Connestee Falls (2025) Bass Fishing Tournament Results

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Stu Davidson

 

The morning of Saturday May 3rd was the best fishing periods in my 30+ years of Bass Fishing Tournament Organization.  Funny, I’d said the same thing in 2024, but 2025 was even better.    As the rain and the cold front stayed delayed, at 6 AM I texted the nine teams  that the tournament was ON!


By 7:15 all were in the water, including Chris & Tim Brown, Dave Maeda & Bill Roehrich, Ryan & Zach Stroup, Nathan Pressley & Tyler Greer, Al Bryne & Scott Smith, Chris Wunder & Dave Varian, Steve Seelinger & Mark Weinstein, Chuck Thillman & Matt Kurimsky, plus myself & Daron Strub.


After introductions at 7:30, the boats scattered from the Ticoa Dam launch.   We tried to keep up with Bill & Dave, but my motor was no match for his Newport  36 Volt setup.   Scott and Al’s Pontoon went into the nearest cove and caught 10 Bass in 10 minutes on a wacky rig.  The overcast sky was perfect, I estimate that on average each team caught about 30 Bass with one in four being over the 12 inch minimum.   With Steve’s guidance, Mark accidentally dangled a tube jig from a tree and he hooked a Bass, a fisherman’s dream!


At the High Noon Weigh-in, the Stroup team once again produced a Monster Bass, which weighed just over 9 pounds, about a half-pound larger than their 2024 winner, 1st prize was $40 of the total pot’s $90.  The next largest Bass was less than 2 pounds.   Prizes were awarded for stringers of three Bass until the money ran out.  Here are the totals for three Bass.

 

Bill & Dave

3.46 lbs.

2nd Prize

$30

Stu & Daron

2.96 lbs

3rd Prize

$20

Ryan & Zach

2.75 lbs.

 

 

Chris & Tim

2.61 lbs.

 

 

Al & Scott

2.57 lbs.

 

 

Steve & Mark

2.55 lbs.

 

 

Nathan & Tyler

2.43 lbs.

 

 

 

Our lures of choice were a Zoom Trick or Senko plastic worm rig with the hook imbedded back into the worm for a weed less retrieval.   Other used the same, some wacky wormed (hooked in the middle), drop shot (weighted) and others crank baits.  The tournament winner was caught on a Bream Swim Bait.   She was returned to her catch spot, the rest of the Bass happily swam away from the Ticoa dock.


The 2026 plan is to move back to Lake Atagahi for the tournament, the first Saturday in May.  


Special thanks go to Chris Wunder who took pictures which are on the website!   Thanks to the fishermen who participated, the CFPOA for their announcements and the Fishing Club for its support!  These results, pictures, rules and past results are available via the Connestee Falls Fishing club website https://www.cffishclub.org/ or  my site, www.davidsonantiques.com/fishing.html 


Good Fishing, Stu Davidson