LACROSSE, Wis. (May 18, 2009) - Jeff Herburger of Dubuque, Iowa, won the Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division bass fishing tournament on the Mississippi River Saturday with a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds even. The victory earned Herburger $4,541 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Fort Madison Regional Championship in Fort Madison, Iowa, Oct. 1-3, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Herburger said he caught the majority of his bass fishing open water in Pool 7 with a black tube and a yellow and black spinnerbait.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Clayton Reitz of Morton, Ill. (five bass, 17-2, $2,270); Daniel Ehmen of Rockford, Ill. (five bass, 16-0, $1,287); Jay Mannel of Onalaska, Wis. (five bass, 16-0, $1,287) and tied for fifth, Jeff Benson of Holmen, Wis., Dan McGarry of Tomah, Wis., and Jesse Wolfe of Nelson, Wis. (five bass, 15-14, $832).
James Tomsovic of Sparta, Wis., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $660 for a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass he caught on a black and blue jig in Pool 7.
James Medved of Milwaukee, Wis., earned $2,270 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 18 pounds, 1 ounce.
Medved said he caught the majority of his bass swimming a black and blue jig over grass in Pool 7.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Ben Due of Mauston, Wis. (five bass, 14-4, $1,135); Brett Shillin of LaCrosse, Wis. (five bass, 14-3, $757); Tyler Schulz of LaCrosse, Wis. (five bass, 13-15, $530) and Branden Gifford of Rochester, Minn. (five bass, 13-14, $454).
Medved earned $330 as the co-angler Big Bass winner with a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass he caught.
The next Great Lakes Division event will be held on Lake Winneconne in Winneconne, Wis., June 20.