2023 Bass Club Clash at Mission Lakes

2023 Snatcher's Team, Victory Achieved!

 

The Brainerd Area Bass Club Clash is an annual tournament for bragging rights among the three Brainerd Area bass clubs; The Baxter Bass Snatchers, The Range Bassmasters, and Brainerd Lakes Bassmasters.

Bass Snatchers Won With 83-8 

Brainerd Lakes 70-12 

Range  63-13.  

Snatcher Dennis with the Challenge Cup

3-13lbs Bunker Hawg (blk/blue)

My Boater Ranger Smude

Conditions: Low 40's to mid 50's, Sunny to Cloudy, 0-5mph NE the wind couldn't make up its mind

My Day:

I drew Brian Smude who I fished with two years ago at the Bass Club Clash at Serpent Lake. I was determined to fish better than that poor performance and did. Brian has a history of success on the lake, but this hasn't been his year, and he wasn't able to pre-fish. He also hadn't been sleeping well due to sciatica. We were boat 2 and headed to the NE. I got a small keeper pretty quickly on a Texas rigged black/blue Powerbait Bunker Hawg and added two more small ones to the well in short order. I then got my big bass of the day, which weighed in at 3-13 which had me flabbergasted because my scale had the fish at under 3lbs. I've never had such a mismatch in weights. I had my 5 and culled once before we left for Smude's Juice.

He got two fish there and I didn't get a bite until we were making our second pass. I think it was a pike and then shortly after that I got a 2lber. They both bit on a Powerbait Craw Fatty.  We then worked our way West along the South reeds. I missed two bites on the Poppin Frog before I stuck a good 2lber. I thought it was going to be AWWWWWN, but that was the last bite in the reeds. We then went back to the starting spot and Brian put on a jigworm and filled his limit. I hit a mid-day wall with my energy levels when the fish just weren't biting on anything I tried. We went and worked the cabbage flat behind the reeds as it clouded up and I finally started getting some action again on a spinnerbait, but they were either pike or bass that didn't help. I was bending my spinnerbait wire and it broke. I put on a bluegill Big Blade Chatterbait as we made our way back toward the starting spot. After fishing fruitlessly for about 5 minutes I made the change to blue/black with a FireCraw Big Blade Chatter. It wasn't long and I caught a couple of pike. I culled 2 or 3 times with the Big Blade, but never got that kicker bite I needed.

Results: My fish weighed 13/7, which put me in 8th out of 20 anglers. Smude only had 10/4. I thought he was much closer to me than that. I ended up beating all but two Rangers and two of the Brainerd Club. I think I may have been the top non-boater. The tournament was won by Ranger Arnie who beat out Snatcher Dennis on the tiebreaker but Arnie wasn't actually on the Rangers Clash Team, so Dennis won the Challenge Cup. Jim Eide of Brainerd Lakes took 3rd. 

Snatcher Hammer and Arnie tied for big bass with a 4/15 fish a piece. Arnie originally weighed the wrong bass and wasn't going to reweigh because he didn't think it was going to beat Dennis's fish, but was goaded into it by fellow Rangers. Arnie was also the Weigh Master for his own fish. Not sure how Snatcher Chuck and Dennis let him get away with that, but it's water under the bridge now.

The score sheet

What my scale said I had.

Snatcher Darren left me a selfie
or
two

Snatcher Goofball

Night With Todd Froggin' It

 

6:40-9:40PM SW INT, S SPRO, N SPRO, NE INT Reed PT Tip

72-79℉, Mostly Cloudy, 0-5mph SSE

76-79℉, Low Rising

Getting the boat loaded went smooth, but Todd had gremlins. We started at the SW Channel of the INT. I got a pike and bass on the Terminator Poppin frog on the rice/reed line. We made our way to the eagle sitting on Yertle's Perch. Todd got finally got a bass in the boat casting his frog out onto the rice. He lost a fish at the cat edge. I got a bass or two, missed some bites, and got dogged before Pike Pt. Right before Pike PT was when the eagle finally flew away. I went outside the rice, then back in at Jaimen's School Area. I had a blow-up that didn't go for the craw tube follow-up. We worked inside the rice line and I got a PLS, as did Todd plus a lost fish for Todd. Then that area went dead as we headed North. Todd got a pike and lost something at the Far Boat Lane Delta. He got one bass in the rice as we worked toward the Point, but that was it other than me getting a pike at a boat lane. I took us back to the SW INT Reed/Rice. I missed two bites in short order in the rice. Todd had a pike rip up his frog. I lost a good bite on the TOadZ, then things died. We ended the night with a double at the tip of the NE INT Reed PT. with Todd getting Big Bass (2.75) as the last fish in the boat. Todd got to meet Mr. Tree Frog who jumped in my lap after I raised the motor out front; silly frog. 14.28 lbs for our best 6. A good night on Platte Lake Specials.

