Midland High Wins Bassmaster High School Tournament On Saginaw Bay

June 11, 2022
High School Fishing Archive

BAY CITY, Mich. — Despite giant waves and heavy winds that prevented them from effectively fishing their preferred areas, Brady Pinwar and Alec Albrecht from Midland High School became repeat tournament champions on Saginaw Bay by catching 21 pounds, 9 ounces to win the 2022 Bassmaster High School Series tournament on Saginaw Bay.

“Once B.A.S.S. announced they were coming here for another high school tournament, instantly we were both pumped and were like, ‘We have to go back-to-back.’ We have some good history out here and got it done,” Pinwar said.

Pinwar and Albrecht were followed by Fenton High School anglers Mitch Straffon and Hank Sturm with 20-7 and the Freeland High School duo of Brayden Ruckman and Nate Helmreich with 20-6, both teams that finished inside the Top 3 during the 2021 event. While Saginaw Bay serves as their home lake, Albrecht said winning last year’s tournament helped their mental game this year.

“We came into this tournament knowing we had it in us and knowing the same spots stuck around,” he said. “We just believed in ourselves.”

Using an area similar to the one that produced 23-4 during their victory a year ago, Pinwar and Albrecht targeted spawning flats where they could see the smallmouth set up on bed. A late boat draw Friday night was just the beginning of a number of obstacles they had to overcome to win as the wind kicked up earlier than expected, making sight fishing extremely difficult.

“The waves and the wind were not on our side at all,” Albrecht said. “We were sitting in 5-footers all day trying to catch fish. We stumbled across a few later in the day and then finally on one of our last casts we caught the biggest one.”

“There wasn’t a lot of sun out either,” Pinwar added. “It was obviously hard to see them. For the first half of the day, we were blind casting to try and catch some cruisers. They were either pre- or postspawn.”

The morning was not as productive as they hoped, as they only landed three keepers by noon. Around that time, however, the sun came out and they were able to see a couple of bass on beds.

“We went up to one bed and there were two fish on it, and we caught them on back-to-back casts,” Pinwar said. “Then we went to one of the big ones we had marked. We caught it at the last minute and went in and got it done.”

All of their bass were caught on a drop-shot rig.

Straffon and Strum wanted to head out to the big water and catch smallmouth as well, but when they completed the idle up the Saginaw River and evaluated the conditions on Saginaw Bay, they turned back and pivoted to the largemouth bite.

“I wasn’t too happy with it, but at the end of the day our safety matters the most,” said Straffon, a member of the 2021 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. “We knew we had a few fish back here. We didn’t know it would be that much. We put our heads down all day and flipped.”

Using two different colored jigs, they targeted a stretch of main-river bank lined with rocks and laydowns. Most of their bass were located next to the bank while a couple bit as they brought their jigs closer to the drop-off. 

“We knew a lot of these fish were super pressured,” Strum said. “We both picked up a jig. We really moved slowly and they would pick it up and swim off the drop.”

Dallas Taylor and Hayden Thomas from Stilwell High School caught the Big Bass of the tournament, a 4-13 largemouth.

 

