LAKE WALES, Fla. (March 30, 2009) - Kyle Sellars Jr. of Lakeland, Fla., won the Bass Fishing League Everglades Division bass fishing tournament on the Kissimmee River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 19 pounds, 8 ounces. The victory earned Sellars $3,641 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Seminole Regional Championship in Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"Any time you're fishing the Kissimmee chain, there's always that possibility of big stringers being there," said Sellars. "I was comfortable I had 20 pounds, whether it was enough to win, I had my doubts."
Sellars caught his limit fishing shallow waters around pads and grass throwing a soft plastic worm.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Will Evans of Polk City, Fla. (five bass, 18-9, $1,820); Arnie Lane of Lakeland, Fla. (five bass, 17-1, $1,214); Robert Eid of Key West, Fla. (five bass, 16-6, $850) and Kyle Walters of Palm Bay, Fla. (five bass, 15-1, $728).
Arnie Lane took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $475 for a 9-pound, 13-ounce bass he caught.
Clint Sterling of Winter Garden, Fla., earned $1,820 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds, 7 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are David Rose of Tavernier, Fla. (five bass, 11-2, $910); Charlie Antetomaso of Merritt Island, Fla. (five bass, 10-5, $607); Ron Buck of Port Saint Lucy, Fla. (five bass, 8-6, $425); and Donald Strickland of Kissimmee, Fla. (five bass, 8-1, $364).
Clint Sterling earned $237 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass.
The next Everglades Division event will be held on the Lake Okeechobee in Okeechobee City, Fla., May 16.