The Hawg Sticker Bait 2002 IBF Invitational Tournament took place with sunny skies and 86 degree temperature at Patoka Lake. Larry and Darlene Carver, owners of Carver's Spinners, Inc., gave a buzzbait to each participant as they came through the registration line to show their appreciation to the fishermen. A special THANK YOU is in order for Larry and Darlene for taking the time to come and be a part of Saturday's activities. We originally were scheduled to fish at Monroe, but water conditions caused us to move to Patoka. 219 fishermen were paired up and sent on their way to a great day of fishing starting at 5:30 A.M.
In our last newsletter, we failed to properly thank Moore Boats, Ligonier, Indiana, for their hospitality and as the sponsor of the Wawasee Invitational Tournament. They provided homemade cookies, popcorn and drinks for all the fishermen, along with providing their comfortable facility to hold the registration and meeting. We really do appreciate the work and effort Todd Moore and his staff put forth at the Moore Boats Invitational Tournament.
We had 131 fishermen bring 254 fish to the scales weighing a total of 608.88 pounds. Specifically, 73 Anglers weighed in 159 fish weighing 399.20 pounds and 58 Co-Anglers weighed in 95 fish weighing 209.68 pounds. We loaded the new release boat before the third flight had weighed in!! Now, that's a lot of fish!
On the Angler side, the tournament was won by David Goodman with 5 fish weighing a whopping 15.28 pounds!. He received the first place plaque and a check in the amount of $2,897. Second place went to Paul Jones with 4 fish weighing 14.90 pounds. He received the second place plaque and a check in the amount of $1,439. Larry Sisk finished third with 5 fish weighing 13.02 pounds and received a check in the amount of $867 and the third place plaque. Finishing fourth with 4 fish weighing 11.54 pounds was Joe Rasnick. He received the fourth place plaque and a check for $609. The fifth spot went to John Schroering with 3 fish weighing 10.62 pounds. He received a check in the amount of $388 and the fifth place plaque. We paid out 11 places on the Angler side. Leading the Anglers in overall standings is Ken Bortlein with 188 points. Rick Kennedy is hot on his heels with 180 points and Mark Dove is strong with 168 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, the tournament was won by Sheldon Roberts with 4 fish weighing 10.32 pounds. Not bad for fishing out of the back of a boat!! He received the first place plaque and a check in the amount of $1,335. Second place went to James Harris with 3 fish weighing 7.90 pounds. He received the second place plaque and a check in the amount of $663. Jason Herrell finished third with 4 fish weighing 7.04 pounds and received a check in the amount of $400 and the third place plaque. Finishing fourth with 3 fish weighing 6.98 pounds was Steve Lehman. He received the fourth place plaque and a check for $281. Steve finished fourth last month at Wawasee!! Is he consistent or what?! The fifth spot went to Matt Robinson with 4 fish weighing 6.87 pounds. He received a check in the amount of $179 and the fifth place plaque. We paid out 11 places on the Co-Angler side. Sheldon Roberts is the current points leader with 211 points. Steve Lehman is in second spot with 144 points with Don Wilburn close behind with 139 points. As you can see from the overall standings, ALL THE CO-ANGLERS ARE STILL IN STRONG CONTENTION FOR THE CLASSIC. 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.
We now have two big bass pots for Anglers and two for Co-Anglers. There is the Regular Big Bass Pot and it operates the same way big bass pots always operate. The Angler and Co-Angler who catch the biggest bass (by weight) win the regular big bass pot. The second is the Progressive Big Bass Pot. The winner of this pot must catch a big bass that meets or exceeds the pre-established target weight. If no one catches a big bass that big, the Progressive Big Bas Pot carries over to the next tournament. There is a Progressive Big Bass Pot for Anglers and one for Co-Anglers.
The Angler Regular Big Bass Pot was won by John Schroering with a big bass of 5.70 pounds. He received a big bass check in the amount of $444. The Co-Angler Regular Big Bass Pot was won by Kevin Doss with a big bass of 4.40 pounds. He received a big bass check in the amount of $224. 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 Rocky Point Tournament. The Angler Progressive Pot currently has $1,408 in it and the Co-Angler Progressive Pot has $678 in it. They will be increased at Rocky Point based on the number of entries in the tournament. These can get to be real fun. Keep an eye on them!
The second biggest bass was caught by an Angler was caught by David Goodman with a big bass of 5.66 pounds. The second biggest bass caught by a Co-Angler was caught by Gary Long with a big bass of 4.00 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. David Goodman received $50.00 and Jason Herrell received $25.00 from Solar Bat Eye Protection Systems for mentioning their product during weigh-in. Solar Bat Sunglasses will be displayed and sold at all the tournaments for your convenience.
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 Measurer 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 at Patoka was Kenny Swing and the Co-Angler was Bryan Fonner. Gary Kincaid and Gary 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.
Entry into the 2002 Classic in October will be easier to accomplish this year because we have twice the number of qualifiers. 40 Anglers and 40 Co-Anglers will qualify for the Classic from the regular season and up to 5 Anglers and 5 Co-Anglers will qualify from the Wildcard Tournament in September. The Anglers will be fishing for the new fully equipped Ranger and cash awards while the Co-Anglers will be fishing for cash awards, Discount Coupons from Ranger and Mercury and Sponsorships for 2003. If someone misses a tournament, they still have the opportunity to make the Classic! Remember, to be eligible for the Wildcard Tournament in September, you must have fished in 5 of the 6 events.
The results for the Hawg Sticker Baits Invitational at Patoka Lake are enclosed. The next event is on July 7, 2002 at Rocky Point with Solar Bat Eye Protection Systems and Innovative Sports Group as co-hosts. Registration and pre-tournament meeting will be at the Tell City High School, 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 CANNOT 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 HAS BEGUN!!
Dan Simmons
Tournament Director
