INDIAN RIVER, Mich. (June 12, 2006) Boater Erhardt Tulgestka of Rogers City, Mich., earned $3,671 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Michigan Division bass fishing tournament on Burt-Mullet Lakes. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Michigan Division events and earned Tulgestka 200 points in the Boater Division.
Tulgestkas winning catch of five bass weighed 24 pounds, 4 ounces. Tulgestka also took home an additional $1,000 for being the highest placing Ranger Cup participant.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jeremy Tulgestka of Presque Isle, Mich. (five bass, 24 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,835); Donald Hewkin of Zion, Ill. (five bass, 22 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,224); Eric Bond of Ferndale, Mich. (five bass, 22 pounds, 5 ounces, $856) and Timothy Bala of Hope, Mich., and Larry Regina of South Bend, Ind., tied for fifth (five bass, 21 pounds, 7 ounces, $703).
Erhardt Tulgestka along with Donald Hewkin and Steve Clapper of Lima, Ohio tied for Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning each angler $156.67 for their 5-pound, 8-ounce bass.
Chris Cosbitt of Alpena, Mich., won the Co-angler Division to earn $1,835 thanks to five bass weighing 19 pounds, 15 ounces. He was targeting spawning fish, throwing a 4-inch Strike King Bleeding tube.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mike Paul of Atlanta, Mich. (five bass, 19 pounds, $918); Rick Roberts of Macomb, Mich. (five bass, 17 pounds, 6 ounces, $612); Leo Reiter of Goshen, Ind. (five bass, 15 pounds, $428); and Steve Pennington of Delton, Mich. (five bass, 14 pounds, 14 ounces, $367).
Jerry Adamski of Chicago, Ill., earned $235 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 8-ounce bass.
The Michigan Divisions next event will be held June 24 on Lake St. Clair near Mt. Clemens, Mich., followed by an event on the Grand River near Grand Haven, Mich., July 29. The Michigan Divisions fourth event will be held on the Detroit River near Trenton, Mich., Aug. 26. The division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 9-10 with a two-day Super Tournament again on the Detroit River near Trenton.