BENTON, Ill. (April 27, 2009) - Jerry Walker of Zeigler, Ill., won the Bass Fishing League Illini Division bass fishing tournament on Rend Lake Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 13 ounces. The victory earned Walker $3,917 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.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Matt Wolfe of Collinsville, Ill. (five bass, 16-3, $1,958); Gerald Bate of Zeigler, Ill. (five bass, 15-4, $1,307); Kenneth Shadwell of Decatur, Ill. (five bass, 13-1, $914) and Curt Erpenbach of Anderson, Ind. (four bass, 12-9, $783).
Carl Crider of Opdyke, Ill., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $520 for a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass he caught.
Clint Kapp of Highland, Ill., earned $1,921 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to four bass weighing 10 pounds, 11 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Sheldon Ayers of Anna, Ill. (five bass, 8-14 $960); Jim Randle of Decatur, Ill. (two bass, 6-12, $641); Jeff Scott of Sumner, Ill. (one bass, 6-6, $448); and Lyle Lehman of Blue Mound, Ill. (two bass, 5-7, $384).
Scott earned $255 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 6-ounce bass.
The next Illini Division event will be held on Lake Shelbyville in Shelbyville, Ill., June 6.