Savanna, Ill. — When defending a client, Mark Dove wants all the attention he can muster in court. However, during the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Northern Divisional tournament on the Mississippi river, the criminal defense attorney from North Vernon, Ind., has been trying to avoid the attention of his fellow contenders.
Avoiding the crowds has helped Dove climb into the divisional lead with 10 fish weighing 25 pounds, 9 ounces. The 56-year-old Dove caught some fish in his primary area yesterday, but fishing pressure there caused him to head to his remote backup spot where he caught a limit in 42 minutes today.
“I don’t have anyone within miles of me,” said Dove, who is relying on a shallow backwater area. “I have a stretch completely to myself, and I have not seen anyone in there in practice or during the tournament. It took me a long time to figure out how to get back in there, and once I did, I could blow in — unless the water keeps dropping.”
The seven-time Northern Divisional qualifier and 1997 Bassmaster Classic contender has stuck with the same pattern he found in practice. “I basically fished the same way I fished in practice the whole time I have been here except for one day,” said Dove, a member of the Shallow Minded Bass Anglers club. “I am not fishing current much and mainly fishing slop.”
“The fish just bit better for me today. I had almost identical weights both days [12-8 yesterday and 13-1 today], but I caught quite a few more fish today. I am a little concerned because my water is getting continually clearer, and I think that might hurt me tomorrow, but I guess I will just have to go fishing and see what happens.”
The weather change this week from bright sunshine to two competition days of drizzle and cloudy skies apparently hasn’t mattered much to Dove. “I was catching them in practice in the bright sunshine, too, but with the water clearing up and if it gets sunny, too, that could cause some problems,” he said.
If Dove finishes as the top angler on his Indiana team he will qualify for the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship. Other state leaders hoping to make the championship are Curt Samo of Illinois; JJ Patton, Iowa; Jamie Sochocki, Michigan; Joe Patock, Minnesota; Eddie Levin, Ohio; Monty Fralick, South Dakota; and Kevin Fassbind, Wisconsin.
Iowa continues to lead the team competition with 236 pounds, 2 ounces, followed by the host Illinois squad with 174-7.
The Northern Divisional contenders will launch for the final competition day at about 5:45 a.m. local time tomorrow at the Savanna Marina.
BFN Northern Division Championship
8/8/2012 - 8/10/2012
Mississippi River - Savanna Marina - Savanna, IL
STANDINGS ANGLER DAY 2
Name City, State # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
# Fish # Live Lbs - Oz PTS
1 Mark Dove North Vernon, IN 5 5 13- 1 10 10 25- 9 0
2 JJ Patton Eldridge, IA 5 5 13- 5 10 10 25- 4 0
3 Brad Teel Independence, IA 5 5 9-12 10 10 24- 9 0
4 Jamie Sochocki Bridgeport, MI 5 5 12- 0 10 10 24- 2 0
5 Steven Houdek Calmar, IA 5 5 10-12 10 10 23-14 0
6 Curt Samo Rochelle, IL 5 5 12- 2 10 10 23- 1 0
7 Eddie Levin Westerville, OH 5 5 12- 1 10 10 23- 1 0
8 Blair Gordon Marion, IA 5 5 11-10 10 10 22-15 0
9 Larry Gargus Lapeer, MI 5 5 13- 4 9 9 22-10 0
10 Thad Takes independence, IA 5 4 11- 4 10 9 22- 8 0
11 Michael S Nesbitt St. Paris, OH 5 5 10- 4 10 10 21-10 0
12 Joe Patock Lakeville, MN 5 5 10- 9 10 10 21- 9 0
13 Harry Heins Monona, IA 3 3 8-13 8 8 21- 1 0
14 Monty Fralick Martin, SD 5 5 13-10 8 8 20-14 0
15 Bryan McNeal Enon, OH 5 5 11-11 9 9 20- 6 0
16 Aaron Hochstedler Greentown, IN 5 5 10- 9 10 10 19-13 0
17 Brandon Rose Saginaw, MI 5 5 11- 3 9 9 19-13 0
18 Jesse Reynolds Muscatine, IA 5 5 9-14 9 9 19- 2 0
19 Andy Sommerfelt Denver, IA 3 3 7- 4 8 8 19- 0 0
20 Greg Heindselman Lewistown, MO 5 1 9- 9 9 5 18-13 0
21 Tony Puelz Garnavillo, IA 2 2 5-10 7 7 18- 9 0
22 Kevin Fassbind Cottage Grove, WI 2 2 4- 3 7 7 18- 5 0
23 Ron Mehr Paynesville, MN 3 3 6-12 8 8 18- 4 0
24 Paul Amstutz Gambler, OH 5 5 9-13 9 9 17-14 0
25 Larry Paul North Vernon, IN 5 5 13- 8 7 7 17-14 0
26 Corey Peterson Yankton, SD 4 4 7-14 9 9 17-10 0
27 Dave Whalen Bloomington, IL 4 4 7-12 9 9 17- 6 0
28 Jonathan Patrick El Dorado, IA 3 3 6- 3 8 8 17- 2 0
29 David Junk Quincy, IL 3 3 7- 4 7 7 17- 2 0
30 Jeff Brown Wentworth, SD 4 4 7- 9 8 8 17- 0 0
31 Brian Searcy Muscatine, IA 3 3 7-13 7 7 16-15 0
32 Brady Farrell Fort Atkinson, WI 3 3 7- 2 8 7 16-10 0
33 Mark Nies Cannelton, IN 1 1 1-12 6 5 16- 2 0
34 Wade Stout Sauk City, WI 5 5 10-14 7 7 15-15 0
35 Steve Strope Orchard, NE 2 2 5- 5 7 7 15-15 0
36 Chad Ekroth Yankton, SD 4 4 8-12 7 7 15-10 0
37 Ted Prisbe Harsens Island, MI 3 3 5-13 7 7 15- 9 0
38 Tim Hartman Effingham, IL 5 4 10-12 7 6 15- 6 0
39 Chris Lappert Pataskala, OH 2 2 4- 2 7 7 15- 3 0
40 Brian Marsinko Streater, IL 3 3 5- 7 7 7 15- 2 0
41 Evan Gutshall North Canton, OH 3 3 6- 6 7 7 15- 2 0
42 Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 2 2 4- 5 7 7 14-14 0
43 Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI 3 3 6- 9 6 6 14-12 0
44 Gordon Lamb Georgetown, IN 5 5 12-10 6 6 14- 6 0
45 Terry Fitzpatrick Waukon, IA 5 5 12- 3 6 6 13-15 0
46 Chuck Heming Quincy, IL 5 5 11- 5 6 6 13-13 0
47 Chuck Steinbauer Branerd, MN 1 1 1-10 6 6 13-12 0
48 Walter Hart Washington Court Ho 3 3 6- 1 6 6 13-10 0
49 Rick Billings Rochester, MN 5 4 13- 6 5 4 13- 6 0
50 Rex Ryckman Ft. Pierre, SD 5 5 11- 7 6 6 13- 2 0
51 Bill Donaldson Maineville, OH 3 3 9- 3 5 5 13- 2 0
52 Craig Dahlin Horton, MI 1 1 2- 6 6 6 13- 1 0
53 Wilber Presley Grove City, OH 4 4 8- 0 6 6 12-12
54 Mark Loftis Ivesdale, IL 3 3 6- 4 6 6 12-10 0
55 Zachary David Miller Prior Lake , MN 1 1 2- 7 6 6 12- 4 0
56 Thomas Kiefer Fowlerville, MI 2 2 4- 4 5 5 11-12 0
57 Peter Saele Lockport, IL 4 4 8-15 5 5 11-11 0
58 Brian Skluzacek Prior Lake, MN 0 0 0- 0 5 5 11-10 0
59 Tom Ondras Manhattan, IL 1 1 2-15 5 5 11- 4 0
60 Dan White Spring Valley, WI 1 1 3- 2 5 5 10-13 0
61 Scott Dooley Raymore, IL 3 3 6- 1 5 5 10-12 0
62 Ryan Geister Onalaska, WI 0 0 0- 0 5 5 10-10 0
63 Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI 3 3 5-13 5 5 10- 5 0
64 Tony Wilson Cincinnati, OH 1 1 2- 9 5 4 10- 4 0
65 James Sampson Depauw, IN 1 1 2- 4 5 5 10- 2 0
66 Timothy Peterson Springfield, SD 2 2 3- 4 5 5 10- 2 0
67 Allan R Steinbauer Owatanna , MN 2 2 3-10 5 5 10- 1 0
