(Provided by R&B)

Fort Wayne duo jerks their way to Manitou win despite rough weather

Andrew Quillen (Fort Wayne) and Dan Brock (Fort Wayne) slung jerkbaits on the roughest windblown banks to catch more than 20 keepers and win the R&B Circuit Open at Lake Manitou last week.

Weather provided brutal conditions with snow, sleet, rain and wind gusts to 40 mph.

The winners ($350) had little experience on the lake so they focused on covering lots of water. Their 15.09-pound, five-fish limit included the largest bass of the day, a 5.02-pound largemouth that earned them a bonus $150.

There was a tie for second place, which was determined by the big bass. The 3.59-pound bass of Warsaw, Ind. anglers Brian Whitaker and Chris Carman earned them the honors and broke the tie of 10.59 pounds.

The team fished targeted 4 feet of water and caught all of their fish on lipless crankbaits and jerkbaits. Whitaker added, "We didn't fish the heaviest wind but the wind was definitely key." They won $244.

They tied with Jim Hippensteel (Rochester, Ind.) and Bobby Nelson (Fulton, Ind.) who were third as result of the big bass tie-breaker. Their fish were fooled with red craw lipless crankbaits fished in 2 to 3 feet of water. They took home $174.

More information and photos can be viewed at www.randbbasscircuit.com