(Sturgeon Bay, WI – September 13, 2021)

For the anglers of the North American Bass Challenge’s (NABC) Fall Sturgeon Bay Open Bass Tournament (SBOBT), the rough water and tough bite kept them guessing. For the winning team of Ron Heim (Green Bay, WI) and Brandon Monger (Pulaski, WI), experience on the water and a couple memories helped cut down much of the guesswork.

Presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury Marine, the duo beat out 44 other teams in what would be a tight race at the top for the $2,999.99 top prize. “We knew what we had according to our scale, but we thought someone always comes across with 24 or 25 pounds.  It goes to show you just never know!” said Brandon, just before he was handed the 1^st place plaques on stage by tournament director and emcee, Jeff Kelm.

The pair also walked away with the Garmin bonus, awarded to the highest qualifying team with Garmin Marine electronics installed in their boat. Garmin Marine regional sales manager, Brendan Scarpone, was on site for the weigh-in and was excited to see a Garmin team win the event. “We come to a bunch of events like these and we see it more and more often that a team used our electronics to win. It is always fun to witness it.” said Scarpone.

All together Ron and Brandon took home nearly $3,500 in cash and prizes! Let’s have a look at how the rest of the top five teams faired:

2^nd: Jimmy Doering and Dylan Jennerjohn, 21-15, $1,300 cash

3^rd: Neil Vandervest and Steve Nooyen, 21-12, $900 cash

4^th: Adam Rassmussen and Brad Huber, 21-00, $700 cash

5^th: Jason Bonlander and Nick Mueller, 20-14, $600 cash

The heaviest fish of the event was caught by the team of Edward Bohn and Jason Julian Sr., a 5-11 tank that sealed the $440 in “Big Fish” money all to themselves.

All together the anglers at the NABC’s Fall Sturgeon Bay Open Bass Tournament caught 120 fish weighing a total of 424 lbs. 14 oz.

The SBOBT Committee was raising money for future conservation and efforts by collecting donations and selling caps, hats and sweatshirts. The volunteers were excited to see an uptick in participation for this fall event and a beautiful day for the public to come out and raise money for upcoming projects.

Based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s North American Bass Challenge offers something for everyone and all income levels. With the support of some of the biggest names in the tournament world. Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, supports the NABC for the tenth year as the title sponsor. Other sponsors include: Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Motor Guide, Garmin, T-H Marine, X2 Power and Faculty of Fishing.

The North American Bass Challenge events provide an experience everyone can enjoy. NABC is open to anglers from all walks of life, regardless of club or sponsor affiliation. Along with stellar paybacks, a portion of each entry fee is donated to fisheries conservation and matched by the NABC and other conservation organizations up to 3-to-1 in support of bass conservation projects anywhere the North American Bass Challenge does business.

Visit northamericanbasschallenge.com, email, support@northamericanbasschallenge.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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Fishing was tough, to say the least on Lake Cumberland April 17-18 as the 1st annual Heart of Lake Cumberland Big Fish event was held there.  Hosted by the Montecillo/Wayne County Tourism and Presented by Garmin anglers worked hard to come up with fish to weigh in.  In fact, so tough that in the first 2-hour weigh-in session on the first day only 3 fish were weighed and the event paid 5 places each session!

But it was also in those 3 fish weighed in the very first session that the winning fish was weighed.  Gregory Horn caught a smallmouth that he thought was maybe 4 pounds about 5 minutes after the opening cast on Saturday morning.  The fish hit about 7:05 or 7:10  that morning he said “We had just got started.” Horn said. A white crankbait caught Horn’s eye on Friday night as he stopped at the store, apparently it also caught the smallmouths eye!

The fist weighed in at 4-05 pounds and seven  2 hour weigh-in sessions and a full day later on Sunday afternoon it was still the biggest fish weighed in all weekend earning Horn the top prize of $10,500.00 cash.

Anthony Reynolds finished second overall winning a $3,149.99 prize package including $1,550.00 in cash plus a Motorguide Trolling motor with a 4-04  bass

Nick Price locked down the 3rd overall big fish prize worth $1,000.00 including $1000 cash plus a Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s $50 gift card and a $50 TH Marine Prize by weighing in a 4.03-ounce bass.

Up to $7,000 in Ranger Cup bonus money was up for grabs as was a $500 Garmin bonus

Overall 43 paid places were offered in 8 – 2 hour weigh-in session (4 each day) each session paid $600, $300, $200, $150, and $125 for the top 5 and first out of the money was awarded a $50 Bass Pro Shops / Cabelas Gift card if they had signed up as an NABC member.

In total over $34,000 was up for grabs at this event which was over %200 payback on entries.