Rapala lures have been around since 1936, and they’re among the world’s most popular lures. They’re hand-tuned and -tested, and among the very few fishing lure manufacturers still mass-producing balsa wood lures. Rapala’s line of products include some of the most recognizable names in bass fishing 4 of which have joined with Joe Bass Team Trail.

The benefits of this sponsorship to Joe Bass Team Trail members is the opportunity to win a Rapala brands Pro pack that will be awarded each month to 1 lucky angler.

Here is how it will work;

1. Purchase any Rapala, Crush City, Storm, Crush City, VMC or Sufix items.
2. Write your name and phone number on the empty packages.
3. Turn those empty packages (not the receipt. save that for Save A Receipt drawing) to any Joe Bass Team Trail director at any of our tournaments.
4. Each month we will draw from those packages. 1 will receive the Rapala Pro pack.

Fine print;

1. Enter as many times as you want.
2. Each monthly drawing will be from that months collected packages.
3. Drawing will be held after that months final tournament so all packages can be collected.
4. Purchase your Rapala products from any authorized dealer.
5. Must be a Joe Bass Team Trail member.

For those that took advantage of the 13 Fishing “by one get one” program, a stack of great rods was available to choose from simply by showing a receipt for a purchase of a 13 Fishing rod.  After a quick review of the rules and take-off procedures, names were drawn for a ton of product from Modern Outdoor Tackle, Everharts Outdoor Store, and Rapala to name just a few.  Pay attention to this point; the above isn’t a shameless plug of a handful of sponsors.  Without the support of these companies, a list of which can be found on the Joe Bass website, the tens of thousands of dollars of products that find their way to the anglers simply wouldn’t exist.

Now on to the fishing!

Dock talk centered on a tough bite and that’s what the teams found.  The 113 teams in the derby brought in only 23 10-fish limits, showing the warmer temps, bright skies and no wind set up a stingy fishery.  However, somebody is going to find the fish to win, and for the 2026 Invitational, that proved to be Kyle Alsop.  Kyle and his dad Tom finished 3^rd in points in a tough Truman Division, but due to schedule issues that left Tom unavailable, Kyle fished alone.  His best 10 fish locked the scales at 32.98 pounds, enough to narrowly secure the win.  Kyle noted he “was looking at fish” for the better part of the first day without success before running into a bite halfway back in a set of coves.  His fish bit a jig, shaky head and worm.  Kyle found the bite even more difficult on Sunday as he pounded the same spots but only boated 4 keepers before heading back to Bucksaw.  He had a few minutes before his check in time, so he set the boat down on a bluff end within site of the ramp where he boated his limit fish with only minutes to go.  That fish proved to be the difference as his weight was a mere .6 pounds heavier than second place.  Kyle added to his first place winnings by taking the ClearCast Tournament of Champions Third Place Points title!

Desmon Carl and Tyler Glenn found the fishing tough as well so they kept a jig in their hands for two days and decided to grind away.  Their bag weighed 32.38, just a tick out of the lead.  Their big fish for the event was a 5.64 pound brute, 2^nd biggest for the event, which helped to anchor their bag, but that bag held only 9 fish for the two day event.  No doubt the lack of a two day limit hindered their chance at the win, but in a major event under extremely tough conditions and competition, they more than proved their mettle with a runner up finish.

Jordan Williams and Trevor Bartlett have been on a buzzbait bite on Truman for a month, as they took third place in the season divisional finale in September slinging the blade.  Jordan and Trevor continued to lean on the buzzbait to put 10 fish in their Skeeter boat, weighing in 31.81 for the event.  They noted their topwater bite fizzled after a few hours each day, making it important to boat everything that bit early as they said they could only muster a few bites the remainder of each day.  The quality was on the early bite as well, showing they had to make the most of the low light conditions.  Jordan and Trevor ended the Truman Division in second place in points, qualifying them for the ClearCast Tournament of Champions 2^nd Place derby which they locked down with their high finish in the Invitational.  They also landed some extra cash by taking Top Skeeter honors as they fished from their 2024 ZX200 Skeeter.

Kenny Sloan and Brandon Mick, Truman Points Champions, added to their 10^th place finish by taking the Clear-Cast Marine Tournament of Champions Points leader race.  They weighed 10 fish that pushed the scales to 27.94 pounds.

Steve Huff and Brad Martin made the most of a big bite as they wrestled the Wilson Logistics and Truck Sales big bass of the event, a 6.19 largemouth to the boat to take top big fish honors.

Joe Bass recognizes the extra work the staff teams put in setting up, tearing down, packing out, etc. after coming in early each event to prep for weigh-in.  Tournament directors selected staffers to compete for that recognition in a “Staff Shoot Out” with Steve Weber and Sam Phillips bringing in 8 fish for 23.64 pounds to take the top spot!

Due to the TREMENDOUS support of Blackbeard Marine, teams competing in a current or last year’s model Skeeter purchased from Blackbeard Marine competed for a bonus payout.  This year’s winner was Kevin Johnston who fished with Matt Gunter to take the last paying position in 20^th place with 9 fish that weighed 25.52 pounds.  However, that bag pocketed Kevin an extra $4500 cash as they put those fish in the livewell of their Blackbeard Marine Skeeter!

