1st Place - David Junk

Angler's Choice Mark Twain Division

6-26-04

By John J. Reidler (John is sponsored by Cannon Express “Custom Built Rods” and Cannon Express Weigh-in-Facilities)

Lake Level: 611 Raising slowly, 606 full pool

Temp: 78 at Mid Lake

Water color: Slight Stain all over the lake

Conditions: 60 Degrees to start 78 at weigh-in,Sunny, Slight wind

David Junk Catches only Limit to Win

Marcus Tilley and Randy Scott 2 nd Place

Lonnie Franklin, Bob Peneston take 3rd

Mark Twain Lake is currently not experience any. Current that is. With the Mississippi so high the Corps cannot release any water from the lake. This is making the fishing very tough with fish being scattered throughout the water index and just plain hard to find consistently. The weather couldn't have been better with blue skies and very tolerable temperatures greeting the anglers to the first official summer tournament. With four tournaments left it is still a close points race for the division.

David Junk of Quincy, Illinois caught the only five fish limit of the tournament. There was no question as to who caught the fish as David was fishing by himself in this tournament. David ran up the Middle Fork to start out the day fishing grassy flooded banks and throwing a Crok-O-Gator Buzzbait. He soon ran to the South Fork area of the lake to catch his fourth keeper. He then headed down to dam are and started pitching a Gamemaster, ½ ounce, Black and Blue jig to catch his limit fish. He culled one of the keepers. His winning 10.54 lb sack brought him a check for $885.00. It was worth all the runs and David will do what it takes to find the fish when the conditions are this tough. David is sponsored by Gamemasters of Quincy Ill, Falcon Rods and Yamaha.

Marcus Tilley and Randy Scott brought in three fish weighing 6.83 lbs to take second place. They used a “dark colored Sinko around the Spaulding area”, said Marcus. “We had all three keepers by 7:00 and couldn't get bit after that.” They fished the mud banks that were steeper but very shallow. Both fishermen are sponsored by Crok-O-Gator and Arnold Auto Body. The two fishermen come from the Arnold, MO area.

Lonnie Franklin of Mexico, MO and Bob Peneston from Fulton, MO brought in the days big bass of 3.11 lbs. The two fished main lake points using a Lizzard rigged Carolina style. The Big fish was caught in the North Fork area from a steep bank. Bob caught the big bass on a Texas rigged, Pumpkin and Chartreuse lizard. The two finished third with a three fish sack that weighed in at 6.69 lbs. This was the second tournament in a row that they were able to take home a check for big bass. The next Angler's Choice, Mark Twain Division is July 17th. Come to the non-mandatory pre meeting held at South Fork Resort 7:00pm the evening before the tournament day. $100.00 is given away at each meeting and each new member receives an attendance bag of Competitive Fishing Tackle and a subscription to the quarterly Bass West Magazine. For more information check out the Cannon Express website at www.cannonxpress.com or Angler's Choice website at www.usanglerschoice.net.

Angler's Choice is sponsored by Bass Cat Boats, Mercury Motors, Motorguide, Bass West Magazine, Competitive Edge Tackle, Solar Bat Sunglasses, Rejuvenade, Wilson Trophy's and the Mark Twain Division is sponsored additionally by Croc-O-Gator Baits, Cannon Express “Custom Built Rods” and Skyview Rehab Construction Company. Skyview gave the $100.00 attendance prize money away at the non-mandatory pre meeting. Call for details on the meeting place next month.