The Month's Events
Bass Rattlers August 2025 2025-2026 Tournament #6 Recap
The weather couldn’t have been better — clouds and a nice breeze kept things comfortable, and the rain waited until we were all packed up!
24 anglers hit the water and brought 75 bass to the scales for a total of 147.27 lbs (avg. 1.96 lbs). We had 11 limits and 7 zeros.
Top 3 Finishers
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Daniel Valois – 15.20 lbs
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Rick Wilhelm – 12.46 lbs
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Fernando Reja – 11.50 lbs
Big Fish
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Fernando Reja – 5.39 lbs
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Jim Joseph – 5.35 lbs
Huge thanks to everyone who helped with weigh-in setup and take-down — your support keeps these events running smoothly! Special shoutout to Manuel Gonzalez for making the new Bass Rattlers caps for our top 2 finishers.
AOY Top 10
1) Mike Cass & Jake Whitman – 801 pts
3) Joe Long & Aaron Navarro – 779 pts
5) Daniel Valois – 761 pts
6) Bobby Watson – 751 pts
7) Rick Wilhelm – 736 pts
8)Tim Jackson – 731 pts
9) Jim Joseph – 729 pts
10) Max-Henry Beaulieu & Fernando Reja – 718 pts
Next Up:
🎣 Stop #7 – Sat, Sept 6 – Okeechobee (Scott Driver Park)
🎣 Make-Up Stop #3 – Sun, Sept 7 – Okeechobee (Scott Driver Park)
Bass Rattlers July 2025 2025-2026 Tournament #5 Recap
We had a strong turnout with 30 anglers joining us for Tournament #5—more than expected for this time of year! Despite the low water levels, everything ran smoothly on the lake. The real challenge of the day was the intense summer heat and lack of breeze, but our anglers toughed it out.
Overall, it was a great day on the “Big Water.” A total of 100 bass were brought to the scales, weighing in at a combined 231.29 pounds, averaging 2.31 pounds per fish.
Top Finishers
• 1st Place: Jake Whitman – 17.46 lbs
• 2nd Place: Jim Finley – 17.10 lbs
• 3rd Place: Mike Cass – 14.83 lbs
Big Fish Winners
• Jake Whitman: 7.24 lbs
• Jim Finley: 6.50 lbs
Special Thanks
Big shoutout to everyone who helped with the setup and breakdown of the weigh-in station—it doesn’t go unnoticed. And a huge thank you to Lora Kerslake for bringing those delicious cookies and brownies—they were a much-needed treat in the heat!
Bass Rattlers June 2025 2025-2026 Tournament #4 Recap
Another first for the Club — our June 2025 tournament was held on Lake Garcia, and it turned out to be a great success! Every angler caught fish. The weather held up nicely too, with a steady breeze making it feel cooler than the temps on the thermometer.
Tournament Stats:
• 103 bass brought to the scales
• Total weight: 198.19 lbs
• Average weight: 1.92 lbs
Top Finishers:
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Willie Manning – 14.69 lbs
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Aaron Navarro – 14.33 lbs
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Jake Whitman – 12.62 lbs
Big Fish:
• Aaron Navarro – 4.45 lbs
• Max-Henry Beaulieu – 7.79 lbs
Next Tournament: July 12, 2025
We’re joining up with the Florida BASS Nation South Region Pro Am Qualifier #4 — back on our home waters in Clewiston! Don’t miss it!
Registration open now!
• Bass Rattlers 2025-2026, Stop # 5 on Fishing Chaos
https://share.fishingchaos.com/tournament/NhXslCSi0HBC3bCHgcvf
• 2024 - 2025 South Region Pro Am # 4 on Fishing Chaos
https://share.fishingchaos.com/tournament/YdUsgVZNHvl9M8p1l8bQ
Bass Rattlers April 2025 2025-2026 Tournament #2 Recap
Our April tournament at Harney Pond brought out 20 anglers, and it was a day made for flipping, pitching, and frog fishing! Every angler weighed in fish, bringing in 13 out of 20 5 fish limits. There were a total of 89 bass brought to the scale, totaling 207.26 pounds for an average of 2.33 pounds each. Congrats to the top finishers in this month’s tournament:
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Jose Leotaud, 19.66 pounds
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Dell Hatfield, 15.19 pounds
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Bobby Watson, 15.18 pounds
Big Bass
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Jose Leotaud, 8.25 pounds
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Tim Jackson, 6.83 pounds
Bass Rattlers March 2025 2025-2026 Tournament #1 Recap
We kicked things off with a strong start out of Clewiston, teaming up with the Florida BASS Nation South Region Pro Am Qualifier #3. A total of 37 anglers from both the Club and Pro Am divisions brought 93 fish to the scale weighing in at a combined 193.52 lbs—an average of 2.08 lbs per fish!
