Due to Lake Freeman being lowered to a level without any accessible ramps the National Boat Mart-TVA Bass Series moved the Freeman event to Lake Shafer in October. As the anglers arrived at the lake some were skeptical about the amount of weight it would take to win. Most predicted that it would take a nice limit, and they were right.
Crown Point, Indiana’s Fuzzy Dunn won the event with a five bass limit weighing in at 10.99 pounds. Dunn’s catch would’ve weighed more except he was docked .25 of a pound for having a fish die on him during the day. The majority of Dunn’s fish were caught on spinnerbaits as he ran back and forth from the river to the main lake the entire day. Some say he was born with a spinnerbait in his hand. With his win, Dunn picked up much more than a check and the victory spoils as he danced in the winners circle. Dunn finished in 2nd place last month in the September Open on Shafer and sits in the “drivers seat” atop the point standings as the series goes into “Winter Break”. It’s clear to see why Dunn considers Shafer as not only his home lake, but also his favorite lake. With the 2004 season underway 3 of the next 7 events will be held on Shafer, many anglers say that Dunn likes his chances to win his first National Boat Mart-TVA Series Points Championship in 2004. Dunn is sponsored by Computers Plus.
In second place was Monon, Indiana’s Jeff Vandergraff. Vandergraff had a nice five bass limit that weighed 10.49 pounds to secure his solid finish. Vandergraff reported catching the majority of his fish on baits that were specially painted by J.V. Custom Baits. Vandergraff’s is sponsored by: J.V. Custom Baits, Team Custom Rods, Embroidery Design, and M-B Marine Service.
In third was Wade Cohagan of Monticello, Indiana. Cohagan had a five bass limit that tipped the scales to the 9.16 pound mark. “I caught all my fish on crankbaits and jigs today said Cohagan at weigh-in. Cohagan is sponsored by: J.V. Custom, and Pro Tint (professional window tinting).
In fourth was Logansport, Indiana’s John Sabatini with four bass weighing in at 7.50 pounds. Sabatini reported catching his bass upriver throughout the day. Sabatini is sponsored by: Computers Plus, Skeeter, Yamaha, National Boat Mart, Gambler Worms, and Okuma.
Rounding out the Top five was Burnettsville, Indiana’s Jerry Drazer with a limit of bass weighing 7.31 pounds. Drazer is sponsored by: Interstate Batteries, Hendrickson’s of Monticello Dodge, Bragg-N-Good Snacks, Ambush Lures, and Kick-N-Bass Attractant.
Marty Yoder of Brook, Indiana won the Big Bass Award for the event with a 3.56 Smallmouth.
Randy Wilhite of Goodland, Indiana was the winner of the TVA Non-Boater Bonus Award for the event.
Rookie-of-the-Year Race
After the completion of first two events of 2004 a non-boater is on top of the “Rookie of the Year” race. Flora, Indiana’s Bill LaBeau is leading with 173 points and sits in 14th overall. The interesting story here is Labeau didn’t have a fish in the livewell towards the end of the tournament. But with literally only a couple minutes to go, he put one in the boat. Two minutes to LaBeau is a lot of time though. As a former professional bull rider on the rodeo circuit, he was only given 8 seconds to hold on and not give up. LaBeau is sponsored by: Lauderdale Heating and Plumbing.
The next event will be held on Lake Shafer on April 17th 2004 out of the Indiana Beach Campground.
The TVA Bass Series is 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, and Metal Art Studios.By: TVA Staff
