CLANTON, Ala. (May 8, 2004)- Boater Mark McCaig of Oxford earned $4,759 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Bama Division bass fishing tournament on Lay Lake. The tournament was the second of five regular-season Bama Division events and featured 186 boaters vying for the win, which earned McCaig 200 points in the Boater Division.
McCaig's winning catch of five bass weighed 14 pounds, 3 ounces, and he caught them flipping a 1/2-ounce brown jig in the grass in 5 to 6 feet of water. He also used a Spook on a gravel bar in 3 feet of water. As the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, McCaig also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger, and because his boat is powered by a Yamaha outboard, he earned another $500 bonus from Yamaha.
Finishing second was Michael Hayslette of Andalusia with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces that earned him $2,380. Mark Henley of Thomasville, Ga., claimed $1,618 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 12 pounds, 3 ounces. In fourth was Mike Keel of Auburn with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 14 ounces worth $1,237, and finishing fifth and earning $1,047 was Boyd Duckett of Demopolis with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 6 ounces.
Tullis Lanier of Rockford took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $930 for a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a 3/8-ounce black and blue jig.
Michael Sumrall of McCalla bested 186 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $2,380 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 12 pounds, 5 ounces that he caught on a 3/8-ounce black jig in grass in 12 feet of water.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Dennis Gaddy of Hogansville, Ga. (four bass, 7 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,190); Bill Champion of Demopolis (four bass, 7 pounds, 11 ounces, $809); Brandon Scott of Deatsville (three bass, 7 pounds, 7 ounces, $619); and Kevin Smith of Marietta, Ga. (five bass, 7 pounds, 5 ounces, $524).
Scott earned $465 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 3-pound, 11-ounce bass he caught on a 3/8-ounce chartreuse and white spinnerbait.
The Bama Division's next event will be held June 19 on the Alabama River near Prattville, followed by an event on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula July 17. The Bama Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 25-26 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Martin near Alexander City.