CANNELTON, Ind. (Aug. 3, 2015) – Gary Edwards of Milton, Kentucky, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 11 ounces Saturday to win the Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division tournament on the Ohio River. For his victory, Edwards earned $6,963.
“I’ve had a lot of second- and third-place finishes over the years, but never a win,” said Edwards. “It feels really good to finally take a tournament.”
Edwards said he focused on clay banks in a small creek off of the main river in order to catch his winning stringer.
“The fish were setting up well due to the amount of shad fry in the area,” said Edwards. “I also liked the water clarity, which was a factor I focused on during practice.”
The Kentucky angler said he caught six keepers using a black and blue-colored jig with a blue Big Bite Baits worm.
“The fish were very inactive so I had to really slow down and work the jig,” said Edwards.
Edwards said he caught the majority of his fish within the first two hours of the tournament, but his biggest fish – a 3-pounder – came just two minutes before he had to leave his spot to return to the weigh-in.
“That fish put me over the top,” said Edwards. “I was fortunate enough to cull a smaller fish out and secure the win.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Gary Edwards, Milton, Ky., five bass, 11-11, $3,963 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus + $1,000 Mercury Bonus
2nd: Jason Hubbard, Lewisport, Ky., five bass, 9-10, $1,981
3rd: Marty Sisk, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 9-1, $1,322
4th: Scott Bateman, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 8-9, $925
5th: Luke Foli, Fishers, Ind., four bass, 7-8, $793
6th: Clyde McNaron, Trenton, Ohio, four bass, 7-6, $727
7th: Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 7-3, $660
8th: Larry Sisk, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 6-14, $594
9th: Garry Kincaid, Martinsville, Ind., three bass, 6-10, $528
10th: Todd Hensley, New Albany, Ind., three bass, 6-7, $439
10th: Pete Justice, Sharonville, Ohio, five bass, 6-7, $439
McNaron caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division, a fish weighing 4 pounds, 2 ounces and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $535. Austin LeClere of Cannelton, Indiana, weighed in two bass totaling 5 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win $1,981 in the co-angler division. The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Austin LeClere, Cannelton, Ind., two bass, 5-8, $1,981
2nd: Rob Leavitt, Richmond, Ind., two bass, 4-14, $991
3rd: Mark Heidt, Versailles, Ind., four bass, 4-11, $662
4th: Jacob Bierman, Cincinnati, Ohio, two bass, 4-10, $462
5th: Matt Orschell, Lawrenceburg, Ind., three bass, 4-9, $396
6th: Tim Shields, Greenwood, Ind., three bass, 4-1, $363
7th: Gary McClure, Churubusco, Ind., three bass, 3-14, $330
8th: Jamil Abdullah, McCordsville, Ind., two bass, 3-13, $280
8th: Douglas Salzman, Newburgh, Ind., three bass, 3-13, $280
10th: Charles Hardin, Evansville, Ind., three bass, 3-12, $231
Bierman caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $267.
The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 15-17 Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.