Savanna, Ill. — Iowa angler Brad Teel was “totally” surprised by a catch today that put him in the lead at the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Northern Divisional bass fishing tournament on the Mississippi River.
The 31-year-old machinist from the Cedar Rapids Bassmasters club noted he caught a lot of bass in practice, but he thought the action was sporadic. “I pulled into this one spot (today) and caught all of my fish out of there,” Teel said. “I never caught anything like that in practice.”
His honey hole produced a five-fish limit weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces to move Teel into the top spot in the overall standings.
Teel avoided his primary spot during practice and kept making adjustments that paid off for him today. “I kind of figured out things to make them bite better throughout the week,” he said. “I still didn’t expect to catch that kind of bag out of that spot.”
Competing in his third divisional, Teel boated a limit by about 7:30 a.m. and continued to work the area for a couple of hours. “Every time I went through the spot, we would catch at least one, but I finally told my partner we had to get out of there because I had to save some of those fish,” he said.
The Independence, Iowa angler frequently fishes the Mississippi River, but usually farther upstream. “I am not real familiar with this pool,” said Teel, who noted this section of the river is fishing differently than his home waters. “I am used to fishing grass, and I am just not getting bit in the grass.”
After practicing in sunny weather earlier this week, the contenders encountered cloudy skies and occasional drizzle today. The weather change apparently had little effect on Teel’s spot.
“The fish were biting pretty decent,” he said. “They weren’t busting shad like they have been, but the clouds kept them up close all day.”
Teel is striving to finish as the top angler on his Iowa team, which would earn him a berth in the Federation Nation Championship (FNC). Other state leaders bidding for FNC berths include Curt Samo of Illinois; Mark Nies, Indiana; Jamie Sochocki, Michigan; Chuck Steinbauer, Minnesota; Steve Strope, South Dakota; Kevin Fassbind, Wisconsin; and Michael Nesbitt, Ohio.
Teel’s Iowa squad leads the team competition with 123 pounds, 7 ounces. “We are all river rats from Iowa,” Teel said of his teammates. The host state of Illinois is in the runner-up spot with 86-1.
The Northern Divisional contestants will take off at about 5:45 a.m. local time tomorrow at Savanna Marina for the second day of competition.
BFN Northern Division Championship
8/8/2012 - 8/10/2012
Mississippi River - Savanna Marina - Savanna, IL
STANDINGS - ANGLER DAY 1