2022 Bassmaster High School Series tournament at Saginaw Bay 6/11-6/12
Saginaw Bay, Bay City  MI.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Brady Pinwar - Alec Albrecht                 Midland High School                   0
  Day 1: 5   21-09   Total:   5  21-09
2.  Mitch Straffon - Hank Sturm                  Fenton High School                    0
  Day 1: 5   20-07   Total:   5  20-07
3.  Brayden Ruckman - Nate Helmreich             Freeland High School                  0
  Day 1: 5   20-06   Total:   5  20-06
4.  Reece Keeney - Bryce Moder                   Northeast Wisconsin Bass              0
  Day 1: 5   19-09   Total:   5  19-09
5.  Derek Davis - Connor Jaco                    Mt.Pleasant Bass Team                 0
  Day 1: 5   18-09   Total:   5  18-09
6.  Mason Snider - Dalton Benson                 Mount Juliet Fishing                  0
  Day 1: 5   18-09   Total:   5  18-09
7.  Presley Lannom - Morgan Lannom               Mt Juliet Fishing                     0
  Day 1: 5   17-12   Total:   5  17-12
8.  Cole Jimkoski - Jack Sprague                 Freeland High School                  0
  Day 1: 5   17-11   Total:   5  17-11
9.  Max Himmel - Tyler Morris                    Catholic High School of Baton Ro      0
  Day 1: 5   17-10   Total:   5  17-10
9.  Ryan Kahut - Noah Varitek                    Michigan A1 Anglers                   0
  Day 1: 5   17-10   Total:   5  17-10
11. Andrew Haney - Kenneth Young                 Martin County High School             0
  Day 1: 5   16-11   Total:   5  16-11
12. Carter Pjesky - JD McBroom                   Kaneland High School                  0
  Day 1: 5   16-08   Total:   5  16-08
13. Dallas Taylor - Hayden Thomas                Stilwell High School                  0
  Day 1: 5   16-05   Total:   5  16-05
14. Austin Benson - Brendan Brown                Mount Juliet                          0
  Day 1: 5   16-02   Total:   5  16-02
15. Trey Richardson - Reid Luckett               Free State Bass                       0
  Day 1: 5   15-14   Total:   5  15-14
16. Lainey Judson - Ella Winchell                Terre Haute North HS                  0
  Day 1: 5   15-11   Total:   5  15-11
17. Kyle Johnson - Carson Kellogg                Black Swamp Youth Bass Club           0
  Day 1: 5   15-03   Total:   5  15-03
17. Reece Nixon - John Stark                     Soddy Daisy High School               0
  Day 1: 5   15-03   Total:   5  15-03
19. Adam Dionne - Zach Waters                    Eastside Elites                       0
  Day 1: 5   15-02   Total:   5  15-02
19. Jerrod Haney - Tanner Young                  Martin County High School             0
  Day 1: 5   15-02   Total:   5  15-02
21. Alex Bowen - Aaron Mills                     Cardinal Fishing Team                 0
  Day 1: 5   14-11   Total:   5  14-11
22. Kyle Chouinard - Caleb Cook                  East side Elites Bass Team            0
  Day 1: 5   14-05   Total:   5  14-05
22. Luke Somerville - Leland Fox                 Gaylord High School                   0
  Day 1: 5   14-05   Total:   5  14-05
24. Cole Berry - Graham Palmer                   Terre Haute North High School         0
  Day 1: 5   14-04   Total:   5  14-04
25. Tyler Williams - Blaise Gatrell              Terre Haute North HS                  0
  Day 1: 5   13-15   Total:   5  13-15
26. Tristan Fawley - Van Price                   Carlson High School                   0
  Day 1: 5   13-14   Total:   5  13-14
27. Nick Seitz - Brock Vogel                     419 fishing                           0
  Day 1: 5   13-12   Total:   5  13-12
28. Lainie Holbert - Sarah Swindle               Riverside Bass Team                   0
  Day 1: 5   13-03   Total:   5  13-03
29. Jake Brown - Preston Kolisek                 Loretto Mustangs Bass Club            0
  Day 1: 5   13-02   Total:   5  13-02
29. Colten Dickerson - Gabe Aldrich              Fishhawx                              0
  Day 1: 5   13-02   Total:   5  13-02
29. Jack Swihart - Rylan Hamlin                  Jackson Fishing                       0
  Day 1: 5   13-02   Total:   5  13-02
32. Nathan Frank - Alex Balla                    Howell high school                    0
  Day 1: 5   12-11   Total:   5  12-11
33. Benjamin Hester - Mason Caldwell             Rhea County High School               0
  Day 1: 5   12-09   Total:   5  12-09
34. Ryan Rang - Ben Rickard                      Lakeland High School                  0
  Day 1: 5   12-08   Total:   5  12-08
35. Christian Misciagna - Logan Wood             Oneida Lake HS Bassmasters            0
  Day 1: 5   12-07   Total:   5  12-07
36. Luke Bailey - Luke Barriger                  Meridian Early College High Scho      0
  Day 1: 5   12-06   Total:   5  12-06
36. Brett Mouw - Logan Kinsella                  The Hill Toppers                      0
  Day 1: 5   12-06   Total:   5  12-06
36. Nathan Reynolds - Luke Malik                 Backwoods Bassin                      0
  Day 1: 5   12-06   Total:   5  12-06
39. Wyatt Carr - Jamie Neel                      Reeths-Puffer High School             0
  Day 1: 5   12-04   Total:   5  12-04
39. Gus Dietrich - Max Phillpotts                Powers Catholic High School           0
  Day 1: 5   12-04   Total:   5  12-04
41. Alex Herter - Barret Vanmarter               Howell High School                    0
  Day 1: 5   12-02   Total:   5  12-02
41. Andrew Lithgow - Pavel Everest               Stevenson highschool                  0
  Day 1: 5   12-02   Total:   5  12-02
43. Tanner Wolf - Kaleb Casler                   Dewitt High School                    0
  Day 1: 5   12-01   Total:   5  12-01
44. Cade Calkins - Brayden Vallie                Fruitport High School                 0
  Day 1: 5   12-00   Total:   5  12-00
45. Harry Richter - Jacob Piniatoglou            Saline High School                    0
  Day 1: 5   11-14   Total:   5  11-14
46. Nick Fashho - Lucas Fashho                   Eastside Elites                       0
  Day 1: 5   11-13   Total:   5  11-13
47. Burke Aidan - Caleb Horn                     Martin County High School             0
  Day 1: 5   11-12   Total:   5  11-12
48. William Cothran - Taedem Ashworth            Mt. Pleasant High School              0
  Day 1: 5   11-09   Total:   5  11-09
48. Luke Lowery - Connor Rumohr                  Howell High School                    0
  Day 1: 5   11-09   Total:   5  11-09
48. Gavyn Rapp - Israel Limon                    Black Swamp Youth Bass Club           0
  Day 1: 5   11-09   Total:   5  11-09
48. Ryan Seitz - Brady Osborn                    Southeastern Bass Anglers             0
  Day 1: 5   11-09   Total:   5  11-09
52. Dalton Polega - Sarah Hable                  Freeland High School                  0
  Day 1: 5   11-06   Total:   5  11-06
53. C.J. Stanley - Colton Parten                 Rhea County Eagle Anglers             0
  Day 1: 5   11-02   Total:   5  11-02
54. Stone Grove - Wyatt Hamilton                 Creek Wood High School                0
  Day 1: 5   11-01   Total:   5  11-01
55. Corey Parsley - Weston Jude                  Martin County High School             0
  Day 1: 5   10-14   Total:   5  10-14
56. Avery Shoemaker - Samuel Shoemaker           Buford High School                    0
  Day 1: 4   10-13   Total:   4  10-13
57. Camden Judson - Will Gorrell                 Terre Haute North HS                  0
  Day 1: 5   10-12   Total:   5  10-12
58. Hunter Kellogg - Tim Fulk                    Renegades Bass Club                   0
  Day 1: 5   10-08   Total:   5  10-08
59. Connor Dobrinski - Gage Brouwer              Zeeland Fishhawx                      0
  Day 1: 5   10-06   Total:   5  10-06
60. Riley Spytma - Trent Van Dam                 Reeths-Puffer High School             0
  Day 1: 5   10-04   Total:   5  10-04
61. Henry Fox - Grady Schultz                    Fruitport High School                 0
  Day 1: 5   10-02   Total:   5  10-02
62. Evan Ludlow - Mackenzie Taylor               Fruitport High School                 0
  Day 1: 5   10-02   Total:   5  10-02
63. Dylan Mcgee - Caleb Kidder                   Licking Valley                        0
  Day 1: 4   09-09   Total:   4  09-09
64. Aaron King -                                 Waupaca Junior Bass Busters           0
  Day 1: 5   09-07   Total:   5  09-07
65. Kayden Waller - Andrew Schoenemann           Mt. Juliet high school                0
  Day 1: 3   09-03   Total:   3  09-03
66. Carson Aarup - Kyle Smith                    Downeast Fishing                      0
  Day 1: 5   08-12   Total:   5  08-12
67. William Hoskins - Joshua Vanderpool          Wilson Christian Academy              0
  Day 1: 3   08-12   Total:   3  08-12
