*UPDATE* Lake Santee / Division IN-47
July 12, 2017
A beautiful sunrise welcomed the anglers who took part in the fourth bass tournament of the 2017 season on July 9th. Six teams took part in the event in which nearly every team weighed in keeper bass. The total weight of the bass weighed in was over 33 pounds and thats a three pound average per fish! WOW!
The team of Craig Duncan and his son-in-law, Kyle Hohenberger, brought a five bass limit to the scales which weighed 15.87 pounds, allowing them to capture first place. The father/son duo of Matt and Scott Perkins hung on to second place with two bass which totalled 6.22 lbs. By all observations, it appears that fishing with a family member is a sure way of not only having a great day, but also doing well in the Lake Santee Division USA Bassin tournaments!
We would like to thank Jackie Mitchell, Tony Higginbotham, and all the great folks at Buy Right Auto Sales in Greensburg for sponsoring this month's trophies. Thank you all so much!
Our next event on Sunday, August 13th, will be the last regular season event before our annual non-sanctioned End of Summer Event in late September. While we all know how busy the summertime is, we would like to encourage everyone to try and take part in the August event. Before anyone knows it, the temperature will have fallen and the snow will be flying, and we will all be left with the thought, "Boy, I'd sure like to be fishing!" Dont let that be you!
Remember, lets give those bass a chance to grow to their full potential in our beautiful lake and PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE on all of Lake Santees bass... and dont forget to take a child fishing. Its an investment in their future and ours!
Until next time...
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
July 8, 2017
The plaques for tomorrows tournament are ready to go! Big THANK YOU to Jackie Mitchell, Tony Higginbotham, and all the good folks at Buy Right Auto Sales on Michigan Avenue in Greensburg, IN!! They were great enough to sponsor this months trophies for our July 9th event! If your looking for a new boat puller, family vehicle, or daily driver, give the folks at Buy Right a call... They will not disappoint!
See everyone tomorrow!
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
July 6, 2017
The cookouts are all over and the fireworks are done... Thank goodness, because now it's time to go fishing! The fourth Lake Santee Bass Tournament of the 2017 season will be held Sunday, July 9th from 6:00 AM until 12:00 PM. We will resume taking off from the main beach shelter house as we have done in the past. Please have your boats in the water and at the shelter house for the short mandatory meeting by 5:30 AM, at which time we will do boat draw and check livewells. Good luck and we hope to see everyone Sunday!
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
June 19, 2017
On Sunday, June 11th, 2017, nine teams took part in the third USA Bassin tournament of the 2017 season at Lake Santee. Due to the continued issues with the dredging project, and the resulting lack of available community dock space at the main beach, a last minute change was forced in the location of the registration and weigh in. A huge THANK YOU goes out to Greg Geis for allowing the teams to use the Lake Santee Marina for this event. His generosity alleviated a HUGE logistical nightmare! Thanks, Greg!
One thing remains constant for Lake Santee, however... The fishing is phenomenal! Chris Roberts and Adam Engleking took first place with five solid largemouths which weighed 16.03 lbs including the big bass of the tournament. Lisa Ayers caught three nice bass which totaled 10.34 lbs to allow her (and husband Chip) to finish in second place. With the lake in such great shape, bass were reportedly caught both on the bank and out on main lake structure as well. Great job to all our teams!
A special thanks goes out to Mark Wickens with Wickens Nationwide Insurance in Greensburg, IN for sponsoring the event's beautiful plaques. Thank you, Mark!!
A quick look at the standings shows several teams are still in contention for the division champions title and all the perks which come with that. It appears as though it might go down to the last event, so everyone needs to just keep fishing hard. In the end, the scales will tell the tale!
Our next event is scheduled for July 9th, 2017 from 6:00 AM until 12:00 PM.
Until next time...
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
June 10, 2017
Attention: Lake Santee USA Bassin IN-47 Tournament Teams:
Due to circumstances beyond our control, for the June 11th Tournament only, we will be conducting registration, take-off, and weigh-in from the Lake Santee Ramp.
Do not meet at the main beach shelter house as normal.
Greg Geis at Lake Santee Marina has graciously agreed to allow us to use any unoccupied docks for the short time needed for the days event.
PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK THE GAS PUMP DOCK!!!...
When you see Greg, please tell him THANK YOU for helping mitigate an otherwise difficult situation.
We are extremely sorry for any inconvenience this might cause!
Thank you,
Chip Ayers
June 5, 2017
On Sunday, June 11th, we will hold our third event of the 2017 season and the long range weather forecast looks great! Not only that... but the fish are really biting!!! The hours for the tournament will be 6:00 AM until 12:00 PM. We will start our pre-tournament meeting at 5:30 AM, so please have your boat in the water and at the shelterhouse prior to the start of the meeting. The drawing for starting positions will be conducted at the meeting and, as in the past, livewells will be checked during the takeoff. Some lucky team will take home the beautiful trophies sponsored this month by Mark Wickens at Nationwide Insurance in Greensburg. So make plans now to be part of the fun!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
June 4, 2017
*REMINDER*
For all of our U.S.A. Bassin Lake Santee Division-47 teams who plan on fishing any of the fall regionals in order to qualify for the 2018 Classic at Kentucky Lake, entries are now being accepted for the regionals. A team becomes eligible once they accumulate 250 points in the standings. A few of our teams have already met this goal and are able to enter at this time. Remember, while it may seem early to do so, your take off position is determined by the postmark of your entry. Several teams from around the state have already entered and been assured of early boat numbers. We will have the 2018 Regional Packets available at the remaining events for those that are interested.
For more information, check out the website at USABassin.com.
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
May 22, 2017
Sunday, May 21st, saw the second event of the Lake Santee/Division IN-47 season. While a forecast of more rain and possibly heavy storms were predicted for the event, that did not deter 12 teams from taking part in the tournament. As luck would have it, with the exception of a few passing sprinkles, Mother Nature was on the fishermen's side. The changing weather did, however have an effect on the mood of the bass for the tournament.
