CLINTON, Iowa. (Aug. 28, 2006) Boater Jeff Ritter of Prairie Du Chien, Wis., earned $3,514 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division bass fishing tournament on the Mississippi River. The tournament was the fourth of five regular-season Great Lakes Division events and earned Ritter 200 points in the Boater Division.
Ritter's winning catch of five bass weighed 17 pounds, 7 ounces. He was throwing a topwater frog over shallow grass to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jason Leuenberger of Lacrosse, Wis. (five bass, 15 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,757); Bill Salzmann of Galena, Ill.. (five bass, 14 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,172); Mark Claerhout of Colona, Ill., (five bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces, $820) and Bob Bungard of Muskego, Wis. (five bass, 13 pounds, 10 ounces, $703).
Leuenberger also won the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award with a 4-pound, 11-ounce bass that earning him $450.
Claerhout also took home an additional $500 for being the highest placing Ranger Cup participant.
Doug Macchia of Kenosha, Wis., won the Co-angler Division and earned $1,757 thanks to three bass weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Tim Millett of St. Charles, Ill. (three bass, 7 pounds, 14 ounces, $879); Darren Katzung of Bagley, Wis. (four bass, 7 pounds $585); Aaron Pospisil of Marion, Iowa. (three bass, 6 pounds, 13 ounces, $410); and Kyle Schauf of Onalaska, Wis. and Wayne Stoner of Manhattan, Ill. tied for fifth, (three bass, 6 pounds, 5 ounces, $336).
Stoner also earned an additional $225 as the co-angler Snickers Big Bass winner with a 3-pound, 13-ounce bass.
The Great Lakes Division's next event will take place on the Mississippi River near Lacrosse, Wis., Sept. 16-17 for two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event.