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Lake level 598.37
Water Temperature lower 60s
Ambient temperature 49 degrees at take off
and 67 degrees at weigh-in
Sky cover – Mostly clear to slightly cloudy
Early morning found
seventy-eight teams of the “Illini Team Trail” left Eagle Creek
State Park boat ramp in search of a winning five fish limit of
bass. The teams were greeted with mostly clear skies and ambient
temperature of forty-nine degrees as they left the launch area.
When it was time to bring fish to the scales sixty-four teams
brought bags to weigh.
The winning team of Greg
Coleman and Travis Gilette came in with a five fish limit with a
weight of 17.29 pounds to take home winnings of $3160.00
including the Hamby’s Keel protector award and the ITT decal
award. They caught three fish early in the day fishing mid-lake
secondary points. Travis caught a keeper on crankbait in area
with stumps and then they got two more to bite flippin right up
on the steeper banks on black and blue ‘Sweet Beaver’. Then a
dry spill, as far as keepers were concerned. hit until about
noon got into two big secondary point they added to their weigh
with fish caught on a ‘Luckycraft’ crankbait in four or five
feet of water. Seemed that when the crankbait would hit the
brush the fish would hit the bait on the pause.
The second place team of Jim
Griffin and Mike Blazier weighed in a five fish limit with
weight of 14.52 pounds, 2.67 pounds behind the leaders. They
started off fishing secondary points and had four fish in the
livewell by 8:30. These fish were also caught on black and blue
‘Sweet Beaver’ in about four or five feet of water. Jim felt
like the fish were setting there waiting to transition up to
spawn. They took home check for $2100.00 Their catch consisted
of four females and one small male fish.
The third place team of
Bobby McMullin and Jason Parsons bringing another five fish
limit to the scales that weighed in at 14.39 pounds. They took
home check for $1400.00 for their efforts. By shortly after
eight o’clock they had their limit. Bobby caught fish on a
five-inch green-pumpkin ‘Assault’ worm with a ‘True Tungsten’
green-pumpkin slip sinker. Their fish were caught in from two
to eight feet of water.
The team of Mike Barnes and
Kent Oakley brought the big bass to the scales weighing 5.42
pounds. This was one of four fish that they caught to give them
a check for $375.00. Mike caught the fish on chrome and blue
‘Rat-L-Trap’ at close to noon. When the fish hit his lure Mike’s
first thought was “muskie” as they were in an area known for
muskie. After Mike put the big fish in the livewell Kent had
another one on that came up and threw the bait. That fish would
have completed their limit and possibly got them a check for
more than just big bass.
In total there were 149 fish
brought to the scales with a total weight of 333.74 pounds for
an average weight of 2.23 pounds. There were eight teams that
had weights the same as one other team, but they were down the
standings far enough that did not effect the money standing just
the points standings.
The Illini Team Trail northern division’s next event will be
June 8th at Eagle Creek State Park. For additional
information contact Mike Or Penny Black at 217 923-3098.
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