SENECA, S.C. - The 2004 Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division season kicked off Saturday on Lake Keowee near Seneca, and Kevin Dearth of Cumming, Ga., claimed the win thanks to a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 13 ounces. He bested 198 Boater Division competitors to earn $4,986 and 200 points.
Dearth claimed the victory at his first career Savannah River Division event. He had previously fished occasional Bulldog Division tournaments en route to the win, his first.
Finishing second was Marty Robinson of Greer with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces worth $2,493. Tied for third were Chris Baxter of Monroe, Ga., and Jason Buller of Thomson, Ga. Each caught five bass weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces that earned them $1,495. Eddie Roberts of Elberton, Ga., finished fifth with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces worth $1,097.
Robinson claimed Boater Division big-bass honors and $990 thanks to a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass. Alan Poston of Travelers Rest earned $500 as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program and another $250 from Yamaha because his Ranger was powered by a Yamaha outboard.
Kevin Goldsmith of Hendersonville, N.C., earned $2,493 as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to a five-bass catch that weighed 10 pounds, 2 ounces. He edged past 198 Co-angler Division competitors to claim the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are John Howard of Hartwell, Ga. (five bass, 9 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,247); Derek Schlotterback of Simpsonville (five bass, 8 pounds, 5 ounces, $848); Scott Hoopaugh of Hull, Ga. (five bass, 8 pounds, 4 ounces, $648); and Brad Benfield of Demorest, Ga. (five bass, 7 pounds, 13 ounces, $548).
Sandy Thornton of Elberton, Ga., earned $495 as the Co-angler Division big-bass winner with a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass. Thornton finished 29th thanks to the one bass.