RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (June 15, 2009) - Dylan Hawkins of Pottsville, Ark., won the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Dardanelle Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces. The victory earned Hawkins $4,235 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Kentucky Lake Regional Championship in Gilbertsville, Ky., Oct. 15-17, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Hawkins said he caught the majority of his bass fishing the lower end of the lake on shallow lay-downs.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Spencer Grace of Russellville, Ark. (five bass, 13-15, $2,118); Donald Vining of Little Rock, Ark. (four bass, 13-9, $1,413); Matthew Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark. (five bass, 12-14, $988) and Steve Roberts of Fort Smith, Ark. (five bass, 12-13, $847).
Kris Lott of Dardanelle, Ark., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $590 for a 7-pound, 3-ounce bass he caught.
Michael Dunham of North Little Rock, Ark., earned $2,041 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are James Nichols of Ozark, Ark. (five bass, 11-15, $1,021); Mack Wheeler of Clarksville, Ark. (four bass, 10-6, $683); Burl Garret of Benton, Ark. (four bass, 8-15, $476); and Clint Rudell of Benton, Ark. (four bass, 8-6, $408).
Richard Vail of Malvern, Ark., earned $280 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass.
The final regular-season Arkie Division tournament, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held on Lake Ouachita in Mount Ida, Ark., Sept. 26-27.