TAVARES, Fla. (April 6, 2009) - Dave Thomas of Winter Park, Fla., won the Bass Fishing League Gator Division bass fishing tournament on the Harris Chain of Lakes Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 8 ounces. The victory earned Thomas $3,426 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Clarks Hill Lake Regional Championship in Appling, Ga., Oct. 15-17, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Thomas caught his limit throwing a Rat-L-Trap and a spinnerbait.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Brian Carman of Mascotte, Fla. (five bass, 15-5, $1,713); Rob Mistina of Sorrento, Fla. (five bass, 14-8, $1,141); Scott Devries of Tavares, Fla. (five bass, 14-6, $799) and Jeremy Smith of Plant City, Fla. (five bass, 13-13, $685).
Rob Mistina took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $430 for an 8-pound bass he caught.
Raymond Trudeau of Saint Cloud, Fla., earned $1,713 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds, 11 ounces that he caught on a lizard.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Norman Pellegrini of Windermere, Fla. (five bass, 12-2, $856); Joe Edwards Jr., of Kissimmee, Fla. (five bass, 11-8, $571); Alexander Supik of Cooper City, Fla. (three bass, 11-4, $300); and Jackie Barber of Cocoa, Fla. (four bass, 10-3, $343).
Supik earned $215 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 5-ounce bass.
The next Gator Division event will be held on the Kissimmee River in Lake Wales, Fla., May 2.