Bass anglers compete in Trout Creek

TROUT CREEK – Boats roared to life across Noxon reservoir over the weekend as anglers from all over the northwest flocked to Trout Creek to compete in the annual Tri-State Bass Tournament.

Local fisherman did very well over the course of the weekend, snagging a couple of the top spots in the bass fishing competition.

Stanley Fisher of Trout Creek took first place in the tournament along with his teammate, Jay Evans of Hamilton.

Through three days of fishing the two anglers were able to pull in a cumulative weight total of 25.37 pounds of bass.

Tim Johnston of Plains formed part of a pair, which was able to place second in the Trout Creek competition.

“The tournament went really well, we had good weather this weekend,” Ron Woods, the president of the Clark Fork Bass Anglers said.

Sam Malkin was able to land the largest bass of the fishing event, which ran from the morning of Friday, July 25 through the afternoon of Sunday, July 27.

Malkin’s bass weighed in at 5.41 pounds.

Woods said the fishing conditions on Noxon Reservoir were pretty favorable for the anglers, considering how late in the summer it is.

“It was cool in the mornings, hot in the afternoon and there was not a lot of wind,” Woods said.

In total 31 teams, each consisting of two anglers, competed in the three-day championship in Trout Creek.

Woods noted the feedback from most of the anglers following the tournament was positive.

“Most of the anglers are pretty content,” Woods said.

The Tri-State tournament was not the only fishing event held at Noxon Reservoir over the weekend.

According to Woods Trout Creek also hosted two other American Bass Anglers tournaments over the weekend of the Tri-State competition.

The annual tri-state event is staged out of the Lakeside Motel, with anglers utilizing the venue’s private dock as a base for operations throughout the multiple day competitive fishing events.

Woods said the Tri-State Bass Tournament has been held on Noxon Reservoir for nearly 30 years.

The yearly event is hosted by the Clark Fork Bass Anglers.

The recent increase in the water temperature of the Noxon Reservoir limited bass activity in the heat of the day.

“In late July with the temperatures high, the bass do lay off the bait,” Woods said.

The 31 boats out on the reservoir were able to land quite a few fish but had to pick their spots to improve their chances of landing prized catches.

The cool crisp mornings proved to be the best time for competing anglers to land fish, with the higher temperatures of the afternoon hours lessening their targets activity and appetite.

“You got to get the bass first thing in the morning,” Woods said.

Earlier in the summer, Trout Creek hosted the Bassmasters Divisional Tournament from May 19 to May 23.

At the May event semi pro anglers and amateurs competed for a chance to take part in the Bassmasters national tournament.

The biggest challenge faced by anglers at the Tri-State Bass tournament was the conditions, which have changed since spring.

Woods noted the conditions at this time of year were a little different from May fishing.

“It’s not like fishing in the spring,” Woods said.

The president of the Clark Fork Bass Anglers added pre-spawn and spawn scenarios create different fishing environments from those faced by competitors in the Tri-State tournament.