WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (July 19, 2004) - Boater Division competitor Richard Heath Jr. of Beaverdam earned $4,212 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division bass fishing tournament on the James River near Williamsburg. The tournament was the fourth of five regular-season Shenandoah Division events. The regular season will wrap up Sept. 25-26 with a two-day Super Tournament on the Potomac River in Woodbridge.
Heath bested 160 Boater Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces that he caught on a crankbait and worm. He also earned a $1,000 bonus from Garmin for using Garmin electronics exclusively during the event.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Scott Banton of Richmond (five bass, 12 pounds, 7 ounces, $2,106); Terry Olinger of The Plains (five bass, 12 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,432); Steve Colgin of Lanexa (five bass, 11 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,095); and Dee Rose of Charles City (three bass, 9 pounds, 13 ounces, $927).
Sam Westbrook of Petersburg earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Rose earned $800 as the Boater Division big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass that he caught on a Tiki Stick.
Jeff Claiborne of Suffolk won the 158-competitor Co-angler Division with a five-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces. He caught his tournament-winning bass flipping a Zoom Finesse Worm and earned $2,103 for the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Arthur Conley of Petersburg (four bass, 6 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,051); Mickey Pettry of Manassas (five bass, 5 pounds, 6 ounces, $715); James Seay of Richmond (four bass, 4 pounds, 8 ounces, $547); and Mark Deagle of Williamsburg (two bass, 4 pounds, 5 ounces, $463).
Tom Nash of Mount Airy, Md., caught a 4-pound, 4-ounce bass to win Co-angler Division big-bass honors and $395.