WEST OLIVE, Mich. (Aug. 4, 2003) - Edward Rogers Jr. of Grand Rapids claimed $3,851 as the winner of the Bass Fishing League Michigan Division's third regular-season bass fishing tournament, held on the Grand River near West Olive. Rogers led the field of 141 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 5 ounces. Rogers caught his bass Saturday using a surface lure.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Kurtis Gillespie of Grand Haven (five bass, 11 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,926); Jeremy Burns of Lansing (five bass, 11 pounds, $1,309); Brian Rand of Mattawan (five bass, 10 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,001); and Jason Okrangley of Caledonia (five bass, 10 pounds, 7 ounces, $847).
Okrangley also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Jason Shelton of Converse, Ind., topped 141 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught using a crankbait. Shelton earned $1,926 for the win.
In second place was Homer Stephens of Noblesville, Ind., with a five-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces that earned him $963. Third place was Rick Dahlman of Mokena, Ill., with a five-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces that earned him $655. Fourth place was Dustin Dolan of Caledonia with a five-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces that earned him $501. Tied for fifth place were Dave Scholander of Warren (four bass, 7 pounds, 11 ounces) and Rick Thatcher of Fort Jennings, Ohio (five bass, 7 pounds, 11 ounces). Each received $385 for their catch.
Don Watts of Gowen earned boater big-bass honors and $705 with a 4-pound, 6-ounce bass, and Dale Clark of Harrison earned co-angler big-bass honors and $353 in his division with a 3-pound, 14-ounce bass.