IMTT 2009 Fall Classic was Classic
Category: press release
Oct 7th, 2009 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Oct 7th, 2009 at 12:00 AM
2009 Fall Classic was Classic….
Submitted by: Roy Schodtler
IMTT PR Director
October 3 & 4, the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail held its annual Fall Classic, on Lake Shelbyville. It was a terrific tournament, with 28 boats, good, if windy, weather, and cooperative muskie. Thirteen fish were caught, measured, and released, with seven being caught on day one, and six on the shorter second day of the tournament. Ten teams caught fish, and four of them had two-muskie catches. In addition, numerous boils, sightings, and follows, were noted. The tournament banquet was again a huge success. Bob Jeffries, popular mc of the event, kept everyone entertained, sixty delicious steak dinners were prepared by the Shelbyville Moose Lodge and eagerly consumed by the guests, and the Shelbyville Food Pantry received a large donation of canned goods from the tourney participants. Fun and camaraderie are two of the goals of the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail, and evenings like that help to reach that goal.
On the water, Bob and Mike Taylor, of Toulon, IL, won the team competition, with two muskie (39.5″, 44.5″). James Pustz and Sam Gallucci took second (42″, 36.25″). John Sutton and Mike Witowski came in third (45″), while Dorothy and Troy Smith took fourth (35.75″, 33.25″), and Steven and Kevin Watson finished fifth (42″). John Sutton’s 45″ beauty was the biggest fish caught in the tournament, and the point system allowed John’s big fish to edge out the Smiths for third place. Other participants catching muskie were Walter Krause (33.5″), Tom Humrickhouse (38.25″), Duane Landmeier (37″), Brandyn Shepherd (37.25″), and Rich Jackson 35.75″)
This tournament was a continuation of the fall half of the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail.
The 2009 season will culminate by returning to Lake Shelbyville for the IMTT Illinois State Championship, November 7 & 8. With three events still on the schedule before the final Championship date, the competition remains tight for trail champions. It will no doubt go right down to the last tournament, and maybe the Championship tournament itself, before the winners will be determined. Standings can be checked at www.illmuskie.com.
The remaining tournament dates and contacts are:
IMTT Fall Schedule**: ** IMTT membership not required for tourney participation.
(CF) Championship Flight -Count for IMTT standings points.
October 17 – Lake Evergreen (CF)
October 25 – Fox River Valley Tournament (CF)
October 24 & 25 – Lake Kinkaid (CF) Shawnee Muskie Club
November 7 & 8 – Illinois State Championship
– On Lake Shelbyville
Tournament Lake Contacts:
Shelbyville Classics & Lake Evergreen – Bob Kerans; 217 423-0932
Fox River Valley – Rich Gallagher; 847 741-9771
Lake Shelbyville Muskie Club Tourney – Kevin McGill; 217 863-4012
Shawnee Muskie Hunters – Manuel Santa Cruz; 618-610-5003
IMTT Illinois State Championship – Bob Kerans; 217 423-0932