Ice Bowl Canceled due to high winds*

Date: April 6th!

Location:Nelson Lake, North Boat Ramp

Classic Championship Weekend

Final results of 2023 Classic Championship! Congratulations to Team Ron and Cody Arth! Congratulations to our JR Division champion Mariah Maslanka!! Big fish honors went to Team Olson with a 4.70lb smallmouth!

Spiritwood Showdown

The 8th stop of the 2023 Badlands Bass Bandits schedule is in the books. 12 teams met on Spiritwood lake which is one of North Dakota’s premier smallmouth fisheries. It was a cool foggy morning that was later met with sunny skies and light winds for the remainder of the day. Most teams were able to cash in on the smallmouth that this little 500 acre lake had to offer. Some bass were caught deep early in the day while the most dominating pattern seemed to be a shallow bite by targeting areas that had an abundance of perch for the smallmouth to feed on. While the majority of the field were able to enjoy a relaxing day on the water there were two anglers that were biting their nails as the day progressed. Defending angler of the year Michael Messal and avid angler Cody Arth have been running off with the angler of the year points race. The gap has been narrowed in the points and will be setting up for an exciting finish at our Classic Championship which will be held on Lake Tschida!

Club Camping Weekend Update

As previously mentioned our club camping weekend will take place on September 16th &17th which is the same weekend as our 2 day Classic Championship.

Listed below is the itinerary for that weekend as well as campsite information.

Camping Information:

Our club is camping at the Rim Rock Area Loop A, please take a look at the map photo below, we currently have the sites circled in blue. If you have already received a notification from me that you have a site reserved you are all set, for those who have not and need a site please let me know so I can reserve a campsite in Loop A to keep you near the rest of the club members.

The campsites are reserved for a two night stay with an arrival of Friday the 15th and checking out Sunday the 17th. (Check in times are 2 p.m. MDT and Check out times are 1 p.m. MDT)

I’ll see if we can have our checkout extended for Sunday.

Campsites are reserved and paid for by the club, you must pay the camping fee to the club not the camping office.

Cost per site: $48 total owed to the club.

If you would like to arrive at an earlier date please let me know so I can make those arrangements for you.

Date: September 16th and Sunday 17th

Ramp Location: North Shore Boat Ramp

Team Entry Fee: $160.00

Registration: 5:45 a.m. CT

Rules: 6:00 a.m. CT

Start: 6:30 CT (daily)

End: 2:30 CT (daily)

Camping Festivities: (will take place at Loop A)

Saturday starting at 5:00 CT

Presidents Supper

Fishing Seminar

Ladder Ball Tournament to follow Presidents Supper and Fishing Seminar.

Lake Sakakawea

We had 14 teams for this event and probably the nicest weather for this lake in club history. Next stop Lake Isabel, SD! See you there!

Lake Sakakawea Tournament Update

Date: July 22nd

Location: Dakota Waters Resort

Registration time: 5:45 am Central time

Rules: 6:00 am Central time

Tournament starts: 6:30 am Central time

Tournament ends: 2:30 Central time

Entry fee: $80/ team (no more than 3 on a team).

Graciously Dakota waters resort approved for us to use their ramp. Please return the favor and give them your business during our visit. They have a full line a snacks and drinks, gas, campground and cafe.

*Although the tournament is still on, the club camping weekend festivities will be postponed to a later date.

Click on the link for location and directions

Lake Oahe Results

July 8th Lake Oahe, SD from Indian Creek State Park

1st - Mike Reid & Richard Mollison - 11.77
2nd - Team Bullinger - 11.61
3rd - John, Gayla & Cordell Wadsworth - 10.44
4th - Team Reinbold, Paul - 10.13
5th - Bob & Matt - 7.25
6th - Team Massal - 6.45
7th - Joe, Lorie & Alex Reinbold - 6.06
8th - Team Arth - 3.72
9th - Team Eldridgy - 2.85

Lake Oahe

July 8th Lake Oahe, SD from Indian Creek State Park

Registration: 5:45

Rules/Boat draw: 6:10

Tournament starts: 6:30

Weigh in: 2:30

All times are Central time Zone

*NOTE: We will be using the low water ramp on the East side. *

Lake Audubon

Lake Audubon Recap

New John’s

New Johns Recap

*Froelich Dam Tournament Moved To East Park Lake (New Johns)*

Due to bad gravel/dirt road conditions from the highway to Froelich Dam, our tournament event has been moved to East Park lake (aka New Johns) We had a club member check the road to Froelich this morning and got stuck. With more rain expected it is best to move our event location . We will be launching from East Park lake. See you there.

Froelich Dam Tournament Moved To East Park Lake (New Johns)

Nelson Lake Recap

For only the second time in the clubs 17 year history a tournament was postponed. The Nelson lake event scheduled for April 22nd on the 500 acre lake impoundment had to be move to the 23rd due to icy road conditions in Center and the surrounding area. While most of the state did not have these conditions, the roads nearest to Lake Nelson were ice covered and for the safety of the members and their equipment it was best to wait a day.

When Sunday morning rolled around the outside temp was only 22 degrees, with the hopes of a balmy 45 degrees forecasted the field of 15 teams set out to start their 2023 season. The fishing was tough due to rising cold muddy water coming from the Square Butte creek but the Bandits were ready for the challenge as most teams were able to put together a limit of 5 bass. Full Recap

2023 Ice Bowl

View Gallery

March 25th 2023 was certainly one of the coldest ice bowls in club history. Morning temps of 12 above with a breeze straight out of the North made very cold conditions. Nonetheless 14 hardcore bass fisherman showed up to have a little fun for our annual Ice Bowl derby on Lake Nelson. The field included 5 teams who competed from a boat and 2 teams fishing from the bank. Thankfully Lake Nelson provided good fishing for both groups!

Taking home top honors were Colton Blomberg and John Lancaster whose best 5 bass totaled 88 inches, they also took biggest bass honors with a 20.25 inch beauty! Taking home second place and doing it all by fishing from the confinements of the shores of Lake Nelson was team James and Brayden Francis of Minot with a total length of 76.75 inches with a 17.5 inch bass anchoring their best 5. Coming in with a very close 3rd place finish that boasted a 75.5 inch limit of 5 was Matt Schnieder and Matt Rose.

During the “spill the beans” portion of our event the top 3 winners shared what they caught their fish on. Bass were caught early on crankbaits and then as the tournament went on the bass seemed to prefer something small like a ned rig with a very precise finesse presentation. Listed below are full event standings, see you all at our official season kick off event on April 22nd at Lake Nelson!

1st Colton Blomberg / John Lancaster 88”

2nd Jame and Brayden Francis 76.75”

3rd Matt Schnieder / Matt Rose 75.5”

4th Michael and Angela Messal 75”

5th Attie Heystek / Duncan Swart 74.5”

6th Bob Reinbold / Quinn Reinbold 70.5”

7th Peter and Geremy Olsen 15”