## Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail: Indiana North Division Stop 5 on Lake Wawasee/Syracuse

**Syracuse, IN - August 3, 2024**

The Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail saw its fifth Indiana North Division event unfold on Lake Wawasee. A picturesque summer morning greeted the 12 competing teams, with a light fog hanging over the water at takeoff. By 8:30 a.m., the fog lifted, revealing clear blue skies. The weather remained perfect throughout the day, with variable winds reaching up to 5 mph and "bluebird skies" providing a beautiful, though challenging, backdrop for fishing.

As the day progressed, 10 of the 12 teams successfully brought fish to the scales. The competition was fierce, with anglers vying not only for the top spot but also for the prestigious Raptor Fishing first-place plaques and the CMA Truck and Auto Big Bass Award.

**Third Place:** The team of Adam Linkenhoker and Michael Zerrien continued their consistent performance this season, securing third place for the fourth time in five events. They presented a solid bag of five fish, all alive, weighing in at 10.32 pounds.

**Second Place:** Edging out Linkenhoker and Zerrien by a mere 0.06 ounces, cousins Austin and Evan Graber delivered their best finish of the season. They brought five fish to the scales, narrowly surpassing their competitors to claim second place.

**First Place:** Gary Straber and Jeff Hackler emerged victorious, despite incurring a 0.25-pound penalty for a dead fish. The duo managed to net 12.94 pounds with five fish, four of which were alive. Their success came after a challenging practice day on Friday, which was marred by rain and high winds. Without a clear pattern to follow, Straber and Hackler adopted a hunting and searching approach on Saturday, quickly securing a limit before 9 a.m. They focused on channels to upgrade their catch and secure the win.

### Notable Mentions

Josh Klingenhagen and his stepdaughter, Raven Graber, had a commendable showing, finishing in fourth place with nearly 9.5 pounds. They narrowly missed out on the Big Bass award by just 0.01 ounces.

The Big Bass honors went to the husband-and-wife team of Carl and Sharon Davis, who caught a 2.90-pound largemouth bass, securing the CMA Truck and Auto Big Bass Award.

### Looking Ahead

With another exciting event concluded, the Indiana North Division of the Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail looks forward to its season finale on the scenic Lake Shafer in Monticello on August 24th. Anglers will have one last chance to showcase their skills and aim for top honors in what promises to be an exciting culmination to the season.

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The Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail continues to be a premier series, providing a competitive and community-driven environment for anglers across the region. As the season nears its end, the excitement and competition only intensify, promising thrilling events and memorable moments on the water.

Place	Team	Members	# Fish	Big Fish	Gross	Penalty	Net Wt	Points
1	28918	Gary Straber Jeffery Hackler	4	0	13.19	0.25	12.94	200
2	31915	Austin Graber Evan Graber	5	0	10.38	0	10.38	199
3	30414	Michael Zerrien Adam Linkenhoker	5	0	10.32	0	10.32	198
4	32000	Josh Klinghagen Raven Graber	5	0	9.44	0	9.44	197
5	16329	Dan Miller Al Hopkins	5	0	8.03	0	8.03	146
6	30542	Jerad Schwedler Eric Schwedler	5	0	7.2	0	7.2	145
7	32232	Mark Scobie John DeVries	4	0	7.37	0.25	7.12	194
8	31890	Carl Davis Sharon Davis	2	2.9	5.08	0	5.08	193
9	32707	Matt Collins David Zmarzly	4	0	5.68	1	4.68	192
10	2063	Marshall Tucker	1	0	2.34	0	2.34	191
11	31969	Travis Huffman Mason Huffman	0	0	0	0	0	190
12	31891	Jason Smith Shawn Hamrick	0	0	0	0	0	190
1st - Gary Straber & Jeff Hackler (12.94 lbs) 2nd - Evan & Austin Graber (10.38 lbs) 3rd - Michael Zerrien Adam Linkenhoker (10.32 lbs) SHARON & Carl Davis (BB 2.90 lbs)