2007 Lake Egypt
Steve and
Richard Armstrong
Take First Place
At
Egypt
Reported by Jack
Watkins
Early on with the favorable conditions surface water temperatures had risen as high as into the 70’s. It appeared as if the warm water was triggering an early rush to the bank to initiate the Spring spawning season and that fishing could be really good for everyone with the fish hot and heavy on the banks. The reversal of conditions had many anglers concerned and not sure what the change might bring. Pre fishing reports had been good and hopes high. On tournament morning however apprehensions were voiced by many and most were not sure what the day might bring. A cold morning with strong winds and rain falling hard had everyone leery of what might be facing them.
WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT?
Ends up the only ones concerned were the fishermen because the fish were busy as they could be. Fishing was not only good but it was incredible. Out of the 59 boats participating in the opening event there were 39 limits brought to the scales. Many boats reported catching fish early and numerous participants made claims of having limits during the early moments of the tournament. Most of the top finishing teams reported catching many fish over the upper 16 inch slot size of Egypt’s slot limit and that they culled lots of keepers. There were 243 fish officially weighed in and there were numerous other boats that just did not weigh their stringers when they saw the size of the bags hitting the scales.
1ST PLACE TEAM AND B&R OUTLAW ROD
2ND BIG BASS:
RICHARD AND STEVE ARMSTRONG
The 1ST Place team was two brothers from Scott
City, MO. Steve and Richard Armstrong were coming off of a big win the previous
week over on Kincaid Lake in the Midwest Bass Anglers Spring Open. They had a 6
fish limit of 18 pounds over there and this week they out did themselves
bringing in a 5 fish bag this time lighting up the display at 20.61 pounds.
They took advantage of an early morning bite catching most of their fish
on a jig in 8 feet of water. An exception to the jig bite was the 2nd Place
B&R OUTLAW ROD BIG BASS at 5.31 pounds which they caught on a spinner bait.
They caught about 16 fish all day with 8 being over the 16 inch mark. They
earned a check for $1700 for 1st Place plus an additional $236 for their anchor
fish.
2ND PLACE TEAM: BRIAN AND FRED HUBLER
In 2ND Place was a
well known team in F.O.C.A.S. circles. The Father and Son team of Fred and Brian
Hubler from Columbia, IL have appeared numerous times in the check line at
F.O.CA.S. events. They are always open to discuss their success and tell of
their techniques for fishing.
They had an incredible day on their way to
amassing a final stringer weight of 19.16 pounds on 5 keeper fish. They also
experienced an early morning bite and had a limit by 8:00 AM. They culled
through over 25 fish that exceeded the 16 inch mark. But by 11:00 their bite
dried up and they could not seem to continue finding their fish. Their success
came on main lake points down the lake away from the dam. A jig was also their
choice of weapon and helped to earn a check this day for $1000. Brian was also
recently another winner. He is the proud dad of a new child and hopefully in the
future there will be another Hubler out there catching fish and showing up in
the winner circle with Dad.
3RD PLACE TEAM: BRANDON BATE AND JERRY BATE
F.O.C.A.S. is an organization with its roots deeply planted in family values. That tradition continued forward with the 3RD Place team again being a pair of brothers from Ziegler, IL. Any one who follows Southern Illinois tournament reports has seen the Bate family name mentioned before in the top results of fishing events in the area. Jerry and Brandon Bate again have appeared in the top ranks with a 5 fish limit weighing in at 17.51 pounds. They were flipping plastics and jigs and had over 30 fish to the boat across the event. Their efforts earned them a check for $700. They are sponsored by Ziegler Outdoors, Motor Guide, Mercury, Lowrance, Harrison Boats of Hurst, IL, and Dunn’s Sporting Goods.
4TH PLACE TEAM: RUSSELL AND RUSSELL ENGLISH
Another Father and Son team had great success as well catching 7 fish over 16 inches. With 5 keepers hitting 17.13 pounds were Russell English and Russell English Jr. of Granite City, IL. This earned them 4th Place and a check for $500. They caught their fish using a pig and jig. The jig also produced the 1ST Place B&R OUTLAW RODS BIG BASS for this tournament which weighed in at 5.48 pounds. They also reported catching their fish on main lake points all around the lake. They are sponsored by Quality Fiberglass of Granite City, IL and B&R Outlaw Rods.
REMAINING FINISHING
POSITIONS:
5TH PLACE KYLE OSTERHAGE AND ED BURRIS 5 FISH $300
6TH PLACE RON RAYMER AND WAYNE BAUK 5 FISH $200
7TH PLACE JACK WATKINS AND JERRY RAPP 5 FISH
$150