2005 Lake Egypt



F.O.C.A.S. 2005 Illinois Division

Launches 101 Boats



GROUNDS AND MCKINNEY TAKE FIRST

Starting off the 2005 Illinois Division at Lake Egypt on March 19th with 101 boats the Federation of Christian Anglers and Sportsmen trail is growing. Launching from Egyptian Hills Marina the anglers had a windy day on the lake. Seventy-five teams brought fish to the scales with a total weight of 496.57.

It proved to be a good day for Hunter Grounds from Johnston City, IL and Mike McKinney, from Benton, IL who brought to scales a limit weighing 19.15 One of those won them Big Bass with a weight of 5.25. By 9:00 a.m. they had their limit fishing mid lake in 15 feet deep water using Carolina rigged watermelon green Baby Brush Hawgs . Taking home a $2000 check for First place and another $606, plus an Outlaw Rod for Big Bass the team totaled a $2,606 win. This team is sponsored by Tim Grounds Championship Calls.




Second Place win went to Kevin Compton and Greg Marlow from Johnston City. Also bringing to the scales a limit and weighing in at 15.34 they report having nothing until 9:00 a.m., but after that they had 6 over 16 inches plus about 15 others. They were 3-5 ft. deep and using jigs. Earning a check for $1,100 this team is sponsored by Vitality, Johnson City, IL.





Third place team of Gerald Bate, Ziegler, IL and David “Boo” Guill from Royalton, IL fished all over the lake and had eight fish over the 16 inch limit and about 20 fish all day using bandit crankbaits and fishing 4-6 ft. deep. This teams limit brought their check to a total of $800 for the day. Bates and Guill are sponsored by Pyramid Acres, Zieglers Outdoors, Dunns Sporting Goods, Lunker Lures and Jackson Hewitt.

Other places paid out were:





Fourth place: Russell English and
Edward Lemmon, 13.19 , $550





Fifth place,:Bob and Melody Swisher, 11.99, $400





Sixth place: Chris Bardill and George Panick, 11.98, $335





Seventh place: Paul and Jason Estell, 11.96, $300





Eighth place: Jeff Berger and Ken Volkerding, 11.91, $200





Ninth place: Lonnie Bowlen and John Macaby, 10.75, $150





Tenth place: Rick Lingle and Mark Holt, 10.59, $150





Eleventh place: Jack Watkins and Steve Odom, 10.55, $100

Second Big Bass was won by the team of Tom Humerickhouse and Greg Risley with a weight of 4.89 they earned $404.

A F.O.C.A.S weigh in always ends with free food for all the anglers and they were able to help themselves to bowls of hot chili and sodas.

To qualify for the Classic you have to fish four tournaments. F.O.C.A.S. has Six tournaments in Illinois and Six in Missouri this year. Illinois, Missouri and Open Division are available for you to fish and qualify for the Classic and earn points for our Angler of the Year race. Angler of the Year has two divisions consisting of Partner and Family. We encourage anglers to fish with their spouse or a child 6-16.

F.O.C.A.S. first Missouri tournament was held on March 5th at Lake of the Ozarks with a twelve boat field. We plan to continue to grow just like we did in our Illinois circuit.





First place went to Steve Odom and David Senderling with a limit of 13.53 and Second place was awarded to father/son team of Guy Herriman, Jr and Sr. with a 6.74 weight.




 


Check out our schedule and come be a part of this growing circuit. For more information you can visit our web site at www.focasoutdoormagazine.org or call the office at (618) 235-6373.

Registration can be taken over the phone using your credit card. F.O.C.A.S. has started another great year and with the addition of the Missouri division we plan to grow even more.

We are always looking for quality anglers to fish with us. See you April 9th at Table Rock and April 30th at Rend Lake. F.O.C.A.S. continues to be “Fishin’ With A Mission” in 2005.