To round out the weekend, a dazzling Skeeter ZX150 w/Yamaha Outboard was drawn for.  With being present to win proving to be especially important this year, as it took 3 names being drawn to find one who stayed until the end, Steve Chiaurro of the Mark Twain Division walked away with the ultimate prize for the weekend!  Thanks to the folks at Skeeter Boats and congratulations Steve!

As mentioned above, visit the website for a list of sponsors and links and send them a message of thanks for supporting the trail.  Without them, there would be no fishing rods, tackle, boat/vehicle maintenance products and especially no sparkling new Skeeter Boat available for you, the Joe Bass Team Trail anglers. Or send them to Bob and he will get them to the right places.

Like us on Facebook & Instagram

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More Invitational Pictures

Results

Recent events had shown Truman was fishing strong, so optimism was high as boats hit the water. But with the season coming down to its final hours, this one was about more than just winning a tournament. Teams were chasing one last opportunity to climb the Window World Leaderboard, secure valuable points in the final division standings and lock down qualification for the upcoming Invitational.

By day’s end, one team had put together the kind of bag that makes everybody at weigh-in stop and look.

Desmond Carl and Tyler Glenn had an absolute monster day, bringing five bass to the scales that weighed an incredible 25.65 pounds. Their Valley Transmission key to success was a combination of a jig and worm in 5 to 10 feet of water, producing bites throughout the day.

As impressive as the overall bag was, the anchor was a Truman Lake giant. Around midday, a 6.75-pound largemouth crushed their jig and ultimately earned Carl and Glenn the Wilson Logistics Big Bass of the Event award. Add that fish to an already stout limit, and the result was a 25-plus-pound hammer of a bag that put an exclamation point on the final Truman event of 2026.

John Prochko and Diego Sequi put together an impressive day of their own, dropping 17.71 pounds on the scales to claim second place. Prochko said the pair committed to a Brush Hog in 8 to 10 feet of water. They secured an early limit and then spent the remainder of the day steadily upgrading, keeping themselves firmly in contention until the scales closed.

Jordan Williams and Trevor Bartlett rounded out the top three with 17.24 pounds, proving that sometimes there’s no reason to abandon something that’s already working. The duo returned to the buzzbait pattern that produced for them during the August event, and once again it delivered. Their third-place finish wasn’t their only trip to the hardware table. Fishing from their 2024 ZX200 Skeeter, Williams and Bartlett also claimed Top Skeeter honors, adding another accomplishment to an already strong finale.

With the last Truman fish weighed, attention turned from the tournament leaderboard to the season-long standings. After the final points were calculated, Kenny Sloan and Brandon Mick emerged as the 2026 Truman Division points champions, capping a season built on the consistency it takes to come out on top over an entire schedule. They will receive their entry paid into the Invitational and boat #1 in 2027.

A special thank you goes to Valley Transmission Shop, sponsor of the Truman Division, for supporting our anglers and the Joe Bass Team Trail throughout the 2026 season. Division sponsors are a major part of what makes these events possible, and their continued support of tournament fishing is greatly appreciated.

That’s a wrap on the 2026 Truman Division. From a 25.65-pound winning sack to a 6.75-pound Big Bass and a points race that came down to the season finale, Truman certainly didn’t go quietly.

Thank you to every angler who competed with us this season and to every sponsor who makes these tournaments possible. Follow the Joe Bass Team Trail on Facebook & Instagram for results, updates and everything leading into the Invitational—and when you get the chance, support and thank the sponsors who continue to support tournament fishing.

SIGN UP FOR INVITATIONAL IS NOW OPEN.

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If there was one constant throughout the Pomme season, it was change. The first four derbies threw everything from high water and storms to falling lake levels at the field, so it only seemed fitting that the finale would serve up stifling heat and a lake sitting below normal pool. Dock talk covered both ends of the lake—low water limiting access into the upper reaches of the rivers while heavy boat traffic made boat control on the main lake a challenge.

None of it changed what was at stake. This was the final opportunity to make a move on the Window World Leaderboard, grab valuable points in the division standings and secure qualification for next month’s Invitational.

Greg Askew and Terry Case opened the 2026 Pomme season with a victory, and apparently, they decided the best way to finish it was exactly how they started it—on top. Askew and Case leaned on a jig, worm and square bill for their TNT Quick Stop key to success. They came out swinging, putting two fish over four pounds in the boat during the first hour. Then Pomme made them earn the rest. It took until noon to finish their limit, but a return to their starting area late in the day proved to be the move that decided the tournament. A 5.70-pound kicker gave their bag the boost it needed and pushed them to the top of the leaderboard with an impressive 19.25 pounds.

