SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (June 8, 2009) - Bill Leasher of Neoga, Ill., won the Bass Fishing League Illini Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Shelbyville Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces. The victory earned Leasher $3,592 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Fort Madison Regional Championship in Fort Madison, Iowa, Oct. 1-3, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Leasher said he fished on the south end of the lake and used a soft-plastic lizard on a Carolina rig to target secondary points 10 to15 feet deep.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Anton Silvester of Staunton, Ill. (five bass, 14-6, $1,796); John Wright of Shelbyville, Ill. (five bass, 13-15, $1,201); Wes Cummins of Shattuc,Ill. (five bass, 13-10, $838) and Greg Coleman of Butler, Ill. (five bass, 13-1, $718).
Leasher took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $460 for a 4-pound, 13-ounce bass he caught.
Jimmy Null of Bethalto, Ill., earned $1,796 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Derick Holmes of Effingham, Ill. (five bass, 11-12, $898); Adam Johnson of Danforth, Ill. (five bass, 10-9, $598); Tony Westjohn of Montrose, Ill. (two bass, 8-9, $419); and Dave Dobill of Royalton, Ill. (3 bass, 7-15, $359).
Westjohn earned $230 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass.
The next Illini Division event will be held on the Mississippi River in Fort Madison July 11.