Name City, State # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz PTS
1 Brad Teel Independence, IA 5 5 14-13 5 5 14-13 0
2 Mark Nies Cannelton, IN 5 4 14- 6 5 4 14- 6 0
3 Kevin Fassbind Cottage Grove, WI 5 5 14- 2 5 5 14- 2 0
4 Steven Houdek Calmar, IA 5 5 13- 2 5 5 13- 2 0
5 Tony Puelz Garnavillo, IA 5 5 12-15 5 5 12-15 0
6 Mark Dove North Vernon, IN 5 5 12- 8 5 5 12- 8 0
7 Harry Heins Monona, IA 5 5 12- 4 5 5 12- 4 0
8 Jamie Sochocki Bridgeport, MI 5 5 12- 2 5 5 12- 2 0
8 Chuck Steinbauer Branerd, MN 5 5 12- 2 5 5 12- 2 0
10 JJ Patton Eldridge, IA 5 5 11-15 5 5 11-15 0
11 Andy Sommerfelt Denver, IA 5 5 11-12 5 5 11-12 0
12 Brian Skluzacek Prior Lake, MN 5 5 11-10 5 5 11-10 0
13 Ron Mehr Paynesville, MN 5 5 11- 8 5 5 11- 8 0
14 Michael S Nesbitt St. Paris, OH 5 5 11- 6 5 5 11- 6 0
15 Blair Gordon Marion, IA 5 5 11- 5 5 5 11- 5 0
16 Thad Takes independence, IA 5 5 11- 4 5 5 11- 4 0
17 Chris Lappert Pataskala, OH 5 5 11- 1 5 5 11- 1 0
18 Eddie Levin Westerville, OH 5 5 11- 0 5 5 11- 0 0
18 Joe Patock Lakeville, MN 5 5 11- 0 5 5 11- 0 0
20 Jonathan Patrick El Dorado, IA 5 5 10-15 5 5 10-15 0
20 Curt Samo Rochelle, IL 5 5 10-15 5 5 10-15 0
22 Craig Dahlin Horton, MI 5 5 10-11 5 5 10-11 0
23 Ryan Geister Onalaska, WI 5 5 10-10 5 5 10-10 0
23 Steve Strope Orchard, NE 5 5 10-10 5 5 10-10 0
25 Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 5 5 10- 9 5 5 10- 9 0
26 David Junk Quincy, IL 4 4 9-14 4 4 9-14 0
27 Zachary David Miller Prior Lake , MN 5 5 9-13 5 5 9-13 0
28 Corey Peterson Yankton, SD 5 5 9-12 5 5 9-12 0
29 Ted Prisbe Harsens Island, MI 4 4 9-12 4 4 9-12 0
30 Brian Marsinko Streater, IL 4 4 9-11 4 4 9-11 0
31 Dave Whalen Bloomington, IL 5 5 9-10 5 5 9-10 0
32 Brady Farrell Fort Atkinson, WI 5 4 9- 8 5 4 9- 8 0
33 Jeff Brown Wentworth, SD 4 4 9- 7 4 4 9- 7 0
34 Larry Gargus Lapeer, MI 4 4 9- 6 4 4 9- 6 0
35 Aaron Hochstedler Greentown, IN 5 5 9- 4 5 5 9- 4 0
36 Greg Heindselman Lewistown, MO 4 4 9- 4 4 4 9- 4 0
36 Jesse Reynolds Muscatine, IA 4 4 9- 4 4 4 9- 4 0
38 Brian Searcy Muscatine, IA 4 4 9- 2 4 4 9- 2 0
39 Evan Gutshall North Canton, OH 4 4 8-12 4 4 8-12 0
40 Bryan McNeal Enon, OH 4 4 8-11 4 4 8-11 0
41 Brandon Rose Saginaw, MI 4 4 8-10 4 4 8-10 0
42 Tom Ondras Manhattan, IL 4 4 8- 5 4 4 8- 5 0
43 Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI 3 3 8- 3 3 3 8- 3 0
44 Paul Amstutz Gambler, OH 4 4 8- 1 4 4 8- 1 0
45 James Sampson Depauw, IN 4 4 7-14 4 4 7-14 0
46 Dan White Spring Valley, WI 4 4 7-11 4 4 7-11 0
47 Tony Wilson Cincinnati, OH 4 3 7-11 4 3 7-11 0
48 Walter Hart Washington Court Ho 3 3 7- 9 3 3 7- 9 0
49 Thomas Kiefer Fowlerville, MI 3 3 7- 8 3 3 7- 8 0
50 Mark Klemp Villa Park, IL 3 3 7- 7 3 3 7- 7 0