Roger Satterfield and Kelly Jones continued what has been a remarkable 2026 campaign with a 17.78-pound runner-up finish. With multiple victories across Joe Bass divisions this season, the pair once again found themselves near the top when it mattered most. Their finish secured top honors in the Open Division, coming within a single point of a perfect season. Satterfield and Jones stayed with the jig and square bill pattern that carried them to victory last month, boating approximately 15 keepers during a steady all-day bite. The centerpiece of their bag was an absolute Pomme de Terre hammer—a 6.80-pound largemouth that earned Wilson Logistics Big Bass of the Event honors. Fittingly, the fish ate the same square bill that produced their big-bass brute during the August tournament. And they weren’t finished collecting hardware. Fishing from Roger’s 2022 ZXR21 Skeeter, the duo added another Top Skeeter award to an already outstanding season.

Jeff and Logan Welch rounded out the top three with 13.29 pounds. Known for their forward-facing sonar skills, the Welches found that technology wasn’t going to write the entire story Saturday. Their better fish came during an early topwater bite, and while they spent much of the remainder of the day looking for something bigger, they were unable to improve on the quality they caught first thing in the morning. Sometimes the lake tells you when it’s time to catch them, and Saturday morning was their window.

With the final fish weighed and the Pomme de Terre season officially in the books, David Mulkey and Tyler Weaver emerged on top of a hard-fought Pomme de Terre points race, capping a season that demanded anglers adjust to seemingly different conditions every time they launched. They will receive their entry paid into the Invitational and boat #1 in 2027.

A special thank you goes to TNT Quick Stop, sponsor of the Pomme de Terre Division, for supporting our anglers and the Joe Bass Team Trail throughout the season.

That’s a wrap on the 2026 Pomme de Terre Division. Thank you to every angler who launched with us this season and to the sponsors who make these events possible. Follow the Joe Bass Team Trail on Facebook & Instagram for results, updates and everything leading into the Invitational—and when you get the opportunity, thank and support the sponsors who continue to support tournament fishing.

SIGN UP FOR INVITATIONAL IS NOW OPEN.

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The final Table Rock Division event of the 2026 season brought 21 teams to Mill Creek for one last shot at Table Rock Lake. September may have been on the calendar, but summer wasn’t ready to give up, with temperatures climbing into the 90s before a random storm rolled through and shook up the conditions. Through the heat, changing weather and a tough late-summer bite, anglers still brought 12 five-fish limits to the scales. A total of 63 fish were weighed, with 63 successfully released for an impressive 100% release rate.

Tom Statler and Dillon Statler saved their best for the finale, taking the win with an impressive 19.39-pound limit. The Statlers targeted rock piles in 20 to 25 feet of water with a Chompers jig, a pattern that produced the biggest bag of the tournament. Their day got even better when a 5.52-pound bass anchored their winning limit and earned them the Wilson Logistics First Big Bass award. The victory was especially fitting as the Statler’s also support the Joe Bass Team Trail as Open Division sponsors, making for a pretty good day on both sides of the tournament.

Taking second place was Robert “Bobby” Shockley, who made an impressive showing while fishing alone. Shockley brought 15.96 pounds to the scales after working glide baits along bluff banks. Putting together that kind of weight is never easy and doing it solo against a full field made his runner-up finish even more impressive.

Roger Cook and Cory Cook claimed third with a 15.29-pound limit. The Cooks found success with jigs in 5 to 10 feet of water, while also taking advantage of the wind with a topwater presentation. Their ability to adjust as conditions changed throughout the day helped them put together another quality Table Rock limit.

Top Skeeter honors went to Kelly Jones and Roger Satterfield, who finished fourth overall with 14.66 pounds. Their key baits were a jig and squarebill crankbait, and the strong finish adds to what has already been an impressive season. Jones and Satterfield continue to hold strong atop the Open Division standings, while once again putting themselves in position to claim Top Skeeter honors in a tough field.

The Second Big Bass of the tournament belonged to Jace McMasters and Dylan Jones, whose 5.25-pound fish came on a Corky. That bite helped the team finish seventh overall with 12.79 pounds and gave them one of the biggest fish brought across the scales Saturday.

Congratulations to Kavan Maybee & Josh Wray winning the 2026 Table Rock divisions Champions. Their entry will be paid to the Invitational and they will be boat #1 in 2027.

From deep rock piles and bluff banks to shallow jigs, square bills and wind-driven topwater, the final Table Rock event showed once again just how many different ways this lake can be approached. Changing weather added another wrinkle, but the anglers who adapted were able to put quality fish in the boat and finish the division season strong.

A special thank you goes to Blackbeard Marine, sponsor of the Table Rock Division, for their continued support throughout the 2026 season. Support from our division sponsors plays a huge role in making these tournaments possible, and we appreciate Blackbeard Marine’s commitment to the Joe Bass Team Trail and its anglers.

Leaderboard sponsored by Window World.

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

Qualifiers Invitational sign up is available on line.

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Easton Pendergrass and Doug Pendergrass continued their hot streak on The Rock as they brought 17.16 pounds to the scales to take the win. Easton shared their Maybee Insurance and KGB Swimbaits, key to success was working a glide bait early followed by minnow baits later in the day. Included in their bag was the Wilson Logistics and Truck Sales big bass of the event, a 5.55 pound largemouth, which garnered them a KGB Swimbait!

