OACOMA, S.D. − South Dakota angler Monty Fralick took an unexpected swim in Lake Francis Case en route to winning his first B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional.
“I had dropped my [brand new] sunglasses, and I saw them going down, and I thought I could catch them,” the 60-year-old Fralick said. “I caught them, and I learned that I could still swim. My partner just pulled me back over the side, and we just kept fishing.”
When he stayed in the boat, Fralick managed to catch a 9-pound, 14-ounce limit to win the divisional title with 29-1.
“This has been a goal my whole life fishing to win this Northern Divisional, and I just can’t believe it happened,” the Bon Homme Bass Club member said.
After catching only one keeper weighing 1-14 and sitting in 42nd place after the first day, Fralick struck it rich and moved to the top spot the second day when he found a school of smallmouth bass that yielded the heaviest limit of the tournament (17-5).
“I was fishing stump flats, and there were humps inside the stump flats that were probably about 2 1/2 feet deep,” said Fralick, father of Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jami Fralick. “A lot of times those smallmouth would stack on there if there was a little bit of weeds. So, the key spots were the humps with a little bit of weeds on them.”
However, today, Fralick got only one bite on the humps. “So then I immediately went into scramble mode and caught the fish today,” he said. “I had a little ditch that ended up paying off, but it was only good when the current was right. I just kept checking it, and it was good today. It was on fire when I first got there for a few minutes, and then the current changed. So if I hadn’t gone there when I did, I wouldn’t have caught those fish.” The main lure he relied on was a green pumpkin Snack Daddy plastic tube stuffed with a 3/8-ounce football jighead. He also caught some fish today on a Lucky Craft wake bait and a Power Team Tackle minnow bait on a drop shot rig.
By winning his first divisional and finishing as the top angler on his South Dakota team, Fralick earned a berth in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship (BNC) to be held on Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas Oct. 24-26. Other state winners who qualified for the BNC were David Junk, Illinois; Nathan Gray, Indiana; Dan Parker, Iowa; Ted Prisbe, Michigan; Jim Severson, Minnesota; Stan Dodson, Ohio; and Jim Barczak, Wisconsin.
Team championship honors went to the Minnesota squad with 134 pounds, 7 ounces. The host South Dakota squad finished second with 120-14.
The Carhartt Big Bass Award of $500 was presented to Chuck Steinbauer for bringing in a 3 pound, 8 ounce bass.
The Livingston Lures award of $250 was presented to the winner, Monty Fralick.
2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: Boat US, Carhartt, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Luck-E-Strike, Power-Pole, Shimano
2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional 8/28-8/30
Lake Francis Case, Chamberlain SD.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Monty Fralick Martin, SD (SD) 11 29-01 0
2. Eric Storms Winner, SD (SD) 14 24-01 0
3. Jim Severson Rice, MN (MN) 15 23-12 0
4. Ted Prisbe Harsens Island, MI (MI 14 22-10 0
5. Bob Downey Hudson, WI (MN) 9 20-04 0
6. Dan Parker Guttenburg, IA (IA) 11 19-05 0
7. Jeff Bostic Cassopolis, MI (MI) 11 18-10 0
