Lake Santee / Division IN-47
December 12, 2021
The 2022 Lake Santee Division/IN-47 is official! We will see you all in April.
For those wishing to get their 2022 memberships, we now have cards and are able to get your team registered. Contact either Lisa or I for details.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
December 9, 2021
The 2022 USA Bassin schedule for Lake Santee Division 47 was approved by the L.S.P.O.A. Board.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
November 13, 2021
We have posted a TENTATIVE schedule for the 2022 IN-47 Lake Santee Division.
In addition, the USA Bassin' Lake Santee Open tournament is TENTATIVELY scheduled for September 25, 2022.
Please check back as this is subject to change pending confirmation by the Lake Santee Property Owner's Association.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
November 6, 2021
As the year comes to an end, we will once again begin looking toward dates for the 2022 USA Bassin' Lake Santee Division season.
As always, we will again do our best to avoid scheduling our events so that they avoid any overlap of other trails our anglers also take part in.
To do this, we would ask for your, our members, cooperation. Please text or email Chip Ayers with any trails/tournament(s) information which you may also be competing in, and as stated above we will promise to attempt to avoid any conflict as best as possible.
Thank you and have a wonderful holiday season.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
September 17, 2021
Sunday, August 22, saw fifteen teams take to the waters of Lake Santee in the fifth and final regular season USA Bassin’ sanctioned tournament of the 2021 season. Despite the warm conditions, as has become the norm for our anglers, Lake Santee did not disappoint!
The first-year team of Eric Bowser and Trey Lowder combined to take first place with five gorgeous largemouth bass which weighed 17.63 pounds. Right on their heels were the father and son team of Matt and Scott Perkins with a five bass limit totaling 17.25 lbs. In third place, member team Chuck Sieg/Paul Bruns brought five bass to the scales weighing 13.84 lbs. Brian Woeste landed the day’s big bass, a 4.42-pound trophy bass. Congratulations to all our winners.
As mentioned earlier, this event marked the end of the regular season tournaments and, with that, came time to crown the year’s divisional champions. This year’s top team was the father/son team of Butch and Marco Mikesell. This should come as no surprise to anyone who follows Lake Santee bass tournaments, as the pair has run rough shod over folks the last few seasons… Congratulations to Butch and Marco!
Also securing a place in the 2022 Lucas Oil Tournament of Champions was another father and son duo of Tim and Carson Tennell for their season high big bass, a 6.22 behemoth! Well done, Tim and Carson!
We would also be remiss if we did not again thank Baird Financial of Greensburg, IN for their continued sponsorship of our trophies and to Jeff Litchfield of Litchfield Lures, LLC for continuing to donate some of his company’s fantastic products as drawing prizes at our tournaments!
We still have one tournament left, the Lake Santee USA Bassin’ Open to be held September 26th. This tournament is open to all L.S.P.O.A members and does not require a USA Bassin’ membership. We would love to see folks who have not been able to join us this season get off the couch and join us!
Until next time, remember to PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE on Lake Santee’s bass and take time to take a child fishing.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
August 29, 2021
Photos posted from our last event!
August 23, 2021
The 2021 USA BAssin Lake Santee Division wrapped up it's season on August 22nd.
Congratulations to our division champions, Butch and Marco Mikesell for a fantastic season!
Plans are already under way to make 2022 even bigger and better.
Stay tuned for a detailed report on the August 22nd event.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
July 29, 2021
What a difference a month can make! On Sunday, July 11th, Lake Santee saw 18 USA Bassin’ teams made up of property owners take to the water in the fourth tournament of the 2021 season. Unlike the previous tournament, this event saw Lake Santee’s bass hungry and willing to cooperate. Virtually every team came to the scales with bass, each vying for the day’s prizes and beautiful trophies sponsored by the fine folks at R.W. Baird Financial of Greensburg, IN and provided by Rick at Kramer Kreations, also of Greensburg.
The father and son team of Tim and Carson Tennell took first place with a five bass limit which totaled 16.75 lbs. Their catch was anchored by the tournament’s big bass, a 6.22 pound behemoth! Finishing a close second was the team of Rob Merriman and T.J. Edwards with a limit weighing 16.62 lbs. Rounding out the Top 3 was the brother team of Leroy and Dan McQueen with five bass totaling 15.56 lbs.
The father and son duo of Butch and Marco Mikesell continue to hold on to their lead in the race for the year’s top team, though their lead is anything but unsurmountable. With only one event left in the regular season, it appears that this contest might just go down to the wire.
A big THANK YOU goes out to Jeff Litchfield of Litchfield Lures, LLC, who graciously donated several packs of his company’s fantastic lures as door prizes. Thank you, Jeff!
As stated above, there is only one regular season tournament left in 2021. However, at the conclusion of our group’s season, we will be holding the End of Summer USA Bassin’ Open on Sunday, September 26th, 2021. This sanctioned event is open to all Lake Santee members regardless whether they have competed with us in the past or not.
For more information concerning this event contact Chip Ayers or go to the USA Bassin’ website at usabassin.com and search Lake Santee Open. Until next time, PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE on all of Lake Santee’s bass and remember to make time to take a child fishing!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
JULY 10, 2021
We have received some inquiries about tomorrow's Lake Santee USA Bassin tournament and the potential of inclement weather affecting the event. As everyone knows, our anglers' safety is of the utmost importance.
The latest weather forecast shows that the potential of strong thunderstorms will be moving out overnight.
While Sunday looks to be soggy, we plan to continue with our tournament as scheduled at this time.
We will continue to monitor forecasts and keep everyone apprised of any changes as soon as possible.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa
July 7, 2021
The fishing at Lake Santee has been as hot as the weather lately! With all of our nation's Independence Day celebrations wrapping up, now is the time to start thinking about our next Lake Santee Division tournament.
Our next event is this coming Sunday, July 11th and the hours will be 6AM until 12PM. Please have you boat in the water and at the main beach shelter house no later than 5:30 for the pre-tournament meeting.
Water temperatures have increased into the mid to high 80's, so please take steps now to ensure the proper care of your catch be it livewell treatments, ice, or any combination of the two.
We will see everyone Sunday!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
June 25, 2021
On June 13th, twelve USA Bassin’ teams took part in our community’s third bass tournament of 2021. The vast majority of our participants had a successful day and brought bass to the scales in an attempt to capture the day’s prizes. The father/son team of Butch and Marco Mikesell just kept rolling with a limit which totaled 14.09 lbs. for the win. Second place was awarded to another father and son duo, Tim and Carson Tennell. Team Tennell brought four keeper bass to the scales which weighed 11.42 lbs., but that did not include Tim’s biggest catch of the day, which happened to be Carson…. OUCH! (We’ll let Tim share that story with folks some other time *wink-wink*) The biggest BASS weighed in for the tournament was brought to the scales by Leroy and Dan McQueen with a 3.49 lb. quality catch that took that prize.
While the numbers were a bit down at this event due to outside functions like weddings and graduations, our USA Bassin’ Lake Santee Division continues to grow with each event. Our division averages approximately 80% of our teams being made up of family members sharing the boat for the day. We always encourage our L.S.P.O.A. neighbors to be part of the fun and join us for a great day of fishing and fellowship. But, if fishing a tournament is not for you, come on down to the main beach shelter house for the weigh-in and see what the fuss is all about! A huge thank you goes out to all the great folks at Baird Private Wealth Management of Greensburg, IN for sponsoring our awards and Jeff Litchfield / Litchfield Lures for donating great door prizes from his local lure company.
Please contact Chip and Lisa Ayers for information on how to take part in our events.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
June 13, 2021
The results from the June 13th, 2021 tournament are posted!
June 7, 2021
Our next tournament will be this coming Sunday, June 13th!
Take off for this month's event will be at 6:00 AM. Please have your boat launched and prepared for the pre-tournament meeting which will begin at 5:30 AM at the main beach shelter house. Livewell check will be conducted at takeoff as we have done in the past.
Remember, boats must idle to their first spot as the light at the dam will still be red at take off. As a footnote, no boats should be passing other boats during take off. All boats shall adhere to the idle at take off rule. If anyone passes another competitor at take off and is protested, a disqualification will result.
Check-in will be at 12:00 PM.
A big thanks go out to Paul Pank and all the great folks at Baird Financial in Greensburg, IN for sponsoring this month's awards. Also a big thank you goes out to USA Bassin member Jeff Litchfield for donating some awesome looking soft plastics from his company as a door prize!
We are looking forward to seeing everyone this week. The word is the fish are biting!
Until Sunday, tight lines and..
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
June 6, 2021
On May 23rd, nineteen USA Bassin’ teams took part in the second tournament of the 2021 season. Fishing was uncharacteristically tough for Lake Santee in May, with only SIX teams weighing in a keeper bass.
The team of Rob Merriman and T.J. Edwards edged out the father/son combo of Butch and Marco Mikesell with a limit which totaled 15.53 lbs for the win. The winning bag included the tournament’s big bass, a 4.05-pound good un’!
The Mikesells, who have been hotter than a firecracker for the last few seasons, secured second with a five-bass limit which weighed 14.42 pounds. Craig Duncan and Kyle Hohenberger captured three keeper bass which totaled 9.51 lbs. to finish a somewhat distant, but strong, third place.
With the win, the team of Merriman/Edwards took home the beautiful trophies which are sponsored this entire year by Paul Pank and all the great folks at Baird Financial in Greensburg, IN. In addition to that, John and Brad Wilson won a beautiful wooden rod rack donated by Mike and Faye Cutrufelli in our monthly drawing. Thank you, Paul, Mike, and Faye!
Our USA Bassin’ Lake Santee Division continues to grow with each event. If you decide it’s time to get off the bank and out of the house and join the fun… we invite you to join us for our next tournament. Please contact Chip and Lisa Ayers for information on how to take part in our events.
Until next time, remember to follow our anglers’ lead and PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE on all of Lake Santee’s bass and, as always, please take time to take a child fishing.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
May 23, 2021
The results are posted from the May 23, 2021 tournament.
Keep following for a detailed report.
May 22, 2021
The second tournament of the 2021 USA Bassin' Lake Santee Division is tomorrow, May 23rd. 6:30AM until 12:30AM. We will resume holding the take off and weigh-in at the main beach shelter house as the lake is now at summer pool.
Please have your boats in the water and registered with Lisa prior to the mandatory pre-tournament meeting which will begin at 6 AM.
*Remember there is plenty of parking in the gravel lot near the shelter house.
We will see everyone in the morning!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
05/18/2021
In preparation for the second tournament of the 2021 USA Bassin season for the IN-47 Lake Santee Division, please note the following.
The Lake Santee Property Owners Association is in the process of making a huge impact in the improvement of the water quality of the reservoir. The association, with the assistance of Aquatic Control, Inc., is in the process of placing a number of types of both emergent and submergent of vegetation in our lake. This initial planting will consist in part of water lilies, water willow, and bulrush. These introductions will center in the area of Access Lot 288. This shallow area should be restricted by buoys very soon and thus will be off limits to fishing. We would like to ask ALL boaters at the lake to use care in reducing any wake or backwash of the area to avoid uprooting the newly planted vegetation.
Thank you all for your cooperation in making Lake Santee more healthy.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
04/21/2021
Sunday, April 18th dawned a beautiful day… if you were looking out a window from the warm house! The 37 degree temperature at take-off made participating in the first 2021 USA Bassin’ Lake Santee Division 47 Bass Tournament interesting to say the least, but 16 teams were up to the challenge!
Due to the abnormally low lake level, the accessibility of the main beach pavilion and docking area was not available. Therefore, for this tournament, the take-off and weigh in portions of the tournament were held at the Lake Santee Marina. The business’s owner Greg Geis graciously, in his words, said, “Make yourselves at home!”. Thank you, Greg and Cara! Hopes are that as the spring rains (or snow..?) continue to fill the lake to its normal summer pool, we will be able to return to again utilizing the shelter house for our remaining events.
On a side note, even with the over two foot lower than normal water level, thanks to our new boat ramp, all of our anglers were able to easily launch their boats for a great day of fellowship and fishing. A special thanks goes out to L.S.P.O.A. Board Member Gina Julien (Lake and Beaches) and the other board members who supported the project from the beginning. If not for the ability to access to our beautiful Lake Santee and all the recreational opportunities the lake provides, the result would be that our community would be just another subdivision.
As with any day of fishing, someone always figures out the bite. This day was no different as the father and son team of Butch and Marco Mikesell brought four quality bass to the scales which weighed 14.07 lbs. to take the win. Another father/son duo, Matt and Scott Perkins, finished a solid second with four bass totaling 10.85 lbs. Third place was captured by Mike Griffith and Joe Ford, whose two bass bag of 8.66 lbs. was anchored by Joe’s 6.00 Big Bass of the tournament. Congratulations to all of our competitors! A great sidenote is that eleven of our sixteen teams were made up of family members individually sharing the day together on a boat. Pretty awesome stuff…
For this tournament, one of USA Bassin’s title sponsors, Lucas Oil Products, donated a prize pack of Marine Speed Wax and various other Lucas Oil Products. Congratulations to Ron and Stacey Tuley on winning that great door prize!
We would be very remiss were we not to thank Mr. Paul Pank and all the fantastic people at the Greensburg R.W. Baird & Co., Financial Advisors for graciously sponsoring the entire year’s awards. Pank, Westhafer, and Moore Wealth Advisors have been a long time supporter of our tournaments. Thank you to all those fine folks!
Until next time, please take a child fishing and remember to follow our anglers leads by practicing Catch and Release with all of Lake Santee’s bass.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
04/18/2021
Results are posted!
Stay tuned for a detailed report!
04/16/2021
Less than 48 hours away from the start of the 2021 Lake Santee Division IN-47 USA Bassin season..
Important information for tournament day:
1. Please arrive early, we are expecting a large turnout so parking may be at a premium.
2. Teams should allow enough time be registered/entered in the event and their boat launched before the 6:30 AM on-the-water meeting.
