GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (April 14, 2008) - Boater Randy Conkwright of Nicholasville, Ky., won the Bass Fishing League LBL Division bass fishing tournament on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 20 pounds, 3 ounces. The victory earned Conkwright $4,380 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Cherokee Lake Regional Championship in Morristown, Tenn.,Oct. 16-18, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Focusing on the Blood River area, Conkwright threw a ½-ounce green-pumpkin jig along the banks and in the channel to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Roger Walters of Madisonville, Ky. (five bass, 19-11, $2,577); Adam Craig of Buchanan, Tenn. (five bass, 19-08, $1,461); Mark Maudlin of Cleveland, Tenn. (five bass, 19-08, $1,461) and Mike Saleeba of Manitou, Ky. (five bass, 18-10, $1,031).
Maudlin took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $795 for a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass he caught flipping a jig near the Highway 68 bridge.
John Turley Jr. of Lexington, Ky., earned $2,577 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 16 pounds, 8 ounces that he caught in bushes on a Senko worm in watermelon.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jim Stone of Greenwood, Ind. (five bass, 13-09, $1,288); David Harris of Mayfield, Ky. (four bass, 12-15, $858); Paul Smith of Benton, Ky. (four bass, 12-14, $601) and Paul Svec of Evansville, Ind. (four bass, 12-12, $515).
Jeremy Young of Stoutsville, Ohio, earned $397 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass he caught flipping a black and blue jig in the main lake.
LBL Division anglers will visit Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in Cadiz, Ky., May 10 for their third regular-season event, followed by an event on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in Hardin, Ky., June 14. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in Gilbertsville, Ky., Sept. 20-21.