GREERS FERRY, Ark. (May 9, 2005) - Boater Brandon Rhoden of Grapevine earned $3,497 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division bass fishing tournament on Greers Ferry Lake. The tournament was the third of five regular-season Arkie Division events and earned Rhoden 200 points in the Boater Division.
Rhoden's winning catch of five bass weighed 13 pounds, 6 ounces. Rhoden was flipping a jig around bushes when he caught his bass.
Rhoden earned an additional $1,000 for the Garmin Grand award. Finishing second was Mike Brower Jr. of Texarkana, Texas with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces that earned him $1,748. Richard Pankey of Blytheville claimed $1,145 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 10 pounds, 11 ounces. In fourth was Royce Davis of Higden with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces worth $890, and finishing fifth and earning $731 was Les Miller of Morrilton with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 9 ounces.
Brower took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $530 for a 4-pound, 9-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a Carolina rig. He also won the Ranger Cup award, worth $500.
Jonathan McNeill of Lowell earned $1,666 as the co-angler winner, thanks to four bass weighing 9 pounds, 9 ounces that he caught on a finesse worm. McNeill earned an additional $245 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Terry Slauens of Shirley (four bass, 8 pounds, 5 ounces, $833); Jim Towers of Star City (five bass, 7 pounds, 10 ounces, $547); Billy Littleton of Batesville (four bass, 6 pounds, 11 ounces, $424); and Tony Smith of Benton (four bass, 6 pounds, 6 ounces, $348).
The next Arkie Division event will be held June 18 on The Arkansas River near Russellville. The Arkie Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 24-25 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs.