July 29, 2023, Seneca, IL. David Blume, a resident of Bloomington, IL, emerged as the winner of the American Fishing Tour (IL 39) tournament, presented by American Bass Anglers, and took place on the Illinois River out of Seneca IL. Blume brought in a 5 fish limit, which weighed in at 7.16 pounds on the scales, after accounting for a .5 pounds penalty for a dead fish. For his outstanding performance, Blume was awarded a prize of $401.00.
The fishing conditions during the tournament were challenging, with the weather being cloudy and hot due to the recent heatwave. The water temperatures in the low 90s added to the difficulty of the fishing conditions. Out of the participating anglers, only ten were able to weigh in fish, with Blume and another angler achieving the coveted 5 fish limits. Overall, it proved to be a tough day for the participants, as the fish were not taking the bait easily.
Claiming the second position in the tournament was Chaser Ellison, a local angler from Morris, IL. Ellison also managed to secure a 5 fish limit, weighing a total of 6.06 pounds, and received a prize of $187 for his commendable efforts.
The Big Bass Pot was won by Scott Dunn, a new member of the American Bass Anglers and a fellow resident of Morris, IL. His remarkable catch weighed in at 2.28 pounds.
The next tournament in this division is scheduled to take place on Pool 12 of the Mississippi River, launching from the Mid-Town Marina in East Dubuque, IL, on July 29th. This upcoming event will be the final one-day tournament before the 2-day Divisional event. David Blume’s recent victory has intensified the competition for the Division 39 Angler of the Year title, as he is now a strong contender alongside Gregg Buda, Andrew Blunier, and Dustin Taylor.
| PL | Angler | Fish | Big Bass | Total | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David M. Blume | 5 | 6.66 | 192 | 401 | |
| 2 | Chaser Ellison | 5 | 2.22 | 6.06 | 191 | 187 |
| 3 | Edward L. Gad | 4 | 2.03 | 5.89 | 190 | |
| 4 | Scott Dunn | 3 | 2.28 | 5.31 | 189 | |
| 5 | Gregg J. Buda | 4 | 2.05 | 4.76 | 188 | |
| 6 | Mitch A. DeLand | 4 | 4.68 | 187 | ||
| 7 | Tim Lewis | 2 | 2.51 | 186 | ||
| 8 | Brian D. Sopko | 2 | 2.34 | 185 | ||
| 9 | Bruce H. Deyoung | 2 | 1.92 | 184 | ||
| 10 | Andrew A. Blunier | 1 | 1.86 | 183 |
For more details about this event or the division, interested parties can get in touch with the local Director, Dave Blume, at 309-824-9999 or visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
Competing in these tournaments allows anglers to accumulate valuable points toward the coveted title of Divisional Angler of the Year. The points champion from each division will have the opportunity to compete in the highly anticipated American Bass Anglers AFT Angler of The Year Final Round at the AFT Championship. Furthermore, the top 500 anglers from different divisions will earn the privilege of participating in the prestigious three-day ABA, AFT National Championship tournament.
American Bass Anglers is proud to be supported by a range of esteemed sponsors, including Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Power Pole, RT Outdoors, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is dedicated to providing affordable and locally-accessible tournaments tailored for weekend anglers. These events also offer a progressive pathway for individual angler development.
For more information about American Bass Anglers, including the Open Series, American Fishing Tour, American Couples Series, annual Military Team Bass Tournament, and Top 150 Solo Tour, all proudly presented by Caymas Boats, please visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.