Rob Merriman and TJ Edwards continued their winning ways bringing five bass to the scales weighing 18.47 pounds. Their catch included a 5.18 kicker which took top honors for big bass the event. They reported catching all their fish on soft plastic baits in shallow water. Lake residents Paul Bruns and Chuck Sieg managed to bring three bass to the scales for a weight of 8.78 lbs. to hold on to second place. Great job to all of our teams on a challenging day!
With their win, Rob and T.J. took also home the beautiful plaques from Kramer Kreations in Greensburg which were sponsored by Joe Jarmin and the Security Team at Lake Santee. Thank you Joe and the team for your support and hard work!
As the seasons turn from spring to summer, take time to enjoy the beauty and fantastic fishing opportunities here at the lake. But please, when you do, follow our fishermen's lead and please practice catch and release on all of Lake Santee's bass. Also, whenever possible, make time to take a child fishing. Until next time...
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
***UPDATE*** May 20, 2017
As most of you are aware, the dredging project has not been completed as of this week. While the work is nearing conclusion, much of Thomas Docks equipment remains in place in the Fishing area/North End of Lake Santee. Therefore, as in the April tournament, the actual dredging area will be off limits as well as twenty five yards from any equipment or barges used in the project. Boaters are able to traverse through the area and the proper route will be further discussed at the pre-tournament meeting. Safe travels to the lake and we look forward to seeing everyone in the morning!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
May 19, 2017
Less than 48 hours remain until our second event of the 2017 Lake Santee IN-47 Division season! Our start time will be 6:30 AM and weigh in will begin at 12:30. Please be at the main beach shelter and registered prior to the mandatory 6:00 AM meeting. Remember life jackets must be worn anytime the combustion engine is in gear and livewell aerators must be functioning properly. Livewell check will be conducted prior to takeoff. Lastly, don't forget all entries must be paid in cash (and no change PLEASE). HA HA HA! Hopefully Mother Nature will be kind to us at this event! See everyone Sunday morning!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa
May 4, 2017
The two day USA Bassin 2017 Ranger Classic starts tomorrow at Kentucky Lake. Teams from all over the nation will compete Friday and Saturday for thousands of dollars in prizes including a new Ranger Boat! One of our Lake Santee Division teams, Matt and Scott Perkins, have qualified and are set to take part in the event. Join us in wishing them GOOD LUCK!!!
April 10, 2017
Well the first tournament of the year is over, and as it always seems, Lake Santee doesn't disappoint! Fourteen teams took part in the USA Bassin event on a windy but otherwise perfect day to be on the water. For the folks that caught fish- shallow, moving baits seem to be the most productive methods, be it crankbaits or spinnerbaits. The team of Rob Merriman and T.J. Edwards took top honors as they culled up to 20.54 lbs. While the second place team weren't able to fill out their limit, Chuck Sieg and Paul Bruns brought four of the right kind to the scales with 13.96 lbs of Lake Santee bass. The pair of Chris Roberts and Adam Engleking wrangled a 5.52 lunker to take the big bass pot. Congratulations guys, well done!! A special THANK YOU goes out to Mary Hamer at Klosterkemper Tax Service in Greensburg, IN for sponsoring this events plaques!!
For those of you who would like to gain access to some of Indiana's finest bass fishing, take a minute to check out the Lake Santee (IN) website. There you will find real estate lots for sale and find out just what it takes to join the fun!
Until next time... God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
April 7, 2017
The time is winding down until our first bass tournament of the 2017 season at Lake Santee! Now is the time anglers start to think about what baits they will use and where exactly they will fish. But don't forget about your boat! As in the past, we will require that each boats livewell aerators be working properly prior to take off to ensure the safe and healthy return of all the bass back to the lake after the event.
Also, dont forget both members of each team must wear a life jacket whenever the combustion engine is in gear.
See everyone on April 9th!!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
April 5, 2017
Our first tournament of 2017 is just a few short days away. With that being said, as many of you are aware, the dredging project for the north end, or "Fishing Area", has started. We had the opportunity to speak with the dredging crew at length as they were preparing to start the process. They explained the process and some of the restrictions which will be in place.
In short, a large pipe will extend from the west bank of the Fishing Area approximately 1/2 way across the lake. This pipe is floating in nature, however some portions may be submerged. The company is going to mark the pipe with warning cones and flags as best as possible.
While the crew has been very accommodating towards our event, we are going to place any area within 50 yards of their equipment and machinery OFF LIMITS. This will alleviate any issues or inadvertent damage being done to either competitors boats or equipment. The vast majority of the north end will be accessible and fishable.
The crew advises they hope to be done with actual operations within six weeks and in a cleanup phase by our May 2017 event.
This topic will be further explained at the mandatory meeting at 6:30 AM the morning of the event. We are looking forward to a great tournament!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
March 30, 2017
There is just one week to go before our first tournament of the 2017 season! Please make sure you have registered before April 9th to avoid any delay in participating at the event. Contact Chip or Lisa to register or with any questions.
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
March 13, 2017
If you missed the 2017 Tackle Swap and Sell and Pre-Season Meeting on March 11th, you missed a great morning of smoking hot deals and great fishing stories. A huge thank you to all the folks who turned out. Now if we can just get through winters last blast (WE HOPE!), we can kick off the 2017 season!
We had several teams register for the 2017 season during the event, but there are some teams who have not yet done so. Please contact Chip or Lisa and make arrangements to register and pay your 2017 membership fees prior to our first event on April 9th if you have not done so. As in the past, those few teams who wait until that day to register will go to the end of the line... The takeoff line!! Dont be that team!!!
Thank you and God Bless!
Chip & Lisa Ayers
March 6, 2017
There is less than a week to go before our 2017 Pre-Season Lake Santee Bass Tournament Meeting and Swap Meet on Saturday March 11th! The event will again be held in the Lake Santee Community Room located behind the Lake Office. Bring your unwanted tackle, rods, reels, boating equipment and gear to trade or sell! There will be tackle, trolling motors, and electronics for sale just to mention a few items!!
