Air Temp: L57  H81
Wind: SSE 5-10 mph
Sunny becoming Partly Cloudy by noon
Water temp: 78-81 degrees

Nearly 100 anglers took to the water for the fourth stop of the 2007 Illinois Bass Federation Open Trail.  Tournament director Rich Pinkowski and staff began the tournament take-off at 5:30 am with a two-flight weigh-in of 2 pm and 2:15 pm.  The anglers were met with nothing short of chamber of commerce weather for this event.  With early speculation of 13-15 lbs to win the event, it was evident that the fish had been biting on Pool 19 prior to the tournament. 

Although as weigh-in began it looked as though the fishing had toughened up quite a bit.  The fishermen were faced with drastically falling water and high pressure conditions. It looked as though it might not take as much weight as previously predicted. 

1st Place Billy Walker

With all of that said, Bill Walker of Ziegler , IL topped the field with a winning weight of 15.46 lbs.  Bill caught his fish on a 3/8 ounce chartreuse and white homemade spinnerbait, fishing the lower end of the pool targeting eel grass beds in 5-7 feet of water.  He reported catching his fish all day long.  Bill is sponsored by Walker ’s Bar and Grill and was also the Ranger Cup winner for this tournament.

In second place with 15.24 lbs of fish was Pat King of Morton , IL .  Pat reported catching his fish all day long in the mid-pool region throwing a buzzbait and a frog, targeting weeds in the 1-3 foot range.  Big bass of the tournament was also brought in by Pat, weighing 4.52 lbs, this fish fell victim to a buzzbait.    NTS Internet and Lumberyard Suppliers sponsor Pat.

Third Place went to Scott Dunn of Morris , IL .  Scott weighed in a five fish limit that went 14.70 lbs.  Scott fished the lower end of the pool with a jig and a rat, targeting lily pads in 1-3 feet of water.

In Fourth Place was Duke Jenkel of Pinckneyville , IL with a five fish limit weighing 13.92 lbs

Fifth place went to Jeff Miller of Crestwood , IL who had five fish weighing 13.53 lbs.  

Top 5 on the Boater Side

On the Am side of the tourney David Sarff won the tournament with 12.64 lbs.  David also caught the big fish on the amateur side with a bass weighing 4.40 lbs

In second place was Gary Teel of Monmouth , IL who caught fa tournament limit wieghing 11.80 lbs

Third place on the am side went to Gary Tuttle of Morton , IL with five fish weighing 10.54 lbs

Fourth place was Greg Matthews of Knoxville , IL who caught five fish totaling 10.18 lbs

In fifth place was Chuck Davis of Farmington , IL with five fish weighing 10.12 lbs.

Top 5 on the Co Angler Side