ONALASKA, Wis. (May 16, 2005) - Boater Bill Sepke of North Aurora, Ill., earned $4,337 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division bass fishing tournament on the Mississippi River. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Great Lakes Division events and featured 128 boaters vying for the win, which earned Sepke 200 points in the Boater Division.
Sepke's winning catch of five bass weighed 17 pounds, 6 ounces. Sepke was fishing a tube and a Senko in back water around rocks.
Finishing second was Michael Johnson of La Crosse with five bass weighing 16 pounds 10 ounces that earned him $2,168. Douglas Barnes of Carpentersville, Ill., claimed $1,422 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces. In fourth was Jason Leuenberger of La Crosse with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces worth $1,814, and finishing fifth and earning $907 was David Rogalski of Saint Louis Park, Minn., with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 14 ounces.
Leuenberger took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $710 for a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a crankbait. Matt Felton of Wisconsin Dells earned $2,168 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught on a 4-inch worm.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Dave Durbala of Ft. Madison, Iowa (five bass, 12 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,084); Jason Steger of Stanley (four bass, 11 pounds, 15 ounces, $709) Scott Habeck of Tomah (five bass, 11 pounds, 9 ounces, $552); and Ken Haslam of Mukwonago (five bass, 11 pounds, 2 ounces, $453).
Tory Sage of Davenport, Iowa earned $355 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass. Sage caught the big bass on a white tube.
The Great Lakes Division's next event will be held June 18 on Lake Winneconne near Winneconne followed by an event on the Mississippi River near Prairie Du Chien July 23. The fourth-qualifying event will be held on the Mississippi River near Wabasha August 20. The Great Lakes Division will wrap up its regular season Oct. 1-2 with a two-day Super Tournament on the Mississippi River near Prairie Du Chien.