RESULTS - September 9, 2017 "Welcome Back" Big 4 Tournament at Kewanee, IL

[FJR1]

Chad Bettich, Bill Hodge, Chris Reitan finish 1-2-3 at September 9 Big 4 Tournament at Kewanee; Bill Hodge and Chad Bettisch take first and second in Most-Carp Contest; Chris Reitan lands big fish of the day!

Chad Bettisch put his knowledge of Johnson Sauk Trail Lake and its carp population to great use on Saturday, September 9 to out-fish his competition and easily win the championship of the Illinois Carp Fishing News “Welcome Back” Big 4 Tournament at Kewanee, IL.



Fishing from a north location near the dam on the Piankashaw Trail, Chad landed four carp weighing 14-7, 12-11, 12-1, and 8-7 and totaling 47-10, which more than doubled the second place winner’s big 4 total.



Chad also took the second place medal in the optional Most-carp Contest with four fish recorded. Well done, Chad!


 

Chad’s win was especially impressive in light of the fact that a northeast wind made fishing extremely challenging throughout the day. Carp were eating infrequently and biting lightly, causing relatively few catches and several hookpulls. One-third of the field of 15 participants blanked while another third of us totaled catches of less than 10 pounds each. Anglers reported that they tried a myriad of baits and a variety of distances and locations with little success. Only 21 carp were netted during the 10 hour event. Of the carp that were recorded, 13 were captured on the north side of the lake and eight were caught on the southside. Quality also favored the north side. All southside fish but one (Mike Zemeckis’ 9-13) were in the 4-pound range or less!

Bill Hodge captured five carp (11-12, 3-11, 3-2, 2-9, 2-3) to take first place in the optional Most-Carp event.

His Big 4 total of 21-2 also had Bill ending the tournament with a second place finish in the Big 4 main event.

In addition, Bill caught the small carp of the day at 2-3 to win that specialty event, yet another medal, and a bank-stick.



Bill also won a shop light for first fish of the day, a 3-2 caught at 7:50 a.m. Mr. Hodge was located on the concrete walkway near the dam on the north side of the lake. Congratulations, Bill!

Chris Reitan has become a big-fish specialist having won two of the last three “big fish” contests in recent events and having placed second in the other. Chris netted a lone 15-1 from his northside peg on the concrete walkway, but it was good enough for third place in the Big 4 event.


In addition, the 15-1 carp was big fish of the event and won Chris a catapult donated by Michael and Victor Zemeckis. Nice work, Chris!

James Kraft chose a northside peg in the Tecumseh area, and his efforts from that location had James finishing fourth in the Big 4 event with two fish of 8-9 and 3-9 to total 12-2. Jim’s two carp were also good enough for a tie for fourth place in the Most-Carp event.

Frank Rink hook-pulled two double-digit fish at the bank at his southside, Keokuk area peg and lost another two shortly after their run. He ended the day with three dinks at 3-11, 3-5, and 2-14 for a 9-14 total and a Big 4 fifth place finish and Most-Carp third place finish.

Michael Zemeckis caught the biggest fish from a south location (Keokuk) at 9-13 and finished the Big 4 tournament in sixth place.

Tony Donato, fishing from a southside, Singing Bird area location managed two carp at 4-4 and 3-1 for a 7-5 total and seventh place in the Big 4 event and a tie for fourth place in the Most-Carp contest.

Victor Zemeckis got on the board with a 4-10 caught at a southside Keokuk location and took eighth place in the Big 4 event.

Anthony Hartung won the rig wallet prize for last carp of the day, a 3-3 netted at 4:30 p.m. The three pounder was also good for a ninth place finish in the Big 4 tournament.

Emilio Montoya drove the entire perimeter of the lake in the early-morning dark looking for the peg choice lot, so he had last peg pick when he arrived at the lot after 6:00 a.m. Few decent locations were left, so he chose a southside Shabbona peg. As was the case with most southside locations, carp were scarce. However, Emilio managed an early 2-13 at 8:10 a.m. for tenth place.

Unfortunately, the remaining five anglers, despite their outstanding efforts, blanked on this tough day.

Thanks to all 15 anglers for your participation. Special thanks to Wacker Bait and Tackle for donating prizes for the top three and to Victor and Michael Zemeckis for arranging/delivering the donation. Thanks, also, to the Zemeckis brothers for donating a catapult for the big fish winner.

The next Illinois Carp Fishing News events will be held as follows at the DesPlaines River in Joliet, IL:
Saturday, October 28 - Fall Colors Big 4 Tournament
Saturday, November 11 - Veterans Day Big 4 Tournament
Saturday, November 26 - Paul Wells Memorial Thanksgiving Tournament

Hope you can make it. —Dr. Frank Rink - Tournament organizer

[Blacksheep]

On ‎8‎/‎27‎/‎2017 at 6:34 PM, JYB said:

On ‎9‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 2:46 PM, FJR1 said:

Chad Bettich, Bill Hodge, Chris Reitan finish 1-2-3 at September 9 Big 4 Tournament at Kewanee; Bill Hodge and Chad Bettisch take first and second in Most-Carp Contest; Chris Reitan lands big fish of the day!