51 Monty Fralick Martin, SD 3 3 7- 4 3 3 7- 4 0
52 Chad Ekroth Yankton, SD 3 3 6-14 3 3 6-14 0
52 Timothy Peterson Springfield, SD 3 3 6-14 3 3 6-14 0
54 Allan R Steinbauer Owatanna , MN 3 3 6- 7 3 3 6- 7 0
55 Mark Loftis Ivesdale, IL 3 3 6- 6 3 3 6- 6 0
56 Wade Stout Sauk City, WI 2 2 5- 1 2 2 5- 1 0
57 Jim Severson Sartell , MN 2 2 4-15 2 2 4-15 0
58 Kyle Sommer Fort Wayne, IN 2 2 4-13 2 2 4-13 0
59 Wilber Presley Grove City, OH 2 2 4-12 2 2 4-12 0
60 Scott Dooley Raymore, IL 2 2 4-11 2 2 4-11 0
61 Tim Hartman Effingham, IL 2 2 4-10 2 2 4-10 0
62 Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI 2 2 4- 8 2 2 4- 8 0
62 Timothy Hahn Sanford, MI 2 2 4- 8 2 2 4- 8 0
64 Larry Paul North Vernon, IN 2 2 4- 6 2 2 4- 6 0
65 Adam Hladky Volin, SD 1 1 4- 4 1 1 4- 4 0
66 Josh Pratt Pulaski, WI 2 2 4- 3 2 2 4- 3 0
67 Chris Johnson Appleton, WI 2 2 4- 2 2 2 4- 2 0
68 Jeffrey Fellows Howell, MI 2 2 4- 0 2 2 4- 0 0
69 Bill Donaldson Maineville, OH 2 2 3-15 2 2 3-15 0
69 Bryan Freyermuth Muscatine, IA 2 2 3-15 2 2 3-15 0
71 Doug Rowse Elgin, NE 2 2 3-10 2 2 3-10 0
72 Greg Sochocki Bridgeport , MI 2 2 3- 9 2 2 3- 9 0
73 Erhardt Tulgestka Posen, MI 2 2 3- 7 2 2 3- 7 0
74 Thomas Logue Tyndall, SD 2 2 3- 0 2 2 3- 0 0
75 Dean Capra Blaine, MN 1 1 2-12 1 1 2-12 0
75 Troy Diede Sioux Falls, SD 1 1 2-12 1 1 2-12 0
75 Peter Saele Lockport, IL 1 1 2-12 1 1 2-12 0
78 Terry McWilliams Greenfield, IN 1 1 2-10 1 1 2-10 0
79 Chuck Heming Quincy, IL 1 1 2- 8 1 1 2- 8 0
80 Mike Paul Atlanta, MI 1 1 2- 7 1 1 2- 7 0
80 Chris Timm Campbells Port, WI 1 1 2- 7 1 1 2- 7 0
82 Phillip Rummel Mount Vernon, OH 1 1 2- 1 1 1 2- 1 0
83 Mike Thompson St. Michael, MN 1 1 2- 0 1 1 2- 0 0
84 Steve Quiggins Fortville, IN 1 1 1-15 1 1 1-15 0
85 Rick Nesbitt Springfield, OH 1 1 1-14 1 1 1-14 0
86 Terry Fitzpatrick Waukon, IA 1 1 1-12 1 1 1-12 0
86 Gordon Lamb Georgetown, IN 1 1 1-12 1 1 1-12 0
86 Mike Mc Quitty New Berlin, WI 1 1 1-12 1 1 1-12 0
89 Kyle Carpenter Green Bay, WI 1 1 1-11 1 1 1-11 0
89 Rex Ryckman Ft. Pierre, SD 1 1 1-11 1 1 1-11 0
91 Ryan Otto Buffalo, MN 1 1 1-10 1 1 1-10 0
92 Rick Billings Rochester, MN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
92 Eric Durcholz Brandenburg, KY 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
92 Tim Mulvey New Albany YEMEN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
92 Rod Pieper Yankton, SD 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
92 Doug Ratliff Commerce Twp, MI 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
BIG BASS
Brad Teel Independence, IA 4- 8
BFN Northern Division Championship
8/8/2012 - 8/10/2012
Mississippi River - Savanna Marina - Savanna, IL
STANDINGS BY TEAM DAY 1
Name City, State # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
