ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Keith Green of Arkadelphia, Ark., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division tournament on DeGray Lake. For his victory, Green earned $3,671.
“We caught fish all day long,” said Green. “Between my co-angler and I, we put 50 to 60 fish in the boat. I was fishing in the mid-lake area, from 1 to 6 feet of water. We were throwing a few different baits. I started out in the morning fishing topwater, using a Lucky Craft Sammy lure. I caught a limit on that, then I switched over to a white War Eagle jig with a Paca Craw jig trailer and had some success as well. I also caught a few on a Black’s Widow Maker Umbrella Rig. It was a great day to be out fishing.
“The weather was a little cloudy, and in the mid-70s (degrees),” Green continued. “Normally this time of year is going to make it a bed-fishing tournament, but the fish were definitely post-spawn. I honestly thought it was going to take more weight to win it based on my practice, but it worked out for me today.”
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
Boater Keith Green of Arkadelphia, Ark., took first place in the April 14 BFL Arkie Division event on DeGray Lake with a total catch of 16 pounds, 2 ounces.
2nd: Dennis Bean, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 15-6, $1,835
3rd: Ryan Guthrie, Bono, Ark., five bass, 15-1, $1,224
4th: Steve Howard, Conway, Ark., five bass, 13-7, $856
5th: Brian Liles, Texarkana, Ark., five bass, 13-6, $734
6th: Kerry Milner, Bono, Ark., five bass, 12-14, $673 + $1,000 Evinrude Bonus
7th: Josh Ray, Alexander, Ark., five bass, 12-13, $612
8th: Danny Gwinn, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 12-4, $551
9th: Duke Gunnell, Benton, Ark., five bass, 12-3, $489
10th: Brock Bertrand, Fayetteville, Ark., five bass, 12-2, $428
Zack Ryals of Alexander, Ark., weighed in four bass totaling 10 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win $1,835 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Stan Cullipher, Malvern, Ark., five bass, 9-14, $918
3rd: Larry Carter, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 9-13, $612
4th: Skip Grise, Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 8-5, $428
5th: Benny Williams, Poteau, Okla., three bass, 7-5, $367
6th: Robert Percy, Hot Springs National Park, Ark., four bass, 7-3, $336
7th: Burl Garrett, Benton, Ark., five bass, 6-12, $306
8th: Fred Fowler, Sherwood, Ark., four bass, 6-11, $275
9th: Russell Richmond, Little Rock, Ark., two bass, 6-5, $229
9th: Stephen Tyson Jr., Camden, Ark., five bass, 6-5, $229
The next BFL Arkie Division tournament is scheduled for May 5 on Greers Ferry Lake in Greers Ferry, Ark. After the fifth Arkie Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 18-20 Regional Championship on the Red River in Natchitoches, La. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for the BFL All-American. The 2012 BFL All-American is being held May 17 – 19 on the Potomac River in National Harbor, Md. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the FLW Tour.