COLUMBUS, Miss. (May 19, 2008) - Boater Tim Fox of Meridian, Miss., won the Bass Fishing League Mississippi Division bass fishing tournament on the Columbus Pool of the Mississippi River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 9 ounces. The victory earned Fox $3,705 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Wheeler Lake Regional Championship in Decatur, Ala., Oct. 9-11, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"I won the BFL event on the Columbus Pool in 2005," Fox said. "But it's pretty neat to win another one. I've got several friends who have won one, but when you win two, in my opinion, you prove it's not a fluke.
"My biggest thrill, though, was winning the big bass award for the day," Fox added.
Fox said his five keeper bites came on a variety of baits, including a Strike King spinnerbait. Fox said he keyed on shallow stumps that had grass around them.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Mike Perrigin of Gordo, Ala. (five bass, 11-02, $2,179); David Dove of Steens, Miss. (five bass, 10-10, $1,452); Gary Harlan of Tishomingo, Miss. (four bass, 10-01, $1,017) and Mike Hoover of Jackson, Tenn. (four bass, 10-00, $872).
Fox took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $625 for a 5-pound, 14-ounce bass he caught.
Roger Reid of Arlington, Tenn., earned $2,179 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to three bass weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Rick McKlemurry of Brandon, Miss. (three bass, 7-05, $1,090); Wesley Wheat of Meridian, Miss. (four bass, 5-13, $725); Michael Pfeiffer of Columbus, Miss. (three bass, 5-08, $509) and Sammy Mitchell of Russellville, Ala. (three bass, 5-07, $436).
McKlemurry earned $312 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass.
Mississippi Division anglers will visit Tunica Lake in Tunica, Miss., June 14 for their fourth regular-season event. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on Lake Ferguson in Greenville, Miss., Sept. 6-7.