Turtle Lake, August 13th, 2004
Junior Anglers from Minnesota came to compete in the 3rd Minnesota Junior State Championship on Turtle/Movil Lakes north of Bemidji. 21 Junior anglers from 5 different Minnesota Junior B.A.S.S. Federation clubs participated in this year’s championship tournament. The participating clubs were the Fairmont Junior club, Red Lake Bass Brats, Bassinators, Gopher Junior Club and Bassin Boys. Junior anglers were paired together with an angler from a different junior club in their age group. Their adult boaters were from clubs that attended the State tournament.
John Crane from Northland tackle provided a backup boat in case there were boat troubles on the water. Thankfully he was available as we had to call on him to take over from one boat that broke down with about two hours left in the tournament.

The weather the week leading up to the tournament had been anything but normal. The weather was more typical of early October than early August. The Jr. Contenders were faced with difficult pre-fishing conditions prior to the tournament. Early in the week rain, cool temperatures that stayed in the 40's, and winds out of the northwest greeted them. Temperatures started to rise and the skies started to clear as the week went on. The morning of the tournament started with partly cloudy skies, calm winds, and temperatures in the upper 40’s. The day warmed up into the mid 60’s by late morning. The winds during the day picked up to 5 to 10 MPH from the northwest.

The morning started at 6:00am with push off. A few of the Jr. anglers had limits in their boat shortly after 7:00am. Talking with many of the Jr. contenders and their boat drivers after the tournament, the bite only got better as the day warmed up. The key pattern for a majority of the Jr. anglers was the reed beds with a sharp deep water break adjacent. The majority of the field threw spinnerbaits with willow leaf blades and skirt colors white/green or chartreuse/white. A few of the Jr. contenders took it a step farther and went back through their key areas several times with jigs/craws and tubes. They picked up the more reluctant fish that would not bite a fast moving bait. A lot of them had tried the deep water earlier in the week with jigs/craws and jig/worms, but the fish were not aggressive and were picking up and dropping the baits.

Dale Richardson, the Minnesota B.A.S.S. (adult) Federation Tournament Director was on the water during the day checking on the Jr. contenders and taking pictures of them. The tournament push off and weigh-in site was Kohl's resort www.kohls.com on the eastern shores of Turtle Lake. Parents, friends and guests of Kohl's resort were on the docks and shores watching the boats arrive for the 2:00pm check in time. After all Jr. contenders were checked in and began unloading their fish from their livewells, the real excitement began. The size and limits being brought in was very impressive. The Jr. anglers from each boat were brought up to the scales in their push off order. The leader board changed several times during the weigh-in for Top Hook, Top weight and Big Bass for each age group. The awards ceremony had real excitement because the weights were so close in both age groups.

The TOP HOOK award was won for a second year in a row by Randy Helms of the BASSIN BOYS (15-18 age group) with a weight of 14.52 pounds. This is for the best overall weight from the tournament for all the contestants from either age group. It is a memorial award in memory of Tom "GRAMPA" Nelson who passed away 1 1/2 years ago after a battle with cancer. Tom's wife Carol, and their children, and grandchildren made the long trip from Minneapolis to present the award to the Top Junior Angler.

1st place winners for both age groups were announced. Dave Saterbak (11-14 age group) from the BASSIN BOYS with a weight of 11.22 pounds and Randy Helms (15-18 age group) from the BASSIN BOYS with a weight of 14.52 pounds

2nd place went to Jarvis King (11-14 age group) from the RED LAKE BASS BRATS with a weight of 11.02 pounds and Bob Downey (15-18 age group) from the BASSIN BOYS with a weight of 13.93 pounds

3rd place went Chris Knutson (11-14 age group) from the BASSIN BOYS with a weight of 10.18 pounds and Derek Kuntz (15-18 age group) from the BASSIN BOYS with a weight of 12.60 pounds

Big BASS of the tournament went to Chris Knutson (11-14 age group) from the BASSIN BOYS with 4.67 pound Bass and Bob Downey 15-18 age group) from the BASSIN BOYS 4.46 pound Bass.

The Jr. Anglers brought a total of 76 largemouth Bass to the scales that day for a total of 158.14 pounds for the tournament. That is a 2.08 pound average. There was only one dead Bass, due to livewell problems. There were (11) - 5 fish limits brought to the scales and several 4 fish limits. There were also 3 Bass over 4 pounds brought to the scales. The tournament was a great success.

Special thanks go out to these People, Companies, and Organizations
Darwin and Eileen Sumner, members of the Red Lake Bass Busters, who hosted the tournament. They are also the adult sponsors of the Red Lake Bass Brats. Darwin and Eileen worked all year taking care of securing permits, Hotels, the meeting site, the tournament site, and getting donations so they could provide pizza for the pre-tournament meeting, rolls and juice the morning of the tournament and box lunches for all during the day of tournament.

Dale Richardson, the Minnesota B.A.S.S. (adult) Federation Tournament Director presided over the tournament. This was Dale's first time as our Jr. Federation Tournament Director. Dale's dedication to the Youth over the years has always been out in front. Part of this tournament's great success was attributed to Dale for making sure everything was covered on and off the water for all the Jr. Anglers. I think I speak for everyone associated with the Jr. tournament to what a great addition he was. We all hope we see you next year!!!

Mark Gomez, the West Region Federation Director and a member of the Viking Bassmasters was the weigh master. Thanks to Mark for doing this a second year in a row and Viking Bassmasters for donating their club scale for the weigh-in.

Kohl's Resort. They opened up their facilities for us and gave us a perfect place for this State Jr. Championship. Their resort is a perfect family getaway. If you are in the Bemidji area and looking for a great place to vacation and great Bass fishing. Check out their web site at www.kohls.com.

Gander Mountain in Bemidji for the pre-tournament site.

Cenex Lubricants. Cenex has entered their second year with the Junior Federation and is now a major sponsor of the Minnesota B.A.S.S. Federation.

The Red Lake Substance Abuse Facility donated the food.

Excipio Consulting, Red Lake Substance Abuse Center, Northland Tackle and Pro Tour Baits for donating technical support, monetary donations and tackle.

The Minnesota B.A.S.S. Federation for providing the trophies.

Next year we move to the Minneapolis area for the Minnesota Junior State Championship. The lake and date will be named at a later date.

Todd Saterbak
Minnesota Bass Federation Youth Director

Final tournament standings