Snatcher's Big Birch Tournament Preview

 

My Thoughts: Neither I nor my boater pre-fished. I can't remember if that has ever happened before. Maybe once or twice.  So I'm going in totally blind on a lake I haven't been to since my first year in the club, 2008, when I finished second-to-last, and my boater didn't place well. I liked the lake, though. It has clear water, smallmouth bass, and quite a bit of slop. We will not specifically target smallmouth, but my boater says he knows some rock/weed areas.  Hopefully, the slop will play. Looks like the winds will be on the reasonably mild side, just like they were for the first tournament of the year. If the tournament I fished in 2008 is any indication, 3lbers are hard to come by unless you are committed to sight-fishing smallies all day. Can anyone knock off Tuma in this one? Not likely. I would be happy if I could get a bag of 2lbers.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4"H Tatula Elite (Chicken Jig, Frog)

7'4"H Tatula (Frogs/Toads, Topwater)

7'4"H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)

7' H Mojo Bass Dock Skipper (Jigs,Chatter)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC) (Jigs, Chatter, Fluke)

6'8"M Avid (Topwater, Jerks)

6'6"MH GLX (Texas Rig, Dark Sleeper, Ned, Dinger,Fluke)

Spin:

5'6" Avid MH (Fluke, Dinger, Ned))

2008 Results:

Snatcher's Platte/Sullivan Tournament Preview And Rods

 

My Thoughts: 

Thanks to 2026 being the year MN bassheads were liberated from a closed bass season, I got the Trophy in the water quickly, and it has been game on for me ever since on Platte/Sullivan. As bites have come and gone, I have been able to understand why a bite left or stayed good, and with an OK amount of success, have been able to figure out where the fish had departed. In the past, I may have felt lost and probably just didn't spend the time necessary to track them down. I am confident that Ranger Arnie and I will be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

The Plan: 

We are going to start in an area where Arnie caught them the first day he was out pre-fishing. I think it is a solid area and I am talking an area. I have three primary areas in mind that I think we should spend most of our time on, and where we start is a good one. We have eight boats fishing in this tournament. It will be interesting to see whether any other boats head to our starting area and, if they do, where they choose to attack first. I have some backup areas that, if we don't get to them, I'm fine with it because that means we caught 'em where I thought they should be. 

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Zillion (The Chicken)

7'4" H Tatula Elite (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)

7'4" H Tatula (Toads, Ploppers)

7' MH Mod Mojo Bass (Crankbaits, Topwater, Wakebaits)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jigs,Chatters, Plopper, )(Braid)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jigs,Chatters, Flukes)(FC)

5'6" MH Avid (Fluke, Dinger)

Snatcher Fishtrap Lake Preview: The Plan and Rod's I'm Bringing

 

My boater, Club President Snatcher Benson

The Plan: During pre-fish, pretty much everything we tried produced a bass or two. So I'm gonna prepare to junk fish and see if I can drill into a pattern. The goal is to get a limit and beat Tuma.

Rods I'm Bringing: 

7'6" H Tatula (Jigs)

7'4" H Tatula (Frogs/Toads, Jigs, Buzzbait)
7'4" H Tatula (Frogs/Toads, Jigs, Buzzbait)

7' H Avid (Texas Rig)

7' MHM Mojo (Chatterbait)

6'9' H Tatula Elite (FC) (Jigs)

6'9' H Tatula Elite (Braid)(Spinnerbait)

6'9' H Tatula Elite (Braid)(Chatterbait)

Spinning Rod:
6'6" MH Abu Vertas (Neko, and Fluke)

Snatcher Rush Lake Preview, Part 2: The Plan and Rods

 The Plan: Snatcher Tuma was not impressed with what we saw up shallow, so we probably will not be throwing frogs.  It's going to be windy. If the bass are up in the water column and aggressive, it will be Chatterbaits and Spinnerbaits. If they are not up and aggressive, it will be jigs and Texas rigs on the bottom.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Tatula (Plopper, Frogs/Toads)

7'4" H  Mod Zillion (Punching)

7' MHM  Mojo (Chatterbait)

7' H Avid (Texas Rig)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC) (Jigs)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Spinnnerbait)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jigs)

6'6" MH 763 Loomis GLX (Ned)

Snatcher Lake Edward Preview: Part 1

 

Yes, Part 1 is being written and released after Part 2. My prerogative as a blogger to do things that way.

My History with Lake Edward:

Today will be my third tournament on Lake Edward. I'm not sure why the club didn't fish the lake between 1989 and 2017. Access issues, maybe? I'm sure I have heard the story; I just can't remember it. My introduction to the lake in 2018 was positive. I recorded that I caught 18 fish that day.