Kavan Maybee and Mike Smith leaned on a Plopper bite to catch 15.97 pounds. Their take was anchored by a 5.43 which got them a second place big bass check. Kavan noted they did most of their damage early but did have a key upgrade late in the day.

Scott Hill and Wylar Marler rounded out the top three with a strong 15.50 pound stringer. They combined a glidebait with a plopper to catch fish throughout the day. Scott noted they covered a lot of water in between bites, but when they got bit, it was from quality fish.

Jay Oliver and Aaron Hodge took Top Skeeter honors as they put 13.52 pounds of bass in Jay’s 2024 FXR21 Skeeter Boat. Their 7th place finish was good enough to push them to the top of the 2026 Antique Points race. Congratulations to Jay and Aaron.

A special thank you goes to our Antique Division sponsors, Maybee Insurance and KGB Swimbaits, for their continued support of the Joe Bass Team Trail. Their commitment helps make this division and its anglers successful throughout the season.

Thanks to Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the release boat!

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

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Josh King and Logan Welch finished the season with a win. They did it in stellar fashion as they dropped five Stockton bass on the scales that locked in at 22.96 pounds. Logan shared their Albers Marine key to success was combining a jig bite with a few key topwater strikes. They concentrated on areas with big rock and had their weigh-in weight by 10:00am when their bite shut off. They anchored their bag with the Wilson Logistics big bass of the event that weighed 5.79 pounds which they caught on a jig.

Matthew Rogers teamed with Connor Cunningham for a second place finish. They also leaned on an early jig bite to catch their fish. Connor noted they keyed on areas down by the dam. They also used a big bite to amass their weight, as they had second big at 4.92 pounds.

Gerald McDaniel and Jeff Pascoe rounded out the top three. They paired a worm with a jig bite keying on flat banks in 4’ of water or less. Their limit weighed in at 12.79 pounds. Gerald and Jeff also took Top Skeeter honors as they fished from their 2021 ZXR21 Skeeter.

Congratulations to Glenn Harrison and Ryan Stuart as they secured the Stockton Division Points Championship for 2026. Glenn and Ryan are proud to represent Albers Marine, Inc

Special thanks to Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the release boat!

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

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Matthew Rogers and Connor Cunningham met the challenge by bringing in a monster sack of bass that pushed the scales to 22.10 pounds. They concentrated their efforts on main lake points, with a jig being their Valley Transmission bait of choice. Matthew noted they got off to a quick start, with four bites in a 15 minute stretch early. Things cooled off quickly with the next several hours failing to produce quality bites. Finally, they put their fifth keeper in the boat around noon to round out their bag.

Luke Routh and Greg Irwin continued their hot streak with a sack of bass that weighed 21.44. Luke noted they rotated between several baits to trigger strikes. These included a football jig, worm, and a crankbait. They scattered their five keeper bites throughout the day, finding fish scattered rather than grouped up.

Kyle and Tom Alsop rounded out the top three with a heavy bag that locked in at 19.19 pounds. Kyle said they caught their bass on worms and crankbaits, with the bulk of their sack coming during a half hour tear around 8:30. They churned the water the rest of the day before finally getting the limit fish in the boat.

Aaron Foglesong and Jeff Wilkins took the last paying spot with a 16.02 limit. They padded that check by taking the Wilson Logistics big bass of the event, a 5.76 pound largemouth that anchored their bag.

Jordan Williams and Trevor Bartlett dropped 18.43 pounds on the scales to take fourth place for the day. In doing so, they locked in Top Skeeter honors as they fished from their Skeeter boat.

Proving the commitment to integrity in Joe Bass events, polygraph exams were administered to the top finishers with everyone passing with a clean slate.

Thank you Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the release boat!

Bucksaw Resort & Marina along with Lakes Inn is a Save-A-Receipt participant for the Truman division, so be sure and check them out for accommodations throughout the season.

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs.

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

The final event of the 2026 Truman Division will launch from Shawnee Bend Sunday 9/20 with a 7:00 am takeoff.

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Continuing an incredibly strong season, Roger Satterfield and Kelly Jones put another win on their ledger. They brought in a staggering 21.84 pounds of bass to top the field. Roger shared their TNT Quick Stop key to success was combining a sqaurebill with their jig pattern. Roger told how Kelly pitched to one side of a laydown with the jig while he fired a squarebill down the other side. Kelly laid in to a five pounder at the same time the Wilson Logistics big bass of the event, a 6.80 pound largemouth, engulfed the squarebill! That pair of casts also wrangled the Top Skeeter award as they fished from Rogers 2022 ZXR21 Skeeter.

Noah and Andre Dickneite made the run to the fiver and returned with a limit of fish that locked in at 21.03 pounds. They junk fished all day, using a Spook, brush hog, worm and a crankbait to catch their fish. Their second place bag was anchored by a late bite on the Spook that snagged a 5.19 to round out their limit.

Mike Johnson went solo to take third place honors. He worked a worm and crankbait all day to pick up five bites that weighed an even 18.00 pounds. Mike noted his pattern centered on shallow wood cover with his bites scattered, requiring him to cover a lot of water.