68. Jack Miner - Colin Hull                      Detroit Catholic Central              0
  Day 1: 3   08-10   Total:   3  08-10
69. Annie Lassiter - Madison Pendergraph         warren county pioneer anglers         0
  Day 1: 4   08-08   Total:   4  08-08
70. Remington Barkley - Carlie Mitchell          Hartland                              0
  Day 1: 4   08-06   Total:   4  08-06
71. Connor Wallace - Sophia Balla                Howell High School                    0
  Day 1: 3   08-05   Total:   3  08-05
72. Thomas Hinshaw -                             Northville High School                0
  Day 1: 3   07-00   Total:   3  07-00
73. Cason Mcnutt -                               Mt Juliet High School                 0
  Day 1: 3   05-12   Total:   3  05-12
74. Kolby Angell - Evan Powell                   Iowa youth fishing league             0
  Day 1: 3   05-08   Total:   3  05-08
75. Connor Racine - Drew Brzys                   Dexter Highschool                     0
  Day 1: 2   05-07   Total:   2  05-07
76. Alex Standerfer - Collin Mcglin              New London High School                0
  Day 1: 3   05-02   Total:   3  05-02
77. Nathaniel Terbush - Dima Griffiths           Dexter High School                    0
  Day 1: 2   05-02   Total:   2  05-02
78. Brendan Shinn - Owen Silverson               Dexter High School                    0
  Day 1: 3   04-10   Total:   3  04-10
79. Jacob Policka - Collin Jolman                Fruitport High School                 0
  Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
80. Peter Duffy - Bryce Formsma                  GR Bass boys Northview                0
  Day 1: 2   04-08   Total:   2  04-08
81. Matthew Wenzell - Nathaniel Wenzell          Midland High                          0
  Day 1: 3   04-07   Total:   3  04-07
82. Jack Hay - Jakob Stamper                     howell high school                    0
  Day 1: 2   04-07   Total:   2  04-07
83. Marco Wolf - Jake Maiberger                  Howell                                0
  Day 1: 1   04-01   Total:   1  04-01
84. Paxton Giem - Nolan Little                   Boyne City High School                0
  Day 1: 2   03-15   Total:   2  03-15
85. Blake Marcum - William Copley                Louisa Bass Club High School          0
  Day 1: 1   03-13   Total:   1  03-13
86. Colin Oldfield - Mario Manzardo              Lakeland                              0
  Day 1: 2   03-06   Total:   2  03-06
87. Jeffrey Mansfield - Garrett Schultz          Howell High School                    0
  Day 1: 1   02-14   Total:   1  02-14
88. Mitch Porter - Chase Aaron                   White Lake Lakeland                   0
  Day 1: 1   02-11   Total:   1  02-11
89. Miller Pomper - Louie Alpers                 Benzie Central                        0
  Day 1: 1   02-04   Total:   1  02-04
90. Alex Decia - Jaylee Lesniak                  Howell High School                    0
  Day 1: 1   02-01   Total:   1  02-01
91. Cayden Geurts - Andon Harwood                Freeland High School                  0
  Day 1: 1   02-00   Total:   1  02-00
92. Chase Quillin - Hunter Alviar                Reeths-Puffer High School             0
  Day 1: 1   01-08   Total:   1  01-08
93. Cougar Fagan - Caden Adams                   Michigan bass bandits                 0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
93. Josh Garbarino - Nathan Akahoshi             Livonia                               0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
93. Clay George - Wayland Adkisson               BGA Fishing Team                      0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
93. Colter Mahabir - Matthew Swanson             Midland High School                   0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
93. Miles Smith - Casen Rogers                   Central Lafourche High School         0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
93. Logan Ware - Jack Romatz                     Midland High                          0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
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BIG BASS OF TOURN
     Dallas Taylor            Stilwell, OK        04-13          $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        63       384      1023-00
----------------------------------
          63       384      1023-00