We will also be holding a short meeting at 11:30 AM concerning the 2017 season and will take USA Bassin' memberships at that time.
While we have heard from several folks who plan to take part in the swap meet part of the event, we still have room for others. Be sure to contact either Chip or Lisa Ayers and get your space reserved. They may be reached at (812)593-8915 or (317)750-1750
The doors will open at 8:30 AM and will go until noon. Hope to see everybody Saturday!!!
February 9, 2017
Well, apparently there has been some confusion on the printed date and time for the upcoming Lake Santee Bass Tournament pre-season meeting and accompanying "Fishermens Swap Meet". The date for this event is Saturday March 11, 2017 and will take place in the Lake Santee Community Room downstairs from the office and restaurant. The swap meet portion will begin at 8:30 and last until after the meeting. The meeting will begin at 11:30 AM and should last 30 minutes. The purpose of the meeting is to preregister eligible teams for the Lake Santee Tournaments, go over the 2017 rules, and so that teams may get their USA Bassin memberships paid and avoid the rush on tournament morning.
The swap meet portion is open to the public and everyone is welcome. You DO NOT need to be a member of the lake to attend. Should you desire to have a table at the event to ply your wares, please contact Chip by either cell or text (812 593-8915). Please dont delay as we will have limited space available and it is on a first come-first serve basis.
Thank you and God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
February 2, 2017
The date has been set for this years pre-season meeting! Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 11, 2017! The meeting will begin at 11:00 AM. The swap meet will begin at 9:00 AM. Teams will be able to pre-register at any time during the morning. Bring your new, used, and unwanted (Is there such a thing!?) tackle and buy, sell, or trade with all your fishing buddies! Hope to see everyone there!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
January 17, 2017
The schedule as printed has been approved by the L.S.P.O.A. Board. We will kick off the 2017 season on April 9th at 7:00 AM with the first tournament of the year.
We also have the 2017 USA Bassin membership cards available. Teams may contact either Chip or Lisa to obtain/renew their memberships for the upcoming year.
We will again be planning to have a meeting similar to last years event at the Lake Santee Community Room where teams may also register. Due to popular demand, we will again be having a "Swap-Meet" type event beforehand. While the date and times for this has not been finalized, we are looking towards late February and early March for the Saturday event.
We will keep everyone posted as details become available.
Until next time...
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
November 21, 2016
We have put together a tenative 2017 schedule for the USA Bassin IN-47 Lake Santee Division tournaments. Barring any unforeseen conflicts, these dates will be submitted to the L.S.P.O.A. Board for approval at the December meeting.
As you can see, at the request of some of the teams, we will be starting the season a little earlier than in the past few years... Get out those jerkbaits, folks!!!
Thank you to everyone who contacted us with suggestions!
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
2017 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
SUNDAY APRIL 9, 2017 7:00 AM
SUNDAY MAY 21, 2017 6:30 AM
SUNDAY JUNE 11, 2017 6:00 AM
SUNDAY JULY 9, 2017 6:00 AM
SUNDAY AUGUST 13, 2017 6:30 AM
All events will be SIX (6) hours in length per association guidelines
November 1, 2016
We will be putting together the 2017 Lake Santee Division IN-47 schedule very soon. With that being said, any suggestions on preferred dates will be considered, based upon Lake Association guidelines. Please contact Chip or Lisa via e-mail, text, or a good old-fashioned phone call with your suggestions/requests. We will strive, as always, to accomodate everyone to the best of our ability.
Thank you, all!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
October 24, 2016
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
We recently released over two hundred adult largemouth bass into Lake Santee which were purchased with money donated by the IN-47 Lake Santee Division fishermen during the 2016 season. These 6 to 10 inch bass will help ensure the fishery at Lake Santee continues to improve for years to come. Please help us in welcoming them to their new home! If you happen to catch one of these bass, follow the tournament anglers lead and PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE on all of Lake Santee's bass.
A special thank you goes out to Eric Hess, owner of Clear Creek Fishery in Martinsville, Indiana. Without the support of Eric and his family's business, this program would not be possible. Also, thank you to each and every fisherman who give so willingly to make this project a reality.
Until next time...
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
September 28, 2016
Well, the 2016 Lake Santee Bass Tournament season has come to a close and what a great way to end the year! The final event was held on September 25th, and while it was not an official USA Bassin event, the team of Jon and Doug Ohlmansiek bested everyone with a five bass limit which weighed 16.89 pounds. Their bag also included the days big bass, a 5.64 "good 'un"! With this tournaments "twist", in which the event was held in two periods, the Ohlmansiek's played the game perfectly, bringing three bass to the first weigh in and following that up with two bass at the close of the second period. Jon said he and his dad caught the majority of their fish on topwater lures fished adjacent to rip rap banks. Paul Bruns and Chuck Sieg finished second with just two bass which totalled 8.11 pounds and Craig Duncan and Kyle Hohenberger rounded out the Top Three with three bass which weighed 7.84 lbs.
After the tournament, all of our teams and guests enjoyed a great fried chicken dinner which was sponsored by Paul Pank of Hilliard Lyons in Greensburg, IN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PAUL!!! Also a big thank you goes out to the Lake Santee Property Owners Association for sponsoring the End Of Summer events plaques!
Until next time...
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
September 9, 2016
Several of our teams who take part in the USA Bassin' portion of our Lake Santee Bass Tournaments have qualified for the regional events in their quest to travel to Kentucky Lake for the USA Bassin' Ranger Boats Classic in May of 2017, where they will compete for tens of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes including brand new Ranger Boats! The next step in that journey begins this weekend at Patoka Lake.
Good Luck, Safe Travels, and God Bless to all of our teams!
Chip & Lisa Ayers
August 28, 2016
As we were compiling the records for the 2016 Lake Santee IN-47 Division, it became evident just how competative the division is and what a great fishery Lake Santee has become. Here are some fun facts for everyone to consider!
The average keeper bass at Lake Santee weighs 2.8 pounds.
