Big Lake Bass Team
Home
Sponsors
Info
Practice
Coaches
Tournaments
Beginner Videos
Advanced Videos
YouTube Channels
Coaches Corner
Fishing Apps
5lb Club
Board Members
Store
Big Lake Bass Team
Home
Sponsors
Info
Practice
Coaches
Tournaments
Beginner Videos
Advanced Videos
YouTube Channels
Coaches Corner
Fishing Apps
5lb Club
Board Members
Store
More
  • Home
  • Sponsors
  • Info
  • Practice
  • Coaches
  • Tournaments
  • Beginner Videos
  • Advanced Videos
  • YouTube Channels
  • Coaches Corner
  • Fishing Apps
  • 5lb Club
  • Board Members
  • Store
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

  • Orders
  • My Account
  • Signed in as:

  • filler@godaddy.com


  • Orders
  • My Account
  • Sign out


Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

  • Home
  • Sponsors
  • Info
  • Practice
  • Coaches
  • Tournaments
  • Beginner Videos
  • Advanced Videos
  • YouTube Channels
  • Coaches Corner
  • Fishing Apps
  • 5lb Club
  • Board Members
  • Store

Account


  • Orders
  • My Account
  • Sign out


  • Sign In
  • Orders
  • My Account

2025 Head Coaches

Head Coach - Noel Krebs

Hometown: Beaumont, TX

Proudest Fish:  6lb Bass when I was a kid

Favorite Fisherman: Bill Dance / Roland Martin

Favorite Species to Fish For:  Bass, Muskie and Walleye

Favorite  Lakes: Leech Lake and BWCA

Favorite Lure: Anything top water, I have always enjoyed a top water blow up!

Go to rod / reel:  G Loomis NRX / Curado

How did you learn to fish:  Dad and Grandfather

Who do you fish with most: Wife and Kids

Boat: Ranger 620 Pro


Skywarn Spotter

Big Lake Fire Department - Volunteer Fire Fighter

MN DNR - Smokechaser


President - Big Lake Bass Team

Contact Information

Email: biglakebassteam@gmail.com


Head Coach - Lawrence Luoma

Hometown: Minneapolis, now Big Lake

Proudest Fish:  Any fish my kids catch!

Favorite Fisherman:   Al Lindner

Favorite Species to Fish For:   Walleye and Bass

Favorite  Lake:   Osakis

Favorite Lure:  Rapala Shad Rap

Go to Rod and Reel:  St. Croix Avid 6'8" MF and Daiwa Revros LT 2500

How did you learn to fish:  My dad

Who do you fish with most:  Wife and kids

Boat:  Alumacraft Competitor 185 CS


2017 USA Ice Team, NAIFC Pro, 2 time UPL TOY Champion. 

Owner of West Metro Walleye League and Luoma Outdoors Guide Service

https://www.facebook.com/WestMetroWalleyeLeauge/

https://www.instagram.com/luomaoutdoors/


Vice President - Big Lake Bass Team



Head Coach - Jason Parks

Hometown: Maple Grove

Proudest Fish:  23" Largemouth

Favorite Fisherman:  Al Lindner

Favorite Species to Fish For:  Walleye and Bass

Favorite  Lake: Lake Vermillion

Favorite Lure: Z-man Ned Rig

How did you learn to fish: My father

Who do you fish with most: My son

Go to Rod / Reel:  G Loomis 7'6" M 

Boat: Ranger 621FS


Sponsorship Level: Platinum

Renovations Unlimited

www.ruimn.com



High School Coach Director - Wayne Howe

Hometown - Monticello, MN 

Proudest fish - 65” lake sturgeon  

Favorite Angler - Mark Zona 

Favorite Lake - Clearwater 

Favorite Lure - scum frog 

Go to Rod / Reel - 7’ G Loomis with a Pflueger supreme reel 

How did you learn to fish - family and friends 

Who do you fish with the most - my family 

Boat - 175 vs Ranger with a 115 Johnson   


I don’t have a kid in the program. I am looking to help kids fish and be able to help out who ever takes them fishing. To get them ready for tournament fishing, if that is what they want to do. 


