WHITTINGTON, Ill. (April 25, 2016) – Michael Black of Toledo, Illinois, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 12 ounces, Saturday to win the Bass Fishing League (BFL) Illini Division tournament on Rend Lake. For his victory, Black took home $8,240. According to tournament reports, Black fished in mid-lake areas and used a Custom Cast Lures jig.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Michael Black, Toledo, Ill., five bass, 19-12, $6,240 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
2nd: Marty Sisk, Evansville, Ind., four bass, 15-1, $2,288
3rd: Travis Gillett, Salem, Ill., five bass, 12-0, $1,525
4th: Toby Corn, West Frankfort, Ill., five bass, 11-15, $1,068
5th: Neil McCord, West Frankfort, Ill., three bass, 8-15, $915
6th: Darren Frazier, Anna, Ill., three bass, 8-14, $839
7th: Derek Jenkel, Pinckneyville, Ill., five bass, 8-6, $763
8th: Dan Shoraga, West Frankfort, Ill., three bass, 8-5, $686
9th: Larry Caldwell, Saint Peters, Mo., three bass, 7-8, $610
10th: Paul Leonard, Chatham, Ill., two bass, 7-2, $534
Black also caught a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass – the biggest of the tournament in the pro division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $665. Mario Rossi of Granite City, Illinois, weighed in three bass totaling 7 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,140. The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Mario Rossi, Granite City, Ill., three bass, 7-2, $2,140
2nd: Mike Houle, Orland Park, Ill., two bass, 6-6, $1,070
3rd: Chris Gable, Eddyville, Ky., one bass, 5-10, $1,014
4th: Dave Dobill, Royalton, Ill., two bass, 5-5, $499
5th: Anthony Macon, Greenville, Ill., two bass, 4-7, $428
6th: Jarred Metje, Woodlawn, Ill., one bass, 3-15, $392
7th: Bill Higgins, Albers, Ill., two bass, 3-13, $357
8th: Ryan Fancher, Olney, Ill., one bass, 3-9, $321
9th: Tony Kirkpatrick, Woodlawn, Ill., one bass, 3-5, $285
10th: Danny Toohey, Greenville, Ill., one bass, 3-1, $250
Gable caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 5 pounds, 10 ounces and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $302.