LAKE WALES, Fla. (Oct. 5, 2009) - Gary Niemi of Lake Placid, Fla., won the Bass Fishing League Gator Division tournament on the Kissimmee River Sunday with a two-day 10-bass catch weighing 33 pounds, 14 ounces. The victory earned Niemi $4,732.
Anglers were competing to qualify for the Clarks Hill Lake Regional Championship in Appling, Ga., Oct. 15-17, where they could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and Chevy truck.
"My biggest challenge for this tournament was how to manage the fish," said Niemi. "I had so many spots to fish that I needed to decide if I should run the lake or stay put. I stayed close and fished three of my 12 holes. I saw a lot of guys out there running the lake, but after seeing the weights from day one come in low I decided to bear down and fish; I think that was the difference in the tournament for me. I only used a half tank of gas all weekend!"
Niemi was mostly fishing in pads that were about 4 1/2 feet deep. Using a 7" June-bug worm Niemi was able to catch his largest fish including a 6- and 4-pounder. Ironically he said that the hole he normally caught his "limit fish" in yielded his "big fish" and the hole he normally caught his "big fish" in yielded his "little fish".
Rounding out the top five boaters are Al Ridgeway of Lake Wales, Fla. (10 bass, 33-3, $2,366); Jim Folks of Melbourne, Fla. (10 bass, 31-11, $1,577); Tommy Hatfield of Kissimmee, Fla. (10 bass, 30-10, $1,104); and Rodney Glunt of Orlando, Fla. (10 bass, 30-5, $946).
Tommy Hatfield took home the Boater Division Folgers Big Bass award, earning $555 for a 6-pound, 5-ounce bass he caught using a Gambler Sweebo Worm, June-bug.
Joe Edwards, Jr. of Kissimmee, Fla., earned $2,366 as the co-angler winner Sunday thanks to 9-bass weighing 30 pounds, 4 ounces that he caught using Sweet Beavers.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Derek Savage of Port St. Lucie, Fla. (10 bass, 29-15, $1,833); Raymond Trudeau of St. Cloud, Fla. (10 bass, 28, $790); George Myers of Green Cove Springs, Fla. (10 bass, 22-4, $552); and Bo Boyles of Deltona, Fla. (10 bass, 21-1, $473).
Clint Sterling of Winter Garden, Fla., earned $277 as the co-angler Folgers Big Bass winner after catching an 8-pound, 13-ounce bass.