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Tournament Information and Registration

We are proud to announce our 2006 Wisconsin B.A.S.S. Federation Nation State Team.

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Gentleman,

By now most of you have seen the day three standings as the 2007 FNC came to close. As members of the 2006 State Team, I'd like to let you know my thoughts, aspirations, and in this case, agony of defeat.

First off I would like to thank David and Kathy Snyder, Jeff Dyer, Ken Snow, Chris Johnson, Todd Bina, and of course Terry Hilbert for their support and dedication to the Wisconsin Bass Federation Nation, without them we wouldn't be where we are today.

November Practice
My practice in Alabama started out well by safely arriving in Gadsden, AL with David Snyder, who introduced me to a Top 100 Professional, Gary Howington. We spent two and half days covering 77 miles of the Coosa River (Lake Neely Henry), to our amazement, we only boated 11 fish in that time. So needless to say, I was optimistic, but knew more study time would be necessary before the first practice day in January.

Pre-Tournament Meeting, January 14th
After the initial tournament meetings, we received a quick overview of the rigs we would be driving. A fully rigged 21 ft. X Series Triton, Mercury 250 Pro XS, Lowrance and MotorGuide 108. This boat flew as I had it up to 78.4 mph (with current).

Official Practice Days, January 15-16th
There were several things to think about in order to be successful; daily and frequent water level fluctuations, water temps, water generation periods (1-3 turbines), and cold fronts to name a few. The first day of practice the water temp was 57.8 degrees, 3 turbines of flow from 9am to 1 pm, and rising water levels. With this information, I went as far back into Beaver Creek as I could and immediately found fish biting a 3/8 oz. Falcon Lure Spinnerbait and a Bagley's Balsa B Flat (yes, I did snip the hooks). Knowing that a cold front was at our doorstep, I then went looking for some Spotted Bass locations in deep water haunts. This took me through Tuesday, the last and final day of practice to find 3 locations I felt confident enough to catch a limit. My lures of choice was a Sebile Koolie Minnow Jerkbait, a 3/8 oz. Lethal Weapon football jig (bear hair), Carolina rig, and a 1/4 oz. Bagley's shakey worm hook.

Day 1, January 17th
My aspirations were high as I ran 26 miles in frigid 23 degrees, but as luck would have it not only did the weather turn cold, the Alabama Core of Engineers deciding to draw the lake down 1 1/2 feet. Now back in Beaver Creak, I found that the water temp dropped from 57.8 degrees to 47.4. I immediately started out of the creek to the first deep water and was able to catch a spotted bass off a stump on a 3/8 oz. All Terrain Jig. The next stump I tossed to I felt the tick and set the hook which immediately broke my line. The fish proceeded to jump out of the water several times trying to throw the jig. I worked this area over for another 1 1/2 hours with no luck. I then powered up the Mercury 250 and ran to Canoe Creek were I had found the spotted bass in practice, from 10:30 to 2:00 I had approximately 7 bites, broke two more off on the hook set and successfully boated 3 more legal spots (minimum 12"). Day one weight 8.9 oz.

Day 2, January 18th
Even though I heard the big sacks of fish were caught around stumps in shallow water on crankbaits, I decided to start in Canoe Creek since I had so many bites on day 1. Though it was still raining and cold, the wind had layed down to only 5-10 mph and I felt it would be easier to feel the bites. I caught a spotted bass fairly quick and thought I was going to fill the boat fast, but that didn't happen. It wasn't until 10:30 that I decided to down size my presentation and started using a 1/4oz. black and brown hair jig. That was a good move, as I caught 4 more spotted bass to fill my limit by 1:30. I then figured I would try to find that big fish by throwing a Rapala DT07 Flat and a Jig around stumps and trees...it never happened. Day two weight 9.2 oz.

