SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (Sept. 12, 2012) – Michael Black of Toledo, Ill., weighed a two-day total of seven bass totaling 17 pounds even to win the Bass Fishing League Illini Division super tournament on Lake Shelbyville in Shelbyville on Sunday. For his victory, Black earned $5,821.
“This is actually the fifth event that I have won in my career,” said Black. “And the wins just keep feeling better the older that I get. The conditions were terrible out there. It was 90 degrees on Friday, our practice day. Then on Saturday, it dropped down into the 70s and the water temperature dropped dramatically. It really made for a tough tournament.”
Black keyed on just four stumps in the main lake area throughout the entire tournament. He threw a Custom Cast Lures green pumpkin-colored jig, a Reaction Innovations California 420-colored Sweet Beaver and a white War Eagle spinnerbait to catch his fish.
“In tournaments, I always go after the big fish, not the numbers,” said Black. “I fish for five good bites every day. It’s risky; I’ve lost a lot of tournaments, as well. The key for me was my persistency, though. I fished so slow. That’s one of my main strengths is my patience. I would concentrate on a stump and throw at it 15 to 20 times, but I knew the fish were there and I just had to get in their heads. Sure, the money is nice to win, but for me, tournament fishing is all about the respect.”
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Dan McDowell, Mattoon, Ill., seven bass, 14-7, $1,911
3rd: Derek Jenkel, Pinckneyville, Ill., eight bass, 13-10, $1,273
4th: James Williams, Windsor, Ill., six bass, 13-2, $892
5th: John Wright, Shelbyville, Ill., six bass, 13-1, $764
6th: Travis Gillett, Salem, Ill., five bass, 10-7, $701
7th: Tyson Kiselewski, Mount Vernon, Ill., four bass, 9-4, $637
8th: Aaron McManaway, Altamont, Ill., four bass, 8-3, $573 + $1,000 Evinrude Bonus
9th: Douglas Williams, Windsor, Ill., three bass, 5-15, $510
10th: Paul Leonard, Chatham, Ill., three bass, 5-5, $446
Chris Rush of Louisville, Ill., weighed in four bass totaling 8 pounds, 15 ounces Sunday to win $1,911 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Kim Sapetti, Chatham, Ill., four bass, 8-6, $955
3rd: Ross Davis, St. Elmo, Ill., four bass, 8-2, $637
4th: Garrett McDowell, Mattoon, Ill., four bass, 6-14, $446
5th: Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., three bass, 6-0, $382
6th: Lenn Jamerson, Lawrenceville, Ill., three bass, 5-14, $350
7th: Christopher Cunningham, Green Valley, Ill., one bass, 4-15, $318
8th: Matt Parish, Hanna City, Ill., two bass, 3-10, $287
9th: Nathan Heinrich, Olney, Ill., one bass, 3-1, $255
10th: Brandon Reeder, Collinsville, Ill., two bass, 3-0, $223
The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 4-6 Regional Championship on Cherokee Lake in Morristown, Tenn. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.