Congrats to our top finishers for showing out at the season opener:
Bass Rattlers - Top Finishers
1st: Mike Cass – 19.28 lbs | $480
2nd: Joe Long – 14.54 lbs | $288
3rd: Jake Whitman – 11.10 lbs | $192
Big Bass (Club)
Mike Cass – 7.52 lbs | $150
Mike Cass – 6.78 lbs | $150
Pro Am Qualifier #3 – Anglers Division
1st: Joe Long – 14.54 lbs | $1,456
2nd: Yoan Alvarez – 9.40 lbs
3rd: Jim Joseph – 8.44 lbs
Big Fish – Anglers
Joe Long – 5.94 lbs | $130
Co-Anglers Division
1st: Jesus Rivas – 7.70 lbs | $560
2nd: Taylor Stewart – 6.50 lbs
3rd: Manuel Gonzales – 6.23 lbs
Big Fish – Co-Anglers
Taylor Stewart | $60
Next Stop: Harney Pond – April 12, 2025
Mark your calendars and get ready for another great day on the water!
Bass Rattlers Association 2025 - 2026 Stop # 2 on Fishing Chaos https://share.fishingchaos.com/tournament/szU43uH3vPhyiuAENJkd
Bass Rattlers February 2025 Tournament #12 Recap
Saturday started with a short fog delay which extended our fishing day and weigh in to 3:30 PM. There were several good bags brought to the scale along with big fish ranging from 6.45 pounds to 10.71 pounds. There were 124 bass brought to the scale weighing in at 323.60 pounds, an average of 2.60 pounds each. We saw the 6th bag over 20 pounds for the season and the 2nd largest bag of the season went to a non-boater along with the only double digit bass. Congratulations to the top finishers as well as the top in the AOY points race.
Just a little trivia:
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When was the last fish 8.5 pounds or more brought to the scale to win the “Lunker Fund?
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July 10, 2021 by Jake Whitman, 9.24 pounds
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What was the biggest bag this season and who caught it?
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25.48 pounds caught by Daniel Valois on May 11, 2024 out of Scott Driver Park
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Top Finishers:
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Mike Addie, 24.63 pounds
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Tim Jackson, 19.83 pounds
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Joe Long, 19.34 pounds
Big Bass
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Mike Addie, 10.71 pounds
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Trevor Whitman, 8.31 pounds
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Bass Rattlers January 2025 Tournament #11 Recap
We had three (3) generations of Hatfields fishing, Dell, Kevin and Easton, keeping the legacy alive and well. The day turned out to be pleasant with a slight drizzle in the morning and light winds with a little sunshine thrown in towards the end of the day. The fishing was pretty good, for the most part, there were some good bags brought to the scales with 87 fish totaling 202.80 pounds, an average of 2.33 pounds each. There were NO dead fish weighed in at this tournament. Congratulations to the top finishers and to everyone that competed. As everyone is aware of, this tournament was a combination tournament with the Florida BASS Nation South Region Pro Am Qualifier # 2. The total payout was great for a weekend tournament as listed below. Also, there is one (1) tournament remaining on the Bass Rattlers Association Tournament Trail.
Top Finishers:
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Koby Kreiger, 19.63 pounds, Bass Rattler Payout $528.00, Pro Am Payout $1,232.00, total $1,750.00
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Jose Leotaud, 18.95 pounds, Bass Rattler Payout $317.00, Pro Am Payout $739.00, total $1,056.00
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Joe Long, 16.79 pounds, Bass Rattler Payout $211.00, Pro Am Payout $220.00, total $431.00
Big Fish:
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Jose Leotaud, 7.66 pounds, Bass Rattler Payout $165.00, Pro Am Payout $220.00, total $385.00
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Joe Long, 6.79 pounds, Bass Rattler Payout $165.00
Bass Rattlers December 2024 Tournament #10 Recap
The final tournament of 2024 delivered a cool start and a beautiful day on the water. Despite great weather, fishing proved challenging, with only 87 fish brought to the scale for a total weight of 165.23 pounds, averaging just 1.90 pounds per fish.This was a combined Club and Florida BASS Nation Pro Am Qualifier, featuring 30 anglers, including 4 non-club members and 3 Bass Rattlers who only fished the Pro Am.
