GOLCONDA, Ill. (Aug. 10, 2009) - Nathan Murphy of Harrisburg, Ill., won the Bass Fishing League Illini Division bass fishing tournament on the Ohio River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces. The victory earned Murphy $3,113 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Mississippi River Regional Championship in Fort Madison, Iowa, Oct. 1-3, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Murphy said he caught his limit using an assortment of baits including throwing soft plastics.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jay Peterson of Clinton, Ill. (five bass, 9-13, $1,557); Carl Wasem of Belleville, Ill. (five bass, 9-11, $1,037); Bradley Smith of Saint Jacob, Ill. (five bass, 9-6, $726) and Jeff Fulkerson of Elizabethtown, Ill. (five bass, 9-5, $623).
Jay Peterson took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $365 for a 4 pound, 2-ounce bass he caught.
Michael Luce of Ledbetter, Ky., earned $1,557 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 10 pounds, 10 ounces that he caught on a worm.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Patrick O'Dell of Neoga, Ill. (five bass, 10-9, $778); Aaron Wehmeyer of Bloomington, Ill. (five bass, 9-13, $521); Jeff Scott of Sumner, Ill. (five bass, 8-2, $363); and James Schubert of Mount Vernon, Ill. (five bass, 7-12, $311).
Rick McGuire of Warrenton, Mo., earned $182 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 3-pound, 13-ounce bass.
The next Illini Division event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held on Lake Shelbyville in Findlay, Ill., Aug. 29-30.