February 22, 2004 Lake of Egypt, Il
Clark And Jelley Win Angler's Of The Year

1st Place	2nd Place
Results

Anglers awoke to a nice morning "comparatively speaking" for the seventh and final event of the Illinois winter division. Teams had been accustomed to take off temps as low as eight degrees and other Illinois winter products such as sleet, rain, snow and strong cold winds over the 2004 winter schedule. On this day take off temp was in the mid thirties and temps would reach the upper fifties by weigh-in with only a slight breeze and most considered this a well deserved treat.

Going into the day the 2003 defending point champions Danny Clark and Mark Jelley had a ten-point lead over the team of George Panick and Albert Krueger. Danny and Mark started the year off with an impressive streak winning the first three events of the season and showing their dominance on the lake. Mark and Danny have been known for years as the team to beat on Lake Egypt. George and Albert kept things close by consistently bringing good weights to the scales. Ten points would be hard to make up in one event but it could be done, especially on Lake Egypt. George and Albert approached the scales with an impressive bag that tipped out at 16.05lbs and enough for second place for the day. They had done all they could now they would have to wait. Danny and Mark walked to the scales with a good bag but would it be enough to maintain the lead? The bag was lifted to the scales and the weight of 12.98lbs was called. This was more than enough as they again captured the title of Illinois winter division point champions. Congratulations Mark and Danny!!

The year may have belonged to Mark and Danny but the day belonged to the team of: Steve Giacoma and Brett Giacoma both from West Frankfort, IL. the team stayed in 40 foot of water nearly all day throwing suspending jerk baits. They had found in practice that large schools of bass were coming up on shad in this area of the lake. The team was tipped off to the schooling activity by gulls feeding on the shad. They patiently waited for the event to happen and sat in the middle of the lake for most of the day. It was a good decision as the schooling fish arrived and the team boated five fish that tipped the scales at 16.85lbs. The team earned checks totaling $1,235.00 for their day on the water. Great job guys!!

Second Place went to the team of George Panick from Marion, IL. and Albert Krueger of Chicago, IL. The team had a terrible start to the day losing the first seven fish they had hooked. They somehow regrouped later in the day catching two keepers on jigs in a different area. They then returned to the previous area and capitalized on their bites as they boated three additional fish on stick baits. The team's total weight for the day was 16.05lbs and was anchored by the big bass of the day weighing 5.75lbs. The team earned checks totaling $817.00 for the place.

Angler's Choice would like to thank all those who came out and fished and we hope to see you at our Southern IL. kickoff event on March 6th at Lake Egypt. As announced this was the last year for the Illinois Winter division. I have enjoyed running the events at Lake Egypt and you couldn't ask for a better group of guy's.

I would also like to thank all of our sponsors for making this possible. National sponsors include Bass Cat Boats, Mercury Outboards, Motorguide Trolling Motors, Lowrance, Competitive Edge Fishing, Solar Bat, Bass West Magazine and Bass Medics. Also a big thanks to our divisional sponsors: Lunker Lure, Dunn's Sporting Goods, Falcon Rods, Harrison's Sport Shop, Rend Lake Sporting Goods, Great Net, Lucky Craft, Solar Bat, Wayne's Props, Pyramid Acres, Adventure Sports Outdoors, and Bobs Marine in Hillsboro, IL.