MONTICELLO, Ky. (March 14, 2005) - Boater Michael Stringer of Monticello earned $4,795 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Mountain Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Cumberland. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Mountain Division events and featured 163 boaters vying for the win, which earned Stringer 200 points in the Boater Division.
Stringer's winning catch of five bass weighed 16 pounds, 7 ounces. Stringer caught his bass while slow-rolling a spinnerbait near Beaver Creek.
Finishing second was Johnny Crase of Lexington with four bass weighing 15 pounds, 9 ounces that earned him $2,398. Crase earned an additional $500 as winner of the Ranger Cup award. Curtis Hall of Florence and Brad Roberts of Nancy each claimed $1,393 with a tie third-place finish. Hall caught five bass weighing 13 pounds, 14 ounces. Roberts caught four bass weighing 13 pounds, 14 ounces. Finishing fifth and earning $1,003 was Jason Nichols of Knoxville, Tenn., with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 2 ounces.
Craig Delk of Stanford took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $815 for a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a jerkbait.
Trent Norman of Cincinnati, Ohio earned $2,330 as the co-angler winner, thanks to four bass weighing 9 pounds that he caught on a Silver Buddy Blade.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jeff Caldwell of Mt. Sterling (two bass, 8 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,165); Thomas Barnwell of Middlesboro (two bass, 6 pounds, 10 ounces, $764); Joe Lockard of Bronston (three bass, 6 pounds, 7 ounces, $593); and Timmy Ray Robinson of Pikeville (two bass, 6 pounds, 5 ounces, $487).
In addition, Caldwell earned $393 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 9-ounce bass he caught on a jig.
The Mountain Division's next event will be held April 16 on Lake Douglas near Dandridge, Tenn., followed by an event on Dale Hollow Lake near Byrdstown, Tenn., May 14. The fourth-qualifying event will be held June 18 on the Barren River near Scottsville. The Mountain Division will wrap up its regular season Oct. 1-2 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Cherokee near Morristown, Tenn.