BUCKHEAD, Ga. (March 30, 2009) - Dan Crowe of Winder, Ga., won the Bass Fishing League Bulldog Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Oconee Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 8 ounces. The victory earned Crowe $5,457 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 wasn't sure I had enough to win," said Crowe. "I knew it would take at least 20 pounds."
Crowe caught his limit using a jig fishing sandy coast pockets.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Shawn Malcom of Monroe, Ga. (five bass, 18-3, $2,728); Kip Carter of Loganville, Ga. (five bass, 17-7, $1,546); David Lowery of Milledgeville, Ga. (five bass, 17-7, $1,546) and C.W. Pitts of Watkinsville, Ga. (five bass, 16-8, $1,091).
Shawn Malcom took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $875 for a 6-pound, 8-ounce bass he caught.
Michael Wright of Covington, Ga., earned $2,684 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 15 pounds, 7 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Brian Jewell of Social Circle, Ga. (three bass, 14-4, $1,342); James Markham of Sycamore, Ga. (five bass, 14-3, $893); Chuck Delorme of Folly Beach, S.C. (five bass, 13-8, $626); and Michael Budrow of Warner Robins, Ga. (three bass, 13-4, $537).
Michael Budrow earned $422 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 7-pound, 8-ounce bass.
The next Bulldog Division event will be held on West Point Lake in Lanett, Ala., May 16.