Easton Smith of Ellis gets a little help from Hays Bass Anglers Association’s Ryan Bechard during the Bass Cast competition on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, at the Youth Outdoor Festival in Hays.

Bass Cast popular at Youth Outdoor Festival

HAYS, KS (Aug. 19, 2023) — Hays Bass Anglers Association hosted welcomed youth to the Bass Cast competition at the Youth Outdoor Festival on Aug. 19, 2023, at the Hays City Sportsman’s Club northwest of Hays. Nearly 150 youth participated in Saturday’s event. According to club members, that is the highest number of participants that have ever competed in the casting event.

Youth learned a variety of basic casting techniques as they competed for prize. The program, which stems from Bass Anglers Sportman Society’s (BASS’s) Casting Kids competition, has been kept alive by the HBAA under the name Bass Cast and continues to be a successful part of Hays’ Youth Outdoor Festival.

Bass Cast is similar to the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick competition. The program, although abandoned by BASS, has remained a strong youth event in the Hays area. Youth are judged on three casting techniques and their scores are totaled to determine prizes. HBAA Club members teach the three casting techniques designed to help them develop skills that may be used on actual fishing trips.

Prizes were handed out to the winners in each age class at the conclusion of the event.

Club recognizes winners at banquet

Hays, KS (Feb. 1, 2020) – The Hays Bass Anglers Association (HBAA), a local bass fishing club affiliated with the Bass Anglers Sportsman’s Society (BASS), awarded the club’s top honors during their awards banquet Saturday, Feb. 1, in Hays. 

Klint VonFeldt, Hays, received the club’s Mr. Bass award for finishing as the top angler through the club’s 2019 tournament schedule. The second honor went to Dave Heffel, Lee’s Summit, MO, who claimed the Buddy Bass award, for finishing second. VonFeldt and Heffel will move on for an opportunity to fish for a spot on Kansas Bass Nation’s (KBN) state team to represent Kansas in upcoming tournament fishing competitions along the path to the Bassmaster’s Classic.

HBAA also honored Darrel VonFeldt, Hays, with the Outstanding Service Award, for volunteerism, leadership and the work he did as the club’s youth director.

HBAA is actively involved in the community hosting an annual youth fishing adventure for children from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ellis County, and the Kids Casting event at the annual Youth Outdoor Festival. The club is also active providing support to Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism for fisheries habitat projects on northwest Kansas lakes and reservoirs

Enter now for the 2023 Big Bass Challenge

HAYS, KS (AUG. 1, 2023) — Entry forms are being accepted for the 2023 Big Bass Challenge to be held on Sept. 9, 2023 at Lake Wilson near Russell, Kansas. The Hays Bass Anglers Association is proud to host the 23rd annual event again this year. Entry fees for the event will be $130.00/boat if received before Sept. 1, 2023, so enter now to take advantage of the savings. For entries received after Sept. 1st, the cost will be $150.00/boat. Fees will only be accepted in cash after Sept. 1st and at the ramp on the morning of the event. For additional questions contact a member of the Hays Bass Anglers Association. We look forward to seeing everyone at the event. Click here to download the entry form.

HBAA Team Trail tournament dates updated

HAYS, KS (May 1, 2023) — Hays Bass Anglers Association resets the dates of the 2023 Team Trail Series after the first event was postponed due to weather. HBAA Team Trail #1 will be held on May 13, 2023, at Lake Wilson. Team Trail #2 is scheduled for June 3, 2023, at Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Team Trail #3 is set for June 4, 2023 at Cedar Bluff Reservoir and Team Trail #4 is set for July 22, 2023 at Lake Wilson. This is the second year that Hays Bass Anglers Association has offered the team trail series of four events on two Western Kansas reservoirs.

Click here to download the entry form.

