Bass Fishing: Minooka’s Dan Scott, Austin Akers snag big haul

Updated: April 20, 2012 6:21PM

High noon came and Minooka juniors Dan Scott and Austin Akers stood alone.

After not catching a fish in the morning, the tandem weighed in four largemouth bass at 8.64 pounds to win the Heidecke Lake Sectional on Friday.

Each team could weigh their five heaviest black bass (largemouth or smallmouth) of 12 inches or longer.

‘‘By noon, were getting worried,’’ said Scott, who anchored their catch with the day’s big bass of 2.72 pounds.

‘‘When I caught one, then we went back-to-back,’’ Akers said.

They finished with four keepers caught from an area they specifically targeted with ‘‘certain plastics,’’ according to Akers and Scott.

‘‘I was getting a little concerned about 10:30 or 11,’’ boat captain David Barney said. ‘‘But we were confident they would eventually turn on.’’

Each school could have up to two boats and each boat is captained by an adult with two high school fishermen. Substitutes may also be used, and also qualify for state.

Minooka is the model program for high school bass fishing in the Chicago area with dozens of parents and supporters showing support. This was the third consecutive year that the Indians have qualified for state. The state finals are May 4-5 at Carlyle Lake.

Naperville Central seniors Charlie Sterrett and Andrew Mlotek finished second with three bass weighing in at 6.02 pounds to reach state for the second year in a row with coach Brain Bakke.

‘‘I was just happy we caught each fish with a different bait,’’ said Sterrett, who along with Mlotek caught fish with a Senko, a beaver/creature-style bait and a crankbait.

Naperville North’s team of seniors Dominic Cimino and Steve Neylon, and freshman Gabe Gros weighed three bass at 3.9 pounds to also advance to state.

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