Todd: 4Bass 3PIke

Me: 6Bass 5Pike  

I Pretty Much Sucked Tonight

 

Gotcha Sucka!

The fish after the phone call

Taken while contemplating sucking

2.68lbs Terminator Double Buzzer/ToadZ (Wht/Hot Snakes)

Three for 6.15lbs is a heck of a lot better than two for 3.46

Later start than I was hoping for, but my first wake-up today didn't take, and after being up for an hour went back to bed. I woke up at 5 PM. I made the rents some pizza and had some myself. Man, it was smoky out there to start. I think the guys out fishing tonight were pre-fishing rather than it being a league. There was no mad dash to exits around 9:30. I started at NW INT Rice PT, but it was lifeless. So I headed to NE INT and missed my first bite because I reached down for the troller. I still got a wicked hookset, but the fish was moving towards me and probably a pike by the speed it exited the rice; the frog just popped free. I think the next two bites buried me in the reeds. Caught a pike. And a fish gave away its position. I moved within casting range, and Bam. I was lifting the PLS into the boat, and it came off about a foot out of the water. I missed three or four more bites toward the cattails. A lot of poor luck with fish hitting while I was moving or the frog was in a bad position upon landing. I headed East. I had a few fish nips and did not get the frog. Not sure if they were sunfish, doggy's, or bass. Did have a bowfin nip and follow all the way to the boat. Signs of life stopped, so I cruised through the reeds and found SIL where I expected. I missed 3 or 4 more bites; ridiculous. Sat for a couple of minutes and took stock. I got my first bass in the boat soon afterward. Missed another opportunity on a high percentage spot. The wave runner guy started doing his thing, making me contemplate moving. Then Snatcher Al called, and the WR Guy went South. Toward the end of the call, a fish gave away its position. We ended the call, and I caught the fish. I think I missed one more than booked it out toward Steve's Fall Juice, nothing going on. I decided to end the night by throwing a double buzzer in the reeds and was rewarded with a Platte Lake Special that was the best fish of the night. I ended before I got back to the intersection. Slowed down at the bridge. I got up to about 16mph in Platte, then lost power. Unlike previous occasions was unable to get her back up and going. I ended up limping home at about six mph. When I went to take the troller off, I couldn't get the thingamabob to loosen at first. It took me about 10 minutes to get it free. I will just have to see if the motor runs better in the morning; not especially concerned right now.

Did Fish Tonight

Why couldn't I be full send tonight?

Low 70's, PC, Calm

Todd did not come up today and won't be up this weekend. I didn't get up to the lake place early enough to take the Trophy out tonight but I did get it ready for a trip in the morning with Steve's help. I fished for about 10 minutes off the dock, and the frog got attacked by a small pike a couple of times. 

I then went to the GOMH and fished the SW side for maybe 15 minutes before the skeeters got bad. Maybe missed a bite (50/50). I then sat in the car until after dark. I went down on the NE side and quickly left without a bite. The skeeter level was on the high side, or I would have given things more time. I didn't have the H2O or X-Rap boxes with me.

Some Froggin' Success And Then I Sucked

  

7:45-9:30PM Sullivan

74-80℉, PC, 0-4mph ENE

I started late due to not taking my meds when I originally went to bed instead of 4 AM. I got out of bed in the afternoon but was at turtle speed through the time I headed to the lake. I decided to fish the NE INT in Sullivan. I didn't get a bite for the first 15 minutes. Then I had two fish boil and not get the frog. Put the next three bites in the boat. I then had my next 4 bury me in the reeds. They shut down at the NE INT. I tried the SW INT, but too much wind. I quickly ran to the N SPRO, which was almost entirely dead. I finished at the River Mouth, where I missed a boil. The motor got bogged down as I headed out. Then it didn't run right until I got to Platte, where I got her up to speed. Dad suggested new spark plugs.

