BASS Jr. Northern Divisional Tournament

[djkimmel]

If you haven't already heard, Michigan (BASS Federation) is hosting the first (I think it's the first) BASS Jr. Northern Divisional tournament on Friday, June 25th on Lake St. Clair.

There'll be Jr. Bassmaster's from up to 8 different states and Ontario depending on who has enough Jr. BASS clubs to send a state team. There's a dinner Thursday night and then the tournament out of Metro Beach on Friday.

I've volunteered to help either take out two Jr. Bassmaster's fishing on Friday or with the release boat we'll have there.

I don't know if we have enough volunteers lined up yet. If you're interested, you can email Ron Guilfoil Jr. at [e-mail] for more info. If you're around, you might want to stop in and see the event. Ron promises to have volunteers who need to out in time to make the BFL meeting down the road later that evening. You don't have to go to the Thursday meeting either to help out. Should be fun.

[djkimmel]

"KAISER CRUISES TO NORTHERN DIVISION WIN"

WISCONSIN TAKES TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

MT. CLEMENS, MI. (7/4/04) - Wells Kaiser of Wisconsin won the 11-14 age division and was the overall champion at the 2004 Junior Bassmaster Northern Division Championship, held Friday, June 25th, on Lake St. Clair.

Kaiser was the only youth angler to bring in a 5-fish limit and tipped the scales with a sack weighing 9.81 pounds, while helping his fellow Wisconsin teammates win the team championship. Steven Rowbotham of Canada took second overall, while winning the 15-18 year old division with 4 bass weighing 7.86 pounds, leading Canada to a runner-up team finish. Both Kaiser and Rowbotham qualified for the Junior Bassmaster World Championship.

Kyle Heels of Canada took "Big Bass" honors in the 11-14 age group with a 3.71 lunker, while Derek Jacobson of Minnesota had the biggest bass for the 15-18 year olds with a 3.21 lunker.

Wisconsin took first place with team score of 30.44 lbs. Second place was taken by Canada with a team score of 30.03 lbs and third place went to Indiana with a team score of 19.44 lbs. To round out the rest of team score; fourth place was Michigan with team score of 18.66 lbs, Minnesota 15.85 lbs, Ohio 10.23 lbs and S. Dakota 6.72 lbs.

Two girls competing were Caitlyn Merkle from Ohio and Brittney Brown from S. Dakota. Brittney Brown made the quailing to attend the World Championship.

Contenders from Michigan were 11 - 14 age group Cole Hutchins from Commerce Twp., KC Fritz from Parama, Brett Schiller from Wixom. In the older age group, 15-18 they were Joe Schemanske from Livonia, Tripper Johnson from Jackson, and Alex Minito from Livonia.

The Michigan B.A.S.S. Federation hosted the event, sponsored by the Bryan Kerchal Memorial Fund, Microtel Inns, Cenex, All-Star Rods, Bass Pro Shop, McGuiness, Murray's Auto Parts, TTI Company, Daiichi Hooks, Gene Larew, Ranger Boats, Meijer Stores, Scales & Tales/Action Performance, Gino's Surf Restaurant, Gordon Foods, Sysco Foods, thingy’s Sporting Goods, BASS/ESPN, Mercury/Motorguide, Little Bill's Trophies, Quality First Aid, Jay's Sporting Goods, Red Dragon, Snack Daddy Lures, Clearwater Tackle, American Rodsmith, Gambler, Bang Products, Mepps, Absopure Water Company and Combat Fishing.