Coffeen Lake – June 2022
Stop number four of the 2022 Southern Illinois Kayak Club season is officially in the books, and Coffeen Lake once again delivered an exciting and competitive event. Anglers had to battle added pressure from heavy boat traffic, as an unsanctioned boat tournament launched from the same ramp, but our field adapted and found quality bass both shallow and deep.
A big thank-you goes out to all the anglers who joined us on the water and pushed through the challenges to make it a great day.
Mike Gragert secured 1st place with 84.75 inches, earning his first victory of the 2022 season and second career SIKC win. Mike edged out the competition by just ¼ inch, relying on a Texas-rigged Senko to seal the win. He also took home Big Bass of the Day, making for an impressive performance. Congratulations, Mike!
Finishing in a very close 2nd place, Austin Weidhuner posted 84.50 inches, catching his fish shallow with Strike King Cut-R worms. Combined with his earlier win this season, this result positioned Austin well in the race for one of the coveted Crossroads Team spots.
Rounding out the top three, Dustin Siegel landed 84.00 inches, fishing a green pumpkin jig along a main-lake ledge. This finish marked Dustin’s third top-three performance of the season, highlighting his consistency throughout the year.
A special congratulations goes out to Nick Tipton, who won the grand prize raffle and took home a brand-new glass crankbait rod—one we’re sure will see plenty of use during the July monthly tournament.
This marks the second time a Coffeen Lake event has been decided by just a quarter of an inch, a testament to the lake’s ability to consistently produce quality bass and tight finishes. It was truly a great day on the water, and we hope everyone had as much fun as we did.
A huge thank-you goes out to our sponsors who make sure every angler walks away with something at each event. Your continued support truly means the world to us and helps keep the club thriving.
Sponsors:
JayDiz Fishing & Tackle Co. · Paddle N’ Fin Podcast · Amped Outdoors LLC · YakAttack · NeverLost Gear · Freaky Frank’s Custom Tackle · Kayak Bass Fishing · Venom Lures · Thrasher Sports Apparel · Ketch Products Inc. · Denny Dennis Sporting Goods
