LAKE WALES, Fla. (May 8, 2006) - Lee McCracken of Ocala, Fla., earned $4,686 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Gator Division bass fishing tournament on Kissimmee River. The tournament was the fourth of five regular-season Gator Division events and earned McCraken 200 points in the Boater Division.
McCracken's winning catch of five bass weighed 24 pounds, 11 ounces. He was flipping a jig and pig combination in and around grass to catch his bass. McCracken also took home an additional $1,000 for winning the Ranger Cup contingency award and $690 for taking big bass honors with a 9-pound, 15-ounce bass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Steve Hatler of Lakeland, Fla. (five bass, 22 pounds, 5 ounces, $2,343); Mike Reed of Dade City, Fla. (five bass, 21 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,562); Darrell Davis of Dover, Fla. (five bass, 18 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,093) and Troy Oliver of Lakeland, Fla. (five bass, 17 pounds, 10 ounces, $937).
Jeff Sullivan of Frostproof, Fla., bested won the Co-angler Division to earn $2,343, thanks to five bass weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces he caught while throwing a Zoom Fluke in and around submerged grass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jesse Windsor of Orlando, Fla. (four bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,172); Wyatt Boyd of Winter Haven, Fla., and Charles Gomez III tied for third place, (five bass, 13 pounds, 7 ounces, $664) and Joe Ventrello of Orlando, Fla. (five bass, 13 pounds, 1 ounces, $469).
Kenneth Bankhead of Auburndale, Fla., earned $345 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 8-pound, 12-ounce bass.
The Gator Division's next event will be held Sept. 9-10 on Lake Toho near Kissimmee, Fla., for the divisions two-day Super Tournament. Following the regular season, the Gator Division boater with the most points who advances farthest in the Wal-Mart BFL All-American will earn $10,000 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion. The co-angler points champion who advances farthest will earn $5,000 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion in the Co-angler Division.