GREERS FERRY, Ark. (April 11, 2022) – Boater Josh Ray of Alexander, Arkansas, caught five bass Saturday weighing 13 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the MLF Bass Fishing League Tournament on Greers Ferry Lake . The tournament was the third event for the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division. Ray earned $13,024, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“It took all day to grind them out,” Ray said. “I found the fish in practice, but I only caught nine or 10 keepers all day.
“I’m somewhat familiar with Greers Ferry,” Ray added. “I’ve been coming up here pretty regularly for tournaments.”
Ray said his fish fell for a shaky-head tipped with a green-pumpkin trick worm in 20 to 25 feet of water. He said he focused on deep brush in the mid-lake area.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Josh Ray, Alexander, Ark., five bass, 13-8, $13,024 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Chuck Hamby, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 13-4, $2,093
2nd: Brian Bean, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 13-4, $2,093
4th: Justin Hake, Conway, Ark., five bass, 13-1, $1,947
5th: Bradley McDaniel, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 10-11, $1,005
6th: Terry Cordum, Cotter, Ark., five bass, 10-10, $921
7th: Cody Davis, Higden, Ark., five bass, 10-9, $837
8th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 10-8, $754
9th: Kevin Brown, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 10-5, $1,028
9th: Jamey Black, Sheridan, Ark., five bass, 10-5, $628
Hake had a largemouth that weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $775. Brian Choate of Conway, Arkansas, won the Co-angler Division and $2,512 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 12 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Brian Choate, Conway, Ark., five bass, 12-4, $2,512
2nd: Dustin Forsythe, Amity, Ark., five bass, 11-3, $1,256
3rd: Randy Allen, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 10-11, $1,038
4th: Joseph Aguilar, Bauxite, Ark., five bass, 9-10, $586
5th: Jody Jones, Harvey, Ark., five bass, 9-6, $602
6th: Jonathan Dotson, Dover, Ark., five bass, 9-2, $461
7th: Rusty Allen, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 8-14, $398
7th: Kyle Huneycutt, Malvern, Ark., five bass, 8-14, $398
9th: Terry Owens, Danville, Ark., five bass, 8-11, $335
10th: Kelby Humble, Rogersville, Mo., five bass, 8-9, $293
Clay Hardin of McGehee, Arkansas, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 3 pounds, 10 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $387.
After three events, Brian Bean of Hot Springs, Arkansas, leads the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 742 points, while Jonathan Simms of Hot Springs, Arkansas, leads the Co-Angler Division AOY race with 735 points.