LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (Sept. 19, 2005) - Boater Ernie Hendrick, of North Bend, Ohio, earned $5,342 Sunday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division Super Bass Fishing Tournament on the Ohio River. The tournament earned Hendrick 300 points in the Boater Division.
Hendrick's winning catch of nine bass weighed 18 pounds, 11 ounces. He was flipping a jig and throwing a spinnerbait on flats in the Indiana creeks.
Finishing second was Kenneth Bortlein of West Harrison, with eight bass weighing 14 pounds, 6 ounces that earned him $2,607. Derek Schreiber of Hamilton, Ohio, claimed $1,272 as the third-place finisher thanks to six bass weighing 8 pounds, 7 ounces. In fourth was Kaoru O'Bryan of Crestwood, Ky., with five bass weighing 8 pounds worth $1,145, and finishing fifth and earning $1,017 was Tim Vanmatre of New Castle, with six bass weighing 8 pounds.
Bortlein received an additional $500 as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup program.
Steven Taylor of Cox's Creek, Ky., took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $940 for a 3-pound, 7-ounce bass. He caught his big bass flipping a Prowler Ring Creature in Tanners Creek.
Timothy McCue of Indianapolis, bested the other Co-angler Division competitors to earn $2,607 as the co-angler winner, thanks to six bass weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces that he caught on a fishing a Texas-rigged worm real slow.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers were Robert Hayes of Galloway, Ohio (four bass, 6 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,272); Dave Sandage of Cannelton (four bass, 6 pounds, 7 ounces, $621); Jim Krider of North Vernon (four bass, 5 pounds, 3 ounces, $559); and Aaron Sisk of Evansville (three bass, 4 pounds, 14 ounces, $497).
Danny Robinson of Fairland, earned $450 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 3-pound, 1-ounce bass he caught on a buzzbait. Phil Hunt of Connersville earned $1,000 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion in the Hoosier Boater Division. Jim Krider of North Vernon earned $500 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion in the Hoosier Co-angler Division.
The top 40 Hoosier 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, Great Lakes and Michigan Division anglers for one of six slots in the 2006 All-American.