2007 Ford Dealers Big Bass Tournament

Top 3 Big Bass Winners

9:00 AM Big Bass Winners

12:00 PM Big Bass Winners

3:00 PM Big Bass Winners

Taking home the first place prize of a brand new Ford F-150 with a sticker price of $20,500 was Jeremy Knuckles of Robertsville, MO and Jamie Null of Villa Ridge, MO with a five fish limit going 20.14 lbs.  Jeremy and Jamie didn't get a chance to prefish for the event.  They rolled in Friday evening and then just went fishing on tournament day.  The duo ran up the Niangua to an area where they had caught fish a couple of weeks ago.  This area coincided with that locale where the water changed from clear to stained.  Because of the extremely windy conditions, they used a heavy than normal 7/16th ounce brown Eakins Jig tipped with a Cinnamon Flake colored craw.  They pitched and flipped their Eakins Jig on 20# test Trilene Big Game line, concentrating on channel swings in 5 to 10 feet of water. They boated 12 keepers, and felt that most of their fish were post spawn, although one of their better fish still had a red, beat up tail.  They had most of their fish in the boat by 11 a.m. The second place check of $2500 went to Gene Lineberry and Dave Dill (both from O'Fallon, MO) for their limit going 19.10 lbs.  They utilized Crock O Gator Zapper Jigs and Bullseye Bait and Tackle jigs from the Gravois to Shawnee Bend.  They were dialed into to a very distinct pattern, which allowed them to cull through 20 keepers.  Gene and Dave said they fished docks, but the backside of the docks had to be in 10 feet of water. Their jigs were tied to 14# Berkley Vanish and 10# Seagur line. They also got 2ndBB with a 5.66lb fish good for another $885.  They are sponsored by The Bassin' Shack, Bulleseye Bait and Tackle, and Lure Eyes. Third place went to Mike "Cowboy" Foree and Bob Rowan with 18.39 lbs, good for $1500.  They were one of the many teams who doubled up and fished the Anglers Choice event also, which they won with their bag of fish and also got big bass in the AC event with their 5.61 pound lunker which bit on Bob's first cast of the day!  To begin the day, they ran up the Osage and began throwing their Carolina Rigged big brush hogs for post spawn fish midway back in creeks on transitional banks.  They finished the day in the Glaize up past PB 2 doing the same thing.  One key keeper did come on a Chatterbait. Overall they boated 9 keepers on the day. Mike is sponsored by Nameoki Village Marine, Ranger Boats, Bass World Sports, Ford, Mercury Marine and Bullseye Bait & Tackle.  Bob is sponsored by Rowan Tires in Belleville, Illinois, Carmex Lip Balm, and Maui Jim Sunglasses. The 1st place Big Bass check of $1500 went to the 8th place team of Tom Cass and Tom Eilers, who both call Madison, Illinois home. The 6.48 pound hawg came on a 1/4 ounce Booyah spinnerbait which had a gold willow leaf and silver colorado blade.  The big bite happened about 10 a.m. in between two docks at about the 24-mile marker.  The two Tom's said it was in about 4 feet of water that had a temperature of 72 degrees. 62 boats weighed in 291 fish for 769-66 Lbs. 53-5 fish limits. Water level 658, water temp 64-68, weather overcast and windy, temp 60’s.

Sponsors:     St Louis Metro & Outstate FORD Dealers   -  Outdoors in the Heartland