68 Chris Timm Campbells Port, WI 3 3 7- 3 4 4 9-10 0
69 Adam Hladky Volin, SD 2 2 4-11 3 3 8-15 0
70 Bryan Freyermuth Muscatine, IA 2 2 4- 7 4 4 8- 6 0
71 Phillip Rummel Mount Vernon, OH 2 2 6- 4 3 3 8- 5 0
72 Chris Johnson Appleton, WI 2 2 4- 2 4 4 8- 4 0
73 Kyle Carpenter Green Bay, WI 3 3 6- 8 4 4 8- 3 0
74 Greg Sochocki Bridgeport , MI 2 2 4- 0 4 4 7- 9 0
75 Jeffrey Fellows Howell, MI 2 2 3- 8 4 4 7- 8 0
76 Mark Klemp Villa Park, IL 0 0 0- 0 3 3 7- 7 0
77 Timothy Hahn Sanford, MI 1 1 2-15 3 3 7- 7 0
78 Erhardt Tulgestka Posen, MI 2 2 3-10 4 4 7- 1 0
79 Kyle Sommer Fort Wayne, IN 1 1 2- 4 3 3 7- 1 0
80 Rod Pieper Yankton, SD 3 3 7- 0 3 3 7- 0 0
81 Terry McWilliams Greenfield, IN 2 2 4- 1 3 3 6-11 0
82 Doug Rowse Elgin, NE 1 1 2- 8 3 3 6- 2 0
83 Dean Capra Blaine, MN 1 1 2-14 2 2 5-10 0
84 Ryan Otto Buffalo, MN 2 2 3-14 3 3 5- 8 0
85 Jim Severson Sartell , MN 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4-15 0
86 Thomas Logue Tyndall, SD 1 1 1-12 3 3 4-12 0
87 Tim Mulvey New Albany YEMEN 2 2 4- 7 2 2 4- 7 0
88 Mike Mc Quitty New Berlin, WI 1 1 2-10 2 2 4- 6 0
89 Troy Diede Sioux Falls, SD 1 1 1- 8 2 2 4- 4 0
90 Steve Quiggins Fortville, IN 1 1 2- 5 2 2 4- 4 0
91 Josh Pratt Pulaski, WI 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 3 0
92 Rick Nesbitt Springfield, OH 1 1 1-15 2 2 3-13 0
93 Mike Thompson St. Michael, MN 1 1 1-11 2 2 3-11 0
94 Mike Paul Atlanta, MI 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 7 0
95 Doug Ratliff Commerce Twp, MI 1 1 2- 6 1 1 2- 6 0
96 Eric Durcholz Brandenburg, KY 1 1 2- 1 1 1 2- 1 0
97 Blake Albertson Bloomington, IN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Taylor Ambort Long Grove , IA 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Alexander Datz Thornville, OH 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Mason DeJarnette Marysville, OH 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Trey Doom Avon, SD 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Aaron Ellerbrock Newark, IL 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 CJ Hatton South Lyon, MI 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Nate Holub Robins, IA 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Michael Lowry Huntley , IL 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Brady McCoy LaCrosse, WI 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Hunter McKinley Rockford, IL 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Nick Montilino Edina, MN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Tucker Peschl Tyndall, SD 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Connor Smith Champlin, MN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Danny Sprague Hastings, MI 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
97 Caleb Taylor Whitestown, IN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
BIG BASS TOTALS
Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 Brad Teel Independence, IA 4- 8 1 295 292 667- 2 30
2 Larry Paul North Vernon, IN 4- 3 2 272 265 614- 4 27
BFN Northern Division Championship
8/8/2012 - 8/10/2012
Mississippi River - Savanna Marina - Savanna, IL
STANDINGS BY TEAM DAY 2
