The National Boat Mart – TVA Bass Series held it’s 6th event of 2004 on Morse Reservoir in Noblesville, Indiana.
The weather was very cooperative, and pleasant. But the recreational traffic made deep water fishing tough for many anglers.
Talk deep water fishing on Morse Reservoir in the Summer, and you may hear the name Marty Yoder. Yoder was a favorite going into the event, and did not disappoint the weigh-in crowd. Yoder weighed in four bass, one shy of the limit, but tipped the scales to the 13.32 pound mark to secure his second win on Morse this year. Here’s another interesting statistic for the TVA Series fans. In the last two years, the TVA Series has held four events on Morse Reservoir, Yoder has won three of them. Yoder anchored his four bass creel with the tournaments Big Bass to “seal the deal” a healthy 4.46 pound largemouth. Yoder reported losing two big bass early at weigh-in, and only having 1 keeper at 8:00am. But, his deep water bite turned on later in the morning.
TVA doesn’t usually recognize the term “what if”, but in this instance we will. If Yoder would have put one of those early bass in the livewell, and it weighed just 4 pounds, he would’ve surpassed his own record of a five bass limit weighing 16+ pounds last year. Guess there’s always next year. Yoder is sponsored by Double Zero Custom Baits and ISG (Innovative Sport Group).
The “Dominator from Demotte”, Don Deerwester, held down second place with a five bass limit totaling 10.97 pounds to put another “great finish” on the point card for the 2004 Angler-of-the-Year title.
“Following the weather patterns the two weeks prior to the tournament, I got the feeling that we would be facing cool muddy water again. Seems to be a recurring theme this year” said Deerwester laughing at weigh-in. “When the conditions get like this, I do one thing…throw a crankbait. The confidence that I have in these baits allows me to fish stay focused on catching fish when conditions are less than favorable. Using a JV Custom Bait crankbait, I keyed on structure adjacent to deep water. 6-12 foot depths seemed to be where the fish were located. I didn’t cover too much water, making sure I saturated the area with my crankbait. Liberal use of scent on my bait was also key for me” explained Deerwester on his winning ways. Deerwester is sponsored by: All-Walls.com, Big Bag Bait Co., Crown Industrial Supply, JV Custom Baits, Merrillville Awning Co.
In third was Crown Point, Indiana’s Fuzzy Dunn. The “Spinnerbait Guru of the North” racked up a five bass limit weighing a nice 10.07 pounds. Dunn is sponsored by Computer’s Plus. Holding down fourth was Monticello, Indiana’s Rod Coffing. Coffing came to the weigh-in stage with a very respectable limit of Morse bass weighing in at 9.02 pounds. Coffing reported securing his limit by 9:00 in the morning. But wasn’t able to cull. Coffing is sponsored by: McWhirter Shell. Rounding out the Top-5 was Burnettsville, Indiana’s Jerry Drazer in fifth. Drazer had only four bass, one shy of a limit weighing 8.98 pounds to secure his fifth place finish. Drazer is sponsored by: Interstate Batteries, Hendrickson Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Kick-N-Bass Fish Attractant, and Stinger Tab.
Angler-of-the-Year Race is on!!
With only three events left on the schedule the Points Championship in the 2004 Angler-of-the-Year race is heating up. The series will take away all anglers two worst finishes (scratch tournaments) after the final tournament then when the dust settles one angler will walk away with the one of the most distinguishing titles in the National Boat Mart – TVA Bass Series. The Top-6 Anglers in points Don Deerwester, Jerry Drazer, John Kolarik, Chris Clark, Frank Brown, and Fuzzy Dunn all are great anglers, and all are in serious contention for the title.
Drazer who has won the points title in 2001, 2002, and 2003 stated early in the year that he was going to let his rod and reel do the talking.
Any comments with three events to go? “Yes” said Drazer surprisingly. “I definitely need to turn up the volume on that rod and reel, because it’s not talking loud enough” Drazer said jokingly with a laugh. “Seriously though, Don is on a roll and he’s going to be tough to beat that’s realistically clear to see. I like the schedule from here on out, but Don is tough on those lakes his record proves it. Don is a great champion, super competitor, and good friend, he’s very deserving. The points though will likely come down to the final tournament, where anyone in the Top-6 is in contention. It’s going to be interesting that’s for sure” said Drazer.
The next event will be on Lake Shafer on Saturday July 10, 2004 out of the Indiana Beach Campground Ramp.
The TVA Bass Series is sponsored by: National Boat Mart, FishingWorld.com, Bass Maxx Charging Systems, Hendrickson Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Wrede & Son’s Excavating, Best Western Brandywine Inn & Suites, Land-O-Champs Trophy, and Metal Art Studios, Lafayette Glass Company Lafayette, Indiana. Yoders Stitching Line Flora, Indiana. Wild Bills Outpost Flora, Indiana. Stephans IGA Food Store, Flora, Indiana. Five Orr’s Sport Fishing Charters East Chicago, Indiana. And Twin Lakes Fish & Game Monticello, Indiana.By: TVA Staff