8. Andy Hriber Lakeville, MN (MN) 10 18-04 0
9. Jim Barczak Osceola, WI (WI) 10 17-09 0
10. David Junk Quincy, IL (IL) 11 16-05 0
11. Stan Dodson Mineral Wells, WV (OH) 9 15-15 0
12. Ben Potaracke La Crosse, WI (WI) 7 14-03 0
13. Nathan Gray Columbus, IN (IN) 8 13-02 0
14. Ron Eicher Clarksville, IN (IN) 7 13-01 0
15. Wayne Lindgren Minneapolis, MN (MN) 8 12-14 0
16. Nick Kelley Oak Hill, OH (OH) 6 12-09 0
17. Danny Ryan Cleves, OH (OH) 7 12-09 0
18. Phillip Rummel Mount Vernon, OH (OH) 9 12-06 0
19. Rick Mahoney Winner, SD (SD) 8 12-04 0
20. Todd Thompson Heath, OH (OH) 7 11-14 0
21. Jeff Brown Wentworth, SD (SD) 8 11-13 0
22. Mike Mattis Hudson, WI (WI) 7 11-02 0
23. Kevin Fassbind Cottage Grove, WI (WI) 9 11-00 0
24. Joseph Sestak Tabor, SD (SD) 6 10-14 0
25. Dan Krzoska La Crescent, MN (WI) 7 10-14 0
26. Brian Mailot Columbus, OH (OH) 6 10-11 0
27. Dennis Lothspeich Brainerd, MN (MN) 7 10-06 0
28. Jason Sosebee Eau Claire, WI (WI) 7 10-03 0
29. Mike Kujawski North Branch, MI (MI) 6 10-01 0
30. Rick Sawyer Columbia City, IN (MI) 6 09-12 0
31. Chuck Steinbauer Brainerd, MN (MN) 6 09-12 0
32. Mark Goetsch Gibraltar, MI (MI) 6 09-05 0
33. Guy Knudson Zimmerman, MN (MN) 6 09-02 0
34. James Maisenbacher Hudson, IL (IL) 6 08-13 0
35. Trevor Kettles Waukee, IA (IA) 6 08-11 0
36. Tom Kiefer Oak Grove, MN (MN) 5 08-03 0
37. Dean Capra Blaine, MN (MN) 6 08-02 0
38. Chad Richardson Bangor, WI (WI) 5 07-13 0
39. Terry McWilliams Greenfield, IN (IN) 5 07-11 0
40. Dan Hamdorf Lowden, IA (IA) 6 07-02 0
41. Brady Farrell Fort Atkinson, WI (WI) 4 06-15 0
42. Pete Cherkas Des Moines, IA (IA) 6 06-14 0
43. Fernando Lobato Sparta, WI (WI) 5 06-12 0
44. Troy Lee Star Prairie, WI (WI) 5 06-11 0
45. Ron Nutter Newark, OH (OH) 5 06-10 0
46. Doug Rowse Elgin, NE (SD) 4 06-07 0
47. Brian Tutko Streator, IL (IL) 6 06-06 0
48. Jimmy Johnson La Crosse, WI (WI) 5 06-05 0
49. Vaughn Capasso MARENGO, IL (IL) 4 06-03 0
50. Nate Brown Muscatine, WI (IA) 4 06-01 0
51. Andrew Nitchals Willmar, MN (MN) 3 06-01 0
52. Brian Roberts Mulberry, IN (IN) 3 06-01 0
53. Thomas Worm New London, WI (WI) 4 06-00 0
54. Leray Anderson Crofton, NE (SD) 3 05-13 0
55. Chip Swindell Bluffton, IN (IN) 4 05-13 0
56. Brian Vogelsang Zanes Field, OH (OH) 4 05-11 0
57. Scott Lakey Portage, MI (MI) 4 05-09 0
58. Ian MacDonald Chicago, IL (IL) 4 05-09 0
59. Keith Faber Rock Valley, IA (SD) 4 05-08 0
60. Charles Cross Columbus, IN (IN) 4 05-05 0
61. Bob Garman Center Point, IA (IA) 3 05-05 0
62. Brent Haimes Elgin, MN (MN) 4 05-03 0
63. Wess Larabee Newcastle, WY (SD) 4 04-15 0
64. Greg Heindselman Lewistown, MO (IL) 4 04-15 0
65. Rick Nesbitt Springfield, OH (OH) 3 04-10 0
66. Michael Griffin Ottawa, IL (IL) 3 04-09 0
67. Jeff Hooker Battle Creek, MI (MI) 3 04-07 0
68. Greg Seitz Raymond, IA (IA) 3 04-04 0
69. Cliff Van Beek Canistota, SD (SD) 2 04-04 0
70. Luis Gonzalez Round Lake Beach, IL (I 3 03-11 0
71. Jesse Reynolds Muscatine, IA (IA) 2 03-02 0
72. Gary A Kotlark Flushing, MI (MI) 2 03-01 0
73. James Roth Independence, IA (IA) 2 02-14 0
74. Aaron Hochstedler Greentown, IN (IN) 2 02-13 0
75. Jerry Koller Paragon, IN (IN) 2 02-10 0
76. Kent Miller Byron, MI (MI) 2 02-10 0
77. Bob Bayless Indianapolis, IN (IN) 2 02-09 0
78. Roman Chapman South Haven, MN (MN) 2 02-08 0
78. Ron Cherkas Grimes, IA (IA) 2 02-08 0
80. Scott Moon Beech Grove, IN (IN) 2 02-08 0
81. Alexander Datz Thornville, OH (OH) 1 02-07 0
