FINDLAY, Ill. (July 26, 2004) - Boater Division competitor John Wright of Shelbyville earned $3,718 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Illini Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Shelbyville in Findlay. The tournament was the fourth of five regular-season Illini Division events. The regular season will wrap up Oct. 2-3 with a two-day Super Tournament on the Ohio River in Golconda.
Wright bested 132 Boater Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces that he caught on a 1/2-ounce black and blue jig around drops and ledges. Wright also received a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, and Yamaha awarded him another $500 because his boat is powered by a Yamaha outboard. He also earned a $1,000 bonus from Garmin for using only Garmin electronics during the event.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Leroy McDuffie of McLeansboro (five bass, 13 pounds, 2 ounces, $1,859); John Farmer of Crete (four bass, 11 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,264); Jack Peplow Jr. of Danville (four bass, 9 pounds, 8 ounces, $967); and Danny Owens of Assumption (five bass, 7 pounds, 14 ounces, $818).
Michael Hibler of Bloomington earned $660 as the Boater Division big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass that he caught on a 1/2-ounce jig.
Colby Schrumpf of Highland won the 129-competitor Co-angler Division with a four-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces. He earned $1,817 for the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Timothy Mott of Bloomington (three bass, 7 pounds, 11 ounces, $908); Ben Kurth of Mendota Heights, Minn. (three bass, 6 pounds, 11 ounces, $618); Brent Werries of Milan (two bass, 6 pounds, 9 ounces, $472); and Timothy Ernst of Westchester (two bass, 5 pounds, 9 ounces, $400).
Anton Silvester of Carbondale caught a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass to win Co-angler Division big-bass honors and $323. He caught his big bass on a drop-shot worm.