HBAA hosts two open spring bass tourneys in 2019, one at Cedar Bluff, one at Lake Wilson

Hays, KS (Feb. 6, 2019) — The Hays Bass Anglers Association is excited to host two open bass fishing tournaments this spring. The first is the Cedar Bluff Open, which will be held on April 6, 2019, at Cedar Bluff Reservoir and launching from the Overland Boat Ramp in Cedar Bluff State Park. The second is a new addition to the tournament schedule this year and will be the debut of the Wilson Open, scheduled for May 11, 2019, and launching from the Hell Creek Boat Ramp in Wilson State Park. These spring tournaments are planned to be continuing annual events for HBAA in addition to the popular fall classic, The Big Bass Challenge, which is scheduled for Sept. 7th. Come join the club for these two spring events which are certain to bring line-stretching, pole-bending excitement. Download the flier for the Cedar Bluff Open tournament. Download the flier for the Wilson Open tournament.

Mr. Bass, Klint VonFeldt, right, is pictured with HBAA president Darrel VonFeldt, left, at the club’s annual awards banquet in Hays.

Klint VonFeldt is awarded HBAA’s Mr. Bass

HAYS, KS (Jan. 27, 2017) – Klint VonFeldt received top honors as the Hays Bass Anglers Association honored club members for their achievements Friday during their annual banquet at Gutch’s Bar & Grill in Hays. VonFeldt received the club’s top honor for accumulating the most points during the club tournaments held throughout the year. VonFeldt accumulated a total of 820 points to top the field of 14  anglers. The club tournaments were comprised of seven tournament events held at Clark State Fishing Lake, Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Lake Wilson, Milford Reservoir and Waconda Lake. Dave Heffel won the club’s “Brother BASS” award and Curt Wachs was awarded the club’s “Outstanding Service Award” at the event.

 

 

Klint VonFeldt is pictured with his Kansas Bass Nation state fishing team award during the KBN fall meeting and awards banquet in Salina on Nov. 21.

Klint VonFeldt claims HBAA’s Mr. Bass award

HAYS, KS (Dec 1, 2015) – Hays Bass Anglers Association’s Klint VonFeldt claimed the club’s Mr. Bass award following the final 2015 club tournament at Lake Wilson. VonFeldt
finished the season with 832 points to lead the field 15 other anglers. The club tournament schedule was comprised of eight tournaments. Anglers competed throughout the season at area lakes including, Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Keith Sebelius Reservoir and Lake Wilson, Clark County Lake and Oklahoma’s Arbuckle Lake. Tournament scores were tallied and anglers were allowed to throw out their lowest scores, using their scores from their best tournaments in the competition. Congratulations goes out to Klint for claiming the club title of “Mr. Bass” for the 2015 season which also earned him a spot on the Kansas Bass Nation’s state fishing team. Below are the final club tournament points standings for 2015. HBAA also wants to acknowledge Dan Basgall – the recipient of the Brother Bass award.

Bass clubs improve habitat in Lake Wilson

Lake Wilson (March 7, 2015) — Members of the Hays Bass Anglers Association teamed up with the Salina Bassmasters on Saturday, March 7, 2015, to work on a habitat project at Lake Wilson, one of the first lakes in Kansas to receive a new type of habitat structure called the Georgia cube. The Georgia cube is constructed of a combination of PVC pipe and corrugated pipe measuring four feet long, four feet wide and standing three feet tall. The bottom of the cubes are filled with rock, sand or concrete allowing them to sink slowly into place in an upright position. These fish habitat structures were originally designed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The project, earmarked for Kansas lakes, relies on the cooperation of bass fishing clubs from the Kansas Bass Nation, to help build and sink the structures. The first deployment of these structures was coordinated by Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism’s Scott Waters, a regional fisheries biologist for Lake Wilson. About 20 volunteers from the Hays and Salina bass fishing clubs assembled and sank 30 cubes in a coordinated effort on Lake Wilson. The structures were set together in groups of three to five pods around the lake and marked with GPS coordinates. “Our clubs are excited to work with fisheries biologists for this project that really targets habitat for black bass in Kansas lakes,” said Nate Brown, habitat committee co-chairman for the Hays bass club. “The overall target depth and placement of the habitat cubes was the most exciting aspect of the project for us directly benefitting largemouth and smallmouth bass,” Brown added. KDWP&T adopted the new habitat structures this year purchasing materials for 150 cubes, with plans to continue the program each year. Bass clubs across Kansas had the opportunity to reserve cube materials if the clubs would agree to assemble and deploy the cubes in local bodies of water that accept them into their fisheries habitat plans. In addition to the habitat cubes, one of the more expansive shallow water habitat projects coordinated by the Hays bass club continued throughout the weekend at Lake Wilson. The Hays club planned and coordinated shallow water habitat improvements using cedar trees in Duval Cove, Elm Creek, and Lew’s Point, seen in the inset picture above.

