Beautiful fall weather and a start of color in the trees greeted the 151 teams that gathered at Rock Lane Resort & Marina to close out the 2024 season. The Invitational anglers were treated to exhilarating rides provided by the Skeeter Demo Team, a fantastic dinner and drinks served up by the Rock Lane staff, and tons of product giveaways courtesy of a long list of Joe Bass sponsors (see the website for a full listing of sponsors). The big winner of the drawings was Brett Hill, who was drawn as the winner of a sparkling new Skeeter bass boat at the conclusion of the day 2 weigh-in!!!
However, the nice weather was accompanied by the annual fall transition that makes it difficult to locate and pattern the bass. The stats prove that out, as only 16 teams managed a 2-day 10 bass limit. It’s very appropriate to acknowledge the anglers attention to fish care, as early fall can present issues with fish coming from a variety of depths. Thanks to your diligence, along with the live release boat provided by Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC, every one of the 564 brought to the scales were returned alive to the lake! With that, let’s get to the details of those that found their names atop the Window World Leaderboard.
Eric and Dustin Blevins made the trip north to take the 2024 Joe Bass Invitational crown. Leading after the Day 1 weigh-in with a 17+ pound bag, Dustin and Eric brought another solid bag to the scales to finish with a total 10 fish limit weighing 31.22 pounds. As reigning Bull Shoals Division points champions, they also received free entry for the 2025 Bull Shoals division that kicks off November 9th as part of the Tournament of Champions side-derby that found them topping the group of division winners. With local events coming up in the next few weekends, along with the fact that the top three teams were together during the interview period, details proved more difficult than normal, which is truly saying a lot! There was some discussion of a spoon bite below the Beaver Lake dam, what appeared to be an honest revelation that none of this fish came on a Rock Crawler, and a hearty reception of the suggestion they caught their fish on a Taku Ito OSP Saikora “fuzzy dice” bait covered in Norie’s BaitPowder. Perhaps the truth might be, just a guess, of course, is they ran a bunch of water with a swimbait.
Narrowly missing the win was another team known to the dominate the Ozarks lakes, Landon Edwards and Cody Ellison. Their two-day total pushed the scales to 30.96 pounds. They also added to their take as they bested the other 3rd place points team competing for gift cards in the side-derby. Landon was also tentative to provide too many details, but did offer the majority of their fish fell to a football jig worked near brushpiles. The duo also weighed a key fish or two each day that fell to a Zara Spook thrown to schooling fish they came across while motoring through their milkrun of brushpiles.
Rounding out the top three was another young team that has been on a tremendous role of late. Drew Sagely and Taylor Surly were nipping at the leader’s heels with a 29.96 bag. Surrounded by their buddies and maintaining the reluctance to divulge too many details, Drew noted their dominate bait was a jig. They also focused on brushpiles, making repeated stops in hopes of catching fish that had moved onto the cover. Drew and Taylor did share they went through a lot of bites to catch their keepers, something quite different than many in the field saw as most spoke of a struggle for bites.
Pomme de Terre Division points champions Cody Campbell and Quinten Carr only managed two keepers for the derby. However, their day 1 fish locked in at 4.78 pounds, good enough to net them the NAPA big bass of the event. Cody explained their big fish bit a secret bait (jig) flipped to a root wad and offered a bit of excitement before they pulled it out of the tangle.
Rounding out the Tournament of Champions winners were Bryan and Darren Baker. They topped the other 2nd place points teams to take home gift cards for their efforts.
Barb and Marc Cooper took the Top Staff honors in their side derby by weighing 8 fish for a total of 17.32 pounds of T-Rock bass.
Mark and Sam Mahaffey added to their 13th place finish by taking Skeeter honors. Contrary to the other Bull Shoals Division teams that had top finishes, Mark providing plenty of details by listing that their fish included a few smallmouth early on jigs, one a glide bait, some on a Spook, and a few on a Plopper, all slung from Mark’s 2022 ZXR20 Skeeter bass boat.
Thanks to all that made the 2024 Invitational an enjoyable event. It cannot be stressed enough that it takes a combination of anglers, staff and sponsors to make a viable tournament circuit. Joe Bass boasts the best of all three. The key is to get the three groups to coalesce in a manner that provides the maximum benefit for all. In others words, as anglers we love the amount of product the sponsors provide us through the circuit. For the circuit to be a viable advertising medium for the sponsors, the anglers have to patronize them throughout the season. In today’s tricky economy, businesses are stretched by multiple requests for support. Help Joe Bass continue to offer the maximum amount of support possible by acknowledging the sponsors by clicking on the link below to thank the sponsors!