There were eleven bass weighed in over 5 pounds, several topping 6 pounds.
Bass exceding 4 pounds were so common, many went unrecorded individually at weigh in.
Winning stringers averaged 3.6 pounds per fish.
The average winning stringer weighed over 18 pounds.
The largest stringer weighed in was 21.30 pounds
The smallest stringer weighed in was 13.70 pounds, but that was a THREE FISH LIMIT!
For anyone interested in becoming a lot owner at Lake Santee, now is the time to act. Many lots come up for sale after Labor Day as the owners decide to part with the properties when summer has ended. What better time to start the process of becoming part of USA Bassin Lake Santee Division IN-47?
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
August 19, 2016
On Sunday, August 14th, the final Lake Santee IN-47 Division tournament was held. Due to the high water temperatures and extremely hot conditions that had enveloped the area in the weeks leading up to the final event, a decision was made to drop the limit to three bass. With that being sad, Lake Santee did not let anyone down. The team of Rob Merriman and TJ Edwards brought 13.70 lbs. to the scales, which included the events big bass, a 6.31 giant! Not only did the pair take top honors for the day, this effort allowed them to clinch the division title. Matt and Scott Perkins managed to bring in 11.21 lbs. to finish a strong second place... all with just three bass! Congratulations to both teams!!! A special thanks goes to Greensburg Buy Right Automotive for sponsoring this tournaments plaques. Thanks Jackie!
Speaking of the division champions, what a tight race that proved to be, with only TWO points separating the Top 3 teams! Great job to all our contenders and good luck to all our teams headed to the various regional events for that chance to move on to Kentucky Lake in May of 2017!
Until next time.
God bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
August 13, 2016
***NOTICE*** ***NOTICE*** ***NOTICE***
In an effort to alieviate any confusion and head off any inquires concerning the our August 14th IN-47 Lake Santee Bass Tournament scheduled for tomorrow (6:30AM-12:30PM), we will not be cancelling, postponing, or rescheduling the event due to the rain we are forecast to see...
After careful consideration, it has been determined the fish will not mind getting wet...
Look forward to seeing everyone in the morning.
Safe travels and God Bless,
Chip & Lisa
August 9, 2016
***NOTICE***
As everyone is quite aware, August at Lake Santee has challenged us with some extremely hot and humid weather the past several weeks. Water temperatures have risen into the mid to high 80s, making it feel almost like the proverbial bath water. Combined air temperatures and high humidity have pushed the heat index into the upper 90s, which is forecast to continue.
With that being said, we have been in contact with Nathan Long, biologist at Aquatic Control. Besides conducting a safe and friendly event, our primary concern is the continued health of our fishery. Therefore, based upon Nathans recommendations, the limit for the August 14th, 2016 tournament will be THREE (3) BASS, which is a departure from the normal five bass limit which we utilize.
We are quite sure all of our anglers will agree with this slight modification of the rules, as we all wish to support OUR lakes fantastic fishing.
Anglers, as always, ensure your livewell aerator is functioning at maximum capacity. Any boat without a fully functioning livewell system will NOT be permitted to participate.
Those with questions may contact Chip Ayers at (812) 593-8915.
Thank you & God Bless,
Chip Ayers
August 6, 2016
For all of our teams who take part in fall division USA Bassin tournaments, the 2016 season is quickly coming to an end. The 2017 season will officially begin September 1st. Realizing that many of our teams participate in fall events throughout the area, we have obtained the 2017 membership cards to facilitate early registration. We will have these cards available at the next IN-47 Lake Santee USA Bassin tournament on August 14th. Be sure to register early and take part in all the great fun!
Until next time,
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
JULY 18, 2016
******NOTICE****************************
Nearly all of our regular teams have earned the required 250 points to be eligible to compete in the 2016 regional events. These events are the pathway to the lucrative Championships which will be held at Kentucky Lake in 2017. Teams should make plans and arrangements now to ensure they are part of the great fun. Details can be found at usabassin.com or division competitors may contact Chip and Lisa Ayers for all the details.
Dont put it off... Make plans to take part in the post season events today!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
JULY 18, 2016
Post frontal conditions confronted the teams which took part in the fourth event of the 2016 season in the Lake Santee Division IN-47. Several anglers reported that the bass seemed to be biting VERY light resulting in many missed fish. But, as always, someone always figures them out. At this event, it was the team of Paul Bruns and Chuck Sieg, who brought in a five bass limit which weighed 15.58 lbs. Dustin and Phil Miller continued their dominance in the division with 13.36 pounds of Lake Santee bass for a strong second place finish. While Kyle Hohenburger only boated one bass with his teammate, Craig Duncan, it was the right kind! The pair brought the events big bass to the scales with a 5.34 lb. lunker! Congratulations to everyone on a job well done on a tougher than normal day!
Special thanks to Jerry Sebo and all the fine folks at Don Meyer Ford in Greensburg, IN for sponsoring this months trophies. We truly appreciate their support.
Until next time,
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
JULY 7, 2016
On Sunday, June 26th, we held the third event of the 2016 regular season and thirteen teams turned out to take part. The father/son duo of Matt and Scott Perkins surpassed everyone with a five bass limit which totaled 18.98 lbs. In second place was the husband/wife team of Ron and Stacey Tuley with five quality fish which weighed 15.37 lbs. The Big Bass of the event went to Bob Delay and Joe Fuentes with a 6.35 giant.
Congratulations to all of our anglers on a great day of fishing!
In addition, to help kick off the Fourth of July weekend, we held our annual TNT Celebration Event, a 3 hour, unofficial, winner take all derby where the anglers fished for just a three bass limit. This tournament was held Friday, July 1st from 6 until 9 PM. Ten teams took part in the evenings fun, with Chuck Sieg and Paul Bruns taking the prize with three bass totaling over 9 1/2 pounds. Great job guys!
An interesting statistic in these two events was that there were ELEVEN largemouth bass weighed in over 4 lbs, with a few of those being over 5 lbs. each. Please help us sustain our phenominal fishery by following our tournament anglers lead and PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE on all of Lake Santees bass! Also, dont forget to take a child fishing when the opportunity arises!
