| 2005 JUNIOR B.A.S.S. FEDERATION CHAMPIONSHIP |
Prior Lake, August 18th, 2005
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Junior Anglers from around the State of Minnesota came to compete in the 4th
Minnesota Junior State Championship on Prior Lake. 43 junior anglers from
7 different Minnesota Junior BASS Federation clubs participated in this year's
championship tournament. The number of Jr anglers more then doubled from 2004.
The participating clubs were the Fairmont Junior club, Red Lake Bass Busters,
Bassinators, Gopher Junior Club, Bassin Boys, Granite City Jr Club and Jr
Range Bassmasters. Junior Anglers were paired together with an angler from
a different junior club. Their adult boaters were from the junior clubs that
attended the state tournament. The Skeeter Pro Team also provided boats and
boat drivers for this event.
Push off was at 6:00am that morning out of Captain Jacks on Lower Prior Lake.
The junior anglers were greeted with moderate rain, light winds, and temperatures
in the upper 60’s. The rain continued on and off till about 10:00 that
morning. The Jr anglers on lower Prior keyed in on the deep lines with Worms
and Crankbaits, while the Jr. anglers on upper Prior concentrated on the rock
piles and docks. The fish were not aggressive and were picking up and dropping
the baits before the anglers could set the hook. They were all catching fish,
but they were shorter than the 12” minimum length required. Talking
with many of the Jr. contender’s and their boat drivers after the tournament,
the bite was not consistent on any one key pattern for a majority of the junior
anglers. The majority of the field fished lower Prior while only a few fished
upper part of the lake.
The weigh-in site was Captain Jacks on Lower Prior Lake. Parents, friends and guests were on the docks and shores watching the boats arrive for the 2:00pm check in time. After all Jr. contenders were checked in the weigh in began. The Jr. anglers from each boat were brought up to the scales. Stacy Twiggs, the National Youth Director for B.A.S.S./ESPN flew in from Florida for this event, and was the MC of the weigh in. Stacy talked with each contestant about their day on the water and their techniques. I have been a part of the last two Junior World Championships. Stacy treated each contestant as if they were on the Junior World Championship stage. The leader board changed several times during the weigh-in for top weight and Big Bass for each age group. The awards ceremony was very exciting because the weights were so close in both age groups.
Before the awards ceremony there was a special award recognizing a person that saved many students lives from injury or death during the tragic Red Lake School shooting last spring. Justin Jourdain of the Red Lake Bass Busters was recognized for his brave and heroic actions on March 21 st, 2005. Justin helped protect 20 plus fellow students that day during the shooting. Justin received the Award of Valor plaque from the Junior and Senior Minnesota Bass Federation. Justin received a standing ovation from the audience. Justin is a true hero.
The TOP HOOK award was won by Donald Brenhoffer of the Gopher Jr. Bass (15-18 age group) with a weight of 11.86 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 2 1/2 years ago after a battle with cancer. Tom's wife Carol, and their children and grandchildren were there that day to present the Top Hook award to Donald.
1st place winners for both age groups were announced. Adam Jorgenson (11-14 age group) from the Fairmont Jr. club with a weight of 4.60 pounds and Donald Brenhoffer (15-18 age group) from the Gopher Jr. Bass with a weight of 11.86 pounds.
2nd place went to Ben Winge (11-14 age group) from the BASSIN BOYS with a weight of 4.32 pounds and Dave Saterbak (15-18 age group) from the BASSIN BOYS with a weight of 9.52 pounds.
3rd place went Aaron Jorgenson (11-14 age group) from the Fairmont Jr. club with a weight of 3.98 pounds and Randy Helms (15-18 age group) from the BASSIN BOYS with a weight of 7.38 pounds.
Big BASS of the tournament went to Aaron Jorgenson (11-14 age group) with a 3.98 pound Bass and Donald Brenhoffer (15-18 age group) with a 4.50 pound Bass.
There were a total of 104 Largemouth Bass brought to the scales that day with a total of weight of 147.20 pounds for the tournament.
Adam and Donald along with their families now advance to the 2006 Jr. World Championship in February in Florida. They will be paired with another Jr. angler from a different state for a two day event. Their boat driver will be one of the 2006 Bassmaster Classic contenders. They will fish a one day pro- am with that angler and then the next day the boys will be on their own. They have an adventure ahead of them that they will not forget. Good luck to both Adam and Donald.
Special thanks go out to these People, Companies and Organizations:
Dale Richardson, the Minnesota BASS Adult Federation Tournament Director. This was Dale's second year as our Jr. Federation Tournament Director. His dedication to the Youth over the years has always been outstanding. This tournament's great success is 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, and say thank you!
Stacy Twiggs, the National Youth Director from B.A.S.S./ESPN. Stacy MC’d our event and helped make it a great event. Your dedication to the youth across the nation has made the Junior Bass programs a great success.
Skeeter/Yamaha. The Minnesota Bass Federations official sponsor. Steve Soukup, Regional Sales Manager for Skeeter/Yamaha and a few other Skeeter/Yamaha Pro Team members were boaters that day.
Captain Jacks. They opened up their facilities for us and gave us a perfect place for this State Jr. Championship.
Jeff Gilmer/Excipio Consulting for donating funds for food and drink after the event for all the contestants and boaters.
Mojo Rods for donating a custom rod to both of our state champions.