Light bulb moment, just happened. I am going to add "Bass Snatchers Tourny" to my Fish Swami Fishing Partners list, so all of my Tournaments will be easily searchable once I get them all documented that way. I think I will also make a list of days I pre-fished as well.

The second tournament day, pre-fish and tournament, was plagued by wind. Not a good thing for Edward, which is just a wide open basin pretty much. It looks like wind will be a factor today. It isn't supposed to blow hard hard, but anything above 5 mph is going to have half of the lake rocking and rolling. It is also supposed to be cloudy to partly cloudy, which is usually a positive for clear bodies of water such as Edward.

I had some pretty good finishes in July and some real stinkers, like last year's Last-Place finish on Mission Lake. The 2025 Season has been off to a terrible start. Hopefully, Arnie's fish are there and chewing. That is the secret to success in July, drawing a boater on a school or pattern that is on and stays on long enough to put together a solid bag. 

Wish me luck!

Snatcher's Lake Edward Preview Part 2: Rods and Plan

 

The Plan: I will be blasting out in boat #1 with Ranger Arnie. He will forever be Ranger Arnie here at Bass Pundit, even though he is a part-time Snatcher now. This will be the first time I fish with Arnie as a Snatcher. I did draw him for my boater for the Challenge Cup on Platte/Sullivan back in 2019 when I got skunked. Arnie may have been skunked as well, but I think he caught one keeper bass. 

Arnie took two trips, prefishing for Edward, and did well fishing the cabbage, so that is where we will no doubt spend the majority of our time. I will start with a buzzbait, but quickly switch to a jig and Texas rig if Arnie is catching them and I'm not. If it's a tough bite, I'll go to a free rig, Ned, and Neko. 

Rods I'm bringing:

7'6" H Tatula (Jig)

7'4" H Tatula (Toad, Frog, Jig, Buzzbait) Just in case Arnie has a reed spot.

7'3" MH St. Criox Legend Tournament (Free Rig)

7' H St. Croix Avid (Texas Rig)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC) (Flukes, Neko,  Dark Sleeper, Chatterbait, Spinnerbait)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Braid) (Jig, Chatterbait, Spinnerbait)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Braid) (Dark Sleeper)

6'6" GLX 783 (Jig Worm, Dark Sleeper, Ned, Jerkbait, Paddletail) 

Spinning:

6'6" Abu Veritas (Neko Rig, Ned Rig)

Snatchers Mississippi River Preview: Part 2 (Plan & Rods)

 

Snatcher Darren showing me how it's done.

The Plan: Frog myself up a limit of three to six pounda's.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'6" H Tatula (Pitching Jigs or Texas Rigs)

7'4" XH Zillion (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula (Frog, Toad)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Fluke)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Pitching Jigs)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Texas Rig)

6'8" M Avid (Topwater)

Birch Lake Preview Part 2: Plan and Rods I'm Bringing.

 

The Plan is to eat well again, thanks to Snatcher Herman.

The Plan: We didn't find any size, but did find bass in the pads during pre-fish, so fishing pads is Plan A. As of right now, it looks like it will be sunny with light to moderate wind. So pads could be a player. If that doesn't work, we'll wing it, I guess.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'6" H Tatula (Swim Worm)

7'4" H Tatula Elite (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula (Toads)

7'4" H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)

7'H Avid (Texas Rig)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC) (Spinnerbait, Buzzbait, Wakebait)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Swim Jig, Paddletail, Dark Sleeper, Chatterbait)

6'8" M Avid (Topwater, Ned, Jerkbait, Trap, Neko)

5'6" MH Premier (Fluke, Senko, Ned)

Snatchers Birch Lake (Hackensack) Preview, Part 1.

 

Thanks to recent changes at Fish Swami, it is easy to look up my history at places I have fished since 2011, the first year I seriously started logging my trips. I have fished three tournaments at Birch Lake and pre-fished two of those, for a total of five days on the lake. In 2016, it was also the first tournament of the year. The "heart" for May 31, 2016, was for a 33.5" pike I caught. The bass we got pre-fishing in 2016 were pretty random, and I kind of remember where we caught bass in the tournament. I will be pre-fishing the lake on Tuesday with my boater, Herman. It looks like the weather going in will be warm and stable going into the tournament. I suspect most fish will be post-spawn by next Saturday. 

Pre-fishing done, we have a plan. See Part 2 on Saturday.

