ALEXANDER, Ala. (March 16, 2009) - Jamie Horton of Centerville, Ala., won the Bass Fishing League Dixie Division bass fishing tournament tournament on Lake Martin Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds. The victory earned Horton $4,610 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.
"I have finished second so much in the BFL events that I felt like I would finish second again," said Horton. "It was good to win one!"
Horton caught his limit sight fishing using a floating worm and a soft plastic crawfish, finding the fish on bed in clear water. Horton sighted six fish and caught them all but one. He lost the one he said looked to be a 4 1/2-pounder he thought he would need to win the tournament. "Those are the 5 he weighed in," Horton said.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Allen Hayes of Pell City, Ala. (five bass, 17-12, $2,305); Felton Langley of Lafayette, Ala. (five bass, 16-12, $1,536); Charles Cummings of Leeds, Ala. (five bass, 15-7, $1,076) and Charles Pearson, Jr. of Tuskegee, Ala. (five bass, 13-15, $922).
Jamie Horton took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $670 for a 6-pound, 14-ounce bass he caught.
Jimmy Butler, Jr. of Opelika, Ala., earned $2,288 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 15 pounds, 9 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jay Galimore of Auburn, Ala. (five bass, 11-13, $1,144); Michael Wright of Covington, Ga. (five bass, 10-2, $762); Robert Volinic of Peachtree City, Ga. (five bass, 10-1, $534); and Shawn Marquis of Columbus, Ga. (five bass, 9-15, $458).
Todd Radney earned $332 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass.
The next Dixie Division event will be held on the West Point Lake in Lanett, Ala., April 25.
In BFL competition, boaters supply the boat and compete from the front deck against other boaters. Co-anglers compete from the back deck against other co-anglers.
Total awards are based on a full field of 200 boats in every tournament.