ILLINOIS
1 Curt Samo Rochelle, IL 5 5 10-15 5 5 10-15
2 David Junk Quincy, IL 4 4 9-14 4 4 9-14
3 Brian Marsinko Streater, IL 4 4 9-11 4 4 9-11
4 Dave Whalen Bloomington, IL 5 5 9-10 5 5 9-10
5 Greg Heindselman Lewistown, MO 4 4 9- 4 4 4 9- 4
6 Tom Ondras Manhattan, IL 4 4 8- 5 4 4 8- 5
7 Mark Klemp Villa Park, IL 3 3 7- 7 3 3 7- 7
8 Mark Loftis Ivesdale, IL 3 3 6- 6 3 3 6- 6
9 Scott Dooley Raymore, IL 2 2 4-11 2 2 4-11
10 Tim Hartman Effingham, IL 2 2 4-10 2 2 4-10
11 Peter Saele Lockport, IL 1 1 2-12 1 1 2-12
12 Chuck Heming Quincy, IL 1 1 2- 8 1 1 2- 8
INDIANA
1 Mark Nies Cannelton, IN 5 4 14- 6 5 4 14- 6
2 Mark Dove North Vernon, IN 5 5 12- 8 5 5 12- 8
3 Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 5 5 10- 9 5 5 10- 9
4 Aaron Hochstedler Greentown, IN 5 5 9- 4 5 5 9- 4
5 James Sampson Depauw, IN 4 4 7-14 4 4 7-14
6 Tony Wilson Cincinnati, OH 4 3 7-11 4 3 7-11
7 Kyle Sommer Fort Wayne, IN 2 2 4-13 2 2 4-13
8 Larry Paul North Vernon, IN 2 2 4- 6 2 2 4- 6
9 Terry McWilliams Greenfield, IN 1 1 2-10 1 1 2-10
10 Steve Quiggins Fortville, IN 1 1 1-15 1 1 1-15
11 Gordon Lamb Georgetown, IN 1 1 1-12 1 1 1-12
12 Eric Durcholz Brandenburg, KY 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
IOWA
1 Brad Teel Independence, IA 5 5 14-13 5 5 14-13
2 Steven Houdek Calmar, IA 5 5 13- 2 5 5 13- 2
3 Tony Puelz Garnavillo, IA 5 5 12-15 5 5 12-15
4 Harry Heins Monona, IA 5 5 12- 4 5 5 12- 4
5 JJ Patton Eldridge, IA 5 5 11-15 5 5 11-15
6 Andy Sommerfelt Denver, IA 5 5 11-12 5 5 11-12
7 Blair Gordon Marion, IA 5 5 11- 5 5 5 11- 5
8 Thad Takes independence, IA 5 5 11- 4 5 5 11- 4
9 Jesse Reynolds Muscatine, IA 4 4 9- 4 4 4 9- 4
10 Brian Searcy Muscatine, IA 4 4 9- 2 4 4 9- 2
11 Bryan Freyermuth Muscatine, IA 2 2 3-15 2 2 3-15
12 Terry Fitzpatrick Waukon, IA 1 1 1-12 1 1 1-12
MICHIGAN
1 Jamie Sochocki Bridgeport, MI 5 5 12- 2 5 5 12- 2
2 Craig Dahlin Horton, MI 5 5 10-11 5 5 10-11
3 Ted Prisbe Harsens Island, MI 4 4 9-12 4 4 9-12
4 Larry Gargus Lapeer, MI 4 4 9- 6 4 4 9- 6
5 Brandon Rose Saginaw, MI 4 4 8-10 4 4 8-10
6 Thomas Kiefer Fowlerville, MI 3 3 7- 8 3 3 7- 8
7 Timothy Hahn Sanford, MI 2 2 4- 8 2 2 4- 8
8 Jeffrey Fellows Howell, MI 2 2 4- 0 2 2 4- 0
9 Greg Sochocki Bridgeport , MI 2 2 3- 9 2 2 3- 9
10 Erhardt Tulgestka Posen, MI 2 2 3- 7 2 2 3- 7
11 Mike Paul Atlanta, MI 1 1 2- 7 1 1 2- 7
12 Doug Ratliff Commerce Twp, MI 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
MINNESOTA
1 Chuck Steinbauer Branerd, MN 5 5 12- 2 5 5 12- 2
2 Brian Skluzacek Prior Lake, MN 5 5 11-10 5 5 11-10
3 Ron Mehr Paynesville, MN 5 5 11- 8 5 5 11- 8
4 Joe Patock Lakeville, MN 5 5 11- 0 5 5 11- 0
5 Jonathan Patrick El Dorado, IA 5 5 10-15 5 5 10-15
