Creature Bait Does it for Berhorst

Spencer takes co-angler title

Dennis Berhorst of Holts Summit, Missouri, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 12 ounces Saturday to win the fourth Walmart Bass Fishing League Ozark Division tournament of 2015 on Lake Truman. For his victory, Berhorst earned $5,963. Angler: Dennis Berhorst.

June 29, 2015 • MLF • Archives

Berhorst said he spent his day targeting two different areas of the lake in the Osage Arm.

“First I focused on flat banks, that were littered with grass, at the end of bluff lines in 10 feet of water,” said Berhorst. “I used a black Omega Alpha Shad Buzzbait and was able to catch five keepers in the first hour.”

After the sun came out, Berhorst said he switched techniques to flipping willow bushes in 5- to 6-foot depths using a creature bait similar to a Zoom Brush Hog.

“What I used was a bit skinnier than a Brush Hog and it did really well,” said Berhorst. “Three of the fish I weighed in came from the bushes including a 4- and a 5-pounder.”

Berhorst said he caught approximately 11 keepers over the course of the tournament.

The top 10 boaters:

1^st: Dennis Berhorst, Holts Summit, Mo., five bass, 16-12, $3,963 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

2^nd: David Ryan, Levasy, Mo., five bass, 14-6, $1,981

3^rd: Ron McLain, Independence, Mo., five bass, 13-9, $1,322

4^th: Todd Knaack, Lawson, Mo., five bass, 13-1, $925

5^th: Roger Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., five bass, 12-9, $793

6^th: B.J. Davis, Mountain Home, Ark., five bass, 12-7, $727

7^th: Shawn Kowal, Linn Creek, Mo., five bass, 12-6, $660

8^th: Doyle Isom Jr., Bourbon, Mo., five bass, 12-2, $594

9^th: Brett Govreau, House Springs, Mo., five bass, 11-7, $528

10^th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., five bass, 10-1, $462

Complete results can be found here.

Fitzpatrick caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division, a fish weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $535.

Spencer wins co-angler divison

Josh Spencer of Saint Charles, Missouri, weighed in three bass totaling 8 pounds, 15 ounces Saturday to win $1,981 in the co-angler division.

The top 10 co-anglers:

1^st: Josh Spencer, Saint Charles, Mo., three bass, 8-15, $1,981

2^nd: Dewey Larson, Fayetteville, Ark., three bass, 7-13, $991

3^rd: Dennis Spell, Bonne Terre, Mo., two bass, 7-6, $662

4^th: Judd Weible, Desloge, Mo., three bass, 7-5, $462

5^th: Rob Bueltmann, Osage Beach, Mo., two bass, 6-1, $396

6^th: Mark Anderson, Nixa, Mo., three bass, 6-0, $363

7^th: Bobbie Green, Lees Summit, Mo., two bass, 5-7, $313

7^th: Frank Williams, Saint Charles, Mo., two bass, 5-7, $313

9^th: Tom O’ Connor, Eureka, Mo., two bass, 4-15, $264

10^th: Sam Bremmerkamp, Joplin, Mo., two bass, 4-14, $231

Spell caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $267.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 15-17 Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.