2007 YTD Stats

Whitefish Tournament Stats
Leech Tournament Stats
Pokegama Tournament Stats
Gull Lake Tournament Stats
Mississippi River Stats

Dale Ruehling
2007 Angler of the Year

Congratulations to Dale for a great season to earn the 2007 Angler of the Year title! 81 anglers completed in this years events for the title and it came down to the final event of the season. Dale bested the top three contenders at the last event to come from 11th place to win the title by 1 point! The Angler of the Year title earned him a check of $995.00, a Falcon Rod(donated by Jim Smith, Tournament Tackle Co) and more importantly...1st boat out in all the 2008 events! Great job Dale!

(L-R)

Jim Smith Lindy Frasl Tim Mickelson

Smith wins 2007 TOC title

The best anglers in Minnesota competed September 23rd for the 2007 Excel Bass Tournament of Champions title on the Woman Lake Chain. Hot temps and 30+ mph gail force winds didn't slow our anglers from boating a TOC record number of fish! 81anglers competed in this year tournament series for the top 15 spots to qualify for the TOC. Jim Smith put together a nice five Bass limit of 17.5 lbs to take first place and the TOC title. Tim Mickelson followed-up with 14.8 lbs for second and taking third was Lindy Frasl with 14.2 lbs. Lunkers honors also went to Jim with a 5.60 lb toad!

This event finishes another successful season full of fun and excitement. The staff as Excel Bass would like to thank all the anglers that competed this year and making it another fun year for us. We all enjoyed the fellowship and making new friendship over season. We look forward to next year!

Stay tuned to the message boards for 2008 tournament information. Have a great Winter....I'll be thinking about you guys as I'm setting the hook in Florida!

(L-R)
Tom Whitehead Dale Ruehling Chad Foster

Whitehead wins on the River

31 anglers competed in the final event of the series on the Mississippi/Rice Lake in Brainerd. Blue bird skys ushered in by a major cold front didn't stop our anglers from weighing-in 120 Bass for over 309 total lbs proving only the best Minnesota anglers are fishing the Excel Bass circuit!

The "Angler of the Year" title would be decided at this event with Chuck Steinbauer leading Jim Smith by only 4 points. When the smoke cleared, Dale Ruehling came from third place to take the title! Great year Dale.

Tom Whitehead went on his milk run and loaded-up early with the winning weight of 18.60 lbs. Dale Ruehling worked the outside rice and timber on the main channel to earn him second place with 17.90 lbs of bass. Third place went to Chad Foster also working the main channel and lake to catch 16.10 lbs(by tie breaker) and rounding out the money winners was Jer Kretzman also with 16.10 lbs! Lunker honors went to Tim Scruggs, from Indiana, with a 6.0 lb toad! It was a great way to end another fantastic year!

(L-R)
Tom Whitehead Dale Ruehling Chuck Steinbauer

Ruehling Takes 1st on Gull

32 anglers competed in the fouth event of the series at Gull Lake. Overcast, windy and rain conditions didn't stop our anglers from weighing-in 146 Bass for over 329 total lbs proving again that the best sticks in Minnesota are fishing the Excel circuit!

Dale hit the docks early to load-up with the winning weight of 16.80 lbs. Chuck Stienbauer went to plan "B" after finding out his starting water was off limts to catch 16.50 lbs of bass good for scond place. Third place went to Tom Whitehead also running docks early to catch 15.30 lbs and rounding out the money winners was Jim Smith with 15.30 lbs! Lunker also went to Tom Whitehead with a 6.3 lbs toad! It was another great tournament and a big thanks to Craig, Desi and the staff at Ernies for hosting our event!

The next tournament is on Rice/Mississippi River out of Lum Park on Seprtember 9th. A few spots remain so get you entires in today!

Robert Schwalboski	Dave Hartig	Kent Bielejeski
Schwalboski Wins on Pokegama 47 anglers competed in the third event of the series at Pokegama Lake. A major overnight cold front didn't stop our anglers from weighing-in 207 Bass for over 478 total lbs proving again that the best sticks in Minnesota are fishing the Excel circuit! Robert Schwalboski's long run up the river proved to be the right move as he boated a five bass limit for 18.60 lbs. Dave Hartig stayed in the lake to scrounge out a good mixed bag of brown and green bass for 2nd place with 18.50 lbs. Third place went to Kent Bielejiski with 17.60 lbas and rounding out the money winners was Chad Foster with 15.30 lbs! Lunker went to Keith Tuma with a 5.0 lbs toad! It was another great tournament and a big thanks to Trevor Wendell and his staff ar Zorbas for hosting our event! The next tournament is just an eye blink away on Gull Lake August 19th out of Ernies. A few spots remain so get you entires in today!

(L-R)
Chuck Steinbauer Jim Severson Jim Smith

Severson Takes Leech Event

Forty Five anglers competed in the second event of the 2007 tournament series at Leech lake. Under cold front conditions and howling NW winds, 40 anglers weighed 186 bass for a total weight of 557 lbs! Great job guys!

Jim Severson took first place with a 5 fish limit of 19lbs 4 oz. Story has it he took his fish using a sissy stick and tube working cut banks. Second place went to Jim Smith with 18lbs 6 ozs, third place was Chuck Stienbauer with 18lbs 3oz and rounding out the money winners was Greg Peterson with 18lbs 1 oz. Big Bass honors went to both Keith Tuma and Tom Whitehead as they tied with 5lb 3oz lunkers.

The next event is on Pokegama on August 12th.

(L-R)
Chuck Steinbauer Lindy Frasl Chuck Fields

Steinbauer Wins First Excel Event

A record number of anglers( 50 ) participated in the first event of the 2007 tournament series on the Whitefish Chain. Chuck Steinbauer worked his dock magic to get a five Bass limit weighing 14 lbs 4 oz for first place. Second place went to Lindy Frasl with a 13lbs 7 oz, Chuck Fields finished with 12lbs 5 oz and rounding out the money winners was Chad Foster with 12lbs 1 oz. Lindy also took big bass honors with a 4lb 6oz lunker. Many records fell with all but one angler getting a limit for a total weight of 405 lbs. Although the bite was good the fish were small with an average weight of 1lb 13oz. Great job guys!

A big thanks to Dan and Donna and the Driftwood staff for hosting the event and use of their fantastic facilities. The next event will be July 8th on Leech Lake.