COLUMBIANA, Ala. (Sept. 8, 2008) - Boater Chris Rutland of Wetumpka, Ala., won the Bass Fishing League Dixie Division Super Bass Fishing Tournament on Lay Lake with a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 30 pounds, 3 ounces. The victory earned Rutland $4,641 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Wheeler Lake Regional Championship in Decatur, Ala., Oct. 9-11, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Rutland said he caught his fish on a jig and a crankbait by fishing mid- and lower-lake spots. Rutland focused on grass early and fished deep wood later in the day.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Coby Carden of Calera, Ala. (10 bass, 26-14, $2,730); Nicholas Turner of Clanton, Ala. (10 bass, 26-11, $1,820); Chad Hall of Dora, Ala. (10 bass, 26-10, $1,274) and Josh Stracner of Vandiver, Ala. (10 bass, 25-03, $1,092).
Barry Wilson of Birmingham, Ala., took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $712 for a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass that he caught on a white swimming jig.
Brian Harbison of Birmingham earned $2,730 as the co-angler winner thanks to 10 bass weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces that he caught while fishing in grass and around wood.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Michael Wright of Covington, Ga. (nine bass, 18-06, $1,365); Anthony Gary of Phenix City, Ala. (10 bass, 16-00, $909); Rodney Lanier of Opelika, Ala. (10 bass, 16-00, $637) and Caleb Scott of Sylacauga, Ala. (seven bass, 15-04, $546).
Billy Parker of Harpersville, Ala., earned $356 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound bass on a soft plastic crawdad.