RANGE BASSMASTERS   

North Long

June 6, 2026

Well, the first tournament of the year is always like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get! Weather-wise, it was a beautiful day to kick off the season with 80 degree temperatures and virtually no wind. No wind was a big change for North Long. It seems like that’s always a windy one for us. Fishing wasn’t quite as easy as the prefishing reports were saying. Here’s how it all shook out.

RUNNING away with first was ‘ol Chuck Steinbauer with a heavy sack at 15.63 pounds! He did a little of the old school Chuck we all know, running and gunning, and trying to pick off the active fish. In the end, it was settling into one of his honey holes, patiently, slowly, finessing them in that did it. Chuck also took big bass of the tournament with a 4.95 hawg!

Burning up second place was Sawyer with a 13.4 bag of quality fish. Though he literally burned up, he stayed focus enough to coax all those fish with the ‘ol chicken jig. He has requested vitamin E gel on ice or we could just pool together for a jug of sunscreen! ;)

Sliding into third at the top of all the 11 and 12-pound sacks was Billy with a 12.73 total weight. If it weren’t for that 4.48 pig of a dock fish Emmet GAVE him, he would not be at the top of the stack. Way to go, Emmet! Otherwise, Billy spent the day pulling what he could out of the cabbage with jigs and chatterbaits. Rounding out the top six were Jen - 4th, Brian Tonn - 5th, and Larry - 6th.

A motion was made, seconded, and discussed to swap Bay Lake and Clearwater. Other than one “I don’t give a $#&!,” it was unanimous to swap the two. Next up is the partner draw for Clearwater on Wednesday, July 15th at 6:30 at the Elk’s.