WHITTINGTON, Ill. (July 21, 2025) – Boater Joshua Tyner of Spencer, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 8 ounces, Saturday to win the Bass Fishing League (BFL) tournament on Rend Lake. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Tyner earned $3,417 for his victory. Sometimes the worst practices lead to the best tournaments. For Tyner, that certainly was the case. After a terrible practice, he decided he’d fish an area where he has some history on the lake. Then he caught a lucky break on tournament day.
“I had a good boat draw,” he said. “I was boat four and was able to get on my starting spot. Within three casts, I caught my big fish of the day. That kind of set me up for the day. I was able to slow down and stay in that area and not run around. I had planned on running and gunning. That kept me in that one area, and I was able to catch five keepers there.”
Tyner’s big fish was a 5-pounder. He caught that kicker and all his fish in a creek arm on the lower end of the lake, primarily targeting rock and wood.
“I caught all my fish on two baits,” he added. “I caught them on a tube and a Neko rig.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Joshua Tyner, Spencer, Ind., five bass, 16-8, $3,417
2nd: Jeremy Mull, Pawnee, Ill., five bass, 13-7, $1,989 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Riley Walk, Neoga, Ill., five bass, 12-14, $992
4th: Adam Brookman, Bonnie, Ill., five bass, 11-10, $695
5th: Mike Hudson, Creal Springs, Ill., five bass, 11-9, $595
6th: Dan Shoraga, West Frankfort, Ill., five bass, 11-6, $546
7th: Richard Skiff, Edwardsville, Ill., three bass, 10-2, $496
8th: Brennon McCord, Thompsonville, Ill., five bass, 9-13, $447
9th: Chad Dunn, Poseyville, Ind., four bass, 9-6, $397
10th: Anthony Balding Jr., Arnold, Mo., four bass, 9-5, $347
Tyner caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds and earned the Big Bass Boater award of $340. Gabe Montgomery of Jackson, Missouri, won the co-angler division and $1,489 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 9 pounds, 12 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Gabe Montgomery, Jackson, Mo., three bass, 9-12, $1,489
2nd: Ken Landreth, Belleville, Ill., three bass, 8-6, $744
3rd: Chase Hughart, Marion, Ill., two bass, 7-9, $667
4th: Brad Thacher, Murray, Ky., three bass, 7-5, $347
5th: Jeff Ozmon, Rock Hill, S.C., two bass, 6-0, $298
6th: Ross Davis, St. Elmo, Ill., two bass, 5-13, $273
7th: Eric Mahn, Herculaneum, Mo., two bass, 5-8, $248
8th: Tim Hunt, Decatur, Ill., three bass, 5-0, $223
9th: Owen Boyer, Cantrall, Ill., two bass, 4-14, $198
10th: Elmo Rogers, Albion, Ill., two bass, 4-11, $174
Chase Hughart of Marion, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $170, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Riley Walk of Neoga, Illinois, now leads the Fishing Clash Illini Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 968 points, while Bobby McNeil of Crest Hill, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash Illini Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 922 points.
The next event for BFL Illini Division anglers will be held Sept. 6-7, at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes in Gilbertsville, Kentucky.
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