 

Keith Harmoney, a member of Hays Bass Anglers Association, helps Haylea Heslet, Hays, with her casting technique as she competed in the Kids Casting Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, at the Youth Outdoor Festival in Hays. 

Kids Casting draws crowd at Outdoor Festival

HAYS (Aug. 15, 2015) — More than 100 youth learned basic casting techniques as they competed in the Kids Casting Challenge sponsored by the Hays Bass Anglers Association’s on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, at the Youth Outdoor Festival in Hays. The
program kept alive by the club is a favorite part of they outdoor festival event which is now in its 18th year. The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society first created the Casting Kids program, similar to the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick competition. The program has remained strong in western Kansas and has grown exponentially over the last several years. HBAA club members changed the name of the event and kept the program alive in Hays. Youth are judged on their ability to flip, pitch and cast. HBAA Club members teach the three casting techniques designed to help them develop skills that may be used later on actual fishing trips.

HBAA members guide youth fishing adventure

HAYS, KS (May 21. 2015) — Youth from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ellis County enjoyed a top quality fishing trip on Thursday evening as they were guided by some of the best area fishermen from the Hays Bass Anglers Association. The annual event for youth was held at a farm pond, owned by Daryl Augustine, of Hays. Using worms and some artificial lures, the kids enjoyed catching largemouth bass and bluegill. Club members grilled hotdogs during an evening picnic for the kids before trekking down the hill toward the pond to go fishing. The youth fishing program is one of the most exciting events each year for club members and youth alike. In the photo, Kaleigh Dreiling, Hays, holds up a nice fish that she caught on May, 21, 2015, during HBAA’s youth fishing event for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ellis County.

Youth compete in casting competition

HAYS (Aug. 16, 2014) — More than 100 youth competed as they learned basic angling techniques in the Casting Kids Competition sponsored by the Hays Bass Anglers Association’s on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, at the Youth Outdoor Festival in Hays. The program kept alive by the club is a favorite part of they outdoor festival event which is now in its 17th year. The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society first created the Casting Kids program, similar to the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick competition. The program has remained strong in western Kansas and has grown exponentially over the last several years. HBAA club members have kept the program alive in Hays. Youth are judged on their ability to flip, pitch and cast. HBAA Club members teach the three casting techniques designed to help them develop skills that may be used later on actual fishing trips.

 

Dan Basgall claims HBAA’s Mr. Bass award

HAYS, KS (Nov. 3, 2014) – Hays Bass Anglers Association’s Dan Basgall claimed the club’s Mr. Bass award following the final club 2014 tournament at Lake Wilson. Basgall finished the season with 826 points to lead the field over 15 other anglers. The club tournament schedule was comprised of seven tournaments. Anglers competed throughout the season at three area lakes, Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Keith Sebelius Reservoir and Lake Wilson. Tournament scores were tallied and anglers were allowed to throw out their lowest scores, using their scores from their best tournaments in the competition. Congratulations goes out to Dan for claiming the club title of “Mr. Bass” for the 2014 season. Below are the final club tournament points standings for 2014. HBAA also wants to acknowledge Klint VonFeldt – the recipient of the Brother Bass award for 2014. Clayton Rudman was named the recipient of the club’s Angler of the Year award, and Mark Hladek was named the recipient of the club’s Sportsman of the Year award.

