LACROSSE, Wis. (May 5, 2008) - Boater Dan McGarry of Tomah, Wis., won the Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division bass fishing tournament on the Mississippi River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces. The victory earned McGarry $3,667 plus a $647 Ranger contingency bonus and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Kentucky and Barkley Lakes Regional Championship in Gilbertsville, Ky., Oct. 2-4, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
McGarry caught his bass fishing stumps with a jig.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jason Slagstad of Sarona, Wis. (five bass, 18-14, $2,157); Jesse Wolfe of Nelson, Wis. (five bass, 18-11, $1,439); Jeff Benson of Holmen, Wis. (five bass, 18-02, $1,007) and Brian Christianson of LaCrosse, Wis. (five bass, 18-01, $863).
James Klass of Slinger, Wis., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $610 for a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass he caught on a spinnerbait.
Jared Greninger of Yorkville, Ill., earned $2,157 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 17 pounds that he caught fishing stumps and rocks.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Charles Droudes II of Milwaukee, Wis. (five bass, 15-02, $1,079); Randy Schafer of Mokena, Ill. (five bass, 15-01, $717); Sam Ritter of Prairie Du Chien, Wis. (five bass, 15-00, $467) and K.C. Schaible of Machesney Park, Ill. (five bass, 15-00, $467).
Glenn Walker of Verona, Wis., and Timothy Marcou of West Salem, Wis., earned $152 as co-angler Big Bass winners after catching 5-pound, 1-ounce bass.
Great Lakes Division anglers will visit Lake Winneconne-Wolf River Chain in Winneconne, Wis., June 7 for their second regular-season event, followed by an event on the Mississippi River in Wabasha, Minn., July 19. The division's fourth qualifying event will be held on the Mississippi River in Prairie Du Chien, Wis., Aug. 9. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on the Mississippi River in LaCrosse, Wis., Sept. 13-14.