Of particular note, please take a minute and let the following folks know of your appreciation for the above-and-beyond support of this years trail and Invitational: Clink on email link.
Skeeter Director of Marketing Chris Brown: christopher_brown@yamaha-motor.com
Skeeter Rep Eric Stockwell (onsite at Invitational): eric_stockwell@yamaha-motor.com
Coors Light Distributor CEO Lance Foresee: lforesee@hoabev.com
The only way Joe Bass can retain this high level of support is for us, the anglers, to reciprocate the support back to the sponsors.
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Results
Place | Team Members | Fish | B/F | TotWgt | Payout |
1 | Dustin Blevins – Eric Blevins | 10 | 4.3 | 31.22 | 12,400.00 |
2 | Landon Edwards – Cody Ellison | 10 | 3.7 | 30.96 | 4,400.00 |
3 | Drew Sagely – Taylor Surly | 10 | 4 | 29.96 | 3,200.00 |
4 | Justin Garner – Jacob Wade | 10 | 3.4 | 29.63 | 900.00 |
5 | Mike Gold – Eric Olliverson | 10 | 3.5 | 28.83 | 1,500.00 |
6 | Chad Morgenthaler – Dave Mansue | 10 | 3.5 | 25.79 | 700.00 |
7 | Brett Rider – Steve Rider | 10 | 3.1 | 25.06 | 600.00 |
8 | Roger Harp – Lucas Madison | 10 | 3 | 24.44 | 500.00 |
9 | Jay Henderson – Clay Henderson | 10 | 24.11 | 400.00 | |
10 | Ryan Butler – Dustin Lippe | 10 | 3.9 | 24.06 | 300.00 |
11 | Stacy King – Mike Roller | 10 | 3.1 | 23.54 | 300.00 |
12 | Tom Statler – Dillon Statler | 9 | 3.6 | 23.16 | 300.00 |
13 | Mark Mahaffey – Sam Mahaffey | 10 | 22.41 | 250.00 | |
14 | Michael Fey – Mike Fey Jr | 9 | 3.7 | 22.23 | 250.00 |
15 | Bryce Rieder – *Cameron Reider | 10 | 2.9 | 21.39 | 250.00 |
16 | Kason Henderson – Joe Dougherty | 9 | 3 | 21.29 | 250.00 |
17 | Chris Macy – Tim Lawyer | 10 | 3 | 21.08 | 250.00 |
18 | Tom Mason – Chris Reese | 10 | 2.7 | 20.18 | 250.00 |
19 | Steve Teske – Bruce Yarnell | 8 | 3.3 | 19.97 | 250.00 |
20 | Ron Belew – Derek Dace | 9 | 4.6 | 19.73 | 200.00 |
21 | Gary Willis – Anthony Willis | 9 | 2.9 | 19.62 | 200.00 |
22 | David Mulkey – Charlie RE | 10 | 2.9 | 19.23 | 200.00 |
23 | Cole McFarland – Ryan Jordan | 8 | 18.59 | 200.00 | |
24 | Mark Long – Carl Thompson | 8 | 18.05 | 200.00 | |
25 | Mike Daley – Dale Elkins | 8 | 2.8 | 18 | 200.00 |
26 | Gary Arterberry – Gus Adkinson | 8 | 3.1 | 17.55 | |
27 | Tony Mayfield – Fisher Mayfield | 8 | 2.8 | 17.39 | |
28 | David McCormick – Evan Shartzer | 8 | 17.35 | ||
29 | Barb Cooper – Marc Cooper | 8 | 3.4 | 17.32 | |
30 | Ron Peek – Grieg Engel | 7 | 4.3 | 17.18 | |
31 | Matt Garrett – Will Isaac | 8 | 2.9 | 16.59 | |
32 | Eric White – Gavin White | 9 | 16.21 | ||
33 | Cole Boyd – *fished aalone | 7 | 16.02 | ||
34 | Tyler Casey – | 7 | 15.3 | ||
35 | Paul Persson – Ryan Persson | 8 | 15.25 | ||
36 | Jeff Fletcher – Ron Foss | 8 | 15.24 | ||
