got a couple that didn't help.

We headed to the bar off the South side of Brighton Point and got nothing but rockies and a pike or two.  For the last hour or so we headed back to our starting spot.  I  got a couple that didn't help and I don't think Roger got anything to help himself either, and the day was done.

When we weighed I was shocked to hear Rogers weight at 14/6.  I was even more shocked to hear my weight at 15/11 which put me in 2nd place where I staid through the rest of the weigh in.  My big bass was 3/2.  I didn't realize it at the time but I was only 2oz behind new Bass Snatcher member Jim Smith who got 1st.  Roger got 3rd Place. Bay Lake was really on with 15 guys at just under 12lbs and up.  10lbs bags went down to 25th Place.

Analysis:  Surprisingly we out fished our pre-fish day where we had about 13lbs a piece.  I really thought I was in the 13lb range.  Here were my two baits.

The huge key was that flurry I had in our 2nd pass off of Battle Point with the Pure Poison.  I had my 3 biggest fish in like 7 casts.  Not only was it my best Snatcher finish, but it was my best weight in a Snatcher Tournament by over a pound.

Bay Lake Tournament Quick Report

I had a very good day and got 2nd Place, just 2oz behind 1st Place.  My boater Roger got 3rd, so we were really on the better quality fish.  Full report after I have the final standings later this week.  This is my best finish as a Snatcher.

Bay Lake Pre-Fish

I got from 7AM to almost 5PM to fish with Roger Ubl my boater for Saturday's Bay Lake Tournament.  It was a fun day on the water as we caught a ton of fish.  The rap on Bay is that it is a peanut factory and that was pretty much the case as we didn't get a single 3lb bass.  However we did land several quality 2lb fish, which will be gold on tournament day.

I'm not really sure where the fish are in regards to the spawn.  Several of the fish were chunky, but several had raw anal fins but they were still chunky.  One thing is clear, we are gonna catch a lot of pike.  I got 32 pike to my 25 bass and Roger caught about the exact same numbers as me.  I hope the fish are as active on tournament day.