RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (June 21, 2004) - Boater Division competitor Kevin Short of Mayflower earned $3,690 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division bass fishing tournament on the Arkansas River in Russellville. The tournament was the fourth of five regular-season Arkie Division events. The regular season will wrap up Sept. 25-26 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs.
Short bested 131 Boater Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 1 ounce. Short also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Larry Boley of Dover (five bass, 14 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,845); Bill Burkett of Paris (five bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,255); Jamie Jones of Benton (five bass, 13 pounds, 1 ounce, $959); and Dan Franklin of Van Buren (four bass, 12 pounds, 8 ounces, $812).
Kevin Riney of Pocahontas earned $655 as the Boater Division big-bass award winner with a 5-pound bass.
Kevin McDonald of Alexander won the 131-competitor Co-angler Division with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces. He earned $1,845 for the win. He also claimed co-angler big-bass honors and $328 with a 3-pound, 13-ounce bass.
Tied for second were Scott Boatright of Sheridan and Sheril Middleton of Batesville. Both anglers caught a five-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 3 ounces to collect $775 each. In fourth was Tony Torres of Anderson, Mo., with five bass that weighed 12 pounds, 3 ounces worth $480, and finishing fifth was Jason Lieblong of Conway with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 10 ounces that earned him $406.