Bass Tournament

Professional bass angler Chad Morgenthaler hosted the 6th Annual Chad Morgenthaler Bass Tournament to benefit Special Olympics Illinois, presented by Jasper Engines and Transmissions, July 30 at Rend Lake in southern Illinois. A total of 94 teams competed in the tournament.

This buddy tournament was a one-day competition on Saturday, with the pre-tournament meeting, dinner and auction held on Friday, July 29, at the Mt. Vernon Holiday Inn.

Teams competed for the most weight and for big bass. There was a guaranteed $500 for the tournament’s big bass, sponsored by Svanda GM Motor Group. Danny Schipkowski and Steve Tucker won the Big Bass contest with a fish weighing 5.07 pounds!

Teams also had the option of competing in a Beat the Pros contest against Morgenthaler and David Mansue, President of the Professional Angler Association. Morgenthaler and Mansue weighed in 5 fish weighing 16.99 pounds, beating the entire field of anglers - a first for this tournament. However, each team that entered the Beat the Pros contest received a special goodie bag of fishing products.

The top 10 teams from the 2011 tournament were:

1. Clint Joiner and Joe Bullock - 5 fish weighing 16.83 pounds
2. Jerry Walker and Bill Walker - 5 fish weighing 15.09 pounds
3. Carl Crider and David Bunton - 5 fish weighing 14.78 pounds
4. Bob Craig and Terry Wilson - 5 fish weighing 13.05 pounds
5. Danny Clark and Adam Eggerson - 5 fish weighing 12.92 pounds
6. Danny Schipkowski and Steve Tucker - 5 fish weighing 12.00 pounds
7. Jeff Odle and Alan Watkins - 5 fish weighing 11.95 pounds
8. Brad Lutz and Toby Corn - 5 fish weighing 11.93 pounds
9. Bill Wooden and Jacob Johnson - 5 fish weighing 11.52 pounds
10. Delmar Burlison and Brian Pritchett - 5 fish weighing 10.95 pounds

View complete results and photos from 2011 tournament.