NATCHITOCHES, La. (June 16, 2003) - Marc Lowenthal of Prairieville claimed $2,828 as the winner of the Bass Fishing League Louisiana Division's fourth regular-season bass fishing tournament, held Saturday on the Red River near Natchitoches. Lowenthal led the field of 86 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces.
Lowenthal caught his bass Saturday using a watermelon-red Brush Hog. He earned another $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Trey Morgan of Goldonna (five bass, 13 pounds, $1,414); Marvin Alleman of Morgan City (five bass, 12 pounds, 8 ounces, $961); Ronnie Sharp of Covington (five bass, 12 pounds, 4 ounces, $735); and Chad Hesnor of Ville Platte (five bass, 12 pounds, 3 ounces, $622).
Morgan also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Bill Fussell of Thibodaux topped 86 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught using a chartreuse and white spinner bait. Fussell earned $1,414 for the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Leavitt Hamilton of Prairieville (five bass, 12 pounds, $707); Gary Paline of Watson (five bass, 10 pounds, 13 ounces, $481); Eric Cadella of Metairie (five bass, 10 pounds, 4 ounces, $368); and Roger Dousay of Livingston, Texas (four bass, 10 pounds, $311).
Lowenthal earned boater big-bass honors and $430 with a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass, and Dousay earned co-angler big-bass honors and $215 in his division with a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass.