2021 National Semifinals results and pictures
Russell, Ks: Fifty-four anglers representing the Kansas and Missouri Bass Federations converged on Wilson Lake in central Kansas the weekend of 2-3 October 2021 to compete in The Bass Federation District 7 National Semifinals tournament. Anglers were competing for cash payouts and the right to advance to The Bass Federation 2022 National Championship tournament. When the smoke cleared from a very competitive event six Kansas anglers stood atop the leader board. Chris Brimager’s two-day total of 30.76 nudged out Chad Schmidt’s two-day total of 30.72 by .04 of a pound to take top honors and advance him to the national semifinals. Chris’s major day-two pattern adjustment from shallow moving baits to deep dragging paid off with the win. Brad Tyer finished seventh overall with 21.93 topping Missouri’s Brian Maloney by a little over a pound to qualify for the national championship. This is Chris’s and Brad’s first national championship qualification.
From left to right: District 7 national semifinal champion Chris Brimager, 2nd place Chad Schmidt, 3rd place Hunter Baird, 4th place Jeremy Benjamin, 5th place Tim Merkh
Missouri Co-angler Gary Martin dropped 14.16 on the scales on day 2 for a total of 21.47 to take the win. Gary’s day 2 adjustment to dragging a shakey head in flat pockets made all the difference propelling him to represent Missouri in the National Championship in the Spring of 2022. 2nd place overall and top Kansas co-angler, high school angler Ryder Mains, finished the event with 18.87. Ryder edged out his high school teammate Mason Chapman by just a little over a pound to qualify for the national championship.
From left to right: District 7 national semifinal co-angler champion Gary Martin, 2nd place Ryder Mains, 3rd place Mason Chapman, 4th place Billy Ray, 5th place Paul Huse
From left to right: first time Kansas National Championship Qualifiers co-angler Ryder Mains and Chris Brimager
From left to right: first time Missouri National Championship Qualifiers Brad Tyer and co-angler Gary Martin