August 10-11, 2024, East Dubuque, IL – A weekend of competitive fishing on Pool 12 of the Mississippi River saw two distinct winners emerge in the American Fishing Tour (IL 39) tournaments, presented by American Bass Anglers.
On August 10th, Dave Blume of Bloomington, IL, clinched the victory in the first of two consecutive single-day tournaments. Launching from Mid-Town Marina, Blume brought in four fish that weighed a total of 7.61 pounds. Despite the gorgeous weather, anglers faced challenges due to strong river currents, which made boat positioning difficult and gave trolling motor batteries a significant workout. Nonetheless, the day was fruitful, with many fish caught, although keeper-sized ones were harder to come by.
Michael Rasmussen of Petersburg, IL, secured second place with a four-fish total of 6.85 pounds.
The Big Bass pot went to newcomer Justin Newell of Utica, IL, with a 2.60-pound catch.
The action continued on August 11th, with Justin Newell taking the top spot in the second tournament of the weekend. Newell’s five-fish limit weighed in at 11.10 pounds. Conditions were favorable with light winds and less current compared to the previous day, making for a pleasant day on the water.
Dave Blume followed up his Saturday win with a second-place finish on Sunday, bringing in four fish weighing 9.58 pounds.
Blume’s catch was anchored by the day’s Big Bass, which tipped the scales at 4.11 pounds.
These back-to-back tournaments marked the end of the Division 39 single-day qualifying events. The race for Angler of the Year is now tighter than ever, with the top five anglers set to battle it out in the upcoming two-day Divisional event on Pool 19 of the Mississippi River.
For more information about this event or the division, please contact local Director Dave Blume at 309-824-9999 or visit American Bass Anglers.
These anglers earn valuable points toward the divisional angler of the year title. The points champion from each division will compete in the annual American Bass Anglers AFT Angler of The Year Final Round at the AFT Championship. In addition, the top 500 anglers from the various divisions will earn the right to compete in the three-day AFT National Championship tournament.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Power Pole, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low-cost, close-to-home tournaments for the weekend angler and, at the same time, offering each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression.
For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Open Series, the American Fishing Tour, the American Couples Series, the annual Military Team Bass Tournament, and the Top 150 Solo Tour, all presented by Caymas Boats, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406
