FINDLAY, Ill. (May 15, 2006) Boater John Farmer of Crete, Ill., earned $4,046 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Illini Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Shelbyville. The tournament was the second of five regular-season South Carolina Division events which earned Farmer 200 points in the Boater Division.
Farmers winning catch of five bass weighed 18 pounds, 11-ounces. He threw a tube and Sweat Beaver in 6 to 8 feet of water on secondary points to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Michael Black of Toledo, Ill. (five bass, 16 pounds, 9 ounces, $2,023); Steven Miller of Taylorville, Ill. (five bass, 14 pounds, 14 ounces, $1,348); Mike Barnes of Mackinaw, Ill. (five bass, 14 pounds, 13 ounces, $944) and Anton Silvester of Staunton, Ill. (five bass, 14 pounds, 7 ounces, $809).
Bill Leasher of Neoga, Ill. took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning him $555 for a 5-pound, 8-ounce bass.
Bill Higgins of Albers, Ill., won the Co-angler Division to earn $1,981 thanks to four bass weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces that he caught while throwing aYum creature bait around submerged stumps and points.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Rory J. Ohse of Crestwood, Ill. (four bass, 10 pounds, 2 ounces, $991); Terry Marucco of Decatur, Ill., (five bass, 9 pounds, 8 ounce, $662) Bradley Smith of Troy, Ill., (five bass, 9 pounds, 7 ounces, $462) and Marc Lowry of Chicago, Ill. (three bass, 9 pounds, $396).
George Osha of Steger, Ill. also earned $267 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 6-pound, 6-ounce bass.
The Illini Divisions next event will be held June 10 on the Ohio River near Golconda, Ill., for the divisions third event followed by an event at Lake Shelbyville near Findlay, Ill. July 22. The divisions two-day Super Tournament, their fifth and final regular-season event, will be held again on the Ohio River near Golconda, Ill. Sept. 9-10.