Martinkovic Runs Away with Title

Clift earns co-angler honors on Ohio River

Chris Martinkovic of Hamilton, Ohio, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 12 pounds, 9 ounces Saturday to win the fourth Walmart Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division tournament on the Ohio River. For his victory, Martinkovic earned $6,244.

“I divided my days evenly between areas in creeks and the main river,” said Martinkovic, who earned his third career victory and 19^th top-10 finish in FLW competition. “The main river fishes better in the afternoon when the sun is high so that’s where I wanted to end up.

“There are six creeks within a four mile stretch near the takeoff ramp that I knew I wanted to focus on,” continued Martinkovic. “I was bouncing around to different spots looking for shad up on flats.”

Martinkovic said he caught the majority of his fish on a white spinnerbait and a shad-colored crankbait.

“I ended up catching my biggest bass on a custom-made jig,” said Martinkovic. “I was able to bring over 20 fish over the course of the competition. It was a solid day of fishing.” 

The top 10 boaters:

1^st:          Chris Martinkovic, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 12-9, $4,244 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

2^nd:         Dan South, Corydon, Ind., five bass, 7-12, $2,122

3^rd:          Brad, Baldwin, Waynesville, Ohio, three bass   , 7-8, $1,413

4^th:          Jim Vitaro, Wooster, Ohio, five bass, 7-6, $990

5^th:          George Brown, Camby, Ind., five bass, 6-12, $849

6^th:          David Spivey, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 6-10, $778

7^th:          Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 6-5, $707

8^th:          Frank McClain, Scottsburg, Ind., five bass, 6-3, $637

9^th:          Gary Dees, Hamilton, Ohio, four bass, 6-0, $566

10^th:        Jeremie  Barker, Middletown, Ohio, three bass, 5-10, $495              

Complete results can be found here.  

Baldwin caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division, a fish weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $600.

Clift wins co-angler title

Justin Clift of Indianapolis, Indiana, weighed in four bass totaling 6 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to win $2,118 in the co-angler division.

The top 10 co-anglers:

1^st:          Justin Clift, Indianapolis, Ind., four bass, 6-6, $2,118

2^nd:         J.R. Selke, Waynesville, Ohio, two bass, 5-11, $1,059

3^rd:          Mark Heidt, Versailles, Ind., three bass, 4-10, $706

4^th:          Seth Fricke, Hamilton, Ohio, three bass, 4-8, $494

5^th:          Kenny Mitchell, Franklin, Ohio, four bass, 4-1, $424

6^th:          Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, two bass, 4-0, $388

7^th:          Larry Spivey, Middletown, Ohio, two bass, 3-14, $353

8^th:          Doug Napier, West Alexandria, Ohio, two bass, 3-9, $300

8^th:          Brian Short, Oxford, Ohio, three bass, 3-9, $300

10^th:        Ryan Sykes, Hamilton, Ohio, four bass, 3-8, $247

Selke caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $295.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 15-17 Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.