Drop-Shot Carries Elkins to Title

Ruetz claims co-angler honors on Detroit River

Matt Elkins of Spencerville, Ohio, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 22 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the fourth FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Michigan Division tournament of 2016 on the Detroit River. Elkins took home $5,632 for his win.

“I caught my fish out of one area on Lake Erie and had a limit by 8:30 a.m.,” says Elkins, who earned his second BFL career win on the Detroit River. “I was way offshore, probably 30 miles, and fishing deep. My catches came from more than 30 feet down.”

Elkins rotated between two baits on a drop-shot rig – a purple-passion-colored LBA Baits Ding Ding and a smoke-purple Jackall Crosstail Shad.

“I fished very specific, isolated spots,” says Elkins. “I stood on the trolling motor and casted 30 feet forward and dragged it slow over rocks piles or a ridge.”

Elkins notes a crucial part to his success was letting his fish replenish.

“In these spots, you’ll catch them fairly quick and then the bite dies off,” says Elkins. “I had to move around and let them reset. After catching my limit, I returned around 12:30 p.m. and boated two more. Those were the only fish I caught all day.”

The top 10 boaters:

1^st:          Matt Elkins, Spencerville, Ohio, five bass, 22-11, $3,632 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

2^nd:         Seth Borton, Adrian, Mich., five bass, 22-0, $2,016

3^rd:          Todd Schmitz, Goshen, Ind., five bass, 21-14, $1,210

4^th:          Michael Sitko, Pinckney, Mich., five bass, 21-7, $1,147

5^th:          Zach Maisch, Lima, Ohio, five bass, 21-2, $826

6^th:          Steve Clapper, Lima, Ohio, five bass, 20-10, $666

7^th:          Jared Rhode, Port Clinton, Ohio, five bass, 20-9, $605

8^th:          Randy Ramsey, Ceresco, Mich., five bass, 20-8, $545

9^th:          Joshua Barr, Columbus, Ohio, five bass, 20-4, $484

10^th:        Jamie Jacobus, Johnstown, Ohio, five bass, 19-11, $424

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com. 

Brett Haake of Shorewood, Illinois, caught a bass weighing 6 pounds even – the biggest of the tournament in the pro division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $465.

Ruetz wins co-angler title

Brian Ruetz of Toledo, Ohio, weighed in five bass totaling 18 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the co-angler division and earn $1,916.

The top 10 co-anglers:

1^st:          Brian Ruetz, Toledo, Ohio, five bass, 18-5, $1,916

2^nd:         Rick McClintock, Interlochen, Mich., five bass, 17-8, $908

3^rd:          Daniel Holland, Beverly Hills, Mich., five bass, 17-2, $515

3^rd:          Mark Lyons, Marion, Ind., five bass, 17-2, $515

5^th:          Leo Reiter, Greenup, Ill., five bass, 16-14, $363

6^th:          Gary Polenz, Milan, Mich., four bass, 15-8, $318

6^th:          Kevin Fetzer, Wateford, Mich., five bass, 15-8, $368

8^th:          Jeffrey Thomson, Birmingham, Mich., five bass, 15-3, $272

9^th:          Bret Holling, Lansing, Mich., five bass, 14-10, $242

10^th:        Jorji Itoh, Beverly Hills, Mich., four bass, 14-5, $444

Itoh caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and earned the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $232.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 13-15 Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.