TRENTON, Mich. (June 27, 2005) - Boater Heath Wagner of Angola, Ind., earned $3,943 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Michigan Division bass fishing tournament on the Detroit River. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Michigan Division events and featured 124 boaters vying for the win, which earned Wagner 200 points in the Boater Division.
Wagner's winning catch of five bass weighed 21 pounds. Wagner fished a jerk worm to catch his bass. He earned an additional $620 for Boater Division big-bass award honors with a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass and another $1,000 as winner of the Garmin Grand award.
Finishing second was Patrick Goodman of White Pigeon with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 1 ounce that earned him $1,972. Bryan Coates of Amherst, Ohio claimed $1,292 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 18 pounds, 14 ounces. In fourth was Steve Clapper of Lima, Ohio with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 3 ounces worth $1,004, and finishing fifth and earning $824 was Ray Hinchcliff of Bowerston, Ohio with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 13 ounces.
Goodman earned an additional $750 as winner of the Ranger Cup and Powered by Yamaha awards.
Todd Robbins of Romulus earned $1,940 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 17 pounds, 14 ounces that he caught on tubes.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Chris Gutuskey of Tecumseh (five bass, 17 pounds, 9 ounces, $970); Keith Simms of Toledo, Ohio and Bart Say of Van Wert, Ohio tied for third place. Each co-angler caught five bass weighing 16 pounds, 14 ounces worth $563. Dennis Helka of Dearborn finished in fifth place (five bass, 16 pounds, 6 ounces, $406).
Frederick Worrell of Lincoln Park earned $305 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass he caught on a crankbait.
The Michigan Division's next event will be held July 9 on the Detroit River near Trenton, followed by an event on Muskegon Lake near Muskegon July 30. The fourth-qualifying event will be held Aug. 20 on the Detroit River near Trenton. The Michigan Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 10-11 with a two-day Super Tournament on the Detroit River near Trenton.
Following the regular season, the Michigan Division boater with the most points will earn $1,000 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion. The co-angler amassing the most points will earn $500 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion in the Co-angler Division.