Noel captures third straight bass event

Brad Noel of Jackson won his third consecutive Bass Busters of Southeast Missouri Bass fishing tournament Feb. 19 at Lake of Egypt in Southern Illinois.

Cold north winds and sleet didn't dampen Noel's spirit or ruin his fishing pattern. Noel finished the day out in front with a solid 13-pound limit of bass, including a 5-pound kicker that took big bass honors for the event.

For the second event in a row, Noel's grass pattern held up and gave him a victory. He fished a 1/4-ounce Rattle Trap on grassy main lake points in the warm power plant discharge. His fish came from 2 to 5 feet of water.

Eric Niswonger took second place by fishing a Carolina Rigged Zoom Ring Doctor on grassy main lake points in 4 to 8 feet of water. He spent his day in the midlake section in colder seasonal water.

The conditions were cold with sleet and freezing rain. Winds were out of the north at 10 to 20 mph. The water was stained with approximately 5 feet of visibility. The discharge water temperature was 53 to 58 degrees, while the main section of the lake was 46 degrees.