Black Wins at Rend

Rossi tops co-anglers

Michael Black of Toledo, Illinois, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 12 ounces, Saturday to win the first FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Illini Division tournament of 2016 on Rend Lake. For his victory, Black took home $8,240.

According to tournament reports, Black fished in mid-lake areas and used a Custom Cast Lures jig.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

               1^st:          Michael Black, Toledo, Ill., five bass, 19-12, $6,240 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

               2^nd:         Marty Sisk, Evansville, Ind., four bass, 15-1, $2,288

               3^rd:          Travis Gillett, Salem, Ill., five bass, 12-0, $1,525

               4^th:          Toby Corn, West Frankfort, Ill., five bass, 11-15, $1,068

               5^th:          Neil McCord, West Frankfort, Ill., three bass, 8-15, $915

               6^th:          Darren Frazier, Anna, Ill., three bass, 8-14, $839

               7^th:          Derek Jenkel, Pinckneyville, Ill., five bass, 8-6, $763

               8^th:          Dan Shoraga, West Frankfort, Ill., three bass, 8-5, $686

               9^th:          Larry Caldwell, Saint Peters, Mo., three bass, 7-8, $610

               10^th:        Paul Leonard, Chatham, Ill., two bass, 7-2, $534

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.  

Black also caught a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass – the biggest of the tournament in the pro division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $665.

Rossi tops co-anglers

Mario Rossi of Granite City, Illinois, weighed in three bass totaling 7 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the co-angler divisionand earn $2,140.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

               1^st:          Mario Rossi, Granite City, Ill., three bass, 7-2, $2,140

               2^nd:         Mike Houle, Orland Park, Ill., two bass, 6-6, $1,070

               3^rd:          Chris Gable, Eddyville, Ky., one bass, 5-10, $1,014

               4^th:          Dave Dobill, Royalton, Ill., two bass, 5-5, $499

               5^th:          Anthony Macon, Greenville, Ill., two bass, 4-7, $428

               6^th:          Jarred Metje, Woodlawn, Ill., one bass, 3-15, $392

               7^th:          Bill Higgins, Albers, Ill., two bass, 3-13, $357

               8^th:          Ryan Fancher, Olney, Ill., one bass, 3-9, $321

               9^th:          Tony Kirkpatrick, Woodlawn, Ill., one bass, 3-5, $285

               10^th:        Danny Toohey, Greenville, Ill., one bass, 3-1, $250

Gable caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 5 pounds, 10 ounces and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $302.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 13-15 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.