CELINA, Ohio (May 17, 2004) - The 2004 Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division tournament season kicked off Saturday on Grand Lake St. Mary's near Celina, and David Spivey of Hamilton claimed the win thanks to a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce. He bested 163 Boater Division competitors to earn $4,291 and 200 points.
Spivey caught his tournament-winning bass using a 1/8-ounce black and blue tube. He caught a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass that earned him Boater Division big-bass honors and $815, and he also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Bombardier also awarded him $1,000 for using an Evinrude Direct Injection outboard.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Kenny Dials of Oak Harbor (five bass, 13 pounds, 6 ounces, $2,145); Steve Floyd of Sabina (five bass, 12 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,459); Jason Geiger of Arcanum (five bass, 12 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,116); and Keith Wheelock of Beaver Creek (five bass, 12 pounds, $944).
Ed Shannon of Cincinnati earned $2,061 as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to a five-bass catch that weighed 12 pounds, 13 ounces. He edged past 153 Co-angler Division competitors thanks to a black and blue jig. He also earned $383 as the co-angler big-bass winner with a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jeff Oaks of Medway (five bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,031); Brian King of Lorain (five bass, 9 pounds, 3 ounces, $701); Michael Mathers of Pickerington (five bass, 7 pounds, 10 ounces, $536); and Tom Laveque of Saginaw, Mich. (three bass, 7 pounds, 4 ounces, $454).
The Buckeye Division's next stop will be June 5 on the Ohio River in Lawrenceburg, Ind. Each BFL division features four one-day events followed by a two-day Super Tournament to round out the regular season. The top 30 Buckeye Division boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the Kerr Lake regional near Henderson, N.C., Oct. 5-9, where they will compete against Carolina, Northeast and Savannah River division anglers for a slot in the 2005 All-American.