Showing its commitment to the anglers that compete in Joe Bass derbies, polygraph tests were administered to the top finishers, with everyone passing with a clean slate.

Thank you Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the release boat!

LakeWay Resort is a Save-A-Receipt participant for the Pomme de Terre division, so be sure and check them out for accommodations throughout the season.

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

The Harbor is now a Save-A-Receipt participant for the Pomme de Terre division, so be sure and keep our launch window tag for a shot at some bonus money at this fall’s Invitational.

The final event of the 2026 Pomme de Terre Division will launch from The Harbor Saturday 9/19 with a 7:00 am takeoff.

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For Easton Pendagrass, apparently one win in a week wasn’t enough. After taking the win Wednesday in the Antique Division, Easton returned Saturday with Ethan Enochs and did it again. The pair put together an outstanding 20.03-pound limit to take the Summer Division victory. They leaned on a combination of a deep-diving crankbait and big worm to put together the only 20-pound bag of the day. As if another victory wasn’t enough, their limit was anchored by a 5.24-pound bass, earning them First Big Bass honors as well.

Finishing second were Kavan Maybee and Josh Wray, who brought an impressive 18.36 pounds to the scales. Maybee and Wray committed to topwater all day, sticking with the surface bite despite the heat and boat traffic. Their persistence produced one of the strongest bags of the tournament, including a 4.68-pound bass that earned them Second Big Bass honors.

Taking third were Kevin Jackson and Bryan Jackson with a 15.32-pound limit. The Jacksons targeted fish in just 2 to 6 feet of water, relying on a worm and squarebill crankbait to get their bites. Their third-place finish also earned them Top Skeeter honors—and if that sounds familiar, it should. Kevin and Bryan also claimed Top Skeeter at Wednesday’s Antique Division event, giving them back-to-back Top Skeeter awards in the same week.

Between Easton’s back-to-back victories and the Jacksons’ back-to-back Top Skeeter finishes, some of Wednesday’s hottest anglers clearly carried their momentum straight into Saturday. What makes it even more impressive is how different the successful patterns were. From deep crankbaits and big worms to an all-day topwater bite and shallow squarebills, Table Rock offered multiple ways to catch quality fish even under brutal August conditions.

Leaderboard sponsored by Window World.

A special thank you goes to Blackbeard Marine, sponsor of the Table Rock Summer Division, for their continued support of the Joe Bass Team Trail and our anglers.

Thanks to Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the newly rewrapped release boat!

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

The final Table Rock Summer Division event of the 2026 season will be September 12th at Mill Creek

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Topping the Window World Leaderboard was Easton Pendagrass and Rob Eutsler, who topped the field with an impressive 19.76-pound limit. Plus Wilson Logistics big bass weighing 4.72 lbs. The winning duo focused on offshore structure, relying on a deep-diving crankbait in approximately 25 feet of water to trigger their bites. Their consistency throughout the day separated them from the field and earned them the top spot.

Finishing in second place were Eric White and Henry Adams with 16.11 pounds. Rather than chasing an offshore pattern, White and Adams committed to a topwater bite from daylight until weigh-in, proving that even under blazing August skies, Table Rock bass were still willing to explode on surface baits.

Just two hundredths of a pound behind second, Josh and Donald Wray secured third place with 16.09 pounds. The Wray’s pieced together their limit by rotating between a spinnerbait and jig in approximately eight feet of water, putting together a consistent shallow-water pattern that kept them in contention all day.

Top Skeeter honors went to Kevin Jackson and Bryan Jackson, whose 14.68-pound limit earned them the highest-finishing Skeeter award. Their key baits were a big worm and squarebill crankbait, proving that versatility paid off during a hot and challenging day on the Rock.

A special thank you goes to our Antique Division sponsors, Maybee Insurance and KGB Swimbaits, for their continued support of the Joe Bass Team Trail. Their commitment helps make this division and its anglers successful throughout the season.

Thanks to Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the release boat!

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

The next Antique Division event is September 9th at Mill Creek, with takeoff at 7:00 a.m. and weigh-in beginning at 3:00 p.m. We appreciate everyone who came out to compete and look forward to seeing you back on the water next month.

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Kelly Jones and Roger Satterfield extended their points lead in the Open Division by proving their mettle on a tough fishing day. Kelly and Roger brought in a five fish limit that locked in at 13.68 pounds. Roger noted their Albers Marine key to success was revisiting areas he had pre-fished earlier in the week without success. Feeling like the fish were there in practice, despite note catching them, convinced them to repeat their milk run with jigs, worms and squarebills triggering strikes early. They anchored their bag with the Wilson Logistics big bass of the event which weighed 4.35 pounds which they caught on a jig. Not to leave any money on the table, Kelly and Roger wrangled another Top Skeeter award as they fished from Roger’s 2022 ZXR21 Skeeter.

Seth Glenn and KJ Huges took the runner-up position with a limit that weighed in at 10.96 pounds. They used the second place big bass of the day, a 4.13 pound kicker, to bolster their sack. They junk fished catching fish on a big worm in standing timber utilizing both Texas and Carolina rig setups.

