Frickman takes co-angler title at Detroit River

Michigan co-angler pockets $30,000 for Chevy Open win

DETROIT – There were a lot of excited people in the Cobo Center for the final day weigh-in of the Co-angler Division of the Chevy Open, but none were more excited than Mark Frickman of Grand Ledge, Mich.

That’s because Frickman brought in an impressive 5-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 4 ounces to the stage on day three to win the Co-angler Division of the Chevy Open worth $30,000.

“This is overwhelming, I just can’t describe it,” Frickman said after his win. “To come from 53rd on day one to win; don’t ever, ever give up, that’s all I can say.”

Frickman said he got his winning inspiration while fishing with Duracell pro Brennan Bosley of Benton, Ark. on day one.

“Boz has a sticker on his dash that says, `Be Positive,'” Frickman iterated. “And that’s just what I did for the rest of the tournament.”

Frickman caught 15 pounds, 1 ounce with Bosley and then fished with Castrol pro Carl Svebeck on day two to sack up 17 pounds, 10 ounces.

But he saved the best for last with his 19-4 stringer on day three while fishing with pro Vic Vatalaro.

“I was culling by 8:30 this morning,” Frickman said. “I could not believe it; it was like a dream.”

Frickman relied on tubes made by Wayne Carpenter and boated his biggest fish on a Berkley Gulp! Goby today.

Mike Weidman of Burton, Mich., finished second with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 9 ounces worth $10,000.

Weidman fished with Kellogg’s pro Alvin Shaw today and used green pumpkin/purple tubes to catch his fish.

J.B. Young of Deer Park, Texas, finished third with a limit weighing 16 pounds, 3 ounces worth $9,000.

Jerry Weisinger of Wyandotte, Okla., boated three bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces to collect $8,000.

Andrew Lemle of Perrysburg, Ohio, rounded out the top 5 with five bass weighing 11-7 for $7,000.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers in the Chevy Open on the Detroit River:

6th: Diane Delagarza of Garland, Texas, four bass, 10-4, $6,000

7th: Scott Gibson of Biloxi, Miss., three bass, 6-11, $5,000

8th: Ron Fabiszak of South Bend, Ind., one bass, 4-2, $4,000

9th: Hector Delagarza of Garland, Texas, one bass, 2-9, $3,000

10th: Todd Robbins of Robbins, Mich., one bass, 1-13, $2,000

Day four of the Chevy Open on the Detroit River will begin Sunday at 6:30 a.m. from Elizabeth Park Marina located at 202 Grosse Ile Parkway in Trenton, Mich.