3. Please remember to utilize the appropriate social distancing techniques as the situation dictates.
4. DON'T BE LATE for the 6:30 AM on-the-water pretournament meeting. Rules and proceedures will be outlined for the day's event at that time.
REMEMBER: Take off and weigh in for this event will be held at Greg and Cara's Lake Santee Marina.
If your team has not obtained their 2021 membership, you may either do so online at USABassin.com or see the division tournament director the morning of the event.
***IMPORTANT INFORMATION***
Due to the continued low water level of Lake Santee, we will be relocating both the take-off and the weigh-in to the Lake Santee Marina. We would like to thank Greg and Cara Geis for allowing us to utilize their property and docks for this event.
When teams arrive, they should immediately launch their boats and procede to one of the several floating docks in the area. Once the team's boat is secured, please come the registration area and enter the event. Upon doing so, a tournament official will conduct a livewell check.
The pretournament meeting will be conducted on the water at 6:30 as part of the corona virus protocol. This meeting will take place in the cove adjacent to the dam spillway.
All entries must be completed prior to the pretournament meeting.
The weigh-in will also be held in the marina area. Teams may utilize the numerous docks in the area or, for this event only, we will permit a trailered weigh-in. Please exercise social distancing and optional masks during the weigh-in process as part of the continued corona virus protocol.
When docking at the marina, please take care in not blocking the gas pump area of the large wooden dock.
Please exercise patience during both the pretournament time period and the weigh-in procedure.
While we realize this is a departure from our normal procedure, we believe this will be better option for all involved.
We hope to see everyone Sunday!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
April 12, 2021
Our first tournament of the 2021 USA Bassin Lake Santee Division season is scheduled for this coming Sunday, April 18th from 7 AM until 1 PM.
This tournament WILL be held, however, due to the exceptionally low water level of the lake, options are being considered as to where the take off and weigh in will be held.
Please continue to follow USABassin.com at the Lake Santee Division IN-47 link for all updates.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
April 5, 2021
We are very excited to anounce that we now have a sponsor for the Lake Santee Division trophies for the upcoming 2021 season! Mr. Paul Pank and all the fantastic folks at Baird Finacial Management in Greensburg, IN have generously agreed to sponsor the awards. Thank you, Paul!
As everyone is aware, the water level remains low at Lake Santee from the recent ramp replacement project. Please exercise caution in launching your boat until the lake reaches summer pool.
For those who have not yet obtained their 2021 USA Bassin membership, options to do so are detailed below.
We hope everyone had a blessed Easter weekend.
We will see everyone on the 17th!
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
Options to obtain your 2021 memberships:
1. The most convenient (and easiest) option is to go to this website and complete this online. Please allow least ONE WEEK prior to your first tournament you plan fish. Retain your purchase/email confirmation paperwork until you receive your 2021 membership card. There is a slight service charge for this option. Questions and assistance can be obtained by contacting the main office at (812) 276-8043.
2. Mail the completed registration form along with payment to the main office at USA Bassin, P.O. Box 1126, Bedford, IN 47421. Please allow at least TWO WEEKS prior your first tournament. Questions and assistance can be obtained by contacting the main office at (812) 276-8043.
3. Personally contact either Chip or Lisa Ayers via cellular telephone or text. Arrangements can be made to register teams prior to the first tournament. This should be done at least ONE WEEK prior to the morning of the first tournament.
***Teams must have either 2021 cards or proof of registration/payment prior to entering the first event***
Please don't hesitate to contact either Chip or Lisa with any questions.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE IN-47 LAKE SANTEE DIVISION
Lake Santee is a private lake managed by a home owners association, the Lake Santee Property Owner’s Association. That being said, all rules and bylaws enacted by the homeowner’s association must take precedence, first and foremost. We have received several inquiries concerning eligibility to take part in our tournaments. According to the by-laws, only boats registered to property owners who are members in good standing of the association are permitted access to the lake. In addition, one member of the tournament team must be an association member or immediate family member (spouse, child, etc.). This rule, unfortunately, does sometimes exclude participation by teams who don’t meet those requirements.
With all that being said, THERE ARE NUMEROUS LOTS FOR SALE at Lake Santee! These lots can be purchased for very reasonable prices and, in doing so, allows the owner(s) full access to the lake and all included privileges. Interested parties may contact the Lake Santee Property Owners Association office six days a week to learn more about the community and obtain lists of lots for sale and local real estate agents contact information.
If you are interested in becoming a part of one of the Midwest’s best bass fishing lakes, take a few minutes and research Lake Santee. As tournament directors, our goal is to include as many anglers in our events, not exclude them. However, we must abide by the association’s bylaws to do so.
Thank you to everyone for their understanding in this matter.
God Bless,
Chip & Lisa Ayers
