WELLS KAISER CRUISES TO JUNIOR BASSMASTERS
NORTHERN DIVISION
Wisconsin Takes Team Championship
By Ron Guilfoil & Ray Kerchal

(Editor’s note: In 2004, ESPN/BASS agreed to take over the Junior Bassmasters Invitational program and the Junior Bassmasters National Championship tournament. The Invitationals became Divisional Tournaments along the same structure as the adult Federation program and the National Championship tournament became the Junior Bassmaster World Championship tournament. In this transitional year, the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial was the major financial sponsor for the Northern Division tournament.)

Wells Kaiser of Wisconsin won the 11-14 age division and was the overall champion at the 2004 Junior Bassmaster Northern Division Championship, held Friday, June 25th, on Lake St. Clair in Mt. Clemens, Michigan

Kaiser was the only youth angler to bring in a 5-fish limit and tipped the scales with a sack weighing 9.81 pounds, while helping his fellow Wisconsin teammates win the team championship. Steven Rowbotham of Canada took second overall, while winning the 15-18 year old division with 4 bass weighing 7.86 pounds, leading Canada to a runner-up team finish. Both Kaiser and Rowbotham qualified for the Junior Bassmaster World Championship.

Kyle Heels of Canada took "Big Bass" honors in the 11-14 age group with a 3.71 lunker, while Derek Jacobson of Minnesota had the biggest bass for the 15-18 year olds with a 3.21 lunker.

Wisconsin took first place with team score of 30.44 lbs. Second place was taken by Canada with a team score of 30.03 lbs and third place went to Indiana with a team score of 19.44 lbs. To round out the rest of the team scores; fourth place was Michigan with team total of 18.66 lbs, Minnesota 15.85 lbs, Ohio 10.23 lbs and S. Dakota 6.72 lbs.

The Michigan B.A.S.S. Federation hosted the event, sponsored by the Bryan Kerchal Memorial Fund, Microtel Inns, Cenex, All-Star Rods, Bass Pro Shop, McGuiness, Murray's Auto Parts, TTI Company, Daiichi Hooks, Gene Larew, Ranger Boats, Meijer Stores, Scales & Tales/Action Performance, Gino's Surf Restaurant, Gordon Foods, Sysco Foods, Dick’s Sporting Goods, BASS/ESPN, Mercury/Motorguide, Little Bill's Trophies, Quality First Aid, Jay's Sporting Goods, Red Dragon, Snack Daddy Lures, Clearwater Tackle, American Rodsmith, Gambler, Bang Products, Mepps, Absopure Water Company and Combat Fishing.

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