CANNELTON, Ind. – Frank McClain, 33, of Scottsburg, Ind., out-fished 93 competitors this weekend to earn $7,095 and 100 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Hoosier Division season finale – a two-day Super Tournament on the Ohio River.
McClain caught 8 pounds, 2 ounces of bass on opening day to qualify for the second and final day of competition. On day two, he caught five bass weighing 8-8 to top Bob Drake of Greenwood, Ind., who finished with a day-two catch of 6-12 worth $3,548. McClain caught his bass while fishing stumps and laydowns in Oil Creek with a buzzbait and Berkley Power Worm.
Terry Dillon of Plainfield, Ind., took third place and collected $1,774 with a day-two catch weighing 6-5. Dewey Allen of Connersville, Ind., placed fourth and earned $1,538 with a day-two catch weighing 6-3, while Larry Sisk of Evansville, Ind., placed fifth and earned $1,419 with a day-two catch weighing 5-3. Sisk’s son, Marty, also competed in the tournament and finished sixth with a day-two catch weighing 4-8 worth $1,182.
Larry Sisk was declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000 after amassing 220 points through five regular season events.
Steven Cook, 43, of Odon, Ind., won the Abu Garcia Big Bass Award in the Boater Division and collected $930 with a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass that he caught on a crankbait.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $3,471 went to Keith Malone, 43, of Rising Sun, Ind., who topped 91 competitors with a day-two catch of three bass weighing 5 pounds, 2 ounces.
Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,736 went to Leonard Smith of Pershing, Ind., with a day-two catch weighing 4-4, while Larry Kitchel of Logansport, Ind., took third place and $868 with a day-two catch weighing 2-3. Ken Heckel of Lamar, Ind., placed fourth and collected $752 with a day-two catch weighing 2-3. He also amassed more points than any other co-angler during five regular season events to win the Co-Angler Divisional Points title and $500. Heckel earned 200 points this season.
Ed Rachford, 50, of Sellersburg, Ind., won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $455 with a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass that he caught on a crankbiat.
The trail’s championship event, the Red Man All-American, will award $100,000 to the winning boater and $50,000 to the winning co-angler. Overall, more than $5.7 million could be awarded in 2000 based on full fields in each of the series’ 119 events nationwide.