Chad Bettisch put his knowledge of Johnson Sauk Trail Lake and its carp population to great use on Saturday, September 9 to out-fish his competition and easily win the championship of the Illinois Carp Fishing News “Welcome Back” Big 4 Tournament at Kewanee, IL.



Fishing from a north location near the dam on the Piankashaw Trail, Chad landed four carp weighing 14-7, 12-11, 12-1, and 8-7 and totaling 47-10, which more than doubled the second place winner’s big 4 total.



Chad also took the second place medal in the optional Most-carp Contest with four fish recorded. Well done, Chad!


 

Chad’s win was especially impressive in light of the fact that a northeast wind made fishing extremely challenging throughout the day. Carp were eating infrequently and biting lightly, causing relatively few catches and several hookpulls. One-third of the field of 15 participants blanked while another third of us totaled catches of less than 10 pounds each. Anglers reported that they tried a myriad of baits and a variety of distances and locations with little success. Only 21 carp were netted during the 10 hour event. Of the carp that were recorded, 13 were captured on the north side of the lake and eight were caught on the southside. Quality also favored the north side. All southside fish but one (Mike Zemeckis’ 9-13) were in the 4-pound range or less!

Bill Hodge captured five carp (11-12, 3-11, 3-2, 2-9, 2-3) to take first place in the optional Most-Carp event.

His Big 4 total of 21-2 also had Bill ending the tournament with a second place finish in the Big 4 main event.

In addition, Bill caught the small carp of the day at 2-3 to win that specialty event, yet another medal, and a bank-stick.



Bill also won a shop light for first fish of the day, a 3-2 caught at 7:50 a.m. Mr. Hodge was located on the concrete walkway near the dam on the north side of the lake. Congratulations, Bill!

Chris Reitan has become a big-fish specialist having won two of the last three “big fish” contests in recent events and having placed second in the other. Chris netted a lone 15-1 from his northside peg on the concrete walkway, but it was good enough for third place in the Big 4 event.


In addition, the 15-1 carp was big fish of the event and won Chris a catapult donated by Michael and Victor Zemeckis. Nice work, Chris!

James Kraft chose a northside peg in the Tecumseh area, and his efforts from that location had James finishing fourth in the Big 4 event with two fish of 8-9 and 3-9 to total 12-2. Jim’s two carp were also good enough for a tie for fourth place in the Most-Carp event.

Frank Rink hook-pulled two double-digit fish at the bank at his southside, Keokuk area peg and lost another two shortly after their run. He ended the day with three dinks at 3-11, 3-5, and 2-14 for a 9-14 total and a Big 4 fifth place finish and Most-Carp third place finish.

Michael Zemeckis caught the biggest fish from a south location (Keokuk) at 9-13 and finished the Big 4 tournament in sixth place.

Tony Donato, fishing from a southside, Singing Bird area location managed two carp at 4-4 and 3-1 for a 7-5 total and seventh place in the Big 4 event and a tie for fourth place in the Most-Carp contest.

Victor Zemeckis got on the board with a 4-10 caught at a southside Keokuk location and took eighth place in the Big 4 event.

Anthony Hartung won the rig wallet prize for last carp of the day, a 3-3 netted at 4:30 p.m. The three pounder was also good for a ninth place finish in the Big 4 tournament.

Emilio Montoya drove the entire perimeter of the lake in the early-morning dark looking for the peg choice lot, so he had last peg pick when he arrived at the lot after 6:00 a.m. Few decent locations were left, so he chose a southside Shabbona peg. As was the case with most southside locations, carp were scarce. However, Emilio managed an early 2-13 at 8:10 a.m. for tenth place.

Unfortunately, the remaining five anglers, despite their outstanding efforts, blanked on this tough day.

Thanks to all 15 anglers for your participation. Special thanks to Wacker Bait and Tackle for donating prizes for the top three and to Victor and Michael Zemeckis for arranging/delivering the donation. Thanks, also, to the Zemeckis brothers for donating a catapult for the big fish winner.

The next Illinois Carp Fishing News events will be held as follows at the DesPlaines River in Joliet, IL:
Saturday, October 28 - Fall Colors Big 4 Tournament
Saturday, November 11 - Veterans Day Big 4 Tournament
Saturday, November 26 - Paul Wells Memorial Thanksgiving Tournament

Hope you can make it. —Dr. Frank Rink - Tournament organizer

Good job boyz, I will make the next one no matter where it might be.

 

 

[JYB]

Even with the slow bite it's still a pleasure fishing with everyone.  Looking forward to the next one