Rod Yoder wins Hoosier BFL co-angler title.

Bloomington, IN -- After a slow start to the year, Team RedShad member, Rod Yoder, West Lafayette, IN, returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday, June 7th 2008. Rod received the BFL Lake Monroe 2008 Champion trophy in the co-angler division along with a check for $1963.00. His winning weight of 8 pounds 3 ounces included one largemouth and two nice smallmouth.

What started out as a stormy day and a tough bite changed for Rod and his partner, Greg Fowler, when they started fishing a small brush pile in 10 ft. of water. Rod said, "Greg started getting taps on a shakey head jig, but failed to connect. That's when I switched to a 1/8 oz. Little Pek Shake™ wacky jig rigged with a Zoom Centipede. I'd allow the bait to fall on slack line then add a few shakes of the rod tip once it was on the bottom. After a pause, I'd shake it some more. It is a slow way to fish but deadly when fished in the right location."

photo thanks to Mike McDonald

They returned to this small spot a couple times during the afternoon. All three of Rod's fish, along with a 4 pound 12 ounce smallmouth that his partner landed, came off an area less than 20ft in diameter. "This was the most exciting seconds I have experienced in fishing," Rod said. "It took no less than five attempts to get the first smallmouth in the net and safely in the boat! I was amazed the 8 pound test Seaguar fluorocarbon line I was fishing held up to the pressure. Every time I thought I had the fish under control and heading for the net, it would suddenly rocket out of the water then dive for the depths. Luckily I had switched off the anti-reverse on my Quantum PTi spinning reel and was able to back-reel."

This win, Rod's third in the BFL/Redman circuit, moves him up to tenth place in the overall Hoosier Division standings and in good position for making his 5th regional appearance.

Tackle Used
Rod: 7' Custom Drop Shot Rod
Reel: Quantum® Energy® PTi Spinning Reel
Line: 8# Seaguar INVIZX™ Fluorocarbon
Lure: 1/8oz Little Pek Shake™ wacky jig w/Green Pumpkin Zoom Centipede