2007/102906.htm

The Illinois Walleye Trail found the Illinois River cooperating Sunday 4/6/08 for its 5th tournament of the 2008 season. Not only was the water in great shape with clarity around 1 foot, surface temps 50 degrees and sunny skies the main ingredient the Saugers were biting. 41 teams from Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana scaled 141 Saugers weighing 264 pounds with 15 limits brought to the scales.

With a repeat win the team of Max Actis Spring Valley and Mike Stuckert using a jig and minnow, captured the top spot with a limit of 6 fish scaling 17.14 pounds earning them $1,465.00. As owners of a Lund Boat they also received the bonus money from Lund of $250.00. Max and Mike are also the leaders in the 2008 race for Anglers of the Year. Placing second was the father and son team of Brian and Jerry Ernat from Princeton, Illinois with a limit of Sauger weighing 15.67 and a check for $760.00. Rounding out the top three was Jake LaPine and Julie Nelson with 14.65 pounds paying them $490.00. Jake and Julie also had the big fish honors with a 4.51 pound Sauger for an additional $400.00. Mark Actis Sr. and Thom Matejewski of Spring Valley place 4th and won the $100.00 gift certificate from Hennepin Marine along with normal payout. Our final tournament of the 2008 season will be May 3,4, 2008 in Spring Valley, Illinois. The 2 day State Championship has additional contingency money involved including a $1,000.00 Highest placing Lund boat owner compliments of Lund Boats and Hennepin Marine. The winners of the State Championship will also receive a $1,000.00 certificate complements of Mercury Marine and a qualifying spot for the 2009 Cabelas National Championship. The State Championship tournament will also crown the Anglers of the Year with a $1,000.00 certificate from Mercury Marine and receive 80% of the Angler of the Year fund, plus an invite to the Cabelas National Championship in 2009.