Upper Midwest Bass Challenge Series takes on a tough Lake Nokomis

Late last month the Upper Midwest Bass Challenge Series Central Division anglers took on Lake Nokomis in their third stop of regular season fishing. The Central Division is one of three divisions run by Gregg and Joni Kizewski of St. Germain. Last winter, Kizewski announced that this would be the last of the Upper Midwest Bass Challenge Series, making it even more important to anglers who have fished this series for many years. While he and his wife will miss the “fishing family” atmosphere of running tournaments, Kizewski said he felt it was time to start focusing on other things and for the couple to start to prepare for their eventual retirement. 

They also run two other small businesses and were looking to scale back on something by the end of this year. Kizewski said he still looks forward to fishing, as hunting and fishing have been a big part of his life since he was young, but he looks forward to fishing without the stress of running tournaments.

For anglers fishing the series, it is bittersweet, even when placing in the money, fishing this last year to this series. While many anglers fish different series together, the mix is always a bit different, and each series hits particular lakes at particular times of the year, making for new challenges.

The tournament on Nokomis proved to be tough for many anglers. The day started out pleasant, with temperatures in the low 60s with variable winds. By early afternoon, temperatures had climbed into the 80s, making for some tougher conditions for anglers and taking the spring out of the step of more than a few. Added to that, there was a full moon as well as falling water levels — all things that make conditions tougher for anglers. Those who put in the most time and who learned the movement of the fish were still able to capitalize on the tough bite. 

In total, there were 52 anglers on 26 teams. They brought in 28 largemouth and 57 smallmouth at the end of the day, all of which were quickly and safely released back into Lake Nokomis. The total weight for all 85 fish was 204.60, making for a 2.41 pound average. That average was close to the same as the Wisconsin Bass Team Trail event held a few weeks earlier. That tournament saw an average fish weight of 2.35 pounds. Interestingly, big bass for the Upper Midwest Bass Challenge Series tournament , brought in by the team of Andy Dassow and Todd Holtman, was 4.15, and the Wisconsin Bass Team Trail big bass was 4.12.

Robin Pester and Gregg Kizewski wound up on top of the heap when the scales closed with 15.92 pounds. Pester also won the Wisconsin Bass Team Trail event weeks earlier with a different partner, Kacey Meyer, but that total was a bit higher, weighing in at over 17 pounds. 

Dassow and Holtman not only had big bass of the day for the Upper Midwest Bass Challenge Series, they also grabbed second place with 14.62 pounds of smallmouth.

Third place went to Ken Darton and Jordan Lazore with 14.16 pounds. They had a mixed bag of 2 largemouth and three smallmouth.

Tom Perkind and Brady Rufenacht found themselves in fourth at the end of the day with 13.10 pounds. They also had a mixed bag of fish.

Trevor Mildenberger and Scott Hulke brought in all smallmouth. Their 12.90 pound bag was enough to land them in fifth place when the scales closed.

The next Central Division Series tournament will be on Boom Lake on Sunday, Aug. 11. That will be the final regular season tournament for the Central Division. From there, anglers who fished at least four events, regardless of the division, will join other anglers from the Western and River Divisions for the final Upper Midwest Bass Challenge Series Tournament of Champions in September on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage. The tournament of champions is packed with some of the best anglers in the state, and they are sure to showcase this amazing fishery.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].