MADISON, Ga. (Sept. 15, 2014) – John Duvall of Madison, Ga., weighed a two-day total of 10 bass totaling 32 pounds, 7 ounces to win the Bass Fishing League Bulldog Division super tournament on Lake Oconee Sunday. For his victory, Duvall earned $5,387.
“I was just fishing history,” said Duvall. “I was throwing a frog and a jig around docks that were in super-shallow water.
“I caught eight keepers on Saturday and only five on Sunday,” continued Duvall. “I didn’t catch my fifth fish until about 10 minutes before I had to check in. I had other opportunities to catch one, but I guess the good Lord just wanted to make me sweat.
“When I got to the weigh-in I was worried, but when I saw that David Lowery didn’t have a good day I felt like I might win it,” said Duvall. “I’ve earned checks before, but it feels great to get my first win. I don’t have a great record at Oconee, but it is really special to get the win on my home lake.”
Duvall said he caught all of his fish on a hand-tied black and blue-colored jig and a black Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog 65. Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Mark Holloway, Madison, Ga., nine bass, 24-2, $2,694
3rd: David Lowery, Phenix City, Ala., eight bass, 23-11, $1,795
4th: Kip Carter, Loganville, Ga., 10 bass, 22-11, $1,257
5th: Ryan Horton, Palmetto, Ga., eight bass, 22-10, $1,077
6th: Buster Slocumb, Juliette, Ga., eight bass, 22-7, $988
7th: Mike Cleveland, Monticello, Ga., 10 bass, 20-15, $898
8th: Mark Svendsen, Doraville, Ga., nine bass, 20-2, $808
9th: Allen Armour, Cumming, Ga., nine bass, 18-6, $718
10th: Scott Hayes, Newnan, Ga., five bass, 17-15, $628
Michael Wilder of Macon, Ga., weighed in a two-day total of nine bass totaling 22 pounds even to win $2,694 in the co-angler division Sunday. Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Garrett Stone, Atlanta, Ga., six bass, 15-8, $1,347
3rd: John Jarecki, Elberton, Ga., six bass, 14-5, $899
4th: Alphonso Taylor, Kennesaw, Ga., five bass, 13-4, $628
5th: Stephen Waldon, Ellenwood, Ga., three bass, 11-15, $539
6th: Jeff Grubbs, Palmetto, Ga., four bass, 11-12, $494
7th: Daniel Buswell, Fayetteville, Ga., four bass, 11-4, $449
8th: Tyler Morgan, Columbus, Ga., four bass, 10-11, $404
9th: Matthew O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., five bass, 10-9, $359
10th: Nicholas Franks, Sharpsburg, Ga., four bass, 9-2, $314
The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 2-4 Regional Championship on the St. John’s River in Palatka, Fla. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.