KUNKEL AND TUCKER
CONTINUE TO DISPLAY
MARK TWAIN DOMINANCE
Reported by Jack Watkins, Belleville, IL

1ST PLACE TEAM AND 2ND PLACE BIG BASS

Saturday morning brought a short reprieve to the serious winds of the previous couple of days long enough for the pre tournament meeting to be held and the Morning Prayer to be said. In addition it allowed for decent conditions for anglers to make it around the lake to their first starting spots of the day. It was chilly but at least it was safe and the rain was almost inconsequential. It did not take long for the wind to pick up however not as bad as the previous two days. As fishermen returned there was talk of many fish being caught and many fish lost. Almost every one had a story of a lost good fish or two. They talked about catching fish on all kinds of baits from jigs, plastics, spinner baits, crank baits, and top water. Ultimately there were 95 fish weighed in and most teams talked about catching fish all day long. There were 10 limits of 5 fish and 30 of the 35 boats weighed in fish.

For those who follow Mark Twain fishing lake reports and tournament information the 1st Place team are well known individuals. Charlie Kunkel of Webster Grove, MO and Mac Tucker of Monroe City, MO can be found in the winner’s circle on just about any tournament on Mark Twain that they enter. They were actually signed up for another event which was cancelled and they were the last entry to sign up for the day. They did not catch a lot of keepers but the 5 that they did were the right five fish. Working small main lake pockets with large #7 gold bladed chartreuse and white spinner baits they caught their keepers early and had a weight of 18.48 pounds. The team sponsored by 154 MARINE anchored their stringer with the second Big Bass of the day with a good solid Mark Twain fish that lit up the numbers at 5.01 pounds. They received for 1st Place a check for $1197.00 and for 2nd Big Bass $140.00.

In 2nd Place was the team of Tom Heintz of Waterloo, IL and Derek Bircher of Highland, IL. They stated that they stayed in the mid lake regions and fished Sweet Beavers and Craws. They had their 5 keepers, which went 14.68 pounds, in the live well by 10:00AM but could not catch anything bigger to cull with to improve their weight. They are sponsored by Eli Homes of Waterloo, IL. Their five fish earned them a check for $798.00 for the event.

2ND PLACE TEAM
DEREK BIRCHER AND TOM HEINTZ

A Father and Son team took the 3rd Place honors for the day. Rob Mondy of Hawk Point, MO, he was this year’s FOCAS Lake of the Ozarks winner, and his father Charles Mondy of Fenton, MO caught 5 keepers to earn $399.00 for this year’s Mark Twain tournament. They spun the dial for a total weight of 13.88 pounds. They are sponsored by B&R OUTLAW RODS, Hawg Retriever Lures, and Osage Beach Bait and Tackle. They worked down towards the dam area in Lick Creek fishing pockets with very steep banks. They caught their fish on jigs which they would throw against the bank and then swim out from the shallows into deeper water. They stated that the fish would not really thump the jig but just grab on and start swimming with it. They had to really watch their line for movement and then set the hook.

3RD PLACE TEAM
ROB MONDY AND CHARLES MONDY

In the F.O.C.A.S. circles the 4th Place team is a well known and recognized duo. Another Father and Son team they had a 5 fish limit which secured them the last paying position with a weight of 13.42 pounds. A.J. Balding of Millstadt, IL and Tony Balding of Lebanon, IL stated they had 8 keepers across the day but just could not get a really good kicker. They fished the Lick Creek area as well fishing very shallow using jigs and tubes. They split $266.00 for the event. They are sponsored by B&R OUTLAW RODS.

4TH PLACE TEAM
A.J. BALDING AND TONY BALDING

The B&R Outlaw Big Bass of the day was caught by the team of Ken Farley and John Adair of Waterloo, IL. The 5.51 pound lunker went 5.51 pounds and was worth $210.00 and a new B&R OUTLAW ROD. They only had one keeper all day but it was the right one. They caught it about 10:30AM in Pigeon Roost on a brown Wiggle Wart crank bait.

B&R OUTLAW RODS BIG BASS
KEN FARLEY AND JOHN ADAIR

F.O.C.A.S. will have our next tournament at Barkley Lake in Kentucky out of the Kuttawa Lyon County Boat Ramp on June 3rd. The next Illinois Tournament will be at Carlyle Lake on Saturday June 14th. There are still 4 events remaining and by fishing them you could still qualify for this year’s Classic which will be held on August 4th and 5th.