PADUCAH, Ky. (Sept. 16, 2003) - Todd Leatherman of Kuttawa caught 10 bass weighing 24 pounds, 6 ounces to win $5,870 at the Bass Fishing League Illini Division Super Bass Fishing Tournament, on the Ohio River near Paducah. Leatherman bested 92 Boater Division competitors and earned 300 points at the tournament, which was the fifth and final Illini Division event of the regular season.
Leatherman caught five bass Saturday weighing 11 pounds, 2 ounces to finish second on day one and followed that up Sunday with another five bass weighing 13 pounds, 4 ounces to earn the win. Leatherman caught his tournament-winning bass on a green pumpkin jig in the Tennessee River. As the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, Leatherman also claimed a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats, and he earned another $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Michael Goessman of Sesser, Ill. (10 bass, 23 pounds, 11 ounces); Mark Watson of Springfield, Ill. (10 bass, 21 pounds, 8 ounces); Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo. (10 bass, 17 pounds, 12 ounces); and Tim Travis of Benton (10 bass, 16 pounds, 11 ounces).
Brent Ausbrook of Olney, Ill., claimed $920 as the Boater Division big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass.
Ray Arning Jr. of Walnut Hill, Ill., led 92 Co-angler Division competitors on day two to claim $2,935 as the Super Tournament co-angler winner. He caught four bass Saturday weighing 8 pounds, 12 ounces to finish fourth and followed that up Sunday with another five bass weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces to earn the win. He caught his tournament-winning bass on a chartreuse Senko jerkbait.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Bruce O'Brien of Normal, Ill. (seven bass, 15 pounds, 11 ounces); Casey Martin of Wildwood, Mo. (nine bass, 15 pounds, 11 ounces); Michael Sanders of Windsor, Ill. (10 bass, 14 pounds, 4 ounces); and Mark Heimburger of Sidney, Ill. (nine bass, 13 pounds, 3 ounces).
Heimburger took co-angler big-bass honors and $460 with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass.
McMullin is the Illini Division's Yamaha "Be the Best" points leader, winning $1,000 for the 1,081 points he earned during five regular-season tournaments. Matt Wolfe of Collinsville, Ill., is the Yamaha "Be the Best" points leader in the Co-angler Division. He earned $500 for his division-leading 956 points.