April 23, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Illinois 2nd Annual, National Guard Junior Anglers World Championship Qualifier

The Illinois 2nd annual NGJAWCQ was held this past weekend near Jacksonville, Illinois on Lake Jacksonville.
Twenty of the best junior anglers from Illinois participated in the Bass Tournament. The weather was sunny, warm
and windy and the fishing was good.

The young anglers were welcomed to Jacksonville Saturday evening with a registration, meal and welcome from the
Illinois Bass Federation’s Youth Director, Gary Montgomery and the Vice President, Tom Acton.
The community center in Jacksonville was the meeting location with Pizza and Pop provided by the Jacksonville
Kewanees. The young anglers were given a tackle packet provided by Ranger and Wal-Mart.
Pairing with a Pro and his boat was accomplished with a blind draw for each angler from both age groups, 1--14 and
15-18, and start order was also drawn.
The excitement was high and all were ready to go catch Bass.

On Sunday morning the Pro’s, young anglers, and parents reported to the Jacksonville ramp at 5:30 a.m. for boat
check and launch line up. After a brief breakfast of juice and food bars the youngsters were ready.

At 6:30 a.m. the Illinois National Guard Honor Guard marched out on to the ramp and the National Anthem was
sung, honoring our troops. Thanks to the four men that represented our troops from the Springfield National Guard.

Immediately after the Honor Guard retired the boat launch was on. AT 6:58 the #1 boat idled out and the tournament
was going.

From 7:00a.m. to 2:30p.m. was the tournament hours. Eager parents waited on shore for any report from the water as
to how the kids were doing.

After a very windy day the anglers started reporting in to the tournament director at 2:15 with a lot of happy, sun
burnt, sad faces. The first in had no fish or just one. Then the anglers that had fish started to report and the crowd got
even more excited. Everyone had cameras rolling and we all waited for the water laden sacks of fish to come to the
scales.

8 of the 20 anglers had fish with one having 5 fish! The younger age group, 11-15 had Kyle Gates of Decatur with 1
fish weighing 2.41 pounds, which was good for 2nd place. Daniel Ruedi of Champaign had 5 fish weighing 14.31
pounds and he won the younger age group tournament and will be going to Hot Springs Arkansas in July to compete
for the World Championship.

The older age group, 15-18, now stepped up. Jake Bathon of Pinckneyville had 1 fish weighing 2.69 pounds, Travis
Wilson of La Harpe had a fish weighing 1.68 pounds, Andy Pennell of Jacksonville had 1 fish weighing 2.35 pounds,
Zach Brooks, St. Joseph had 2 fish weighing 4.22 pounds and won 3rd prize, Kevin Green, Sugar Groves had 3 fish
weighing 8.21 pounds good for 2nd place and Ty Heape of Tamora had 3 fish weighing 10.12 pounds and Ty had
big bass at 5.00 pounds for 1st place and a trip to Hot Springs in July.

Totals for the day were;
17 fish weighed in at 46 pounds+-
8 of 20 anglers caught fish

Many new friends and life long memories were made and I believe they all will be back next year.

The National Guard Junior Anglers World Championship will be held in Arkansas in August and the two qualifiers
will be sent there with travel money, meals and lodging provided by the FLWOutdoors, The Bass Federation and
Illinois Bass Federation. The young anglers from states through out the U.S. will fish with a Wal-Mart FLW Tour
Pro for a day in a World Championship Tournament. The top 10 winners will receive scholarships and prizes from
the National Guard and FLW.

The Illinois Bass Federation would like to thank all the donations made to the youth tournament;
Wal-Mart
Lake Springfield Marina for oil,
East Side Marina for 2 gal of oil and $25.00,
The Boat Dock for 2 gal of oil and $25.00 gift Certificate,
Wendy’s Toronto Road gift cert.,
Show Me’s -wing parties.
Illinois Dept of Natural Resources for lunch and breakfast
Kiwanis for Pizza
County Market Jacksonville for Pop.
Bruce Surratt, Parks and Lakes for meeting place and Lake use.

Questions call;
Gary Montgomery, Youth Director
Illinois Bass Federation
217-202-6128
 

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