82. Steve Strope Orchard, NE (SD) 2 02-07 0
83. Harry Heins Monona, IA (IA) 2 02-05 0
84. Robert Reinbold Timber Lake, SD (SD) 1 02-05 0
85. Troy Sitar Lawrence, MI (MI) 1 01-14 0
86. Daryk Eckert Stockport, OH (OH) 1 01-13 0
87. Kevin Rebouche Frankfort, IL (IL) 1 01-12 0
88. Bill Skowronski Hennepin, IL (IL) 1 01-11 0
89. Tim Hartman Effingham, IL (IL) 1 01-08 0
90. Tom E Williams Center Point, IA (IA) 1 01-07 0
91. Al Evans Urbana, OH (OH) 1 01-05 0
91. Brad Kippenbrock Huntingburg, IN (IN) 1 01-05 0
93. Jeff Crowley Flint, MI (MI) 1 01-04 0
94. Bill Cusano Kingsville, OH (OH) 1 01-03 0
94. Tony Flories Tinley Park, IL (IL) 1 01-03 0
96. Trey Doom Avon, SD (SD) 1 01-02 0
97. David Dupin Salem, IN (IN) 1 01-00 0
98. Brody McWilliams Greenwood, IN (IN) 1 00-12 0
99. Craig Bolden Battle Creek, MI (MI) 1 00-00 0
100. Al Ansell Moose Lake , MN (MN) 0 00-00 0
100. Beau Ashcraft LaFayette, IN (IN) 0 00-00 0
100. David Aukema Holland, MI (MI) 0 00-00 0
100. Zachary Brown Wentworth, SD (SD) 0 00-00 0
100. Riley Bunge Mechanicsville, IA (IA) 0 00-00 0
100. Kyler Chelminiak Franklin, WI (WI) 0 00-00 0
100. Michael Hannon Lake Villa, IL (IL) 0 00-00 0
100. Nick Leonard Cincinnati, OH (OH) 0 00-00 0
100. Neil Molitor St Cloud, MN (MN) 0 00-00 0
100. Steve Niemi Scandinavia, WI (WI) 0 00-00 0
100. Alex Peric Wheeling, IL (IL) 0 00-00 0
100. Chase Serafin Highland, MI (MI) 0 00-00 0
100. Clay Torson Ely, IA (IA) 0 00-00 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 8 148 221-07
2 12 175 288-06
3 5 153 246-14
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25 476 756-11
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
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State Lbs-Oz
1 MINNESOTA 134-07
2 SOUTH DAKOTA 120-14
3 WISCONSIN 115-07
4 OHIO 99-11
5 MICHIGAN 89-03
6 IOWA 69-14
7 INDIANA 64-10
8 ILLINOIS 62-09
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
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IOWA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Dan Parker Guttenburg, IA 11 19-05 0
2 Trevor Kettles Waukee, IA 6 08-11 0
3 Dan Hamdorf Lowden, IA 6 07-02 0
4 Pete Cherkas Des Moines, IA 6 06-14 0
5 Nate Brown Muscatine, WI 4 06-01 0
6 Bob Garman Center Point, IA 3 05-05 0
7 Greg Seitz Raymond, IA 3 04-04 0
8 Jesse Reynolds Muscatine, IA 2 03-02 0
9 James Roth Independence, IA 2 02-14 0
10 Ron Cherkas Grimes, IA 2 02-08 0
11 Harry Heins Monona, IA 2 02-05 0
12 Tom E Williams Center Point, IA 1 01-07 0
13 Riley Bunge Mechanicsville, IA 0 00-00 0
13 Clay Torson Ely, IA 0 00-00 0
ILLINOIS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 David Junk Quincy, IL 11 16-05 0
2 James Maisenbacher Hudson, IL 6 08-13 0
3 Brian Tutko Streator, IL 6 06-06 0
4 Vaughn Capasso MARENGO, IL 4 06-03 0
5 Ian MacDonald Chicago, IL 4 05-09 0
6 Greg Heindselman Lewistown, MO 4 04-15 0
7 Michael Griffin Ottawa, IL 3 04-09 0
8 Luis Gonzalez Round Lake Beach, IL 3 03-11 0
9 Kevin Rebouche Frankfort, IL 1 01-12 0
10 Bill Skowronski Hennepin, IL 1 01-11 0
11 Tim Hartman Effingham, IL 1 01-08 0
12 Tony Flories Tinley Park, IL 1 01-03 0
13 Michael Hannon Lake Villa, IL 0 00-00 0
13 Alex Peric Wheeling, IL 0 00-00 0
INDIANA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Nathan Gray Columbus, IN 8 13-02 0
2 Ron Eicher Clarksville, IN 7 13-01 0
3 Terry McWilliams Greenfield, IN 5 07-11 0
4 Brian Roberts Mulberry, IN 3 06-01 0
5 Chip Swindell Bluffton, IN 4 05-13 0
