SCHUTE AND DeSHERLIA
TAKE FIRST AT
Smithland Pool
Reported by Jack Watkins

The third event for the FOCAS season was at Smithland Pool on the Ohio River and came out of the Galconda Marina on Saturday June 2nd a little before 6:00 AM. Coming into the event the main river had been slightly higher and there had been a relatively minor drop in water levels over the proceeding week of about 12 inches overall Afternoon thunderstorms had been dropping heavy rain at times over the area but nothing specifically concentrated in one area. This resulted in very variable water conditions. Some areas were clear with 3 to 4 feet of visibility while others were down right muddy. More significant for the river bite was that there was almost no current what so ever. Also on tournament day there was little to no recreational traffic or commercial barge traffic. In conjunction with all of this there were still a number of fish just coming off the last of the spawn or just starting going into the post spawn patterns so conditions certainly seemed to favor the creek patterns. The results were to show just that and in fact all four top finishers caught their stringers in the creeks and most notably in Lusk Creek.
Talk around the dock before take off was that everyone was catching fish. Some spoke of being able get keepers but that quality fish were few and far between. Now there were a few however that spoke of big fish being caught on Friday before the tournament. The 33 boats were heading out with high spirits and expectations of really whacking some fish. At the end of the day overall the results were pretty close to what everyone had anticipated. Many 5 fish limits were brought to the scales but few were fortunate enough to have that “kicker” which separated the “wheat from the chaff”. Now the top place finishers were those who just found those “nice” fish and put together sacks of really quality tournament size fish hitting the 2 pound to 3 pound mark.

1ST PLACE TEAM- T.S.
(Brian) SCHUTE AND PAUL DeSHERLIA

Taking 1st Place honors and receiving the 1ST Place Plaque and a check for $1125.00 were T.S. (Brian) Schute of Mascoutah, IL and Paul DeSherlia of Belleville, IL. They worked a jig in Miller and Lusk Creek and caught 15 keepers across the event.
They stated that most of their quality fish came out of one very small area which they worked over well. Their five fish stringer weighed in at 14.23 pounds but unfortunately a dead fish penalty dropped them to 13.73 for an official weight which was still more than a pound margin to carry them to the top of the heap. Their big fish hit the mark at 3.41 pounds so it shows that they had a nice consistent weight across across their final group of keepers. They are sponsored by OPEN SEASON Hunting and Fishing of Belleville, IL

2ND PLACE TEAM
LINDA AND BILL PENROD

If you fish Southern Illinois tournaments and especially Smithland Pool events you have most certainly seen or heard of this Harrisburg, IL couple coming to the check line. Bill and Linda Penrod have more than proved their prowess on finding and catching Ohio River fish and today was no exception. Fishing through the crowded Lusk Creek armada of fishing boats they worked plastics to go through a number of keepers to end up with a final stringer of 5 keepers with a weight of 12.37 pounds and the 2ND Place position. Again consistency was the key with their big fish being 3.09 pounds and the rest of the stringer looking close to the same. As well as a nice day of catching fish, $825.00 certainly helped to make this a nice fishing trip.

3RD PLACE TEAM
TONY DOWD JR. AND TONY DOWD SR.

After some what of a last minute decision to fish, the father and son team of Tony Dowd Sr. of Murphysboro, IL and Tony Dowd Jr. of Elkville, IL certainly made it pay off for them. Also throwing plastics and catching their fish both close to the bank and out to the creek break line, the Dowds went through a number of fish to catch their 5 keepers and light up the scales at 10.26 pounds. Again another very constant fish weight brought their total up to a check cashing total. Their big fish at 2.41 pounds shows it is pretty obvious their fish were close to the same size. Their skills earned them a check for $525.00 for their efforts today. They are sponsored by Marlow Hill Drilling, Rend Lake Marina, Sign Design, Clover Ridge Creations, and Ranger Boats.

B&R OUTLAW RODS BIG BASS
AWARD AND 4TH PLACE TEAM-
JACK WATKINS AND JERRY RAPP

The B&R OUTLAW RODS BIG BASS AWARD and the 4th Place team was a bittersweet victory. The team of Jack Watkins of Belleville, IL fishing with his alternate Jerry Rapp of Farmington, MO also fished a creek pattern as well. Concentrating on a jig bite on the stumps of the creek channel break they had their limit by 8:00 AM and it was anchored by really nice kicker. They ran their pumps all day and shortly before noon they changed and retreated their water. At that time all their fish were alive and frisky. A little better than an hour latter double checking that pumps were operating correctly they found their entire catch dead. Their five fish limit went from 12.54 pounds to 10.04 pounds and did earn them a check for $300.00. Their kicker fish went 5.0-3 pounds but also after a penalty it dropped to 4.53 pounds. This added an additional $198.00. Jack is sponsored by Leisure Time Pools, Swansea, IL, Scenic River Boats and Motors of Bonne Terre, MO, Flying Fisherman Sunglasses and Sports Apparel of Islamadora, FL, 7/24 OUTDOORS.COM, and B&R OUTLAW Rods. Jerry represents 7/24 OUTDOORS.COM and Eiron Jigs.

The final paying position was won by Fields and Smothers for 2nd Big Bass and earned them a check for $132.00.

The final regular season event for FOCAS will be held Saturday, June 30th at Carlyle Lake and will come out of Dam West Access. For further information either call (618) 235-6373.