RICHMOND, Va. (Aug. 1, 2005) - Boater Chuck Schultz Jr. of Richmond earned $3,581 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division bass fishing tournament on the James River. The tournament was the fourth of five regular-season Shenandoah Division events and earned Schultz 200 points in the Boater Division.
Schultz's winning catch of five bass weighed 10 pounds, 13 ounces. Schultz was flipping a plastic worm in 2 to 4 feet of water around wood cover when he caught his bass.
Finishing second was Don Mallow of Fredericksburg with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 12 ounces that earned him $1,790. Jeff Williams of Moneta claimed $1,176 as the third-place finisher thanks to four bass weighing 9 pounds, 9 ounces. In fourth was Chris Whittaker of Ruther Glen with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces worth $911, and finishing fifth and earning $749 was Bob Everhart of Williamsburg with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces.
Jeff Benfield of Woodbridge took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $550 for a 5-pound bass. He caught his big bass on a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver.
Cavin Young of Prince George earned $500 as winner of the Ranger Cup award.
Jerry Comperatore of Tarentum, Pa., earned $1,741 as the co-angler winner, thanks to three bass weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces that he caught on a spinnerbait. He earned an additional $260 as winner of the co-angler big-bass award, thanks to a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Tommy Bell of Mechanicsville (three bass, 7 pounds, 10 ounces, $870); Carl Whipple of Fredericksburg (two bass, 7 pounds, 5 ounces, $568); Arthur Conley of Petersburg (five bass, 7 pounds, 4 ounces, $443); and Bobby O'Brien of Broadway (three bass, 6 pounds, 15 ounces, $364).
The Shenandoah Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 10-11 with a two-day Super Tournament on the Potomac River near Dumfries. Following the regular season, the Shenandoah Division boater with the most points will earn $1,000 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion. The co-angler amassing the most points will earn $500 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion in the Co-angler Division.