ST. MARYS, Ohio (May 11, 2009) - B.J. Baxter of Delphos, Ohio, won the Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division bass fishing tournament on Grand Lake Saturday with a five-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces. The victory earned Baxter $4,235 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Kentucky/Barkley Lake Regional Championship in Gilbertsville, Ky., Oct. 15-17, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Hines said he caught the majority of his bass on a tube in bays sheltered from the wind.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Keith Wheelock of Beaver Creek, Ohio (five bass, 13-1, $2,118); Gary Ginter of Maplewood, Ohio (five bass, 12-10, $1,413); Dave Fishbaugh of Sidney, Ohio (five bass, 12-2, $988) and Jake Poffenberger of Brookville, Ohio (five bass, 11-7, $847).
Jeff Rain of St. Marys, Ohio, took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $590 for a 4-pound, 5-ounce bass he caught on a fire tiger-colored crankbait on his last cast of the day.
Scott Clark of Thornville, Ohio, earned $2,078 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 12 pounds, 3 ounces. Clark said he caught the majority of his bass on a tube.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Steve Sorrell of Beaver Creek, Ohio (five bass, 11-15, $1,039); Bryan Hoffman of Stoutsville, Ohio (four bass, 10-3, $691); Keith Humble of West Liberty, Ky. (four bass, 8-10, $485); and Todd Owens of Middletown, Ohio (five bass, 8-3, $416).
James McWhorter of Hamilton, Ohio, earned $285 as the co-angler Big Bass winner with a 4-pound, 12-ounce bass he caught on a black/green pumpkin soft-plastic worm.
The next Buckeye Division event will be held on Indian Lake in Lake View, Ohio, June 20.