The Solar Bat/Innovative Sports Group 2002 IBF Invitational Tournament took place with sunny skies and 86-degree temperature at Rocky Point on the Ohio River. 188 fishermen were paired up and sent on their way to a great day of fishing starting at 5:00 A.M.
We had 128 fishermen bring 233 fish to the scales weighing a total of 332.68 pounds. Specifically, 71 Anglers weighed in 164 fish weighing 238.26 pounds and 47 Co-Anglers weighed in 69 fish weighing 94.42 pounds.
On the Angler side, Paul Jones won the tournament with 5 fish weighing a whopping 8.76 pounds! He received the first place plaque and a check in the amount of $2,543. Second place went to Phil Reel with 3 fish weighing 8.12 pounds. He received the second place plaque and a check in the amount of $1,279. Mike Brewington finished third with 5 fish weighing 7.99 pounds and received a check in the amount of $742 and the third place plaque. Finishing fourth with 5 fish weighing 7.76 pounds was Rod Hardwick. He received the fourth place plaque and a check for $521. The fifth spot went to Kenny French with 2 fish weighing 7.70 pounds. He received a check in the amount of $332 and the fifth place plaque. We paid out 10 places on the Angler side. Leading the Anglers in overall standings is Ken Bortlein with 247 points. Rick Kennedy is hot on his heels with 244 points and Mark Dove is strong with 234 points. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU HAVE FUN FISHING AND HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN A RANGER BOAT FOR ALL THE FUN YOU ARE HAVING?!
On the Co-Angler side, Aaron Sisk won the tournament with 3 fish weighing 6.88 pounds. He received the first place plaque and a check in the amount of $1,238. Second place went to Matt Hauser with 2 fish weighing 6.56 pounds. He received the second place plaque and a check in the amount of $593. Terry Boggs finished third with 4 fish weighing 6.18 pounds and received a check in the amount of $344 and the third place plaque. Finishing fourth with 3 fish weighing 4.78 pounds was Travis Elliott. He received the fourth place plaque and a check for $242. The fifth spot went to Matt McCoy with 4 fish weighing 3.60 pounds. He received a check in the amount of $154 and the fifth place plaque. We paid out 9 places on the Co-Angler side. Sheldon Roberts is the current points leader with 211 points. Jeff Macabee is in second spot with 188 points with Larry Kitchel close behind with 181 points. As you can see from the overall standings, ALL THE CO-ANGLERS THAT CAUGHT A FISH RECEIVED POINTS WHICH MEANS THAT IT IS STILL ANYONE'S GAME. You can't make the Classic and have a chance at the winnings if you don't fish! Keep up the good work!!
The plaques for this tournament, as well as all the plaques for the rest of the season, 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.
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 pot. 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. 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.
Phil Reel won the Angler Regular Big Bass Pot with a big bass of 4.92 pounds. He received a big bass check in the amount of $380. Matt Hauser won the Co-Angler Regular Big Bass Pot with a big bass of 5.70 pounds. He received a big bass check in the amount of $194. Since no Anglers or Co-Anglers caught a big bass of at least 6.75 pounds, the Progressive Big Bass Pots carry over to the Rocky Point Tournament. The Angler Progressive Pot currently has $1,788 in it and the Co-Angler Progressive Pot has $872 in it. They will be increased at the next tournament based on the number of entries. These can get to be real fun. Keep an eye on them!
Scott Owens caught the second biggest bass caught by an Angler with a big bass of 4.70 pounds. Chad Starrett caught the second biggest bass caught by a Co-Angler with a big bass of 3.32 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. Paul Jones received $50.00 and Aaron Sisk received $25.00 from Solar Bat Eye Protection Systems for mentioning their product during weigh-in.
American Trans Air is again supplying one (1) round-trip airfare for two (2) on any ATA scheduled service flight destination within the continental U.S. To qualify for this special drawing you must have fished the tournament and attended the check presentation for that tournament. For each check presentation you attend (provided you fished that tournament), you get one (1) entry towards the special drawing at the Classic. This is for the six (6) regular tournaments and will not include the Classic. Example: If you fish all six (6) tournaments and stay for all six (6) awards presentations, you will have six (6) chances towards the prize.
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 Measurer for each tournament event to be included in door prizes. Also, Rod Yoder, of Hildebrandt 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 Nathan Gray and the Co-Angler was Rick Martlage. 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.
As you can see, there are many reasons to come out and fish the IBF trail. We welcome everyone (boaters and non-boaters) to come out and join us.
The Classic will be held on October 5th and 6th on Monroe Reservoir in Bloomington, Indiana. The top 40 Anglers from the regular season point standings and the top five Anglers at the Wildcard tournament on September 15, 2002 will qualify for the Classic as Anglers. The top 40 Co-Anglers from the regular season point standings and the top five Co-Anglers at the Wildcard tournament will qualify for the Classic as Co-Anglers. The Co-Anglers will fish the first day only of the Classic and will be fishing for Cash Awards, Discount Coupons from Ranger and Mercury and sponsorships for the 2003 season. Ted's Aqua Marine, Killbuck Valley Sports, Moore Boats, and Southern Indiana Marine will each sponsor one of the top four Co-Angler finishers in the Classic for the 2003 season. The Anglers will fish both days with the winner receiving the new fully equipped Ranger 518. There will also be cash awards for 2nd through 10th position.
Qualifying for the wildcard tournament is a simple matter of fishing at least 5 of the 6 regular season tournaments and not finishing in the top 40. The Anglers must have fished 5 of the 6 regular tournaments as an angler and the Co-Anglers must have fished 5 of the 6 regular tournaments as a co-angler. Five Anglers and five Co-Anglers will be added to the Classic field for the wildcard tournament. The location of the Wildcard tournament will not be announced until the final regular season event on August 25, 2002 at Madison on the Ohio River.
The results for the Solar Bat/Innovative Sports Group Invitational at Rocky Point are enclosed. The next event is on August 11, 2002 at Lake Monroe with ECS Anchor Supply and Outdoorsman Sports Shop as co-hosts. Registration and pre-tournament meeting will be at Cutright Marina, with registration from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and the meeting starting at 5:00 p.m. Remember that you can send your entry forms in together or separately if you are entering as "guaranteed," but you need to indicate the other person on your entry form. If you have entered and later find a "guaranteed" partner, just let us know and we will make the appropriate changes. YOU DON'T NEED A "GUARANTEED" PARTNER TO ENTER THE TOURNAMENT. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE "GUARANTEED." PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU FILL OUT THE ENTRY FORM COMPLETELY. WE CAN NOT FINALIZE YOUR ENTRY UNLESS IT IS COMPLETE.
The Tournament Crew and I had a great time and enjoyed seeing all of you and 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. Let's keep it up! KEEP FISHING WITH US BECAUSE - THE FUN NEVER STOPS WHEN YOU'RE FISHING!!
Dan Simmons
Tournament Director