Jim Davidson and Mike Ashbacker rounded out the top three finishers. Their limit of bass pushed the scales to 10.57 pounds. Mike shared they caught fish on jigs on bluffs and on spinnerbaits in flood bushes.

Special thanks to Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the release boat!

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

The final event of the 2026 Stockton Division will launch from Orleans Trail South Ramp Saturday 8/29 with a 6:00 am takeoff.

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Taking the top spot today was the Grandfather/Grandson team of Lonnie Franklin and Kyler Benne. Lonnie and Kyler fished typical summer pattern of Texas and Carolina rigged soft plastics, primarily on main lake points and flats. The teams 5 fish limit weighed 18.29 pounds. Included in their bag was the Wilson Truck Sales BIG JOE BASS weighing 6.95 pounds, the biggest bass weighed in a Joe Bass tournament at Mark Twain Lake this year! Lonnie said the big fish bit a Texas rigged soft plastic around 10am. In addition to first place and big bass, Lonnie won the Skeeter incentive as the team fished out of his 2010 ZX200, taking the teams total winnings to $2260.

Finishing in the runner up position was the team of Preston Hartung and Kale Johnson. Preston and Kale pretty much took “junk fishing” to the extreme Sunday, catching fish on several different presentations from the surface down to 15-foot depths dragging the bottom. The teams 5 fish limit weighed 16.64 pounds. Preston and Kale took home $940 for their efforts.

Taking the final “podium spot” with a great solo effort was Corey Kunkle. Corey bounced around main lake points, bluff ends and isolated brush piles, from the dam area back up to mid-lake. His baits of choice were shaky head and Texas rigged soft plastics. Corey’s 5 bass limit weighed in at 15.61 pounds. Included in his bag was the second big bass of the tournament weighing 5.63 pounds. Corey pocketed a total of $810 on the day.

Rounding out the top 5, fourth place goes to Deno Ek and James Medlock with 15.16. Fifth place goes to Jeff Schultz and Chris Barylski with 15.15.

The 2026 Mark Twain Division Points Champions are Don and Gary McFetridge with 868 of a possible 880 points. Congratulations! Don and Gary will have their entry fee paid by Joe Bass to the Joe Bass Invitational at Truman Lake in October and will be boat #1 for the 2027 Joe Bass Mark Twain Division.

28 teams 94 fish 94 released 17 limits

Our next Joe Bass event at Mark Twain Lake is September 12th, The Mark Twain Lake BELT BATTLE is by invitation only and will take-off out of Robert Allen ramp.

Host lodging for Joe Bass at Mark Twain is Country Inn Resort. (573)267-3800 Give Angela Pratt a call for reservations

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

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The lake has been in flux, all spring into summer, rising due to above normal precipitation, then the Corps dropping it back down, so multiple days of “stable conditions” have been few and far between, making it difficult to rely on any one pattern or area to get consistent fishing.

Taking the top spot today was the team of Don and Gary McFetridge. Don and Gary started their day on the lower end of the lake in cleaner water fishing shad colored spinnebaits and chatterbaits in the 1 to 6foot range, around flooded brush, putting 3 keepers in the boat. With the bright high skies, that pattern fizzled around 9 o’clock, so the team made an adjustment, moving up to the mid-lake area with dirtier water and swapping out their shad-colored baits for darker ones, the team finished out their limit weighing 13.64 pounds. Included in their bag was the Wilson Truck Sales Big Bass of the tournament weighing 4.07 pounds. Total winnings for 1st place, Big bass, and side-pot was $2,030.00

Finishing in the Runner-up position was the team of Charlie Kunkle and Keith Williams. Charlie and Keith found success fishing main lake flats, with flooded bushes and grass in 2 to 5 feet of water, their baits of choice were Texas and shaky-head, rigged Brushogs and 7inch worms. Keith stated that the better bites were coming on the deeper submerged bushes that you could only see with Livescope or side imaging. The teams 5 fish limit weighed 12.97 pounds. Keith Williams also earned the Highest Finishing Skeeter honors, as the team competed out of his 2024 FXR21. Winnings totaled $1,210.00 for second place and second side-pot and Skeeter incentive money.

Taking the 3rd position today was the team of Jeff Schultz and Chris Barylski with 5 Bass weighing 12.90 pounds. The team had found a solid topwater bite in practice. However, that bite fizzled with Sunday’s clear skies. Jeff and Chris made an adjustment a found success dragging a Tackle-Max Timber Rattler in 6-to-10-foot depths and caught some keepers on a Rattle Trap. Winnings totaled $700.00

Fourth place went to the team of David and Dustin Kampschroeder with 11.49 pounds winning $320.00

Fifth place went to Steve Chiaurro and Richard Dannegger 11.30 pounds winning $208.00 plus a $100 gift certificate from Country Inn Resort for being the highest finishing team staying at Country Inn Resort.

