Polk County fishing news: 30 pounds wins Lakeland Bassmasters Team Trail Classic

Jayson Hooven and Matt Keeble had 30.20 pounds to win the Lakeland Bassmasters Team Trail Classic Sept. 27-28 on the Harris Chain. The total included an 8.46-pounder Keeble caught to win big bass. Pat Landaiche and Ron Pendland took second with 27.57 pounds. Jimmy Casteel and Larry Courson were third with 23.60 pounds. 

Mark Murphy and Jeremy Scarborough had a three-fish limit of 12.27 pounds to win the season-ending Thursday Night Open Series Tournament Sept. 24 on the Winter Haven North Chain. Austin McKown and T.J. Lewis took second with 10.14 pounds and also had big fish with a 7.49-pounder. Joe Magnetta and Jessie Smith were third with 10.12 pounds.

Terrie Blackburn and Paul Ranzo had 13.36 pounds to win the MacDill Bass Busters Club Tournament on Sept. 26 on Lake Tarpon. Fred Girvin and Charlie Derrico took second with 12.95 pounds. Angelo Flores and Mike Potamousis took third with 9.63 pounds. Jim Sellers took big bass with a 4.10 pounder.

Harrel Smith and Joe White had a seven-fish aggregate of 8.08 pounds to take first place during the Florida Crappie Club tournament Sept. 26 at Lake Dias. Mitch McGill and Daniel Pitts were second with 7.85 pounds and also had big fish with a 1.43 pounder. Al Green fishing solo was third with 7.77 pounds.

Wayne Montgomery and Chad Smith had 18.47 pounds to win the Lake Wales Po Boys Bass Club tournament Sept. 27 on the Winter Haven South Chain. Lonnie Simonds and Dave Simonds were second with 14.48 pounds. Scott Cannella and Don Rooks took third with 12.97 pounds. Montgomery took big bass with a 7.83 pounder.

Tracy Bray and Rodney Hunter had 17.38 pounds to win the Kissimmee Bass Series Team Trail tournament Sept. 27 on the Kissimmee Chain. Jeff Crandon and Charlie Wynperle were second with 17.19 pounds. Jason Liggett took big bass with a 6.05 pounder.

Upcoming Tournaments

Note: Until further notice, the FWC and area tournament directors advise all anglers and boaters participating in fishing tournaments to adhere to CDC and FWC guidelines for practicing safe social distancing while fishing and while gathering during launch and weigh-in due to the continuing Covid-19 health emergency.

The next Happy Hookers Bass Club tournament is Oct. 3 on Lake Ariana. Time is safe light to 1:30 p.m. Entry fee $40 per boat which includes big bass. For more information, contact Jumbo Jordan at 863-286-2089 or visit the Happyhookers Club at Facebook.

The Sunday Open Series tournament series begins a new season on Oct. 4 at Lake Parker out of Lake Parker Park. Entry fee is $30 a boat, including big bass. Time is safe daylight until 1 p.m. Entry gate will be open at 4:30 a.m. For more information contact Aaron Moran at 863-289-2850.

The next Lakeland Bassmasters’ Draw tournament is Oct. 4 on Lake Toho out of the Southport Ramp. Check-in is at 5 a.m. Launch is at safe daylight and weigh-in is at 2 p.m. The club is currently seeking new members. For more information contact Jayson Hooven at 727-260-2368 or hoovenfish76@yahoo.com.

The Lakeland Jr. Hawg Hunters are hosting the third annual Big Bass Blast tournament Oct. 10 on the Kissimmee Chain out of Camp Mack. Entry fee is $60 per boat/team pre-registered or $80 per boat/team day of the tournament with a $20 optional Big Bass Pot. Time is safe light to 2:30 p.m. and social distancing is required during the weigh-in. For more information contact Cheryl Brewer at 863-224-0045 or Lisa Gifford at 863-581-3210 or visit the club’s page at facebook.com/LJHHClub.

The next MacDill Bass Busters tournament is Oct. 10 on Lake Rousseau out Inglis Dam Ramp. Entry fee is $50 per boat of which $5 goes to the big bass pot. Call Greg Bartz at 813-714-9916 for more information.

The next Florida Crappie Club tournament is Oct. 10 on Lake Lochloosa out of the Lochloosa Lake Park ramp. Entry fee is $60 per boat for seven fish aggregate and big fish. Sign up is from 5:45 a.m. until 6:45 a.m. Tourney time is 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information call Darryl Cole at 352-516-0869, Al Green at 904-382-5441, or Tony Strollo at 352-584-6970.

