EUFAULA, Ala. (Feb. 18, 2008) - Boater Mike Cavender of Phenix City, Ala., won the Bass Fishing League Dixie Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Eufaula Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces. The victory earned Cavender $4,325 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.
Cavender fished for big bites by flipping and dragging jigs.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Dalton Bobo of Northport, Ala. (five bass, 18-02, $2,545); Ryan Ingram of Phenix City, Ala. (five bass, 18-00, $1,698); Clay Jens of Leesburg, Ga. (five bass, 16-15, $1,187) and Mark Hankes of Auburn, Ala. (five bass, 16-13, $1,018).
Brian Randall took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $785 for a 8-pound, 2-ounce bass.
Scott Curvin of Jacksonville, Ala., earned $2,545 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 16 pounds, 4 ounces that he caught swimming a jig.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Sammy Nolin of Eufaula, Ala. (five bass, 13-05, $1,272); Sidney Goocher of Ashford, Ala. (five bass, 13-03, $849); Matthew Nixon of Wetumka, Ala. (five bass, 12-03, $594) and Scooter Parish of Madison, Ala. (five bass, 12-00, $509).
James Tate earned $392 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 14-ounce bass he caught on a spinnerbait.
Dixie Division anglers will visit Lake Martin in Alexander, Ala., March 8 for their second regular-season event, followed by an event on West Point Lake in Lanett, Ala., May 3. The division's fourth qualifying event will be held on Logan Martin Lake in Pell City, Ala., July 12. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on Lay Lake in Columbiana, Ala., Sept. 6-7.