HENDERSON, N.C. (Sept. 21, 2009) - Eddie Daniels of Garner, N.C., won the Bass Fishing League final Shenandoah Division bass fishing tournament on Kerr Lake Sunday with a two-day 10-bass catch weighing 20 pounds, 1 ounce. The victory earned Daniels $5,077 and helped him qualify 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.
"By the skin of my teeth I qualified for the regional championship and I am tickled to death," said Daniels. "I truly learned how important it is to weigh in every fish at each tournament, even if you only get one."
Daniels fished in shallow water using a fluke and a green pumpkin whacky style worm. Fishing was tough for him and he had some bad luck including losing two, 4-pound fish and a 5-pound fish on Saturday. On Sunday he had more bites, but unfortunately they were not as big as they were the day before.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Bo Grosvenor of Forest, Va. (9 bass, 20, $2,539); Shayne Berlo of Haymarket, Va. (10 bass, 18-13, $1,694); Barton Wines of Warrenton, Va. (7 bass, 17-06, $1,185) and Chuck Newcomer of Leesburg, Va. (9 bass, 17-03, $1,015).
Tommy Little of Chester, Va., took home the Boater Division Folgers Big Bass award, earning $637 for a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass he caught.
Scott Howard of Huddleston, Va., earned $2,466 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to 7- bass weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught on spook bone.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Allen (Tink) Burns of Rustburt, Va. (7 bass, 15-8, $1,233); Larry Halsey of Pfafftown, N.C. (7 bass, 15-07, $823); Rob Peppers of Virginia Beach, Va. (6 bass, 12-7, $575); and Lee Williams of Durham, N.C. (6 bass, 11-15, $493).
Harold Smith of Goodview, Va., earned $296 as the co-angler Folgers Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass.