WABASHA, Minn. (July 21, 2008) - Boater Chris Fritsch of Rochester, Minn., won the Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division bass fishing tournament on the Mississippi River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 4 ounces. The victory earned Fritsch $3,329 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.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jeff Benson of Holmen, Wis. (five bass, 16-00, $1,958); Bill Gretten of Blue Grass, Iowa (five bass, 15-11, $1,307); Bill Frisk of Holmen, Wis. (five bass, 15-06, $914) and Mike Van Houten of Ankeny, Iowa (five bass, 15-04, $783).
Terry Banitt of Altura, Minn., took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $520 for a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass.
Jereimiah Hatfield of Cashton, Wis., earned $1,958 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 15 pounds that he caught on a frog in shallow water.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Patrick McPhetridge of Waterford, Wis. (five bass, 13-03, $816); Brent Serum of Durand, Wis. (five bass, 13-03, $816); Neil LeMaster of Ft. Madison, Iowa (five bass, 13-00, $424) and James Medved of Milwaukee, Wis. (five bass, 13-00, $424).
Brent Serum and James Stanton of Mindoro, Wis., each earned $130 as the co-angler Big Bass winners after catching 4-pound, 6-ounce bass.
Great Lakes Division anglers will visit the Mississippi River in Prairie Du Chien, Wis., Aug. 9 for their fourth regular-season event. 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