The Galyan's Trading Company 2002 Invitational Tournament took place under sunny skies on the Ohio River at Madison, Indiana. This was the last regular season tournament. 158 fishermen were paired up and sent on their way to a great day of fishing starting at 6:00 A.M. This was an exciting day!! The fishermen were looking for the biggest bass they could catch, points for the Angler Of The Year and Co-Angler Of The Year, along with points to put them in the top 40 for the Classic. The weather cooperated, but would the fish be hungry and willing to go for a boat ride?!!
There is a lot of important information in these four (4) pages so please, take the time to look it over!!!
The Wild Card Classic Qualification Tournament will be held on Brookville Reservoir on Sunday, September 15, 2002. THE LAKE IS OFF LIMITS UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT DATE, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. There will be one (1) day (Saturday, September 14, 2002) allowed for pre-fishing. Call us if you need hotel information.
If you did not receive an Entry Form and Information Sheet or want one, please call us and we will send it out to you immediately. We will also have Entry Forms available the morning of the tournament.
Registration: 5:00 - 5:45 a.m.
Pairings: 5:45 a.m.
Boat Check: 6:00 - 6:45 a.m.
Take off time: 7:00 a.m.
Check in time: 3:00 p.m.
| Entry Fee: | $50.00 - for both Anglers and Co-Anglers (payable to IBF Tournament Trail)
50% of entry will be paid out to the top 10% of the field.
50% goes towards the Classic Fund. |
**** TO MAIL YOUR ENTRY: Please send the Wild Card Entry Form (filled out completely), along with your check to:
Indiana Bass Federation
Dan Simmons, Tournament Director
877 Broadway Drive South
Plainfield, Indiana 46168
|
Deadline for mailing entry forms is Saturday, September 7, 2002.
**** TO PAY AT THE RAMP: Have the Wild Card Entry Form filled out (completely) checks completed before you come through registration.
CLASSIC INFORMATION: If you finished in the top 40 either as an Angler or a Co-Angler, you will be receiving a Notification Letter, Entry Form and Information Sheet. We will be sending these out on August 29, 2002. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU MAIL THE ENTRY FORM, INFORMATION SHEET AND BIG BASS CHECK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OR NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 14, 2002. We have a lot of planning and preparation work to do and need as much time as possible in order to make this a successful and enjoyable event for you. IBF will not be making reservations for the fishermen nor will it be paying for your rooms. Also, there won't be any special outings or luncheons planned other than the banquet on Saturday night and the fishermen's breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning.
PROGRESSIVE BIG BASS POTS: Since no Anglers or Co-Anglers caught a big bass of at least 5.50 pounds, the Progressive Big Bass Pots was paid out at the Madison Tournament. The Angler Progressive Pot had $2,488 in it and the Co-Angler Progressive Pot had $1,208. The Progressive Big Bass Pots were split among the top three (3) Anglers big bass and the top three (3) Co-Anglers big bass. The split was 50% for the biggest bass, 30% for the second biggest bass and 20% for the third biggest bass. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE PROGRESSIVE BIG BASS POTS!! It made for an exciting weigh in! They were paid out as follows:
| ANGLERS | | | CO-ANGLERS | | |
| Mike Seal | 4.04 lbs | $1,244.00 | Terry Pierce | 2.72 lbs | $604.00 |
| Ed Thomas | 3.04 lbs | $746.40 | Bob Trueblood | 2.64 lbs | $362.40 |
| Phil Reel | 2.74 lbs | $497.60 | Jeff Macabee | 2.36 lbs | $241.60 |
We had 68 fishermen bring 105 fish to the scales weighing a total of 139.15 pounds. Specifically, 47 Anglers weighed in 83 fish weighing 111.09 pounds and 21 Co-Anglers weighed in 22 fish weighing 28.06 pounds.
