LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (June 7, 2004) - Boater Mark Hurst of Troy, Ohio, earned $3,583 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division bass fishing tournament on the Ohio River near Lawrenceburg. The tournament was the second of five regular-season Buckeye Division events and featured 125 boaters vying for the win, which earned Hurst 200 points in the Boater Division.
Hurst's winning catch of five bass weighed 9 pounds, 1 ounce, and he caught them on a spinnerbait. He also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Finishing second was Jay Jeffries of Celina, Ohio, with five bass weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces that earned him $1,791. Patrick Shipley of Lockbourne, Ohio, claimed $1,218 as the third-place finisher thanks to four bass weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces. In fourth was David Smith of Dayton, Ohio, with four bass weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces worth $932, and finishing fifth and earning $788 was Marlin Hines of Chilo, Ohio, with three bass weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces.
Bob Phelps of Shelby, Ohio, took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $625 for a 4-pound, 8-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a black worm.
Aaron Stahley of Milford, Ohio, bested 124 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $1,777 as the co-angler winner, thanks to four bass weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce that he caught on a black and blue jig.
Finishing second was Gary Vanover of Cincinnati with five bass weighing 6 pounds, 1 ounce that earned him $889. Glen Cronley of Kenton, Ohio, claimed $604 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces. Tied for fourth were Duane Fry of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Clifford Ivy of Milford, Ohio. Both anglers caught four bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces that earned each of them $427.
The Buckeye Division's next event will be held July 17 on the Ohio River near Carrollton, Ky., followed by an event on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, Aug. 7. The Buckeye Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 11-12 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Erie near Sandusky, Ohio.