PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (Aug. 4, 2003) - Jeff Ritter of Prairie du Chien claimed $3,554 as the winner of the Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division's fourth regular-season bass fishing tournament, held on the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien. Ritter led the field of 124 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 7 ounces.
Ritter caught his bass Saturday using a spinner bait. He also earned $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Chris Cox of Appleton (five bass, 15 pounds, $1,777); Darren Zumach of Onalaska (five bass, 14 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,208); Jeff Benson of Holmen (five bass, 14 pounds, 4 ounces, $924); and Darwin Kloft of Maquoketa, Iowa (five bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces, $782).
Cox also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Dave Norton of Burlington topped 124 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 11 ounces that he caught using a buzzbait. Norton earned $1,777 for the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mike Riley of Wonder Lake, Ill. (five bass, 11 pounds, 9 ounces, $889); Craig Fanning of Elwood, Ill. (five bass, 11 pounds, 6 ounces, $604); Matt Felton of Wisconsin Dells (five bass, 11 pounds, 4 ounces, $462); and Casey Hewes of Milwaukee (five bass, 10 pounds, 14 ounces, $391).
Cox earned boater big-bass honors and $620 with a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass, and Frank Nester of Mount Carroll, Ill., earned co-angler big-bass honors and $310 in his division with an 4-pound, 5-ounce bass.