Name City, State # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
# Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
ILLINOIS
1 Curt Samo Rochelle, IL 5 5 12- 2 10 10 23- 1
2 Greg Heindselman Lewistown, MO 5 1 9- 9 9 5 18-13
3 Dave Whalen Bloomington, IL 4 4 7-12 9 9 17- 6
4 David Junk Quincy, IL 3 3 7- 4 7 7 17- 2
5 Tim Hartman Effingham, IL 5 4 10-12 7 6 15- 6
6 Brian Marsinko Streater, IL 3 3 5- 7 7 7 15- 2
7 Chuck Heming Quincy, IL 5 5 11- 5 6 6 13-13
8 Mark Loftis Ivesdale, IL 3 3 6- 4 6 6 12-10
9 Peter Saele Lockport, IL 4 4 8-15 5 5 11-11
10 Tom Ondras Manhattan, IL 1 1 2-15 5 5 11- 4
11 Scott Dooley Raymore, IL 3 3 6- 1 5 5 10-12
12 Mark Klemp Villa Park, IL 0 0 0- 0 3 3 7- 7
13 Aaron Ellerbrock Newark, IL 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
13 Michael Lowry Huntley , IL 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
INDIANA
1 Mark Dove North Vernon, IN 5 5 13- 1 10 10 25- 9
2 Aaron Hochstedler Greentown, IN 5 5 10- 9 10 10 19-13
3 Larry Paul North Vernon, IN 5 5 13- 8 7 7 17-14
4 Mark Nies Cannelton, IN 1 1 1-12 6 5 16- 2
5 Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 2 2 4- 5 7 7 14-14
6 Gordon Lamb Georgetown, IN 5 5 12-10 6 6 14- 6
7 Tony Wilson Cincinnati, OH 1 1 2- 9 5 4 10- 4
8 James Sampson Depauw, IN 1 1 2- 4 5 5 10- 2
9 Kyle Sommer Fort Wayne, IN 1 1 2- 4 3 3 7- 1
10 Terry McWilliams Greenfield, IN 2 2 4- 1 3 3 6-11
11 Steve Quiggins Fortville, IN 1 1 2- 5 2 2 4- 4
12 Eric Durcholz Brandenburg, KY 1 1 2- 1 1 1 2- 1
13 Blake Albertson Bloomington, IN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
13 Caleb Taylor Whitestown, IN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
IOWA
1 JJ Patton Eldridge, IA 5 5 13- 5 10 10 25- 4
2 Brad Teel Independence, IA 5 5 9-12 10 10 24- 9
3 Steven Houdek Calmar, IA 5 5 10-12 10 10 23-14
4 Blair Gordon Marion, IA 5 5 11-10 10 10 22-15
5 Thad Takes independence, IA 5 4 11- 4 10 9 22- 8
6 Harry Heins Monona, IA 3 3 8-13 8 8 21- 1
7 Jesse Reynolds Muscatine, IA 5 5 9-14 9 9 19- 2
8 Andy Sommerfelt Denver, IA 3 3 7- 4 8 8 19- 0
9 Tony Puelz Garnavillo, IA 2 2 5-10 7 7 18- 9
10 Brian Searcy Muscatine, IA 3 3 7-13 7 7 16-15
11 Terry Fitzpatrick Waukon, IA 5 5 12- 3 6 6 13-15
12 Bryan Freyermuth Muscatine, IA 2 2 4- 7 4 4 8- 6
13 Taylor Ambort Long Grove , IA 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
13 Nate Holub Robins, IA 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
MICHIGAN
1 Jamie Sochocki Bridgeport, MI 5 5 12- 0 10 10 24- 2
2 Larry Gargus Lapeer, MI 5 5 13- 4 9 9 22-10
3 Brandon Rose Saginaw, MI 5 5 11- 3 9 9 19-13
4 Ted Prisbe Harsens Island, MI 3 3 5-13 7 7 15- 9
5 Craig Dahlin Horton, MI 1 1 2- 6 6 6 13- 1
6 Thomas Kiefer Fowlerville, MI 2 2 4- 4 5 5 11-12
7 Greg Sochocki Bridgeport , MI 2 2 4- 0 4 4 7- 9
8 Jeffrey Fellows Howell, MI 2 2 3- 8 4 4 7- 8
9 Timothy Hahn Sanford, MI 1 1 2-15 3 3 7- 7
10 Erhardt Tulgestka Posen, MI 2 2 3-10 4 4 7- 1
11 Mike Paul Atlanta, MI 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 7
12 Doug Ratliff Commerce Twp, MI 1 1 2- 6 1 1 2- 6
13 CJ Hatton South Lyon, MI 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
13 Danny Sprague Hastings, MI 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
