SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (March 23, 2009) - Jay Fagan of Mableton, Ga., won the Bass Fishing League Bama Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Guntersville Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 26 pounds, 1 ounce. The victory earned Fagan $4,498 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Seminole Regional Championship in Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"This is my first year to go as a boater," said Fagan. "I knew I had a good check, not sure if I had a win."
Fagan started off fishing deep, working his way up to more shallow water. He fished upriver for pre-spawn bass throwing an XCalibur Xr50 Royal Shad. Fagan caught all of his fish in one spot, ending his day with catching an 8 1/2 -pounder.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Tim Staley of Dowelltown, Tenn. (five bass, 25-14, $2,249); Sam Bass of Section, Ala. (five bass, 25-10, $1,498); Andrew Beam of Rome, Ga. (five bass, 25-7, $1,050) and Edward Gettys of Scottsboro, Ala. (five bass, 24-8, $900).
Jay Fagan took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $645 for an 8-pound, 4-ounce bass he caught.
Matt Wilson of Auburn, Ala., earned $2,249 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 25 pounds, 3 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jeff Benefield of Union Grove, Ala. (five bass, 22-6, $1,125); Jackie Quillen of Florence, Ala. (five bass, 21-2, $752); Dan Clark of Cleveland, Tenn. (five bass, 20-12, $525); and Kevin Morris of Savannah, Tenn. (five bass, 18-12, $450).
Jimmy Rowell of Grove Oak, Ala. earned $322 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching an 8-pound, 8-ounce bass.
The next Bama Division event will be held on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala., April 25.