CADIZ, Ky. - Boater Randy Thomas of Paducah earned $5,011 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League LBL Division bass fishing tournament on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. The tournament was the second of five regular-season LBL Division events and featured 199 boaters vying for the win, which earned Thomas 200 points in the Boater Division.
Thomas' winning catch of five bass weighed 17 pounds, and he caught them on a 6-inch Brush Hog. He received another $1,000 from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, and because his boat was equipped with an Evinrude Direct Injection outboard, he received another $1,000 from Bombardier. He also earned $1,000 from Garmin for using only Garmin electronics during the event.
Finishing second was Brent Maurer of Ledbetter with four bass weighing 16 pounds, 13 ounces that earned him $2,506. Ramie Colson Jr. of Cadiz claimed $1,704 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 16 pounds, 6 ounces. In fourth was David Young of Mayfield with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces worth $1,303, and finishing fifth and earning $1,102 was Steve Mouser of Elizabethtown with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces.
Maurer took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $995 for a 7-pound, 3-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a Zoom bait.
Jeff McCarnan of Henderson bested 195 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $2,455 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 15 pounds, 8 ounces that he caught on a tube.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Raymond Johnson of Goodlettsville, Tenn. (five bass, 13 pounds, 14 ounces, $1,228); Randy Spurlock of Vienna, Ill. (five bass, 13 pounds, 3 ounces, $835); Ricky Cates of Clay (five bass, 13 pounds, $638); and Keith Iddins of Knoxville, Tenn. (five bass, 12 pounds, 9 ounces, $540).
Mike Cole of Louisville earned $488 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass he caught on a Zoom lizard.
The LBL Division's next event will be held May 22 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes near Buchanan, Tenn., followed by an event on Kentucky/Barkley in Hardin June 12. The LBL Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 11-12 with a two-day Super Tournament on Kentucky/Barkley near Gilbertsville.