Wisconsin's Johnson Leads Home Team to B.A.S.S. Victory on Mississippi River
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WIS.-September 21, 2001-Jim Johnson, who just last month
fished as an amateur at the BASS Masters Classic world championship, today
won the B.A.S.S. Federation Northern Divisional tournament on the
Mississippi River. His 32-pound, 7-ounce catch sends him to the 2002
B.A.S.S. Federation Championship to compete for amateur bass fishing's
championship title.
Erhardt Tulgestka of Alpena, Mich., earned second place and his state
championship by catching 24 pounds, 14 ounces during the three-day contest.
Johnson's teammate Bill LaRue of LaCrosse, Wis., finished third overall with
23 pounds, 9 ounces.
Johnson, also of LaCrosse, had his tournament-winning strategy for pools 9,
10 and 11 of the Mississippi River planned before even arriving downstream
from his hometown. His strategy was to fish for aggressively biting
smallmouth bass in backwater areas located just off the river.
"This time of year the smallmouths hold in a combination of eelgrass and
sandy bottom and that was my area," said the 30-year-old lab technician.
"The fish were relating to on holes and open pockets in the grass."
Johnson alternated between three baits for the win, two topwater lures and a
jig. On top his choices were Dog X and Pop X jerkbaits made by Japanese
tackle maker Megabass. Shad tints were the preferred color for both baits.
The jig was a black/purple homemade version weighing 3/16 ounce. All baits
were fished on 16-pound test Yamamoto Sagoi flourocarbon line.
Johnson pitched and flipped the jig into the open pockets of the grass and
worked the topwaters in the holes and along the edges of the grassline.
Average depth where he fished was 2 feet. "With the topwater it was
important to place the lure in the open space of the grass and leave it
still," he added.
"This feels great to win and I'm really pleased for our team, winning at
home," said Johnson. "It also feels great to have another chance to
make the
Classic."
But first comes the next step. The following anglers join Tulgestka and
Johnson as state/province champions who advance to the federation
championship. Shawn Lochner (Iowa), Terry McWilliams (Indiana), Jerry Davis
(Minnesota), Dave Godsey (Ohio), Joe Snyder (Illinois), Monty Fralick (South
Dakota) and Matt Monkman (Ontario).
The federation championship determines the sport's top amateur angler from a
field of state and international champions from 46 states, Canada, Italy,
Japan, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The top five finishers advance to the 2002
BASS Masters Classic in Birmingham, Ala.
Wisconsin easily won the competition between the states, leading the charge
for all three days. The 12-angler home team accounted for a winning weight
of 158 pounds, 11 ounces. Michigan was a distant runner-up with 126 pounds,
10 ounces. Third place was Iowa with 115 pounds, 13 ounces. The Wisconsin
B.A.S.S. Federation will use its $18,000 first-place prize for conservation
projects to benefit water quality and fishing in the state.
The northern divisional is one of five regional qualifying tournaments for
the federation championship. The final event of the season is next week, the
B.A.S.S. Federation Eastern Divisional at Virginia's Kerr Reservoir.
The B.A.S.S. Federation is a global network of 51 federations and 2,800
clubs provides a critical lifeline from national ideas to widespread
implementation and action. By sanctioning over 20,000 tournaments worldwide,
B.A.S.S. is the world's largest fishing organization. The CITGO BASSMASTER
Tournament Trail is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass fishing
tournament circuit. It continues to set the standard for credibility,
professionalism, and sportsmanship after more than three decades. B.A.S.S.
is a wholly owned subsidiary of ESPN.
Sponsors of the 2001 B.A.S.S. Federation Northern Divisional tournament are:
CITGO, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Yamaha Outboards,
Chevrolet Trucks, Lowrance Electronics, Pennzoil Marine, Stowaway Batteries,
Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Motorguide Trolling Motors, Quantum Rods and
Reels, Berkley Trilene, Berkley Power Bait, Eagle Claw Fishhooks,
Worldwaters.com, First USA Visa, Long John Silver's, Kumho Tires, Gore-Tex,
GMAC Insurance, Bass Pro Shops and Armstrong Industrial Hand Tools.
For more information, contact B.A.S.S. Communications at (334) 272-9530.
