“Bunch of various baits,” Heinen said of the overcast day on the water. “There was no set bait. Poppers to prop baits were working great.”
After the tournament, the anglers worked to create 50 fish habitat cubes for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to disperse.
In other Kansas BASS Nation news, the KBN High School Tournament Trail will return to action from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 6 at Wilson Reservoir, where a familiar face will be helping with the weigh-in.
Heinen, who fished the high school ranks while attending Hayden, will be on hand to assist youth director Richard Heflin with the weigh-in at Hell Creek Boat Ramp.
“There is so much behind the scenes people don’t see,” Heinen said. “After helping Richard, I have appreciated his work more and more. It’s a lot of work. Until actually working the weigh-ins, you don’t know how much work is put in.”
Heinen, who currently attends Washburn University and is putting together a fishing club at the school, said it would be a good way to give back after all of the opportunities the high school trail afforded him. He also plans to help out as a boat captain in the future.
Brumley, Heinen’s teammate in the conservation tournament, served as Heinen’s boat captain when he fished alongside Brock Bila in high school. Bila, who still fishes at the high school level, won the first KBN high school qualifier Sept. 8 at Hillsdale with new teammate Eli Minster.
“I think it is good to give back and help the others that were in my spot,” Heinen said. “I appreciated the help I have received throughout the years and now it’s my turn to give back.”