PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (Aug. 9, 2004) - Boater Division competitor Jim Maloney of Hampshire, Ill., earned $3,988 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division bass fishing tournament on the Mississippi River in Prairie du Chien. The tournament was the fourth of five regular-season Great Lakes Division events. The regular season will wrap up Sept. 11-12 with a two-day Super Tournament on the Mississippi River in La Crosse.
Maloney bested 146 Boater Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces. He caught his tournament-winning bass on a white Scum Frog. Maloney also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Heath Ahnen of Westby (five bass, 14 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,994); Richie Eaves of Nauvoo, Ill. (five bass, 14 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,356); Tom Monsoor of La Crosse (five bass, 14 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,037); and Chip Hesse of Grandmound, Iowa (five bass, 13 pounds, 15 ounces, $877).
Tom Ball of Waterford earned $730 as the Boater Division big-bass award winner with a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass that he caught on a 1/4-ounce white spinnerbait.
Randy Schafer of Mokena, Ill., won the 146-competitor Co-angler Division with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce. He caught his tournament-winning bass on a white jig and earned $1,994 for the win.
Finishing second was Michael Grahn of Green Lake with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 12 ounces worth $997, and following him in third was Marvin Miller of Bettendorf, Iowa, with five bass that weighed 12 pounds, 6 ounces worth $678. Tied for fourth were Rex McTier of Endeavor and Rod Benion of Palo, Iowa. Both anglers caught five bass weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces to earn $478 each.
Miller and Michael Parve of West Bend tied for co-angler big-bass honors, each earning $182 for a 4-pound, 4-ounce bass.