 

 

 

HBAA builds shallow-water habitat at Wilson

Lake Wilson (Feb. 20, 2015) – Member of the Hays Bass Anglers Association began working on a club habitat project on Feb. 20, 2015, in Duvall Cove at Lake Wilson. Working with fisheries biologist Scott Waters with the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks & Tourism, the abundance of non-native cedar trees in the area were utilized for the project. The cedars were cut and drug to the shoreline to help provide shallow water habitat for black bass and other species. Lake levels at Wilson have been on the decline due to drought conditions exposing the shoreline and limiting escape cover for young-of-the-year bass. HBAA’s conservation committee, led by Darrel VonFeldt and Nate Brown, organized the work day for the late-winter project in Duvall Cove. Other habitat projects are scheduled in early March to continue working on shoreline cover and mid-depth fish attractors at Lake Wilson. Pictured at right: Klint VonFeldt, drags a weighted cedar tree to the edge of a drop as he helps with HBAA’s habitat project on Feb. 20, in Duvall Cove on Lake Wilson.

 

HBAA takes Big Brothers / Big Sisters fishing

HAYS, KS (May 15. 2014) — Members of the Hays Bass Anglers Association guided youth from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ellis County as ten youth enjoyed a fun-filled fishing trip at a farm pond, owned by Daryl Augustine, of Hays. “It was a perfect evening for fishing and the kids all had a great time,” said Vern Bailey, HBAA’s youth coordinator. Using worms, the kids enjoyed catching largemouth bass and bluegill. Club members grilled hotdogs for the kids before heading down to the pond to go fishing. The youth fishing program is an annual event for the club.

 

Kansas clubs square off at Versus Tourney

Lake Wilson, Kan., (March 30, 2014) – Three Kansas bass fishing clubs competed for a traveling trophy during the second Versus Tournament on a cold, windy Sunday at Lake Wilson. Representative anglers from the Salina, Hutchinson and Hays bass fishing clubs each sported five, two-person teams. With cold water temperatures below 50 degrees and strong south winds gusting over 45 m.p.h., anglers struggled catching bass. None of the teams were able to weigh in a limit of bass. Salina Bassmasters took home the trophy as their top anglers weighed in a bag totaling just under 10 pounds.

Klint VonFeldt claims HBAA’s Mr. Bass award

HAYS, KS (Oct. 19, 2013) – Hays Bass Anglers Association’s Klint VonFeldt claimed the club’s Mr. Bass award following the sixth club tournament on Oct. 12, 2013, at Lake Wilson. VonFeldt finished the season with 828 points to lead the field over 16 other anglers. The club tournament schedule was comprised of six tournaments. Anglers competed throughout the season at three area lakes, Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Keith Sebelius Reservoir and Lake Wilson. Tournament scores were tallied and anglers were allowed to throw out their lowest two scores, using their scores from their best four tournaments in the competition. Congratulations goes out to Klint for claiming the club title of “Mr. Bass” for the 2013 season. Below are the final club tournament points standings for 2013.

 

Club tutors 200 at Casting Kids event

HAYS (Aug. 17, 2013) — More than 200 youth participated in Hays Bass Anglers Association’s Casting Kids Competition on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, during the Youth Outdoor Festival in Hays. While the program is no longer sponsored at the state and national level; it is still a big success drawing hundreds of children with an interest in fishing. The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society first created the Casting Kids program, similar to the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick competition, but the program was abandoned due to an overall lack of interest.  However, the program has remained strong in western Kansas and has grown exponentially over the last several years. HBAA club members have insisted on keeping the successful program alive in Hays. Youth are judged on their ability to flip, pitch and cast. HBAA Club members teach the three casting techniques designed to help them develop skills that may be used later on actual fishing trips. In the photo: Logan Mawn, Kanorado, casts his lure as he is assisted by HBAA’s Darrel VonFeldt during the event.