6 Charles Cross Columbus, IN 4 05-05 0
7 Aaron Hochstedler Greentown, IN 2 02-13 0
8 Jerry Koller Paragon, IN 2 02-10 0
9 Bob Bayless Indianapolis, IN 2 02-09 0
10 Scott Moon Beech Grove, IN 2 02-08 0
11 Brad Kippenbrock Huntingburg, IN 1 01-05 0
12 David Dupin Salem, IN 1 01-00 0
13 Brody McWilliams Greenwood, IN 1 00-12 0
14 Beau Ashcraft LaFayette, IN 0 00-00 0
MICHIGAN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Ted Prisbe Harsens Island, MI 14 22-10 0
2 Jeff Bostic Cassopolis, MI 11 18-10 0
3 Mike Kujawski North Branch, MI 6 10-01 0
4 Rick Sawyer Columbia City, IN 6 09-12 0
5 Mark Goetsch Gibraltar, MI 6 09-05 0
6 Scott Lakey Portage, MI 4 05-09 0
7 Jeff Hooker Battle Creek, MI 3 04-07 0
8 Gary A Kotlark Flushing, MI 2 03-01 0
9 Kent Miller Byron, MI 2 02-10 0
10 Troy Sitar Lawrence, MI 1 01-14 0
11 Jeff Crowley Flint, MI 1 01-04 0
12 Craig Bolden Battle Creek, MI 1 00-00 0
13 David Aukema Holland, MI 0 00-00 0
13 Chase Serafin Highland, MI 0 00-00 0
MINNESOTA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jim Severson Rice, MN 15 23-12 0
2 Bob Downey Hudson, WI 9 20-04 0
3 Andy Hriber Lakeville, MN 10 18-04 0
4 Wayne Lindgren Minneapolis, MN 8 12-14 0
5 Dennis Lothspeich Brainerd, MN 7 10-06 0
6 Chuck Steinbauer Brainerd, MN 6 09-12 0
7 Guy Knudson Zimmerman, MN 6 09-02 0
8 Tom Kiefer Oak Grove, MN 5 08-03 0
9 Dean Capra Blaine, MN 6 08-02 0
10 Andrew Nitchals Willmar, MN 3 06-01 0
11 Brent Haimes Elgin, MN 4 05-03 0
12 Roman Chapman South Haven, MN 2 02-08 0
13 Al Ansell Moose Lake , MN 0 00-00 0
13 Neil Molitor St Cloud, MN 0 00-00 0
OHIO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Stan Dodson Mineral Wells, WV 9 15-15 0
2 Nick Kelley Oak Hill, OH 6 12-09 0
3 Danny Ryan Cleves, OH 7 12-09 0
4 Phillip Rummel Mount Vernon, OH 9 12-06 0
5 Todd Thompson Heath, OH 7 11-14 0
6 Brian Mailot Columbus, OH 6 10-11 0
7 Ron Nutter Newark, OH 5 06-10 0
8 Brian Vogelsang Zanes Field, OH 4 05-11 0
9 Rick Nesbitt Springfield, OH 3 04-10 0
10 Alexander Datz Thornville, OH 1 02-07 0
11 Daryk Eckert Stockport, OH 1 01-13 0
12 Al Evans Urbana, OH 1 01-05 0
13 Bill Cusano Kingsville, OH 1 01-03 0
14 Nick Leonard Cincinnati, OH 0 00-00 0
SOUTH DAKOTA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Monty Fralick Martin, SD 11 29-01 0
2 Eric Storms Winner, SD 14 24-01 0
3 Rick Mahoney Winner, SD 8 12-04 0
4 Jeff Brown Wentworth, SD 8 11-13 0
5 Joseph Sestak Tabor, SD 6 10-14 0
6 Doug Rowse Elgin, NE 4 06-07 0
7 Leray Anderson Crofton, NE 3 05-13 0
8 Keith Faber Rock Valley, IA 4 05-08 0
9 Wess Larabee Newcastle, WY 4 04-15 0
10 Cliff Van Beek Canistota, SD 2 04-04 0
11 Steve Strope Orchard, NE 2 02-07 0
12 Robert Reinbold Timber Lake, SD 1 02-05 0
13 Trey Doom Avon, SD 1 01-02 0
14 Zachary Brown Wentworth, SD 0 00-00 0
WISCONSIN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jim Barczak Osceola, WI 10 17-09 0
2 Ben Potaracke La Crosse, WI 7 14-03 0
3 Mike Mattis Hudson, WI 7 11-02 0
4 Kevin Fassbind Cottage Grove, WI 9 11-00 0
5 Dan Krzoska La Crescent, MN 7 10-14 0
6 Jason Sosebee Eau Claire, WI 7 10-03 0
7 Chad Richardson Bangor, WI 5 07-13 0
8 Brady Farrell Fort Atkinson, WI 4 06-15 0
9 Fernando Lobato Sparta, WI 5 06-12 0
10 Troy Lee Star Prairie, WI 5 06-11 0
11 Jimmy Johnson La Crosse, WI 5 06-05 0
12 Thomas Worm New London, WI 4 06-00 0
13 Kyler Chelminiak Franklin, WI 0 00-00 0
13 Steve Niemi Scandinavia, WI 0 00-00 0