Figwig Rods for donating a rod for our top hook winner.
Pure Fishing for tackle packs for all of the contestants.
MG Lures for donating tackle packs for all of the contestants.
Gander Mountain in Lakeville for the pre-tournament meeting site.
The Minnesota BASS Federation for providing the trophies.
Next year we move to a different part of Minnesota for the 2006 Junior State Championship. I hope to see you all there. The Lake and Date will be named at a later time.
Todd Saterbak
Minnesota B.A.S.S. Federation Youth Director
Final tournament standings
| 11-14 AGE GROUP | FINISH | CLUB | WEIGHT | # OF FISH | BIG BASS |
| ADAM JORGENSEN | 1ST | FAIRMONT JR CLUB | 4.60 | 3 | 2.5 |
| BEN WINGE | 2ND | BASSIN BOYS | 4.32 | 4 | |
| AARON JORGENSEN | 3RD | FAIRMONT JR CLUB | 3.98 | 1 | 3.98 |
| LUKE GILMER | 4TH | BASSINATORS | 3.58 | 3 | |
| JOEY DUFLO | 5TH | FAIRMONT JR CLUB | 3.30 | 1 | 3.3 |
| CHRIS VOIGT | 6TH | GRANITE CITY JR | 3.26 | 3 | |
| PAUL MILLER | 7TH | FAIRMONT JR CLUB | 3.10 | 3 | |
| CHRIS JUNG | 8TH | BASSINATORS | 3.02 | 3 | |
| JOESEPH MENTER | 9TH | PRIOR LAKE JR | 2.72 | 2 | |
| APRIL KINGBIRD | 10TH | REDLAKE | 2.70 | 3 | |
| LUCAS LINDGREN | 11TH | GOPHER JR | 2.28 | 2 | |
| JOE PONESSA | 12TH | BASSIN BOYS | 1.04 | 1 | |
| JARVIS KING | 13TH | REDLAKE | 0.00 | 0 | |
| TOTAL WEIGHT | 37.90 | ||||
| TOTAL FISH CAUGHT | 29 | ||||
| 15-18 AGE GROUP | FINISH | CLUB | WEIGHT | # OF FISH | BIG BASS |
| DONALD BRENHOFFER | 1ST | GOPHER JR | 11.86 | 5 | 4.5 |
| DAVE SATERBAK | 2ND | BASSIN BOYS | 9.52 | 5 | 3.04 |
| RANDY HELMS | 3RD | BASSIN BOYS | 7.38 | 3 | 3.2 |
| NICK TENGWALL | 4TH | JR RANGE BM | 7.34 | 5 | |
| CHASE BURTIS | 5TH | FAIRMONT JR | 6.64 | 4 | 3.34 |
| IAN RONNINGTON | 6TH | BASSIN BOYS | 6.54 | 5 | 2.8 |
| MATT CECKA | 7TH | PRIOR LAKE JR | 5.5 | 3 | 3.7 |
| JUSTIN JOURDAIN | 8TH | REDLAKE | 5.38 | 5 | |
| JOSH DUFLO | 9TH | FAIRMONT JR | 4.42 | 2 | |
| BOB DOWNEY | 10TH | BASSIN BOYS | 4.06 | 4 | |
| MICHELE SUMNER | 11TH | REDLAKE | 4.04 | 4 | |
| RICHARD BRENNHOFER | 12TH | GOPHER JR | 4.02 | 3 | |
| NICK TIEDEN | 13TH | BASSINATORS | 3.64 | 2 | |
| DEREK JACOBSON | 14TH | BASSIN BOYS | 3.4 | 3 | |
| STEVE BASTON | 15TH | GRANITE CITY JR | 3.38 | 3 | |
| JESSE CHRISTIAN | 16TH | JR RANGE BM | 2.9 | 3 | |
| ANDREW MCAULAY | 17TH | BASSINATORS | 2.84 | 2 | |
| MATT VOGEL | 18TH | FAIRMONT JR | 2.5 | 1 | |
| MATT CHACOS | 19TH | PRIOR LAKE JR | 2.46 | 2 | |
| ALEX CLAWSON | 20TH | BASSIN BOYS | 2.04 | 2 | |
| DEREK KUNTZ | 21ST | BASSIN BOYS | 1.94 | 2 | |
| MATT JORDET | 22ND | GRANITE CITY JR | 1.9 | 2 | |
| ZAC MCCELLEN | 23RD | GOPHER JR | 1.38 | 1 | |
| AARON GREGSRUD | 24TH | GRANITE CITY JR | 1.18 | 1 | |
| DUSTIN BERNARD | 24TH | BASSINATORS | 1.18 | 1 | |
| WYATT YOHNK | 26TH | PRIOR LAKE JR | 1 | 1 | |
| MATT HOERL | 27TH | BASSIN BOYS | 0.86 | 1 | |
| MATT PETROWIAK | 28TH | FAIRMONT JR | 0 | 0 | |
| TOMMY GOMEZ | 28TH | BASSIN BOYS | 0 | 0 | |
| MICHAEL LUKASON | 28TH | GRANITE CITY JR | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTAL WEIGHT | 109.3 | ||||
| TOTAL FISH CAUGHT | 75 | ||||
| TOTAL OVERALL WEIGHT | 147.20 | ||||
| TOTALOVERALL FISH CAUGHT | 104 | ||||