Crazy 2019 Classic Wrap Up!

Lake Sakakawea was rockin’ and rollin’ Saturday but the strange thing was there was no wind to start the 2019 BBB Classic Championship but yet there were 4 foot rollers out on the main lake to start the day. Of course Lake Sakakwea had much bigger waves in store for the Bandits later in the day! Some of the field stuck close to Dakota Waters where we launched, others ventured far north. Those who went far north had some good boating stories once they returned, some reported 7 foot waves! How was the fishing you ask? Well despite the rough waters all of the teams that were participating were able to bring in a limit. Two teams were able to break the 8 lb mark while the rest of the field hit the mid 7 and 6 lb mark. If you look at our club’s history on that lake you will notice that our weights are getting heavier each year. Below are Day 1 leaders:

1. Tanner Mallams & John Lancaster 8.55 lbs

2. Justin Enney & Kyle Okke 8.18 lbs

3. Cody and Ron Arth 7.58 lbs

4. Paul and Tony Reinbold 7.54 lbs

5. Eric Vossler & Thomas Lientz 6.98 lbs

6. Bob & Jeanette Reinbold 6.86 lbs

7. Carl Hayden & Brian 6.47 lbs

8. Logan & Scott Bollinger 2.30 lbs

After the Day 1 weigh was finalized everyone pulled out their phones to get a weather report update for Sunday. WIND WIND WIND, RAIN RAIN RAIN with high 40 temps was the report. This made the decision very simple, off to New Johns lake we go! Day 2 at New Johns lake started out wet and cold and it never changed after that in case you were wondering. As always Lake New Johns provided wind protection for our anglers so that they could at least feel somewhat of a tug on the end of the line. The bite was tough but the determination of the club members was tougher, everyone knew that the 2019 Classic Championship was ripe for the taking and that at any moment they could catch the bass to seal the deal! Half way through the day it was reported that only 1 boat had 1 fish, the rest of the field that was asked had 0. But at the end of the day every boat brought in fish, two boats were able to bring in a limit. Those boats finished the tournament at the top. Bringing in a Day 2 weight of 10.80 lbs was team Cody and Ron Arth, Justin Enney and Kyle Okke brought in 10.20 lbs which made a 2 day final total weight of 18.38 lbs for both teams! That’s right, our Classic ended in a tie but not for long as our rules states tie breakers will be broken by the team who has the biggest bass. Team Arth had a 4.20 lb smallmouth and Team Enney and Okke had a 4.16 lb smallmouth therefore, your 2019 Badlands Bass Bandits Classic Champions were Cody and Ron Arth! Biggest Bass of the tournament went to Eric Vossler and Thomas Lientz with a 4.35 lb smallmouth! It was a crazy event with the waves on Lake Sakakawea and the brutal weather on New Johns Lake but in the end the Bandits came and conquered and a Classic Champion was crowned!

End of the Year Awards

Huge congratulations to Tanner Mallams as he was the 2019 Badlands Bass Bandits Angler of the Year!

Congratulations to John Lancaster as he is the 2019 Badlands Bass Bandits Rookie of the Year!

Congratulations to Brandon and Logan Bollinger they are your 2019 Horizon Award recipients! (Most Improved)

2019 Bag Buster Award went to Daren Schneider and Devin Hofmann 12.87 lbs New Johns Lake

2019 Biggest Largemouth went to Tanner Mallams 4.76 lb Lake Nelson

2019 Biggest Smallmouth went to Daren Schneider and Devin Hofmann

This concludes our 2019 season, hope to see you all at our Fall Meeting at Lucky’s 13! Dates will be posted soon!