Our next Club / FBN Pro Am Qualifier is scheduled for January 11, 2025, launching out of Scott Driver Park — mark your calendars!
Congratulations to our Top Finishers:
• Joe Long – 12.04 lbs – $480.00
• Tim Jackson – 11.97 lbs – $288.00
• Trevor Whitman – 11.37 lbs – $192.00
Big Fish Winners:
• Larry Hahn – 5.71 lbs – $150.00
• Tim Jackson – 4.01 lbs – $150.00
AOY Top 10:
1. Joe Long – 1,392 pts
2. Willie Manning – 1,386 pts
3. Tim Jackson – 1,376 pts
4. Daniel Valois – 1,369 pts
5. Mike Cass – 1,362 pts
6. Mike Saleeba – 1,333 pts
7. Todd Earl – 1,325 pts
8. Bob Wood – 1,322 pts
9. Bobby Watson – 1,314 pts
10. Rick Wilhelm – 1,293 pts
Great job to all competitors for making this a strong finish to the year. Let’s kick off 2025 strong in January!
Bass Rattlers November 2024 Tournament #9 Recap
We had an incredible tournament last Saturday, with some serious competition and impressive catches!
November Top Finishers
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Scott Kerslake 17.25 pounds
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Jake Whitman 17.00 pounds
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Willie Manning 15.81 pounds
Big Bass
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Scott Kerslake 6.00 pounds
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Mike Cass 5.85 pounds
Special shoutout to Scott Kerslake took home both top honors with the heaviest bag weighing in at an amazing 17.25 lbs and snagging the Big Fish title with a stunning 6 lb bass!
Scott’s winning catch came from Wind Cove using a black and blue senko—great job, Scott!
News
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Bass Rattlers October 2024 Tournament Recap
Bass Rattlers Tournament #8 Recap - October 2024
For the first time in a while, we fished till 3:00 PM and the weather actually cooperated! Overcast skies and a steady breeze kept things cool, making it a great day on the water. 🙌 A total of 24 anglers participated, bringing in 83 fish to the scale for a combined weight of 193.42 pounds, averaging 2.33 pounds per fish. We’re getting closer to our usual averages!
With the cooler weather coming and the fish moving into prespawn and early spawn phases in November and December, we’re looking forward to even better turnouts at the upcoming tournaments! 🎣🌊
A huge congratulations to our top finishers:
🏆 Mike Cass - 16.99 pounds
🥈 Daniel Valois - 16.71 pounds
🥉 Rick Wilhelm - 15.50 pounds
And a shoutout to our Big Fish winners:
🐟 Todd Earl - 7.18 pounds
🐟 Rick Wilhelm - 5.68 pounds
A big thank you to everyone who helped with the weigh-in and to all the anglers for coming out! Let’s keep the momentum going as we move into the next tournament.
Bass Rattlers September 2024 Tournament Recap
Bass Rattlers Tournament #7 Recap - September 2024
Another hot day out on the lake! Despite the early weigh-in, the heat took its toll on both the anglers and the fish. We’re all hoping for cooler temperatures in October to improve the fishing conditions.
A total of 26 anglers competed in this tournament, and we weighed in 56 bass for a total of 88.32 pounds, averaging 1.58 pounds per fish. The heat didn’t stop our top finishers from putting in impressive performances, though. Congratulations to all who competed!
Top Finishers:
1. Willie Manning - 15.41 lbs
2. Mike Saleeba - 12.52 lbs
3. Rick Wilhelm - 10.62 lbs
Big Bass Winners:
1. Rick Wilhelm - 5.11 lbs
2. Bobby Watson - 4.79 lbs
AOY Standings (with two throw-outs) - September 2024
Rank Name Points
1 Willie Manning 1001
2 Joe Long 989
3 Daniel Valois 980
4 Tim Jackson 973
5 Bob Wood 970
6 Mike Saleeba 965
7 Bobby Watson 943
8 Mike Cass 939
9 John Guttuso 937
10 Todd Earl 928
Let’s hope for better weather and bigger bass next month!
