A St. Paris angler used years of experience on Indian Lake to his advantage, locating key areas and landing the winning catch during the Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine event.
Michael Nesbitt of St. Paris, Ohio, claimed the boater division championship after catching five bass weighing a total of 14 pounds, 3 ounces. His victory in the Buckeye Division tournament earned him $10,440, including the $7,000 Phoenix MLF bonus.
Nesbitt’s success came from his familiarity with Indian Lake and his understanding of how changing lake conditions impact bass locations. Using knowledge gained from years of fishing the lake and following local conservation efforts, Nesbitt focused on areas where vegetation conditions created opportunities to find larger fish.
“I had a little spot right off the main lake with some isolated grass. We’re going to spend about 20 minutes there. That’s it. We’re either going to catch them, or we’re not.”
The decision paid off quickly. Nesbitt caught a 3½-pound bass on his third cast with a spinnerbait, followed by additional quality fish shortly afterward. Within the first 30 minutes of the tournament, he had three key bass in the boat before many anglers had even left the launch area.
Nesbitt targeted thin grass near the bank in about 2½ feet of water, selecting an area where he believed vegetation had recovered after recent weed-cutting activity.
“The weed cutter hadn’t been in that area for about two weeks, so the grass was starting to grow back.”
He also experimented with other areas of the lake, including pad flats and matted grass, where he caught several fish using a frog lure. However, the early spinnerbait bite provided the fish needed to secure the win.
Nesbitt credited his preparation and time spent on the water leading up to the tournament for helping him find the right location. As a self-employed business owner, he dedicated much of his recent schedule to scouting Indian Lake in search of a productive area.
“I’ve spent a lot of time on that lake. I spent a lot of time on the water in the early morning before daylight trying to find that magic spot.”
The tournament-winning spinnerbait also carried special meaning. Nesbitt said the lure was made by his father and was damaged after catching the final big fish that sealed his victory. He preserved the lure by attaching it to the lip of the tournament trophy.
“That’s where that spinnerbait is going to stay. My dad made that spinnerbait. And it was done after I caught that last big one.”
Jeremy Chassereau of New Carlisle, Ohio, won the co-angler division with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces. His performance earned him the top co-angler prize of $1,770.
Chassereau also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after catching a 4-pound, 1-ounce bass worth an additional $100.
Dominic Bogolo of Hamilton, Ohio, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award with a 4-pound, 3-ounce bass.
Top Finishers
The top five boaters were:
- Michael Nesbitt, St. Paris, Ohio — five bass, 14-3, $10,440
- Jake Poffenberger, Brookville, Ohio — five bass, 12-6, $1,680
- Logan Kaplon, Rural Valley, Pennsylvania — five bass, 11-7, $850
- Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus Grove, Ohio — five bass, 10-4, $680
- William Kronander, Brownsville, Pennsylvania — five bass, 10-2, $600
The top co-anglers were:
- Jeremy Chassereau, New Carlisle, Ohio — three bass, 9-8, $1,770
- Douglas Shope, Arcanum, Ohio — three bass, 6-12, $840
- David Prater, Franklin, Ohio — three bass, 6-5, $425
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division standings, along with the five tournament winners from each qualifying event, will advance to the BFL Regional tournament scheduled for Oct. 8-10 on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League is a national tournament circuit designed for weekend anglers. The 2026 season features 128 events across 24 divisions, with competitors working toward qualification for regional events and the BFL All-American championship.
Complete tournament information and updated results are available through MajorLeagueFishing.com.