 

HBAA takes Big Brothers / Big Sisters fishing

HAYS, KS (May 9. 2013) — Members of the Hays Bass Anglers Association helped guide youth from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ellis County as the children joined club members during a special fishing trip at a farm pond, owned by Daryl Augustine, of Hays. Seven youth and nine HBAA representatives participated in the event. “This is a great event for the kids and we have fairly nice weather for fishing,” said Vern Bailey, HBAA’s youth coordinator. All of the kids caught fish including largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie. The children were treated to a hotdog feed before the fishing began. The youth fishing program is an annual event for the club. (Click to see and order photos)

Travis Devine wins HBAA’s Mr. Bass

HAYS, KS (January 18, 2013) — Travis Devine claimed Hays Bass Anglers Association’s Mr. Bass award during the club’s annual banquet in Hays. Devine was the top points winner for the 2012 club tournament series. Earning the Brother Bass award was Klint VonFeldt, who was 2nd in points for the year. Ed Bennett and Dan Basgall were named Co-Anglers of the Year at the event. The Sportsman of the Year was Clayton Rudeman, who was the top points winner in the non-boater category.

 

Casting Kids still part of  Youth Festival

HAYS, Kan., (Aug. 19, 2012) — Members of the Hays Bass Anglers Association continued one of the more popular youth events as they conducted the Casting Kids Competition on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2012, during the Youth Outdoor Festival at the Hays City Sportsman’s Club in Hays. More than 100 youth participated in the casting competition and were introduced to the sport of bass fishing. Members of the club gave away prizes to the winning contestants as part of the annual festival dedicated to developing youth outdoor interests through a variety of outdoor sports and disciplines. About 200 youth attended the Youth Outdoor Festival this year. The Casting Kids program, although not sponsored on the state or national level anymore, is intended to create an interest in fishing while helping youth develop skills that may be used later on actual fishing trips. In the photograph: Caden Sutter, Russell, right, practices his casting as he is assisted by Darrel VonFeldt of the Hays Bass Anglers Association during the Casting Kids competition on Aug. 18, 2012, during the Youth Outdoor Festival at the Hays City Sportsman’s Club in Hays. (Note: The 2013 HBAA Casting Kids Event is scheduled for Aug. 17th, 2013 at the Youth Outdoor Festival at the Hays City Sportsman’s Club)

 

 

 

Heffel places 3rd at TBF Central Divisional

SHREVEPORT, LA (June 15, 2012) — David Heffel of Hays finished 3rd at the The Bass Federation Central Division Championship on the Red River. Heffel led the field of top anglers from eight states after the 2nd day with 20.12 pounds of bass, and finished with a total of 30.3 pounds to place 3rd in the event. He was the top angler on the Kansas team, which will earn him the boater’s spot in the TBF Championships in 2013 at a lake that will be announced later this year. Twelve anglers from Kansas competed in the event. Results are available on the TBF web site.  Click Here for more information.

 

HBAA takes Big Brothers / Big Sisters fishing

HAYS, KS (May 15. 2012) — Members of the Hays Bass Anglers Association were guides for an evening of fun as youth from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ellis County joined club members for an evening of fishing at a farm pond, owned by Daryl Augustine, in Hays. Eight youth and nine HBAA representatives participated in the event. “It was a great time and the kids caught a lot of fish,” said Vern Bailey, HBAA’s co-youth coordinator. The youth caught a number of largemouth bass and were treated to a hotdog feed before the fishing began. The youth fishing program is an annual event for the club. In the photograph: Dave Heffel, of the Hays Bass Anglers Association, center, smiles while Andrew Duke, Hays, holds a bass that he caught on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, as members of the HBAA took youth from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ellis County on a fishing trip at a farm pond near Hays. (Photo by Steven Hausler)

Early spawn bass stocked, researched at Cedar Bluff

CEDAR BLUFF RESERVOIR — Cedar Bluff has been the site for early spawn fingerling bass stockings since 2011.  Approximately 110,000 fingerling bass, some of which were marked with OTC, will help determine the contribution the stocked fish made to the 2011 year class. These fish had about a 2 month head start on the wild bass at CDBR, according to Doug Nygren, chief of fisheries for Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. which means the stocked bass will be able to feed on shad immediately upon the start of the shad spawn, something the wild fish likely won’t have the mouth gape to do. Bass were spawned in the climate controlled facility at Meade.  Pratt, Meade, and Farlington hatcheries all reared fry to fingerlings before being released. This helps boost growth for bass in the summer and helps with overwinter survival. (This report was provided by Doug Nygren – KDWP&T)

UPDATE: – HBAA members assisted KDWP fisheries biologists reporting their black bass catches, sizes and overall condition, during the club’s Fun Day at Cedar Bluff Reservoir on June 2. Club members reported results in several different year classes of black bass. Members predominately reported largemouth bass catches during the Fun Day event, but spotted bass were also caught and reported. According to club members, the bass were in post-spawn condition and the larger fish in the 15″-19″ range were in the poorest condition after the spawn. Younger year classes appeared to be in better overall condition than spawning fish. Club members also reported seeing results of the shad spawn as many schools of young shad were seen on calm surfaces on the lake.

