Portage Lake, near Three Rivers, MI – June 2, 2025 – The waters of Portage Lake came alive on Monday as 52 youth anglers aboard 25 boats competed in an exciting tournament showcasing talent, teamwork, and a shared love for fishing. The event featured both High School and Junior divisions, with young anglers braving changing conditions and showing great sportsmanship throughout the day.

High School Division Recap
The High School division saw fierce competition and some impressive bags brought to the scales. Collin Balk and Joe Anglemyer took top honors with a total weight of 10.94 pounds. The duo got on the fish quickly and culled three times to round out their winning limit, setting the pace early and never looking back.

Derek Patch and Freddie Stears secured second place with 10.04 pounds, highlighted by a tournament-best 4.09-pound largemouth caught by Freddie, earning him Big Bass honors in the High School division and a brand new fishing rod from Pulse Fish (pulsefish.com).

The rest of the leaderboard saw tighter margins:

3rd Place: Keagon and Jordan – 2.93 lbs
4th Place: Carter and Oliver – 2.65 lbs
5th Place: Brady and Noah – 2.47 lbs
6th Place: Will and Rhylee – 2.15 lbs

Several teams, including Evan and Bradley, Drew and Konnor, Sam and Mason, Logan and Aiden, and Cooper and Brayden, unfortunately ended the day without a weighable catch, but their persistence and sportsmanship were evident throughout the event.

Junior Division Recap
The Junior division saw a competitive field and an extremely close finish among the top 10. Mason Stears and Graham McGlothlen came out on top with a solid total of 5.33 pounds, earning them the 1st place trophy.

Zaine Sauer and Diesel McKay were not far behind with 4.44 pounds, while the team of Owen, Alec, and Colton locked in 3rd place at 2.84 pounds. That catch also included the Junior Division Big Bass, a 2.84-pounder landed by Colton.

The top 10 was rounded out by:

4th Place: Benson and Wyatt – 2.67 lbs
5th Place: Chloe and Jason – 2.53 lbs
6th Place: Wyatt and Gavin – 2.46 lbs
7th Place: Cameron and Carson – 2.45 lbs
8th Place: Reed and Austin – 2.40 lbs
9th Place: Bo, Percy, and Charlie – 2.39 lbs
10th Place: AJ and Caden – 2.21 lbs

Weston and Krew weighed in 2.09 pounds, just missing the top 10. The teams of Coltin and James, Brent and Jase, and TJ and Bryce did not register a scorable catch, but showed strong fishing focus and excellent sportsmanship.

A Great Day for TR Fishing

The Portage Lake tournament (hosted at beautiful Klines Resort) was more than just a competition—it was a celebration of youth angling and the outdoors. Coaches, parents, and volunteers came together to support the event, and each angler walked away with memories and experience that will fuel future fishing adventures. We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following partners who helped make our season kick-off event a great success: Klines Resort, Sam’s Club, Gordon Food Service, Celebration Cinema, and Olive Garden. We would also like to thank Jon and Kendelle Klesko and Bob and Joan Cole for all of your hard work. Your support means the world to our team and community!

We would also like to sincerely thank all of our 2025 team sponsors for their generous support in making this season possible. Their contributions help provide unforgettable experiences and opportunities for our young anglers.

R&R Trailer
R & M Concrete, LLC
Michiana Feed
Big G's Custom Baits
Ayres Insurance
Walther Farms
Rhinos Exterior Renovations
WE SLITT
DB Baits
Muehlberger Custom Homes
Decker Home Sales – Berkshire Hathaway
Franger Gas Company
Preferred Insurance
Klines Resort
TR Moose Lodge
Soapy's Car Wash
High's Marine
American Axle
Lions Club
Armstrong International
Sand Lake Party Store
TH Plastics
State Farm Insurance
Grabowski Orthodontics

The TR Bass Team will be back in action at Pleasant Lake on Monday, June 9 with a 5:30 launch and weigh-ins starting at 8:15pm.