ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. - 12.Feb.2005 - Boater Keith Williamson of Lincolnton earned $4,840 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division bass fishing tournament on Clarks Hill Lake. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Savannah River Division events and featured 166 boaters vying for the win, which earned Williamson 200 points in the Boater Division.
Williamson's winning catch of five bass weighed 18 pounds, 12 ounces. Williamson was fishing deep ditches with Zoom Flukes and Buckeye jigs.
Finishing second was Steve DeBord of Martinez with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 10 ounces that earned him $2,420. Jason Buller of Thomson and Derrick Bridges of Greenville, S.C., tied for third place and each claimed $1,407 with five-bass limits weighing 17 pounds, 4 ounces. In fifth was Mike Guilbeau of Evans with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 13 ounces worth $1,012.
Hans Cansler of Aiken, S.C., took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $830 for a 9-pound, 3-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a white lead-head spinnerbait.
DeBord also won $500 as the highest finishing Ranger Cup participant.
Dale Samples of Greer, S.C., won the Co-angler Division to earn $2,345, thanks to five bass weighing 12 pounds, 1 ounce that he caught on a chartreuse and silver crankbait.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Audie Brantley of N. Augusta, S.C. (five bass, 11 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,173); Chandler Robinson of Pendleton, S.C., (three bass, 11 pounds, 2 ounces, $768); Bobby Thornton of Greer, S.C., (four bass, 10 pounds, 15 ounces, $597); and Jason Goff of Dewy Rose (four bass, 9 pounds, 5 ounces, $490).
Mike Simmons of Clyde, N.C., earned $395 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass.
The Savannah River Division's next event will be held March 5 on Lake Russell near Elberton followed by an event on Lake Hartwell near Seneca, S.C., May 7 and an event on June 4 on Keowee Lake near Seneca, S.C. The Savannah River Division will wrap up its regular season Oct. 1-2 with a two-day Super Tournament on Clarks Hill Lake near Augusta, Ga.