Dunn & Neff Capture “The Challenge”
Records are made, only to be broken, and oh did they break ’em.

Many sports have special events with many prestigious bonuses attached. The TVA Sportsman Challenge presented by Lafayette Glass is one of those events, and it usually lives up to its name. Up for grabs in this one is two automatic berths to the 2004 National Boat Mart-TVA Bass Championship next September.

Due to Lake Freeman being lowered to a level without any accessible ramps 2003 TVA Sportsman Challenge presented by Lafayette Glass was moved to Lake Shafer instead of Lake Freeman for the first time in the history of the tournament. As the teams gathered for the meeting many were predicting that it would take a lot of weight to win. There were many great teams in the event and some new team formulations that will surely have tremendous success in the future. It was kind of a who’s, who in team bass tournaments as teams consisting of anglers from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan converged in Monticello, Indiana.

Since all three of the Fall Opens were on Shafer many anglers and teams were labeling this Fall as “Dunn Fest 2003” due to the sheer dominance that Crown Point, Indiana’s Fuzzy Dunn was inflicting on every tournament he entered.

Some angler’s thought in terms of “The Sportsman Challenge is a team tournament, and sometimes two heads can be better than one in figuring out the code and catching big creels of bass.” Dunn’s team partner though was Jack Neff. Another accomplished winning tournament angler. If the team of Dunn and Neff needed help, they had all the bases covered.

Other anglers thought “You just don’t keep banging big strings every weekend without your best spots going dry eventually”. But, Dunn and Neff’s fish hardly went dry. The duo shattered the all-time weight record.

They also won the award for Big Smallmouth Bass with a beautiful bronze smallie that weighed 3.04 pounds. But the biggest bonus of all is both Dunn and Neff have qualified for the 2004 National Boat Mart – TVA Bass Championship next September where they will fish as individuals on “Championship Weekend”.

The majority of Dunn and Neff’s fish were caught on an assortment of baits as they ran back and forth from the river to the main lake the entire day. Of course, all are 99.9% sure Dunn threw a spinnerbait.

In second place with a 10 bass limit that tipped the scales to the19.01 pound mark was a team that has been undoubtedly the area’s “Hottest Team in 2004” Vandergraff and Cohagan. They also took the Big Largemouth Bass award with a 3.38 pound largemouth. The team is sponsored by JV Custom Baits and Team Custom Rods.

In third was the team of Pangborn and Costello with a beautiful 10 bass limit from the main lake weighing 16.20 pounds.

Holding down fourth was the team of Coffing and Wilson with 9 bass weighing 13.45 pounds. Coffing and Wilson are sponsored by Team Custom Rod’s and McWhirter Shell in Monticello, Indiana. Rounding out the Top-5 was the team of Yoder and Howlett with 7 bass weighing 11.80 pounds of main lake bass.

An interesting Fact:
In the 2003 Sportsman Challenge presented by Lafayette Glass 44% of the field did not even weigh in a keeper bass. Leaving the remaining percentage of 56% weighing in at least one “keeper” sized bass. The cumulative weight of the tournament was 143.67 pounds. Total number of bass weighed in was 84, for an average weight of 1.71 pounds (that’s healthy).

Of the 84 fish caught, 46 of the bass were caught by the Top-5 teams in the event. Of the 143.67 pounds, 81.76 pounds of bass were caught by the Top-5 teams in the event.

TOP-10 TEAMS2003 TVA Sportsman Challenge
Presented by: Lafayette Glass

Check out LAFAYETTE GLASS
The TVA Bass Series sincerely appreciates the support and generosity of all our sponsors. Lafayette Glass came on board starting at the 2003 TVA Bass Championship, and has been a presenting sponsor in the Fall Open’s.

The next time you have a glass need: Auto, Home, or Commercial check out Lafayette Glass in Lafayette Indiana they’re located at 2841 Teal Road in Lafayette (across from ALCOA) You can call them at 765-474-1402 or 1-800-382-7862. Lafayette Glass has been in business since 1946.

They can supply all your glass needs plus more, they provide plate glass, replacement windows, patio doors, entrance doors, framed mirrors, shower doors, storefronts, auto glass, vinyl tops, storm window and screen repairs, window glass cut to size, furniture tops – any size, any shape, pop-up sunroofs, electric moonroofs, and even window tinting. Hey there’s an idea, surprise your wife with a new pop-up sunroof or electric moonroof. What a great holiday gift or a great gift for any special occasion.

New Sponsor
As an added bonus in some of the drawings “Wild Bill’s Outpost” has come on board to offer a beautiful selection of custom, handcrafted, knives. The master craftsmanship and quality Bill put’s into each knife makes each one unique and a “must have” for many. Wild Bill’s Outpost is owned by former professional rodeo star Bill LaBeau.

Join us in 2004
The National Boat Mart -TVA Bass Series now goes into the “Winter Break”. Happy Holidays to all our friends, sponsors, and fishermen. Be sure and recruit a friend for the next event and let them fish a TVA Series event. The next event will be held on Lake Shafer on April 17th 2004 out of the Indiana Beach Campground. We encourage everyone to come and fish TVA in the 2004 season.

The TVA Bass Series is proudly sponsored by: National Boat Mart, FishingWorld.com, Bass Maxx Charging Systems, Lafayette Glass Company, Hendrickson Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Ambush Lures, Wrede & Son’s Excavating, Best Western Brandywine Inn & Suites, Land-O-Champs Trophy, Wild Bill’s Outpost, and Metal Art Studios. We encourage everyone to write a “thank you” letter to all of them. Even better, CHECK THEM OUT, give them YOUR business, and say “thank you” in person.By: TVA Staff