Day 2 kicked off with some remaining wind and mild showers in the morning from the cold front moving through over night which left the anglers waking to a brisk 41 degrees. Everyone packed into cold weather gear and prepared for their last competitive day of the Classic. 160 fish were brought to the scales with a total weight of 377.87lbs. All but 2 fish returned to the lake alive. Thank You all for taking care of your catch!
The team of Thomas & Melissa White fishing for Cook's Tackle Systems weighed in 5 fish both days totaling 33.97lbs to secure 1st Place in the Classic. The best part of this was Thomas had been at the lake the entire week prior to the Classic but was ready to throw in the towel and leave by Wednesday night and go back to Wapppapello Lake where he said he could catch fish. He had been watching the locals catching fish in the same area but he couldn't get a look. Once his wife arrived Thursday night things started turning around. Once Saturday got here the team had a plan and put it into action. I was lucky enough to watch them catch a majority of their fish with Thomas hooking alot of the fish and Melissa netting, but if it wasn't for Melissa hooking and putting the teams biggest bass in the boat (both days) the team wouldn't have come out on top. Good Job Melissa! The team reported catching their fish slow rolling a veriety of spinnerbaits on the edges of current breaks, especially when they started generating power or dumping water from the lock. Thomas said that having the Cook's Tackle Storage System installed was intrumental in saving time changing baits and keeping the team fishing. Congratulations!
The team of Mark and Rick Reed fishing for BP Petroleum, Interstate Batteries, The Ultimate Bass Fishing Challenge & Buells Marine weighed in 5 fish both days totaling 27.07lbs to secure 4th Place in the Classic but secured Team of the Year against the hard charging Lee Lewis & Rusty Rommel. Mark & Rick ended up having motor problems after day 1 and didn't feel safe getting to the area they had been pulling their fish from so the opted to stay close to home on day 2 and actually ended up scratching out a better limit on day 2 than the previous day. They say everything happens for a reason guys. The team reported catching their fish on a veriety of lures & locations around the lake from crankbaits to spinnerbaits to jigs in creeks, on flats and in the main river. Congratulations!
Testimonial from Mark and Rick Reed:
"Thanks for a great time at your 1st Renewed The Ultimate Bass Fishing Challenge Classic... it was a blast. Everyone that we spoke with was very friendly, aren't all fisherman, and a pleasure to be around. Everything went very smooth and very professional. A special thanks to Terri for her dedication to The Ultimate Bass Fishing Challenge and everyone that fishes with The Ultimate Bass Fishing Challenge... she did a great job! Above all... a "BIG" thank you to you for your hard work and dedication to the sport. With your continued efforts and every ones continued support, The Ultimate Bass Fishing Challenge will grow into a superior organization. Anyone who missed the Classic... missed a great time".
Your Central Illinois Directors and 2008 The Ultimate Bass Fishing Challenge Team of The Year, Rick and Mark Reed. Thanks Guys! RS
The team of Craig Walker & Mike Bryant weighed in 5 fish both days totaling 33.23lbs securing 2nd Place. Day 2's catch consisted of a 20.45lb limit of smallmouth. WOW! Craig and Mike bounced around quite a bit once the wind picked up on day 1 and the morning of day 2 but the team kept their heads in it and kept pressing forward. Persistance & dedication is what its about. Good Job Guys!
The team of Lee Lewis & Rusty Rommel weighed in 5 fish both days totaling 31.86lbs securing 3rd Place. Lee & Rusty were one of the teams that utilized the lock and brought back 19.35lbs on day 1. Unluckily, the teams game plan fell to desaster on day 2 when 2 sets of barges tied up the lock for the majority of the day making it impossible to get to their day 1 location. Without getting too disheartened, the team put their best foot forward and brought back a 5 fish limit of 12.78lbs from unfamiliar waters. Good Job Guys!
The hearing impaired team of Kevin Rogan & Scott Weaver brought in the tournaments 1st Place Big Bass; a smallmouth weighing in at 6.44lbs, which made up for the confusion they had the day before concerning length limits. Unluckily the team didn't have Ellis Batteries installed so they lost out on the $500 bonus money, but vow they will have Ellis Batteries next time! The huge smallmouth did make the teams weekend and a lifetime memory. Congratulations Guys and Thank You for the support!
Terry Duncan & Tom Denmark had the biggest bass on day 1 of 6.16lbs but ended up falling to 2nd Place Big Bass on day 2. The 6.16lb largemouth fell for a crankbait pulled across a stumpy flat down the lake.
Jerry Carpenter & Kenny Stroup took home the Cook's Tackle Storage bonus bucks. Thanks for supporting us Darrell! Marion Yahn & Chip Steger took home the Sam-Son Lures bonus bucks. Thanks for supporting us Sam!
A special thanks goes out to Mr. Ron King, The Ultimate Bass Fishing Challenge's Official Polygrapher, for coming to the tournament and performing our polygraphs to keep everything fair.
I would like to thank our Classic sponsors for their participation in our circuit as no team walked away from the Classic without something worth $100 or more. To all anglers: If you get a chance; Let our sponsors know how much we appreciate them. A letter or a quick phone call goes along way!
Florence/Lauderdale Dept. of Tourism, Cooks Tackle Storage Systems, Randy Duncan maker of "Just Keeper Weigh-in Bags", P&K Custom Baits, Wow Bait Co., Texas Road House of Florence, Gray’s Tackle of Muscle Beach, Ryan’s of Florence, Eric’s Elite Guide Service, Professional Anglers Association, Ellis Battery, Paradise Resort of KY Lake, Buck’s Outboards, Anheuser Busch, B & R Outlaw Rods, & Sure Life for their Catch & Release Chemical
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