High School Coaching Director - Big Lake Bass Team

Junior Coach Director - Paul Barker

Hometown: Shepheardsville KY

Proudest Fish:  5lb Bass when I was a kid at Fort Knox KY

Favorite Fisherman: G Man Gerald Swingle

Favorite Species to Fish For:  Bass and Crappie

Favorite  Lakes: Chickamauga TN and Mille Lacs MN

Favorite Lure: Frog topwater 

Go to rod / reel: Favorite 7”3 medium for finesse fishing

How did you learn to fish:  Dad and Brother n-law

Who do you fish with most: Wife and Kids

Boat: Alumacraft FSX 185


Junior Coaching Director - Big Lake Bass Team

Tournament Director - Aaron Jarvi

Proudest fish - 19" Largemouth

Favorite Angler - Brian Latimer

Favorite Lake - The one where the fish are biting

Favorite Lure -  Swim Jig

Go to Rod / Reel - Lew's Mach Smash Spinning

How did you learn to fish - From my son

Who do you fish with the most -  Son

Boat -  Ranger Comanche 519 DVS


Tournament Director - Big Lake Bass Team

2025 Coaches and Boat Captains

Jason Anderson

Hometown: Big Lake

Proudest Fish: 29.75” Walleye Ice Fishing

Favorite Fisherman: Al Linder

Favorite  Lake:   Star Lake

Favorite Lure: Wacky Rig

Go to Rod and Reel: 6’ Spinning Reel Combo

How did you learn to fish: My Dad and Uncles  

Who do you fish with most: Wife and Son’s

Boat: Skeeter WRX 2060


Apparel Coordinator

Steve Christenson

Hometown: Big Lake

Proudest Fish:  Sturgeon

Favorite Fisherman:   James Holst

Favorite  Lake:   Mille Lacs

Favorite Lure:  Rapala Tail Dancer

Go to Rod and Reel:  Fenwick / Shimano

How did you learn to fish:  My dad

Who do you fish with most:  Alex and Jacob

Boat:  Lund 1850




Corey Moeller

Corey Moeller

Hometown:  Foley, MN

Proudest Fish:  30” Walleye & 22” Smallmouth Bass

Favorite Fisherman:  Al Linder 

Favorite Lake:  Mille Lacs, Leech, Winnibigosh

Favorite Lure:  Any top water or crank baits.

Go to Rod & Reel:  Any St Croix, Fenwick or Pfleuger 

How did you learn to Fish:  Parents & Grandparents 

Who do you fish with most:  Family

Boat:  Ranger 519

Shawn Washburn

Craig VanHorrick

Shawn Washburn

Hometown: Elk River

Proudest Fish: 20lb Mahi Mahi

Favorite Fisherman: Al Lender

Favorite Fish: Walleye, Crappie, Bass

Favorite Lake: Big LaSalle Lake and Lake Lida

Favorite Lures: Ned rigs, Spinners, Top waters

Go to rod/reel: Daiwa Tatula/ Kastking Mega Jaws

How did you learn: Father and Grandfather’s 

Who do you fish with: Family and friends 

Boat: Champion 184 Super V 


Sponsor Coordinator and Videographer

Nick Serakos

Craig VanHorrick

Shawn Washburn

Hometown: Andover Mn

Proudest Fish: 6lb 7ounce largemouth gull lake in a tournament 

Favorite Fisherman: Gerald swindle

Favorite  Lake: Cross Lake MN 

Favorite Lure:  black jig with zoom trailer

Go to Rod and Reel: updating arsenal soon

How did you learn to fish: dad, family, my old neighbor mark fisher 

Who do you fish with most: my two sons, fished tournaments with my cousin tj since age 16

Boat: Phoenix 920 pro xp


I absolutely love getting out fishing in tournaments or just for fun. I enjoy teaching a lot of my nephews how to fish at our family cabin up north. Nothing is better than seeing the face of a kid after catching a nice fish!!


Raffle Coordinator

Craig VanHorrick

Craig VanHorrick

Craig VanHorrick

Hometown: Champlin, MN

Proudest Fish: 43" Nothern Pike

Favorite Fisherman:  Al Lindner

Favorite  Lake: Rainy Lake  

Favorite Lure:  Rapala Shadow Rap

Go to Rod and Reel: St Croix Legend 7'1" MF and Pflueger President 30

How did you learn to fish: My dad

Who do you fish with most:  My son

Boat: Crestliner Fish Hawk 1750

Aaron Staehnke

Melodie Staehnke

Craig VanHorrick

Hometown: Big Lake, MN

Proudest Fish: 28.5" Walleye!

Favorite Fisherman: Al Linder

Favorite Species to Fish For: Walleye or Panfish

Favorite  Lakes: Lake of the woods

Favorite Lure: Hammered Gold Spinner

Go to rod / reel: St. Croix with a Pluger President Reel

How did you learn to fish: Friends and Family

Who do you fish with most: My wife, son, and daughter

Boat: 2020 Crestliner 1850 Sportfish with a 150hp Mercury 

Melodie Staehnke

Melodie Staehnke

Melodie Staehnke

Hometown: Elk River, MN

Proudest Fish: 35lb & 27lb King Salmon (pictured) 20+ minutes of battle!

37" Northern Pike caught as a teen and was the biggest anyone in my extended family ever caught.

