Reitz Wins Walmart Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division Event on the Mississippi River
OutdoorHub 08.25.14
Clayton Reitz of Morton, Ill., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 15 pounds, 4 ounces Saturday to win the fourth Walmart Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division tournament of 2014 on the Mississippi River. For his victory, Reitz earned $4,244.
“I fished on pool ten and stayed fairly close to the ramp,” said Reitz. “I caught all smallmouth. I didn’t catch anything at my first five spots, but my next five spots all panned out to get me a limit. I caught nine or 10 keepers all day long.
“I caught one or two on a tube and the rest of my fish on a shad-colored Rapala DT 6,” explained Reitz. “Most of my fish came off of sand drops where baitfish were present or on rock banks.
“I knew I had about 15 pounds but I figured someone would have caught 16 pounds of largemouth on a frog and would beat me.
“I’ve fished the Mississippi for 20 years. This is my fourth BFL win, but my first win on the Mississippi,” Reitz finished. “It is very rewarding to get the win after putting so many days in on the river.”
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Brian Fitzpatrick, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 14-10, $2,122 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
3rd: Dan Thill, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 14-4, $1,413
4th: Rick Bosshard, Hartland, Wis., five bass, 13-10, $990
5th: Brandon Gann, Sparta, Wis., five bass, 13-9, $849
6th: Tim Linenberg, Tomah, Wis., five bass, 13-5, $742
6th: Matthew Roberts, Pulaski, Iowa, five bass, 13-5, $742
8th: Chris Aswegan, Tiffin, Iowa, five bass, 13-2, $637
9th: Brett Rudy, Burlington, Iowa, five bass, 13-0, $566
10th: Kary Ray, Tiffin, Iowa, five bass, 12-9, $495
Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
Lance Baker of Huxley, Iowa, weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 11 pounds even Saturday to win $2,122 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Michael Loftus, Glendale Heights, Ill., five bass, 10-10, $1,061
3rd: Matt Knox, Metamora, Ill., five bass, 10-8, $707
4th: Mike Winkler, Marinette, Wis., four bass, 9-14, $495
5th: Tyler Rocke, Peoria, Ill., five bass, 9-5, $424
6th: Tony Seiler, River Falls, Wis., five bass, 9-3, $389
7th: Dustin Drath, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 9-2, $354
8th: Tony Kromke, La Crosse, Wis., three bass, 8-8, $318
9th: Ronald Syverson, Holmen, Wis., four bass, 7-13, $283
10th: John Branley, Lodi, Wis., four bass, 7-11, $248
The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 16-18 Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Ky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Rayovac FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
Contact:
JODY WHITE
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
o: 612.337.1948 c: 802.233.6094
e. jody.white@flwfishing.com
twitter: @jodyblanco
www.flwfishing.com
