CHEBOYGAN, Mich. (June 18, 2007) - Boater Erhardt Tulgestka of Rogers City, Mich., won the Bass Fishing League Michigan Division bass fishing tournament on Burt Mullet Lake Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 22 pounds, 15 ounces. The victory earned Tulgestka $3,400 plus a $600 Ranger Boat contingency bonus and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Mississippi River Regional Championship in Fort Madison, Iowa on Oct. 4-6, where he could ultimately win a new 519VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Dave Schneider of Alpena, Mich. (five bass, 22-11, $2,000); Chad Pipkens of Holt, Mich. (five bass, 21-06, $1,334); Greg Babiarz of Brighton, Mich. (five bass, 20-13, $933); Marc Snyder of Saint Johns, Mich. (five bass, 20-06, $766); and Mike Webber of Holly, Mich. (five bass, 20-06, $766).
Heath Wagner of Angola, Ind., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $540 for a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass.
Charlie Bloss of Cassopolis, Mich., earned $1,963 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 18 pounds, 9 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Michael Penn of East Tawas, Mich. (five bass, 16-00, $981); Tyler Christopher of Grandville, Mich. (five bass, 13-14, $655); Bob Eastman of Hartland, Mich. (three bass, 13-01, $403); Mike Moran of Highland, Mich. (four bass, 13-01, $403); and Scott Noel of Loveland, Ohio (five bass, 13-01, $403).
Mark Price of Buchanan, Mich., earned $265 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass.
The Michigan Division's next event will be July 7 on Lake St. Clair in Mt. Clemens, Mich., followed by a tournament July 28 on Grand River Lake in Grand Haven, Mich. The division's fourth event will be held Aug. 25 on the Detroit River in Trenton, Mich., and the final event of the regular season will be a two-day Super Tournament held Sept. 15-16 on the Detroit River in Trenton, Mich.