TRENTON, Mich. (Sept. 12, 2005) - Boater Kevin Rathke of Albion, Ind., earned $4,554 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Michigan Division Super Bass Fishing Tournament on the Detroit River. The tournament earned Rathke 300 points in the Boater Division.
Rathke?s winning catch of 10 bass weighed 38 pounds, 1 ounce.
Finishing second was Frank Novock of Rockwood with 10 bass weighing 38 pounds that earned him $2,223. Mark Dowd of Westland claimed $1,084 as the third-place finisher thanks to 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 14 ounces. In fourth was Cecil Cole of Durand with eight bass weighing 32 pounds, 8 ounces worth $976, and finishing fifth and earning $867 was David Hasty of Toledo, Ohio, with 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 7 ounces.
Dowd took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $720 for a 5-pound bass.
Steven Cowell of Ottawa Lake earned $2,277 as the co-angler winner, thanks to 10 bass weighing 35 pounds, 3 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are James Richardson Sr. of Harrison, Ohio (eight bass, 27 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,111); Philip Borsa of Redford (seven bass, 26 pounds, 12 ounces, $542); Travis Edgar of North Webster, Ind. (eight bass, 25 pounds, 14 ounces, $488); and Farrell Swindell of Fort Wayne, Ind. (eight bass, 24 pounds, 12 ounces, $434). Duane Mayhew of Warsaw, Ind., earned $360 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass.
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.
The top 40 Michigan Division boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the Ohio River Regional near Paducah, Ky., Oct. 11-15 where they will compete against Arkie, Hoosier and Great Lakes division anglers for one of six slots in the 2006 All-American.