Favorite Fisherman: My Grandpa - we would spend a lot of hours fishing. He only liked panfish, so sometimes I would have to drop him off and go out trolling for pike

Favorite Species to Fish For: Pike, Bass, Rock Bass, Sunfish (depending on what's biting) & Red Snapper or Trigger Fish (when visiting FL)

Favorite  Lakes: Lake Eunice, Lake Mitchell is nice since we don't have to go far.

Favorite Lure: Red/White Daredevil spoon or long purple worm with some nightcrawler. 

Go to rod / reel: Open-faced reel on a rod with fast action. Moderate action for panfish and bass, either reel is fine.

How did you learn to fish: I went out fishing with my Grandpa and parents when visiting the family lake cabin many times growing up.

Who do you fish with most: I love going fishing with my husband and 2 kids. If other family can come too, that is great!

Boat: Crestliner Sportfish

Eric Rosa

Melodie Staehnke

Melodie Staehnke

Hometown: Otsego

Proudest Fish: Large Mouth Bass

Favorite Fisherman:  Bill Dance

Favorite Species to Fish For:  All Fish

Favorite  Lake:  Sugar Lake

Favorite Lure:  Swim Bait

Go to Rod and Reel:  MagTouch / Quantum Tour PT

How did you learn to fish: Self-taught 

Who do you fish with most: Family

Boat: Fisher 1860 FishHawk

Brad Brosius

Josh Sawatsky

Josh Sawatsky

Hometown: Otsego, MN (originally Buffalo, NY) 

Proudest Fish: >5lbs Largemouth

Favorite Fisherman: Whomever is in the boat with me! 

Favorite Species to Fish For: Anything that is biting.  

Favorite  Lake: Eau Claire Chain of Lakes 

Favorite Lure:  Stick Baits

Go to Rod and Reel: St. Croix Mojo Bass and a Lews spinning reel.

How did you learn to fish: From my dad, uncles and grandpa.

Who do you fish with most: My kids.

Boat: Ranger RT198p

Josh Sawatsky

Josh Sawatsky

Josh Sawatsky

Hometown: Blaine Mn

Proudest Fish: 50” Wahoo or 29” Walleye

Favorite Fisherman: Bill Dance

Favorite Species to Fish For: Bass and Walleye

Favorite  Lakes: Eagle, Lac Suel Canada

Favorite Lure: wacky worm

Go to rod / reel: St croix rod / abu garcia reel

How did you learn to fish: My Dad

Who do you fish with most: My kids

Boat: Lund Adventure 

Kodey Shaw

Josh Sawatsky

Kodey Shaw

Hometown: Pike Lake, MN
Proudest fish: 50" Muskie
Favorite Fisherman: Larry Smith
Favorite Species to fish: Walleye, Salmon/Trout
Favorite Lakes: Rainy Lake, Island Lake Reservoir
Favorite Lure: Jig and minnow
Go to rod/reel: Pflueger combo
How did you learn to fish: Dad and Grandpa
Who do you fish with most: Family
Boat: Smokercraft 175 Ultima

Information on Coaching for the Big Lake Bass Team

Coaching Plan

In 2025 we will continue to focus on recruiting and building our team, and our goal is to get kids out fishing!


Coaching is a vital part of providing learning opportunities and good experiences to the students, parents and other coaches.  We all learn and continue to learn from each other.  We have a need for a variety of coaches and boat captains.


What We Offer Our Volunteer Coaches

The excitement to be part of the fast growing sport of high school youth angling!  Sharing your passion, developing relationships, teaching and giving back.  The experience, in itself, is worth the commitment to help.  We guarantee it!  In addition to having fun we commit the following to our coaching staff:

  • Personal Fishing Bio Page on Website
  • Team hat and shirt
  • Participation in our manufacturer discount programs
  • An excuse to get out and fish!


Some topics we plan on covering this year

  • Safety
    • Boating, Personal, Weather
  • Environment
    • Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
    • Selective Harvest
  • Bass Fishing 
  • Equipment 
  • Tournaments  
    • Preparation and Execution 

If you consider yourself knowledgable, or if you know someone who would make a great teacher on some of these above topics,  please join us and help!  We are always looking for coaches, speakers, guests, boat captains, guides, and teachers!  Good stories are welcome too.


Coaches and Boat Captains

Interested in helping?  We are always looking for more coaches and boat captains.  

You don't need a fancy bass boat. You don't need to be pro fisherman. Just spend time with kids on the water.  We invite you to attend our meetings, learn, and get better at fishing.  We promise you will have fun and enjoy this experience!


Send us an email for additional information.  biglakebassteam@gmail.com

Coaching Application

If interested in coaching you can apply on-line.    

Online coaching application - Online Application

Insurance FAQ

Federated Angler Insurance Coverage

Insurance coverage is provided to coaches / boat captains as part of our SAF membership.  Click the button to review additional information.



Learn more

Copyright © 2025 Big Lake Bass Team - All Rights Reserved.


Powered by