ELBERTON, Ga. (March 7, 2005) - Boater Rick Steckelberg of Gainesville earned $4,613 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 154 boaters vying for the win, which earned Steckelberg 200 points in the Boater Division.
Steckelberg's winning catch of five bass weighed 14 pounds, 15 ounces. Finishing second was Dale Gibson of Cleveland with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 8 ounces that earned him $2,307. Gibson earned an additional $500 as the Ranger Cup Award winner. Casey Ashley of Honea Path, S.C., and Marty Robinson of Greer, S.C., tied for third. Each angler caught five bass weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces worth $1,341. Finishing fifth and earning $965 was Craig Johnson of Martinez with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 1 ounce.
Michael Chandler of Fair Play, S.C., took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $770 for a 4-pound, 13-ounce bass.
Brian Porter of Seneca, S.C., earned $2,307 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 13 pounds, 5 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Keith Hutto of Augusta (four bass, 12 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,153); Mike Bowman of Boiling Springs, S.C. (three bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, $757); Bobby Thornton of Greer, S.C. (three bass, 10 pounds, $587); and Terry Martin of Piedmont, S.C. (five bass, 9 pounds, 5 ounces, $482).
John Wilson of Hazelwood, N.C., earned $385 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 7-pound, 7-ounce bass.
The Savannah River Division's next event will be held May 7 on Lake Hartwell near Seneca, S.C., followed by an event on Lake Keowee near Seneca, S.C., June 4. The Savannah River Division will wrap up its regular season Oct. 1-2 with a two-day Super Tournament on Clarks Hill Lake near Augusta.