The 2008 Illinois Bass Federation
IBF Open Trail, Event-4

Shelbyville Lake, IL

The Illinois Bass Federation – Serving the Anglers of Illinois

Date: 07-20-08


48-Pro's and 43-Am's paired in a PRO-AM Format
Launch time: 5:30 am with flights check-in at 2:00 and 2:15

Pro Side Winners, pictured left to right

• Big Bass: Tom Acton – Hank’s Anglers
• 1st Place & Ranger Cup: Todd Stoll – Lincolnland Bassmasters
• 2nd Place: Tom Dietrich – Falcon Bass Club

• 3rd Place: Ben Venturini – Lincolnland Bassmasters

 

Not present for picture:

Pro Side 4th Place winner: Brent Werries

Pro Side 5th Place winner: Jerry Martoglio – Mackinaw Valley Bassmasters

• Pro Angler’s Summary:

1. Taking first place and Ranger Cup in this event is Todd Stoll with Lincolnland Bassmasters. He takes home the top prize of $1378 for winning the event, plus an additional $500 in Ranger Cup bonus money. Todd started out working a black Sumo frog in his primary area, boating three keepers in the first hour and a half. Then, moving to his secondary area, he boated two more keepers on a ½-oz black and blue Angler Asset’s jig to fill his limit. While many reported a tough day of fishing, Todd had his five fish limit in the boat by 9:30 AM. He was also able to cull one 15-inch bass just prior to check-in, thereby giving him a total weight of 12.20-lbs, nearly 2-lbs more than the second place finisher. Todd fished out of his Ranger 518 VX bass boat equipped with a Mercury 200-HP outboard. His total payback in this event was $1878.
2. Our second place finisher is Tom Dietrich with Falcon Bass Club. Tom had a 5-fish limit that weighed in at 10.50-lbs, and received a total of $787.92 in prize money. He caught his fish on a spinnerbait from an undisclosed area of the lake where the water was 2-feet deep. We know that he was definitely “on” fish as his fishing partner for the day scored a win on the AM side! Tom fished out of his Ranger 520 bass boat equipped with a Yamaha 225-HP outboard.
3. Third place winner of $623.77 with a  5-bass limit weight of 9.89-lbs is Ben Venturini, with Lincolnland Bassmasters. Ben worked areas in Eagle Creek using an Angle’s Asset 3/8-oz jig that was green, blue and chartreuse, and tipped with a green pumpkin trailer. He fished out of his Swift bass boat with a Mercury 225-HP outboard.

• PRO Big Bass Winner for the event is Tom Acton with Hank’s Anglers. Tom caught this 5.39-lb lunker largemouth in 17-feet of water off a clay bank on a main lake point. He reported that the area was barren of any noticeable structure, and that the fish bit a Lake Fork craw Texas rigged with a 3/8-oz weight.   He scored a paycheck of $245 for his one bite! Tom runs a Ranger 185VX bass boat rigged with a Mercury 175-HP outboard.

Am Side Winners pictured, left to right 
• 1st Place: James Whitehorn – South Suburban Bassmasters
• 2nd Place: Michael J. Hunt – Mackinaw Valley Bassmasters

• 3rd Place: Scott McCleery – Scott County Bass Anglers (not present for picture)
• 4th Place & Big Bass: Tyler Skorch – Rend Lake Bass Anglers

 

• Am Angler’s Summary:

1. Top finisher on the Am Side here at Shelbyville is James Whitehorn with South Suburban Bassmasters. James is from Dolton, IL and was paired with Pro Side angler, Tom Dietrich. He caught his 4-keepers while slow-rolling a white homemade spinnerbait, ending up with a total weight of 7.52-lbs. James is sponsored by Curle Buddig & Company.
2. In second place is Michael Hunt, from Leroy, IL. and is a member of  Mackinaw Valley Bassmasters. He fished a Texas rigged red shad 7-inch worm on points and flats to catch 3-keepers on the day. Mike’s 3-fish total weight was 5.77-lbs, and earned him a $526.75 payback in this event. He lists his sponsor as Midwest Marine.
3. Scott McCleery placed third in this event. He lives in Winchester, IL. and is a member of Scott County Bassmasters. Scott’s total weight in this event was 5.72-lbs, and earned him a total of $421.40 in prize money. He bagged his catch while throwing a Bandit-200 crankbait in chartreuse shad color on rocky banks in the Wolf Creek area of the lake. He reported that water temps were averaging 78-degrees, and depth was 5 to 7-feet.
4. Taking fourth place and AM Big Bass is Rend Lake Bass Angler’s, Tyler Skorch from Ina, IL. He reports catching his two keepers on a black and yellow frog early in the morning. His biggest fish weighed in at 4.26-lbs and, with a total weight of 5.46-lbs, he captured the 4^th place finish. His winnings in the event are $210.70 for 4th place and an additional $215 for Am Big Bass, for a total payback or $425.70.

For more info on the IBF Open Trail and complete stats for everyone who fished, go to www.ilbassfed.com.

Todd Stoll, Ranger Cup and Pro First Place

View of the lake from the dam overlooking 9^th Street Ramp.

This is the ramp we were scheduled to launch from!!

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