“I started this tournament way behind in points, due to getting locked out of the lock last month in Paducah and missing the weigh-in,” said Eslinger, who earned his first career Bass Fishing League win as a boater. “This win automatically qualifies me for the La Crosse Regional Tournament in October, so that put a big smile on my face.”

Eslinger brought in the heaviest bag of the tournament on day two with a 20-pound, 6-ounce limit, catching two of his key fish within the first hour.

“I caught my limit early on a green-pumpkin-colored 7/16-ounce jig,” said Eslinger. “I never thought I had this tournament won because there were some great fishermen out there, but at 12:45 I laid my rod down and let my co-angler finish out the day.”

Top 10 boaters:

1st: Archie Eslinger of Paris, Ill., eight bass, 27-8, $6,197

2nd: Bradley Smith of Saint Jacob, Ill., nine bass, 21-0, $2,815

3rd: Travis Wilson of La Harpe, Ill., seven bass, 17-1, $1,733

4th: Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo., nine bass, 16-10, $1,213

5th: Mike McGill of Findlay, Ill., six bass, 16-9, $1,539

6th: Terry Holsapple of Greenup, Ill., eight bass, 14-3, $953

7th: Joe Bardill of Highland, Ill., six bass, 12-14, $866

8th: Dan Shoraga of West Frankfort, Ill., six bass, 12-10, $780

9th: Ryan Lewis of Glasford, Ill., five bass, 12-6, $910

10th: Tyler Schweigert of Morton, Ill., five bass, 12-4, $606

Complete results

Timothy Rivest of Champaign, Illinois earned the day’s $217 Boater Big Bass award with a 4-pound, 9-ounce bass.

McGill took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Dale Renth

Renth takes co-angler honors

Dale Renth of Mascoutah, Illinois, earned the win in the Co-angler Division Sunday after catching a two-day total of six bass weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces. Renth earned $2,599 for his victory.

Top 10 co-anglers:

1st: Dale Renth of Mascoutah, Ill., six bass, 9-5, $2,599

2nd: James Jarvis of West Frankfort, Ill., four bass, 7-8, $1,299

3rd: Ashton Nielsen of Mount Zion, Ill., three bass, 7-1, $867

4th: Alan Bernicky of Joliet, Ill., three bass, 6-15, $1,306

5th: Gage Elder of Decatur, Ill., three bass, 6-13, $520

6th: Floyd Carder of Litchfield, Ill., four bass, 6-12, $476

7th: Jordan McWhirter of Carmi, Ill., four bass, 6-7, $433

8th: Tom Lyskawka of Arlington Heights, Ill., three bass, 6-6, $390

9th: Whitney Devall of Greenup, Ill., three bass, 6-3, $346

10th: Amanda Black of Toledo, Ill., two bass, 5-14, $629

Black earned the event’s Co-angler Big Bass Award of $326 with a 4-pound, 4-ounce bass.