ELBERTON, Ga. - Boater James Edwards of Greenville, S.C., earned $4,822 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Russell. The tournament was the second of five regular-season Savannah River Division events and featured 190 boaters vying for the win, which earned Edwards 200 points in the Boater Division.
Edwards' winning catch of five bass weighed 16 pounds, 5 ounces. Edwards claimed the win in only his second career BFL event. He finished 20th at the Savannah River Division season opener on Keowee Lake in February.
Finishing second was Jesse Dellinger of Bogart with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces that earned him $2,411. Steve Foster of Jasper claimed $1,639 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces. In fourth was Craig Johnson of Martinez with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 10 ounces worth $1,254, and finishing fifth and earning $1,061 was Dan Morrow of Eastanollee with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces.
Dellinger took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $950 for a 5-pound, 9-ounce bass. Dellinger also earned $500 from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Jim Way of McLeansville, N.C., bested 190 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $2,411 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 11 pounds, 3 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Bobby Thornton of Greer, S.C. (five bass, 11 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,205); Darby Comas of Athens (five bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $820); Jeff Rikard of Leesville, S.C. (four bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, $627); and Don Kohli of Lincolnton (five bass, 10 pounds, 7 ounces, $530).
Rikard earned $475 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass.