JASPER, Ind. (April 3, 2006) - Boater Richie Riddle of Columbus, Ind., earned $5,519 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Patoka. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Hoosier Division events and featured 177 boaters vying for the win, which earned Riddle 200 points in the Boater Division.
Riddle's winning catch of four bass weighed 15 pounds, 5 ounces. He threw a Booyah jig in shallow coves to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Gary Edwards of Milton, Ky. (three bass, 11 pounds, 11 ounces, $2,760); Michael Abplanalp of Cleves, Ohio (three bass, 10 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,837); Dusty Clifton of South Whitley, Ind. (two bass, 10 pounds, $1,288) and Jim Turner of Clarksville, Ind. (two bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,104).
Jim Turner also took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $885 for a 7-pound, 5-ounce bass.
Terry Knies of Sellersburg, Ind., bested 177 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $2,760 as the co-angler winner, thanks to three bass weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces that he caught while fishing the south part of the lake flipping jigs around shallow banks.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mike Chaudion of Cicero, Ind. (one bass, 7 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,380); Rob Campbell of Martinsville, Ind. and Dave Sandage of Cannelton, Ind., tied for third (two bass, 6 pounds, 7 ounces, $781) and John Royal of Odon, Ind. (two bass, 6 pounds, 3 ounces, $552).
Mike Chaudion also earned $442 as the co-angler big-bass award winner.
The Hoosier Division's next event will be held June 3 on the Ohio River near Tell City, Ind., followed by another event on the Ohio River July 15. The fourth event will be held Aug. 26 on Lake Monroe and the Hoosier Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 23-24 with a two-day Super Tournament again on Lake Monroe near Bloomington, Ind.