GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (March 16, 2009) - Ryan Chandler of Hobart, Ind., won the Bass Fishing League LBL Division bass fishing tournament on Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 29 pounds. The victory earned Chandler $5,154 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Fort Madison Regional Championship in Fort Madison, Iowa, Oct. 1-3, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"One I weighed in, I saw I had 29 pounds and knew if anyone else had caught that much I would have had a heart attack," said Chandler.
Chandler caught his limit by noon fishing south of Paris, Tenn., using a beaver shad jerkbait by Lucky Craft.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Ron Peckenpaugh of Louisville, Ky. (five bass, 22-2, $2,577); Jeff Evans of Benton, Ky. (five bass, 21-4, $1,719); Harold Buchmeier of Anna, Ill. (four bass, 20-1, $1,203) and Jeff Siress of Benton, Ky. (five bass, 19-9, $1,031).
Benjamin Parker took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $795 for an 8-pound, 2-ounce bass he caught.
Jeff Berryhill of Paris, Tenn., earned $2,577 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught on a jerkbait.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Brian Gray of Watseka, Ill. (five bass, 16-6, $1,288); Rodney Childerson of Pocahontas, Ill. (five bass, 15-7, $858); Scott Brown of Louisville, Ky. (five bass, 14-14, $601); and Corey Jones of Jackson, Tenn. (three bass, 13-7, $515).
Co-Anglers Jeff Berryhill and Todd Schmitz earned $198 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass.
The next LBL Division event will be held on the Kentucky/Barkley Lakes in Gilbertsville, Ky., April 4.