B.A.S.S. NATIONAL FEDERATION TOURNAMENT TRAIL
2001 NORTHERN DIVISIONAL 09/19-09/21
MISSISSIPPI RIVER PRAIRIE DU CHIEN
WI
S T A N D I N G S D A Y 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME
CITY STATE
FISH LBS-OZ WINNINGS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Jim Johnson
LaCrosse, WI WI 15
32- 7
2 Erhardt Tulgestka Alpena, MI
MI 13 24-14
3 Bill LaRue
LaCrosse, WI WI 11
23- 9
4 Joe Snyder
Emden, IL IL 11
21-15
5 Jerry Davis
Lke St Croix, MN MN 10 21- 5
6 Monty Fralick
Martin, SD SD 10
20-14
7 Todd Serfoss
Aberdeen, SD SD 11
20-10
8 Shawn Lochner
Marion, IA IA 10
20- 8
9 Terry McWilliams
Greenfield, IN IN 11 19-14
10 Dave Godsey
Wellington, OH OH 9
19- 6
11 Chris Schultz
Fairoaks, IN IN 11
18-14
12 Paul Soma
Waterford, MI MI 8
17- 5
13 Ron Cherkas
Des Moines, IA IA 8
17- 3
14 Kirk Morrow
Wautoma, WI WI 7
17- 0
15 Brian Brecka
Alma, WI WI 10
16-14
16 Michael O'Rourke
Toledo, OH MI 8
16- 2
17 Andy Moser
Wapaheneta, OH OH 8
15-14
18 Greg Mathews
Knoxville, IL IL 8
15- 4
19 Paul Balmer
West Salem, WI WI 7
14-13
20 Scott Peterson
Arpin, WI WI 7
14-10 200
21 Terry Hilbert
New London, WI WI 7
14- 9
21 Karl Guegold
Westerville, OH OH 8 14- 9
23 Ken Milender
Mounds View, MN MN 7 14- 2
24 Jami Fralick
Tyndall, SD SD 7
14- 0
25 Brian Elgin
Kewsanee, IL IL 8
13- 7
26 Jim Griffin
Decatur, IL IL 7
13- 3
27 Jason Osting
Ottawa, OH OH 5
13- 1
28 Cliff Van Beek
Canistota, SD SD 7
12-12
29 Buckley Smith
Lindstrom, MN MN 7
12-11
29 Mark Douglas Smith Sawyer, MI
MI 6 12-11
31 Tracy Heidenreich Isanti, MN
MN 6 12-10
32 Matt Monkman
Barrie, On ON 6
12- 9
33 Doug Bradley
Syracuse, IN IN 5
11- 6
34 David Snyder
Onalaska, WI WI 5
11- 5
35 Tim Puckett
Cross Plains, IN IN 6 11- 0
36 Jeffery Lindsey
Marshll, MI MI 4
10-11 200
37 Kevin Christensen
Independence, IA IA 6 10- 9
38 Steven Houdek
Calmar, IA IA 5
10- 8
39 Gordon John Covyeow Buffalo, MN
MN 5 10- 7
40 Jim Severson
Hudson, WI MN 5
10- 4
41 Kevin Bowles
Indianapolis, IN IN 5 9-13
42 Mike Barnes
Mackinaw, IL IL 6
9- 7
43 Mike Thompson
Hamden, OH OH 5
9- 3
44 William Burgess
Indianapolis, IN IN 4 8-15
44 Dean Allen Geuder Cedar
Rapids, IA IA 5 8-15
44 Kevin Thomas
Waterloo, IA IA 4
8-15
47 Keith Hespe
Okaton, SD SD 4
8-14
48 Edward Rogers
Grand Rapids, MI MI 5 8-13
49 Dorsey Lane
Muscatine, IA IA 5
8-12
50 John Foster
Muscatine, IA IA 4
8- 3
51 Dan Payne
Wshngtn Ct Hs,OH OH 4 8- 2
52 John Thomas
Arlington, IA IA 3
7-13 200
52 Chad Sterkenburg Spring
Lake, MI MI 4 7-13
52 Wayne Caudle
Johnstown, OH OH 3
7-13
52 Dave Randolph
Decatur, IL IL 4
