ELKTON, Md. (June 26, 2006) Boater Ron Farren of Hughesville, Md., earned $3,514 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Northeast Division bass fishing tournament on Chesapeake Bay. The tournament was the second of five regular-season Northeast Division events and earned Farren 200 points in the Boater Division.
Farrens winning catch of five bass weighed 17 pounds, 10 ounces. He was throwing a Senko in 1 to 4 feet of water to catch his bass. Farren also earned an additional $1,000 for being the highest placing Ranger Cup participant.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Bill Gallagher of Southampton, Pa. (five bass, 17 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,757); Richard Witushynsky of Gettysburg, Pa. (five bass, 16 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,172); Mark Knapp of Central City, Pa., (five bass, 16 pounds, $820); and Darrel Gesford of Hummelstown, Pa. (five bass, 15 pounds, 1 ounce, $703).
Gallagher and Witushynsky tied for Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning them each $225 for a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass.
Fred George of Marysville, Pa., won the Co-angler Division to earn $1,753 thanks to five bass weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces that he caught on a jig. George also earned an additional $220 for winning the Co-angler Division big bass award with a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass he also caught on a jig.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are James Canning of Meriden, Conn. (five bass, 13 pounds, 2 ounces, $876); Darren Campbell of Pequea, Pa. (five bass, 12 pounds, 10 ounces, $585); Mendel Crunkleton of Chambersburg, Pa. (four bass, 12 pounds, 2 ounces, $409); and Ronald Smith of Browns Mill, N.J. (five bass, 11 pounds, 14 ounces, $351).
The Northeast Divisions next event will be held July 22 on the Hudson River near Catskill, N.Y., followed by an event on Chesapeake Bay near Elkton, Md., Aug 19. The Northeast Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 9-10 with a two-day Super Tournament on the Potomac River near LaPlata, Md.
Following the regular season, the Northeast Division boater with the most points who advances farthest in the Wal-Mart BFL All-American will earn $10,000 as the Yamaha Be the Best points champion. The co-angler points champion who advances farthest will earn $5,000 as the Yamaha Be the Best points champion in the Co-angler Division.
Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points, with 200 points going to the winner, 199 for second, 198 for third, and so on except for Super Tournaments, which award 300 points to the winner, 299 for second, 298 for third, and so on. The top 40 Northeast Division boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the Smith Mountain Regional near Moneta, Va., Oct. 19-21, where they will compete against Empire, North Carolina and Piedmont anglers for one of six slots in the 2007 All-American.