PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (July 20, 2009) - Jeff Benson of Holmen, Wis., and Travis Brueggen of Cashton, Wis., won the Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division bass fishing tournament on the Mississippi River Saturday each with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 11 ounces. The victory earned Benson and Brueggen $2,972 each and placed them one step closer to qualifying for the Mississippi River Regional Championship in Fort Madison, Iowa, Oct. 1-3, where they could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jeff Herburger of Dubuque, Iowa (five bass, 14-4, $1,322); Randy Wieczorek of Buffalo City, Wis. (five bass, 14-3, $925); and Scott Harrell of Elgin, Ill. (five bass, 13-14, $793).
Brett Payton of Waterloo, Iowa, took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $535 for a 4-pound, 3-ounce bass he caught.
Ben Due of Mauston, Wis., earned $1,981 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces that he caught on a finesse jig.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are James Medved of Milwaukee, Wis. (five bass, 12-13, $991); Jim Schleifer of Onalaska, Wis. (five bass, 12-6, $662); Robby Tufte of Winona, Minn. (five bass, 12-1, $462); and John Branley of Poynette, Wis. (five bass, 11-12, $396).
Edward Kamrowski Sr. of La Crosse, Wis., earned $267 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 4-pound, 9-ounce bass.
The next Great Lakes Division event will be held on the Mississippi River in Wabasha, Wis., Aug. 8.