On the Angler side, Paul Jolly won the tournament with 5 fish weighing 7.76 pounds! He received the first place plaque and a check in the amount of $2,233. Second place went to Steve Sendelweck with 5 fish weighing 6.12 pounds. He received the second place plaque and a check in the amount of $1,182. Bernie Miller finished third with 3 fish weighing 5.44 pounds and received a check in the amount of $696 and the third place plaque. Finishing fourth with 3 fish weighing 5.10 pounds was Leroy McGregor. He received the fourth place plaque and a check for $433. The fifth spot went to Jim Fisher with 4 fish weighing 4.26 pounds. He received a check in the amount of $263 and the fifth place plaque. We paid out 8 places on the Angler side. The 2002 Angler Of The Year in overall standings is Ken Bortlein with 354 points. Mark Dove finished second with 337 points and Stu Moyer made a run finishing third with 295.
On the Co-Angler side, Terry Pierce won the tournament with 1 fish weighing 2.72 pounds. He received the first place plaque and a check in the amount of $1,058. Second place went to Bob Trueblood with 1 fish weighing 2.64 pounds. He received the second place plaque and a check in the amount of $560. Roy Potter finished third with 2 fish weighing 2.54 pounds and received a check in the amount of $330 and the third place plaque. Finishing fourth with 1 fish weighing 2.36 pounds was Jeff Macabee. He received the fourth place plaque and a check for $205. The fifth spot went to Gary McMillin with 1 fish weighing 1.98 pounds. He received a check in the amount of $124 and the fifth place plaque. We paid out 8 places on the Co-Angler side. Jeff Macabee is the 2002 Co-Angler Of The Year finishing with 299 points. Chad Starrett finished in second spot with 251 points, Steve Littrell finished third with 249 points and Roy Potter finished fourth with 246 points.
Ken Bortlein, Angler Of The Year, and Jeff Macabee, Co-Angler Of The Year, will have their 2003 entry fee paid by the Indiana Bass Federation, receive rings to designate their 2002 success and receive other special gifts at the Classic Banquet in October. Congratulations to Ken & Jeff!
The plaques for this tournament, as well as all the previous 2002 Invitational Tournaments, 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.
Mike Seal also won the Angler Regular Big Bass Pot with a big bass of 4.04 pounds. He received a big bass check in the amount of $316. Terry Pierce also won the Co-Angler Regular Big Bass Pot with a big bass of 2.72 pounds. He received a big bass check in the amount of $166.
Ed Thomas caught the second biggest bass caught by an Angler with a big bass of 3.04 pounds. Bob Trueblood caught the second biggest bass caught by a Co-Angler with a big bass of 2.64 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. Steve Sendelweck received $50.00 and Bob Trueblood received $25.00 from Solar Bat Eye Protection Systems for mentioning their product during weigh-in.
American Trans Air one (1) round-trip airfare for two (2) on any ATA scheduled service flight destination within the continental U.S will be drawn at the Classic Banquet on Saturday, October 5, 2002.
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 Professional Series Measuring Board 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 was Ken Bortlein and the Co-Angler was Justin Mann. Gary Kincaid and Mike 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.
We will be sending out a Questionnaire to all the 370 fishermen that have fished with us this season in order to get feed back from you as to what you liked, didn't like, changes you would like to see and general information regarding the Tournament Trail. Please take the time to fill the Questionnaire out and return it to us. This Tournament Trail is designed by the fishermen that fish it and we really do value your input.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I want to take the opportunity to confirm the rumor that I have submitted my resignation to the IBF President and to the Board of Directors that next year will be my last year as Tournament Director if no one is found to replace me before the start of the season next Spring. Sandy and I have enjoyed running the Tournament Trail, but at the onset we committed to each other that three (3) years would be the extent of our commitment. We set goals that we wanted to see happen to make the Tournament Trail successful and we feel we have attained most of them. I want to fish the Tournament Trial instead of being the Tournament Director, so you will still see Sandy and me at the tournaments!! If you would be interested in taking over the position of Tournament Director, or know someone who might, please let us know.
The results for the Galyan's Trading Company Invitational at Madison and the final regular season standing reports are enclosed.
We welcome and invite each of you who did not qualify for the Wildcard or the Classic to mark the Classic dates (October 5th and 6th) on your calendar and come to the weigh-in and share the excitement with those who are competing for the big prizes!
The Tournament Crew and I had a great time this season and enjoyed seeing all of you at our events. We 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.
Dan Simmons
Tournament Director