37 | Josh Shirley – Don Sanders | 6 | 2.9 | 14.94 | |
38 | Gordon Harriman – Travis Harriman | 5 | 3.3 | 14.82 | |
39 | Gerald McDaniel – Jeff Pascoe | 7 | 14.82 | ||
40 | Adam Cook – Jeremy Hilttker | 7 | 14.62 | ||
41 | Steve Weber – Sam Phillips | 7 | 14.31 | ||
42 | David Rogers – Brock Rogers | 6 | 3.2 | 14.11 | |
43 | Mike Utt – Mike Uttt | 7 | 13.94 | ||
44 | Chad Wagner – Logan Miller | 6 | 13.89 | ||
45 | Nick Luna – Jake Desselle | 6 | 1.8 | 13.01 | |
46 | Bob Neff – Gregg Wood | 5 | 10.81 | ||
47 | Brady Graves – Darryll Waller | 4 | 3.9 | 10.34 | |
48 | Mark Thompson – Mark Thompson II | 4 | 3.6 | 10.3 | |
49 | Kavan Maybee – Mike Smith | 4 | 3.7 | 10.15 | |
50 | Wade Walling – Matt Weigel | 5 | 10.02 | ||
51 | Shane Voyles – *fished aalone | 5 | 10.01 | ||
52 | Rocky Carden – Shawn Crabtree | 4 | 3.5 | 9.93 | |
53 | Michael Frye – Michael Landwehr | 4 | 3.4 | 9.91 | |
54 | Troy Nogosek – Jeremy Fiedler | 4 | 3.3 | 9.86 | |
55 | Ken Gross – Randy Lyman | 4 | 2.8 | 9.84 | |
56 | Jeremy Ealy – Matt Masters | 4 | 2.5 | 9.65 | |
57 | Danny Waite – Bryan Leonard | 5 | 9.31 | ||
58 | Bryan Baker – Darren Baker | 3 | 3.3 | 8.71 | 500.00 |
59 | Steve Chiaurro – Richard Dannegger | 4 | 2.2 | 8.66 | |
60 | Keith Hendrix – Greg Zumwalt | 4 | 3 | 8.47 | |
61 | Seth Glynn – Kelly (KJ) Hughes | 4 | 3 | 8.42 | |
62 | Matt Cesar – Ed Larson | 4 | 8.38 | ||
63 | Tyler Eagan – James Eagan | 3 | 3.2 | 8.15 | |
64 | Ryan Beals – Wayne O’Halloran | 4 | 8.11 | ||
65 | Denis Repa – Alec Repa | 3 | 4.4 | 8.05 | |
66 | Jeff Epley – Kelly Greer | 4 | 7.86 | ||
67 | Kevin Jackson – Bryan Jackson | 4 | 7.73 | ||
68 | Jonathan Pimentel – Shane Skinner | 4 | 7.7 | ||
69 | Mathew Waller – Connor McBride | 4 | 2.4 | 7.68 | |
70 | Cody Campbell – Quinten Carr | 2 | 4.8 | 7.4 | 1,000.00 |
71 | Keith Landrum – Chad McManis | 3 | 7.14 | ||
72 | Charles Edgar – Steve Fowler | 4 | 6.97 | ||
73 | Zachary Cooley – Kent Whitaker | 3 | 2.5 | 6.78 | |
74 | Jordan Dibben – Jason Conner | 3 | 6.73 | ||
75 | Terry Hutchison – Jason Coley | 4 | 6.66 | ||
76 | Adam Smith – Bill Edwards | 3 | 6.57 | ||
77 | Ronnie Dobbs – Troy Eakins | 3 | 6.51 | ||
78 | Dene White – Joe Dorcy | 3 | 2.3 | 6.48 | |
79 | Tom Herndon – Jason VanBeers | 3 | 6.26 | ||
80 | Jim Davidson – Mike Ashbacher | 3 | 6.16 | ||
81 | John Cates – Mike Edwards | 3 | 6.15 | ||
82 | Nick Hass – Bruce Francisco | 3 | 6.1 | ||
83 | Gary Brach – James Brach | 3 | 5.92 | ||
84 | Robert Leininger – Dan Weber | 3 | 5.7 | ||
85 | Zackery Andersen – Matthew Andersen | 2 | 2.9 | 5.64 | |
86 | Brandon Hill – Rhett Hill | 3 | 5.64 | ||
87 | Jason Maschmeyer – John McMann | 2 | 4.91 | ||
88 | Jace McMasters – Eddie McMasters | 2 | 4.9 | ||
