Illinois River Bass Tournaments

[ranger188pro]

I will be starting up an American Bass Anglers (ABA) tournaments on the Illinois river for the 2010 season.
The first tournament will be Oct. 4th 2009 out of Lacon. This will be the first tournament to start out the 2010 season. In 2010 there will be six tournaments to finish out the year. These will be going out of Lacon, East Peoria, Pekin and Havana.

However brings a boat will get to use it no matter what you will be fishing by yourself but will use your boat. Non boaters can enter and be paired up w/ boater. These are not team tournaments it is all individual. So everybody is fishing against each other boater or non boater. For complete rules visit www.americanbassanglers.com or get a hold of me at danaflowers430@comcast.net

[basscubs1]

so if i read the rules right, if i bring my boat and i get a non-boater paired w/ me, he will get equal time at the front of my boat?

how many spots are paid?

[ranger188pro]

If you sign  up as boater you are guaranteed to use your boat. All non boaters are to have equal time to fish there own water, no you do not share the front. As a boater you are entitled to front all day but there is a sportsman clause that they have to be treated fairly. Just like any other tournament for a non boater.

Pay outs all depend on the number of entrys.1-6 pays out 1 spot.
                                                        7-13 pays out 2 spots.
                                                       14-20 pays out 3 spots.
                                                       
First, Second and Third get placques no matter of entrys.

[basscubs1]

honestly, i think you would be better off losing the aba association. you should have buddy tournys w/ no association to any group, make them all opens and have a classic where you have to fish 5 of 7 events or something like that. from what i have heard from guys in our area is no one cares to make aba's big tourny that is 100's of miles away and they dont want to pay a membership fee, they just want something to fish. look at the tues nighters @ spring lake, they draw 25 boats every tues, he has a classic on a saturday and the pay out is good, that is how you should do it, but on a sat or sun! maybe have a couple week night tournys? the format for aba is terrible and the pay out sucks! you are going to run into the same thing the aba's on pool 19 had, low numbers! just trying to help.

[ranger188pro]

So far I have been getting a great response. People calling so far are very interested having something back on the river no matter what it is. We will see how it goes this coming year and go from there. Thing is there is no tournaments other than small clubs on the river at all so they want something. I do not make up the payout or the rules that is done by national headquarters.

The ABA works everywhere else where they draw over 20 boats even in southern illinois. It is set up so there is a low entry fee close to home tournaments no hotel expense and drive for 3 + hours. Then the national is really your only travel and  expense. Pool 19 has other tournaments assoc. there so they draw away from each other.

I went over on 19 all year leaving @ 2 in the morning every trip and the most they drew all year was 8 boats and only 6 fished the 2 day. So that was a bummer

We will see what happens.

[K.E.G.]

how is the river down there?

[ranger188pro]

The fishing has been great this summer with all kinds of different ways to catch them. The Asian carp are still there but it has not stopped them from biting. Just a few in the boat once in a while .

Come on down and fish the tournament Oct. 4th out of Lacon.

[K.E.G.]

what its cost? and what time is the tournament.

[ranger188pro]

70.00 if prepay 75.00 at ramp and cash only at ramp.
To prepay is though ABA national headquarters.

25.00 to join American Bass Anglers (ABA)

[ranger188pro]

Oct. 4th

safelight to 2:30

[scottemory72]

I think it's great you're starting tournaments on the IL River again.  I remember when I was a kid there were tournaments on the river all of the time.  I live in Spring Bay and i've grown up on the river; the bass fishing has came back strong!  I actually believe like a lot of other guys, the Asian Carp have scared fisherman off, but I think that is part of the reason the river has come back for the following reasons:  High water the last few years, lack of bass fisherman actually fishing for bass, and I think the bass are gorging themselves on the Asian Carp fry.  The carp grow fast and there are a ton of them, but that also means plenty of fry for the bass to feed on! I might check out your tournaments and maybe fish some of them.  Thanks!

[Lipripper]

If I lived a little closser I would like to try it but it would take me about 5 hours one way just to get there.

[ranger188pro]

If you leave at midnight you will be here in plenty of time. 

[basscubs1]

how many you got signed up so far?

[ranger188pro]

Not sure they pre register though national ABA in Ala. they will let me know a week ahead of tournament. By all the calls and emails I have gotten so far hoping to have 15-20, which would be a good start. If they show.

You know anybody that wants to fish?

[ranger188pro]

I was out for just 2 1/2 hours this evening and had a limit nothing big just a typical Ill. river limit biggest was 15 in.

Ya all don't know what you are missing fishing this river. Should be a good tournament with plenty of fish being weighed.

[Drakebuster]

Would love to get involved, but the distance is a little long for me.

[ranger188pro]

Awwww come on just across on 17 to Lacon 

[Drakebuster]

lol, Let me explain my situation. Laid off for past 6 months, just starting the 20 week extension, spent a deal of money on another tourney trail this year only to get shafted by my partner while on the water. Love bass fishing, love tournaments, but hate when people change who the are when the actual tournament rolls around. If I can work things out, I may be able to attend, we'll see.

[ranger188pro]

Sorry to here about being laid off that sucks.
I have been with all types though the years boaters and non boaters, but if you can work together in the same boat it makes the day go by much better.
What tournament trail?