3Bass 

1Pike 

Morning And Evening Trips June 1st

8:40-5:00AM GOMH NE

Water level; Normal Falling

Skunked (Skeeters were vicious, I bailed for the Trophy.)

5:30-9:50AM SPSI, GOMH, INT NE, NW INT, SPRO, River Mouth 

I got the boat ready quickly and I was off. A bunch of missed bites yet again. Nothing at SPSI; I got a pike on the Jitterbug on the N side of the GOMH. I missed a bite on a frog on the  S side of the GOMH that left me saying, WTF Dave set the hook. I got bit off several times in a shallow pike fest along the shallow INT reeds.  I got a couple of bass, finally throwing the Turbo FattyZ. Under perfect conditions to score post-spawn girls, I figured out the puzzle and put some fish in the boat, but I really should have landed more. I stayed out longer than I had planned, by an hour.

6Bass 

12Pike 

7:30-9:30PM Channel In Bay S SPRO

75-80℉, PC, 3-6mph SE

Water Temp: 74℉

I got a late start due to a long nap. Headed right to Channel INN Bay. Traded off bass and pike blow-ups, but it was slow, so I headed to the SPRO and got more of the same. Blow-ups were nice, but once every half hour is slow. Nothing at the River Mouth, but it was fairly dark when I arrived. I landed my bites tonight, which was nice.

4Bass 

4Pike

 10:50-11:30PM GOMH NE

I decided to hit the GOMH on the way home. Skeeters weren't terrible. I got gold on my very first cast and thought this would be good, but all I got was one more jumper, and that was it. Tried a few different lures and left.

1Jump

1Gold

I didn't weigh fish for some reason.
 

Fish Platte and Sullivan In the Evening

2.64lbs EBay Chatterjig/Devil Spear Jr. (Fire Craw)

6:00-9:00PM  SPSI, Intersection to the river mouth

70-78℉, PC, 4-8MPH SSE

WT: 70℉

4 Bass 16 Pike this trip. Missed a bunch of bites.

Out For An Hour and A Half with Cyberfish

3.19lbs/17.25" Terminator Frog (Yellow)

Cyb Just After He Lost a Big'n)

7:00-8:30PM Loon Sex Point, East of GOMH
68-64℉, Cloudy, 4-10mph
WT: 76-72℉

Cyb was out in the Nuacone at the reeds across, so I drove over to talk to him and we wanted to go out in the Trophy, so he quickly paddled to the lake place and we headed out.  I took us to Loon Sex Point. I had a couple fish slap at my frog.  The one I finally got (3.19lb)missed my Terminator Frog twice on the same cast and followed it 3/4 of the way back to the boat before it got it.  That was the last hit we got in LSB.  I then ran us just beyond SPSI to the slop East of GOMH.  Had a couple of pike swipe at as East of the pad point.  On the other side of the pad point Mike had giant halfway in and then it just inexplicably came off.  I got a 14.5-incher and that was the last fish of the night.  Because of the cloud cover, it was dark at 8:30PM so we called it a night.  There were people out fishing all over the place tonight.

Fishing With Pete Again, Morning and Evening

19? Spro Poppin' Frog

3.67lbs

7:20-11:40AM Out from 17" Hole, Access Across to Big Rice Point
56-60℉, Coudy, 4-9mph NE
68-66℉

16.25" Spro Poppin Frog

Was hooked by the speed clip when the frog came off

Pete was screwing around on my Chromebook, so we got started out about a half hour later than I wanted to.  I skipped the GOMH.  We started out on the flat in Big West throwing buzzbaits and getting pike for about an hour or so.  I then took us the bulrshes inside of the cane.  Pete was cold and tired so he took a nap for 45 minutes or so.  I worked the area very methodically getting a couple small bass and several pike.  Pete eventually woke up and started getting bass right away casting out.  He got the 16-incher first that was hooked by the Norman Speed Clip.  He threw the bass back before I had a chance to weigh it.  We recovered his frog.  He then got this 17.5-incher.

