RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (June 23, 2008) - Boater Jerry Williams of Conway, Ark., won the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Dardanelle Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces. The victory earned Williams $3,888 plus a $686 Ranger contingency bonus and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Kentucky Lake Regional Championship in Benton, Ky., Oct. 2-4, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Williams caught his bass throwing a spinnerbait and black worm near the Illinois Bayou on Lake Dardanelle. He started out shallow in the morning and moved to deeper waters as the day progressed.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jason Millsap of Bella Vista, Ark. (five bass, 17-11, $2,288); Donald Vining of Little Rock, Ark. (five bass, 16-04, $1,525); Kris Lott of Dardanelle, Ark. (five bass, 15-03, $1,068) and Gabe Herrington of Malvern, Ark. (five bass, 15-02, $915).
Brandon McNew of Greenbrier, Ark. and Mike White of Benton, Ark., each took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $332 for a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass.
Brad Hansen of El Dorado, Ark., earned $2,288 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 12 pounds, 11 ounces that he caught throwing a Booyah spinnerbait near Delaware Bay in and around submerged grass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Juan Barrientos of Clarksville, Ark. (five bass, 12-03, $1,144); Timmy Cook of Haskell, Ark. (five bass, 11-13, $762); Todd Fite of Hensley, Ark. (five bass, 11-05, $534) and AJ Mays of Mabelvale, Ark. (two bass, 10-08, $458).
Kelly Shamlin Jr. of Benton, Ark., earned $332 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass he caught shallow on a black and blue buzzbait.
A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on Lake Dardanelle, Sept. 13-14.