Father/son team win 2020 Big Bass Challenge 

Wilson, KS (Sept. 12, 2020) — Saddened after loosing a big smallmouth during an early morning mishap, the bass fishing team of Jim Bever, Hutchinson, and his son, Jack, of Lawrence, decided to make a big move and return to a place they called Lucky Cove. That big move to the opposite end of the lake helped them win the 20th Annual Big Bass Challenge hauling in a 6.87 lb. largemouth bass Saturday at Lake Wilson. “It almost didn’t happen as the fish were short-striking the bait and after Jack briefly paused his retrieve, the bass hit it again,” Jim said. The two have fished in nearly a dozen of Hays Bass Anglers Association’s (HBAA) Big Bass Challenges over the last 20 years. The 2010 Big Bass Challenge was the most memorable for them until this year. That year Jack, a high school sophomore, came in second loosing by just a few ounces. That was the year the father and son team named their spot, Lucky Cove. Returning to their aptly-named spot ten years later, armed again with a buzzbait, was the winning formula for this year’s The Big Bass Challenge. More than 100 anglers in 55 boats participated in the annual event put on by HBAA. “I was impressed with the number of quality fish brought in,” said Dan Basgall, weigh-master for the event and a club member of HBAA. “The fish were healthy and the weights were impressive for the time of year,” Basgall added. Six-pounders won the 9 a.m. and the 10 a.m. time slots, while it took five-pounders to win the remaining time slots.  Hourly winners received checks for first and second place during the awards celebration which followed the tournament on Saturday afternoon. See the slideshow for more pictures. HBAA wants to thank all anglers and sponsors who helped make this year’s event a success.