GADSDEN, Ala. (June 8, 2009) - Tommy Rewis of Odenville, Ala., won the Bass Fishing League Dixie Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Neely Henry Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 11 ounces. The victory earned Rewis $4,350 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 didn't even prefish for this event," Rewis said. "I fished before the pre-tournament meeting for about two or three hours and that was it."
Rewis said he was fishing upriver and was throwing a jig at grass and wood.
"I've had several opportunities to win a BFL in the past, but I always let it slip out of my hands," Rewis said. "This time I put the fish in the boat."
Rounding out the top five boaters are Kenny Pannell of Springville, Ala. (five bass, 17-7, $2,175); Jamie Horton of Centerville, Ala. (five bass, 15-7, $1,451); Phil Smith of Oxford, Ala. (five bass, 14-14, $1,015); and Patrick Dobbins of Opelika, Ala., and Kent Keys of Anniston, Ala. (five bass, 13-15, $834).
Smith took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $615 for a 5-pound, 14-ounce bass he caught.
Bradley Jones of Silver Creek, Ga., earned $2,140 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds, 5 ounces that he caught on a Texas-rigged red shad worm.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Michael Armstrong of Ashville, Ala. (five bass, 13-1, $1,070); Robbie Misplay of Midland, Ga. (five bass, 12-15, $712); Wayne Kilgore of Attalla, Ala. (five bass, 12-12, $499); and Robert Volinic of Peachtree City, Ga. (five bass, 12-6, $428).
Shaine Stewart of Southside, Ala., earned $302 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass.
The next Dixie Division event will be a two-day Super Tournament held on Logan Martin Lake in Pell City, Ala., Sept. 26-27.