GOLCONDA, Ill. (Sept. 10. 27, 2007) - Boater Michael Mcatee of Waverly, Ky., won the Bass Fishing League Illini Division Super Bass Fishing Tournament on the Ohio River with a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 22 pounds, 1 ounce. The victory earned Mcatee $4,366 plus a $770 Ranger contingency bonus and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Mississippi River Regional Championship in Fort Madison, Iowa, Oct. 4-6, where he could ultimately win a new 519VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Mcatee caught his bass using a spinnerbait near timber north of Golconda.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Greg Coleman of Butler, Ill. (10 bass, 18-14, $2,569); Jason Thomas of Mount Vernon, Ill. (10 bass, 17-11, $1,712); Donnie Dill of Effingham, Ill. (10 bass, 17-11, $1,199) and Travis Gillett of Iuka, Ill. (10 bass, 16-12, $1,027).
Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $645 for a 4-pound, 4-ounce bass.
Jack Morse of Decatur, Ill., earned $2,569 as the co-angler winner thanks to nine bass weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces that he caught while fishing a Lunker Lure spinnerbait near wood and stumps.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Brett Wysock of Wilmington, Ill. (eight bass, 12-14, $1,284); Danny Flournoy of Gillespie, Ill. (five bass, 11-10, $858); Charles Cummins of Shattuc, Ill. (eight bass, 11-10, $599) and Terry Marucco of Decatur, Ill. (six bass, 9-12, $514).
Flournoy also earned $322 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 4-pound, 12-ounce bass.