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JACOBS AND CORDES

WIN 2008 ITT CLASSIC EVENT

The Illini Team Trail "Mike James" Memorial Classic event combined of the Northern and Southern Divisions was held on Kentucky Lake September 13^th & 14^th going out of the Kentucky Lake Dam paddle boat area. Between the two divisions there were fifty-four teams that came with hopes of taking home a brand new 2009 188 VS Ranger Boat plus Ranger Trail Trailer fully equipped including a Mercury 150 OptiMax motor plus accessories. This was the eighth year for the Illini Team Trail to hold a Classic event but unfortunately the first time to be forced to make a decision to cancel the second day of the event because of "Hurricane IKE".

Day 1 found the teams fishing under sunny skies with stiff winds and finding it difficult navigating to their spots. At take-off Bradley Culp of Sportsman’s (Boat Repair, bait and tackle shop) of Gilbertsville, Kentucky donated and pass out a sack lunch to the fisherman and offered his assistance in case of break-down. As teams brought their first days catch to the scales, the early leaders were Jason Jacobs of Charleston, Ill. and Marion Cordes of Sullivan, Ill. Their first day weight was 5 fish weighing 15.47 lb.

Twenty-five teams brought in limits to the scales. There were a total of 192 fish weighing a total of 464.09 lb. The five largest fish weighed in had weights of 5.24, 5.00, 4.88, 4.56, and 4.28 lb. During the weigh-in Red’s Muffler Shop (Wayne Shaw) of Urbana, Ill. donated a Flowmaster Muffler System and Neil Bohac of Braidwood, Ill. had the lucky number. Raffle prizes were donated by Humminbird, Ranger Boats, Mercury Outboards, MinnKota Trolling Motor; ITT donated a battery, T-shirts and caps; Rejuvenade, and Vicious Fishing Line. Dewayne Shultz was the winner of the Humminbird Depth Finder; Dan Pierce of Salem, Ill. won the battery; and Doug Williams of Windsor, Ill. won the Setyr Rod and the 50/50 drawing.

Day 2 started out with heavy rain and 45 m.p.h. winds forcing Mike Black of ITT to cancel the second day due to safety of the anglers during the passing of "Hurricane Ike." "You have no control of Mother Nature – but a life is more important," Black stated. After meeting with all anglers participating, everyone joined in and helped get ready for the awards presentation at the nearest pavilion. Awards were presented to all placing winners and keys to the 2009 Ranger Boat were presented by Jason Parsons (IL Rep for Ranger Boats) to Jason Jacobs and Marion Cordes.

Anglers driving by the Kentucky Dam on their way home – watched while twelve-foot swells crashed into the rocks at the Kentucky Dam Bridge and coal from the coal mine would blow into your eyes from the wind while trying to take a picture or two. You could hear nearby trees falling in the woods and along the roads with branches and leaves blowing everywhere in the wind. Everyone made it home safely.

The winning team of Jason Jacobs and Marion Cordes reported catching most of their fish on a Jim Driskell spinnerbait fishing grass flats in 3 – 4 ft. of clear water in the middle part of the lake. This team was also Ranger Cup Qualified for an additional $1,000.00! They also received a certificate each from Ranger Boats good for Ranger Lifejackets. (Ranger Cup qualifiers must be registered as a Ranger Boat owner with Ranger Boats, show proof of membership card, display Ranger Cup on windshield of Ranger Boat, and abide by Ranger Cup clothing requirements) If interested in becoming a Ranger Cup participant – go to www.rangerboats.com and check out Ranger Cup Registration.

Jacobs and Cordes are sponsored by PJ Lures, Jim Driskell Spinnerbaits, and Prairie Outfitters of Charleston, Ill. This team also has an automatic berth into next year’s 2009 Classic tournament. The Ranger boat "Classic Winners" plaques were donated by "Tinder’s Rubber Stamps of Lerna, Illinois.

Winners listed - All of Illinois:

2nd Place: Scott McIntyre of Decatur / Tony Waters of Springfield 5 fish, 14.94 lb. $10,000.00

3rd Place: Kevin Arbaugh - Dewayne Shultz, both of Olney 5 fish, 14.63 lb. $ 5,000.00

4th Place: Richard Stevens of Galatic / Wendy Kmucha, Harrisburg 5 fish, 14.51 lb. $ 2,500.00

5th Place: Bob McPeak of Swansea / Frank Clark of Benton. 5 fish, 14.12 lb. $ 1,000.00

6th Place: Shannon Toigo of Christopher / Greg Berner of Elkville 5 fish, 13.62 lb. $ 900.00

