With the close of the 2015 fishing season, it is time to reward the anglers with the highest points totals for the NBAA product sponsor categories.  Each year, when you renew as an NBAA member, there is a list of product sponsors on the form.  The format is simple, if you use that brand or product, then you check the box.  After you are done filling out the sponsor boxes, then you sit back and watch as the tournament season progresses.  After each event you fish, the points you earn for each tournament are added to each of the categories that you selected.  At the end of the season, the angler with the most points in each category is awarded the Product Angler of the Year.  Then from all these categories, the angler with the most overall points is awarded the 2015 NBAA Angler of the Year Award.  Here are the 2015 Sponsor Product award winners for each category.

Cabela’s – Ron Fasel & Thomas Heminger – Michigan Division 38

Evinrude – Stanley Pearson – Michigan Division 38

T&H Marine – Chad Warren – Michigan Division 14

Humminbird – Chad Warren – Michigan Division 14

Lucky Craft – Ron Fasel – Michigan Division 38

Minnkota – Steve Hess – Michigan Division 14

Poor Boys Baits – Ron Fasel – Michigan Division 38

Ranger Boats – Ron Fasel – Michigan Division 38

Stratos Boats – Corey Hooper – Michigan Division 38

G-Juice – Chad Warren – Michigan Division 14

NBAA Overall Angler of the Year (Most Points) – Steve Hess – Michigan Division 14

Each of the winning angler’s received a nice prize for winning each category. Also, congratulations to Steve Hess on being the 2015 Angler of the Year.

Michigan will have a New NBAA division for 2016.  Director Rich Craven will have four tournaments this summer on Thursday evenings.  Each event will last three hours, from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.  This new division is where each angler brings their own boat & fishes by themselves.  The  schedule for 2016 looks like this:

Thursday, June 16 – Morrison Lake

Thursday, July 7th – Long Lake (Iona County)

Thursday, July 21st – Gun Lake

Thursday, Aug 25th – Jordan Lake

Thursday, Sept 15th – Morison (Division Championship

For more information or questions about this new series, email Director Rich Cravens at sundayshowdownseries@gmail.com

The Michigan Sunday Showdown Series will once again be hosting NBAA tournaments in 2016.  The division will consist of five, Sunday tournaments, where you can pick your own partner.  Each of the events will last from 6:30 am until 2:30 pm each day.  At the end of the season, if your team has fished four out of the five events and you have finished in the Top 10 teams in points, your team will be qualified for the NBAA National Championship.

The 2016 schedule is as follows:

Sunday, May 29th – Jordan Lake

Sunday, June 5th – Gull Lake

Sunday, June 19 – Gun Lake

Sunday, July 24th – ThornappleLake

Sunday, Sept 4th – Morrison Lake

If you have any questions about this division please email Director Robert Reisbig at sundayshowdownseries@gmail.com

The 2015 NBAA fishing season has come to a close.  Every division has completed their scheduled events and all the number have been tallied for this year.  At the end of every season, all the anglers are shooting for one goal.  That is, to do well enough in the tournaments to hopefully accumulate the most points in their division and win the Team of the Year (TOY) award from their division.  The Team of the Year award is special because it means they were the most consistent and best team in their division for the entire season.  As a reward for that, NBAA would like to recognize these teams for their accomplishments for 2015 in their respective divisions.

Here are the 2015 Team of the Year Winners from this year’s NBAA Divisions:

Illinois – Central Illinois Summer Series – Charles Allen & Tyler Allen

Indiana – Tanners Creek Division – Rob Duncan – Dave Kendall

Louisiana – LA Bass Snatchers – Rusty Matthews & Jeremy Matthews

Michigan – Division 02 – Easton Lovell & Colton Lovell

Michigan – Division 03 – Bryan Doyle & Joshua Kolodzaike

Michigan – Division 14- Steve Hess & Kyle Hess

Michigan – Division 30 – Brandon Mollette & Cody Baldwin

Michigan – Division 38 – Ron Fasel & Thomas Heminger

Michigan – Sunday Showdown – Rich Craven & Robert Reisbig

Montana – Eastern Weekend Challenge – Kent Stingley & Michael Bradley

Nebraska – Division 54 – Royce Hershberger & Steve Brinkerhoff

New Jersey – Northeast Military Division – Sean Combs & Joe Phillips

Each team received a goody bag of NBAA sponsored products for their achievements.  Congratulations to all the 2015 TOY winners!