28 Teams, 70 fish, 8 limits.

Our next and final Mark Twain tournament for the 2026 season, sponsored by 154 Marine, is July 12, 6am take-off Robert Allen ramp. It will be the last chance for teams to earn points to qualify for the Mark Twain Lake Belt Battle Championship scheduled for September 12th.

Host Lodging for Joe Bass Team Trail at Mark Twain Lake is Country Inn Resort. Angela Pratt and her team will take great care of you. Call (573)267-3800

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

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A huge influx of water due to multiple strong storms coupled with an erratic discharge schedule by the ACOE led to a fast rise in the lake level that had fish scattered and in a definite feeding funk. 22 teams met at the Orleans Trail South ramp to contest the June event of the 2026 Stockton sponsored by Albers Marine, Inc. Teams shared their thoughts on a tough bite while the river teams spoke of having to scramble as the upper reaches of the lake arms had been rendered unfishable due to the inflow of muddy water and debris. It seemed clear anglers would need to make the most of every bite to make it to the top of the Window World Leaderboard.

Josh King and Logan Welch topped the field on a super tough day by bringing in a five fish limit weighing 14.36 pounds. Josh and Logan shared their Albers Marine key to success paired dragging a football jig with a topwater bite to catch their fish. They added their fish came early from areas where they could still reach the bank. Their bag was bolstered by the Wilson Logistics big bass of the event which weighed 5.32 pounds.

Rick Bowman and Jeff Moore also relied on an early bite to boat 13.59 pounds and a second place finish. They pitched jigs and a big worm in the bushes to coax their bites. Doing the bulk of their damage first thing in the morning, Rick noted their bite fell off as the day progressed. Rick and Jeff also relied on a big bite, as they used a 4.00 pounder, good enough for second big bass, to anchor their bag.

Shelby and Rachel Hutchens took the final podium position with a 11.33 pound bag. They found a “hard spot” that held some fish just outside of the bushes that held fish. They cycled through Chatterbaits and shakey heads to catch their fish.

ANOTHER $1000.00 SKEETER WINNER! Proving it pays to runner a Blackbeard Marine Skeeter, Mark and Luke Thompson added to their fourth place finish by taking another Top Skeeter award. They junk fished all day, catching fish on a Choppo, spinnerbait, frog and an A-rig, fishing everywhere from the very back of the ditches to bridge pilings to put 9.57 pounds into the livewells of Mark’s 2026 Blackbeard Marine  ZXE20 Skeeter.

Special thanks to Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the newly rewrapped release boat!

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

The fourth event of the 2026 Stockton Division will launch from Orleans Trail South Ramp Saturday 7/25 with a 6:00 am takeoff. Like us on Facebook & Instagram then send a Thank you to our sponsors.

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Desmond Carl and Tyler Glenn took the top podium position with an incredible 20.56 pound bag. Desmond explained their Valley Transmission Shop key to success was flipping bushes. He noted the bite picked up after the clouds broke, pushing the bass into the shade of the bushes. Desmond and Tyler are proud to represent BeatDown Outdoors.

Veterans of the Truman bass wars, Eric and Ben Zuk landed in second place with a stout 17.67 sack. Eric said they caught their fish on creature baits on points in 8’-10’ of water on an all day bite. They used the second big bass of the event, a 5.67 lunker, to improve their final weight. Eric and Ben used Provoke Baits to catch their fish.

Troy Hardy and Tom Hutchenson claimed third place on the back of a 16.47 pound limit. Troy noted did most of their damage early flipping jigs to shallow bushes. Troy and Tom wish to acknowledge the support they get from Max Motors and Scent Theft.

Joe Dorcy and Dene White boated the Wilson Logistics big bass of the event, a monster 5.77 pound largemouth that big a crankbait as their first fish of the morning. Joe and Dene appreciate the help they get from Shoreline Fiberglass and Repair.

Roy Butler and Gary Maxwell put some money in their pockets as they wrangled Top Skeeter honors for the day. They put 12.36 pounds of fish in the livewells of Roy’s 2017 ZX250 Skeeter, fishing jigs and plastics in muddier water with freshly flooded bushes.

Thank you Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the release boat!

Bucksaw Resort & Marina along with Lakes Inn is a Save-A-Receipt participant for the Truman division, so be sure and check them out for accommodations throughout the season.

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs.

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

The fourth event of the 2026 Truman de Terre Division will launch from Shawnee Bend Sunday 8/23 with a 6:00 am takeoff.

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Using years of experience on Pomme de Terre, David Mulkey and Tyler Weaver took top honors with a 17.23 bag. David explained their TNT Quick Stop key to success was dragging worms on mainlake points. He noted their bite was better early during the downpour, with the fish shutting off as the rain dwindled. The padded their winners take by landing the Wilson Logistics big bass of the event, a 5.39 pound largemouth. David and Tyler enjoy the support of Albers Marine, Inc., Motion Fishing and Pro Tungsten..

Paul Redmond and Stephen Goceljak were just behind the leaders with a 16.80 pound stringer. Paul said they leaned on worms and jigs in the bushes to catch their fish. They also noted they did better during the heavy rain as things slowed down when the rain stopped. Paul and Stephen are proud to represent Brute Force Fishing.

