05-09-2009, 01:10 AM
Pontiac High School officially kicked off the inaugural IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals and the first sanctioned state high school bass fishing tournament in the country on Friday, May 8, as the Indians boat was the first to leave the marina as the result of a random draw held during Thursday's banquet.
Rain put a damper on Friday's action, as thunder storms forced teams off the lake around 10:20 a.m. and strong winds precluded the teams from returning to the lake after the rain subsided around 2 p.m.
By tournament rules, all fish caught during the morning session count toward each team's total and, fittingly, it was Bradley (B.-Bourbonnais) senior Nate Bass who weighed in the tourney's first fish.
Bass' one-pound bass would not hold up on the leaderboard though, as St. Charles (North) caught five fish for a team-leading total of 10.5 pounds. North Star junior Derrick Hoffman caught the day's largest fish at four pounds, 11 ounces. Hoffman's catch could serve as the decisive tiebreaker on Saturday if Moline (H.S.) (8.13 pounds), Woodlawn (7.63), Zion (Z.-Benton) #2 (7.0) or Teutopolis #2 (5.88) can close the gap in the team standings on Saturday.
Rain put a damper on Friday's action, as thunder storms forced teams off the lake around 10:20 a.m. and strong winds precluded the teams from returning to the lake after the rain subsided around 2 p.m.
By tournament rules, all fish caught during the morning session count toward each team's total and, fittingly, it was Bradley (B.-Bourbonnais) senior Nate Bass who weighed in the tourney's first fish.
Bass' one-pound bass would not hold up on the leaderboard though, as St. Charles (North) caught five fish for a team-leading total of 10.5 pounds. North Star junior Derrick Hoffman caught the day's largest fish at four pounds, 11 ounces. Hoffman's catch could serve as the decisive tiebreaker on Saturday if Moline (H.S.) (8.13 pounds), Woodlawn (7.63), Zion (Z.-Benton) #2 (7.0) or Teutopolis #2 (5.88) can close the gap in the team standings on Saturday.