The ECS Anchor Supply/Outdoorsman Sport Shop 2002 IBF Invitational Tournament took place under partially cloudy skies at Lake Monroe. 192 fishermen were paired up and sent on their way to a great day of fishing starting at 5:45 A.M.
WILD CARD INFORMATION: The Wild Card Tournament will take place on Sunday, September 15, 2002. The location will be disclosed at our next tournament at Madison. The Wild Card Tournament location will be off limits to all those fishermen who will be entering this tournament except for the day before the tournament. The same rules apply to this tournament as it does to all other IBF tournaments. We will have a printout of all eligible participants, entry forms and information sheets at the conclusion of the Madison Tournament. The top five (5) Anglers and the top five (5) Co-Anglers from this tournament will be eligible for the Classic Tournament. You may pay your entry at the Madison Tournament, bring it to the designated ramp the morning of the tournament or mail the entry by Saturday, September 7, 2002. Don't mail the entry after September 7, 2002; just bring it to the ramp. YOU MUST HAVE FISHED FIVE (5) OF THE SIX (6) REGULAR SEASON TOURNAMENTS EITHER AS AN ANGLER OR FIVE (5) OF THE SIX (6) REGULAR SEASON TOURNAMENTS AS A CO-ANGLER, BUT DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE CLASSIC.
CLASSIC INFORMATION: If you anticipate that you will be in the Classic, I strongly suggest that you make your hotel reservations now. It is my understanding that I.U. has Homecoming on that same weekend. IBF will not be making reservations for the fishermen nor will it be paying for your rooms. Also, there won't be any special outings or luncheons planned other than the banquet on Saturday night and the fishermen's breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning.
MADISON TOURNAMENT ENTRY DEADLINE IS THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2002: Remember that the Madison Tournament is only two weeks away and the entry deadline is this Sunday, August 18, 2002. Please get your entries in by the deadline to avoid the dreaded $25 late fee.
PROGRESSIVE BIG BASS POTS: Since no Anglers or Co-Anglers caught a big bass of at least 6.75 pounds, the Progressive Big Bass Pots carry over to the Madison Tournament. The Angler Progressive Pot currently has $2,172 in it and the Co-Angler Progressive Pot has $1,042 in it. They will be increased at the next tournament based on the number of entries. If no one hits that Progressive Big Bass Pots by the last tournament, the respective pots will be split among the top three (3) Anglers big bass and the top three (3) Co-Anglers big bass - they will not be carried over. The split will be 50% for the biggest bass, 30% for the second biggest bass and 20% for the third biggest bass.
We had 111 fishermen bring 195 fish to the scales weighing a total of 433.34 pounds. Specifically, 65 Anglers weighed in 127 fish weighing 293.68 pounds and 46 Co-Anglers weighed in 68 fish weighing 139.66 pounds.
On the Angler side, Tim May won the tournament with 5 fish weighing a whopping 18.96 pounds! He received the first place plaque and a check in the amount of $2,570. Second place went to Mike Trueblood with 5 fish weighing 12.88 pounds. He received the second place plaque and a check in the amount of $1,293. Kenny French finished third with 4 fish weighing 12.50 pounds and received a check in the amount of $750 and the third place plaque. Finishing fourth with 4 fish weighing 9.96 pounds was Barry Grider. He received the fourth place plaque and a check for $527. The fifth spot went to Ron Hittle with 4 fish weighing 9.29 pounds. He received a check in the amount of $335 and the fifth place plaque. We paid out 10 places on the Angler side. Leading the Anglers in overall standings is Ken Bortlein with 287 points. Kenny French and Mark Dove are hot on his heels with 286 points and Tim May is strong with 251 points. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU HAVE FUN FISHING AND HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN A RANGER BOAT FOR ALL THE FUN YOU ARE HAVING?!
On the Co-Angler side, Steve Littrell won the tournament with 4 fish weighing 6.66 pounds. He received the first place plaque and a check in the amount of $1,217. Second place went to Andy Nickels with 3 fish weighing 6.58 pounds. He received the second place plaque and a check in the amount of $612. Greg Evans finished third with 3 fish weighing 5.82 pounds and received a check in the amount of $355 and the third place plaque. Finishing fourth with 1 fish weighing 5.66 pounds was Bob Ungren. He received the fourth place plaque and a check for $249. The fifth spot went to Don Wilburn with 3 fish weighing 5.56 pounds. He received a check in the amount of $159 and the fifth place plaque. We paid out 10 places on the Co-Angler side. Jeff Macabee is the current points leader with 227 points. Sheldon Roberts is in second spot with 211 points with Don Wilburn close behind with 210 points. As you can see from the overall standings, ALL THE CO-ANGLERS THAT CAUGHT A FISH RECEIVED POINTS WHICH MEANS THAT IT IS STILL ANYONE'S GAME. Also remember that the top four (4) Classic finishers will have their 2003 entries paid by one of the RANGER DEALERS! You can't make the Classic and have a chance at the winnings if you don't fish! Keep up the good work!!
The plaques for this tournament, as well as all the plaques for the rest of the season, were provided by the Outdoorsman Sports Shop in Greenwood, Indiana. This is a major sponsorship to our events and we all need to thank them for their support at every opportunity.