 

HBAA members named to state team of anglers

LAKE WILSON (Aug. 28, 2011) — Klint VonFeldt and Dave Heffel, both of Hays and members of the Hays Bass Anglers Association, have been named to the 12-member state team that will represent Kansas in the upcoming FLW-TBF Central Divisional Tournament in Louisiana next June. VonFeldt and Heffel won their seats on the state tournament team at a qualifying event August 27-28 at Lake Wilson. The dates and location of the FLT-TBF Central Divisional have yet to be set. Additional honors were awarded to both Heffel and VonFeldt, who tied for the club’s Mr. BASS award in 2011.

Hays and Salina clubs compete for trophy

LAKE WILSON, Kan., (April 1, 2012) — Anglers from the Hays Bass Anglers Association put their fishing skills to the test as club members competed against anglers from the Salina Bassmasters during the inaugural bass fishing tournament challenge at Lake Wilson. The Salina Bassmasters captured the trophy in the first year of the event. The Salina club sported 20 anglers in 10 boats while the Hays club fielded 14 anglers in 7 boats. The clubs plan to make the tournament an annual Spring event to kick off the tournament fishing season. The top five boats in each club combined for the winning weights — Pfannenstiel & Baird (Salina) 17.49 lbs; Basgall & Heffel (Hays) 16.71 lbs; Strunk & Patterson (Salina) 16.22 lbs; Johnson & Gable (Salina) 15.21 lbs; Dunn & Stoffel (Salina) 14.88 lbs; VonFeldt & Brown (Hays) 14.85 lbs; Witt & Byquist (Salina) 14.83 lbs;  Brin & Bennett (Hays) 12.58 lbs; Hoffman & Flax (Hays) 11.92 lbs; Harmoney & Rudeman (Hays) 11.35 lbs.

 

Hays Bass Anglers earn club recognition

HAYS, Kan., (Feb. 4, 2012) — The Hays Bass Anglers Association honored club members for their achievements Saturday during their annual banquet at Gutch’s Bar & Grill in Hays. Klint VonFeldt and Dave Heffel tied for the top honors sharing the club’s  “Mr. BASS” award. The two earned the most points in club tournaments throughout the year. Keith Harmoney received the award for “Sportsman of the Year” given to the non-boater with the most points earned in club tournaments. Nate Brown received “Angler of the Year” and Dan Basgall received the “Mechanics Award” at the event.

Flax and Stieben win Casting Kids Competition

HAYS (Aug. 20, 2011) — Hunter Flax and Max Stieben, both of Hays, were the big winners at the Casting Kids Competition on Saturday during the Youth Outdoor Festival in Hays. Flax won the event in the 7-10 year old age division, and Stieben took top honors in the 11-14 year old division. Both were awarded medals and received a fishing rod and their winning target. The two youth are eligible to compete in the upcoming state competition.

HBAA members assist in habitat project

SHERIDAN STATE FISHING LAKE, Kan., (Feb 18, 2012) — Members of the Hays Bass Anglers Association assisted fisheries biologists with the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks & Tourism as they made more than 300 concrete anchors for a habitat project Saturday at Sheridan State Fishing Lake, located east of Hoxie.  It was the second stage of the project that the Hays club was involved in. In the first stage of the project, club members made 456 anchor handles and transported them to the lake for the Saturday’s work day. Volunteers from the club helped make the anchors using concrete and twisted wire. The specialized weights will be used for habitat improvements on site.
“This lake is an extremely important public lake for western Kansas,” said Dave Spalsbury, fisheries biologist for KDWP&T.
“There just aren’t very many recreational lakes in the western part of the state so it is important to make the fishing lakes we have out here like this one, nearby Antelope Lake and Scott State Fishing Lake, better for anglers,” Spalsbury explained.
The concrete anchors will be used later this summer to sink cedar trees for deep- and shallow-water habitat improvements. Biologists explained that these brush piles will be utilized by all species of sport fish in the lake including largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, saugeye, channel catfish and flathead catfish. To see more photos of this project search for Hays Bass Anglers on Facebook, or login after clicking this link.

