CARROLLTON, Ky. (July 19, 2004) - Michael Safreed of Beavercreek, Ohio, earned $3,108 Saturday as winner of the third regular-season Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division bass fishing tournament on the Ohio River near Carrollton. He caught five bass weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces to claim the win and 200 points in the Boater Division.
Safreed caught his tournament-winning bass on a white spinner with a Colorado blade in shallow-water brush piles. He earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, and he earned another $1,000 bonus from Bombardier for using an Evinrude Direct Injection outboard. Garmin also awarded him a $1,000 bonus for using Garmin electronics exclusively during the event.
Finishing second was Dan Fry of Marysville, Ohio, with four bass that weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces worth $1,554. Tied for third were Steve Neal of Aurora, Ind. (five bass) and Robert Otto of Dayton, Ohio (four bass). Both anglers caught 6 pounds, 2 ounces worth of bass to earn $933 each.
Donald Sibley of Strasburg, Ohio, caught the tournament's big bass in the Boater Division - a 3-pound, 7-ounce bass that earned him $510. He caught his big bass on a jig.
Jim Asher of Tipp City, Ohio, claimed $1,523 as winner of the Co-angler Division with a three-bass catch weighing 3 pounds, 15 ounces that he caught on a green pumpkin jig and a white spinner in shallow water. He also earned $250 as the co-angler big-bass winner thanks to a 3-pound, 8-ounce bass he caught on a black and blue Zoom jig.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Albert Schaaf Sr. of Waynesville, Ohio (one bass, 3 pounds, 8 ounces, $762); Scott Clark of Thornville, Ohio (one bass, 3 pounds, 3 ounces, $518); Lawni Ziegler of Loudonville, Ohio (three bass, 2 pounds, 15 ounces, $396); and Aaron Stahley of Milford, Ohio (one bass, 2 pounds, 9 ounces, $335).
The Buckeye Division's next stop will be Aug. 7 on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, and the regular season will come to a close Sept. 11-12 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Erie in Sandusky.