LAKE VIEW, Ohio (May 5, 2008) - Boater Kent Smart of Dayton, Ohio, won the Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division bass fishing tournament on Indian Lake Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces. The victory earned Smart $4,205 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Kentucky and Barkley Lakes Regional Championship in Gilbertsville, Ky., Oct. 2-4, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Smart used a Sweet Beaver and blue or red jig near lily pads in pockets to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Chad Lighthizer of Zanesville, Ohio (five bass, 11-11, $2,474); Scott Cooke of Marengo, Ohio (five bass, 10-09, $1,649); Keith Wheelock of Beaver Creek, Ohio (five bass, 10-00, $1,155) and Stuart Eversole of Middletown, Ohio (five bass, 9-12, $990).
Randy Fosnaugh of Wapakoneta, Ohio, took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $755 for a 4-pound, 4-ounce bass he caught on a white and chartreuse spinnerbait.
Steve Sorrell of Beavercreek, Ohio, earned $2,364 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces that he caught on a Texas-rigged green-pumpkin Senko.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Kevin Price of Tipp City, Ohio (five bass, 7-13, $1,182); Clint Bissonett of Beavercreek, Ohio (five bass, 6-08, $788); Bruce Ray of London, Ohio (four bass, 6-06, $552) and David Scales of Bellefontaine, Ohio (two bass, 5-12, $473).
Brad Dillingham of Ridgeville, Ind., earned $352 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 3-pound, 15-ounce bass he caught off the banks on a yellow spinnerbait.
Buckeye Division anglers will visit Grand Lake in St. Marys, Ohio, June 7 for their second regular-season event, followed by an event on the Ohio River in Carrollton, Ky., Aug. 2. The division's fourth qualifying event will be held on the Ohio River in Maysville, Ky., Aug. 23. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on the Ohio River-Tanner's Creek in Lawrenceburg, Ind., Sept. 20-21.