Benjamin Yang
City: White Bear Lake, MN
Previous Angling Accomplishments: Competed on the MN Bass Nation Team Trail, and MN TBF events.
“I am excited to fish the Champions Tour and try out a different tournament format and to compete against the best anglers in Minnesota.”
Chad Garton
City: Des Moines, Iowa
Sponsors: Mid Iowa Marine, Picasso, Rapala, and Powerhouse Batteries
Previous Angling Accomplishments: Won the TBF National Championship on co-angler side this past spring and had many first place finishes across the state of Iowa last year with a few of them being at Okoboji. I also finished 2nd at the TBF District 8 Semi-finals on Okoboji.
“I am excited to step out of Iowa and fish some different lakes and bigger tournaments, and the Champions Tour has always had great run tournaments with a very good payout. I have fished a few catch, weigh, release tournaments and it brings in a whole different mindset to tournament fishing. I spent many summers at family cabins in northern Minnesota chasing bass, so I’m looking forward to getting back to Minnesota to chase bass again.”
Jake Goedderz
City: Eden Prairie, MN
Sponsors: Holiday Inn (Baxter)
Previous Angling Accomplishments: Winning conference in high school during his senior year.
“I’m looking forward to fishing against some of the best anglers in the State and because of the catch, weigh and release format.”
John Nelson
City: Blaine, MN
Sponsors: Thorne Brothers
Previous Angling Accomplishments: Denny’s Minnetonka wins.
“I like the format of catching a lot of fish and being rewarded for that, over strictly catching the best five bass limit. It is a different way of thinking compared to all other tournament formats from my past.”
LaMon Marchbanks
City: Plymouth, MN
Previous Angling Accomplishments:
“I love the format of the Champions Tour, and not just because every bass counts, but it requires that you know the entire lake not just one or two spots. It forces you to use all your skills. I love fishing against the best, and believe the Champions Tour has the best fishermen not just in Minnesota, but the entire region. I also believe the owner, Scott Bonnema, and tournament director Paul Neumann, are men of integrity which is critical when it comes to running a tournament of this magnitude.”
Ryan Kieke
City: Cold Spring, MN
Sponsors: Mossy Creek Custom Rods, Dustin Upgren – State Farm Insurance Agent, Plumski Engineering and Repair, Fritz Masonry and Concrete, The Club total Fitness and Racquetball, and River Power and Equipment
Previous Angling Accomplishments: Back-to-back years inside the top-eight for team of the year in the SATT, qualified and took placed in the top 40 in Highschool Nationals on Lake Pickwick, finished second in angler of the year points and qualified to fish Collegiate National tournaments through the Alexandria College fishing team, and started my own Custom Rod business “Mossy Creek Custom Rods.”
“I am looking forward to fishing the Champions Tour because I have been a boat official for a few years and have seen the rush that the anglers get, and I wanted to be a part of it! I look up to a lot of the guys that fish this format and having the opportunity to compete against them is an honor.”
Ryan Trousdale
City: Nora Springs, Iowa
Previous Angling Accomplishments: NBAA tournaments and Championship qualification
“I am looking forward to fishing the Champions Tour because of the format. It’s unlike any series in Iowa and I am looking forward to testing my skills against some of the best anglers in Minnesota.”
Tate Blomquist
City: Cromwell, MN
Previous Angling Accomplishments: Over the past five years I have fished the Student Angler Tournament Trail and learned a lot from having at least ten tournaments a summer. The past three years I have made it to the TOC/State tournament and last year my partner and I got 5th place on Rush Lake in Ottertail County at State.
“I am looking forward to fishing the Champions Tour because I want to become the best fisherman I can be, and to do that, I must fish against the best in the area. I want to challenge myself and strengthen my knowledge of tournament fishing. By fishing the catch, weigh, and release format and doing it against the best, I will challenge myself with a new tournament format and grow my fishing knowledge while learning and competing against some of the best.”
Tony Johnson
City: Mason City, IA
Sponsors: Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning and Bryant Heating and Air Conditioning
Previous Angling Accomplishments: Over the years Tony has competed in the Iowa Premier Bass Elite Series, North American Bass Circuit, and years ago the Red Man Tour and Team Supreme circuit.
“I am looking forward to fishing a different tournament format against some of the top sticks in the Midwest, along with fishing new lakes, it is exciting to try and break down a new body of water.”
Tony Sindt
City: Hutchinson, MN
Previous Angling Accomplishments: “I’m looking for my first big win, hopefully it’s on the Champions Tour.”
“I’m looking forward to competing against the best bass anglers in the state.”
Zach Piescher
City: Cambridge, MN
Sponsors: NorthStar Pontoons
Previous Angling Accomplishments: 2023 TBF High School National Champion, competed in 2023 Toyota Series Championship, 2023 SATT Leech Lake qualifier (1st place), and 2022 BASS High school AOY.
“I’ve boat marshaled for three years with the Champions Tour, and I loved seeing how close and friendly everyone seems to be compared to high school events. I’m also exited to get into a more competitive tournament.”
