Invitational Tournament Trail
Patoka Lake

The fifth 2003 IBF Invitational Tournament was sponsored by The Outdoorsman Sport Shop and Innovative Sport Group. We would like to take this opportunity to thank these two sponsors for their support of the Indiana Bass Federation and the Invitational Tournament Trail. We had partly cloudy skies and warm temperature making for excellent fishing conditions!

WILD CARD TOURNAMENT: If you do not finish in the top 40 as either an Angler or a Co-Angler and you fish 5 of the 6 regular season tournaments, you will qualify to fish the Wild Card Tournament. We will take the top 5 Anglers and top 5 Co-Anglers from the Wild Card Tournament for entry to the Classic where you will have a chance to win cash prizes and a Ranger Boat. The Wild Card Tournament will be held on Salamonie Reservoir on September 14, 2003. There will be NO OFF LIMITS period as in the past. We will have Entry Forms and Information Sheets available at the Monroe Tournament. Bring your checkbooks or cash if you want to pay for the Wild Card Tournament at the next tournament. Otherwise, you can register and pay at the ramp the morning of the tournament.

EDDIE GILSTRAP MOTORS TRUCK GIVE AWAY: Every time you fish a tournament you are eligible to have your name entered for the truck give away drawing. At the last tournament registration day, Saturday, September 6, 2003, 6 names will be drawn and those persons will be given a key. You do not have to fish the tournament, but you do have to be in attendance if your name is drawn to receive a key. On Sunday, September 7, 2003, the six participants will have a chance to start the truck with the key that was given to them. There will only be 1 lucky key that starts the truck. That person will have a 1-year lease for a new Ford Supercab Pickup Truck.

CLASSIC: The top 40 Anglers and Co-Anglers plus 5 Anglers and 5 Co-Anglers from the Wildcard Tournament will qualify to participate in the 2003 Indiana Bass Federation Forrest L. Wood Annual Classic Tournament on October 11th an 12th at Patoka Reservoir. The Anglers will be competing for a fully rigged 2003 Ranger 519 powered by a 200 HP Mercury Outboard. The Co-Anglers will be competing for a fully rigged Ranger R61 powered by a 90 HP Mercury Outboard. Cash prizes will be awarded as well. Patoka Reservoir will be off limits from October 6th through the 9th. You may Pre-fish the day before the Classic on Friday, October 10th. Competition is very close and there are a large number of Anglers and Co-Anglers who still have a shot at making the Classic field. Don't miss the last qualifying event at Monroe on September 7, 2003!

We had 228 fishermen start out for a fun day of fishing with partly cloudy skies. At weigh in we had 109 fishermen bring 192 fish to the scales with a total weight of 459.80 pounds. Specifically, 65 Anglers weighed in 124 fish weighing 295.78 pounds and 44 Co-Anglers weighed in 68 fish weighing 164.02 pounds.

On the Angler side, David Aly won the tournament with 5 fish weighing 12.66 pounds. He received a $100 Gift Certificate from The Outdoorsman Sport Shop, first place plaque and a check in the amount of $3,116. Second place went to Brian Waldman with 5 fish weighing 11.64 pounds. He received the second place plaque and a check in the amount of $1,558. Scott McGlinchey finished third with 5 fish weighing 11.51 pounds and received a check in the amount of $893 and the third place plaque. Finishing fourth with 3 fish weighing 10.96 pounds was Marvin Parton. He received the fourth place plaque and a check for $644. The fifth spot went to Aaron Ault with 5 fish weighing 10.50 pounds. He received a check in the amount of $415 and the fifth place plaque. We paid out 18 places on the Angler side. The Hildebrandt Co. First Out Of The Money prize went to John McDonald on the Angler side.

On the Co-Angler side, Roy Potter won the tournament with 4 fish weighing 10.84 pounds. He received a $50 Gift Certificate from The Outdoorsman Sport Shop, the first place plaque and a check in the amount of $1,434. Second place went to Bryan Fonner with 5 fish weighing 9.32 pounds. He received the second place plaque and a check in the amount of $717. Dave Dick finished third with 2 fish weighing 7.36 pounds and received a check in the amount of $411 and the third place plaque. Finishing fourth with 2 fish weighing 7.34 pounds was Chad Starret. He received the fourth place plaque and a check for $296. The fifth spot went to Jeff Noerenberg with 2 fish weighing 7.26 pounds. He received a check in the amount of $191 and the fifth place plaque. We paid out 17 places on the Co-Angler side. The Hildebrandt Co. First Out Of The Money prize went to Co-Angler R. Glen Dorman.

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 pots. 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 Larry Sisk with a big bass of 5.46 pounds. He received a big bass check in the amount of $468. The Co-Angler Regular Big Bass Pot was won by Dave Dick with a big bass of 5.20 pounds. He received a big bass check in the amount of $222. Since no Anglers or Co-Anglers caught a big bass of at least 6.00 pounds, the Progressive Big Bass Pots carry over to the Monroe Tournament. The Angler Progressive Pot is $2,080 and the Co-Angler Progressive Pot is $1,180. These amounts will be increased at the next tournament based on the number of entries in the tournament. 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 highest finishing Angler and Co-Angler mentioning Solar Bat Sunglasses and wearing them while weighing in received a bonus of $50.00 for the Angler and $25.00 for the Co-Angler. David Aly received $50.00 and Roy Potter received $25.00 from Solar Bat Eye Protection Systems.

With five tournaments under our belt we begin to focus on what's happening in the Angler and Co-Angler of the year races. Mike Stetich continues at the top of the Angler Standings with 427 Classic Points. Mike is followed closely by Mark Randolph (372), Scott McGlinchey (349), and Marvin Parton (347). Rob Worthy holds down the 40th spot with 212 Classic Points. With 100 points still available, many of you still have a chance to make the Classic. Brad Kippenbrock is leading the Co-Anglers with 393 Classic Points and is closely followed by Chris Bortlein (348), Steve Lehman (346), and Greg Evans (328). Thomas Wespiser is in the 40th spot with 171 points. The Co-Angler race is more wide open than the Angler race. Don't give up if you're a little down. It's still wide open!

As you can see, there are many reasons to come out and fish the IBF trail. We welcome everyone (Anglers and Co-Anglers) to come out and join the fun. Please take the time to look at our sponsors for 2003 and give them your business if you are in need of their services. Also please remember to thank them when you see a representative. The IBF trail could not exist without the backing of our sponsors - we need to let them know that they are appreciated.

Sandy and I want to take a space in this Newsletter to thank all of you for your support during our past three years of running this tournament trail. We have had lots of fun and enjoyed the fellowship with you. The success of this tournament is dependent upon the fishermen making it happen. We aren't going away - we are just changing hats. I will be fishing in the tournament and Sandy will be at my side supporting me in the sport of bass fishing. Again, thank you for making our jobs so much fun for the last three years!!

The next event sponsored by Galyan's Trading Company will be September 7, 2003 at Lake Monroe. Registration and pre-tournament meeting will be Saturday, September 6, 2003 at Cutright Ramp, with registration from 3:00 to 5:00 and the meeting starting at 5:00 p.m.

We were pleased with the participation and excitement of the fishermen. The Tournament Crew and I had a great time and enjoyed seeing all of you and hoped 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!

LETS KEEP UP THE FUN!

Dan Simmons
Tournament Director