Ron Belew and Derek Dace rounded at the top three positions. They brought a limit to the scales that locked in at 16.37 pounds. They also found the early bite to their liking as they fished jigs in the bushes to get bit. They concentrated on the midlake area due to the incoming mud and trash in the upper reaches. Ron and Derek have the backing of Dace Insurance.

Gary Arterberry and Gus Adkinson took the final paying position with a 14.56 limit but added to their take home funds by landing Top Skeeter honors as they fished plastics from Gary’s 2025 ZXR21 Skeeter boat. They also shared they did better after the rains, finding their fish deeper off of mainlake rolloffs.

Thank you Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the release boat!

LakeWay Resort is a Save-A-Receipt participant for the Pomme de Terre division, so be sure and check them out for accommodations throughout the season.

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

Okay guys and gals we have to pay the launch fees at The Harbor launch ramp. With that said as an incentive to pay YOUR REQUIRED FEES the receipts will be added to the Save A Receipt drawing at the Invitational. The Harbor ramp and restaurant, and campground is now a Save A Receipt sponsor. PAY YOUR LAUNCH FEES PLEASE.

The fourth event of the 2026 Pomme de Terre Division will launch from The Harbor Saturday 8/22 with a 6:00 am takeoff. Like us on Facebook & Instagram then send a Thank you to our sponsors.

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A round of storms that brought torrential rains set the stage for the 36 teams that took off from the Mill Creek ramp to fish the 3^rd event of the 2026 Antique Division sponsored by Maybee Insurance and KGB Swimbaits.  Anglers reported a big flush in all of the creek arms, functionally eliminating a lot of water to fish with the hopes of coming out on top of the Window World Leaderboard.   As always, every keeper boated gleaned teams qualifying points for the Joe Bass Invitational to be held this fall on Truman Lake.

Easton Pendergrass and Rob Eustler came out on top on a tough fishing day.  They brought five bass to the scales that weighed 19.16 pounds.  Easton shared their Maybee Insurance & KGB Swimbaits key to success was working deep crankbaits on main lake points and ledges.  He noted they did all their damage early as their bite went away once the sun broke through the cloud cover.

Terry Hutchinson and Jason Coley made a strong run at the lead but ended up having to settle for second place.  Their bag pushed the scales to 16.93 pounds.  To take some of the sting off of missing the win, Terry and Jason locked down the Top Skeeter honors as they fished spoons and spinnerbaits around boat docks from Terry’s brand new 2026 Blackbeard Marine  FXR21 Skeeter.

Slade Wilson and Joey Penzo rounded out the top three.  Their best five Table Rock bass locked the scales at 16.60 pounds.  Included in their bag was the second place big bass, a 4.93 pound monster largemouth.  Slade and Joey combined crankbaits with a jig approach to catch their fish.

Jay Oliver and Aaron Hodge added to their fifth place check by locking up the Wilson Logistics big bass of the event.  Their total weight of 15.92 pounds was anchored by a 4.95 kicker, which in addition to big bass money, garnered them a KGB Swimbaits!  Jay and Aaron are proud to represent Catch MO Fish Guide Service.

Special thanks to Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the release boat!

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

The next event in the 2026 Antique division is August 5th with a 6:00am start at Mill Creek.

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Colin Wolinksi topped the field with a staggering 19.11-pound limit. Colin’s bag included the Wilson Logistics big bass that weighed 6.11 pounds. Colin shared his Blackbeard Marine key for success was mixing a worm with a jig to draw strikes. Not wanting to leave any money on the table, Colin also took Top Skeeter honors as he put his fish in the live wells of his 2023 ZXR21 Skeeter.

Table Rock sticks Kavan Maybee and Josh Wray needed a big fish to push them over the top, but their 17.31 limit still got them a second-place finish. Their biggest bass weighed 3.89 pounds, indicating the remainder of their sack was all quality fish. Kavan and Josh paired a Triple P topwater bite to reach their final weight.

Clay and Jay Henderson brought a five fish limit to the scales that locked in at 16.48 pounds. They took advantage of the second-place big bass of 4.89 pounds to bolster their weight. Clay and Jay worked spoons and jigs in 20’-30’ of water to catch their fish. Team Henderson is proud to represent Rite Hite and Crock-O-Gator jigs.

Thanks to Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet, Buick & GMC for sponsoring the newly rewrapped release boat!

Bring your empty packages of Rapala, Crush City, Storm, VMC and Suffix with your name and phone number to your next Joe Bass Tournament for a chance at a tackle pack. Drawings are done monthly throughout the tournament season.

Clear Cast marine electronics repair is continuing to support Joe Bass Team Trail. Their support of the Tournament of Champions and Staff Shootout opportunities at the Invitational is paramount to it’s success.  SUPPORT their efforts! Be sure and visit their website for details for your repair and setup needs!

For trail updates, schedule changes and results Like us on Facebook & Instagram.

The next event of the 2026 Table Rock Division will launch from Mill Creek Saturday 8/6 with a 6:00 am takeoff.

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