MANNING, S.C. (April 4, 2005) - Boater Casey Ashley of Honea Path earned $4,226 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League South Carolina Division bass fishing tournament on the Santee Cooper lakes. The tournament was the second of five regular-season South Carolina Division events and featured 137 boaters vying for the win, which earned Ashley 200 points in the Boater Division.
Ashley's winning catch of five bass weighed 21 pounds, 8 ounces. He was flipping around boat docks in the Eutah Creek area when he caught his bass. Ashley earned an additional $1,000 as winner of the Ranger Cup award.
Finishing second was Kent Ware of Wadmalaw Island with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 12 ounces that earned him $2,113. Bradley Gunter of Greenwood claimed $1,382 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 19 pounds, 15 ounces. In fourth was Ronald Catoe of Lugoff with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 9 ounces worth $1,076, and finishing fifth and earning $884 was Wayne King of Sumter with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces.
Ryan Pardue of Hamptonville, N.C., took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $685 for a 9-pound, 3-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a green pumpkin Senko.
Donnie Rhodes of Laurens earned $1,998 as the co-angler winner, thanks to three bass weighing 11 pounds, 7 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Dan Garner of Goose Creek (four bass, 11 pounds, 1 ounce, $999); Albert Pieper of Summerville (three bass, 9 pounds, 6 ounces, $651); Johnny Crislip of Mt. Pleasant (two bass, 8 pounds, 1 ounce, $509); and Jeff Cantey of Salters (two bass, 7 pounds, 5 ounces, $418).
Rhodes earned an additional $318 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 7-pound bass he caught on an 8-inch Dead Ringer.
The South Carolina Division's next event will be held April 30 on Clarks Hill Lake near Augusta, Ga., followed by an event on Lake Hartwell near Seneca May 21. The South Carolina Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 24-25 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Wylie near York.