Until next time,
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
June 22,2016
Our third Lake Santee / Division IN-47 bass tournament of the 2016 season will be held this coming weekend-Sunday, June 26, 2016. Rain or shine!!!The hours for the event will be 6:00 AM until 12:00PM. Please have your boats in the water and at the shelterhouse for our pre-tournament meeting by 5:30 AM. We will conduct livewell check during take-off, SO MAKE SURE THOSE AERATOR PUMPS WORK!
Also, mark your calendar for Friday, July 1st, 2016. We will again be holding our annual TNT Celebration Tournament from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM. This is the officially unofficial three hour, 3 fish limit, winner take all, yearly derby that has proved so popular! More details will follow in the days to come.
Until next time...
God bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
June 14, 2016
Today, we are going to address an issue which has become way too common on waterways everywhere, especially our own Lake Santee... Courtesy. After speaking with numerous folks which have witnessed this, it seems as though people are operating their boats, fishing and pleasure, without much, if any, consideration of others. It has become obvious that many, but not all, boaters seem to operate their vessel in complete oblivion to others who they share the water with. Our Lake Santee, while a beautiful watershed, is rather small considering the amount of traffic which utilize it each day. Just because our lake doesnt have marked lanes like a highway, it does not mean one should drive haphazardly about the lake or when entering the coves. All that is needed if for some to put themselves in others shoes, or boats, in this case. Take time to be observant of how big of a wake your boat is producing. Is that wake going to affect others adversly? If so, SLOW DOWN and give the other boats some room. If you decide to pull into a small cove and fish, are you being courteous to others who might be there before you? Courtesy and communication are the key. We all have to operate our boats in a safe manner, making sure to look ahead of us, farther than just the bow of our boat!
Oh, and if you have never thought about these type issues, you are quite possibly part of the problem... Just saying.
May 26. 2016
It's going to be a fantastic weekend to enjoy some time on the water, but as most folks know, our larger fisheries will be extremely busy with holiday boat traffic. For those of you looking to get that bass tournament fix, earn valuable points towards the 2016 Regionals, or just spend the day on the water, look no farther than Bischoff Reservoir in nearby Batesville, Indiana! There will be a USA Bassin event held there Saturday, May 28th! Contact Todd Milburn or Leroy McQueen for details. Make your plans to participate!
But, most of all, please take time to remember the real reason we celebrate Memorial Day in the United States...
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
May 17, 2016
Sunday, May 15th, saw fourteen teams take part in the second event of the 2016 USA Bassin IN-47 Lake Santee Division. The tournament was won by the team of Rob Merriman and TJ Edwards who weighed in a five bass limit totalling 21.30 pounds. The pair used sight fishing techniques to cull over a dozen keepers for their final catch. The team of Philip and Dustin Miller, fresh off their second place finish in the USA Bassin Lucas Oil Tournament of Champions at Kentucky Lake, continued their winning ways with five bass totalling 15.06 lbs for a strong second place catch. Not to be out done, Chris Roberts and Adam Engleking brought the tournaments big bass to the scales with a 6.12 trophy. As always, every bass weighed in during the event was successfully released back into Lake Santee to be caught again. Thank you to all our teams for their dedicated effort to keep our fish alive and healthy!
We would also like to express our gratitude to Mark Wickens of Nationwide Insurance in Greensburg, IN for sponsoring our beautiful plaques for this event. Thank you, Mark!
Until our next event in June,
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
May 12, 2016
Our second event of the 2016 USA Bassin Lake Santee IN-47 season is just a few short days away- Sunday, May 15, 2016! As in the past, we will take off from the Main Beach shelterhouse and the start time will be 6:30 AM. With our large turnouts, please have you boat in the water and ready for livewell check no later than 6:00 AM. We will again hold a short meeting prior to take off. Hope to see everyone there!
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
April 24, 2016
The first tournament of the 2016 season for the Lake Santee IN-47 division was held on Sunday, April 24th and the weather could not have been any better. However, for the fifteen teams who took part, the bass could have cooperated a bit better. But, like the old saying goes, someboby always figures them out! The brother team of Phil and Dustin Miller brought five bass to the scales for 15.11 to take the first place plaques. Second place was captured by the father/son team of Jon and Doug Ohlmansiek with three bass totalling 10.12 pounds. The third place award was taken by Chuck Sieg and Paul Bruns with three bass for 9.90 pounds. Their catch was anchored by the events big bass, a 5.12 kicker!
The 24 bass brought to the scales by all the teams did average 3.12 pounds, which goes to prove Lake Santee has the quality that most fisheries only dream of! We have had several inquiries and, while Lake Santee is a private lake, there are plenty of opportunities for interested fishermen to purchase a small lot and become members for a minimal investment. We would encourage and welcome everyone to do so and join the fun!
Until next time, God Bless,
Lisa and Chip Ayers
April 20, 2016
The first event of the 2016 USA Bassin Lake Santee IN-47 season is just around the corner- Sunday, April 24, 2016! As in the past, we will take off from the Main Beach shelterhouse. Please have you boat in the water and ready for livewell check by 6:30 AM. We will hold a short meeting prior to take off. Hope to see everyone there!
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
March 9, 2016
Well, here we are into March and with much warmer temperatures than normal, the fish are starting to bite. With the coming of spring, comes the start of a new tournament season. Thus far, we have had several teams register for the 2016 USA Bassin season, but know there are many more who want to take part in the events. While our first Lake Santee IN-47 event is just 6 weeks away, several other divisions will be starting much sooner. Therefore, we are asking anyone who hasn't registered yet to please do so as soon as possible. This will enable us to get everyone registered in time to begin to earn points towards this season's regional events. Please contact us and we will work with you to get your team registered.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in this.
