LONDON, Ky. (March 16, 2009) - Roger Hahn of Fairfield, Ohio., won the Bass Fishing League Mountain Division bass fishing tournament on Laurel River Lake Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 4 ounces. The victory earned Hahn $4,507 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Norman Regional Championship in Lake Norman, N.C., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"I had no idea I would have the winning weight because it usually takes about 20 pounds," said Hahn. "I thought I would be in the top ten."
Hahn caught his limit fishing on rock banks in 12-20 feet water on a homemade bear hair jig and finesse worm at the lower part of the lake, near the dam.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Aaron Singleton of LaGrange, Ky. (five bass, 13-13, $2,253); Mark Denney of Somerset, Ky. (four bass, 11-0, $1,502); Densmore Goodson of Letcher, Ky. (two bass, 9-13, $1,052) and Barry Stopher of Williamsburg, Ky. (two bass, 9-4, $901).
Rusty Smith took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $655 for a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass he caught.
Nick Day of East Bernstadt, Ky., earned $2,236 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to four bass weighing 18 pounds, 12 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Spencer Gross of Simpsonville, Ky. (three bass, 10-5, $1,118); Todd Stopher of London, Ky. (two bass, 8-6, $745); Kibbee McCoy of Crossville, Tenn. (three bass, 6-15, $522); and James Nolen of Louisa, Ky. (one bass, 6-1, $447).
James Nolen earned $325 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass.
The next Mountain Division event will be held on the Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tenn., April 4.