MINNESOTA
1 Joe Patock Lakeville, MN 5 5 10- 9 10 10 21- 9
2 Ron Mehr Paynesville, MN 3 3 6-12 8 8 18- 4
3 Jonathan Patrick El Dorado, IA 3 3 6- 3 8 8 17- 2
4 Chuck Steinbauer Branerd, MN 1 1 1-10 6 6 13-12
5 Rick Billings Rochester, MN 5 4 13- 6 5 4 13- 6
6 Zachary David Miller Prior Lake , MN 1 1 2- 7 6 6 12- 4
7 Brian Skluzacek Prior Lake, MN 0 0 0- 0 5 5 11-10
8 Allan R Steinbauer Owatanna , MN 2 2 3-10 5 5 10- 1
9 Dean Capra Blaine, MN 1 1 2-14 2 2 5-10
10 Ryan Otto Buffalo, MN 2 2 3-14 3 3 5- 8
11 Jim Severson Sartell , MN 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4-15
12 Mike Thompson St. Michael, MN 1 1 1-11 2 2 3-11
13 Nick Montilino Edina, MN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
13 Connor Smith Champlin, MN 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
OHIO
1 Eddie Levin Westerville, OH 5 5 12- 1 10 10 23- 1
2 Michael S Nesbitt St. Paris, OH 5 5 10- 4 10 10 21-10
3 Bryan McNeal Enon, OH 5 5 11-11 9 9 20- 6
4 Paul Amstutz Gambler, OH 5 5 9-13 9 9 17-14
5 Chris Lappert Pataskala, OH 2 2 4- 2 7 7 15- 3
6 Evan Gutshall North Canton, OH 3 3 6- 6 7 7 15- 2
7 Walter Hart Washington Court Ho 3 3 6- 1 6 6 13-10
8 Bill Donaldson Maineville, OH 3 3 9- 3 5 5 13- 2
9 Wilber Presley Grove City, OH 4 4 8- 0 6 6 12-12
10 Phillip Rummel Mount Vernon, OH 2 2 6- 4 3 3 8- 5
11 Tim Mulvey New Albany YEMEN 2 2 4- 7 2 2 4- 7
12 Rick Nesbitt Springfield, OH 1 1 1-15 2 2 3-13
13 Alexander Datz Thornville, OH 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
13 Mason DeJarnette Marysville, OH 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
SOUTH DAKOTA
1 Monty Fralick Martin, SD 5 5 13-10 8 8 20-14
2 Corey Peterson Yankton, SD 4 4 7-14 9 9 17-10
3 Jeff Brown Wentworth, SD 4 4 7- 9 8 8 17- 0
4 Steve Strope Orchard, NE 2 2 5- 5 7 7 15-15
5 Chad Ekroth Yankton, SD 4 4 8-12 7 7 15-10
6 Rex Ryckman Ft. Pierre, SD 5 5 11- 7 6 6 13- 2
7 Timothy Peterson Springfield, SD 2 2 3- 4 5 5 10- 2
8 Adam Hladky Volin, SD 2 2 4-11 3 3 8-15
9 Rod Pieper Yankton, SD 3 3 7- 0 3 3 7- 0
10 Doug Rowse Elgin, NE 1 1 2- 8 3 3 6- 2
11 Thomas Logue Tyndall, SD 1 1 1-12 3 3 4-12
12 Troy Diede Sioux Falls, SD 1 1 1- 8 2 2 4- 4
13 Trey Doom Avon, SD 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
13 Tucker Peschl Tyndall, SD 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
WISCONSIN
1 Kevin Fassbind Cottage Grove, WI 2 2 4- 3 7 7 18- 5
2 Brady Farrell Fort Atkinson, WI 3 3 7- 2 8 7 16-10
3 Wade Stout Sauk City, WI 5 5 10-14 7 7 15-15
4 Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI 3 3 6- 9 6 6 14-12
5 Dan White Spring Valley, WI 1 1 3- 2 5 5 10-13
6 Ryan Geister Onalaska, WI 0 0 0- 0 5 5 10-10
7 Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI 3 3 5-13 5 5 10- 5
8 Chris Timm Campbells Port, WI 3 3 7- 3 4 4 9-10
9 Chris Johnson Appleton, WI 2 2 4- 2 4 4 8- 4
10 Kyle Carpenter Green Bay, WI 3 3 6- 8 4 4 8- 3
11 Mike Mc Quitty New Berlin, WI 1 1 2-10 2 2 4- 6
12Josh Pratt Pulaski, WI 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 3
13 Brady McCoy LaCrosse, WI 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
13 Hunter McKinley Rockford, IL 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0