SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Feb. 28, 2005) - Boater Tim Buckner of Scottsboro earned $3,563 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division bass fishing tournament on Guntersville Lake. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Choo Choo Division events and featured 108 boaters vying for the win, which earned Buckner 200 points in the Boater Division.
Buckner's winning catch of five bass weighed 27 pounds, 10 ounces. He caught them while fishing a red Rat-L-Trap around grass and stumps.
Finishing second was Shannon Devere of Berea, Ky., with five bass weighing 24 pounds, 5 ounces that earned him $1,781. Randall Tharp of Gardendale claimed $1,168 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 23 pounds, 5 ounces. In fourth was Dennis Tweed of Charleston, Tenn., with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces worth $907, and finishing fifth and earning $745 was OB Wilborn of Stevenson with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 13 ounces.
In addition, Buckner took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $540 for an 8-pound, 8-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a red Rat-L-Trap. Buckner also won an additional $1,000 as the Ranger Cup award winner.
William. Kees Jr. of Coalfield, Tenn., bested 108 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $1,781 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 19 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught on jigs and red Rat-L-Traps.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Justin Pruett of Cullman (five bass, 17 pounds, 11 ounces, $891); Kent T. Lodari of Seymour, Tenn. (three bass, 17 pounds, 7 ounces, $582); Joshua Tabor of Cleveland, Tenn. (five bass, 16 pounds, 7 ounces, $453); and Jimmy F. Carruth of Athens (four bass, 15 pounds, 2 ounces, $372).
In addition, Lodari earned $270 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 6-pound, 13-ounce bass.
The Choo Choo Division's next event will be held March 19 on Chickamauga Lake near Hixson, Tenn., followed by an event on Wheeler Lake near Rogersville April 30. The fourth event will be held May 21 on Lake Weiss near Cedar Bluff. The Choo Choo Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 10-11 with a two-day Super Tournament on Watts Barr Lake near Rockwood, Tenn.