PRATTVILLE, Ala. (June 21, 2004) - Tim Hurst of Oxford earned $4,404 Saturday as winner of the third regular-season Bass Fishing League Bama Division bass fishing tournament on the Alabama River near Prattville. He caught five bass weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces to claim the win and 200 points in the Boater Division.
Hurst caught his tournament-winning bass flipping a jig in the midlake area. He earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, and he also earned another $1,000 from Bombardier for using an Evinrude Direct Injection outboard.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Charles Cummings of Leeds (four bass, 11 pounds, 9 ounces, $2,202); James White of Millbrook (five bass, 10 pounds, 15 ounces, $1,497); Kent McNaughton of Greenville (three bass, 10 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,145); and Brian Merriman of Falkville (five bass, 9 pounds, 15 ounces, $969).
McNaughton earned $845 as the Boater Division big-bass award winner thanks to a 6-pound, 6-ounce bass he caught on a soft plastic.
Bill Champion of Demopolis claimed $2,202 as winner of the Co-angler Division with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces that he caught on finesse worms in 8 to 10 feet of water.
Rounding out the top four co-anglers are Richard Hoobler of Dallas, Ga. (five bass, 12 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,101); Jerry Bearden of Ashville (four bass, 8 pounds, $749); and Jamie Amerson of Pine Mountain, Ga. (three bass, 7 pounds, 15 ounces, $573). Tied for fifth were Hal Murk of Sharpsburg, Ga. (four bass) and Stewart Duckworth of Vestavia (two bass). Both anglers caught 7 pounds, 5 ounces worth of bass to earn $440 each.
Derek Headley of Pelham caught a 4-pound, 9-ounce bass on a spinnerbait to claim $423 as the big-bass award winner in the Co-angler Division.
The Bama Division's next stop will be July 17 on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, and the regular season will come to a close Sept. 25-26 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Martin in Alexander City.