17.5" Spro Poppin Frog

He then got a dink and then the 19-incher.  Not sure it was a 19-inch fish.  It only weighed 3.6 something and it seemed to be a well-built fish.  My guess is it was 18.5 or so and Pete measured it with an open mouth.  Pete also missed a couple of bites.  We went out to the end of the cane.  I missed a good bite there.  I then took us back toward the pads.  We got a few pike.

16.75" Terminator Poppin' Frog

I finally got a good bass to stick on the front side of Big Rice Point.  I then took us back to the bulrushes and re-fished through the area.  I missed a couple good bites.  I gave up at 11:40AM.
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3.68lbs/19.25" Sprinker (Bone)

6:00-7:30PM Melon Patch, Access Shore West, Double Cane Point
59℉, Cloudy, 2-7mph NE
67℉

I should have woken up Pete the second I got up at 4:30.  Not doing that cost us a good half hour of fishing time.  I started us on the Melon Patch where Pete and I both had a case of the drops on our better bites.  We were getting a few small pike.  The action wasn't fast enough for Pete.  There was a boat fishing where we were this morning so I took us to where Pete pointed. Pete lost what was probably a good bass out from the first dock on a buzzbait.  We got a few pike as I worked to the East.  Eventually, I had enough of it and moved us to Double Cane Point.  I had the big girl smoke the Sprinker.  She was hooked under the gills in the tongue and got hung up on the reeds.  When I got the hook out she was bleeding like crazy as the picture shows.  Pete missed one bite and that was pretty much it for the night.

GOMH & Big Momma In The Melon Patch

4.76lbs/20.33" Terminator Poppin' Frog (Green)

6:15-6:45AM GOMH NE
7:30-9:30AM Melon Patch
Conditions: 54-72℉, Partly Cloudy, 4-18MPH ESE

Got kind of a late start not getting to the GOMH until 6:15. It was a beautiful red sunrise, but I inexplicably didn't take any pictures.  I also didn't take a picture of the 15.25" jumpin' bullhead I caught on the bone Shower Blows 105. I also had a good-sized pike miss the SB.  Nothing on the SW side.

Once I was in the Trophy I headed right for the Melon Patch as the wind was still fairly manageable for the run.  The wind was more ESE than SSE unfortunately so there was more ripple on the water than I prefer.  I missed a fish on the very first cast; I was throwing the lime Sprinker to start and just got that one hit.  Due to the wind, I was anchoring. 

I got "Big Momma" on the backside of the biggest rice patch in the long rice line.  When I saw that big head I was thinking 5lber, but then I picked her up and saw how thin she was and thought nope probably not. I then measure her at 20.33-inches and I thought, maybe.  I weighed her, 4.76lbs, nope.  The longest bass I've caught out of Platte in few years and it's a "Thin Lizzy."  Still in search of my first 5 for the year.  I got one other bass out of the rice on a green pumpkin Grass Pig.  I also missed a hit on the Grass Pig.  The wind was cranking up and I didn't want to put sunscreen on so I called it a day at 9:30.

8.33lbs for my 3 Bass

      3 Bass

Fishing With Steve On Platte

2.53lbs/16.75" Bobby's Perfect (Sparrow)

7:00-9:35PM Cane Across from PA, Chuck's Point
Conditions: 72-67℉, Mostly cloudy some sprinkles, Light NE wind
Water Temp: 72℉ water level rising.

2.53lbs/16.75" Sprinker

I had been dragging all day, but I took an extra 1/2 shot of Xtra Strength 5-Hour Energy and I was good to go.  Should have left the house 15 minutes sooner, oh well.  Steve decided to risk possibly getting rained on and went out with me.  We started out quite slowly due to water in the boat and only managed to get up to 17MPH on the way to the area around the cane across from the Platte Public Access.  I missed my first few bites on a subsurface white Spro Sprinker knockoff.  Not sure why the lure didn't want to run up on top, it worked fine yesterday.  I switched to the black purple head Sprinker Frog because I didn't have the white orange head one in the boat.  Steve missed a couple of good bites.  I was just about to change out the Sprinker when I got a small pike and 15" bass on back to back casts.  Steve missed a really good hit on the Terminator Poppin' Frog.  I got the 16.75" bass.  Steve missed a fish that blew up the Poppin Frog the second it landed.  I suggested he give another frog a try.  I gave him the 7'4" Tatula with a Bobby's Perfect on it.  He immediately got blasted by a nice pike which he launched toward us on the hookset and it got off.  Shortly after that while I was taking a piss off the front of the boat Steve got a 15.5" bass and it stayed on.