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
February 14, 2016
With just two weeks to go until we hold our pre-season Lake Santee / Division IN-47 meeting and swap meet on Saturday, February 27th, we keep getting questions as to who can attend. In response, we have a simple answer...EVERYONE!!! The swap meet will officially begin at 9:00 AM. We plan to open the Lake Santee Community Room by 8:30 AM so that folks who wish to bring tackle and gear can arrive and set up a table. This event will be open to the public, however if anyone plans on attending and taking part by selling items, we would ask that they contact us prior so that we do not over book tables. We already have several folks confirmed to attend so space may become limited!
Those wishing to attend and sell or anyone with questions may contact Chip Ayers at (812) 593-8915.
Thank you all and God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
February 3, 2016
We have received the confirmation that the Lake Board has approved our event dates for 2016. We are looking forward to another fantastic season at one of the finest fisheries in the Midwest! In addition, mark your calendar for Saturday February 27th, 2016!. We will be holding our yearly pre-season meeting at which teams will be able to register for events as well as obtain their 2016 USA Bassin memberships. The meeting will begin at 11:00 AM in the Lake Santee Community Room... but thats not all! We will also be putting together a "swap meet" for used fishing tackle and equipment from 9:00 until 11:00 AM that morning. So be sure to gather up those baits, rods, and reels that are collecting dust and come out early and join the fun!
Until next time, God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
January 25, 2016
The 2016 Westport Fishing Expo is in the books and now work begins on next years event... For all you folks that missed it, it was a great time! Special thanks to Mark Dove for sharing the experiences of his three Bassmaster Classic appearances, giving some great fishing tips... and the stories... how can anybody forget those stories! Thank you, Mark!
A special thank you to all the vendors! Based on the reports we received after the show, its pretty clear Southeastern Hoosier fishermen love to buy tackle!!!
Dates for next years show will be coming out, make plans to visit, or if you are a vendor, make plans to attend. It's the best FREE event around!
Now if we can just get some warm weather...
January 5, 2016
The Fourth Annual Westport Fishing Expo will take place Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Westport Christian Church, in Westport Indiana. This years event will be held in the brand new Family Life Center adjacent to the church, so there will be plenty of room for everyone! While we are waiting to hear back from a few other vendors, it looks like another great show is planned with plenty of great things to see and purchase. Show times will be 9:00 AM
- 4:00 PM.
Just a few of the vendors and groups that will be there are Accent Baits, Phil Hunts PH Custom Baits, MC Custom Jigs, USA Bassin, Fishers of Men, and Bulldog Rods. In addition, three time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Mark Dove from North Vernon will be conducting a informative seminar that day. Other speakers will also be discussing fishing related topics throughout the day. More information will be coming, so make plans to attend!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
December 19, 2015
Here is our tentative 2016 Lake Santee USA Bassin Division-47 tournament schedule. This will become official once we receive it's approval by the L.S.P.O.A. Board. Please review the Division-47 rules for specific eligibility requirements. Due to being a privately owned lake, participation in this division will unfortunately be limited to one member of each team being required to be a property owner in good standing. Be sure to mark your calendars and take part in the fun!
SUNDAY APRIL 24, 2016 7:00 AM
SUNDAY MAY 15, 2016 6:30 AM
SUNDAY JUNE 26, 2016 6:00 AM
SUNDAY JULY 17, 2016 6:00 AM
SUNDAY AUGUST 14, 2016 6:30 AM
Entry Fee $50.00 Per Boat / Optional Big Bass Pot $10.00 Per Boat
Plus Mandatory $2.00 Bass Restock Enhancement Fee Per Boat
All Tournaments will be Six (6) Hours in Length per Lake Santee Guidelines
Any Questions / Contact Chip Ayers at (812) 593-8915
hayers@isp.in.gov
December 17, 2015
We have begun to put dates together for the 2016 Lake Santee Bass Tournaments schedule and those dates will be released very soon. In doing so, we have been reviewing last years results to correlate with this years proposed schedule dates. What became immediately apparant however, was just how great a fishery we enjoy at beautiful Lake Santee. If anyone ever says "Remember the good old days at Lake Santee..." they might first look at our recent tournament results.
In 2015..., we averaged 14 teams per event with a total of five regular season tournaments. These anglers brought over 225 keeper bass to the scales for a total weight in excess of 620 pounds. That is an average weight of over 2.8 pounds per bass! In addition, those numbers revealed each team averaged at least three keepers per event!
Now, as everyone knows, there is a difference between fishing and catching. However, if you want to experience this fantastic fishing, you might want to consider taking part in our events at Lake Santee this year... because the "good old days" appear to be NOW!
You can check out more at our Facebook page- LakeSanteeBassTournaments
Just remember, when you do, PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE" on each bass you catch and take a child fishing!
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
November 7, 2015
We will soon be determining the USA Bassin IN-47 Lake Santee Division 2016 schedule. Due to the fact many of our teams participate in other tournament trails in the state, the schedule will be delayed until the Indiana D.N.R. lake usage drawing is completed to avoid scheduling conflicts with other events. This drawing is normally completed by mid November, therefore, the 2016 schedule is only a matter of days away! Stay tuned to the USA BASSIN website for updates.
Until next time,
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
August 24, 2015
A tournament win on Sunday, August 23, 2015 clinched the Lake Santee IN-47 division points title for the team of Philip and Dustin Miller. The brothers weighed in an impressive five bass limit which totalled 18.17 lbs to outdistance themselves from the other competitors for their second division points title in three years and compiled two wins and two second place finishes for the season. Their total weight for the year was 45.82 lbs in the five events.
The days second place award went to the team of Rob Merriman and his alternate, Adam Kennedy, who brought 17.30 lbs to the scale. Ron and Bruce Hamer took the Big Bass award with a 6.12 lb. giant.
For more information on the winners tactics and interviews about their day, check out our Facebook page at LakeSanteeBassTournaments.
Many of our teams will now begin the preparations for the various regional events in hopes of making that trip to Kentucky Lake in 2016. Good luck to all!
Reminder- Fishermen, dont forget our Annual End of Summer Event on Sunday, September 27th, 2015! We will hold the event and follow it up with a great meal and multiple prize packages from our sponsors, including Anglers World in Greenfield, IN. Until then...
