Rick Morrison (Niles) and John Gipson Jr. (Battle Ground, Ind.) - 1st Place

Rick Morrison (Niles) and John Gipson Jr. (Battle Ground, Ind.) won the Casting Couples Open at Lake Maxinkuckee last weekend.

The winners ($440) had 14.09 pounds caught early in the morning on jerkbaits.

Steve Prange and Gary Price (Goshen) - 2nd Place

Steve Prange and Gary Price (Goshen) were second ($220) with 12.43 pounds. They used blade baits.

Clay Sterling and Drew Coffel (Bremen) were third ($150) with 11.69 pounds caught on blade baits in 10 feet of water.

Phil Strakowski (LaPorte) won the big bass pot ($125) with a 3.30-pound smallmouth caught on a jerkbait.

The tournament drew 27 teams. The water temperature ranged from 38-42 degrees and most fish were caught in 10 feet or less and seven teams had five-fish limits.

The next Casting Couples Open will be on the St. Joseph River at 6-Span April 13 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Entry fee is $50 with optional $5 big bass pot. For more information, call Rick Kedik 269-240-4917.