The relief he didn't get skunked.

I caught 15" on the Hot Mud Camo Terminator Frog and lost one on it.  We got out a little deeper where the rice hadn't reached the surface yet, so I put on the perch 110 Whopper Plopper.  I got a bite on the very first cast, but it quickly came off. At the same time that was happening Steve got his big one of the night.  I worked us back toward the cane and we had some pike bites and that was it.  At about 9:05 I decided to finally make the move to Chuck's Point.  I had been contemplating moving since before 8, but the fish biting kept us where we were at.

 At Chuck's Point, Steve caught a small pike and I had a really good bass come out of the water after the Sprinker, but it missed.  I couldn't get the fish to pick up my follow up jig.  We got up by the shore as it was getting dark.  I missed a couple fish I'm pretty sure were pike and Steve got the last bass of the night.  And I missed a fish the hit my last cast with the Plopper 110, really.

Best 6 Bass of the night

Me 4 Bass
4 Pike
Steve 3 Bass
6 Pike

We missed the best bites of the night. 

Devin's Birthday Bullhead & More

Devin's 12th Birthday Bullhead is a toothy

5:00-7:00AM GOMH SW NE SW
Conditions: 35-42℉, Partly Cloudy, Calm or slight NE wind

When I arrived this morning to get Devin her birthday bullhead no other than Sneaky C was there fishing.  He said he had just gotten there and had gotten a couple of toothys. I talked with him for a while and found out about the very good Opener he had out on the Big Pond.  Eventually, I went down on the SW side.  I think heard Sneaky catch a couple of fish and then he left.  I went over to the NE side and didn't get a thing, so I went back to the SW side and thankfully got Devin's Birthday Bullhead.  I got one small jumper as well.  Because it wasn't happening I went home and posted about my morning on Facebook and switched cars.
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4.10lbs/18.5" Poison/Swim Fluke Jr.

9:00-2:00PM Inlet Bay, Dennis Flat, Center North Bay
Conditions:50-67℉, Mostly Sunny, Wind ENE

So the plan was to fish them shallow on the North side of the lake, but a trip from The Tree to the Starting Spot only produced one or two pike, so I headed out onto Dennis Flat and quickly caught a couple of pike and a 15.5" on the Poison.  I worked the Flat back to the East.  After I quickly caught a couple of nice ones I anchored.  To heck with fighting the wind.  It was a good spot and I caught several nice fish there including my biggest of the day (Pictured above).

16.5" Hooked by the Parasite Clip

After sitting there for a good hour and a half things got kind of slow so I moved into the reeds and had a big dogfish follow, but not hit doggone it.  Not much was going on in the reeds so I drifted back across the Flat catching pike and bass as I went.  I went shallow again as I passed Double Caine Point.  I got a couple there as I made my way into North Center Bay.  I got a couple of decent basses there but it was mostly pike and small ones.  Nothing on the West side of the bay up to Big Bass Point.

Best 6 for the Trip

For the trip:
18 Bass
17 Pike
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2.08"/15.75"

 
8:00-9:30PM F Flat with Devin and Steve, then the Reeds Across the Way with Steve
Conditions: Perfect but it didn't matter

So I took out Devin and Steve on a quest to get Devin a birthday bass on the Trait Crist Fishing Rod Combo that I bought for her birthday.  I thought I would head to the dock area of F Flat, but as I was heading that direction a boat was pulling into the area.  No problem we should be able to get some fish over by the North reed corner.  Wrong call.  The choice to work our way to the dock, wrong call.  Sure Steve and I missed a few bites, but Devin wasn't getting bit.  We got over to the dock and nothing was there and Devin wanted to head in, so I took her in and went back out to the reeds across the way with Steve. 

Not much was going on in the reeds.  I should have done what I should have done with Devin, which was head to North Center Bay.  Steve did get the one decent one and a dink and I missed a couple on the Sprinker.  We did have a great view though.