Kash Kruep wins state bass federation title

Kash Kruep, son of Mary and Kerry Kruep of Paola, displays The Bass Federation Kansas State youth championship trophy he won over the weekend at Lake Olathe. The victory gives him a trip to the National Guard TBF Forrest L. Wood National Championship in August. (photo courtesy of Kerry Kruep)

Amazing as it may seem, it’s a repeat. Chandler Young of Independence, Mo. in the 15-18-year-old division, and Kash Kruep of Paola in the 11-14 division, won The Bass Federation Kansas State championships over the weekend at Lake Olathe.

Chandler and Kash will be attending the National Guard TBF Forrest L. Wood National Championship again this year.

The event is scheduled for Columbia, S.C., on fabled Lake Monticello, Aug. 15-16, in conjunction with the Forrest Wood Cup Aug. 11-17 on Lake Murray.

Both Kash and Chandler will receive travel assistance to Columbia and will be treated to a World Champions-Caliber Pizza Party, served by the National Guard Pro Team. Included will be high-energy games, entertainment and sponsor prizes.

Chandler’s 259 points and two fish were enough to win his division. Chandler said he was using a slip sinker and pinpoint casting and a 10-inch Berkely Power Blue Fleck worm.

“I was biting off about 3 inches of the bait to make it about 7 inches long,” he added. He used 17-pound line and a heavy action rod. All strikes came close to the bank.

Kash “Money” Kruep took overall points champion and big fish with 261 points. He said his Abumatic 1276 reel and Lighting rod were great to use all day. He landed his fish on Creature bait in green pumpkin, dipped chart tails, using 10-pound Trilene 100 percent Fluorocarbon line. Kash pitched his lures around lay-downs and rocks on the bank.

“Conditions were terrible if not worse,” said Kerry Kruep, president of TBF Kansas and state team member. “Heavy rains and high winds over the last three days had Lake Olathe churned into a muddy mess. If that was not bad enough, the air temp at take-off was 46 degrees. Also the water was a cool 58 degrees.

“As president of the TBF Kansas, I could not be more proud of all the young men and women anglers that attended the event,” he said. “One (trait) among all them was to never quit. Each contestant was truly tested for endurance and stamina. Conditions like this are the hardest anyone could ever face, not to mention the boaters that donated their time and equipment, and all of them seemed to key in on drop baits, knowing the strike zone would be a very small one, for this day, on the water.”