Baxter Bass Snatchers 2026 Tournament Schedule (Tentative)

 

Last Saturday, we picked dates and lakes for the upcoming tournament season. The schedule will be debated and finalized at our February meeting.

Sunday, May 31st, Platte/Sullivan: Like I said in my tournament wishlist post, I would prefer a tournament on my lakes later in the year. If it is post-spawn, the lakes can be tricky if the fish are off. That said, I have had some really productive days in late May and early June, and thanks to being able to target bass right from ice-out, I should have a really good idea of productive areas. Will the Chicken play? Will I finally be able to beat out Tuma?

Saturday, June 20th, Big Birch (Grey Eagle): We fished this lake in my very first year in the club, 2008, and we haven't been back since. I really liked the lake. It has smallmouth and clear water. I hope this one stays.

Saturday, July 11th Gull /Crow Wing River: This was my suggestion, and it beat out all the other lakes we came up with in the vote. Tuma said later is better here. So at the next meeting, I am going to make a motion to switch it with Pelican or Leech.

Saturday, August 15th, Pelican Lake: I may have to stock up on a certain color of craw tubes for this one. Judging by my pre-fishWill the Chicken Play?

Saturday, September 12th, Leech Lake: Hopefully it stays at Leech, it doesn't blow hard that day, and water levels are normal. Will smallies play?

Saturday, October 3rd, Gull Lake: Gull Lake has been on fire the past few years. Will it continue? Will they bite the Chicken?

Snatcher Gull River Preview: My Plan and Rods I'm Bringing

The Plan: It is tournament week, and this Saturday, we will be fishing the Gull/Crow Wing River. This will be the second time the Snatchers have fished it since I joined the club. The previous tournament was in mid-August of 2019. Unfortunately, I was unable to pre-fish. On the good side, I drew Snatcher Ludenia, who knows just about every fishery we go to well. He has a track record of bringing in limits here but on the small side. I am on the hunt for giants and bringing the heavy artillery. I am guessing Bill will be pitching a jig. If I can get hits on a frog/toad,, I will do a lot of that.

Update: So I talked to my boater, and it sounds like we will be fishing for smallmouth most of the time.  Made some adjustments. Unfortunately, a shipment of baits from Tackle Warehouse that was supposed to arrive on Thursday got delayed and didn't make it. Bummer!

Rods I am bringing:

7'4" H Zillion (Jig)

7'4'' H Tatula (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula (Swim Jig)

7'4" H Tatula G2 (Toad, Buzzbait)

7'4" H Tatula Glass G2 (Chatter, Topwater, Lipless)

7' H Avid (Craw Tube, BFE)

6'10" MH Tatula G2 (Swim/Skip Jig)

6'8" Avid M (Spinnerbait, Topwater)

Wired2Fish on Fishing Largemouth In River Rice

 What I got from this video is using the Tokyo Rig and 2' foot in 2' out of the grass rule. This video could be helpful to me on Pokegama, the Mississippi River, and Gull River among other places. 

Bass Snatchers Schedule for 2019

As I thought the tournament schedule got tweaked when we finalized it. Here are my thoughts.

Whitefish Chain: This will be the fourth time the Snatchers visit the Whitefish Chain since I joined the Club and the 2nd time it kicks off the tournament season.  Whitefish Chain, a lot of water with a lot of bass.  As of yet, I haven't been able to pre-fish The Chain with my boater.  Hopefully, that changes for this one.  It will be interesting to see what role smallmouth play.

Lake Alexander:  This will be the 2nd time I've fished a Snatcher tournament on Alexander. Club records suggest fishing should be pretty good. Also another lake with smallies.

Farm Island Lake: This will be the 4th Snatcher Tournament and 5th Tournament I've fished on Farm Island. (The Challenge Cup was held here last Fall).  Hopefully, the frog bite is on and my boater wants to fish it.

Rabbit Lakes:  Also the 4th time the Snatchers will be holding a tournament on these lakes since I joined the club.  I also have fished a Snatchers Mini-Bucks and Excel Bass Tournament on these lakes.  I'm a little bored with this choice.  Who knows maybe I'll get lucky and land one of those elusive Rabbit Lakes Smallmouth.

Gull River:  The Snatchers haven't fished here in a very long time.  I'm shocked it made the final cut.  This tournament is going to be a total wild card.  Hopefully, I'll draw a boater with some experience because I am clueless on this one.  I don't know what the Gull River consists of or where it is exactly.  I know in the past it was known for big fish, but not a lot of them.

Leech Lake:  I am always up for Leech. (Also the 4th time I will be fishing a Snatcher Tournament)