East Dubuque, IL, August 7, 2023 – Sunday, in the midst of challenging weather conditions on the Mississippi, Gregg Buda from New Lenox, IL, emerged as the winner in the American Fishing Tour tournament (IL 39). Launching from the Mid-Town Marina ramp on Pool 12, Buda was the only angler to bring in a full 5-fish limit, weighing in at 11.17 pounds.
For his abilities and navigational skills on a day when the river’s pool was notably low, making backwaters challenging to access, Buda received a prize of $245.
The day was characterized by overcast skies and sporadic rain showers, adding to the competition’s intensity. Many participants found the conditions tougher than anticipated, with only Buda managing to catch the maximum limit.
David Blume of Bloomington, IL, secured the second position with 4 fish, tipping the scales at 6.06 pounds. The accolade for the heaviest fish, or the “Big Bass pot,” was awarded to Andy Blunier of Roanoke, IL, for his catch weighing 3.28 pounds.
Fishing enthusiasts can look forward to the upcoming 2-day Divisional event on Pool 19 of the Mississippi River, set to take place on August 26th and 27th. The starting point for this competition is the Dallas City, IL ramp. As the race for Division 39’s Angler of the Year heats up, Gregg Buda currently leads, with David Blume trailing by just 6 points and Andrew Blunier by 13 points.
For further details about the event or the division, individuals can get in touch with the local Director, Dave Blume at 309-824-9999, or explore the American Bass Anglers’ official website at 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.
