RICHMOND, Va. (June 22, 2009) - James Cassaday of Wirtz, Va., won the Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division bass fishing tournament on the James River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces. The victory earned Cassaday $4,037 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Potomac River Regional Championship in Marbury, Md., Oct. 8-10, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Cassaday said he caught his fish targeting wood with a topwater bait.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Robert Hinds Jr. of Petersburg, Va. (five bass, 13-9, $2,019); Bruce Ring of Front Royal, Va. (five bass, 13-1, $1,345); Jason Bishop of Richmond, Va. (five bass, 12-14, $942); and Bryan Elrod of Mechanicsville, Va. (five bass, 12-7, $807).
John Bomar of Lynchburg, Va., won the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $545 for a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass.
Chris Whittaker of Ruther Glen, Va., earned $1,940 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 9 pounds, 12 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Kenny Wynn of Gladys, Va. (four bass, 9-9, $970); Brian Young of Kill Devil Hills, N.C. (five bass, 9-5, $646); Craig Wolfe of Sutherland, Va. (five bass, 9-0, $453); and Scott Howard of Huddleston, Va. (five bass, 8-8, $388).
Young earned $257 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 3-pound, 14-ounce bass.
The next Shenandoah Division event will be held on the Potomac River in Woodbridge, Va., July 11.