7-13
52 John Maniaci
St Heights, MI MI 4
7-13
57 William Pulk
Prior Lake, MN MN 3
7-12
57 Shawn Berriault
Port McNicoll, ON ON 4 7-12
59 Alan Roy Nick
Therold, ON ON 4
7-10
60 Chuck Heming
Quincy, IL IL 4
7- 9
61 Norbert Jaromin
EAton, IN IN 4
7- 8
62 Lincoln Bowen
Crothersville, IN IN 4 7- 5
63 Jay Walton
Ames, IA IA
4 7- 4
64 Josh Muskevitsch
Hortonville, WI WI 3
7- 0
65 Dale Wild
Peterborough, ON ON 4 6-14
66 Scott Burns
Bowmanville, ON ON 4
6- 9
67 Stephen Collins
Peterborough, ON ON 3 5-11
68 Brian Runyon
McArthur, OH OH 4
5-10
69 Duane Mroczka
Jackson, MI MI 3
5- 8
70 Clifford Kerns
Wheatfield, IN IN 3
5- 7
71 Sean Frame
Lakeville, MN MN 3
5- 4
72 Mikhail Borashko Walled
Lake, MI MI 3 5- 3
73 Brian Spear
Berrien Spgs, MI MI 3 5- 0
73 Eddie Gawlik
Apple Valley, MN MN 3 5- 0
75 Chad Ekroth
Yankton, SD SD 3
4-14
76 Bill Oldenburg
La Crescent, MN WI 3
4-13
76 Tony DeFilippo
Lake Ann, MI MI 2
4-13
78 Terry Bell
Indpls, IN IN 2
4- 1
79 George Bright
Brandon, SD SD 2
4- 0
80 Jamie Janzen
St Catherine, ON ON 2 3-15
81 Brian Linville
Minot, ND IA 2
3-12
81 Scott Schroeder
New Ulm, MN MN 2
3-12
81 Matt Hubble
Peterborough, ON ON 2 3-12
81 Bob Cox
Tippecanoe, OH OH 2
3-12
81 Duane Ralston
Lexington, IN IN 2
3-12
86 Loren Hofeldt
Ainsworth, NE SD 2
3-11
87 Cory Goehring
Watertown, SD SD 2
3- 9
88 Jeff Dyer
Patriot, OH OH 2
3- 8
89 Russell Perkins
Anamosa, IA IA 2
3- 7
90 Bill Payne
Pesotum, IL IL 2
3- 6
91 Shane Oltjenbruns Neligh, NE
SD 1 3- 3
92 Scott Masterson
South Bend, IN IN 2
3- 2
92 Pete Garnier
Lindsay, ON ON 2
3- 2
94 Fern Campeau
Orleans, ON ON 1
2- 8
95 Bob Chapin
Osakis, MN MN 1
2- 1
96 Forrest Johnson
Peoria, IL IL 1
1-15
97 Jim Wade
Menota, IL IL 1
1-13
98 Joshua Miller
Chippewa Fall, WI WI 1 1-11
99 Rick Billings
Rochester, MN MN 1
1-10
99 Corey Peterson
Springfield, SD SD 1
1-10
101 Rick Huette
Normal, IL IL 1
1- 9
101 Ron Mann
Carterville, IL IL 1
1- 9
103 Bruce Leeson
Jerseyville, ON ON 1
1- 6
104 Jason Williams
McArthur, OH OH 0
0- 0
104 Herbert Quan
Willowdale, ON ON 0
0- 0
104 Keith White
Gallipolis, OH OH 0
0- 0
104 Rex Ryckman
Ft Pierre, SD SD 0
0- 0
104 Richard Pechacek Hastings,
MN WI 0
0- 0
DAY BIG BASS NAME
CITY STATE
CASH
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 4/ 3 Scott Peterson
Arpin, WI WI
200.00
2 3/ 2 John Thomas
Arlington, IA IA 200.00
3 4/ 6 Jeffery Lindsey
Marshll, MI MI
200.00
DAY # FISH # LIMITS LBS/OZ
-------------------------------------------
1 220 15
446/ 7
2 64
2 121/13
3 212 15
410/ 6
-------------------------------------------
496
32 978/10