HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (Aug. 10, 2009) - Joe Balog of Harrison Township, Mich., won the Bass Fishing League Michigan Division bass fishing tournament on the Saint Clair River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 20 pounds, 13 ounces. The victory earned Balog $3,766 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.
Balog said he caught his limit on a drop-shot Berkley Gulp! Fry through grassy areas.
Rounding out the top five boaters are David Reault of Livonia, Mich. (five bass, 20-9, $1,883); Hans Dahlerup of Clarkston, Mich. (five bass, 19-9, $1,256); Todd Asher of North Vernon, Ind. (five bass, 18-10, $879) and Todd Schmitz of Goshen, Ind. (five bass, 18-5, $753).
Hans Dahlerup took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $500 for a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass he caught.
Brian Bennett of Almont, Mich., earned $1,878 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 21 pounds, 5 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are David Dieling of Elmhurst, Ill. (five bass, 19-3, $939); Joshua Heintschel of Oregon, Ohio (five bass, 18-14, $627); Jim Hippensteel of Rochester, Ind. (five bass, 18-3, $438); and Justin Brandenburg of Richmond, Ky. (five bass, 17-9, $376).
Joshua Heintschel earned $245 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass.
The next Michigan Division event will be held on the Detroit River in Trenton, Mich., Aug. 29.