Day 3, January 19th
I was 4+ pounds behind Terry McWilliams and I knew I needed to make up ground, so I decided to return to my day 1 starting spot since the water was coming back up and hoped to catch a big fish early. I caught a 15" largemouth on the second stump with the DT07 Flat and missed one other that swiped at the crankbait. Unfortunately, several other contenders had the same idea and the small area was full of boats. At 9:30 I made the best decision by returning to Canoe Creek, on my first cast I caught a 3.78 lb. spot and filled my limit by 10:30 all on that same 1/4 oz. black and brown Lethal Weapon hair jig. At that point I felt I had ten or eleven pounds, but telling myself that I still needed at least one more big bite. I stayed in Canoe Creek until 1:00 but only caught two more that didn't help. I then ran to a spot where the main channel swung up against the bank and that I had been bit on Mondays practice. I missed one and caught one more 2 lb spotted bass that helped by about a 1 lb. Day three weight 11.14 lbs.

Agony of defeat comes in many forms in life, as I now know Ernie must have felt at Divisionals. As I sat waiting for Terry McWilliams to weigh in, I heard he only had 4 keepers and didn't think he had more than 7 lbs. I started getting excited and anxious. For 1 1/2 hours I sat in the hot seat hoping, praying, and smiling that I might have a chance. It was finally time, Lerch (the MC) told the crowd that Terry would need 7.8 oz to win. As Terry was being rolled in, he was shaking his head (like he didn't have enough), which I was glad to see. As Terry set his bag of fish on the scale, I was thinking about who I was going to thank first...but wait, did that just say 7.10 lbs? You've got to be kidding!! And, that's when they tell you to leave the stage.

In conclusion, there is a few of you reading this that have been to the National Championship and I'm not sure how you felt, but I will tell you that I felt proud to represent the Wisconsin Bass Federation Nation, and at the same time much pressure to do well for our state. So again, I want to thank my wife and family for their support, David and Kathy Snyder, Ken Snow, and to all those that called to wish me luck. That meant a lot. As we look forward to the 2007 season, study your maps, check out the new products like Sebile Lures, Sufix fishing line, and the Bagley's jig worm hooks and hopefully I'll see you on the water.

Good Fishing,

Mike Mattis

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 We are proud to announce our 2007 Wisconsin B.A.S.S. Federation Nation State Team.

Our State Team will be fishing the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Northern Divisional tournament on Lake Erie, out of Sandusky Bay, Ohio, September 2007, against 7 other 12 man teams from Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

The individual State winners from the Northern Divisional will advance and compete against the other State Champions in all 5 Divisions from all over the Nation in the B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship in 2008. The 5 Division Champions from the National Championship will advance to participate and fish the prestigious BASS Masters Classic. All dates and locations shall be determined next year, 2007 by B.A.S.S.

2007 Wisconsin BASS Federation Nation State Team

2007 WBFN State Champ - Chris Johnson

Help us welcome and support our new 2007 WBFN State Team:

Name
1. Chris Johnson
2. Chad Johnson
3. Rick Lindus**
4. Jason Stangel
5. Dan Brovarney
6. Mike Mattis**
7. Jon Wojak
8. Brent Lindus
9. Dan Elsner*
10. Jim Barzack
11. Kevin Fassbind*
12. Mike McQuitty

Alternates
13. Wes Haney
14. Randy Burch*
15. Tony Schneider

16. Tour Dir. Chris Wenzel
17. President David Snyder*

** 2006 State Team
* Past State Team Members

We are proud to announce our 2006 Wisconsin B.A.S.S. Federation Nation State Team.

 Our 2006 State Team will be fishing the B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional Tournament on the La Homme Due Chain of Lakes in Alexandria, Minnesota, against other 12 Man teams from Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Each States top angler will advance to the B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship. 

 The 9 individual State winners from the Northern Divisional will advance and compete against the other individual Champions from each state in the other 5 Divisions, South, Central, East, West and Mid Atlantic, from all over the Nation in the B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship in 2007. The 6 Division Champions from the Federation National Championship will advance to participate and fish the prestigious BASS Masters Classic in 2007. All 2007 dates and locations shall be determined later this year in 2006 by B.A.S.S.

2006 Wisconsin BASS Federation Nation State Team

Help us welcome and support our new 2006 Wisconsin B.A.S.S. Federation Nation 2006 State Team:          

Front, L to R:
Gary Schild, Randy Burch, Mark Smith, Ben Potaracke, Randy Eddy, David Snyder-Pres

Back, L to R
Jim Burrington, Dallas Lasche, Ernie Walters, Stan Miller, Rick Lindus, Chris Wenzel-T.D., Mike Mattis, Scott Zagrodnik.
        

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