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
August 19,2015
The fifth and final event of the 2015 USA Bassin season will be held Sunday August 23rd from 6:30AM until 12:30 PM. With the points standings very tight, it will come down to this event as we will crown our division champions at the end of the tournament. As always, please be in the water and registered one-half hour before take off, at which time we will hold the brief meeting for the event. Hope to see everyone Sunday!
God bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
August 6, 2015
Be sure to check out our Facebook page for the July 19th tournament results and the winning team's interview. This can be viewed at LakeSanteeBassTournaments on Facebook.
We will see everyone at the next event on August 23 where we will crown our 2015 IN-47 Lake Santee Division champions!
Until then,
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
July 18, 2015
We plan to be at the shelterhouse at 5:00 AM for July 19th tournament as usual. The forecast is for extremely hot and humid conditions, so we encourage everyone to bring plenty of water and beverages to stay hydrated for the tournament. Also, while water temperatures hover in the low 80s, please remember these temperatures can stress livewell held fish. We will have fish care additives available at discounted prices to aid in keeping everyones catch healthy and alive.
Please have your boat in the water and ready for livewell check by 5:30 AM. Take a few moments and ensure that your livewell system is functioning properly as these WILL be checked prior to takeoff.
Thank you and God Bless!
Lisa & Chip Ayers
July 12, 2015
We are happy to announce that we will be offering fish care additives for sale at a discounted price at the July 19th, 2015 tournament. Jack Kerner at Anglers World in Greenfield has graciously offered to provide both Sure Life Please Release Me and Bass Medics Rejuvenade at a reduced price in order for all of our teams to ensure the successful release of healthy bass caught in our tournaments back into Lake Santee. These products will be available prior to the tournament for purchase.
We would like to encourage each and every team to take advantage of this offer so that we can ALL work together to keep the bass fishing at Lake Santee the best in Indiana! Any questions, please contact Chip Ayers.
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
June 15, 2015
We had another great day at Lake Santee on June 14th for our third tourament of the 2015 season. Rob Merriman and TJ Edwards took the top spot with 15.16 lbs... And that was with only 4 fish! It always helps when you have two in your bag that weigh over four pounds including the days big bass, a 4.62 kicker! Matt and Scott Perkins kept the pair sweating as they weighed a 4.61 of their own. Close but no cigar, guys! Craig Duncan and Kyle Hohenberger claimed second for the day, which enabled them to take over first place in the standings. But they dont have much room separating themselves from the others as several teams are breathing down their backs!
Our awards were sponsored by Jackie Mitchell and all the great folks at Acras Buy Right in Greensburg, IN. If you are looking for a vehicle at a great price, contact the folks at Acras Buy Right! Jack and Betty at Anglers World in Greenfield IN as always supplied the door prizes, a tackle pack and other great gear!
If anybody wonders just how great the fishing is at Lake Santee, our ten teams combined to bring 29 bass to the scales for an average of 2 lb. 14 oz per fish! As Jack Kerner would say...Phenominal!!!
Until next time,
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
June 8, 2015
Be sure and take a minute and check out the winning team and Big Bass winners video interviews on our Facebook page at LakeSanteeBassTournaments. There is lots a great information there on the winning techniques and lures used at the May 17th event!
Also, stay tuned for further updates about our next tournament!
God bless,
Lisa and Chip Ayers
May 28, 2015
*REMINDER*
For all of our U.S.A. Bassin Lake Santee Division-47 teams who plan on fishing any of this falls regionals in order to qualify for the 2016 Classic at Kentucky Lake, entries are now being accepted for the regionals. A team becomes eligible once they accumulate 250 points in the standings. A few of our teams have already met this goal and are able to enter at this time. Remember, while it may seem early to do so, your take off position is determined by the postmark of your entry. Several teams from around the state have already entered and been assured of early boat numbers. We will have the 2016 Regional Packets available at the remaining events for those that are interested.
For more information, check out the website at USABassin.com.
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
May 18, 2015
What a difference a few weeks can make in southeastern Indiana! Our previous event, held just three short weeks earlier, featured blustery temperatures and a strong, cold wind. But on May 17th, at our second event of the season, Mother Nature made temps downright balmy with a takeoff temperature of almost 70 degrees. Not only that, shortly after setting out, our teams were greeted with a torrential downpour. Such is fishing!!!
However, the nine teams didnt let the curves thrown at them hold anyone back as proved by the crowded dock space at the Main Beach facility. A large crowd at the weigh in witnessed the team of Craig Duncan and Kyle Hohenbergers five bass limit, which totaled 15 lbs. 6 oz., take the top prize of almost $500 The winners catch also included the Big Bass for the day, a four and a half pound beauty. Not a bad day at Lake Santee!! Phil and Dustin Miller earned second place with a five bass limit weighing 10 lb. 15 oz. Leroy McQueen and Todd Milburn made things very tight with a third place catch of 10 lb. 4 oz. Great job to each team on a very challenging day!
This months trophies were graciously provided by Joe Jarmin and Lake Santee Security. Thank you Joe, and all our Security folks, for their generosity and dedication. Jack and Betty Kerner continued their long support of Lake Santees Bass Tournaments with more wonderful door prizes from their phenomenal fishing tackle store, Anglers World, in Greenfield, IN. Don't forget to mention you fish Lake Santee Division-47 for a money saving discount on your next visit!
Be sure to check out additional coverage of the event, including interviews with the winners, on Facebook at the LakeSanteeBassTournaments page. Until next time, PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE on Lake Santee bass and take a child fishing.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
April 27, 2015
The 2015 USA Bassin Division 47 Lake Santee season kicked off on April 26th with 11 teams participating in the first event. The day dawned with a beautiful sunrise but the brisk east wind reminded the anglers that summer was still a few weeks away, and, as anyone who fishes has heard, when the wind is from the east, the bass bite the least!!! Still Lake Santee didnt disappoint everyone and our great anglers brought in some tremendous limits of bass. Twenty three bass were weighed in for a total of almost 67 lbs and that is an average weight of almost 3 pounds per fish. Wow, what an awesome fishery we have here at Lake Santee!