Mike Seal won the Angler Regular Big Bass Pot with a big bass of 6.40 pounds. He received a big bass check in the amount of $384. Bob Ungren won the Co-Angler Regular Big Bass Pot with a big bass of 5.66 pounds. He received a big bass check in the amount of $200. Since no Anglers or Co-Anglers caught a big bass of at least 6.75 pounds, the Progressive Big Bass Pots carry over to the Madison Tournament. The Angler Progressive Pot currently has $2,172 in it and the Co-Angler Progressive Pot has $1,042 in it. They will be increased at the next tournament based on the number of entries. If no one hits that Progressive Big Bass Pots by the last tournament, the respective pots will be split among the top three (3) Anglers and the top three (3) Co-Anglers - they will not be carried over.
The second biggest bass was caught by an Angler was caught by Kenny French with a big bass of 6.38 pounds. Mike Partridge caught the second biggest bass caught by a Co-Angler with a big bass of 3.62 pounds. They both received a new rod from Jack's Tackle Center in Kokomo.
The highest finishing Angler and Co-Angler mentioning Solar Bat Sunglasses while weighing in received a bonus of $50.00 for the Angler and $25.00 for the Co-Angler. Mike Trueblood received $50.00 and Steve Littrell received $25.00 from Solar Bat Eye Protection Systems for mentioning their product during weigh-in. .
American Trans Air is again supplying one (1) round-trip airfare for two (2) on any ATA scheduled service flight destination within the continental U.S. To qualify for this special drawing you must have fished the tournament and attended the check presentation for that tournament. For each check presentation you attend (provided you fished that tournament), you get one (1) entry towards the special drawing at the Classic. This is for the six (6) regular tournaments and will not include the Classic. Example: If you fish all six (6) tournaments and stay for all six (6) awards presentations, you will have six (6) chances towards the prize.
Too Cool Live Well Water Cooler will install one Too Cool Live Well Water Cooler for the IBF Season Champion on the Angler side. They will also install a Tool Cool Live Well cooler in the Classic Boat for the Classic Winner.
I am very happy to add "Special Sponsors" to our list of contributors. Joe Landwerlen of Gator Grip has donated a Golden Rule Professional Series Measuring Board for each tournament event to be included in door prizes. Also, Rod Yoder, of Hildbrandt Bait, is donating a tackle pack to the Angler and Co-Angler that is first out of the money at each tournament. The winner of the tackle pack for the Angler was Jack Vaught and the Co-Angler was Mike Partridge. Gary Kincaid and Mike Quinlin of Hawgback Jigs and Spinner Baits gave jigs and spinner baits for our raffle. We really appreciate all the contributors. If you have a chance, please take a minute to thank each of the sponsors listed on our entry forms, along with the "Special Sponsors". It really does mean a lot to them - and to us. Without our sponsors - there just would not be the IBF Invitational Tournament Trail.
As you can see, there are many reasons to come out and fish the IBF trail. We welcome everyone (boaters and non-boaters) to come out and join us.
The Classic will be held on October 5th and 6th on Monroe Reservoir in Bloomington, Indiana. The top 40 Anglers from the regular season point standings and the top five Anglers at the Wildcard tournament on September 15, 2002 will qualify for the Classic as Anglers. The top 40 Co-Anglers from the regular season point standings and the top five Co-Anglers at the Wildcard tournament will qualify for the Classic as Co-Anglers. The Co-Anglers will fish the first day only of the Classic and will be fishing for Cash Awards, Discount Coupons from Ranger and Mercury and sponsorships for the 2003 season. Ted's Aqua Marine, Killbuck Valley Sports, Moore Boats, and Southern Indiana Marine will each sponsor one of the top four Co-Anglers finishers in the Classic for the 2003 season. The Anglers will fish both days with the winner receiving the new fully equipped Ranger 518. There will also be cash awards for 2nd through 10th position. The location of the Wildcard tournament will not be announced until the final regular season event on August 25, 2002 at Madison on the Ohio River.
The results for the ECS Anchor Supply/Outdoor Sportsman Shop Invitational at Lake Monroe are enclosed. The next event is on August 25, 2002 at Lake Monroe with Galyans Trading Company as our host. Registration and pre-tournament meeting will be at the Madison City Ramp, with registration from 3:00 to 5:00 and the meeting starting at 5:00 p.m. Remember that you can send your entry forms in together or separately if you are entering as "guaranteed," but you need to indicate the other person on your entry form. If you have entered and later find a "guaranteed" partner, just let us know and we will make the appropriate changes. YOU DON'T NEED A "GUARANTEED" PARTNER TO ENTER THE TOURNAMENT. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE "GUARANTEED." PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU FILL OUT THE ENTRY FORM COMPLETELY. WE CAN NOT FINALIZE YOUR ENTRY UNLESS IT IS COMPLETE.
The Tournament Crew and I had a great time and enjoyed seeing all of you and hope that you had a great time fishing with us. We really appreciate your support. Please feel free to call Sandy or me if you have any questions. Let's keep it up! KEEP FISHING WITH US BECAUSE - THE FUN NEVER STOPS WHEN YOU'RE FISHING!!
Dan Simmons
Tournament Director