Big Brothers & Big Sisters Fishing Fun Day

HAYS (May 7, 2011) — Members of the Hays Bass Anglers Association hosted a fishing trip for youth from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ellis County on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at a farm pond near Hays. Youth were mentored by HBAA club members and treated to a barbecue after the event. This is the 7th year HBAA has worked with Big Brothers and Big Sisters to provide fishing opportunities and education to the youth of Ellis County. HBAA is involved in a variety of youth events to promote the sport of bass fishing. Click to view slide show.

HBAA members shine at RMTS tourney

LAKE WILSON (May 22, 2011) —  Club members from the Hays Bass Anglers Association placed high in the Rocky Mountain Team Series Bass Tournament at Lake Wilson on May 21-22. HBAA members Klint VonFeldt and Nate Brown took the top prize at the event weighing in over 27 pounds of fish in the two-day tournament. HBAA members Dan Basgall and Dave Heffel also placed in the event, each taking home a nice check.

LEFT: HBAA members Nate Brown, left, and Klint VonFeldt, center, take top spot in RMTS event at Lake Wilson. RIGHT: HBAA members Dan Basgall, left, and Dave Heffel, right, also place high in the event.

Casting Kids program is club favorite

HAYS (Aug. 20, 2011) — Hunter Flax and Max Stieben, both of Hays, were the big winners at the Casting Kids Competition on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, during the Youth Outdoor Festival in Hays. Flax won the event in the 7-10 year old age division, and Stieben took top honors in the 11-14 year old division. Both were awarded medals and received a fishing rod and their winning target. The two youth are eligible to compete in the upcoming state competition. The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society created the Casting Kids program, similar to the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick.  Youth are judged on their ability to flip, pitch and cast. HBAA Club members worked with about 45 youth as they practiced before competing in this year’s event.  The program is intended to create an interest in fishing for youth and to help them develop skills that may be used later on actual fishing trips. Click to see the video.

 

 

Results from the 2011 Big Bass Challenge

 

Big Bass — Stude & Stude (5.31 lb largemouth bass)

 

8:00 a.m. hour

1st Witt & Dinneen 3.44 lbs, 2nd Mesplay & Tunnell 3.27 lbs, 3rd Meierhoff & Whitney 3.13 lbs.

9:00 a.m. hour

1st Meierhoff & Whitney 3.82 lbs, 2nd Van Der Vyvor & Crawford 3.05 lbs, 3rd Strunk & Pfannenstiel 2.80 lbs.

10:00 a.m. hour

1st Stude & Stude 5.31 lbs, 2nd Volkmann & Schroll 4.57 lbs, 3rd Skucius & Barney 3.49 lbs.

11:00 a.m. hour

1st Volkman & Schroll 3.39 lbs, 2nd Forbs & Starks 2.83 lbs, 3rd French & French 2.73 lbs.

12:00 p.m. hour

1st Avery & Cornell 3.29 lbs, 2nd Herrman & Taylor 3.03 lbs, 3rd Stude & Stude 2.84 lbs.

1:00 p.m. hour

1st Goodell & Buchman 3.67 lbs, 2nd Picket & Young 2.85 lbs, 3rd Klein & Whitaker 2.52 lbs.

2:00 p.m. hour

1st Volkmann & Schroll 4.13 lbs, 2nd Bever & Bever 2.97 lbs, 3rd Herber & Scalki 2.83 lbs.

3:00 p.m. hour

1st Stewart & Ferguson 3.35 lbs, 2nd Skucius & Barney 3.13 lbs, 3rd Goodell & Buchman 3.02 lbs.