GROVE, Okla. (March 30, 2009) - Tyler Matlock of Omaha, Ark., won the Bass Fishing League Ozark Division bass fishing tournament on Grand Lake Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 20 pounds, 13 ounces. The victory earned Matlock $4,127 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the DeGray Lake Regional Championship in Arkadelphia, Ark., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"Really, when I came in knew I had a good bag of fish," said Matlock. "But with all the big stories out there I thought I'd be at least in the top three or four."
Matlock caught his limit throwing a Chomper spinnerbait and a Four-Fingers jig fishing mid-lake around chunk rock and ledge.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Joe Waggoner of Carthage, Mo. (five bass, 20-6, $2,064); Dave Dickherber of Lake Saint Louis, Mo. (five bass, 20-5, $1,377); Dennis Berhorst of Holts Summit, Mo. (five bass, 19-8, $963) and Wes Endicott of Joplin, Mo. (five bass, 19-3, $825).
Mike Boyles of Highlandville, Mo., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $575 for a 7-pound, 9-ounce bass he caught.
Mike Katzer of Overland Park, Kan., earned $2,019 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 17 pounds, 11 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Rick Brame of Festus, Mo. (five bass, 16-12, $1,009); Rick Carden of Cuba, Mo. (four bass, 15-0, $675); Matt Skucius of Manhattan, Kan. (five bass, 14-13, $471); and Dustin Back of Galena, Mo. (five bass, 13-13, $404).
Rick Brame earned $272 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 7-pound, 12-ounce bass.
The next Ozark Division event will be held on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo., April 18.