The next Crappie Masters Florida Crappie Trail tournament is Oct. 10 on lakes Lochloosa and Orange out of the Marjorie Rawlings Park ramp. Entry fee is $100. For more information contact Al Green at 904-382-5411.

The next Fishing Misfits’ tournament for members only is Oct. 10 on Lake Juliana. No boats over 115 horsepower and no pro anglers or guides are permitted. Sign-up starts at 5:30 a.m. The tournament is for members only. For more information call Harry at 863-397-6597 or Larry at 863-287-2864.

The next Performance Bass Anglers tournament is Oct. 10 on Lake Ariana. Time is safe light to 2 p.m. Membership is now closed. For more information visit performancebassanglers.com or contact Scott Yutzy at 863-844-1087 or by email at performancebassanglers18@gmail.com.

The next Winter Haven Lunker Lovers’ tournament will be Oct. 10-11 on Harris Chain of Lakes out of the Hickory Point Ramp. The draw will be held Oct. 6. Members will receive instructions on how to enter the tournament. The Lunker Lovers tournaments are for members only. Prospective members can call tournament director David Glenn at 863-559-0824 or go to lunkerlovers.com.

The next Polk County Division of the Xtreme Bass Series tournament is Oct. 11 on the Winter Haven Chain out of Lake Shipp Park.  Entry fee is $120 per team and $35 membership fee per angler. Time is safe light to 3 p.m. This is the final event to qualify for the championship at Lake Kissimmee and a chance to win a 2020 Blazer 595 Pro Elite boat valued at $40,000. For more info, go to www.xbseries.com or call Brian Stahl at 813-470-0963.

The next Polk County Bass Assassin’s tournament is Oct. 17 at Lake Pierce out of Jennings Resort. Time is safe light to 2 p.m. For more information contact Jimmy Saxon at 863-581-5939 or go to www.facebook.com/bassassassinsofpolkcounty.

The next Rebel Boy's Bass Club tournament is Oct. 17 at John’s Lake. Launch is at safe daylight and there is a $10 boat ramp fee. Club membership fee is $15 per angler and $55 entry fee. Bridgemaster Fishing Products will provide a raffle donation. For more information contact Ken Singletary at 863-651-7607 or visit the club on Facebook at Rebel Boy's Bass Club Fishing.

The Toho Marine Elite One Man Tour season ending “Classic” tournament is Oct. 17-18 at Lake Okeechobee out of Scott Driver Park. For more information contact Toho Marine at 407-892-3200.

The first CATCH’EM CRAPPIE tournament of the new season, held by Hoppy’s Marine, is Oct. 24 at Port Hatchineha. Time is safe light to noon. Up to four anglers per boat, $60 per boat, plus $5 ramp fee. Heaviest six fish go towards place prizes and big fish. For more information, or to sign up for the tournament, call Matt Ingram at 863-412-5207.

The next Lake Wales Po Boys Bass Club tournament is Oct. 25 on Lake Kissimmee out of Grape Hammock. The club is always seeking new members. All tournaments have a 5 fish limit with a 12-inch minimum. There is a $35 membership fee per year with a $50 per team tournament entry fee and $20 per team big bass pot. All tournaments are safe light to 2 p.m. Contact Terry Nesbitt at 863-232-6897 and Carl Carmichael at 727-463-4802 or visit lakewalespoboys.com.

The Kissimmee Bass Series Team Trail Classic is Oct. 25 on the Kissimmee Chain out of Camp Lester. Anglers may fish team or solo. Entries must be paid in cash the ramp the morning of the tournament. For more information contact Charlie Wynperle at Cwynperle@aol.com.

The next Toho Marine-Bartow Ford Elite Pro Team Trail tournament will be their season ending “Classic” on Oct 31 to Nov. 1 on the Kissimmee Chain out of Camp Mack-Guy Harvey Resort. For more information contact Toho Marine at 407-892-3200 or Charlie Wynperle at Cwynperle@aol.com. 

The Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club 17th annual Reel ‘Em in For Rotary Charity Bass Tournament will be Saturday, Nov. 14 at Lake Kissimmee out of Camp Mack. Time is safe daylight until 2:00 p.m. Entry fee is $85 per boat pre-registered and $100 day of the event. Ramp fee is $6 paid at ramp. First six places are guaranteed prize money along with a big fish pot. All Captains to meet 30 minutes prior to start time. A raffle for prizes will also be available. For more information contact Jolee Martin at 636-288-8756 or Charlie Wynperle at Cwynperle@aol.com. Anglers may also pre-register at reeleminforrotary.com.

Send tournament notices or results to Ledger Correspondent Michael Wilson at fishingresults@theledger.com. Deadline is Tuesday at 2 p.m.