Farm Island Plan And Rods I'm Bringing

If nothing else I plan to eat good

The Plan: We got out prefishing for a few hours on a cold Sunday morning, that warmed up quickly. We didn't find much. Basically, my plan right now is to fish some cabbage in the morning trying to get a limit; then hope I can frog up some pigs in the reeds and slop in the late morning and afternoon. I don't think getting a limit will be a problem unless the lake is really off.

Goals:

1. Catch a limit.
2. Somehow beat Tuma.
3. Be the top Co-Angler

4. Finish in the Top 5.

5. Catch the tournament Lunker

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Tatula Elite (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula (Spinnerbait, Swim Worm,Frog, Swim Jig)

7'4" H Tatula (ToadZ, Pop ShadZ)

7' MH Mojo (Wake, Chatterbait)

7' H Avid (Texas Rig)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Braid) (Jig, Swim Jig, Chatterbait, Spinnerbait)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Braid) (Buzzbait)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC) (Jig, Fluke, Texas Rig, Dinger, Ozark Rig)

6'8" M Avid (Topwater)

Bold indicates what I will have on the rod at the start of the day.

Gull/Crow Wing River Plan and Rods I'm Bringing

 The Plan: I drew Snatcher Rookie Tyler for my boater. I think if we get any smallmouth it will be accidental. Plan A is to frog 'em up. Plan B: Jigs and spinnerbaits if they are not hitting on top.

Goals:

1. Catch a bass that goes at least 5/8 

2. Get a limit. (I have never caught a limit in any of the the previous four Snatcher tournaments on a river.)

3. Place in the Top 5

4. Win Co-Angler Cash, and both Lunker Pots

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Tatula Elite (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula (Toadz)

7'4" H Tatula  (Worm)

7'4" H Zillion (Punching)

6'10" H Tatula Elite (Braid) (Jig,Spinnerbait,Buzzbait,Chatterbait)

6'10" H Tatula Elite  (FC) (Jig,Spinnerbait,Craw Texas Rig)

6'10" MH Tatula (Swim Jig, Chatterbait)

Snatcher Pelican Lake Plan and Rods I'm Bringing

The Plan: This is only the third time I've drawn "Smitty" as my boater. The first two times I struggled to catch them, so I think I'm due. The plan is to fish thick shallow cover, which is what I love to do. If the frog bite is on, it will be AWWWWWWWWN!

Tournament Goals:

1. Get a limit.

2. Finish in the Top 3

3. Be the top Co-angler
4. Catch the day's lunker.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Tatula Elite (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula (Frog, Swimjig)

7'4" H Tatula (Toaz, Swimjig)

7'4" H Zillion (Jig,Craw Tube, Jig,Chatter)

7' H Avid (Craw Tube)

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

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC) (Jig,Fluke,Dinger,Chatter)

6'8" M Avid (Topwater)

Snatcher Little Boy/Wabedo Plan, Goals, and Rods I'm Using

 The Plan: Pre-fishing with Chuck didn't give me much to hang my hat on, and conditions will be different on tournament day. So the plan is to wing it and hope I can find something the fish want during the tournament.  Ideally bass will be hitting on a frog and buzzbait and I won't have to resort to finesse. I'm not sure how much attention we are going to smallies, if any.

Goals:

Catch a bass 5/8 or bigger

Win the Lunker Pot

Catch a limit

Finish in the Top 5

Win the Co-Angler Challenge

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4"H Tatula Elite (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula Gen 2 (Frog)

7'4" H Zillion (Buzzbait, Swim Worm)

6'10" MH (FC15)(Chatter, Texas Rig, Ozark Rig, Ned Rig)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Braid) (Jig)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC17) (Jig, Texas Rig)

6'8" Avid (Topwater, Jerkbait, Ned)

6'6" MH Abu Veritas (Fluke, Dinger, Ned)

Snatcher Whitefish Plan and Rods

 The Plan: Hope that Tim's experience pays off; we are going in blind.

Rods' I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Tatula (Buzzbait)

7'4" H Tatula (Swim Worm)

7'4" H Tatula (Frog, Toad,Spinnerbait,Swim Jig)

7'3" MH LTB (Free Rig)

7' Avid (Texas Rig, Jig)

6'10" MH Tatula (Chatter, Jerks,Jigs)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jig,Spinnerbait,Topwater,Wake,Chatter)

6'8" M Avid (Topwater,Jerks)

Spin:

6'6" MH Abu Veritas (Senko, Fluke)

The Plan & Rods For Poke

 

The Plan: Snatcher Darren and I are going hawg hunting green fish.

The Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Zillion (Rat/Frog)

7'4" H Tatula (Buzzbait)

7'4" H Tatula (Toadz,Swim Jig,Frog)

7'4" H Tatula (Swim Worm)

7'4" H Tatula (Chatter, Wake, Plopper)

7' H Avid (Craw Tube)

6'10" H Tatula Elite (jig)

6'8" M Avid (Topwater, Chatter)  

Plan And Rods Snatcher Lake Alexander

I was so tired, I didn't get this published in time. Oh well.

 Lake Alexander Plan: Wing it with Herman. Actually the hope is that the weedline we found has a school of 2 and a half to 3lbers like we doubled up on in pre-fish. If not, then I will wing it.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Mod Tatula (Chatter, Plopper, Wake )

7'4" H Tatula (Buzzbait)

7'4" H Tatula (Swim Worm)

7'4" H Tatula (Frog)

7' H Avid (Craw Tube, Rage Bug)

7'H Tatula Elite (Dock, Jig)

6'10" MH Tatula (Sleepers, Chatters, Spinnerbait, Jig)

6'6" MH Veritas (Dinger, Ned)

Thoughts this winter: jerkbait, rocket bobber/wacky rig, prop bait, football jig (ned). Discounted all of that after pre-fish.

The Plan & Rods, Snatcher North Long

 

North Long Plan: We both got out and did a little pre-fishing. My trip with Chuck and Lois revealed bass in main lake cabbage in about half of our stops. Conditions are going to be quite different from the day I fished with clouds, wind, and thunderstorms. The fish may be on fire or shut down due to the thunder. I guess I'll find out. North Long hasn't treated me well the last couple of Snatcher Tournaments. I am looking for a little redemption and to beat Tuma. Hopefully, Snatcher Alan of Clan Steinbauer will lead me to a good day of snatchin' 'em. He got Snatcher Checkbook, a limit last tournament here, something I was unable to accomplish due to sucking on how to hook my bites.

Rods I'm Bringing: (Yes, 10 rods, I'm in a Phoenix. I kicked myself for not bringing more the last time I was in Al's boat)

7'4" H Tatula (Frog/Slop)

7'4" H Tatula (Turbo FattyZ, could go to jigs on this setup)

7'4" H Tatula (Chatters, Wake, Traps)

7'3" MH LTB (Carolina Rig) 

7' H Avid (Texas Rig)

7' H Mojo (Texas Rig)

6'6" MH Avid (Texas Rig Pike Insurance)

6'10" MH Tatula (Jig, Sleepers, Jerkbait, Ned) Dock Rod

6'8" M Avid (jig worm, jerkbait,Ned)

Spin:

6'6" MH Veritas (Neko)

Think: Jerkbait, dead sticking, prop bait, texas rig worm.

These were my thoughts this winter on what to try

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)

Snatcher South Long Preview: The Plan and Rods I'm Bringing

 The Plan: Be a good net man so Snatcher Fields captures his 2nd Mr. Bass Title (Snatcher AOY). Plan A is to start on the deep weed edge and only move shallow if it isn't happening. May or may not start with a buzzbait. We are the last boat out, and South Long isn't very big, so who knows what will be available for our first spot.

Rods I'm Bringing: 

7'4" H Tatula (Topwater) 

7'4" H Tatula (Chatter, Topwater, Cranks)

7' H Avid (Craw Tube)

7' MH Mojo (Chatter)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jigs) (Braid)

6'8" M Avid (Topwater)

6'6" MH GLX (Jigs, Swimbait)

6'6" M GLX (Neko, Ned)

I ended up at the last minute throwing in another 7'4" H Tatula that I threw frogs and a spinnerbait on. Should have had that spinnerbait on the rod from the jump.

Snatcher Gull Lake Preview: My Plan And The Rods I'm Bringing

 The Plan: First thing I'm throwing is topwater. If they don't go in that a Chatterbait. That doesn't play then a craw tube. Next Is a jig and finally a Ned Rig. If none of that catches anything I've got Dingers and a few other ideas. Gull is full of nice bass right now, hoping to catch a 13lb limit minimum.

Rods: 

Tatula 7'4" H (Topwater)

Tatula 7'4" H (Chatters and possibly Plugs or Cranks)

Avid 7" H (Texas Rig)

Tatula Elite 6'9" (Jigs) Braid

GLX 6'6" MH  (Jigs)

Avid 6'8 Medium (Topwater)

GLX 6'6" M (Ned)

Abu 6'6" MH (Fluke)

Oops, I realized I forgot to hit publish. I did give every rod a shot.