HOT SPRINGS, Ark., (March 14, 2005) - Boater Greg Dyer of Benton earned $4,143 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Ouachita. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Arkie Division events and featured 133 boaters vying for the win, which earned Dyer 200 points in the Boater Division.
Dyer's winning catch of five bass weighed 14 pounds, 7 ounces. Dyer fished a red Rat-L-Trap along shallow points to catch his bass.
Finishing second was Paul Helton of Russellville with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 13 ounces that earned him $2,072. Helton won an additional $750 as winner of the Ranger Cup award and the Powered by Yamaha award. Clinton Mayfield of Hot Springs claimed $1,356 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 13 pounds, 8 ounces. In fourth was Brandon Rhoden of Sheridan, with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 5 ounces worth $1,055, and finishing fifth and earning $866 was Adam J. Wright of Benton with five bass weighing 13 pounds.
Shane Herald of North Little Rock took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $665 for a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on an 8-inch swim bait.
Tony Sorres of Anderson, Mo., earned $2,040 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces that he caught on a jig.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Matt Mitchell of Hot Springs (five bass, 11 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,020); Chris Rice of Blytheville (five bass, 10 pounds, 2 ounces, $670); Randy Crites of Plainview (five bass, 10 pounds, 1 ounce, $519); and Billy Littleton of Batesville (five bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $427).
In addition, Mitchell earned $328 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass he caught on a Rat-L-Trap.
The Arkie Division's next event will be held April 9 on Degray Lake near Arkadelphia followed by an event on Greers Ferry Lake near Greers Ferry May 7. The fourth-qualifying event will be held June 18 on the Arkansas River/Lake Dardanelle near Russellville. The Arkie Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 24-25 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs.