EUFAULA, Ala. (July 19, 2004) - Boater Division competitor Charles Cummings of Leeds earned $4,430 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Bama Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula. The tournament was the fourth of five regular-season Bama Division events. The regular season will wrap up Sept. 25-26 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Martin in Alexander City.
Cummings bested 170 Boater Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces, and he caught them on a Pocket Craw in shallow water. He also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, and Yamaha awarded him another $500 because his boat is powered by a Yamaha outboard. He also received a $1,000 bonus from Garmin for using only Garmin electronics during the event.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Billy Lewis Jr. of Montgomery (four bass, 13 pounds, 11 ounces, $2,215); Mike Keel of Auburn (five bass, 13 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,506); Cary Chester of Palmetto, Ga. (five bass, 12 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,152); and Jason Nixon of Wetumpka (three bass, 12 pounds, 7 ounces, $975).
Lester Taylor of Montgomery earned $850 as the Boater Division big-bass award winner with an 8-pound, 1-ounce bass he caught on a spinnerbait.
Kevin Smith of Marietta, Ga., won the 170-competitor Co-angler Division with a four-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces. He caught his tournament-winning bass on a Pop-R and earned $2,215 for the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jeff Ford of Trion, Ga. (three bass, 10 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,108); Jim Landers of Alexander City (five bass, 10 pounds, 5 ounces, $753); Brett Black of Cordova (four bass, 9 pounds, 11 ounces, $576); and T.C. Waters of Glencoe (three bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $487).
Ford caught a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass to win Co-angler Division big-bass honors and $425.