ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Boater Martin Whitaker of Hensley earned $4,179 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division bass fishing tournament on DeGray Lake. The tournament was the second of five regular-season Arkie Division events and featured 157 boaters vying for the win, which earned Whitaker 200 points in the Boater Division.
Whitaker's winning catch of five bass weighed 14 pounds, 6 ounces, and he caught them on a Gitzit lure and a Fluke. He also earned $785 as the Boater Division big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass.
Finishing second was Mike Mobley of Benton with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces that earned him $2,090. Keith Green of Arkadelphia claimed $1,421 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 12 pounds, 15 ounces. In fourth was Adam Wright of Benton with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 4 ounces worth $1,087, and finishing fifth and earning $919 was Mike Brower Jr. of Texarkana, Texas, with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 1 ounce.
Mike Mobley of Benton earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Stanley Broek Breshears of Rogers bested 150 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $2,021 as the co-angler winner, thanks to four bass weighing 10 pounds, 4 ounces that he caught on a watermelon-red finesse worm.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Ronald Mounts of Walnut Ridge (five bass, 9 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,011); Max Shelton of Jacksonville (four bass, 9 pounds, $687); Kenny Holland of Cabot (four bass, 7 pounds, 5 ounces, $525); and Bill Ford of Benton (three bass, 7 pounds, 4 ounces, $445).
Scott Kees of Benton earned $375 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 4-pound, 6-ounce bass he caught on a watermelon finesse worm.
The Arkie Division's next event will be held May 8 on Greers Ferry near Greers Ferry, followed by an event on the Arkansas River in Russellville June 19. The Arkie Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 25-26 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs.