Wheeling, WV (Sept 6, 2013) – The 2013 Northern Division Championship, presented by Cabela’s wrapped up today on the Ohio River. Yesterday, only a few pounds separated 1st to 20th place so it was still anybody’s game. Yesterday’s leader, Dave Cermak of Indiana finishes strong and came out on top. His state team comes from behind to beat out host Ohio in the state team standings.
Cermak finishes the tournament with the largest limit of the whole tournament today, 8 lbs 9 oz, for a 3-day total weight of 21 lbs 5 oz. “It was a tough pre-fish for me,” said Cermak. “But each day of fishing got better for me, the water cleared up and got better and better every day. I was throwing a Strike King Coffee tube on a Bite-Me jig head. I was fishing the current breaks and the rocky shoal points, milfoil grass, then got on a weed pattern the last few days of the tournament. I stayed in the Hannibal Pool all three days.” Cermak will advance to the 2014 TBF National Championship as a boater for the state of Indiana, which is an EXTREMELY tough state to make state team in. “This is my first state team. I’ve made the state championship 3 years for the Indiana Bassmasters out of Portage, IN. But I had never made state team until this year. I’m so nervous, but it’s a dream come true. I’ve been tournament fishing for about 18 years, working hard and it has finally paid off.”
His teammate, advancing co-angler Phil Reel finishes in 3rd place with a 3-day total weight of 19lbs 15 oz. Only 2 lbs behind Cermak. Reel was also the Ranger Cup winner, as well as the state of Indiana finishing first overall in the state team standings.
In 2nd place is Host State, Ohio’s Jerry Jackson. He finishes the tournament with 20 lbs 1 oz and will advance as a boater for the state of Ohio. Finishing in 4th place is Jackson’s teammate, Jason Myers who will advance as the co-angler for the state of Ohio. He had 19 lbs for all 3 days.
Final State Team Standings
|
Place |
State |
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Total |
||||
|
Fish |
lbs-ozs |
Fish |
lbs-ozs |
Fish |
lbs-ozs |
Fish |
lbs-ozs |
||
|
1 |
Indiana |
36 |
46-15 |
46 |
58-13 |
42 |
55-13 |
124 |
161-9 |
|
2 |
Ohio |
41 |
52-10 |
42 |
58-7 |
33 |
47-14 |
116 |
158-15 |
|
3 |
Wisconsin |
26 |
37-15 |
37 |
50-9 |
26 |
40-8 |
89 |
129-0 |
|
4 |
Illinois |
43 |
56-13 |
22 |
25-14 |
26 |
32-6 |
91 |
115-1 |
|
5 |
Michigan |
29 |
37-12 |
25 |
34-5 |
20 |
26-12 |
74 |
98-13 |
|
6 |
South Dakota |
27 |
39-0 |
19 |
26-6 |
23 |
29-9 |
69 |
94-15 |
|
7 |
Minnesota |
31 |
42-8 |
27 |
32-2 |
17 |
20-3 |
75 |
94-13 |
The top angler in state team standings advances as a boater and the 2nd place angler of each state advances as a co-angler to the 2014 TBF National Championship next spring. There they’ll fish for the “Living the Dream” prize package to include paid entry fees as an FLW Pro for a year with use of a wrapped Ranger boat and Chevrolet truck, as well as, thousands in cash and prizes.
2014 National Championship Contenders for the Northern Division are as follows:
Illinois
Todd Punke (Angler), Justin Parrott (Co-Angler)
Indiana
Dave Cermak (Angler), Phil Reel (Co-Angler)
Michigan
Bill Simpson (Angler), Nickolas Marsh (Co-Angler)
Minnesota
Bob Perkins (Angler), Al Grabowski (Co-Angler)
Ohio
Jerry Jackson (Angler), Jerry Myers (Co-Angler)
South Dakota
Lance Hildebrandt (Angler), Alan Hildenbrandt (Co-Angler)
Wisconsin
Jim Jones (Angler), Jason Loewe (Co-Angler)
