Troeckler, Rydgig Win IBN Event on East Fork
The Edwardsville anglers weighed five bass totaling 14.29 pounds to take the October 26 tournament at East Fork Lake in Olney.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Fishing
Kaiden Troeckler and Carter Rydgig won the IBN tournament held on East Fork Lake in Olney on October 26, weighing five bass totaling 14.29 pounds. The win closed out the pair's fall season.
Why it matters
The victory lifts Troeckler and Rydgig to the top of the state Angler of the Year points standings and the Central IBN Trail standings. It gives Illinois bass anglers a clear picture of the season leaders heading into the off-season.
The tournament produced a total bag of 14.29 pounds across five bass for the winning pair, with Rydgig's 4.48-pound fish earning the big bass award. The article does not disclose the total number of competing teams or the weights recorded by the remaining anglers.
The players
Kaiden Troeckler
Troeckler is an Edwardsville angler who co-won the IBN tournament on East Fork Lake and now leads Illinois in Angler of the Year points.
Carter Rydgig
Rydgig is an Edwardsville angler who co-won the IBN tournament and caught the 4.48-pound big bass, and now leads the state in Angler of the Year points alongside Troeckler.
The details
The IBN tournament took place on East Fork Lake in Olney on October 26, where anglers weighed five bass to determine standings. Michael Becker and Davin McClure finished eighth, Ben Reader and Teagan Rogers placed 14th, and Hank Hartley and Colton Boutelle finished 16th.
Timeline
October 26: IBN tournament held on East Fork Lake in Olney.
November 3: Article published noting the pair now leads Angler of the Year standings.
Season Trajectory
The IBN Central Trail season standings are the regional ranking system that determines Angler of the Year honors for Illinois bass anglers. Troeckler and Rydgig's tournament win moves them to the top of those standings as the fall season closes.
The standings lead gives Troeckler and Rydgig a current benchmark for Illinois Angler of the Year points, which anglers tracking the state rankings can use to gauge the season's competitive order. The tournament result does not change the rules or entry requirements for future IBN events.
The takeaway
Tracking standings across the full season, not just single tournaments, is the clearest way to understand which anglers are consistently competitive on Illinois lakes. Checking Angler of the Year points after each event shows how fall results shift the leaderboard.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see our Fishing coverage across Illinois.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Edwardsville Intelligencer.