7th Place: Jason Thomas of Bonnie / Brett Wysock of Wilmington 5 fish, 13.36 lb. $ 800.00

8th Place: Roger Shaw of Urbana / Jack Morse of Decatur 5 fish, 13.06 lb. $ 700.00

9th Place: Josh & Brad Kirchhoff, both of Highland 5 fish, 12.91 lb. $ 600.00

10th Place: Jim & Matt Carroll, both of Hillsboro 5 fish, 12.78 lb. $ 500.00

11th Place: Billy Walker of Mulkeytown / Brandon Bate of Zeigler 5 fish, 12.62 lb. $ 400.00

12th Place: Barry Joy & Randy Banes, both of Mt. Vernon 5 fish, 12.50 lb. $ 300.00

1^st Big Bass Jason Thomas – Brett Wysock 5.24 lb. $ 700.00

2^nd Big Bass Dan & Linda Pierce, both of Salem 5.00 lb. $ 300.00

A banquet supper for Classic Qualifiers and guests was held at the "Inn by the Lake" in Gilbertsville, KY." Ranger Boats donated tournament jackets for each Ranger Boat owner qualifying team. Jason Parsons of Ranger Boats was in attendance and had the 2009 Classic Ranger Boat on display for the anglers to see and to answer any questions. An award presentation was held after the supper with Travis Loyd of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service presenting the top Point Champion team of the Southern and Northern Division their awards. The "ITT Challenge" payout presented by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service totaling $6,150.00 was awarded to the Top Points Champions from the Southern Division - Billy Walker of Mulkeytown, Ill. and Brandon Bate of Zeigler, Ill.; of the Northern Division - Greg Coleman of Butler, Ill. and Travis Gillett of Iuka, Ill.; $1,000 to each team for expenses, 5 (each) $50 gas cards good at any Casey’s General Store, and their entry fees for each team paid for 2009 and ½ for 2010. At each of the 12 events (angler must be registered) a drawing for $350.00 was held for a total of $4,200.00. Total Jackson Hewitt / ITT Challenge payout = $10,350.00!

This is the second year for the Southern Division, which has two tournaments on Lake of Egypt, two on Rend Lake and two on the Ohio River (Golconda). The Northern Division holds all six tournaments on Lake Shelbyville. This year they had a payback total of $125,000.00. This included a 2009 Ranger Boat 188 fully equipped for first place. $10,000.00 for second place, third place winners took home check for $5,000.00, the fourth place team got a check for $2,500.00 and the fifth place team took home a check for $1,000.00. In all - thirteen teams took checks home (including checks awarded for the top two big fish). First Place team also took home a check for $1,000 for being Ranger Cup Qualified (Paid on the spot).

Illini Team Trail Northern Division sponsors: Ranger Boats; Mercury Outboards; MinnKota Trolling Motor; Humminbird Depth Finder; Hamby's Protector Beaching Bumpers; The City of Sullivan, Ill.; Reynolds Towing Service Inc. of Champaign, Ill.; Bedford Sales of Morris, Ill.; Buell’s Marine of Canton, Ill.; Lake Sara Marina Inc. of Effingham, Ill.; Jackson Hewitt Tax Service; Setyr Fishing Rods; Pizza Hut; Vicious Fishing Line; BassFan/BassFan Army; Prairie Outfitters of Charleston, Ill.; Standard Coffee; Rejuvenade; Howy’s Lakeside Food Mart of Sullivan, Ill.; Tinders Rubber Stamps & Engraving of Lerna, Ill.; Red’s Muffler Shop of Urbana, Ill.; Black’s Insurance of Toledo, Ill.; and Gateway Inn of Sullivan, Ill.

Illini Team Trail Southern Division Sponsors: Ranger Boats; Mercury Outboards; MinnKota Trolling Motor; Humminbird Depth Finder; Hamby’s Protector Beaching Bumpers; Belleville Sport Sales; Nameoki Village Marine of Granite City, Ill.; Rend Lake Marina of Benton, Ill.; Rend Lake Sporting Goods of Mt. Vernon, Ill.; Jackson Hewitt Tax Service; Lake Tree Inn & Suites of Marion, Ill., Setyr Fishing Rods; BassFan/BassFan Army; Rejuvenade; Tinders Rubber Stamps & Engraving of Lerna, Ill.; Vicious Fishing Line; Sportsmans of Gilbertsville, KY; Wayne’s Prop of Mt. Vernon, Ill.; and Black’s Insurance of Toledo, Ill.

For more information about the Illini Team Trail you may call Mike & Penny Black at 217-923-3098 or on the web site at www.illiniteamtrail.com.