Classic Recap

Tanner & Michella Mallams win the 2 day Classic!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the weekend of weather and those who aren’t part of our club thought we were foolish. Of course were talking about the weather for the 2018 Badlands Bass Bandits Classic Championship and it can be summed up in one word – COLD! For the 2nd time in the club’s 13 year history the Classic was fished in winter like temperatures and conditions. This was a 2 day event and both mornings started with temps in the low to mid 30’s and that’s not including the wind factor. Many anglers were wondering how the fishing was going to be, some thought really good and others thought slow. But they all agreed that fish were going to be caught by North Dakota’s elite bass anglers, especially when you put them on fisheries like the Audobon lakes.

Day’s prior to the event it was a 2 horse race for the Angler of the Year title as well as a 1 horse race for the Rookie of the Year. Paul Reinbold and Justin Enney of Dickinson were facing off to claim the AOY while Mason McRoberts of Minot standing along on top of the ROY points. Biggest smallmouth of the year coming into the event was currently being held by Colton Blomberg at 4.21 lbs and the Biggest Largemouth was Tony Reinbold with a 6.50 slob! With the biggest largemouth of the year award pretty much sewed up the biggest smallmouth was definitely in Jeopardy, especially on the North Audobon Lake.

Day 1 was led by the dynamic duo of Mantz and Sullivan who were looking for a back2back classic championship run with 10.93 lbs. Matt Sullivan also boated the biggest smallmouth of the tournament which weighed 3.98 lbs! Sitting in second place was Team Mallams of Tanner and his wife Michella with a 10.05 lb bag and 3rd place was pinned down by Paul and Tony Reinbold and Hayden “the Hammer” Bader with 9.55 lbs. There were 4 other teams at the 9 lb mark and a couple in the high 8 lb mark so going into Day 2 was a very tight race.

Day 2 started out very cold, windy and cloudy, Mother Nature was throwing everything at the Bandits to keep them from catching bass. But we all bundled up and braved the weather! Coming in with consistency was team Mallams with a 10.26 lb bag, this gave them the overall winning weight of 20.21 lbs! A man who was on the move from 7th place on day one to a 2nd place jump was Cody Arth with a Day 2 weight of 10.54 that gave him a 2 day total weight of 19.63 lbs! Holding on to a tight 3rd place race was Paul and Tony Reinbold and Hayden “the Hammer” Bader with a Day 2 weight of 9.94 lbs which gave them a 2 day total weight of 19.49 lbs.

Although we wish we could fish tournaments all year every season has to come to a close, but with that are the Bandits End of the Year Awards. Congratulations to all who received/earned them!

2018 Angler of the Year – Paul Reinbold

2018 Rookie of the Year – Mason McRoberts

2018 Horizon Award Winner (most improved): Justin Enney

2018 Horizon Award Winner (most improved):: Curt Manley

Bag Buster Award – Justin Enney and Jason Perius (Lake Nelson 14.16 lbs)

Biggest Smallmouth of the Year – Colton Blomberg 4.21 lbs (New Johns)

Biggest Largemouth of the Year – Tony Reinbold 6.50 lbs (Lake Nelson)

Classic Championship Results:

1. Tanner & Michella Mallams 20.21 lbs

2. Cody Arth 19.63 lbs

3. Paul & Tony Reinbold & Hayden Bader 19.49 lbs

4. Marty Mantz & Matt Sullivan 19.19 lbs