6 Zachary David Miller Prior Lake , MN 5 5 9-13 5 5 9-13
7 Allan R Steinbauer Owatanna , MN 3 3 6- 7 3 3 6- 7
8 Jim Severson Sartell , MN 2 2 4-15 2 2 4-15
9 Dean Capra Blaine, MN 1 1 2-12 1 1 2-12
10 Mike Thompson St. Michael, MN 1 1 2- 0 1 1 2- 0
11 Ryan Otto Buffalo, MN 1 1 1-10 1 1 1-10
12 Rick Billings Rochester, MN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
OHIO
1 Michael S Nesbitt St. Paris, OH 5 5 11- 6 5 5 11- 6
2 Chris Lappert Pataskala, OH 5 5 11- 1 5 5 11- 1
3 ddie Levin Westerville, OH 5 5 11- 0 5 5 11- 0
4 Evan Gutshall North Canton, OH 4 4 8-12 4 4 8-12
5 Bryan McNeal Enon, OH 4 4 8-11 4 4 8-11
6 Paul Amstutz Gambler, OH 4 4 8- 1 4 4 8- 1
7 Walter Hart Washington Court Ho 3 3 7- 9 3 3 7- 9
8 Wilber Presley Grove City, OH 2 2 4-12 2 2 4-12
9 Bill Donaldson Maineville, OH 2 2 3-15 2 2 3-15
10 Phillip Rummel Mount Vernon, OH 1 1 2- 1 1 1 2- 1
11 Rick Nesbitt Springfield, OH 1 1 1-14 1 1 1-14
12 Tim Mulvey New Albany YEMEN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
SOUTH DAKOTA
1 Steve Strope Orchard, NE 5 5 10-10 5 5 10-10
2 Corey Peterson Yankton, SD 5 5 9-12 5 5 9-12
3 Jeff Brown Wentworth, SD 4 4 9- 7 4 4 9- 7
4 Monty Fralick Martin, SD 3 3 7- 4 3 3 7- 4
5 Chad Ekroth Yankton, SD 3 3 6-14 3 3 6-14
5 Timothy Peterson Springfield, SD 3 3 6-14 3 3 6-14
7 Adam Hladky Volin, SD 1 1 4- 4 1 1 4- 4
8 Doug Rowse Elgin, NE 2 2 3-10 2 2 3-10
9 Thomas Logue Tyndall, SD 2 2 3- 0 2 2 3- 0
10 Troy Diede Sioux Falls, SD 1 1 2-12 1 1 2-12
11 Rex Ryckman Ft. Pierre, SD 1 1 1-11 1 1 1-11
12 Rod Pieper Yankton, SD 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
WISCONSIN
1 Kevin Fassbind Cottage Grove, WI 5 5 14- 2 5 5 14- 2
2 Ryan Geister Onalaska, WI 5 5 10-10 5 5 10-10
3 Brady Farrell Fort Atkinson, WI 5 4 9- 8 5 4 9- 8
4 Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI 3 3 8- 3 3 3 8- 3
5 Dan White Spring Valley, WI 4 4 7-11 4 4 7-11
6 Wade Stout Sauk City, WI 2 2 5- 1 2 2 5- 1
7 Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI 2 2 4- 8 2 2 4- 8
8 Josh Pratt Pulaski, WI 2 2 4- 3 2 2 4- 3
9 Chris Johnson Appleton, WI 2 2 4- 2 2 2 4- 2
10 Chris Timm Campbells Port, WI 1 1 2- 7 1 1 2- 7
11 Mike Mc Quitty New Berlin, WI 1 1 1-12 1 1 1-12
12 Kyle Carpenter Green Bay, WI 1 1 1-11 1 1 1-11
BFN Northern Division Championship
8/8/2012 - 8/10/2012
Mississippi River - Savanna Marina
TEAM STANDINGS DAY 1
Name # Fish # Live Lbs- Oz
# Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
1 IOWA 51 51 123-7 51 51 123- 7
2 ILLINOIS 38 38 86- 1 38 38 86- 1
3 MINNESOTA 38 38 84-12 38 38 84-12
4 OHIO 36 36 79- 2 36 36 79- 2
5 INDIANA 35 33 77-12 35 33 77-12
6 MICHIGAN 34 34 76- 0 34 34 76- 0
7 WISCONSIN 33 32 73-14 33 32 73-14
8 SOUTH DAKOTA 30 30 66- 2 30 30 66- 2