Smolen’s Junk-Fishing Pattern Produces First Win of 2026

By Paul Switzer

The Maple Bassmasters held their fifth event of the 2026 season on June 7th at Lake Wisconsin, launching out of Okee Bay for a day that featured classic early summer fishing conditions.

Weatherwise, anglers were greeted with temperatures climbing into the mid to upper 80s throughout the day. Warm conditions helped push fish into established summer patterns, with shallow vegetation, weed edges, and shoreline cover becoming key areas for many competitors.

Conditions produced a solid bite overall, with several anglers bringing quality limits to the scales. Water clarity in most areas was surprisingly good, particularly around areas with more vegetation. Interestingly, weed growth appeared to be somewhat behind schedule for early June, with less emergent vegetation than many anglers expected. Frogs, Texas-rigged plastics, and moving baits all played a role as competitors searched for active fish throughout the lake.

When the scales closed, Dave Smolen claimed the victory with 5 fish weighing 12.46 lbs, earning his first win of the 2026 season.

Smolen relied on a combination of topwater toads, swim jigs, and Texas-rigged 3-inch craws in green pumpkin and black and blue to put together the winning bag. All of the plastics used were hand-poured Maple Bassmaster baits produced by Smolen himself. These baits are sold at the Schaumburg and Tinley Park winter fishing shows.

When asked about the victory, Smolen joked that much of the credit belonged to fellow competitor Brian Barthelt.

“Brian told me, ‘Dave, you need to have a good tournament. I’m going to let you win,'” Smolen laughed.

The win was especially rewarding after a season that had included a pair of difficult tournaments earlier in the year.

Chasing the Lead

Ric Stanczak finished in 2nd place with 5 fish weighing 10.40 lbs by keeping things simple and fishing an oversized weightless Texas-rigged Senko.

Stanczak’s approach allowed him to target fish holding around shallow cover and vegetation, generating enough quality bites to secure the runner-up position.

Brian Barthelt continued his strong 2026 campaign with a 3rd-place finish, weighing 5 fish for 9.59 lbs.

Barthelt relied primarily on a Spro Flappin’ Frog in Green Pumpkin and Rainforest Black, while also mixing in a Texas-rigged 4-inch green pumpkin Chigger Craw. His finish added another strong tournament to an already impressive season.

Matt Sizemore rounded out the top four with 5 fish weighing 8.32 lbs.

Sizemore caught his fish using a Texas-rigged Ned presentation featuring a 3-inch green pumpkin PowerBait MaxScent Chigger Craw along with a hollow-body frog. The combination allowed him to cover water while still slowing down around key targets.

4th Place- Matt Sizemore

Back on the Water!

One of the highlights of the day was seeing longtime Maple Bassmasters member and former club president Joe Browning back on the water. Joe has been a part of the club for many years and has contributed greatly to its success and growth over the years. After facing some significant health challenges, he was finally able to return to tournament competition at Lake Wisconsin and fish his first event out of his new Ranger boat. While tournament fishing is always about catching fish and competing with friends, seeing Joe healthy enough to get back on the water was something everyone in the club could appreciate. It was great to see him back where he belongs, and the entire club wishes him continued health, happiness, and success both on and off the water.

The Pattern

While Lake Wisconsin offered a stronger bite than the previous stop on the Kalamazoo River, the fishery appeared to be in a transition period between postspawn and summer patterns, and a few trends stood out:

• Shallow vegetation and weed edges produced consistently throughout the day • Frogs accounted for several quality bites among the top finishers • Texas-rigged plastics remained a reliable producer • Green pumpkin continued to be one of the dominant colors • Anglers mixing moving baits with slower presentations found the most success

The event showcased a transition period between spring and summer patterns. While many anglers expected fish to be fully established in summer vegetation, the most productive areas were often transition zones between spawning locations and traditional summer habitat. Several of the better fish appeared to be in the middle of their postspawn migration, helping explain why a mix of frogs, moving baits, and Texas-rigged plastics all produced throughout the day.

Full Results Snapshot

Lake Wisconsin produced several solid limits and rewarded anglers who were willing to fish aggressively around shallow cover. While a handful of competitors separated themselves from the field, the overall standings remained competitive and continue to set up an interesting summer stretch.

Ben Chojnacki Zoe Blackwell Jim O’Malley

Angler of the Year Race

The Angler of the Year race remains extremely competitive after five events. Brian Barthelt continues to hold the top spot in both the AOY and Mr. Bass standings, backed by five consecutive top-four finishes. Joe Adam remains firmly in contention in 2nd place, while Ed Lopez sits in 3rd. The strong finish by Ric Stanczak moved him into the top ten in the AOY race, while Dave Smolen’s victory provided a significant boost to his season standings. With several premier fisheries still ahead, the race remains wide open.

Up Next: Lake Delavan

The next stop for the Maple Bassmasters will be Lake Delavan on June 20th.

Delavan is known for its healthy population of largemouth and smallmouth bass, abundant vegetation, and offshore structure. As water temperatures continue to rise, anglers can expect a variety of shallow and offshore patterns to be in play.

2026 Schedule (What’s Ahead)

• June 20 – Lake Delavan • June 28 – Green Lake • July 25–26 – Sister Bay (Door County) • Aug 16 – Spring Lake (MI) • Aug 23 – Lake Michigan (East Chicago) • Aug 29–30 – Lake of Egypt (State Practice) • Sept 20 – St. Joe River • Sept 26–27 – Classic (TBD)

Join the Club

The Maple Bassmasters continue to welcome both boaters and co-anglers for the 2026 season. With a full tournament schedule, opportunities to qualify for the Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship, and a strong mix of competition and camaraderie, the club continues to grow throughout the region.

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