Father and son, Rick and Adam Kennedy, weighed in the largest limit of the day with five beautiful bass that weighed 16.79 lbs and the big bass of the derby with a 4.57 lunker. The brother team of Phil and Dustin Miller finished a strong second with five bass which pulled down the scales to a respectable 14.05 lbs.
Two lucky teams took home the prize packs donated again this year by Jack and Betty Kerner at Angler's World in Greenfield, IN and Rick and Adam claimed the beautiful plaques for first place and big bass which were provided by Mary Hamer and all the great folks at Klosterkemper's Tax Service.
If you cant tell, our events are a great way to enjoy Lake Santees phenomenal fishing, so we encourage everyone to come and join the fun. But, even if you cant participate, take a few minutes and join us at the next tournaments weigh-in and see what all the buzz is about! Either way, REMEMBER, Please Practice Catch and Release on our Lake Santee bass and take a child fishing! Until next time...
God Bless,
Lisa and Chip Ayers
April 23, 2015
We just picked up April's plaques from Kramer Kreations in Greensburg and they look fantastic. We have even been able to incorporate Lake Santee's 50th Anniversary into this year's awards. The winning team this Sunday will surely take home some nice hardware! We owe a big THANK YOU to Mary Hamer at Klosterkemper's Tax Service for sponsoring this month's trophies! You can check out the pictures on our Facebook page at LakeSanteeBassTournaments.
April 14, 2015
With our first tournament a little over a week away, we would like to remind everyone who would like to sign up for the USA Bassin portion of the event to contact us right away and assure you are registered prior to April 26th. The tournament hours will be 7:00 AM until 1:00 PM. We will again hold a MANDATORY pre-tournament meeting at the Main Beach shelter house at 6:30 AM. As determined last year, any teams who are not present, made prior arrangements, or previously contacted Chip or Lisa prior to that time will incur a $5.00 late fee! Based upon the calls and inquiries we have received, the turnout should be fantastic and we are looking forward to kicking 2015 off with a bang. We will see everyone the 26th!!
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
March 3, 2015
We just wanted to thank everyone who came to the pre-season meeting we recently held. We have signed up several teams already for USA Bassin and are looking forward to having a GREAT season.
For those lake members who missed the meeting and need to register to fish the USA Bassin events, please contact either Chip or Lisa as soon as possible. While we will be able to register teams all the way up until the first tournament, early registration would allow ample time to get team information to the national office and ensure all earned points are tallied as they are accumulated.
You may reach us via e-mail, Facebook, or via our cell phones.
Also, Brad Jones, Lake Santee Property Manager, attended the meeting and advised that the dam spillway valve has been closed and the lake will begin to fill to summer pool.
Brad also updated everyone on the new website, lake-santee.com and wow, is it great! It has a special fishing section and has links to all of our tournament information, rules, and entry forms. Be sure to take time to check it out! Thank you Brad!
Until next time...
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
February 23, 2015
On Thursday, February 26th, we will again hold our annual pre-season meeting at the Lake Santee Community Room. We will start the meeting at 7:00 PM and go over the 2015 schedule and any changes for the season. Teams will also be able to register with USA Bassin' in order to be eligible to fish several area tournaments trails.
Also, to make the evening a bit more fun, we would like to encourage everyone to bring old tackle they may have and not use and we will hold a mini "Fishing Swap Meet"! These events have become very popular and who knows what you may find! So be sure to go through those tackle boxes and bring that unwanted tackle with you and lets all have a good time.
Any questions, please contact Chip or Lisa Ayers.
January 27, 2015
3rd Annual Westport Christian Church Fishing Expo, Westport IN
Saturday, February 7th from 9:00am-3:00pm
Hourly Door Prizes will be given away
Three separate workshops;
Smallmouth Fishing tips, Custom Painting Baits, How to pour your own plastics
2015 I.B.F. Hall of Fame Inductee-Eldon Crabtree
This event will be held at the Westport Christian Church
102 West Mulberry Street, Westport, IN
No admission fee and no set up fee for vendors
For more information please call, 812-591-3807 or email miketheport@gmail.com
December 11, 2015
We have released the schedule for the USA BASSIN Lake Santee Division IN-47 for the 2015 season. Please be sure to mark your calendars and make arrangements to be part of all the great fun! This year will mark the 50th ANNIVERSARY for Lake Santee and we plan to incorporate this celebration into all of our events. Stay tuned for more announcements in the future concerning the 2015 season! We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Until next time...
God Bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
November 26, 2014
We wanted to make everyone aware that today over 100 largmeouth bass were released into Lake Santee. This is made possible every year by the small fee collected from each team at every tournament. With todays stocking, that brings the number of largemouth bass purchased by our anglers and released into Lake Santee to nearly 500. Most of these bass are approximately 6-7 inches at the time of release to help ensure their survival. We would like to thank each and every one of our fishermen for their support of this program!
You can view photos of the event on our Facebook page at Lake Santee Bass Tournaments.
Until next time,
God Bless
Chip and Lisa Ayers
November 24, 2014
As promised, we have developed a schedule for the 2015 Lake Santee Bass Tournaments. While we have no reason to believe that the dates will change, the schedule must be approved by the Lake Santee P.O.A. Board. The dates have been submitted and are due to be heard in the December meeting and will be published as soon as they are approved.
Also, as 2015 will be Lake Santee's 50th Anniversary, our events will have a 50th anniversary theme.
In addition, our 2014 order of largemouth bass, which was purchased with the anglers' donated "Restock Fee" is due to arrive on Wednesday, November 26th. Thank you to all of our fishermen for contributing to the continued health of our fishery!
God bless,
Lisa & Chip Ayers
October 28, 2014
We anticipate completing the 2015 Lake Santee Bass Tournament / USA Bassin' Division 47 schedule by late November. We will wait to publis
