Sitko Snapped Tubes for Title

Kopczyk nets co-angler crown on Detroit River

Michael Sitko of Pinckney, Michigan, weighed a five bass limit totaling 23 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the third FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Michigan Division tournament of 2016 on the Detroit River presented by Power-Pole. Sitko took home $6,463 for his win.

Sitko says he ran to Lake St. Clair and targeted isolated weed patches along a mid-lake stretch that he estimated at 200 yards long by 50 yards wide.

“I dragged minnow baits on a drop-shot and then I would snap tubes,” says Sitko, who earned his second win in FLW competition. “The water was rough so I stayed in one area throughout the day.”

Sitko used a Yamamoto Baits Shad Shape Worm on the drop-shot rig and a 4-inch green-pumpkin-colored Poor Boys Tube.

“The drop-shot was more of a search-type bait,” says Sitko. “I dragged it through the cover, and when I got hung up on weeds, I flipped the tube in there and snapped it a couple of times.”

The Michigan angler was able to wrangle in 15 to 20 keepers throughout his day.

“I put a 5-pounder in the boat at 11 a.m. on the tube,” says Sitko. “Once you find them on Lake St. Clair this time of year, you can work them a bit. That’s what I did out there.”

The top 10 boaters:

1^st:          Michael Sitko, Pinckney, Mich., five bass, 23-9, $4,463 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

2^nd:         Todd Schmitz, Goshen, Ind., five bass, 21-0, $1,981

3^rd:          Jon Witt, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 20-13, $1,322

4^th:          Mike Trombly, Belleville, Mich., five bass, 20-10, $1,460

5^th:          Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., five bass, 20-7, $893

6^th:          Kyle Greene, Ortonville, Mich., five bass, 20-6, $727

7^th:          Matt Elkins, Spencerville, Ohio, five bass, 20-1, $660

8^th:          Steve Clapper, Lima, Ohio, five bass, 19-12, $594

9^th:          Derrick Soulliere, Belle River, Ontario, five bass, 19-11, $528

10^th:        Matthew Malmquist, White Lake, Mich., five bass, 18-12, $439

10^th:        Jared Rhode, Port Clinton, Ohio, five bass, 18-12, $439

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com. 

Trombly caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 9 ounces – the biggest of the tournament in the pro division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $535.

Kopczyk wins co-angler title

Jason Kopczyk of Fenton, Michigan, weighed in five bass totaling 20 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $2,248.

The top 10 co-anglers:

1^st:          Jason Kopczyk, Fenton, Mich., five bass, 20-11, $2,248

2^nd:         Mark Kemp, Hilliard, Ohio, five bass, 20-3, $826

2^nd:         Brad Lyon, Columbus, Ohio, five bass, 20-3, $826

4^th:          Harbor Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, five bass, 19-12, $429

4^th:          Aaron Wehmeyer, Odell, Ill., five bass, 19-12, $429

6^th:          John Murphy, Mooresville, Ind., five bass, 19-9, $563

7^th:          Brian Ruetz, Toledo, Ohio, five bass, 18-8, $330

8^th:          Kenneth Lesner, Westland, Mich., five bass, 18-6, $297

9^th:          Randy Westerfield, Constantine, Mich., five bass, 18-4, $264

10^th:        John Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, five bass, 18-1, $231

Kopczyk also caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $267.

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.