89 | John Williams – Harlin Husky | 2 | 3 | 4.71 | |
90 | Kyle Wagner – John Wagner | 2 | 4.69 | ||
91 | Diego Segui – John Prochko | 2 | 4.66 | ||
92 | Mike Butcher – Justin Amershek | 2 | 4.57 | ||
93 | Mike Lafferty – Wendell Wade | 2 | 2.7 | 4.55 | |
94 | Timmy Newberry – Rusty Darnell | 2 | 4.51 | ||
95 | Andy Eutsler – Jared Essary | 2 | 4.46 | ||
96 | Jerry Addington – Jasper Addington | 2 | 4.25 | ||
97 | Rich Campbell – Travis Stevens | 2 | 4.14 | ||
98 | Shane Allen Boyd – Douglas Nickle | 2 | 4.07 | ||
99 | Andre Dickniete – Noah Dickneite | 2 | 3.92 | ||
100 | Gary Hazell – Jeff Farquhar | 2 | 3.55 | ||
101 | Ryan Melcher – Kelly Rebel | 2 | 3.18 | ||
102 | Bryan Wynn – Chris Harrison | 1 | 2.5 | 2.53 | |
103 | Mike Thomas – Jeff Lane | 1 | 2.3 | 2.3 | |
104 | Jack Stack – Dick Moger | 1 | 2 | 2.02 | |
105 | Jason Rehg – Rustin Ryan | 1 | 2 | 1.98 | |
106 | Troy Hendrick – Chad Hendrick | 1 | 2 | 1.96 | |
107 | Jason Overturf – Clayton Erhardt | 1 | 1.8 | 1.81 | |
108 | Charles Abbott – Tim Wells | 0 | |||
Darrell Barlow – Ethan Barlow | 0 | ||||
Brent Basler – Mike Smith 2 | 0 | ||||
Jeff Bear – Quenton Bear | 0 | ||||
Justin Bogner – Kenny Bogner | 0 | ||||
Scotty Cavanaugh – Chris Schiffelbein | 0 | ||||
Tom Daegling – Dan Daegling | 0 | ||||
Jeff Donovan – Trevor Donovan | 0 | ||||
Ralph Essig – Harlen Harvey | 0 | ||||
Brent Greek – Andy Greek | 0 | ||||
Dan Hankinson – Keith Hankinson | 0 | ||||
JT Harden – *fished aalone | 0 | ||||
Shane Harms – Dillon Harms | 0 | ||||
Glenn Harrison – Ryan Stuart | 0 | ||||
Preston Hartung – George Harrington | 0 | ||||
Brad Heavin – Danny Young | 0 | ||||
John Hewkin – Frank Meyer | 0 | ||||
Ron Hills – Ray Holt | 0 | ||||
Garen Hunt – Troy Hunt | 0 | ||||
Scott Jackson – Todd Martens | 0 | ||||
Richard Johnson – Jim Buttress | 0 | ||||
Rick Jones – Jeremy Gilbert | 0 | ||||
Nathan Klepper – Michael Bray | 0 | ||||
Bryan Loseman – Gary Martens | 0 | ||||
William Luethje – Danny Smith | 0 | ||||
Justin Maddux – Jackson Stewart | 0 | ||||
Tom McGovern – Wayne Unkel | 0 | ||||
Paul Mitchell – Rob Warren | 0 | ||||
Adam Morrison – Chris Phillips | 0 | ||||
Randy Oliphant – Scott Oliphant | 0 | ||||
Justin Rankin – August “Xander” Rankin | 0 | ||||
Jerry Roark – Jamie Edge | 0 | ||||
Anthony Sayers – Kevin Bollinger | 0 | ||||
Don Simpson – Steven Langley | 0 | ||||
Jake Smith – Neil Booher | 0 | ||||
Stephen Smith – Bill McAvoy | 0 | ||||
Greg Snider – Tim Lane | 0 | ||||
Mike Sutherland – Chance Peebles | 0 | ||||
Brad Territo – Logan Carter | 0 | ||||
Matt Underwood – Logan Underwood | 0 | ||||
Tom VanKeirsbilck – Brian Rodrock | 0 | ||||
Wayne Werle – Jim Lomax | 0 | ||||
Kevin Whightsil – Darren Lofts | 0 | ||||
Phil J Zimmerman – Phil M Zimmerman | 0 |